The Biggy Smalls

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Life can get pretty hectic (a lot of the time) and while I could wax poetic about the crazy of busy all day, I can also cut to the quick. (Let's go for option B shall we? ) 

I think we impose a lot of our hectic onto ourselves. Quite often in the name of success, money, love, happiness etc.  (I am as guilty as the next guy) And while I agree that goals are important, brave & necessary to thwart stagnation. Lofty goals simply can't get accomplished every day, or month, or even year, so we sometimes need the help of other inspiration to keep driving us forward.

Enter in the small stuff.

Now, when I talk "small" & "Inspiration", I am not talking about new smaller goals, or side projects Aren't we already busy enough?  I am talking about spontaneous happenings like: The joy in a bright shiny day; the toe tapping goodness of a perfect song at the perfect time; an unexpected personal win or a sparkling interaction with the world (etc). When you are balancing that eye on the prize, with the noticing & celebrating of many smaller joys. Life truly becomes a magnet for daily greatness of all sizes.

So... I ask you. The next moment you find yourself caught up in thought, switch your focus to noticing which small everyday wonders have gifted themselves to you lately.  I bet there are lots, once you start thinking of it. Perhaps those unexpected wee things that sneak into your happy place might just pile up high enough to become their own very BIG things in the end.

 

A few finely feathered recent moments...
Top: A nuthatch checking me out
Bottom: A sweet adult Northern Saw-Whet owl that snuggled into my hand for a pet after an unfortunate run in with my neighbor's picture window.
(thanks to my neighbor T. for this pic. of me with the owl)

Hot Off the Virtual Press!

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The latest issue of Coffee with Moe has arrived.  Peek inside & check out what has been brewing at Moe Creative lately. Glimpses of new paintings, a selection of Instagram posts, some thoughts on this season of giving and moe... Much Moe!

Give the image a click to head straight over, or wander about the site a wee bit more. However you choose to explore, enjoy Moe Creative &... send me a quick e-mail if you have any questions, or just want to say hello!

Rule of Thumb

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As a rule of thumb... When life gets busy, some things in this one woman show can fall off track. This blog has derailed, it happens. But things haven't stopped. What's happening behind the scenes in this bustling life?

I AM...

  1. Putting the final edits & finishing touches into the next Issue of: Coffee with Moe.
  2. Working diligently on a few Encaustic Art & Photography Commissions
  3. Preparing some social media graphics as a gift to 'A la MoeD' newsletter subscribers
  4. Going to lots of art shows/galleries/studios; to meet artists & explore new possibilities.
  5. Preparing for Inktober... (More on that to come!)

So, while things are a wee bit slow on the blog front, you can see that it's buzzing else-where with you & other clientele in mind. 

 

So that you don't miss a beat... Get on the newsletter (It's free, it's easy... sign up to the right of this post) Getting on the list will ensure you get a reminder for when the new issue of Coffee with Moe is live & you receive the free gift I am creating. At that point, this blog will be rolling again weekly..  See you soon!

Write On!

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Hello my name is Monique, and I am a pen-o-holic.

It's true, and in this October's Coffee with Moe, I am going to write at length about my passionate predilection for smooth script, inky fingers & even scented ink (Oh la la).

To make sure you don't miss out on this and the many other features in Coffee With Moe, be sure to sign up for my quarterly newsletter:   >>>

Pictured here:  My new Metropolitan Fine nibbed fountain pen from Pilot. An every day writing delight.

Wake me when I'm Famous!

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Voltage Creative Garage, Marda Loop, Calgary, Ab

Voltage Creative Garage, Marda Loop, Calgary, Ab

While taking a break from working on a couple of commissions and creating the latest issue of Coffee with Moe, I stopped by to check out the new-ish multi-artist studio called Voltage Creative Garage in Marda Loop. (A re-purposed derelict garage across from Original Joe's) Check it out if you are in Marda Loop sometime! Even if the space is not open, there is some interesting graffiti on the exterior. Here is there website so you can find out when they are around or holding a special event.    www.voltagegarage.ca

 

Ginger & Blue Encaustic

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Here is one of 3 Encaustic pieces that were inspired by the blueberry photo. For those of you unfamiliar with Encaustic:  It's a process of using "Encaustic Medium" (Bees wax & Damar Resin) to melt some of my favourite techniques into one unified mixed media piece. (Yes, that means I get to use a torch as an additional creative tool.) Oh la la, what fun!!! 

Clockwise from top right :  Silver leaf & newsprint: Watercolor on specialty paper; A cooled close-up; A molten mid-fire glow; Section of the final Encaustic.

Busy Bees

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Yes, yes, I was going to post some artwork this round, but I had a chance to visit a large Apiary yesterday afternoon and was so excited about it, I had to post one of (lets just say) a few pics.
This is an image of a frame being pried out for inspection. Happy to report a thriving hive & thousands of gentle bees. With all our poking, prodding & inspecting, not one of us was stung.

 

Be careful what you ask for!

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And so it was, my France trip was coming to a close. A final French moment was in order and it started out perfectly: A quiet cafe in a beautiful square (Capitole de Toulouse), a glass of wine, people watching...

But as I watched, a stream of people started enthusiastically filling the square to my right. Ahead of me, a somber flood of police in full riot gear.  Myself? With a decisive swig, my wine disappeared and I exited quickly stage left.

A comical end to an incredible journey in a deeply emotional & beautiful country. À bientôt (See you later) France, because I can not say “good-bye”