I am sure most of you have heard about the "one little word" project.. a friend of mine, Ali Edwards started a few years ago. I always loved the concept.. where she would pick a word and then that word became the theme for her for that year. In-fact she is offering a class on it right now.. I am thinking about taking it. I actually have never done the word thing.. not sure why..but this year, I have decided to jump on the band wagon and pick myself a word. A word that will inspire me, motivate me, remind me and push me. And can I be frank about something? Coming up with a word isn't easy!! In-fact I had almost decided to scratch the word idea..but then I was reminded of a quote my friend gave me recently, "sometimes you just have to leap and build your wings on the way down" (thanks tiff!).
And that was it... leap. My word for 2011 is LEAP!! I think sometimes my fears and concerns tend to hold me back a bit. That might surprise some of you that know me well, but honestly my fears do. I go over and over.. what if it doesn't turn out the way it should, what if I can't learn how to do it well, what if no one likes it, what if i get hurt in the process .. what if! And my what ifs.. in the end.. put me back in my house, where it's safe and nice and things are just as they should be.
Well this year, I have some big dreams and wants and wishes.. they are ones I have had for while now, but have been to afraid to do. Why? probably because they won't turn out exactly how I want them to, but the beauty of dreams are that they evolve, they grow with us. I truly believe the they all turn out exactly as the SHOULD be.. not always as we want them to be. So I am going to leap this year.. I'm going to leap and build those wings on my way down and then I'm going to fly!
I created this canvas this past week, as a reminder to leap and build and fly.. I think we all need reminders.. don't we?
Thanks again Tiffany for this quote.. it is a very gentle reminder that things don't have to be perfect before we can move forward. We don't always have to know things before we try them. We don't even have to know what they look like before we start.. sometimes.. it's perfectly lovely.. to jump into the unknown with both feet and enjoy what happens as we build those wings. I am sure not all of my dreams for this year will turn out as I have them envisioned.. and I am okay with that. I truly am. I might even find that I will be even happier if they don't. I just need the reminder to leap in the first place or I will never know. So dude.. let's do it.. I am So ready to fly!
Christy, I love all the creativity using mixed media! I love everything distressed and vintage. I do think all the extra pockets on the purse you made is totally necessary!! JUST LOVE IT! Hope to win, Thank you for wanting to give it up, it's so sweet! Toodles- guess it's not a word but I like it. Pak
Posted by: Pak I. | January 14, 2011 at 11:08 AM
Wow you have an amazing talent girlie!! You have moved me in so many ways!! I need all the creative and uplifiting things in my life right now!! I'm going to start my creatived right now and I'm going to stop thinking about the bad things like cancer? Its horriable I have to wait this long for news? I thought my heart valve thing was bad but, I think the worst is knowing you might have cancer. so, thank you so so much for showing us that you can pull out ever thing inside as being creative!! I can't wait to see your purse project!!! Thanks a Millions.......
Posted by: Heidi Hines | January 06, 2011 at 10:21 AM
I totally love this piece! The bird, the cage, the texture and colors! Awesome!
Posted by: Amy Baldwin | January 06, 2011 at 10:13 AM
I can totally relate to your fears... this year my word is balance :)
Posted by: Kathy Carbonneau | January 06, 2011 at 08:03 AM
great word. i might just make a canvas (it would be my first venture into mixed media)for my word....CREATE!
Posted by: ana smith | January 05, 2011 at 10:18 PM
Your canvas is beautiful.
Interesting word, Leap, more meaning than just jump. I like it! Can't wait to see your LEAP!
Posted by: JaYne | January 05, 2011 at 05:08 PM
Super cute canvas!! Love it! Thanks for the inspiration.
Posted by: Ally White | January 05, 2011 at 04:27 PM
Beautiful creative work you are doing. I love your canvases.
Thanks for the reminder to leap. I've been dreading a trip I'm taking on Friday, and this helped to lessen those feelings. :D
Posted by: kimberlee | January 05, 2011 at 04:02 PM
What a wonderful word! I can't wait to see what you do this year!!!
Your canvas is beautiful!
Posted by: Christine N | January 05, 2011 at 03:03 PM
This totally makes me cry today. I've been getting up my nerve to start this year eventhough we are already 5 days in. My word this year is conquer and my scripture Mark 11:23. On a wing and a prayer I'll take the leap. I'm ready.
Posted by: Shelley | January 05, 2011 at 02:33 PM
Hi Christy! I can relate to this on so many levels...and because I start to doubt myself and move on to something else, and start to doubt myself and move on to something else again, I have chosen FOCUS as my word for 2011. And, I've signed up for Ali's class to keep me on track and FOCUSED!!! Love, Love, Love your art!
Posted by: Sylvia Drown (Baxter's Mom) | January 05, 2011 at 01:58 PM
Your canvas is great, really great! I truly get the "what if" and your chosen word of leap. I have been scrapping for about two years, but I have done crafts of some sort most of my life. I have never even attempted to send to a magazine or enter a challenge because what if no one likes what I do or how will I feel when I am rejected. I did manage to post some lay outs for BPC in 2010, and the sky did not fall on me! Maybe it is time for me also to take that leap and stretch myself just a bit further. I am not expecting to be published, but I hope to learn from the experience. Thank you for the inspiration.
Posted by: BARB | January 05, 2011 at 01:55 PM
What an awesome idea Christy! Your canvas is beautiful! My word for 2011 is focus. Now you've inspired me to create a canvas too! Good luck with your leaping!
Posted by: Michelle Rydell | January 05, 2011 at 01:32 PM
I LOVE that quote, and your inspiration piece! Wonderful, beautiful job!!
Posted by: Mikal | January 05, 2011 at 01:22 PM
It's totally gorgeous!
Posted by: milkcan | January 05, 2011 at 12:58 PM
Oh Christy, your canvas is gorgeous! I have signed up for Ali's class, and it is wonderful...take the leap :) and sign up for it! :) This is my first year choosing a word also...or rather it choose me...HAPPY. I've enjoyed looking at all the canvases you have created, and I feel encouraged to create my own so I have something tangible to see my word everyday. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Marcie | January 05, 2011 at 12:51 PM
LOVE your canvas! Thanks for the inspiration to make one!! I too jumped on the band wagon this year...my word is 'cultivate'.
Posted by: Bethany C. | January 05, 2011 at 12:43 PM
GREAT word!!! Mine is RECONCILE...accepting some situations that at this time I can not change!
Posted by: Martha Richardson | January 05, 2011 at 12:34 PM
Oh Christie, this is perfect! I am having so much fun using the Scarlet Lime kit and creating my canvas (please do that again-wonderful way to use up a kit!)anyway...last night I chose the word "Savor"-and this morning I added it to the canvas! Wow-great minds do think alike :) Blessings on your day-thank you for sharing on your blog :)
Posted by: Sharon Osborn | January 05, 2011 at 12:27 PM