Happy National Black Women in Jazz and the Arts Day! (March 1). From Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, and Sarah Vaughan, to Alma Thomas, Maya Angelou, Beyoncé, Amy Sherald, and many other talented Black Women artists of today, on the first day of National Women’s History Month, it’s time to celebrate! I would like to celebrate and highlight some amazing African-American Women artists today. Please check out fascinating info on each of these gifted artists by clicking on their names above.

Inspiration:

“I grew up in Georgia, and my mom would tell me how to perform and act. So I learned to repress a lot of myself so that other people would feel comfortable.” ~Amy Sherald

“It doesn’t matter how the paint is put on, as long as something is said.” ~Jackson Pollock

In the studio: As of Feb. 22, 2023, I’m working on the 100 day project. I have to say that I’m really enjoying it. It’s pushing me to do a little something creative each day. I did miss yesterday and the first couple of official days, however I had made five tiny pieces prior to the official start - I figure that gives me a bit of padding. I’m trying to be patient with myself and give myself grace. I missed yesterday because I’ve been in a bit of a funk. Strangely, a lovely artist Lisa Jayne Irvine (link: www.lisajayneirvine.com ) who has been my #100dayproject buddy after a fashion, messaged me this morning. My brain was in some seriously problematic worry loops through the night, so it was hugely helpful to text with another mother artist. It helped me to feel a lot more positive AND to remember to not allow myself to get overly stressed out about the project. It’s meant to be something playful, fun, and experimental. It’s good to touch base with another adult human being, especially when so much of my time is spent with the kiddos, homestead animals, plants, and inanimate art objects! I’m so thankful that she felt like messaging me this morning. Remember, when you feel like reaching out to a friend for whatever reason, your small action may make a bigger positive difference than you even imagined.

Below are some images of the direction my 100 day project is taking. I’m counting this blog post for yesterday and today’s creative practice ( 8/100 and 9/100) - every bit counts!

On the homestead: Here in Ohio I’m slowly but surely cleaning the asparagus patch in the garden. Papi cut down some Locust trees that had unfortunately grown up IN the garden. For those who are unfamiliar, these particular trees are as hard as woodpecker lips AND have giant thorns growing all over them. The boys were going to remove the branches and trunks from the area over the weekend to dump them in the woods, but they only completed one load in the Gravely. So that’s on the docket for this week for me now. Thankfully we’ve had some lovely, unseasonably warm weather, so J and I have been able to go outside and work in the morning while the boys are at school.

In hopes of spending an extended stay in Perú next winter - 3 to 4 months, as the Lord allows - I’m working on reducing the amount of things we own that we don’t actually use, including clothes, toys, and random shtuff. I’m painfully slow at this, so I find it some comfort that Marie Kondo herself is also struggling with keeping a tidy, minimalist home now that she has kiddos too. I’m very thankful for her book that helped me to focus on the things that “spark joy,” which has allowed me to appreciate yet part with things that bring more clutter than joy/utility to our familial existence. With that in mind, here are some photos of the area around the Jaguey homestead as we dream of and plan for our travels to our other home in Perú.

What are you working on in your creative practice? Are you making any plans for travel in the coming year? I’d love to know what you’re up to!