Wednesday's Creative Women Who Inspire Us

Say that three times really fast!

Since you've been through orientation now, I bet you were thinking you were going to be tuning into Wacky Wednesday and whacking a cool idea today. Oh! But wait, the team throws you a curve ball and for March where each Wednesday will be used to tell you about a woman who has influenced us creatively. I immediately began pondering the women in my past and current life. I thought about it in the shower, while I was driving and while doing the dishes. I wrote a piece about a girl who influenced me but I decided it didn’t fit the Highlowaha spirit and it wasn't that she inspired me creatively as much as she just inspired me. So, I pondered some more, shifted gears and today I am proud to tell you about my aunt, Cynthia.

Cynthia is a Speech Pathologist, wife to Richard, mother to Kimberly and new grandmother to Tyrian. She’s great with kids. They know their boundaries with her. She’s all about having fun but she doesn’t take any attitude. She says what she means and means what she says. She always has a fun alternative to offer without caving into a complaining child. I have never seen her nerves ruffled by a child. She is someone to model after, for sure. She recognizes peoples strengths and encourages them to work at them.

Cynthia is the social butterfly of my mom’s family. The glue. She calls each of her siblings every weekend to make sure everyone is doing well. I think they even have a conference call now so all 6 of them can chat at once. She also coordinates our annual family reunion in Wimberley, Texas where my family gathers to enjoy the river, play games, catch up and just work on any project that does not include TV or Internet.

At one of the annual family reunions, I was drawing with pencils and some graphic markers. Actually, I was drawing my fish lips! I was complaining about how the markers dried up quickly. She told me about Tria Letraset pens. They have 3 tips verses the two tips I had on my markers and are able to be refilled. They are what I use today to draw Ray. They're not cheap but if you are looking for a good pen, Letraset is the way to go. You don't have to toss them, you just refill them. You can find them online or at your favorite art supply store. I stress art store because your local Michael's or Hobby Lobby probably will not carry them.

She is a member of a stamping group and she makes the cutest greeting cards ever. She was busy getting ready for her daughters baby shower this year so the boys didn’t get a custom made card for their birthdays and it didn’t go unnoticed but we understand. They're the cards I don't throw away. Who am I kidding. I don't throw away a lot of cards but hers definitely do not go near the trash pile. Last week, one of her stamping buddies held a class on a topic called Zentangles and Cynthia sent me some links along with this youtube video.

Pretty cool, huh?

My memory isn’t what it used to be but it seemed like she always had some craft project going whether it was the rug hooking or cross stitching. Per my request, she made me this cross stitch piece when I graduated with my Bachelors of Art degree in Art. It will eventually find a place of honor when I get my junk room organized into my art studio because I need the reminder!

I love that she is technologically savvy. She’s always trying out the newest gadgets. Do you remember way back in the 80’s when Apple first introduce the personal Mac. She had one and she wasn't afraid to let the kids play with it showing us how to use the paint software and such. Technology has come a long way since then, right? When the iPhone came out, she got one. And she knows how to use it, too. She's always pulling something up on the Internet or showing someone else how to use the camera feature on their own phone. I was thinking I HAD to have one so I could blog from anywhere but realized right away that typing a whole blog on it was not going to be an easy task and I saved my money. She also has the Flip camera though I haven’t seen any movies from it.

So you can see why I chose my Aunt Cynthia as a creative influence on my life. It's her knowledge of new and fun products and tips and her willingness to share them with me and others that is so much fun. Her infectious laugh doesn't hurt either.

Here's my attempt at Zentangles. I didn't get to finish because I have that whole fitness contest going on right now so I ran out of time. I think anyone can do this. Maybe even you!

Signing off until tomorrow...