Silent Teacher

The silence that lingers in one's mind can cause some of the deepest feuds that we carry with us, it can also be the greatest teacher and looking glass into who we truly are.

One of the best things, in my opinion, is silence and to focus on the myriad of synapses firing. To take away all worry and confusion that life throws our way and to sit back with the burn of your eyelids -due to lack of sleep- the churning of your stomach -due to confusion and anxiety- and listen...internally to what your mind has to say!

Take comfort in your thoughts, even when others think you are crazy and your logic a bit twisted...that could be a hidden complement, who really wants stoic thoughts that are often broadcast loudly...take the odd bits and relish them, embrace your uniqueness, and enjoy the thought of who you are, even when you feel so lost and void of connection.

I write this to everyone who may be forgetting the reason we must also celebrate our truest selves, don't forget the beautiful gift you are this holiday season and let your uniqueness shine...

to me that is the holiday spirit...letting ourselves out, and letting others embrace who we are...even if it is just your cat...

Happy Holidays!

Feastless Flatware Bowl

I had such a joy creating this welded bowl of recycled and vintages silverware. The only flatware used is spoons and forks for this little 6" bowl with a 8.5" opening.

I have listed this on my ETSY store site and each one is custom made at the time of order.

The joy of mixing the hard and soft of fire and metal was exhilarating. I also made a Charlie Brown style Christmas Tree and will get that on here and ETSY shortly. I just need to create a latch system to ship the tree and storage brake down.

This bowl works in almost any home and if you would like I can make a medium sized bowl and a larger one. They are truly functional art!

Thankful

As Thanksgiving has come and gone I often am reminded, like tonight of the variety and power that life has to offer. As I sat by the fire reading my latest find and listening to the power of the rain hitting the earth and spatter down off the gutter-less roof, how beautiful and calm life can be. How immense the world is and the hidden joys that force your senses to remember why it is you take a chance at this thing called...life!

And now as I write I am joined by my best companion, one that crosses boundaries of species. I sit and write with breaks every couple words to reach down and pick up the "twisty tie" that Sebastyan brings to me...this is her favorite toy to play fetch with. And the boundaries she crosses...well did I mention that she is a cat, and yes she really does play fetch, a game she learned as a kitten when I would open my mail. The sound of ripping paper is a trigger and if you roll it into a ball she enthusiastically jumps, and runs and is very fond to forget that she is not a dog...and I love that about her.

I must say honestly that the surprises of life and the constant change, even though at times scary, is truly what makes it worth living. Constant comfort and fear to try new things I hope to always keep at bay, I love the adventure!

New to Blogging

It amazes me how hesitant I am about opening up and letting the literary need flow out onto paper/screen in cyberspace. I love to write, I am a passionate writer...yet blogging has been a learned challenge. I hope to remedy this from this post forth!

recollecting the vision of Morocco:

As I exited the flight, there was a round man standing at about 5'5" holding a small white sign directing us to the VIP section. My shoes made a quite clink as I walked, step over step to a secluded door. I hesitantly handed over my passport to a man who quickly walked out of the room leaving us to soft leather couches and green tea brewed with fresh mint and much sugar. ( a wonderful daily occurrence throughout my ventures in Morocco as tea is tradition, and those who know me, well my soul is not complete without tea to say the least).

The small tubular glasses that the tea called home warmed my hands and my heart and within minutes I felt a comfort and almost, as the saying goes, at home. The delicately engraved silver tea pot with a 6 inch long spout came to refill my disappearing liquids. The smell of slow brewed tea leaves can not pass through your olfactory glands without causing an unintended smile, and yes they are contagious, and the tea pourer knew precisely why a smile crossed my face at that moment...and then I understood the custom of tea to strangers. It crosses the language barrier and causes warmth between cultures with no use of words or heavy explanation, just a simple sip will do!

I hope you get the chance to enjoy a great cup of tea today, I am off to have one!

Orphanage in LaAyoune

There is so much that occurred in a small 9 day period in Africa, so I will write about pieces or my blog would become a book!

Down in South Morocco in a city called LaAyoune we were lucky to meet with many people, their La Wal (above what we call Governor) and many people that were victims from the Camps in Tindufu, and hospitals, and then the orphanage of "abandoned children."

A lot of the work I do through Highwire and threading hope is in orphanages and hospitals so it was great to get to see the children. The orphanage itself is amazing clean and well organized, I was so impressed...and of course the child was so adorable. One little girl would not let me go staff had to come and pull her away...ouch to the heart strings.

This trip was amazing and had days full of hard to hear reality that we documented, to days full of hope with excitement from the Kings foundation for my art projects and quilts to come to the country again and help the people! I hope to be back there again within a year and start my work...there are over 202 orphanages...lots to do!

Morocco's Wonders

I am working on resting and re-acclimation to life at home. I had a wondrous trip to Morocco and met many amazing people, and there was also chance meetings like the one I had with the Women for Democracy, from Seattle, and we met at a woman of parliament's house in Morocco, life is full of great surprises.

will fill you in on greater detail once my mind fills back with complete thought is not fogged by exhaustion.

Africa is Here

Well, I have been waiting to hear this amazing news about Africa and moving forward in my ventures of Humanitarian work...and it is here!

I will be leaving on Nov. 5th and returning on the 14th with lots to tell you. I am heading to Morocco via Arizona, to Atlanta to Paris, and landing is Casablanca! I believe I will have internet access so I will be able to keep you posted, but if I can not I will be full of information upon my return!!

Highwire - bridging cultural gaps through art

So I know I stated that when I started this blog I would be featuring some things from the past work I have done throughout....so here is one of those times.

I would like to share an experience that I was lucky to have in developing my humanitarian company, "Highwire" where I go to third world, worn torn countries and teach are to children. It is a wonderful exchange of culture and is always so humbling. The first trip that kick started this endeavor was an aid delivery trip to El Salvador.

I went to an orphanage in Soyapongo, El Salvador. I was able to teach a footprint lesson where the children draw inside their own traced foot, about where they would like their feet to take them...pretty much they put their dreams inside the outline of their foot.

It was stunning most children wanted a home, trees and a bicycle! They were a wonderful group, and after the lesson we always pass out the art supplies so that the children are able to keep creating well after we leave.

Cancer Walk

On Sunday my mom and I and our breast cancer awareness bunny went for a 3 mile walk in support of Breast Cancer Awareness with the Cancer Society.

There was a great turn out and many people had their survivor banners on!

Speaking of survivors we have sold our first 1/10 Breast Cancer Awareness Bunny to a wonderful woman who is celebrating her 10th year this December...being cancer Free!!!!

Hope to see many of you in April for the Susan G. Komen walk for the cure!

Artistic Journaling

Thoughts to Share:

Do you ever feel like a fugitive in your own life, running from society specific roles mimicking laws (but of course not quite as illegal), and never knowing where your nomadic nature fits?

life's transitions can be so humbling and yet confusing and completely terrifying at times, and remembering that this is the exciting times of uncertainty that progress the Phoenix process along...is all to often easy to forget!

tis the life of an artist...the constant struggle of what to do for income ...I have always hated the staving artist statement and don't truly believe it....but sadly at times you feel it! To make a living doing what you love is the ultimate goal, now the tricky part is to enjoy whatever I pick to do while I work on that dream!

I do believe in dreams and know in my heart that I am working my ass off to achieve them and one day will look back and laugh at this outrageous posting and wonder who is this mildly nervous girl and where is the kick ass girl I knew and and am today! To that girl....Here I come, Life is Waiting!

Thanks for letting me vent if anyone reads this...thanks for your eyes navigating my emotional writings like a good therapist..except without the bill!

Eco-Modern Home

Tonight and most of today has been devoted to the creation of modern, simplistic pillows that hold true to the eco-friendly nature of my contemporary home line.

I hope to add many other elements and move forward with the hand made goods and inspiration that envelopes me lately. I am excited about the beauty of contrasting neutrals, and pops of color on the organic cotton pillow covers. They are made with organic materials and recycled remnants are used as the appliqued forms, it has been fun and my first two pillows are complete, here is the first one.

I look forward to sharing them with you! and best wishes to all the creative souls out there creating as I type, the energy that comes from creation is soothing and spectacular... good luck with your ventures and keep that mind a turnin!

Susan G. Komen

dl-dolls is now creating a limited edition doll using pinks as inspiration and 15% going to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation.

It is our breast cancer awareness doll. Made with 100% organic cotton, 100% bamboo natural fiber filler, and using pink threads and vintage buttons to make each of these truly unique. We are only making 10 of these collectible limited edition dolls for 2009, each one number and comes with a certificate of authenticity. We will have them up on our site www.dl-couture.com (www.dl-dolls.weebly.com) and on ETSY www.danelllynn.etsy.com soon.

Don't forget to order the pink accessory knitted scarf to keep your bunny warm this winter!

Ohh Options

The conundrum of life is ever daunting on which direction you are to travel, and what path is right...and are you on the correct one?

We are filled with constant inspirations and life moments that move us, even in our most silent times, but to pick through this over active imagination and know which thoughts are keepers and which are too small and should be thrown back, continually encompasses me.

I would love to sit down and complete chapters of my book tonight, but as I linger on words and the possibilities they hold...tonight...I easily become overwhelmed with multi-directional motivation...



Ahh but Tea, such a comfort and my truest addiction...thank you to Tea!

Creation of AZ Cardinals gown

Today I uploaded the most recent creation of dl-couture, being the Arizona Cardinals Gown made out of official AZ Cardinals Game Jerseys and signed by the NFC Championship Team. This gown is up for auction on www.dl-couture.com and 100% of the proceeds go to charity.

Please feel free to forward this on to as many people as you would like, it all helps get the word out there! We are hoping to deliver a nice check to Partners in Malawi to help build their inpatient and pediatric wards for the sickest of the sick. ( www.partnersinmalawi.org )

Motivational Lecture

Recently enjoyed a trip up to Heber, Arizona as the Keynote Speaker at an FCCLA conference. I thoroughly enjoyed speaking to so many high school students with such interest in fashion and redesigning their lives.

My lecture was titled "You CAN not do it ALL" and was a testament to the fact that you can follow more than just one dream!

It was a pleasure after the lecture to judge the fashion show made of all recycled materials and I was honored to pick the overall winners, San Carlos High School. There were over 180 students at the camp and many had great questions.

International Day of Peace

Earlier this week Threading Hope (a humanitarian entity of dl-couture) was honored to carry our quilt for the second year in a row. This year we were the lead in the International Day of Peace Parade! It is a special day celebrated around the world hoping to spread peace and understanding of varying cultures.

Threading Hope makes and donates quilts to children and families in need throughout the world. We are always needing quilt donations that can be made from scrap fabric you have laying around...if you are a quilter or know quilters please refer them to http://www.dl-couture.com/ and check out the Threading Hope page. Or you can go directly to the Threading Hope page: http://www.threadinghope.weebly.com/ Thank you for you support in this great venture. We look forward to all refferals and questions. For more information you can also email info@dl-couture.com

New Doll Creations

dl-Dolls came about in wanting to make something special with my elegant fabric scraps from around the world that I use for my custom gowns for dl-couture. From that spurred the idea of using recycled fabrics from quilter Kristina Green, and travel fabrics from adventures, and any keepsake that clients send us...turning that baby blanket into a keepsake creation, to our larger line of Eco-Friends. All dolls are hand made and each has there own personality, and hand pick trims and buttons!


Eco-Friends have hit the web! I am so pleased with the most recent creation of using 100% organic cotton and 100% bamboo antibacterial all natural fiber fill for our custom dolls. We have just listed our first one for sale on ETSY and look forward to many varieties and custom orders to come. http://www.etsy.com/ search for eco-friends cuddly rabbit or you can also visit my ETSY store at: http://www.danelllynn.etsy.com/

Excite the Soul

For years I have been told to focus on one of my passion, and stick to painting, or writing, or design...well I am proud to say I ignored that advice with all my heart!

I want to do some past sharing of what has transcribed for the last 2 years as I have worked on building my businesses and chasing my dreams...
It all began when life changed...as it does... and heartache approaches, but gives you a window as the door closed and I started painting again, then I opened a studio in the Federal Building in Flagstaff, AZ, then added my design studio onto that. I worked and built my business here for a year.

I met great people in the supportive art community and spent most of my teaching salary on business books and how to make a living as a starving artist. The adventure has been great and as I look back on 2 years of 16 hour days I can say with pride there is too much positive to share it all. (for more infor please see my sites: www.dlfineartist.com and www.dl-couture.com ) My blogs will be intermixed with work from my past to allow people to get to know me and be a part of my journey.

It all began with a call from my greatly supportive brother, "there is a new gallery opening in CA and I think you should check it out." The spiral came fast and www.dlfineartist.com became a reality...to this day I am so thankful for the push! It was my first gallery group show, I had 11 works in there...the gallery later closed but that was the kick I needed to begin chasing my dreams and living life in a forward spiral! Thanks again B!

Blogs Beginnings

My cousin has been telling me that I need to put all my thoughts and creative endeavors into a blog...to share with all those that want to follow the adventures in chasing your dreams and letting the artistic soul grow and flourish. I must say I was so scared to begin because I feel manic somedays with all the directions I go in and did not want to overwhelm people, but she assures me that is the beauty of it all and of the blog - world...I am glad to be a part! I look forward to sharing my adventures in humanitarian trips, art, design, travel and literature.

I will try to blog 2 times a week although travel will keep me at times away, but I will fill you in on what hurdles my company's have climbed and the newest brain spasms that continue to conjure up art played out in a variety of ways.