Jane Heinrichs 1/7/19 Jane Heinrichs 1/7/19

Out with the old....

I turned the page on the 2019 calendar. It’s week two, and things are starting to swing into routine. I have projects to focus on, and I’ve entered a bushel of new illustration deadlines into my calendar. Hopefully all that work will reap a full creative harvest!

This morning, in an effort to bring my studio and my house in line with my newfound sense of openness, I brought a car-load full of odds and ends to the charity shop. As I walked away, my feet felt lighter, and my shoulders felt un-burdened.

The question is… can I maintain that feeling of space and lightness? Can I let go of the old, and resist the urge to fill the gaps at home?

They say nature “abhors a vacuum”. When I weed a patch of my garden, it doesn’t take long for the bare earth to be covered in freshly sprouted seedlings.

I hope my house doesn’t start sprouting clutter-seedlings while I’m not looking!

My mantra for the week is “Out with the old, and not in with the new.” There’s time for the new. We can wait for it. The “right” new things will come when we’re ready for them. In the mean time, the extra space and silence is wonderful.

Jane Heinrichs 10/1/18 Jane Heinrichs 10/1/18

Thank-you for everything

Confession: I wasn’t going to post this sketch, because I was upset with myself that the letters in the last word “Thanks” didn’t stay on a straight line.

Then, I realized that I could be grateful for the imperfections as well. It’s easy to be grateful for all the wonderful things in our lives. But what about the things that stop to make us think, or teach us a lesson, or force us to grow and change, or make tough decisions?

Maybe we should be doubly grateful for those things, for they are a catalyst for us to grow and change.

October is a month of gratitude for us in our house. Canadian Thanksgiving falls in October, as well as my Dad’s birthday, my father-in-law’s birthday, my daughter’s birthday, and our wedding anniversary. There is so much to celebrate, but also, so much to remember.

What are you grateful for today? I’m sure there are some easy answers, but are there some not-so-obvious ones as well? You don’t have to answer below if you don’t want. But I’d be happy if you paused to think about it for a few minutes. Be thankful for that hard thing, it might be more of a blessing than you realize.

Jane Heinrichs 9/6/17 Jane Heinrichs 9/6/17

Month in review and September Goals

And so, the summer has ended. The morning air is crisp and cool, with the scents of falling leaves and ripening apples wafting on the breeze. The light streaming through our window is now thin and golden, like the jewel-like light piercing stained glass windows in an ancient church. There is something reverential about the autumn, and it makes me want to rededicate myself to my vocation (artist, mother, author).

I'm making lists on sticky notes, and they are accumulating around me like piles of brightly coloured autumn leaves. Lists of things to draw, things to write, things to do with Little One (henceforth known as "Em"). The writing of the lists is as satisfying as doing any of the projects or tasks. They're really just frigates for my dreams, allowing my mind to wander and my hands to scribble.

The mists and rains of September have rolled in, drenching the garden with soft, silvery drops. Purple leaves scatter our small patch of velvety green grass... made extra soft by the light rains that are as much a slowly descending mist as actual rainfall. Every morning we pop our heads outside to count the "diamond raindrops" hanging on the leaves of the roses and jasmine. The air has burst to life with a thousand fragrances: damp lavender, drooping roses, ripening blackberries in Richmond Park (dark, syrupy and sweet).

After a deeply inhaling the rich bouquet of autumn, I return back indoors with my cup of coffee to sit in my studio and dream of the month ahead.

Monthly September Goals

It is a season of intense change and I am relishing the newness of everything. We arrived home from Canada over a week ago, and adjusting to being back home (and the time away) has inspired some changes to our daily routines, either to make things simpler, or more enjoyable.

This September is a month of NEW: new rhythms, new projects, and a new expectations

Big goals

1. Start my new book project with joy.

2. Start compiling our annual family photo book. I'm late to start this year, and there will be a lot photos to sift through. But I'm looking forward to reliving the happy memories we've created as a family.

3. Write an "I Can Read" level story. I'm struggling to start into any writing projects at the moment, as they all feel too daunting. But an I Can Read story is max 1500 words, so it's something I could draft in a few days; it is a way to dip my feet into the wide ocean of fiction writing again. I'm brainstorming ideas, and hope to have the courage to start soon!

Weekly Goals for September

1. Write more blog posts.

2. Read a book a week.

3. Stick to my grocery budget.

Daily Goals for September

1. Writing

2. Daily drawings

3. Yoga

4. Read a poem a day

5. Play piano

Highlights of August

Books Read

This month took literary trips to Florence, Paris and Austin!

1. "The secret ways of perfume" Cristina Caboni. I loved the way the author used fragrances to show mood and setting in this novel.

2. "The ingredients of love" Nicholas Barreau. Set in Paris. I'm doing a lot of armchair traveling lately!

3. "Jane of Austin" Hillary Manton Lodge. A fun novel based on Sense and Sensibility and set in Austin Texas. I highly recommend this one!

Now it's your turn!

What are your goals for the month? What are the accomplishments from the past month that you're proud of? Leave your thoughts in the comments. I'll pick one of you and send you a special surprise from my studio in the mail. I love sending real mail; I love hearing your thoughts; and I love making you happy!

Roses and Japanese Anemones from our garden.