Over the past few years, I have picked up and put down the paint brush a few times.  I thought after attending my first Squam Art Workshops in 2008 and being surrounded by so much creativity, that I'd come home and just start painting. I did for a little while but it didn't last long. When I came home from last years workshop, the paint brush didn't make it out at all. Of course I was surrounded by so much creativity and support, you would think that was the spark I needed. But there were so many other other things going on in my life, selling my house, moving, ending a relationship, that painting or any other creative endeavors were not at the top of my list.

Last month, I spent 5 days with the lovely and talented, Swirly Girl in her studio and that's what did it.

I didn't paint a thing while I was there, but as I finished the last nap of the trip (I napped a lot), I had an idea for a piece I wanted to do as soon as I got home.  I'm still working on that piece and will share pictures once its finished but since returning from LA, I have been flooded with all kinds of ideas.  That creative spark has been lit and I am running with it.  This blog was an idea that came to me yesterday while driving in the car and it took about 5 hours for it to come to fruition.

I'm not sure the 'lesson' in this but I do know that I want to run with all these ideas while they are fresh.  Maybe the lesson is that napping in a studio surrounded by so much creativity will spark the ideas.  Or that napping is just good for the soul.