I wasn't going to apply for the Calgary Stampede Dream Home Artist contest this year (didn't apply last year), however, they emailed me the application, so I decided to give it another go. Alas, I wasn't chosen, which is disappointing, and also a relief as I wasn't sure how I would be able to make it all happen if I had been chosen.
So far, 2025 has been a weird year - not just with everything that's been going on nationally and internationally, but there has been so much releasing - I'm calling it "situational releasing" - in my life that has been the result of choices OTHER people have made that have ended up having a very direct impact on MY life.
Thus, I made the really difficult choice to not renew Inner Circle this year. While I haven't really shared a lot about Inner Circle in these letters, it has been a HUGE part of my daily life - and my creativity. The past 5 years have brought many new friends, opportunities, fun, and adventures into my life. I'm certainly not the same woman I was when I joined in April 2020! I said a very, very tearful goodbye at our Inner Circle painting retreat on March 28th. I will really miss Amber and the other ladies in the group.
Then I received a phone call on April 3rd that the press that prints The Chautauqua for me is being closed at the end of April! Everyone is scrambling as that affects a number of newspapers in the province. At this point, I'm waiting for quotes from other presses, and to see what the other papers are doing. Not what I wanted to be dealing with after surviving last year’s insane price increase, and the other problems.
Too much falling apart in my life in too short a time period that I am not sure what direction is up, and what I’m supposed to be doing! I even had a handful of houseplants die! Inhale…exhale…………..
Celebrations:
I published two more comic strips in the paper and posted them online. Both were a repeat from last year.
Recently Completed:
Since the last newsletter...
I continue to play with the Walmart set of watercolours, plus I added in the remains of my Dollar Store set, in the second pad of 4x6 watercolour paper - not sure that mixing them was the best idea I’ve ever had, as they have such different textures, but I went with it. Though, now I won’t be able to use them for anything except playing around. You can see the flip-through here: https://www.facebook.com/beth.richardson.10/videos/1125042276097357
I still need to set up a dedicated space for my bits and pieces so I can complete more mini collages on 4.5x6 mixed media paper.
I completed my 36th cartoon comic booklet and you can view it here: https://www.facebook.com/beth.richardson.10/videos/2130746350695624
In Beth's Kitchen:
On March 14th, I mixed up some cinnamon buns (from Deanne Fitzpatrick's recipe - hookingrugs.com). Beth should not try cooking or baking when she doesn't have as much energy as she thinks (hopes) she has! It was a biscuit, not yeast, recipe so fairly quick and easy. I used chocolate milk as that’s what I had on hand. Turned out better than I expected.
March 15th was an experiment day. I found a recipe in a Company's Coming cookbook for mock chicken loaf (used chopped walnuts instead of ground chicken) so I gave that a try - worked well enough that it's worth making again! I froze half for future meals. I also made a no-bake nut pie crust and popped it in the freezer.
On March 18th, I made some more cinnamon buns - still used chocolate milk and I mixed some ground cloves with the cinnamon. OH. MY. YUM! They turned out MUCH better than the first batch so this recipe is definitely a keeper. I was going to add raisins and forgot, so hopefully next time.
March 21st was fun day in the kitchen. I made another no bake nut pie crust and popped it in the freezer. I tried a Tuscan burger recipe - used pecans for the “meat.” I had difficulty making the patties till I put on some latex gloves - I made the patties smaller, so got 10 instead of 6...I made another mock chicken loaf - I used cashews, oats for bread crumbs, plus I added chopped onions and other spices - this one even smelt like chicken loaf! And it tasted amazing! I froze half for future meals.
On March 31st, I made another batch of cinnamon buns - subbing some of the regular flour for almond flour - didn't work at all and I ended up with a very pathetic cinnamon square. Definitely won't do that again, and will stick to regular flour only.
April 2 I was excited to try a walnut date omelette recipe my cousin had shared. Sigh, there are some days that Beth should NOT be allowed in the kitchen (and if I had a personal chef, I'd definitely stay out on those days). I ended up burning the dates (not sure how), and the whole omelette somehow stuck to my lovely non-stick frying pan. So disappointing. I'm not sure if I'll try it again another day, or just give it a pass.
April 7th was a good kitchen day, I made a batch of the cinnamon buns - and they worked! - and a pumpkin raisin (with the raisins I forgot to put in the cinnamon buns even though they were right in front of my eyes!) baked oatmeal. The baked oatmeal went into the freezer for future meals.
Jigsaw Puzzles:
Since my last letter, I completed a 550 piece puzzle
UFO (UnFinished Object) Update:
My entire life feels like a UFO again!
Courses and Challenges (free and paid):
Era of Dreamers with Maria Aleandra and Sage Adderley: one of the ironies with this whole process is that last year I told the Aussies I was admitting that I’m not really into art journaling. Now, this journal does not HAVE to be an art journal, however, that’s the format/style that this is emerging for me. This feels like me saying I DON’T do collage, and then I’m suddenly creating mini collages almost daily! I have something started in each of the 5 sections now.
On March 21st, I signed up for Deanne Fitzpatrick's (paid) Playful Joyful Rug Hooking beginner course: The best part is that Deanne is Canadian, and I didn't have to worry about the insane exchange rate! I started watching the course on March 23rd. Deanne is a hoot, and I know I'm really going to enjoy this course. Our first project is a coaster, and I almost completed mine. I started using a crochet hook, which was okay, though I wasn’t entirely sure which hand to use - as a lefty I can use either depending on what I’m doing. As I crochet right handed (way I was taught), the hook felt comfy in my right hand, but I had more control with my left hand. So my coaster has “personality” as I experimented with each hand. I borrowed a proper hook from my artist neighbour (who introduced me to rug hooking last year) on April 4th, and find it easier to use in my left hand, so that’s what I’ll use to finish the coaster, and going forward.
Christa Forrest's Soulful Goddess Soul Cards (free) class: You can view the completed journal flip-through here: https://www.facebook.com/beth.richardson.10/videos/951501240111636
Kiala Givehand’s 7 Books in 7 Days course: I still have ideas for books I want to make.
Lou Reed's free Becoming Extraordinary year-long energy course: Well...I finished the introductory videos and exercises, and was stunned that the biggest energy/health issue for me was that I was spreading my energy too thin! What?! That will be the theme/issue I'll be focusing on for the rest of the course, so this could end up being a more interesting process than I first thought.
Amanda Sophia's free mini Divine Woman Awakening course (Celtic Wheel of the Year): We're in the season of Spring Equinox - a time of new beginnings and following your passions. As so much has been leaving my life, I'm at the threshold of new beginnings, yet I don't seem to have much "new" arriving yet. As for following passions, I started the hooked rug coaster, and I am streamlining my creative practices - so many were closely connected to Inner Circle so I will be assessing whether I want to continue them, tweak them, or drop them all together. So many changes! I've also been spending a LOT of time lately curled up on the couch reading through a large stack of books from the library - it's so nice to have a comfy reading spot again.
In Demi Fox’s Morgan Le Fay Wheel of the Year, Spring Equinox is the time of the Enchantress, which also corresponds to following passions and creating magic in your world.
Amanda Sophia’s free Geomancy & Land Healing course - I have been practicing dowsing with a couple of coathangers.
Physical Activity:
Rebounder: a minute every time I venture down to the basement is working for me so I do from 1 min/day to 8 min, depending on the day, my activity, and how I feel.
Chakradance - March 9th I did my 2nd slow 15 mins session and completed 1 mandala on cardboard. Next was a slow 15 mins on March 17th, and I finished another mandala on cardboard. March 23rd was an even slower 15 mins session, and I did my mandala on cardboard. What I like about this modality/process is that it doesn’t have to look or be the same each time.
"Mystery activity” I have done a little bit EVERY day for just over 32 weeks! A new record for me!!!!
Works in progress:
Currently, I'm working on...
- 13" round canvas (acrylics) Updated on March 28th at the Inner Circle painting retreat. I’ll be on my own to finish it now, and I decided to stay with the original timing so my next big painting session will be around Beltaine (May 1).
- watercolour play in 4x6 pad of watercolour paper
- cardboard play - Chakradance mandala
- painting (18-20?) ceramic Easter egg people from Gramma's craft kits (acrylics) - stalled right now
- Era of the Dreamers journal
Featured Art for Sale:
Upcoming Projects:
- I offer Pay-What-You-Can Distance Reiki/Energy Healing sessions. Energy healing works great from any distance and I've sent Reiki healing as far away as Queensland, Australia. Please, contact me to set up your healing session.
"I have been suffering with Long COVID for over a year and have tried every healing modality in the book to get my energy back. Beth has been gifting me with healing Reiki energy for quite some time now and I have, for the first time in over a year, started to feel like myself again. Much of my weakness has dissipated, and the dark cloud that I have been stewing under has lifted. Thank you Beth. ♥️" - Carla, Esthetician, Nova Scotia
Thanks for reading, and as always, feel free to share with anyone you think might enjoy it.
Beth
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Your support and kindness are always greatly appreciated, and I look forward to bringing you joy and inspiration! Thank you so much and have a marvellous day!
