AUTHOR: Monica Lee TITLE: Beauty Comes in Many Forms DATE: 10:05 AM ----- BODY:

I have been thinking alot about the beauty that comes from order. There is a magical mood enhancer that takes place when we "clean up". Have you ever felt that satisfaction that comes from completely cleaning a room? Sometimes cleaning the clutter from our lives can clean it out of our minds also. I personall can work with a messy, chaotic art table but not a chaotic studios or house! This week I have found daily rituals-like simply picking up after myself and putting things back where they belong to be quite freeing. I had the flu after the holidays and an art assignment that was due at the same time which led everything else in my life to completely be neglected. My christmas ornaments clung to my tree for dear life as the branches drooped to the floor. My holiday decorations were hidden by stacks of kleenex and I don't even want to tell you what was growing in my refridgerator! When I started feeling better and the art was sent off, I went about the business of cleaning up. It almost held a mediative quality, I went to extra mile and hit the baseboards and put decoartions away without pulling new nic nacks out. I liked the new simplicity. It was having a pristine piece of white drawing paper placed in front of me. I enjoyed just the fact that I had enough physical energy to do these tasks and I began to clean humbly and lovingly. When I was done with the clean-up I moved on to some new art the flowed easily and I then began to finish some projects that I have been putting off. I painted my bedroom yesterday! And I finished a knit handbag that was half done-I am just a beginner and I managed to finish it by myself! What is in store for today? Maybe just to rest in the beauty of clean white blank paper! Here is my little bag, thanks for the pattern Rachel!

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