A book cover by Cal, with a Swirly stamp by Crescendoh {Cal said, especially since this was created in our "book in a day" class, there should also be a stamp called "Today...Finish ;) }

I’ve decided to title this post 'Squam 2010', because as I sit down to write this I realized that I never did return to share a second post about my time at Squam Art Workshops this past June.  And for the record, I did not get nearly as many pictures as I’d like to, especially of everyone’s AWESOME creations, so this is just a sampling to share with you.

A continuous honor to be invited and spend time with those of you coming to be creative, this was my fourth time in a row teaching at Squam and it’s funny because, the number 4, there must be something with the number 4? I say this because this year was also my fourth year blogging and essentially my fourth year in business with this incarnation of Creative Thursday. Something happens when you turn 4. I know I’m taking the long approach to making my point here, but hang in.

Lately I’ve come up with this analogy, where I’ve been equating the growth of a business with the growth of a child. First you birth an idea, and then you have an infant, then a couple of years in you have a toddler and then a couple of years after that you have a small child. 

That’s where I’m at, that also happens to be where Squam Art Workshops is at. Having a 'small child' while still challenging, is an overall lovely experience.  Four years in, you’ve got some of this journey as an entrepreneur figured out. Your business has a life of it’s own and it’s not quite so dependent upon you. And while there is new, there will always be new, you are mostly familiar with how this business is functioning, and this causes you to start feeling a sense of ease that didn’t exist in the same way in all the years before. 

a painting by Sally

That’s where I am going with all of this and the point I want to make with Squam, and my experience this time around. Four times in and I feel an overall sense of peace, ease and understanding, and since this was the fifth Squam Art Workshops session in New Hampshire, it seemed to carry the same feeling. There was a flow, a congruency to this time at Squam that was particularly wonderful to be a part of.

Elizabeth, SAW’s founder, said a wise thing the first night everyone arrived and I’ve heard her say this before, but not quite as clearly as I heard it this time around. She said something to the affect of "Try to come into SAW with no expectations. Whether you’ve been here before or it’s your very first time, allow it to be it’s own experience". And she’s right. 

daily painting class

For the record, there is just something incredibly special about this gathering, the people who choose to come and the location where it is held that cannot be mistaken, and is felt each and every time I’ve attended. However, whether the same people attend, whether I teach the same class or not, each session has it’s own personality, and it is indeed it’s own experience, also because I’m different every time I attend.  I think it gets squirrely when anyone of us who attends more than once, holds on to prior times, expecting each time before to be just like the last. This is what has me thinking about what happens when any one of us is a few years into to any kind of a life experience, not to mention life itself ;) 

 a painting by Becky

Because the flip side of having a four year comfort level with something that is the same, is the potential to overlook the new, or fit something into a box and not allow it to continue to expand, which squeezes out the possibility for any new wonderful times to happen in place of what was. Somewhere in my mind, I felt like once I figured out this business, or teaching or whatever it may be that I have the opportunity to become familiar with, that that would sort of be it. But nope. I know this intellectually, I’m sure you do too, right? the saying "the only thing constant is change", but somehow I hoped {if you’ve been a reader of my blog for a while, this might sound familiar} I might reach some plateau where something would be all figured out. But that’s just not how it goes. Instead what I think I have figured out is to stop trying so hard to figure it all out, and instead, stay open to how everything in my life, both professionally and personally evolves,  and to do my best to arrive at all of my experiences being the best person I can be in that moment. 

Not entirely sure if I’m making sense with this post, as often is the case, new insight becomes clear as I write but there is a wonderful ease that comes with years of growing a business or returning to a retreat, or getting to know a person. The secret is to remember that all of these experiences, people, including you, will continue to evolve, and not to let the familiarity override your willingness to see the new within the very same experiences and people you have come to know. 

A gocco print by Melody

In summary, Squam Art Workshops both 2009, and 2010. I’ve met some of the most amazing people through this retreat, people I stay in touch with and am honored to call close friends. I’m always blown away by the talent of the teachers and the attendees. I’ve learned just how much I love to teach. The lake continues to be one of the most beautiful places on the planet and the macaroons, let’s just say I had more than one. 

A special thank you to everyone who attended mine and Christine’s classes. You continue to impress upon me just how much I truly "believe everyone is creative". Thanks Swirly Pearl for another very fun "Book in a Day" class. Thank you Noel for so very much. Thank you Peg for all your help. Oh good Lord, now it sounds like I’m giving a an oscar acceptance speech. And thank you everyone...oh boy does this list goes on and on and on. And thank you again Elizabeth for inviting me to be part of such a special time.