FEATURED ARTIST: Melba McMullin
Who I am: Melba McMullin
Where you can find me:
Be Alive Believe Be You personal blog
Create a Connection collaborative blog
justBe…Connected creative bloggers gathering
justBe…art by Melba McMullin etsy shop
Melba, please tell us about yourself.
I am Creative Blogger, Mixed Media Artist, and Visual Journalist. I am the host of justBe…Connected, a gathering for Creative Bloggers which is taking place in Cape Cod, MA on October 12 - 14 2007. I am also the host of the collaborative blog, Create a Connection. I post my journal pages and creative challenges on my personal blog, Be Alive Believe Be You. My art is for sale at justBe…art by Melba McMullin. I am married and the stay at home Mama to Ethan and Maggie. You can contact me at melbamcmullin@comcast.net.
What do you create?
Fostering Connections for Creative Bloggers is what I feel is part of my life’s calling.
I also create altered art using Mixed Media. My favorite items that I alter and sell are small canvases, books, boxes, and jars.
What are your favorite techniques and/or supplies?
I LOVE Mod Podge and scraps of paper; you can really alter anything this way. I also LOVE to journal with color. I like using SARASA colored gel pens and acrylic crayons.
Tell us about your creative process.
I am always creating. I carry my journal and some pens with me EVERYWHERE. I never know when inspiration will strike. I jot down ideas or write an entry that I will later post on my blog.
I have an ordinary gift box bottom that I altered and use to carry my supplies around with. The box comes with me from room to room. It is the home for my journal, pens, small scissor, glue stick, wire, and a few plastic bags full of scraps of paper and life (like stickers from fruit and tags from clothing).
The rest of my supplies I keep in my studio (aka the living room that we never use).
In what ways do you live artfully?
Since becoming a stay at home mom 3 years ago I create EVERYDAY. :)
Do you sell your art? If so, where is it available for purchase?
I just started selling at Craft fairs. I also recently opened an Etsy store: justBe…Art by Melba McMullin.
What is your personal motto or mantra?
My mantra is Om Mani Padmi Hum. I say it over and over again to calm down or when I need to clear my head or when I feel restless or anxious.
I also write:
I Believe…
It helps me have faith in where I am
My favorite prayer is the prayer of St.Francis Assisi. I say it a dozen times a day.
How do you seek balance between family, art, and your other priorities?
Fortunately my children (4 and 3) like to play together! I try to multi task and involve my children in whatever I am doing. I love when My Maggie says “Mama you have glue hands!” Then she knows she has to wait until I am done for me to do whatever it is she is asking.
I am still working on the balance…I think it is something that you constantly have to reevaluate …sometimes on a minute to minute basis… As soon as I realized this…that balance is a process and not a destination…I was able to embrace the Rhythm of my life and live more creatively.
What is justBe…Connected?
justBe…Connected will gather Creative Bloggers together for friendship, food, fun, workshops, and an exciting Creative Bazaar open to the public.
What inspired you to dream up justBe… and what prompted you to turn that dream into a reality?
Blogging changed my life. Before blogging I was searching…. through blogging I have found my soul mates, my creative life, myself, my home… Blogging has really had that profound of an effect on me.
I wanted to meet all these wonderful supportive souls in person. There were no gathering at the time in New England so I thought the only way to meet these creative, supportive souls was to host one… because with two toddlers and no disposable income traveling to a pre-existing retreat/workshop/conference was out of the question.
When is justBe…Connected and how can we sign up?
justBe…Connected will take place October 12 -14, 2007 in Cape Cod, MA
A Full Registered justBe…Connected Package costs $300. (Only 75 of these packages are available.)
Vendors can host a table at The Creative Bazaar, a huge indie craft show open to the public on Saturday from 11-6.
More information about justBe…Connected is here.
More information about The Creative Bazaar is here.
You can download a vendor application here.
What are your future creative goals?
I love hosting Create a Connection and I love participating in Craft Shows.
I would also love for justBe…Connected to be an annual event.
Bringing my creative dream to life has been a challenge at times; a Labor of Love so to speak. I am open to all the possibilities living a creative life has to offer.
Be sure to visit Melba at the links below… and go make your muse happy by signing up for justBe…Connected!
· Be Alive Believe Be You personal blog
· Create a Connection collaborative blog
· justBe…Connected creative bloggers gathering
· justBe…art by Melba McMullin etsy shop
Subscribe via RSS
Subscribe by Email
1
Melba, thank you so much for sharing your creativity and vision with us! Wishing you much success with justBe…Connected and all your artful endeavors!
P.S. Have you read Wayne Dyer’s There’s a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem? It is based on the prayer of St.Francis Assisi. I highly recommend it; it had a profound impact on my life.
June 21st, 2007 at 1:07 pm2
Thank you Melanie!!!
I have read some excerpts from some of Wayne Dyer books, but not the one you suggested. I will check it out soon!
XO,
June 21st, 2007 at 1:49 pmmelba
3
Nice journal
June 21st, 2007 at 7:00 pm4
I love what you wrote about balance being a process and not a destination. That really rang true for me. I keep searching for balance, but the truth is that it’s something I have to make minute by minute.
Lately I’ve been asking myself, “What is the most loving use of my time?” and it’s a really revealing question to ask yourself multiple times each day.
June 28th, 2007 at 12:45 pm