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DJ's Fiber Arts

Creatively unique artwork from fabric, wool, yarns, beads and more
"NO RULES, JUST ART®"
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When Nothing Feels Funny: Finding Humor in Resilience
Sometimes what we’re going through simply isn’t funny. But resilience doesn’t mean we have to laugh at the hard stuff. Sometimes it means making room for laughter anyway—and finding humor wherever we can, even if that means Jaws, dive-bombing bats, and a near miss with a very fashionable “bat hat.”
3 days ago3 min read


The Woman Who Learned to Make the Circle Bigger
What if the very thing that once made you feel like an outsider is actually one of your greatest gifts? From a childhood experience that made me afraid to create to becoming an artist and advocate for fiber art, I'm discovering that belonging doesn't mean becoming like everyone else. Sometimes we simply need to make the circle bigger.
Aug 125 min read


The People Who Help Us Carry the Load
There are seasons when strength isn't found in doing everything ourselves. It's found in the people who walk beside us. This reflection explores the quiet power of community, gratitude, and the village that helps us continue creating, healing, and moving forward.
Aug 63 min read


When Healing and Grief Walk Together
Healing and grief don't always happen one after the other. Sometimes they walk together. A personal reflection on loss, creativity, hope, and finding the courage to begin again.
Aug 12 min read


The Magic of "What If?"
Every work of art begins with one simple question: "What if?" Discover how curiosity, imagination, and the courage to explore inspire both creativity and life itself.
Jul 213 min read


Do Your Values Include You?
What if the kindness, compassion, and grace you so freely offer others also belonged to you? A simple question changed the way I think about self-care.
Jul 153 min read


The Woman My Younger Self Needed
The biggest transformations rarely happen all at once. They begin with quiet choices—offering ourselves compassion, honoring our limits, and becoming the person our younger self always needed.
Jul 62 min read


Welcome Back to My Colorful Mess
Healing doesn't always happen in dramatic moments. Sometimes it looks like standing in your studio, surrounded by fibers and possibilities, remembering what it feels like to create again.
Jun 292 min read


The Gift of "Me Too"
Sometimes the greatest gift another person can give us isn't advice—it's the simple reminder that we're not alone. This week, one artist's honest words reminded me that healing, creativity, and resilience grow stronger when we share our stories and support one another.
Jun 184 min read


When the Tower Falls
During a Creative Strength Training class, I discovered that the Tower isn't just an archetype—it's the moment life changes forever. Through my own journey of surgery, recovery, and unexpected setbacks, I realized healing isn't about returning to who we were. It's about becoming someone stronger than we ever imagined.
Jun 104 min read


I Had a Good Day
After weeks of surgery, infection, IV antibiotics, and recovery, a good doctor's appointment, a trip to Bisbee, and a very necessary nap reminded me that healing is about more than medicine—it's about living again.
Jun 64 min read


The Energy It Takes to Heal
Healing takes more than medicine. It takes patience, emotional strength, support, hope, and learning to slow down one day at a time. This week I’m sharing a deeply personal reflection on what healing really looks like.
May 283 min read


Fear and Strength Can Exist Together
After surviving a serious post-surgical infection and emergency surgery, artist Deb Deaton reflects on fear, emotional healing, vulnerability, and the unexpected art that emerged from the experience. A deeply personal story about intuition, survival, and continuing anyway.
May 213 min read


Healing Anyway: When Your Body Knows Before the Tests Do
After what should have been a routine recovery, I found myself fighting to be heard while my body was telling a different story. This is a reflection on advocacy, resilience, and healing through unexpected complications.
May 154 min read


Healing Anyway: When Slowing Down Becomes Part of the Work
A quiet reflection of healing, slowing down, and what it means to stay connected to your creativity - even when life asks you to move differently.
Apr 302 min read


Speaking Anyway: The Moment I Finally Said It Out Loud
A moment of fear, truth, and unexpected emotion led to something bigger—finding my voice and finally saying what I’ve never said out loud before.
Apr 222 min read


Creating Anyway: Finding Joy in the Middle of it All
A joyful reflection on creating through life’s busy and uncertain moments—learning to honor your energy, trust your creative rhythm, and continue making art anyway.
Apr 142 min read


The Work Behind the Work No One Sees
From the outside, everything may look like it’s flowing beautifully—but behind the scenes is a very different story. This is a personal look at what it really takes to create, teach, and keep showing up, even when life doesn’t slow down.
Apr 83 min read


I'm not Going Anywhere: My Next Chapter in Teaching
I’m not stepping away from teaching—I’m stepping into it more intentionally. Here’s what that means for my classes, my students, and what’s coming next.
Apr 23 min read


This Is What Showing Up Looks Like
Showing up isn’t always about perfect moments—it’s about stepping into what matters. A look into teaching, creative momentum, and preparing for the next chapter.
Mar 232 min read
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