DAISY A. HICKMAN
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Thank you Laurie Buchanan for the Versatile Blogger Award in 2012. Find a link to Laurie's site below.
In May of 2011, this award was given to SunnyRoomStudio by Trish Nicholson, a New Zealand author & photographer. Find a link to her site below.
Thanks, C. Lee McKenzie, for this award in 2010. Find a link to this wonderful young adult author below.
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Thanks, Mary Montague Sikes, for this 2010 award. Find a link to this author below.
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Thank you author C. Lee McKenzie for the Stylish Blogger award in May of 2011.
Category Archives: Creativity
Interview with Shirley Showalter
A Voice that Sings with Shirley Showalter Somehow, when I launched SunnyRoomStudio in early 2010, I discovered Shirley Hershey Showalter. Intent on writing a memoir of her own one day, she had committed herself to reviewing 100 memoirs. Did she reach her goal? Of course! To say that I was inspired by her approach and [...]
Also posted in Studio Guests, Writing & Writers Tagged 100 Memoirs, author, Fetzer Institute, Gail Sheehy, Goshen College, Mary Oliver, memoir writing, Mennonite, Shirley Showalter, Thomas Merton Comments closed
Spring Notes (5)
Spring Notes (5) Brief meditation posts for spring. Enjoy. As a writer, a poet, I live with my ear to the ground. Listening. Silence being the great conductor of creativity. Without that deep pause, without reflection, my thoughts would spin with repetition and mere habit, never taking me deeper. Living on the surface of life, [...]
Also posted in Inspiration, Meditation, Nature, Poetry, Reflection, Spring Notes, Wisdom, Writing & Writers Tagged meditation, SILENCE, spirituality, SPRING Comments closed
Work in Progress
At the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet. ~Plato Before I introduce my Studio Guest, author Kate Lord Brown, I’d like to share a poem for Valentine’s Day. Sanguine Resting near the river’s shore, convinced the sky was within reach, I suddenly realized its nearness was my heart speaking more clearly, propelling itself upward [...]
Also posted in Studio Guests, Writing & Writers Tagged authors, how to write, Kate Lord Brown, memoir, Natalie Goldberg, The Beauty Chorus Comments closed
Winter Flowers
And you? When will you begin that long journey into yourself? ~ Rumi And so we return to LifeThemes2012 as part of the 2-year anniversary celebration of SunnyRoomStudio. What life themes have you identified so far? Are you taking surface themes and digging deeper … looking for the underlying thread? Are you looking for themes [...]
Also posted in LifeThemes2012, Reflection, Writing & Writers Tagged author, career, Carl Jung, Emerson, flowers, insight, LifeThemes2012, RUMI Comments closed
The Sun of Inspiration
If you’ve ever written anything–even a letter to an old friend–you’ll know what my 21st Studio Guest, Melissa Crytzer Fry, is exploring in her guest post. You’ve sealed the envelope, you’ve completed your book proposal, you’ve written the final chapter in a new novel — yet, the voice of doubt chimes in almost immediately. Was [...]
Also posted in Idea Sharing, Inspiration, Nature, Reflection, Studio Guests, Writing & Writers Tagged Arizona writers, author process, Creativity, evaluation, Melissa Crytzer Fry, nature, RUMI, sunlight, What I Saw Comments closed
On a Whim
FIRST THOUGHTS. Number 7 in a series of blog posts focusing on waking thoughts that are so often overlooked. Stepping from the world of dreams reluctantly today. As though in meditation, I notice a wave of peacefulness — a whimsical floating sensation. Have I been drifting on a spiritual current? Feels like it, although, I’m [...]
Also posted in First Thoughts, Inspiration, Meditation, Reflection, Spirit, Wisdom Tagged a course in miracles, Eckhart Tolle, ego, happiness, joy, miracles, peace, spirituality Comments closed
Facing Fear
First Thoughts. Do you ever start to wake up in the morning with reluctance? With that feeling of … fear? Maybe you have a difficult day at the office on your calendar, maybe you have a dental or doctor visit that you’ve been dreading, maybe you have a big decision to make or a funeral [...]
Also posted in First Thoughts, Inspiration, Reflection, Wisdom, Writing & Writers Tagged awareness, Deepak Chopra, Morning Joe, Oliver Goldsmith, peace, present moment, Samuel Johnson, spirituality, Starbucks Comments closed
Rather Wonderful
My guest, Fiona Robyn, writes that she is “on a mission to help people to slow down and fall in love with the world through writing. Fond of earl grey and home-made cake.” Immediately I wanted to get to know someone who is also fond of cake. Many of us are, of course, but how [...]
Also posted in Inspiration, Reflection, Spirit, Studio Guests, Wisdom, Writing & Writers Tagged A Year of Questions, Anne Lamott, author motivation, Buddha, cake, Fiona Robyn, George Harrison, Kaspalita, mindful writing, Stanley Kunitz, The Wild Braid, write, Writing Our Way Home Comments closed
Family Voices
It’s my pleasure to introduce my 17th Studio Guest, Laura Harrington. In her own words (from her website): In college I was an English major, but minored in art history and studied singing seriously, knowing that the rest of life might not give me time to spend an hour a day in practice rooms making [...]
Also posted in Studio Guests, Writing & Writers Tagged Alice Bliss, author, family, fiction, Kleban Award, Laura Harrington, novel Comments closed
Life Lessons: Energy & Light
My guest today is a woman of many talents. Author, artist, mother, spouse, founder of The Women’s Nest. So what fuels Melissa Foster, you may ask. What motivates her to reach out to others, creating a supportive community of women? When you visit The Women’s Nest you’ll see a site banner that reads: Real Women, [...]
Also posted in Inspiration, Reflection, Spirit, Studio Guests, Wisdom Tagged author, Chasing Amanda, Come Back to Me, inspire, Megan's Way, Melissa Foster, positive energy, spirituality, The Women's Nest, women, Women's Literary Cafe Comments closed
Sky of Your Life
Welcome back to … INSIGHT_2011 Guidepost No. 10 Key concepts: embrace the past, cultivate happiness, make time for the important things. I enjoy looking at concepts without an obvious connection to find a common thread. It’s creative. It’s fun. And it can be most revealing. From this moment I ordain myself loss’d of limits and [...]
Also posted in INSIGHT_2011, Inspiration, Meditation, Prairie, PrairieWisdom, Reflection, South Dakota, Spirit, Wisdom Tagged Alice Bliss, creative discovery, ego, Laura Harrington, less is more, Megan's Way, Melissa Foster, Melville, spiritual practice, summer, Sunflowers, Walt Whitman Comments closed
Trial by Fire
I’m taking a brief pause from INSIGHT_2011 (our summer journey of meditative guideposts) to share a lovely guest post by my friend, Cynthia Ogren. Cynthia loves words. And she loves Riley, her adorable schnauzer. She recently moved to San Antonio, Texas, and also loves music. I first met Cynthia when I noticed that she sometimes [...]
Also posted in Inspiration, Reflection, Spirit, Studio Guests, Writing & Writers Tagged author, Cynthia Ogren, Joan Didion, Khalil Gibran, schnauzer, The Year of Magical Thinking, writer Comments closed
Across the Blank Page
Every now and then something jumps out at me — a word, an article, a book. Maybe beautiful words of poetry or a flower–a rose, a gardenia, a lily–catch my attention. A profound quote can resonate within me for days. The power of the human spirit is often most compelling. Stories of struggle that lead [...]
Also posted in Inspiration, Reflection, Spirit, Studio Guests, Wisdom, Writing & Writers Tagged Alice Hoffman, Author magazine, Bill Kenower, choices, creative writing, Judy Blume, Louis Sachar, Seattle Comments closed
Now I Can See the Moon
When I launched SunnyRoomStudio one thing was clear. I wanted to share the voices of kindred spirits in this sunny creative space. Getting to know people who share a passion for creativity is so rewarding, for one thing. But, on another level, I have the opportunity to bring a diverse collection of voices to this [...]
Also posted in Inspiration, Reflection, Spirit, Studio Guests, Wisdom, Writing & Writers Tagged 1920s, Crestmont, Crestmont Inn, Eagles Mere, historical fiction, Holly Weiss, Pennsylvania, polio, Walt Whitman Comments closed
Standing at Water’s Edge
When you begin a creative project or simply want to tap into your creativity, do you sense an element of fear or doubt greeting you at water’s edge? It may be a subtle feeling, but it’s usually there. Yet, if you are committed to your work–to creative expression–you forge on. Or try to. “All art [...]
Also posted in Art, Inspiration, Studio Guests, Writing & Writers Tagged Anne Paris, artistic potential, artistic support, couarge, Ph.D., Standing at Water's Edge, tapping creativity Comments closed
Run Free and Explore
Who said it best? Ah, yes, Pablo Picasso. Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up. And since it’s Easter, a time of beginnings, it seemed like a good time to think about children and art — art in all its many forms. [...]
Also posted in Art, Idea Sharing, Inspiration, Poetry, Studio Guests, Wisdom Tagged children and art, Degas, Easter, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indianapolis Art Museum, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Picasso, Sarah Arkanoff Comments closed
Bluest Day
I’m sure you’ve heard that April is national poetry month. So I asked myself why do I love poetry. Not all of it, but most. And I also asked myself how SunnyRoomStudio could best contribute to this celebration of words and sentiment conveyed by lyrical lines all in a row. Finally, I decided to keep [...]
Also posted in Art, Inspiration, Poetry, Reflection, Spirit, Wisdom, Writing & Writers Tagged blue, da Vinci, Leonardo da Vinci, National Poetry Month, painting and poetry, photography, Poetry Month, South Dakota, Spring Creek Comments closed
Compassionate World
Do you think we live in a compassionate world? And how does one define such a concept? There’s a beautiful ring to those words — a compassionate world — yet we all interpret them quite differently. For example, you believe that something you’re doing is “compassionate” while someone else sits back quietly thinking: “How could [...]
Also posted in Idea Sharing, Inspiration, Reflection, Spirit, Wisdom, Writing & Writers Tagged Buddha, compassion, peace, spirituality, trees Comments closed
Dancing with Time
According to our clocks, many of us have now moved an hour ahead — as required. Yet, the path to youth, according to Picasso, takes a whole life. So what will you do with this hour of time, this surface change that is mostly meaningless? Ignore it. Bemoan it. Question it. Really, there is little [...]
Also posted in Inspiration, Poetry, Reflection, Spirit, Wisdom Tagged life journey, path to youth, Picasso, PURPOSE, SPRING, TIME Comments closed
Out of the Blue
As most of you know, when looking for kindred spirits to grace the corridors of my SunnyRoomStudio, I look for men and women with a wonderful message. Artistry, creativity, enlightenment. A depth of perspective. A willingness to connect in meaningful ways. People who offer us the inspiration of their beliefs, abilities, and courage. So when [...]
Also posted in Inspiration, Reflection, Spirit, Studio Guests, Wisdom, Writing & Writers Tagged Asperger's syndrome, Becoming a Life Change Artist, Dr. Kathy Jordan, Dr. Oz, healing energy, Kathy Jordan, Leadership development, OPRAH, psychologist, Reiki Comments closed
My Creative Younger Self
Have you ever thought about the spiritual energy of wind? Or the muscular energy in sunlight? Annie Dillard has. So you are in good company if such questions have come to mind. There is a muscular energy in sunlight corresponding to the spiritual energy of wind. ~Annie Dillard I think I was drawn to the [...]
Also posted in Inspiration, LifeThemes2012, Prairie, Reflection, Spirit, Wisdom, Writing & Writers Tagged annie dillard, Carnegie Mellon, child art, memories, pancreatic cancer, Randy Pausch, spiritual energy, sun, sunlight, The Last Lecture, WIND, yellow Comments closed
The Power of Story
Stories. At every level of society. Their universal appeal is undeniable. And though Borders announced internal operating changes recently, stories and storytelling are here to stay. The fabric of your world, and mine, is defined by story. In fact, the human condition is primarily understood through the power of story. Ask any writer. Ask any [...]
Also posted in Studio Guests, Wisdom, Writing & Writers Tagged Borders, British Columbia, catching courage, Cathryn Wellner, Garrison Keillor, Kelowna, story route, storytelling, Ted Lange, Tom Brokaw, William Bausch Comments closed
Cloudless Heaven
What I feel for you seems less of earth and more of cloudless heaven. –Victor Hugo Over the years we all develop definitions of love. Today, Valentine’s Day, brings some of those sentiments into sharper focus. But it’s also a good day to simply trust life. To trust life to bring us the experiences we [...]
Also posted in Inspiration, Poetry, Reflection, Spirit, Wisdom, Writing & Writers Tagged cloudless heaven, grandmother, loss, Love, RUMI, valentine's day, victor hugo Comments closed
Spiritual Roots
A year ago today, 2-7-2010, I wrote my first blog post in SunnyRoomStudio: a creative, sunny space for kindred spirits. Then I shared that message of welcome on a page called Blog Purpose. And I published another page called Studio Vision. So now an entire year has elapsed. Many kindred spirits have been discovered. People [...]
Also posted in dah, Inspiration, Reflection, Spirit, SunnyRoomStudio, Wisdom, Writing & Writers Tagged blog anniversary, Eckhart Tolle, Einstein, memoir, Natalie Goldberg, Old Friend from Far Away, Open Road Media, peace, Picasso, spiritual roots, spirituality, Tagore, vision, Writing Down the Bones Comments closed
Creative Convergence
During this season of winter torment (it seems I hear more and more people lamenting the harsh temps, snow and ice this time of year), I thought I’d shine a light on an individual with an abundance of artistic and creative talent. Mary Montague Sikes. Or Monti, to many. We may as well find something [...]
Also posted in Art, Studio Guests, Writing & Writers Tagged artist, author, Mary Montague Sikes, portraits Comments closed
Beyond Conventional Wisdom
True talent must be expressed. And though the author of the next few sentences is most humble and unassuming, his artistic gifts and personal determination are most inspiring. ◊ I started painting when I was 15. I failed art in high school. There was no moment of inspiration that cued me in to my destiny [...]
Also posted in Art, Inspiration, Reflection, Spirit, Studio Guests, Writing & Writers Tagged art, coffee, conventional wisdom, Liquid Light, memoir, painter, Paul Jackson, watercolors Comments closed
Clamoring to be Heard
Today I’m writing about a simple observation, one that is likely apparent to most of us. As the global population grows, it seems more and more people are clamoring to be heard. Have you noticed? Along with more people, the abundance of technology facilitates this communication frenzy. Yet, the more in tune I am with [...]
Also posted in Inspiration, Reflection, Spirit, Wisdom Tagged Missouri River, Noise, SILENCE, stilling basin, Tolle Comments closed
First Light
As we know from the esteemed poet, Robert Browning, “God is the perfect poet.” Still, many of us try to write poetry and create art, knowing we are up against a tough act. When I encountered Terrill Welch and her artistry, I knew I’d discovered someone who, indeed, had a deep appreciation for the poetry [...]
Also posted in Art, Inspiration, Reflection, Spirit, Studio Guests Tagged artist, British Columbia, Canada, Creative Potager, First Light, Terrill Welch Comments closed
Caring for Life
Getting the new year off to a strong start … If you would like to read my guest post on Mary Tabor’s blog, I invite you to venture by and say hello. Mary’s author blog is here and she was also my guest here in SunnyRoomStudio. (Find Mary’s post on the page called Studio Guests [...]
Also posted in Guest post, Inspiration, LifeThemes2012, Reflection, Spirit, Wisdom, Writing & Writers Tagged caring for life, literary, Mary L. Tabor, memoir Comments closed
Long Winter’s Nap
I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year. SunnyRoomStudio celebrates the gift of life and spiritual awakening each day, but for January 1, 2011, I offer this moment of creative reflection to acknowledge the past year and the days ahead. Gratitude — for friends, family, pets, nature, and gifted creative souls who light [...]
Also posted in Idea Sharing, Inspiration, Reflection, Spirit, Wisdom Tagged 2011, awareness, celebration, goals, Little Gidding, long winter's nap, new year, spirituality, T.S. Eliot Comments closed
Zen of Noah
Knock on the sky and listen to the sound! –Zen Saying All conditioned things are impermanent. Work out your own salvation with diligence … Buddha’s last words. Zen is a kind of unlearning. It teaches you how to drop that which you have learned, how to become unskillful again, how to become a child again, [...]
Also posted in Inspiration, Reflection, Spirit, Wisdom Tagged Buddha, nature, Noah, Osho, winter peace, YOGA, ZEN Comments closed
Winter Reflection
On a recent road trip winter offered light snow. And while the peace and beauty of the countryside conveyed many things, the concept of winter reflection predominated. Something about the gentle white blanket on either side of the highway left me feeling calm, content — and curious. What will I accomplish this winter? What will [...]
Also posted in Inspiration, Reflection, Spirit, Wisdom Tagged Dust of Snow, George Bernard Shaw, mindfulness, Robert Frost, snow, THICH NHAT HANH, Whitney Peckman, winter reflection, winter sky Comments closed
Writer Behind the Mask
◊◊◊ The Artist Searching for myself within the confines of my name is a futile mission, a string of letters void of explanation, empty of history or truth, except for what is assigned over time, but an idea comes to me now, and I reach for my paintbrush, discovering the radiance of an ephemeral nature, [...]
Also posted in Studio Guests, SunnyRoomStudio, Writing & Writers Tagged Alan Garner, Alderley Edge, An Intricate Dance, Arthurian tale, Carlos Fuentes, characters, Cheshire, Daisy Hickman, dirtywhitecandy, fiction, George C. Wolfe, Jodrell Bank, Nail Your Novel, Poetry, Roz Morris, telescope, The Artist, The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, UK Comments closed
Sensing the Unseen
Today marks the final post for INSIGHT_2010, our look at prairie wisdom in today’s world, some 10+ years after I published Where the Heart Resides: Timeless Wisdom of the American Prairie. I’m considered creating a journal that includes some of the more intriguing quotes from the book, so will keep you posted on that. But [...]
Also posted in Book Journey, INSIGHT_2010, Inspiration, Poetry, Prairie, PrairieWisdom, Purpose of Blog, Reflection, South Dakota, SunnyRoomStudio, Wisdom, Writing & Writers Tagged A New Dawn Awaits, Deepak Chopra, Diane Meier, E.Dee Conrad, Eckhart Tolle, Frank Delaney, Jane Friedman, kindred spirits, Michael Beckwith, pasque petals, South Dakota Festival of Books, The Season of Second Chances, WIND Comments closed
A Generous Spirit
We’ve almost completed our 5-month book journey revisiting the pages of Where the Heart Resides: Timeless Wisdom of the American Prairie. I hope you’ve enjoyed this project, which I coined: INSIGHT_2010. Collectively, we’ve brought new insights to this material and also considered its timeless nature in a swiftly moving world. So thank you for stopping [...]
Also posted in Book Journey, DazyDayWriter, INSIGHT_2010, Inspiration, PrairieWisdom, Reflection, South Dakota, SunnyRoomStudio, Wisdom, Writing & Writers Tagged Anna Arch, challenge, generous spirit, grace, INSIGHT_2010, personal growth Comments closed
Discover Your Truth
Welcome to my 5-month book journey, INSIGHT_2010, as we continue to revisit the pages of a book called Where the Heart Resides: Timeless Wisdom of the American Prairie. I published this book against all odds and without the aid of an agent. ( That was a few years ago though … when it was still [...]
Also posted in Book Journey, DazyDayWriter, INSIGHT_2010, Inspiration, Prairie, PrairieWisdom, Reflection, South Dakota, SUNNY ROOM STUDIO, SunnyRoomStudio, Wisdom, Writing & Writers Tagged Care of the Soul, Eckhart Tolle, GRATITUDE, OPRAH, The Power of Now, Thomas Moore, Timeless wisdom of the American prairie, TRUTH, WHERE THE HEART RESIDES, Whitman Comments closed
Sunny Room
Noah and Lola get along great when napping in the morning sun. In fact, they helped to inspire the name for this site. And I finally caught them together on camera, so here’s the picture with a fun poem they also helped to inspire. Hope you won’t mind this brief creative detour! Next week, I’ll [...]
Also posted in DazyDayWriter, Pets, Reflection, SUNNY ROOM STUDIO, SunnyRoomStudio Tagged Lola, Noah, SUNNY ROOM STUDIO Comments closed
Step Back
Earth Day’s 40th anniversary. National Poetry Month. Both of vast importance in Sunny Room Studio. As a poet, nature has inspired so many of my words. Lyrical, prose that paints a vivid picture, or sometimes the motivation to write in the first place. To pick up my pen. So despite the enthusiasm of spring, cleaning [...]
Also posted in Inspiration, Poetry, Reflection, Wisdom Tagged Earth Day, INSPIRE WORDS, National Poetry Month, STEP BACK Poem Comments closed
Spring Universe
I’d never seen or heard of Elizabeth Magnolia until my sister sent these wonderful pictures from Memphis. Besides her yard, Lisa had seen them at the Dixon Art Gallery, but not anywhere else. So I had to look them up. One description mentions their “elegant drama” and “luminous, pale yellow, cup-shaped flowers.” I can see [...]
Also posted in Idea Sharing, Inspiration, Reflection, Wisdom Tagged Daffodil, Dakota roots, Dixon Art Gallery, Elizabeth Magnolia, lilies, London, Memphis, spring flowers, spring universe, sunflower, symbolism of flowers Comments closed
Hidden Harmony
Via the calendar and the seasons, spring has arrived. A great time for an open house at Sunny Room Studio. Take a tour, wander through the pages and let me know what you think. While my life interests are somewhat diverse, there are many underlying themes to be discovered here. Creativity. Inspiration. Wisdom. Nonprofit organizations [...]
Also posted in Inspiration, LifeThemes2012, Nonprofits, Poetry, PrairieWisdom, Purpose of Blog, Reflection, Wisdom Tagged beginnings, HARMONY, OPEN HOUSE, SPRING Comments closed
Poetic Life
Poetry can be something to write, read, or memorize. Precise words on paper, favorite lines to read time and time again. But what about creating a poetic life? What might that look like from your perspective? Here’s my thinking … Let’s assume, for a second, that life is poetry. That there is an underlying magic [...]
Also posted in Inspiration, LifeThemes2012, Poetry, Reflection, Wisdom Tagged POETIC LIFE Comments closed
Road Trip
Change of Heart Driving on, they were still caught in my rearview mirror, the golden sunflowers lighting up the flat lands of eastern South Dakota, so I traveled more slowly now, wanting to hold them in view, and noticed how the importance of laundry stacked high at home and needing my attention, had faded in the moment, in quiet [...]
Also posted in Idea Sharing, Inspiration, Poetry, PrairieWisdom, Reflection Tagged CHAMPAGNE, CHANGE OF HEART, creative inspiration, laundry, Sunflowers Comments closed
Ringing True
There are those moments in life when something (a comment, a picture or painting, a poem or a proposal) is captured with great precision. With emotional and intellectual power. We know when “something” rings true on many different levels: when there is a connection. I enjoyed such an experience recently when we visited the Washington [...]
Also posted in Idea Sharing, Poetry, Reflection Tagged Haiku, Hugh MacLeod, Issa, Mark McGinnis, ringing true Comments closed
Interview with John DeDakis