Doughnut Dreams

A Light Your Own Way Doughnut

2011-01-05T17:42:00.000-08:00

Painted late January 2nd into January 3rd, 2011.

Inspired by this candle lit on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2010 and the beautiful, light-filled song "What Light" by Wilco.

My mantra for the new year:

Light
Your
Own
Way.

A Mind Over Matter Doughnut

2010-10-28T20:26:00.000-07:00

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us."
Helen Keller Sources of Inspiration/Image credits:

Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, author of My Stroke of Insight, and image of brain: one of her many talents-->she makes brains out of stained glass

Dr. Temple Grandin

Photograph of Audrey Hepburn by Philippe Halsman, from book Jumpology

The color Pink Pearl, given in Lea Redmond's
With A Pencil in My Pocket Project

Edible Doughnut Dreams...

2010-07-23T22:01:00.000-07:00

An Okay Doughnut

2010-07-08T23:25:00.000-07:00

Lisa Coughlin, 34

Inspiration:
Floating on The Lazy River with my daughter on the 4th of July
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
The OK Book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld

A Bridging Doughnut

2010-06-29T06:13:00.000-07:00

Before:
After some bridge work:

Just Breathe.

Special Thanks to my husband for serving as hand model for these pictures and (more importantly) as a role model for life. Lisa Coughlin, 34

A Silvery Ping Doughnut

2010-05-16T14:09:00.000-07:00

Every "silvery ping" matters.

Inspired by Linda Pastan's poem, Rereading Frost, from Queen of a Rainy Country.

Thank you, Linda Pastan, for the poetry you create. This poem brings clarity and comfort to the solitude of my creative heart.

Piece Doughnut

2010-04-20T19:34:00.000-07:00

Lisa Coughlin, 34

Inspiration:

The Missing Piece by Shel Silverstein

The Missing Piece Meets the Big O by Shel Silverstein
Peace Ribbon

Interesting Note: My daughter's neighborhood friend gave her a hand-painted Peace sign necklace on Monday.

A Sense of Wonder Doughnut

2010-04-07T09:22:00.000-07:00

Lisa Coughlin,34
Words: "a sense of WONDER"
First Doughnut painted on canvas.

Plugged In Doughnut

2010-04-07T07:09:00.000-07:00

Lisa Coughlin, 34
Words: "My soul is not asleep."
"I Will."
"Desire."

*Note* Inspiration to use "My soul is not asleep!" came from the poet Antonio Machado, quoted by Martha Beck in her book The Joy Diet, page 23.

An(other) Opportunity Doughnut

2010-03-02T09:30:00.000-08:00

"Arrange whatever pieces come your way." Virginia Woolf(ignore date, painted and baked March 1, 2010!)

Many sources of inspiration in this doughnut...

Picking up the paint brush:

*iHanna's post which led me to check out The Creative License by Danny Gregory. Thank you, Hanna, for sharing this resource and for the art you create with confidence...I'm finding mine, doughnut by doughnut. Thank you, Danny, for your words and images, giving me a final push to keep on painting--for myself.

*Rachel Awe's blog all i did was listen. Thank you, Rachel, for commenting on Steps and Staircases, so I could find your colorful images.

*Page Hodel Thank you for your Monday Hearts. You've inspired me in more ways than I can describe. Thanks to Meg Cox, again, for introducing me to your work.

Images:

*Martha Beck's column "Go with the Flow" in the March issue of Oprah Magazine. This column, her words, are responsible for the canoe and oars. Thank you, Martha, for giving my oars a push in the right direction.

*My water aerobics class instructor, Rosanna, for the word "Opportunity"--A word she repeats over and over during our 45 minute class. "You have another opportunity..." she says, as she directs us through a routine that sends us from one end of the pool to the other. Thank you, Rosanna, for the words you choose, and your continued encouragement: "Don't let the water slow you down."

Colors:
*Anne Morrow Lindbergh's "Gift from the Sea"
*A Gift of an Ordinary Day by Katrina Kenison

*"A Yellow Raft in Blue Water" by Michael Dorris
*Amy Krouse Rosenthal for her use of a yellow umbrella

Thank you, Anne, Katrina, Michael, and Amy for bringing color to my doughnut, and to my life, through your words.

Quote:
*And thank you to Virginia Woolf, who reminds me how important it is to have a room of one's own.
*Thank you to Elise, for being a partner in spreading my doughnut dreams around from Hawaii to Colorado! Her words, creativity, and reflection have been a source of encouragement ever since I found her on Yo-Yo Reggio!

*Thank you to everyone who has made a doughnut and shared dreams with me!

**And thank you to my wonderfully understanding and patient husband and my dreamy daughter--They are some of the main ingredients in anything I create! A source of inspiration every day.

A Peace Doughnut

2010-03-02T09:09:00.000-08:00

This doughnut makes half a dozen, for me!

"Peace begins with a smile." Mother Teresa

"Peace begins with me."

A Chakra Doughnut

2010-02-10T09:37:00.000-08:00

Lisa, 34

Baked This Summer

2009-11-03T23:53:00.000-08:00

Lisa, 33

inspired by T'ai Chi class

When You Wish Upon A Doughnut

2009-08-14T09:26:00.000-07:00

A Doughnut Dream Come True:
My friend recently adopted a Greyhound from Rescued Racers. She put the image of a Greyhound on her doughnut she made for the Doughnut Dreams Project. I am so happy for her!

I've been thinking a lot about my own "doughnut dreams"...the circle image is a constant, and I have another project in mind involving a circle. For those out there reading, have a good weekend! And if you've recently had a dream come true, post a comment sharing the good news!

Life Moves Pretty Fast...

2009-06-15T20:06:00.000-07:00

Stephanie, 33
"Life moves pretty fast.....if you don't stop and look around once in a while....you could miss it."
(from Ferris Bueller's Day Off, 1986)

Happy National Doughnut Day!

2009-06-05T06:12:00.000-07:00

If you are just viewing this website because you were in Dee's bakery this morning in Tinley Park: Welcome! Happy National Doughnut Day to you. Below are dream doughnuts I've received in response to the Doughnut Dreams Project. I hope these images inspire others to think about their dreams, and possibly lead to individuals creating a doughnut dream of his/her very own! For more information about the project, and how to participate, you can e-mail me at doughnutdreams@yahoo.com.

Thanks again to Dee, at Zettlmeier's Bakerei in Tinley Park, Illinois. I appreciate your support in passing out information about my project-- and thank you for those delicious doughnuts your bakery makes for all to enjoy. Yum!

Theresa, 29

Lisa, 33 Edie, 4

Joshua, 5 Audrey, 5

Ione, 73

Caleb, 4

Katie, 28

Val, 57

Elee, 20

Alexa, 26

Kristen, 22

Jon, 64

Mark, 31
Sarah, 18

Larry, 50, Side 2

Larry 50, Side 1

Lisa, 33

Whether you physically make a dream doughnut or not, I hope this quote stays with you, helping you stay focused on the positive in life-->

Just remember:

"No matter what your dream in life, no matter what your goal, keep your eye upon the doughnut and not upon the hole."

Special shout out to Amy Krouse Rosenthal, and her project The Beckoning of Lovely, for her creative inspiration!

Happy Doughnut Dreams to everyone!enjoy logo designed by Dan Noe

A Few Good Doughnuts (Books)

2009-06-03T10:55:00.000-07:00

In honor of the upcoming National Doughnut Day, here are a few good doughnuts, or rather, Books about doughnuts!Arnie the Doughnut by Laurie Keller

Donuts: an American passion by John T. Edge

The Donut Chef by Bob Staake

On Staake's website, there's a link to a video of The Donut Chef--a whimsical, rhyming book-->Enjoy!

A Baker's Dozen

2009-05-26T21:11:00.000-07:00

Well, I have another opportunity to get the word out about my Doughnut Dreams Project. There is a bakery we visit whenever we get the chance, that makes the best chocolate-frosted doughnuts. We call them "brown doughnuts".

I talked with the owner today, and made arrangements to pay for a dozen doughnuts for her to hand out to her first 12 customers on National Doughnut Day. I will give her a business card, postcard, or card with my blog's address to give to these customers, along with the chocolate doughnut, in hopes they will visit my blog and consider participating. I may make it 13 doughnuts, to make it a baker's dozen...I wish I could buy a brown doughnut for everyone that day!

I really enjoy the idea of surprising people with a fresh-baked doughnut!--especially on a Friday, at the end of the work week. Now I need to get to work making cards to go with those delicious doughnuts!

Creating Momentum

2009-05-05T04:46:00.001-07:00

by Lisa Coughlin, age 33

Welcome to a new blog!...one meant to inspire others to realize their dreams...Why Doughnut Dreams? Well, I love quotes. And the quote that started this all uses the doughnut image to drive a point home:"No matter what your dream in life, no matter what your goal, keep your eye upon the doughnut and not upon the hole."

I feel we all need reminders to keep our dreams alive. Quotes are my little cheerleaders, keeping me focused and determined. Here's another quote I have posted for motivation:

"The world is wide, and I will not waste my life in friction when it could be turned into momentum." ~Frances Willard

Friday, June 5, 2009 is National Doughnut Day so I decided to launch this separate blog today, May 5th (also Cinco de Mayo!) A concise summary of my project--> I want you to create a visual representation of your dreams, on a round template (to symbolize the doughnut shape) to remind you to stay "positive" and motivate you to live your dreams!

I first posted about my Doughnut Dreams Project on my original blog home, Steps and Staircases. The post is titled: Hope in a Doughnut.

If you are inspired to participate, please do! And if you feel moved to pass this project on to others, go right ahead! Below are the details of my Doughnuts Dream Project.

“No matter what your dream in life, no matter what your goal,keep your eye upon the doughnut and not upon the hole.”

An invitation to make a dream doughnut of your very own! I am asking people to make a “doughnut” that visualizes, or reflects, their dreams and goals. The canvas is a round piece of poster board, symbolizing a doughnut. The size of the doughnut template is approximately the size of a large dinner plate. Use whatever materials you like!

You can paint, draw, collage different materials, attach photographs, write on your doughnut…whatever the quote inspires you to do.

Thank you for your consideration in participating in the Doughnut Dreams Project!
Please return your doughnut to:

Lisa Coughlin
Doughnut Dreams Project
P.O. Box 270
Manhattan, IL 60442

On the back of your dream doughnut, please remember to include your name, age, country, and e-mail address with your submission to ensure your dream doughnut is credited properly to you!If you have questions, please e-mail Lisa at doughnutdreams@yahoo.com

By the way, I'm still in the process of figuring out what I will do with all the doughnuts I receive. I will post doughnuts on my blog for others to see. By participating in this project, you are agreeing to share your dreams with the world. Which is what dreams are for, right?