Kelly Rae Roberts's Blog, page 16

New wrap bracelets! Man, I love these!

Hello friends! I'm so excited to introduce these new wrap bracelets to you! I looooovvveee them. 
I don't know about you, but I can get so caught up in the daily whirlwind of to-do's, so in my head, forgetting to pause and savor, or take a moment to identify what I truly need. I think that's why I love love love these new wrap bracelets - sweet, colorful reminders of what to focus on, share, or practice, right there on your wrist. 


These would be super cute layered on top of each other. And how cute are the sweet little jewels and charms? Love! 
To celebrate these new bracelets, I have paired a few with my favorite quotes! May they bring you inspiration, comfort, whatever you need! 
Love:  


"Where there is love, there is life." – Mahatma Gandhi
This little wrap bracelet's rust colored leather and butterfly charm reminds me of one of my favorite mantras: Love Always Wins! Find this bracelet at Garden Gallery, an online vendor that sells my goodies, here. 
Courage: 


"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." – Nelson Mandela 
Love love love the chocolate brown leather that completes this wrap bracelet! And it's accented by the sweetest little dragonfly charm! Find it at Garden Gallery,an online vendor that sells my goodies,  here! 
Hope: 


"“Hope” is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul – and sings the tune without the words – and never stops at all." 
– Emily Dickinson
This tiny, one-syllable word packs so much in, doesn't it? It is optimism, it is positivity, it is dreaming of what's to come. This bracelet is available at Garden Gallery here. 


I even love the packaging (and the price. Hello, affordable gifts!). You can find Believe with it's awesome green band here, and Faith with its baby blue wrap here. 
Wishing you all the belief, faith, love, courage, and hope, my friends!! 
XO,Kelly Raeps: SO love what I do.  Thank you for supporting my wares, all of these years. Big love to you.....pps: I have so much to tell you on the non-work/product front. Big update on life and love and art coming up soon! 

a little love, love, love.

Been feeling a little quiet lately. With so much movement and transition this year, it feels incredibly good to cultivate a little rest and play. Also, True started at the big boy preschool a couple of weeks ago, which marks what feels like a huge new beginning for all of us. I have so much to share with you. So much. Until then,  I'm savoring all of this settling into a new, relaxed routine. And I'm trusting the quiet will birth a new kind of bloom....one that continues to speak the language of love, love, love.
Here's to love, friends!This is a new piece for me, and signed/matted prints of it are available here.
Speaking of prints, I'm planning a HUGE shop overhaul next week, which means I'll be retiring about 100 prints from my shop in order to make room for new work. I can hardly believe I have that many images to retire, but really, I do. I do, I do, I do! So, if there's a print you've had your eye on for awhile, now is the time to scoop it up. 
More soon! I have so much to share with you.XO,Kelly Rae

bright bloom

(New art! Available here)
“I know you're tired but come, this is the way.” ― Rumi
This piece if for those of us who are awakening, or perhaps reawakening.Who are unlearning. Who are unleashing. Who are finding the way to our most full, bright, true selves.
******Here's to witnessing, and living our own bright bloom.This is for all of us. 
XO,Kelly Rae

Two week countdown. Pinch me.

Friends, we're on the two week countdown to my e-course starting, and my heart is just about ready to explode! It feels amazing to be on the verge of doing it all over again, and I'm thrilled at the level of anticipation and excitement that is building from students all over the world. My heart is excited, too. 



I thought I'd share the blooper reel from when we filmed the e-course a few months ago. Honestly, it just might be the funniest thing I've seen of myself, ever. If you're in need of a giggle yourself, watch and giggle. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.



Speaking of filming, this was our "set" - super fun.  It was so fun seeing my old studio transform into a little production studio. So much heart and love and good ol' fashion hard work went into the entire thing. A total team effort. And totally worth it. 


Let art out. Let love in! 
Wanna unleash your joy and learn how to make super fun, gorgeously layered backgrounds - gobs of them?
Yes, yes? Love, love?

Wanna turn those gorgeous backgrounds into gorgeous mantra paintings that speak directly to the call of your heart?
Wanna be a part of an amazing community of seekers, explorers, open hearted souls?
Come join us, friends.  All levels welcomes. Class starts in two weeks, and I'd love to have you.
XO, Kelly Raeps: If you're a subscriber to my newsletter, check your inbox for a discount code! 



Below are a few testimonials from previous students. I’m so grateful for their taking the time to send over a little kindness. You can read more testimonials here. 
“Thank you Kelly. This e-course is so much more than I thought it would be. Delightfully deep, thought provoking & healing.”

“Doors and windows flew open for me, never knew how to express myself in such a deeply positive way.”

“This art class has been way more than I could of ever of dreamed of so far,Thank you Kelly Rae!!”

“This class is amazing and having Lynx [on air student] there was sheer GENIUS!!!! Seeing both of you doing side by side was double value, double fun – thank you.”

“Love loved every moment. I am going back to start all over. It’s like a favorite movie that you never want to end and watch over and over!”
“I am feeling so liberated by this process, I have unearthed some truths I wasn’t fully aware of until I started writing….thank you Kelly Rae for taking us on this journey of self-discovery.”“Heart opening and oh so worth it.”
“I feel like I am reading a great book and can’t stop, yet I don’t want it to end! Thank you!”
“Boom. Light bulb moment. Thanks again Kelly Rae, I’m loving this so much.”
“There are no rules, total freedom!!!!! I feel so alive!!!!!!!!!!!Thank you!”
“If there is such a thing as ‘too much fun” then I am so guilty.”

“I feel like my eyes are more open and I think less before seizing opportunities. Making space for coffee dates, found out one of my fave authors was speaking in my city this week, and honoring the urge to swim. It’s all connected to what we are learning. Mantras keep surfacing. Cultivating creative wholeness.”

Datebooks and Calendars are here!!! Limited quantities.

Hi friends!

We've launched sales for the signed 2015 Wall Calendar AND the Datebooks. I am so excited. Our calendar formats have sold out every year for the last few years before we even reach Dec 1st. This means you gotta act fast. Did I mention they both come signed. Yes, indeed!

More details below......
XO,
Kelly Rae

:: Datebooks! :: 
I gotta say, these are special. The 2015 datebooks have a beautiful hard cover (with full color artwork on front and back covers) with an elastic closure. I'll send them signed and with a little hand-written message on the inside cover. Limited quantities...get em' while you can! 








::Wall Calendars! ::

All calendars are full size (12x12) and are super high quality with an elegant linen paper stock. The best part? It arrives inside a special gift jacket that is printed in full color, and signed by me. It's special, friends, and a lovely gift that will inspire all year long.

Limited quantities...get em' while you can! All details and more images over in the shop :) 









Thanks, friends! I can't wait to sign all of these and send them out into the world with a blessing for the new year, just for you. 
XO,
Kelly Rae

overalls and other things

I've been doing a lot of soul searching over here when it comes to my biz. Never in a gazillion light years would I have thought that starting this blog in 2005 would have led to such life changing experiences for me, including finding my way into a creative life and career. I like to think that my story is not exceptional and not unlike so many of us who simply follow the call of their hearts, trusting that the path, despite the debris fields of gremlins (Who do you think you are? You're not allowed to want what you want. Etc, etc), will never fail us. Sure, there will be lots of "fails" when it comes to how to do certain tasks, but not in the bigger sense of perspective, not when it comes to shaping who we are, what we're here to do, and why we're here to do it. I believe in trusting the calls, the whispers, what delights us, and what is nudging at us for more attention. I believe, ultimately, nothing fails. 
But lately, as I've written about recently, I can sense that I am evolving in big ways, and thus my business/brand is evolving, too. I believe our business are living breathing entities. I believe that our souls – the essence of who we are – are what make each of us extraordinary and I believe, if nurtured and aligned with who we are, our businesses can be extraordinary, too. But just as we change alignment, and especially if we ARE the business/brand, it's only natural for our brands to evolve, too.
It's not been easy, navigating this evolution, and it has often felt like like a weird void of frustration, but after months of re-envisioning, daydreaming, and lots of soulful strategizing conversation, I can begin to see a clearer direction coming into focus when it comes to my offerings in art & licensing world, and most especially when it comes to my stepping into all the ways I want to teach. I am beyond excited for what's to come, and often find myself inside long moments when I can feel what the future holds bubbling up inside of me. Best feeling ever. 


A big exciting part of this particular transition for me and my biz is having an opportunity to grow my team here in Portland. Friends, meet Nichole. She's my new Community Care & Engagement Manager. Isn't she adorbs? She's been in her new role for about 5 weeks now, and I can sense that this is going to be a fantastic partnership. She is super smart, funny (like, LOL funny), talented, and has a wonderful way of elevating the thoughtfulness around all that we're building. And she's already been deeply touched and inspired by my online community - you guys are so welcoming! You can learn more about Nichole over here on her music site (Hello, gorgeous music. I am a fan.) as well as on her podcast site (Hello, brave honest heart.). 

The other day Nichole and I went to see a potential new studio/office space (I think we might take it!). Because the space is still being renovated, we had to wear safety gear, and we geeked out for a fun photo op. Anyway, you can't see them in this photo, but Nichole is wearing overalls. I couldn't resist! 

Within minutes of seeing her in overalls, I ordered a pair, too. For a girl who wore overalls non-stop in the 90's, I cannot tell you how happy this purchase made me. Who knew overalls are back? Even better? They're from Amazon!

So there you have it. Nichole is awesome. And if I hadn't known it already, I would have certainly figured it out the second she came to work in overalls.

XO

PS:


It's hard to be believe it all starts again in three weeks. I had the time of my life creating this ecourse and I'm eager to share it with another tribe of students. The other day one of my previous students left a message for future students on my FB page. I thought it was pretty adorbs. She said "Your new students have no idea what is about to happen in their lives. Great decision people, you will love every minute of Kelly's class and treasure your time learning and sharing with your classmates. Best decision I ever made. Have fun, everyone!" Thank you, Jeanie Martin. You captured the anticipation and enthusiasm exactly. Friends, come join me for round 2 of this class! I'd love to get to know you and watch you surprise yourself as you unleash your joy!

Nourish Your Soul – Staying Present

Each week, I shine a spotlight on a few creations that I'm particularly proud of.  May you be inspired - and perhaps find a little something to nourish your soul.  Click here to see all the posts in this series.

Summer is almost over...we have a few precious weeks left before school begins, the air crisps, and the leaves start to turn that glorious gold color and give us piles to crunch through on sidewalks. My inner voice is saying, "Not yet! It's still summer!" So I've been practicing staying present, savoring these weeks with nature hikes, trips to the beach, and summer reads. 
Below are a few products to help you (and I!) practice staying in the present moment! 
Garden Vase: 

The girl's sweet smile and the reminder to "plant gratitude" has this as one of my favorite pieces for bringing the outdoors in! What a great way to display garden treasures! Find this one and others here. 

Hanging Garden Angel: 

Love seeing this reminder! Her cute beaded legs and wings make her so, so precious! Find her and the other hanging garden angels here. 

Love, Believe, Hope Scarf: 

One of our MOST popular items! Each scarf feels like a breeze on your skin – soft and cool. This one reads: Be present; believe; create; dream big; explore; faith; hope; love; love wide; surrender. Find this and other beautiful scarves here. 

Wood Manifesto Block: 

I love having these little manifestos (this one is 4" by 6"!) around the house – on bookshelves, in the kitchen, on end tables – little reminders throughout my day. This one is one of my favorites, the butterfly is a sweet little detail. Find this one and the other manifesto blocks here. 



Thanks, friends. Our mission is to continue to create products that blend creativity with meaning, beauty with function. I so love what I do.

Warmly,
Kelly Rae
PS: The products featured above (and more) are sold online via Garden Gallery (a local shop here in the Portland area), but if you're looking for signed/matted prints and/or originals, you can get these in my online shop.  International customers, Garden Gallery is HAPPY to ship worldwide. Please email them at gardengalleryorders@gmail.com to get started. 

Around Here Lately: Summer

It's totally summer around here. After a few super full weeks, I can sense that things are calming down and I'm super grateful for the breath and the space, and the chance to slow it waaay down. Yes, yes, yes.

The other day, I spent an hour or so in total silence and rest. Mind blown. I must do this more often. I could hear my pal Brene whispering in my ear "cultivate rest and let go of exhaustion and productivity as self worth. " Hello, truth.  Rest + play are definitely two things I'm working on. And so. I am resisting the urge to paint that room, unpack that box, launch that new idea, sign up for that new class, and on and on. Instead, I'm working on the thing that keeps circling back to me every few months, a whisper wanting some attention. It says to go slooowwly, and create lots of breathing room along the way.

I can totally do that.


"One life on earth is all we get, whether it is enough or not enough, and the obvious conclusion would seem to be at the very least we are fools if we do not live it as fully and bravely and beautifully as we can." 
Speaking of listening to our lives, I cannot tell you how much I love having this Frederick Buechner quote up in our living room (a Sugarboo design). I want to live this thing fully. Bravely. Beautifully.





And speaking of beautiful, It's getting downright suspicious that I have yet to pull a card from the pile of hope notes that doesn't have the theme of  joy. I love all the messages from the universe lately - the bizarre 'coincidences', the appearance of hummingbirds, the finding of hearts and feathers - all reminding me that joy is my teacher, and that I'm on the right path. Love, love, love. 


And speaking of love, we finally shipped out the last of our prints from our big Flash Sale a couple of weeks ago. I'm crazy grateful for all the love, all the support. Thank you! Sometimes, I pinch myself. Is this really my life? 

(available here)
Happy summer, friends! Here's to more trusting, more rest, more play, more living. XO,Kelly Rae


PS: The response for my upcoming painting ecourse has been awesome. Can't thank you enough for all the sign ups since launching registration last week. Class starts in a little over three weeks. Would love to have you join us! If you're on our newsletter list, be sure to read our most recent letter for a discount code! If you're not on our list, come on over and sign up!  #letartoutletlovein #unleashyourjoy

Giveaway on Facebook today!

Hi, friends!
We're having a fun giveaway today on my Facebook page. Come on over to enter to win this gorgeous, large tote (it's one of my favorites that we've ever made). Even better? It's full of KRR goodies, like notecards and journals and more! 
Come on over, friends! 

Warrior Optimist

(New art! This piece arrives signed, matted, and ready to frame. Available here)
A few weeks ago I had my chart read for the first time (you can read more of that story here). One of the things I learned about myself is that my warrior (Mars), optimist (Jupiter), and healing (Chiron) characters are all very close to one another in my chart, and they're all in fire signs, making this particular trio extra powerful together. Carol, my extraordinary chart reader and healer all on her own, explained that these three characters are the leads in the plot of my story, the heartbeat of my essence. Despite their battle wounds, they know of optimistic endurance, always seeing possibility, fighting for light, and reaching for healing. As she was telling me this, I felt the chills - always a sign of when something feels deeply true. There's a reason I call myself a possibilitarian. 

I'm not going to lie. This year has been tough with good old fashioned transition and stress. At times there certainly have been moments when I've had to dig very deep to keep my spirits up. And there have been times when I've wanted to throw my hands up in the air, fantasizing about quitting everything, and moving to a little plot of land off the grid, alone. 
Of course, it's precisely those beautiful, messy moments that indicate there's a message there, a lesson, an opportunity to recalibrate. Ever since my chart reading, I've been thinking of my inner warrior optimist in those challenging moments. I've been summoning her endurance, her deep, never-ending well of optimism, her healing, possibilitarian spirit.  I know she's the part of my essence, that divine light that lives in all us, that is guiding me toward all that is meant to be. I am doing my best not just to listen to her, but to trust her, too. 

We all have battle wounds. Tough years. Soul work to complete while we are here. I think that is the point, sometimes. A path toward evolution, and a chance for our spirits and our souls to learn and grow and become. The journey is hard. Excruciating. Beautiful. Delicate. Layered.Worth it. 
And so. Here's to being fearless warriors for optimism, healing, and joy. I can't think of a battle more worth fighting for. 

PS: Can't thank you enough for all the e-course sign ups. Something tells me I'm going to be in the company of many other warrior optimists as we create gorgeous mantra paintings together. To say I'm excited is a big understatement! It's not too late to sign up. Class starts Sept 8th!