Kelly Rae Roberts's Blog, page 43

2013 word of the year: Unleash

"Your own words are the bricks and mortar of the dreams you want to realize. Your words are the greatest power you have. The words you choose and their use establish the life you experience." - Sonia Choquette

(matted/signed print available here)
My one little word of the year is Unleash.

Unleash as in freeing a few of my new and old ideas that are finally ready to be born.
Unleash as in joy explosions and love bombs.
Unleash as in creative growth.
Unleash as in letting go of the unecessary chains/leashes/stories that are holding me back.

Unleash, unleash, unleash.
I am so ready. Motivated. Inspired to see how it unfolds these next twelve months.

I am so grateful for the one little word concept. Thank you, Ali. It has been a yearly tradition I eagerly welcome and celebrate.


I'd love to know your word for 2013. Feel free to share in the comments or many of us are sharing right here on Facebook. LOVE the poetry of the words, collected.

The Possibilitarian Project: Kim Klassen

The Possibilitarian Project is more than a blog series, it’s a movement. Because when you step forward as a Possibilitarian — and share the truth about how you created your beautifully messy, magnificently complicated & exquisitely joyful life and career — you give everyone else permission to dream bigger, be braver, and create what they want. And just like that, the impossible simply . . . . . isn’t.




What I love about this project is that Possibilitarians are nominated (By anyone! Do you have someone you'd like to nominate? Head over here). When an email came through nominating Kim Klassen, I could hardly believe that I hadn't known of her before! I devoured her story, got inspired by her courage and creativity, and am now a stalker (ahem, fan) of her work. Her story is nothing less than inspiring, and very very brave. Get ready to be inspired.....

Everybody, meet Kim Klassen. She's a Possibilitarian. Here's why.....

::Roots::Who were you before you became a Possibilitarian? What was your ‘early’ career, ‘previous life’ or perspective?
Oh my…I feel like I was a bit of a lost soul…with just a little teensy bit of 'possiblitarian' lingering inside me...trying to find it's way out.

I spent most of my life quietly watching the world…a little pulled back…a lot insecure…and yet knowing there must be more. You know that little voice we have…that quietly whispers to us…the one many of us try to hush...That was my life.

As for my my early career…I was a mom first…for a few years I ran a home daycare…making it possible to stay at home with my 2 boys. Before that I worked in a Canadian retail store called Eatons…that was my job from the time I was 16 til 22 when I left my job to stay at home with the boys.

Anyhow, we bought a lovely antique home a few years after we were married. A big part of my journey to now started with this house. We live in the town I grew up in…and as a teenager I told my best friend I would live in this very house one day. And so, I don't consider it a coincidence that right before we almost closed on another home my dream house came up for sale. I knew it was meant for us. We moved into our 110 year old brick home…my husband got a job at the hospital across the street…and we began to make our life…


I loved everything antique and old…worn, torn, chippy…But we had absolutely no extra money for decorating…And so, I decided I would make my own!! It's funny looking back on that…because up until then…I didn't paint, draw…anything…But I moved right into it…And that was the beginning of a new journey…The step lead to a lot of hard work, craft sales, selling on eBay…magazine publications and finally to a publisher that licensed my signs and folk art paintings on prints, wallpaper, giftware etc.

Our life was good…my children were growing…we had more than enough money…No worries. I could paint one sign ONCE…and crazily collect thousand of dollars for just that one piece. Pinch me!!

Each step I took was clearly stated. I was really good at stating intentions, even before I knew I was stating intentions. Ya know? I remember when that book, The Secret came out…thinking, hey that's what I've been doing!??! Who knew!!

I would boldly tell my husband, things like…did you know you can paint signs and send them to a publisher and get royalty cheques in the mail? He'd be like…no, really, Kimmy? And I'd be like...yep, I'm going to do that!!

And I did…
One step at a time…it all came together…


::Moment of Truth::Was there a pivotal moment when everything shifted? What happened?
Like life…sometimes things have a way of changing. Tough stuff can land in your path…And that's exactly what happened to us.

I remember walking my dog one evening, listening to my ipod and thinking…'life is just so good…and in that moment a little bit of fear found it's way in…

It feels like the next day…I'm sure it wasn't…but our life began to come crashing down. My sweet, teenage boy choose the wrong path…which lead to 2 plus years of living hell. I became a prisoner of fear. It was the most difficult thing I've ever experienced…sitting, waiting for the phone to ring…wondering what was next. I quit painting, I just sat…scared to death…day after day…eventually the phone call came…the one I'd been expecting every night...in the middle of the night…

Our bottom…

Thankfully we made it through…nobody was physically hurt, nobody died…it could have ended in tragedy…but it didn't…We were saved.

The scariest most difficult thing in my life…became the biggest gift I've ever received.


After that night, something opened BIG inside of me…my creativity started to flow again. I don't think I've told Kelly Rae this…but it was during that time that I discovered her art and mixed media…and I dabbled in it for a bit. It was part of my healing…such a gift.

But big change happened when I took my camera to the trail one day… I decided to take some pictures.

I came home and tried layering texture on one of the photos in Photoshop…a program I'd been attempting to use for almost 2 years…but just couldn't 'get it.'

Anyhow, in that moment…magic happened. It's as if the 3 worlds collided…photography, textures and Photoshop…and I've moved forward with that ever since.

It's difficult to make a long story short…But that moment lead me to my blog, sharing photography, Photoshop, teaching classes, becoming a Shutter Sister and basically living this crazy dream like life…that was so not me.

I thank my boy for changing my life…changing my story. If it were not for that time…I am pretty sure I'd still be painting. I would never have found my true passion…which lead to the most amazing connections and experiences anyone could ask for.


::Advice::What’s ONE piece of advice or encouragement you’d give to someone who’s facing their own pivotal moment, right now?
Oh my gosh…I would have to say…move right on through…don't let fear stop you!! Trust your gut, your heart…and go for it!! START…state intentions, dream big and be prepared to do the work.


::Awesomeness::Where are you NOW? What have you created, what’s on the horizon, and how have you been applauded & recognized for your work? (This is your chance to brag away & BIG yourself up! Go for it!)
Today I'm just coming down from the most incredible experience of my life...as a contributor at Shutter Sisters (a huge MONDO BEYONDO dream come true). I was part of Shutter Sisters Oasis in Palm Springs…a truly life altering event.

The fact that this quiet, homebody is now traveling here and there…by herself…sharing with people is crazy…but so awesome…and it feels so right!!

I get to teach Photoshop, Lightroom and creative classes to thousands of students online from all over the world. I have a list of almost 20,000 people. I get to share my hopes, dreams, fears…passion and teaching to so many like-minded people. I finally found my tribe and have no idea what I'd do without them.

I have so many exciting plans ahead…from traveling and teaching to seeing the world…new classes, new photo opportunities…it's just beginning.


Thank you, Kim! We are honored to share your story. 
You can connect with Kim through
Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Blog


Kim Klassen Is a Possibilitarian...Are You?


Go ahead. Snag a button. Declare yourself a Possibilitarian. Kindly link your button to ThePossibilitarianProject.com so that others can join in the fun.

Do YOU know a brave, tender & wildly inspiring person . . . someone who has created their dream life & career, on their own courageous terms? Nominate them for The Possibilitarian Project!

Atlanta Gift Show: showroom tour!

I'm home from my annual adventure to the Atlanta Gift Mart where I celebrated my licensing partnerships, and where new products were officially launched, including the brand new holiday and jewelry lines (Demdaco). It was our best show yet and I arrived home feeling blessed and inspired to keep going. I love what I do!

I had my iPhone with me and wanted to give you a quick glance at the scene....


Above was the Kelly Rae window at the Demdaco Showroom. Totally loved it...

Above was one of the main displays inside the showroom featuring the latest new gift product releases. I'm certain that Demdaco has one of the very best set designers in the industry (Hello, Cory + team!). It's like going to see the Macy's Christmas Windows. You never know what they're going to come up with but you know it's going to be stunning. 
Below are a few close-ups of this particular display. I love the use of wooden hangers! And all the wood and metal. Makes my decor senses swoon....




On the other side of the wall/display photo'd above is another lovely display: 

There was also a magnificent jewelry display with some pretty awesome vintage suitcases repurposed as display cases with lights. LOVE. These photos aren't the best, but you'll get the idea:




The holiday displays over in the Sylvestri showroom were gorgeous, peaceful, and lovely in all the best ways (a big hit). I was only able to capture a couple of photos (so wish I was able to get a photo of the beautiful tree that was decorated with all the new ornaments!):


As I mentioned during the sneak peek post, this latest launch marks my 5th anniversary with Demdaco! Here's to celebrations, gratitude, and my continued awe that this particular season of my life is so full. I feel very much in the center of a dream. 
Here are a few more iphone/instagram captures of the showroom:




Next up, the Creative Co-op showroom! As always, it was bright and full of creative product formats. I couldn't get too many photos but here's a peek. I am very proud of this collection and am still counting my lucky stars for the opportunity.


This was the most relaxed year yet at the show for me. Every year for the past 4 years, I arrive home from this show sick. I think it's too much energy, anticipation, possibility. This year I was super careful to get plenty of sleep, eat well, not over schedule myself, and take lots and lots of breaks. 
I spent a lot of time hanging out with Leigh, Lacy, Emily, and Molly in/out of the Curly Girl showroom. I even got a canvas of the card Leigh made for me. How lucky am I?


In my effort toward self-care, I ended the trip with a couple of days out in the North Georgia country with my childhood BFF, Gina. We stayed at a B+B, got massages, slept, talked, ate. Ahhhhh, soul food.


Thank you, Atlanta Gift Mart. Every year I show up with boatloads of anticipation and nerves. And every year, you show up and meet me with excitement and confirmation that what I'm doing in the gift industry matters. Thank you!

Goodbye 2012, a review

It was a deeply meaningful year, full of insights, truths, and watching a beautiful boy named True grow. It was also a significant year in business, too - an entrepreneurial playground where some of life's biggest lessons come to play. I have learned so much this year...

My word for 2012 was innovate. Of course, innovate became innervate as I wrote about last week. I will never forget the power of one little word (thank you, Ali, for birthing this brilliant concept!) Before letting you go, 2012, I wanted to answer a couple of more questions that my dear friend Andrea Scher introduced me to many years ago. I also want to feature a few of your highlights and lowlights.



1. What do you want to acknowledge yourself for in regard to 2012? (What did you create? What challenges did you face with courage and strength? What promises did you keep to yourself? What brave choices did you make? What are you proud of?)

Mostly, I want to acknowledge the courage that it took (and is still taking) to not only look inward, but to travel inward, down into the belly of brokenness, where feelings feel a little bit scary, and a lot a bit uncertain. I want to acknowledge all the places where vulnerability met courage along the way, where mini celebrations were plenty, and where new ways of journeying were paved. I am proud of the soul work I've done in my personal life, my marriage life, and how both have deepened my awakening to life. I am proud of all the ways I have stayed committed to balance between mama life and work life, always allowing myself to lean into the desire to be with True and my family above anything else. I am proud of letting the creative journey frustrations come and go, and ultimately trusting (letting go) that it would all unfold just as it should. I am proud of the partnerships I made in business, that my work continues to reach people. I'm proud that I made the decision to get a studio outside of my home, a decision that proved to be a smart move in the department of boundary creation. I love that I am doing what I love, and that new seasons of growth feel straight ahead. I'm also proud of all the realization that it's time for radical support, and that creating that in my life is 100% okay, even if 100% unconventional. I am crazy proud of my connection to my motherhood journey. It has been transformational in every way.



2. What is there to grieve about 2012? (What was disappointing? What was scary? What was hard? What can you forgive yourself for?)

In previous years I tend to grieve being too hard on myself, or not having enough balance, but this year feels different. I look at 2012 and am incredibly grateful for the deepening and the awakening, and the permission I gave myself to just be in it. All in. That said, I forgive myself for not recognizing sooner the inner work I needed to do. I forgive myself for all the times when I could have treated my body better. I forgive myself for the countless times when I missed or forgot or spaced or was late. And for all the times I came to a thought that was based in fear vs abundance. It happens :)

3. What else do you need to say about the year to declare it complete? The next step is to say out loud, "I declare 2012 complete!" How do you feel? If you don't feel quite right, there might be one more thing to say...

I just want to say thank you for being the year when I got my big break in breaking open. Major freedom and truth and clarity and joy. 2012, I declare you complete!

Some highlights and lowlights include...


- Admitted that the creative life is a lot like having a boyfriend. Sometimes it drive you nuts and sometimes it's all rainbows and unicorns (the best)
- Watched hundreds of iPhone videos like this one and this one of True and marveled at the sweet and tender adventure of motherhood, over, and over.


- Celebrated beauty and pondered truth and wrote my very own manifesto.
- Got a brand spankin new logo!- Lots of house projects, including building a wall of bookshelves in our dining room, a plate wall in the kitchen, and happily rearranged the living room once, or twice.
- Took the leap and moved into a big, new beautiful studio space outside of my home. It changed everything. - Realized that our dreams don't belong to us, really. They belong to the world. - Was featured in lots of kind press and launched a few happy blog projects.

- Wrote my favorite blog post of the entire year. It's about the afterglow effect. - Launched Art In Motion where I show how I make paintings, start to finish (love this!)- Delighted in the little things, like finding hearts everywhere, discovering feathers in my path, True's love of painting, vintage oil floral paintings, and spending a couple of days with one brave mama and daughter. 

- Launched new releases of products in Jan, including a couch, the very popular cuff bracelets, and lots of other goodies and treasures. Launched another release in July as well (mugs,  home decor, and more)!- Created a charming, safe, alternative approach to baby gates which was then featured thousands of times all over the web, including Apartment Therapy and Pinterest.


- Struggled with trying to do it all.
- Launched Hello Soul Hello Business to some pretty amazing reviews with a pretty amazing collaborator (Beth Nicholls). This collaboration created a community of entrepreneurs where I (and others) could safely share the hard mistakes and lessons I've learned on my business journey as well as the triumphs. Really grateful.
- Got kicked to the curb by one very sweet husband's insistence that I go visit some deeply missed friends. - Cried when I watched her play the song she wrote about me. - Felt lost from time to time, and leaned into my soul sisters for support. Gathered with some soul sisters  throughout the year. And even went to a cowgirl art camp 


- Outgrew my brand new mama wings and continued to be amazed and in love with True.
- Collaborated with my good friend and brilliant speaker/writer Brene Brown- Navigated the pitfalls of being online 

- Did a major website renovation, and on the home front, we completed major front yard renovations (including curb side veggie boxes!), and back yard renovations (deck! grass! garden cottage!)
- Fell in love with Instagram and Pinterest (the latter of which gets neglected, but still love it.)- Witnessed my best guy friend's wedding

- Co-hosted a delicious day of conversation and food at the remarkable Teahouse Studio in Berkeley, CA with my good friend Andrea.
- Launched the How Cute Is That Series which I love, love, love.
- After years of having them closed, I opened my comments


- Shared/released some true stories, including my anxiety story, my parenthood/marriage story, and how my 2012 word, innovate, actually morphed into INNERvate
- Guided hundreds of fellow flyers through Flying Lessons: Tips + Tricks To Help Your Creative Business Soar, my ecourse that I'm pretty sure has changed my life as well as those who take it. The community always astounds me.


- Put a little free library in our front yard. Best community building move ever.
- Started making green smoothies, joined bootcamp, and started getting conscious about changing my habits.
- Celebrated living with a little love note to life. 

- Continued to be amazed by him, every single day.
- Shared a couple sweet videos of True here (15 mos), here (17 mos)  here (19 mos)
- I made an important promise. 

- Sat next to the pilot (who looked all of 16 years old) on a tiny plane in route to an adventure with some of my dearest besties.
- Went on an adventure to Maui - holy smokes, the beauty.
- Discovered Hulu which means I discovered awesome TV shows, like Parenthood and Scandal. Also discovered the best jeans ever (NYDJ brand).


- Had a photoshoot and got my first professional business video made. I love, love, LOVE it.
- I cleaned out my actual closet, but it seemed more about cleaning out my emotional closet (a very good thing). And as I moved furniture around, it seems as though I was doing some soul/spirit/emotional rearranging too. It all matters, no?


Thank you 2012, for all the abundance, lessons, safety, health, and grace.
ps: I'm a big believer in recapping our years - to look back, to relearn, to rediscover, to celebrate, to grieve, to realize just how far we've come. I've been recapping my blog posts by years for the last seven years. For those of you who may be interested, here are my yearly recaps:201120102009200820072006
Up Next: My word for 2013! Hope you guys are celebrating the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013.

Three good things....

Dear friends, I feel like I have so much to tell you. I want to tell you about how I'm creating radical support in my life and what that means. I want to tell you about the carrot juice I had this morning that was made in my kitchen and how it didn't taste like carrots at all (a good thing, if you're me). I want to tell you what my word is for 2013, how I'm worried about getting sick this month (as I have every January for the last five years), and so, so much more. Good stuff, the journeying stuff, the gratitude stuff.
But, holy smokes I'm caught in a whirlwind of activity at the moment and before I take another step, I have to stop and take a couple of moments and tell you about a few really good things happening over here......


Beth Nicholls, my Hello Soul Hello Business collaborator, and I are honored to have co-authored the first of many columns for the premier issue of the much anticipated new publication, Where Women Create BUSINESS. No doubt, this new magazine, loaded with valuable insights and information, will become a beloved guide for women who seek to create successful businesses doing what they love. I feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of its launch as I'm certain it will inspire, encourage, and change lives. Besides, I love, love, love any opportunity to talk about how entrepreneurship is really just a playground in which to learn some pretty rich lessons in life. Big thanks to Jo Packham and the editors at Stampington for inviting Beth and I to be a part of something extraordinary. And gratitude to Tracey Clark for making our article beautiful with her photography.
Above is a peek at our six page article and below is our intro:
“Just as our individual lives become soulful when filled with purpose and passion, we believe businesses are also living, breathing things that thrive when infused with these powerful elements. We believe in abundance — that you can achieve your dream, and when you do you’ll inspire every inch of your life and all those touched by it. Nurturing a successful, soulful business — however large or small — can transform you into an influential leader and make you a force for positive change in the world. It can be one of the most exciting and rewarding things you will ever do; however, it can also be one of the toughest. It can be stressful, complicated, frustrating, and risky, especially if you take a traditional approach. We are proposing a whole new way of building a smart, soul-based business, which is the opposite of how most businesses are shaped.”

WWC BUSINESS is on stands now or you can order your copy here!



This is a quick little video trailer that DEMDACO made highlighting a few of my thoughts and gorgeous video shots of a few of the new gift products that are launching this week at the Atlanta Market. I also shared a big sneak peek last week of many of the new products here on the blog. It's been a super exciting week, friends. Lots of activity over on Facebook as well surrounding the launch. Thanks for celebrating with me!

I'm heading to the Atlanta Market this week to celebrate the launches and meet retailers and soak it all up. I'll share photos and stories when I get home! Retailers, I hope to see you in the showrooms!


Friends, she made a card. Just for me. I can hardly believe it. She created it after an important phone call in which Leigh gave me some seriously insightful inspiration. I tell the story a little bit here. Leigh tells more of it here. But this gorgeous card, this GORGEOUS card, tells the story more perfectly that I could have ever imagined. It's just so, so....true. Things will not always be joyful, but they will most often be useful. If the seas were always calm, we'd would never build a better boat. Thank you, Leigh. I love how the boat is named, "beauty." Swoon.
By the way, I remember the first time I ever saw one of Leigh's cards. It was about 10 years ago in a cute little shop in NW Portland. I wasn't an artist at the time, wasn't in the licensing industry, none of that. I was just a girl with a day job and not even the longings yet for a creative life. But her art struck me, and I was called to her messages. Love at first sight. I began to see her cards everywhere and I began to buy them exclusively for all my card writing occasions. Fast forward about six years and I have decided to be an artist (!) and I'm building my creative business. A friend says to me, "Do you know Leigh Standley? I think you should look up her website and get inspired." I go to her website and there she is: the woman whose cards I've been buying forever. Fast forward another year. I have found myself in Kansas at a big Demdaco event and there she is, in the same room as me, also at the big Demdaco event. We became fast friends and I count my lucky stars for her friendship every day. In big, big ways.
Honestly, friends. I cannot believe how the Universe/God/Spirit/Whateveryouwanttocallit works! I have a card, inspired by some rough seas that I navigated in my journey! I will treasure it always. 

Art In Motion: More Living

With Art in Motion, I share the visual journey through the life of one of my paintings — from the blank canvas, to the first splash of inspiration, all the way to the finished piece. Enjoy to the fullest!
Click here to see all the posts in this ongoing project series.

Started with a  24" x 24" blank canvas. Often, I'll start by simply gluing a couple pieces of paper onto the canvas with gel medium (link below)...anything to break up the white silence staring back at me. 

Lots of drippy wet paint and fingers running through it all. At this stage, the spray bottle is my BFF.

More texture with drippy paint effects, and a bit more big papers glued on. You can barely see the original papers glued on and the canvas has been rotated several times by now. Really fun stage...

Added in more texture with some big stencils and spray paint. Currently obsessed with stencils! Links below...


Another turn of the canvas, then little bit of lace, hearts, collage, more smudging of paint, and then it's ready for.......

More color, then the last of the details: last minute collage elements, words (alphabet stamps + stencils), pencil work, white gel pen work, and more. And then it's complete....

It turned out to be a love note. Love it when that happens. Original has sold, but signed/matted prints are available of this piece right here. 

A little peek at what the studio looked like during its creation. I love love love a good painting mess. 

I get so many questions about which art supplies I use and love. You can check out my favorite supplies for making art  (with descriptions) over here or if it's easier, I've put some easy links below for you :)

Tabletop Easel Canvas Boards Golden Fluid Acrylics Spray Bottle Liquitex Soft Body Acrylics Brayer Gel Medium (Gloss) Stabilo Pencils (Black) Gesso Shiva Oil Paintstiks Alphabet Stamps Alphabet Stencils Face Color Pitt Pens White Sharpie Paint Pin (fine tip) Black Pitt Pens Ott light Heat Gun Stencils My Book (Taking Flight)InLinkz.com

Thank you guys. I hope you enjoyed a peek into the process!
XO,
Kelly Rae
PS: I'm working on a few art e-courses which will launch later this year. If you're interested in getting messy with me during a fun art ecourse, be sure to sign up for my newsletter for upcoming information. It's gong to be great. Promise.

Introducing jewelry, totes, holiday, and new gift collections!

Demdaco and I are celebrating FIVE years of partnering this month. Seriously. It seems like just yesterday that we launched our first collection of wall art at the Atlanta market. I wasn't there for the launch. I'm not sure I even knew there was a launch, or a gift show, or that it would be a big deal at all - I barely knew what to expect and had little clue how it all worked. At the time, my book had just released and John and I had recently moved to Seattle where I was busy filling my etsy orders, selling my prints and originals, marketing my book, and generally working by tail off so I could make it as a full time artist. My taking the leap into licensing with Demdaco has been, hands down, the best off-the-cuff, let's just see what happens decision I've ever made.

I cannot thank you enough for supporting the line these last five years. I can't thank Demdaco enough. Retailers enough. Sales team enough. It's takes a major village. And I hope it continues for a long, long time. 
I've got big, big, BIG news about our latest launch at the upcoming gift markets. And yes, this time, I will be there. With a wide smile, and open heart. 


I'm so thrilled to finally share with you a few sneak peeks of my brand new jewelry and fashion collection with Demdaco. I am thrilled. In addition to jewelry and fashion, we're debuting a brand new holiday collection (holy smokes, it's gorgeous), and lots of new and exciting gift and wall art products as well.
Retailers, there are about 75 new skus that make up the jewelry and fashion collections alone, plus the new holiday line and new gift products - lots of exciting products. If you're heading to one of the upcoming gift markets, please stop by the Demdaco showroom to see it all! Or, if you prefer, you can now see and order the items directly from Demdaco's new retailer website. Yes! (Please note: If you order online, you'll need to click the following categories under the Demdaco Studio brand: "The Kelly Rae Roberts Collection" and "Kelly Rae Roberts Fashion" to see all the new jewelry, fashion, and gift products. For the holiday line, you'll need to click the Sylivestri brand and then "Peace On Earth Collection by Kelly Rae Roberts")

International Retailers: Demdaco is now distributing the Kelly Rae Roberts Collections worldwide. This is huge news! Please contact contact Cash Claridge (cash.claridge[at]demdaco.com) and Jenifer Regnier (Jenifer.Regnier[at]demdaco.com) at Demdaco and they will help you get started. Woohoo!
US + international customers, if you'd like to know when the new collections are online and ready for purchase, please be sure to sign up for the newsletter. 
Okay, friends, here's a small sneak peek at what's being introduced this month at the gift markets. I'm crazy excited...jewelry, fashion, holiday, gifts, and more! 
TOTES:

Tote bags! Messenger bags! Weekenders! Wristlets! Several different designs of each style. All amazing. My favorite, though? The structured large totes like the one above. There are several designs, all gorgeous.

(a couple of the messenger bags)
(a couple of the wristlets)
The tote collection was a long, long time in the making, and I'm really happy with how it all turned out. I can't wait for these to make their way into stores nationwide! Above is just a small peek into what's being introduced. I'll share the full collection in the coming weeks!
JEWELRY: We're introducing an extensive jewelry collection. We started with the super popular cuff bracelets last summer and these new collections are a wonderful addition to the cuffs.
We're introducing three different jewelry collections: signature, vintage, and fashion. Here's a sneak peek into each one:
The fashion collection features pieces that are soft and layered, and most definitely feminine. Above are a couple of my favorites from this collection. This collection also features a large, GORGEOUS selection of really simple necklaces that can be used for layering with other necklaces. I don't have a good photo yet of these, but think simple phrasing (love, hope, faith, etc) stamped into beautiful pendants with chains that are laced with gorgeously dyed velvet. Amazing.


The signature collection includes many pieces (necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and keychains, too) that feature my artwork as the focal point. The most affordable and largest of all the jewelry collections, these pieces shine, shine, shine. Love them all. Can't wait to show more of them to you, but wanted to give a sneak peek first. 

Last but not least, we're introducing a small, vintage inspired collection which includes necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. All gorgeous, and so well made. My heart can hardly believe it. Love. 
Again, these are just sneak peeks, but I'll share more of the collections in the coming weeks. 
Retailers, please get your orders in fast as we're expecting these to sell quickly once the January gift markets begin! Super exciting...
HOLIDAY: Holiday!!! I'm super thrilled to announce my new partnership with Sylvestri (a brand under the Demdaco umbrella). We've created a lovely holiday line that we're calling the Peace On Earth Collection. It's soft, ethereal, and tranquil - and I couldn't be happier. The first time I saw it in person, I almost cried. It's magic.


There are about 50 products in the holiday collection, including a gorgeous music box, plates, wine glasses, wall art, figures, a variety of gorgeous ornaments (including mini angel figurines), bells, and so much more. 
Definitely a new approach to holiday that could stay out all year long, not just during Christmas. Love, love, love.
GIFT: Our theme for this launch was celebrate. We wanted to create products that could be used while gathering with family and/or friends around the dinner table, or any gathering really - any opportunity to celebrate the everyday moments with loved ones. 
Here is a sneak peek at our latest gift collection release!

Trays! Table top magnet/menu boards! Tea towels! Aprons! Metal gift tags that can used for anything, including wine bottle ornaments. Candles! Tiered table top pieces! Banners! And so much more.

Totally in love with this tiered metal piece. I think it will live in the center of our kitchen island :)

We've also got new wall canvases, new angels, figurines, magnets, crosses, photo frames, and more. I love this new release so, so much.

And these metal tags. I will be gifting these to everyone I know this year. They are the bomb.
RECAP: I hope you've enjoyed this sneak peek of all all the new collections launching this month with Demdaco and Sylvestri! I'll share more photos of more products in the coming months.
Retailers, if you're heading to one of the upcoming gift markets, please stop by the Demdaco showroom to see it all! Or, if you prefer, you can now see and order the items directly from Demdaco's new retailer website. Yes! (Please note: If you order online, you'll need to click the following categories under the Demdaco Studio brand: "The Kelly Rae Roberts Collection" and "Kelly Rae Roberts Fashion" to see all the new jewelry, fashion, and gift products. For the holiday line, you'll need to click the Sylivestri brand and then "Peace On Earth Collection by Kelly Rae Roberts")

International Retailers: Demdaco is now distributing the Kelly Rae Roberts Collections worldwide. This is huge news! Please contact contact Cash Claridge (cash.claridge[at]demdaco.com) and Jenifer Regnier (Jenifer.Regnier[at]demdaco.com) at Demdaco and they will help you get started. Woohoo!
US + international customers, if you'd like to know when the new collections are online and ready for purchase, please be sure to sign up for the newsletter. 
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!My heart is full.XOKelly Rae

Happy New Year!

(Signed, matted print available here)
"What in your life is calling you? When all the noise is silenced, the meetings adjourned, the lists laid aside, and the wild iris blooms by itself in the dark forest, what still pulls on your soul? In the silence between your heartbeats hides a summons. Do you hear it?" - Terma collective
Happy New Year, friends. Here's to answering our unique, precious calls in 2013. May the days be joy-filled, love-fueled, and beauty-full.Love,Kelly Rae

how innovate became innervate

(photo by Viv McMaster)


"Once we rid ourselves of traditional thinking we can get on with creating the future." — James Bertrand


My word for 2012 was innovate. As I wrote in this early 2012 post, I was totally in love with the idea of "trying on new ways of considering everything and turning every thought upside down, sideways, and so on until an aha hits, until an idea emerges, until inspiration fosters movement."

What I didn't know at the time was how the word innovate would come to play, not in the expected ways that it might be found in business, but rather in quite unexpected ways as it related to my life - especially my inner life, the place where my soul and spirit and burdens dwell. 

"I thought I'd be innovating new ideas for my business. I thought I'd be awakening more creative thinking, more out-of-the-box ideas. I had no idea that I'd find myself in the offices of energy healers, naturopaths, therapists, and more. I had no idea that all of this soul work would be the ways in which innovation would be called into my life," I said to a dear friend one afternoon. "What's so cool," I continued, "is that all this soul work has indeed freed me up to eventually have the best innovative ideas I've ever had for my business and for my life - all while being the way to peace."

"Well," she said, "It sounds like innovate became innervate."

Yes, that's it exactly. Innovate became innervate. A kind of spiritual, soul stirring inner excavation process that indeed had my soul "trying on new ways of considering everything and turning every thought upside down, sideways, and so on until an aha hits, until an idea emerges, until inspiration fosters movement."

I love how the universe works. 


(Signed print available here)
It all began when I had lunch early in the year with Flora. Swapping wishes and stories of dreams for the new year, I told her about how I just wanted to be open to anything in the interest of innovating new ways of seeing and creating. Flora, hearing and sensing my inner call, sent me to one of her dear energy healers. Having never seen an energy healer before, I was simply open to a new adventure. Hands down, I was blown away by the experience. That meeting opened my heart and my awareness a bit more. Later, I found myself seeing a naturopath for the first time, then neurofeedback for the first time. I began opening myself up to new foods, cleanses, and more. As the year went on, I found myself seeing other energy healers, reading transformational books, seeing a skilled therapist, and generally going inward, deep into introspection. 

"Like archaeologists of the soul, we need to excavate our hidden depths to unearth the shards of the spirit, and then reassemble those fragments into a whole self." - Caroline Myss 

In many ways, I am still in that deep place of introspection. But 2012 proved to be my big break in breaking open - a big wide open space of innervation, a place where brokenness and vulnerability are courageously met, where old wounds are finally nurtured with understanding and compassion, but perhaps most importantly, being open to creating new ways of seeing, believing, and living. There is much peace here. There is freedom, truth telling, and a sense that real wholeness comes from going deep, excavating the treasures, and rising up with a deeper spiritual awareness and purpose. Elizabeth Lesser calls it the Phoenix Process. And she is right. I highly recommend her book to everybody I know as we will all experience our own Phoenix Process, sometimes many in a lifetime. Her book is a wonderful, uplifting guide.

Here are a few things I've learned (so far) on my innervation journey this year:

Vulnerability leads to true innovation. It is not until we are are brave in our brokenness, or tell our stories, or allow ourselves to be seen, or live with the doors to our hearts open that we can begin to see things in new ways. Vulnerability transforms a two lane road without any exits into a huge highway of exciting options, healing adventures, and exits leading to creativity, big ideas, new ways of seeing, and transformative life-changing innovation. All of Brene's books speak into how our lives are transformed (parenting, leadership, business, love) when we embrace vulnerability. All highly recommended. 

Everything is with us, always. Our physical bodies and spirits remember everything. It's all recorded, for better or worse.  When we touch and feel and bravely face the direction of all that has been recorded (the good bits, and the hard bits), then our bodies respond, too, and things shift around to birth new possibilities.  We have to physically process it all: inhale the good, exhale the hard, and nurture our breaths as purposeful & meaningful markers of time, recordings of life being impressed and created. It all matters. Every single breath.

The truth sets us free. Could be the smallest admission of "I don't want to ski anymore because I've never actually enjoyed it and what I really want to do is stay home by the fire with hot chocolate" to deep inner truths that we reveal and set free. The truth, and declaring what our own truths are - from the seemingly insignificant to the most substantial - are how we ultimately communicate who we are. There is major relief (freedom) in standing in our truths. It's the difference of living a half life, or a whole life.

Innervation leads to spiritual purpose. This last year of introspection has given me real clarity around the gifts that I bring to the world. I'm understanding the ways in which we all have spiritual purpose and how we each have a sacred contract in which we are called and challenged to elevate our spiritual purpose. We each have one. When our gifts and talents are used in service of our sacred contract, we shine, inspire, serve, and elevate the conversation. Our gifts and talents live in the way we teach, parent, love, create, lead, parent...and in how we navigate brokenness. It hasn't so much to with what we do, but how we do what we do and who we are.


My journey into innervation this year has also led me to books. Lots of them. Never before have I devoured books on subjects like marriage, contemplative spirituality, christianity, parenting, and more. They have been my guides, my companions these last 12 months. John and I have had many wonderful conversations, all prompted by the passages in these books. All highly recommended. 
Thank you, innervate. You have been a HUGE, life changing word. I'm so glad 2012 gifted you to me. Here's to the continued journey....

HAPPY NEW YEAR, everyone! Tell me, have you had years of innervation? What did you learn? Or, tell me on Facebook :)XO

Around here lately...

The last couple of weeks have been busy with holiday buzz: date nights, lunch dates, crafty show dates, shopping, and more. I bought my first cowl (seen above) from a local artist (wish I had her name, but I lost it) and I'm in love.


(in progress)


I've been painting, a lot. Recently, I discovered that new TV show, Scandal, and I watched the entire first season via netflix in one sitting while painting about 4 paintings all at once. Bliss. LOVE watching TV and painting at the same time. That was a long day of painting - about 8 hours - which I almost never do, but I was so engrossed in the show, I couldn't stop. Super productive...

Lovely Christmas with the grands. True did not let his new microphone out of his hands the entire day. Best gift ever. 

Lately, when the grands come over, he orders them to his room to play. If John or I try to enter his room, we are ordered out. Well, okay, then!

We've entered the rainy season, friends. Above is what it looks like 90% of the time. I know, I know. 

But when the sun comes out, everything stops and we go out and ENJOY it. 


Friends, I cannot believe how quickly this is happening, how much he grows. He is the sweetest, dearest little being. 

And they keep my heart open. I'm a lucky girl.