Kelly Rae Roberts's Blog, page 56

visual peek into my world lately:

Hello Love banner (part of my home decor line with Creative Co-op) strewn across our bed with newish vintage quilt.

 
Me, at 8ish - proof that I was pure rural girl in rural Florda.

 
This little lovely made it through the bars. Free! 

 
Been finding heart shapes again.


Even on the salad plate.

 
(It's a toy) And he's obsessed with it. 

 
And I'm obsessed with him.

 
And all that he teaches and inspires...

 
(Five year engagement) It was good and so was the coke slurpee. 



Waiting for summer, people. Waiting.



And if you're one of the few who have not seen this video, get ready to be delighted. I've watched it over and over. Awesome. Had to share.

PS:
 
Another heart, for you.

She's coming to my studio and YOU ARE INVITED!

Longtime sponsor and friend Susannah Conway's new book, This I Know: Notes On Unraveling The Heart has launched, friends. And it's off. Taking Flight. Soaring. Changing Lives.


Earlier this week, I had a fun opportunity to chat with her about the book via a Skype call. I got to tell her through the screen, heart to heart, what I thought of her book. I asked her some questions. She answered. She charmed. She laughed. I read a bit of her book out loud. We both got teary. Check out the video to see us in action. So happy to share her and her book with you!

And guess what's even better?



Susannah is making a stop at my studio during her book tour! OMG!  We'd love it if YOU joined us! 
We'll mingle, sip on wine, and listen to Susannah read a bit from her book followed by conversations and Q+A about life, love, grief, blogosphere, photography, and more.

Nothing crazy, just a simple gathering of those who adore all things Susannah.

Warning: girlie fun, cussing, and lots of hugs will likely occur.

When: Monday, July 7th from 5pm to 7pm
Where: Kelly Rae's Studio in Portland, Oregon (Pearl District)
Why: Because we want to make Susannah's stop in Portland the best on her book tour!

RSVP NOW, friends! Like, right now! 

***We only have space for about 35 people so please RSVP asap if you'd like to come! We will be closing reservations once the max amt of people have RSVP'd. Thanks!

My Manifesto

I finally wrote my very own manifesto.....


I believe:

That telling the truth about your beautifully messy and magnificently complicated life is a transformative gift. For yourself. And for anyone who’s listening.

That creativity reveals, saves, and inspires.



That beauty is mandatory.

That when all else fails, love always wins.



That every girl should own one pair of red shoes and one pair of spectacular cowgirl boots. And lots and lots of skirts.

That nothing is wasted, and that everything shapes us.


That kindness changes everything. LIke in a break-your-heart joyful way.

That what we’re doing matters, and that we are 100% enough (as is).



That when we play big, we give others permission to do the same.

That we get to make the rules, that we get to choose, that we get to craft the exact life that has been waiting for us.



That spontaneous dance parties in the living room are an absolute must.

That beginnings are beautiful. Middles & endings, too.



I believe:

In the pursuit of being awakened. What makes you come alive?

 Curious if my fellow possibilitarians out there have manifestos? What do they say?(comments open)

turning my comments back on and the importance of asking ourselves what makes us come alive

  (print available here)
I've been doing some big thinking over here about where I want to focus my energy, my heart, my time when it comes to my business, my blog, my creative time.   I've been paying attention to the parts of my biz life that light me up, the parts that I want to give up, the parts I want to improve, the parts I dread. I've had a gut feeling that something was off.
Not too long ago, while thinking about all of this, I wrote a quick list of the things that make me come alive - it was so quick, I grabbed the closest piece of paper (a piece of mail) and went to it.


Can you read that? It says:
What makes me come alive (or "What I heart")
-Brave + honest stories (women + biz, mamahood + biz, what is possible)
-Art making
-Writing about what really matters
-Creative Decor + spaces
-DIY projects
-Art in process (the story behind the art)
-Friends, convos, COMMUNITY

It's not super detailed, but I knew writing the basics down would help me re-focus on what's calling my attention and help me figure out what's not working. Because here's the truth: if our lists of what makes us come alive are not aligned with what we're actually doing (in biz or in life), then something has to be adjusted and realigned. This little scribbled list is totally helping me get realigned, especially when it comes to my blog. I am working on completely overhauling my blog's content, structure, and offerings. My goal? To incorporate as much as I can from the list above into meaningful blog posts. I want to get back to basics and simply do what I love to do: make art, have fun with creative projects/spaces, and write honest stories about life, the lessons, the journey. I want all of that to show up here, in this space. I want to create content that is inspiring, tells the truth, shares the bravery of others, while building and supporting a sense of community.

 (Tiny heart leaf found on the sidewalk) 
And I want YOU to be a part of it. Which brings me to comments! At the end of writing this list, I paused for a moment and then wrote "* time to open comments" - total shock to me. It's as if my truest inner compass spoke up against all my excuses to keep them closed.  I've had my comments closed for many years, mainly because I was having a hard time keeping my writing personal and puposeful to my creative journey when I knew there was an audience - a little jedi mind trick I play on myself while still growing in my creative expression and into my new creative life. Now, years later, I feel way more grounded in who I am, my creative path, my business path, and I'm ready. Ready for this space to be a place of community, of fellow possibilitarians connecting with one another, finding one another in the comments, and on and on.


 
So that's what I'm learning, friends. To go back. All the way back to what makes me come alive.
What makes you come alive? I'd love to know (comments are open :)XOKelly Rae

PS: I had to share this photo of True because it's HILARIOUS:

 

New Sponsor Spotlight: Danita Art + Slice of Life Project + Kat Eye Studio + Montage

I like to think of my sponsorship program as a way of playing matchmaker between you and some really amazing people who are providing unique and well crafted offerings. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor (includes your ad on the sidebar + ongoing spotlights), please send me an email at kellyraeroberts@gmail.com for further information! 
**************Danita Art
 
When Danita paints, She paints from the heart. She capture her dreams, her hopes, her reality and her daydreaming into her mixed media art.
If you've ever struggled to find what you like and wondered how to create meaningful art that becomes personal and full of passion, this workshop will be perfect for you.

More than just a painting class, Danita will show you the mixed media techniques she uses on her paintings as you join her on a journey through her thinking process for creating mixed media art as an outlet for your dreams, your worries and your imagination, allowing you to create art with a personal and distinctive style that you will love to call your own.

Ready to sign up?! The workshop starts on June 25th and registration is open by visiting the workshop signup page at http://MixedMediaFromTheHeart.danitaart.com.

This class has limited space and it's filling up quickly, drop by and register early to secure your place on this fantastic upcoming workshop from from Danita Art.
************** Slice of Life Project

Hello! I’m Darrah. Photography is my meditation. It is my joy. It is my passion. Over the years, I have made a practice of slowing down and celebrating the simple moments. My camera has helped me do this.I started using the term “Slice of Life” when I first discovered my love of photography. I realized that I didn’t have to look far to find beauty. Even amidst life’s day-to-day routines, amidst piles of laundry and lengthy to-do lists, there was beauty to be found. Photography has helped me focus on what matters most to me. And it can do the same for you.In the Slice of Life Project photography e-course, you will dig beneath the surface of your everyday life with your trusty camera and unearth the beauty that has been there all along. Your photography will improve, but perhaps more importantly, you will see your world in new and exciting ways. No photography experience required. Any kind of camera welcome (yes, even a camera phone!)The next session starts July 2 and runs six weeks. Registration and details  here .
Special offer for Kelly Rae’s readers: enter code “kellyrae” to receive 10% off your registration!

************** Kat Eye Studio

If so, Kat Eye Studio is the right place for you. Photographer Kat Sloma believes your photographs contain messages from your heart; you only have to pause and listen. Join Kat monthly for the Photo-Heart Connection, as a community of photographers from around the world come together, each finding the photograph that best connects to their heart. In the process, they uncover messages from the soul. It's an amazing thing to witness. There is no cost to participate in this monthly blog series, and you are welcome to join anytime. Kat is here to help you uncover the connection between your photos and your heart and soul. Visit Kat Eye Studio to learn more about the Photo-Heart Connection, along with Kat’s other blog series and online courses. You’ll find a community of kindred spirits waiting for you there. 

************** Montage by Vivienne McMaster

Montage is a brand new E-Course from photographer Vivienne McMaster that invites you to tell your story through moving pictures.

This is a project based course in which folks are invited to create a soulful video that tells their story. Be it for your business, your blog or because you have a story that needs to be told, Vivienne will be arming you with skills to create your video.

Her courses also can’t help but be playful and quirky and this one is no different. Vivienne will help you seek out the story that needs to be told and invite you to let your creative intuition bring it out. The course is both technical and playful and the first session sold out within one week!

There is one more session coming up this August!

Are you craving to tell your story in video and moving photos? The time is now!

You can find out more about Montage as well as Vivienne’s other inspiring classes over at her site!

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Big thanks to my sponsors! I'm honored to highlight their offerings. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor (includes your ad on the sidebar + ongoing spotlights), please send me an email at kellyraeroberts@gmail.com for further information!

a deck, a vw bus playground, and some inspiration love

Big stuff going on over here, including a huge back deck project that involved new roofs, garden shed, etc etc. A few weeks ago, this was a mud pit. And now, well we're enjoying it and getting it ready for lots of use this summer. The area to the right is our back yard which is not very pleasent at all (new sod coming soon!) at the moment. I'll share the full yard/deck project with you guys soon - the befores and the after and all the details. 


True's latest playground (while we wait for a new backyard) is the Orange Crush. Oh how he loves it and oh how we love having a nice long 20 minutes or so of him playing "the wheels on the bus" is a small, contained space. Bliss.


Some things, links, and loves I wanted to share for the weekend:

- Just had a session with this crazy talented, wicked smart wordsmith. I love connecting with people who are clearly in the center of their talent, their lives, their flow. Totally inspiring and inspired.

- Totally inspired by her series: The good, glad, and lovely. Just awesome.

- As one of the world's introverts, this interview and video makes me love her so much. So very very much. I'm one of those highly sensitive people who needs a ton of quiet time. Too much feedback, sound, music, chatter = not so lovely for me.

- I'm all over this idea. Like, for reals.

- I splurged (so cute!) and splurged (so LOL) some more. 

Happy weekend, friends!

a quick message from the universe:

Dear you,
It's true.

Love,
Your beautifully messy complicated life

How Cute is That: An old skirt finds new life as an adorable apron

A note from Kelly Rae: How Cute Is That is a new series where my mom and I share favorite DIY projects and ideas. Today's post is all about taking a beloved old skirt that no longer fits (hello post baby weight!) and creating an adorable apron out of it - an idea my mom had recently. By the way, "how cute is that" is an expression you can often hear my mom saying when she delights in her latest project whether crafting, sewing, or just rearranging furniture. We all love it when she says it....

Mom: Recently, Kelly Rae asked me to help her let out one of her favorite pre-baby skirts that no longer fits.  As you may guess, skirts are not easily let out, so we came up with a solution –let's make an apron out of it!


Mom: I simply cut out the front panel of the skirt, hemmed the sides with a very small hem, added a coordinating fabric for waistband and ties.  For the waist band I used about 8” of fabric folded in half with a 1” hem.  I used the width of my fabric for easy sake (about 42”), I then added the same fabric to each side for the tie.   It was so exciting to see the finished product.  I think it’s cute enough to wear over jeans even.  Kelly: Here I am wearing my new apron! I LOVE it. This was a favorite skirt of mine before True was born. It's just been sitting in my closet, waiting to be worn again if/when I ever lose my post baby weight. Love that mom re-purposed it into an apron. Simple + awesome.

Mom: I’m sure you all have skirts in your closet that are wondering if they'll ever see daylight again (we all do!).  Well now they can as a re-purposed apron.  Get out your scissors and sewing machines and give it a try! 
How cute is  that!

Happy creating,
Carol, Kelly Rae's studio mom

Sponsor Spotlights: Katherine Quinn + Illuminating Words + L. Gruger Art

I like to think of my sponsorship program as a way of playing matchmaker between you and some really amazing people who are providing unique and well crafted offerings. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor (includes your ad on the sidebar + ongoing spotlights), please send me an email at kellyraeroberts@gmail.com for further information! 
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Katherine Quinn - Sleep and Her Sisters


My name is Katherine Quinn, and I am the New Zealand artist behind Sleep And Her Sisters. I sell my original works to 9 galleries around New Zealand and have three online shops where I also sell originals, prints and other goodies.

I work part time from my kitchen table at my home in the sunny Hawke's Bay where I love to create with paint, chalk pastels, graphite, paper and also dabble in making a little bit of jewellery. At the moment I am working on a project to create 7 sisters {and a couple of cousins}. My wish is to give people something to believe in, to find hope in and bring a little smile and some magic to people's lives.

**************Illuminating Words

I am Helen Lewis, the artist and owner of Illuminating Words. I bring my love of letters and words -- both the visual aspect of their shape, and the beauty and impact of their meaning -- to my calligraphy, mixed-media collage, encaustic, and design work. I am fascinated with the curve of an E, the elegance of old script, the crisp look of type marching across a page. I love the stirring in my heart as I read a meaningful quotation or line from a poem.
In my pieces, I combine my own lettering and painting with various ephemera, including snippets from old books and dusty hymnals, treasured correspondence from earlier centuries, pieces of vintage sheet music or wallpaper, and character-filled faces from old photographs. Recently, I am particularly focused on the luminous qualities that the encaustic medium brings to the surface as these elements are layered and fused together.
Please stop by my shop or my blog to see samples of my artwork. Email me to inquire about commissioned pieces incorporating your favorite quotes or family photos.

**************Lindy Hanson - L. Gruger Art

Greetings! My name is Lindy Gruger, and I'm a full-time artist living in the high desert of Prescott, Arizona. I love art that can uplift the spirit! I strive to bring positive energy into the world with my work. My paintings explore my interest in symbolism, nature and the idea that all things have energy and are connected. One of my goals is not taking life too seriously and it helps me to create a positive and playful atmosphere within my work. I make archival giclée prints of my paintings that can be purchased in my Etsy Shop . All Kelly Rae readers will receive a 15% discount when you use discount code kellyrae2012 in my shop, good through June 6th. My new  blog is up, and I invite you to stop by and say hi.
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Big thanks to my sponsors! I'm honored to highlight their offerings. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor (includes your ad on the sidebar + ongoing spotlights), please send me an email at kellyraeroberts@gmail.com for further information!

soul sisters: i heart your heart

(New work: print available here, original sold)
I've been having some awesome conversations with some friends lately about marriage (growing pains), about creativity (big ideas), about business (innovating), about motherhood (unrelenting but awesome), about changing things up (considering new ways of doing things).
Through it all I am reminded how our girlfriends can inspire the best in us, give us permission to reveal ourselves in honest, brave ways, and perhaps most importantly they are the ones that reflect back to us the interior of our own hearts and spirits. I am seriously grateful for the many soul sisters that I have had throughout my life. They've mothered me, sistered me, inspired me, challenged me. They've told me it would get better, that I wasn't alone. They've celebrated with me, insisted that a party be had. They've listened to me, declaring that my story mattered. They've given me space, time to find my own way. They've encouraged me, invited me to play big. They've forgiven me, giving space for grace and healing. They've seen me, really really seen me, and that simple gift of being seen has given me the gift of seeing myself clearly, reflected in their vision.
What an extraordinary gift. What extraordinary hearts.