Kelly Rae Roberts's Blog, page 58

Flora Bowley's book, Brave Intuitive You

 (That's me with Flora's book)

My friend Flora's brand new book, Brave Intuitive Painting,  has just launched. I have to tell you about this book. This is no ordinary technique-heavy art book. It much, much more than that. It's about the metaphors that live inside each and every painting that we create. It's about the spiritual practice of picking up a paintbrush and how that directly relates to the ways in which wee see and live our everyday lives. It's about unfolding what lives within us, creatively and as human beings. It's about how taking risks leads not just to surprisely awesome paintings, but how it leads to surprisingly awesome things in our lives, too. It's all intertwined. Flora understands this more than most and her book is an amazing tribute and reflection to this idea that the process of paintings, the ways we approach the canvas, the choices we make while creating - all of it mirrors a philosohpy that we can approach in life, not just in creativity.

 (Me and Flora at Flora's old studio)
Flora is a dear friend and I'm just incredibly proud to know her and of this beautiful book that she has created. She stuck to her guns when it came to the kind of content she wanted to write about, how it would be designed, laid out, etc etc and the result is a book the reflects at the core. For anybody who has ever written a book, this is a big success.

Looking for a straight up technique/how-to book that will show you how to paint paintings that look just like Flora's? This is not that book. Looking for a book that will give you insight and tools and techniques on how to uncover your own rhythm of unfolding, taking risk, and trusting the painting process so that your own paintings and style emerge along with some pretty significant lessons that transcend painting world and dive into everyday world? Then this is THE book. Go get it. Can't recommend it enough.  
ps: For those of you who want to get a closer look at Flora's painting process, check out her online painting class - worth every penny and incredibly fairly priced for what you get.  

dear you, now is the time.

  I love this so much - had to share. I think speaking our truth can look differently for all of us, but the shaking voice is always there, especially in the beginning.

  (Sincerely, Faith - print available here, original sold)
For many of us speaking our truth is finally following our true north, the thing that calls to us from the depths of our hearts. Our steps to pay attention are shaky at first, but one tiny step forward leads to the next until before we know it the ground isn't shaking anymore and our truths are being lived. The journey requires faith in ourselves, in the intuition and wisdom that live within. It doesn't matter what our specifics truths are, we just have to tell them, live them, breathe them, excavate them, cultivate them, nurture them - until our voices are no longer shaking. 
Our heart's deepest calling is simply listening to what is needed, however tiny or big. Is it to find more playful joy in our days? Is it to tell someone you've fallen in love? Is it to let go of an old story we've told ourselves about ourselves that isn't real or true? Is it to rediscover a passion? Is it to embrace an uncertain future with the utmost courage and faith? It is to trust that you can (and should) make your dreams real? Whatever it is, shaky voice 100% expected, necessary, and par for the course. It part of the journey of telling, living, breathing your truth - and having faith.

notes from around here lately

     (self portrait via my continued obsession with Instagram)
It's been picking up around here in inspiration, outings with friends, and more. I wanted to share a few notes from around here lately....

 (New print available here. Original sold)

A couple of minutes on Danielle's site, and I'm energized. What I love about her is that she invites others to unapologetically play big (very big) inside the arena of intentional practice to expand our horizons in smart, soulful, sassy ways both in life and in biz. I just adore her and how she just radiates possibility. Her new book (which is getting major raves) is on the way and I can't wait to dive in.
 
A visit with creative friends Flora and Lynzee - both incredibly energizing. My lunches with Flora always turn into 3 hour gab fests, which I just love and Lynzee is crazy funny and endearing. One of the perks of having a studio outside of the house is that people come and visit and linger and have tea and go shopping and eat sushi with me across the street. Love it.

 (Seeker of light, print available here, original sold)
I believe that seeking light, truth, possibility, peace, grace - all of these things are hidden treasures to be found along the way in unexpected places. Lately, my treasure hunt has been taking me to unexpected places that have me opening up to new ideas, new experiences. I'll have to tell you about my experience a couple of months ago when I went to see an energy healer. I'm still thinking about it. One thing I'm learning lately is that our energies aren't just vibrations felt by those around us, but that our energies often need realignment, healing, and care, that they travel well beyond the containers in which we house them (our bodies). More thoughts on this soon, but it's changing my perspective, for sure.
 (my loot from Jennifer's art sale)

I'm a huge fan of Jennifer Mercede's art. A few years ago, I discovered her art in one of my favorite Portland boutiques. After that I pretty much sent her an email and insisted that we be friends (it worked!). Luckily, I talked her into letting me help set up for the big sale (imagine a three level house filled to the brim with amazing art everywhere) she had this week which meant I got first dibs on the art. I'm counting the entire experience a major score. Thank you, art gods! Thank you, Jennifer!

 And then there is True. Can you believe he's 19 months old? I cannot. I also cannot believe how he tells us when he's about to go #2 and then proceeds to say "poo poo bye bye" while he looks down at his diaper and waves goodbye.  It's hilarious. And yes, we're taking the cues and starting potty training asap. Also, can someone explain the Elmo fascination? I swear, he caught a glimpse ONCE of Elmo at the grandparents house and now it's "Elmo plleeeaaassseee" all day long.

I like to think of my sponsorship program as a way of pla...

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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 A Pink Dreamer
 
Hi! I'm Eleni or A Pink Dreamer I'm a self taught artist and I live in Greece! I love art and fairytales! You can see pieces of my art work (mixed media paintings, art journals, art illustrated jewelry, paper and art dolls, mixed media art wooden boxes, and much more) on my little fairy etsy shop shop. Also, you can visit my art blog.

**All Kelly's readers can use my etsy discount coupon code: PINKDREAM for a 10%off all items! **

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Celeste Johnston Art and Design

Hello! My name is Celeste. I am a Canadian artist, and yoga teacher living in a rural Alberta community with my husband and children.

I create art that celebrates the feminine spirit. I believe creating is an exploration into finding harmony, body and soul. Coaxing images to life from a blank piece of canvas, or paper helps me celebrate my joy and love of life with a creative purpose.

Working with a variety of mediums, I instinctively gravitate towards softer lines, and gentle curves-perhaps in keeping with my philosophies in life. I love to experiment with form and color, and am exploring how to help others engage with creativity and movement with yoga and art.

Please visit my website to view my work, or join me on Facebook at Celeste Johnston Art and Design.

Fine art prints can be purchased through my etsy shop, CelestesArt. Please enter coupon code kellyrae15 to get 15% off your order.

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Joanne Sharpe: Artist, Teacher, Designer 
It's been a dream in the making, to get up the courage to learn all the technology to teach online classes in creative lettering and art journaling. Mission accomplished! With great enthusiasm, i am happy to announce that my online classes are now open! Chuck full of "Whimspirations"…life, lettering, art and experience… these playful workshops offer colorful inspiration, artful lettering and whole lot of whimsey! It's an honor to share my creative passions with others teaching online classes. My reward comes in watching my students artfully empowered, embracing their own creative voice and defining their personal style in lettering and art journaling. Read their testimonials here.

Come see what I'm crazy excited about in "Letter Love 101: Art Journals", an online art journaling class with an intense focus on authentic personal hand lettering. Or maybe you just want to make letters? Then join me for "Artful Alphabets" and learn 1300 new letter forms in 25 alphabets for your artwork and journaling. Can't wait to meet you!

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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! 

come alive

 
Inspired by my own journey as of late, a little inspiration art therapy goes a long way. This new print is available here, original sold.
xxo,Kelly Rae

From nursery to toddler room!

A couple of months ago we transitioned True out of his nursery and into his new, larger room - a room more suitable for Toddler True. Design Mom shared a couple of these photos during her lovely feature of our home a few weeks ago, but I thought I'd give you guys the full tour with all the photos of his room. And no, it looks this tidy about once day if we're lucky :)

 
This room was the old guest room - the room with the office in a closet (which I don't need anymore now that I've moved my operation of of the house!). It's a tad bigger with a bit more floor space for toys and tables and such. 
We've got an animal theme going on in here. The horse painting over True's crib came from Portalnd artist Jay Hill whose work I'm seeing all around town lately - love it. The peacock painting is from Mati Rose. The elephant painting is from Jennifer Mercede and the butterfly is one of mine. Rug is an old Pottery Barn rug.   
We found a few vintage kid chairs and the above vintage child's table with collapsible sides. It's hard to see it from this angle, but there is a lovely old illustration on the table of a fuzzy bunny riding a blue horse. So cute! I love coming into this room and finding True sitting in his chair reading his books that are all sprawled out on his table.
    
 Shelving for toys and books...lots of it.
   
 Paper crafted rhino is from anthropologie. We also updated the green vintage lampshade by clipping mementos to it - baby booties and such. I think this will be a great project to update as we move along in toddlerhood and boyhood. I can totally imagine paper airplanes hanging from the shade one day.
The painting in the background is the one I made of me and True.
   
Totally crushed out on old metal toy trucks. Hard to find (for me, anyway) and so expensive when I do, so we just have this one but hope to grow the collection as we move along.
   
Handmade sock monkey made by Mimi for True when he was born. 
   
Reading corner, changing table corner, vintage school map corner...
The light came from a junk market and it displays a really cool effect of shadows on the ceiling when lit. True loves - can totally see paper airplane and such hanging from this light fixture in upcoming years.   
 Atlers!  The vintage hanger on the door holds photos, and treasures.
That's the tour, friends. If you were to come over on any given day, this room would be properly trashed with books and toys everywhere. Promise.

A couple of months ago we transitioned True out of his nu...

A couple of months ago we transitioned True out of his nursery and into his new, larger room - a room more suitable for Toddler True. Design Mom shared a couple of these photos during her lovely feature of our home a few weeks ago, but I thought I'd give you guys the full tour with all the photos of his room. And no, it looks this tidy about once day if we're lucky :)

 
This room was the old guest room - the room with the office in a closet (which I don't need anymore now that I've moved my operation of of the house!). It's a tad bigger with a bit more floor space for toys and tables and such. 
We've got an animal theme going on in here. The horse painting over True's crib came from Portalnd artist Jay Hill whose work I'm seeing all around town lately - love it. The peacock painting is from Mati Rose. The elephant painting is from Jennifer Mercede and the butterfly is one of mine. Rug is an old Pottery Barn rug.   
We found a few vintage kid chairs and the above vintage child's table with collapsible sides. It's hard to see it from this angle, but there is a lovely old illustration on the table of a fuzzy bunny riding a blue horse. So cute! I love coming into this room and finding True sitting in his chair reading his books that are all sprawled out on his table.
    
 Shelving for toys and books...lots of it.
   
 Paper crafted rhino is from anthropologie. We also updated the green vintage lampshade by clipping mementos to it - baby booties and such. I think this will be a great project to update as we move along in toddlerhood and boyhood. I can totally imagine paper airplanes hanging from the shade one day.
The painting in the background is the one I made of me and True.
   
Totally crushed out on old metal toy trucks. Hard to find (for me, anyway) and so expensive when I do, so we just have this one but hope to grow the collection as we move along.
   
Handmade sock monkey made by Mimi for True when he was born. 
   
Reading corner, changing table corner, vintage school map corner...
The light came from a junk market and it displays a really cool effect of shadows on the ceiling when lit. True loves - can totally see paper airplane and such hanging from this light fixture in upcoming years.    
 Atlers!  The vintage hanger on the door holds photos, and treasures.
That's the tour, friends. If you were to come over on any given day, this room would be properly trashed with books and toys everywhere. Promise.

on getting further and further away from center

  ("blooming" - print available here, original sold)
I've been feeling a bit mixed up lately. You know that feeling that something isn't quite right, but you're not sure exactly what it is, but you just know you feel off? Yes, that's it. I just feel a little off.
Maybe it's because it's the end of Hello Soul, Hello Business' first e-course (it was so good). Maybe it's because I recently started using Facebook the way it was intended to be used which means I've spent hours pouring over photos and updates from old highschool and college friends which makes me, I don't know, a bit nostalgic and weepy over the motion of time and how quickly it passes. Maybe it's because True + John have been battling fierce colds since arriving home from our trip. Maybe it's because all my Spring deadlines have passed and I'm not pushing through any big projects right now. Maybe it's because the sun has barely been seen around here and I'm desperate for it. Maybe it's because I can't help but feel myself getting older and there is some melancholy about that for me because I sometimes miss my pre-mamahood life.
I find myself thinking about the last five years of this art biz whirlwind, what I could have done differently, what choices I made. There has been so much joy, so much momentum, so much motion, so many amazing opportunities, so much growth - a period of time that has truly felt like taking flight into life, love, and art. Lately, I've been feeling like I'm on the other side of that long flight - the grounded, stable side of it, yet I have a very real sense that something important got lost in the travel and whiplash that has been my life these last five years.
I'm not totally sure what it is that got lost, or forgotten, but I just know it's important. I often hear women talk about how they lose themselves to motherhood, to broken marriages, to work, only to wake up one day and make drastic changes in an effort to find themselves again.  Although I'm not in this specific predicament, I can see how it happens - how tiny, micro decisions that we make every day of our lives collect over time to create new ways of seeing ourselves that leave us wondering how the heck we got here, who the heck we are. Perhaps it has nothing to do with the many micro decisions we make. Perhaps it has to do with ONE tiny decision we make: the decision to be present or not to be. If we're not present, then where are we? We're lost. Maybe not everyday, but over time not being spiritually present and alive to our lives means we lose tiny pieces of who we are along the way. No wonder we lose ourselves. No wonder we don't fully feel alive.

(sidewalk heart, made today with True)
What I'm learning in my current journey of feeling a little lost is this: Before becoming a mama,  before life became really full with art and business, I had all the time in the world to be present. It was easy then. It was natural. But somewhere recently, likely 18 months ago when everyday life required a certain kind of focus 24/7 with the birth of my son, the on/off switch of being present to my life, who I was, the people in my life got turned off. It had already been partially turned off - perhaps the dimmer was on - in the years leading up to True's birth when my attention was on growing my art business, a time when things were happening fast. And now, as things are settling down to a comfortable pace on both fronts (motherhood + art biz), I am realizing that perhaps I lost some pieces of myself by taking for the granted the decision to pay attention, to be present, to align myself with my center every single day. Without alignment, we lose our center, we become lost. The more lost we become, the further away we get from our friends, our connectedness, the things that make up who we are.

(our front yard was a delight today, blooms everywhere)
So that's where I'm at, friends. Working on finding my center where my heart is most open, where my sense of belonging is most alive, where connectedness breathes easy. It will come. I'm sure of it. I now understand that the ease of having it before art and biz and mamahood was a different time, an easier time. And now, in the maze of diaper changes, nap schedules, work schedules, and all the seconds of the day that get eaten up with the minutia, it will take a bit more practice and focus to become a part of everyday life again.

Just as my painting above says, here's to growing, trusting, dreaming, discovering, feeling alive, and blooming. We are all meant for these journeys.

Sponsor Spotlights!

I like to think of my sponsorship program as a way of playing matchmaker. These weekly sponsor spotlight posts allow me to do just that - play 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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The Word Cellar Writing Workshops

You write, you read, you rewrite. And then you wonder: Does it work? Will other people understand? Will they be moved? Will they get it?

The Word Cellar Writing Workshops are intimate, intensive groups to help you deepen and widen your writing. You'll experience the benefits (and joy) of sharing your work for feedback with a small group of trusted writers who respect and support you. You'll improve your own writing by helping others' with theirs. My name is Jenna, and I'll be your creative co-conspirator and facilitator, sharing what I've learned from years of writing and studying for my MFA in creative writing. You'll receive in-depth feedback from your peers and from me, a private online community space, workshopping tutorials, private coaching, multiple group phone calls, and personalized support and resources to use in your writing.

Each workshop is limited to four people. Workshops form on a rolling basis and run for six weeks at a time. If you're intrigued, I invite you to find out more about The Word Cellar Writing Workshops.

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Sleep And Her Sisters - Katherine Quinn

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.

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 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.
 *********************************** The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design


 
The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design featuring Rachael TaylorModule 3: Monetising your designs
If you have ever dreamt of seeing your designs on stationery, fabric, homewares or other products, sharing your art through pattern, and monetising your designs this groundbreaking course is for you! ‘The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design’ is the definitive guide to becoming a surface pattern designer.

In this module you will learn everything you need to know to monetise your designs including:
How to identify multiple streams of income for your designs
How to sell and license your designs
The ins and outs of freelancing
How to get into manufacturing your own product

plus
How to create a pattern portfolio to show to potential clients
How to apply patterns to mock up product templates and room sets
How to turn a placement print into a technical repeat for wallpaper or fabric

and
A little black book of industry contacts!

Find out more and register here

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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!
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ask for what is needed

 (new print available here, original sold)
Grateful for:
- Moments when parenting doesn't feel so unrelenting, when calm and quiet surround
- Arriving home from our trip to tulips blooming everywhere, including our front yard. John went a little nutso planting bulbs but totally worth it. Love.
- Candy corns
- A certain someone helping me organize my facebook pages last night. I now have one totally private, personal facebook page for close/old friends/family only and one totally public facebook page for all things biz, updates, and chatting with you guys! Best of both worlds. I'm a happy girl. 
 
- Instagram. I cannot get enough. My favorite social networking thing ever, especially because it's pure inspiration and eye candy without anything business related at all.
- Considerate, thoughtful people. I am surrounded by them and I am learning a lot about how to be more considerate by paying closer attention to other people, what they love, what they don't, what they mostly need, what delights them. I would not consider myself a naturally considerate person but I want to be. Practice, practice...

 - Doing silly anything to make our little guy laugh. Above is Gran Gran doing her napkin head thing that works like a charm.
- Be awoken with good ideas and reaching over to write them down. I hope this never stops.

 (print available here. original sold)
-That feeling that there is purpose in everything, that we are right where we need to be, that there are no mistakes, especially when creating - just happy accidents waiting for us to mine them for gold.[image error]