Kelly Rae Roberts's Blog, page 75

books!

I heart Sarah Ahearn. We met a couple of years ago and she's one of those sweet spirits that draws you in. I adore her and her art and love that we are both traveling though the same experience of new mamahood + creativity. I received her brand spakin' new book a few weeks ago. I can't recommend it enough! Full of prompts, peeks into her process, and inspiration galore - loved it. I am amazed that she wrote this gorgeous book while being a new mama - super inspiring! Bravo, Sarah!

Misty's new book also arrived. Misty is insanely talented and I drool over everything she does - art, food, photography. I took her painting ecourse last summer and loved it, but her book offers up even more insights, techniques, and ideas for creativity. High recommended! If you don't already know Misty's work, you are in for a major treat. She is a natural teacher, super encouraging, and endless in her creative insights. Love her work, love her style, love this book. Go Misty!

I'm so excited to be a part of Jenny Doh's most recent book, Art Saves. This book is an uplifting tribute to the power of art, how it transforms, how it heals, and how it saves. Prompts, techniques, stories, and inspiration fill this book to the brim. It's meaningful, practical, and life changing. Seriously.

I'm in great company with some pretty amazing contributors - all sharing their stories, techniques, and more. So happy to have been a part of such an incredible group of artists for an incredible, deeply powerful book. Thank you, Jenny, for asking me to be a part of it!

Sponsor Spotlights: Ferntree Studio, Jeanne Oliver + Sleep and Her Sisters

Big thanks to my sponsors...I'm really enjoying these weekly sponsor spotlights where their creative talents and businesses are featured. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor (includes your ad on the sidebar + ongoing spotlights), please send me an email for further information!
**********************************************
Mixed media artist and children's illustrator, Angela Traunig has a penchant for all things whimsical and silly. Wife and mother to a 2 year old little man, Angie somehow still finds time to create original works of art, prints, jewelry, greeting cards, bookmarks and a myriad of other things featuring her trademark 'knobby knee' Ferntree Studio characters. You can find her artwork here, and her lovely paper flowers here.

In her Ferntree Studio world, you will find humor, love, honesty and the 'Joy of an Art Filled Life.' Angela hopes to inspire other fledgling artists with her tenacity, creativity and belief that if "You put good things out into the world and just leave all the doors and windows open, sometimes something fantastic will slip back in."
**********************************************

My name is Jeanne. I am the owner and designer of Jeanne Oliver Designs. I have dreamed of designing fashion and accessories since I was a little girl. It is one of my biggest joys to be able to offer you my creations.
I grew up watching old movies. I was inspired by the styles and femininity of the past. Nothing seemed more glamourous to me than Vivien Leigh sweeping down a staircase, Grace Kelly wearing white gloves with a black cocktail dress or Audrey Hepburn outside of Tiffany's. Hours were spent designing my own creations and dreaming of wearing all the apparel my fingers could sketch. Today I have the honor of offering you collections of my clothing, bags, art, jewelry and vintage pieces that tell a story. Each piece full of attention to detail and design. My hope is that from the moment you receive an item from my shop that you know it is different from the attention to wrapping, fabrics, embellishments and vintage finds. Whether you are wearing one of my dresses, pieces of jewelry or carrying one of my bags ... I want you to feel beautiful and feminine. Welcome to my shop and I hope you enjoy your visit.**********************************************

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 live with my two children, 18 year old Hannah, 6 year old Ben and our 11 year old cat... Holly. I work from my kitchen table at our 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... characters that I hope will one day feature in a book. I also love to collect things. My favourite colour is a soft, pale, antique sort of blue.

Here we go again! Flying lessons (an e-course)

Doing MAJOR happy dances over here.....I am so thrilled to finally offer this e-course again! I offered it once last year and it was a huge hit. I've decided it to offer it again and I'd love for you to join us!  I promise, it will knock your sock off and change your life! I will not be offering it again this year.
Flying Lessons: Tips + Tricks To Help Your Creative Business Soar: Registration starts immediately and this five week online class will start Sunday, August 7th. All the details are below:


"Holy Moly, Kelly! Thank you for being so generous and thorough in everything you are covering! I've taken several e-courses and read many e-books, but this is by far the most practical and actually makes me feel like I can do it. Awesome."
"I cannot thank you enough for this wonderful e-course and the fact that it was not just informative, but that you, yourself, Kelly Rae, came shining through, making it all so personal. This is the most amazing, WORTH IT ecourse I have ever taken."
"Holy Camoly. Where in the world could we find all this info in such a short time, from someone who KNOWS? It would have taken me a LIFETIME...thank you so much Kelly Rae!"
"This ecourse has been a catalyst in helping me to see exactly where I want to take my creative business. Before I felt like I was floundering around in uncertainty and fear. Now I really believe that I can make my artsy dreams a reality! You have given me the resources, tools, and knowledge to take my creative business to places I thought were only open to a chosen few."
"Kelly Rae, this is generous.... and I mean GENEROUS amount of info and insight you are showering upon us! Thank you!"
"I am blown away by all the work you have put into this Kelly. WAY BEYOND what I expected."
"I am absolutely floored at the empowerment you are giving me. I don't think I have ever felt as confident as I do now."
"This e-course has been beyond helpful. You've answered every single question that had been circling my brain for months, and now I feel so much better prepared to get my creative biz up and running. Thank you!"
Everyday, I receive emails from creative souls asking for my advice. They want to know how, in a span of just a couple of years, I built an online presence and successful online shop, wrote a best selling book, got published in several magazines, and launched successful gift collections (via licensing deals) that are sold in stores nationwide. They ask advice on how to sell original paintings, how to get traffic to their online sites, how to create and package prints/jewelry/originals, how to create a website and community. They ask about licensing, money, publishing, and press. They ask me how on earth I manage my time, how I face my fears, how I stay organized.
I know exactly where they're coming from. It wasn't that long ago that I was sending similar emails out to artists I admired, people who seemed to have booming creative businesses. Some would answer me, but most didn't. At the time I was crushed - why weren't they responding?  Now that I'm crazy busy over here and on the other end of that email exchange, I get it. I'm sure some didn't respond because they were simply too busy to give advice to a complete stranger and I'm sure some didn't respond because they wanted to protect their hard earned information - afterall, nobody told them how to do it when they were starting out, did they? For me, it hasn't been a matter of not wanting to share what I know, it's been a matter of time and the value of that time.

In the end, I deeply believe in finding a way to share our stories, our resources, and how we've made it to where we are now. I also believe that there is tremendous value in what each of us has to offer when it comes to inspiration, concrete advice, and tips when it comes to creating a successful creative business. After months and months of writing, strategizing, and thinking about how I could best share everything I know (and finally answer, in detail, the questions that come my way) I came up with something that I think is pretty darned special: an e-course called  Flying Lessons: Tips + Tricks To Help Your Creative Business Soar.

What I've learned in the last few years is that we can propel ourselves into living our dreams with successful creative businesses with two must haves: inspiration + tips. And that's exactly what Flying Lessons is all about. Inspiration comes from sharing the stories of our creative journeys so that we can begin to dismantle all the misconceptions of what the creative life looks like. It means getting our hearts engaged in the business side of what we do. It means connecting to, and acknowledging, all the layers of our creative lives - our joys, successes, and downfalls.
And then there are hugely important tips - practical information and advice that we all need to be successful. When I started my creative journey, I was surprised at how hard it was to find answers to many of my questions: How do artists sell/price/package their works? How do they build a following and an online presence? How do they create their websites? How do they deal with the fears? And later it was: How do they get published, licensed, and accepted to shows? How do they organize their time? How do they market their work and get all that press? And most importantly: How do they stay engaged with their hearts and inspiration while managing the business side of what they do?

In Flying Lessons, you'll receive the answers to all those practical questions and more. I'll share my own personal stories of what's worked, and what hasn't worked as I built my creative business. And I'll give you concrete information and tips along the way so that you, too, can create your own success whether you're a crafter, a photographer, an artist, a writer, or someone who is still learning!

You'll find musings, encouragement, practical tips and thoughtful guidance on everything from how to create an online presence to how to create a creative community to how to successfully market your business to receiving press to getting published to facing the fears that inevitably come when we push ourselves to do things we've never done before. We'll discuss the ins and out of money, creating a sustainable income from our creative businesses, licensing opportunities, craft shows, teaching opportunities, and how to handle the inevitable gremlins of competition, exhaustion, and overwhelm. And, of course, we'll dive into organization strategies that are effective and promote the idea that small steps lead to giant leaps when it comes to creating the success we've always envisioned. Along the way, you'll find inspiring quotes, interviews with successful working artists, and a few excerpts from my best selling book, Taking Flight. 

More specifically:* I'll be posting nearly everyday for five weeks to the class website. Posts will be informative, inspiring, and full of resources. In addition to my posts, content will also include ongoing Q+A's with me, and interviews with working successful artists.* Class will be formatted and conducted on private blog (password protected) with comments open to promote discussion and questions. The idea is to promote topic focused discussion within the comments, but also to promote community amongst participants (so important and fun!).* All participants will receive a gorgeous, interactive, 200+ page pdf of all the content covered. You'll have it for years and years to refer back to.* A private, life long facebook group with your class peers. This was life changing for last year's participants - the ongoing support and discussions with people who understand where you're at and what you're doing is priceless and hugely valuable.
* Weeks one and two will focus on creating an effective online presence via blogs, websites, social networking, and more. We'll talk specifically about the ins and outs of these resources including how to create, how to improve, and the secret ingredients to using them effectively. We also talk about networking and the importance of creating community and how to build long lasting creative allies. We'll discuss all the fears that we'll inevitably come up against as we push the boundaries of our horizons and how to effectively push through them.
*Weeks three and four will focus on selling strategies (both online and offline). I'll give specific strategies for selling on etsy and other online marketplaces. We'll discuss effective ways of styling, photographing, packaging, and pricing our products and/or services. We'll also focus on a number of effective marketing strategies to get the word out about our businesses, including print media, newsletters, advertising, blogging, and more. We'll also discuss in detail all the ins and out of getting press and getting published. Finally, we'll discuss the actualizing of goals, creating schedules, and time management.
* Week five will focus on recharging our souls, handling competion as well as overwhelm and burnout. We'll talk about creating other creative ways of income such as teaching, licensing, blog sponsorships, affiliate programs, and more. We'll discuss an overview of money, and when it's time to ask for help (interns, etc). Finally, we'll wrap up what we've learned together and celebrate taking flight into our creative dreams!
Whether you're a beginner, an accomplished artist or crafter, or somewhere in between, this e-course is for anyone who wants to start or grow their creative business.

More specifically:
* Anyone interested in how to create an online presence that will benefit their creative business and increase traffic to their websites and online shops. If you already have a blog/website, great! You'll still learn a lot. This course is also for anyone who doesn't have a blog, website and/or social networking accounts but are eager to jump in with a focus of growing their creative business.* Anyone interested in how to effectively use social networking (twitter, facebook, flickr, etc) to promote their creative business.* Anyone with dreams of growing their creative business in order to financially supplement (or possibly replace!) their full/part time jobs. * Anyone with a creative business dream who needs the practical tools and small steps to make that dream a reality.* Anyone interested in how to create a variety of income from their creative business, including blog sponsorships, licensing deals, teaching, wholesale accounts, and other means of creative/smart income.* Anyone needing inspiration and gentle nudges of confirmation that we must listen to the whispers of our lives calling us to begin, to create, and acknowledge the dreams tugging on our hearts.* Anyone needing practical, concrete tips and information on how to market and promote their blogs/websites/shops in online world with the goal of increasing traffic to their sites.* Anyone interested in how to create a true blue community of artists, both for personal and creative business growth.* Anyone needing tried and true tips on how to get press and how to get published in your favorite publications. Have big dreams of writing a book? We'll discuss that too!* Anyone needing advice on how to push through the fears that are inevitable along the creative journey.* Anyone needing effective strategies for time management and ways to organize and implement their creative business goals, one by one.

Class starts on Sunday, August 7th and ends five weeks later on Saturday, Sept 10th. To register, please click here! After you've paid for the class, you will receive an email from me with everything you need to access the class website. All sales final. Thank you!

Q: I would love to sign up but the timing isn't the best for me right now. Will you be offering another one soon after this one ends?A: This is the ONLY time I will be offering this ecourse this year.
Q: I really want to sign up but I'll be out of town for a week or two during the class. Will the class content still be available after the class is over? A:  The content will stay on the site for two weeks after the class is over so you'll have access to all the content for a total of 7 weeks. You will also receive a 202 page pdf of all the content that you will have forever and ever.
Q: I've never taken an on-line class before. Are the classes LIVE? Do I have to be at my computer at a certain time during the day in order to attend the virtual class?A: The whole course is entirely self paced, meaning you don't have to be anywhere at any given time to make it to the class. There are no specific times that you need to log in (meaning, nothing will be LIVE at 8pm, 8am, etc.). You can log in whenever you want and have access to the content that I've uploaded thus far. You can log in everyday or every other day or once a week. Either way, the content will be uploaded and waiting for you!
Q: Will there be a pdf offered?A: Yes! Each student will receive a gorgeous, totally interactive, 202 page pdf that will contain all of the content from the class. This pdf will be your trusty guide forever and ever!
Q: I live abroad. Can I sign up?A: Yes! That's the beauty of online classes. Anyone can sign up no matter where you live!
Q: Are you nervous? Should I be nervous?A: I'm more excited than nervous but I definitely have that tad bit of fear that you get when you're pushing yourself to do something a little scary. It's good for us to feel slightly nervous and afraid - it means we're invested and it means we're flexing our courage muscles. My intention for this e-course is for it to be fun, a little scary so that it gives us both a chance to push thru a fear, and super informative and inspiring. I have a feeling this community will inspire, lift up, and support each of us along the way. I can't wait.
Q: I heard that last year's encourse students started a private Facebook Group? Will there be one for this years students?A:  Yes! All students enrolled in this years ecourse will be invited to join a private, life long Facebook Group. Having a community who can relate to what you're doing, and support your creative business growth is absolutely essential. We found that having a Facebook Group was one of the absolute most valuable offerings of the course last year. It remains extremely active and many of the members have  grown their businesses significantly because of that ongoing support. It's a great way to keep the conversation going from all that you are learning together in the ecourse. So, yes, a brand new (separate from last years group) Facebook Group will be started specifically for this year's ecourse participants. This is a MAJOR bonus of the ecourse.
Q: I took the ecourse last year but I'm interested in taking it again. Will the content be the same as last year's Flying Lessons E-course?A: Most of the content will be the same. However, there will be updated content in regards to the time management section for all of you mom's out there juggling motherhood and creative business - I've learned many things on this front as a new mom and I will be sharing what I've learned. There will also be many content updates throughout each week based on what I've learned in the last year since the first ecourse ran, specifically when it comes to websites, hosting, e-shops, newsletters, licensing, and more.
Q: I bought one or several of your ebooks. Is the content you covered in the ebooks the same as the ecourse? Will I get anything out of the ecourse if I already bought one of the ebooks?A: Yes, the content in my ebooks is the same content that is covered in the ecourse. The only difference (and it's a big one!) is the community you get with the ecourse that you don't get with the ebooks. The ecourse, and it's life long private facebook group, is by far one of the most absolutely valuable aspects about this ecourse. Long after the ecourse is over,  the community that has formed among the participants will continue to support one another via the private group. Last year's Facebook Group continues today and remains extremely active, and its members are thriving in their creative businesses.
Q Can I get a discount if I already bought one of the ebooks or if I took the ecourse last year?A: If you were a student in last year's Flying Lessons e-course OR if you've purchased The Whole Shabang ebook at full price (not on sale), then we'd be delighted to offer you a 50% discount for the ecourse. Simply send us an email with this request, providing proof that you paid for last year's ecourse or for The Whole Shabang ebook, and we'll get you started!  
Photo by Tracey ClarkI can't tell you how thrilled I am to offer this course again and share everything I know, everything I've learned along the way, and to also learn from you! Questions? I'm here to help - please send your questions to kellyraeroberts[at]gmail.com!
Yee-Haww! Let's get this party started! 

creative co-op home decor line!

 (Dallas showroom window display)
Remember back in April when I spilled the beans about my new partnership with Creative Co-op, a home decor company that would soon be launching my home decor line? I remember writing that post, filled to the brim with anticipation. I had seen the most of the new products by that time, but I wasn't sure yet how they would pull the entire collection together. I'd knew it would be good, but when I traveled to Dallas a couple of weeks ago to see it all in the showroom, my heart leapt. It was beautiful.


They named the collection "What makes your heart flutter?" after one of my recent paintings and displayed the collection in such a dreamy way that I wanted to move into the showroom, right then and there.

While in Dallas, I kept thinking back to the original dream I had - to one day work with this company and have a home decor line.  I thought about the audacity of that dream, the naivety of that dream, yet there I was standing squarely and proudly in the middle of a beautiful collection, a dream actualized. I'm still having a tough time believing it!

 Between the actual product and the beautiful supporting display pieces like the hanging lights, the hanging wings with sentiments taken from my paintings (words like "winged promise", "lovely life", "gentle kindness"), and more, I was blown away by their amazing hard work to bring it all together. Their team worked so very hard. I was pinching myself at every turn.

The creative director of Creative Co-op is a woman of major talent. Major. She came to my house, talked ideas, soaked in my style, my work, my sense of personal decor and created a home decor product line that feels exactly like me and exactly what I would purchase for my own home. I am counting my luckiest of stars to have worked with her and her innovative creativity.

Let me give you a tour! Some of these photos aren't the best, but you'll get the idea :)

 
This mirror is pretty awesome - it's been aged so that there's an image behind the heavily distressed mirror. Love. The hello courage with wings is a wall plaque - there are several of these! We wanted to bring artistic meaning to your home spaces....

Inspired by a project in my book, these are photo boxes (you can switch out the art for a personal photo) that are made to look like vintage books. Can't tell you how much these make my heart sing! Super creative and functional....

 
This is a large room divider piece made from mixed materials. How cool and unique is that?

The big giant wall piece on the left is a HUGE (five feet tall) magnetic message center/shelf. Swoon! I can't wait to put this in my kitchen - I have just the right spot for it. The patchwork dresser was inspired by the dresser I made for our entryway last year. Artwork above the dresser is also large and I love how it turned out!


One of my favorite pieces from the entire collection, this clock makes me wildly happy! Because our clocks need crowns and wings, right?


These decorative stoneware pieces are big and chunky and solid. Love how they turned out.


Can't wait to put these buckets on our front porch and in our house with flowers. I hope you love them, too!


The frames! The frames! Made from journal pages and backgrounds, I think these are awesome. They did such a great job combining my art with my love of all things vintage and distressed, I can hardly believe it!


That's a stack of book boxes - boxes made to resemble vintage books (love). The side table is just gorgeous and perfectly distressed.


We've got staplers, pill boxes, compact mirrors, trays, and so much more - all to help brighten your spaces with creative home decor pieces.....




The large girl on the wall is over 4 feet high and has a pouch for holding letters (can't see it in this photo). It's also magnetic to hold photos and such. Table holds photo frames, stoneware plates, aged pedestals, flower buckets, and more.

 These suitcases are quite large (not travel large, but living room large) as are the tall french buckets. 
 Completely love this frame. 

Pillows! We've got pillows - both with girls and without. Above is one of my faves...there's another pillow that says "hello, courage."


I think every home should have a shelf with wings that holds special treasures. The stackable boxes on the left are a show stopper - super sturdy and colorful.


I've never seen a functional bookend before and I'm loving how these turned out - perfect for home office.

The clock above the chair is also one of my faves. And let me just say this chair is oversized and so unique. And the wardrobe? Perfect for hanging sweet dresses....adorable!

 
We hope you love the collection! There are over 90 products - everything from clocks, to furniture, to frames, lamps, big wall pieces, and so much more! You will start to see these items in stores nationwide in the coming weeks and I'll have some of the smaller items in the online shop in a couple of months.Creative Co-op, thank you for creating a collection that makes our hearts indeed flutter! 

true love

A friend gave me this note last summer when I was pregnant. She knew I was having a hard time connecting to the enormity of what was to be. And she so poetically steered me right where I needed to be: in my body, connected to heart, soul, life.

 
Nowadays I can barely take the sweetness of waking up each and every morning to this smile, to this little soul.  What a journey it's been since I received that note almost exactly a year ago this week - how far my heart has come, how far it's come undone, how far it's widened, and how deeply free it feels. Thank you, True.

Sponsor Spotlights: NatoBottoArt + Willowing

Big thanks to my sponsors...I'm really enjoying these weekly sponsor spotlights where their creative talents and businesses are featured. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor (includes your ad on the sidebar + ongoing spotlights), please send me an email for further information!
*************************************************
Nato Botto Art is "creations from the heart" by artist Natalie Kelsey. Her art inspires through whimsy, beauty, peace, faith, and tenacious optimism! With equal measure of kindness, patience, gratitude and creativity, she urges all of us to trust the process that leads to the joyful life we are each destined to create for ourselves. Above all, Natalie encourages all of us to nurture the artist within, and to trust that your heart is your compass, follow it!
Visit her etsy shop to find unique, playful, jewelry, accessories, and inspirational works of art--creations from the heart!! Be sure to mention that Kelly Rae sent you and receive a free gift with any purchase. Each item from Nato Botto Art is made purely from joy and arrives to you all packaged up snazzy and ready to give as a gift. For shop news, heart warming stories, and giggles please visit: http:/www.natobottoart.blogspot.comInspiration comes from the most peculiar places...What inspires you?
*************************************************

Hello I am Tam. :) I am a mixed media and digital artist, illustrator and online art teacher. I have run many online art courses mostly mixed media art, but have recently started my first digital online art course! You can still join it if you like, by clicking HERE. Courses that have finished running live are still accessible in self study groups and you get a nifty DVD with them too if you sign up! I also sell original art, prints of my art work and other items like pocket mirrors and art dolls. I hope you'll come check out my ning site where you can take many of my art courses: willowing.ning.com. I live in Brighton UK with my beautiful child Dylan (another bub on the way!) and magical husband Andy. I like avocados, messy hair and pink bubblegum. :) More of my work can be found over here: willowing.org and my Etsy shop can be found here: willowing.etsy.com - Hugs!

catching my eye

Hi friends,
Remember when I told you the big news about my parents? They're arriving this weekend! We can hardly believe it and we are so, so excited. While we get them settled in, I wanted to share some things I'm loving lately:

(Superhero Andrea)
* I've been waiting for her to do something like this for a long time and I'm so excited my pal Andrea is launching a fun + easy Superhero Photo course. I am all signed up and I can't wait to see and capture my life this summer through a new filter, perspective, life lens!  I know Andrea and I know this class will be awesome. I love how she's describes this class up as a way into more gratitude and joy. YES! Come join us! Class starts soon!
* Been loving her site lately and hope to attend one of her writing retreats one day. * Fellow color warrior is working hard to bring these amazing rainboots to life! Love them and would wear them in a heartbeat! * Dream house - every. single. room. I drooled over the five days it was featured. * Could not agree more. * So smart and inventive. 
* drooling.
* Really great idea - I did it and found it fascinating!
* Yes, please. LOVELY!

New goodies now in the shop!

Hi friends,
I'm so excited to share with you all the new goodies we have in the shop! I'm loving how this new batch of products are not only artful, but they're functional - items that fit beautifully in our homes, our offices, or for gift giving. Let me give you a tour!

INTENTION CANDLES! 

These intention candle were inspired by the idea that when we take a moment to light a candle, we can take a moment to reflect, celebrate, let go....whatever it is your heart may need in the moment. Each poses a question (What is calling you? What can you let go? What can you invite in? What are you celebrating?) to reflect on upon lighting - likely one of my favorite products ever.

   
Since their arrival, I have a personal practice of lighting one a day. I have them displayed on a cake stand in the center of our table with the middle candle (the one for the day) atop a candle holder. The vanilla scent plus the moment of reflection has been a great way to begin and end my busy days. Bonus info: Each candle arrives inside an artful box, ready to gift! Also, once candle burns down, you can reuse the artful glass cup for another candle, or a pencil holder or maybe even as a planter - options are endless.

ARTFUL MAGNET BOARDS!!

Swoon! Totally loving these as a great way to combine beauty + function to our spaces. We've got dye cut girls as shown above and traditional shapes as shown below. They arrive ready to hang on the wall or can be displayed on a flat surface with their built in easels. And they're big, beautiful, and sturdy!


These lovelies are large and versatile - great way to display photos, notes, favorite postcards either on the wall or a flat surface. I see them in kitchens (photos + recipes), offices (to-do lists!), bedrooms.  They also come with some sweet butterfly magnets. LOVE!

TRAVEL MUGS!

I've been dreaming of these for a loonngg time and I'm so happy to finally offer them up! Not only will they brighten up your early mornings with colorful messages, but its stainless steel inner sleeve will keep your beverage hot or cold. Guaranteed to be a show stopper in your home or office.

NEW DECORATIVE GIRLIES!
 We've add two new girlies to the bunch. The one in front is called Soul Sisters and the one in the back is called Mama.  Soul Sisters is a tribute to all our besties in our lives.  It reads:

Soul sisters. Because you see me clearly (and I can see you).Because you inspire me to love deeply. Because you celebrate my courage yet nurture my tender heart pieces. Because you are my memories. Because you always know what to say (and when to simply listen). Because you know my heart. Because I know yours.Because we are side by side, heart to heart, in this life journey.Because I count my lucky stars for you every single day.

BOXY WALL ART!
And finally, we've got some pretty awesome boxy wall art for you with artsy thick sides. Love these so much - they can hang on the wall or sit all pretty by themselves!

THANK YOU! I just wanted to say a big, big thank you for all of the support. I hope you love these goodies as much as I do and I hope the joy that went into their creation is felt when you gift a little something to yourself or to a loved one. I am so grateful!

As always, quantities are limited, so scoop them up while you can!

who we are.

We sometimes lose our wings.And rediscover them later.
@font-face { font-family: "Cambria";}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }
We know that healing comes only when we allow our hearts to be broken open.

We say hello to ourselves, sometimes for the first time in years and unearth our own magic, our own worth. 
@font-face { font-family: "Cambria";}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } @font-face { font-family: "Cambria";}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }

We trust that gratitude is the only way to real joy.

We love and live with deep and wide hearts.

@font-face { font-family: "Cambria";}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } We tell our stories, sometimes over and over until the agony lifts and the lessons and joys are unearthed.

We find beauty in the small.We collect treasures and build memories. We capture life unfolding with our photos. 

We make mistakes.We forgive.

We make it meaningful.

We say goodbye, sometimes forever.

 We get silly.

We collect quotes, moments of kindness, stories of triumph.





We surround ourselves with beauty, always, in our homes, in our friendships, in our hearts.



@font-face { font-family: "Cambria";}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } We connect with people who give us permission to be big in our joy, big in our courage.





We are brave in our sadness, and brave in our love.
@font-face { font-family: "Cambria";}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }

We trust that our whispers mean something. That they are our guiding forces, a map to our most shiny selves.

We sit still and take it all in.We pray, we ask, we manifest, we trust.


We are mothers to our families, our friends, our neighbors, and to anyone needing nurturing.
And we are daughters to anyone offering comfort.  
We are here to learn how to love, and be loved.

We fall asleep exhausted, but grateful.We are whole.
We are alive.
And we are enough.


(thank you for being a part of my world)

NEW Sponsor Spotlights: The Queen Sweep, Live it to the Full, Palomaria + Marked by the Muse

Today, I'd like to offer a warm welcome to my newest sponsors. There is so much goodness in their offerings. Please enjoy their spotlights! PS: If you are interested in becoming a sponsor (includes your ad on the sidebar + ongoing spotlights), please send me an email for further information!
*****************


Before you can put your art into the world, or do your healing work, or write your beautiful book, you have to have a life that works. Clutter, buildup, and those nagging little messes aren't just annoying--they drain crucial energy from your deepest work.

The Queen Sweep is a five-week whirlwind program where smart, creative, soulful women sweep out the tangles in their lives. We tackle your home, story, wallet, closet, and calendar in turn to give you breathing room, clarity, and serious momentum. When you clean up your physical world, you also make powerful internal shifts.

I concocted a potent excerpt, The Queen Sweep Quickie, to help you be your own benevolent whirlwind. It walks you step by step through quick, easy exercises you can do right away, on your own. It'll help you blitz clutter, call in clarity, and clean up the messes that are sapping your energy.

Click here for your FREE copy. May you scour your cauldron, make big magic, and declare dominion over your beautiful life.
love,
Anna
*****************
Started in June of 2011 by Amy Blum, Aleece Langford andChristen Olivarez, Live it to the Full was born through the inspired desire ofeach founder to seek out community through art. Our mission is to create aplace of refuge for people seeking a new way of processing through atransitional period in their life and to foster new ways of looking at age-olddilemmas through art, photography and storytelling.

Join us in August 2011 for Emerge,our premiere, four-week, online workshop led by Liz Lamoreux, Jennifer (Jenna)McGuiggan, & Vivienne McMaster. Through writing, photography, andmindfulness practices, we'll explore the ebb and flow of happiness, the uniquepower of telling your story, and the beautiful yet precarious process oflearning to trust yourself. See what happens when you allow your true self toemerge through creativity.

Class price is $49 and includes daily posts and weekly activities inmindfulness practices, storytelling and photography to explore your own Emergence.

*****************
Palomaria is a recycled paper jewelry line. All the pieces are handformed with my paper clay and textured using letterpress plates.

The result is a vast collection of unique necklaces, earrings and bracelets that are super vibrant and happy. Very light and comfortable to wear but resistant and durable. Meant to accompany you for a lifetime.

I'm an artist, papermaker and recently started creating jewelry. All my work has paper as common denominator. Visit my shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/palomaria

Warmly, Melina

*****************
When you embrace your true creative spirit and share your gifts with the world - you thrive - on and off the page (inside and out).

Hello! I'm Artist Stephey Baker; I believe we're all artists. We're all creating our masterpiece called life. I want to help you realize your full potential - your dreams come true! It's painful to live eclipsed from dreams; it took me to the edge of myself. As I made my way back from this edge, through heartbreak and healing, I realized the cure, to listen + create from heart.

I invite you to join me and other like-hearted Artists, for 6-weeks, as we align our spirit + whole heart in, Creating a Thriving Artistic Life. We'll cultivate awareness through journaling + self-healing techniques, paint on the inside with self-worth, inner truth + inspiration, explore symbols + meanings of nature, which brings colorful healing light to our inner world, creating a thriving outer world.

If you're an artist ready to explore your inner canvas - register today!  code THANKUKELLYRAE saves 20%