Kelly Rae Roberts's Blog, page 83

japan, our breath, our lives.

like all of us, i'm having a really difficult time processing the devastation in japan. last nite as i was watching the coverage, i could barely hold it together. john came home with taco bell to find me on the couch sobbing. in that moment i was imagining baby true holding on to me and then being ripped away by the force of a tsunami. you know how our mind wanders to the worst case scenario? and how it brings us to our knees?

the people in japan are in our collective worst case scenarios. and they are on their knees.

i know many of us are considering what we can do. we give our prayers, our money, our thoughts, our lit candles. for me, today, in this moment, i'm giving my gratitude for being alive, for being safe, for the safety of my family. i cannot, i absolutely cannot imagine losing my baby, yet so many daughters and sons have been lost to the devastation. they belonged to someone. to a mama. and a papa. i think about the devastation of hearts worldwide, the impact of all of that brokenness. i want to honor all that loss by living my very best life, today. today, today, today. we just never know if we'll be gone tomorrow....you just never know.



it brings such an acute awareness to the fragility of our lives, doesn't it? rachel awes. do you know her? she makes glorious, profound art that really and truly celebrates the fullness of what it means to be alive - super inspiring. she made a painting called what if we treasured every single beat and i haven't stopped thinking of it since i saw it weeks ago. last week when i was in the studio i thought of her painting and it inspired me, along with my gratitude for my family and my life in the midst of so much devastation, to create this piece. what if we treasured every single breath? what if we lived as if our breathing, our aliveness was temporary...because it is. what if we honored all of the loss in japan and all around the world by treasuring our every single beat, our every single breath? i can't think of a better way to honor the lives of those we've lost. i really cannot.

japan, you are in our hearts. and we are with you in your suffering - every breath of it.

for those of you who are walking your own grief journey, no matter how long it's been, i wish for you this: that you honor their beautiful gift of life by living, really living, your beautiful gift of life.

xo, kelly rae

ps: i will be auctioning a few pieces of original art, along with several artists, in an upcoming online event to raise funds for japan. stay tuned...the above piece of art will be included in the auction.

thoughts on practicing courage

(print available here)

in my ebooks and throughout my ecourse last year, i talked a lot about the idea of practicing courage. whether we're doing something new or intimidating, or just living our everyday lives, i like the idea of little by little practicing what it means to be courageous.

i think about john and i and how we're practicing, little by little yet every single day, how to communicate, how to love our best. i think about the early days when i tip-toed my way into the creative life and how scary it was. i would practice the task of being fearless by casually trying it on for the day just to see what would happen (pretending until we're not pretending anymore). inevitably what would happen is that i'd get inspired, and keep going and practice my little heart out, one day at a time. it all eventually led to not just trying it on for a day, but adopting it as a core value in my life.



i can't tell you how all of that practicing comes in handy right now - a time in my life that is requiring all the courage i can muster as i embrace the wonky ride of new motherhood. courage to let the love in. courage to let it go. courage to adjust, realign, re-evaluate, fall apart, rebuild, and on an on. i hope i'm still practicing my courage when i'm an elderly woman - fierce yet tender, strong yet open. in so many ways, courage keeps our souls alive because it keeps us a little bit afraid when we push up against our own boundaries, when we consider our leaps, our risks, and when we take small steps in spite of the fear. i like that. i like you, courage. you definitely take some practice, but i like you.

i wonder how different our worlds would be - our work worlds, our family worlds, our immediate household worlds - if we were all walking around practicing courage?

i imagine we'd be apologizing more because we wouldn't be afraid of the vulnerability that comes with admitting when we're wrong.
we'd be fearlessly telling those we love how much we love them.
we'd be taking small steps toward the lives we envision for ourselves and our families.
we'd be waking up more and more aware that we really are enough.
we'd be embracing our soul work with confidence, knowing that each day is just a practice at doing the best we can.
we'd be giving everyone else in our lives permission to be brave.

and that's what it's all about. permission to be brave.



ps - i'm considering running my ecourse again this year (just once this year)! if you think you might be interested, please sign up for my newsletter for updates. if you're not an ecourse kind of gal, the same content is shared in my ebooks where you can read and absorb at your own pace. i still remain so so proud of my ebooks. in some ways they are the best work i've ever done and i'm happy to report that i've never, not once, received bad feedback from the almost two thousand that have sold since last fall. that says a lot. and it feels really, really good. i am so proud! but yes, i'm considering running the ecourse version again. it was such a special experience and the community continues to support one another and soar, soar, soar. i really want to be a part of that creation again. we'll see!

what makes your heart flutter?

(new print in a new series i've started. available here.)

true love.
waking up to sunshine.
falling asleep to rain.
tip of the horizon possibilities.
unearthed courage.
a good idea.
an inspiring conversation.
a new friend.
an old friend.
a new love.
an old love.
feeling like i have just discovered a new set of wings.

master bedroom - home tour

home tour continues! we've already done the kitchen, dining room, and living room. today it's our master bedroom + bath.

when we bought this house, this attic space was bare boned, no insulation, no bathroom. the walls were just a single sheet of plywood, but it had awesome fir floors (that were painted orange) and a great amount of space. we knew immediately we'd remodel it into an open concept master bedroom/bath. here's what the space looked like prior to the remodel (scroll down to the attic photos). and below is what it looks like today. all photos were taken by andrea jenkins, aka hula.


above is the space that you see when you walk up the stairs to our bedroom. what i love about attic bedrooms is that they feel like forts, like childhood forts. this little alcove is a sweet and small little reading area. the chair belonged to one of john's great aunts and was passed down to him just recently - he's got great memories hanging out in this chair as a kid and i'm so happy we've got it with us today. it's low to the ground, super cozy, and it got a fashion face-lift when my mom re-upholstered it with some fun fabric.

painting is one of mati's originals. orange rug is an older one from pottery barn. if you look closely, you'll notice some ribbon strands hanging from the white curtain clips. this is a great DIY project and it adds some color to the area.



the low rider dresser was the first piece of furniture i bought when i first moved to portland in 1999. good memories....



candles are placed on top of quilting flowers that i found at a local junk store. not sure if they're called quilting flowers (?) but essentially they are quilting pieces that were sold separately. they looked like this when i bought them and then i've simply placed candles in the center. love!


here's a view looking toward the alcove at the top of the stairs. the vintage bassinet is no longer there, but i still love that piece (in storage now). the brown wooden dresser on the left belonged to john when we first met. i love it for being with us all of these years. it no longer holds the changing table, but rather a few treasures:



a couple of my fave necklaces by nest pretty things, and a fave photo taken by lara blair.


the two skylights we put in bring a ton of light to this space - likely the brightest space in the entire house. and we are loving all the built-in closet spaces that you see above. orange rug is an older pottery barn rug.


bedspread is an older anthropologie spread. love the colors. the bed is also a pottery barn purchase from a couple of years ago. we were super thankful that the headboard fit in this awkward attic space. and i love a good bed skirt - gotta have them.



this is another built-in that holds more treasures, magazine collection, clock collection and all things turquoise. here's a closer peek at this area:



a little love alter is needed in every master bed if i do say so myself. by the way, the love always wins canvas is finally available in my shop!


john surprised me with this lovely dress form + tutu for christmas. i have these awesome visions of john walking around the junk store with this dress form and tutu - makes me chuckle. it's now one of my favorite things. i've been working on dressing her up a bit. in this photo she's wearing one of my brand


turquoise + green = love affair.



the other alcove in our bedroom houses the bathroom. we spent a lot of time configuring where to put a full bathroom in this space and we're really happy with how it turned out.



you can't really tell in this photo, but on the opposite wall facing the shower is a built-in and another door that opens up to the toilet - here's a photo if you're interested.


this bathroom has been a great space to wake up to each morning. nice and bright, cheery, and i still can't believe we have two sinks. two sinks! his and hers. so cool.



i found this vanity years ago at a gargage sale and painted it white. i feel so proper and girlie having a vanity but i just love it.



and that's our bedroom space. thanks again to hula for taking the photos. the paint color, by the way is palladium blue by benji moore. i am officially in love with this color. it serene, calming, creative, and happy.

other photo tours of our home:
kitchen
dining room
the complete remodel

Weekly Sponsor Spotlights: Do What You Love, Rebecca Murphy, Gwynnie B + Jenni Horne

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!
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Last chance to join the Do What You Love E-course (Spring 2011)***Featuring an exclusive audio interview with Kelly Rae Roberts***Are you doing what you love? This online adventure will take you step-by-step on a path to discovering your true passion, and finding a way to make it a greater part of your everyday life.
In six weeks you will expand your comfort zone, nurture your playful spirit and use this to feed your creative soul. You will travel this path with a community of like-minded people from across the world, sharing your stories, forging new connections, and inspiring each other. Based on the principle that adventure fuels creativity, a rich combination of thought-provoking posts and juicy interviews will be shared, along with journal prompts, photo exercises and weekly missions. If you throw yourself into it, you will emerge more confident, more curious and on the road to doing what you love. This will be like no other class you have ever taken. Class starts Monday March 14. Last chance to sign up now.
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"In childhood, we press our nose to the pane, looking out. In memories of childhood, we press our nose to the pane, looking in." ~Robert Brault
Every mother knows childhood doesn't last forever, not even in our memories. Try as we might bits and pieces slip away from us as we get older, and slowly we can lose sight of who we were when we were young. Luckily, it doesn't have to be that way. Join Rebecca Murphy forEncapsulate: an e-course in constructing your own family time capsule. Having worked as a professional photographer helping capture the joy and love of dozens of families she'll show you how to take simple photos that when gathered together will tell the story of your child's life right now, celebrating all the wonderful details, and providing a welcome window "back home" when your baby needs it most.
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Spring has sprung around the Gwynnie B studio, so to celebrate I have a new and improved website! I'm so thrilled to share this with you that I'm offering a 20% spring discount on all of my pretties for the fabulous Kelly Rae Roberts readers! Just enter code Kelly Rae at check out. And please be sure to stop by my Beautiful heART blog for studio musings and all things pretty. Happy Spring chick-a-dees!!
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Reaching new heights....doesn't that make you feel so accomplished? In this art journey I find myself reaching new heights daily. Whether it's through a finished painting, a piece of jewelry with just the right components, or a lovely stuffed feathered friend that makes me giggle, the artwork I create literally lifts me to new levels. I share these accomplishments through my blogand encourage you to stop by, borrow one of my red heart balloons and lift yourself to new heights as well.
You can find many finished paintings and products listed in my ETSY shop. From bag tags, key chains, prints, jewelry and original work, all the joy I place into each individual piece is another way I share my red balloons with you. I look forward to hearing from you all! Jenni Horne (Mattie's Social Circle)

hello, life

hello, cuteness.
hello, handsome husband who i cannot get enough of lately.
hello, dear baby true who recently discovered how to suck just his thumb.
hello, new routines, new flow, new norm.
hello, morning walks.
hello, chirping birdies who tell us spring will be here soon.
hello, mellow yellow, easy breezy days.
hello, life.
i am digging you so much right now.

finally, the oprah story!

it was over two weeks ago when gina and i ventured to chicago to see Oprah yet i'm still glowing from the experience. hands down, it was one of the most fun weekends of my whole entire almost 36 years. i have no idea why i didn't take more photos!

do you mind if i give you the entire scoop, detail by detail? i want to re-live every moment.


(photo from hotel website)

saturday: we arrive in chicago. no plane drama or delays. during the plane ride, i felt strange to be leaving True and John behind but also ready for some real deal fun. i slept most of the plane ride (middle seat - ugh) and i was also looking forward to more uninterrupted sleep in a hotel room. bliss.

we arrive at the elysian hotel. holy smokes, this place is NICE. in fact, i've never stayed at a nicer hotel before. a friend told me about their winter getaway package and after realizing they had a full spa on site, gina and i were sold. major splurge and worth every penny. the service was amazing, fresh flowers everywhere, the most luxurious bathroom/tub i've ever seen. they even came by our room in the evenings to "turn down" the room with fresh water by the bedside, a printed card with the next days weather forecast, curtains closed, mood lighting, the works. omg!



after walking around downtown for a bit, we had dinner with two new friends at a delicious restaurant (can't remember the name) in a neighborhood not too far away. it was great to eat at a local neighborhood restaurant and chat over really delicious food. i felt so far away from my life in good ways. to be eating out at a restaurant at night felt indulgent!

that night i slept HARD and for something like 9 hours. ahhhhhh....

sunday: gina and i treated ourselves to a morning at the hotel spa complete with hour long massages, soaks in the whirlpool and more. totally relaxed, we ate another delicious meal at a local restaurant (italian!). i remember having a couple of vanilla lemondrops. total indulgence.

after our big meal, we headed to Harpo Studios for a personal tour! yes, a personal tour! it turns out that many of you wrote to the oprah show on my behalf (seriously you guys? THANK YOU) which led to a producer offering us a personal tour. can you seriously believe it? i could not. thank you, you know who, for setting this up. i can't tell you how amazing it was to see behind the scenes - things like the control room, the offices where all the producers do their work, where Oprah's office was (it's right there with everyone else's!), the actual tv set (WAY smaller than it looks on tv which means every seat is a great seat), and so much more.

gina and i were amazed by how normal it all seemed - like any other office environment. it's funny to think that it would be any different but it really wasn't. it's the people who work there that make it spectacular, not necessarily the office building or even the set. after our tour, the producer (who was DELIGHTFUL) sent us home with a few oprah tokens including hats, tshirts, and mugs. really FUN and we felt incredibly lucky. after that, we went back to the hotel and were in bed by 9pm. i slept for 12 hours straight. heaven.



monday: the big day! we get dressed. by the way, i went to nordstroms two days before leaving for chicago to find an outfit. i had NO idea what to wear. i told the ladies who worked there that i was heading to oprah and stressing about what to wear and they scooped me up into a big and fun two hour adventure of finding just right thing. danella styled me head to toe with boots, jeans, shirt, sweater, belt. above is what i wore (not the best photo but you get the idea).

for the show, it turns out i was not under dressed nor was i over dressed. i was comfortable and feeling sassy in my new discovery of boots over jeans (now addicted!). there were people super dressed up and there were people super dressed down. gina and i were in the middle.

the hotel driver gave us a complimentary drive to harpo studios in a car that massaged our backs. no lie! i had no idea these options existed. we felt so fancy in our new outfits in this fancy car that massaged our backs on the way to oprah. we kept looking an each other with the are you kidding me? expressions and the omg, can you believe this? and the holy shit, we're in chicago for an oprah show! we did this all weekend long. it was so fun.


we arrive at the show and we're at the end of the line. a woman calls out our names and takes us up to the front of the line and to the place where we check our coats. i have no idea how our name got on her list, but it was really fun to skip everyone in line and get out of the cold (i feel so bad for saying that!).

after checking our coats, we head up to a big seating room that has big photos of oprah and famous people all over the walls. we sit there for about an hour. gina and i are in people watching heaven. all those outfits! and personalities! and chitter chatter! at this point, we all know that we're at the diana ross show and the room is full of diana uber fans. at one point, this big dude in nice pants and a pink button down shirt leads the whole entire room (a hundred people, maybe?) in singing well known diana and supreme songs. so much fun. gina and i were into it.

after awhile, they start calling names to be seated. like i said before, the set is SO MUCH SMALLER in person than it is on the tv screen so any seat is a great seat. we were in the front row of the middle riser - the part where the seats begin stadium style seating. we felt so close to the stage, so close. it was awesome.

the audience warmer upper comes out and she gets us all standing and dancing and screaming while the black eyed peas are on the speakers. really fun. she reminded us that we WERE AT THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW and to really celebrate that with the person we came with. she had us jumping up and down, hugging one another, and screaming things like WE'RE AT THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW! hilarious....

finally, oprah comes onto the set. we all go nuts. i'm not kidding, i started to cry. i do not know what came over me. i'm not normally a person who goes gugu gaga over such things or people but i was so overcome with the entire experience: how we got the tickets, how much my life has changed in five months, how it feels so good to scream and dance and be silly, how kindness has changed everything, how gina and i are there together, how i've never felt more pampered by a getaway weekend, how spoiled i feel to be there, how OPRAH WINFREY is standing just over there.

the cameras aren't rolling yet but oprah thanks us for coming and she begins to tearfully tell us the story of how diana ross gave her hope as a 10 year old black child. she talked about how we all want to belong and find our tribe and how seeing a young black diana ross on the television when she was 10 years old made her feel a sense of belonging. i cried some more. it's so true. we must find our tribes. i was struck by how honest oprah was telling us this story and how i want to be just like her when i grow up. i was also struck by how we are all just people being inspired by other people. in some small way, oprah is to me how diana ross is to her. maybe that explains my tearfulness when i saw her walk onto the set.

the cameras start rolling and diana ross enters the studio singing her hit song, i'm coming out, and we all go crazy. diana ross is right there. right there! singing! and she looks amazing. and isn't she in her 60s? and omg, i cannot believe i am here.

what i loved most about diana ross is all the the things she said about being a mother. whenever oprah asked her anything about her success in music, movies and so forth, diana ross would always come back to how being a mother is what has made her feel abundant in joy and successful at living - that motherhood was her biggest accomplishment and where she has done her greatest work. loved hearing this.


liv - who also sings "you are my sunshine" to her child (who is also named True but without the e) sent this over to me the day before i left for chicago - chuckle.

it was so interesting to watch what happens during the commercial breaks. oprah chatted with diana and her family (her five kids were with her), and staff members. at one point, i kid you not, oprah said "kelly? where's kelly?" and i nearly jumped out of my seat, here i am, right here! for a split second, i thought this might be my surprise moment, the moment when oprah comes over and tells me that she's going to make one of mondo beyondo's come true, the moment she tells me that she's been reading my blog, seeing my artwork, etc, etc! it was only a split second, but it was HILARIOUS how wrong i could be! "kelly" it turns out was one of her production staff :). see what i mean? i. am. crazy.

toward the end of the show, oprah gives the entire audience a brand new samsung galaxy tab. it was so seriously fun to be inside a moment that you see on her show all of the time - the one where everyone is screaming and jumping up and down because oprah gave them something. because the screaming was so loud, i had no idea what we got but i was screaming and jumping anyway. what i love about those moments on oprah is that it's not really about the thing she's giving a way. it's more about the moment, the few seconds where you feel like a kid on christmas morning instead of the adult that you are, the new mama that you are, the struggling parent that you are, the overworked employee that you are. it was glorious, that moment. gina and i screamed in glee.

the show ends and oprah walks off the set with diana ross. and just like that, it was over.

we hop in a cab with our glee and head to the airport where we part ways and return home to our families. i will never forget those few days in chicago where fun and surprise and sassy outfits and good food and pampering and connections took place. it was, hands down, one of the best weekends of my life. thank you to all the people who made it possible: megan, allyson, liv, those of you who wrote the show (!!), the folks at the hotel for pampering us, and to gina for sharing this remarkable experience with me. we did it! we went to an oprah showwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

total. dream. come. true!

for years i've read the artist portfolios in Somerset Studio. all of my mentors, the artists i look up to, the women who have inspired me to live a creative life have been profiled in this coveted 10 page article/artist portfolio that is featured in every issue of the magazine.

and so you can imagine the happy dances and the disbelief when i received an email last summer from the editor-in-chief asking if i would agree to be featured. holy smokes. this is a HUGE honor for me and i'm incredibly giddy over it. the issue (march, 2011) is on stands now. huge thanks to Rice Freeman-Zachery for writing an article that makes me sound like i wasn't at all the dazed and confused new mama that i absolutely was when she interviewed me last fall!



also, huge thanks to christen olivarez, the editor-in-chief for extending this amazing opportunity toward me. i had the opportunity to meet her last week during her quick visit to portland (she, of course, is delightful). during her visit we happened upon the magazine (it had JUST come out) in a crafty store where we both got shy about her being the editor and my being the featured artist and us standing there together when i first saw the article + magazine. it was silly. but i loved that she was with me when i saw the feature for the first time.

i still can't believe it. somebody, seriously, please, will you pinch me already?

this and that and all over the place

(self portrait - five months into motherhood. i think it's time to grow out my bangs and switch it up a bit. that or back to super short pixie. necklace by nest pretty things. earrings by sacred cake. camera strap by vmjess)

feels really really good to have taken a bit of an internet/blog break these last two weeks. it's amazing how much more rested we feel when we back off from online world for a bit, no? the loudest whispers i'm hearing these days are gentle and simple. gentle and simple. on the simplicity front, i got a ton of work done last week for the first time since true was born and it felt SO GOOD. i have our part-time nanny to thank for that. last week was her first week on her own with us and let me say, it was awesome.


(True turned 5 mos on 3/3 and he's loving his toes and feet, rolling over, laughing, and teething [ugh]).

not only was i able to focus on work while she was here, but for the first time in five months, john and i went out for a meal together (brunch), just the two of us. omg! by the end of the week, i felt so capable, so refreshed, and really clear on how i'm going to manage working from home with baby True. i love our nanny! and i really really loved working in my home office where i could be super close and available - perfect set up for now.

really does feel like everything has changed, like something has shifted into a new norm.


(found this water spill in the shape of a heart one morning as i was making myself some tea. been finding hearts quite a bit lately. i wonder if it's because i feel a shift)

one day last week john and i took ourselves on a date to the subaru dealership and traded in our mini cooper for a subaru outback - a real family car. we told the dude we had 1.5 hours flat to do the entire transaction (because john needed to leave town) and that was that. awesome. we are now owners of two subarus - an old legacy wagon we've had for 10 years and now a newish outback. we are subaru people though the mini was fun while it lasted.


(what i love so much about this photo is how the painting behind us mirrors the two of us perfectly.)

while john was out of town for the weekend, true and i had our first weekend alone. i was a little nervous at night but we did great. over the weekend, i started to read super baby food (solids begin soon!) and i ordered simplicity parenting - been hearing good things about both books. i also read a few magazines that have been piling up including the latest issue of Flea Market Style which made me so happy because it was page after page of awesome ideas - loved!



remember when i told you about how and why baby photos mean the world to me? and how there are very very few photos of me as a baby? after that post, my mom surprised me with a box of my baby things i never knew existed, including my baby shoes, my birth time/weight/height (never knew!), a few baby/toddler photos of me and so much more. i cried my eyes out. i don't know how to explain it. i just know that there is real healing in seeing myself reflected back in baby photos, documents, and such. my mom is the dearest woman on the planet. just so you know :)


(Huge thanks to Dragonfly Greetings + Gifts [West Linn, OR] for their amazing store display of the KRR Collection!)
in biz news, the online shop will officially reopen this week! i'm so excited to finally offer up all the new wall canvases (there are MANY!) and other new items that came out in january. i won't have ALL the new items in the KRR Collection (my line with demdaco) but i'll have most of it. stay tuned! dani and i have been working our little booties off to get it up and running - we are EXCITED!


i just want to say that i love my life. i really really deep down love this world, this life, this baby, my family. even when it feels like i'll never get back to the gym or finish the projects that have been piling up for five months or return phone calls to loved ones or stop eating oreos.

my word for this year was gentle. i have been meditating on this word everyday of this year. and it's working. i feel more gentle toward myself and toward others than ever before. there is a self compassion that was born when True was born, a spirit of utmost tenderness toward myself, toward him, toward john, and an unbelievable surrendering to everything that truly matters. i still feel all of this and it makes me feel alive and open. everything feels and is precious. our lives, our everyday moments, even our seconds. they're all absolute, fragile, and precious. what a beautiful thing.

NEW Sponsor Spotlights: Wish Studio, Word Cellar, Artinfusio, Dixon Hill, Linwood Avenue, Christine Jolley + Rock Red Shoes

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!
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wishBIG ecamp ~ come gather round the creative fire! ::(march 21-march 27, 2011) hosted by wishstudio. this one week virtual retreat is all about rocking your creative girl power! join our fabulous camp counselors, Darrah Parker, Kate Swoboda, Jamie Ridler, Goddess Leonie, Liz Lamoreaux, Shannon Kinny Duh, Andrea Schroeder, Kelly Barton, Violette Clarke and Shona Cole for s'mores and a week of online workshops all designed to help you wishBIG and liveBIG! for more info please click here.
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Alchemy: The Art & Craft of Writing from The Word Cellar is an online course for creative souls who want to write. This six-week course is packed with writing lessons and exercises, fabulous guests (including Brené Brown, Marianne Elliott, and Susan Wooldridge), oodles of inspiration, and a private creative community. Writer, editor, and coach Jenna McGuiggan leads the course and will share what she's learned professionally and as an MFA student in Creative Writing. You'll learn how to combine technique and inspiration to transform words and ideas into beautiful, meaningful stories.

The previous session of Alchemy included 40 students (from six countries) at many different levels of writing experience. Everyone is welcome in Alchemy, and the lessons are designed to work for both beginners and more experienced writers. The course starts April 4 and registration is now open. Find out more about this transformational writing experience.

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Artinfusio ~ infused with Art ____infusion |inˈfyoō zh ən| the introduction of a new element or quality into something from Latin infusio Artinfusio is a collection of weekend art workshops overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Malibu, California. They take place in the clubhouse of Paradise Cove with views of the sea. This is an intimate setting with a limited number of spaces to insure a in depth experience with each visiting artist. The workshops are both Saturday and Sunday from 9 to 4 with a 90 min lunch break so that you can visit the Paradise Cove Cafe which is a stroll down the hill, take a walk on the nearby beach or have a picnic lunch on the deck. Upcoming visiting artists include: Judy Wise, Katie Kendrick , and Mary Beth Shaw!

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The Magic of the Moors from Dixon Hill Girl on Vimeo.

Hi! I'm Helen and I'm here to invite you to the Pennine hills of northern England this coming August for The Magic of the Moors retreat. Four days of wandering through the purple heather….the wind in your face….picking late bilberries….listening to the grouse call. It'll be a mix of holiday and retreat, with time to dig into the solitude as well the chance to visit two local towns: Haworth, where the Bronte sisters lived and wrote (we'll take a private tour of The Parsonage); and artsy, hippy Hebden Bridge - the 'fourth funkiest town in the world'.

Our focus will be on experiencing place - draining every last drop from the landscape around us, allowing it to seep into our bones and our very souls. Of course, we'll do some creating together. And, at the end of the week, we'll find ways to give back to the environment that's nourished us.
This will be a small and intimate gathering and we'd love you to join us. Find out more and reserve your place here.
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welcome to linwood avenue!here you will find eclectic found objects like custom lamps that sparkle and hold history, brightly colored handmade shades, hand drawn botanical prints, funky functional craft aprons, and other amazing stitched pieces to fall in love with. we all share the same idea of home...a place you are most yourself, surrounded by the walls and people that comfort you. linwood avenue offers you something special. reach beyond the average - across the expected and into the world of whimsy and bright spirit. make your home a Linwood Avenue home.
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Wonderfully Wacky Whimsical Critter Creations! Some are soft, cuddly and hand knit with acrylic and novelty yarns. Stuffed with poly-fill and embellished with wool craft felt. Everyone has a distinct personality and comes named. Others are made from assorted banana, bottle, and dipper gourds. By assembling them with wire, chipboard and/or paper clay and covering with my own hand painted tissue paper the gourds are transformed into a variety of fantastic creatures. Some are free standing and others have attached a hook for hanging. Sizes range from 2 inches to 2 feet! I can be found at Sloane Solanto: A Colorful Life . Come and see me!

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"When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence." -Ansel Adams
My name is Christine Jolley and I'm a self-taught photographer. Photography became a hobby when I moved from the US to London, England 10 years ago. It turned into a passion during a difficult time in my life and I needed to find my 'voice' again. My shop is a collection of what inspires me: landscapes, nature, travel, the everyday and the poetry of film photography. My aim is to create a beautiful piece of art for your home. My photographs are professionally printed on exhibition quality paper that will last a lifetime.

As a special 'hello' to Kelly Rae readers, I'm offering 10% off till May 1st (Use the code = 'KELLY'). For more pictures and thoughts on my life as an expat, visit my blog Just Travelin' Through or you can connect with me on Facebook and Twitter.
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Rock Red Shoes began in February 2011 with the mission to ignite a worldwide confidence movement. Many women today, young and old, waste precious time striving (in vain) for perfection. Rock Red Shoes aims to combat this trend by celebrating uniqueness and self-acceptance. Visitors are enthusiastically encouraged to share their thoughts, stories, and rockin red shoes with the rest of the world via Rock Red Shoes' blog or Facebook page. Stop by today!