Kelly Rae Roberts's Blog, page 9

My Instagram Weekly Round Up – Full Week and Blooms Abounding

I'm obsessed with Instagram – it's my favorite online home! Here's a recap from the last week, and for those of you who aren't on Instagram, come and join me! And you can click here to see all the Instagram updates right here on my blog!

Thursday, May 7


Print Available – Embrace
Yes, yes, yes.


Current scene. Writing my heart out on the front porch in the best weather ever.

Goodnight Thursday. I'm pooped. I'm happy. I'm in love with these colors.
Friday, May 8

Gonna be a warm gorgeous day here. I'm wearing my happiest, sunniest tunic and my newish blue sandals for the occasion


Print Available – Side by Side
Friends, I hope you have the most wonderful, special, relaxing, happy, reflective, fun Mother's Day weekend! I'll be sending special notes not just to my mom, but to all my friends who have nurtured and mothered me along the way. XO!


Signing off for the weekend, friends. Have a lovely, lovely couple of days. Big xo.
Monday, May 11
 
Print Available – Hello Courage
It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” ― E.E. Cummings I'm not sure I'll ever really "grow up," but this process of becoming who I really am is requiring calling on my courage reserves. This week I'm saying hello to courage. Here's to your bright, roaring "hello!" to start your week!


It was a lovely weekend with family this weekend. This little guy painted my toes, had some serious fun in the sun, and gave us all many laughs. Totally love my life. John has been calling it a life-cation lately to remind us to enjoy and relax. It totally works! Lifecation. I like that. Happy Monday, friends!


I was voted most likely to wear stripes with plaids in high school, which makes me chuckle that I'm now leading The Wear Your Joy Project ecourse more than 20 years later. The universe has a major sense of humor, I think. Today is the first day of our 30 day practice and I'm thrilled. Today I'm wearing patched up jeans and friends, they make me feel like ME!


Sneak peek at a little something coming soon.

Goodnight, Monday. Thankful for so much today, but the massage and bath I treated myself to this evening take the cake. Ahhhhhh.
Tuesday, May 12

Ahhhh! Totally digging the new empathy cards by Emily McDowell. Emily is a truth teller while also being funny. A rare combo. And I like it.


Print Available – Sincerely, Faith
“Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.” ― Rumi YES. I love love love this quote – that "strange pull" is exactly what I was feeling almost 10 years ago. Letting joy in is a daily practice, and I haven't been I haven't been led astray yet. This print reads "And then she followed her heart and let joy in."

Day 2 of the Wear Your Joy Project ecourse! Totally loving this sweet community. Today it feels like Autumn and so I broke out another old tunic, high rise skinny jeans, and my new boots. Also got my hair did yesterday. Getting dressed up in joy is a beautiful self care and self compassion project.
We've reached the age of little painterly kits. Love. And totally takes me back.Wednesday, May 13

The roses are coming out and they're sprouting up all over Portland. Love.


Today in The Wear Your Joy Project ecourse we are creating simple Wear Your Joy altars. Friends, I am loving this tribe of students. Our private Facebook is exploding with honesty, joy, and sacred sharing. I am reminded again and again how powerful it is when groups of women gather. It's only day 3 and we are rocking this thing. Anyway, here's my little altar. This morning I paused here, lit the candle, and read aloud my permission slip that says "you are allowed to shine". Intention changes everything. And so does joy. It's not to late to join us! Link in profile with all the info. Xxo!


How adorbs is this baby swing I spotted in our hood today during my walk?

Thursday, May 14
 

Print Available – Found
Do not lose hope ---what you seek will be found.” ― Neil Gaiman I wanted to share an oldie but a goodie today. Been thinking about seeking and being found. When I feel "found" is when I'm in the flow, when there is ease and gentleness. I think I will always be a seeker. Not for more or better or answers, but for my truth, source, and light.


️

Yesterday is was wet and cold. Today it's sunny and warm.  Today it's biz calls, writing, being secret reader at the preschool, my first ever spin class, and an appt with the dermatologist for that annoying adult acne.


My joy teacher.

 Lots of 1's lately.


That's it for this week! Check back here next week for another update, or join us over on Instagram for daily photos and thoughts!

XO,
Kelly Rae

Products We're Loving: Take Flight!

Friends, each week we try and highlight some of our gorgeous products that we want to share with you! Some new new new and some old favorites. Check 'em out below!

PS: All of the products featured below (and more) are sold online via the online retailer Garden Gallery Iron Works (a local shop here in the Portland area), but if you're looking for signed/matted prints, you can get these in my print shop. 

PPS: International customers, Garden Gallery is HAPPY to ship worldwide. Please email them  at gardengalleryorders@gmail.com to get started.  



LOVE these new new new mini wing sculptures! This one reads: "Fly. Your joyful spirit is a gift to this world.'" They come on a little chain and can be hung OR displayed on a tabletop just about anywhere!Find them at the online retailer Garden Gallery right here!


The wall art collection of my product line is really close to my heart, and last year's slat board additions were exactly what the collection was needing. This one reads: "Let it go. Embrace your vulnerabilities, ask for what you need, do the thing you never thought you could do, and feel the power of how deeply you are loved." The rustic handmade quality makes it SUCH a cool and unique part of any collection.

Find it at the online retailer Garden Gallery right here!

So loving the wood sculptures in this year's collection, ESPECIALLY the mama and baby bird! Really great for displaying on work desks or mantels, but also as strategic book ends (I've discovered!). Find the entire wood sculpture collection at the online retailer Garden Gallery right here!


Invite your bird friends into the garden! This wood bird feeder is impossibly cute and perfect for bringing more life into the yard! Find the bird feeder collection at the online retailer Garden Gallery right here!



You guys, this year's collection of everyday glass heart ornaments is really really sweet. We have special messages for mamas, daughters, sisters, grandmamas, and mini messages for special friends. Check out the whole collection right here at the online retailer Garden Gallery!

NEWish ART, a thank you, and more.

(Newish art, available here)
I received a lot of love regarding my spiritual coming out post last week. For those of you who took the time to write, thank you. It meant a lot. A lot, a lot.

I've received a lot of questions about books that I've been reading (so many!), and healers/teachers/intuitives/etc I've been connecting with along my journey these last two years.  I have so much to tell you and will share a bit of my experiences along the way, so stay tuned. But really I just want to say thank you for being with me, for being kindreds on this path, and for seeing it for what it is: an awakening. I have never felt so peaced and blissed out. So good. I also know that it's not always this way, and so I'm savoring.


In related news, we had a lovely family weekend of birthday celebrations, Mother's Day celebrations, and awesome weather. This gorgeous child of ours kills me with his vibrant, silly, thoughtful self. I often think how our children choose us, how we've likely traveled together many times before, how we are one another's teachers - totally equal spiritual beings, but us parents having a bit more life experience. True teaches me, daily, to be gentle, loving, patient. He teaches me to unlearn all the rules I've placed on myself. He teaches me to remember the version of myself that is like him: pure, closer to truth, unburdened. And I, hopefully, teach him all that I've learned since before he arrived, and after. In so many ways, we grow up together. Love.

The other day John and I were sitting on the front porch, watching True play with the neighborhood kids. Willie Nelson was playing in the house, windows open so we could hear it. Between all the neighborhood sounds (kids, mowers, bikes, etc) and the breeze and the sound of the birds, I thought (and then said out loud), "This is it. We're in it. This is what I'll remember. When I thought of what I hoped it would be like to have a family, this is it. I can't believe we made it here." And it's true. Like most people, we've fought hard to get here. And it seems wrong not to take it all in, every single day, moment by moment, and just be really present to it.

More soon,
XO

PS:


I was voted most likely to wear stripes with plaids in high school, which makes me chuckle that I'm now leading The Wear Your Joy Project ecourse more than 20 years later. The universe has a major sense of humor, I think. Today was the first day of our 30 day practice and I wore patched up jeans to celebrate. For those of you who would like to join us, you can sign up anytime. You'll get your first lesson via email as soon as you register, and then an email per day everyday for 30 days of the practice. All of the details are here. 

My Instagram Weekly Round Up – Finding the Holy in the Everyday

I'm obsessed with Instagram – it's my favorite online home! Here's a recap from the last week, and for those of you who aren't on Instagram, come and join me! And you can click here to see all the Instagram updates right here on my blog!

Friday, May 1



Print Available – Our Impossibility
“Visualize not what is possible or probable, but rather what is impossible. And by visualizing the impossible...begin to see it as possible” ― Cherie Carter-Scott This quote captures what I mean by "impossibility is our greatest gift." The gift of pushing the boundaries, creativity, possibility. Letting what we imagine take flight.

Currently doing a Twitter chat with Do What You Love on all things biz, soul missions, balancing biz and motherhood, inspiration and more. 

The view from earlier today when I went outside my studio to get some air, and to get some perspective. Much needed and I just really love that I work inside this old renovated high school with a big park attached (old football field). And the sun. Grateful it's been out here in Portland lately. Ahhhhhh. 

Playing.Saturday, May 2

We use Bella's old doggie piddle pads (used a lot toward the end of her life) for painting pads in the house. PERFECT for spilled water and paints. I have no idea why, but I feel called to share this tip with you! And also, it makes me love that Bella is still with us in this hilarious way.


I stopped by a 24 hour paint jam for a couple of hours of painting with some dear women. While gabbing over all things life, motherhood, spirit, past lives, future lives, biz journeys, creative paths and more, I painted this. I'm not sure why raw and happy flower pieces want to come out of me lately, but sure is fun to let it out. I have a few more things to do with this one, but I'm digging it.

Monday, May 4
 

Print Available – Dear World
Dear World, Thank you for your smallest of moments that bring the greatest of beauty. Thank you for the stars, the light, and your soulful hearts that make living worth all the love you hold. Sending out some gratitude at the top of a very, very FULL week.

This week my mantra is EASE + FLOW after resisting a bit too much last week against life. What's yours? Happy Monday, friends!!


Like any good practice (a yoga practice, a gratitude practice, etc), the practice of intentionally getting dressed up in joy will open your heart and awaken new ways of seeing yourself. In so many ways, this course is about remembering who we are. Because when we turn our attention toward anything with intention, we raise its vibration, its meaningfulness, its consciousness. It all starts, in one week on Monday, May 11th. Come join me in the pursuit of making what's in our hearts visible, and wearable. For all the details, including how to register, click here!


Last couple of days of getting dressed up in joy. Today I dressed up (middle pic) as I had the amazing opportunity to meet and have lunch with Jensine Larsen of World Pulse (along with some other amazing ladies). I am SO inspired by her story and all the ways she is changing the world (and global economy and consciousness) by connecting women together through technology. If there is ONE thing I've learned in my life, it's the power that comes when women connect. It's why I paint women, and why I feel called to bring them together in my courses. Also inspired today by a friend who shared her story of consciously transitioning from her girlhood to her womanhood in the small but big moment when she stood up for herself and used her voice. Ahhhh, inspired!

Like so many of you, I have always been a seeker, looking for deeper meanings in just about everything. I consider myself highly intuitive, a feeler, a seer of connections and meaning. I had a rough early life, and as I began to sort it all out, I started journaling at the age of 14 years old, collecting wisdom from anyone willing to share theirs with me. Most of my learnings came from women who have ushered me along my life's path (friends, mentors, authors whose books I read, older women I looked up to but didn't know, etc). It's why I feel a strong connection to our collective sisterhood, and it's also why I paint women and the wisdom and mantras that have been gifted to me as I made my way as a student in this life. As I like to say, I am grateful for the women who have walked with me, both in paint and in flesh, into art, love, and life. Lately, my seeker self has been seeking a deeper spiritual self. These last couple of years I've had an extraordinary journey exploring this part of myself, the part that is Divine, that was born of God/Source/Light. And similar to the ways in which I was unexpectedly led to make art, I can feel something happening again, another kind of journey that is intuitively led. It's big, exciting, and I'm not even sure what it is, exactly. I just know it's the next level, a graduate course that will build on all that I've learned these last nine years since making my way into the creative life. All of my life I've had 'strange' things happen - premonitions that came true, feelings of deep intuition/knowing, hits about something that was about to happen, and struggles with energies and the boundary work that came with that. Today on the blog I'm sharing more about my recent spiritual journey. We are all holy and we are all a mess. I like to live in the inbetween spaces, learning to make meaning of the messes, and finding holy in the everyday. Tuesday, May 5

Ahhhh! Totally digging the new empathy cards by Emily McDowell. Emily is a truth teller while also being funny. A rare combo. And I like it.


Print Available – Sincerely, Faith
“All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.” ― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan Adore this quote and it's message: The faith to follow our calling, the trust that everything that is supposed to happen will indeed happen, and the room for magic in our lives. I've been seeing a lot of magic lately – angel numbers, spirit talks with True, even the changing of the seasons. What kind of magic are you witnessing?

Home today. And just feeling mighty grateful for the ease and flow despite life providing some hiccups.  A peek into my writing process. I have to get content organized the old fashioned way (on index cards like I did my science projects on in high school) and then I'll write the longer versions on the computer. Ahhh, I always forget this (or resist it) but I really do love writing. Wednesday, May 6


Print Available – Sisters in Heart
“What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies.” ― Aristotle In the fullness of the week, I have been working alone a lot, writing and planning and creating. The quiet is great way to connect with my soul and follow my heart, AND makes the time with my friends and loved ones that much sweeter. Here's to solo soul work and sister soul love!

Sidewalk crack flowers are the absolute best.

Friends, im sharing the before and after of our dining room. Come on over to my blog for all the pics. Love this room!

Another dining room peek. Full tour up on the blog today!


We've had to get more on our parenting game lately as this little brilliant being is doing exactly what he's supposed to do: push and challenge the boundaries. I appreciate every single challenge. It helps me grow as a human and mama. We are each other's teachers in many ways. Ahhhh. I took this shot today during his performance of Michael Jackson's Song PYT. Thursday, May 7
 


Print Available – Embrace
Yes, yes, yes.

Found the succulents blooming this morning. I love love love it when that happens. Also, I had an elaborate dream last night about a peacock who was in our house. It jumped onto my head! I wonder what it means?


Friends, I'm sitting here writing the Wear Your Joy ecourse that starts Monday and my heart is truly happy at 1) the response (we are so starting an unlikely joy revolution) 2) being in ease and flow with writing the content. It's not fluff, but rather a kind of everyday soul work that will be a transformative way into joy and making what's in our hearts visible. Ahhhhh, I'm so excited and truly just loving the writing and teaching pieces of this offering. Come join the tribe! Starts Monday.


That's it for this week! Check back here next week for another update, or join us over on Instagram for daily photos and thoughts!

XO,
Kelly Rae

Products We're Loving: Charming and Inspiring, Just for You!!

Friends, each week we try and highlight some of our gorgeous products that we want to share with you! Some new new new and some old favorites. Check 'em out below!

PS: All of the products featured below (and more) are sold online via the online retailer Garden Gallery Iron Works (a local shop here in the Portland area), but if you're looking for signed/matted prints, you can get these in my print shop. 

PPS: International customers, Garden Gallery is HAPPY to ship worldwide. Please email them  at gardengalleryorders@gmail.com to get started.  



Friends, LOVING these new customizable charm bracelets! You can choose the exact mantras and messages and icons that empower YOU. Check out the entire collection (charms, baubles, and bands) at the online retailer Garden Gallery right here!


 
LOVE all the new wood block manifestos from this year's line! These are perfect for displaying on your desk, on a book shelf, in any corner of your office or home where you need a little inspiration. Messages of hope just for YOU! Find the whole collection at the online retailer Garden Gallery right here!

Friends, I love love love the journals in the KRR collection. This one has a very special manifesto, very close to my heart. It reads:

The It's Going to Be Okay Manifesto

May you surrender fear, embrace the uncertainty & trust your strength

May you be gentle on your soul (and ask for what you need) as you heal, no mend your heart

May you feel the immeasurable power of you deeply you are loved

May you discover all the ways in which you are not broken but deeply and profoundly whole

May you embrace your vulnerability and practice courage (every single day)

May you emerge softer, wiser, & more beauty-full

May you discover all the way hope rises up to meet our biggest struggles and cracks open our hearts to the light within ourselves waiting to be seen, waiting to be born

Find it here at the online retailer Garden Gallery!




Lots of spirit talk around here lately, and I keep circling back to "trust." I love this new piece of wood wall art from the latest KRR collection. It reads, "Trust in your beautiful, holy, light-filled divinity." Yes yes yes – trust, beauty, light. Find it at the online retailer Garden Gallery right here.




PS: Friends, from the looks of folks joining this class, we're going to be starting a Wear Your Joy revolution. Like any good practice (a yoga practice, a gratitude practice, etc), the practice of intentionally getting dressed up in joy will open your heart and awaken new ways of seeing yourself. In so many ways, this course is about remembering who we are. Because when we turn our attention toward anything with intention, we raise its vibration, its meaningfulness, its consciousness. Come join me in the pursuit of making what's in our hearts visible, and wearable. All the details are here. The fun starts Monday, May 11th. 

Home Tour: Dining Room!

Our dining room has come together. We love, love, love this room. We eat here, collect mail piles here, drop off our bags here. It's a true family dining room, happy, colorful, and used. 
Enjoy the tour! 

BEFORE: When we toured this house, above is what the dining room looked like. 
AFTER:

And this is what it looks like now with our style and colors. The first thing we did was switch out the lighting, and paint the walls (Gifford Green by Benjamin Moore). We loooovvve this color. It's soothing and calm while still being a color.

We've always had mixed match chairs, and we love the casual whimsy of it. The rug is an old Pottery Barn rug. The table is made from old barn wood, bought at Restoration Hardware.


This hutch was turquoise, and I purposely sanded it with an electric sander to reveal the green and wood that was underneath. The result? I dig it. 
I'm working on collecting vintage flower paintings for the wall above. This little corner makes me happy. Lamp is an old Creative Co-op lamp, no longer in production. 

Above is the view into the kitchen. 

I found the middle curtains at a junk store for a major bargain. They're vintage barkcloth and I totally fell in love, but didn't have a place to put them until it occurred to me that I could mix-match curtains in our dining room. Why not? I love the effect. 



This favorite chair came from Home Goods. That place is dangerous. 


Our china hutch holds our gorgeous china handed down to us from John's family. 

Gorgeous vintage candle...yep, she's made out of wax. 


I hope you enjoyed the room tour, friends. I've got more coming up.
Previous home tour:Living room
And if you're looking for the room tours from our previous house, you can them all here. 

PS: A couple of things I really want to share with you! 
SIX more days until the Wear Your Joy ecourse starts. I've been writing the content and it's soul stirring GOOD stuff! It's not about putting together perfect outfits. It's about wearing our joy.  It's also about:  : Giving ourselves permission to embrace where we are today, despite our size, age, or cash flow.
: Making the practice of getting dressed in the morning a spiritual practice, one that brings more intention and JOY into our lives. 
: Seeing ourselves through a new, compassionate, joyful lens.
: Changing our self-talk around all the barriers that are stopping us from getting dressed in joy.
: Unlearning all the rules we’ve placed on ourselves when it comes to how we dress ourselves.
: Coming into alignment with our sacred style, whether that be eccentric, preppy, tailored, or bohemian.
: Bringing more intention and consciousness, and making sacred the morning ritual of getting dressed each day.
: It’s about seeking our truest selves while also giving ourselves permission to experiment, play, and join a tribe of other souls who are doing the same thing.  It's NOT about: 
: Spending a lot of money on a whole new wardrobe.
: Trying to be anyone other than yourself.
: Superficial fashion rules that don’t align with our values, who we are, and who we want to be. Come join us (LOVING the response to this offering!). All ages, sizes, and hearts are welcome. This is a beautiful way IN to joy. All the details are here!

Remember when LinkedIn came to my studio to interview me for their Professional Women's Network? The video is now live! You can check it out here, along with some other videos of some amazing women. Honored to be included! 

Our LONGEST running sale is still going! Get 20% off EVERYTHING on my website, including  my entire print shop,  my well loved painting ecourse, AND my ebook on how to build a successful creative biz. Enter code "MOMXO" over on my website to receive the discount on ALL of these goodies. Sale ends on Mother's Day, May 10th. Treat your mama (and yourself) with some loooooovvvvvveeee!

Print shop right here: http://shop.kellyraeroberts.com/collections/prints
Flying Lessons ebook: http://kellyraeroberts.com/flying-lessons-the-whole-shabang
Hello Soul, Hello Mixed Media Mantras ecourse: http://kellyraeroberts.com/mixedmediamantras

I feel like I'm coming out of the closet with this post!

Like so many of you, I have always been a seeker,  looking for deeper meanings in just about everything.  I consider myself highly intuitive, a feeler, a seer of connections and meaning. I had a rough early life, and as I began to sort it all out, I started journaling at the age of 14 years old, collecting wisdom from anyone willing to share theirs with me. Most of my learnings came from women who have ushered me along my life's path (friends, mentors, authors whose books I read, older women I looked up to but didn't know, etc). It's why I feel a strong connection to our collective sisterhood, and it's also why I paint women and the wisdom and mantras that have been gifted to me as I made my way as a student in this life. As I like to say, I am grateful for the women who have walked with me, both in paint and in flesh, into art, love, and life.

Lately, my seeker self has been seeking a deeper spiritual self. These last couple of years I've had an extraordinary journey exploring this part of myself, the part that is Divine, that was born of God/Source/Light. And similar to the ways in which I was unexpectedly led to make art, I can feel something happening again, another kind of journey that is intuitively led. It's big, exciting, and I'm not even sure what it is, exactly. I just know it's the next level, a graduate course that will build on all that I've learned these last nine years since making my way into the creative life.

All of my life I've had 'strange' things happen - premonitions that came true, feelings of deep intuition/knowing, hits about something that was about to happen, and struggles with energies and the boundary work that came with that.

About 15 years ago, I found myself at a workshop about intuition. As I was leaving, the teacher came up to me and said she had a message from my father who had died when I was 8. As I stood there in tears and disbelief, she delivered some very sweet messages, and of course she knew things.  How he died, what color car he had been driving, specific medical issues he had. She also told me something that haunted me for many years. She said that he had been trying to reach me, along with my guides and angles, to communicate with me, but that I wasn't paying attention.

I had no idea what she was talking about - not paying attention? I never forgot it.....

Fast forward five years later and I discovered myself in the middle of a VERY accidental artist career. And as I practiced and grew my creative muscles, I began to see things and pay attention. And I loved what I was noticing: possibility in the impossible, joy inside unlikely places, beauty and light in the cracks of my hard places, deep connection in shared vulnerability. My life transformed in my 30s in this way. A whole new way of being in the world. I also witnessed firsthand how when we are led to intuitively do that which is calling us (even if we have no idea why), then the universe opens up, providence moves, and things happen in a beautiful, almost magical kind of flow.

Now, as I'm approaching 40, I can see how I'm beginning to open up to see even more, to pay attention even more, to go toward the mysterious even more, to be OPEN even more. And most important, it's been women, again, who are ushering me into this newest awakening.

In the last couple of years, I've had women invite me to be a part of things I've never thought I'd do, and after resisting the invitations at first, I heard my intuition say "pay attention and allow the guidance." And so I dove in and promised myself to stay open, to receive new ways of learning. I've said yes to invitations for intuitive/channeling readings  that were gifted to me - readings where I've never received more guidance in all of my life. I've said yes to spiritual mother earth ceremonies where I've received profound visions and guidance that I will never forget. I've said yes to energy work where I have physically felt old body trauma released and healed. I've said yes to kundalini yoga and breathing (incredibly peaceful). I've said yes to guided meditations (totally new to me, but amazing). I've said yes to in depth astrology readings that have made my life make total sense. I've taken classes on how to communicate with my angels, guides, and divine inner knowing. I've devoured books on all things spirit/god/source, intuition, spirit world, life between lives, chakras, meridians, angel cards, and so much more. I've started writing and journaling again. I'm on fire with all that I know to be important on the seeker's path. Mostly, I just feel at peace and joyful all at once.

In all this seeking, I've learned so much. I've learned that it's not woowoo, but it's actually awakening. I've learned tolerance for all beliefs that don't harm. I've learned that my guides are with me, always, and that I can call on them. I've learned that Joy is a spiritual practice. I've learned that all those little coincidences that happen on the daily are Spirit, which  is something I've always known but these little moments are amplified now. I get chills when I'm doing this spiritual work, when I've read something that resonates, when I breathe, and when I ask for guidance. I'm growing and connecting with my higher self and all the divine support that surrounds all of us. And now it's a huge part of my daily life, my daily practice, my thoughts, my intentions, my art, and just so much more.

We are all holy. We are all a mess. The in between is where I like to live, learning to make the messes meaningful, and finding holy in the everyday.

So there you have it. I feel like I just came out of the spiritual closet! Here's to awakening, loving, and having compassion for ourselves along the way.

Big love,
Kelly Rae

My Instagram Weekly Round Up – The Light is Growing

I'm obsessed with Instagram – it's my favorite online home! Here's a recap from the last two weeks, and for those of you who aren't on Instagram, come and join me! And you can click here to see all the Instagram updates right here on my blog!

Friday, April 24


Print Available – Wide Hearts
Together, our hearts were wide. We're continuing to celebrate gifts for all the mamas, grandmamas, teachers, mentors, aunties, guides, friends. Together, in love and gratitude, you are changing the world. Thank you.


True and I are loving Lisa Congdon's book on drawing flowers. Perfect for inspiration and side by side doodling.

Do you ever see something out in the world and surprise yourself with how much you love it or are drawn to it? That was the case with this vintage French Italian lamp (and its matching pair), spotted at a flea market. I had no idea how I could make them "fit" in our home. They matched nothing. They were super tall. And we own nothing that "matches" their vibe. But. I fell in love, and decided to bring them home. Verdict? They look fantastic in our colorful, eclectic living room and I get to admire them on the daily. I'm a big believer in only buying stuff for our homes that delight us and bring us joy, and not worrying so much about how it will "fit" in our homes. If we only buy stuff we LOVE, it will come together. Living room tour is still up on the blog and more room tours coming soon!

Sneak peek. More deets soon. That time we discovered that the new iPhone has a timer for photos!
I feel like I'm watching history, and I'm just so proud of bruce jenner's extraordinary courage. I'm thinking of all of the dear spirits he will inspire by telling his story, likely many lives saved. Here's to being who we are, being true, and showing compassion and kindness to all people.  Saturday, April 25


This happened. And even better? They were $100 cheaper on Amazon (vs the Sundance catalog). Add in a 20% discount code someone (thank you!) mentioned on my FB page, and well, it was a major early 40th birthday score!


I've spent the last couple of days with this little man, just the two of us, and I've truly loved our bonding time. We've been playing, adventuring around town, drawing together, and having a low-key, easy relaxed time. This evening for bedtime reading he asked if I would read his new "favorite, favorite, FAVORITE book EVER" which I was surprised to learn was a book I recently bought for him by Wayne Dyer called "I am" - a book about God/Spirit. When I asked True why he loved this book so much he said, "because I love God and heaven and Spirit World." Which is true. He loves talking about "love energy" and all things related. Anyway, after reading the book (and its guide in the back), we had a gorgeous conversation about using "I am" statements - how we want to say positive "I am" statements so that we can stay close to the God light that lives inside of us. And how when we say negative "I am" statements (I am ugly/bad/etc) we get further away from the light. Friends, if you are looking for spiritual books for your kids, the Dyer books are amazing. So. After the book and discussion was over, we snuggled a bit. And I could here him saying "I am brave. I am wonderful. I am loving. I am silly." And then he was like "Mama, the light is thumping in my chest. It's growing!" And then I promised myself to never forget this moment. He gets it. All kids do. They are closer to the light than we are, having been there more recently. I am so grateful for this spirit, child, teacher, extraordinary gentle human in my life.

Sunday, April 26
Whatever these are, it was love at first sight.

Monday, April 27
 
Print Available – Surrender Your Fear
"To live in the world of creation—to get into it and stay in it—to frequent it and haunt it—to think intensely and fruitfully—to woo combinations and inspirations into being by a depth and continuity of attention and meditation—this is the only thing." — Henry James

Wordy? Yes. But oh so true. In living our creative lives, surrendering our fear makes way for inspiration, and the bravery to take hold and create. It is the only thing.


My mantra, always. Just be True. 
I'm working from this room today. I'm writing my heart out on a new offering (hope to announce it today), trying to remember to be true, and just mustering my courage and determination to just get it out into the world, imperfect and all.



Happy birthday to one of my favorite people on the planet. Lynx, a force, a soul sister, a kind and understanding friend who makes me feel seen, and loved. ::: This photo was taken during the filming of my painting ecourse where Lynx was my very awesome live student! It's the rare photo where we don't look like a couple. Or maybe we do! I dunno. Either way, I adore this friend. Happy Birthday!!


Via Charity Water – They need us. 
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The people of Nepal need our help. Donate at charitywater.org, and 100% will fund the most urgent relief and recovery needs for earthquake survivors.

Last Saturday's powerful earthquake devastated the country. It has now claimed the lives of more than 4,300 people.

We've been working in Nepal for five years, and we’ve helped implement more than 800 clean water projects in the country, serving thousands of people. In this time of crisis, we want to help. You can help, too. Give today.

Photo: Narendra Shrestha / EPA
Tuesday, April 28

Goooooood morning! Leaving home and heading to the studio soon. Full day ahead.



Print Available – Yes to Growing
“Always say “yes” to the present moment. What could be more futile, more insane, than to create inner resistance to what already is? what could be more insane than to oppose life itself, which is now and always now? Surrender to what is. Say “yes” to life — and see how life suddenly starts working for you rather than against you.”
― Eckhart Tolle

Being in the flow of life is a practice, a muscle that needs work. The more we do it, the easier it gets. When we say "yes," we clear the way for growing, healing, vulnerability, joy. What will you say "yes" to today?


Wearing my joy today! After getting stretched at the cobblers for a couple of weeks (I have large calves ️), I'm wearing my new boots today!Wednesday, April 29


Print Available – Loved and Grateful
“Usually, when the distractions of daily life deplete our energy, the first thing we eliminate is the thing we eliminate is the thing we need the most: quiet, reflective time. Time to dream, time to contemplate what's working and what's not, so that we can make changes for the better.”
― Sarah Ban Breathnach, Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy

Quiet, reflective time is when I am able to listen to my life. I remember almost ten years ago (!!!) when I just started my creative journey, it was getting quiet and listening to the whispers while laying in a hammock in North Carolina that led me to take the next small step, then the next, then the next. And now we're here.


On a little midday hike with my family. Good for the soul and making family wishes.


Favorite shot of today of the boys in the woods. So thankful we can be with the redwoods right here in the city. True picked these two flowers and said "let's put them in the Spirit room" and later after John pointed out the unfurling of new fern leaves he said "wow, papa, you sure do know a lot about nature!" Really FULL day. Now I'm up late and watching a Dateline rerun (tiny addiction).

Thursday, April 30
 

Print Available – Portrait of a Hopeful Spirit
“Hope can be a powerful force. Maybe there's no actual magic in it, but when you know what you hope for most and hold it like a light within you, you can make things happen, almost like magic.”
― Laini Taylor (my old friend!) Here's to all of you hopeful spirits.


Love. Spotted in the woods.

That's it for this week! Check back here next week for another update, or join us over on Instagram for daily photos and thoughts!

XO,
Kelly Rae

Products We're Loving: Mini Collections, Handcrafted Loveliness, and Wearing Our JOY!

Friends, each week we try and highlight some of our gorgeous products that we want to share with you! Some new new new and some old favorites. Check 'em out below!

PS: All of the products featured below (and more) are sold online via the online retailer Garden Gallery Iron Works (a local shop here in the Portland area), but if you're looking for signed/matted prints, you can get these in my print shop. 

PPS: International customers, Garden Gallery is HAPPY to ship worldwide. Please email them  at gardengalleryorders@gmail.com to get started.  


You guys, I'm super into these new new new mini notebooks! They are PERFECT for toting around town and capturing your creative ideas. They also make great little gifts for loved ones, or as part of gift sets. Find them from the online retailer Garden Gallery right here!


Friends, the KRR scarves are some of my favorite pieces. I wear these regularly, they add a pop of color and remind me to wear my JOY. This infinity scarf says "Unleash Your Joy." Yes yes yes. Find the whole collection at the online retailer Garden Gallery right here!

You guys, these wrap bracelets from last year are still some of my favorite pieces of jewelry in the KRR collection!! This one reads "Believe" and comes with a sweet bird charm and bead baubles. Love! Find it at the online retailer Garden Gallery right here!


This new new new metal heart sculpture just SINGS. It is perfect for indoor and outdoor decoration, and I don't know if I can be reminded enough to "nurture my heart." Plus, it combines two of my favorite things: hearts and wings!!

Find this sculpture at the online retailer Garden Gallery right here!


These new linen wall art pieces really, really capture the hands-on messy fun I have in the studio (it helps that they are ACTUALLY hand crafted!). Both "Surrender" and "Remember Your Roots and Trust Your Wings" are available from the online retailer Garden Gallery right here! 



PS: Friends, from the looks of folks joining this class, we're going to be starting a Wear Your Joy revolution. Do this class with a friend, or your sister, or your whole family. Let's get our joy on, sisters. I. Can't. Wait. All the details are here. The fun starts Monday, May 11th. 

Lots to share...

I'm a total nerd over these boots. I bought them in celebration of many things: my upcoming 40th, the launch of my newest offering, finally finishing unpacking our home, and really, because they make my heart sing. 
Yesterday, I was on an adrenaline high all day after launching and announcing The Wear Your Joy Project Ecourse (you can read that post here ). Anyway, there is nothing like launching a new offering into the world. It's fun, vulnerable, scary, exciting, and a ton of nerves. You just never know what the reaction will be, and there is just a whole lot of trusting that your idea and inspiration will resonate with people who are your kindreds. 
But I wouldn't change it. I just want to be a gift to the world, to show up and gather with my soul kindreds, and to practice ways into joy. The Wear Your Joy Ecourse will be exactly that. I'm ready to teach, to learn, and show up for an unexpectedly deep and wide practice with a bunch of lady souls! It all stars May 11. Do it with your friends, and mamas, do it for yourselves (this class starts the day after Mother's Day).

Speaking of some really cool things, I've been wanting to share a few things, both from my world and the world of some friends. Also adding in some cool news and happy announcements! 
Books:- I recently started reading the Wayne Dyer children books to True and I can't recommend them enough, especially the I AM book. They've been such great conversation starters for all things Spirit/God/Light. Love, love, love. - Speaking of parenting books, I'm currently loving Parenting Without Power Struggles. Ahhh, this book saves us, over and over. - Can we please talk about this book? It is GOLD. I've read so many books this year but this one might take the cake.

Classes:
So many great classes and ecourses happening at the moment. Here are a few I want you to know about:
- Andrea's ecourse on how to teach ecourses starts soon. All the details are here. Andrea is a dear friend of mine and one heck of a teacher. I've been learning from her for years! If you want to create an ecourse but you're not sure how, this course is for you!
- My old business partner and friend Beth Kempton of Do What You Love has taken over our originally co-authored business course called The Business Soul Sessions, and it starts May 11th. For those of you who have been following me a long time, you'll remember (or may have even taken!) this course. Beth has revamped it and is relaunching it under the Do What You Love umbrella. Friends, this course is a life changer. Totally worth the investment and will change the way you run your biz. Take a look!


Happy Announcements:
Lots of fullness around here lately. And I'm excited to share a few things:


- Ahhhhhh! Above is a sneak peek of something super exciting I've been working on. More news coming soon!
- I'm super excited that I'm heading to the UK (first time!) to be a panelist at the Make Art That Sells event with Lilla Rogers (a huge mentor to me). Come join us as this will be an extraordinary one day event.
- I’m honored to be one of the Alchemists in Beth Kempton’s Alchemy series that runs from April 27 to May 3!! I’m joined by some amazing, inspiring folks for this interview series and I'll be doing a live Twitter chat this Friday from 10-11amPST while my video interview runs live. Click over here to learn more about it!
- I recently launched an exciting Gratitude Partner/Affiliate program for those who have purchased my ebook, Flying Lessons: Tips + Tricks To Help Your Creative Biz Soar. If you've ever purchased this book, check your email for more information about joining the program and earning $50 each time you refer someone! Super thrilled to finally be able to offer this.
- Delighted to have an article in the latest issue of Where Women Create Business. It's about about burnout - something that is inevitable and also a big teacher for all of us.
- And finally.....



Calling all hearts! 
We're offering 20% off not only my entire print shop, but also on my well loved painting ecourse (doors are open and we are having the best time - come join in!), AND my ebook on how to build a successful creative biz. Just enter code "MOMXO" to receive the discount on ALL of these goodies. Sale ends on Mother's Day, May 10th. Treat your mama with some loooooovvvvvveeee!
GRATITUDE!Thank you so much. Life is full. My heart is open. And I just feel so alive doing what I do. Thank you!