Thanks to “A Beautiful Mess” I found this wee tutorial on mini-books.
And that was that. I had to make a few.
Can you encapsulate your life in 8 small pages?
I tried to.
It was a heck of a lot of fun.
Anytime I can make art fast — is a good time.
I have never been a believer in .. if it doesn’t take you a million grueling hours — its not art.
PFFT.. totally untrue.
NOW go.. Go make one for yourself.. its FUN!
I have GAHmazing friends.. i truly, truly do.
This week has been filled with these friends and these people who inspire my soul to live life and drink it in.
THERE IS EVERY REASON TO GET UP IN THE MORNING. To see what the day holds.
Even when you are beat to shit.. and don’t really feel like it.
There is magic… E V E R Y W H E R E … if you open your heart to see.
This wasn’t always my thinking. There were moments in my life that magic seemed impossible.. that the dawn of tomorrow, scared the living crap out of me. What’s humorous i suppose, is that not much is different today, then let’s say.. eight years ago around this time. Well — maybe a little, but NOT THAT much. I was a single mom then.. and I am a single mom now. I struggled financially then .. I struggle financially now .. I worked at my job.. I still do.. I took pictures, I painted, I did it all, I parented, I ran creativity groups, I was a care-taker, and I GREW. Then, and NOW.
Fear was my anchor in those days.. depression was a daily event.
My bad days come once in a while (WHORE MOANS) but they are rare.
Gratitude is something that anchors me to happy these days.
This summer I have had time with my family, my friends, my heartstrings.
I have played with my boys and created and laughed and slept in.
I had time at the beach with so much of my family.
I got TAN.
I have had time with my friends.
I’ve gotten so much creative on.
I’ve grown new relationships.
I’ve nurtured myself.
I am so deeply grateful for all of these things… for all of the stories shared and created.
I am filled with the richness of life and living.
I am going to have to come back and re-read these words one day in November, maybe.
But for now.. nope.
I’m coming to the world in love, humor, acceptance, healing, peace, faith and gratitude.
Yup.
i hope you are too.
<3
I read this quote this morning, and it hit home, much like a tornado.
I’ve spent my life, teaching, training, inspiring, musing, making, creating, and taking care of people. Let’s face it, I’m a nurturer, its my nature, and its who I am. I’ve been contemplating what that means in the grand scheme of my life, the impact that I have on the planet in the short amount of time I get to be a part of life. Somehow, hitting your forties, makes you think about it a great deal.
I have dabbled in “creative coaching”, I am a computer trainer, I am someone who helps people see and reach their potential. I inspire people to see their own beauty, to truly OWN their own beauty. I fancy myself intuitive and someone who “sees within”. Sometimes that seeing is a difficult gift to own, but i have been gifted by the universe in a special way. I paint, I doodle, I photograph, I listen, I grow, I make mistakes.
I have run from my own successes over and over again. I have shied away from my potential for greatness, while helping others to reach theirs. I am not willing to do this anymore. I am not willing to let my light diminish in ways that don’t allow for me to do what I was here to do. (Marianne Williamson SCREAMS IN MY EAR).
The question is, I suppose, how do I do that? Do I finally create my one woman show? Do I write a book? Do I keep running creativity groups? Do I keep making art? Sometimes we don’t have to know the answers, we just have to set our intention.. and I’ve been setting my intention for many years now. I believe that the universe provides us insights when we are willing to see them, and sends us messengers and gifts when we least expect them.
I am here, universe… just so you know.
I am doing the work that my soul sees fit and taking steps daily to keep growing.
I am loving my life along the way and I am loving so many that it doesn’t seem possible.
I am raising my sons and showing them, by example, that life is rich and good, and creativity is important, even when you struggle to pay the mortgage.
I am reaching out and reaching in to find my true voice.
I am grateful and honored to share so much of my world with others and to have them share so much of their worlds with me.
I am seeing the next steps in my life.. even if the stairs are invisible right now.
I am ready for more amazingness to enter my life on the daily.
I am denise, and I am an awakener. I know this in my soul.
I’m putting it out there.. proudly.. so that the universe can answer me.
And I thank Robert Frost for putting into words for me.. just when I needed it.
Let’s see where this party takes us. This time I am ready to receive.
So much love and light.
fortune may follow
I am having a delicious summer filled with creativity, beauty and surrounded by amazing people. The creativity coffeehouse is abrew with connection, love, honesty, art, wisdom, words and support. The circle of 35 outstanding people who have joined me on the 8 week journey have proven to be an anchor and the wind in my summer sails.
Connection is one of the most incredible things that we have – sharing leads to amazement.
I am so grateful for all of the art I’ve had the opportunity to create this summer. I am grateful for participating in the TOMS shoe event at the Willow Grove Mall. I painted lots of TOMS shoes and for every pair sold, I know a child in need is receiving a new pair of shoes. I am grateful that by being there as an artist, a lot more kids now have shoes.
So much goodness. Thank you creativity, thank you amazing connections, thank you goddess, thank you universe.
I am grateful.
what inspires you?
bliss
there is so much that inspires me everyday in just about every moment
the walt whitman bridge
my fantastical kids
my incredible family
music . music . musicians
the way someone wears a baseball hat backwards
my amazingly talented friends
paint
cameras
individuality
seeing magic
photographs
words
generosity
kindness
love
…
i was witness to a graduation celebration that moved me to tears today
a righteous ceremony that made me feel.. deeply
it would be impossible not to be inspired by the students i saw starting the next part of their journey
and impossible to not want to honor them.. by being the best i can be
they lead by example
that’s what wonder is
inspiration for certain
…
roofin
yay for progress
yay for getting things done
yay for new roofs
yay for things not leaking
yay for moving forward
yay for summer
yay for health
yay for employment
yay for kids
yay for sidewalk chalk
yay for happy
yay for love
yay for LIFE
insatiable
sometimes the finished product of my paints is actually a photograph
i have a deep love for portrait photography
i have a deep love for doodling
and when a goddess shows up on paper.. i feel like she has a soul
and i photograph the images the way i would a person
portraits of paints and sharpies.. that’s what happened here.
i’m selling 100 – 10×10 metallic photographic prints of this piece
when they are gone . i won’t print her anymore
if you are interested in having her be part of your family
email me
i have in my head an army of women
women i have met.. women i know.. women i am
and they all influence me.. so much of them
shows up in my photos.. in my paints.. and in my actions
thank you goddess..
12 x 24 . mixed media on floating canvas
soldier.of.love
