Seriously Hooked...

The Anatomy of a Support Group

What Do You Design?

"I don't design clothes, I design dreams." 

- Ralph Lauren

I took an e-course offered by Kelly Rae Roberts and Beth Nicholls this year called Hello Soul Hello Business which challenged my thinking on how I approach my business.  For quite a long time my businesses were a desperate attempt to get money in the door.  However I noticed all along that I made my soul mark on what I offered: infuse hope into the ordinary; find sparkle in the struggle.

I do not believe that every business necessarily has to have such deep rooted longings.  But I do challenge you today to ask yourself:  

Do you want to have a more soulful mission statement? And if so, how can you tease a bit more of that purpose to the surface?

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Captured my Heart...

Art Journaling for Beginners

The Thrill of Catching Your Kids Creating

 

I have always been fascinated by people who take on photo projects.  I have wondered how they come up with the ideas and then how do they make sure and stay diligent about completing the project.  

About halfway through our time living in Germany back in 2010 I realized that I could have done a whole series on doors.  Particularly how, every time my girl saw a door, she could not help but go and try to open the door!  When I finally caught on to what she was doing, we had already been through visits to France, Portugal, Spain.... oh how I ache for those pictures now!

So in the last few months, I noticed that during quiet moments I see my girl either drawing or writing something down and I thought THIS TIME I am paying attention.  I think one of the things that can hold you back is that you think maybe you will not get enough pictures for it to matter; to 'FEEL' like a project.  But I am fearlessly taking the leap.

Is there a little something you need to take the leap toward this day?

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Dream a New Dream

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The Value of Being Seen

Be the Change

Beautiful Moments

Envy as a Tool for Change

"I believe that there is a correlation between what you envy and what you have to offer to the world." 

- Danielle LaPorte

When I first heard this, I was a bit skeptical about the truth of this comment.  But then I began to think about my own life and how, if I am not careful, my admiration for someone or for the things that are happening in someone else's life can quickly turn to envy. 

Take some time this week to look at those places in your life where you feel envy creep in. How can you take that feeling and use it as fuel for change in your life?

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You are you know...

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Beautiful things Happen...

What Your Heart Sees...

My art supply area..

the view outside my living room window...

I will admit it.  When I snapped this picture I was caught off guard by the beauty outside this window.  I was just attempting to get a glimpse of what is making me happy lately... hope filled, wonder full art.

So when I saw the view after I snapped the picture, I actually gasped! Look how amazing that view is.  Who would not be inspired by looking at the view day after day? 

I realize that I am TRYING HARD NOT TO take in the beautiful spring here in Colorado.  I am making sure not to let my heart soften.  Because what the view does not tell you is that I am many times in isolation.  It is a mountain town I live in and differences are not really EMBRACED HERE.  So while I coped with it just fine for the first few months (this is not the first time I have had to find peace in isolation) I am now coming to month 9 of this way of living and I am READY TO GO.  Ready to find my tribe.  Ready to take all that I learn in isolation and engage with the world.  

I see the view and there are moments where I let the beauty wash over me.  But then I go back to my countdown: 29 days until I move on. 

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What is Your Life Made of?

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 Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself.
Go forward and make your dreams come true.
-
Ralph Waldo Emerson

What to Pray For

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Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing them.
Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain, but for the heart to conquer it.

-
Rabindranath Tagore

Are you Being Seen?

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What is True

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Too often we do not say what we are feeling in our hearts and we hold back our true words of love, courage and compassion that should be said. When you become courageous enough to express the Truth of how you are really feeling you set yourself free and align with the vibration of your Truth. 

Jackson Kiddard

Linger...

Here is a sneak preview of a little project that I have in the works...

More details coming soon...

Got Some Good Advice Lately?

Do you have a tendency to read blogs and watch YOUTUBE videos and sign up for webinars and basically load up with GOOD ADVICE?  

Stop it!  Take ONE IDEA, one piece of advice and ACT ON IT today.

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Apple of His Eye

Introducing a new series:

Jesus in my Art

Every Tuesday

An Awakening

a view from my living room window in Colorado this week

Have you had an experience that awakened a desire to uncover what inspires your creativity?*

I have always assumed that my son's creative talent came from his father, my sister, my brother.  Though I loved to write, everything else seemed Off Limits to me.  I cannot seem to figure out when I settled into that idea.  Maybe it is simply those roles we choose to take so that we understand where the boundaries are.  I assume that early on in my life I got into the comparison game with family members and just chose to be content with that.

I think my first inklings that maybe I could change my identity in this area was in 2008 when I took a beginner drawing class at a local woman's center.  The first assignment was to draw a piece a fruit.  I chose a pear.  The instructor gave us some instruction on shading techniques and away I went.  And I actually loved the finished product.  There were others in the class who clearly captured the likeness better than I did but there was something else going on for me.  Something about trying it seeing that I was able to draw something that resembled what I wanted to see on the page.  I had experience with that with words.  suddenly I am experiencing this with pencil/paint.  I had pushed passed the barrier that drawing was for others. 

*Question comes from Inner Excavation by Liz Lamoreux 

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Jesus in My Art

I am so PLEASED to announce that the artist interviews you have enjoyed over the years are NOW AVAILABLE in their expanded versions in PDF and on your Kindle

CLICK HERE 

for the details

Follow Your Heart

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An Inspiring Tutorial

I took my first ecourse with Christy earlier this year and she is a delightful teacher. Hope you enjoy getting to know her as well.

Go For It

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If you want to find your passion, know your life’s purpose, meet your soul mate,
or feel intensely alive, don’t look toward the fun things that fit logically
into the flow of an easy life. Ask yourself, “What am I running away from?”
Whatever that thing is, turn around. Walk toward it.
Face it and conquer it, or die trying.
--Martha Beck

Artist Interview: Olivia Moore

Name:  Olivia Moore
Name of Business: The Saturated Palette
Creative Influences: nature, literature, and my children
Preferred Medium of Creativity:  Painting, Sewing, Writing

Brief Bio:  I’m Olivia, currently living in Minneapolis, married to Matt, my creative partner and fellow dreamer.  We have two kids, Hudson and Harper.  I have a B.A. in English, words have always been my first love.  When I was 18, I discovered the magic of the paintbrush. Sometimes I paint with brushes and others with words.  Being a mother has shown me that creativity is essential to every part of my life and to finding peace and sanity.  What I’m saying is that creativity keeps me sane and I will stand by that statement forever.  In addition to painting, I enjoy sewing and encouraging others to discover how their creativity connects them to God.
 
Links
Shop:  www.saturatedpalette.etsy.com
Blog: http://saturatedpalette.blogspot.com
Shop:  www.furthermorecreative.etsy.com
Instagram: saturatedpalette

What is one of your earliest creative memories? 

I remember writing stories in a little green, red, and yellow notebook about a land of horses and birds with names like Chocolate, Cinnamon, and Vanilla.  They are tucked safely away with my a childhood treasures and absolutely silly.

How did you find your creative voice? 

I suppose that I always felt creative and most of all, my parents always encouraged to be so.  However, you know how words can stay with you forever? When I was in 3rd grade, two of my best friends at the time told me that I never matched.  I blame my mom, she let me dress myself.  But for the longest time, that hurt me and one day, I can’t remember when, I realized I was never trying to match. I didn’t want to be just like everyone else and I loved being unique and creative. That is a battle we all face over and over again, but when you understand that we were each created by the most creative being that ever will exist, it becomes a comfort. I mean, we were created this way ON PURPOSE and that is something to celebrate.    I would have to say that the last five years have been defining in my creative journey, something about being out of college, married, and a mother has really made me aware that I am an artist, that no matter how long it has been since I painted, I still am and always will be. It might not what I am doing daily, but it’s who I am.

Did your creative habits make a smooth transition into your adult life?  What did the evolution look like?  
My creative habits really came to life when I graduated  from college.  I found myself married to this wonderful, creative, supportive dreamer, who said, what do you want to do, do that.  Now as a mother it takes serious work to keep creating a priority, but I can’t say enough how creativity keeps me sane.  I truly believe we all make time for the things we want to do, but we have to decide and weed out the extra that stands in your way.  In general, I will choose a creative project first, when I’m done and satisfied, washing the dishes doesn’t seem so unpleasant.  

 
How has GOD been a part of your creative process/lifestyle?   
I believe that creativity is a gift.  It allows us to share truth, beauty, hope, etc. with others and it helps us process life.  It also is a direct way to connect to God.  When I am creative, I feel closer to God than any other time.  (I feel the same way when I’m standing in front of the ocean, side note.)  Sometimes, when I’m painting, getting lost in the brush strokes, what transforms on the canvas is often just what I need to see.  I read once in a book called, Windows of Soul, Ken Gyre, that through art we reach for God and he reaches for us.  

Is there a particular moment where your creativity became infused into a spiritual practice?  
I can’t pinpoint a moment, exactly, but more and more it becomes an act of worship, or a pray, or just an offering of gratitude.  I think that when we are creative and fully alive, God is most glorified.

 CLICK HERE to purchase the e-book of this Interview series for $4.99

You are ACTUALLY more Qualified Than you Think

Think about a project that you spearheaded where you were INCREDIBLY successful (in business/home/event/home).

  What skills/instincts/approach did you bring to that program that you need to tap into MORE with a new project/life decision?

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Magic

When A Storm Hits Your Life, Will you Be Able to Stand?

I have spent that last few months deeply connecting with the what's next of my life.  Since 2008 I have thrown my heart into the "idea" of becoming an entrepreneur without a net.  The ups and downs of researching new ideas have truly been the most fulfilling and the most tiring experiences of my life.  

My calling as an entrepreneur came together because my life called for it.  As a military wife with a deployed husband, I wanted to be home with my toddler.  And somehow year after year we found a way to make it work and my businesses brought in a supplemental income.

2012 was supposed to be the year that we finally became credit card debt free (school loans... well that's the next step).  Then the tides changed.  My husband was unemployed for 7 months.  So as we watched our savings dwindle the priority became survival.  

In less than 60 days we will be heading back to Arizona.  My hubby took another gig with the military.  And here we are as a family trying to regain momentum.  I will admit it.  I am the poster child of hope.  This morning's 'sudden' snow reminded me of a few things.  Life comes with Suddenly moments.  Can you weather the storms?  

The landscape was completely green 24 hours ago.  And then suddenly... a twist, a turn, a storm.  Will you be able to stand?

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Difficult? Good You are on the Right Track

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Start moving forward in any path that, though it's difficult, feels right.
--Martha Beck

Hope

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Artist Interview: Jodi Ulschmid

Name: Jodi Ulschmid
Name of Business: Enduring Arts
Creative Influences: God, my daughter, experiences, photographs, other artists
Preferred Medium of Creativity: pencil drawing, acrylic painting and digital design

Brief Bio
I have had a love for art as long as I can remember. I did a few commissioned drawings
through high school and college, but it wasn’t until after having my daughter that I
realized how much fine art really meant to me. After her birth I learned I could share
God’s word with others through my work. Creating art has been a way I can serve Him.

Blog
Etsy Shop
Twitter
Pinterest

What is one of your earliest creative memories?

I was/am lucky to have a creative mother. When I was little it seemed like she knew how
to make anything whether it was in the kitchen, on her sewing machine or on the canvas.
She exposed by brother and I to several things and a few of my favorites were making
homemade playdough, making and decorating gingerbread men and houses and doing
lots of drawing and coloring.

How did you find your creative voice?
Art was always the one thing I really enjoyed doing. My style has definitely grown
over the years. My views on my own work has changed in that I want a purpose in
everything I do. There has to be some kind of story behind my work. You can say I’m
still experimenting with my creative voice.

If you had a creative hiatus, what event/circumstance brought you back to your
creative lifestyle?
I probably didn’t have the smoothest transition, but looking back I can see how God had
a purpose in all of it. After college I had a couple jobs that had nothing to do with art
or design. My savings account was draining quickly so I was willing to do just about
anything. One job I got was working as a maid in a motel... ha, ha, it was awful, but
I certainly learned appreciation from it! When I did get a design job for a corporate
company I was happy for quite awhile. My co-workers who saw my artwork kept asking
why I was working there though and that started making my mind wander. Then I was
blessed with a beautiful daughter who showed me a whole new meaning to life and how
fast it goes by. With a wonderful and supportive husband I went back to work part time
so I could be with her more often and start my own business. It was my hubby who
pushed me into opening an etsy shop and boy am I thankful for that! All the experiences
showed me where my heart is.

 How has GOD been a part of your creative process/lifestyle?
I didn’t realize how much God loved us until after having my girl. My faith really grew
after that. One of my first creations was a bedtime prayer for her room. Then I thought
maybe there were other moms who would like prayers for their little one’s rooms as well.
I made a few other verses and was excited when others really liked them.

Is there a particular moment where your creativity became infused into a spiritual
practice?
Like everyone’s journey, there are always some hard times... another one of those
learning experiences you could say. Dealing with secondary infertility and Graves
Disease has rocked my world. Treatment has not gone as expected. I finally found a new
doctor who is helping me feel better again but it has been a roller coaster ride for the last
2 years. It has been God’s word and using the talent He blessed me with that keeps my
spirit up. Creating art has given me a sense of peace that I have needed.

 What are you working on currently?
Currently I am working on combining dreamy pencil drawings with pops of color (paint).
All the elements put into my work have a special meaning to me. I’m hoping others will
enjoy these new pieces as well. I have no idea what will come of it but it is exciting!

 CLICK HERE to purchase the e-book of this Interview series for $4.99

When's The Last Time...

Fish Where the Fish Are

  Peter Arnell, author of the book Shift, says that in life and in business you need to 'fish where the fish are."

What area of your life can you apply this wisdom this week? 
 What SPECIFICALLY will you do to allow this advice to work for you?

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Be You

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The easiest thing to be in the world is you.
The most difficult thing to be is what other people want you to be.
-
Leo Buscaglia

Vision

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When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less & less important whether I am afraid.

―
Audre Lorde