Love the Art Journal Love!

Ms. Connie Chica aka Connie Hozvicka of Dirty Footprints Studio is offering an online art journal workshop! Be still my beating heart.

Art Journal LOVE Letters

This is not just an online workshop. This is an online LOVE affair! Art Journal LOVE Letters is an experience for you to fall deeper in LOVE with Art Journaling and your Creative Juicy Life. Consider me the Cupid of creativity as I guide you through your Art Journal LOVE affair using inspiring prompts, ideas, fun techniques, and LOVE struck musings on the beauty of Art Journaling and truly living a Creative Juicy Life.

Treat yourself to the magic, humor, expertise and overall zestful energy of Connie. What better day to begin this love fest than on Valentine’s Day! I know I’m treating myself to this love gift.

For all the heart-filled details, visit Connie’s site!
Hint: there is a LOVE bird special of just $20 if you sign up by Valentine’s Day!

And speaking of Art Journal Love, Julie Prichard and Chris Cozen are co-teaching a wonderful online class called COLOR: Beyond the Basics which I’m currently taking. Here is another wonderful opportunity!

California Dreaming

Big Sur

My husband and I just returned from a delightful 10-day trip to Northern California.

The impetus for the trip was my desire to take a workshop called Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain taught by Lynda Greenberg. I first met Lynda around 15 years ago and have been dreaming about taking this workshop ever since. Now was the perfect time since I’ve made a commitment to nurture my budding inner artist.

Lynda Greenberg commenting on our drawings

Art Barn at Esalen

It was a fascinating class, and I learned lots of great information about the functions of both the right side AND left side of the brain. The workshop took place at Esalen in Big Sur, California. Esalen has been on the forefront of human consciousness since it opened in the early 1960s. Folks like Joseph Campbell, Gabrielle Roth, Fritz Perls (father of gestalt) and Aldous Huxley, to name a few, spent time on the beautiful grounds of Esalen.

Sunset at Esalen

another lovely view at Esalen

on the path to the Art Barn

gardens at Esalen

My husband took a Kirtan class from Dave Stringer which he absolutely adored.

Performance by the Kirtan class

When our workshops came to a close, we drove up to Marin to spend my birthday weekend with dear friends. I showed my husband, Tom, where I used to live in San Francisco and Tiburon.

on the steps of my old apartment in Tiburon

one of my favorite spots in Tiburon

We had a lovely day in Sonoma going to a couple of wineries for tastings. I highly recommend the Chateau St. Jean Winery and the Fig Tree Cafe.

Chateau St. Jean

Then, we headed over to visit more friends in Piedmont. While I was in the East Bay, Tom and I had lunch with Chris Zydel. It was so much fun to meet another goddess from my expressive arts tribe!

Chris and Silky

A trip to the Bay Area wouldn’t be complete without a visit to San Francisco!

Pacific Heights neighborhood in San Francisco

Contrary to the popular song, I didn’t leave my heart in San Francisco. Instead, I took with me a renewed and refreshed soul!

Full Wolf Moon

Tonight is the first full moon of the year which happens to be the eve of my birthday.

According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the folklore of the Full Wolf Moon says that amid the cold and deep snows of midwinter, the wolf packs howled hungrily outside Indian villages.

As the wolves are howling because they are hungry and seeking food
Jamie Ridler, hostess of an online full moon dreamboard circle, asks us to consider these questions for : What are you seeking? What is your heart yearning for?

I am seeking to remember to choose ease when those moments of overwhelm engulf me.
I am seeking mastery and excellence in areas where I choose to focus.
My heart is yearning for even more joy, bliss and happiness — for there is no end to how good it can get!
My heart is yearning to remember who I really am.

Featured on Pink Heels and Jamie Ridler Studios

I’m so excited about my upcoming retreat I’m co-leading with Tracy Carruth to Costa Rica. My wonderful business coach, Jennifer Moore, writes about her experience with Costa Rica Retreats AND she will be coming! To find out more details, click on the Costa Rica button to the right.

Soul Reflections by Jamie Ridler

While I’m enjoying my soul rejuvenating stay at Esalen, you may want to check out my interview with Jamie Ridler which is all about her wonderful Soul Reflections course.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

My very good friend, Dr. Alyssa Summey, has written a wonderfully thoughtful post for my Well-Being Wednesday series for January.

Take slow, deep breaths through your nose. Feel the air flow over your top lip into your nostrils. Feel the hair on your skin move slightly to the gentle current created by the inhales. Feel your lungs, chest, and ribs expand as you consciously fill every possible crevasse with air. Drop your shoulders and allow the breaths to come from your belly. Rising and falling, your belly becomes as rhythmic as the ocean waves, allowing more oxygen into your blood stream. With every breath, you become more aware of your body.

The increase in oxygen brings a higher energy level; a tingling surge into your arms, your back, and the fog clears in your head. You feel calm. The words on this page become sharper and as you look around, colors appear brighter. It may take you one time at this exercise, it may take dozens, but at some point you become aware that you are feeling the NOW.

The NOW is a place most of us haven’t been in years, perhaps since we were kids marveling at the colors bubbles made in the sun, or ants on a sidewalk, or simply looking up at the stars. Yet the NOW is the easiest place to go. In fact, you never leave it. You only think you do.

I’m guessing most of us have been breathing millions of breaths without feeling all that you did a moment ago. For too long we have filled our consciousness with To Do lists, deadlines, and multitudes of expectations; most of which, when you get down to it, aren’t necessarily important but are merely space and time fillers. We’ve become “Human-Doings” instead of “Human-Beings.” We’ve removed consciousness from our daily routines. We’ve forgotten the wonder that lies within each breath, the power behind each word, the magnitude of each thought, and the importance of well-being. Until NOW.

Something has shifted. We are all sensing it but we can’t quite put our finger on it. Up to this point, we’ve lived our quiet lives, checking off our lists, accomplishing our tasks, sitting, kneeling, standing, questioning little, and expecting much. But slowly over the years something has been building inside of us that no one told us to expect.

Discontent.

We don’t like that word and what it implies. That’s why we feel uncomfortable even looking at it. (And that is the reason we must face it.) We have been conditioned to seek that which causes pleasure and avoid that which causes pain, and as quickly as possible. In doing so, we had narcotized ourselves to the point of numbness. Feeling the full spectrum of emotion was too painful. We stopped asking questions because we were afraid of the answers.

We tried to throw a pretty rug over an unsightly stain on the carpet of our lives. But the stain, the unsatisfying relationships, the dead-end jobs, the headaches and other physical manifestations of stress, the false personas we created for ourselves to put on a pleasing public image, wasn’t that easy to cover up.

Having seen the stain, our discontent, for what it is, an outward sign of our inner reality, is the first step in this shift. We now acknowledge what we have been doing in our lives isn’t getting us the results we want, the fulfillment we desire, or the happiness we deserve. We are now questioning the status quo, the medical system, the political agenda, and the media because our inner reality, our well-being, has been malnourished. We are waking up. We are emerging from the sleep knowing our answers to our discontent lies within.

That’s where true well-being lies, anyway. Inside. There is no pill for well-being or inner harmony. No relationship can make us happy if we are not already happy and at peace with ourselves. And, we get it now. We are listening to those inner voices guiding us along our path. Like Dorothy, from the Wizard of Oz, on the Yellow Brick Road, she had to discover that she always had the power inside her to go home. In fact, the true reality was, she was always home. She never left. She only thought she did.

The NOW is inescapable, no matter how far from it we think we are. The clarity of mind, the acuity of our surroundings, and the inner calm created by the breathing exercise we just did brought our conscious minds into awareness of the NOW. It is the sanctuary in which well-being resides, where our minds are free from discontent, without being weighed down with the past or future. It is where we are able to experience ourselves in pure form, free from judgment, and as the Creator sees us; we simply ARE.

Dr. Alyssa Summey is a holistic chiropractor at RejuveNation LifeSpa in McKinney, Texas. She is also spear-heading a community Wellness Challenge.

Sewing Is Hip

Recently, I bought a new sewing machine. I spent quite a bit of time researching sewing machines, and through this comparison shopping experience, I discovered that the world of sewing is a brand new world.

Like many women, I took sewing in Middle School and even High School. I remember going to fabric stores and pouring over Simplicity pattern books. Back then, and now I’m dating myself, it seems like the overall reason to sew was to save money since we didn’t have the plethora of discount shopping options that exist today.

Now days, the rise of sewing, knitting, textile arts, embroidery, and quilt making seem to be more about creative expression, creating beauty and a desire to make things with our own hands.

When I went to take a class to learn how to use my new sewing machine, I confess I was expecting to be in a class of little old ladies. Ha! There were three darling young girls with their shiny new Singer sewing machines. There were a couple of women in their 20’s and around three in their 30s, then me. I was the oldest one in the class!

In Dallas (near where I live), there is a brand new modern fabric store and sewing lounge that just opened three months ago called CityCraft. When I walked in the door, I was blown away by the gorgeous, chic, and stylish fabrics. The young girls who who own it are hip and cool. I can’t wait to sign up to take one of their project classes (with wine!). There is another DIY sewing lounge in the Bishop Arts District of Dallas called Make Shop and Studio.

Apparently, these urban hip sewing lounges are popping up all over the country including the very crafty MAKE Workshop which opened eight years ago in Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

Syllabub Apron at Anthropologie

Retro aprons appear to be all the rage these days. Anthropologie is selling them, and they seem to be a most popular sewing project as well. So, I’m thinking one of my first projects will be to make an retro apron to wear while painting since I get paint everywhere.

I’m just beginning to scour around for sewing blogs which I’m sure will open up yet another universe for me. Any suggestions?

Wave Bye Bye to Stress

I am delighted to have my dear friend and brilliant psychologist, Dr. William DeFoore, tell you about a most amazing and nifty gadget called the emWave. I love the emWave so much I gave my husband one for Christmas. The emWave is a most innovative well-being tool and resource.

the emWave

The best way I can tell you about the EmWave heart and breath coherence tool is to give you my personal story. Some very dear friends gave me one of these very cool devices for my 60th. birthday. I was really excited to receive it, because I was familiar with the Institute of HeartMath and I knew it would be excellent because they created it.

I’m a pretty relaxed guy, and have practiced meditation for many years. I regularly teach classes and write on the topic of emotional well being and stress management strategies. My health is good and always has been, so I naturally assumed that my stress level was low on a consistent basis.

I was wrong! When I first started using the EmWave, I was amazed to find that I had to really concentrate to lower my stress on Challenge Level 1, and had very little success with Challenge Level 2–and there are 4 Challenge Levels! My learning started immediately.

What was I learning? Important stuff, like:

• How to bring my heart rate and breathing into coherence, or alignment.
• How my thoughts immediately affect my heart rate and stress level (part of the training is to keep your thoughts focused on things that feel good).
• Subtle but significant changes in my feelings that really matter, and affect my breathing.
• Awareness of my breath, and how I actually stop breathing when I think about stressful things.
• How the bio-feedback from the EmWave stress management techniques tool gently guides me to a deeper and deeper level of relaxation and well being that lasts after I turn the device off and go about my day!

By the way, The Institute of HeartMath is a wonderful organization. Watch this video, and you’ll see what I mean:

To keep my heart in coherence, I now use the EmWave 2 or 3 times a day for 5-15 minutes at a time. I’m succeeding with Challenge 2 pretty consistently. I carry it to work with me, and put it on my bedside table at night.

The benefits are huge! Here they are:

• Better breathing, which provides more oxygen to the brain and makes you smarter.
• Moves you out of the reptilian brain into higher brain function, increasing your emotional intelligence and overall well being.
• More heart awareness–of all the stress management strategies out there, this one helps you focus on your heart. This makes you more loving, compassionate and open-minded.
• A better attitude–the practice of focusing on thoughts that feel good and bring positive emotion is good mental training, and I find my thoughts becoming more positive the more I use the EmWave–the best of all techniques for promoting well being!
• Better sleep–this one is big. I have had some minor sleep issues, but I know a lot of other people suffer tremendously with this issue.
• Awareness of how my stress level rises and falls in different situations, and with different thought processes. Sometimes I use the EmWave while doing other things, and I hear the little bells going off, telling me that my stress is going down. Then I look at what I was thinking, feeling or doing that brought about the change. It is very informative!

Check out this video featuring the CEO of HeartMath, talking about stress, how it can be good or bad, and how your heart is the most powerful organ in your body–60 times more powerful than your brain as a stress management technique!

Use The EmWave For Relaxation,
Meditation, Prayer and Self-help

There are many uses for the EmWave, including help with meditation, relaxation, prayer and general self-help. These stress management techniques known generally as self-improvement and spiritual practice are highly beneficial to stress management, anger management and overall well being.

Benefits of a spiritual practice include:

• Connection and alignment with your true, authentic nature, which is good and strong and healthy.
• When you connect with your good heart with stress management techniques such as meditation, relaxation and prayer, you will automatically become more compassionate and kind to the people around you.
• These types of practices are good for your breathing, circulation and digestion, meaning they are good for your overall physical health.
• You will naturally and automatically become happier as you engage in a regular and consistent spiritual practice and other stress management strategies.

The benefits of self-help are tremendous! Think about it…if you don’t help yourself, who is going to? If you really neglect yourself, somebody else might have to take care of you. Not pleasant. So! Self-help is a great thing, and there are a tremendous array of skills you can attain. When you help and care for yourself, you are:

• More independent and self-reliant
• More responsible, and less likely to see yourself as a victim to other people or circumstances
• Happier, because you’re not waiting for someone (Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy or Prince Charming) to come along and “make everything okay.”
• In the driver’s seat. You are in charge of your life, with all of the freedom and responsibility that goes with that. In other words, your stress management techniques are yours to use any time you need them!

Of all the recommendations for well being I could offer you, the best would be to develop a spiritual practice and dive deeply into the realm of meditation, and self improvement.

William G. DeFoore, Ph.D. is an author, counselor, speaker and wellness coach. He speaks and conducts workshops on emotional wellness and emotional intelligence in personal and business relationships, and has been on the faculty of the Cooper Aerobics Center for fifteen years. Contact Dr. DeFoore at 214-764-7930, email ippd@defoore.com or visit www.goodfinding.com.

On this Wishcasting Wednesday, Jamie Ridler asks us: What do you wish for your family? In light of the above inspiration, I would love for all my family members to feel empowered to know they have marvelous tools and resources to soothe away stress and to reach those higher vibrations of love and appreciation. Maybe I’ll buy them all an emWave!

Arts for Haiti: A Lowdown of Resources

All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence. ~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

It seems fitting that on this day we honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., attention is called to artists (of all art forms) who are being of service to help Haiti.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Below is a song written by the students of the High School for Recording Arts about coming together for Haiti:

The following is a list of organizations that serve as a clearinghouse for information and resources for making donations and/or donating works of art:

Artists for Peace and Justice was established in 2009 with Father Rick Frechette at the helm who has worked in the slums of Haiti for the past 22 years. Hollywood is collaborating with this organization in relief efforts.

Yele Haiti is a grassroots movement that builds global awareness for Haiti founded by Grammy-Award winning musician, humanitarian and Goodwill Ambassador to Haiti, Wyclef Jean. The site has an Earthquake Fund.

Artists Unite for Haiti: The LoDi Project is open to all artists of any level and any country — everyone is welcome to contribute by donating an unframed work on paper to the Artists Unite for Haiti art sale.

Paste Magazine has launched Songs for Haiti as a way to raise money and keep awareness high by offering free MP3s to everyone who donates to help Haiti.

Craft Hope for Haiti benefits Doctors without Borders.

Here are a couple of sites that are either donating all or a percentage of their sales to organizations sending relief to Haiti.

For Haiti by Kelly Warren

Artful Happiness: Happy Shack Designs is donating all her January sales to the Red Cross.

Hearts for Haiti Etsy Shop: 100 percent of the proceeds (minus Paypal fees) will go to Doctors Without Borders.

If you have a suggestion for more organization and/or artists to add to this list, please let me know.

The American Institute of Philanthropy, a watchdog for charity organizations, has rated the organizations receiving donations for Haiti.

Our intentions, prayers and thoughts are very powerful. In addition to making a financial donation, perhaps you would like to create a collage, painting, poem or any type of creative expression that embodies the energy of hope and healing for Haiti.

Here is my intention for Haiti:
The sun will rise above on Port du Prince as survivors are rescued from the rubble. Rebuilding their county, their homes, their lives, their beliefs, their hopes, their dreams — the people of Haiti will go on proving the resiliency and triumph of human beings.

Come On, Get Happy

In case you are wondering, this isn’t a post about the Partridge Family or Judy Garland singing songs about getting happy. Instead, this is a post exploring the importance of our emotional well-being. So, on this Well-Being Wednesday, let’s take a look at happiness.

Join with those who sing songs, tell stories, enjoy life … because happiness is contagious. ~ Paulo Coelho

Have you noticed the plethora of books focused on the topic of happiness these days? Just go to Amazon.com, type in “happiness” under the “books” section, and you’ll see what I mean.

Of course, we all want to be happy. However, sometimes it is too big of a leap from where we are on the emotional scale to immediately get happy. Then, feelings of failure may decrease our chances of getting happy even more. Furthermore, when you aren’t feeling so happy and those Pollyanna folks keep telling you to get happy, don’t you just want to tell them to SHUT UP! So, let’s do some soothing about all of this.

First, try to identify what you are feeling right now. And, wherever you are is just fine. There is no right or wrong when it comes to our feelings.

I think it is positively empowering to know that little by little you can choose to feel better. And, you don’t have to make a quantum leap.

Here are some suggestions (some are inspired by Abraham-Hicks) for incrementally going up the emotional scale:

1. Reach for a color that feels just a little bit better from where you are right now. Paint or draw with that color. Write some words or phrases on your artwork that express what you are NOW feeling. Embody this new feeling with some movement.

2. Play the Wouldn’t It Be Nice If Game. Wouldn’t it be nice if I could feel just a little bit better. Wouldn’t it be nice if feeling better became easier and easier. Wouldn’t it be nice if I could let go of all my worries. Wouldn’t it be nice if I felt inspired? You get the idea. This game provides a soft bridge.

3. Which Thought Feels Better? Write a few statements that indicate how you really feel right now. Then, make this statement to yourself: I’m going to reach for some thoughts about this subject that feel a little bit better. Then, write out some thoughts and determine if they are the same, worse, slightly better or better from where you initially began. Keep asking yourself: Which thought feels better? I think this is a brilliant activity to increase our awareness about where our habit of thought tends to reside.

3. When it is not too far of a stretch from where you currently are — write a script about your happy self in your happy life. Start telling a new story.

4. Appreciation is one of the most powerful ways to shift our energy. Start with something that is easy to appreciate, like your cat or dog, and write all the things you love and adore about your cat or dog. Keep going with this. Write rampages of appreciation for anything and anyone that comes easily. Of course, you will want to write a rampage of appreciation for yourself!

So, these are just a few suggestions to help you shift your energy if you aren’t feeling so happy.

When you are feeling happy, do some fun projects such as:

1. Make a Joy List. What makes you feel good? What activities do you find fun, satisfying, or energizing? What delights you? What makes your heart sing?

2. Write a Happiness Manifesto. What are your basic beliefs about the nature of happiness?

3. Make a list of happy movies and then pick one to go see or watch.

4. Make an Inspiration Board. Collect quotations, photographs, Web sites, and books that spark your imagination. Just as fashion designers, choreographers, writers, and other creative people collect and display the materials that contribute to their vision, you can make an assemblage of things that make you happy.

5. Make a Happy Collage. Cut out images and phrases from magazines that make you happy and glue them onto a board or make a Happy Vision Card.

6. Start a Happy Journal. Keep track of what makes you happy. Draw or paint happy artwork filled with colors that make you smile. Write out happy thoughts or experiences. Write about people that inspire you. Paste in your favorite quotes. Fill it with images and photos that represent happiness to you.

7. Put on some music that makes you feel good and dance your own Happy Dance.

I’d love to hear what makes you happy.

Today is also Wishcasting Wednesday, and the question this week is: How do you wish to shine? I wish to brightly shine with authenticity and happiness.

So, come on, get happy!

Dreamy E-Courses and Workshops

I almost feel like I’m going back to school along with all the other students this week. It seems like there so many enticing workshops and classes to choose from — both in-person and online. Here’s the low-down on ones I’m both taking and dreaming about taking.

Soul Reflections by Jamie Ridler

Online Opportunties
The lovely Jamie Ridler has put together a gorgeous e-version of a workshop-in-box called Soul Reflections. Jamie’s velvety voice on the audio portion is so soothing and encouraging — it’s like having her right by me as I work through the collaging and journaling processes. I highly recommend letting Jamie guide you as you listen to your soul and give some quality time to your heart’s desires.

I’ll be writing more about my experience with Soul Reflections which will be featured on Jamie’s site. Today, you can listen to Jamie interviewing me for her Creative Living podcasts. We chat away about creativity!

Yesterday was the first day of the Mondo Beyondo e-class which I really like to far. I have so many projects and ideas to nurture and tend to that I welcome the inspiration and support of this creative community.

On January 24, Julie Prichard are Chris Cozen are teaming up to teach a class called “Color: Beyond the Basics.” I’m all signed up for this e-class. However, I’m also lusting after Julie’s other online workshops. Next, I want to take “Layer Love.”

In-Person

Art Barn at Esalen

I’m heading to Northern California on January 23rd for a “Drawing on the Right of the Brain” workshop at Esalen. I first met the teacher, Lynda Greenberg, years ago at Omega when I was the faculty coordinator there. I really liked Lynda and have been wanting to take this class for more than 15 years!

In March, I’m taking a Poetry of Handwriting workshop with Lori Doctor in Margie Brown’s Studio in Dallas.

I’m drooling over taking Write of Passage (a Five Rhythms workshop) with Lori Saltzman in Austin in February. I’ve taken several weekend Five Rhythm workshops from Gabrielle Roth, Kathy Altman and Christine Havens, but not one from Lori who is a main force at The Moving Center. This workshop marries dancing and writing!

What classes, e-courses and workshops are calling you? I encourage you to answer the call!