the artistic mother :: art makes us better moms

by shona cole

When we are busy with the day-to-day tasks that fill our lives as moms, it is a daunting task to find time for creative pursuits such as writing, painting or crafting.

“I have no time to do any art. And anyway, I am too tired to do anything else”

“If I spend time creating I will be even more tired and then be a bad mom”

Is that what it sounds like in your head?

That is understandable. I have been there, many times. But even so, I believe that we should put away self-doubt and do something creative every day. It doesn’t matter if all the household related tasks get done every day, but it does matter that you use creativity to re-charge your battery!

Why? Because the time we give to art will make us better Mamas!

Here’s how:

1) NOURISHMENT

Once our basic physical needs – food, shelter, clothing, etc. – are met, our inner tank has space for mental and spiritual nourishment. It is then that we should take the time to create something new, to develop our skills and to make goals and work daily to meet them. The actual act of creating ~ the pen scratching the paper, the pastel smearing beneath our fingers, the smells of ingredients of a new dish ~ helps relieve us from the stresses of the day.

When we get carried away with creating, we forget the trials of parenting. We can briefly escape our children’s squabbles and the constant ‘whys’. The mental space we gain while creating then becomes the very thing that makes us excited to come ‘home’ and spend time with them, noise and all!

When we are nourished and stress free we are far more likely to be relaxed and clear headed with our kids and to choose the right responses to their chatter and less than perfect behavior! The reality is that it is very difficult to be a good mother if our life has become unbalanced because of a lack of creative output. So take the time to create and see just how much you will be nourished!

2) PERSONAL FULFILMENT

We each have goals and dreams. Often when we become parents we put those away. I know I did. Becoming a mom was a huge learning curve for me and I forgot about anything else for a few years. But those dreams recorded in journals, those life goals that went on the back burner were still all there. They never went away and after a while they started to boil and bubble for my attention ~ to borrow Jennifer Lee’s analogy. (link to Jennifer’s January post)

We could ignore our goals and dreams and allow the pot to burn dry or burn over. But wouldn’t it be better if we took the time to give it a stir, add some salt, a few carrots? Over time we could have a nice soup or unexpected meal! When we take a little time to create something yummy, the resulting sense of personal accomplishment can give us the energy we need to meet our mothering demands with a little more grace and confidence.

Also, when we have something to look forward to at the end of the day, a creative idea to work on, a collage to make, some photos to process - that sense of hope and excitement can carry us through the craziness of the day with kids.

It is part of our job to be fulfilled so we can meet life as a functional, balanced person. And to be that person we must express our personality, gifts and talents on a regular basis.

3) LOVING LIFE MORE



Creating art not only nourishes our souls, it enhances our perspective on life, too!

In order to create we must observe the world around us. We must slow down and really see, hear and think about life. Poets look for connections between events and objects, photographers look for compositions that tell stories, mixed media artists watch for colors, words and layers that illuminate our lives.

The skill of being attentive to our surroundings, thoughts and feelings can be carried over into our mothering too! When we look at our children through the lens of a camera searching for the story of their soul, when we take time to record poetically the little details of life, when we choose to make some art dedicated to our children, something in us changes for the better. We love life a little more and we appreciate our kids a little more. That point of view can lift us and allow us to acknowledge the good and not be pulled down by the difficult.

4) MODELING

In the early years our kids learn about the world primarily from us. When they see us creating and making the time for art we are being a positive role model of creativity for them.

Our creating can inspire them to want to do art or create things too, and to see the beauty and freedom in the creative possibilities. And even if they are not into art themselves they can learn to have respect for art, which will enrich their world in ways we can’t yet imagine.

5) WE ENHANCE OUR WORLD


Don’t you love going to a home that is filled with art and crafty nick-nacks & paintings? Isn’t our world nicer when creative hands have shaped the surroundings?

So consider your own home. When you display your photos, art, and scrapbooks you are filling your home with handmade love. When you write poetry or stories you are filling up the minds in your home with handmade love. These things touch our families andour children and brighten their days!

Anything that helps us cope with the demands and rigor of parenting is worth the time! Being creative does not have to be about focusing on selfishly “doing our own thing.” For the sake of our families, we must make the effort and take the time to enrich our lives, nourish our creativity, feed our imagination, and deepen our artistic view of the world.


So give yourself permission to take time off for creativity TODAY. Don’t wait until you feel that the time is right. Now is the time!

Shona Cole is a mother of 5 under the age of 10, collage artist who creates family focused art combining her own photographs, poetic words, paint and paper, author of ‘The Artistic Mother – a Practical Guide to Fitting Creativity into Your Busy Schedule’, and is perpetually searching for the balance between self and service. You can find her at An Artful Life or Flickr.

wishstudio pink champagne launch party & open studio

it's almost time!


you're invited to join our
pink champagne
launch party & open studio event

the week of april 5th, 2010
when our brand new virtual studio opens it's doors
and wishstudio.com goes live!

*******

there will be so many new things to see and explore...

wonderful new classes
lovely new contributors to meet
new spaces for creating your art and dreams
fun ways for you to connect and collaborate
inspiration and encouragement for living your creative lifestyle
new wish-filled goodies
and of course, lots of wishstudio swag to give away!

*******

as part of our launch we will also be having two very special guests,
both with events happening in our virtual studios...

~ kelly rae roberts ~
we will be hosting a wonderful gallery-style show
of some of her recent mixed media work.
stop in and read about the inspiration behind these pieces,
and connect with kelly rae right here in the wishstudio.

~ irene nam ~
a photographer and writer, endeared to us as momster in paris,
irene will be announcing the launch of her next creative endeavor...
her fabulous photography workshop which will be offered here in our studio!
be sure to come by and say hello to this inspiring artist and mama.

*******

it's going to be a fabulous event
mark you calenders and don't miss it
i can't wait to see you all in the studio!

sponsor giveaway :: artful retreats

Are you looking for a get-away? Artful Life Retreats are unique women's weekends combining dance and yoga with creativity, art, and life-visioning.

Join Bronwyn Simons and Gillian Saxby for a weekend of creative awakening through movement, breath, art, and music. Immerse yourself in three restorative days of healing movement, artful play, joyous celebration, rural tranquility, and beautiful, healthy vegetarian food. The retreat offers plenty of time and space to go deep for authentic self-care and renewal, and to allow your body to surrender to the joy of dance and movement and your heart to open to the joys of creativity! No previous yoga, dance, or art experience is necessary! find out more information about the inspiring instructors and the beautiful event here.

bronwyn has also gifted you the opportunity to win this lovely handmade ceramic pendant she created! leave a comment on this post about what your body and soul is craving right now. you'll have until wednesday, march 31st and one random winner will be selected and announced here on this post. check back then! good luck everyone.

********

our winner of the lovely pendant is

seekingequipoise... congrats :)

drop me a note and your addy by 4.30.10
to claim your gift!

wishmamas :: inside my garden

by mindy tsonas

my lifeforce is deeply rooted here in the garden of creativity and motherhood. it is a beautifully tangled and magical place where my days are spent elbow deep, getting messy in it all... the planting of seeds, the nurturing of life, the change of seasons, the storms that pass, the dreams that wither and die only to be reborn into new ones. the wonder of it all, big and small...

my creativity, and really the whole of my being, has been redefined with the birth of both my children. together, those forces have shifted the course of my life in amazingly beautiful and unexpected ways.

in the beginning, dreaming about motherhood was like dreaming to go to paris... full of excitement and certain life-long hopes and expectations. though my experience of motherhood ended up being very different. it was like awakening very slowly from that long awaited dream and realizing i was not even near paris, i was someplace else. for quite some time i didn't even know where i was, and i felt extremely confused and lost as a mother.

i had a beautiful and complex little boy with so many talents and gifts, but he also had many challenges that i never once read about in any of my parenting books. adrift and without a map for so many years, this completely and utterly challenged my sense of worthiness as his mom. i truly believed it was something in me, or something that i lacked, that was causing all the diffculty and struggle.

when he was young, creativity was the great grounding force for both he and i. it was a place where we could connect and find solid ground when our world was literally spinning out of control. it often still is, even to this day. i can remember the hours and hours we spent painting beach rocks on our deck, he in his little diaper and t-shirt, me in my gratiude for that calm and peaceful moment and always wondering why?

the days were long and always unpredicatable. we could never go anywhere without the fear that we might not make it through and had to always have an escape plan if things started to unravel, which often they did. the nights were the hardest. he had such a hard time winding down from the day, and by that time the whole family was tired and worn out. the inevidible meltdown would ensue... hours of screaming, crying, physically being out of control where we had to wrap him in a blanket, even in 90 degree heat, just to keep him from hurting us or himself. for almost a year, this was a daily occurance. there were days when i didn't think i could do it for one more second.

it was difficult too because people didn't really understand, even some friends and family. i felt really isolated and alone. those days when it was a regular occurance to have to carry him to the car kicking and screaming from a store, from a party, or from the playground, we'd get those stares. what killed me was not so much that others thought that i was a bad parent, but that some of them judged my son and simply thought he was a bad kid. i quickly learned to never, ever pass judgement on families from what you see as an outsider looking in... you never know what is really going on.

later, he was expelled from preschool because he was not able control his behavior. those few precious hours i had come to rely on to rest and refuel were gone. i became that fearful (exhausted), hovering mom attending all the birthday parties, always within reach at the park and on our neighborhood street when the kids were outside playing, and i could never even imagine dropping him off at a friend's house for a playdate or leaving him with a babysitter. i had to be his safety net. every minute of every day. so we spent a lot of time together alone, just he and i, making playdough gems, painting rocks and crafting things. for good or bad, it was how we survived.

when he turned four, which felt like an eternity later, we finally learned of his adhd. having a name for what was going on was such an unbelievable relief. it was something real and tangible, something we could help him deal with. there were tools we could use to help make all of our lives better. at four i felt like he had already been through so much, and i was so beaten down by it all too.

soon thereafter i was able to begin shedding the weighty feelings of failure. i began to reconcile the things i simply had no control over, and how i acted as best i could only knowing what i knew then as his mom. going forward, i realized life would never be typical or easy, but it would be beautiful just the same.

we have come a tremendously long way in just a few short years, and his days are now filled with more accomplishments than obstacles. there is always joy. his resilliance astounds me and reminds me that i can be resilliant too. he's got a huge heart full of wisdom (at his small age, already) and love, and has an appreciation and understanding of the world and of himself that is far beyond his years.

eventually, i came to rediscover the quited desire to have another child. before becoming a mom i always imagined that i would have two; that was my idea of paris. it took me almost 5 years to find my way back to that, to climb out of the fear and keep moving forward on my motherhood journey. it brought me to this precious little soul.

with the arrival of my second son just 8 months ago, my creativity was sparked once again with the tremendous earth shaking force of finally knowing. after so many years of doubt, time, wisdom and healing brought me fresh eyes and a renewed spirit in every way imaginable... that i am a good mom. that i am a good person. that i have gifts to share with the world. that i must do and be my best, for them. that i am enough.

that all along, i always have been.

i know that there will always be challenges with both boys around every new corner, and that there is still so much more for me to learn as their mama and about the person who i am. the difference now is that i have faith in myself and faith in what is meant to be my journey.

...this garden, where we exist together in love and hope, is ours. it is where we explore and experience the world, learn and create, laugh and play and blossom. together. no, it's not paris (turns out i was never destined to go there). it's even better... a place i could never have dreamed of.

ordinary sparkling moments :: jewels

by christine mason millerI should know by now to keep a pen and small notebook handy whenever I sit down to read, because whenever I read – be it a book, magazine or newspaper article –words are constantly leaping out like a pop-up book, calling my name, begging me to notice them. Since I haven’t yet developed a good habit of writing the words down in those moments, I have to rely on the force of their impact to make a lasting impression until hours or days later when I need them for a piece of writing. Sometimes the word melts away from my awareness, only to re-appear unexpectedly in the flow of writing. Other times it stays lodged in the forefront of my brain, refusing to quiet down until I create a sentence specifically for it, as if it is counting on me to give it a venue to shine in all its glory. An eager performer, it clamors for a stage, and won’t rest until I build one for it.

For a while I was rolling the word “temporal” around in my brain, letting it take up as much room as it wanted while I ran errands, washed dishes and finally locked it into place in a sentence, feeling the same sense of satisfaction as when two pieces of a puzzle click perfectly together. At times I’ve clung to proclivity, myopic and myriad, holding on to these words until I could experience the ultimate act of expressing my love for them – using them in a piece of my own writing. A quick glance at my most recent essays sees them shining like coins, treasures I carried with me until I found the perfect slot to slide them in, between whichever two words supported them best in a sentence.

“I realized my most well-worn methods weren’t about specific brushes, varnishes or equipment, but involved tools of a more temporal nature.”

“…as much as our social proclivities make up the fabric of who we are, we learned this year that we have to be careful to take care of ourselves - of our marriage - in the same way we strive to take care of those we love.”

“It would be easy to accuse her of being rigid and myopic, but in Atlas Shrugged, [Ayn Rand] maps a minutely detailed exploration through her own philosophy that would make our most daring space explorers blush.”

Every written creation I construct has the essentials – the nails, if you will: The, And, That, To. Then there are the larger building blocks I call upon over and over again: Journey, Meaningful, Explore. And then there are the jewels, the sparkling treasures that give my writing the depth I am looking for, the impact I’m wanting: Temporal, Proclivity, Myopic. Any my work is to line them up on the page, one word here, two over there, to create an arrangement that doesn’t merely speak, but sings – a melody of ideas, a symphony of thoughts.

the art of living cheerfully :: ode to silence

by madelyn mulvaney

photo by darlene kreutzer

‘So I went for a walk into the forest in the midst of a
frightening storm ~ it was dark and rainy but I was somewhat sheltered
as the trees are vastly tall and huddle together which offered me a bit
of protection. I wandered off the trails and went deeper still into the tangle
of streams and berry bushes and soft earth darkly, eventually
finding a fallen log beneath a kindly swaying tree and settled on it
(it was so thick with green, green moss, how could I resist?)

Well there I stayed for perhaps two hours with my questioning heart
and yet strangely soothed by the pattering sounds of rain falling on the
leaves all about me (do you know this sound? it is vastly beautiful ~
if you are sleeping in a tent it brings such a sense of profound coziness
exhilleration and peace)

...a long time passed and I am certain i heard the forest whisper "talk to me"
so I spoke my heart's murmurs aloud surrounded by those cathedral of trees
that listened so patiently and with such understanding and eventually
I stood up and walked back through the forest and into a clearing
just as the rain subsided. The sun welcomed me with such a dazzling warmth
and my eyes danced with the sacred faces of all the beaming buttercups.’

Recently I re~read this entry in my journal and felt so hushed, so reverant remembering that walk in the rainy woods so long ago. And I was reminded that happiness can be very quiet ~ perhaps indeed true happiness depends on a ritual of daily silence .

I have a naturally buoyant personality but in order to deeply explore my emotional inner world I take small daily pilgrimages into silence. Perhaps my most favorite are walks into nature, whether it be those glorious cathedral of trees in the forest or a blustery seaswept walk on the beach with my dog. For me nature transcends the beauty of the most ornate palace, the language of nature is more poetic than all my favorite sonnets combined, the song of the midnight peepers more exalting than any symphony.

Consciously including silence in my life is embraced with my whole heart and brings such peace and harmony with my true self. I reconnect with patience, inner beauty, and seeds of wonder as I lie in wait for inspiration to bring back to my art and writing. There is such scope for imagination in the wild world around us!

Often people tell me that they feel so sad when they are along in nature for some reason. I know this feeling as well but once a monk told me in a meditation class that this very lonliness is the ego feeling a loss of individuality. If you lean into that sadness you will soon find a deeper space that fills you up with the nurturing connection and sense of oneness in our world.

There are many other ways I can embrace a little silence in my daily life as well. Visiting an art gallery, reading in a library, resting quietly at home in a candlelit room all bring me this gentle space for meditative reverance. I am infused with such fresh burst of energy, focus and enthusiasm after little forays into silence and truly consider it one of the most generous gifts I can bestow upon myself.

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

— Wendell Berry

sponsor giveaway :: creative inspiration with silky hart

join silky for a fabulous creative getaway april 24 ~ may 1, 2010!

Pamper your body and soul in gorgeous Costa Rica at the luscious Pura Vida Spa & Resort. Remember your true self where nature fully expresses her beauty, power and vitality.

There will be lots of time for chilling out, engaging your creative spirit, yoga and honoring the wisdom of your body, pampering yourself with divine spa treatments and healthy cuisine, and going on adventurous eco excursions. find out more information here.

"i believe in illuminating magic, in spectacular possibilities, in uplifting joy and in unbridled creative expression!"

*win a free one-hour creative mentoring session with Silky Hart, a Certified Expressive Arts Practitioner, to guide you in giving shape and form to your creative dream. Silky will offer some direction in creative activities that will assist you on your creative journey. please leave a comment on this post to enter and one very lucky winner will be chosen and announced right here on wednesday, march 24th.

***The winner of the one hour of creative mentoring is Kristine k! Please drop me an email to claim your lovely prize!



dream big!

the necklace project {link #3}

by carmen nessman

"Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?"
-Frida Kahlo

Hello, My name is Carmen Nessman. I am a mom, a full time admin assistant, and a self taught jewelry and mixed media acrylics and collage artist. I carry my camera everywhere with me and I blog and write with a not very perfect English. You can call it Span-glish. That’s okay. What matters is that I blog with a purpose. I have been sharing my art and life journey online for five years --my challenges, fears and some sad stories too.

I believe life is good and, creativity is your birthright. Art is my light. When darkness appears, art has shown me the way.

"I paint my own reality. The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration."
-Frida Kahlo

This is Frida Kahlo... She was born in Mexico about one hundred years ago. Frida was an artist. She tells us, using vibrant colors, about her life in her paintings, about her family, her love for animals, about her beloved Blue house and her husband Diego. Frida used to paint from her bed because she was often sick. Her painting carries with it the message of pain, reflects her struggles and suffering. Frida often painted herself, too. How beautiful she was!!! She enjoyed braiding her long hair, wearing flowers and all kind of handmade folk jewelry.

"I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best."
-Frida Kahlo

A very quiet prayer for Frida from me, What a courageous life and spirit of hers!

And with this inspiration in mind, I took the wish project necklace to work with me.
During my lunchtime, I went for a walk and stopped in the library to do some of this writing. Also, I reflected on the purpose of this necklace and how honored I am to have added to it my own uniqueness, good energy, intentions and my true heart's desire

My wish and mission as a person and artist is to keep on sharing my life and art as it is, regardless of that sensation I have sometimes of vulnerability and also of not being noticed and or taken seriously. Oh gosh! How much I yearn for validation for my art that I do! And as part of that wish, I will keep on sharing publicly my visions by writing, painting and other creations. I will keep on persisting and engaging. That’s the way!

Just like frida, my art makes me feel complete no matter what. And I enjoy sharing it with the world.

I have to admit that I have another wish. If possible, I wish I can be a light to you, to inspire and empower you to believe in yourself and dare to express what you really want. Enough of the pleasing! Live, enjoy and create to your heart’s content!!! Be curious. If you need help say it aloud. Act. say no, or say yes, but act!

Now, I’ve gotta go, time to put a flower in my hair, dangly earrings on, and go out and lay down in the grass to watch the clouds and sky.

Life is good, love is the way, live artfully!

in a new light :: simple blogging

by susan tuttle




If you are reading this, chances are you have your own blog that you are passionate about. You enjoy sharing pieces of your life in your online journal and relish in the creating of rich, meaningful posts resplendent with innermost thoughts, poetry, photography and links to things you love. You probably invest much time and energy whenever you create a post, holding yourself to lofty standards, getting it just right before you push that publish button.

We all know how important it is to post regularly in order to maintain a steady following, and all of us at times have those days when it is time to post but we feel we can't rise to the occasion, either because we don't have the time, the content or inclination to post. I've discovered a simple approach to posting that's perfect for those "off" days -- an approach that's fun, not at all time-consuming, low-pressure, and inspiring.

Simply make a list of experiences drawn from your day, accompanied by one or two random photographs taken that same day. Keep each item on the list short -- one to four words per experience works well. Here, let me show you...

To accompany the random photo from my day in this post, I give you this simple list:

orange paint, lavender coconut body cream, moka pot, thrifting, wool blanket, black + white photography, dentist reminder, lime green roving, lost keys, white chocolate mocha, lemon pudding cake, barber shop, Lucy Schwartz, red wine, shrimp in remoulade sauce, candlelit talk, cuddles, stargazing, photomanipulation

The first time I did this, I was surprised to discover how the list read like poetry; how enchanting it seemed -- casting some glitter upon my ordinary day. En-joy!





Susan Tuttle is a mixed-media and digital artist who resides in a small-town community in the state of Maine. Her first book, Exhibition 36: Mixed-Media Demonstrations + Explorations, was released by North Light Books in December 2008, and her second book, Digital Expressions: Creating Digital Art with Adobe® Photoshop® Elements, a technique-based publication on digital art, will be published by North Light Books in May 2010 and is currently available for pre-order on Amazon. Susan is a frequent contributor to Stampington & Company publications and other mixed-media books. You can visit her site at www.ilkasattic.com and her blog at www.ilkasattic.blogspot.com through which she is offering online digital art workshops on the subjects of photomanipulation, digital montage, and a variety of Photoshop techniques.

personal unity

by darlene kreutzer

There are days, weeks and sometimes even months, when the divide between all the worlds that I live feels so wide and stretched that it is easy to forget the reality. The reality being that in actuality, they are beautifully entwined. I am a wife and a mother; a cook and bottle washer; a worker bee in a beige environment of rule upon rule and within all that I am me, an artist and an athlete, a woman with a fragile heart made of light. I can often feel so stretched out that I see myself like the little matchgirl, face pressed against the window wishing I were on the other side of it all.

But if I let my eye catch the light just right and I turn my head sideways, I can find the golden glow when the picture comes together and the lemon sunshine melts into the green avocado of a life well lived. The beauty of truly living an artistic life, a creative life means that every household decision is an opportunity to create a space of inspiration and beauty. When I put my hands in the dirt, I create a garden of food that not only feeds my family but also grows poetry dripped from the sway of a lily and has me leaping up to grab my camera as the light casts floodlights across green spaces. I doodle pictures and pieces of poetry in boardrooms and attempt to find the creative space while writing words that are someone else's passion.
I remind myself that it is not the life we live that determines our creativity but rather the life we choose to witness, to feel deep in our souls that creates the depth of our lives. The mundane is extraordinary when viewed with your true deep down beautiful self.

*****

To remind myself that living deeply in my life and being fully present to the depth of emotion that surrounds me as I make my way through life's gifts and responsibilities, I made myself a little book called, "Garden Notes".

“Garden Notes” is a small book that fits into the palm of my hand and is filled with little poems and dreams of fairies and the magical photos that live in my garden. see a glimps of it here in this little video.

I would like to gift one to one of the dear readers of Wish Studio. Please leave a comment telling me how you find the beauty in what is seemingly the mundane routine of life and through the magic of a random generator, a winner will be chosen on wednesday, march 17th and will be announced right here on this post.

*****************************

the winner of darlene's garden notes is... heather!
you may email me or connect with darlene to collect your sweet little prize.
enjoy!

new children's book :: molly kite has faith (and giveaway!)

by author tam veilleux

In the vast system of the internet you never really know where you'll end up or who you'll meet when you're surfing online. It was early in 2009 when my illustration instructor at my art college suggested that all of us set up a profile at JacketFlap.com in order to gain exposure as an artist. It sounded like a wise idea and I immediately created my account that included some of my recently finished mixed-media art.

During the months of attending illustration class I had gone deep into writing children's stories. I had a message to get out to humanity and the characters involved were presenting themselves to me on a regular basis in my imagination. The main player in the stories, Molly Kite, needed to be colorful, attractive, and likeable. I knew in my heart what artistic style she needed, and I also knew it was nothing I could produce with my own hands. My own style would not be conducive to the project. I needed a digital illustrator.

The Molly Kite series of children's books teaches the universal Law of Attraction to conscious caregivers and their children at a very base level. The Law of Attraction states that what you give attention to grows and expands. During the period of writing the stories my intense focus on my beautiful character, Molly Kite, kept me joyful, hopeful and interested. I spent time dreaming of her success. Often my heart would fill with joy as I thought about kids reading her story. In my mind I would see the imaginary lightbulb go off over parents heads as they too finally understood how this seemingly magical theory of Law of Attraction actually worked. I gave my full attention to Molly Kite full well knowing that I couldn't properly bring her to life through my own artistic hand. I still needed help. It was then that the stars aligned and Russell Cox sent me an introduction via JacketFlap.

It had been a couple of months since my first visit to JacketFlap.com when I received notification in my email inbox that a message was waiting for me . I clicked the link and connected to my profile where I had a kind message from a man named Russell. He wrote “I like your art. It's nice to meet you. ” I reciprocated by clicking on his profile and started going through his art. Russell's art was so different than my own simplistic style. His was done digitally and it was edgy yet fun. The colors were amazing and I couldn't stop staring at it. I related my elation over his art via a return email and soon we uncovered that we both live in Maine. What a hoot!

It didn't take long for me to realize that Russell's style was exactly what Molly Kite needed and I quickly began the conversation around collaboration of a children's book. Russ was openly interested in pursuing it and it wasn't long before we were meeting at a restaurant midway between his town and mine and a contract was drafted.

Behind the scenes of a publishing a book many things go on. Editing, website building, marketing and pricing take up inordinate amounts of time but I focused my thoughts on the success of Molly Kite and the importance of her message and I worked hard to create a buzz about it while working closely with Russ to get the layout and images to reflect the message of the book.

Daily emails ensued. Russ would draw a sketch and email it to me. I would print and study it, make notes and return it to Russ who would then redraw and resend the image. Russ is naturally comical and kind and I'm a bit outside of the box myself. I found myself laughing out loud more than once and crying with joy when the designs were perfect. Twenty eight images and many months later we had a complete interior digital file ready for publication.

Since the original publication of Molly Kite Has Faith as a paperback book available at Booklocker.com back in November of 2009 Russ and I have worked to make Molly available as an audio, and an e-book for those who prefer to view and read via computer monitor. Plans for Molly Kite Has Faith as an animated e-book are in the works and will be ready by fall of 2010.

As the creator and mother to Molly Kite I keep focusing on the end result, which is to reach as many kids as possible and to help them better understand the power of their thoughts in regards to their reality. I trust the power of the Law of Attraction in all matters, both big and small, and encourage all of you to follow your dream by allowing the special forces outside of yourself to take the lead. You can't know all of the answers ahead of time just like I didn't know that creating a profile in JacketFlap.com would lead me to the illustrator I needed. Follow your nudges, have Faith and dream big.

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win a copy of the molly kite has faith e-book!


tam is generously giving away a copy of her inspiring children's e-book. please leave a comment on this post by monday evening, march 15th, where one random winner will be chosen and announced right here. the winner will also receive a molly kite bookmark and sticker via snail mail. good luck!

*** and the winner is susan! please email me to claim your prize :) ***

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BIO:
Proud Mainer Tam I Am Veilleux is on a quest to creatively engage everyone in using their personal power to alter their day to day reality. Tam is an artist, author, alchemist and creative entrepreneur who dreams of positively affecting humanity through her mixed media efforts.

She is the author of the newly released children’s book “Molly Kite Has Faith” which ignites the power of dreaming for children ages 4-99 and Tam is now writing her first practical novel in an attempt to cut through the fog of Law of Attraction.

An unfortunate case of “Ants In The Pants” keeps this Maine creative entrepreneur moving at a fast clip. Mixed media art, journaling, internet marketing, the study of spirituality and human potential, growing green things, writing books and articles, devising plans to make the planet a place that she’s proud to call home, and laughing really loud on a day to day basis keeps this mother of two adult children bustling about while keeping her Handsome VIP scratching his head. Tam I am spends three-quarters of her time trying to keep her golden retriever Lewis from nudging her elbow constantly.

“Life is Like a Box of Chocolates” is Tam’s latest public speaking endeavor. Contact her for an inspirational speech offering opportunity, possibility and of course, chocolate! She’s loves to travel about New England, so please, feel free to contact her.
Join her journey: http://randomtamdom.com/

blowing bubbles in a concrete jungle :: a joy rebel’s take on knowing

by brandi reynolds

Okay ladies. No more Mrs. nice rebel. If one more person tells me they aren’t creative, I am going force them to watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (yes, complete with vanilla ice) until their eyes bleed.

*Ahem* Sorry, feeling a little feisty today.

A friend of mine insisted to me the other day that she wasn’t creative because she didn’t know how to make a tu-tu for her little girl. I hear this sooooo often I can’t even tell you. And I know where it comes from because I’ve said it and thought it a million times too.

For me, this idea often came from a place of not knowing how to do something. I didn’t happen to know how to make a scrapbook so I thought that meant I didn’t have it in me to create a scrapbook. And once I convinced myself that I COULDN’T create something then the idea of even attempting became way too intimidating.

So repeat after me. Not knowing how to create something does not mean you are not creative!

Do you think you aren’t creative because you aren’t sure what to do with a paintbrush or a camera or that paper cutter thing you saw at Michaels? You are creative. And the way you can tell if you are creative in that particular medium is if you have an interest in it.

Okay, so you’ve accepted that you are creative (don’t make me get that DVD out). Now what? Well, there are classes you can take. Both online and at your local craft or fabric or bead or specialty food store. When I had an interest in paper crafting, the classes seemed too overwhelming at first so I asked a paper crafting friend if she could give me some lessons. And I’m pretty sure there are magazines with step by step instructions devoted to just about anything you can think of.

Most importantly, you have permission to try, to mess up and make mistakes and change your mind.

I encourage you this week to explore that thing that you’ve always wanted to create. What is it? I would love to know…

Til next time joy rebels!

i am a poem

by michelle ensminger

Sometimes in the busyness of my day
I become aware of a soft voice inside me.
It speaks quietly but forcefully,
like an urgent prayer demanding attention.
I want to make a noise with my life, it says.
Do you hear me?
I want to make a noise with my life.
It doesn’t have to be ocean waves pounding the rocks
or that clap of thunder rattling the shingles,
waking the sleeping.
It doesn’t have to be a jet ripping open the sky.
It can be soft.
A whisper.
It can be silent ripples over the pond’s surface
after the pebble has settled in the soot
or the quiet of a mockingbird’s feather when it
brushes the clouds.
I will find contented calm in the whispers that surrounds us,
that pass unnoticed.
Make me the shadow of a song spread across the winter grass,
a heartbeat under a tender palm.
I want to make a noise with my life
and I want that noise to matter.
I want to take this ache, this hunger, this fire
heavy in the center of my chest,
and I want to put it out into the world.
I want to say, here hold this carefully in the palm
of your hands.
Don’t let it go.
And that poem tucked deep in my body,
I want to write it on each breath,
I want to fold it into each day,
I want to read it in our darkest places
and let its many syllables speak for the things
within us that cannot find
a voice of their own.

international women's day :: empowered we are one

as women, we are changing the world.

we are at the forefront of the fierce and heart~centered focus on sustainability, authenticity, opportunity, and the fight to end suffering. we are changing every aspect of our global community, shifting the way that people do business, care for their families, support thier communities, and see themselves in a world where anything is possible.

today is a day to celebrate! it is a day to raise your voice and make some noise... to speak out for our sisters and make a difference, to give to the women who need, to share with one's we love, and to embrace and offer all that we are and can be. because our voice matters.

the collective soul of the feminine tribe is uniquely bold and bright and beautiful. be proud. be the gift that this life has offerd you, and share it in that way that only You can. as indivduals shining our light we have the power to move mountains in our world and in our own lives.

You. Are. Powerful. You are a woman. and together we are empowered.

so today, go! dance, write, sing and create, nurture and love, build, imagine, invent and reinvent. reach out, connect, share and offer. explore, dive, fly! celebrate this day. celebrate You... your mountian is waiting.


here are some ways to celebrate:

* pick up a copy of 'half the sky': turning oppression into opportunity for women worldwide

* walk the bridge with hundreds of other women (events on brooklyn bridge in nyc, or the millenium bridge in london)

* send a sweet gratitude note to all of the special women in your life

* learn about the first international women's day in 1911 and see how far we've come

* take some time for yourself to do something meaningful and nurturing to your soul

* give a little... time, money, support to your favorite woman centered organization

* honor a woman you admire, those today and those who have come before us who have created paths for us to follow

the necklace project {link #2}

by patricia dolan

I am one of the ‘shy’ readers. I stumbled upon reading certain blogs back in 2006 and I fell in ‘deep like’ and admiration for some wonderful women who had the heart to share themselves and of themselves, and their lives by blogging. I’m an amateur photographer who always carries a camera with me and a thread of conversation, ideas and inspiration at all times in my head. The muse always pops in but I’ve always been reluctant to go ‘public’. So here is my debut blog writing, photo and all.

I took the initiatve in 2008 and went to Squam where I went to thank these heroines, my on-line community (http://www.jengray.com/ , www.superherodesigns.com/journal, http://www.penelopeillustration.com/, http://www.swirlygirl.com/ and one or two other lovelies that contributed a difference in my life. The ‘Wish Necklace’ project is the first tangible project in the on-line community that I felt inspired to be a part of. Who knows, perhaps some of my good intentions/beliefs I could infuse and pass along to the next recipient.

I thought this was a beautiful concept. A. Wish. Necklace. I have spent the last four years ‘wishing’ for my next child to appear. Wishing. Hoping. Asking. Wanting. Working. This necklace – this wish necklace spoke to me in its idea form and calmed me in its physical form.

In creating my link, I really kept it simple and sweet. My spirit was attracted to the amethyst color of the link that I chose. I wore the wish necklace to work. During that day that I wore it I had a tea date with a dear friend, Meghan who took the photo of me. I felt very sprite in spirit, very whimsical, brimming with positivity when I wore this. Whatever ‘magic’ this ‘Wish’ necklace contains it inspired me to share of myself and to start speaking outloud.

That. My. Stories. Do. Matter.

Having a miscarriage is a miscarriage of your hope and faith too. I know because I had one. In 2008 a few days before my birthday I was informed by my physician’s office that I was pregnant. I fell to my knees and wept with gratitude. On my birthday I wept for other reasons. The Doctor’s office called and conveyed that I would most likely miscarry. I did. It is an invisible grief that I have and had carried. I love being a mother. It is the most glorious role I have ever embraced. I have the greatest fortune to be the parent of a gorgeous, smart, kind, funny just turned five year old, Christopher. This I know. I am not done having children. Sorry if I got off course. My wish while I wore this necklace and continues to be is to receive my next little girl/little boy in 2010.

My other secret ‘wish’? To take my ‘amateur’ photographer status from the last two decades and parlay it into a professional work where I take children’s candids photos and portraits. One other nugget to know: I am a big kid at heart, my passion, my greatest joy is working with children, playing with children. I have a Masters Degree in Education however, at the moment I am not teaching. I’ve always flirted with starting an on-line journal who knows may be I will. Thank you for reading this. If you would like to contact me my email is: patriciadolan@comcast.net I would so very much enjoy your thoughts.

sponsor giveaway :: captivating ecourse

Snaps+Ink presents:
Captivating e-course: Winter 2010 {mar. 21} with madalyn ducher

"Captivating, is a 6 week e-course. (Madalyn's) workshop is to serve as a safe haven for your creativity to manifest. You will be met with endless encouragement and open arms. Together we will gain new + fresh perspective into the world around us through photography, journal exercises, weekly interviews with inspiring artists and some creative assignments. We will form an online community, using Flickr for our posts + discussions. Captivating is about taking a closer look into your creative desires, learning to fortify yourself from resistance and become more mindful + gentle with your dreams. Our journey together will be invigorating and create fresh wind for your sails."

join madalyn on this exciting creative journey, as it is sure to be beautifully inspiring! 3 spots in the captivating ecourse will be gifted to 3 lucky wishstudio winners. just leave a comment sharing one of your creative desires by wednesday, march 10.

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and the three lucky winners are... lillian, michele, and heather! congratulations to all of you. the workshop begins on march 21st, so please email me by march 19th, 2010 to claim your prize.

the artistic mother giveaway winner

and the winner of shona's fabulous book is segolene... hooray for you! please email me by april 6th to claim your prize.

{a page from my journal} be your brand

by mindy tsonas


i came across this phrase... be your brand... recently and ever since i've been thinking a lot about it. as branding is such an important aspect of running a successful business, it also speaks to living an authentic life. it is knowing and embracing who your are and how you want to show up in the world as well as in your life. it means capturing and expressing this essence on the inside and out. it is owning and sharing your talents and gifts, because those are the things that no one else can offer the world. there is only one You.

as i move forward into this next phase of the wishstudio, i know how important it is to find the right image for my brand. what i am finding is that the image i want to attach to my business is directly connected to what values and ideals i think are important to my own life. i know there would be a huge disconnect if i was expressing one thing here, but doing something different in my day to day life. this is exactly why one day i deleted 2 and a half years of writing at under a pink sky, because i was in a not so shiny place and what i was sharing online then felt fake.

this is why it is so important for me to be honest and open in sharing my life (as you know if you currently read my journal). i feel that only sharing the beauty makes me feel less authentic. the moments that are not so perfect are part of life too, and what i have found is that these moments often resonate and connect us just as much the good moments do. while everyone has a different take on this, i wholeheartely believe in offering an honest slice of life. you will always get that from me... that is part of my brand.

however you embrace your life, know that it is a gift only you can give! do it bravely. show your unique colors and style to the world. raise your voice and make your mark... it's time for you to be your brand!

wishmamas :: the perfect mom

by shona cole

When I was seven months pregnant with my first child I quit work to nest. I wanted to create a beautiful nursery for my baby and focus on what was to come. My co-workers were shocked that I was leaving so early and even more shocked when they heard I was not coming back! A few asked me ‘what are you going to do all day?”

In truth I didn’t have an answer to that question. As I shared in this post in my ‘The Artistic Mother’ column, before I had my own I knew nothing about babies. I had gone straight from school to college, from college to working. What was I going to do all day?

Having literally no training in being a mom and housewife (is there a better term for this position in life?) I set about learning the ropes. I read many books on being a mom, which were informative and educational. But as a predominately visual person I needed an image of motherhood to inspire me.

Where did I look? This may sound funny, but I looked to Martha Stewart! Her company used to publish these magazines called ‘Martha Stewart Baby’, I don’t know if they still do, but 10 years ago I found that they were a lovely and helpful (if unrealistic) image of what it is a mother does with her time. In the pages of those magazines I studied how to pack a diaper bag, bath a newborn, make nutritious snacks, how to decorate a nursery, create a baby playgroup in my neighborhood – all with style and finesse.

I will be forever grateful to Martha Steward for showing me how to slow down and appreciate the importance of attending to the details of life and approaching my parenting with care and dignity. But her magazine also set up a prototype in my head of what a good Mom looks like. It is a tough act to follow, as are the images we see on the thousands of Mom focused websites, TV adverts, movies and gossip columns.

So by learning about motherhood from such sources can sometimes be helpful we also run the risk of believing the lie of perfection.


It goes against our better judgment but the sheer volume of the ‘perfect’ images of being a mom – that smiling woman with a clean house, shiny happy kids playing happily in the background, the latest clothes, thin, looking great in jogging clothes or business suit, balancing it all effortlessly, etc – can wear us down until we feel bad about our own, very real life.

The reality of life as a Mom is a concoction of good and bad, ups and downs.

Fortunately, there are days when the rigor of motherhood fits like a glove. Our children seem to be learning all we could ever ask of them. They say “thank you” and “please” and share with their friends. They are attentive at school and play constructive games at home. We forge ahead with confidence, and allow ourselves to think that we have this motherhood thing down.

But… then, suddenly, and for no discernible reason, the illusion disappears. The children in our house seem like they are living in the wild! They throw fits of rage, whine, grab toys from other children ~ especially toys that they would never play with at home. They lie about who did what to whom. They shout and demand in an unharmonious chorus.

You wonder “who has time to tidy up, let alone go to Target with freshly painted nails?’ ‘how will I survive this?’, How can I be artistic in all this noise and mess?’

Does that sound like your house, your mind, or is it just mine?

There have been times on this motherhood road that the pressures of being a mom stole from me my sense of being a creative person. I get tired. Sometimes I simply do not ‘feel’ like doing anything creative. I can go for weeks without lifting a paintbrush or, worse for me, a camera. I can feel my artfulness slipping away, leaving me wondering if I am an artist at all!

While we know that life has an ebb and flow, of course, but it is all too easy to forget and feel bad, feel the grass really is greener in her shiny, happy house!

There is a delicate balance between a good Mother image being inspiring and being condemning (even down right depressing). It is good to look to someone who is doing it better than we are or has worked out how to cook a pot roast or potty train or plan a creative summer for the kids. I love to sit at the feet of wisdom, don’t you? But we need to keep in check our idolizing of icons of motherhood (eg. Angelina ~ you know which one). We have to decide to not let glossy marketing steal our joy or fear this road.

If we are going to be creative beings we need to really look at our life with a sense of balance and reality.



Life with kids is tough.

Life with kids is beautiful.

Reality is not cookie cutter perfect for anyone. And that is OK. That is to be shared and celebrated. When we are truthful and honest with ourselves first, then family and friends we can get through the hard parts and land safely on the good parts.

Let’s today agree to strive to be better than we are today- better moms and artists, but also let us agree to be gentle with ourselves, to be accepting of where we are. In that truth we can rest knowing we are on the right trajectory.

the artistic mother creativity group {and book giveaway!}

the artistic mother creativity group is forming right now! if you're a creative mama and want to infuse your life with more art and creativity, join hostess trudy callan along with a fabulous group of other artful moms and work through the projects in shona's new book. check trudy's blog for all of the fabulous scoop!

also, win a copy of the artistic mother right here! to enter, please leave a comment on this post sharing what kind of creativity you would like to add to your every day. the winner will be announced this saturday, march 6th.

good luck and have fun creating!