What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Mandala

I'm linking up with Julia over at Stamping Ground today.

My desk is a mess, so my creative endeavors get moved to the bed, the coffee table, or the kitchen counter. (The things I do in the morning while Superman is sleeping.)

Inspired by a fellow artist, Linda a.k.a. Rappy, in Joanne Sharpe's Color Love class and her instructional how to which is on her blog, Rappy-Art, I created this mandala.

You really can get into a zone. Time flew by while I was drawing this. 

What's even more cool is that it doesn't have to be perfect. You'll see that my half daisies don't have the same number of petals each time, the center flower lines aren't exactly even, my lettering isn't identical all the way around, and guess what I don't care.

That's right, I don't care, it is my belief that the imperfections of a mandala make a beautiful piece of art when complete. That is only in these imperfections that the you find the beauty.

 I think that I'm going to add a heart above that half daisy, now that I look at it. 

It is time to add some color.

 I'll use my inktense pencils, tombow markers, koi watercolor, and maybe I'll pull out my peerless watercolors and colored pencils for some texture.

Check back later this week, hopefully I'll have made some progress.

Hop over to Stamping Ground and see what is on a few other desks. You never know what will inspire you.

Shared Messages from the Universe - The Listening Heart

 It is my belief that messages from the universe speak to me and remind me of something that is inside of me. When I first see them, I often don't even know what is really being advertised. Instead, the message conjures emotions or thoughts relating to something that is going on within me; in my heart, in my mind, in my soul. I see them on billboards, in magazines, store windows, church plaques...everywhere.

I secretly call them soul whispers.

The messages are all around us

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The Listening Heart

Disclaimer: I totally understand the importance of the message here from a religious point of view and I do not mean any disrespect by my interpretation that follows.

When Superman and I walked past this message, I knew I had to have a picture, and I also instantly knew that this answered a question that I had been asked by a friend - "how do you find the messages".

Well, I believe that I don't really "find" them - they find me.  

I believe that the universe whispers to my soul, that I listen with my heart, and that this is how I receive these messages. 

When I'm not stuck in 9-5 zombie mode, I truly believe that one of the reasons I notice messages like this is because I listen more with my heart.

I consciously become more present in my every day when I can calm my mind and be exactly in the moment of where I am.

It sounds easy, but I'll admit it isn't, especially in a city of 8 million people. All of whom are in a hurry to get to where they are going...each with their own busy energy and most of them are in zombie mode that it isn't easy to be present.

zombie mode: The mode that a person is in when their mind, heart, and soul are totally somewhere else than where their body is at a particular moment.

I'll also admit, there are times when I'm in zombie mode - I just want to get where I am going and my thoughts are caught up in the fact that I am late, or I'm wondering if I need to get cat food, or I'm wondering if I remembered to blog, or did I finish the document that my boss wanted, or, or, or, or...

BUT...when I breathe, let my thoughts calm, and step out on to the concrete with a open heart...the messages embrace me or it is probably more likely that I embrace the messages. They are always there. There are just times that I just may not be open enough to receiving them. My heart may not be listening because it has been closed or turned off because I'm in zombie mode.

So, I consciously choose to open my heart, to be present, to receive the messages. 

I want to encourage you today to be more present. 

Calm your mind and snap out of zombie mode for a few minutes during your lunch break today.  

Also, remember that the messages don't always show up as words.

You may see dragonflies, feathers, hearts, squirrels leaping from branch to branch symbolizing that you may need to take a leap of faith, or you might simply hear the laughter of a child. All reminders to your heart and to your soul. 

Embrace them with your listening heart.

My Little Bliss...

If you are here for the Fly Tribe blog hop and want to learn how to win a spot in Kelly Rae Roberts' upcoming Flying Lessons e-course click here. You only have until April 27th.

I am linking up with Liv Lane today and her Little Bliss List. I am really enjoying sharing what has brought me happiness and joy this past week with you. The real truth is that it makes me more aware throughout the week, more grateful, more positive, more present. I love it! 

1. I helped a fellow flyer with a few questions the other day and she called me Wonder Woman. I smiled, it is what Superman (my partner) calls me. Too funny! I love knowing that I've helped someone else - it touches my heart.

2. I've been seeing Dragonflies everywhere. Now seeing them in the park is common but there are so many right now. Earlier this week I had one follow me while took a walk at lunch and I wasn't in the park. I was on Madison Avenue and 32nd Street - no where near Central Park. The universe speaks to us in amazing ways if we are tuned in. To me dragonflies signify change and living in the moment. Dragonflies only fly for a few months of their lives so I need to remember to enjoy the ride and not get caught up in the what will be.

Look close, and past the city street garbage, after it followed me for a few blocks the dragonfly landed at my feet in the upper right corner on the metal edge line of the curb. Amazing.

3. It really is the little things that mean the most: 

a cup of coffee delivered to my desk as I struggled with a project at my day job, 

the man who helped me into a cab after I went grocery shopping alone after work, 

a friend calling just to see how I was feeling, 

another friend emailing with the same concern, 

Superman's unconditional love and support, 

and kitten snuggles.

4. Hanging out with girlfriends at our non-book club night out. We used to be a book club but life has just gotten in the way and we don't have the time to read as much any more so we just get together for drinks, good food, and great company.

5. I am having so much fun receiving postcards from the Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap. My first postcard is from the lovely Lorinda who often pops in here and leaves sweet comments. So much fun to receive a card from someone that I know.  You can find her photos, art, and warm words here.

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I hope your week is filled with blissful moments.

Fly Tribe Blog Hop - Giving Back

Welcome to the Fly Tribe Blog Hop.  (Read to learn how you could win a spot in Kelly Rae Roberts' e-course Flying Lessons.)

One year ago I participated in Kelly Rae Roberts' Flying Lessons e-course.  I can honestly say that since then my life has not been the same.

I am a photographer, jewelry designer, and artist with a full-time day job. I took Kelly Rae's course to begin a dream, learn about the online art community, and live a more creative life. I gained so much more. I found a community of creative women that have touched my soul, shared my celebrations, hugged me when times were difficult, and encouraged my dream. 

When a fellow flyer recommended that we join together and give another creative artist the chance to take Flying Lessons for free - I decided to pay it forward and participate by donating. 

I was raised in a small community in Wisconsin, a town of 5,000 people. While growing up my family was always involved in the community (they still are), whether with my church, raising funds for a charity, volunteering at events, or simply helping a neighbor build a garage or fix their house - the list is endless. And, it is second nature to me. 

So much so, that for more than thirteen years I worked directly for some very wonderful charities as a fundraiser and now I work for a fundraising consultant company and help many charities via my day job. 

As an artist, I pay it forward by inspiring others with little bits of flower power kindness which I leave in public places in NYC. In hopes of making someone smile. 

Each Fall, my day job hosts a weekend volunteer trip to help fix up homes for people who can't afford to fix them. We spend 3 days roofing, siding, building, renovating, and anything else that needs to get done. Last year I had a great time and am looking forward to doing it again this year.

I am so excited that not just one of you but 16 of you will have the opportunity to participate in Kelly Rae Roberts' next and last Flying Lessons e-course. You will learn so much about having an online presence as an artist, about blogging, selling your art online, and you will also meet like minded creative souls. 

So, leave a message on my blog (I'd love to hear from you), hop around to the other participants who helped make this all possible (the links are below the photo), and then click over to the Fly Tribe blog, read the post, and leave a comment for a chance to be one of the lucky who get to attend for free.  Oh, and at some moment in the future when you have the chance to pay it forward or give back (however you want to look at it) please give, give, give...it feels so good.

I leave you with a bit of sidewalk art my a well known New Yorker, James De La Vega, who walks the streets and inspires us. 

Janet Forrest http://www.tatterednworn.wordpress.com

Cat Athena Louise http://www.catathenalouise.com

Stacey Bockness Curry http://starhitchedwagon.blogspot.com/

Kris Lanae Binsfeld http://cherishdesigns.wordpress.com/

Renee Burke http://happilyeverafterbyreneeburke.wordpress.com

Mary Sterk http://www.justmarydesigns.com

Michelle Reynolds http://www.shellsinthebush.com

Constance Rawlins http://livingwithinyourharvest.com/2012/08/19/fly-tribe-anniversary/

Kelly Hoernig  http://www.kellyhoernig.blogspot.com

Cindy Jones Lantier http://www.lantier.org

Kathleen Conard http://newfromoldcreations.blogspot.com/2012/08/giving-back.html

Claudia Dow http://www.claudiadow.blogspot.com 

Susan M. Walls-Beverly http://susanscharmingtrinkets.blogspot.com/2012/08/flying-lessons-and-art-of-giving-back.html

Linda Barutha http://baruthadesigns.com

Linda Kinnaman http://lindakaysart.com/blog/2012/08/19/my-dream-journey-one-year-now/

Cheryl Dossey http://www.cheryldossey.com/

Sofia Dabalsa http://sofiadabalsa.blogspot.com

Jill Lambert http://jill-lambert.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-spirit-of-giving.html

Sally Rose http://sallyhow2.blogspot.com/

Ursula Smith http://EasyScraps.com/blog

Deborah Eaton http://www.deborahgeaton.com/blog/

Lori Leissner  http://www.leissnerart.com/2012/08/giving-thanks-giving-back-giving-flight.html

Creative Clearinghouse http://creativeclearinghouse.com/Online-Class-Reviews/blog/Ursula-Creative-Clearinghouse

Lenore Angela http://www.lenoreangela.blogspot.ca/

Katharina Star http://www.blog.katharinastar.com

Rachél Payne http://wp.me/pWRyw-10P

Sherry Richert Belul  http://www.simplycelebrate.net/cherry-blossom-soup/gifts

Deborah Velasquez http://deborahvelasquez.blogspot.com/

Shannon Etnyre http://www.livingwithumami.com

Live Laugh Love Retreats http://livelaughloveretreats.com

Kelley Miller Artworks http://kelleymillerartworks.blogspot.com/

Wini Dougall http://artloveandjoy.blogspot.com

Carol Bray http://theredpaintedcottage.blogspot.com 

Tracy Yarbrough http://chickpeastudio.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-spirit-of-giving.html

Diane Enright  http://dianeenrightphotography.wordpress.com/

Jamie Burch http://www.dancingdownserendipitystreet.blogspot.com/

Mary Cottingham http://www.barnbugstudio.blogspot.com

Susan Dietz http://flutterbeforeyou.blogspot.com

Kim Hyer http://www.apaperaddict.com

Tina Carlborg http://www.tinachicky.blogspot.com

Catherine Pistone  http://catherinepistone.blogspot.com/

Mary MacIlvain http://maryart.macilvain.com/

Carolyn Chenault http://carolynchenault.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/the-big-giveaway

Thanks for visiting!

Sunday Snippets - My Week in Pictures

A glimpse at my week in pictures...

I'm linking up with tinniegirl this week...I'm letting my pictures tell my story.

Thanks for visiting!

Art Journaling Pages - WOYWW

Over the weekend I visited Little Bird Creations and spent Sunday afternoon art journaling and learning different techniques and honestly how to use my dylusions inks. Thus, my desk is pretty bare today.

Living in a small apartment with 2 cats means that I need store my art supplies on shelves and not on the desk top. So, they hide here (and in many other boxes and locations).

Here are a couple of my pages.  Michelle at Little Bird Creations not only taught me about ghosting with the dylusions inks but also about adding texture using different mediums. She had great stamps and stencils for us to use. 

The page below is probably my favorite. I love the tights, the dictionary page that she gave me contained the work allow so it and it's definition made my page. And, I love the stamp across the bottom.  I believe that this page will be adapted and will become a page in The Sketchbook Project journal that I am working on.

 What have you been working on?  Have you tried something new?

I'm linking up with Julia over at Stamping-Ground so hop on over and visit a few other desks to see what is on their desks.

Shared Message from the Universe - Be Fearless

It is my belief that messages from the universe speak to me and remind me of something that is inside of me. When I first see them, I often don't even know what is really being advertised. Instead, the message conjures emotions or thoughts relating to something that is going on within me; in my heart, in my mind, in my soul. I see them on billboards, in magazines, store windows, church plaques...everywhere.

I secretly call them soul whispers.

The messages are all around us

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As the tides change...

Be Fearless

I walked past this store window on the Upper West Side yesterday, smiled, and turned around to capture this photo.

As I walked to catch the bus home I kept thinking about the word fearless.

Fearless:  showing a lack of fear

Fear:  an unpleasant emotion of impending danger, pain, evil...real or imagined

Synonyms:  brave, bold, daring

I had just left an art journaling workshop that I discovered via meetup.com.  I am new to art journaling and wanted to gain a few new techniques.  And, yes, I've done a few classes online, I've watched youtube videos, and honestly I really wanted that feeling of learning while being surrounded by others who were doing the same thing. I wanted the community.  So, I signed up not knowing anyone else in the group and had a great time.

This message from the universe, in my opinion, affirmed my very big step to Be Fearless. 

 I took a risk.

 I signed up. 

I went to a place where I knew no one. 

I was fearless. 

I am so happy that I did. I gained some knowledge, had a really wonderful time, and now feel a little more confident in moving forward with my art journaling and The Sketchbook Project.

So, I want to encourage you today to do one thing that requires you to Be Fearless. 

Just one. 

I know you can do it.

Be Fearless

Sunday Snippets

My week in pictures...

I am linking up with Tinniegirl this weeks and her Sunday Snippets. 

I am letting the pictures tell my story.

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - WOYWW

 I am linking up with Julia over at Stamping Ground for WOYWW - What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday.  It has been a few weeks since I played along. 

This is what my desk looks like.

I have signed up to participate in The Sketchbook Project 2013. 

I received my sketchbook a few months ago and it has sat on my desk in the envelope that it was mailed in ever since. 

This is what I've been afraid of...the blank page. 

I manifested my own fears...what if I mess it up, what if it looks awful, what if... what if...what if...

Well, if you look back at the first picture on left side there are 2 containers of gesso, one white and one black. That is my answer to all my what if fears. 

So what, I'll paint over it.  I have all of the fun tools to play with so I might as well just start by making the a few of the pages not blank. 

By the way, if you look really close at the barcoded label on the left my name is printed on the back of my sketchbook. So fun! 

I am so happy to say that I just started. I used dylusion spray inks, layered a few cardboard letters and made the page green.  I have 5 pages that are no longer blank. They aren't finished but they aren't blank.

My fear is less by just simply adding a single layer of color to a few pages I made it less scary. 

Now to play with all those fun art supplies that I have and create an art journal that I am going to share with the world. A few doodles, a few photographs added in here and there, some of my messages from the universe sprinkled in, and before I know it my sketchbook will be full.

I'll continue to share my progress during the next couple of months.

Do me a favor today and choose one of the things that is scary for you today and just begin. Take one step forward to making it less scary. Those 'what ifs' that live in your head are really only in your head so begin today so that you let them go. xoxo

I promise that you'll feel better and be more joyful if you just begin.

Hop over to Stamping Ground today and visit a few more desks.

Don't forget to visit my friend, Rachél Payne's website to learn more about her fabulous upcoming e-course Touch the Moon. 

Shared Message from the Universe - Perseverance

It is my belief that messages from the universe speak to me and remind me of something that is inside of me. When I first see them, I often don't even know what is really being advertised. Instead, the message conjures emotions or thoughts relating to something that is going on within me; in my heart, in my mind, in my soul. I see them on billboards, in magazines, store windows, church plaques...everywhere.

I secretly call them soul whispers.

The messages are all around us

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If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram then this picture will look familiar. Superman and I took a  walk on Saturday to beat the heat and see the hundreds of dogs that get walked early in the morning in Central Park. On our way there we past this and I, of course, had to have a picture.

The universe has been sending me messages without words lately. In my opinion, it is insisting that I be present more. 

The other day while lying in the grass enjoying the sky a squirrel jumped from one tree to another. No fear but knew that it was the shortest distance from he was to where he wanted to be and he just went for it. Maybe I need to trust and leap a little bit more but that is another post. Today, the message from these little fungi.

Perseverance: steady persistence in a course of action.

This grate surrounds a beautiful tree in Manhattan. All of these little mushrooms were growing up through the grate. Their stark white bodies against the rusty grate were beautiful. 

As I walked away, I just couldn't get over how there were so many. How they had grown in an environment that is not their normal environment. 

Where there's a will there's a way.

Keep fighting for what you want.

The artist in me needed to be reminded of this. 

Perseverance

Often, my stressful day job and my daily fibromyalgia pain can drag me down.  Combine these with a lack of patience and I then feel stuck. This results in me not moving forward, who am I kidding, not moving at all. 

Thank you, Universe, for reminding me that I need to persevere. I need to keep fighting for what I want. I need to keep going. 

So, I want to encourage you to not give up, 

to keep moving forward,

 to fight for what you want, 

to become who you want to be, 

to embrace perseverance as you enjoy the journey and live your dream.

What message has the universe recently shared with you? 

Sunday Color Snippets - Red at the Green Market

The joyous reds of summer at the Green Market at Union Square, NYC.

Little Bliss

I am linking up with Liv Lane today and her Little Bliss List. I am really enjoying sharing what has brought me happiness and joy this past week with you. The real truth is that it makes me more aware throughout the week, more grateful, more positive, more present. I love it!


1. Thank you to all of you for your warm wishes and kind comments during my past few weeks of fibromyalgia flare pain. I have started to feel better the past few days and will hopefully continue on this upswing. Your kindness warms my heart and your words of encouragement brought a wave of smiles to my face. Thank you!

2. The joys of a kitten. Java has been a handful mostly because or our expectations. We thought we were adopting a small 3 year old cat but surprise she's a kitten, 10 months old. During the past 3 months she's made great strides: she know her name, plays fetch, follows me around, and recently has chosen to not always bite and chase Tucker. Here they are enjoying the view out our 4th floor window. (photo by Superman)

3. I received my Moo postcards for Kat Sloma's Liberate Your Art postcard swap. I am giddy with joy at how well they turned out. I chose to print my favorite photo of my Cold Morning Horse. I can't wait to receive some postcard love. I so enjoy to receive handwritten cards and letters.


4. I feel so blessed to be a part of Rachél Payne's Touch the Moon e-course.    I will be guest posting about my soul whispers aka messages from the universe and intuition. Visit her website to learn more about this magical adventure about the moon, creativity and art. Make sure to register. It all starts on August 27th and runs through October 31st to coincide with the Blue Moon and the Full Moon that occur during this time. Enjoy and I'll see you there!

I hope you have a bliss filled week.

Click the button below and visit the link party and share the love with a few other blogs. Get inspired and remember what brought you bliss and touched your heart this past week.

Photo-Heart Connection - July

I snapped this picture recently on a weekend in Central Park. 

The bride and groom were walking around the park with the wedding party, parents, and the photographers capturing moments and posing for pictures.

I'm the type of person that prefers to capture the unexpected rather than the posed image.

 I love to capture photos of brides in Central Park.

I captured this moment as they walked past me and were laughing about something and grinning ear to ear.

 I was honestly more captivated by the way she held her dress up and the fact that she was wearing her heels. (I would have been wearing converse sneakers or cowboy boots.)

There are a million stories that I could make up about the couple but they are mystery to me as I only saw them for a moment. May they have a lifetime of happiness.

This photo makes me smile as I imagine their joyous life together.

I am linking up with Kat at Kat Eye Studio and her Photo Heart Connection today. Each month she asks us to review the photos that we have taken during the past month and select the photo that speaks to our heart. Please visit her blog and stalk the other participants posts - the photos are amazing and the stories that have been written about them are touching.