beauty that moves

cheers ~ it's the holidays! (and a sale)

You know, for a girl that was completely swept up in holiday spirit after a wild October snowstorm... I truly cannot believe it is now December!

I'm not ready - not that ready means anything over the top for me, I'm just so surprised that the holidays are indeed here.

It's time to take care of the making, wrapping, shopping, and giving! 

I so wanted to have new work to share with you and offer this holiday season; three pieces are currently in progress but none are complete. This is a little disappointing for me, but I do look forward to quietly finishing this run and sharing it as soon as I can.

The reality is, I'm busy right now. My whole family is busy!

Not in the 'busy' sense of having too many things scheduled, or from not taking the time to just pause and breathe (my favorite kind of nourishment). We're busy working on a project that I can't quite share the details of yet, but oh, I am very excited to do so in the new year. 

My apologies if this feels cryptic, it's just not the right time to tell all. But soon, oh so soon... I can't wait!

In the meantime, I don't want to let the holiday season pass us by without offering you a wonderful art sale! Perhaps you've had your eye on a print, or have someone on your list that would enjoy a gift from a small-time artist who enjoys lovely words, swirly patterns, and oodles of color. 

Holiday Art Sale!

December 2 ~ December 8

Buy Two Prints & Get One Free!

You can visit the shop today!

IMPORTANT - Please include the name of your third (free) print in "Note to Seller" upon checkout. Thank you!

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season! I do hope your days are filled with festive times, and a few moments of quiet pause as well. 

making art again

Those are not the correct words. I'm not sure why they wound up on the page like that. The words I wanted to put down were "please take responsibility for the energy you bring into this space." Better, yes?

It wasn't going well, that afternoon of drawing. Lines wouldn't go in the direction in the direction I intended, colors seemed to look terrible together, no matter what I tried, nothing came together. 

But I think I've turned a corner and I'm working on it the above idea... starting fresh and with the correct words. Actually, there are three new illustrations in the works. In a few weeks I'll be ready to share those with you. 

The ability to make art that I'm happy with (and more importantly, tells the story I'm trying to tell) comes in fits and spurts. Months go by where inspiration is absent, my beloved mojo is nowhere to be found... then seemingly out of nowhere a bright light shines down and I do nothing for days or weeks but draw and paint. 

Those are really good days.

I'm in one of those places right now. Things are clicking. Colors look pretty and swirly patterns are begging not to be erased. 

Now, if someone could just remind me to pay the bills, feed my family, and throw a load of laundry in once in a while, that would be very helpful. I'm looking forward to sharing this new bit of work with you soon. 

a special offer and a gift for you!

I had a little thought the other day... wouldn't it be fun to "bring a friend" to the 30 Day Vegan Workshop? You know, a sister, neighbor, mother, daughter or girlfriend that you know in real life, to share the experience with? 

In other words - how about a Buy One Get One opportunity? 

Such a fun, summery idea! The 30 Day Vegan Workshop is fun, interactive, grounding and revitalizing - a wonderful experience to share with a good friend.

 

It's Simple.

All you have to do is send me an email after you register (or include a note to me as you check out with paypal) with your guest's email so I can include them in the class list, and they will be fully enrolled. That's it! You can deicide if you'll treat them to the workshop (what a lovely gift), or split the cost between the two of you. 

One registration, two people! 

 

Already enrolled?

No problem! If there is someone you'd like to invite, please do so and send me their email once they've accepted your invitation. The only thing I ask (for new or existing registrants) is that your guest is interested. I don't want to spam anyone! 

Please email all guest requests to: 30dayvegan at gmail dot com

Sound Fun? Register today! This offer will expire in one week. 

 

And... a gift for you!

It's hot out there friends. Too hot to move much, unless it's in circles around a swimming hole. (And I've committed to 90 days of P90X, not sure I have the best timing.) So when I'm not sweating like crazy, I'm in front of the fan with my book or my pens -reading, drawing and coloring are just about the only things getting accomplished over here. Not so bad, right? Would you like to color too? 

I drew this coloring page as a gift to the participants of my last workshop, it seems like a nice and mellow summer activity to share with you all. Print one for yourself today... enjoy!

Download Bloom 

Stay cool friends...

weekly wrap-up

Good morning! I'm feeling like a series of random thoughts today...

:: Have you been following Tsh's series at Simple Mom about Working From Home? I've been devouring every word! Today, she shares her daily/weekly routine - and within the post you can take a peek at what it's like behind the scenes as a writer at Simple Living Media. The first time I stepped into the beautifully organized all access pass as a Simple Homeschool writer, I swooned over the editorial calendars, style guides, html codes, etc... and I immediately understood why Tsh is so successful. Aside from her timely, inspired ideas, she works hard! It looks like she may have a Blogging 101 Webinar in the works, if interested (does not mean you are committing) you can fill out this form. Imagine, a class with Tsh about blogging and working as a writer... looking forward to this for sure.

:: My Art Shop has re-opened with a small selection of prints. A few people have inquired about the Good Teaching print as end of the year teacher gifts. I've also listed a new print, Grace in the Turnaround. I shared the intention behind the drawing in this post from the winter, goodness that was a special moment for me. So glad to finally be offering this to you. Shipping envelopes are on order and prints will begin shipping from my home at the end of next week. 

:: I changed the blog around a little. New banner, new and larger font. Tell me, is the font too huge? I don't want it to feel as though I'm shouting at you. My nearing middle age eyesight has been having trouble lately reading smaller print on blogs and websites (even with glasses). Next stop for me, the large print section of the library!

:: Made Heidi's Little Quinoa Patties for the second time. I think they are going to be in the weekly rotation over here. So good. 

:: Just found out there will be a Race to Nowhere screening in my town! Looking forward to that on May 31st.

:: Loving the David Rawlings and Gillian Welch Tiny Desk Concert on NPR. Ruby (the second song) is so pretty. Makes me weep with it's beauty.

:: You are the best. I just wanted you to know that. Your presence and support here adds so much to my day, thank you. 

:: This weekend includes two soccer games, one first communion, time outdoors with my family, and the pleasure of teaching a nutrition module to a group of yoga teachers in training. It was requested that I teach the class "from a yogic perspective." Ahh, yes... 

All good...

And what is on tap for you this weekend?

just what i needed to hear

A few weeks ago, I had one of those parenting moments that left me feeling less than proud of how I handled a situation. We've all had them. It wasn't momentous by most standards, but afterward, I was left thinking "seriously, who's the child here...?"

And so what did I do? I spouted off an email to my husband at work claiming to be the worst person in the world - a complete idiot who must be responsible for all the world's pain and suffering. Nice, huh? Such drama.

His response to me could have been a standard "Oh honey, I'm sure it wasn't that bad... you're probably over-reacting... it's just a bad day... it'll be okay... this too shall pass... yada yada yada."

But no, there was nothing cliche in his response. I opened up his email, and nestled within a warm, genuine note to me, I read these words...

Damn.

Knock me over with a feather.

Okay then.

Will do.

Thank you, love.

(Then I grabbed my pens and captured the moment in one of the best ways I know how.)