A Found Hour

Yesterday at work drained me. I felt like I had been run over by a train. I opted for takeout dinner, so it would be quick, and I had a journal to make and orders to package. I yearned to write, but had accepted the fact that I most likely wouldn't have time.

However, I worked quite efficiently and had a spare hour. Oh joy! I got a little further in my story. I was able to move forward, and that mean the world to me. It's getting difficult to work full time and write, because all I want to do is write. someday. No. SOMEDAY. I will have the time to write. Putting that intention out there right now.

I've been involved in this thing called "The Receiving Project" where, for 32 days, you make note of the gifts you receive. It's only been 3-4 days, and I've received so much. Like my hour to write last night. Kind words from a friend when I most needed them, a new friend who I'm getting to know, and she is quite amazing. I find myself surrounded by artists.

In talking with artists, I'm still amazed that I have so much to offer them. I gain so much from our talks, and the connections we make, but when they go out of their way to tell me something, or thank me for a comment... I am just like "Wow!" Life is good. What have you been receiving?

All Good Things Come to an End

Last night was a bittersweet night. It was the last class chat for my first Artist Empowerment Class. I had the pleasure of leading a group of 9 amazing women.

I've posted a few testimonials on the class info site, which you can click on to the right, but here's another I received:

I feel so honored to have been a participant in this course. Even though my busy schedule can be hard to manage, Robyn made it easy to stay involved. The easy to follow format also made it easy for me to catch up on things I had missed. I loved the online chats! I think the chats really brought the group together and because of that we really bonded! Do I feel empowered? Yes, more than ever! As an artist finally taking the step to go full time into an art career, this course came at a crucial time for me. Most of the time, I am the one who gets in my own way and I found that this course kept me focussed and grounded every week. Will there be a part II to this course? If so, I would love to continue the work I have started.


I am also fine tuning every aspect of the class for the next one (Starting September 13), so each one will be better and better! I do hope that you will join me! It's an amazing experience.

Let me tell you a little about my students this past time. There was a bath and body/hemp artist, a jewelry artist who opened her own gift shop, a jewelry/fiber artist who recently quit her day job to be an artist, a painter/seamstress/all-around crafter, a baker/seamstress, and so many more... this class was a perfect fit for all of them, regardless of their craft and where they were at in their lives. So, this class is also for you! I hope to see you there!

Concern

I woke up this morning concerned. Concerned that I wasn't reaching far enough out with the advertising for my class. The class starts next Monday, and I will hold registration open through Tuesday. And in the meantime, I'm trying to figure out how to spread the word. I believe in this class *that* much! Every artist I know struggles with fear, deals with hurdles, and has crazymakers who try to stand in the way of their success.

This clas addresses all of those. And so much more. The link is at the top right column for a bit more information. Please read all the comments on that post as well for further answers. I hope you'll join us, and please help me get the word out.

Let's Get Empowered!

It's Friday and we have an amazing weekend ahead of us. I will be meeting an online friend at a balloon festival. I'm hoping the balloon festival will provide a lot of photo opportunities.

There is a little over a week before my online class begins. I've already had many people sign up, but wanted to make sure to mention it so that all who are able can seize the opportunity. The class will help you to deal with those crazymakers in your life. It will help you to keep your art safe and sacred. Help you to conquer fear, convert your dreams into goals and accomplish them!

It doesn't matter WHAT your art is! Perhaps you knit or crochet. Perhaps you are a writer. A soapmaker. A jewelry designer. A painter. A photographer. Perhaps you dabble in many. Perhaps you have been hoping for a supportive web to encase you. This class will help you. Maybe you are the one who gets bogged down with taking care of everyone else, never leaving time to pursue YOUR dreams. Do this for yourself!

I do hope that you join us! Class will begin on July 5 (though you do NOT have to be present on that day, as I know many of you will be busy). Please click on the link in the upper right column for more information.

What is Brave?

An online friend yesterday had some issues. Her feelings had been hurt by a group of artists. She felt like she had no support. When I don't feel supported, I withdraw, I curl up, I think of all the reasons I'm not *worthy* of that support. But this friend is brave. She worked up the courage to confront this group.

What is brave? Brave is the artist who takes those blows and keeps on creating. Brave is the mother of a toddler who protects her child at the playground. Brave is the person who stands up to that bully and sees them for what they really are. Brave is someone willing to bare their soul for what they believe in.

I challenge you to do something BRAVE today!

Brainstorming is good!

Yesterday was a very creative day, as far as planning goes. I was brainstorming ideas for my shop a few different times yesterday with online friends and they had some of the most amazing suggestions!! I'll be trying out all the ideas very soon, and will let you know when I've listed them!

One of the ideas was to make journals that are aimed more towards children. I've always just thought before that you know, kids could just use the ones I already make. But I will be coming out with some that have more playful covers on them, and one for the Harry Potter fans out there, not using that name directly, of course, but with a "wand". Another will feature silk fibers from a spinner I know embedded in homemade paper on the cover! Oh, and one of her homemade knitting needles as either the spine or the closure. Yep, I'm going to be working out the details of closures and stuff soon.

Creativity is good... and round-table discussions where artists toss ideas at one another--that's amazing! I've spent a lot of time in a cave. When I was a stay at home mom, married to a man in the air force, I kept to myself. Only after we separated did I go to a weekly writers meeting a few times, and once I even presented one of my poems! Those meetings, with critiques and comments flying, were such a rush. Yesterday reminded me of that.

I've always had a dream. Of living in an artist's community. Where interaction with creative people is a constant. In my dream world, this would make for such a happy existence! And in a sense, I'm living it now more than ever! Today I urge you... if you have a project that you're in the middle of, or even if you're just thinking about starting one... discuss it with someone you trust. Toss around ideas! Take notes, get input! See where it takes you.

TGIF... really

So this has been a pretty lazy week, besides work. I come home and the evenings and do very little. I've just been wiped out. It did make me realize something, though. Prior to my trip, I was busy every waking moment. Preparing stuff for my shop, getting everything ready for my trip... a not enough hours in the day kinda busy. Now, I come home and my shop is full... there have been no orders to ship... and I'm feeling lazy. But what it made me realize was that when I'm not busy constantly, I don't feel like I'm contributing.

The photo above was taken by my father. It's the awesome Utah sky, probably during a sunset. I love seeing through my father's eyes.

International Women's Day is Sunday. Two women I'd like to mention today are Rowena and Natasha. Natasha's blog can be found here. And that is also a link to an article she wrote about Rowena. I've been following Rowena for quite awhile now and she is amazing. She has 2 small children and is still the most productive artist that I know. Consistently productive... a LOT can be said about that! Natasha, I've just met recently, but her spirit shows through in all she says and does... Please go check it out, and after you read about Rowena, poke through Natasha's blog for awhile. There's a LOT going on over there!

So. I am very glad it's Friday. And, by the way, I've started adding some of my Utah photos to my Etsy shop. My shop can be found here.

International Women's Day

I learned from my friend Connie that this Sunday is International Women's Day. And in honor of that, I'll be mentioning amazing women that I know for the rest of the week.

I have met so many amazing women online, through Etsy and in blog land. You can read about them in artisan interviews, or follow my links at the bottom of this blog. I have been struck by their perserverance and creativity. In these times, I know we are all touched by this economy. Yet these women find ways to hold their heads high and trudge onward.

I never really knew my mom as a person (she was bedridden by the time I was 9), but I've heard many stories about her. I remember green pancakes and her dying her hair green for St. Patrick's day. My dad told me stories about her that reflected a cunning sense of humour. I am the youngest of 5 children and I will always think of her as an amazing woman.

When I was in Utah lately, I seemed to be surrounded by women... and future women. Each and every one of them had qualities that made them utterly amazing. Women seem (in my opinion) to be the ones to pick up the pieces. To mend things together when they fall apart. We bring life, we nurse the ill. Each and every one of us brings a different personality to the table, but in the huge quilting bee of life, we are there, sewing our stories, our families... right into our families histories.

I read a book about Anne Sexton a couple of years ago. She was a poet who committed suicide. The book was written by her daughter. Anne had been plagued by mental illness for years before taking her own life. Yet her daughter was able to honour her mother with this book. The book told stories, and the stories were not always in the best light... for Anne or for her family. But as women, we can see the ugly, the intolerable, the difficult-- and still see love, courage, awesomeness.

I encourage all of you to check out Connie's blog to read more about International Women's Day. And honour those women in your life.

Only 9 more days TGIF

Wow... this trip is really sneaking up on me! It doesn't help my stress level that I will be out of town all this weekend. But I will be prepared. A relaxing weekend away from home may be just what I need.

I do have a lot to do prior to my trip... but I'll list it out and check it off. Not a big deal.

My friend Connie has been doing an artist's talk radio show for a couple of weeks now. She has all the details on her blog! I have listened to the archived shows, and there's some good stuff going on over there! Hopefully one of these days I will be free on a Sunday and can listen to it live, and maybe even call in and interact! I do urge you to check her out! I think it's amazing that we can listen to her show even if we are not free at the time it airs! Connie is doing a beautiful job of promoting fellow artists. She is an amazing woman!

Today will be spent preparing for my trip... well, both of them. And applying for an art show. And promoting my shop. And talking with the CCA. Yay!!

I hope all of you are having a wonderful day!