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.

A Creative Weekend

I made 6 new journals this weekend. It felt good to be creating like that. Friday, I had taken the day off and went to the leather store. I love that place! Next weekend will be full of family time and going to the balloon festival!

My class starts in 2 weeks and I've never been more ready! The link to the information is at the top right column of this blog. Please let me know if you have any questions.

I'm tired today, as I didn't sleep well last night. So tonight will be an early bedtime for me, I function best when I'm well rested. What will today bring for you? Did you receive any inspiration over the weekend? Has the universe been speaking to you?

It's been shouting at me. Doors have been flying open and I'm doing all I can to enter them! I am now wondering if this has been happening all along and I've just ignored it, or if I'm finally ready so this is now happening. I think it's more than now I'm listening!

Self-Care

Today is my day off. My plan was to sleep in. I made it to 6am. But that's an hour later than I usually get up during the week. I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to make some journals! I've been very cautious to not make too many plans for this weekend. If I have the energy and am feeling well, I'll make plans as I go.

I have 3 custom journals to make this weekend, and one will hopefully make me learn more about working with fimo clay. I'm all about learning new things! I've written in the past about how driven I am. I have to be moving forward at all times--either learning new things, making things, planning, preparing, even cleaning. I am always about forward movement, and that is what makes me nuts when I don't feel well and get slowed down.

So, this weekend, I will have forward movement, but I will also practice excellent self-care. I will get good sleep, I will eat healthy, and I won't push my body to do things that it's not up for. I do hope that it will allow my creativity as a reward.

Time's a ticking! Class starts July 5. The first week will be about intros, personal stories, beginning journaling, and a group chat. So you do not have to be available right on July 5. See details here, and don't forget to sign up!

Allergies Slowing Me Down

This is a custom journal I made for a lady in Australia. It's on it's way to her today! I have 2 more custom journals to make tomorrow. I really enjoy doing custom work because it makes me learn new things. I learned how to brand leather for this one, as she wanted her initials on it. I also learned what type of glue to use to affix a button back to a rock. Learning is good! If there's something special you'd like, just let me know!

I'm pretty anti drugs. I don't like pharmaceuticals swimming through my body. This time of year, however, I always ending up going to my doctor because my allergies get so bad. I feel like a walking drug store and it makes me tired. Today, in addition to allergy meds and nasal spray, I'm taking pills for a UTI... my body does not like all of this! When I'm not feeling well, my body wants to sleep... sleep and heal until I do feel well. But with my busy-ness that really hasn't been an option.

Tomorrow, however, I'm taking the day off. I am going to sleep in. I am going to get caught up on my custom orders. I am going to rest too though. I need to heal so that I'm at 100% for my upcoming class! This class is going to be life-altering. Both to myself, and to the people who choose to take it with me! We start on July 5, so it's not to late! For more details, go here.

Create

This journal will be listed in my shop today. I'm having such a good time creating new and inspiring journals! This one has a goddess button for the closure and the word "Create" branded on it.

I personally feel much more... alive? happy? fulfilled? yeah, pretty much all of those when I'm creating. When I'm pursuing the things I enjoy, and when they bring something to other's lives... that just makes it all the more amazing!

That is part of what I will touch on in my upcoming class. Besides getting your creativity flowing, but how to keep creating things you love despite crazymakers in your life. Despite the people who say they support you but who will do anything they can to stand in the way of your creativity. As artists, we need to be selfish at some points. We need to take that time to fill our well. And as women, being selfish goes against everything we've been taught. So the first start of the battle is within. We are doing a tug of war.

What I will tell you at this point is that once you put that type of selfishness into practice (and it's not a bad thing, it makes you a more whole, happier person), then those around you will adjust and it will stop being a struggle. But, yes, what a battle it is to begin....

I do hope you'll join us for our class. It will begin July 5 and there is a link on the upper right column of this blog!

Feeling Icky

This picture shows how I feel today. Dark, cloudy... but the sun is still there :-). It is one of those days where I should just be able to stay home sick, but my boss is on a trip, so not only do I work all day, but I will run the show. Yay. I will take tons of vitamin c, some zinc, and take tea with me so I can drink hot tea all day.

I have been networking like mad, expanding my circle. And my dreams are seeming more and more real these days. Life is really good. I am going to beat this stupid head cold, and I'm going to dive in.

I don't really have anything else today. Please tell me something inspirational or exciting in your life. And don't forget to check out my online class... the link is at the upper right column of this blog.

Artist Empowerment Class

I have been on a mission for a few years now. I've been creative my whole life, flitting from craft to craft. Every time I'd fall short, I'd stop for awhile, then pick up something else later. But the biggest part of my mission started with this blog. I journalled through my struggles. I fought the urge to quit, time after time. And in the process of saving myself, I began helping others.

That process extends to friends, both in real life and online. I've been part of major brainstorming sessions that have led to greatness, I have helped others one on one when they were ready to walk away. I've eased their worries, empowered them, and they have gone on to be much happier and fulfilled in their art.

I've had this desire to help others most of my life, and it has transformed into an idea for an online class. I swam against the current to prepare for this class. I conquered my fears and am forging onwards. My Artist Empowerment Class is all about helping others do the same. Conquer the fear, create a circle of trust, block out those that you can't trust, learn the difference in dreams and goals, convert goals to dreams, give yourself permission to succeed, and so much more!

I do hope you will join me on this journey! The class will be 6 weeks long, will begin July 5, 2010. The only absolutely necessary item you will need is a journal, and it can be any journal, as long as it has space to write in. This class will be $25, payable through paypal and I will have a payment button up soon.

Please contact me with any questions!

Inspired

I ran across this post by Kelly Rae Roberts earlier in the week and I've been absolutely inspired. Throughout the week, I've been compiling my own letter in my mind, and I am just about ready to write it.

I have a lot of intentions that I've talked to friends about. A life that I am working towards. Over the years, I've developed kind of a BS filter... maybe that's not the right word for it. Something that sends up red flags when I'm in toxic situation and I don't want that BS in my life. Those red flags get quite annoying when they pop up day after day, til I finally have to just get myself OUT of that situation.

So, my life is still a work in progress... I'm sure it always will be. But one of my major hopes is that the red flags can stop popping up so regularly.

I have decided that my Artist Empowerment Course will begin on July 5. I will post all the details in the next week or so.

What inspires you to make change? How are you creating the life you want?

Building

I feel more and more that I am building the life I want. I'm working towards the day to day that I want. I am surprised, much of the time, at how smooth a transition everything is.

However, right now I'm struggling. Struggling with "I-want-what-I-want-and-I-want-it-NOW". I struggle with patience, as you all know. I am working on it. And it is definitely work. Very hard work for me.

I have decided the class will begin very shortly after the 4th of July Holiday. Please email if you'd like more details (I can tell you what I'm pretty sure of so far), but I'm having a few problems with the hosting site, so I'm still ironing out a few things. And no-one wants to be committed to a brand new class right before a major holiday (assuming you are in the U.S.). My email is robynsart@live.com

So, I will keep building this life I want. And I will try to be patient. I will try to make my transitions gracefully. Do any of you have any advice for me on that?

So Excited!

I am not a patient person, though I am working on it every day. I want my 6 week class of artist empowerment goodness to start right now! I am so excited about the entire thing, and I want to make those connections with artists. I want to see everyone's creativity take off and flow like a rushing river. I will wait, I'm still figuring out the host site, figuring out how long it takes for invites to get to the students, etc. Ironing out the necessary technical stuff.

When I have my eye on something, it's generally all I can think of. I become obsessed, and I want to move at the speed of light. I learn patience, little by little.

This weekend, my oldest son graduates from high school. My first baby is going to pass into adulthood. He'll be 18 this month. Where in the world does time go? I'd speed up time for my class, but I'd slow it way down for the summer I am to have with my boys. Especially the oldest, who will most likely be joining the armed forces in the fall. I am a protector, and sending him somewhere that I can not protect him is difficult for me.

Anyway... watch for new stuff coming soon from me.

Plans

I had a very busy long weekend. I finalized my online class and have been testing out a couple of different sites to host it on. It will basically be an artist empowerment course, helping you deal with fear, roadblocks, etc. So you can have all the tools you need to forge onward despite people and circumstances around you! I was hoping to begin in the middle of June, but I want to make sure to iron all the bugs out prior, so I will keep you posted on that! My class will be 6 weeks long and the only thing you'll need is a journal. Any journal, to write down your ideas, answer questions, work through things, etc.

I've kept my photography going, hanging my work in local places... but it really isn't my focus these days. I haven't sold a photo in forever, and the photography market on etsy is pretty saturated. I also have the issue with trying to sell locally that everyone has photos of the same stuff. The waterfalls, the same beaches, etc. That fact reminds me of my dream to be a travel photographer.

I hope to have a book out in the next year or so... perhaps I can do my travel photography while on my book tour :-). I have dreams. I have plans. And I have goals.

What would you like to share today?

Inspiration

I chose this picture today because I wanted to tell you where I got the awesome bookmark in it. My friend Gloria makes these and they are wonderful! Check out her awesome work here!

Yesterday I was struck with some MAJOR inspiration regarding my class, and it got just a little closer to becoming reality! I will be brainstorming a ton this holiday weekend and moving towards the goal! I do hope that many of you will be joining me on this journey, I think it will be amazing!

I have been thinking alot about artist's and their fear. Fear of acceptance, fear of falling short, fear of not being good enough, but also fear of success. That will be covered in depth in my class (how's that for a *little* sneak preview??

I will also be working on some new journals this weekend, as that inspiration has struck me as well... isn't life amazing? How have YOU been inspired lately?

Percolating

So... I've been saying a lot lately about how I've been percolating. I feel the creativity bubbling up. I have not found a whole lot of time to create this week but that desire is there, and the ideas are coming.

I've been doing a lot of research for my online class. I have been writing down ideas, formulating a plan. And I've been doing some bookbinding site browsing too... gaining a lot of inspiration.

Expect some new stuff from me soon. Some new blog posts, new journals, new photos, and a new class. 2010 is going to be amazing. Who's with me on that?

Back to the Real World

I had an amazing weekend filled with good food, family, a concert, and an extra day off of work. Today, it's back to the real world, and it doesn't seem quite so bad because my week is already shorter!

I have felt for a few days like my creativity is percolating. Like it's bubbling up, and I'm going to overflow soon. I have so many dreams... so many goals... I'm going to start realizing them soon! I've been "nesting" the way an expectant mom does. Making sure there's quick and easy meals available, some stuff in the freezer that can be heated up. Preparing for when the muse strikes and I will be too busy to cook.

There are some new journals inside me, ready to get out. And my class... things are moving forward. Perhaps soon I'll even add some more photos to my shop. Speaking of photos... Until Sunday, May 30, I'm offering a BOGO free sale on my photos. Just order and pay for one photo from www.robynsart.etsy.com and add your free choice in notes at checkout. Easy peasy.

I hope that you too soon feel the percolating!

A Sneak Peek

Coming soon: A Robynsart Online Class! This class is tentatively titled "Mapping your Soul through Photos and Journaling". Subject to change :-)

Remember a couple weeks ago when I wrote about how I am saying yes? I am taking those chances. I learned yesterday that even when I say no, they still keep bugging me til I give in and say yes! This class has been like that. I first got the idea for this over a year ago. The idea is very persistent and it's will is to come to fruition. I'm finally at that point where I will listen to it... where I will do it.

There are a few other things going on in my life. Things that are simply telling me "this is what needs to be done" "you can NOT be happy until you do this" "psssst... THIS is a MUST for your journey". And, I am listening.

New Leather Colors! New Inspiration!

Sometimes the smallest thing can trigger inspiration. This week I have 3 new leather colors and inspiration has struck me hard. In addition to the new colors, friends have been contacting me for special orders, so that always pushes me to try new things.

Last night, I dreamed about journal making. Besides the ones available in my shop, I will be starting some one of a kind (OOAK) ones. These will come from my leather scrap bag and the leather piece will dictate the finished size, design, etc. Basically, I will be doing what the leather tells me.

I know how important it is to be in LOVE with your journal! And I fully believe that journaling is the way to map the soul. I want my creations to be able to help you with that process.

If you haven't checked out Connie's Art Journal Love Letters Class, I encourage you to do so. It's ongoing, so you haven't missed the beginning, and you can go at your own pace! Here is what one of her students says about Connie and her class.

I urge you to check her out. Miss Connie is amazing! And when you have a need for a journal to map your soul, I'd love to see you at my shop, www.robynsart.etsy.com!

Kari's giveaway ends tomorrow... she is giving away the most amazing ring. Check it out, and enter, HERE :-)