Loving Messy

The recycle bin is becoming my favorite hot spot for finding perfect painting tools. Nothing around this house is safe from my paints!

As I continue making art every day, I am having a lot of fun being really messy. The more I paint, the messier I get. Feeling freer in my painting has allowed me to reflect on "control" and what that symbolizes in my life. Having Kestan has definitely been a great practice for me in letting go and not taking life so seriously. It's pretty hard to feel "in control" when I've got an almost 2-year-old calling the shots. And how can I be that serious when one of our favorite activities is playing with the fart machine? Now that's some quality homeschooling right there.

This painting acts as my reminder that I don't always have to feel "in control", and that lots of good can come from being messy. I am allowing myself to stress less, clean less, PLAY more and it feels amazing.

Your Personal Reflection: When do you let yourself get messy? Do something really messy today, and leave the mess for a while. Seriously, enjoy being a little out of control. Do something really messy...play in the mud, eat with your hands, finger paint, start a food fight... See how you feel when you allow yourself to stay in the mess.

Being Free

"Being free, living free, feeling free" has been a mantra of mine lately. Here is an intuitive journal entry I created this week with these words in mind.

Today, I celebrate the aliveness I feel, my friends and family, and the awareness of my breath. For me, feeling free is setting the intention to go deeper. The deeper I go, the more authentic I am, and the freer I feel.

Your Personal Reflection: When do you feel the most free?

Trust

Today I played around with monoprinting. I love the element of surprise. I also love that I can't be attached to the outcome, because I have no idea how it's going to turn out.

This painting reminds me to open my heart. Be still. Ask questions. Feel the answers.

Trust. Trust. Trust....

Your Personal Reflection: Right now, stop. Give yourself one minute of stillness. Take a breath. Ask yourself a question. Close your eyes. Feel the answer. Breathe.

Facing the Blank Page

For my art every day challenge, I painted this simple tree today. It is my visual reminder of how creatively alive and connected to the source I feel when I allow myself to slow down and be fully present. I can imagine myself laying peacefully underneath the branches, while soaking in the sun's warmth.

When I first stepped foot in the studio this morning, the paints, brushes, white paper and quiet space felt a little intimidating. They told me to go find something "easier" to do, like cleaning the kitchen or starting a grocery list, or reorganizing the art room (again). I chose to ignore those voices and instead, I stayed there, BEING in the space. Breathing in the stillness. Not sure where to go. Feeling a little uncomfortable.

And in this uncertain space I found myself drawn to this painting that my toddler, Kestan, created a few months back.
Look at how free his brush strokes are. I love how vibrantly alive it feels.

His painting became my inspiration today. It helped me face the blank page. It reminded me that I, too, can let my brush strokes free, and that playing with paint, without being attached to any particular outcome, allows me to create from an authentic place. I'm very happy that I chose space, rather than filling it with my "to do" list. Because it's in the SPACE that the true magic happens.

Your Personal Reflection: When do you let "should's", "have to's" and self-generated "to do lists" keep you from doing what you love most?

Creative Recycling

Just as I was about to make my way to the art store for a new paint holder, I found a much better solution.

Your Personal Reflection: How can you look at the "ordinary" in a new way?

Become a Bold Explorer of Your Life

I love getting my hands dirty. When I make art, I make a mess. I can't help myself. And the messier I get, the better I feel. Just seeing chalk or paint or glue on my hands sets my creative energy on fire! I become totally IN the moment. I feel connected. I feel alive.

Today for my "art every day month" challenge, I started sketching logos for my upcoming e-course. With some white paper, a couple of brushes and black paint, I played around with some rough doodles.

I'm so excited to be at this stage of my class preparation, because although I've been focusing on developing it since June, it has truly been in the works most of my creative life, and I'm SO excited to share it with you.

This soul e-course is 4-weeks long, running from January 18th - February 12th. It's a wonderful opportunity to discover more about YOU, release old fears, celebrate new dreams, nurture your creativity, and will inspire you to express your vibrant brilliance more fully into the world.

Inside Out™:

A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery through Personal Art Journaling

We are living during some challenging times. Fear, worry, anxiety, and confusion can make us feel completely depleted and stuck. NOW is the time to become a BOLD explorer of your life.

In this course you will:
*connect with a like-minded, supportive community
*deeply learn more about yourself

*set powerful intentions for a new year (and a new life!)
*discover thought patterns and learn techniques to fully expand to your greatness
*define your values, creative & life goals, and learn how to take action to make them real
*play with paint, doodle, collage and more, turning a blank journal into your vibrant guidebook
*receive personal life and creativity coaching

*feel more creative, more clear, more alive

*participate at your own pace and in the comfort of your own home

You will receive:
*weekly guided meditations (audio podcasts)
*daily writing exercises, art prompts and self-discovery techniques & inspiration
*yoga and breath techniques & guidance
*weekly LIVE journal jams with the community
*and more surprises...

OK...this is simply a SNEAK PEAK...a taste of what's to come. Take a moment and sign up to join my mailing list and you will be the first to know when this class is open for registration. Just fill out your name and email address on the top right of this page.

No more hesitation. We CAN live more BOLDLY, FULLY, FREELY. Let's do it together.

(p.s. NO art or yoga experience is necessary!) ...a beginner's mind is a good thing!

Visit www.freespiritknits.com to learn more.

Your Personal Reflection: Are you ready to OPEN your heart and give yourself the gift of a creative adventure?

Free Spirit Tip #6

"Look into your heart and you'll find that the sky is yours." - Jason Mraz