Making notes with the help of Pia Jane Bijkerk’s lovely book ‘Paris: Made by Hand’
So excited to be heading off to Paris tomorrow with Rachael Taylor for my first ever design trade show. Love Paris. Cannot wait!
Any recommendations gladly received (especially of the papery or wine-related variety!)
I started sharing other people’s stories of doing what they love one whole year ago today! Since then we have had 50 postings with nearly 100 people from all over the world sharing their stories of courage and hope, chasing their dreams and making choices which allow them to do what they love, for life.
It seemed fitting that to mark one year of these *Shared Stories*, I should share a special one. Today’s powerful and inspiring story comes from Alison Bartram, owner of the (appropriately named) Heart Gallery in Hebden Bridge.
Quite bizarrely, as I shared here a short while ago, Alison’s email about submitting to Shared stories arrived on my phone at the very moment I was standing outside her gallery on a day I happened to be visiting her town – how odd is that?
I don’t really know where to start with this as writing these words down is painful – far more painful than the spoken word as it is so much more permanent. However, I do feel that the time is right to tell my story, so here goes:
I opened and ran a very successful business with my first husband in the eighties – Bradford’s first and only punk, goth, metal shop called Fizz! We quickly opened another 2 outlets in Leeds, one shop and one unit in an ‘Afflecks Palace’ type of warehouse.
However, our personal relationship wasn’t good after our son was born in 1988 and so in 1990, when Adam was only 2, I made the decision to leave. This was a really difficult decision to make at the time as I was putting my own needs first before those of my son, Adam.
I had great support from my mum who encouraged me to go back and study and she loved looking after Adam whilst I took evening bar and club jobs to support us both.
I actually did not know what I wanted to do with my life at this point, I just knew I had to gain lots of office skills to enable me to jump out into the world of employment as I had been self-employed since getting married after traveling for a year. But I also knew that one day I would be my own boss again .. I just didn’t know when, where, what or how, but I knew. Call it feminine intuition!
When Adam was 7 I met a wonderful man, Bart, who loved me – warts and all! And believe me, after being single for some time (apart from the few really lovely relationships with guys who were sweet but not for me), there were a lot of warts as I was fiercely independent!! He had his work cut out romancing me as I was convinced I wanted to be alone with Adam and didn’t need anyone else in my life. Yet, a year later, to the day, we married and Adam gave me away and Mum made the speech ‘traditionally’ reserved for Dad. (I should say at this point that over the years my relationship with Dad was like a roller coaster, we weren’t really close since Mum and Dad split when I was 13. He was in my life but things were very strained between us.
Sadly Mum died the January after our August wedding and at the time of her death (11 weeks after her cancer diagnosis) I was 11 weeks pregnant. I knew that as her life was taken from me it would be given back and I would have a beautiful daughter .. which I did, Rebecca Kaye in 1997.
I missed mum dreadfully, we were best friends, but life goes on as we settle back into our routines doesn’t it? My sister, Rachel, seemed to cope much better than I did at the time, she’s 3 years younger than me, she was quite robotic as we organised the funeral and I was an emotional wreck. Yet inner strength was found at Mum’s funeral as we both got up to say a little piece – funny that, where does strength come from at a time like that? Little did I know I would need it again 8 years’ later.
After years of moving from one office job to another – I got bored easily once the challenge had gone – I found my ‘perfect’ admin job working at The Yorkshire Craft Centre, part of Bradford College. This married my admin skills in a creative environment and suddenly I knew that maybe I wouldn’t leave this job quite so quickly as those before! Every day was different as exhibitions were planned and I was just loving it. I was on cloud nine until something came along and burst my bubble.
My sister took her own life, January 8th 2005. I’d called up for a cup of tea as she hadn’t been well and the family were worried about her. I was the only one with a key and as I pulled up outside I just knew that something was wrong. All her curtains were drawn and the house was deathly quiet with a strange smell I can’t describe. I found her naked on the bathroom floor, a brief note saying sorry in her bedroom and empty packets of tablets by her bed. This just wasn’t happening, it all felt so unreal as I made the call for an ambulance, rang Paul and Dad.
Rachel was diagnosed as manic depressive in her early twenties and struggled for many years with mood swings but I never thought she would take things to the next level. My world fell apart that day.
All arrangements for the funeral took place at my house with Dad, Bart, and Sandra, Dad’s partner, and a lot of it is a blur but one thing stands out for me which was a turning point in my relationship with Dad. He took my head in his hands and told me he loved me, something he hasn’t done for many, many years. Out of the negative came the positive.
Leaving home the day of Rachel’s funeral we followed the brightest rainbow, which was so poignant as Rachel was carried into church whilst Eva Cassidy sang ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ – there wasn’t a dry eye in the room and it was standing room only. That inner strength came back to me when I got up to speak a few words and has remained with me in my hour of need. That rainbow followed us to the crematorium also and appears in my life when I need it.
Losing my sister made me realise that nothing in life is certain and we have no idea what is around the corner so I quit my job and took a part-time job in an organic café whilst I thought about what was important in my life. Rachel had always told me I was wasting my life working for others, she had always told me that I should go out and grab that opportunity, she had always told me to open my own shop, she had always told me that nothing was impossible, she had always told me that tomorrow never comes .. and for her there are no more tomorrows. But for me there are and her death gave me the kick up the backside I needed to realise that dream – my when, where, what and how had arrived finally.
So the when was 2006, the where was Hebden Bridge, the what was a Contemporary Jewellery and Craft Gallery and the how was with support from my family … those still living and those that are now my guardian angels. Heart Gallery became a reality and no longer a dream, named because Rachel knew that having my own business was something I held close to my own heart for so many, many years.
Again the positive comes from the negative and I try to live every day as if it is my last. The passion I had the first day I put my key in the big black door of a former Baptist Chapel I had converted into a warm and inviting Gallery space is still with me today. I love my life, my home, my family, my friends, my customers, my designer/makers, my Gallery and my work. I still feel a great sense of pride when a new customer discovers me for the first time. No two days are ever the same and no two days ever go by without me thanking Mum and Rachel for looking over me, propping me up when I need it and celebrating with me when my achievements are recognised.
In 2008 I won Best Newcomer in the North and Scotland for gift retailing as voted by Progressive Gift and Home Magazine. That was a fantastic honour for me because I can pat myself on the back a hundred times a day when I know how hard I have worked so to be recognised by someone else makes me realise that it is all so worthwhile. In 2009 I was shortlisted for the Best Jeweller in the UK, also as voted by Progressive Gift and Home Magazine, and although I didn’t win I already felt I had just to get so close! In 2011 I was voted One of Top Five shops in Calderdale as voted by the people of Calderdale and also presented with a Magic Tenner Award.
I have refused to buy into all the negativity we are fed daily by the media. I go to work every day with a smile on my face, open my door to Heart Gallery, concentrate on my customers, enjoy my day and go home and enjoy quality time with my family.
I opened Heart Gallery because I am passionate about introducing new and emerging UK designer/makers specialising in beautiful jewellery and craft to Hebden Bridge. I opened Heart Gallery because I wanted to. I opened Heart Gallery because Rachel wanted me to.
It isn’t easy, 2010/2011 were very challenging years, and to take that leap of faith you have to be prepared to live and breathe your passion. Leap into it for all the wrong reasons and I sincerely believe that it will fail.
Heart Gallery is my dream and I will live it until old age creeps up and bites me!
[Image courtesy of Alison Bartram. ]
To find out more about Alison visit her website, blog or connect on Facebook or Twitter, or pop into her gorgeous gallery in Hebden Bridge.
Today’s shared story comes from Wendy Brightbill.
To me, doing what I love means doing something that I am so passionate about that I just can’t help doing it. It’s what I would do every single day of my life even if I didn’t get paid a single dime. I feel so fortunate and grateful to have found what I really love doing, creating art and inspiring women to find beauty in the broken places.
The path that led me to becoming an artist is a tad bit unconventional and involved my life unraveling at the seams before I could piece them back together. But the devastation I experienced and the trials I endured allowed me to discover my true passion and made me who I am today, an artist.
Growing up, I was always consumed with creating. My sister and I would spend hours colouring and drawing and gluing and taping. I took a few art classes in high school and learned to draw. I was even pretty good at it. But I never saw myself as an artist, just that I was good at art. There is a difference.
I went on to teach Kindergarten, what I always thought I was meant to do. And there were aspects of teaching that I absolutely loved. I loved being creative and coming up with new curriculum. I loved the actual teaching and the fulfillment of watching my students learn. But there were so many parts of teaching that were very difficult, and just not me. I soon became weighed down by the amount of expectations placed on me. I grew very disillusioned with being a teacher and made a decision to quit in search of finding what I was really passionate about. I thought that meant going into business for myself but I really had no idea what was right around the corner.
The summer after I quit teaching, my life took a complete detour. A heart breaking, life-falling-apart detour. I was rear-ended in a car accident. The unraveling began with chronic pain and a brain injury. And slowly I watched as everything in my life came apart. We lost our home and experienced financial ruin. I was depressed and paralyzed by fear. My personality changed. I went from operating primarily from my left brain to being forced to use my right brain more. It has taken me years to fully recover and heal from this tragedy and I am still on this path of healing.
Art became a huge part of my healing process. At my lowest point, my mother gave me a copy of Kelly Rae Roberts book Taking Flight. My heart came alive as I was able to express my heart and my journey in ways that I never even thought possible. The messy free flowing nature of mixed media art truly spoke to my broken brain. I started making new connections in my brain and found that I could actually be more creative than I had ever been. What used to be difficult to my left brained self, flowed out of my paintbrush with ease and heart. I found the me who had always been there but could not come out until my brain injury. And I found a deep and lastly purpose in what I was doing.
I started my business A Girl and Her Brush where I create and sell art, blog, teach local art classes, teach an online class, write articles for national magazines and share my story with women all over the world. Last year I was published in four different Stampington magazines. And I started teaching again. I love that all the aspects I enjoyed about teaching I now get to do all the time without the parts that felt yucky.
I have big dreams for the future. I want to become licensed as an artist. I would love to write a book about my story. And one day I would love to open a studio where I would have big artists come from all over the world to teach classes and inspire women.
Looking back, I never expected that my brain injury would launch me into a life of doing what I love. I am so grateful that I was open to finding my passions and didn’t miss this creative calling.
[All images courtesy of Wendy Brightbill.]
I was captivated by Tone von Krogh’s beautiful ceramic work when I saw her stand at the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair. There was something in her colours that called me back to one of my favourite places on earth – Antarctica. I have since found that Tone’s palette is actually inspired by the snowy Norwegian winter landscape, and I am thrilled to have this opportunity to share more of her gorgeous work with you. Tone has exhibited widely in the UK as well as in Norway, France, the US and Dubai.
Today’s shared story comes from business partners and mural designers Sofia Lacin and Hennessy Christophel.
Doing what we truly love adds an element of energy and momentum that propels us to be the work not just do the work. It’s the difference between being inspired by the work itself, the process, the materials and the final product, rather than working hard to solely glean the rewards of hard work.
We founded Lacin/Christophel Mural & Design because we believe in the importance of creating beautiful design and public art. When we create a piece of art, we brainstorm until we’ve come up with a concept that really excites us. We paint or design until we see beauty in front of us. When we put art like that into the world, art that we love, we feel that we are making a meaningful contribution and truly connecting with people.
Doing work that we love and believe in allows us to collaborate with other people who are doing what they love. These connections give us a dynamic strength and motivation, and expands the work that we do through this energetic give and take with others that are moving through life with a passionate approach.
While painting our second mural for a frozen yogurt shop, we had an audience for the first time. People were excited by seeing the hand create right in front of their eyes. We knew that painting murals was something we enjoyed and felt satisfied by, but at that yogurt shop we realized this was something that had a tangible impact on others as well. After an invitation to do another commercial mural from some of those on-lookers, we realized that what we make is valuable, that there is a demand for the handmade, and that art is particularly important in our American culture where speed, convenience, and the temporary are often over emphasized.
As a team, we commit to the idea of making Lacin/Christophel Mural & Design work with our whole hearts, bodies, and minds. We don’t spend time questioning it, we just go for it. In order to have success, you have to believe in your work and your message wholeheartedly. Start by believing in the success, then follow your own lead.
One of the biggest benefits of working for ourselves is that we can choose jobs that challenge us as artists. Our work evolves with us. Because we work for ourselves, we have the freedom to choose projects that inspire us. We keep our curiosity alive by learning something new with each project.
(You can see how huge this is by looking at the size of the girls on top of the tank!)
There is an emotional sacrifice that has to be made when you put so much of yourself into your work. Our particular line of work is often very public and it’s not always easy being so exposed. When we started working on Same Sun, a public art installation for the City of Davis in Northern California, some of our civic audience questioned what we were doing. Our design was abstract, unusual, and produced vocal critics at the start of our project. We then realized that meaningful art pushes boundaries, creates controversy, and gets people talking and thinking about art in a good way.
In the end, it is only by making ourselves so vulnerable that we are able to create something with a meaningful presence in the community.
We take on this career project by project, learning what we need to each step of the way. The longer we work, the bigger our ideas, the more pieces we need to figure out.
Some very valuable approaches have emerged along the way. One main lesson we’ve learned is to separate work from home. We didn’t do this as well in the beginning, and ended up feeling like we were always working. Just having a separate desk only for business makes a difference. It helps us to move faster, and with more focus.
Working for yourself requires you to learn to be your own boss, critic, and cheerleader. We never allow ourselves to settle for anything but the best in our work, and sometimes that means an all-nighter. There is never a question of sacrificing the quality of work for time. It’s a lifestyle that we have cultivated into a regimented business with strict rules which we enforce on ourselves.
Running our own business we have to take ourselves seriously and insist that others do too. Yes we are artists, yes we are young women, but we work hard and we are professional every step of the way. Success in this field means knowing how to design and how to paint, but we’ve also had to learn things like networking, negotiating contracts, organizing our finances, operating two-ton scissor lifts, and using industrial paint sprayers. We’ve learned to never be intimidated by something just because it exceeds what is expected of us.
Working in this field we are always discovering new ways that art can transform. When we begin a project we consider everything about the location and the people who will experience the work. Our job is to create design that reveals something beautiful about a place. In this way we show people another layer that expands the way we experience the world. Artists are pioneers; we have the power to bring beauty and interest to places that no one wants to be, and be the beginning of something good.
We dream of reaching more and more people through art each year. We are delighted to find through the past years of painting in the public that almost everyone responds to art – whether positively or negatively. It’s a bridge between culture, language and class, and a way to unify people and strengthen the ties we all have to our deeper, more body-centered states. Successful art puts you in the moment, which is a very powerful feeling and gift. This is an experience we want to share with as many people as possible.
Some of our favorite projects have been murals donated to our community, such as Volunteers of America and Happy Tails. As a business we would love to have enough success to sink some resources into a non-profit sister organisation of Lacin/Christophel Mural & Design. We’ve learned some amazing things in choosing this career, such as how to be strong business women, and how to make positive change through art. We can’t imagine keeping these lessons to ourselves.
[All images courtesy of Sofia Lacin and Hennessy Christophel.]
Find out more about Sofia Lacin and Hennessy Christophel on their website Lacin/Christophel Mural & Design
Today’s shared story comes from artist Katie Clemons who divides her time between Berlin, Germany and a hangar in rural Montana, USA.
Image via gadanke.com
You’re not going to jump up every morning and say, “This is awesome!” Every minute of every day just isn’t like that, right?
A journal with writing prompts can really demonstrate how you’re feeling. Like I look at this page of a home minibook called “Love Where We Live”, and I think, “YES! This is me doing what I love, being where I love to be.”
My grandma and I were sitting in a recording studio for NPR’s StoryCorp. It was her 90th birthday, and I was interviewing her about her life and what she loved to do.
She looked at me with sad blue eyes and said, “I don’t remember. I wish I did.”
There was nothing she could do. But I knew there was something that I could do.
When we lose our stories, there is no turning back. I began a deep study of memory keeping, essay writing, and journaling. I started keeping successful journals (no more of those half-written books or pages that go on and on about nothing). Then I started taking my techniques and creating journals of writing prompts to help other celebrate their stories. This has become a business – Gadanke.
I decided to create my first personal journals two weeks before I took my private pilot’s test. It was one week before my husband and I had to get out of our rental and three weeks before we were moving from rural Montana, USA to Berlin, Germany.
I knew in my gut: I had to go for it.
Sometimes, when you are challenging yourself with big, scary steps (like flying an airplane solo!), other things don’t scare you as much. You find courage and bravery. You do the seemingly impossible. And you succeed.
Sometimes, our parents have HUGE dreams for us in things like law and medicine. I loved what I was doing with Gadanke, but there was this whisper in the back of my head saying, “It’s not good enough. Your parents expected more.”
The day I accepted the EcoStar Award for my green business practices by the governor, my parents stood and cheered in the Capitol rotunda.
I kicked those little whisperers out of my head forever.
Success doesn’t have to start with the word “doctor”. You don’t need a series of letters behind your name and fancy diplomas on the wall.
Now my husband and I are remodelling an old airplane hangar. We want to build a little loft home in the back. We also want to give Gadanke its very own home in an underutilized storage space in the facility. It’s exciting! It’s exhausting. I’m blogging the progress at Making This Home.
[Images courtesy of Katie Clemons.]
Katie helps people capture memories and express their thoughts creatively with her eco-friendly journals. Her award-winning business, Gadanke, offers handmade journals filled with writing prompts and fun embellishments. Find out more about Katie on her blog Making This Home or in her shop, connect on Twitter (@MakingThisHome) or Facebook]
Today’s fascinating shared stories come from former clown and master storyteller Arina Isaacson and body image expert Kimberly Riggins.
I am 10 years old. I am sitting in the beautiful old opera house in the classic western mountain mining town of Central City Colorado watching my, first ever, live theatre production. The Miracle Worker with Patty Duke and Ann Bancroft is the inspiring story of Helen Keller, born deaf and blind and how she first learned to express herself through non-verbal communication. My child heart is beating wildly and the hairs on my arm are standing in thunderous applause. Little did I know that the magic of this moment would define my life’s work, insisting that I follow my heart and do what I love.
Mimi-the-Clown
ACT I
In 1970 I received my Master’s degree in Communication and became a teacher of deaf children. At this time my best friend suggested that I take a mime class to enhance my teaching and my love of gestural language. I called my mother and I said, “Guess what? I’m going to become a clown.” There was dead silence on the other end of the phone. “You’re going to become a what? A clown? You just got a Master’s degree –Wherever did you get that idea?”
All I can tell you is that something very strong grabbed hold of my heart when I started doing mime, clown and improvisation work. I came alive and had to follow this tug wherever it was going to take me.
Buba-the-Magician
ACT II
I quit my job, sold all my belongings, packed my Chevy and moved to San Francisco to follow my heart’s calling and pursue creativity. For the next 20 years I immersed myself in theatrical clown work, sacred puppetry and visual art. I found ways to combine my creative work with my love of teaching and began to experience the power of visualizing my dreams and healing my deepest wounds. The sacred art pieces that I created held the energy of my dreams. My inner landscape helped form sacred artifacts—mythic performing dolls; fetishes, charms, amulets, and shadow boxes. Each piece represented a different intention or prayer.
The Devouring Tree Mother
You see, by the time I turned 35 years old, I had lost my parents and grandparents to cancer; endured a hysterectomy, dashing my hopes of ever becoming pregnant and, survived a brutal rape by a stranger breaking into my home. Early on, I realized that I could view these challenging moments as opportunities to become empowered rather than victimized. And so, adversity has been one of my greatest teachers. It has provided me with the chance to get to know myself. The constant theme in my life has been the path of the artist. By consciously experiencing, working with, and expressing my inner and outer obstacles, I have been able to find my authentic voice, to unleash my passion and use it to cultivate wholeness and creativity. Adversity has been my inspiration for following my heart and doing what I most love to do. My commitment to pursue the creative path guided me toward building confidence and authenticity.
I used my own suffering to heal and make other people laugh at the same time. This unique approach to creating personal clown characters enabled me to explore the place of vulnerability where the funniest and most touching clown persona reside. I developed a process of creating clown characters based on externalizing my inner world. Clowning gave me ways to express hopes, fears, heal my grief and hidden craziness by forming a clown character.
I created five characters over a period of 20 years, based on my natural inclinations of movement, voice, gestured habits, inner feelings, and stories. Each season of my life, a new character would emerge.
Baby Fatty
Boo-lu was my first character. She was a feisty single mother who traveled with five white baby dolls with red noses, all named Baby Kaka. Each vignette told a story about the love/hate relationship between the mother and her babies. Then came Mimi the Clown. Me! Me! She was based on my tendency to be a narcissist. Mimi made a lot of mistakes as a way to deal with my perfectionism. She would say, “Oh, you’re right, you’re right,” you’re right”, you’re right!” “How do you know? How do you know” How do you know?” Baby Fatty helped me come to terms with my body image and food issues.
In my early 50’s, Ms. Lotta Bucks appeared to help me face my fears of growing older. She was an expert in cultivating “inner beauty” and counseled women about retirement. She taught them how to invest their “socks in the sock market and wash them grow!” And, finally, out popped Mrs. Milton, whose favorite advice is, “Just remember, dearie, it only matters what other people think!”
The treasured Clown School of San Francisco, which I founded, became home to people from all walks of life who wanted to explore and tell their unique life stories by creating personal clown characters. Computer programmers from Silicon Valley, priests and nuns from the theological seminaries, CEOs, business professionals, emergency room doctors, and criminal lawyers all converged at the Clown School to tell their stories, find their voice and experience their joie de vivre.
Moona-the-Wise-Owl-Woman
ACT III
Next, I came to understand that self-awareness and telling one’s compelling life stories, are the key to becoming an authentic and powerful person. I wanted to take the essence of the clown – the aliveness, the vitality of that unique voice further out into the marketplace. Joining with colleagues, in a theater-based communication training called ‘Active Communicating’ (www.corporatescenes.com) we focused on finding and expressing one’s authentic presence, voice and compelling leadership journey stories. For the past 20 years I have been traveling the world helping leaders learn the skill set to inspire, motivate, influence and connect with any audience.
The River of life
ACT IV
Over time I came to painting, spirit journals, and vision storyboards. The River of Life has become a central exercise in my story-telling curriculum. By creating a River of Life, one is able to clearly track the richness of his/her life experience and draw from those experiences to tell stories of courage, triumph, risk, struggle, values, adventure, mistakes made and lessons learned. My life stories provide the context for my experiences and through them, I am able to find the inspiration to make an impact on the world.
The ability to create and tell certain kinds of stories is not only a useful tool, but an essential prerequisite to finding my original voice. These stories have provided visual maps and images for conveying who I am, the authentic moments of where I came from and who has mentored and inspired me along the way.
My 40-year creative journey has been about the healing aspects of art, ritual and theater. The thread that has traveled through each act is creativity and communication. It is and has been my greatest joy to first find my authentic voice and then to inspire others to open to their full self expression. This process has helped wake me up to life! My art work is the deepest manifestation of my gratitude for the gift of living a meaningful life and doing what I love every step of the way. Thank you for allowing me to share my journey with you.
The Beloved
To find out more about Arina visit her website or her art site.
I truly believe we all have a choice how we show up in the world. How we wake up in the morning, how we go about our day, who we interact with, how we handle our emotions and where we put our energy. Regardless of our circumstances, we all have the ability to choose.
Doing what you love is also a choice. A conscious choice to do something that brings you joy, inspiration and fulfilment, regardless of what other people may think.
I most certainly do what I love.
But it wasn’t always that way. I used to think I needed to conform to societal standards of what is proper, how to speak, how to look, what to do with my life.
Standing at a crossroads in my own life, staring down the path of least resistance or the path of an unknown adventure, I chose the latter.
I must say, choosing adventure which includes being authentically myself has been the best decision I have ever made.
Today, I get to empower and inspire other women to stop conforming. To stand up for themselves. To live an authentic, beautiful, passionate life. I show them how they can fall head over heels in love with their own bodies, regardless of its shape or size. I teach them how to wrangle their negative thoughts that are just keeping them stuck and most importantly, I unveil a world that includes pleasure and lots of it!
I couldn’t ask for a better way to spend my time.
Believe me, my journey to get to this place was a bumpy one. I had to endure a lot of pain to get myself to this place. A rape, an eating disorder, depression, a crumbling relationship and a financial failure… all situations and circumstances that have the potential to break a person.
Rather than play the victim and let these issues consume me, I tried to find the lesson I was supposed to learn with each event. It wasn’t easy. There were a number of times I wanted to throw in the towel. Just give up!
But something deep inside me kept me going. It took years for me to realize that it was my innate strength that kept me afloat. That strength lives in all of us. Sometimes, it helps to have someone else help us pull it out.
Moving forward, my life is full of exciting things. My first book, “Love Your Naked Ass” will soon be published, I have an amazing new program coming out, I am rebuilding my relationship, and I am creating a new financial plan.
Looking back, if I had to do everything all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. Because I love who I am today and without those life experiences, I wouldn’t be me!
[Images courtesy of Kimberly Riggins.]
Kimberly is Founder and Creator of The Art of Eating Chocolate Naked is a Body Image Expert, Self-Talk Warrior and Transformational Catalyst who inspires and empowers women to love and accept themselves just as they are. Find out more about her on her website.
As a complete book addict and hoarder, I thought it was about time I shared some of my favourites with you! In each ‘Weekend Book Club’ I post about a set of lovely books, with a different theme each week. This week’s theme is JAPANESE STYLE, in celebration of having just booked my flight to Japan for March next year. Japan offers a whole world of inspiration and I find Japanese people have such an incredible sense of beauty, reflected in the style of their homes, shops and traditional clothing.
***
The ultimate explanation of the essence of Japanese style.
The definitive guide to Japanese style through the ages covering everything from fashion to furniture.
Gorgeous handcrafted interior decoration.
Showcasing the best of moden Japanese design
Filled with beautiful images of simple but chic home furnishing and decoration ideas.
A directory of motifs most frequently used in Japanese design.
Lovely book showcasing cosy furnishings and items for the home from popular store Watashi no Heya (which translates as ‘my room’)
Do you have any recommendations?
Today’s shared stories come from Marie Pickering and Lisa Grace Byrne.
The story of the birth of my business is really the story of when “That Which You Must Do” became radically clear and in focus. It also happened to coincide with my own birthing as a mother. It’s a fascinating phenomenon that many women share upon becoming a mother. Whether it happens early on after the birth of your first child or in a later season of your life… for some of us, motherhood is the crucible that refines a powerful urge to contribute in a specific way. It is as if your experience in mothering your actual child brings up your maternal nature toward yourself, toward others and toward the world. But first it isn’t always pretty.
I have three young children, all close in age from five years old to almost two years old. I can remember when my second child was born, my oldest just a young toddler. I was so unprepared for the physical, emotional and mental intensity of motherhood, that I had literally run myself ragged. Eating poorly, sleeping poorly, out of check stress, post partum depression. And then a cold hit that knocked me out cold. Double ear infections in each ear and deep infection in my lungs, I literally couldn’t move an inch without triggering vertigo and intense vomiting. It was a pretty bleak place. I was encouraged by many people to go and see a therapist (which would have been a very good and wonderful thing to do – I’m not against therapy!), but that is when a small flicker of who I was caught my inner eye and I knew. I knew how I was to reconnect to myself again and what I needed. At that point, WellGrounded Life began.
Something within whispered that in order for my mind and body to heal, I needed to give it the raw materials – the literal nutrition it needed in order to become whole and healthy. Some inner voice gently asked me to extend loving kindness toward myself and consider walking the path of whole nourishment, paying attention to a soul’s need for beauty, silence, friendship, meaningful work, laughter, fresh air, movement, joy, ambition.
Part of my meaningful work was to lift others up as I cared and tended to my own health. It was a way to self-care without wallowing. To firmly offer my gifts to the world without succumbing to self neglect (which happens all too often when our lives become others-focused and outward-looking- very easy for a mother to fall into).
WellGrounded Life just grew and grew out of my heart’s own journey of healing and stepping into a vibrant life as a woman and mother in the world. What started as a blog and private coaching grew into speaking and live workshops and grew still into online multimedia courses, an international community within my membership site and a forthcoming book. It has been a way for me to knit together an integrated and congruent life from what once felt deeply fractured and scattered.
One of the gifts of doing what you love in the world is that it can grow with you, you can keep moving your great work along your own growth edge. For me that is exploring how we as modern women of this generation are navigating the path of motherhood while honouring our ambitions, passions and great purpose.
I believe that in order to be a happy and energized mother you must begin by being a healthy and self-connected woman. My work offers tools to moms who are feeling scattered and depleted… and in turn it keeps me on my path of self-kindness, restoration and growth.
[All images courtesy of Lisa Grace Byrne.]
Lisa is author of forthcoming book ‘Healthy Woman, Vibrant Mom: 7 habits that will make you a calm, energized and healthy mother’. To find out more about Lisa visit her website.
The Enchanted World of Needle Felting is full of Rainbow dyed soft New Zealand Wool Its warmth and light speaks to me, I feel it breathe in my hands and fingers. I want to warm peoples hearts and ignite in them a stirring of their spirit. Magical creatures, fantasy figures, Waldorf Inspired, Gnomes, Fairies. Living out in the rural countryside. I am inspired by Mother Nature. Here all is calm and peaceful.
Children especially find my art appealing as it appeals to their wonderful imaginations. My small homestead and garden is organic and was built 25 years ago. I work on the kitchen table, and the sun’s light bounces off the wooden walls, to create a heart-warming glow.
I started making a few small wool dolls, and took them to markets and fairs to sell. They were well received. I friend suggested that I start a blog, and I have been astounded at the interest and following. I joined Etsy and the New Zealand on-line shop Felt. I wanted to share my art with others globally, to let them have in their homes a little piece of me. To this end my art is affordable to all.
By going global this has extended my view of the world. New Zealand is a fairly small Island nation, but now I consider the seasons happening in the world and create items for others’ Seasonal Nature Tables. I love what I do and have written a lot of short poems that go alongside my original 3D needle felt art. My hope is to publish these in a book.
Soft light falls
The pale yellow sun’s light
shines down on to the little child
Her pale pink dress glows softly in the pale sunlight
Flowers abound in her long golden hair
Soft light falls
May the sun’s soft light shine on you
My original designs come easily to me. I feel I have a spiritual connection to each piece and that the receiver is imbued with my light. This I feel is what I am meant to be doing in the world.
[Images courtesy of Marie Pickering.]
Find out more about Marie on her blog.
Today’s shared stories come from Kat Fulton and Tracy Verdugo.
Doing what you love is an extension of being the person you love to be. I think you first must be who you love to be before you even know what inspired actions to take. Once you live out who you want to be, then doing what you love comes naturally.
(Image via katfulton.com)
I went to grad school for music therapy on a whim. I had never heard of it. I thought my parents would disapprove, so I went for it. I always follow my gut, and my gut was telling me “Yes yes yes.” At the time, I was coming out of intensive studies, practicing piano hours and hours per day. I felt a bit burned out. I was ready for a drastic change, and I was ready for more human contact. 10 hours per day of me and a piano was fine for a few months, but I could never imagine a life-long love affair with the piano. As a music therapist, I’m having a life-long love affair with life on earth. I feel so blessed to have found this career.
When I moved to California as a music therapist, I was deeply moved by the rhythm-based wellness practiced by so many. I was sold. Doesn’t it just make sense that if you were born with a heartbeat, then you were born with rhythm? It’s common sense. It blows me away that so many people have turned common sense off, and listened to the false belief of “Oh no no no, I don’t have rhythm. I can’t make music.” I love defeating that belief with pure logic. We make music every day! Footsteps, breathing, heart-pounding, cycles of nature, etc… There’s no escaping the rhythm of life. Realize it, live it, love it, and take joy in the rhythm.
When pure logic kicked in to defeat false beliefs held by so many, I realized that this career was my calling.
I started developing marketing materials. I connected the research with the practical application. I delivered the message in as many places as I could. All these actions were 100% inspired. Now I have a booming business working with Alzheimers patients, older adults, children affected by cancer, support groups, corporate team builders, and more. On the side, I have created a site to connect with other music therapists and drum circle facilitators.
I’ve had to move far away from my family because my practice fits better into the culture here in San Diego. I’ve had to turn down social events in order to meet deadlines. I’ve had to live frugally in order to make ends meet at times. But I sincerely believe that any sacrifice is worth opening the space to just be yourself. I’m so fortunate to have found a gainful career where I can just be myself. If you must make sacrifices in order to be yourself, do it!
With hindsight, I wish I hadn’t been so stressed about getting work when I started. I wish I had realized at the time that when you are living the life of someone you love, all the chips fall perfectly into place. Everything always works out. Bills get paid, mouths get fed, and lives get lived. Taking inspired action is the way to go.
My big dream now is to expand my online reach. I realize that my body won’t always be able to lug around drums from place to place, but reaching people online is so convenient and fun. That’s the next big thing for me: being open to more web-based exchange.
[First image courtesy of Karen Christensen of The Legacy Boutique. Other images courtesy of Kat Fulton. ]
Kat is a speaker, coach, and creative visionary. She believes that by making music, YOU can be the catalyst for change. Find out more about Kat at her website or connect on Twitter.
What does it mean to do what I love? I feel truly blessed to be at a point in my life where I am on the cusp of living the life of my BIGGEST dreams……painting, inspiring, teaching, learning, exploring, creating, spreading love, cultivating peace, appreciating beauty.
2012 will see me teaching my wholehearted, exploration-encouraging creative workshops in Australia, the U.S, Mexico and Thailand and in less than two months I will be holding my first International exhibition on the beautiful island of Koh Samui. I am also honoured to be joining an amazing team of artists teaching in the beautiful Tamara Laportes Life Book e course which will run throughout the whole year. It has been 18 years since I first picked up a paintbrush~a journey of self discovery, of moving through pain and joy, letting go of fear and embracing love and having the courage to name my greatest desires and give myself permission to feel worthy of receiving those gifts…
and then…. to help others to do the same. What do I love?
Having the courage and commitment to spend 27 years “growing up’ and “becoming” with this amazing man.
Designing a life of adventure with our family and teaching our girls by example that our dreams can become our reality.
Seeing LOVE and BEAUTY in all places,
and spreading happiness and inspiration through my art.
Gently guiding others……
to find their own unique creative spirit.
Creating a home which nurtures our souls
And our senses….
Looking at the world around me through compassionate eyes…
And standing up for the rights of those whose voices have been silenced.
Having the freedom to record our music in our own studio in my dressing gown if I want to!
And being brave enough to expose my soul in performance
Travelling far and wide,
Exploring and learning from other cultures…and making friends along the way.
Learning to give AND to receive with grace…
Daring to dream my biggest dream,
And taking the action needed
To bring it to reality…..
Through my art I seek to discover new worlds…
Explore the microcosm and the macrocosm
And tell the story of beautiful moments embraced and appreciated.
[All images courtesy of Tracy Verdugo unless otherwise indicated.]
To find out more about Tracy’s art and her upcoming workshops visit her website here or connect with her on Facebook.
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Have you heard about my collaboration with surface pattern designer Rachael Taylor?
The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design is open for registration now! Find out more here
(Photo by Sienna Verdugo)