kelly rae

NEW Sponsor Spotlights: Casey Wiegan, Illuminate the Artist Within, Chrissie Grace, Wish Studio + Live it to the Full

2012-02-04T02:00:00.000-08:00

I like to think of my sponsorship program as a way of playing matchmaker. These weekly sponsor spotlight posts allow me to do just that - play matchmaker between you and some really amazing people who are providing unique and well crafted offerings. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor (includes your ad on the sidebar + ongoing spotlights), please send me an email at kellyraeroberts@gmail.com for further information!

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Hi! My name is Casey Wiegand, I am a freelance artist, wife and mama. I also own an art studio for kiddos in Dallas! I love painting and sharing our life through my blog...where you can expect pieces of my perspective on life, faith, kids, marriage, with touches of art, creative inspiration, projects and things I love along the way.

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Are you looking to get away from it all, and take time to work your ownpersonal creative project? Do you tend to procrastinate, get overwhelmed, or experienceblocks when it comes to making your creative dreams reality? Would you like toreceive support on your inner creative process, and learn the secretsof an illuminated artist; how to stay inspired creatively despite any obstacle?

If your answer is a YES, this retreat is for you: Join Deb Chaney and a small group of a variety ofartists for an ‘illuminated’ retreat experience in support your self and yourinner artist. This is a retreat for YOU. Take time for yourself. Take time foryour art. Find out more: http://www.debchaney.com/debchaney/Retreat.html

Deb Chaney, SCA is a Contemporary AbstractArtist, Speaker, Writer and Workshop Facilitator. www.debchaney.com

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My name is Chrissie Grace and I am a mixed-media artist and author. My work is primarily faith-based… I have a passion for creating art that glorifies God and all things inspirational. I love color!...and that shows in everything I create! I sell original paintings, prints, custom inspirational pieces, and lots of lots of hand-sewn custom pillows!

Please join me over on my blog where I talk about faith, family, and art: www.chrissiegrace.blogspot.comVisit me over at my etsy shop, too: www.mixedmediamama.etsy.com

Please use KELLYROCKS20 to receive 20% off any order for the whole month of February!

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Have you heard the news?

Wishstudio has gone Co-op! In the effort to build smart and savvy community while making creativity affordable and an every day part of your life you can now join as a co-op member for FREE classes online at wishstudio.com or in-studio at our brand new Newburyport, MA studio.

WishBIG ecamp Winter 2012 is just one of our many fabulous offerings (take a peek at what else is coming up!), and it’s almost time to gather round the creative fire once more. Be a part of our virtual retreat and enjoy classes from our inspiring Camp Counselors, Connie Hozvicka, Miranda Hersey, Chris Zydel, Vivienne McMaster, Jenna McGuiggan, Stacy De La Rosa, Rachel Awes, and Amy Plako who will help you wishBIG, createBIG and liveBIG! Camp begins on February 19^th. For more details, stop by Wishstudio and check out what else is new. See you in the studio!

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Live it to the Full Announces February Courses

Live it to the Full is pleased to offer two courses in February 2012. Both begin on Monday, February 6.

Easy iPhoneography

On the go photo capturing and nearly instant editing tools have made iPhones the best thing since point and shoot! The hard part is often deciding which apps to use and then how on earth to use them! Photo pros and iPhone junkies alike will take away all kinds of good information in this two-week course with Aimee Giese. Learn more and register today » 

Walking Wounded

Thousands of honest, sincere people are finding themselves on the outside of a faith system they once held dear. If you are feeling lost, disillusioned or hurt as a result of a shift in your faith or by a negative church (or other faith community) experience, this four-week course led by Kathy Escobar and Phyllis Mathis just might be for you. Learn more and register today » 

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Big thanks to my sponsors! It takes a lot of courage to create a business from dreams, and I'm honored to highlight their bravery + and their offerings. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor (includes your ad on the sidebar + ongoing spotlights), please send me an email at kellyraeroberts@gmail.com for further information!

link love and some happenings around here.

2012-02-02T23:41:00.000-08:00

How are you guys doing out there? This weekend, I am planning on more time at my studio table - currently working on my first ever true blue holiday/Christmas line and I'm really thrilled to be challenged in this new direction.

(recent painting - in process)

I wanted to share a few things that have caught my eye recently or things that I keep forgetting to tell you:

- Did I tell you I've been on the search for months to find the perfect skinny jean that hides/holds in my post baby muffin top? I asked for your recommendations on Facebook and I tried them all: Old Navy, Gap, Not Your Daughter's Jeans, Paige, AG, and more. Thanks to those recommendations, I found THE skinny jeans that are the most comfortable jeans ever. Pricey, but worth every penny. It's been several weeks now and I've worn them a lot, washed them a lot, and I'm still loving them a lot. Best with boots...

- This article has been making the rounds, but just in case you are a mama who hasn't yet read it, it's a MUST MUST MUST read. This part just made me want to scream yes, yes, yes: "Parenting is hard. Just like lots of important jobs are hard. Why is it that the second a mother admits that it's hard, people feel the need to suggest that maybe she's not doing it right? Or that she certainly shouldn't add more to her load. Maybe the fact that it's so hard means she IS doing it right...in her own way...and she happens to be honest."

- This commencement speech had me in tears.

- My dad has been building us doorway bookshelves in the dining room inspired by these. I am loving how they are turning out. More photos soon when I can sneak some time to fill them up with our book and globe collection!

- My art pal, Traci Bautista (she is so smart, so kind, so talented) has a new book out. I have a copy and I highly recommend it. It's perfect for us adult doodlers and teens as well. Very cool. Go Traci (and congrats!)

- Speaking of talented people, remember when I gushed and gushed about Amy Barickman's book, Vintage Notions? Well, friends, she is having an amazing design challenge and the winner wins $3000 worth of products, including sewing machines, fabric, patterns, and more. One of my dreams is to learn how to sew. It's a bit of a fantasy/pipe-dream at the moment and has been for years. Once, about 10 years ago, John and I took a sewing class together. By the end of our many weeks of classes, he had made me an outdoor vest with a zipper and everything. Me? I never made it passed the collar to a shirt! Ah well. One day, I'm gonna do it. But for all of you sewers out there, be sure to check out Amy's design challenge. I'm inspired!

- I agree and loved everything he said - a powerful video on how empathy informs the best kinds of innovation, creativity, and transformation.

Flora, image by Tara Morris

Flora, image by Beth Nicholls

- And last, but not least: My friend Flora's highly anticipated painting e-course is launching on Monday! I'm telling you. I have taken her workshops. I have talked with her for hours and hours about how the painting process intermingles with life's biggest blessings, lessons, and awakenings. She is a natural teacher, incredibly talented, and just crazy generous with all that she gives. You don't want to miss it. I can't wait for Monday to start!

Have a great weekend, friends. See you next week....

Kindness Misson #2

2012-01-31T22:26:00.000-08:00

Remember our first kindness mission? I am still putting up Take What You Need signs everywhere and I've been inspired to do more like it, but with different messages. Please know that when I post these signs, they'll always be free, pdf downloads so that we can all print them out and then post at our local coffee shops, or in our office lunchrooms, or by the local atm machine, or at the playground, or grocery store bulletin board. Or perhaps it will inspire you to make your own...

(A more family friendly version)

This particular sign was inspired by Michelle (aka When I Grow Up Coach) who is an inspiring soul in our blogging community and who is in the fight of her life. She has so bravely shared her story, and her courage is a huge inspiration to me. I want people like Michelle (and their family + friends) to stumble upon signs like these out in the world - a strong, powerful surprise, a message from the universe, a small token of synchronistic confirmation that they aren't alone - that there are people in the world who are thinking of them and sending out messages of hope.

True and I are going to head out and put these signs up all over our neighborhood. My goal? For survivors, and people in the center of their fight (and their friends + family), to pull one of the tabs and quietly store it in their pocket and to continue on with their quiet, brave strength but perhaps with a bit of feistiness in their step.

These signs were made for you to download and print. Click here to download the "bum" pdf and here for the "ass" pdf. Then just hit print and off you go!

Kindness changes everything....
XO

back at the table

2012-01-31T01:20:00.000-08:00

(Walked around the block from my new studio space and stumbled upon the grand opening of my all time favorite art store (Blick) - could not believe it and I got very giddy. My favorite art store just around the corner from my new studio! I wandered in and snapped this shot. Art IS a gift. To all of us - a complete and full gift.)

Cropped and in progress....
I've been back at the studio table. It feels wonderful. I can sense that I have a lot to get out, creatively. I can sense that a lot has transpired internally these last few months and now it just wants to be released. And I can sense a flowing, a pouring out, a fast and furious compulsion to create. I love it when this happens. Doesn't happen often, but when it does, I love the sense of adventure it brings to my life.

Still cropped and in progress...

I have so much to tell you. Back soon!

Sponsor Spotlights: Andrea Scher, Alchemy Inspiration, Sleep and Her Sisters, The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design, + Seek Your Course

2012-01-28T02:00:00.000-08:00

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Join Andrea Scher for her brand new course Elevate the Ordinary!

Superhero Photo: Elevate the Ordinary

Achieve extraordinary with even more fun photo prompts and activities aimed at showcasing your world in a whole new way. New and returning students are welcome, but previous enrollment in The Basics course is suggested for the best experience.

This brand-new six-week fall class begins February 13th, 2012 and costs $99USD. Register Today!

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What holds you back from writing? Fear? Shyness? Feeling stuck? Finding time? Not knowing what to write? Wondering if you have anything worth putting into words?

Me, too! But I've learned some ways to move past, around, and through these creative roadblocks.

Alchemy Inspiration: Start Writing begins February 6. This 4-week ecourse in The Word Cellar is a fun, easy-going, and accessible way to overcome your writing blocks. It's perfect for people who want to start writing for the first time or the first time in a long time.

Give yourself time, space, and permission to write.
Find the stories around and within you.
Uncover and use your writing voice(s).
Explore your creative process.
Connect with other writers.

We'll explore the writing process, open ourselves to inspiration, and give ourselves time, space, and permission to write. You'll choose what to write, but if you have no idea where to start, fret not! That's what this course is all about: getting started. Register here. {Use code KELLYRAE for 10% discount!}

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My name is Katherine Quinn and I am the New Zealand artist behind Sleep And Her Sisters. I sell my original works to 9 galleries around New Zealand and have three online shops where I also sell originals, prints and other goodies. I live with my two children, 18 year old Hannah, 6 year old Ben and our 11 year old cat... Holly. I work from my kitchen table at our home in the sunny Hawke's Bay where I love to create with paint, chalk pastels, graphite, paper and also dabble in making a little bit of jewellery. At the moment I am working on a project to create 7 sisters... characters that I hope will one day feature in a book. I also love to collect things. My favourite colour is a soft, pale, antique sort of blue.

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The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design featuring Rachael Taylor

Module 2: Creating your professional identity

How to start your own label
How to develop your signature look
How to build your brand image and get people talking about you the way you want them to
How to understand and predict trends
How to put a collection together
How to get noticed and get press
How to market yourself
How to protect your work
How to create technical repeats
How to create static and rotating blog ads
How to turn elements of a mixed media painting into a pattern and mock up products (featuring the work of Kelly Rae Roberts)

Class begins January 30. Find out more and register here.

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Do you want to live a creative life but don't know where to start?

Do you live a creative life but need help staying in-the-know?

Do you teach creative living and want to promote yourself?

Seek Your Course makes all that possible.

Seek Your Course is a database and online hub for connecting people with creative learning opportunities online and around the world.

Through the Listings you can find ecourses, retreats and conferences with an art focus.
Through Instructor and Retreat/Conference Profiles you can meet the artists and learn more about the events.
Through the SYC Blog you can be inspired by interviews, book recommendations, guest posts and much more!
Listings on many topics including: painting, drawing, blogging, entrepreneurship, encaustics, life coaching, photography, personal growth, and writing.

Come check it out: website | twitter | facebook

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studio tour through the years and a big decsion..

2012-01-26T00:39:00.000-08:00

(2006 - my first "studio" was my dining room table in our OR apt)

So, I took a leap. A big BIG leap.

Since starting this creative biz, I've always worked from home. Except for a brief stint when I shared a studio with a friend in CA, my studio has always been either in a spare bedroom, the basement, or even on the dining room table (as you will see in these photos!). My office area, if not in the same room with all the paints, has always been on my lap (with my laptop), at a cafe with wifi, or in a closet.

(2007 studio - spare bedroom in our apt in CA)

Before having baby True, this all worked out perfectly for me. Since having True, I've been seriously struggling on the working from home front. Work hours are way too flexible, work/life boundaries are blurred, and I find I can't get anything done with a super sweet and cute baby boy running around the house. For the first year of True's life I resisted the idea of leaving him - I preferred to stay at home and piece together work hours while he was napping, sleeping, or during chunks of time that John had him. This was the only way I could see it and it was the only way I wanted it to be. And I'm just incredibly grateful that I was here, in this house, full time, with True for his first year of life - even if it meant I couldn't give my work a ton of attention.

(2008 studio/office in spare bedroom of our Seattle house, eventually became just the office)

But now that it's been 15 months into this routine, I can see and feel how exhausted I am over having blurred boundaries between work and home life, which means I'm either always with True or I'm somewhat frantically squeezing in an hour or two of work. I can see now how all of that squeezing in of work isn't quality time (or quality work). And I can see how all that time with True is no longer the best quality either as I'm often worried about how I'll squeeze in a hour for work here or there when I'm with him. My goal for True's first year of life was to simply maintain my business - no big changes, no big projects - so that I could simply focus on becoming a new mama and being in that space with him as a baby. But now I'm finally feeling ready to let myself break away a bit - to find a happy medium between home life and work life. And to give my work life (my creative life - the stuff that makes me come alive) a place of its own where I can go from simply maintaining it to innovating (my word for the year!) it.

(2009 studio in our dining room of Seattle house)

And so, the dreaming began. The dream? A large studio space (MUCH larger than a bedroom or dining room!) that would allow me to move my entire growing business out of the house - my office, my files, my computer, my books/printers/faxes, my inventory, my studio, paints, canvases, ALL of it. The space would be what I've always envisioned: a loft or large space inside a historic building. There would be exposed brick, huge ceilings, windows, and cafes and inspiration all around it. It would have tons of room for my office, an employee (or two) office, studio space, creative space for True, an area to stretch, sit back and relax either alone or with friends - a beautiful gathering space. It would be a place that would inspire me to get up, put on a cute outfit and head out to work a few days a week. A place where True could come spend creative hours with me, where I could savor and focus and hold meetings and open houses and lounge and work and host workshops and on and on.

(current studio space in our home)

One of my superpowers is the combination of intuition and zero hesitation. When something feels right, I move, and I move quickly. And that's what happened. Within a day or two of feeling the intuition of needing this kind of move, I found the perfect place.

(home of my new studio/office!)

It's gorgeous. In the heart of Portland's Pearl District inside a restored building that houses many independent businesses. Wood floors, exposed wooden beams, exposed brick walls, high ceilings, the works. I'm going for it - expensive rent and all. It feels like an important investment, one that will welcome in abundance in all ways (creatively, financially). Already, I feel more energized about my work, about what I want to continue doing, about my mission/vision, and so much more. I feel alive, so excited, and just ready for the opportunity to create a gorgeous workspace. Also really ready to create reasonable work hours that will continue to allow for ample time with family. Home will become home again: a place to relax, and be with family vs a place that held a lot of pressure to work and be mom.

(fresh canvas - I have many ideas for this space...it's over 600 square feet)

I am so excited. I move into the place in three weeks. OMG. O. M. G.

Charming + Safe: DIY baby gates

2012-01-24T18:13:00.000-08:00

Not too long ago it dawned on me that we could use half doors instead of baby gates. Afterall, we already have a dutch door in our kitchen, so why not continue the obsession with half doors throughout the house instead of baby gates?

So, my dad got to work using a door we found at a garage sale for $5. He cut the door in half, installed the first half at the bottom of the stairs leading up to our attic (master bedroom), and used the other half at the top of the stairs leading down into our basement (family room, etc).

Take a look:

The result? Charming, safe, and love at first sight! When True gets a bit taller, we'll have to secure the knobs, but I'm loving how this has turned out!

Speaking of baby True, he's...

pure joy, into everything, and has us counting our lucky stars each and every day for him. Hard to believe he's already 15 months. Feels just like yesterday that he was born. It's been 15 months with him, 15 months with a new (widely open + exposed heart), and 15 months of discovery each and every day (for him and for us). Bliss, bliss...

like christmas

2012-01-23T20:12:00.000-08:00

photo credit: Tiffany Kirchner-Dixon

There's been one huge blessing (a gift) as I recover from my big disappointment and lingering sickies. It is this: I think I might be obsessed with Hello Soul, Hello Business. Class started a week or so ago and I cannot (cannot!) stop checking in on our students, emailing back and forth with Beth, getting excited, getting more excited, reading all the responses in the classroom, in the facebook group, and on and on.

It feels like Christmas. Like when you work on a special, secret gift for someone for a long long time and then the day arrives (Christmas) and they receive it and they not only love it, but they LOVE it and you just beam with pride and joy. Pride and joy...because there was so much love and thought and effort that went into making that gift special. Because you made it just for them. Because creating that gift was a heart + soul experience for yourself in many ways and their joy in receiving it, really really receiving it, is the greatest feeling ever.

So yes, that's where I'm at right now. I'm beaming. And feeling a bit like a mama bear, crazy proud of it all - the students, the course (Beth and I are proud parents of the content which is a baby that we birthed for a long, long time), and how it's all unfolding...for all of us. Just really grateful. Really, really grateful.

Sponsor Spotlights: Soul*Full eCourse, Life Book, Blogging from the Heart, Illuminating Words + Sacred Cake

2012-01-21T02:00:00.000-08:00

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I believe you are valuable and your stories are important

Personal Growth + Connection + Soul*Full Photos = Transformation

You deserve abundance in all areas of your life!

Why wait?!

Join me!

Soul*Full eCourse

Join award winning photographer Catherine Just in this Soul*Full eCourse designed just for women.

Interviews with: Miguel Ruiz, Douglas Beasley, Andrea Scher, Beth Nicholls, Sheri Rosenthal, Aline Smithson and Susannah Conway.

We will dive into photography to help you re-learn how to "see"

Writing exercises to move more toward gratitude

Learn new ways to trust that the universe supports you

Mix all that with some healthy recipes, pampering, rest and rejuvenation and you've got the ingredients for a more Soul*Filled Life! Join us!

What others are saying:

“I have so much more to say to you about your lovely e-course – it’s been by far the absolute BEST I’ve ever taken…It’s been exactly what I needed…every week – totally spot-on. Catherine, oh fearless leader, I hope you seriously consider a SoulFull 2!” – Rachael F.

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“Life Book, a celebration and honouring of YOU”, is a year-long mixed art class organised by Tamara Laporte from Willowing Arts. She is joined by 15 incredible art teachers who are all gearing up to share their mixed media techniques with YOU! Themed around self-development andhealing, you'll be creating a minimum of 2 loose mixed media art journal pages per month (through a minimum of 2 lessons a month) which by the end of the year you will bind into a glorious journal (a Life Book!). This gorgeous book will have chronicled your journey, artistic growth and personal development for the year! Come join the 950+ students who have already joined Life Book on an EPIC year-long mixed media art journey NOW! The course started on January 1st 2012, but can be joined at any time! (All videos and PDFs can be downloaded and kept – plus there are going to be many extra activities in addition to the 32 lessons you're already getting). Read the WEEKLY year schedule by CLICKING HERE. It's not too late to join! http://www.willowing.org/lifebook.html

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Introducing a brand new course for creative bloggers!

When I wrote my first blog post April 2006 I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Blogging gave me a reason to pick up my camera and helped me find my voice again. It rekindled my love of poetry and brought me friendships and support. And now here I am, blogging under my own name at SusannahConway.com, running a creative biz online and penning books — and all of this came from being brave and posting some words on the internet.

In short, blogging has changed my life.

In my new course Blogging from the Heart I’ll teach you how to share your life and heart online as a way to express yourself creatively, dive deep and meet like-minded friends along the way. This five-week course includes in-depth lessons, tons of writing prompts, interviews with inspiring bloggers and absolutely everything I know about crafting a blog that truly reflects who you are.

Registration opens Sunday February 5th!

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I am Helen Lewis, the artist and owner of Illuminating Words. I bring my love of letters and words -- both the visual aspect of their shape, and the beauty and impact of their meaning -- to my calligraphy, mixed-media collage, encaustic, and design work. I am fascinated with the curve of an E, the elegance of old script, the crisp look of type marching across a page. I love the stirring in my heart as I read a meaningful quotation or line from a poem.

In my pieces, I combine my own lettering and painting with various ephemera, including snippets from old books and dusty hymnals, treasured correspondence from earlier centuries, pieces of vintage sheet music or wallpaper, and character-filled faces from old photographs. Recently, I am particularly focused on the luminous qualities that the encaustic medium brings to the surface as these elements are layered and fused together.

Please stop by my shop or my blog to see samples of my artwork. Email me to inquire about commissioned pieces incorporating your favorite quotes or family photos.

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Assemblage Jewelry by Jennifer Valentine of Sacred Cake

You want the jewelry you wear to be meaningful and expressive. Not the latest fad. Not mass produced. Affordable. You want your jewelry to be like you…timeless and memorable. One of a kind.

How about something a bit different? Something with a history. Something with a special story…jewelry with a past, yet relevant to the present.

At Sacred Cake you will find affordable heirloom quality vintage assemblage jewelry combined with timeless appeal. Whether it is for your wedding, graduation, promotion, a gift, or for your everyday victories; look to me for personal service that you can always rely on to exceed your expectations and make you feel as special and as singular as you are.

There is only one you. There is only one Sacred Cake. Every piece tells a story. What will your story be?

*Kelly Rae readers receive free shipping & a special gift. Visit my etsy shop and enter the code “ONEOFAKIND” to receive your free shipping and your gift. I’d love for you to visit my blog for more simple projects, stories and inspiration.

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what you're saying

2012-01-20T11:16:00.000-08:00

"Just wanted to say thankyou. This has just opened up massive possibilities for me."

"I know this course is going to change my life and it's only Day 2"

"I have been so excited that I woke up one night and started working on stuff at 2am because you guys had my brain going, thank you! :) I am all smiles. That night I designed new gift certificates and already sold $150 worth.....so it is working, thought you girls should know!"

"I am loving the whole basis and energy that this class emits. It's an incredible amount of work that you have put together for us, I can see that just after the first week. I just love the energy and warmth that you both seem to manage so well to generate even over the net and also when we're on the topic of business. It's refreshing, enlightening and thoroughly enjoyable. I am loving all the unearthing, learning, discovering, writing, drawing and all the while looking at this from such a different approach, one that makes so much sense though! Thank you, words just don't come as perfectly as I'd like to say thank you for such an incredible online course!"

"It works… It works… I have a mission forming!!"

"Stunning exercises."

"Am loving every minute of the course. The audios from Day 1 blew me away and the exercises today are fantastic."

"I ended writing until my hand hurt. What a great exercise!"

"I believe I’m at the right place here. I have been learning all about traditional ways of growing a business, but I always felt that something was missing. No one talked about the soul part. So, I felt alone, different and felt that my business will never grow, because I’m looking for the ‘soul’ part… Now I know it is possible!! Thank you!"

"Love, love, love this assignment. Answering the questions about my business’s soul self gave me insight into the very reason I took the course! Amazing to get what I came for on day one!
I have been so moved by this first day that I can’t stop writing in my journal."

We're closing registration TODAY at midnight PST. This is your chance. Come join us. It's astonishingly amazing, important! All the deets here.

letting it go

2012-01-19T00:01:00.000-08:00

(self portrait last week in Atlanta, hours before getting super sick)

I'm not supposed to be here - at home, that is. I'm supposed to be in the gorgeous San Miguel on a painting retreat with several dear friends. A retreat that has been in the works and plans for months. A retreat that I used as my "light at the end of the tunnel" mantra for the past many crazy busy weeks. A retreat that I had a gut feeling would be a portal into some sort of important shift in life.

It wasn't meant to be, I suppose. I've been moping around the house the last couple of days trying not to feel sorry for myself. I had a few good cries. And they helped. But still, the disappointment lingers.

I'm not sure what it is about Januaries, but they literally make me sick. My pattern is one good sinus infection in the fall and then total wipe-out in January. Funny how that happens. I should have known! Ah well. I'm working hard on letting this one go in hopes and in faith that something else will be around the corner to usher me into community and sunshine. It's hard, though, letting this one go after so many months of planning and looking forward to it. Could be worse. This I know.

Here's what I've been doing to amuse myself in between sleeping marathons:
-Reading the stack of magazines that have been piling up since October. Country Living and O are my faves.
-Perusing pinterest. This sign made me chuckle out loud.
-Watching The Bachelor - I'm totally sucked in.
-Catching up on blog reading which happens about once/month these days. Current current blog crush: Just Something I Made
-Wondering if I really need P90X to lose the twenty pounds I gained last year or if I should instead consider giving up the double stuffed oreos
-Loving on my family and letting them love on me
-Checking in on our students over at the Hello Soul Hello Business e-course. They're lit up, inspired, and so am I. The conversations and discussions are deep and I'm loving the aha's we're all having together. What I love about this course is that I'm learning in very big ways right along with everyone else. I'm a tough student so this is good news for me!
-Sending myself emails and voice recordings from bed. Do you guys do that? Reminders, thoughts, ideas - all sent to myself via the trusty iphone.
-Avoiding my still packed luggage for Mexico.
-Watching the snow fall here in Portland - really quiet and beautiful.

to what you can do, there are....

2012-01-18T00:39:00.000-08:00

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"Whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it's because that desire originated in the soul of the universe. It's your mission on earth. And when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." - Paulo Coelho

It's here!

2012-01-17T00:01:00.000-08:00

It has started, friends. And the anticipation has been worth it.

It's amazing, thrilling, and I'm so excited to be a part of it.

You don't want to miss this.

It's extraordinary.

Important.

Life changing.

It's not too late to join in. Registration closes soon.

PS: Had to share the above illustration of me and Beth. It's such a perfect representation of how we both feel as we launch this course - lessons, nerves, emotions, the journey of it, the worldwide community of it, the sisterhood of that community. This was a surprise gift from one of our amazing contributors, Hazel Burton, who will be illustrating a few lessons in the course. We are so thrilled and thankful to her for her talent, and her heart.

living room re-do

2012-01-16T00:48:00.000-08:00

The holiday decorations came down and that inspired us (me) to rearrange our living room quite a bit from the original set up. I thought I'd share with you how our main room looks these days. It's changed a bit now that True is running around and operation baby proof happened.

We took out the old coffee table and replaced it with one that is safe for toddlers (Ikea).

We also got rid of our fireplace screen and simply cleaned out the fireplace and filled it with suitcases (a great toy storage area!).

I gave our chair a quick little facelift by tucking a favorite blanket on the seat cushion. LOVE the instant makeover and how the fabric coordinates with our yellow rug. I'm crazy in love with anything yellow these days especially if gray is nearby. The piece of furniture you see above is another great toy storage area.

We moved our couch up against the wall (more floor room for play!) and created an entire wall of birdie paintings....

Paintings are by me, Mati Rose, Amy Ruppel, Rachel Austin, and the birdcage project was detailed here with before + after photos. Love that thing.

We're still working on making our house a home - I suppose that part never ends (in a good way). I love how our homes evolve right along with us so that the spaces become functional as our functions and needs change. Right now we're working on building an entire wall of bookshelves around our dining room entry way - seriously looking forward to how that turns out. I google image searched for ideas and was seriously inspired to begin. I'll keep you updated!

Sponsor Spotlights: Leah Creates, Jane Davenport, Cara Harjes, How to Build a Blog You Truly Love,

2012-01-14T02:00:00.000-08:00

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I make websites for creative entrepreneurs (artists, yoga teachers, coaches, etc). My designs are clean and professional, with a whimsical edge. I pride myself in making my clients' personalities truly shine in their web presence. I currently have three website offerings, ranging in price from $750 to $2,950. All are built on the Wordpress platform so that you can manage your content (including a blog!) on your own. I also specialize in e-shops built in Shopify. Additionally, I offer web presence consulting and content strategy so we can make your existing site truly work for you and your business. Come on over and say hello. Mention that you saw this ad on Kelly Rae's site for 10% off a consulting package or Starter Site. Visit me at leahcreates.com.

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i HEART drawing

5 week online class. Registration open now.

My first job out of school was as a fashion illustrator. I went on to study at Fashion schools in London and Paris, and became a textile and fashion designer in my own right. In that time I developed my own drawing system to easily get my fashion croquis in proportion, create interesting shapes and dynamic end results. And now I am sharing my magic, heart-based drawing system with you!

My Super Power is teaching you draw beautiful faces, but my secret weapon is showing you just how easy it is to render a fashionable female figure that you can use in all sorts of illustrative ways, from journaling, to following your own fashion design dreams!

You will be creating both complex and simplistic figures with ease and confidence by class end!

This class would also be a wonderful confidence-boosting gift anyone considering a career or study in the fashion industry. $155 with a special offer on my site!

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i am cara harjes. a few years ago, i left my life as a professional counselor to pursue my most creative parts. during that process, i began painting and learning a new way of life as an artist. my work looks very upbeat and joyful at first glance - and it is - but if you look past the colors and the content, you might see a little sadness and melancholy. to me, this is the best journey we can be on as humans - to find the light in the midst of darkness, but not to deny the darkness itself, for it has plenty to teach us. you can read more of my reflections on my blog www.caraharjes.wordpress.com and you can shop my paintings and prints at www.caraharjes.etsy.com. for the months of december and january, i am offering a special for kelly rae roberts readers! 15% OFF of all original pieces and FREE SHIPPING on all prints when you enter Kelly Rae in the comments section of your order!

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Here’s your chance to finally shine online!

The How To Build a Blog You Truly Love eCourse is back by popular demand! Let Liv Lane – creative mentor, communications guru and veteran blogger – inspire and guide you through six weeks of soul-stirring, blog-boosting insights, exercises, all-star interviews and invaluable resources.

Learn from the best and brightest!

Soak up wisdom from 20 superstar contributors including Kelly Rae Roberts, SARK, Amanda Oaks {Kind Over Matter}, Jessica Swift {Jessica Swift}, and Maggie Whitley {Gussy Sews}.

Fall head over heels for your blog!

~ Realize your blog’s true purpose and full potential.

~ Joyfully write authentic, compelling posts – and NEVER run out of ideas again.

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DISCOUNT! Get 10% off the How To Build a Blog You Truly Love eCourse with the discount code KELLYRAE.

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Are you looking to get away from it all, and take time to work your own personal creative project? Do you tend to procrastinate, get overwhelmed, or experience blocks when it comes to making your creative dreams reality? Would you like to receive support on your inner creative process, and learn the secrets of an illuminated artist; how to stay inspired creatively despite any obstacle?

If your answer is a YES, this retreat is for you: Join Deb Chaney and a small group of a variety of artists for an ‘illuminated’ retreat experience in support your self and your inner artist. This is a retreat for YOU. Take time for yourself. Take time for your art. Find out more: http://www.debchaney.com/debchaney/Retreat.html

Deb Chaney, SCA is a Contemporary Abstract Artist, Speaker, Writer and Workshop Facilitator. www.debchaney.com

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Can't get enough cuteness? Who can? Well, check out Lolo's Laboratory where we're cranking out cuteness by the barrel full. Our new Etsy store contains T shirts, accessories and paper goods that Lolo makes using her original surface designs and patterns. She is now debuting her line of characters called My Imaginary Friends. Her first 6 MIF characters are Diabolical, Hacker, Exhibitionist, Trouble Maker, Artsy-Fartsy and Brainiac. Bite sized, bug eyed beauties... Get your cute on...

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hello soul, hello biz contributors!

2012-01-12T00:29:00.000-08:00

Beth and I are thrilled to announce the amazing people who will be contributing to The Business Soul Sessions e-course (Starts soon!). They are highly influential business and thought leaders, but most importantly they're just real people running successful businesses that are thriving both in soul and profit. Each contributor offers invaluable insights and advice in the e-course by way of juicy audio discussions, interviews, and contributions to mini masterclasses on effective strategies when it comes all things thoughtful (creative thinking, innovation, personal soul missions, business culture, and more) AND practical (marketing, PR, money, pricing, time management, income streams, longevity, and more).

I have been blown away by their contributions and CANNOT wait to share with our students their wisdom, their insights, their knowledge and their humor. Take a look at who's in (pinch me!):

Jo Packham , publisher of Where Women Create

Jo Packham, the creator/Editor-in-Chief of Where Women Create, has been a leading innovator in the handmade publishing market for more than 30 years. A successful entrepreneur with her own publishing company, WWC PRESS (an imprint of Sterling Publishing), she is currently partnering with Stampington & Company to produce the best selling magazines: Where Women Create — Inspiring Work Spaces of Extraordinary Women, and Where Women Cook, The Heart & Soul of Cooking. Jo has personally authored more than 40 titles, including her best selling titles: Where Women Create, Where Women Create: Book of Inspiration, Where Women Cook: Celebrations which features 25 of the country’s top chefs, and soon to be released, Where Women Create: Book of Organization. Jo is co-founder of The Creative Connection Event.

Stacy Julian, founder of Big Picture Classes

Stacy Julian is life enthusiast, a recognized leader in the scrapbooking industry and the visionary founder of Big Picture Classes. The author of several books and the founding editor of Simple Scrapbooks magazine (2002 - 2009), Stacy is a passionate and sought-after speaker and trainer, presenting across the nation and abroad. Stacy holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University and is a certified professional teacher with the Craft and Hobby Association. Stacy is married to Geoff and together they are the parents of five children. They are at home in Spokane, Washington. Visit stacyjulian.com to learn more about Stacy's crazy life.

Tim Jahnigen, founder of One World Futbol, inventor, music producer, lyricist

One World Futbol co-inventor Tim Jahnigen has a long track record as a creative problem solver. He has created and developed systems and technologies with patents pending in a diverse range of industries, from construction and banking to science and medicine. Recently, Tim created, co-developed, and pioneered the first infrared warming and therapy systems for animals for scientific and surgical applications as well as for the home. This award-winning technology is being used in labs, universities, hospitals, and homes from Singapore to Paris, at the National Institutes for Health, the Centers for Disease Control, and the U.S. military to improve procedures, outcomes, and humane practices. Tim, an award-winning lyricist and music producer, is one of the producers of Sting’s bi-annual Concert for the Rain Forest at Carnegie Hall. For the last nine years, he has also been a songwriting partner to multi-Grammy Award winning producer, songwriter, and musician Narada Michael Walden.

Dave Kiersznowski, Co-founder/owner of DEMDACO

Dave is founder and co-owner (with his wife, Demi) of DEMDACO, a wholesale gift company founded in 1997, headquartered just outside Kansas City, and best known for its Willow Tree line of inspirational sculptures. After receiving a bachelor’s in manufacturing engineering from Boston University, Dave earned an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management. His more than 20 years of involvement in the gift industry includes experience in wholesale, direct selling, and Asia-based sourcing and production. He and Demi, parents of three, serve on the boards of various arts and educational organizations.

Lilla Rogers, founder of Lilla Rogers Studio

Lilla Rogers steers the ship at Lilla Rogers Studio, an international art agency representing 38 artists in textile, apparel, gift, housewares, editorial, children’s books, advertising, etc. Clients include Crate & Barrel, Blue Q, Poketo, IKEA, Target, Warner Bros., New York Times, Levi’s, Godiva, Barneys New York, and hundreds of others. She has lectured internationally at venues such as ICON: the Illustration Conference, Printsource NY, the Creative Connection Event, colleges and corporations, and is frequently interviewed for her expertise as an agent, trendsetter, and artist. She has just launched her newest business: Ruby Violet by Lilla Rogers, a 100-sku craft line for Prima Marketing which consists of a delightful colorfest of vintage-kooky jewelry kits, rubberstamps, scrapbooking papers, cuffs, and amazing embellishments.

Nancy Soriano, editorial strategist

Nancy Soriano is an editorial strategist who has worked in media and publishing for 20 years. A sought-out expert, speaker, and consultant, Nancy embodies the female American consumer and how she lives her life. Nancy was the editor in chief of Country Living Magazine for 10 years, with a monthly circulation of 1.6 million readers, where she built the magazine into a multi-platform brand to include branded books, the Country Living Fair, licensed home furnishings, special interest publications, Country Living broadcast specials with A+E, DIY Network and the Style Network, and digital. She then went on to co-found, The Creative Connection Event, a 3-day crafting and social media extravaganza. Recently, Nancy was Community Leader|Publishing Director for Craft @ F+W Media where she acquired new talent for books while transforming a traditional book business and experience into online communities of ecommerce, flash sale site, online learning and communities, events, and ebooks. She is a frequent guest on Good Morning America and Martha Stewart Sirius Radio as well as a speaker at Etsy and VK Live where she outlines the process of launching a creative business based on your passion and how to take that business to the next level. Today, Nancy consults on content creation, editorial strategy, community building, business and product development, social media marketing and e-commerce for media and design companies. An avid home cook who can usually be found baking in her kitchen weekend mornings and preparing for Sunday night dinner with family and friends, Nancy lives with her husband, son, and dog Violet in a 1924 Tudor Cottage.

Jennifer Louden, author

Jen Louden is a personal growth pioneer who help launch the self-care movement with her first book The Woman’s Comfort Book. She's the author of five more books on well-being and personal wisdom that have inspired more than a million women in 9 languages. Jen has been a regular columnist for Body & Soul magazine, a radio show host on Martha Stewart’s network, and a spokeswoman for companies like Real Networks and SC Johnson, and sat on Orpah's couch. She mentors creative people who want to change the world to get on with it. She believes self-love + world-love = wholeness for all. Visit Jen at http://JenniferLouden.com.

Tracey Clark, photographer, author, teacher, and the founder of Shutter Sisters

Tracey Clark is a photographer, author, teacher, and the founder of Shutter Sisters, the online collaborative photo blog for women who love taking pictures. With a creative career spanning 20 years, Tracey brings her experience, enthusiasm and a fresh perspective to everything she does; from shooting to writing to speaking and teaching. Tracey guides women on their own photographic journeys through her many classes at Big Picture Classes and has written three books; Expressive Photography: A Shutter Sisters Guide to Shooting From the Heart (Focal Press), Waiting for Baby, and Baby of Mine (Chronicle Books). Her fourth title Elevate the Everyday, a Photographic Guide to Picturing Motherhood (Focal Press) is due out in Spring 2012. Discover more at www.traceyclark.com.

Ingrid Liss, Creative Director for Demdaco

Ingrid Liss is currently the Creative Director for Demdaco, a leading wholesale company specializing in giftware, holiday and home décor. With an emphasis on ‘lifting the spirit’, the Demdaco everyday giftware and Silvestri holiday brands bring unique artistry and meaningful products to market. Ingrid directs the combined efforts of leading independent licensed artists as well as a talented in-house staff of designers and product developers. Working in partnership with craftsmen and factories overseas, Ingrid helps facilitate the interpretation of artists’ designs for manufacture and importing. Formerly the Vice President of Design and Trend for Midwest of Cannon Falls, Ingrid brings over 20 years of industry experience in product development to her position. Ingrid is also the busy mom of two beautiful teenage girls who keep her laughing and on her toes.

Willo O'Brien, founder of WilloToons

Willo O’Brien has made a career out of creativity. As an artist, entrepreneur, social supercollider, and self-described geek for over a decade, Willo has a passion for empowering fellow creatives. Willo shares her expertise advising startups, coaching creative small business owners and speaking at events around the country. In 2011, she premiered WilloToons Connect, a video series featuring fellow successful artists whose craft has evolved into a business. With an emphasis on self-care at every stage, the goal is to empower people to find and follow their passion, while creating the business of their dreams and successfully balancing the two.

Melody Ross, Co-Founder of Brave Girls Club, instructor of SOUL RESTORATION online courses

Melody Ross is one of the most well-known names in the art and design community. From her original company, Chatterbox, to her current endeavors with Brave Girls Club, Melody has always been known for her unique, soulful art; her positivity in the face of adversity; her hard-earned wisdom; and her loving, free spirit. In 1997, at the age of 25 started a worldwide product design & publishing business called Chatterbox, where she authored and published 15 books, manufactured and sold thousands of products that have become collectors items, and won countless awards for product innovation. In 2009, Melody stepped away from Chatterbox to start Brave Girls Club, a worldwide organization that combines art with life skills to help women create the lives they want to live. Melody also now licenses several product lines in arts and crafts, books and now home decor including an extensive gift line with Demdaco and a new fabric line with Blend.

Liv Lane, founder of Choosing Beauty, Inc

Liv Lane uses her creative superpowers to illuminate the good in every day while helping women ignite their passions and purpose. Liv believes we were all born to shine; with a unique combination of business expertise and uncanny intuition, she lovingly mentors women who long to light up their lives. Emerging from a three-year struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder and severe postpartum depression, Liv started her Choosing Beauty blog in 2006. Orginally created as a personal healing project, it quickly gained a global following, generating enough opportunities and creative adrenaline to catapult Liv out of her comfy corporate PR gig and into the full-time, soul-stirring adventure of crafting an artful life – working as a blogger, speaker, mixed media artist, broadcaster and creative consultant for crazy-cool clients ranging from blossoming bloggers to behemoth brands. Liv also has extensive expertise in radio; she spent nearly 10 years on-air {both locally and nationally} and created a successful radio promotions company in 2003 that continues to serve hundreds of radio stations and major U.S. consumer brands. In early 2011, she launched the How To Build a Blog You Truly Love e-course. Liv lives in Minnesota with her husband Brad, their two young boys, one crazy dog and an army of invisible angels.

Jessica Swift, artist + designer

Jessica Swift is a full-time artist and surface pattern designer (a one-woman show!) who believes that our childhood dreams and obsessions are the key to knowing the work we’re meant to do as adults. She remembers creating posters as a kid, filling large bubble letters with vibrant, hand-drawn patterns and decorating every surface she could get her hands on. Twenty some years later, Jessica’s childhood fascination with color and pattern continues. From licensed products to objects made in her own studio, Jessica’s eponymous brand of surface designs and vibrant gift/home products is centered around her daring use of color and quirky & fun pattern sense. Her aim? To elicit happiness, play, and light-heartedness in the world through her work. Jessica grew up in Boulder, Colorado, earned a BFA from Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY, and currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and 2 cats. Her work can be seen on her website: http://www.jessicaswift.com, in her etsy shop: http://www.jessgonacha.etsy.com, and on her blog: http://www.jessicaswift.com/treasuring/.

Susannah Conway, photographer, writer and the creator of the Unravelling e-courses.

Susannah Conway is a photographer, writer and the creator of the wildly popular Unravelling e-courses. She holds a HND in photography and a first-class degree in journalism, and spent many years in London working as a journalist before her world shattered with the sudden death of her partner in 2005. Returning to the south coast to heal in solitude, Susannah rediscovered her true calling though her passion for photography and writing; setting up her own photography business in 2007 she began teaching self-awareness workshops locally that used the camera as a tool for healing, drawing on everything she'd learned on her grief journey. That class evolved into the Unravelling e-course — launched in January 2009 — soon followed by a sequel, Living in My World in 2010 and her newest offering, Photo Meditations, in 2011. To date her courses have attracted over 3,000 participants from 40 countries around the world. A Polaroid addict and very proud aunt, her first book, This I Know: Notes on Unraveling the Heart (Globe Pequot Press), launches in June 2012. Co-author of Instant Love: How to Make Magic and Memories with Polaroids (Chronicle Books, 2012), she helps women reconnect to their true selves, using photography as the key to open the door. You can read more about her shenanigans on her blog at SusannahConway.com.

Rachael Taylor, designer, textile artist, and founder of Rachael Taylor Designs

Rachael Taylor is an internationally-acclaimed surface pattern designer and textile artist, she has a large number of prestigious clients around the globe along with securing a number of licensed ranges sold worldwide. She also runs and manufactures her own successful product label in the UK. Her works decorates the world and you can find her work products areas such as stationery through to home-wares and fashion. Rachael creates 'patterns to make you happy' her zest for life & colour really comes through in her designs and brand. In 2009 she was awarded the title of 'The Happiest person in Britain'. Her patterns are spontaneous as Rachael loves to draw with her right & left hand and sometimes even with her eyes closed. This way her patterns are unique & full of energy, she takes inspiration from everything around her & a lot of her motifs come from her own mood & personality. Her designs are regularly featured in the press and has been featured on television; along with with being published in six design books in the past two years. Rachael is also the co founder of the brand new e-course 'The Art & Business of Surface Pattern Design' which has attracted an international audience and a number of esteemed contributors. In the course Rachael shares her design expertise and industry insider knowledge and experience to help others get into and succeed in the exciting world of surface pattern design. The young designer has achieved so much in such a short time span after graduating from The University of Leeds in 2005. Rachael is originally from the Wirral, Merseyside; she now lives and in Leeds, UK with her partner and husky dog Alfie. Her design studio is also based in Leeds, where she connects with her international clients via the web. Her work can be seen on her website: http://www.rachaeltaylordesigns.co.uk/, and on her blog: http://rachaeltaylordesigns.blogspot.com/. Her ecourse can be found here:http://dowhatyouloveforlife.com/pattern/

Alessandra Cave, photographer + film producer

Alessandra Cave is a photographer and film producer, who has worked in arts and entertainment for over 20 years. Originally from Brazil, she moved abroad when she was only 17 years old to build the life of her dreams. She studied dance, photography, illustration, film and advertising, and after gaining an MA from the Savannah College of Art and Design, she embarked on a successful career of over 10 years, producing visual effects for commercials and motion pictures. Her projects have been widely acclaimed and awarded, and she worked on well known titles such as: The Matrix, Hellboy, Charlotte's Web, Spiderwick Chronicles, A Christmas Carol and the Twilight series. In that exciting yet very demanding job, Alessandra lead crews of 200+ artists, worked on sets and locations overseas, managed multi-million dollar budgets and collaborated with some really amazing directors. But after making a few too many effects-driven movies, Alessandra's need to express her own vision grew stronger, and in 2009, she started her own photography business, offering both her producing and artistic skills to her clients. Inspired by the way her images created a real sense of growth and opportunity for small and indie businesses, she also began teaching product photography workshops to help crafters and artists improve their exposure and sales. Alessandra is passionate about empowering others to follow their creative passion. Her highly anticipated e-course "Shoot your Craft" will launch in 2012. She is also the creator of the popular wanderlust blog Gypsy Girl's Guide, and she is a regular contributor at Shutter Sisters, an inspiring community of women photographers.

Tara Reed, artist and founder of ArtLicensingInfo.com

Tara Reed is an artist and serial entrepreneur who never tires of learning and trying new things. Starting her art career designing in the scrapbooking industry, she branched out into the wider world of art licensing in 2004. Tara's company, Tara Reed Designs, Inc. has art featured on a variety of products worldwide - from quilting fabric to garden flags, dishes, kitchen textiles, craft supplies and more. Armed with a degree in Marketing from Penn State University, sales experience and a passion for art, she learned the business of licensing through trial and error. She now shares what she has learned through her blog and eProducts at www.ArtLicensingInfo.com. Tara is on the advisory board of SURTEX - the premier art licensing industry trade show and speaks and teaches about art licensing on a regular basis. Tara is also the author of two eBooks for any artist in business: "How to Be a Press Friendly Artist" helps creative minds of all kinds learn the ins and outs of getting free publicity - from how to write a press release to who to send them to and publishing them online. In addition, she created a goal setting system for artists and creative minds - The Goal Wheel for Artists. Based on the color wheel it helps artists focus and move their creative businesses forward while leaving plenty of time to work from inspiration. Tara Reed lives in Portland, Oregon with her son Kyle. When not creating art for licensing or blogging about the business, she can be found renovating a 1923 Craftsman home with her soon-to-be husband Craig. Tara firmly believes that if you can see it, you can create it - follow your dreams and amazing things will happen!

Amy Barickman, Author of Vintage Notions, Founder/Owner of Indygo Junction and The Vintage Workshop, Creative Arts Entrepreneur

Amy Barickman, founder and owner of Indygo Junction and The Vintage Workshop is a leader in the sewing, needle arts and retail crafting industry. Her recent endeavors include Amy Barickman’s Vintage Notions: An Inspirational Guide to Needlework, Cooking, Sewing, Fashion and Fun (September 2010) and Hankie Style (2009). Amy founded Indygo Junction in 1990 to publish and market sewing books and patterns and to showcase the work of leading sewing and craft designers. Amy’s knack for anticipating popular trends has led her to discover more than 35 innovative artists and designers. Through Indygo Junction, Amy has published nearly 1000 pattern titles, sold over two-million pattern titles, licensed craft kits and fabric lines with top fabric, fashion & novelty companies, published 80 books that have sold at stores throughout the U.S. and internationally. Amy also founded The Vintage Workshop in 2002 to create products that allow crafters online access to timeless vintage artwork, which may be printed on fabrics. Her digitized vintage designs are available to download from her website at www.thevintageworkshop.com and on CD. Amy’s book, Amy Barickman’s Vintage Notions: An Inspirational Guide to Needlework, Cooking, Sewing, Fashion and Fun, was the logical next step for her, as she continues her quest to provide women with imaginative and inventive ideas that show them how to use their talents and skills in the best way possible. Amy and her work have received much acclaim in the news media, including on home and fashion shows and in magazines and industry periodicals. In addition, Amy had the recent honor of being named one of Country Living magazine’s prestigious Creative Women Entrepreneurs. She has made television appearances on HGTV’s“The Carol Duvall Show,” and Public Television’s “America Quilts” and is a regular guest on the PBS series “Sewing with Nancy.”

Jennifer Lee, founder of Artizen Coaching and author of The Right-Brain Business Plan

Jennifer Lee is the founder of Artizen Coaching and author of The Right-Brain Business Plan: A Creative, Visual Map for Success (New World Library, 2011). Her bestselling book has helped thousands of entrepreneurs around the world grow their businesses authentically and creatively.Before pursuing her own passions full-time, she consulted for ten years for companies such as Gap Inc., Accenture, Sony, and HP, helping leaders and organizations manage change. She grew her coaching business in her spare time, and in 2006 Jennifer made the leap from corporate America to entrepreneurship after realizing she needed to stop living her own dream on the side. Jennifer has been featured in Whole Living, Entrepreneur, Family Circle, Cloth Paper Scissors Studios, and Choice magazines. She received her coaching certification and leadership training through the prestigious Coaches Training Institute and is a certified yoga instructor and a certified Expressive Arts Facilitator. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her creative, rather left-brain husband and their adorable beagle mix.

Hazel Burton, illustrator and entrepreneur

Hazel Burton, is enthusiastically ready for life part 3 ! After drawing horses and ponies for the last seven years as the creator/designer of Sugar Cubes Ponies, an online gift company for girls who love ponies, she’s ready for a change. Post-divorce and creatively re-inspired she's enjoying an indulgent journey of discovery. Loving the freedom of photoshop and getting messy with real paints and paper Hazel would like to pursue a career in Illustration. Hazel is about to launch an exciting new company with her sister Shelagh based in the French Alps. ‘do something daring’ will be especially for women who want to wake up their sense of adventure, get out of their comfort zones and do something ‘that scares them so much they’ll realise just how powerful they really are.’ Hazel lives in an old, rented farmhouse with her 3 teenagers, and a bunch of pets, including chickens in the beautiful Shropshire countryside. She spends as much time as possible on a dance floor and will one day make it to Argentina to practice her Tango properly. Hazel has provided all the beautiful illustrations for this course. See more of her work here.

Celeste Shaw, founder of Chaps restaurant + bakery

Celeste Shaw is a Spokane, Washington businesswoman, entrepreneur, and contributing writer for several magazines. Her highly successful restaurant CHAPS, opened in 2006 to immediate critical acclaim, garnering the region’s “Top Table Award” in only its second year of operation. CHAPS annually receives acknowledgement from the food industry and voting patrons as “Best” in breakfast and family restaurant categories. Not simply content with the success of CHAPS, Celeste expanded it adding her bakery called “Cake” to complement the restaurant. CHAPS is now considered a ”must visit” destination for the area, as underscored and featured on the Food Network’s “Diners Drive Inns and Dives”© in November 2010. Celeste also opened a boutique shop “PINK” a salvage, architectural, antique shop with dear friends in Spokane Washington. Ralph Lauren, Eddie Bauer and Nordstrom are just a few many shoppers who frequent the eclectic store. Celeste is extremely proud of her country girl, Montana roots and heritage, where as a teenager she excelled in track, being selected as one of the youngest members of the 1980 U.S. Summer Olympics Team before the Games were boycotted. By education and training, she has a Degree in nursing, specializing as an Intensive Care Unit Nurse, having been voted “Nurse of The Year,” and traveling worldwide with pediatric surgical trauma teams. She is the proud mother of boys. Celeste’s architectural, artistic, culinary, and decorating talents are not only on display at CHAPS, but have been featured nationally in several publications and books. Take a peek into her delicious restaurant here, or connect on Facebook here.

Leigh Standley, artist and founder of Curly Girl Design

Kari Chapin, author of The Handmade Marketplace

Arina Isaacson, master storyteller and professional theatrical clown

Rachael Hibbert, artist and bookkeeper

Now is your time.

Come join us and be a part of something remarkable!

It all starts 1/16.

new logo!

2012-01-11T00:35:00.000-08:00

I got a new logo! I really love it. It was designed by Jessica Swift, who is a total force. Have you seen her rainboots? Cute!

It's been a long time since I've created any sort of biz stationery, so I got busy with the new logo and here's what I designed using the oh so useful Vista Print (I use them for biz cards, postcards, etc etc):

Mailing labels!

Postcards!

New business cards!

I'm feeling invigorated these days - inspired to make things feel more creative + handmade. Looking forward to using the above for all sorts of reasons, including inside packages when the shop re-opens with prints! I'm also loving playing with photoshop a bit more. John bought me a wacom for Christmas and it has TOTALLY inspired me to play.

Thank you, new logo, creative play, and new biz stationery!

ps: We'll be talking about very specific ways you too can beautify your business (with contributor Jessica Swift who designed my logo!) during the upcoming ecourse, The Business Soul Sessions: Where Passion Meets Profit. Come join us for the soul stirring experience!

I revised the "I read..." button - feel free to grab it for your sidebars and such (thank you!)

it's not all easy, pretty, and fast. let's talk about that!

2012-01-10T00:07:00.000-08:00

Photo by Tracey Clark

As my business has grown over the years, I've hesitated to share all the specifics here on this blog - the hard decisions, the awful mistakes I've made, the behind-the-scenes struggles of securing an agent or licensing deals, the legal frustrations, the money pieces, and on and on. For the most part, what I share here is positive - you see and hear about the successes, but what I'm learning is that our failures, or our business struggles is where SO MUCH of the wisdom live.

And I've learned a lot. A lot. A lot. I've accumulated a great amount of success and I've accumulated a great amount of mistakes. I call some of them my best mistakes because they taught me something valuable that I tucked away in my learning toolbox for later. And I call some of them what was I thinking mistakes because, well, I wasn't thinking.

Photo by Tracey Clark

I think it's important to create safe places to talk about these sorts of things, a place where other people understand what you're talking about, where you are surrounded by other people who are also pioneering business paths for themselves and who understand that it's not all easy, pretty, and fast.

This is one of the reasons Beth and I created The Business Soul Sessions ecourse. We wanted a place where we could share our business experiences (the good, the bad, and the very very ugly) and invite others to feel safe inside a community where they too could share their stories and get support. What I know is that there is room for all of it (the hard, the triumphs, the creativity, the abundance, the mistakes), but that we all need a place to process, learn, and be surrounded by others who totally invest in the idea that you can absolutely create a thriving, soulful business.

Photo by Tracey Clark

So yes, I (along with some of our awesome and amazing contributors) will be sharing the stuff that I don't share here on the blog - the real stories of how things happen, how relationships are born, how money plays into all of it (you'd be surprised how satisfaction levels might relate, or not relate, to how much money I've made), how contracts can get messy, how conflicts are born and worked out. There will be many candid conversations, stories, lessons learned, and so much more.

I have needed a kind of specific community like this for years. I'm so thrilled to be a part of leading it. Come be a part of our inaugural e-course. We'd love to have you (you won't regret it!).

It all starts 1/16.

sneak peek at new products!

2012-01-09T00:49:00.000-08:00

Hi friends,
Before I show you some sneak peeks of what's coming out (bursting with excitement over here), I want to let you know that I'll be in Atlanta later this week attending the gift tradeshow. Lots of new products are debuting with DEMDACO (gift products), Creative-Co-op (home decor products), CR Gibson (stationery), Magnet Works (garden art), and more. While there, I’m doing a couple of signings/event:
– Thursday, Jan 12th: Demdaco evening reception for artists and valued retailers, 7pm
– Friday, Jan 13th: Creative Co-op signing in their showroom, 2pm
– Friday, Jan 13th: CR Gibsion signing in their showroom, 3pm

If you're attending the show, I'd love it if you stopped by one of the above events to say hello!

Been experimenting a bit with photos (this one taken of me by Fancy Farmgirl) combined with my art

This is always such an exciting time for me - when all the new products come out and I travel to the shows to see it all put together in gorgeous showrooms that my licensing partners build. It feels like a fun extension of the holiday excitement. I'll take lots of photos while at the show and will post more photos of all the new goodies once I'm home. At that time, I'll let you know where you can buy it all (if you're interested, of course!) as they will not be sold in my online shop (per my big decision). In the meantime, I thought I would share a couple of sneak peeks for you:

I shared this photo on Facebook the other day - so fun to finally show it! The first time I saw the mock-up/concept of the couch, I gasped. It was at night. I was lying in bed checking my email (bad idea, btw) when this photo came through. I got so excited, I couldn't fall asleep. I was dancing on air about it. A couch! Seriously? A couch! I have long loved patchwork couches. I used to own a red couch that my mom and I reupholstered with a patchwork of fabrics years ago so it's so fun to see this old love of patchwork couches circle around a bit with this amazing couch! This couch and all the goodies that you see in this photo are a part of my home decor line with Creative Co-op. Look closely, and you'll see a peek at wall flowers, a rug, banners, paper lanterns, vases, magazine rack, storage stools, and more!

These globes make me so happy I can hardly stand it. They are a part of my line with Demdaco. The focus of the new products with Demdaco for this release was creative space. We wanted to take ordinary products that you would normally find in an office or creative space and put a different spin on them. I love the result and these globes are a definite stand out from the creative space collection with Demdaco. LOVE!

You guys, I am going bananas over these. Meant to add artful flare to your home, these pieces can hold a favorite photo or postcard or small piece of art. I love the idea of the pink cage holding snapshots, letters, mementos. And I love the artful details on the other two - swoon! If you look closely, you'll notice another new produce - a birdie on a stick and one of the paper lanterns.

These are like the ones above but they have wings. Oh my goodness, my heart lept when I saw these for the first time. They are all a part of the home decor collection with Creative Co-op.

Ok you guys, this seriously cool, and probably my favorite release. These are pop frames. You know all those wall canvases in my wall art line with Demdaco? These pop frames were made to coordinate with ALL of those canvases, no matter what the size. Here's how it works:

The pop frames are just that: you simply pop your canvas into the frame. No nails, no fitting, no anything. Super simple, SUPER affordable and makes the wall canvases look even more stunning. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! The frames are available in all the wall canvas sizes (6x6, 8x12, 12x12, 8x22, and 18x24) and they're currently available in chocolate, cream, and green. The other nice thing about these sizes is that the frames will work with ANY wall canvas (even non Kelly Rae) that is one of these standard sizes - pretty nifty, right? These pop frames have been years in the making and I'm thrilled to finally have them out in the world! They. are. awesome. Thank you Demdaco!

In addition to the pop frames, Demdaco is releasing MANY new wall canvases, figures, and an array of creative/office space items, including the awesome stool you see above, the tack board, canisters, and more. Really excited...

I'm a HUGE tea drinker (not a coffee fan) and am seriously excited over this tea cup collection. These are being released by Creative Co-op. I can't wait to use these!

I've got a fairly new partnership with CR Gibson, a leading stationery company. Above are a few of the items they are releasing this month. Love the vibrancy of the journals. They've done an amazing job!

Sometimes it's hard to believe that I have stuff like this out in the world. It really is. Hard. To. Believe. I'm just on my knees in gratitude for this opportunity to bring art + meaning + function to the world via my incredible (INCREDIBLE) licensing partners.

I can't wait to share with you the rest of it, though I hope you enjoyed the small peek at what's coming!

Warmly,
Kelly Rae

NEW Sponsor Spotlights: Bloom True ecourse + The Soul in Bloom

2012-01-07T02:00:00.000-08:00

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Flora Bowley’s first ever online workshop ‘Bloom true: the e-course’ presents a groundbreaking and transformational approach to painting (and living) that celebrates intuition, connects body, mind and spirit and allows unique and expressive paintings to emerge naturally and authentically.
Flora’s unique and heart-centered style of teaching has inspired thousands of people to step boldly into a world where art is born with spontaneity and joy. Now the chance to bloom true is available to you wherever in the world you are!

Brimming with high definition video demonstrations, new techniques, unique lessons and inspiring prompts, this course will empower even first time painters to unlock their creative flow while gleaning life transforming lessons along the way. This will be unlike any other online painting e-course out there, and it may just change the way you paint… forever.

Registration is open now and this five-week painting adventure will begin on Monday February 6, 2012.

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The Soul In Bloom~ Home edition

Join me in excavating a deeper meaning of home. Together, for 6 weeks beginning February 25th, let’s get more comfortable and in tune with our 3 levels of home; body, dwelling and earth. If we feel more at home with ourselves, our lives are transformed.

This is a practical online course. We will learn about body chemistry and breath. We will deeply embrace color as a life-changing tool. We will learn the basics and benefits of floral design, gardening in small spaces and honor the healing power of trees. We will cleanse our homes for new beginnings.

We will create community online, and for those who can, we will meet in person on March 24th in Buffalo, NY to learn the healing wonders of tuning forks, more gardening and tea tasting with Bellocq.

Come home with me. Let’s bloom together.
Love,
Graciel Evenstar

For more information~ Website. Facebook.

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couple things i'm loving

2012-01-06T00:20:00.000-08:00

A friend gifted this mug to me. The artist is UK's Rob Ryan, an extraordinary papercutting artist. Be delighted.

I'm either a backpack girl or just-a-phone-and-my-debit-card girl. So I can't tell you how awesomely excited I was to find an iphone cover that could hold my license and my debit card. Sweet, no?

Photo of my boots by Tiffany Kirchner-Dixon

I bought these last year and now that the rain has truly arrived here in Portland, I'm wearing these lovely, vibrant rainboots everywhere. I love Chooka Rainboots, but these illustrated ones take the cake. Love!

As a new mom, I've rediscoverd SouleMama - what a lovely, lovely honest blog. Ali's twitter feed alerted me to this particular post where SouleMama writes about a very important moment that happened while attending the Squam art retreat, a moment that changed everything for her and gave her permission to simply be who she was. It was a post that reminded me of my own experience when I attended the same retreat in 2008. I just re-read my post about that experience and every word still rings true. Like SouleMama, the experience of Squam gave me a safe place to process a pivotal moment for me. It was hard, but necessary and really really good. Registration opens up for Squam soon and I'm considering going again - the idea of hanging out with a bunch of creatives in the woods by a lake sounds so good to me!

And last, but not least, the you are beautiful campaign. Spread the word (for free!)

my word for 2012

2012-01-05T00:25:00.000-08:00

Last year by word was gentle. And it was most definitely a guiding force for me all year long, a place to come back to, an internal compass that reminded me to be gentle with myself, my family, and my business as we all made big leaps and transitions into new ways of living.Thank you, gentle. You were a great word.

This year, I'm entering January energized + inspired. As I mentioned earlier this week, I've been seriously inspired by the content of our upcoming e-course. The more Beth and I worked on the content these last few months, the more I began to think creatively, outside the box. Big ideas started coming through, some having to with creativity, with business, and others having to do with life. The ideas have been coming furiously, fully formed, and totally aligned with all that I've been working out when it comes to asking myself what's next (in life and in creativity and biz).

Got a wacom - can you tell? Changes everything!

All of this is to say that my word for 2012 is innovate - completely and fully inspired by all that I've learned and processed while putting together this ecourse with Beth - it's inspired a totally new way of thinking for me, one that involves innovation at every turn. So yes, I want to innovate new ways of creating, of making art, of writing, of making money with my creative biz. I want to push up against my boundaries and invent new ways of doing things in my life, and in my work. I want to break rules, create new ones, and redefine what is possible for my life. I want to celebrate what is already there, but reinvent what I can, give it new life. I want to innovate in small ways and big ways. I want to learn new things and invent new ways of doing the old things.

To me, innovation means creative thinking, trying on new ways of considering everything and turning every thought upside down, sideways, and so on until an aha hits, until an idea emerges, until inspiration fosters movement. I am so excited.

Innovate, I have a feeling you are going to be good to me this year...lessons, mistakes and all!

For those of you who are interested in making innovation a big part of your 2012, come on over and join us for The Business Soul Sessions: Where Passion Meets Profit. There's an entire session called create + innovate - one of my favorites from the e-course and the session that has inspired my word for 2012. E-course starts 1/16 (so soon!) and will be a game changer for you and your life.

ps: Have you seen our contributors? PINCH ME!!!!!!

PPS: My friend Ali is the girl behind the one little word yearly inspiration. Please check out her class, One Little Word 2012 if you want to keep your word inspiration going. I took this class last year and LOVED it.

6 seconds of joy for you

2012-01-04T00:44:00.000-08:00

Had to share this super quick 6 second video of True. This is what he does when we ask him to laugh...love, love.

ps: I am so doing this to my keyboard (thank you, minifanfan, for the inspiration!):

Hello Soul, Hello Business - ecourse is almost here!

2012-01-03T01:21:00.000-08:00

Photo of us by: Tiffany Kirchner-Dixon

Beth and I are on the two week countdown to our up-coming e-course. I can't tell you how excited we are about it. It's been months and months of building, creating, editing, and finalizing everything. Our hearts are about to explode as we finally move into the homestretch. We've been chatting with many of our contributors via skype calls and interviews and emails and the energy surrounding this project is pure joy, pure enthusiasm, pure gratitude. There's also been a ton of buzz (and sign ups!) for which we are enormously grateful.

This is no ordinary e-course. I can say that because I've been been reflecting on how the content is actively changing my own life. The course is set up in two parts: the dreaming phase and the doing phase. While the doing phase is jam-packed with mini masterclasses, practical tools, and concrete information, the dreaming phase is all about defining the soul of your biz and smartly organizing everything about your biz around your mission, your purpose, who you want to serve, how you want to serve them, and with what you want to give to the world through you biz. It sounds simple, but it's not. As I've worked through our content, our exercises, our suggested new ways of thinking, I can feel the shift in my own life. I can now see 100% clearly where I've been, where I'm going, and how I hold so much more power than I ever dreamed I could have when it comes to choosing how I operate, choosing my people, choosing my products and service, and so much more.

It really is about where passion meets profit. It really is about soul and business.

Photo of us by: Tiffany Kirchner-Dixon

I am crazy proud. Crazy excited. Crazy impressed with our contributors and the level of offerings they are giving to this ecourse. Crazy about the community that is forming from people all over the world.

I would love it if you joined us for the e-course. Head on over here to find out all about it, how it can change everything for you, how it can help you welcome in a kind of abundance into your life and business that you can genuinely be proud of. The course is not cheap, but it's an investment in your biz - an investment that will pay off in more joy, and more profits. We're sure of it! And if doesn't, well, we'll gladly give you your money back!

Photo by: Tiffany Kirchner-Dixon

It all starts Jan 16th.
Come be a part of an extraordinary experience and community. You will not be disappointed :)

goodbye 2011, a review of you

2012-01-02T11:50:00.000-08:00

My studio table, photo by Andrea Scher

I just re-read my 2010 recap and made the recognition (realization) that this year, 2011, was about all about recovering from last year, 2010. Sort of hilarious, but so true... it took an entire year to recover, to process, to recalibrate one insanely packed and full year (2010) and recreate a new normal for myself this year. That is what 2011 was for me. It was about stepping away for a bit. About recalibration. About rebirth. About belonging to myself and to my family before belonging to anything/one else. It was about figuring out how to spend as much possible time with baby True while navigating the demands of a growing business. In essence, 2011 was about redefining everything from self to family to home to business. That's what parenthood and motherhood gifted me in 2011: a complete redefining period and an opportunity to create a whole new life around family. It was rocky, wonderful, stressful, gorgeous, and completely awesome.

It was also an insanely fast year as evidenced at how quickly True grew from a 3 month old baby at the beginning of the year to a full on toddler by the end. But yet it was insanely slooow, too. It's so true what they say about that first year of life as a baby and new parenthood: it's the longest shortest time. 2011, you were most definitely the longest shortest time.

There was so much to celebrate during that long, short time. Here are your highlights, dear 2011 (and a few lowlights):

- Learning to celebrate the remarkable experience of motherhood. while also trying to craft a whole new way of living and seeing the world (important soul work).
- Giving into those really hard new moments of learning how to be a mom, and loving those aha moments full of love and understanding.

- It was a big year for my gift line with Demdaco. I traveled to the Atlanta market where many new gift items were debuted. It was a quick trip, but super exciting. I took my mom so that she could get a glimpse into the madness of it all.
- Hosted Demdaco Appreciation Week here on the blog with the intention to give readers an insider view of how products are made. There were huge giveaways, skype interviews with the company's owner, my product developer, and more.

- Did a ton of decorating and general play around the house. 2011 was most definitely a year for nesting. Gave several room tours on the blog, including the kitchen, and dining room, and living room, and master bedroom, and the nursery, and guestroom, and small office nook.
- Decorated for the holidays!

- Had a fun little photo shoot at our home with True when he was 3 months old (in Jan)
- Shared photos and celebrated True all year long (3 mos, 4 mos, 5 mos, 6 mos,7 mos, 8 mos, 9mos, 10 mos, 11 mos, and finally the big 12 mos). Resisted the urge to post photo after photo of True on this blog every single day :)

- Got extremely excited and surprised by Oprah tickets.
- More reasons for the Oprah craze.
- And finally, the full scoop on the show and why the kindness of being given the tickets meant the world to me.

- After 13 years of living with a packer fan, I finally gave in and started watching the games, celebrating the wins, and getting some team pride.
- Completed a couple of DIY projects, including this one, this one, and this one. and this one.
- Opened up a brand new online shop and celebrated all the peeps who help make my biz life possible. The new online shop was a great giant improvement from the old shop and it was updated with brand new gift and home products all year long.

- surrendered to what matters the most and decided to pull back a little bit and put my energy and heart where it deserved (and wanted) to be.
- Began to really miss my beginnings as an artist.

- Total dream come true, was featured in a 10 page article in Somerset Studio magazine. Also featured in Apprentice mag - so grateful!
- I traveled to China to see exactly where some of my products are made. Amazing trip of a lifetime.

- Remembered to shine and made it through the other side of through.
- Announced a huge and exciting new venture: partnering with Creative Co-op for a home decor line!
- Traveled to Dallas for the home decor line debut. Cried when I saw it all in person.

- Got inspired by Country Living and put my office in a closet
- My first ever card line launched (super thrilling!)
- Made more mistakes than ever before.

- Started really leaning into the chaos of parenthood, mining for all the truth and beauty.

- Launched a brand new updated version of this website and blog - big updates!

- made a big decision and moved my biz out of my house, + hired a 2nd employee. yikes!

- Took a family vacation to Hawaii when True was 7 months old. Laughed our booties off at his above expression from NOT liking the sand or ocean one bit.
- Celebrated the freedom that traveling gave me as a new mom.

- fell in love with a pair of cowgirl boots
- celebrated friendship, power, and truth, and who we are as a collective
- Traveled to the Creative Connection Event - met a ton of amazing people doing work similar to me. Totally awesome.

- Discovered instagram and haven't looked back.
- Shared my thoughts on parenthood after almost 1 full year in it.
- Ran the Flying Lessons e-course for the 2nd time. It was amazing.

- Wrote a love letter to you.
- Launched a new business called Hello Soul, Hello Business which had me more creatively excited than I've been in a long, long time.
- Got crafty with my lovebomb girlfriends.

- Celebrated 10 years of marriage. Good stuff.
- Celebrated five years of running a creative business.
- Celebrated transformation that babies gift us.

- Got inspired by kindness

- Had a aha moment that let me savor instead of dream.
- Decided to take a big leap of faith and made a huge decision to scale back my online shop in big, big ways.

2011, you were full, full, full. You were our first full year with our baby and let me just say, everyday joy exploded in our home, in our lives, and in our hearts because of baby True. Everything else felt like icing on the cake. Before I let you go, 2011, I want to answer a couple of questions, introduced to me by my good friend Andrea Scher:

1. What do you want to acknowledge yourself for in regard to 2010? (What did you create? What challenges did you face with courage and strength? What promises did you keep to yourself? What brave choices did you make? What are you proud of?)

I am proud of sticking as closely to my chosen word for 2011 which was gentle. I gave myself a ton of space to fall into motherhood, to gently allow myself to feel it all, including all the overwhelm and the joy. I faced big challenges of merging creative biz with motherhood, and self-care, but again worked hard to give myself permission to gift myself this period of figuring it all out gently and without the crazy amounts of self imposed pressure to do anything else, create anything else, accomplish anything else except to simply and gently be with my family. Looking back, I'm really proud of that decision.
When it comes to work like, I'm really proud of making the big decision to scale back the scope of my online shop from big big big to small small small. Although this was a big financial decision, it was completely aligned with following my heart so that I could spend more time doing what I love during my work hours (creating, writing).

I'm also proud of the togetherness that John and I continue to create. I'm proud of how we've traveled together this year, how we've supported each others journeys into parenthood, how we've loved one another through the good and the hard. I'm proud of the decisions we made together, always with the goal to squeeze out as much juice of life as possible. I'm immensely proud of our family, of the new life that we created (and continue to create) around family in 2011.

2. What is there to grieve about 2010? (What was disappointing? What was scary? What was hard? What can you forgive yourself for?)

I forgive myself for not taking good care of myself with good exercise and good food. I forgive myself for the many many mistakes I made when it came to overestimating what I could get done and how those mistakes affected the people in my life. The hardest part of 2011 was coping with how full life feels now that I'm a parent - however awesome being a parent is, it still brings major adjustment. There were most definitely things to grieve - the feelings of loneliness that parenthood can sometimes bring, the changing tides of friendships , availability for social activities when life feels too full. I forgive myself for all the tumbles and stumbles through all of that.

3. What else do you need to say about the year to declare it complete? The next step is to say out loud, "I declare 2010 complete!" How do you feel? If you don't feel quite right, there might be one more thing to say...

Before I declare you complete, 2011, I must tell you how grateful I am. Thank you for being a year where we were healthy, for keeping us safe. Thank you for being the year when my parents moved from FL to OR to be near us. Thank you for all the big ideas and creative dreams that you birthed. Thank you for all the ways in which you allowed me to be brave in sadness, brave in love. You've shown me, perhaps more than any other year, how practicing being still against all urges to do, do, do, leads to quiet strength, and quiet but profound joy.

2011, I declare you complete!

Sponsor Spotlights: Andrea Scher, The Word Cellar, Stacy Kathryn Art and Illustration + Creative Courage

2011-12-31T02:00:00.000-08:00

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Join Andrea Scher for the January session of Superhero Photo!

and her brand new course Elevate the Ordinary!

The Superhero Photo course is all about creating a new way into joy, gratitude, and appreciation. Andrea will guide you through 6 weeks of lessons, photo prompts and activities that will transform how you take photos and bring more color and magic into your life.

We will hone our technical skills while opening our eyes to the beauty all around us.

We will find ourselves in that sweet spot where creativity, play and aliveness intersect.

We will have more access to joy.

The Superhero Photo January Session begins Monday, January 9th. Register today with the coupon code KELLYRAE and you will get a $20 discount!

Elevate the Ordinary begins Monday, February 13th. For those of you who have already taken The Basics (this summer or this fall) please join me for Elevate the Ordinary! A brand new course where we will continue our exploration of making magic out of our ordinary days.

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Calling all writers and “wish-to-be” writers to The Word Cellar. Would you like gentle, useful

feedback on your writing? What about personalized creative coaching? Let me (Jenna McGuiggan) be

a supportive and honest guide along your writing journey.

Here's how it works: You'll email me your work, I'll review it and then send you written comments on what's working, what could be improved, and suggestions on how to move forward. As your writing coach, I'll help you to follow your dreams and find creative clarity by asking questions, listening, and recommending books, resources, and creative practices. We'll meet via phone or Skype to discuss anything related to writing or creativity. I'll serve as your sounding board, cheerleader, nurturer, and brainstorming partner – whichever you need. Whether you need one session or ongoing monthly support, let me know how I can help – and I'll design a custom package just for you and your writing wishes. Learn more or contact me to find out how we can work together.

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Be sure to visit my etsy shop, I have all new art pendants and holiday cards available. Since I've been a huge fan of Kelly Rae for the last four years, and love being part of this community, I'm offering a special discount to Kelly Rae readers. Just enter the code ‘POSSIBLE’ at checkout and receive 20% off your order.

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Would you like an extra boost of courage to kickstart your creativity in 2012?

I’d like to invite you to join Creative Courage, an e-course about finding, following, and realizing your creative dreams. Creative Courage is a holistic guide that provides the tools you need to make your goals real and connect with like-minded women.

I'm Stephanie Levy, an American illustrator living in Europe, and the next session of Creative Courage will run from January 9th – February 24th, 2012.

I've invited 12 expert guests to join us for exclusive Creative Courage interviews. Our special interview guests this session include: Andrea Scher, Kelly Lynn Jones, Mati Rose McDonough, Heather Smith Jones, Belinda Kemp, Jennifer Louden, Janine Vangool, Amy Ng, Amelia Critchlow, Kate Swoboda, Michelle Ward, and Jill Bliss.

This amazing group of women from around the world will share their secrets on how they have accomplished their dreams of publishing books, building online businesses, creating workshops and e-courses, and earning a living as successful, thriving creative artists, illustrators, authors, coaches, and instructors.

Creative Courage is your invitation for 7 weeks of fun, color, inspiration, and tools to begin an inspiring, new creative life in 2012. As a unique bonus, we will take a *virtual field trip* to Barcelona, and I'll even send you a personal, illustrated postcard directly from Spain!

I hope you'll come celebrate the new year with us! Find out how to sign up here: http://www.stephanielevy.blogspot.com/p/e-courses.html.

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scenes from around here, holiday time.

2011-12-30T18:16:00.000-08:00

It was truly a wonderful Christmas season - the first one since my parents moved here from Florida. We decorated. We ate. We played hilarious games over wine. We watched movies. We sat around. We got out and about. We took videos of True.

Here's a little peek into the last couple of weeks around here:

Really, REALLY looking forward to ringing in the new year. It's my absolute favorite tradition to celebrate the old, and welcome in the new...a review of 2011 coming up and what I'm hoping to manifest for 2012. Thank you, holiday season 2011. You were awesome.

Sponsor Spotlights:

2011-12-24T02:00:00.000-08:00

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“Life Book, a celebration and honouring of YOU”, is a year-long mixed art class organised by Tamara Laporte from Willowing Arts. She is joined by 15 incredible art teachers who are all gearing up to share their mixed media techniques with YOU! Themed around self-development and healing, you'll be creating a minimum of 2 loose mixed media art journal pages per month (through a minimum of 2 lessons a month) which by the end of the year you will bind into a glorious journal (a Life Book!). This gorgeous book will have chronicled your journey, artistic growth and personal development for the year! Come join the 540+ students who have already joined Life Book on an EPIC year-long mixed media art journey NOW! The course begins on January 1st 2012! (All videos and PDFs can be downloaded and kept – plus there are going to be many extra activities in addition to the 32 lessons you're already getting). Read the WEEKLY year schedule by CLICKING HERE. Come join now! http://www.willowing.org/lifebook.html

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My name is Helena Chutjian mom of 3 amazing kids, 3 sweet rescue critters and wife to my wonderful husband who I have known since I was 10. I am usually covered in wood chips and paint working on my latest carvings, scouring the beach for driftwood to carve, digging in the dirt surrounded by plants and flowers, and just about always, with my daughter Hope by my side.

After moving up and down the east coast as a Marine Corps family, we now call Beaufort home, a historic little town by the sea and an endless source of beauty and inspiration.

In my folk art shop you'll find hand carved Santas, snowmen and gnomes, birds and ever changing art.

To Kelly Rae's loyal readers, please take 20% off of your purchase at my shop by using the code kellyrae.

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Hello and Merry Christmas! Lesley Myrick here. I'm an artist, designer, and adventurer. I create collage art with words that make my heart happy (like inspiring quotes and scripture verses), and sell personalized collage art, collage art prints, and now gorgeous blank greeting cards (eek!) at my Etsy shop. Stop by my shop this month for a 15% discount with code FRIENDOFKELLYRAE. I also blog 5 days a week at lesleymyrick.com about art, photography, design, pretty things, and life as a freelance artist. Come by and say hello - I'd love to connect with you! xo

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Do you want to live a creative life but don't know where to start?

Do you live a creative life but need help staying in-the-know?

Do you teach creative living and want to promote yourself?

Seek Your Course makes all that possible.

Seek Your Course is a database and online hub for connecting people with creative learning opportunities online and around the world.

* Through the Listings you can find ecourses, retreats and conferences with an art focus.

* Through Instructor and Retreat/Conference Profiles you can meet the artists and learn more about the events.

* Through the SYC Blog you can be inspired by interviews, book recommendations, guest posts and much more!

* Listings on many topics including: painting, drawing, blogging, entrepreneurship, encaustics, life coaching, photography, personal growth, and writing.

Come check it out: website | twitter | facebook

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My Creative Classroom is celebrating! We’ve been bringing online classes to crafters all over the world for 5 years. In celebration, we are announcing that we will be allowing lifetime access to course content on our site! Most of our classes will be offered for lifetime access! Lifetime access begins with classes taken this past fall and will include classes going forward.

My Creative Classroom is an online arts and crafts learning center. Offering over 100 interactive and in-depth courses are instructor led. The classes are filled with wonderful projects and techniques to help you get the most out of your supplies. From the Cricut to Tom bow to mixed media to rubber stamping to scrapbooking we have something for everyone. Don't miss out on classes starting January 23rd, including:

Expression 101
Beginner Copics
Textured Backgrounds
Card Boot Camp
Photo Organizing
Exploring Mixed Media

While you wait for the spring semester to start, take a look at our FREE classroom Everyday Moodling. In this free class Jeri shares her journey to finding the 'time' to be more creative. Just sign up for the MCC Newsletter.

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Big thanks to my sponsors! It takes a lot of courage to create a business from dreams, and I'm honored to highlight their bravery + and their offerings. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor (includes your ad on the sidebar + ongoing spotlights), please send me an email at kellyraeroberts@gmail.com for further information!

happy holidays

2011-12-22T17:57:00.000-08:00

Hi friends,
Just wanted to say that I'm taking a bit of a holiday break to spend some downtime with my family. I'll be back in the next week or so with stories, pictures, and a revamp of this space, and some questions for you (I need your advice).

In the meantime, I'm chatty happy over on facebook where short status updates are becoming fun again (and also easy thanks to the iphone) as well as on instagram (Which, you know, is the best thing ever. It's like flickr meets twitter - like a tweet or facebook status update but in pictures. LOVE LOVE LOVE!).

And to all of you, whoever you are, wherever you may be, whatever you may be celebrating or grieving, i wish for you this: that you embrace the magic of the season. Let it open your heart and may you find all that you've been waiting for (peace, joy, forgiveness, love, excitement, hope, and on and on).

a toast, a celebration, a little bit of uncertainty

2011-12-18T23:36:00.000-08:00

The shop is closed. It is closed. It is closed. (Can I get an amen?)

It's been a few very frenzied days (weeks?) around here involving late nites (like 2am late), lots of last minute hiccups, rushing, and a lot of hard work to get all the orders out and shipped. The shop, the dear dear shop, went out with a bang. It sold out of almost all the inventory and we shipped nearly 2700 products in the last month alone. 2700 products in one month, friends.

Whew! My helpers and I are tired.

But I am so joyful to have it end with such enthusiasm and with so many goodies heading out for Christmas gifts. I can't thank you enough for your support of the shop all of these years. And I can't thank you enough for supporting my decision to take it in a new direction.

I wanted to clear up a few questions + concerns that have been coming my way:

- The shop will actually reopen in Feb 2012, but we'll only have matted prints and greeting cards and the occasional batch of original paintings. Keeping it simple, friends, and I am crazy excited about that.
- The ebooks and ecourses aren't going anywhere and will remain for sale.
- The gift + home decor products aren't going anywhere either. My licensing partners and I are going strong with some awesome products in the works. Although I will no longer sell them in my online shop, you'll still find them in stores nationwide as well as online vendors. I'll have a sneak peek soon of many many new products that will debut at the Atlanta trade-show in January!
- This blog isn't going anywhere. One of the reasons I decided to scale back the shop was so that I could reclaim this space for more writing and stories, so be on the look out for a blog make-over soon!

The truth? I am nervous. I am excited. I am uncertain. I am a tiny bit stressed. I am curious of what it will birth. These are things I haven't felt in a long time (when it comes to my work) and I'm just going with it - trusting it will lead me to all things I want more of: time with my family, more art, more writing. We all have to take our own leaps. This is a big one for me, financially. But I just know in my bones the reward will be the greatest gift.

So with that, I'd like to say a bravo, a cheers, a farewell to the shop. And a huge thank you to you. More soon..
XO
Kelly Rae

Sponsor Spotlights: Sacred Cake, StencilGirl Products, Jennifer Rizzo, Susannah Conway, Illuminating Words, The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design + Louise Gale

2011-12-17T02:00:00.000-08:00

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You want the jewelry you wear to be meaningful and expressive. Affordable, but not mass produced. You want your jewelry to be like you…timeless and memorable. One of a kind. How about something a bit different? Something with a history. Something with a story.

At Sacred Cake you will find affordable heirloom quality vintage assemblage jewelry combined with timeless appeal. Whether it is for your wedding, graduation, first date, a gift, or for your everyday victories; look to Sacred Cake for personal service that you can always rely on to exceed your expectations and make you feel as special and as singular as you are.

There is only one you. There is only one Sacred Cake. Every piece tells a story. What will your story be?

*Kelly Rae readers receive free shipping and a special gift. Visit my etsy shop and enter the code “ONEOFAKIND” to receive your free shipping and your gift. I’d love for you to visit my blog for more simple projects, stories and inspiration.

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They call me StencilGirl but I'm also known as Mary Beth Shaw, mixed media artist and author of Flavor for Mixed Media. Having hand-cut my own stencils for years, I first dipped my toe into the stencil biz in 2010. Today I am proud to partner with artists Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch, Judy Wise, Pam Carriker, Michelle Ward, Kae Pea and June Pfaff Daley to provide uber-cool artist designed stencils - the best in the mixed media world!! Thirty + designs strong, we add more all the time! Our stencils are made of Mylar and Laser-cut; they work for all mixed media applications including painting, rubbing, tracing, encaustic, stitching guides and more. Take a look for yourself at StencilGirl Products where we are introducing our brand new 6x6 stencils. Mention "Kelly Rae" in the comment section of your order and you will receive a free 6x5 stencil of your choice! (offer good in Dec. 2011 only, one per customer please).

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My name is Jennifer Rizzo and I am a rediscovered artist. I’ve been drawing, painting and creating ever since I could remember. For a long time I had pushed my gifts aside and it’s only been in the last few years that I’ve truly embraced them.

One of my passions is home décor and vintage items. I love to artfully create and find items that make a home beautiful and unique. In my shop I carry items such as tea towels, pillows, jewelry, vintage dishware and silver. Most of my items have a vintage flair. My Fall line is called The Vintage Tea Collection and I am so excited to be able to share it with you. You can view my collection at my Etsy store: Jennifer Rizzo or on my blog Jenniferrizzo.com

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The Unravelling e-course is an 8-week online class designed to help you heal the way you see your self and your world, using photography and journalling to access hidden thoughts and dreams and encourage personal realisations, all in the safe space of a like-minded community.

Photographer and writer Susannah Conway is your guide through this process, sharing her insights and wisdom gleaned from a four-year voyage through grief and healing. You don’t need any previous photography experience to do this course - all you need is a camera (iPhones are perfect for unravelling!), a journal and pen and an open heart.

Registration for the winter Unravelling: Ways of Seeing My Self is now open (class starts January 2nd) — you can see what past participants have said about their Unravelling journeys over here (there are videos too :)

If you’d like to start the new year in the company of like-minded women from around the world, Unravelling is the place for you :)

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Please stop by my shop or my blog to see samples of my artwork. Email me to inquire about commissioned pieces incorporating your favorite quotes or family photos.

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If you have ever dreamt of seeing your designs on stationery, fabric, homewares or other products, sharing your art through pattern, and monetising your designs this groundbreaking course is for you!

‘The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design featuring Rachael Taylor’ is the definitive guide to becoming a surface pattern designer.

Module 2: Creating your professional identity begins on January 30 – secure your place now!
In this module you will learn everything you need to know to become an established professional surface pattern designer including how to start your own label, how to develop your signature look, how to understand and predict trends, how to put a collection together, how to protect your work, and how to create technical repeats in Adobe Illustrator.

In this course you will also learn how to isolate elements of mixed media artwork and turn it into patterns – and then mock that up onto products! This will be demonstrated using Kelly Rae’s gorgeous artwork! Register now

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Do you know how beautiful you truly are?

Are you ready to discover the star in you and live out your dreams in 2012 and beyond?

Join artist & life coach Louise Gale and a community of creative souls to explore and identify your true self, purpose and passion and start living the life you were born to live. Together we will explore – discover - create a hand-made journal full of creative dreams and find the courage in you to be the star you truly are

All designed to help you live your dream life.

The “Big Dreams. Small Wonders” e-course is full of inspiring posts – stories – worksheets - audio, creative exercises and fun planning techniques, empowering you to go from where you arenow, to where you want to be.

You will leave the 6 weeks with a journal full of creative exploration, a clear idea of who you truly are, where you want to go and a roadmap to help you get there.

Be the shining star you are

The2012 journey starts on Monday January 9 and space is limited, so sign up today to take the first step to follow your dreams

You can live the life you were born to live

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life, a beautiful thing to witness.

2011-12-14T00:02:00.000-08:00

I want to tell you how it feels like breathing, this love. Like deep, life affirming, breaths.

I want to tell you how everyday is a new discovery of deeper joy - for both of us. Him with his sounds and sights, me with my expanding heart.

I want to tel you how I could easily spend an entire day just watching this bright light. And how I do just that, all of the time.

I want to tell you how tender I feel toward them. How I could not imagine it any other way. How much I love all of this and how toddler-hood is the bees knees and how bittersweet it feels that time is moving forward and one day this will pass. I'm making all efforts to slow this life down, to pause as much as possible, to pay attention, to document it all, but mostly to just simply be present and soak it up....life. is. a. beautiful. thing.

holiday + home = cozy

2011-12-13T00:24:00.000-08:00

Last year was truly the first time I had ever really decorated for Christmas. And I'm still getting my holiday decor groove, for sure, but having baby True makes this season feel magical in ways it hasn't for a long time. And that makes me want to decorate.

Here are a few snapshots from around our home:

And below is what the living room looks like on any given day. A total mess, but a joyful mess. Toys, books, sunlight. Love....

More soon!
Shop closes on Friday (I have so much to tell you about this decision. It has been a major major clearing for me). Please scoop up what you can and be sure to use the discount code of KRR20% before it's all gone. PS: Did you spy this large photo frame in one of the above photos? It's an absolute favorite and we've got a few left in the shop (20% off)!

XO,
Kelly Rae

one week countdown...

2011-12-12T00:22:00.000-08:00

Hey friends,
Operation "reclaim my blog" begins next week but please bear with me as I continue to give shop updates a couple of times this week as we near its closing date (this Friday!). It's been a tough couple of weeks around here (updates on life soon), but my team is working hard on getting your orders out and celebrating the closing of the shop! Life is full and good.

PS: You will be asked to enter the discount code after you enter your info at paypal (but before you complete your payment). After entering your info at paypal you will be redirected back to my shop to complete the check-out process where the discount will be applied.

Here's the update:

ONLY 2 WALL CANVASES LEFT:

- open heart (a personal favorite) - less than 4 left
- life loving, graceful - only 3 left Update: SOLD OUT

ONLY 5 of the following IPHONE SKINS LEFT:

- wish
- take flight

Less than 10 of these picture frames (ps: all frames are made of wood and are BEAUTIFUL!):

- take flight
- hello courage
- loved (these bigger frames, including this one, are gorgeous, gorgeous)

These are going fast:

-my book - 5 SIGNED copies left.
- winged promise decorative stoneware (substantial piece, larger than it appears in photos - LOVE)
- greeting cards (happy birthday, i love you, friendship, blank,and more!)

Thanks, everyone!

Back soon with Christmas decor photos and one super cute video.

Sponsor Spotlights: A Year Most Lovely, Soul*Full eCourse, Star Hitched Wagon + Jane Davenport, Emerge

2011-12-10T02:00:00.000-08:00

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Trace the arc of one beautiful year:

A Year Most Lovely, with Anna Kunnecke

This is a book to hold in your hands.
This is a book to scribble in.

I created this book to help you declare dominion over the coming year. This is where I swirled together my most potent alchemy tools with everything I’ve learned about beauty from writing sitatmytable.com.

It's a place to plan.
It's a place to record.
It's a place to plan rituals.
It's a place to declare priorities.
It's a place to celebrate and jubilate.

I made it with love, and I drenched it in beauty, and I secreted some powerfully useful tools in there underneath the petals: tools to help you trace a trajectory for yourself that is mighty and delicious.

This is a book where your scribbles turn into declarations, your declarations turn into goals, and your goals turn into your life, blooming all around you, all year long.

Click here to watch Anna’s video and get your lovely.

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I believe you are valuable and your stories are important

Personal Growth + Connection + Soul*Full Photos = Transformation

You deserve abundance in all areas of your life!

Why wait?!

Join me!

Soul*Full eCourse

Join award winning photographer Catherine Just in this Soul*Full eCourse designed just for women.

Interviews with: Miguel Ruiz, Douglas Beasley, Andrea Scher, Beth Nicholls, Sheri Rosenthal, Aline Smithson and Susannah Conway.

We will dive into photography to help you re-learn how to "see"
Writing exercises to move more toward gratitude
Learn new ways to trust that the universe supports you
Mix all that with some healthy recipes, pampering, rest and rejuvenation and you've got the ingredients for a more Soul*Filled Life! Join us!

What others are saying:
“I have so much more to say to you about your lovely e-course – it’s been by far the absolute BEST I’ve ever taken…It’s been exactly what I needed…every week – totally spot-on. Catherine, oh fearless leader, I hope you seriously consider a SoulFull 2!” – Rachael F.

Don’t miss your chance. Starting January 16th

Spaces are already filling up!

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Hello!! I’m Stacey Curry of Star Hitched Wagon™ artisan goods for the Girl with Roots and Wings! I’m passionate about creating - can't imagine life without it. My parents inspired passion of creativity at a young age. Mom enjoyed baking, crocheting and ceramics and was wonderful about including my sisters and I. Dad let us create in the garage with his tools and scraps of wood. There wasn't a right or wrong way - they just let us do what we were inspired to do. So I feel I have always been creatively awake. I’m blessed. Lucky to be born and raised in rural Montana - the beauty of the plains and mountains fueled my creativity - I began designing and selling jewelry to family and friends at sixteen. I continued to cultivate my creativity and developed my own line featuring one-of-a-kind jewelry and handmade bath and body products. In 2003 I introduced this line to the world and a star was born. Enjoy your visit to the shop and take 20% off your order. Code: kellyrae Expires 12/31/2011

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i HEART drawing

5 week online class. Registration open now.

You will be creating both complex and simplistic figures with ease and confidence by class end!

This class would also be a wonderful confidence-boosting gift anyone considering a career or study in the fashion industry. $155 with a special offer on my site!

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Emerge in 2012 with Live it to the Full

How do we Emerge from life’s transitions and become more fully ourselves? Is it possible to be cracked open and made whole at the same time? Some transitions are big and bold life events, while others happen in the quiet moments of daily life.

Join Live it to the Full in January 2012 for Emerge, a four-week, online course led by Liz Lamoreux, Jennifer (Jenna) McGuiggan, + Vivienne McMaster. Explore the ebb and flow of happiness, the unique power of telling your story, and the beautiful yet precarious process of learning to trust yourself. See what happens when you allow your true self to emerge through creativity.

Kick off 2012 exploring your own emergence through daily posts (Monday through Friday) and weekly activities in mindfulness practices, storytelling and photography. The course costs $49 and begins January 2nd. Learn more and register today »

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big thanks, shop closing, and 20% off everything

2011-12-09T12:25:00.000-08:00

I want to thank you guys so much for your support of my big news! Since announcing the news, I've felt incredibly lighter, and so inspired about what this will open up for me. Yay for leaps and changes and trusting it will all work out! As much as I enjoyed the shop, I suppose everything runs its course. Perhaps I'll reopen it another time, in another season of my life, but for now I'm feeling really great about letting it go. Soooooo..............

In an effort to empty out as much inventory as possible before closing the shop next week, I've decided to have a SHOP CLOSING SALE!!!!!! Everything is 20% off and will remain on sale until the shop closes on Fri, Dec 16th. Please use the code KRR20%.

Quick inventory update:

We've got less than five of the following canvases:

- Unleash Your Joy update: SOLD OUT

- You + Me update: SOLD OUT

- Lovely Life update: SOLD OUT

- Wish

- Time + Love update: SOLD OUT

- Brave Girl update: SOLD OUT

- Wish update: SOLD OUT

- Gentle Kindness update: SOLD OUT

- Anything is Possible update: SOLD OUT

Less than four of these magnet boards:

- Love Wide update: SOLD OUT

- Hope update: SOLD OUT

Previously sold out (VERY popular), but we found 1-2 extra!

- Iron Birdie clock update: SOLD OUT

- Believe Travel Mug update: SOLD OUT

- No regrets wall art update: SOLD OUT

- Heart by Heart canvas update: SOLD OUT

- Create intention candle update: SOLD OUT

-Dream big laptop skin update: SOLD OUT

- These magnets, bookmarks, and everyday ornaments update: SOLD OUT

- Gorgeous Bloom frame with easel update: SOLD OUT

- Just a couple left of the business card holders update: SOLD OUT

- One more of the Charming Journey Photo Book Box update: SOLD OUT

AND JUST CAME IN:

Be Fearless boxed notecards- perfect for stocking stuffers or affordable gifts (just $10)!
update: SOLD OUT


Box set includes 13 cards and envelopes. update: SOLD OUT

Thanks everyone! Shop closes on Fri 12/16 and the 20% code will be valid all the way up until closing! CODE IS KRR20%
Update: Most of the above is sold out, but there is still plenty left!

following my heart = big news

2011-12-07T05:20:00.000-08:00

I've been considering a huge, huge decision. Through all of the going back and forth in my mind, I've been working hard on keeping the perspective that when we let one thing go, we make more room for something else to be born. I'd be lying if I didn't say there was fear with this decision, but I worry more about the fear that comes with not making the decision. I want to be brave with my life. I want to listen to it. I want to grow.

It is with this perspective and faith that I've made the big decision to scale back the scope of my online shop in a big, big way. The shop is the busiest it's ever been, and it's a major income stream for me, but it takes a lot of work to run it - even with employees helping. It also takes a lot of energy + time - something that I'd like to start putting toward other big ideas and projects. I am so grateful for all the abundance it's brought me all of these years, but I'm feeling called to let it go.

I'm planning to let the current products/inventory sell out (very close to this now). Once everything is sold, I'll continue to offer very limited items - just matted prints, greeting cards, and perhaps an occasional batch of original painting. No more wall canvases, home decor products, stationery/office products, or gift products. My plan is to keep it simple, simple, simple.

I will still (of course!) announce when new products come out with my licensing partners and share photos and all that fun stuff, but I will no longer sell the products online. Instead, I'll do my best to direct you to a shop in your local area (or an online vendor) that carries the products.

Since having baby True, I'm learning how precious time really is. It is money. It is energy. It is limited. More than ever, I want to pay attention to how I'm using my energy and my time and I want to be sure I'm opening up as much possible space in my heart and in my limited work hours so that I can nurture new growth, new ideas, new room for possibilities. I also want to be sure I'm enjoying it. I always know when I need to make a change - it's usually when something is no longer fun and feels more like a burden. That's what's happening here, and I'm paying close attention.

I'm excited about what will be born from making this big decision! I have a feeling it's going to be good. I already feel free, lighter.

I'm also looking forward to reclaiming this blog space for more stories, more photos, tutorials, and more without having to use it a promotional tool for the shop - this has especially been weighing heavy on my heart. I want to write + create and let some of the marketing/biz pieces go for a bit.

So, with that news, please head on over to the shop and get any remaining products before they are no longer available. The shop will close next week for a couple of months for a nice long winter break before returning in Feb with its new limited stock of prints + greeting cards.

Thanks everyone!
Big hugs,
Kelly Rae

a little rough

2011-12-06T00:39:00.000-08:00

Florida sky

Hi friends,
We arrived home yesterday after an emergent trip to Florida. We've been there the last many many days helping to care for John's very dear and beloved granddad.

(Bella with a 5mos old baby True earlier this year)

While we were gone, our sweet Bella dog (11 yrs old) had an emergency of her own which required that most of her tail be amputated. Bella has severe bleeding disorder (similar to hemophilia) and surgery, even a simple one, is a big big deal that requires plasma transfusions, etc.

It's been an intense couple of weeks.

When we arrived home from FL we found a surprise Santa on our porch along with Christmas lights decorating the outside of our house. Turns out, my lovely parents wanted to cheer us up and surprise us with a bit of joy. True loved it and we are now officially one of those neighbors with blow up Christmas decor. HILARIOUS!!! There is something about having a baby that makes me love Christmastime even more.

I am incredibly thankful that my parents are nearby. It's only been a few months since they moved here and our lives have changed so much because of them. They help us so very much with the baby, with the house, with food. Sometimes I'll come home and find a flower cut from the yard and put in a little vase, or the dishes put away, or the laundry folded, or our favorite chocolate banana bread fresh out of the oven - all little, but such significant things that help and do not go unnoticed. Feeling really blessed.

It seems impossible that our baby is now a 14 month old toddler. He is so smiley, so sweet, and just the cutest little man. He did great with all the travel and cross country plane rides. Everyone comments on how social he is. It's true. He waves and smiles and reaches out to touch just about everyone who crosses his path. He loves to show off with all of his animal sounds (what does a bee say? a cow? an owl? and so on) and gestures (touchdown! knock, knock! and so on). He just got his 3rd tooth (slow teether) and is currently working on what seems to be several more all at once (yikes!).

It feels a little bittersweet how quickly he is growing. I already miss his tiny baby days and am just so grateful we took all those photos and videos so I can hold them close + remember. You weren't kidding when you said that time would fly by and to cherish these times now. You weren't kidding when you said they grow up so quickly. You weren't kidding when you said that I wouldn't regret slowing down, and spending as much time as possible with him.

And you were not kidding when you said babies are the most joyful, transformative gifts on the planet.

Would love to meet you!

2011-12-05T09:44:00.000-08:00

Woohoo! I'll be at the lovely store above THIS THURSDAY + I'd so love it if you came by to say hello. I'll be signing canvases and chatting and visiting with anyone who wants to say hello! Garden Gallery Works will have many canvases and other product for sale and I'll be signing it all. I did a signing for them last year and it was so much fun - totally adore their family and their shop. They go all out with dessert, wine, and festivities and they're situated at an outdoor mall so you can make a day of it - shopping, checking out the Christmas sales, and so on.

Come say hello! I'd love to meet you and say hello!

Things are going quite fast out of the shop! Thank you! I love that these products will be gifted to the special people in your lives! I wanted to give you a quick update:

Many items have sold out (including the calendars, candles, figures, decorative girlies, ornaments, travel mugs, magnets, bookmarks, clocks, journals, and more). Per your request, we've hidden these products from view to make shopping easier and less frustrating. However, it makes our shop look a little sparse!

We've got less than 10 of several of the picture frames. Wouldn't it be awesome to gift a favorite photo (OR A LETTER/NOTE to your friend/family member) inside one of these frames? I love love the idea of a framed note inside a frame :)

We've got less than 10 of most 6x6 canvases which we think are super affordable and perfect for giving and just three of this favorite 16x16 canvas (perfect for the brave girls in your life).

And we've got just a few left of the Hello Courage pillow - another all time favorite product of mine! I think this is the perfect gift for anyone who needs to snuggle with a bit of comfort + courage.

Thanks everyone. As always, I can't thank you enough for your support!
XO,
Kelly Rae

NEW Sponsor Spotlights: Leah Creates, Laurie Coyle Designs, Lexisworks, Bespoken, Cara Harjes, Attic Journals, Liv Lane + Lolo's Laboratory

2011-12-03T02:00:00.000-08:00

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Looking for the perfect holiday gift for the gardener, chef, nutritionist or foodie in your life? I've got a bushel of paintings, prints and cards featuring fresh and delicious seasonal produce. There's even a set of pick-your-own prints. Yum!

Riding the wave of the slow-foods/locavore revolution, celebrating growing our own food and cooking with simple, whole foods with food-centered art, perfect for adoring kitchens, hallways, living rooms and even bedrooms (who doesn't want to dream about yummy fresh foods?).

I am an artist and mama with a penchant for simple, modern and meaningful design. I live and working on a hillside in South Lee, Massachusetts, dabbling in a variety of media, including painting/drawing, printmaking, fabric sculpture, photography and graphic design.

Things I can’t live without: local food, playing with dogs, making art with children and watching the seasons change. Visit my blog here, find current listings and news on facebook and follow me on twitter here. Shop for prints, cards and paintings here.

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Lexisworks is Denver based artist Lexis Krieg. She is constantly drawing inspiration from the ever present Rocky mountains and the bits and pieces of life that inspire her. Lexis has gathered paper snippets and sewing notions from her adventures around the united states, europe and most recently thrift stores and estate sales. This paper obsession is Lexis’ main influence in creating her layered collages. Working from her homemade studio, she creates sweet whimsical mixed media artwork that offers the viewer private moments in the midst of a hectic modern life. Be sure to deck your halls this season with Lexisworks' precious and colorful prints, greeting cards and magnets, available at my Etsy Shop. They make timeless gifts for anyone on your list. Stop by my shop in December for a free gift with purchase with code KELLY. Stay up to date with Lexisworks' latest creations at the Lexisworks blog, www.lexisworks.wordpress.com.

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Attention: Creative Businesses, Artists, and Designers

Need help communicating your brand effectively, or want to spread the word about your work, just in time for the holidays?
Hi there, my name is Annching and I run Bespoken, a copywriting and communications studio for creative businesses, particularly in design, lifestyle and art-oriented ventures - businesses where aesthetics and style matter. WIth a background in fashion, marketing and brand strategy, I like to describe myself as a word couturier; I dress your vision in words, from head to toe, helping you communicate your message effectively and meaningfully.

I've helped businesses write bios, web copy, product descriptions, and designed marketing campaigns and media kits. This month, give yourself the gift of a beautifully articulated and communicated brand to ring in 2012.

Brand new service: The $99 press release!
3 Days, 5 Q's, 1 Custom Press Release.
Check out the details here.

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Attic Journals began on a sleepy Saturday morning in 2004 when we happened upon a beautiful tattered book at a San Luis Obispo garage sale. With an immediate need of having a gift for a friend’s birthday that evening, we headed home to re-purpose the book and Attic Journals were born.

Attic Journals are made by hand using hard-bound vintage school books and library books that were destined for dumpsters, but given new life in our production studio. Each journal is made to last with approximately 75 pages of 24# paper and a sturdy wire binding. Truthfully, we have a special place in our hearts for old cookbooks, hymn books and those funny home repair guides that have fantastic graphics, but we’ve made just about every book imaginable into a journal… really.

These days we hail from Portland, Oregon– known for it’s roses, it’s DIY and maybe a little less known for the taco trucks that seem to be taking over every corner on the southeast side. We love it here. You would too.

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Here’s your chance to finally shine online!

Learn from the best and brightest!

Soak up wisdom from 20 superstar contributors including Kelly Rae Roberts, SARK, Amanda Oaks {Kind Over Matter}, Lori Deschene {Tiny Buddha}, and Maggie Whitley {Gussy Sews}.

Fall head over heels for your blog!

~ Realize your blog’s true purpose and full potential.

~ Joyfully write authentic, compelling posts – and NEVER run out of ideas again.

~ Promote and prosper from your blog in ways that feel right to you.

~ Connect with like-minded bloggers around the world and attract readers who adore your content!
~ Lovingly leverage your blog to boost your business, book plan, art shop or other professional endeavors.

DISCOUNT! Get 10% off the How To Build a Blog You Truly Love eCourse with the discount code KELLYRAE.

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Big thanks to my sponsors! It takes a lot of courage to create a business from dreams, and I'm honored to highlight their bravery + and their offerings. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor (includes your ad on the sidebar + ongoing spotlights), please send me an email at kellyraeroberts@gmail.com for further information!

hopeful spirit

2011-12-02T05:57:00.000-08:00

I've always really loved this painting. I video tapped my painting it long ago....

i want to do more of these videos - perhaps 2012 will be the year of painting videos (wouldn't that be fun?) - maybe, oh MAYBE even a painting ecourse? big dreams. speaking of painting ecourses, did you know that my pal flora announced her first painting ecourse yesterday? highly recommend it - here's me gushing about taking one her workshops earlier this year.

Hopeful spirit - that's what it says over her heart. Because that's what it takes to breathe. It takes hope.
XO,
Kelly Rae

happy birthday to do what you love!

2011-11-30T12:05:00.000-08:00

Super quick:
The Cyber Monday sale has totally taken us off our little biz tracks. Totally did NOT expect nearly 300 orders in one day. For those of you who placed an order, THANK YOU! Please know that we are doing our best to ship ALL orders as soon as possible. You will receive a confirmation email once your order has shipped with tracking information. Due to family emergencies, our three women team of shipping elves have been reduced to one sweet little one. She is working her little tush off and asks for your dear patience as she sends everything off with the utmost care and attention. Goal is to have all orders that were place on Monday shipped by tomorrow (Thurs) but it might take another day or so. THANK YOU!

My dear partner-in-crime with Hello Soul, Hello Business is celebrating her one year anniversary of her business today. Her business is called Do What You Love and in just a year, she has done amazing things and is on her way to a big bright sky of serious abundance, both in her own life and what she is offering to others by supporting the souls of the world to do what they love.

The other nite I was reading through Beth's private journal entries that share the evolution of her biz. I was SO STRUCK by how similar our paths have been. Although she just celebrated year one of her biz and I just celebrated year five, and although our offerings are different, what the same is this: the very real sense of possibility, the leaps to make things happen, a determination to be professional yet kind, but most importantly a somewhat intangible notion and belief that what you put out there as an intention is wholly possible with hard work, support, and the passion to do it - whether you know what you are doing, or not.

I often think about a journal entry I wrote in 2005, just before discovering my passion for art:
ever have that feeling that you are just going to bust at the seems with happiness, anticipation, and inspiration? like you are on the edge of something great? like you are about to make a grand discovery. and it just might be inside of you, in your heart, in your hands, in your vision? i am feeling like that right now and i am going to pay attention to it this time.

This is the thing, that feeling, that hard describe inner whisper that holds the soul and the spirit of what is to come, what can be born, what is possible. When reading Beth's journals, I recognized much of myself in her - not necessarily what she's doing, but her why - the spirit of it, and how it all unfolded well before she actually started her biz, well before she even knew why she was being called in the direction that she is now headed. As my own journal entry suggests above, it's a feeling, a holding of possibility, a prelude to what is to come.

I find is so comforting and amazing that our lives unfold in such ways - that we feel things before we could ever know what is on the horizon. I suppose we have to know (believe) that the horizon is there, we have to have the sense of that kind of possibility before anything can manifest. The trick is paying attention to it and not letting go.

The two of us being silly - photo by Tiffany Kirchner-Dixon

Beth and I have been surprised to find ourselves doing what we're doing. But now that we have these business that unfolded with a bit of divine intervention, and now that we're steering them with much practical knowledge under our feet, we're both deeply interested in and committed to keeping the original soul (that undefinable thing that led us to this place) of our businesses alive. Turns out, that undefinable thing is actually quite definable - something we've uncovered in our hours and hours of skype calls talking about it! We'll be helping our students define it for themselves in our upcoming ecourse. And once it's defined, we'll dive deep into the practicalities of running a biz that starts with soul, embraces beauty, and results in profit. We are seriously excited.

All of this is to say that I am so proud to be working with Beth. SO proud to celebrate the one year anniversary of her biz today. And so proud to be partnering with someone who so totally gets it and whose own biz is thriving in ways that mimic my own beginnings four years ago - it's quite special and awesome to see. And I can't wait to see how our collaboration inspires other businesses to flourish. Nothing gets me more excited than seeing others succeed - the world needs more of us doing what we love and flourishing while doing it.

a love letter. a dramatic love letter.

2011-11-29T00:16:00.000-08:00

(available here)

Whoa. Yesterday's Cyber Monday sale was a huge success. Like, huge, beyond words, whatjusthappened success. Thanks to all of you who follow me on facebook and twitter for putting up with my all day tweets and status updates!

Here's what I feel deeply called to say: thank you. Please bear with me as I have a feeling that I'm about to sound downright dramatic, but I can't help myself. In preparation for Hello Soul, Hello Business, Beth and I have been doing a ton of talking (marathon skype sessions), reflecting on our own journeys, our own personal stories that have led us to where we are today - not just in biz, but in life - they go hand and hand. Through all of the reflection, what is clear to me is this: without your support, without the encouragement of this specific community, without the buoy of you, this life, this hand-made, what-in-the-world-am-i-doing, beautiful, chaotic, dream-filled life would simply not be possible.

It's been five years.

Five years of listening, taking leaps, making giant mistakes, making giant decisions, cultivating business skills, unlearning business skills, finding new ways, finding my own way. You have been there all along. You. I could seriously weep. I could weep when I think about how this space has documented every single step - from that first painting to that first art retreat (that changed everything) to that first book to that first ecourse to that first community (tribe) to that first teaching experience to that first licensing contract to that first first website to that first tradeshow and first gallery show and on and on. For those of you who may be new here, scroll down the sidebar for my journey in chronological order.

In between all that biz life, has been life life - the real sweetness of love and how it has been the fuel and the inspiration to create a life (one tiny step and decision at a time) that I count my lucky stars for. This space holds the journey of quitting my dayjob, moving a million times, fears and more fears, triumphs, marriage, having babies, friendships, family, trauma, grief, and the details of a life in progress, a life unfolding.

And through all of that, you have been my witness. Thank you, thank you so much.

(newish painting, available here)

The other nite as I was falling asleep, I placed my hands on my heart and the tears came quietly. They were tears of exhaustion (because in between all the biz life happenings around here lately, there have been some intense life life around here as well). But the tears were also of deep + wide gratitude. I am unendingly grateful to you - for being a witness, and for supporting me and the work I do. By supporting me, you are seeing me. And being seen, friends, is perhaps the greatest gift of all.

Thank you so much.
Love,
Kelly Rae

Quick shop update:

-Per your requests, we've hidden all the sold out products to help decrease frustration and make shopping a bit more easy and fast.
- There are less than 10 of the following products available (get em' while you can!): most wall canvases, all iphone skins (4g/s + 3g), all magnet boards, this awesome pillow, this awesome photo frame, + this favorite boxy wall art.

One more thing: It's not too late to be a holiday sponsor! If you're interested in being a sponsor for Dec and having your shop/services/projects highlighted here on the blog and on the sidebar, please send us an email at kellyraeroberts@gmail.com for more info.

TODAY ONLY: 25% off everything. Yeehaw!

2011-11-28T00:03:00.000-08:00

In honor of Cyber Monday, we're having a rare sale! Oh yes, yes we are. And it's a good one, friends.

We're in full on holiday mode over here - loving all the orders and support. You guys are awesome. We've run out of stock on several things, but we've still got many options. Here's a quick update:

Signed 2012 calendars are close to selling out. We don't have day planners this year, but the wall calendars are better than ever and we've got two different options. The one above has pockets! 25% off TODAY ONLY! Enter code: yeehaw!

This calendar comes signed and has its own gift jacket which we love. 25% off TODAY ONLY! Enter code: yeehaw!

I can't tell you how much I love these frames. Scoop em' up with the sale today...you will not be disappointed. The first round sold out, but we've got another batch in for holiday shopping! 25% off TODAY ONLY! Enter code: yeehaw!

The canvases are best sellers and perfect for gifting. We've got 20 different images, super affordable, and stunning reproductions of the originals. Stock up while you can - all are 25% off TODAY ONLY! Enter code: yeehaw!

Wouldn't it be awesome if our office spaces had beautiful staplers? Perfect gift for co-workers! 25% off TODAY ONLY! Enter code: yeehaw!

This stoneware piece is much larger than it looks here. One of my all time favorite home decor pieces and at 25% off (today only), I'd love for it to go to a few good homes.

Man, these intention candles still make me swoon. I think they make the perfect, meaningful gift. They arrive ready to gift in a sweet little gift box.

25% off everything!
TODAY ONLY!
Enter code: yeehaw!
PS: YOU WILL BE ASKED TO BE ENTER THE CODE (yeehaw!) AFTER YOU ENTER YOUR INFORMATION AT PAYPAL (BUT BEFORE YOU PAY). AFTER YOU ENTER YOUR INFO AT PAYPAL, YOU WILL THEN BE REDIRECTED BACK TO OUR SHOP TO COMPLETE THE CHECK-OUT PROCESS WHERE THE DISCOUNT WILL BE APPLIED.

We're shipping Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays up until Dec 19th when we're closing shop for the holiday break.

Thanks everyone. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your supporting my little ol' shop all of these years (five years! go, shop, go!).

XO, Kelly Rae

PS: YOU WILL ASKED TO BE ENTER THE CODE (yeehaw!) AFTER YOU ENTER YOUR INFORMATION AT PAYPAL.

Sponsor Spotlights: Superhero Photo e-course, The Word Cellar, Sleep and Her Sisters, Gwynnie B Designs, Experimental Art e-course, Big Dreams. Small Wonders, Lindy Gruger Hanson, NatoBottaArt + Beth Nadler Art,

2011-11-26T02:00:00.000-08:00

Now accepting new sponsorship reservations for the holiday season (Nov+Dec).

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Join Andrea Scher for the January session of Superhero Photo!
and her brand new course Elevate the Ordinary!

We will hone our technical skills while opening our eyes to the beauty all around us.

We will find ourselves in that sweet spot where creativity, play and aliveness intersect.

We will have more access to joy.

The Superhero Photo January Session begins Monday, January 9th. Register today with the coupon code KELLYRAE and you will get a $20 discount!

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Calling all writers and “wish-to-be” writers to The Word Cellar. Would you like gentle, useful
feedback on your writing? What about personalized creative coaching? Let me (Jenna McGuiggan) be
a supportive and honest guide along your writing journey.

Here's how it works: You'll email me your work, I'll review it and then send you written comments on what's working, what could be improved, and suggestions on how to move forward. As your writing coach, I'll help you to follow your dreams and find creative clarity by asking questions, listening, and recommending books, resources, and creative practices. We'll meet via phone or Skype to discuss anything related to writing or creativity. I'll serve as your sounding board, cheerleader, nurturer, and brainstorming partner – whichever you need. Whether you need one session or ongoing monthly support, let me know how I can help – and I'll design a custom package just for you and your writing wishes. Learn more or contact me to find out how we can work together.

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It's Thanksgiving and I'm giving big grateful thanks for Dutch apple pie! I love pie almost as much as I love glitter and all things pretty. I'm also very grateful for such a cool blogging community that is full of creative and giving people. So here at the Gwynnie B Designs studio we would like to send Thanksgiving blessings and big yummy thank yous to all of you! And "we" includes me and my four furry studio companions: Louie, Lucy, Bleu Kitty, and Fatso Skinny.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! Now go have some pie...

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Welcoming the new OPEN ACCESS experimental arte-course. As I launch in to year 2 of my art MA I'm offering you the chance to study a wide and inspirational set of art projects too for the next year (instead of 6 weeks). Enroll once and get access to the new site and the whole course to work on at your leisure until October 1st 2012. There's great new links and resources including strategies I've used for the business side of being an artist, including a discount on my brand new e-book: HOW TO MAKE MONEY TO DO WHAT YOU LOVE. Roll up your sleeves and delve in to art and creativity with an online group until October 1st 2012 (sign up ANY time from now!) doing paper sports, collage, painting, drawing, photography and so much more. See what others have said about it here and visit my blog and website. Come join the party and lets art together! Amelia.x

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Do you know how beautiful you truly are?

Are you ready to discover the star in you and live out your dreams in 2012 and beyond?

All designed to help you live your dream life.

You will leave the 6 weeks with a journal full of creative exploration, a clear idea of who you truly are, where you want to go and a roadmap to help you get there.

Be the shining star you are

The2012 journey starts on Monday January 9 and space is limited, so sign up today to take the first step to follow your dreams

You can live the life you were born to live

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Greetings, My name is Lindy Gruger Hanson and I'm a peace loving and joyful hearted artist living in the high desert of Central Oregon. My paintings are a way to express my inner vision in what I call my symbolic language. I love color. I love texture. I like to take shapes, lines, textures and colors to create a world from the imagination. Worlds of playfulness and energy connecting each of us to each other. I hope my art can lift your spirit! I have colorful prints for sale in my Etsy Shop and I invite you to see my original paintings for sale on my website. For all Kelly Rae readers, please use discount code kellyrae2011 to receive a 10% discount in my Etsy Shop, good through Nov. 31st. And I hope you'll come by my blog and say hi.

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Nato Botto Art is "creations from the heart" by artist Natalie Kelsey. Her art inspires through whimsy, beauty, peace, faith, and tenacious optimism! With equal measure of kindness, patience, gratitude and creativity, she urges all of us to trust the process that leads to the joyful life we are each destined to create for ourselves. Above all, Natalie encourages all of us to nurture the artist within, and to trust that your heart is your compass, follow it!

Visit her etsy shop to find unique, playful, jewelry, accessories, and inspirational works of art--creations from the heart!! Be sure to mention that Kelly Rae sent you and receive a free gift with any purchase. Each item from Nato Botto Art is made purely from joy and arrives to you all packaged up snazzy and ready to give as a gift. For shop news, heart warming stories, and giggles please visit: http:/www.natobottoart.blogspot.com

Inspiration comes from the most peculiar places...What inspires you?

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I've been drawing and painting for just about as long as I can remember. I never had to decide what I wanted to do, I always knew in my heart that I would grow-up to be an artist. Making people "feel good" through my artwork is very important to me. It makes me happy to know I'm able to do something that creates a difference in the world however big or little. My artwork is colorful, fun, and inspirational and appeals to women of all ages. I describe my style as; Boho Folk. This year several of my prints and art plaques have been featured on the hit new TV show, The Nine Lives of Chloe King! You can browse through my shop here: http://bethnadlerart.etsy.com And please come and follow me on my creative and personal journey here: http://bethnadlerart.blogspot.com

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to witness + thougths on brave in sadness, brave in love

2011-11-22T11:52:00.000-08:00


image credit : here.

I have so many people in my life right now who are experiencing extraordinary heartbreak. Futures are uncertain, lives are lost or drastically changing, new ways of seeing/experiencing the world are slowly being born against a backdrop of complete sadness, confusion, and grief.

It's hard to see a loved one in anguish, but I suppose in some ways it's an honor to witness their strength, their courage, and their unending hope as they make their way through. Their hope and their courage shows that life is still beautiful, even inside the very center of its most challenging, painful moments. I am in awe of them, of their spirits, of their bravery and commitment to simply show up for whatever comes toward them (life) and to see it through the filter of what it is: full of sadness, yet full of beauty. There is room to honor all of it. Because we are human beings, because we are whole, and because life is rich with dimension, layers upon layers of history, love, heartbreak, and courage.

I am in awe of the magnitude of life. In awe of our capacity to handle it. In awe of my many friends and how they are choosing to see the delicacies, the tiniest of beauty (love, compassion, faith) in their hardest of moments while also completely honoring the darker sides of those moments (anger, fear).

I am reminded of the importance to be brave in sadness, brave in love - that we must sit with the wholeness of who we are and what we experience, that we must honor the beauty and the pain, that we can be sad yet grateful, angry yet compassionate, broken yet held in wholeness. This is life. This is what it means to show up. This is what it means to live with an open heart where love and fear are very close neighbors. This is what it means to honor every speck of every experience however heartbreaking. Brave in sadness, brave in love.

I'm so grateful to witness the beautiful lives all around me and the courage that it takes to see + feel, and choose to see + feel both the extraordinary gifts and heartbreak in our hardest of experiences. These lives, these friends, are extraordinary gifts to the intertwining of all of our souls. They are beacons of courage for all of us.

Sponsor Spotlight: Sacred Cake, Life Book by Tamara Laporte, Photo Meditations by Susannah Conway, Stacy Kathryn Art + Illustration, Helena Studios, Pameal Joy Boutique, Seek Your Course + Vintage Inspiration

2011-11-19T02:00:00.000-08:00

Now accepting new sponsorship reservations for the holiday season (Nov+Dec).

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At Sacred Cake you will find affordable heirloom quality vintage assemblage jewelry combined with timeless appeal. Whether it is for your wedding, graduation, first date, a gift, or for your everyday victories; look to Sacred Cake for personal service that you can always rely on to exceed your expectations and make you feel as special and as singular as you are.

There is only one you. There is only one Sacred Cake. Every piece tells a story. What will your story be?

*Kelly Rae readers receive free shipping & a special gift. Visit my etsy shop and enter the code “ONEOFAKIND” to receive your free shipping and your gift. I’d love for you to visit my blog for more simple projects, stories and inspiration.

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“Life Book, a celebration and honouring of YOU”, is a year-long mixed art class organised by Tamara Laporte from Willowing Arts. She is joined by 15 incredible art teachers who are all gearing up to share their mixed media techniques with YOU! Themed around self-development and healing, you'll be creating a minimum of 2 loose mixed media art journal pages per month (through a minimum of 2 lessons a month) which by the end of the year you will bind into a glorious journal (a Life Book!). This gorgeous book will have chronicled your journey, artistic growth and personal development for the year! Come join the 400+ students who have already joined Life Book on an EPIC year-long mixed media art journey NOW! The course begins on January 1st 2012! (All videos and PDFs can be downloaded and kept – plus there are going to be many extra activities in addition to the 32 lessons you're already getting). Read the WEEKLY year schedule by CLICKING HERE. Come join now! http://www.willowing.org/lifebook.html

Please use the title of the course for the title: "Life Book, a celebration and honouring of YOU!"

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Hello lovely Kelly Rae readers! I’m so excited to share my brand new e-course with you — Photo Meditations: Infusing Your Images with Soul!

Photography is truly one of the great loves of my life, and when I say it is like meditation for me, I mean that quite literally— taking photos calms me and connects me into the moment more than anything else. Photo Meditations is the sort of course I would like to take myself :) It's going to be five delicious weeks of the inspirational and the practical, including: weekly photo theory lessons and assignments, photo slideshows to inspire you, in-depth posts detailing how I shoot, interviews and group connecting in the private Flickr group.

I'll be sharing everything I know about photography in this class, so if you're wanting to sink deeper into your photography and create images that carry more of your heart, please do join me in January!

Registration opens on Sunday December 4th at 11am EST / 8am PST. Class starts Monday January 2nd!

Hope to see you in class!
Susannah xo

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Hi,my name is Stacy Kathryn and I am an artist and illustrator! Creating art hasbeen something I’ve gravitated towards my entire life. My dream is that myworks find their place in this world, and help others create their own views ofthe world in the movement of the brush strokes, the vivid colors, and theconcepts of life as only art can reflect. This path is an adventure, and I’d lovefor you to join me on it. Check out my blog and website for more art andinspiration.

Be sure to visit my etsy shop, I have all new art pendants and holiday cards available. Since I'vebeen a huge fan of Kelly Rae for the last four years, and love being part ofthis community, I'm offering a special discount to Kelly Rae readers. Justenter the code ‘POSSIBLE’ at checkout and receive 20% off your order.

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After moving up and down the east coast as a Marine Corps family, we now call Beaufort home, a historic little town by the sea and an endless source of beauty and inspiration.

In my folk art shop you'll find hand carved Santas, snowmen and gnomes, birds and ever changing art.

To Kelly Rae's loyal readers, please take 20% off of your purchase at my shop by using the code kellyrae.

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“Your Art on a Handbag”

Pamela is a visionary and works tirelessly to bring it forth. She is motivated, hardworking and dedicated to helping you take your art and put it on a purse, clothing, cards etc., however you’d like to sell it. Pamela is "on the move" to "make things happen". Her belief is that a person can make his or her dreams come through, with a little hard work and a whole lot of fun!

Pamela is on a continuing effort to help other women start their own businesses and make their dreams a reality. By promoting a "Women helping Women" theme throughout her business plan, she hopes to create new ideas in order to help women become independent.

Pamela Joy Boutique Inc. features purses and clothing for UNIQUE Women who like “One of a Kind” fashion. These purses are intricately made and feature a variety of interesting designs. The clothing are made with the idea of combining comfort and style, as each article of clothing has its unique flair and allows the woman to function stylishly in “Her World".

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Do you want to live a creative life but don't know where to start?

Do you live a creative life but need help staying in-the-know?

Do you teach creative living and want to promote yourself?

Seek Your Course makes all that possible.

Seek Your Course is a database and online hub for connecting people with creative learning opportunities online and around the world.

* Through the Listings you can find ecourses, retreats and conferences with an art focus.

* Through Instructor and Retreat/Conference Profiles you can meet the artists and learn more about the events.

* Through the SYC Blog you can be inspired by interviews, book recommendations, guest posts and much more!

* Listings on many topics including: painting, drawing, blogging, entrepreneurship, encaustics, life coaching, photography, personal growth, and writing.

Come check it out: website | twitter | facebook

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"Vintage Inspiration" came to life in 2007 the result of one of those brainstorms you have on a rainy day, created by myself and my two sisters, we wanted to offer an online "vintage style" accessible to anyone with a taste for something individual, home-made and a "little bit different".

We also wanted an outlet for our passion for making things, as well as emphasising a responsibility to the environment. So as well as a place to find carefully selected vintage home wares accessories and small pieces of reclaimed furniture you can purchase goods we have made at home, all of which are designed by us and are "made with love" with many of the materials reclaimed. So please visit www.vintage-inspiration.co.uk to find those special things you can't get any where else.

We are offering 15% discount to Kelly Rae cusomers using this code LR707.

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cheers!

2011-11-16T11:06:00.000-08:00

Here's to refusing to settle. Making brave choices. Taking steps toward the lives that call us.

Here's to finding heart shaped strawberries in the cereal box.

And here's to capturing (however blurry) silly outfits.

thoughts on transformation

2011-11-14T13:55:00.000-08:00

Butterfly ornament clips - Available here.

I believe it's a time of transformation but I recognize that unfortunately, I won't wake up one day changed. I know the changes will be subtle. I'm consciously putting lotion on my body in the morning and at night. I'm drinking tea, I'm trying to get to bed earlier, I'm trying to eat before 9 every night mostly though, I'm trying to remember to practice everyday. Practice what I am wanting to bring more of into my life. Practice, kindness, confidence, creativity, love, vulnerability and generosity.

My friend Myriam sent these words over recently in an email. I read them over and over again, thinking to myself yes, yes, me too, me too.

Newish painting - matted/signed prints available here.

I have been so aware this past year since becoming a mama how sloooowwwly personal tranformation happens. While babies seem to speed toward milestones, growth, and change, my own personal transformation has been the opposite: from a life of moving super fast to a life of happily moving at a snails pace. Each day, the personal transformation movements are micro shifts. It's slow, deliberate, and powerful.

Lately, I've been noticing the transformation of my own life by the shifts in my perspective. I no longer have the kind of ambition I used to have. I'm cutting back on work projects in efforts to simplify. I'm not as bothered by the fact that it takes days and weeks to accomplish a single task. I'm working on bringing more domestic craft in my life. I'm focusing on documenting every single day of remarkableness with baby True. I'm focusing, one tiny moment at at time, on bringing more personal pampering into my daily moments - lotion, candles, quiet, nesting.

This all feels worlds different from my life one year ago, yet it's so hard to explain. It's a quiet transformation. A back to the basics transformation. A slow one. I suppose I'm slowly working my way back to the most simplest life I can live. One that focuses on the beauty of the everyday with my family. It goes by so fast. I want to continue slowing myself down so I don't miss a thing.

Transformation. I'm so thankful for the choices we get, every single day.