TGIFive on Friday

I've been busy creating up a storm this past week! Here are a couple new girls I was working on:

Gentle Spirit

Happiness is a Butterfly

I'm hoping to get more done this weekend besides working on my Soul Restoration II homework, a meditation workshop tonight, and World's Biggest Summit starts tomorrow! Exciting weekend of creativity and inspiration.

If you haven't signed up the World's Biggest Summit you need to. There's 100+ teachers and it's *free*!

Here are this week's lovely links:

1) October blog planners from Create as Folk

2) Gussy Sews has tons of DIY's listed on this week's Inspiration Workshop

3) Ribbon Chandelier from Harts Desire and Decorative Fabric Birdcage from Two Shades of Pink (via One Pretty Thing)

4) 101 Handmade Ornament Tutorials from Everything Etsy

5) Fall Cleaning Checklist from Lil Blue Boo

Since this is a creativity filled weekend, I thought I'd share this sweet vid from Derek Sivers (via Kind Over Matter) to remind you that your art/craft is important. Share your art with the world!

XOXO,

Quote - Deeply impressed upon your mind

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The first thing each morning, and the last thing each night, suggest to yourself specific ideas that you wish to embody in your character and personality. Address such suggestions to yourself, silently or aloud, until they are deeply impressed upon your mind.  ~Grenville Kleiser

Note To You

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Things will come in time. Not necessarily the time you want it but when the time is right. Don’t give of hope. Have faith that you will receive your heart’s desire at exactly the time you need to. It’s so hard to not be impatient when it’s something you really want. 

Maybe this isn’t the right time. Perhaps there are lessons for you to learn, experiences you must endure before you can reach those dreams. If it’s meant to happen for you then it will happen, in due time. So put that party dress on and live it up! 

You and your wishes are not forgotten.

Wishcasting Wednesday: What do you wish for fall?

Thank you for joining me for this week's Wishcasting Wednesday. If you'd like to join this magical circle of dreamers and doers, please visit Jamie Ridler Studios.

Today's prompt:

What do you wish for fall?

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I wish to continue down my healthy living path. I wish to stay focused on my goals. I wish to enjoy some "me time" sprinkled into my schedule. I wish to notice and enjoy the change of seasons.

My Favorite Things

In case you haven't figured out by now, I love banners! Also known as pennants or buntings. You can find them featured on everything from cards to artwork to jewelry. Here are a few that I'm loving right now.

1) Custom embroidery art from Freckled Pink

2) Bunting necklace from Peeputt & Co

3) Gift tags from Rainy Day Colors

4) Stained glass garland from Pamela Angus

5) Vintage hanky bunting from Ester's Emporium

Join me each Tuesday for My Favorite Things, beautiful and unique finds from Etsy and other favorite retail therapy sources.

Quote - Dance whenever you want

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I will dare to just do what I do. Be just what I am and dance whenever I want.  ~Beverly Williams

Quote - Happiness is a butterfly

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Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you sit down quietly, may alight upon you. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

TGIFive on Friday

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Hello Lovelies! I hope you've had a wonderful week. I am so, so thankful that the weekend has finally arrived.  I have so many ideas rolling around in my head that I can hardly wait to sit down at my art desk and create. What are you looking forward to this weekend?

Here's this weeks sweet finds from around the 'net:


1) Glamping Camping Party on Hostess with the Mostess


2) How to make a wood crown on Lil Blue Boo


3) Affirmation printable from Goddess Leonie on Roots of She


4) In Support of Curves on Kind Over Matter


5) Brave Again from Christine Mason Miller


Have a great weekend!

15 Mood Boosters

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Try one of these tips when you need to boost your mood:

1)  Giggle with a girlfriend

2)  Snuggle with a furry friend

3)  Take a long walk in the fresh air

4)  Practice a random act of kindness

5)  Write a love letter

6)  Reconnect with an old friend

7)  Pen a poem

8)  Have a dance party with your fave tunes

9)  Get crafty

10) Go bookstore browsing

11) Treat yourself to a sweet indulgence (dark chocolate)

12) Take a moment of silence to focus on your breath

13) Host a movie night with your pals

14) Savor a cup of hot herbal tea

15) Tap into the power of scent with uplifting aromatherapy (lemon, bergamot, orange,  grapefruit, and/or lavender)


What tips can you share to bust the blues?

Quote - Forgive

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"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."  ~Gandhi

TCC - Day 3 (Saturday)

(Part 1, 2, & 3.)

Saturday was the last day of The Creative Connection. It began with a VIP Breakfast Panel of women entrepreneurs. Breakfast was sponsored by McDonalds and consisted of fruit & walnut yogurt and oatmeal. There were cute table decorations of rolled oatmeal and coffee beans in glass containers.

Our roundtable panelists were Karen Walrond, Melody Ross, Janine Vangool, Kelly Rae Roberts, Leigh Standley, and Susan Branch.

Nancy Soriano, Karen, Melody, Janine, Kelly Rae, Leigh, and Susan

There was so much goodness in their discussion.

- Settling into your own voice (Leigh)
- You're not everyone's cup of tea (Melody)
- Believe in your heart that you are someone special (Susan)
- There's beauty in different (Karen)
- Explore your options. There are many ways to do something. (Leigh)
- Sometimes opportunities present themselves in the form of challenges (Leigh)
- No matter where we are we're always pushing against our personal edge (Kelly Rae)
- To have a creative business you can't just be creative. You wear many hats. (Janine)
- Karen shared a great quote from Brene Brown, "Don't try to win over the haters, you're not the jackass whisperer." LOL.

Classes resumed after breakfast with my next one, Making a Living as an Artist with Traci Bautista.

Traci provided much content and information and answered all our questions. Isn't she a doll?!

My afternoon class was with Melody Ross, I Have An Idea vintage canvas. Melody is just as sweet and adorable in person as she is in the Brave Girls Club videos! Here's a picture of the example canvas and the Melody's soulbook from Friday's class.

Our class working on our canvases.

The conference wound down with a cupcake farewell.

Afterwards I went to dinner at Pazzaluna to reflect on the conference. The spaghetti carbonara was to die for!

I have to tell you, if you're able to make it to The Creative Connection next year, it will be the best investment in time and money you can make. I met the most lovely and supportive women and received so much applicable business and personal wisdom. Even if you don't have a business the class selection was amazing. I would have loved one more day to enjoy more of the class offerings.

I hope you've enjoyed hearing about my incredible experience at TCC!

Wishcasting Wednesday: What do you wish to immerse yourself in?

Thank you for joining me for this week's Wishcasting Wednesday. If you'd like to join this magical circle of dreamers and doers, please visit Jamie Ridler Studios.

Today's prompt:

What do you wish to immerse yourself in?

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I wish to immerse myself in healthy habits - nutrient-rich foods, exercise, and oodles of self-care. A few years ago I began a grieving process of a lost relationship. I allowed myself to self-medicate with unhealthy foods while I went through this depressed stage in my life. Now, 100 lbs heavier and miserable, I wish to take that first step to taking care of my health and my weight. I want to feel good again. I want to feel light and free and not so "weighed down." I wish to stop pouring toxic foods and sodas into my mouth and reconnect with naturally grown foods and a healthier way of life. 

TCC - Day 2 (Friday)

(Part 1, 2, & 4)

Are you enjoying my TCC posts?

The TCC Handmade classes started on Friday. I was scheduled to take Laurie Meseroll's The Poetic Painter class but unfortunately she was unable to make it and our class got cancelled. Fate brought me to the class of Jenny Holiday and Aaron Nieradka from Everyday is a Holiday, Hooray for Cake. What a blessing to spend the morning with them! 

Here's our class working on our canvases. 

This is Jenny and Aaron's sweet display in the classroom.

This is my piece:

I have to say, Jenny is such a cutie and rocked that pink hair! 

The keynote luncheon featured BlogHer cofounders Elisa Camahort Page and Jory Des Jardins as the guest speakers. Of course there was fabulous table decorations and more gifts!

And featured a lovely Brave Girls Club inspirational bookmark.

And a sweet little journal from Art is You.

Can't forget the carrot cake!

Elisa and Jory talked about social media as a solar system with your blog being the sun and other forms of media like Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr being the planets. 

After lunch they opened up the TCC Market Place. I snapped these shots of  Tinsel Trading's vintage-inspired booth.

After lunch was the Brave Girl Soulbook with Melody Ross where I met the most amazing group of women. We had such a blast creating our soulbooks. I didn't have enough time to finish it so I'll post a pic in a later post.

My packet had, "love deeply" on it and I just happened to have a heart stamped on my hand from the market place.

Here is a picture of Provo Craft's booth and the flower clip I made with their Cricut.

The evening autograph cocktail party was the highlight of my week. I met Holly Becker who signed a copy of her book, Decorate for me.

I met the sweetie that I call "my mentor from a distance" Kelly Rae Roberts! I brought my copy of her book, Taking Flight all the way to MN for her to sign.

I met Tim Holtz.

And Traci Bautista.

I also met Susan Branch and Becky Higgins but I can't seem to find those pics on my iphone. There were many more artists, crafters, and authors but I was exhausted at this point and called it a night. I must have been really tired because I forgot to take pictures of the beautiful buffet spread!

Tomorrow I'll share the final day of TCC before I traveled back home.

XOXO,