You can visit my store at ShopHandmade.com, featuring handmade items and stash overstock! and The Shop at Planet You for mixed media and art journaling supplies.

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Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Thoughts about life and art, and listening...

Things are busy busy right now and I'm trying hard to keep my focus on all the things i need to get done and all the things that are just not that important...  I'm working on the new Planet You workshop, Burn This Book, working on the art project for the State of Louisiana Bicentennial, working on my regular job, trying to gain some order to the chaos of my crafting spaces and my house in general and working really hard to remember that I am only one person and I cannot do everything by myself.  It is easy, especialy for women, to forget that we are not an island, that we cannot do everything all the time for every one.  We wear so many hats and have so many nouns that describe our day to day life that we get lost in there, buried under the verbage and the ever present to do lists.  I know that for me, when I do not take the time to write in my journal and to make a little art, I get angry and frustrated and everything else just falls out of place.  I resent everyone and everything around me for taking away my "me" time.  I also know that the only person who can make that "me" time happen is me... so I then get angry and frustrated with myself instead of doing the simplest thing.  Put whatever it is I am doing down, turn off the t.v. or the computer and walk away.  Go lay on my big comfy bed and grab a pen and write or go sit in the glorious sunroom and paint and play with paper.  Every day, we choose to fill our lives with something or a bunch of somethings that don't fill the little need in ourselves that we already know makes us our best.  I need the few extra minutes of quiet in the predawn hours with a cup of coffee and silence-- they allow me to center and empty my head of the garbled up lists of expectatons and just find the things that are important, today.  I need fifteen minutes, minimum, every day, with my nose in a book or a good art magazine or blog just to be immersed in someone else's talent and gifts.  I need to pick up a pen whether to write or make art, every day.   How about you?  what little whisper do you have that you know you need to listen to to bring peace into your life?  I was listening to my partner talk this evening about the opportunity to play bass with a local band, and it struck me that I think he knows he needs to play, but that he never makes the time to do it.  And sometmes that is because he is making sure he is giving me time to do the things I need to do, but mostly it is because he rarely ever listens to the voice that says "I want" or "I need".  Please, take the time to listen to the voice that says those things to you.   I promise it will make you happier.  

If you stopped by the blog to enter the giveaway for Planet You,  you need to go to this post.  If you didn't know about the giveaway... feel free to comment there for a chance to win tuition for Planet You .
Make something beautiful with your heart and your hands,
Kaere

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Planet You Giveaway and a little catching up to do

Hi guys!  sorry I've been absent but with work and vaation and the Planet You and this other thing (details to come, I promise) I've not really had time to write a decent blog post.  We had a wonderful trip back east, Shay went on a water slide and went swimming for the first time!  He had a blast.  Of course, while i was gone, the bloody A/C unit went kerflooey again but we seem to have gotten a handle on the problem and are at  least back to an ambient temperature of 80 or below in the house.   Work still promises to be crazy for the next few weeks, but the Craft Paint reset is mostly done and if you can get to a Michaels and check out the new craft paint aisle--- I promise you'll be happy!  Those Martha Stewart paints are absolutely AWESOME. 
But... really, I wanted to let y'all know that I'm sponsoring a giveaway for the Planet You workshop starting on september 16th.  You have multiple ways to enter.  The first is simply leave a comment here and tell me why you want to take Planet you (or if you've taken it, why you want to give it to someone else)   For another opportunity to win, like The Planet You facebook page (and then leave a comment here so  I know you've done it).  For another opportunity to win, mention The Planet You on your facebook page or blog (and again, leave a comment here with your blog address).  I'll choose one winner from each "way to win" and winners will be posted Saturday September 3rd.    Can't wait to get this next session started and Burn This Book will be available at the end of the month. 

and Bloggers?  anyone wanting to run a giveaway for The Planet You, please contact me.

Make something beautiful with your heart and your hands,
Kaere

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Gearing up for the next session of Planet You

Wow... this summer seems to be flying by.  I am thoroughly amazed by all the new and different things that are happening in my life, and in the world around us.   The first session of Planet You is well under way and registration for the second session is open at the classroom-- the class starts September 16th and costs $15.00.  Course material remains accessible to you for a full year, and of course, I am happy to answer any questions you might have.  If you missed the preview for the course, I have added it here again, and the free mini course is down a few posts or at the classroom-- you can access it without enrolling.  I am busy writing the next workshop, Burn This Book, a slightly "heavier" journaling project to get your "demons" on the page, and then, yes, into the fire.  We'll talk about light and shadow, destruction and rebirth, and purging/cleansing.  Sounds a little scary, doesn't it?  But no... Burn This Book will be a great chance to give your heart a little "spring cleaning" and you'll learn to make a really easy (and inexpensive) bound book.  I love this type of book for "disposable" journals, but it also adapts well to mini-albums and event scrapbooks.   Writing these workshops has felt like coming home for me-- a place to rest,  to be still and listen, and above all, to create with words again.  I have been so busy making art that I have not taken  the time to be at one with my words and this has been really wonderful.  I love getting a chance to talk to the course participants!  New supplies and Burn This Book course kits will be available at the Shop  (check out the great deal on Faber Castell markers) within the next few weeks.  
I'll  be away on my vacation the third week of August-- so looking forward to some time at the beach and time with my family.   I'll post some pictures when I get back.   Meanwhile, Leslie Ackman has an amazing giveaway on her blog to celebrate her "nearly" 400 blog posts.  She is a thougtful writer and I always enjoy giving her blog a visit.  Stop by and wish her Happy Posting!

Make something beautiful with your heart and your hands,
Kaere