From Chaos Comes Happiness

Years and years ago (waaaaay back in 2011, if you can believe it), I attended an awesomely inspiring and soul filling weekend in Minnesota called " The Creative Connection Event ". It was the most thrilling experience - "a national conference and market celebrating creative women and entrepreneurs", and it changed my life. Truly. It was there, in St. Paul, Minnesota, where I met my very first blog friend, Kiki. Oh, how I adore her!! (And miss her terribly! Haven't seen her since that weekend - my dear friend, we MUST get ourselves in the same state again!)    It was also there where I got to meet mixed media artist Kelly Rae Roberts, who was my first introduction into the world of mixed media art and this whole movement of creative women. I also took a class with THE Brave Girls  Melody Ross and Kathy Wilkins. At the time, I had no idea how amazing these ladies were - but I quickly learned.  I took a big leap and jumped at the chance to stand...

So, did I ever tell you about the amazing Tina from Knitting Contessa , whom I met in September at The Creative Connection Event? No?  Oh, how could that be?  Tina . . . she's a gem, I tell you. I remember when I first saw her walking into one of the sessions . . . she had the most beautiful knitted scarf draped over her shoulders as if Tim Gunn himself placed it there. Only later did I learn that she, herself, knitted the scarf. Yes, she is a gem. She's as lovely as Paula Deen, and even craftier than Martha Stewart. Well . . . she's just about the next best thing to sliced bread. Really. I searched and searched through my photos from TCC, praying to find a picture of Tina to share with you. I found not a one. I did find, however, what I am certain is a photo of the dessert waiting on our table during, what I am sure, the meal I ate while sitting next to Tina . . . does this count? (I'm sure there were all sorts of grammatical errors in that sent...

"Did they like you, Momma? Did they like your art?" Those were the first words I heard on the phone from Katie, my dream catcher, when I called to check in from The Creative Connection Event this weekend. I am home, my friends. And let me tell you . . . the past three days have been life changing for me. Truly. Life changing. I can't wait to tell you about it. You know, my Katie is my very own dream catcher . . . the one who has stood by me the past 8 weeks when I lost my job, the one who has watched as her Mom threw herself into her art, the one who has heard me say to her time and time again how important it is for her to follow her dreams in life . . . Yes, my little dream catcher. She was SO supportive of me as I made some pretty tough decisions the past few months . . . and she was  still supporting me. Even when I was in Minnesota and she spoke to me on the phone. My girl. *sigh* As you know, I went to Minnesota for The Creative Connect...

You might be wondering what I am doing here, when I said I wouldn't be back for a week. Well, I've got 15 more minutes until the coloring in my hair is set (seriously), and 1 hour and 30 minutes until I have to leave the house (seriously, again), and 5 hours until my flight (yep . . . for real) . . . so, what else should this girl do with her time? Yep . . . I'm blogging. I know. I'm also nuts. I also wanted to share just a few pics with you . . . you see, this is what it looks like when you put your dream wings on and fly . . .   . . . . when those wings help you accomplish it all . . .  . . . . and what it looks like when there is nothing stopping you  . . . . It's pretty great, huh? Hugs to you all. I'll be back soon with lots of fun pics, I'm sure. Until then, I wish you all much peace and happiness in your days! :)

Well, dear friends. I hope each of you had a lovely day yesterday and hugged those near you, remembered those far, and shared moments filled with hope and great inspiration. I know that I did. I'm just stopping in for a quick post to let you know that I'll be absent from blogland for the next week, or so . . . getting prepared for that amazing adventure I am taking to The Creative Connection Event in two days, and I still have SO MUCH to do. I have been crazy busy this weekend, staying up until 1AM and then being woken just a couple of hours later by Ella (who has been under the weather.) I'm running on very little sleep, but the adrenaline has kept me painting, writing, dreaming . . . and accomplishing it all. Soon, I'll be packing. And then . . . sharing my dreams with complete and total strangers. Sounds scary, doesn't it? But I'm not scared. . . AT ALL. I'm EXCITED. I'm THRILLED. I'm READY. I'm INSPIRED. I'm MOTIVATED. And I haven...

Well, that was a gloomy day yesterday, wasn't it? After writing " Melancholy Me ", I did what any self-deprecating individual would do . . . I left the house, and walked. A long long walk. The kind of walk where you never look back, never look ahead, you just keep on walking. It was the kind of walk that allows oneself to soak in the sights and sounds of nature. The kind where you can close your eyes and feel the soft gravel crunch under your feet with each step, and soon the sounds of the insects around you sound like the most peaceful symphony you've ever heard. Yes, it was a wonderful walk. PG and Ella were with me. And they allowed me to just be in the moment without much distraction or bother. I was so glad to have this time with them. With myself. With the universe. When we returned home, we hopped in our little donut-ring paradise (our pool) and let all our worries out. PG listened as I shared my recent obstacles in my creative life, and he was so s...

 Feeling a little pensive today. So much to do. But not feeling like doing much of anything. The excitement of my creative biz has temporarily stalled, as I have discovered some copyright issues with the scrapbook paper I am using in my art work.  I will need to recreate 20 of the pieces I've put my heart and soul into, in order to sell them on Etsy. My own carelessness . . . I clearly should have thought about it before. But, that's what happens when starting something new that you have no idea about.  Makes me question myself.  And I don't like that.  The laundry is done. The girls are growing, evolving, and thriving, just as should be. PG returned home last night from another business trip,  and I've only discovered that the next couple of months will be much of the same (his traveling.)   And I am here.  I d...

I know I've told you that I'm going to The Creative Connection event in September. I'm SO excited about this conference - and can't wait to be surrounded with amazingly creative women from all over this country.  In addition to hearing some amazing keynote presentations from the likes of Cristina Ferrare , Becky Higgins , Karen Walrond , and my personal idol Kelly Rae Roberts , I have signed up for a number of cool creative TCC Handmade Classes that I am so looking forward to. I mean, I am taking a class with THE Stacy Julian and another class with art journal guru Melody Ross . Seriously!!! Pinch me . . . . I must be dreaming! A whole three days of rubbing elbows with women who are making a living with their art, their words, their blogs, and their lives. That's pretty powerful, inspiring stuff. Another class I signed up for during this TCC Event is "Photography to Boost Your Creative Voice."   If you are a long-time reader of my blog,...