Don’t follow anything. Break the rules and do your own thing.
With my art I have discovered that every day is different. Some days I feel inspired to paint, others I craft, and then again, the crafts change as I see an opportunity.
I suck down a lot of Altoids due to allergies, so I end up with a lot of empty tins. They are too cool to throw away. Sometimes I recycle them, but lately I have had the idea to make travel shrines out of them.
This is an example of one. I used scrapbook papers, borders, polymer clay mosaic tiles, words, and a picture of Mary. I’m not even Catholic, but I like the classical pictures of her and what she stands for. This shrine is for sale in my etsy shop. (Link in sidebar.)
I love it when creativity takes me on detours. I often have the notion I should paint, or work on my art journal, but I see something and I see possibilities with the items around my house.
I go where inspiration leads me. I made a video about how to make these Altoids mini shrines. You can check it out HERE.
They are very easy to make. Basically all you need is paper and glue. If you have any stray ribbons or mini silk flowers, they would work too.
It doesn’t have to be a religious shrine. It could be a nature shrine, an inspirational shrine with a picture of someone who inspires you. It could be used as a small gift box. The sky is as wide as your imagination!
I have a 50% off sale on one of my e-courses: ART AS ORACLE. It’s a way to tap into your intuitive answers through art. It’s a lot of fun also. You can read all about it HERE.
The sale ends on November 3, so only two days left.
I also have lots of things for sale in my two etsy shops. Christmas is coming. Are you looking forward to it? I enjoy all the lights the most.
Have a creative rest of the week.
xo
Maria
Get unstuck! I can help you move from limbo to purpose. When the kids are gone, your job is gone, and life feels empty, it’s time to take some good action!
I’ve been going nuts playing at being a techie and getting WordPress plugins to work. It’s a nightmare, but I’m learning something new every time I tackle the never-ending computer tasks. The secret is to never give up or work until your eyes can’t focus any longer or you drop from sheer exhaustion. Yeah, that’s how I roll sometimes when I’m on a mission. Life is short.
I’m really excited about my freebie e-course coming up. I put up a video today to introduce the program, and I think it will be well received. It going to happen in email so if you’re not on my email list for this event, go over and read all about it HERE.
It is going to involve some art, but nothing that will be super challenging. Anyone can do it.
I use art as a transformational tool. As I transform myself I can also inspire others to get going and never look back at the life that didn’t work very well. I created a Facebook page for people who sign up, but if you’re interested in art and learning more about it, you can join. Click here. The more the merrier I say.
It is going to be fun!
I’m signing off now…
xo
Maria
P.S. If you want a good challenge, you can sign up for my e-course Visionary Art Journaling. I went in deep on that one, and so will you. GO HERE! Art can truly transform your life.
….because life happens NOW!
Discover your inner fire. It’s not that hard, but we tend to live in the lies we tell ourselves. We all have Ph.Ds. in excuses, like family and other things we have to attend to in this 3D-existence. But there is always time if we make it. We also tend to not listen to the inner urges, labeling them as woo-woo or generally uncomfortable or ridiculous, like dreams at night. Ninety percent of all the women I meet live for and through their families, but what about THEM? What is their own outlet of happiness? Nothing wrong with being focused on family, but not to a point where that’s all there is.
I feel kind of blah today, not very fired up, but I know what makes me happy. Every day I sit down to listen within and every time I find my true north. Then it’s all about will to make stuff happen in accordance to my inner direction.
How do you tame your will? You don’t. Will is like a cat, contrary at best, or outright belligerent at worst. Cats know how to be motivated, especially at meal times, lol. Cats are also super lazy and they don’t give a sh*t. Sometimes I wish I was more like them because they truly act from supreme indifference and detachment. That doesn’t mean they have no feelings, but everything is on their terms. You know immediately about your transgression when you take a wrong step, like taking them to the vet.
So basically, you have a cat in your head.
There is a way to tame cats, sort of. You have to coax them along with something alluring, like tuna treats. When you love something, it has a kind of golden allure. Your passion is like that; that thing you keep putting off. Throw some treats at it!
Once you allow yourself (with some coaxing) to attend to that passion, you feel great. That feeling is the tuna treat. Basically, the more you allow yourself to experience that special feeling, the easier it gets to choose to be a participant, not a sideline observer.
Step away from the sideline. When you don’t feel like it, apply some discipline (which is also an acquired skill) to push yourself forward. One whiff of that tuna will get your right in the mood to pursue. I know it works for me.
For me the tuna is the joy of creativity. Writing this fires me up, and seeing a pile of painting brushes in my studio gives me an inner smile. If you don’t know what yours is, do some digging for gold inside that murky mine of yours. “I can’t find it,” you say?? Frigging BS. Don’t be lazy, dig deeper.
Just accept that there is a special path waiting for you; the one only you can find. Don’t you want to go on adventure? Don’t you want to find out? Live your life as an adventurer, not like a predictable hamster running on its wheel. I have to say I prefer cats to hamsters.
Don’t you want to have your tombstone say you lived with passion, that you inspired others?
The habits can get so ingrained it can be hard to break out of them, and most people don’t even try. I speak to YOU who wants to find out, who knows there is no other way to live.
That the same ole, same ole is not good enough.
My inspiration today: take positive action, no matter how much the resistance says no. Engage will and discipline and get into your life. You won’t look back because you know it’s true.
I’m doing the action right beside you, so let’s go!
Because life happens NOW!
xo
Maria
Google images captainkyso.com
P.S. My e-course Visionary Art Journaling offers many exercises to go within to discover your inner truth. We will be working with art and the six senses. It’s a self paced e-course. The link is HERE.
If you’d like to receive my newsletter, sign up HERE.
Have you ever had the urge to try something new? Maybe art journaling would be something you could try, especially if you are in the habit of writing a journal. Same idea but with pictures instead. The Visionary part is dealing with how to develop your intuition, something anyone can use to their advantage in life. I have been a psychic reader/medium for many years and I’m choosing this venue to share my knowledge in a fun way. The e-course consists of six audio meditations and six videos of art spreads that go with what you gained from the meditation. No art experience necessary! I would love to share this e-course with you. There is an early bird price up until June 5. The e-course starts on June 15. Click HERE for more information, and if you want to enter the raffle for one FREE spot, go to my art blog and read the instructions there. Click HERE. Or, you can join my art newsletter in the sidebar on this site and leave a comment to this post. 🙂
