GOALS TO GREATNESS AND THINKING BIGGER!

Oh, the power of a great night sleep. I received 10, yes, 10 hours of bliss last night and creativity has exploded into my journals and sketchbooks today.

I have been feeling so whiny lately about my artistic goals and when I get that way, I find the best thing is to write 5 pages of what I am grateful for, so I did. And I could have written more!

I also wrote in my journal and asked for help with my artistic goals and for guidance with my art career and life in general. I began by making a list of what it is I really want in life and what my strenghts are.

The words, "Goals to Greatness" came to me and I began writing about what my greatness is and what goals I would like to achieve, telling myself that the sky is the limit and to Think Bigger than I usually do.

One dream of mine is to be a licensed artist with Papyrus. I love their cards and designs and pretended that my card line was in Target and in beautiful card stores all over the country. (I was also on Oprah and on Good Morning America!)

I drew this birthday card sketch as well, I hope you like it! And remember to Dream Bigger than you think you can imagine, it is so much fun!

Have a wonderful enchanting week everyone!

Michelle :)

NOBLESSE BLOG AWARD

My dear friend Heather at Witch Hollow Primitives has given me this wonderful award and I hope that I have lived up to it. Sometimes I think I let my followers down by not keeping up my end of the bargain here. When I started blogging my main goal was to number one, have something to say and to inspire my readers with my inspirational stories and my artwork. I have been terrible at the artwork portion, I'm afraid, but have re-written my art goals and am going to try harder to create more finished art even when I'm swamped with my petsitting business. So I hope you will all forgive me if I let you down in that aspect of my blogging. But I keep reading these words below and they inspire ME to be a better blogger, artist, writer, storyteller, motivator and friend to all of my lovely followers. Thank you all for hanging in there with me and if it wasnt for you, and your friendship and support, I certainly wouldnt be doing this! I am grateful for every comment and I consider you all my good friends. Here is a nice big happy fairy hug for all of you!


Details of Noblesse Award:

The recipient of this award is recognized for the following:-

The Blogger manifests exemplary attitude, respecting the nuances that pervadeamongst different cultures and beliefs.-

Their Blog contents inspire; strives to encourage, and offers solutions-

There is a clear purpose at the Blog; one that fosters a better understandingon Social, Political, Economic, the Arts, Cultures, Sciences and Beliefs-

The Blog is refreshing and creative-

The Blogger promotes friendship and positive thinkingThe Blogger who receives this award will need to perform the following:-

Create a post with a mention and link to the person who presented the NoblesseOblige Award-

Thank you so much, Heather, for thinking of me and I want all of you to visit Heather's blog and see her magical place called, Witch Hollow Primitives!

http://witchhollowprimitives.blogspot.com/

WISDOM WALKS

I have been busy with petsitting this week and will be till Monday but I have enjoyed one walk in particular for the last 2 weeks. I posted "Forest Fairy" today because I have been walking thru a forest of enchantment lately!

My little black lab friend, Julie and her sister, Lilly Beth the little white doggie with one eye, and I have had early morning walks together and there is something very special happening when I walk with them.

The morning is so quiet and their neighborhood is so green and peaceful and I feel so calm with my two girlfriends. they dont walk very fast so its nice to walk with them.

I am drowning in the scent of jasmine on the first part of our walks, it is everywhere. Pine trees and ivy line the street and walkway of the second half of our walks and by the time I reach this area I have beautiful thoughts of great wisdom that have been coming to me and have answered alot of questions about my art and my life in the past 2 weeks. I feel blissful and peaceful after our walks and thank Julie and Lilly Beth for sharing them with me. I have had more creativity than ever and have been sketching like crazy as well (Lilly the pink buttercream cupcake fairy came to life in my sketchbook this morning!)

I dont really know why, but everytime I take care of julie and lilly I have this magical time with them. I cant wait for August when their mom goes away again!

Michelle :)

INSPIRE ME THURSDAY

Just found this cool site. This weeks topic is "petal" so I thought "Posie" would be a good piece to submit for this week.
Have you guys been on there? Looks like fun, I am so in need of inspiration, it really helped!


http://www.inspiremethursday.com/

HAPPINESS NOW!

Happiness now was the topic of the day yesterday for me. I was petsitting with my little 15 year old Golden, "Spring" on Monday night and was reading a chapter in a book called Happiness Now. the first chapter was about how the now holds all the happiness and bliss and that attention to the now is the key.

So yesterday on my dogwalks I made sure I kept in the "now" and made sure to stop and smell all the roses I could, looked closely at the beauty in nature and said hello to everyone I met along the way. There really is so much to bring happiness and bliss in just smiling at someone and seeing there face smile back. I love that and do it as often as I can.

Today I plan to do more of it and pay attention to the "now". How have you found happiness in the now? Please share, I'd love to hear your comments! Have a wonderful day full of creativity and happiness!

Michelle :)

HAPPY BELATED MOTHER'S DAY CARD DESIGNS

I didnt get a chance to wish you all a Happy Mother's Day last week. I was getting ready for the Art Fair on Saturday and was feverishly trying to finish my two new mothers day designs. I was bummed I didnt finish them in time to post on Etsy but will be ahead of schedule for next year!

Had a wonderful day at the art fair. My Mom and my friend Jamie were there to help at the booth all day. It was slow sales wise but we had fun just the same. Met some new artist friends, lots of friends and lots of little doggies visited the booth and some cowboys and women dressed in historical 'wild west' costumes and a horse that rode by the booth a few times!

I also got invited to do a show once a month in Carlsbad so I am looking forward to that for June.

I hope you all enjoyed your Mother's Day and are having a great start to your week in a creative way!

Michelle :)

BLOGS THAT MAKE US SMILE

Thank you Darla for this adorable blog award that definately makes ME smile!

Here are the rules of recieving this award and I now pass it along to 8 lovely bloggers that always make me smile, this is for you dear friends:

These blogs are exceedingly charming,these are the kind of bloggers who aim to find and become friends.They are not interested in self-aggrandizement.Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are proper gated. Please give more attention to these writers.

http://artisticaccentsbydarla.blogspot.com/
http://ivysattic.blogspot.com/
http://lightandshadowstudio.blogspot.com/
http://debbie-jeremiah3017.blogspot.com/
http://halloweenartists.blogspot.com/
http://boneheadstudio.blogspot.com/
http://www.florlariosart.com/
http://onceuponabluecrow.blogspot.com/

And to all of you lovely mothers out there, especially my sweet and wonderful 81 year old amazing mother, Eileen, I love you and Happy Mother's Day!

Michelle :)

FILLING THE CREATIVE WELL

I have been struggling lately with my creative well. I havent been motivated to work much and I think it may be because I am SO tired from my petsitting business and walking dogs that I dont have any juice leftover when I get home. I hate when that happens!

On Sunday morning, I got up and walked down to the beach to cheer on the runners participating in the OC Marathon.

As I clapped and cheered the runners said "thank you" and one runner even blew me kisses! It made me feel so good that I helped someone else and made me realize how GREAT it felt to give love to someone else.

I felt like my well was so full and almost overflowing that I went home and started creating and was in heaven. I drew this little Mothers Day card design and am in the works inking it so I will have it ready to sell at my booth in the Art Fair on Saturday. I think I may be back!

And as always, I am grateful for all of your loving and kind words that are the wind beneath my wings! Thank you all!

Michelle :)

PS - here is the link to the 2nd Saturday Art Fair that I participate in every month:

www.sjcartfair.com

SHARING LOVE

If you havent ever read one of her books or been to her blog/website I highly recommend SARK's.

I have 2 of her books I bought in the early 90's that started the motivation inside me to become an artist. I still look at them and am inspired. Her latest blog posting is titled, "Ministers of Love" where she spreads love and kindess to people who need it no matter how small.

My little kindness act today was to go into Subway, (no, that wasnt it) and give the gal behind the counter who seems to be always grumpy. I got her to wait on me and I smiled and said thank you in my perkiest happiest way and she smiled back at me. It made my day and I hope I gave her heart a little love, too.

I recommend reading SARK's inspiring post. Hope you will share a story of kindness with us here, I love hearing your inspiring stories! Have a wonderful day and here is a big, happy smile for you all!

Michelle :)

Here is the link:

http://www.sarkjournal.com/