the questions and the answers

"what is calling you?" - original painting available here. update: original sold, but matted prints available here.

dear universe,

thank you for the important questions and for the honest answers. thank you for the encouragement to stay true to what calls me, no matter how inconvenient it might be for my timeline, spreadsheets, or checkbook. thank you for the unending inspiration. for creative flow. for heartful exchanges, for truth seeking, and for the everyday opportunities to learn more about what is really truly calling me. i'm listening. i'm questioning. and i'm answering. thank you.

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dear blog friends,

thank you for all the ongoing love and support. i've been thinking a lot about you lately. and i'm counting my lucky stars for this community. you are hugely important to me and i can't thank you enough for being a part of my incredible journey into art, love, and life these last few years. i'm working on some serious projects over here that i can't wait to share with you and invite you to be a part of. i'm so excited....

thankfuls

(photo by denise andrade)

john and i went to see new moon last nite. it's eons better than the first. the music was really good. at times it was funny in b-movie type ways. i love being in full theaters with fan frenzy. i just do. oh yes, and i'm team edward. john is team jacob which has made for some hilarious banter.

it's the day before thanksgiving. today as i was thinking about all the things i'm thankful for, i started to get really specific. i'm, of course, thankful for my family, my health, my friends, my doggie, my art life - beyond measure. but i'm finding myself seriously thankful for things such as eye glasses which i would not be able to function/work without. the routine of having black tea (with milk) in the morning is another thankful. i'm thankful that target decided to sell adult onesies in the pajama department (all over the pink striped ones) because life should be full of such silliness. i'm thankful for the beauty of home spaces, of art appreciation, of really good ideas.

lately, i'm thankful for all the ways in which i can stretch my body to alleviate the aches. i'm thankful for sinus medicine. i'm thankful that i live in a country that has finger tip access to technology and drugstores that carry rows and rows of conveniences. lately, i'm amazed that we have such things on just about every corner.

i'm thankful that my heart deeply (and finally) wants children. i'm thankful for the opening that comes when i still feel insanely crazy in love with my husband. and for all the ways he gives me room to dream. i appreciate that he doesn't mind all of my art supplies in the dining room, too.

back to specifics. i'm wildly thankful for zip lock bags, microwaves, electric toothbrushes, antique malls, storage containers, and the crazy efficientness of our postal system. i'm thankful for computer wizards who know how to do all things html and design. i'm also thankful for the sharing of resources, like when stephanie called me yesterday and told me exactly how to use garage band for creating podcasts on my mac.

i'm thankful for when people don't skip you in line. and when sister in laws tell you that your skirt is caught in your underwear (happened last week!). i'm thankful for human graciousness and the ability to forgive. and all the ways we are given choices to begin, to stop. to love. to unfold. to reach. to say yes or no. or i'm not ready. or i am ready. i'm so grateful for this vessel, this body, that carries my spirit in safety as i make my way into the world, as i forever find and reach for the best parts of myself. thank you, thank you.

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ps-please welcome our newest advertiser, The Blackberry Briar. Please note their coupon code on their image/ad to the right!

pps-i just learned a couple of days ago that Taking Flight is on backorder. the good news is that peeps are buying the book! the bad news is that i can't get any more copies until 2010. i have less than 10 signed copies left in my shop right now. so if you were hoping to gift a signed copy to someone special, please get it now before they are gone. thank you!

around here lately

i hope you guys are okay with my randomness lately. my brain is so full of random these last many weeks, it seems i do best with down and dirty lists. around here lately:

*i've been in heavy heavy research mode over here in many areas: art. opportunities. books. ecourses. products. agents. travel. teaching. i've been signing up for a few ecourses, reading books, perusing info on various websites, googling up the wazoo, and on and on. i seriously can't believe how amped up my brain is these days - reminds me of the fall of 2006 when i was doing similar research to get my biz up and running. i'm right back there again but in a new sort of way. it's energizing, exciting, and super super full.

*working hard on getting the first on-line class together. i think you are going to love it! i'll start taking sign ups and post more information in early 2010.

*went to joyworks a couple of weeks ago and loved how they displayed the collection of products in their front window christmas display - they did such an amazing job (thank you so much)! while i was there, one of the sweetest ladies gave me the largest heart rock i've ever seen. i ate, mingled, did a little bit of signing, and a ton of shopping. i was so inspired by their many many christmas displays that i bought a few ornaments and a few vintage inspired decorative trees. looovvve.

*booking travel. lots of travel for 2010.

*was totally sad to hear oprah's news. i've watched her since i was 12 years old...

*bought three little vintage oil can assemblage photo holders from my sister's shop and these seriously amazing earrings. i've also been on a major hunt for vintage wallpaper over on etsy.

*went to see the blind side movie and i really enjoyed it (and yep, i cried). haven't seen new moon yet. waiting for the crowds to die down a bit but i'm all over that movie soon.

*john made me pinky swear to make more of an effort to keep the house clean. i've turned into a horrible roommate lately, but i'm recommitted now that it's all cozy and clean again (thanks to my man).

*been living in this cozy long sweater thingamajig i bought recently. it's like a blankie. and i wear it everyday. i believe andrea recently posted a link to it on her blog (there are 4 of us who own this thing!). this is me looking very tired inside an anthro dressing room but i'm soooo happy to be cozy and warm. the weather here has been so pitiful these last many weeks....but spirits are good:) and i'm very much looking forward to turkey and food and rest on thursday!

more soon!

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ps-there are exactly 14 signed 2010 datebooks and calendars left in my shop. after they're gone, you can still get them over on the brush dance website :)

moments + memories + giveaway winners

i'm kind of in love with the process of these layered and layered patchwork squares. i've been digging into my treasure troves of buttons and emphera and paper and stamps....love the meditation of building them.

"she held dear her collection of moments and memories."

how true it is. our lives are a patchwork of moments.....

so much going on over here...for those of you who didn't get my newsletter yesterday, the shop is now fully stocked for the holidays. and for those of you who DID receive my newsletter, thanks so much for your patience as i've sent three newsletters in the last three weeks (yikes), but i've really wanted you know the status of the shop items given that most of its been in/out of stock....until now!!

some cool happenings and findings lately:

**i talked to andrea this morning and heard her joy as she talked about her man being on the cover of the Guardian in San Fran!!! so fun to read. matt and rebar are such visionaries and it's great to see them receiving such amazing press!

**the kirtsy book looks amazing. loving katherine's video for it. her voice and her words really speak to me.

**love everything judy wise lately.

**have you guys seen stephanie lee's journaling class she's offering? omg!

**totally BLOWN AWAY by Du Buh Du Designs. her doll faces make me jump for joy.

totally unrelated, but i hope i'm not the only adult looking forward to the new moon premiere. i have to say...i even watched the fashion police show for the red carpet premiere. i'm a geek about this stuff.

and i've been totally geeking out on SYTYCD, too!

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monday giveaway winners are:

clover cat and sherry williams win the tote bag!

laura zarrin wins the $50 gift card to brush dance!

kate, joanne, and shelley malone win the creativity kits from abc creativity!

winners, please get in touch with me so we can coordinate!

on telling the truth

(discovering always, always - original sold)

the truth is is that i meant everything i said during this podcast with author/artist rice freeman-zachary. we talked about making dreams real. about how i get it all done. about how i make time for art. about the book, the licensing, the online shop, and on and on. she asked if i had any advice, tips + tricks. i spoke from the heart. and i really really enjoyed her energy and her questions. but within one hour of finishing our phone call, i had a meltdown. you know, like the real deal. the pressure cooker that's been boiling for weeks finally blew and then there i was: standing on a wet seattle sidewalk with john, tears streaming, and bunch of blubbering dramatic nonsense spilling from my mouth. and just one hour prior, i was doing a podcast about how i've got it all under control. awesome.

no one tells you that when you chase your dreams, that overwhelm is sometimes inevitable, that there will be a day every now and again that you feel 100% defeated. no one tells you that when you have success, that you'll be up against some serious

force/energy/momentum and that it can be hard to navigate sometimes. and nobody tells you that once you do have success, you're not allowed to complain about any of it and that you'll be judged when you do. nobody tells you that pioneering a new path for your life can be isolating if you're not careful to balance it with perspective and simply getting out of the house every single day. and most importantly, no one tells you that there is a price you pay when you put your heart and soul so deeply into the footprint of your passion/work that you aren't as available to those you hold dear.

as much as i love and adore every square inch of my life, i keep repeating the same burnout/overwhelm story every few weeks, like an annoying broken record that just won't stop. in my heaviest moments, i feel inaccessible to my friends and family because of choices i've made to work rather than connect. it weighs heavy on my heart as i try to get a grip, rearrange my schedule, let things go, and tend to what matters the most. and what matters the most are people. always people.

just like the recent painting above, i'm discovering always, always. and i really want to be truthful about what this life looks like. it's a wonderful, wildly layered and beautiful life and story. i'm grateful beyond measure for all of it. but like i've said from time to time here in this space, there are days in the mix where i stumble, question, and wonder why i can't hold it together. in the end, i'm committed to riding out the growing pains of this life in the making. i wouldn't have it any other way. but man o man, the drama of days like today!

giveaways from me, brush dance, and abc creativity

i'm offering two lucky commenters this CReAte canvas tote bag - perfect for your studio supplies, trips to the grocery store, art supply store, post office, or maybe even as a gift to a crafty pal.

speaking of crafty pals and gifts, i updated my entire inventory over in the shop including magnetic bookmarks, necklaces, canvases, and books! because of shipping times, this will be my last batch of goodies until next year. so, if you're doing a bit of holiday shopping, now is the time while everything is fully stocked and you can get your top pick! don't forget matted prints, and the 2010 datebooks and calendars!

and can i just say a HUGE thank you to you guys for all the support this year. really, truly.

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Brush Dance is offering one reader a $50 gift card to use over on their online shop where you'll find all sorts of great deals on meaningful stationery products, including calendars, journals, datebooks, magnets, stationery card sets, and so much more. Perfect for gift giving!

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andrea schroeder of abc creativity is giving three readers a downloadable creativity toolkit titled "making friends with creativity."

in andrea's words: "creativity kits contain the magic, inspiration and possibility of a creativity workshop in a downloadable e-kit. the first creativity toolkit is called "making friends with creativity".

"this kit will support you in:
- exploring your creative energy
- dissolving your creative blocks/fears
- deepening your connection with your creative spirit
- receiving new messages, insights, ideas and inspiration from your creative spirit"

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Recap:
*two commenters will win the CREATE tote bag from me.
*one commenter will win a $50 gift certificate for Brush Dance's online shop.
*three commenter will win the downloadable creativity toolkit from andrea schroeder.

Giveaway rules:
* to enter the giveaway, leave a comment in this post - but there's a twist. please just leave a one-three word comment. using just 1-3 words, tell us how you're getting ready for the holiday season!
* just one comment per person, please.
* i'll announce the winner in just a day or two.
* go!

everything shapes us

(everything shapes us - a new patchwork original painting. available for purchase here. prints available here.)

love. whispers. choice. time. devotion. sorrow. hope.

lost opportunities and silver lining mistakes.

who we choose. who we don't choose.

when we finally begin. when we let go.

when we leap fearlessly. when we crawl.

forever memories and forever plans.

laughter shared and carried deep + wide.

the beautiful circle of birth and death, beginnings and grief.

everything shapes us.

we are a collection of moments, memories, and shared experiences.

so much hope, possibility.

so much love.

it's a pretty amazing, life.

home tour on apartment therapy and other thursday happenings

it's thursday evening. what a difference a day makes. today i did what i need to do more often. i got on the phone. i reached out. i asked for advice. i went to an art show (where i met another Kelly Rae and saw jennifer again - both artists i loovveee!). i had dinner + drinks with a friend. i treated my favorite postal worker to starbucks while she processed my packages. i went out for breakfast with john and had biscuits and gravy. i answered emails. i had a couple of conference calls. i strategized. i read (and then felt) a mean spirited review of my book on amazon. i facebooked and received kindness. i twittered about how back fat should be criminal. i cracked myself up. i celebrated another friend's success during a phone chat. i put on glitter eye shadow and my favorite boots.

and i screamed in delight when i saw this:

our home was featured on the incomparable and hugely inspiring apartment therapy. what a treat and honor to be included in such an amazing line up of home tours. big thanks to ally over at apartment therapy for the feature! thank you, thank you.

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ps-please welcome our new featured advertiser, Fredbean's Nook.

pss-i'll be signing books and goodies at joyworks friday evening (details in previous post).

psss-for those of you who didn't receive my newsletter yesterday, 2010 calendars + datebooks are back!!! both will arrive signed be me :)

and it's all blessings.

i'm in that mode of near capacity where my life is reaching a boiling point, where i need to give up or walk away or let go. where balance has gone out the window and i have my hands in too many immediate loose ended details. in these moments, my best soul medicine is to reach out toward gratitude:

for john. he's been home this week, making yummy meals, doing the laundry, and distracting me every chance he can get to go for a walk, or out to eat, or snuggle time, or silly dances around the house. i am seriously grateful for his kind love for me, his balancing ways, and for his support and interest in what i do, including his marathon brainstorm sessions with me. otherwise, i'd be a workaholic hermit who retreats in all the wrong ways. like i said, i have bad habits.

for health. all aspects, in every way.

for permission to have heady days and overwhelm while still being aware and in the center of the best life imaginable.

for seasons. the leaves are still bright here in seattle. the weather is pretty gloomy, but the bright colors of the trees don't go unnoticed.

for friendly strangers like susie q at my local post office.

for lip balm that actually works and soothes seriously cracked lips.

for the times when my brain can actually shut off. for good sleep.

for conversations where dreams are born.

for affordable tshirts at target and for anthropologie sales.

for the understanding and acceptance from my friends + family when i drop off the scene for a bit. i'm feeling like a horrible friend, daughter, sister these days but i also know i'm deeply loved even in times when i can do better.

for the most lovable dog on the planet who is snoring next to me as i type this on the green couch.

for the knowing that one day soon, perhaps tomorrow, i will feel lighter.

for perspective, for wake-up calls, for counting my blessings.

and it's all blessings.

quickie

hello! it's been a crazy whirlwind over here. i'm still decompressing from my trip to kansas last week. my brain is firing with ideas and inspiration in ways that it's hard to keep it all straight. i took some very good advice and bought a large dry erase board and i've been using it to map out my thoughts this weekend. super helpful. i've also been in a tax/income/planning haze and trying to get that piece of my world fully settled. lots and lots of details.

quick thoughts before i forget:

-my entire inventory over in my shop is just about depleted. yikes! clearly, i have a thing or two to learn when it comes to forecasting sales. i've reordered A LOT more quantities of datebooks (yes!), calendars, bookmarks, necklaces, canvases, and journals. it should all arrive late this week so please stay tuned. be sure to sign up for the newsletter if you want to know when it's all been uploaded and for sale.

-also, matted + signed prints will never go out of stock so those are always and forever available:)

in other news:

-it's been incredibly stormy here in seattle. i thought the rain was going to smash right through the windows the other day. scared me!

-just downloaded brandi carlile's new cd

-my grandma turned 80!!

-i have not unpacked my suitcase from kansas yet

-our house is a disaster. big time.

-john has been feeding me. otherwise, i'd likely be eating cereal twice a day.

-i've been making art. yes, i have.

-have you guys seen antho's new site dedicated to ART? it's amazing.

-the other day i said to john "i sure hope i live to be very very old because i have so much to do." and i meant it.

one more thing. for those of you in the seattle area - i'll be at Joyworks this coming friday from 6pm-9pm. Joyworks is an amazing store in downtown Snohomish that carries my products and is owned and operated by delightful people! i'm heading to their store on friday evening to help celebrate the 30th anniversary of their store! i'll be signing product and joining in on all the fun and celebration. if you can, stop by! their store is quite large and a great place to do some christmas shopping!

xxo. more soon...

kansas blessings + upcoming product sneak peek!

(sneak peek at upcoming product. we've got new wall canvases, magnets, girlie ornaments, notebooks, art on easels, and more!)

my head is spinning. and i mean that. i have so much to say and to write. please bear with me - or grab a cup of tea as i spill and ramble about my last three days in kansas. it was a life changer, or opener rather.

(loving all the new stuff arriving in january!)

i was supposed to go straight from kansas to texas for a fun few days with friends but i ended up changing plans and came straight home. as sad as i am to be missing out on girlie adventures in texas, my heart needed to get home, rest, and see john who i haven't seen in two weeks due to our combined travel. he anchors me in every sense of the word, and i desperately needed it after my whirlwind experience in kansas where i was challenged to open my eyes wider to all the possibilities for my art and life.

(these girlie cutouts are also ornaments - but they come with stands, too. pretty cool, eh?)

back to kansas. it was awesome. i knew demdaco was a good company, that it held its employees with gratitude, that people loved working for them, but it was so nice to go to their headquarters and see it all for myself. everywhere i turned there was evidence of the culture of this company: kindness extended, warm hugs between co-workers, encouragement given to chase your dreams, gratitude for commitment, celebration of goals, recognition of hard work, and on and on. i was blown away by how well they all treated one another, by how much everyone loves + respects the leaders of the company, the mission of the company, and how they all work together as a team. and i was also deeply inspired by my conversations with the account executives, the co-owner of the company (hello dave!), the creative directors, the product developers, and all the many talented people who work for demdaco. i know, i know. i'm gushing, right? there's more...

(i love this dream big ornament. i also LOVE the ribbon with affirmations on it)

they know how to have fun, too. there were dance parties, open bars, bands, and big celebrations as the upcoming product lines were unveiled (think smoke machines, live music, giant curtains dropping to reveal brand new product lines). it was so much fun as i watched it all unfold. at one point, i looked over at leigh (aka curly girl who also has product lines with demdaco) and said something like "have you ever seen anything like this?" we both marveled. the energy and the joy was electric.

(magnets!!)

and then the new product was shown and i looovveed how they displayed it - the designers captured my style and aesthetic perfectly. there was even a girlie bodice used as a display with a skirt/tutu made from garland. i'm so excited about all the new product + formats. all of it will be available for sale in stores nationwide and in my online shop in january (so soon). these photos aren't the best, but you'll get a good sneak peek of what's coming. i'm so excited, i can barely take it. huge thanks to anne + ingrid for all the awesome product designs and ideas!

(we have several small pieces of canvas art with easels - love this idea. the one on the right is actually a magnet on a small easel)

thank you to everyone who was there, who came up to introduce themselves, who encouraged me, who held my tears, who danced with me, who celebrated with me, who asked how i was doing, who told me stories. i felt seen. thank you. i have a tendency to have delayed reactions to big events in my life and somehow this trip to kansas triggered an awakening for me - to what this partnership with demdaco has meant to me, and how i'd like to move forward in my creative biz life. my eyes are wide open.

i have to say. it was sort of like a corporate lovebomb. i came home more overwhelmed (in a good way) and inspired on the creative business front than i've been, maybe ever. there is this feeling of remember this, hold it close, it might not last while at the same time wow, there is so much to do. i am so inspired. this is just the beginning for my creative biz growth. i was able to spend a bit of time with dave, the co-owner/heart of demdaco, and i was really moved by all that i learned in that conversation: be smart, broaden your shoulders, walk with gratitude, and go. for. it.

i have so much to learn. and these last 3 days were a huge eye opener for me. i felt like a sponge with the amount of information + inspiration i received. more than ever, i feel ready to spread my business wings, my creative wings. again, i'm spinning over here in ideas and dreams and big big stuff. life is crazy.

while i was there, one of the account executives asked me what "unbroken wings, discovered" meant - it's a sentiment on one the wall canvases. i'm not sure how i answered but i've been thinking about it all week. to me, it means discovering our own strength, trusting our wings, and believing in the idea that we are all indeed whole even with our fragility and broken pieces. unbroken wings, discovered. that's exactly how i feel this week. thank you, demdaco. thank you, possibility. i'm learning so much....

giveaway winners and a quick hello from kansas!

(look what showed up on my shiva paint stick)

i'm over here in kansas city at the national sales meeting for DEMDACO - the meeting where all the national sales reps come together from all over the country and get a preview of all the upcoming new lines and products . let me just say that these folks sure know how to have a good time and i'm already incredibly inspired by the people who hold and create the culture of this company - and i've only just arrived today. i'm meeting sales reps, marketing peeps, display creators, product developers, cfos, ceos, and many others - all kind, genuine, big hearted people. i can feel the energy and it's so, so good.

i have no idea how i landed such good fortune to work with this company, but it's turned out to be one of my greatest rewards, and i'm grateful beyond words. i have so much to tell you and to show you (photos of new product coming up!!), but right now i'm heading to bed for desperately needed sleep.

but before i drift off.....the giveaway winners are:

1. jenica wins the spot in Alisa Burke's online class, Adventurous Accessories

2. diane g wins the handmade clutch by Alisa

3. yvonne wins the spot in Kate Swoboda's online class, The Courageous Year

4. unscriptednic, brynna, and chandra win the necklace/pendant by allison strine

winners, please get in touch with me so i can get your goodies out to you!

more super soon. i can't wait to share photos of all the new product!!!

xxo

k