nettie pot.

today, i got desperate and finally used the nettie pot for the first time. it was so hilarious that john video tapped the whole experience and we had an enormous laugh as we watched the play back. the truth is is that i'm working my way through and i'm doing the very best i can though my heart is weary in those ways that happen when our bodies are simply worn thin and just about everything feels heavy and hard to do. john's been in alaska (alaska!) for the last 10 days and boy was it a sweet homecoming when i picked him up yesterday at the airport. there's nothing worse than being alone when you're feeling so under the weather that you don't quite feel like yourself.

things lifting my spirits this week:

* answering YOUR questions over on this site. go ahead. ask me anything. i'm answering the questions over on twitter. because, you know, i love to procrastinate and this q+a site helps me do just that.

* this photo that andrea took long ago. makes me miss summer sooooo much.

* you guys are sending me pics of product display sightings in Hallmark stores nationwide. crazy! i haven't been yet, but i can't tell you how fun it is to hear the stories of "i walked into hallmark, and there you were!" i am so grateful.

* the fact that we are moving in four short weeks to portland. for those of you in the portland area, i'm going to need a studio assistant fairly soon. if you know anyone, please let me know. i'll post details soon of exactly what i'm looking for, but for now, it's suffice to say i'll definitely need someone fairly soon.

* a long conversation with friend liz elayne. i love unexpected looonnnggg chats (thanks, liz).

* my bff had her 2nd baby last nite (at home!). it's a boy and he is precious.

* taking flight has reached over 100 reviews on amazon! amazing. thank you so much!

* talking to my mom yesterday. i didn't want to get off the phone.

* the bachelor, keeping up with the kardashians, and other very bad tv shows that make me love them anyway.

more soon!

at artful journey

finally, i want to tell you all about artful journey. the truth is is that i was feeling under the weather just before i left, but once i arrived at the retreat center i felt totally fine - it must have been all those smiling faces and good energy. upon returning home, i crashed and burned again. so yes, i'm still sick. in between not feeling well and working, this blog has been on my mind a lot. i feel like it's been neglected these past many weeks as i try to catch up with myself. please bear with me as we (me + blog) try new things, figure out what to keep, what to let go of, and how to express all that there is to express. it's a work in progress :)

back to an artful journey. mati and i completely fell in love with our group of students. they were so insanely full of energy, staying up into the wee hours of the nite, so inspired by painting and creating their chunky funky coffee table books. it was so sweet to witness their creative explosion, their friendships in the making, their talents. i didn't want to leave! here are some photos that capture all that happened (thank you louise, stella, mati, chrissy, and andrea for photos!). more photos and stories on their sweet and inspiring and uplifting and charming blogs! i will forever remember this retreat for our class. it was so, so special.

Sponsor Spotlights: Superhero Designs + One Inspired Life

Sponsor, Andrea Scher, is a creative entrepreneur, writer and life coach living in Berkeley, California. Through her company Superhero Designs and award-winning blog Superhero Journal, Andrea inspires other creative souls to live authentic, colorful and extraordinary lives. Currently, she is teaching the wildly popular online class, Mondo Beyondo - a class about dreaming big (next session starts March 8th!). Please visit her blog and the Mondo Beyondo website to learn more.

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Sponsor, Beth Wyatt of One Inspired Life, is an artist living in Burlington, Ontario who specialize is decorative furniture painting, murals, portrait photography, as well as crochet. Head on over to her website to see/purchase her crocheted MugHugs, stylish handmade hats, prints and more. And don't miss her portfolio and her blog, too.

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As always, big thanks to my blog sponsors. Be sure to visit their websites where you'll find a variety of unique talents and offerings. If you're interested in sponsoring, please shoot me an email at kellyraeroberts[at]gmail[dot]com and I'll send over the details.

don't look back

i was just re-reading the last part of an old keynote i gave awhile back and wanted to share it here because it's all so true and made me think about this remarkable community who visit this space. thank you....

we are much more than just artist and crafters. we are people who have a unique and much needed gift of expressing ourselves and the beauty of the world around us. we tell our stories in painterly shades of blues, red, green. we tell it in pretty fonts and beautiful photos. we reach for our dreams through shared connections. we live our lives with a strong belief in a hopeful world that sees us for all that we are. i am so happy to be a part of this expressly unique community because the world needs our visions and it needs our hearts.

in closing, i’d like to read the last few lines of my book, taking flight:

whether you're just embarki ng on your creative journey, or have been on it for years, i wish for you this:that you embrace every ebb and flow. that you feel the full breath of inspiration and that it takes you places you won't ever want to leave. that you remember all that you've learned. to listen to the whispers that are calling you to take notice. to face the direction of your fears and act anyway. to embrace the funky and unique community that has been waiting for you. to honor all that you were and all that you're becoming. to reveal your truth along the way, even when it hurts. and lastly, that you embrace the journey, complete with all the uncertainties along the way. it will undoubtedly lead you back to the best parts of yourself.

your creativity is your soul rising, your spirit taking flight. go now. and don't look back.

somerset studio cover!

i'm home from teaching at an artful journey with mati. it was so much fun and i have so much to share, but first i wanted to share with you a dream come true....my artwork in on the cover of the new somerset studio (march/april issue)! this was such an unexpected surprise that i did all sorts of funny dance moves when i received the news. john was taking a nap on the couch and ran down the stairs to wake him and celebrate. so fun. huge thanks to the editors at somerset. this really is a dream come true. i can hardly believe it!

in other news, i'm feeling sooo much better. in fact as soon as i arrived at the retreat center in CA, i felt better. it must have been the energy and all the smiling faces. it was such a dear experience. photos coming soon...i can't wait to show you!

Sponsor Spotlights: Solace Creek, Alessandra Cave, + Unravelling

Please welcome new sponsor, Solace Creek. Solace Creek creates award winning greeting cards, journals, magnets, and art dolls for those coping with illness, loss, or life's struggles. Their products seek to console and comfort while addressing themes like encouragement, new diagnosis, chronic illness, survivors, caregivers, cancer, grief, loss, bereavement, sympathy, condolences and spirituality. Solace Creek creates impressions to heal the soul, when "get well soon" just doesn't cut it. Head on over to their website, shop, to learn more.

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Sponsor + photographer, Alessandra Cave, thought all she needed was a camera and a backpack until her round the world travels revealed a fierce love for texture, light and design, as old as the stories she once called home. One and a half careers later, she's finally traded in her passport for shooting locations where her eye for sun-drenched color and vintage beauty takes fashion photography to a whole new world. Whether she's shooting starlets or musing on her beloved moon, this gypsy girl is magic in the making. Keep your eye on her beauty at Gypsy Girl's Guide. Alessandra is currently offering special packages to produce, style and shoot your indie clothing line. Contact her via alessandracave@gmail.com or visit her at GGG.

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The Unravelling: Ways of Seeing My Self e-course is designed to help you heal the way you see your self and your world, using photography and journalling to access hidden thoughts and dreams, encourage personal realisations and ultimately acceptance. Photographer & writer Susannah Conway is your guide through this process, sharing her insights and wisdom gleaned from a four-year voyage through grief and healing. Registration for the spring class (starting March 8th) opens this Saturday, February 20th (places are limited)! Read testimonials from past Unravellers here and join the mailing list to get updates on Susannah's new e-course, Unravelling: Living in My World, launching in May. More info on her website, blog, and twitter.

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Big thanks to my blog sponsors. Be sure to visit their websites where you'll find a variety of unique talents and offerings. If you're interested in sponsoring, please shoot me an email at kellyraeroberts[at]gmail[dot]com and I'll send over the details.

oh man. it's been a long time since i was this kind of sick. the worst is over but i'm still slow, still tired. i hate that when i'm under the weather, my emails back up, my to-do list gets ignored, and everything essentially stops. it's pretty much a one woman show over here, business wise, and i'm not sure what i would do without elyse (my lovely studio asst) and john helping me every step of the way. i'm asking for help, letting pretty much everything else go, and laying low. i'd be lying, though, if i said i wasn't worrying about looming deadlines :)

i'm so excited for artful journey later this week. mati and i are teaching a three day class in CA. i'm saving up all my wellness reserves for that trip. it's going to be so good, that retreat.

and can i just say that it feels sort of good to get off the train for a bit, to not even want to twitter/facebook/email/blog/etc - there are some silver linings to not feeling well. i suppose it's good to step away every now and again from the extras and step into what's totally necessary. more soon from california!

valentines

happy valentine's day to you!

i am wiped out over here and recovering from the sickies. you know that kind of sick where you are extremely envious of the people you see walking around the world who are seemingly well and healthy? yeah, i'm that kind of sick. i'm hanging low, napping, and mending. hope to be back soon.

in the meantime, lots of valentine love to you!

open heart

"open heart - butterfly wings inspired by misty. matted prints available here."

there is so much change coming up. i'm not always the best when it comes to change, but my heart is open....wide open to all the treasures waiting to be seen, unearthed. there is so much to discover about ourselves. these days i'm feeling exposed and vulnerable in ways that are good for me. in ways that challenge me to share the expansiveness of my very own heart. feels good. feels solid, and true, and me. i like that.

New Sponsor Spotlight: LobotoME

Please welcome new sponsor, LobotoME, a line of eco-friendly organizational products designed to help keep busy people fit, healthy, organized and sane. All of the products are printed on 100% recycled paper using soy based inks and are made in Colorado at a green printing house - so they are as good for the earth as they are for you! LobotoME is offering all Kelly Rae blog readers 15% off all products until 2/19. Use coupon code kellyrae at checkout. Visit their website, blog, and twitter for more information!

decorative art girlies are here!

(suitcase full of creative art girlies)

i am positively, absolutely, insanely IN LOVE with these art girlies. and i'm so thrilled to finally and formally introduce them to you! they come in two sizes - the smaller 7" version or a very fun 14.5" version (tall!).

(totally digging how they look when paired together in the display stands. they also arrive ready to hang without the stands)

for the last many months, demdaco and i have been working hard on this concept and i think they turned out pretty special. in fact, the first time i saw the early samples months ago, i cried. no kidding. i was so taken with the concept and their presence that i shed a few tears. really, truly. i sure hope you love them as much as i do. i seriously adore how they look on my dresser, on my desk, and hanging in my kitchen.

what i love about these is that they arrive ready to hang with a sweet little ribbon OR you can purchase the display stand which i love, love, love so very much.

the larger girlies each have sentiments down their skirts that tie into their specific themes. and all the girlies (small + tall) have little embellishments in their hair or on their skirts.

(dream big - one of my faves)

i can't tell you how fun it is to work on something like this for many months and then for it to finally make its way out into the world. Demdaco did an amazing job with staying true to the original vision, keeping the quality, while keeping the prices affordable.

i'm happy and so proud to announce that these beauties are finally up in the shop and ready for new homes. please know that i did order quite a few but once this first batch is gone, i won't be able to get anymore until late May as they're already on backorder. so, peeps, get em' while you can. you won't be disappointed.

xxxo,

kelly rae

ps: i almost forgot to tell you about the ribbon! check it out:

each roll is 10 yards of leap fearlessly...embrace your truth...trust your intuition...listen to grace. how cool is that? and guess what? it's wired, peeps. it's wired! love, love, love. available here.

New Sponsor Spotlight: Expressive Hart

Please welcome new sponsors, Silky Hart (Expressive Hart) and Tracy Carruth (Yoga Balance Studio) who are very excited about their upcoming retreat, Joyful Connections, in Costa Rica at the gorgeous Pura Vida Spa. They hope you'll come play with them in the happiest country in the world. The dates for the retreat are April 24 - May 1, so start plotting and planning now for a rejuvenating adventure to joyfully connect with your spectacular self, your creativity, nature, and new friends. A wide variety of accommodations are available as well as eco-tours and spa treatments. And, of course, there will be daily yoga and expressive arts classes. To find out more, come on over to Expressive Hart's Web site.

Taking Flight: your creations!

(i LOVE this photo that 16 year old seth jones sent over. he just opened his very own etsy shop - more details below)

ok, peeps. first, thanks so much for all the emails with photos and links and stories about how Taking Flight has inspired you. i'm always blown away how this book reaches people on so many levels - it's really a testament to how it's in the telling of our stories that our connections live. as i say in the beginning of the book's intro:

I am just like you. A girl who is always learning. A woman whose soul is vibrant with inspiration. A creative spirit that is expressive and sensitive. We are all connected, intertwining in this creative life. It’s because of this that I believe in the power of telling our stories – the stories of how we muster up our courage and leap and dance and breathe our way into our creative dreams. This is how we learn from one another. How we begin to finally see the potential and possibilities that live inside our hearts.

i wrote that intro over two years ago and it's all still true. okay, back to the point of this post - sharing YOUR works! i'm planning to do a series of these posts (once a month or so), so keep sending me photos and links if you'd like to be considered for future posts! please understand that there's no way i can include everyone's projects but i LOVE that you are sending them over and sharing the stories. makes my heart warm.

here we go....(ps - if they're aren't links to the artists it's because none were given/sent)

totally digging how seth used the patchwork technique for the background. loving the words "cherish the moments that inspired you" and the heart tree and that sweet little birdie.

can i just say that i love that teenagers are into this book! loving how seth's made it his own. he took the techniques and ran with them. loving the colors, the vibrancy, the messages, the textures. go seth! seth just opened his first etsy shop full of prints and originals - go over and say hello. i'm totally smitten with his creations. and his photography (the hand-made hands photo up above is also his).

this is a gorgeous piece done by L.E. who sent over her amazing story of healing and triumph. she picked up Taking Flight during a challenging medical journey . she wrote, "It was exactly what I needed to take with me to the hospital/clinics - it took my mind off what was going on around me and it made me happy. I was re-learning how to do everything including holding a pen and trying to write again and your book got me excited about the idea of painting and creating ... you had me dreaming again and I was "rough" sketching out my ideas to everyone's surprise." can you believe this is her FIRST collage painting? wowzers!

artist heather shirin is a trained artist who says "Taking Flight changed my life... I had never been able to create a solid body of work until your words moved me to try a new techniques within my paintings." the result: she's soaring. check out her website! again, love how she made the techniques her own and how her unique creative voice shine thru. gorgeous.

this piece was created by danielle of wish bliss studio. danielle was a student of mine last year at a creative retreat and i had no idea (until she sent this over) that she went home from that retreat and starting creating some pretty amazing works. go, danielle!!!!!!! check out her etsy store - you don't want to miss it.

debbie v sent this over. love the perspective and the sweetness (she made it for her daughter's room). cute, cute, cute.

this was sent over by anna who made this lovely piece as a tribute to her mom who recently passed. the woman's skirt is filled with words that describe her mom....beautiful courage, warm laugh, blessed journey. i love that anna found comfort and healing in creating art. i also love how her vulnerability comes thru in this piece with the phrase "i want to share my heart and see joy bloom." really, really great, anna.

what i love about this piece is the sweetness, the colors, and the story. Carrie wrote, "This was so much fun to learn how to do! I have 3 girls--so I did this in honor of them. They made a sunflower house outside this summer and had secret rituals inside of it. My memory of this image of them enveloped in sunflowers and playing while the the fireflies began lighting up the approaching dusk inspired me to paint this. I still have to add the words that I want: Under sunflowers...among fireflies....secrets are shared." how seriously sweet is that - a momma painting her daughters...thank you, carrie.

loving how elizabeth (who is a ceramic artist) decided to give a try at collage painting. love how she's put her own stamp on the techniques. cute, cute, cute!

loving that wild hair and the leaves that are wings. thanks diane, for sending this over!

this is just a small sample of works that came thru but i thought it would be a good start. lots lots more to share in the coming weeks!

New Sponsor Spotlight: Catherine Just

Please welcome new sponsor, award winning photographer Catherine Just. Catherine is hosting an upcoming photography retreat on the magical Oregon coast. She asks, "What happens when you allow yourself the time to dive deep into your creativity? What if you mix it with a charming beach house on the Oregon Coastline, a group of fabulous like-minded people, tea, meditation, journaling, discussion, and mindful photography? Grab your camera and let’s find out! All levels of photography are welcome. Only 4 spaces left! Please click here for more information or to sign up!"

brave girl.

brave girl. matted prints available here.

as i step into more of who i am and the possibilities of my life, i want to walk side by side with courage. i want to bravely acknowledge my own power, my unique capacity for leadership, for tenderness - and i want to do it without shying away, without reservation. we are so much stronger than we realize, you and me. i want to create my own story and let go of that small story i've been telling myself all of these years. as my art career continues to take off (flight), i want to stay grounded in what matters, wise in my choices, and bold in my inspiration. more than ever, i'm believing in what is unfolding, in the miracles of everyday living. in deciding upon dreams and then making them real, one small step at a time.

we are all meant for these journeys. of hope. of tenderness. of doing the things we never thought we could do. this is where our bravery lives. it's where the orbits of who we are and who we want to be collide. it's where we find ourselves standing strong, ready to claim what is ours.

we only have one life. just one. i want to make mine brave.