Best Friends

"What is a friend?  A single soul dwelling in two bodies."
Aristotle

I like her because she smiles at me and means it.
Anonymous

A friend can tell you things
you don't want to tell yourself.
Frances Ward Weller

A friend is one of the nicest things you can have,
and one of the best things you can be.
Douglas Pagels

Shared joy is a double joy;
shared sorrow is half a sorrow.
Swedish Proverb

The friend who holds your hand and says the wrong thing is made of dearer stuff than the one who stays away. Barbara Kingsolver

The Artist's Way

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

A discussion arose at the family Christmas party about creativity and the desire to be more artistic and expressive. I myself have been in a "creative slump" lately and am in desperate need of a "spark"! Where is my mUsE???

Anyway...several of us have decided to study Julia Cameron's book "The Artist's Way" ~ described as "a course in discovering and recovering your creative self". It sounds EXACTLY what we are looking for!!! Thanks Julia!

She encourages us to do "morning pages" where we write down 3 pages of what we are "thinking" EVERY MORNING ~ free form ~ let it flow out of you.  It is one of several "tools" to help us to "unblock" and to get those creative juices flowing again. This is hard to do as I am easily distracted and easily bored. So far, I am managing my morning pages about half the time which is actually GOOD for me! Maybe this will help discipline me to finally "stick with something" long enough to see it to the end.

I actually DO enjoy writing when I finally take the time to sit down & concentrate on it. So my goal is to be able to DO MY MORNING PAGES EVERY MORNING as easily as I breathe. Then, I think they will teach me, enlighten me, encourage me.

Julia also encourages us to take a once weekly solo "artist's date" ~ exploring something that interests us. This part is EASY PEASY for me! There are sooooo many fun/interesting/exciting things I can think of to do:

Art museums ~ Films ~ Antiquing ~ Thrift Shopping ~ Long drives in the country ~ Photographing interesting things ~ Browsing the bookstore ~ Bead Shops/Jewelry making ~ Art supply stores

I am inspired just thinking about this process of "discovery & recovery" and the fact that I am sharing it with precious members of my own family.  Study up girls ~ Chapter One is our assignment this week!

"I Love You" ~ A love letter to my Etsy Customers

 

Yesterday, "Michelle" (a perfect stranger) made my day and became my 1000th customer since I opened my Etsy Shop in January of 2006!!!!! And guess what she purchased?!?.....it was PERFECT.....

Words alone cannot express my gratitude for all of my lovely customers who have made a conscious decision to support "small business"/handmade & independent artists. Their love, support & precious words of encouragement have inspired me & sustained me through times of doubt about my decision to be a full~time artist:

"I have 2 favorite experiences with Etsy vendors and RememberMeEmily is one of them. The nicest and most pleasant person to work with. She designed these pocket mirrors for my bridesmaids & they are adorable!!! They have become one of my favorite purchases yet :)"

***

"I LOVE my necklace!! It is beautiful, perfectly made
and pure awesomeness! Emily, this was meant to be mine...
thank you, sweetheart!!"

***

"You are one of my favorite sellers on Etsy. I love your shop so much but most of all I love your kindness and your spirit."

***

Thank YOU for allowing me to "Follow my Bliss" & spend my days doing what I love ~ creating sweet, uplifting, comforting & encouraging works of art to grace your life. Thank YOU for making my dream come true ~ my very own art studio & home-based business! 

******* I LOVE YOU!!! *******

Flower Power

"I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck."

~ Emma Goldman ~

 

 Flowers bring such sweet blessings to us.  Lovers bring a single rose. Friends bring bouquets to celebrate joys & comfort sorrows. Children offer lovingly chosen blooms to show their affection for us. Flowers bring life & beauty & cheer & healing.

"The optimist sees the rose and not its thorns; the pessimist stares at the thorns oblivious to the rose."
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

The world is sadly sick, they say,
And plagued by woe and pain.
But look! How looms my garden gay,
With blooms in golden reign!
With lyric music in the air,
Of joy fulfilled in song,
I can't believe that anywhere
Is hate and harm and wrong.

A paradise my garden is,
And there my day is spent;
A steep myself in sunny bliss,
Incredibly content.
Feeling that I am truly part
Of peace so rapt and still,
There's not a care within my heart . . .
How can the world be ill?

Aye, though the land be sick they say,
And named unto pain,
My garden never was so gay,
So innocent, so sane.
My roses mock at misery,
My thrushes vie in song . . .
When only beauty I can see,
How can the world be wrong?

~ Robert Service ~
 

  

Happy Thanksgiving

Photo courtesy of : wishuponacupcake 

We give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.

~ Author Unknown ~

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice.

~ Meister Eckhart ~

He who thanks but with the lips
Thanks but in part;
The full, the true Thanksgiving
Comes from the heart.
~ J.A. Shedd ~

Photo courtesy of: wishuponacupcake

HAVE FAITH

"A little faith will bring your soul to heaven,

but a lot of faith will bring heaven to your soul."

 

 

 

Ooo La La! Sweet Colette makes jewelry.

I am taking some "art therapy" today! HA! Actually, I am stalling and distracting myself from things I should be doing that I don't want to do.....yeh, it's about that whole house cleaning thing again! Who wants to scrub toilets when there is art to be made!

I am still drawing "pretty girls" and LOVING it!!! This girl looks "French" to me. Tres chic!

COLETTE is a very sweet and loving girl ~ loyal, kindhearted & giving. She loves to visit the "patisserie", but always keeps an eye on her petite figure. She dresses simply, yet stylishly and even sews some of her own clothes. Her passion is vintage jewelry ~ she scours the Paris Flea Markets for it! She lovingly gathers each piece and wonders who has worn it in the past. Collette takes her treasures home where they "speak to her" and tell her what new creation they want to become. Her creations find new homes, adorning and blessing those who wear them.