Dreaming and Trying to Keep my Shine

I have a lot of dreams, some of them have come true...some of them I'm still working toward.  But, wow, not having them happen right when I want them to can be pretty hard sometimes.  Makes me wonder if they ever will come true or even if they're meant to, you know?  Sometimes I even wonder if these dreams of mine are realistic.  But, are dreams meant to be realistic anyway?  Probably not.  Whoever thought of walking on the moon was probably considered a nutcase at first.  Whoever thought we could send messages by typing on a computer wasn't probably too realistic many years ago either, right?

© Jill's Dream Artwork

But I've really been wondering:  if they were meant to be they would happen and they wouldn't be so hard, right? Well, maybe not. Probably not. Maybe if they aren't happening, I should throw in the towel--maybe it's a sign these dreams of mine aren't meant to be. I've heard that saying many times about anything worth achieving is probably hard work and worth that hard work.  Well right now, things have been a little hard for me.  I don't really want to go into specific details, but I'm having some struggles.

It does help to have support of those closest to you as well.  A personal cheering squad so-to-speak.  I have a girlfriends that are here for me...I do wish some of them lived closer though!  Unfortunately, some of the people "closest" to me just aren't part of that cheering squad, and I think that's what's making things feel so much harder to handle right now.  But I really am thankful for the ones that are here right now.  Don't know what I'd do without them!

©Jill's Dream Artwork

I also get tons of inspiration from a few great authors such as Patti Digh and recently Danielle LaPorte who said in her book The Firestarter Sessions:  "Intend to shine...You can be a magnet for goodness even in hard times, if you simply choose to accentuate the positive and focus on where you want to go" (p. 102).  This quote is something pushing me forward right now.  Hopefully you can find a little inspiration from it as well.

This moment...enjoy it

I'm the kind of person who very easily gets trapped in the past or the future.  Whether it's daydreaming about an amazing vacation to Jamaica from a few years back, or worrying about what my relationship with my daughter will be like when she's a full-blown teenager, I'm rarely in the present moment.  I've read books on the subject; I jot down quotes to remind me, but still I struggle with this daily.  How about you?

Having something in plain-view does help me instead of jotting down some "words of wisdom" in a notebook that gets shoved somewhere on my painting table.  Since I love creating paintings with quotes on them I decided to do a little one with "enjoy this moment" collaged on it.  I'm sure there are others out there like me who need some reminders too, and why not have it be in the form of "art"?

I'm really wondering if you have any tips for staying present and enjoying the moment I am in instead of dreaming of the past or worrying about the future.  I'd love to hear them...share if you can.  Thanks so much!

New Paintings and Weeds

It's been a while since I've posted consistently...I've been really busy getting ready for an upcoming art show for next Saturday and pulling lots of weeds!  Since spring hit really early in Wisconsin everything has gotten really out of control.  We've truly never had so many weeds at this time of year EVER.  I think being away for eight days during spring break sort of threw me off a bit too--lots of yard and housework to do in addition to creating.  Trying to get some fresh paintings to take to the show--here's one of my new creations that I'm going to take with me next weekend at the Racine Lakefront Art Festival.  I'm really looking forward to it because it's my third year there and they really take care of their vendors and I've met some great people as well.

What's on the horizon for you?  Any exciting events coming up?  Are you enjoying spring in your neck of the woods?

Every Day is the Best Day

I found this quote by Emerson, "Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year" and I thought it would be perfect for my new painting/collage.

I love the message it gives because it reminds me to be grateful for this day and not keep looking to the future for my happiness.  I'll admit that I tend to get stuck in thinking about the next good thing up ahead, the weekend, the vacation, the end of the work day, summer vacation.  But this quote helps me realize that I need to see every day as the best day.  Right here, right now.  I think a lot of happiness and contentedness has passed me by in some of my ordinary moments because I kept wishing them to be different.  I hope this message gives you something to ponder and I hope it helps you love the moment, the day you are in.

Visitors from Tanzania

Hi all!  I haven't been blogging very regularly, but I should because I have SO much spinning in my head lately.  I just want to chat a bit about the lucky experience I had to meet two new people today.

(Photo credit: travel.NationalGeographic.com)

First of all, at the school I work at the seventh graders are studying Africa in their world geography class and reading literature related to Africa in their reading workshop classes.  Today we were so lucky to have a husband and wife from Tanzania in the library speaking to three of these classes.  Since I work in the library I got the amazing pleasure of talking to Elias and Elly one-on-one before and after each class presentation and then got to listen to their amazing stories they shared with the groups.  I could go on forever about this because it really was powerful meeting them and hearing about their lives there and in Waukesha where they live now.  They are here on a "mission" but I won't go into that too much because that wasn't the focus.

Right when I was introduced to them by Deb (a former teacher at my school), I was touched by how warm-hearted they were.  I felt like they were welcoming me even though they were in "my" library.  The culture they come from is a sharing and strongly-bonded one, so coming to America was a bit hard for them at first.  They noticed that so many people didn't know their neighbors or even look each other in the eye here.  I just knew that if I went to visit them on one of their visits back to their home in Africa I would be treated like a special family member--I could sense that right away.  They also explained how if they say "come on over", they really really mean it.  When they came here many people would say, "let's get together sometime," and they assumed they meant it too, but often Americans just say those things in passing according to their experience.  They really believe in unity and gave me such a great feeling inside to talk with and listen to.

(Photo credit: http://www.africatravelresource.com/tanzania-safari/guide/tanzania-safari/)

I took pictures of them for our school, but I didn't have the guts to ask to take a personal picture for my blog--just couldn't do it!  I didn't know if they'd understand about a blog and I just didn't want to make them feel uncomfortable.  So, just picture this couple with beaming smiles, she with traditional African dress and he with a handmade African shirt, with lovely accents, wonderful life experiences and beautiful hearts.  When asked by a student what was Elias's best life experience, he took a breath and said (I'll paraphrase here):

"sitting at home with my family (43 brothers and sisters--his father had 5 wives), around a fire outside, sharing food and telling stories under the stars..."

What a great picture I got from that, and how simple, but how huge as well.  I would love to have more of those connections with neighbors and family and really having that quality time together they talk of having back in Africa.

Thanks for visiting today.  I hope you found some warmth and inspiration from it as I did from meeting them.

Inspiration Deck

I first saw this project in Desire to Inspire by Christine Mason Miller and was intrigued of course.  Who wouldn't want to have a little card-sized piece of inspiration to encourage her daily?  Well, the wonderful Jessica Brogan decided to take the matter into her own hands and start an inspiration deck swap of her own as well.  Immediately I decided I wanted to participate and I'm finally finished with my cards, just waiting for everything to dry completely then they will be on their way to Jessica.

A bit of brief background:  take a deck of cards (total 53), gesso them, decorate a bit and include a different inspiring quote on one side, personal contact information the other.  Mail them to Jessica and she creates a diverse inspiration deck for each participant.  When she's all finished each of us will have a deck of 52 amazingly inspirational cards to cheer us on each week!  I can't wait.

These cards will be from 52 creative gals from around the whole United States, how INSPIRING is that?!

Just knowing we all created this with a loving intent will be a great feeling every time we look to these cards for inspiration.  I'd like to thank Christine Mason Miller for the original inspiration and for Jessica Brogan for turning it into a reality!

You are here to...

Found this excerpt years ago in a magazine ad, not sure what magazine, think it was an advertisement in a sports magazine.  I don't really ever read sports magazines, but for some reason I was browsing through one and found this and instantly was drawn to it.  I still have it after all these years in my folder of inspirational words and pictures.  (I know it's proper etiquette to cite our sources, but like I said I got this probably over ten years ago and have no source attached to it at all.  So I'm not claiming it as my own, but I can't credit it, sorry.)  I hope you enjoy it.

You are not here to catch trains

and wear dress socks.

You are here to build things and teach things

and jump into lakes.

You are here to make things better for others,

better for yourself.

You are here to laugh, take naps,

and run around the basepaths.

You are here to live well.

(Instagram photo by me!)

I hope this message shares some inspiration for you as it does for me!  Thanks for visiting today.

So Inspired

These past two years or so I've been amazed at the inspiration I've been blessed with from my new world of discovering other artists and bloggers who have published books or websites.  It constantly blows my mind the amount of beauty and positivity I have been lucky enough to have found at a low time in my life.  Let me give a little bit of background.

About two and a half years ago, I was out of work on disability trying to heal and get better so I could start chemotherapy for my kidneys (had lupus nephritis).  I couldn't start the chemo because I had consistent bronchitis and working in a middle school with germs wasn't helping, so my doctor thought it would be best to take some time off.  Well, at first I bawled.  Oh my God--this was serious.  If this chemo didn't work, I'd need dialysis.  If that didn't work, I'd need a kidney transplant.  Not to mention, I might lose my hair and who knows what else (I know in the grand scheme of things the hair loss is nothing).  I also was freaked out that people at work, my husband and my in-laws wouldn't understand why I couldn't work during this time.  I only was having chemo once a month.  Daily I had to tell myself I was doing what was best and was needed for me.

After I got over the initial freak-out, I actually felt so free.  So happy.  Which was so weird, because I was so sick.  That started to tell me something.  Maybe teaching wasn't where I was meant to be.  Maybe teaching added to my illness.  Well during that time, I found the book Taking Flight by Kelly Rae Roberts.  You could say this is what started it all.  Yes, I've always wanted to paint, but this gave me the push I needed to jump in.  I read about her whispers and listening to them.  I knew I had whispers too.  Long silenced whispers.  But having all this time off gave me lots of time to start really hearing these whispers.  I found myself painting at 3 in the morning because my medicine gave me a hard time sleeping, but I was so excited, even though I would normally be so mad that I wasn't sleeping when I should have been.  It didn't matter because I knew I could take a nap later and I was also full of joy and hope.  As I spent months away from teaching I read more from other inspirational souls like Christine Mason Miller and Patti Digh to name a few.  Knowing my health was serious, I also started realizing that I needed to take my happiness into my own hands as well.  I started taking little steps by opening an etsy shop after e-mailing Kelly Rae Roberts and her suggesting as much.  I started applying to art shows.  I got accepted to some.  People told me that my work was joyful and happy.  I told them it made me feel joyful and happy creating it.  That was just the start.  Brave Girls came into my life as well.  In addition to creating, I started realizing that I was important and that my dreams mattered, no matter what.

I could probably write much more about my journey to where I am now, but I just wanted to share a few bits and pieces.  I want to just say thank you to those amazing women who gave me the courage to jump into a new chapter of my life.  Though I still have lupus, my kidneys are in remission.  Though my salary is much less as a library aide than a teacher, I'm so damn happy.  Thank you to all of you.  All of you who are inspiring and encouraging me everyday.  Not just the well-known artists and authors, but all of the women I've met on-line who are helping me fly as well as my friends Carrie and Jenny.  I'm so blessed.  Thank you thank you thank you.

Follow Your Heart - You Might Just Fly BLOG HOP

I absolutely love quotes--they inspire and uplift me.  Some are hilarious, some serious, but I especially love the ones that really make me think and sort of change how I look at things in life.   

I've been writing them down in journals for years and love to find artwork with quotes decorating it.  Here are just a few of my favorites:

"What you love is a sign from your higher self of what you are to do."  ~Sanaya Roman

"It's never too late to be what you might have been." ~George Eliot

"If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies." ~Nadine Stair

The first two quotes have helped me realize creating art is what I NEED to do.  The third makes me just want to relish life every single moment and just do the fun stuff that many think only kids still do.   The quotes on their own haven't been making me take things one step further, but the amazing community I have been recently blessed to be part of has encouraged me to put those dreams into action.  To follow my heart.  To feel like I can fly.  Let me backtrack a bit:  I finally took the e-course Flying Lessons by Kelly Rae Roberts and this is where I have found this amazingly supportive and caring community.  The class ended months ago and these beautiful women are still here cheering each other on.  Every day.  All day.


Even before this class, many of my paintings and collages have had sweet birds and butterflies in them.  They are amazing symbols of whimsy, joy, flight and all that is happy in life.


The little 5 x7 painting was done after the course was over but was inspired by my new friends that are part of my community of creative gals.

So, to them, my "fellow flyers" I want to say thank you for encouraging me to follow my heart and to believe that I can fly in my own way.

Do you have any favorite quotes or little phrases you live by that help you on your path of life?

Thanks for visiting today and please check out some of the below blogs for some more sweet inspiration.

Amaranthine Violet:  http://magic-gypsy.blogspot.com/

Amy Hillenbrand:  http://amyhillenbrand.blogspot.com

Beatriz Peñas B.:  http://beatrizbepe.blogspot.com/

Beth Cougler Blom:   http://sobliss.wordpress.com/

Carmen Patti:  http://carmenpattistudio.com/wordpress/

Carol Bray:  http://theredpaintedcottage.blogspot.com

Christina Fajardo:  http://christinafajardo.blogspot.com/

Cindy Jones Lantier:  http://www.lantier.org

Connie Rawlins :  http://www.dabblinginlife.blogspot.com/

Dana Brock: http://www.dzynbydana.blogspot.com

Deborah Velásquez : http://deborahvelasquez.blogspot.com

Elissa Brown:  http://thefreckledarmy.blogspot.com

Hillary Courson:  http://www.hillarycourson.com

Jacquie Williamson:  http://www.jacquiewilliamson.blogspot.com/

Jane Paynting: http://inkspiredwings.wordpress.com

Janet Forrest: http://tatterednworn.wordpress.com/

Jennifer DeVille:  http://jenniferdeville.com/blog/

Jill Lambert :  http://www.jill-lambert.blogspot.com/

Julie Hamilton:  http://spaark.wordpress.com

Kanchan Mahon:  http://Kanchan-Mahon.blogspot.com/

Karen Claverie:  http://giddyupletsride.blogspot.com

Kari DeSaulnier:  http://karidesi.blogspot.com/

Kathleen Conard : http://newfromoldcreations.blogspot.com/

Kathleen McKinnon:  http://harmonyschoolhouse.com/expressions-blog.html

Kathy May:  http://kathymaydesigns.org

Kelley Miller:  http://www.kelleymillerartworks.blogspot.com/

Kelly Corso:  http://birdinatreecreations.blogspot.com/

Kelly Hoernig:  http://www.kellyhoernig.blogspot.com/

Kim Hyer:  http://www.apaperaddict.com/

Kris Lanae Binsfeld:  http://cherishdesigns.wordpress.com

Lenore Angela:  http://www.lenoreangela.blogspot.com/

Linda Barutha:  http://lindabaruthadesigns.blogspot.com

Lisa Michele Products:
http://www.lisamicheleproducts.blogspot.com/

Liza Zeni Baker:  http://lizazeni.wordpress.com/

Lynn Richards:  http://alittlebluesky.blogspot.com

Lori Leissner:  http://leissnerart.blogspot.com

Lori Moon:  http://lorimoonstudio.blogspot.com

Mary Cottingham:   http://www.barnbugstudio.blogspot.com/

Mary Sterk:  http://justmarydesigns.wordpress.com

Megan Schmitt:  http://www.schmittenwithwords.blogspot.com/

Melanie Douthit:  www.douthitgallery.blogspot.com

Michelle Dwyer:  http://www.magnetisedbylife.com/

Michelle Reynolds:  http://shellsinthebush.blogspot.com/

Rachél Payne (Rae):  http://collectingyourself.wordpress.com/

Rain Hannah:  http://honeyandollie.com/

Rhiannon Connelly:  http://www.starrybluesky.wordpress.com

Ruth-Mary Smith:  http://patchworkfamilieshub.blogspot.com

Sherry Richert Belul:
http://simplycelebrate.net/cherry-blossom-soup

Shirley Ann:  http://leonardarenaissancewoman.blogspot.com/

Stacey Chadwick
Brown:  http://staceybrownarts.blogspot.com/

Susan M. Walls-Beverly:
http://www.susanscharmingtrinkets.blogspot.com

Teresa Cash-Czech: http://www.asmilemaker.com/

Tina Carlborg:  http://www.tinachicky.blogspot.com/

Tonya Love:  http://passport2creativity.com/

Ursula Smith:  http://www.EasyScraps.com/blog

Zulma Cadena:  http://edustory.wordpress.com/

Mary Cottingham  http://www.barnbugstudio.blogspot.com

Special Thanks to Michelle Reynolds for the use of her artwork(http://shellsinthebush.blogspot.com/)! For more info on classes by Kelly Rae Roberts visit www.kellyraeroberts.com or check out her new Hello Soul. Hello Business. http://kellyraeroberts.com/hello-soul-hello-business.
Thanks for hopping with us!   Jill

Etsy Love! Choosing Beauty

There are so many amazing artists on etsy!  I have at least 23 pages of favorites and every time I look at them I'm wowed.  I'm amazed at the talent of all these people.

 So... I'm going to start posting some of my absolute favorite shops and items on here every few days.  I really believe in supporting artists, since I am an artist myself of course and I think showing these items might just brighten your day as well because the items are so great in my eyes.  I know we don't all have the same style and likes, but the ones I post will give you a peek into what really speaks to me.

Today I'd like to share from the shop Choosing Beauty with Liv Lane.

All of her items are beautiful, vibrant and inspirational, and one of them that really caught my eye was this mixed media print with the quote, "the universe is conspiring in your favor."  I LOVE motivational sayings that put me in a positive mindset and this as well as the colors and different elements do that for me. 

(Photo source:  choosingbeauty)

If you're like me and enjoy unique artwork mixed with inspiration, check out her shop if you haven't yet!

Life Should be a Crazy Ride

Don't know where I found this quote by John Mallow, but I love it!

"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely,

in a well preserved body,

but rather to skid in sideways,

totally worn out,

shouting, 'Holy Shit...what a ride!'"

Reading this makes me want to go out and really hoot it up.  Make some trouble (well as much trouble as a 39-year-old mom can make).  Climb a tree and hang by one arm from it.  Scream at the top of my lungs driving my car with the windows down. 

I know, that doesn't sound too exciting but it forces me to think about the shortness of life and how we often forget to just fly around on a crazy whim and just tear up the town.  Really use this life and this body to "skid in sideways" screaming and singing like there's no tomorrow.

The best I could do for a wild picture was my husband and daughter acting like goons on a 2008 trip to Mexico.  I guess we do need some more crazy in our life, hey?

Have you done any wild, screaming things that have made YOU feel super alive?  Any suggestions?