by kim mcmechan

‘The laundry that greets me upon my arrival home from being on the road’

I have many memories of my mother getting home from her full-time job and irritably preparing a pan of Shake ‘n Bake pork-chops which she would slam into the oven with a sharp bang.

At those times, the resentment would rise off of her like virtual steam and my brother and I knew that our job was to stay far, far away.

I have another memory connected with this one—I’m standing in our family room with a group of high-school friends.  My mother walks in, and at one point, one of my friends says something that sets my mother off and she begins to rant about how ungrateful we all are, and Do You Have Any Idea How Much Parents Sacrifice For Their Children?

The times I remember my mother being the happiest was when she was playing music, which was one night a week for “Thursday evening Ladies guitar night”, held in our living room.  As pre-teens, my brother and I made secret and not-so-secret fun of this group of six or seven ladies who would, for three straight hours, strum their slightly out-of-tune guitars and sing Top-40 cover songs off of sheet music.  From the safety of the downstairs rec room, we rolled our eyes at the strange music wafting down between the laugh track of Married With Children, and wished out loud for them to go join the local church choir instead of exposing us to their warbly versions of “Kokomo” and “Under the Boardwalk” as if they were singing “Ave Maria”.

But my mother loved Thursday night guitar group.

Cut to present day:

After my younger brother and I moved out of the house, my mom opened her own store, started going on kayak trips with other women and took up the mandolin—and let me tell you, she is killer on that thing.  She performs in an Old-Timey band with two other men her age, and they’re genuinely good.  And I’m so proud.

She doesn’t say much about my choice to pursue music and creativity as a career while raising a family, but once she did say:  “You’re so good at making time for yourself.  I was never much good at that.  Back then, most women just did what they thought they were supposed to do.”

Looking back, I feel sad that my mother didn’t find a way to do more of what she loved to do.   Although she was a great mother in so many other ways, it would have been nice to witness her pursing a dream.  Also, she was often difficult to live with because of her sacrifices.  Had she pursued her creativity more, we might have seen her happier more often, and I wouldn’t have felt so responsible for her unlived-life.

The truth is, if I didn’t find time for my creativity, I’d probably be slamming pork-chops resentfully into the oven too.  Underneath my choices to prioritize my creative work is the memory that my mother didn’t and maybe should have.

So whenever I start to wonder if my choices are overly-selfish, if maybe I should give it up and mold myself into more of a Martha Stewart-kind-of-mom for the sake of my kids instead of making time for the work that makes my heart leap, I realize that when all is said and done, I don’t just do it for me, I do it for my kids too.  And everybody’s happier for it.

This week, Kim is offering a free download of her song “Parachute” here on CDBaby.

by michelle ensminger

I prefer my poetry during the noon hour, between bites of avocado smeared on a ciabatta roll…or in the evening, curled in bed, before surrendering to the night…or first thing in the morning, a gentle meditation to direct the day…or sitting beside a tree on a perfectly sunny afternoon, the gentle wind fingering the pages…or on a cloudy day, a warm cup of tea resting within reach.  I prefer my poetry read slowly, savoring each syllable, each pause…or read silently to myself, eyes closed to absorb the cadence and flow…or read to me aloud by another poetry lover, their own love of the words evident in the recitation…and it is this last delight, poetry aloud, the shared joy of the spoken word, that has the power to let me peek inside another human’s soul, into their dreams, into their pain…and for a moment I see my own life in their tears and my own struggles in their voice…

In the spirit of poetry read aloud, I offer you the following links and suggestions.  Brew a cup of tea, draw a warm bath, light a roomful of candles, and let the words wash over you.  Listen the first time as an explorer entering new territory.  Listen the second time as a woman awakening to the interconnectedness of our lives.  And then listen again as a lover unable to get enough of the body of her beloved.

• Poetry speaks—This book includes 3 audio CDs of poets reading their poetry.  Featured on the CDs are rare recordings of early poets like Tennyson, Robert Browning, and Walt Whitman as well as favorites like Sylvia Plath, Langston Hughes, Dorothy Parker, and Robert Frost.
• Li-Young Lee—Mr. Lee is one of my all time favorite poets.  His style and creativity are simply yummy.  His book Behind My Eyes includes a CD of the poet reading many of the poems included in the book.
• Poetry Everywhere—PBS has put together a wonderful collection of poems that have been read aloud by poets and poetry lovers in a series called Poetry Everywhere.   They also have a series of animated poetry that is equally enjoyable for adults as it is for young people.
• TED Talks—TED is simply genius.  The website’s vast array of presentations is not only impressive, but also highly addictive.  And TED hasn’t overlooked the influence and inspiration of poetry.  A couple of my favorites are Natalie Merchant singing the poems she put to music on her CD Leave Your Sleep and Suheir Hammad delivering am absolutely breathtaking performance of two of her poems.
• Def Poetry Jam—Back in the early part of this century HBO hosted a unique series called Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry (better known as Def Poetry Jam).  The show was hosted by Mos Def and it was the closest thing to a televised poetry slam that I know of.  While the show is no longer on the air, you can find many of the amazing performances on You Tube.  Here are just a few of my favorites (a word of warning, the Def Poetry selections can be very raw and real, meaning the language and content matter are not for the faint of heart): Sarah Kay’s Hands, Lauryn Hill’s Motives and Thoughts, Liza Garza’s My Everything, Scorpio Blues’ Second Guessing, J. Ivy’s I Need to Write, Saul Williams’ Coded Language, Wyclef Jean’s Immigrant, Sarah Jones’ Your Revolution, Gina Loring’s Somewhere There is a Poem, and while I could go on and on I’ll only give you one more Bassey Ikpi’s I Want to Kiss You
• Il Postino—Perhaps my favorite source of poetry aloud is the soundtrack to Il Postino.  This CD features famous voices (Madonna, Glen Close, Andy Garcia, Julia Roberts to name a few) reading the work of Pablo Neruda.  It’s simply divine.  I like to listen to it while soaking in a bubble filled tub, surrounded by nothing but candlelight.

* you never know where inspiration will find you. of course, while i was at the emergency room with my youngest i wasn’t thinking about creative living, but in retrospect there is always lessons to be learned, and experiences to be digested and possibly shared.

* when immersed in my creative life, life and work exist simultaneously.  there is not really a line where one starts and the other begins.  this is both a gift and a curse, a responsibility and one of the strongest anchors to the center of my soul.

* this community has a pulse… it is the lifeline to hope, support, information, and serious lift-you-up LOVE. it helped keep me afloat this past week (thank you the bottom of my heart).

* every moment is a surprise and you can never be fully prepared for what life might decide to throw at you.  this is true for both the beauty and the trauma. we don’t need to hold on so tight.

* we are more resilient than we believe!  a lot of the time we walk around in this haze of uncertainty, afraid of this, worried about that.  in reality, when the sh*t starts hitting the fan we are capable of kicking some serious ass.  and when we think we can’t take it one moment more… (exhale) you have. you will.

* we all have super powers.  and they look mostly like motherhood, sacrifice, empathy, loyalty, resourcefulness, hope, and fierce white-knuckled grasp on what we love and hold dear. it gives us the strength to lift cars and intimidate ER doctors with a single glare.

* i need my family.  my husband. my mom and dad.  i need their support, their love, for them to bring me coffee and bake muffins and brings smiles just when they are most needed to me and especially the kids.  they hold me up, every single time.  without question.  without fail.

* teeny tiny johnny’s are really cute, but i hope i never have to see one on my kid ever again.

* our bodies are as fragile as they are strong, and the complexities and miracle of biology/chemistry/energy will always command a huge level of respect and awe from me.

* hospital food is a fast and free and is one less thing you have to worry about.

* when life is horrible and devastating and unrecognizable there is always, always so much to be grateful for. even if you can’t in that moment.  even when you don’t want to see it, it’s there.

* people truly care.

* life is heartbreaking, breathtakingly, inexplicably precious.

{read part 2 in my journal here}

Don’t miss the Launch Party at Find Your Sparkle.ca happening NOW!
There are amazing prizes!
and i am one of the contributors ~ yay!

(just click on the button to register and to support me as a teacher and affiliate…thank you ;)

What is Sparkles…

Sparkles is a creative e-course. For 31 days, you’ll go on an adventure designed to awaken your creative spirit and fill you and your days with sparkle. Each day, you’ll receive a quick-to-read, quick-to-do inspiring creative exercise in your inbox. Lessons come from an amazing array of creative guides from a wide range of disciplines (e.g. photography, writing, painting, sound, dance – even food!) They’ll show you how to get creative, even when you feel like you have no time at all!

How the Sparkles e-course works…

• Register whenever you are ready to begin.
• You won’t need any super-special supplies. Just something to write on, something to write with, some way to play music and a camera. So, with a journal, some markers, pens and crayons, an MP3 player and a camera, you’re all set.
• Within a couple of days of registration, you will start receiving a Sparkles lesson in your inbox every day for 31 days. Each sparkle is a creative prompt (an invitation to dance, write, scribble, imagine etc.), a quick and easy exercise to awaken your creative spirit in 5 minutes or less.
• Dive into each new sparkle and let the magic begin!

And the magic doesn’t end when the course is over. With Sparkles, not only will you infuse your month with creativity but you’ll also walk away with fresh tools in your creative toolkit. You’ll be able to come back to your favourite sparkles again and again and continue to fill your life with creative joy.

*and stay tuned as i’ll be giving away a spot soon!

The world opens up when you sparkle!

by kate england

iPhone photography: pink spring blossoms

iPhone photography: beam of light across the oak tree

Can you wake up in a different way? Cut back on computer time or TV time? Do you need more slow time or more energised time? Can you take a walk in the park at lunch, reinvent your snack plan, soak in a bath at night, go to bed early or write on your novel for an hour every evening? How can you ease your way into a pace that fits you just now as we move into spring? Which seeds do you want to plant for the summer?

iPhone photography: petals in the fountain

My change of pace is going to be to resume weekly menu plans and spend less time online. So which seeds am I planting for the summer? I’ve got two creative projects planned, painting with water soluble oils and finger-painting on the iPad. On rainy days I’ll be baking.

Will you be resetting your inner compass, readjusting your pace to spring? Planting seeds to harvest in the autumn? Setting sail for summer?

Kate England is an artist, illustrator and designer. With a mission to help people find beauty, ease and inspiration in their lives and to dream, create and believe, Kate England captures fleeting moments of expressive beauty, thoughtfulness and inspiration, in her work transmitting a rich and intense joy for day to day life. From her studio in Fredhäll, the Beverly Hills of Stockholm, Marmalade Moon provides design services for clients all over the world. You’ll find her blogging about her inspiring creative world at Marmalade Moon. Join Club Marmalade Moon, follow Kate on Twitter find her on Facebook.

by christine mason miller

This is not a limitation. This is not a brick wall.

This is not a moment when I’ve run out of time and I’m desperate for more. This is not a situation that makes me believe what I’ve done isn’t enough.

This is not a loss, a defeat, or a gauntlet thrown down.

This is not me drifting along as the thundering roar of a waterfall grows louder; this is not me about to tumble beyond the edge of the earth.

This is not me standing tall – a towering tree, swaying in the wind – as the piercing sound of a chainsaw makes its way towards my trunk.

This is a doorway. This is an opening.

This is the moment I’m given permission to stop, take a deep breath, and decide: I am finished.

This is a letting go. This is a release.

This is me stepping forth into a wide open field, the reward after months of hard work. This is my chance to see what else there is to see, to do, to hear, to read, to eat, to drink, to learn.

This is me standing tall – a towering tree, swaying in the wind – letting my leaves fall where they may, allowing the birds to nest where they want.

This is my day to surrender. This is when I put the pen down.

This is the time to finish. This is the day of my deadline.

[This entry was inspired by the magnificent Maya Stein.]

by maya donenfeld

When my first child was very young, he was used to having my undivided attention. Upon hearing the phone ring, he often fell apart. I began avoiding the phone, but sometimes it’s necessary. I came up with a solution: a special box that was kept out of reach, buy near the phone. It contained stickers, tape, and odds and ends that I knew he’d consider treasures. It worked! By the time he was bored with the box idea, he was learning to share me with the occasional phone call. It was this memory that inspired my daughter’s new ART BOX.

Although my life is vastly different than those early days of mothering one child, I’ve found myself having the same challenges of needing to get something done with a little person at my side. A phone box of sorts came to mind. Since many of my to do’s right now are creative, I decided to make my daughter a “once in a while”   art box filled with fresh and exciting tools and supplies for creating next to me. What artist, young or old, doesn’t love fresh art materials!? I took an old shoe box, painted it, made a label, and stuffed it with the following:

Tubes of water colors and a mixing palette

Her first acrylic paints

Brushes

Small canvases

Scrap of wood

Blank wooden pegs

My girl is six and quite an accomplished little artist, so I had to choose supplies that would feel different than her other art stuff… grown up and sophisticated. She’ll use these with me.

I plan on bringing out the box only when I have to get a project done and for special occasions. I want it to feel exciting and enticing. My hope is that she’ll feel a sense of pride in her ability to do her own “work” just like mama.  My goal is that the moments when I feel pulled in two directions: artist/mother – will sometimes become opportunities to work side by side with my child. Inspiration and collaboration are bound to happen when we’re together. This little box contains much more than yummy supplies. It holds potential… and an invitation to be together.

Maya is a mother, wife, artist, maker, gatherer, and reinventor who lives in rural New York with her husband and two children. They ramble in and around their old 1850’s farmhouse and the surrounding  meadows, creeks and forests. 10 years ago they moved out of the city to raise their family closer to nature and the seasons. She’s grateful for the beauty of where she lives every day, and has found sharing it only deepens the appreciation. Her designs reflect a desire to use sustainable resources woven in with inspiration from  the natural world. She’s passionate about encouraging others to find their unique creative voice and gain confidence in making things with their own hands.

read more about Maya’s life and art at her blog maya*made

by connie hozvicka

Stop waiting for someone to tell you that it’s ok.  Yes, it’s ok–you can call yourself an Artist now–you’ve passed the test.

Stop waiting for that exact moment where you’ll know.  You’ll know you’re an Artist because you sold a piece or someone asked you if they could have a print.

Stop waiting for the moon to be in alignment with venus and the sun to dribble sparkles at your feet.

Stop waiting for your big chance to arrive. That opportunity to prove to everyone, including yourself, that you’re really an Artist-oh by golly g.

Because the second you pick up the paintbrush it is already happening.

C’mon roll out the red carpet…can’t you see?

All the ingredients you need to call yourself an Artist–

All the inspiration one person can handle–

All the reasons to douse yourself wildly in creativity–

is pounding loudly in your heart.

The only thing you need to do is let it loose–

Set it free.

Stop wondering if or when you’ll be an Artist.

Just give yourself the feather light permission to simply let yourself be.

we have some special creative deals for you…

as part of wishBIG ecamp, our talented and generous list of camp counselors has put together some really special deals just for YOU.  there will be wonderful amazing offers on juicy products and classes to help you keep on moving toward your creative dreams and wishing big!  just by registering and coming to camp, you’ll get these additional offerings…  i’m so excited to share these with you… here’s a peek at juof some of the exciting goodies:

*goddess leonie is gifting each participant a FREE copy of her
2011 Creating your Goddess Year workbook & planner

*from jamie ridler you get $10 off her Soul Reflections workshop

*you’ll get a special 30 minute yoga practice from shannon kinney duh

*kelly barton and  liz lamoreaux are giving you
special shopping spree discounts in their shops

*andrea schroeder is giving you $20 off her Create a Map that Leads to Your Dream Creativity Kit

and…

*starting today, the lovely darrah parker is offering a wishBIG discount on the next session of her Slice of Life ecourse, beginning on april 4th!  it’s a great way to expand on some of the fun and inspiration that darrah is going to share with you during camp…

and don’t miss the giveaway darrah is having for a spot in our wishBIG ecamp today!  you can get all of these yummy offers, and more, if you win ;)

see you at camp!

by christen olivarez

by jen lee

enjoy listening to this little life story from our newest contributor and story teller extraordinaire,  jen lee… she will inspire you to uncover these little moments in your own life that are precious and worth and sharing.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

by bonnie rose

We all dream. We all daydream. We all have wishes and dreams that we wish were already here, already present. But if they were, we would have nothing new to look forward to. Our futures would be already lived.

I am a huge dreamer, a huge daydreamer.
Inside our dreams are where our secrets lie. Our special wonderful secrets we tell ourselves when no one else is listening.

I am happy to report I will never ever stop dreaming.
Even when I can cross off twenty things on my bucket list, my dreams won’t end there.
I’ll spin new dreams.
I’ll dream new dreams.

And I’ll add to my list.
And more dreams will be birthed.

I am a woman that’s turning 50 next January .
Fifty. I sometimes think of that number, and shake my head in surprise. These years creeped up on me. How did it happen? How am I turning 50 already? How is my oldest daughter Sara graduating from high school this Spring? How is my youngest daughter already in Grade 11, going to be graduating next year? Where did these years go?

Time eludes us.
Time passes in a blink of an eye.

I dream for me.
I dream for my children, my two beautiful young women.
I dream for a life filled with passion and purpose.
For me.
And for my family.

I dream of my relationships filled with more peace and love.
I dream for less drama, less family conflict.
I dream for understanding.
I dream for so many things.

One day, my dream is to live near the ocean. To have a big art studio with lots of big windows. Near the sea. A place where I can create and yet daily, still get to the water’s edge to feel the immense calm I feel every time I am near the great waters.

One day.
One day.

Our dreams are always waiting.
They are always waiting.

Never stop dreaming.
For it is when we are dreaming, it is then -
when we find more of ourselves.

Bonita Rose or Bonnie Rose, is a full time artist and creative soul who presently lives in Fargo ND. She lives with her husband Greg and her cute dog Angel. She is a noncustodial mother to her two daughters. She sees them and spends time with them often. Her children are her world. Art has saved her many many times. She creates bright and bold pieces of art and collage pages in her Art Studio. She is presently facilitating her first-ever e-Course, COLOR YOUR WORLD!  She is working hard planning her very own website and blog redesign.

by kate swoboda