The title to this post is an exact quote of  a recent comment that was left for me in response to my upcoming trip to Paris, and it completely inspired me and this is why...

First my official disclaimer: This post you’re about to read is in no way shape or form about passing judgement on the comment, because considering how many times I’ve felt this way and even said this exact sentiment to people ~if I was passing judgement,  I’d be a big ol' hypocrite. 

So there. 

And now on to my my point. What I’ve come to realize about this completely normal human emotion is that a} normal as it may be, it really sucks when you feel it and b}  any time you feel jealousy, it is giving you clues to what you really want in your own life.

That’s right jealousy is alerting you to your dreams.

You know how sometimes it’s hard to know what you truly want? Really, ask yourself or anyone you know this question right now, and see what answer{s} come up. Many times when I’ve asked this question, and following a very long pause I often hear "I don’t know?" accompanied by a slight sound of surprise ~ because you should know right? I think yes, we should know what we want, or at least be on the way to figuring it out. The truth is, very often, we only really know what we don’t want. And while that is a gooding starting point, knowing what you want is key.

This is why experiencing jealousy is so great! {odd to call jealousy great, I know, but this is the Creative Thursday blog, and you know I’m going to put a positive spin on it}

When the feeling of jealousy or envy sneak up on you, it feels bad because we want what the other person is living and somewhere inside of us, we might not believe that we can have it too. When you want something you think you can’t have, it feels frustrating, disappointing, sad, all around 'ick'. 

This is where I want to suggest that as soon as you feel the 'ick' come on, why not turn it around? identify what it is you want, then take that a step further and believe that you too can have it too. Even if  you think it may not be possible to have it, I challenge you to think you can and move forward in the direction of getting it. I know sometimes it’s not possible to have exactly what someone else is living, but you can get close. Because here’s the other thing, at the basis of what you want is a feeling accompanying the want and the feeling is really what you’re after, let’s say more freedom, or experiencing more happiness for example. Once you identify the feeling you want to experience more of, options open up for the way that it will happen for you. And I’ve found that when you stay open to all the ways it can happen for you, and trust that it will happen, what you want will occur in the best possible way just for you. It’s true. Also, another benefit of turning jealousy around, is that instead of envying someone, you become genuinely happy for them.

I just wanted to share this with you, because I know that our trip to Paris might be stirring it up for people, in a good way. I know whenever I’ve seen someone reach for a desire and achieve it, it makes me want to do the same. Better yet, it makes me believe I can do the same, insert "my upcoming trip to overseas" here. In a weird way, I now appreciate a lot of the people I’ve felt jealous of in the past, because if they hadn’t lived what made me jealous, I wouldn’t have reached for it myself. 

So, hey! thank you all people who I have been jealous of. You inspire me to reach for more in my life.

As Susannah mentioned on her blog we definitely share a passion for our online classes, and are both committed to making them the best they can possibly be. With more and more e-courses popping up every day, and many more of you thinking about starting them ~ who now reach out to us with your questions, we thought we’d share with you what we’ve learned. We’ve decided to work together and create something we hope will be really useful: a downloadable podcast on how to create and run an online class with integrity & passion. There will also be a full transcript of the podcast to print out and keep and the whole thing will be available for purchase later this year.

On our way to Paris, {next week already!} we will also be stopping  in England for a few days, where Susannah and I will meet to work on this course~ the reason why we’re both posting this announcement today.  If you’ve been thinking about creating your own course, what would you like us to cover in the podcast? What would be most useful to you? What do you want to know about running an online course?

We’ll be putting everything we know into this package and we want to make sure we’re addressing the questions you’d like answered, so please leave them here in the comments or also feel free to email me, and as Susannah suggested, use the subject header 'aquarian questions' 

Can’t wait!!!!

3 x 3 in.

The weather has been gorgeous here. Everything is blooming, and seeing the trees this way always inspires painting. 

I took a nice weekend away from the computer. *sigh*

happy Sunday to you~ xo

{click here to buy original}

"I am a Thriving Artist" cups are here! The first designs in this new line, as well as some new cup styles.

Loving them immensely but willing to part with them tomorrow morning so they can go home to you before we leave for Paris. 

And....new vases, perfect to celebrate the arrival of springtime.

See you tomorrow morning over at the shop.

6 x 6 in.

Obviously, the topic of adventure is on the brain.  That and I saw a red sock monkey toy this week, as well as a drawing of an astronaut on a drum set that inspired this combination of characters ~ who I have to say, crack me up every time I look at them. Thank goodness a dream of mine is not to go into space {yet}.

I’ve finally been getting in the habit of replying to comments within the comments section *pats herself on the back*. Typepad makes it so easy now,  I’m surprised I haven’t been "replying" more often ~ then again sometimes it’s just easier to say things to everyone all at once via a blog post ~ like now, for instance. I just want to take a moment in this post to say thank you for all the Paris well wishes and stories you’ve shared of your own adventures. So many of you living abroad, or have lived abroad. I love it!

All I can say is, it’s amazing isn’t? The opportunities that are available for us to have this kind of freedom to travel and live in different countries.

Two weeks and counting.....getting very excited over here!!!

{click here to buy original} also turned these fellows into a print over at the shop

If this isn’t the best testimonial of my work, then I don’t know what is.

My lovely customer Sara bought prints from me last year, and she just sent over photos of her 9 month old son. Apparently Benjamin is a big fan, so much so that according to Sara this print in particular "has made diaper changes quite difficult, as he is always trying to flip over to look it".

These photos made my day today, brought tears to my eyes and reminded me why I do what I do.

You see! THIS is why we make ART!

happy, happy weekend!

{thank you Sara}

Inspired by our own journey to realize a long time dream come true, a new e-course.

You are Invited

What: to turn just one of your dreams from when into NOW

When: beginning Tuesday, April 13 2010, for 4 weeks

Where: wherever you are and Paris, France {because that’s where we’ll be!}

When you look out into the world there’s a lot of talk about realizing dreams, about doing what you want, about living a life full of joy, creativity, authenticity and freedom ~ a life fulfilled in every possible way, just as it should be.

Sean and I are people who talk about this kind of life.

We are people who teach a message about living this kind of life.

Every day we both reach for the best our life has to offer. 

And then, one day we stop talking and we start living.

Because in all honesty, I see a lot of talk these days, and not much walk.

And I think that teaching by example is the best kind of teaching.

This idea that dreams are something that should be turned into lists and put on vision boards, all fun and worthy exercises  that serve their purpose when first launching a dream, but what I’ve come to realize is that for every dream to fully be realized, at some point you have to just do it.

Living your dream takes a whole new level of commitment, often accompanied by a willingness to leap into the unknown, a willingness to take what seems like a risk. And I say "seems like a risk", because everything I’ve ever lived that felt risky has always worked out ~ life has always risen up to meet me and I’ve never regretted it and never looked back.

As I mentioned in my post announcing this new adventure, this is a dream that we’ve been envisioning for quite a while. There came a point where waiting for the perfect time, became a decision that now is the perfect time.

So we ask you "What are you waiting for?"

If you want to join us in this e-course, you will be coming to Paris with us! And together we will turn when into now.

Click here to learn more + register

This is what I’ve been sitting on for weeks now.  A total leap of faith. A dream we are no longer content to wait on anymore. We decided now is the time.

We’re living in Paris for a month.

I’ve been sitting on this, because it still doesn’t quite seem real, and so many things have had to come together for this to become real, things that are still coming together quite honestly ~ but I knew when I blogged about it I would be committing to the reality of this dream even more.

So here goes. Years in the making, another dream about to happen.

Sean and I have had a dream of living part-time in Europe pretty much since we met. It’s a dream we shared that bonded us right away. 

The dream began for me as a little girl. My mom is from Germany and our family is there. Fortunate to visit it every year as a child, the time never felt like enough. Europe has felt like a second home to me and I’ve always imagined going for a longer time, maybe even living there part time. 

Somewhere in my ultimate dream and plan for my life I envisioned the freedom to travel the world, to live in new places, to explore any time I want to. This little business of mine I’ve been building has had that intent in mind. Another reason it has all worked out perfectly, I can now work anywhere in the world with an internet connection. 

I am FREE.

I emphasize living and not vacationing for this trip, as we will be experiencing this city as a resident.  This will be a working trip for Sean and I as we are also launching a new e-course this Thursday, inspired by this adventure, that we will teach from Paris! Come with us!!!

Six years ago,  the day of? the day after this photo was taken? Sean and I, as a couple began. {We actually met for the first time almost three years before that}

Every year we can’t figure out what the exact day is and every year I make Sean pull out this photo so we can confirm what day it was exactly? Not only because I LOVE this photo that my now friend Jen took, {I get to surf with these awesome fellows from Sean 4 over to, Mark, Johnny, Mark, again, and Vic, Jen’s man} but because, you see, little did Sean know when this photo was taken that his life was about to change. And little did I know either, but then I’m not in this photo so you can’t see me moments before my life was about to change forever.

Sean has decided that this is now officially "my ritual" to celebrating our anniversary, the ritual of figuring out which day it was exactly, then pulling out this photo to prove which day it was ~ probably so...because between you and I, I love re-living the moment it all began. When something as life changing as this kind of connection begins. You KNOW. You just know. YOU know?

All I really want to say with this post is LOVE to Seanie. 

I have a mission:

going all the way back to why I began podcasting, including this early podcast and post  ~this mission inspires my life, my teaching and my art. I want to change the concept of starving artist to thriving artist. It’s time don’t you think?

I thought so, and then I recently came across an entire line, brand new to the market of "starving artist" design, from coffee cups to bags,  selling in art supplies stores across the country. With all due respect to the artist who created the image, her designs are adorable ~ but the concept ~  ARE YOU KIDDING ME? 

Let me rant for a second. Please skip to the next paragraph to ignore my rant. {I know! how about, let’s make a "Starving Lawyer" coffee cup, and the lawyer can be holding a little brief case overflowing with papers. I’m sure that will be a great seller. And then let’s make a "Starving Teacher" cup?  ~ and a "Starving Fireman" cup and a "Starving Bank Executive" cup. Good LORD ~ is this really the message we want to be putting out into the world, especially following the year we had last year? It’s hard enough to keep your optimism up about abundance without drinking your coffee from a cup that says "starving" on it. O.K. I’m done.}

When I get this frustrated, here’s what I do: I take what frustrates me and then I let what I want instead, inspire my life going forward. And in this case it is also inspiring my creations going forward. 

If someone out there actually thinks that creating a "starving artist" line of products is a good idea ~ then creating a line of thriving artists product might well be a good idea too ~ so I’ve decided to create my own line, the THRIVING ARTIST line by Creative Thursday.

Introducing the first product in the line, a new print of an original illustration featured above. What’s interesting is that this image is also a brand new style of creating for me. Using a yellow vintage book cover as my canvas, I illustrated  with pencil, black ink and acrylic paints. I have to say, I really loved creating this piece, everything from the "newness" of painting on a book cover, to re-reading the sentiment while I was working on it. For my e-course students, I know you’ll understand, I lost all track of time in the creating of this piece.

Speaking of my students ~ past, present and future this image is dedicated to all of you. 

Every time I teach, online or in person ~ I’m inspired to be to better, to live better.  I’m inspired to emphasize this message of "thriving" for everyone, regardless of your chosen profession.

I will close by saying that I for one chose a career as an artist expecting to THRIVE.

This image is also dedicated to all of the artists out there who know this, believe it, and live it, and on the days where you aren’t feeling it, you are reminded to reach for it again.

have a great weekend! xoxo

{the original is not for sale, but you can purchase it as a print over in the shop}

The 30 day video project continues and in this episode, inspired by my "week in the life" experiment and Jerry Seinfeld, I’m talking to you about time and how your life is "yours to design".

Finished, finally. 

A bunny I began months ago. A pattern I developed last summer. Some things are finally coming together over here, and if I told you what was in the works you might just "fall out". I haven’t even adjusted yet, but when I do you’ll be the first to know.

Also a blog shout out to my friend Betz, who advised  me on how to create the perfect face for this little fellow, using *edit* Tuesday ~ reverse applique!! {could not for the life of me remember yesterday, what the technique was called}

You might also recognize that he is sitting on my new fabric. I thought inspiration from one sewn project might inform the next via osmosis?

Have I mentioned that I love to sew?

around with new illustrating styles

Hadn’t planned on disappearing this week. I think blogging the "typical week in my life" experiment, for 7 days straight, took it out of me. Bless the people who blog for a living.

Want to wish you a happy weekend! xoxo

While I’m at it ~ Welcome to our home. 

I love sneak peeks of homes, don’t you? Honestly one of my favorite parts of the blogging world, the chance to glimpse into people’s, especially creative people’s inspiring homes.

Last summer, I opened my home to Indie Fixx readers, Where Women Create featured my studio in their magazine, but I’ve never posted all the photos together here on my own blog. One of my earlier  plans was to post a room, a corner at a time but as is often the case on these kinds of blogging commitments it fell by the wayside. So, enough is enough, before I move again or re-decorate everything...a mini tour of our cottage in the middle of the city.

Today I must admit that I also have an ulterior motive and that is that we are wanting to sublet our home for the month of April into early May. If you are interested in getting more details you can email me.

 "artwork & such" resources, if I have them, in order of appearance:

1. painting over fireplace by Sean and I, vase by Outiart, chair is vintage, an original Creative Thursday design with the fabric by Tricia Guild

2. artwork on dining room wall by me and Amy Ruppel, another vintage chair re-designed by Creative Thursday, dining table vintage, sideboard IKEA

3. wood houses by Amber Dusick

4. yellow chest, vintage

5. black and white chair, vintage and newly re-upholstered

6. encaustic painting by Cathy Nichols, nightlight by Creative Thursday, ceramic sunflowers sculpted by me in a college ceramics class, all time favorite stove-top coffee maker by Bialetti, tangerine mixer by Kitchen Aid, mugs by Orla Kiely for Target last year, rug is recycled by Mad Mats {adore this rug ~ it can handle anything}

7. measuring spoons and decorative hooks from Anthropologie

8. tea cups also Anthropologie and espresso cups by Outiart

9. rooster painting by Anne Skok, star lights from IKEA

10. artists featured in this photo, from left to right, Patricia Anders, Christine Mason Miller, me,  Heather Renz, Amber Dusick, Outi Harma, Le Train Fontame, Kimberly Applegate, Nate Williams

11. details of more artists, Patricia Anders, Christine Mason Miller, me and my first ever print I bought on Etsy by Corinne Dean 

12. detail of Nate Williams pillow that was sold at Urban Outfitters

13. canister by Julia Rothman also sold at Urban Outfitters, vintage lamp a gift from Melissa, lamp shade by IKEA, vintage Coca Cola soda crate found on at this shop on Etsy

14. another Woodmouse house, good luck lady bug from Germany, hedgehog I adore, a gift from Sean and sadly I have no idea where he’s from

15. green hanging lamp by Grange, another painting by Cathy Nichols, chair is vintage, mirror is vintage

16. art by me, bedding by Banana Republic and IKEA

7:45 wake-up, shower, clean shower

8:30 coffee, plan weekly food menu, start linen laundry

9:15 bike to farmer’s market, buy veggies, my favorite Sunday snack a cheese pretzel from Rockenwagner bakery, and a tiny bouquet of freesia, take my time riding back from the market to enjoy what an absolutely gorgeous Southern California day it is

10:30 put linens back on bed, fold other laundry while chatting with a friend by phone, clean bathroom, start cleaning kitchen

11:45 call Landlord and discuss our options regarding subletting our place for a month in April. Call my uncle in Germany to wish him a happy birthday. Start researching flights and travel possibilities. Finish cleaning kitchen while talking to airline booking agent {here, here for multitasking!}

2:00 blog about the last 3 days, post our house available for rent as a sublet on Craigslist....!!!!

3:13 have a beer to celebrate that we posted our house, moving forward with a dream of ours

3:30 work on setting up the new "Fish Bowl", emailing

6:20 prepare carrots for dinner

6:50 meditate {wohoo!~ 2 days in a row, can you feel my calm coming through the computer}

7:15 finish dinner, eat, and watch the last bit of the Winter Olympics. I have to say I’ve really enjoyed tuning into the Olympics the last couple of weeks ~ a lot of inspiring people and stories.

10:00 goodnight. and the official end of my "typical" week

....................................................................................................................................

I have to say I woke up this morning and started mentally tracking my day, then realized that my commitment to this project had officially come to a close and I breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing where my week has gone has been enlightening to say the least. Letting you in to almost every hour of my days over the last week, has felt strange, to say the least ~ but also good practice for me to see what it feels like to share more openly on this blog. I hope it has been insightful for you. 

Now it’s back to business as usual over here, and today I send you some virtual freesia.