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10 Best Blogging Bits from #BelleLive, and one important DON'T

6/3/2014

33 Comments

 
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{Blogging Wisdom applied to my Creative Adventuring|

One of the categories in this blog is "Facing Fear;" these are the posts where I muse about pushing through some invisible obstacle in order to get closer to my authentic desires. I had no idea that attending an online blogging workshop would avail me of a collection of gems that directly addressed the fear-factor in my creative journey.

#BelleLive refers to one of the most informative & fun events I attended through Creative Live. 
This awesome class was taught by sassy fashionista April Bowles-Olin; a blogger and
 coach to creative entrepreneurs, who blew us all away with her  insight, charm, and organizational skills.
 
If You missed April Bowles-Olin on Creative Live, I'd say, go check it out from start to finish. It's worth every moment and every dime. BUT FOR NOW let me share with you my favorite tips and how they apply to my creative adventures... {click to tweet moment!}

1. {Start Before you Are Ready}
Fear can bring all good things to a grinding halt. 
Perfectionism can kill creativity... but in reality 'mistakes' are great teachers and a vital part of the learning process. 
My take away? Make your move while the idea is full of juice! After day one of this class, I felt the courage to upload several small pieces to my ETSY shop ... I didn't feel quite ready, but I knew the pieces were!

2. {Give away your best ideas}
This piece of advice encouraged me trust myself & my creative process. 
While you share freely you are attracting others to your brilliant self! 
Besides, engaging, sharing. and giving are 3 of the most important aspects of blogging -- just so you know. 
 ... and for my life this meant writing this post about a project I'd been working on. I kind of wanted to share instructions on how to make my Star Book, but I felt a little nervous about letting it go into the world... 
>>what if this, that, and the other?<<  and in her direct & matter-of-fact way, April convinced me that it was the right thing to do, and the time was NOW... and when I did, I felt GREAT.

3. {Think about your audience}
Always. 
So when you are giving away your best ideas, ask yourself how you can help your reader. 
Offering something of value will establish your readership.
This sparked a whole re-vamp of my videos, free tutorials & class offerings... stay tuned for details, and join me if you want them delivered to your in-box!

4. {Put it in Black and White}
Specific little goals will keep you engaged in your journey and moving towards your vision. If you struggle
 with staying accountable to your smaller building steps, get an accountability buddy.
My friend Amy and I both participated in the class and have since been meeting to identify and declare our goals. Having an accountability partner makes the journey less lonely and a million times more enjoyable!

5. {Focus on showing up consistently and doing better a.k.a. be Patient & Persistent}
When April said, 'the numbers will take care of themselves,' I realized I had been holding my breath with the anxiety of knowing my readership is probably made up of my beloved family and friends. She added "Blogging is a long term game. Everyone starts with 0 readers!" Oh, thank you, Belle!

6. {Put up Pretty Pictures, Please!}
The visual aspect of a Blog is Very Important! Take beautiful Pictures, and if you don't feel confident about your skills, build a daily practice. Have good pictures of yourself on your blog that reflect your authentic self.
I'd had an Instagram account for a while, and it was languishing with 2 or 3 pics. Since the workshop I challenged to myself to post every day. And now I ask myself, "What took me so long?"

7. {Give More than you Take} 
You know, that whole 'pay-it-forward' attitude? Well. it works! When you give freely and think of others, you will not only feel great, but you will be noticed and appreciated. Some ideas are writing a 'thank you' e-mail to someone online whose ideas inspired you, or sharing the link to a newly discovered Etsy shop, or perhaps a Facebook shout out to a product that is making your life more wonderful. A thoughtful acknowledgement to somebody who is just starting out may make a world of difference to them.  
Inspired by the spirit of giving, I made and uploaded a couple of free printable coloring sheets that work well with the Star Book tutorial I am currently filming/editing and plan to share free in the coming weeks. If you are curious about the free printable, here: You can have it too!

8. {Take advantage of every opportunity; you never know where it might lead}
Saying yes to possibilities will keep your mind flexible and your ideas growing... and why the heck not?
So if you are reading this, you might as well know that this is my very first Blog Tour... I didn't even know what that was! But when the idea popped up in the FB group, I decided to take a chance and join the ride!

9. {Be willing to take risks!}
What do you really have to lose when you ask for something you want? The only thing you will probably (gradually) shed is your fear. If your dream is to guest post in a well-known blog, or contribute to a magazine, prepare yourself, and then GO FOR IT! Say it! Ask for it! Pitch it! Contribute! Share! yes, yes, yes...
One of my dreams is to teach in one of those big, famous retreats that everybody goes to. So I looked it up, and the request was so simple, I didn't even think twice about it. The person on the other hand immediately responded with an encouraging e-mail... and now I am working on the application. Wish me luck with that!

10. {Build relationships}
Success in the interwebs is all about relationships. Show up, engage, interact: and do all of these authentically. When others get to know you and you build relationships, you will expand.
This bona fide introverted artist is now meeting regularly with other hermit-y creatives, both in 'real live' and through online connections. And it's been a blast!
 
Along with all of the Do-s, April shared a few don't-s. My favorite addresses another of the "Facing Fear" topics and this is what she said,
                                       {DON'T TAKE REJECTION PERSONALLY} 
"No" is an unavoidable part of the process. Trust it, believe it and move on.

I want to thank April Bowles-Olin for her generosity, humor, and copious amounts of useful information. Also thanks to Creative Live and the live audience of bloggers, and to the community of online participants that is now a vibrant FB group-- you guys are amazing! If you came here through  “What #BelleLive Taught Me” blog tour via Kathy Reilly, you are now invited to visit the blog of designer & artist Vivayne to further explore the take-aways from this class!

 But Before you go...
Will you tell me, which one of my top 10 lessons resonates with you the most?
Please leave me a comment below!


xo
consu
click to tweet
33 Comments

2014: a year to deep•en

1/9/2014

6 Comments

 
Picture•traveling dreamer• 2014 (30x30 acrylic on canvas)
I loved having a 'word of the year' in 2013: it was a filter through which I ran many choices, a reminder of my intent, and a way to focus. Looking back I felt like I had indeed 'unleashed' creatively speaking.

For 2014, I was excited to pick another word-nudge, and 'deepen' emerged unbeckoned. I recognized a desire to anchor the unleashed creativity to a deeper part of myself.



The first finished piece in 2014 is called 'traveling dreamer' :  a personita journeying  in a colorful dream world.

The background for this piece came out of an amazing class I took at the "Call of the Wild Soul" retreat in Petaluma last November. The talented artist who taught it had been one of my art heroes: Tracy Verdugo . She is, in real life, as bright and beautiful as she appeared in her social media: but she is also humble and genuine. 
The process and the experience of the class were inspiring, but my painting itself was ... meh! Looking at in in the last couple of months, I realized that, although a good exercise, I needed to make the painting my own. I needed to go deeper if I wanted to bring it out. Even though I didn't love what I had, I was kind of afraid I would obliterate the play I had created at the retreat, so I hesitated. But the other day I got brave, and deepened, and this little personita came out to reward the risk I took. 

I am now sure that 'deepen' is an excellent word to challenge myself in 2014. Scary-good.
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symbols
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add a little color
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full color
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end of workshop look
6 Comments

{2013} - a Year in Review -

12/29/2013

1 Comment

 
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Unleash was the word I chose as a theme for 2013. It felt more like marching orders . . . and, looking back, much unleashing did occur!

Life was full to the brim with creative endeavors blooming amidst life's quotidian adventures. Hard moments couched in gentler ones. Fears and apprehension assuaged by patience and love. Relationships and friendships unfolding with laughter, play, and shared meals.


I gained a niece at the start of the year and a nephew a few days ago. My personita gave me a piano to encourage more forms of play and creativity! I had the joy of far away friends visiting in the summer, and a couple of amazing road trips enjoying delights of the Pacific Northwest. My Dragon Boat Team (go U-Dragon-U) got a giant {plastic} trophy and I had surgery to correct my vision. It was my privilege to take part in art retreats held in magical places, and to learn {a ton} from some of my art heroes (both live and online). I pushed through road-blocks and met goals that seemed daunting, though perhaps small to others (like making sure I finished paintings I started...) but pivotal to that aforementioned unleashing.


All in all 2013 comes out with a positive balance. I am encouraged to continue my creative explorations, and I am already looking forward to unveiling my theme word for 2014 in my next blog post.


Thank YOU  for being a part of the support system that continues to fuel my journey! I wish for you a blessed 2014: may it bring to your life just what you most deeply desire!


Happy 2014 to all!
1 Comment

She's done!

5/20/2013

11 Comments

 
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I am fast learning about consistency in social media... Having a blog, a FB page, an etsy shop all take time and attention. If I don't feed said outlets news of my creative adventures, 
it feels like I virtually disappear 
... and I am adventuring alone.

Alone = Comfortable
*and always has*

As I have admitted in earlier posts, being vulnerable and 'exposed' is NOT my cup of tea. I read Brene Brown and sigh with admiration. Oh, the courage! And then I close and lock the door to my studio to create in peaceful isolation and comfort.

So I know that we teach what we ourselves need to learn, and I continue to learn that the journey has twists and turns, peaks and valleys, swampy bits and freezing snow. And then I gather myself, and resurface 
to thaw in your presence,
 my friends and fellow creatives.

I offer you a sampling of what's been keeping me sane in the studio!


If you care to open up to me and share a comment, I'd love to hear from you!
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11 Comments

Last day of Month *4*

4/30/2013

0 Comments

 
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https://www.etsy.com/shop/consutolosa

I can't say April has been a raging success of a month in my pursuit of unleashing and art liberation... but it hasn't been a total dud EitherI'll take the small gains and resolve to face forward and move on... since there isn't really a choice in the matter and all.

The most nerve wracking part of this whole unleashing 2013 has been staying public with my thoughts and creations, and making myself accountable in a public way. April was a tough one in that the main goal was to 'put something, anything' in the Etsy store that I originally opened in 2008!!! I used the account to buy art and services from fellow creatives, but as of this weekend, I had nothing in it.

So, the truth is thatI met the challenge about 70% of the way. It is open, yes, but the inventory is not new, but a little collection I had finished a little while back. Oh well. I'll keep it going
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What do YOU need today?

4/19/2013

4 Comments

 
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I've been thinking about hopelessness and dispair in the last couple of hours. Reading my FB feed it is hard to avoid impassioned posts about injustice and pain; devastating acts of one human against others. At home and abroad. We are victims and we are perpetrators.

 So I came into my studio looking to work through some of the feelings using form and color. Listening to music softly enough to also hear the incessant Portland rain, I saw this little figure emerge. Serious, intent stare, and holding a balloon with the word hope. 'Here. Give what you need to get,' she seemed to say.

I guess this could be an expanded version of the golden rule. Not so much about how I want to be treated, but more about what I want to experience in the world. What do you need today?

4 Comments

Art Play Dates - Encaustic Adventures with Judy -

4/14/2013

2 Comments

 
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Judy and I met a decade ago in Santa Cruz, CA at an art retreat. Since she moved to Portland herself, we have been gathering here and there to talk, and play, and share meals. A couple of weeks ago we gathered in her great studio to play with wax, and break all the encaustic rules. There was dripping, and there was mixing. Eventually there was even a piece of plastic netting that came in the scene and made it into both of our little pieces. But above all there was fun, and camaraderie, and exploration. For me, I wanted to learn all Judy could teach me about encaustic; and for Judy, she ended up discovering that breaking some of the rules can free you up to have a lot of care-free fun.
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My little ladies in red and blue backgrounds.
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Judy's red-head, looking lovely and demurely flushed.

*thanks Judy!*

2 Comments

Last day of Month *3*

3/31/2013

4 Comments

 
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Spring - collage & polymer clay - 2.5X2.5

March is a long month. 

March is also generally a hard month for me. 

Portland is a moody, restrained lover in Spring. On the one hand we have the early blooms -the daphne, oh, god, the daphne!!-, the playful peeks of sunshine, the slow awakening of activity in the neighborhood streets. On the other we have the heavy gray sky with its unrelenting sprinkling and low temps that invariably gets most of us talking about moving to a sunnier town in a warmer state with more generous seasons.

But this March... Well, this March things have been better; more consistent; just nicer. In fact, I feel compelled to throw caution to the wind and just admit that things have been plain GREAT. Maybe I only have access to my short memory, and that is somewhat tainting this report. But for yesterday and today, the weather has been just FLAW•LESS!!!


So much for the weather. This is self-assessment time. How goes my year-long-project to 'unleash.' Well, March brought into existence a few more finished pieces, as well as the magnificent video making class Montage. The Facebook page Consu's Art Adventures got launched, and at last check, it had just crossed over the hundredth 'like,' which is thrilling in this strange and scary way. 

Yesterday I saw a friend, whom I hadn't seen in a while, and when we hugged, he whispered, "hello, girl with the frog in her throat," and in that instant I understood that this portion of 'unleashing' means letting people in to what has been, for my whole life, the most private part of my world.

Yikes! Yay! OMG & crap!!!
It's all good, and I am still looking forward to unleashing some more!

4 Comments

Inspiration from Brene Brown's new book:Daring Greatly

3/20/2013

2 Comments

 
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10 Guideposts for Wholehearted Living
From Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead, by Brene Brown

1. Cultivating Authenticity: Letting Go of What People Think
2. Cultivating Self‐Compassion: Letting Go of Perfectionism
3. Cultivating a Resilient Spirit: Letting Go of Numbing and Powerlessness
4. Cultivating Gratitude and Joy: Letting Go of Scarcity and Fear of the Dark
5. Cultivating Intuition and Trusting Faith: Letting Go of the Need for  Certainty

Read More
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Video: Amazing Next Step!!

3/16/2013

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Watch the making of this painting by following this link to vimeo: https://vimeo.com/61986256

I have joined Montage, an awesome video-making e-course with maven movie maker Vivienne McMaster. http://www.viviennemcmasterphotography.com/montage/ 

It is the next step in the 2013 New Year's resolve to "Unleash!" 

I am *almost* holding my breath in anticipation of what will come next!

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Last day of Month *2*

2/28/2013

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                         2013 Unleash is happily under way!


It is the end of the second month and I can honestly say that things seem to be on track, although they go in and out of focus. Something is unfolding, but I don't know that I can yet name it.


There are two larger pieces 'on the easel' and three more misfit dolls in progress. Today was day four of the Right Brain Business Plan Summit (see link below) and the creative energy is bubbling. 


At the beginning of January I posted a "Creative Pay it Forward" self-challenge on FB, and I am ready to start sending gifts out. It feels like all of the information and inspiration from the Summit are a gift from the facilitators and presenters. I am grateful for their paying it forward and indirectly encouraging my process.

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Connecting: Right Brain Entrepreneur >>free<< Summit 

2/25/2013

2 Comments

 
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Today marked the first of a 10-day exploration for 
right brainers in business. Jennifer Lee is the genius 
behind the magic. To kick it all off: Dan Pink talking 
about 'sales' in its broadest sense; more like getting 
your point across and having others join you-than 
any other kind of transaction. In one word: awesome!
Here's a link to get your free ticket: http://rightbrainersinbusiness.com/

Join the close to 500 right brainers gathering to learn, 
share, support, and grow!!

2 Comments

February 25th, 2013

2/25/2013

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“Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us 
just show up and get to work. If you wait 
around for the clouds to part and a bolt of lightening to strike you in the brain, you 
are not going to make an awful lot of work. 
All the best ideas come out of the process; 
they come out of the work itself.” 
                                                           
~ Chuck Close
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Facing Reluctance; Facing Fear

2/4/2013

1 Comment

 
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The proposition alone triggers a wave of jitters: become a full-time artist.  

Is that what I really want? Can I really leave my clients, the built-in accountability of having a schedule, the depth of sharing, the role of guide and supporter? ... Or it is what I want... I am just afraid I can't pull it off?

2013 is my lab. My number one task is to TRY THINGS OUT. When I am reluctant to do something my gut is telling me to try; I negotiate. 'Do it for 15 minutes.' 'Just start.' 'Do it first.' Reluctantly sometimes, I engage... and frequently I am amazed at the results: it gets done. It's no big deal. And even if it is not really something I want to do again, it's still No Big Deal.

So the take-away for this quest to overcome reluctance and face my fears is to keep moving, to be kind and compassionate towards myself, but to push in the direction of the question, which might just be the direction of the dream.

1 Comment

Finding further appreciation for Imperfections through Misfit Dolls

1/13/2013

2 Comments

 
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I am taking a class online with maven doll-maker Lana Guerra. She makes a kind of lovely monstery being she calls 'misfit dolls.'

All you need to get started is a bit of wire, masking tape and sculpey! Lana walks you through all the steps in funny little videos.
And along with the information you get a good dose of acceptance and kindness for all things imperfect.

I am loving the class, and I am loving the beings that are emerging too. Here's a current pic, and I'll document the finish product too!


Thanks to Lana for these fun reminders too!



2 Comments

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