Dreaming, Dancing & Living to the Full

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Every Monday, Wednesday & Friday morning I invite you Behind the Scenes at my studio.

Today:   What a powerful day! It’s the Full Strawberry Moon and the Summer Solstice – the perfect time to dream and to dance.

Mentioned in Today’s Show

Fire Dance badge

Let’s celebrate this summer solstice together by dancing with fire.

The Shocking Truth: I Don’t Care If You Make Money at Your Art!

Come to Your Art

I’m going to tell you something shocking. I don’t care if you make money at your art. I don’t care if you make six-figures working two days a week and have a kick-ass brand, a million followers and build passive income so you can bask on the beaches of Spain.

I don’t care.

What I care about is that you don’t die with your art inside you.

I care that at the end of your days you look back on your life, your experience and your body of work and feel proud.

I care that the world gets to see who you are and what you are capable of.

I care that you bring to life what is in you waiting to be born.

I care that you express the unique and precious perspective that only you bring to this world.

I care that you love your life.

I care that you are creatively fulfilled.

I care that your creative spark becomes a fire.

I care that you shine.

I want that for you no matter what.

No matter what your circumstances, no matter who or where you are, no matter how much time you have, no matter how much money you have, no matter how much energy you have I care that in this lifetime, in this body, in this moment, you create. That you take what is in your heart and mind and turn it into something. That you make your creative magic. That you bring what is in you to life and in so doing bring yourself to life too.

Not because you get paid.

Not because someone is watching.

Not because you need to prove something to someone, including yourself.

But because you have a song to sing, a poem to write, a dance to dance and you love it.

Because you are an artist. That is all.

Don’t let anything stop you. Not even something that looks like a dream.

Come to the Table

Creativity, Courage & Non-judgment

Every Monday, Wednesday & Friday morning I invite you Behind the Scenes at my studio.

Today:  I am celebrating a productive week in the studio. I’m also getting ready to be brave. When I decided to host a little Journal Jam at my house, I had no idea that I was actually stepping into taking a courages stand for non-judgment. I hope it inspires you to do the same.

Mentioned in Today’s Show

Peonies in the Studio

The beauty in the studio today. (Follow me on Instagram)

Creative Living with Jamie: Kathryn Costa

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This Podcast is: 25:31

Kathryn Costa on Creative Living with JamieThis Week on Creative Living with Jamie: Kathryn Costa, artist, educator and author of The Mandala Guidebook

About Kathryn…

Kathryn Costa is an artist, writer and educator whose passion can be summed up in three little words, “create and connect.” Since she started blogging in 2008, Kathryn has inspired people from more than 90 countries with her personal stories and artwork. Kathryn’s workshops help people to find clarity, let go of fear, embrace their dreams and explore their creativity. In October 2014, Kathryn decided to challenge herself to create 100 mandalas in 100 days and invited her friends online to join her. Within a year, the 100 Mandalas Challenge and Community has quickly grown to include thousands of mandala enthusiasts from all over the world. Kathryn is the author of “The Mandala Guidebook: How to Draw, Paint and Color Expressive Mandala Art” published by North Light Books.  When Kathryn isn’t creating mandalas, she enjoys art journaling, collage, mixed media, photography and Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging). She lives in New England with her Brazilian husband Fernando.

Discover More About Kathryn Costa & Mandalas

Show Notes

  • Join the studio and in this week’s newsletter you’ll get all the show notes for this week’s episode!

Connect with Creative Living with Jamie…

  • Subscribe: You can subscribe to Creative Living with Jamie here and also on iTunes (Note: this link will ask to access your iTunes and then take you to the podcast. You can also simply open iTunes and search for “Creative Living with Jamie)
  • Email: You can email your feedback, questions and suggestions to Jamie.
  • Share: Spread the Magic! If you loved this show, please share it with other creative hearts!

 

Inspiration, Action & Engagement

Every Monday, Wednesday & Friday morning I invite you Behind the Scenes at my studio.

Today:  I am feeling so inspired and engaged in the studio! There’s a Fire Dance coming and new Wisdom Core conversations. Plus I’m getting ready for the next Studio Forum, which will be about the 10 Verbs of Creative Living. Today I wanted to chat with you about one of those verbs: engage!

Mentioned in Today’s Show

BTS Billboard

Look what I saw yesterday! It’s like I have my own billboard! (Follow me on Instagram)

Don’t Just Pin It – Do it!

Crispy Cabbage Salad

How many hours have you spent on Pinterest?

Myself? I’m afraid to imagine! That’s the reason I avoided it so thoroughly at the outset. I knew I would spend hours immersed in beauty, inspiration and ideas – and I have. With great pleasure, I have.

Even inspiration can become distraction and procrastination when we pile and pile and pile up possibilities and never (not ever) invite them into our life.

So this week instead of pinning even one more delicious-looking recipe onto my food board, I decided to give a pinned recipe a go. To be honest, I haven’t had much luck in the past. Remember that popular pin of the sliced Hasselback potatoes that you could bake and they would be as crisp and delicious as fries? Uh, no. In fact, my sister Suzie the Foodie officially debunked that one.

But this? Crunchy Cabbage Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing (vegan and gluten-free) from Scaling Back – wow – it did not disappoint! We made some substitutions with what we had on hand, including using those little chili packs you get with Chinese food delivery instead of Sriracha, LOL! Even so, it was absolutely delicious. The crunch of the dressed salad didn’t quite hold up the next day but this salad is definitely going in the repeat pile!

I’m so glad I took this recipe from pin to reality!

What have you tried on your Pinterest boards? How did it go?
What might you try this week?

My Creative Weekend: a Yard Sale, an Art Sale & Art Day

Yard Sale

For the past several years, on a day in June, the neighbourhood yard sale takes over a larger area in the east end of Toronto. It’s become something we look forward to, a wonderful way to wander through our ‘hood, say hi to some neighbours and maybe discover a bargain or two, often accompanied by a story!
Mucha Calendar 2005

This year we didn’t buy too much but I was delighted to get this old Mucha calendar. I think the pictures will be great for collaging and many will make wonderful journal covers.

JRS Procrastination Bunny

I couldn’t say no to this little guy, especially after our recent talk of the Inspiration Rabbit and the Procrastination Bunny. It was meant to be! (By the way, you can see the Procrastination Bunny LIVE on this BtS)

JRS Our New Mirror

We also picked up this wonderful mirror. Justin was awesome and put it up immediately! So often we get these additions and they end up gathering dust in the corner instead of finding a new home. Not this time. Yay!

JRS Cat-Approved Magazines

Unfortunately that was all the energy I had for Saturday. I ended up feeling rather under the weather. Good thing I had my summer inspiration infusion and lots of good company!

Beaches Arts and Crafts Show

Sunday morning I woke up and was feeling much better. The weather was my perfect summer day: blue sky, sun shining, wind blowing and hovering around 20. Wonderful! I wanted to get down to the lake and feel the wind on my shoulders so Justin and I headed out and on the way we stumbled across the Beaches Arts & Crafts show!

Wood Cutting Boards

One of the first booths that we looked was Woodturnings. The gentleman selling these beautiful wooden wares was lovely and had such a nice energy that even though there were several other folks selling this kind of thing, we came back to Kjell Orrling’s work. We’ve been needing a new cutting board and haven’t found anything to suit but these two immediately felt like ours. A walnut one for me. A maple one for Justin.

 Flavours of Nova Scotia Honey

We also could not resist this amazingly flavourful honeys of Flavours of Nova Scotia. The honey and lemon is beyond irresistible! Justin and I had to set some guidelines about when we would treat ourselves to these delights – or else they’d be gone in no time!

At the Lake

Treasures in hand, we finally made it down to the boardwalk to get our fix of wind and sky!

JRS Art Day

With all that I still managed to make it home in time for Art Day with Shannon! We decided to connect via Zoom and work on whatever project was calling us. Shannon tested her new gel pens and I pulled out my magazine journal and had fun simply filling it up with collage images. It’s so fun to sit and create together over tea!
Scout Oversees Art Day

Scout wanted to be included. He’s such good company how could I say no?