Today: Today I share the top 2 topics that have come up around girls and journaling, plus what’s new in my art supply kit!
Find More Creative Living TV at the Studio
Today: Wow, I can’t believe I’ve been so sick! Ever so gently I’m coming back to the studio. I’ve got to nurture my energy because I’ve got a big workshop next Sunday!
Find More Creative Living TV at the Studio
The practice of creating a dreamboard The Studio Way invites more of what you desire into your life while serving as a powerful tool of creative self-reflection. Dreaming in tandem with the phases of the moon helps us deepen our practice, learning the lessons of each moon and developing our Year of Dreams.
Over more than a decade of this practice, I have learned to make dreamboards that are not only manifestation magnets (which they are!) but also powerful reflecting pools. Creating a dreamboard with the full moon tunes you into your inner compass, focusing your heart on the true north of your dreams.
To support you in discovering the powerful practice of dreamboarding, I’ve created a series of workshops, rooted deeply in moon cycles, creativity and magic, rooted in my deep belief in dreams and in you.
For each cycle of the moon, the Year of Dreams series offers a workshop that will guide you through creating your dreamboard under the specific influence of the upcoming Full Moon (e.g. Full Snow Moon, Full Worm Moon, Full Pink Moon). Every monthly offering will include not only the moon-specific workshop but also the How to Make a Dreamboard the Studio Way lesson so that we are all creating in the same context and on the same sacred ground. Once you’ve registered for your workshop, you will have access to it for the lifetime of this offering at the studio. You can return again and again under this full moon to connect to your dreams.
On every New Moon, I will launch a new workshop that will guide you in creating your dreamboard under the specific influence of the upcoming Full Moon (e.g. Full Snow Moon, Full Worm Moon, Full Pink Moon). Every monthly offering will include not only the moon-specific workshop but also the How to Make a Dreamboard the Studio Way lesson so that we are all creating in the same context and on the same sacred ground. Once you purchase your first Year of Dreams workshop, you will receive a coupon giving you access to a special price for every workshop this year.
That is the question we will be focusing on for this workshop. From the moment you arrive, that question will start to steep in your heart. Clues will begin to bubble as you gather your materials, holding the question in your heart. As you step into the creative process, you will start to engage with your dreams. When you enter the circle with the Full Pink Moon, you will have the opportunity to discover the messages she has for you. In that moment, you will create a dreamboard that will become a manifestation magnet but that will also serve as a reflecting pool, helping you discover the dreams in your heart – and the parts of yourself – that want to emerge.
A Note About Timing: When you register, you’ll have immediate access to this program and everything you need to know in order to create your dreamboard for the Full Flower Moon.
Years ago, sitting in my mom’s living room, hanging out with Mom and my sisters, cutting and gluing, dreaming, chatting, I had no idea that a life-changing practice had entered into my life.
Who would imagine that a simple, creative activity could open up the door to my dreams?
I know it will do the same for you!
This podcast is 32:14.
Christine Pensa of Art That Moves is a visual artist who joyfully runs her successful Om for your home line of printed textiles and original illustrations from her Toronto studio. Her heart centred art is available online and in several retail outlets across Canada.
Christine is also a passionate “field guide” (she doesn’t like to use the word teacher) sharing art and creativity classes with children and adults. She enjoys mural making with elementary school kids – as well as – creative art classes with adults. Christine invites participants of all ages to meet their own artist within and embrace their creative heART with right brain opening exercises and joy-filled art explorations. By the way – Christine is also certified Creatively Fit Coach who has as much fun in her classes as those attending them.
Every Sunday is Art Day at our house. My sister Shannon and I are both taking The Year of the Spark with Carla Sonheim & Lynn Whipple. This week we continued working on a lesson from Carla that we started last week. Using gesso, we had painted a simple, textured piece on wood board. This week, we added colour!
Of course, the glitter bombed animals looked on, some wondering when they would get a second coat.
With this project, we had layers of paint that needed drying and so we took a break out in the garden and discovered: green!!!
The netting I put down to protect the spring bulbs seems to have worked.
Or maybe it was the garden guardian that did the trick.
Either way, when I returned to my piece, I was definitely feeling the love!
Today: Sharing my journal experiment with “too much” and what I found at the secondhand store this weekend!
Raccoon is ready for #goodmorninggarden to begin!
Follow me on Instagram, Facebook and/or Twitter to see how the garden grows!
Find More Creative Living TV at the Studio
When I decided to take last week off, a lot of people asked me questions like, “Hmm.. will you actually take the time off?” It was a question I asked myself too – before and during my vacation! I love my work, I have tons of projects (both on the go and in the wings) and I love to be doing. So what would I do with this whole “time off” thing?
The first day, I went to the One of a Kind Show and Sale here in Toronto. It was rich with beauty and inspiration! I even delved into asking exhibitors for creative tips that I could share with you. It was awesome but I admit it: I was working!
As I moved further into my holidays, I had kept one day with clients. I love working with my clients so I thought, well, that’s okay then.
The next day, I realized I actually had three (yes, three!) meetings booked.
I rescheduled every meeting. I even cancelled going out with a friend because being scheduled didn’t feel like holidays.
I gave myself a gold star for commitment… and proceeded to get very, very restless.
I had an idea of what vacation was not – not work, not meetings, not schedules – but I wasn’t sure what it was. I didn’t want to spend a week floating in an empty void of “not work” and I didn’t want to reach for work out of habit.
So I asked myself the key question for this Type A to enjoy her time off…
For years I’ve been wanting to book off a week in April because I always find myself exhausted at this time. The studio is so busy at the beginning of the year and I’m depleted from the long, dark winter. This time off was for resting.
Entering a new season after a winter of busy-ness, I also found myself craving some quiet, reflective time. This time off was for hearing my own heart.
Once I set these intentions I was able to finally settle in and enjoy my vacation. I didn’t have to follow any shoulds or preconceived ideas. I didn’t have to fill the void with habit or work. All I had to do was attend to my energy and my heart and that led me to a truly lovely week.
1. Set an Intention for your Time Off
With our busy lives, time off is a precious thing. Getting clear on what you want from that time – rejuvenation, fun, reflection, connection – can help you direct your natural enthusiasm into your vacation.
2. Time Off is Different for Everyone
We have a tendency to think that relaxation is the key to time off but really what fulfills you is highly personal. Maybe you want adventure or play dates with friends. Maybe you want breakfast in bed and a good book. Maybe you want to jet ski and play beach volleyball. Maybe you want to journal for hours in a coffee shop. Pay attention to your self, your needs and wants in this moment and focus your vacation on that.
3. Pay Attention to Energy Up – Energy Down
To figure out a focus, notice what brings your energy up and what sends it down. (This is good advice every day!) So many of us make our choices (even vacation choices) guided by “shoulds” instead of trusting our inner guidance system. Tune into your energy and let it guide the way.
A Caveat: Be aware that your habits may try and fool you! If the spaciousness of time off feels uncomfortable, you may find your energy up when you grab hold of work. Remember, that is available to you any time. In fact, you’ll be back to it on Monday. Allow yourself to find the energy opportunities in “vacation.”
4. Time Off Serves the Work
If your heart is deeply invested in the work you do, remind yourself that time away serves it well. It allows you to return with renewed energy and fresh perspectives. Taking time for your own renewal is a sustainability strategy, one that will allow you, your life and your work to thrive.
5. Give Yourself Over to It 100%
The most frazzling thing you can do is to try and be in two places at one time. If you are not really on vacation because you’re checking emails, finishing up tasks, taking a few meetings and you’re not really working because you’re away from your computer, your response time is slow and you’re trying to spend time with loved ones, you’re breaking yourself in two. You’re losing the benefits of both work and time off! Stop spreading yourself too thin, “like butter over too much bread.” (Thank you, Bilbo.) Give yourself the gift of being where you are. Bring all that energy home.
Bonus Lesson
After spending the week attending to my rest and listening to my heart, here’s what I realized. These aren’t things I can do once or twice a year when I finally take some time off. Being well-rested and tuned into my self are priorities for my every day. I just needed a vacation to remind me!
