What's with all the rushing these days?

Ambition, dedication, focus I get. Rushing, I've learned, actually slows your progress down.

Do you trust the process? or do you feel like you're always trying to get to that next place on the journey?

Have you noticed that when you finally get "there", you have a new dream insight? Are you taking the time to truly appreciate just how far you've come, and how all of the steps that you got here, have been perfect in their unfolding.

On this birthday! I'm sharing with you new discoveries on time and right timing.

Is now a print and a podcast!

Today's episode is 3 Social Media Marketing Tips for you! especially for my Artists. These are the steps that can lead to a viral post, and Art sales.

Enjoy!

After 10 years on Instagram who knew? this would be my most liked post EVER, (so far 😉 )

I heard you! and I listened, and turns out this illustration of Bernie + his mittens sitting with the Creative Thursday characters is bringing a lot of joy to you, so much so you want one in your home! By request, Bernie is now officially a print!

If you don't know the backstory to this piece. “The Gang Celebrates” is one of my most popular images and prints. Originally painted in 2007, it went on to become a Papyrus greeting card, the cover of my book and the theme of my very first fabric collection ~ these are the Creative Thursday characters that built my business + brand as an Artist.

I was just recounting the story today on a call with my members and that is this; These characters were born through the practice of daily painting and I didn't know it at the time but looking back I know they were there to gently cheer me on with my dream of becoming a Working Artist.

I was self-taught, going into debt, filled with more self-doubt then confidence and totally unsure if this dream was possible, let alone knowing how I could actually make a living with my Art~  and these characters, holding hands in hoodies, hats and mittens (because I don't like to draw hair or hands or feet lol) believed in me ~ and creating this style of Art is what kept me going through really exciting and very challenging times.

And as they made their way out into the world, it turns out a lot of collectors felt the same support and encouragement from those characters.

They are! cheering you on too!  bringing joy to your and/or your little ones, present in thousands of nurseries as a quiet reminder to follow your dreams and keep believing in what is possible.

Last Friday when I sat down to digitally paint Bernie sitting with them, I thought you might get a chuckle but I had no idea this image would be such a hit.

In honor of Bernie Sander's public service and dedication to supporting community, 20% of the proceeds of each print will be donated to the L.A. Food Bank. 

Have you heard of the "Be Do Have Model"? Continuing on with the planning mini-series.

If you're not seeing your plans come into fruition, it might be time for a different approach. Planning is so much more than just putting your goals on a calendar.

Let's close out 2020 with a sense of peace, wholeness and taking all the challenges we've faced into an envisioning a new and brighter future, by answering this question first "How do you want to feel in 2021"?

 Enjoy the new episode and to kick-off your Successful Artist Planning for 2021, get instant access to the mini-course and downloadable worksheet for free!

As we bring 2020, a year like no other to a close, today we're talking about how to deeply appreciate all of your Successes! 

Running a small business, especially one connected to your heart and your Art requires strength, courage and ongoing energy on your best days, let alone the days that are (extraordinarily) challenging. 

Keeping your commitment to your craft, your dream, your personal + business growth now speaks volumes about your determination and dedication, and that is to be CELEBRATED!

Thank you for joining me on the Creative journey! and for being a loyal listener of the Creative Thursday podcast.

Enjoy this week's episode + Merry Christmas Eve to all who are celebrating.

Wishing you and your loved ones good health, happiness and peace this holiday season.

The year in review. Wow, 2020, no words. That's not entirely true, I do have a few words about this incredible year like no other in my lifetime, what worked, what didn't, the new perspectives and priorities gained, and the old habits sent packing.

First, you make time for Creativity! :)

I have decided to make the 12 days of Creativity available through the end of 2020, so if you see this after our start day today of December 10, be sure to join us!

Click here to join the 12 Days of Creativity

It's that time of year....and whether it's December heading into a new calendar year or not, this is not only my  passion bordering on obsession, it's also my new secret to success as a peaceful business owner.

Even though 2020 looked nothing like we thought it would, what are you envisioning for your 2021?

In this episode, I share with you 3 tips to before you start creating your perfect plan.

"Be Inspiring and go out and Inspire Someone Else" is a message my Contemporary dance teacher Seda Aybay always closes our class with. 

You're going to love today's episode. An invitation to discover, reinvent, stay curious, adventurous and to be fully present, especially during times that are like none we've ever experienced.

What new creative possibilities are developing that we've not even begun to explore, yet?

And if you've heard a call to try dancing or come back to dancing, now is the time!

Join Seda and her dance company Kybele Dance for a beautiful live performance on Zoom this Saturday November 14 at 6 or 8 pm PT.

Click here to get tickets

Did I mention that I got an Egg Chair for our garden? 🥚❤️⁣
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Did I also mention that I still haven’t taken it outside yet?⁣
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And did I mention that you can find me + the studio mates (sometimes all 3 of them) in this exact spot at some point every day from coffee to wine time.⁣
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Let’s just say I unpacked the box right here in our living room, never moved it, and now we currently have an oversized piece of furniture in a space that is most definitely too small for it. ⁣
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But who cares, because these are still extraordinary times and I’ll take my comfort and joy where I can get it. And Sean is tolerating the overcrowded living room for now ⁣
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This egg chair has become my Quarantine, step away from the chaos hideaway + sanctuary. (Plus there’s a really good view out the great big picture window that looks out on our back yard from this spot)⁣
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Tell me, what’s your current sanctuary, favorite “safe” comfort + joy spot, oh and! beverage of choice? ☕️🍷

As we head into more interesting times on top of already extremely interesting times, I'm sharing 4 tips for how I'm finding stability in chaos especially over the next few weeks.

I've noticed a trend in encouraging Artists towards collaborations, surface design and licensing.

And when you pull back the curtain of licensing, I'm uncertain why this is being encouraged by Artists to Artists, especially during a year of a Pandemic.

Well actually let me rephrase that, I do have some ideas why this is a trend, and I also have reasons why I don't recommend Licensing as the solution to all your passive income dreams, financial security, or validation as an Artist.

Join me for this week's podcast episode; Why licensing, and surface design aren't the answer to becoming a successful, thriving Artist, especially now~ and what is!

Happy Creative Thursday! 

So wait, how do you go from a Career in Investment Banking, becoming a Mom of 3, to Building your Dream Business as a Maker?

Pursue What Brings You JOY ~ (and makes your body hum! )

Welcome to episode 5 of season 2, and 197 on the podcast~

words of wisdom from my special guest, Maker + Designer + Author Anne Weil

Are you doing what gives you JOY? Are you having FUN?

Are you like me, do you sometimes save the joy for last? put it on the back burner and get to it when you finish this other "important", very serious thing.

Just this week I was sharing one of my newer missions with Creative Thursday, and it's to bring more fun to the work I do and share, to remind my fellow Artists that business is creative and fun. Is it challenging sometimes, yup, but does that mean it can't be fun?

When you sit down to do your work (or face your day), do you brace for the worst or expect the best?

And yes, I know, now may feel like an especially challenging time to expect the best~ but imagine if you can cultivate more of that attitude now, how amazing it's going to feel once we find ourselves on the other side of this time!

And my Creative Friend!! Guess WHAT?!! we have the BEST tool for this, hello? 

Creativity, Making~ getting lost in a project, making something beautiful with your hands, picking up a paint brush, writing your first novel, and yes making a YouTube series (even in spite of one more hiccup i.e. potentially lost files for episode 6...stay tuned.)

This is the powerful reminder Anne's episode brings us: finding moments of peace + happiness through Making. 

In honor of this episode & celebrating coming into the home stretch of this series which means I'll have the opportunity to start making Art again! I'm taking Anne's wisdom to heart, and am headed to the Art Store today to pick up some more supplies for my oil painting! 

Clearly as is evidenced by the photo above, I am doing what gives me joy ~ especially having these conversations.

Truly one of my favorite things; a great conversation (no small talk please + thank you) especially with a fellow Creative and Entrepreneur.

Also my favorite thing; sharing conversations + creative inspiration with you!

Meet Anne Weil Designer + Author + Maker & Lover of Beautiful Things, and Founder of Flax and Twine. 

An unexpected journey to finding and trusting her creative voice, enjoy our conversation along with a glimpse into Anne's lovely world filled with clean and simple designs in all of her favorite creative expressions from Knitting + Weaving + Crochet + Embroidery (and gorgeous photography!)

 Anne makes things for home, for play, for gifts or for fun and she loves nothing more than showing you how to make them, too! while encouraging you to find peace and a happy handmade life through making. 

*editors note from Marisa* this is the episode where I discovered I need readers! to check the sharpness of our close-up on not 1 but 2 of our cameras! either that or a bigger filming monitor - on the wishlist! thank you for understanding and just pretending we are intentionally fuzzy filtered.

You can find all things Anne Weil at FlaxandTwine.com and @flaxandtwine on Instagram.