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Welcome on a new edition of my weekly ritual, Gratitude Friday (if you are not familiar with it, please go read how it came up and what it is about).

If you are not from my generation you might have no clue about the phenomenom The O.C. tv show was. And every single time I hear “California” the song from the beginning plays more or less loudly in the back of my head (you’re welcome, I have put it at the end of the blogpost).

If you are not following my adventures on social media, you may not know that I currently writing from my hotel room in Palm Springs when I am spending a few days at the Creative Nomad art retreat, as a student. We have 4 days of class, two teachers (Brian Kasstle and Roxanne Cobble) and it is facilitated by Tracie Hanson.

I met my Kindred Mindy Lacefield again (we met in person in Port Townsend 2.5 years ago) and other amazing ladies (not saying that much as I want to sit and talk about it longer next week); my body is aching and tired but my heart is full.

This week, I am thankful for:

• Stretching my wings. Doing what is hard but still.
• The chance to be here, to have my husband and my mom in charge at home caring for the girls.
• The low king bed in my hotel room (I hate when I have to jump to get into bed).
• Meeting new people and people I knew online.
• My friend Jen cheering on me when I am close to being way too nervous.
• Elizabeth Gilbert’s (audio)book Big Magic and the short sentence FRUSTRATION IS THE PROCESS that stuck with me throughout the first class.
• Spending time to find who I am again without being the Mom/Wife/Daughter of somebody.
• Video calls with the family back home and being on the same time zone.
• Warm sunny weather, especially in January.

What about you ? what have you close your eyes and mouth “thank you” ?

For the past few years, I have been meditating and letting a word be my intention for the year to come. In 2014, it was Expand. In 2015, it was Devotion.

For 2016, my guiding word had let itself known for quite a while. I had several months to let it sink in, to be sure it was it. And it is.

Praxis.

Praxis is the process by which a theory, lesson, or skill is enacted, embodied, or realised. “Praxis” may also refer to the act of engaging, applying, exercising, realizing, or practicing ideas.

This year has been specifically filled with ups and downs. And it was to the point where, I have been several times on the edge of quitting making art. I did not want to step into my Studio, to hear about paint or anything that would have to do with creativity. I have been pretty quiet about it because I did not want anyone trying to influence me one way or another, I wanted it to be my choice. And mine alone.

I needed to bring the joy back to painting, and to push the pressure I was putting on my shoulders away. This is when Devotion kicked in. You would find me in my Studio in the early hours on the weekends (always the first one awake). I would take these couple of hours to just enjoy getting messy. For me. Not in the goal of selling or pleasing the crowd. Painting what was meaningful for me, what I needed the most. Going deeper and deeper in how I wanted to feel when in my creative space. I would start by smudging myself and my space with some Sage. Lighting a candle or two. Dab some Devotion oil on my wrist, and lose myself into it.

Devotion was not meant to appear only in my creative practice, though. And I needed to devote time to heal my body. To listen to it more closely. Living with fibromyalgia, an all new level of “normal” had to appear, adjustments needed to be made. Knowing it is okay to cope with a hot bath, at any time of the day. Knowing it is okay to change my diet and therefore not eat exactly as the rest of the family. Knowing it is okay to have to say “no” to a date or an event.

Several times in 2015, I came close to give it all up. I was fed up with the way going to the Studio was making me feel *after*. Sharing, trying to sell, to come up with classes ideas, figure everything out. For weeks at a time I did not go to touch my paintbrushes once. It happened more than once… I felt shattered, crushed by the weight of not meeting the simple goals I was setting for myself. Comparison came to keep me company now and then as well, which as you probably know is baaaaaaad for your heart. I guess I lossed track of the very first reasons why I actually created to begin with. The inception, the fire, the passion, the healing. So Devotion put me back, one morning after another, one brushstroke after the other. And today, if I think of taking a part-time job somewhere, it is for very different reasons than if I had thrown the towel last year…

Do you have a word that guides you ? How did it help you ?

Welcome on a new edition of my weekly ritual, Gratitude Friday (if you are not familiar with it, please go read how it came up and what it is about).

I wish you a wonderful new year ! may it be filled with what your heart desires the most. May it bring you joy, love and abundance in all things <3

The Winter break is coming to an end here, and we are spending its last few days chilling and not stressing about much. We need the rest.

This week, I am thankful for:

• The few days as a family of 5 in Portland, despite the fucking rain that soaked me to the core. Met Elle North.
• The New Year’s Eve party at our friends, lots of laughter (and Hubby and I won our foosball couple tournement, yaaay).
• The weekend left before school and work go back to normal.
• Investing in myself by working with an amazing woman to help me in several areas.
• Gift giving, and receiving.
• Good books to read, in so many genres (if you have suggestions, I would gladly take them)
• Long hot baths
• Laughter
• Playing Rummy with Mom and Cheridoo
• New gemstones.
• Starting to learn the Tarot
• Love
• Hope
• Taking instant photographs
• Making memories

What about you, darlings ? What is your heart thankful for on this new year ?

This year has seen me stretch my wings in my creative practice. I decided that 2015 would be the year I would devote Heart and Soul into my art, wherever this would lead me. And oh… the places I went in the past 12 months !

In this blogpost, I wanted to share with you my favorite creative projects.

Since last September, I have been member of the Video Design Team for ColourArte, and therefore you have probably discovered two projects a month from me, showcasing their amazing paints. I loved the brand before, and this is exactly what I need to push my edges further and further.

My *Soul Whispers*

A year ago, I launched my Soul Whispers: mini paintings showcasing your guiding word for 2015. I believe in the power of words, as much as images do, in their own way. Marrying them with colors and glitters, they become powerful talismans. And my Soul Whispers are small enough to fit in the tiniest places you would need them to be. Made on cradle wood, they can by hung or stand on their own.

It has been a pleasure to bring them to life, to give them some bling and good energy before they could leave for their new homes. I had beautiful words picked, such as Synergy or Tenacious. I loved creative each of them. And can’t wait to create one just for me for 2016 (and why not yours ?).

*Stronger*, a Nixie to honour breast cancer awareness

Last October, I painted this Nixie for one of my video projects for ColourArte. It was very important to me to create something to honour this battle so many people (not only women) fight all over the globe, and I kept the women in my heart very close as she was emerging in front of me.

I think that what we create needs to mean something to us, or at least I know I could not move on otherwise, because this is who I am. I am not always good at saying things, but I can show them…

*Medea*, the nurturer

Medea is one of the big Nixies I started just for me this year. I noticed how I needed to explore more. Yes, going back to the techniques I love the most and the ones right in the center of my comfort zone… but with an open mind. Again: to ease the self-imposed pressure. And going bigger in my surfaces choice helped with it.

*The Three Sisters*, how they sometimes make a whole when together

This picture does not do them justice at.all ! But they are on our wall and tall, so it makes it difficult to capture them properly. I wish you could see the textures and subtle elements that are impossible to see here…

I love working on series. But for these three Nixies, there were not intended to create something when together. However, once the third one was finished, it was obvious to me that they belonged together, and that they could not be sold.

They are now hanging in the entry of our home, by the stairs that leads to our kitchen space. My computer is near it, so they watch over me every time I work on it.

Each brought to me strength, perseverance and the power to surrender to what is meant to be.

*Reiko*, to go beyond what is seen and known

oh Reiko…. she sold very quickly and I am glad she will be in a new home, even though I love her so so SO much and would not have minded keeping her with me for a little longer.

She is another biggies, 18×24″, lots of layers compose her, and I got to play and experiment. Her hair is made with crackle media paired with the beautiful Primary Elements powder from ColourArte, it is duo-tone and shimmery, SO perfect. I love how it turned out.

I really wanted her to hold a cluster of Titanium Aura Quartz but I kept pushing doing it away, so scared of messing it up that I was…

(I will post about her in a more details blogpost next week).

I am very curious: which of my creation(s) did you prefer this year ?

You know me, I love making list. I love reflecting (back, forward and all that is in-between)

The longest night of the year has come, we celebrated the Winter Solstice here in the Northern Hemisphere. Winter begins, it is the beginning of the season when we go deeper and deeper into ourselves.

A year ago, I picked a guiding word for 2015.  Devotion. It was not just for my business but I did pour a lot of it this year, more than any other year (but more on that in another blogpost).

This year has been full of valuable lessons, I am the kind of woman who used to be very different from who I am know (and I am thankful for the changes, as they are beautiful).

Ask. Believe. Receive.

Knowing what you really really desire is key. How does your business feels like when it meets your definition of “success” ? This past year, I noticed that I can plan all I want, but the most important is how I want to feel.

I am a big advocate of positive and creative visualization. This is a tool I use more or less intuitively: I see in my mind what I want to happen, what I desire, and bring the how it makes me feel to it, which is essential to make it work (again). What they say is true: you need to feel as if what you desire already is your reality. I don’t say it’s easy, especially when you are new to that kind of things (and I totally accept that I might sound totally woo-woo).

And be open. It’s good to know exactly what you want, but sometimes the “how” is not what you have in mind. Surrender to what is, because you set it in motion but then, it is not up to you anymore. And this is not for those of us fans of instant gratification (even though, the results are sometimes surprisingly quick !).

It’s okay to ask for help.

Yup. And most of the time, it makes me think I am too vulnerable, that I should be able to figure things out by myself, but no; not always. This is just something we (I) need to accept more easily. I have sought guidance from friends, from other artists and even decided that it was okay to go for it when a creative mentor and then a spiritual mentor showed up on my path.

I learned that I do not have to do it all on my own. I ask assistance to my husband more often, he is good with WordPress and other stuff that I know but do not excel at as he does, he really is a blessing. He also help when I feel overwhelmed and under-appreciate what I do. My Mom is a phone call away, always, despite the 9-hour time difference that separates us.

Having a good support system makes the creative life less lonely, even if I am aware I am not good with people in real life. They scare me (there, I said it out loud on the internet). Yes, even people I do go along with. Some wounds take longer to heal than other, and leave deeper scars…

Have goals, even huge ones.

And never doubt them. However, it’s okay if they shift and change, and even if you realize this is not something you want to accomplish/experience anymore. Remember however that when it gets scary, it means you have things to work on to make it good.

Baby steps are what I do because I tend to get overwhelmed easily. Pretty easily (and this is when having a support system comes in very handy as well, trust me on that).

What I do now is I go backward: I start with the goal and then decompose, and then cut it in even more steps. It does not mean it will take longer to reach because some of these steps can be done done done. But I believe in dreaming and in the power we have to find the resources we need to accomplish anything. We need to learn patience (hmm hmm).

Plan. Plan and plan again.

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Maybe it is the Virgo in me, or not. But I need to plan ahead, even if it is on a weekly basis. Making a list of what needs to be done and how to get there is essential for me not to stare blankly at my computer when time comes to write here on the blog, to send you guys a new edition of Inner Whispers (that will be shorter and a bit more frequent in 2016).

Now that business planners for creative are all the rage (I am personally using this one, and love it), it should be easier to find one that fits your needs, or to simply create a system that works for us. We all are different and have difference expectations and ways of working, so what is perfect for me might not be for you, but I invite you to look into it. I also have a weekly sticky planner in my Studio, that I can refer to when needed.

Do what works for YOU ! and I would love to know more about what you learned in 2015 if you are trying to make a living from your art. What lessons are you taking with you for 2016 ?