Setting Our Intentions for the New Year!

Thank you to all the wonderful women who gathered with me last night as we set our intentions for the New Year in a fun, meaningful, creative way with the new moon!  What a great way to usher in 2016!  I love all the colorful, inspirational cards you created and the powerful words of the year you chose! I hope the cards and canvases you created will guide, inspire and empower you in the year to come!  Wishing each of you a happy, healthy, prosperous year of dreams come true! xoxo ~ Jackie

Happy New Year and Last Call for January Art Workshop!

Don't miss this Artful Opportunity to set your intentions for the year in a fun, creative, meaningful way!  Join us on January 10th from 4-7 p.m. in Fairfax, VA to create a set of inspiration cards to save or share along with a collage of your word or intention for the year!  Full details and registration below and on "art parties and workshop" page.  Only a few spaces left!  Happy New Year!  Hope to see you Sunday!

"Windows of Opportunity" -- First Art Party of 2015!

Happy New Year and thank you for joining me for the 1st Art Party of 2015!  Traditionally, my first art party of each year has a “journey” theme as we begin our journey into the new year.  While I love this tradition and the symbolism that is attached to my traditional “journey” project, this year we started with something “new” and different.  I think being open and trying new things is a great way to get the new year started.  Instead of painting on canvas as we usually do at my Art Parties, we painted on windows!  I asked students to think of it as painting “windows of opportunity” or “a window of wishes for the new year!”  

Before we started painting, I asked everyone to clean their windows and imagine wiping away any fear, doubt, and negativity.  Imagine getting rid of anything that is blocking you or no longer serving you.   Prepare a clean slate, a fresh start, a blank canvas (or window in this case) for the new year and invite clarity and opportunity into your future!  

I asked students to take a moment to think about their journey into the new year.  What direction are you headed in?  Are there new things you want to try?  Words or actions you want to live by?  Experiences you want to have?  Dreams you wish to pursue?  

I told them that our “windows of opportunity” would serve as visual reminders of the journey we are on this year.  We can hang them in our homes to provide inspiration, joy, and encouragement along the way.  

Since my focus for the year is my art business.  I chose the words “dream, play, create, awaken” because these are words I want to live by in my daily life as well as what I want to share with others through my classes, art parties, and retreats!  I want other people to experience the joy that these simple pleasures can bring!  I decided to paint these words on the 4 corner panes of my window and add mini symbols or marks that went with the word (i.e.- polka dots with “play” and swirls with “create”).  I also chose to add two images into the inner two panes.  One is a giant swirl with glass beads.  The other is a vase of paint brushes made from glass tiles and actual brushes. 

Using my samples as a launching pad and my words as a guide, my students created their own unique and amazing “windows of opportunity!”  Thank you Anne Marie, Carrie, Jaci, Debbie, and Kim for joining me for the first Art Party of 2015!  I enjoyed creating with each of you and LOVE your wonderful “windows of opportunity!”  It was fun to start the year off trying  something new! You all amaze me!  I hope your windows bring you joy, inspiration, and opportunity in the new year!  

Special thanks to Ginger for donating the windows for this special project and to Anne Marie for donating a couple windows as well.  Thanks also to Carrie for being persistent with her request to paint a window like the one she saw at my house at the 2013 December Art Party!  Ask and you shall receive. Your persistence and patience paid off :)  Sorry it took so long.

I plan to open February’s Art Party Registration later this week, so check back soon!  I hope you can make it!  

JOURNEY-- begin where you ARE!

My theme for January is JOURNEY.  I love the idea of starting each new year with a clean slate and blank canvas!  It's empowering to know that as the new year begins, we have another opportunity to create the life of our dreams! 

This year I am continuing my artistic JOURNEY and celebrating a year of hosting Art Parties in my home!  When embarking on a journey, don't underestimate the importance of beginning where you ARE and with what you have at the moment.  Several years ago, I dreamt of opening up a shop where I could teach art workshops and host art parties.  I investigated several options, including buying into a "Wine & Design" franchise.  I decided I was not ready to make that type of financial or time commitment just yet.  Instead, I decided to take a small step from where I was and with what I had available to me at the moment.  I had an overwhelming desire to share my ideas, creativity, and art supplies.  I had a basement and a network of friends. Thus began my monthly Art Parties where we "Create & Celebrate Artful Affirmations!"  If I had waited until I had the exact amount of time, money, or space, I never would have started.  My dreams would still be circling in my head instead of pouring from my heart and taking flight.  So please, don't defer your dream.  Take a step forward, even if you are unsure about the direction or the destination.  Each new step you take will bring greater opportunities and greater growth.  That, you can be sure about!

This month's Art Party brought the theme of JOURNEY to life!  A great group of women joined me to dream about and discuss their journeys as we set our intentions for the new year!  I can't wait to see what wonderful things manifest in the lives of these courageous women as they set out on their new paths.  Their beautiful artwork is below.  Thank you Anne Marie, Jolene, Karen, Renate, Melissa, and Yoon!

Where is your JOURNEY taking YOU this year?  I hope it is in the direction of your DREAMS!  Begin where you ARE and safe travels!

Power Wish & Polar Plunge Kick-off the New Year!

Thanks to my car breaking down, I had the unexpected privilege of celebrating the end of 2013 and the beginning of 2014 at the beach (my favorite place to be)!  We were visiting family for the holidays and my car broke down the day before we were supposed to head home.  Unfortunately (or fortunately--depending on how you look at it) this meant spending two extra days at the beach while they ordered parts and fixed my car (thanks Charlie!)  Being an optimist and a beach lover, I took full advantage of these two extra days!

I toasted 2013 and all the wonderful, artful "firsts" it brought to my life (first time being published in a magazine-Cloth, Paper, Scissors; first time curating an art show--co-curating with my hubby made it extra special (thank you Del Ray Artisans); first time teaching my own monthly art workshops; first time teaching at a retreat; first time doing a live art demonstration at Art on the Avenue; first time having my art sold at two local shops--Boutique Bakeshop & Artful Gift Shop!

At work, I even moved from kindergarten to FIRST grade--another first AND moved from full-time to half-time so I could focus more on my art and have better work-life balance.  It must have worked, I created over 50 new works of art in 2013!  

On New Year's Day, I spent some quiet time by myself on the beach reflecting, giving thanks, and Power Wishing--setting my intentions for the new year!  I couldn't have asked for a better place for this sacred moment.  

Afterwards, my family and I took a nice, long walk on the beach.  It was a gorgeous, sunny day with temperatures in the 50s.  While the kids stopped to play by the dunes, I walked ahead and made the spontaneous decision to strip off my clothes and plunge into the cold ocean with just my bra and underwear!  You should have seen the look on my husband's face!  First it was a look of shock and disbelief, "has my wife gone crazy?" and then, "Wow--bring it on!"  I swam and danced in the icy waters--feeling happy, alive, free, bold, and exhilarated--definitely an adrenaline rush!  Lucky for me, I had a towel!  What a refreshing way to start the New Year!  

I am not sure what 2014 has in store for me--hopefully more of the same--ART and ADVENTURE!

I plan to continue what I started in 2013 and add more workshops, retreats, prints & products, and create a website in 2014.   I plan to "Live Colorfully (Artfully) Ever After!"  It's with this attitude of "now or never" and "taking the plunge"  that I start the New Year--ready or not, here I come!

Thank you to all who support me on my creative journey!  Wishing you a healthy, happy, artful New Year!  Go ahead--take the plunge!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and Colorful New Year!

Happy New Year 2013!

2012 was definitely an Artful year for me!  I started with a blank canvas--having no idea where my creative journey would take me.  I joined the Del Ray Artisans gallery and participated in 3 shows there.  I even had my first gallery sale!  I also participated in a group show at Herndon Artspace.  I went to my first Art Retreat (CREATE) in NJ where I learned all kinds of new mixed media techniques and met lots of great people (thanks Jodi and Cindy)!  I also had an awesome time taking an online art business class--Flying Lessons (thanks Kelly Rae and fellow flyers)!  I am happy to say that I created over 20 fun new pieces of art in 2012!  In addition to realizing some of my ART dreams, I was able to realize one of my lifetime dreams of seeing the Northern Lights!  They were truly amazing!  I am so grateful for my wonderful year of ART and ADVENTURE and for my family who put up with all my crazy ideas!

Once again, I am starting the year with a blank canvas.  I am not sure what Artful opportunities await me in 2013.  I am open to possibility and hope to fill this year with creativity, celebration, and inspiration!  I am wishing these things for YOU too!  Where are you headed on YOUR creative journey?  Keep me posted...  Happy New Year! oxox jackie