Athena Dreams Design: mary anne radmacher .:. Lovely Mention-ables

Mar-Quotables-Magnet

My first introduction to mary anne radmacher was a card sent to me by a friend, maybe 10 years ago now. I found myself looking for more of her cards to keep, to give and to have in my card drawer, just in case.

Her writing pulled me in, making me think about all the possibilities out there in the world for me and for everyone else; her words created a sing-song melody in my head when I read them, and the message I took from her words (whether it was her intention or not) was that we all need to show up (in a big way) and be willing to go all in on our own lives.

A few years later, I started working as freelance designer for a stationery and journal publisher, and I "met" mary anne all over again, this time through her words and her artwork. An amazing collaborative experience ensued, and continues still. Through the years that I've worked with her we'd never met in person, not until this summer. Her words, her paintings, her ideas and enthusiasm for life, her willingness to always laugh, her drive for living a creative life, for encouraging and inspiring so many other writers and artists, and continuing the journey of being all in on her own life - these are some of the things I so admire about her.

And did I mention the books? The books . . . I have given her first book to many, many friends since it first came out, and continue to take it off the shelf and open randomly to read:

There are many reasons you lean forward on any given day. They are all perfect metaphors for this book. When you're trying to see something better, you lean toward it. When you are listening to someone and can barely hear, you lean in. When the really exciting part of a basketball game comes, you lean forward in your seat. When you're trying to catch, to see, to listen to the best bits—you lean forward.

Lean forward in to your life . . . catch the best bits and the finest wind. Just tip your feathers in flight a wee bit and see how dramatically that small lean can change your life.
-mary anne radmacher, from the introduction to Lean Forward into Your Life

Please take a moment to visit mary anne at her website, check out her books here, and her posters and other products here. Please stay tuned on Monday for an interview with the artist herself as well as a give-away offer on one of her journals! And meanwhile Live Boldly, Laugh Loudly and Love Truly!