Athena Dreams Design

Desire to Inspire

Christine Mason Miller's book Desire to Inspire is going to be released very very soon, and I honestly don't think I could be more honoured and happy to be a contributor (amongst so many amazing and wonderful contributors) to her book.

Visit her blog today for 60 seconds with moi on the topic of becoming ourselves, leave a comment and get entered to win a give away on Christine's blog.

And then stop by Amazon, and pre-order your copy of the book, it's going to be an amazing addition to your library, truly. Stories, quotes, anecdotes, exercises to support your journey toward your own vision of a meaningful, mindful life, from 20 different women who are all on their own personal mindful journeys. Sharing our experiences with each other is a beautiful thing, and this book will be 20X beautiful.

create . explore . discover

In about 8 days I will be arriving in Lake Tahoe, getting ready to teach at this über-amazing art retreat called create . explore . discover

This is the first year of this event, and I think the first of its kind being held in the Sierra Nevada Mountians–or I should say, the first one I've heard of. Our amazing hostess Sarah Stevenson has put together an intimate, beautifully deep, and crazy fun time for us. I am so incredibly honoured to be a part of it.

Creative sessions will be taught in the mornings by Marisa Haedike, Denice Barlow Brown , Sarah and me! And the afternoons are left open for hiking, communing with the Tahoe area, hanging with friends, soaking in the moments, and whatever else you might want to do.

The setting is Truckee, in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the location is the Cedar House Sport Hotel in the North Lake Tahoe area. So not only will there be creative and energising classes, we'll be dining on organic food, staying in a certified green hotel and waking up to this incredible mountain setting each morning. This is an all around ideal fall getaway, the location is a 90 minute drive from  Sacramento, California and a 3 hour drive from the San Francisco Bay Area, and you can spend 2 and a half days creating and replenishing your spirit.

So if your inner artist is needing some "me" time, or if you're feeling a need to get messy and play, if you're yearning for a bit of rejuvenation and a boost to your inspiration, this could be the perfect place to find it!

If you've been thinking about this, jump on in, there's still a little time and we'd love to see you there!

A Good Pillow (Cover)

Who would have thought that a pillow cover or 2 created with my artwork, could make me feel as happy as a little kid... not me, but they do.

Last week, my shop opened up at a european website called Envelop, debuting 2 pillow covers. One made from the painting Night Garden, and the other from the painting Matilija Poppy (pictured above, showing the front and the back).

The work to put these pillow designs together was a perfect yummy blend of three things I most love:

• painting (which was already done, but still plays a part)
• creating patterns
• colour 

You know all those wiser-than-many-of-us-people who are saying things like find something you love to do, work hard and go for it? They are SO not wrong, in fact they are SO very right.

So if you have been thinking about getting your work onto some textiles that are printed on demand and shipped all over the world (and I know some of you have), go here, and DO IT.

Pillows people. More pillows to come... Pillows!

Things for a Thursday

 

If you make a little trip over to Gypsy Girl's blog, you can leave a comment to win Brené Brown's new video The Hustle for Worthiness (it seems to be all the rage across the blog-iverse). All you have to do is leave a comment on Gypsy Girl's post saying "I'm worth it!" and you're entered. And P.S., whether you win or not, keep saying "I'm worth it" to yourself, it's incredibly moment changing.

 

Kate of Your Courageous Life has lots of things going on, but most especially check out her e-course which is starting 28 March... yes, you too can commit to living Your Courageous Year, or spend some days commiting to radical creativity. 

 

Candy Glendening, one of The Meetup girls has written an amazing post all about how she runs her own creative business, works a full time job, and keeps her family together. Have a visit and read about how she is Making it Work.

  

And finally, I cannot say enough good things about Erin and Jaime and their company Bakery. I recently finished the latest round of their e-course - Bakery's Half-Dozen: 6 Weeks to a Tastier Business -  and I heartily and thoroughly recommend it to any and all of you who are struggling with things like: a business plan, a marketing plan, how to talk about your business, your work, branding, multiple businesses and how to approach each one etc. etc. ... the list goes on and on. Contact them to find out when their next course is starting! They are warm and helpful and a ton o' fun!

Give-Aways and a Show .:. Lovely Mentionables

Next Saturday night • November 7th • CORE: art & design of the torso 
Curated by Anne Carmack of Folk & Fable

It's going to be an amazing collection of work (just look at the list of artists up there) all centered around a mannequin (or a dress form, if we're being proper). 
If you are in the L.A. area next saturday night, please come on down to the opening!

•••••••

Visit Paper Mango next week and you'll be in the midst of a week of give-aways. Melanie is planning 5 days of great things that could be yours, all to celebrate the "Grand Opening" of her blog. There will be jewelery, and mineral based make-up, and art from several artists (including me!) 
So drop by and put yourself in the running to win some great things.

Happy Weekend everyone!

 

 

mary anne radmacher .:. Lovely Mention-ables

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!