The Artist’s Way-A Review

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron:

It is a bit early to say but I think this book has real value for anyone, not just ‘artists’. I began the Artist’s Way years ago but there was always some reason that it was going to be an inconvenience to start the course. At the time I was single and thought ‘but what if I am dating and I pull out the artist’s pages to write at 8am?’ Not very romantic!

Anyway I am in week two and have written my morning pages each morning. I have to say, currently my pages read more like a diary of thoughts. Cameron reminds us not to judge our pages and not to worry if they are being done ‘the right way.’

So in essence the Artist’s Way is a 12 week course to jump start ones creativity be you an artist or just someone who relishes personal growth (that’s me). Each week you get up and hand write 3 pages into a chosen note book. This doesn’t sound very glamorous and it isn’t really but I am trusting the process.

There are also weekly assignments to chose from and Cameron recommends doing those that attract you and those that feel less exciting. So this week one of the assignments that I chose was to make a list of 10 things ‘I would like to….’ (change). So my list included I would like to fall in love, I would like to have a baby, I would like to frame a  painting for my kitchen, I would like to find a finacial planner. So you get the idea…big and little things. Then we are to choose one thing from the list and take it on as a goal for the week.

So, yesterday I took two paintings and a poster that I have and went to a lovely framing shop called Naked Eye:

 http://www.nakedeyebrighton.com 

and the lovely gay man chose some wonderful frames and designs for my pictures.

Each week you also take yourself on an artist’s date. Week one I took myself to Camber Sands beach in Rye to look for driftwood.        Camber Sands:

http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/leisureandtourism/countryside/coast/cambersands/default.htm

I highly recommend this as a day out. I took the train into Rye and then if you walk out the train station with it directly behind you and walk toward the town you follow the road left and then swing right with a petrol station on your right until you see the sign for Camber Sands and follow a lovely path the whole way (3 mile walk) to the lovely dunes of Camber Sands. Then after your picnic (I brought food) and beach combing (head away from all the people to find the best pieces) walk back into Rye and check out the lovely galleries and have an ice cream! A great artist’s date.

Julia Cameron writes that you may notice the universe unfolding in mysterious ways as you work through The Artist’s Way and I have to say that this is very possible. Week one I met a woman who makes driftwood sculpture (this is one of the reasons I was combing the beach for drift wood). And I have just met an artist on a dating website and this is not the sort of person I usually meet or date but liked the picture, went onto the profile and there it was….’Artist.’

So there you have it. If you are contemplating reading this book, I recommend it’s pages. Enjoy the journey and share your stories with me!!

Paula

Totally cool, funny, ethical, inspirational t-shirts. You need one!

Inspired Ts

After a brief blog rest, I thought I would show you all what I have been up to. As a bit of a transformational junky I have come up with a brand new inspirational, ethical T-shirt line of organic clothing. It’s inexpensive,  high quality, good natured fun for those of you into self-help, transformation, motivation and general happiness.

I am really excited about something so simple. I am wearing them myself (my fave is ‘happy’).  Hey, I would love feedback on this one as all the designs, including website, logo and T-shirts are all by me. If you like the idea and think you would like a t-shirt, then check out the site.

I want to check out your cool Inspired Ts

How to design your own web shop for less than £6/month!

Hey this is a great site. I created my own web shop in about three days. In only takes about one hour but I was having fun playing. It cost less than £6/month and it’s user friendly. I didn’t really check out many other similar sites as this was so easy to use. You also get a free 30 day trial (but you can’t go live during this 30 days) and you do get to see the layout entirely.

Build my own web shop on-line

I hope you like the idea; please let me know what you think.

Inspired,

Paula

Pet bereavement: Goodbye Wilson…..

Wilson-My Boy-Kerry Blue Terrier 13/2/2006-13/11/2008

My Beautiful Boy

 

My Sleepy Guy

 

I'll Always Watch Over You

 

I Will Never Forget You, Ever!

Dear Sweet Wilson

My dear sweet Wilson you came into my life that morning not so long ago

there you were so black and small and perfect in your concrete row.

I took you home, you sat upon my lap-a lifetime for us two

I loved you then, as I love you now, my dear sweet Wilson where are you?

I look into the empty room, your hair still clumped upon the floor

if I close my eyes I see you there, and hear your sigh once more.

Your smell it lingers in the air and fills the quiet void

I miss my boy, my perfect black boy, dear sweet Wilson where are you?

I have never known a love so true, you were everything to me

I shared my secrets, my troubles, my laughter too

and always that face, that gorgeous face-please dear sweet Wilson where are you?

I long to touch you, my boy, my one; nothing ever felt so sweet

you left so soon our time not yet done, so much for us to do.

So now sweet Wilson let your soul be free there is no more fear for you

run through the fields, swim one last time, please always remember me.

I will never forget my dear sweet Wilson, a friend, a lesson, a perfect love

you came to me for three short years and now I know I must stop the tears.

So I say goodbye to you my boy, you taught me how to love and that I did more than ever before

I promise you I will love some more….

my dear sweet Wilson, my dear sweet Wilson, only you will ever know.

Goodbye my Wilson, until we meet again…….

Paula

Simple happy words to inspire: on T-shirts!

Inspired Ts

Inspired Ts is up and running! This project has been so much fun for me. I hope you all enjoy the T-shirts. 

Buy an inspired T right now

Inspired Ts is all about having a little inspirational fun. Simple novelty T-shirt slogans are printed on sustainable, 100% organic cotton. Even all of our packaging is fully biodegradable and re-usable.

Four Designs

Happy T-shirt

Think Outside The Box T-shirt

I Love Eckhart Tolle (from The Power Of Now)

Transformation Freak T-shirt

Buy an Inspired T-shirt now

Seth Godin All Marketers are Liars: Book Review

Buy this book!! (All Marketers Are Liars)

Seth Godin has written 6 international best sellers but this is the only one I have read. I liked the red cover with  his bald head and big nose and also it had been recommended.

What I like is that as a small business owner it gave me immediate inspiration and the ideas just started flowing. I haven’t finished the book and I am recommending it already. I don’t want to put it down. It is easy to read and makes great sense. It has a step by step ‘to do’ list at the end of the book (I peeked). The essence of this book is that the old marketing dogma ‘don’t sell features, sell benefits’ is hogwash (according to Godin). It’s all about selling a story and it must be authentic and pitched at the group with a worldview that fits your story. Simple and fun I reckon.

Watch a small video of Seth (this wouldn’t have sold him to me though)

Seth Godin on video

All Marketers Are Liars website including Seth’s Blog

Further recommended reading

Marketing: Tell your story!