Finish It.

It's funny I was working on a collage of photos from a recent girls weekend. I was thinking... I'm done with this for the night... it's not finished but it needs something and I'm not sure what. I drifted out into the interwebs and popped over to my favorite blog.

And read this.

Really??


Wow. JUST the whisper and push I needed.

Thank you universe.

Happy tears over here.

I write blog posts in my head, but I never actually write them down. I write posts in blogger, and I never hit publish. I start to over think it - it has to be so good... It's probably not good enough. I start a painting, and I never finish it. I sketch out the cutest illustration, and then I don't add the ink and watercolor. I start designing a logo and abandon it because IT'S NOT PERFECT.

Do you do ever do this?
(Well at least I know Leonie does!)

How good does it feel when we actually finish something?
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh so good!
This is EXACTLY what I needed to hear right now, today.
We are perfect just the way we are.
Finish it.
DO it.
The painting, the post, the photo, the logo.
GO!
FINISH IT!
It's a masterpiece (what you are going to go finish!)

Inspired... I finished the collage!

(Thank you Goddess Leonie!)

Breaking Through

I captured this pic at the dog park yesterday morning and it pretty much sums up how I've been feeling lately... trying to break through.
Have you ever felt like your creative spirit has gone into hibernation? I've been feeling my creative spirit isn't shining as bright as it should be. I don't mean this in a bad way. It's strange how I'll be so inspired and creating like mad and then just like that - it shuts off. We have had such a mild winter here - It really hasn't been as depressing as it can be. We've had almost no snow and the temps have been warmer than usual. The crazy creative runs (and I don't mean runs like running on the street) haven't really been frequent enough lately. Why, I wonder? I know there are times for everything/seasons in our lives, for family, for fun, for exploring, for growing, and even time for hibernating. Last year about this time I was really getting into the Goddess Circle - and all the meditations she offered and classes, I was constantly creating (while working full time!) And I got to thinking... why aren't I creating like I was last year at this time? 

When I close my eyes and ask my creative spirit what it needs...
I hear...
TIME AND SPACE.
Time to follow those passions. Time to explore them. Time to sit with them. Time to mull them over. Time to prefect them. Time to create. Time to get inspired. Time for just me and my passion. Time for my dreams. MAKE THE TIME.
Clear and create space in my life, and  in my busy schedule.
Because if I don't who will?
My husband won't. My best friend won't. My mom won't.
It has to come from me.
I have to make it a priority.
How do you make art and creative time a priority? Do you pencil yourself into your planner?

I love you!

Dear friend and reader,
  Happy Love day! Thank you for being in this world! You are sooooooooooooo perfect!
Just wanted you to feel the LOVE the universe sending you today! Can't see it of feel it? Open your eyes and heart... it is there! Loved beyond measure, overflowing hearts and light of every color...

Got to see this perfect sunset this weekend... makes my heart melt. The red orange was so melty and beautiful!
LOVE YOU,
Nat

Frosty Fotos

I just love mornings when mother nature pushes us to be creative. She was calling me...Hope you are enjoying the weekend! Happy Superbowl Sunday!Enjoy the pics!

And a golden yawning... just because he's so cute!

Lot of Love,
Nat

OMG! Dreams coming true!

In Elementary school I would draw Disney characters over and over trying to prefect my drawing skills. I wanted to be a Disney Animator. I've done so much drawing over the years but in high school I fell in love with the paint brush and that became my main creative outlet. And it hasn't been until this last year that I've REALLY spent some time sketching and drawing - it started when I sketched this and participated in Illustration Friday here. I've found a million blogs like this one and this one, that inspired me to draw. I made some cards out of a couple of my dog illustrations and brought them to my favorite gallery in Duluth.

They sold.

Every last one.

I've sold paintings...
but this was different.

This is a little dream I've had in my pocket since 3rd grade.

Yep.

I always wanted to have my own card line, with my illustrations.

And actually in high school I discovered Mary Engelbreit, and SO, SO I wanted to be like her some day (and I still do!)

It's been inside me for so long.

I really truly believe that when we take the time to listen to our heart. We find ourselves.
Our passion.
Our calling.
Our light.

I got a huge batch of four of my dog illustrations professionally printed!

I am over the moon
and today
I started calling some of the local coffee shops and galleries.
Pretty exciting stuff.
And of course I am sending a couple of packages up to my favorite gallery in Duluth!

Feeling so blessed!
Much Love to YOU and this Beautiful Universe!

Dreaming Bigger,
Nat

Ice Fishing Up North

This past weekend I had the privilege to go ice fishing with my husband and both of our dads...We had such a blast! Embracing winter activities is the best way to get through winter - I say! I am looking forward to a fish fry soon!

What do you do to get through the colder months?
I'd love to hear about it!
Some how even the winter brings beauty and inspiration! Thought I would share some of the pics!

Hope you are having a great week!
Much Love,

Nat

My One Word For 2012

For 2011 I picked a word... a word to REALLY focus on. 
One word that would encompass everything I wanted to bring into 2011.
My word for 2011 was: Shine!
I love the word so much I think it could be my one word motto for life!
Last year I wanted to turn the light on inside myself and Shine my light into this world.
And I did!

Picking one word for the year helped me accomplish these 11 things in 2011!
1. I started this blog (which I never thought I would/could do!)
2. I found the goddess circle - an online tribe of sisters!
3. I started meditating for the first time ever = Happy more centered Natalie!
4. I left my cubical job that wasn't aligned with my dreams!
5. I started creating art like crazy!
6. I participated in an art show!
9. I let the true me I had lost (after buy a foreclosure, planning a wedding/fixing up our house) shine through!
10. I found a volunteer position where I help teens through art! www.freearts.org
11. Took a trip to Ely with my 2 loves, which is one of my favorite places in Minnesota that I hadn't been to in 10 years!

These were just a few highlights =) There was so much more - but 2011 rocked!
So what didn't come true on my dream list?
What word needs to be invited into my heart for this year?
What do I want to bring into my life?
What is calling me?
Where do I want to go?
These are things you need to write down.

I LOVE the goddess 2012 Planner! It is amazing, and really important to plan out your year with goals and reflect on the last year for what hasn't worked and what did! It is beautifully illustrated and so inspiring.
After working on a few pages, my word came to me.

SEEK.

So often in life we coast.
I don't want to coast this year.

I want to SOAR.

I want to seek inspiration daily, seek more opportunities to share my art, seek more books, seek more places and opportunities to give, seek new destinations to visit, seek a deeper faith, seek for a stronger relationship with my husband.
Work. Reach. Push.
Just do it. Go Bravely. Go bold. GO.
I just really want to push myself... to seek out the dreams and things I want to accomplish.
Don't let days or weeks go by, don't be comfortable.
I think we are all seekers in this world. But for me the word means pushing myself to find those dreams and manifest them. In 2011, the dreams were found again, 2012 will be about seeking opportunities and riding the crazy wild donkey to get the dreams done. 

I really encourage YOU to think about picking one word. I will change you - for the best!

I created this little painting that sits at my desk that I can look at all day to remind me of my dreams!

Start Dreaming!
Nat