In Love With Soul Art®

I have been having so much fun doing Soul Art®! It's funny because it isn't really about the art...it more about the process of tuning into my inner voice and listening to what it has to say. It's amazing to me the things that emerge when I just let go.

The latest piece I did is a perfect example of this. My intention for this piece was, "I am productive. I get things done."

Of course my mind has all these thoughts and ideas floating around about what I will create and what the message will be...silly mind!

This particular technique is especially good for throwing your mind a curve ball (notice the baseball reference...you can tell what I've been doing this summer). You cut out images from a magazine and FLIP them over to see what is on the other side. Soooooo interesting!

I was in a bit of a shock with what was on the other side of my images but I just kept reminding myself to let go. I was playing around with them and all of the sudden I saw a face come together and from there I let go and had some fun.

Now, this is not art I would usually do. It's a bit strange and almost creepy but it doesn't make me feel creepy if that makes any sense :o). Ha, I doubt it does. Trying to articulate messages from the soul can be tricky.

Funny enough, the message I got from this piece of art is that I need to have fun with my kids. Spend more time with them in nature...not just be there with them but to really have fun...childlike fun.

I was expecting to need to make a list, some kind of organization, or technique for helping me be more productive but instead I got that I need to have more fun in my life, enjoy my kids, feel the love, be in the moment and tap into that energy because it will carry me through getting things done when the time is right. Love it!

So the really cool part of this is that when I finished I came downstairs and scheduled my nature dates with my kids and then I got onto Facebook to post a quote. I opened The Modern Day Muses up and the quote my eyes went to was, "All creative people are kids at heart." by Steve Carmichael. I typed it out and thought, "Oh, isn't that nice." and shut the book.

After I shut it my mind's eye reminded me of what I just saw. It was like, "Hello, Michelle. Go back into that book and read what is on the next page...there is a message for you there...are you paying attention?"

So I opened it back up and on the next page I read the title, The Freedom of Childlike Activities. Wait a minute, what is this chapter about? I flipped back a couple of pages and realized that this chapter is all about Bea Silly, the muse of play, laughter and dance (you might have noticed that I haven't read the whole book yet). Whoa! How cool is that?! The first page of the chapter says, "If the process is joyful, the result will be pleasing." It's rocking my world!

The perfect message at the perfect time. So, I will read it, I will hit the arboretum with the kids, as well as some forest preserves and Starved Rock. We will explore, play, and have fun and things will get done when the time is right and they will be awesome because they will be fueled by the energy of joyfulness, love, playfulness, and just plain fun!

I love this Soul Art®!!!

Mosaic Mandala 8

I can do anything I put my heart and soul into.

This mandala has smalti, vitreous tiles, millefiori, sicis, mini vitreous tiles, and amber colored mirror.

Mosaic Mandala 7

My life is full of joy. I choose to be happy, fulfilled, and content.

I haven't forgotten about sharing the remaining Healing Mosaic Mandalas with you. I have 3 left and this is one of my favorites. It has a lot of juicy materials in it and it really does scream Joy to me.

There is Italian Smalti, mini vitreous squares, regular sized vitreous tiles on their side, my precious gold tiles, millefiori, and the beautiful iridescent Italian tiles called Sicis (pronounced see-cheese).

I Miss You Guys!

It's been so strange not connecting with all my cyber friends! Summer has taken over my life even though I swore it wouldn't. It's been go-go-go with no time for much of anything. I haven't even created a piece of art since the last day of school.

But you know, I'm OK with it. I was talking about it with my friend last week and I've been thinking about it since then. What I said to her really is ringing true for me. I'm OK with everything. I'm not feeling pressured to be anywhere other than where I am. If that is at a baseball game or the third doctor's appointment for the week, it's fine.

I have time. I have all the time in the world. I can take care of my family right now and get back to art and blogging and connecting in cyber world when the time is right. I know you guys will all still be here waiting for me.

Even though my Google reader has over 1,000 blog posts I haven't read yet, I will get to them. They're not going anywhere but my kids are growing up everyday and they need me right now and I need them.

I'm guessing I have one more week of craziness and then I think I will find a bit of a lull and I can already tell you that I will be looking for a creative outlet. Something to get me back into the creative groove and to connect with my soul again. It will be lovely.

Until then I plan on taking complete joy in watching Cody win his baseball tournament, nursing Devin back to health after his oral surgery, celebrating Aidan's 9th birthday, watching Liam's confidence and joy grow on his new baseball team, helping Dallas make a plan for his future and celebrating my 15th wedding anniversary with the best husband in the world!

What are you taking joy in this summer?

Choose My Plate

After 19 years of the USDA pyramid, they have just replaced it with a much better colorful 4-part plate.

Read more about it on the IIN blog. Head over to choosemyplate.gov to get even more information and if you would like to print out the cute graphic above to hang on your refrigerator or share with your children you can find that at WebMD.

Melted Apricots

When I went to IIN I met a lot of awesome women (and some awesome men). One of those women also happens to share my name...Michelle. She has a fantastic website and she shared this recipe for Melted Apricots that sounds divine. I haven't tried it yet but I thought it would be a great thing to share with all of you. Click the link and head over to her website to get her recipe. Enjoy and be sure to let me know how it tastes.

Mosaic Mandala 6

I give myself permission to heal. I love my body and I want only the best for it.

Oh how I wish you could see these in person...especially this one. The photo just doesn't do it justice. You can't see the textures and the rich purple glass. Darn!

At the center of this mandala is a glass gem I purchased at the Society of Mosaic Artist conference ages ago! It is surrounded by stained glass, Italian smalti in purple and pink, iridized purple tiles, and purple mirror. So fun.

Mandala 5

I love all of who I am. I don't make mistakes, only opportunities for growth.

This mandala has a variety of black and gray tiles, both matte and glossy. There are also some metalic beads and glass gems as well as millefiori. There are also some pieces of mirror which I love for their sparkle and also because of the idea of looking inward at ourselves and loving who we see in the mirror.