Inspire Me Thursday: Plaid

Who created plaid. Did they sketch it out one day. Was it a doodle that turned to a pattern in fabric. Maybe the doodles looked like this.

www.inspiremethursday.com

Juicy Soul Retreat - Wonderful Experiences

More Photos on Flickr

Thank you everyone
who attended our first Juicy Soul Retreat at A Work of Heart. It was a delightfully juicy event. Andrea and I met early today to prepare the studio, hug and giggle with delight over who would be attending. We put out an abundance of supplies and snacks. We lit candles and played music. Suddenly we were in this wonderful creative sanctuary. The studio was ready.

Then everyone came through the doors. Hugs and smiles where abundant. Connections began...introductions where shared and everyone found their special places to create. The retreat had begun.

In a few short hours the group created over 25 cards. We closed the morning with a journaling activity. Fragments of images started to take on new meaning. There was comfort. There was acceptance. There was a space for forgiveness, love and inspired action. The quiet reflection time was fruitful...insights where gathered and each participant got the opportunity to share with the group.

We closed with gratitude and everyone went away with a gift that will carry them to the next part of their journey. It was an honor and a privilege to be with everyone today. I learned alot for my own journey and I got to share something I love with you. Thank you! I look forward to see you at a future event.

Juicy Soul Retreat - Sunday, September 13, 2009

Juicy Soul Retreat
Sunday, September 13, 2009
10:30am - 5:00pm

A Work of Heart
2196 Lincoln Ave.
San Jose, CA 95125

Learn more and Register Online at
http://www.aworkofheart.com/juicy/

Join us in the studio to recharge your creative juices and rejuvenate your Spirit. This is a wonderful opportunity to take your mind off the stress at work, the demands at home and other things that zapp you of your radiant sparkle. This is an invitation to take some time for YOU to do something wildly creative and soul enriching. Tea and cookies will be served. Bring a bag lunch or enjoy something yummy from one of the cafes near by.

Here's what we are planning for you:

SoulCollage®
With Julie Valentine
10:30am - 12:30pm

You will create SoulCollage® cards and discover the
amazing power in using collage to journal, meditate and make decisions. Following the simple

SoulCollage® process, you will collage images in a surprising new way and discover how images bypass the mind and go straight to the depths of your soul. You will have time at the end of class to journal each of your cards personal meaning to you.
$35/per person

Juicy Journals
with Andrea Chebeleu
1:00pm - 5:00pm
Big tables, tons of art supplies...What could be more fun! You will learn some amazing techniques to turn flat blank journals in to juicy journals for your words, poetry, collage, photos, lists, mantras, ideas, songs, prayers, intentions, stories, notes, and dreams. When all the techniques are covered we will turn on the music and let you run wild with your journals. Bring a journal of your choosing. (If you need a journal let us know and we will provide one or you for a fee $14)
$45/per person

Register for an individual class or register for both classes for $75 and stay for the day.

I hope to see you there!

Learn more and Register Online at
http://www.aworkofheart.com/juicy/

~ Julie

Quote of the Day

"If you fail to align your thoughts with the success you're capable of attracting, the weight of the dominant thoughts will tip the scale away from a balanced life."
~ Wayne Dyer

Create Your Best Life: an online tool for clarity and focus

Create Your Best Life
an online tool for clarity and focus

Sometimes you just need to step back and acknowledge yourself for what you have accomplished before you can truly step in a new direction. A few years ago I was looking for a regular way to document my accomplishments and design my next steps toward my goals. I had lots of worksheets from various seminars I attended but nothing really did what I wanted it to do. So I created my own. I passed it along to friends and then I figured out a way to create it online for the world to use. The Create Your Best Life project was born and since 2004 over 1000 participants have completed this questionaire from around the world.


What People are saying:
"That was pretty cool. It's been a grey day, and this actually helped to calm me, some. It was like meditating out loud, on paper." ~ L

"I loved that process. At first it seemed hard and like I didn't know the aswers. Then I just breathed, relaxed and allowed the answers to come. Those answers are the real ones. Thanks so much for creating this!"~ B, Canada

"This process was exactly what I needed, thank you!""This list helped me focus on what is REALLY important. My goals that I set are fairly large, so I neer to do this in several small steps."~ R

"I loved that process. At first it seemed hard and like I didn't know the aswers. Then I just breathed, relaxed and allowed the answers to come. Those answers are the real ones. Thanks so much for creating this!"~M

> Click here to try it!

SoulCollage® for Decision Making

I have been using my SoulCollage® cards to help me get clear about some new projects I'm planning for the fall. I had been spinning my wheels and suddenly I realized I could sort this out with my cards. I have over 200 cards that I have created over the years. I flipped through my entire deck and pulled all the cards that got my attention or expressed how felt about my fall projects. When I had gone through the entire deck, I put similar together. Then I started to write about each pile of cards until I could see a story or patterns forming. I was amazed at the insight I got from that group of cards.

When I was done I felt like I had drilled down to the core ideas and from there I was able to clarify what I wanted to do next. I'm going to let it percolate a few days and see what additional wisdom comes.

Hope you'll try to use your cards for story telling and clarity. If you don't have any cards..this might be a great time to create some. If you already have cards maybe its time to add more. If you'd like to join me for a class check out my workshop schedule.

Use Your Stuff!

Use Your Stuff!

I love shopping for art supplies and I love organizing them...but lately I have noticed a steady accumulation of supplies. I have drawers of paper, jars of pens, baskets filled with magazines and stamps. Tons and tons of stuff to make things.

In SoulCollageR I offer each participant the opportunity to create and notice the impulses that move them...I create a space for others each month and I practice this in my life as well. Today I noticed how I was saving some little sparkle-button-thing for a "special occasion". It was in that moment that I noticed...What is more special than now. So I used it...glued it to the bow on a gift I will be taking to a friend tomorrow. It looks beautiful.

I was saving that thing for who knows when...it had been there a year. I admired it for a year and never used it. Letting it go...using it ... I freed me up and the creativity flowed. I found myself making a card for the gift with scrap paper from the gift wrapping. I found beautiful ribbon to decorate the gift that I was also saving. I used my stuff and I love both the gifts...I'm excited to give the gifts and I am proud of the presentation.

So I say all that to say...Use your stuff! Use your markers...use your pens...and use that fancy paper ...use what ever you have been saving. Consider that today is "someday"...let it go and enjoy it ...now.

Peace and Love
Julie

The Red Dragonfly on Facebook

The Red Dragonfly is on Facebook! Andrea and I have been meeting to be creative journalling around ideas for our business and what we want to offer you. I'm always looking for new ideas that inspire me and then I want to share it. What I have been missing is the sense of constant community. I see you once a month in class and I might hear from you on my blog from time to time but that's it...crickets! I get inspired by you and I learn so much about what you need and what I can offer to support you in your journey.

Well we came up with an idea we are going to try...Facebook of The Red Dragonfly. I just created a space on Facebook for us to keep in touch and so I can see what you are creating. This (like many things I do from time to time) is and experiment. Since I offer classes monthly, it doesn't provide much time for me to hear about all your accomplishments and victories. This will give us a chance to connect and share cards and insights along the way.

Join me on Facebook!

The Red Dragonfly on Facebook