Handmade Holiday: December 12-13th 2009

All the creative expression teachers at A Work of Heart channeled our creative juices and created art to sell in this once a year holiday boutique - A Handmade Holiday Boutique. Opening night was tonight at A Work of Heart and it was a delight. Yummy food and great handmade items for holiday gift giving. People shuffled in from the rain to shop and snack. 


Tomorrow from 12 - 3pm there will be an opportunity to do some shopping. Stop by to say hi or to pop in for some last minute shopping.  We will be there to help you shop or just answer questions about our 2010 class schedule.  For more information visit http://www.aworkofheart.com/Holiday/

November Juicy Soul Retreat: Soul Collage

Today was the last day for the Juicy Soul Retreat for 2008. I am always so happy to see who comes through those doors to sit, create and reflect. It is a honor to be with such amazing women.  We are all looking for more ways to spend more time with the people we love and take time for the creative adventures that keep us alive and vibrant. 

This years retreats where all about taking time to juice up so we can take care of the people and responsibilities in our lives...from a full and rich place. We have begun to create our classes for 2010....more juice and more power.  Get ready!

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

Celebrating with friends

One of the most powerful impacts of creating SoulCollage® cards is learning what is important to me. Sometimes I pull from my cards and journal. New ideas always come...from time to time deep insight will come...but what I really get is quiet time to see what really matters to me. What I have seen in the last few weeks is how community...my friends and family ...are a big part of my joy. Each month for 7 years a group of my girl friends and I get together to relax, chat and just enjoy each other. Over the years each gathering has turned in to a big event. When we host it at my house, I always enjoy going all out to prepare a wonderful meal and buy little gifts and surprises for my guests. It has been a way of me to express my gratitude for these women in my life.

This week in our monthly SoulCollage® class we will be exploring gratitude and the expression of gratitude. How do you like to be acknowledged by others and what do you like to do to acknowledge people in your life. My intention is that you get connected to the wonderful people in your life who are supporting you now and that you take some time this month to acknowledge them for the contribution they are to you. I would love to hear how that goes...what opens up and my surprises that my have come from expressing gratitude.

Join us for SoulCollage® in Willow Glen on August 9th.

Hope to see you there!

Good Friends Do Great Things Together

Find Your Power Place...

Being in nature is a powerfully meditative practice

A few weeks ago I found a beautiful grove of old eucalyptus trees in a forest near a friends house. We took a wonderful walk and I stood in the middle of a group of trees. The trees formed a complete circle and I stood there in the center feeling complete gratitude.

I have learned over many years that finding power places in nature really nurishes me. When I have visited these places, I leave feeling peaceful and refreshed. I usually take a bit of time before I return home to journal what ever is coming to my mind. Many times I get solutions I would never have seen before. Its great to clear my head in that way.

This week my challenge to you
Identify your power place. Where do you go to clear your mind and recharge your creative, spiritual and mental juices. (ie. book stores, libraries, mama's house, a park, etc)

Where is it?
What was it like to visit your power place?

Art is in the mail!

Today the magic invitations to play and create at the studio where sent to all of you with snail mail.

Today my good friend Christine and I went to see Caroline the movie. It was wonderful and creative. It was also a little scary. Not sure I would take little kids to see that one. There is something highly inspiring about children's movies.It is the source of some really simple lessions in life. So if you are looking for insights and inspiration...check out a kids movie. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Studio Video

Here is the full process of making our envelopes. It was totally fun!

Our precious delivery...

Andrea, owner of A Work of Heart , and I thought it would be great to touch bases with some of our local friends to invite them to art and creative expression workshops at the studio. I just finished folding 68 hand painted, hand stamped envelopes to mail out to you guys who are local and on my mailing list. These are so precious I cant wait for you to see them!

The envelopes are really simple to make. There is a die-cut machine at A Work of Heart and we cut out the envelope shapes. Andrea shared some wonderful coloring techniques a-la- Traci Bautista. It was soooo much fun to play for a few hours with colors, textures and stamps. If you are in the area and want to learn how we did it...call the studio for a private lession.

SoulCollage®

I'm gearing up to lead a SoulCollage® workshop this weekend. This weekend we will be covering guides and inner guidance. This week in preparation for this weekends course I have been looking out for Animal guides and chakra colors. Last week I was sitting with my friend Michelle discussing the new eCourse I'm working on and we were so excited talking about ideas and what we might want to offer and all of a sudden a Possum walked right out of the woods and up to my car on the drivers side. I was preparing for it to jump on the car but it just sat there. Looking at me when it was done it turned around and returned to the woods.

I looked up Possum Totems and here is what they said

" POSSUM
The possum is the deviation expert in the animal kingdom. Working under the cover of the night possums movements are secretive and mysterious The possum teaches us to use one's intellect and intuition to find the way out of tricky situations. An attacker loses interest if the victim appears indifferent and uninjured. Possum people are great strategists and protectors. They are not phased by superiority and will calculate to confuse or surprise opponents."
Goddess Realm

So that is what we are going to work on on Saturday, creating SoulCollage® cards for Animal energies that may surround you and Chakra energies that you may be attracted to.

Creative Invitations!

Today I'm at A Work of Heart and we are working on hand painted envelopes for the lovely people on our mailing list. If I have a physical address for you and you are in the area...you will get one of these lovely creations.

If you would like to get on my mailing list send me a message!

Create Your Own Incentives.

I love Jewelry from Brighton. There is a store in the area and I was taking a break from some new projects I'm working on for you in the Spring (shhhh! I'm just telling you...more details will follow). As I was walking around I decided to look in the Brigton store. I found this beautiful bracelet (I love jewelry with meaning). I walked out of the store and I was not 3 ft down the way when I felt this strong feeling to return. I got the idea to buy myself the bracelet. I had them wrap it in a beautiful box and I wrote myself a card. Its beautiful and its on my meditation altar.

The gift is my gift to me when I launch my very first ecourse. I am launching an ecourse of one if my most popular courses over the last few years. This is me moving in a whole new space and making my coaching and my workshops available to more of you...when you want it. You may be in the Midwest, Australia or London...you will be able to take one of my courses online.

I'm excited and a little scared...but that's what it feels like when you are stretching into new areas. So to acknowledge me...first. I purchased something special for me.

My Question For You?
What will you acknowledge yourself for? What will you do to celebrate a victory you are creating for yourself?

Esty the Movie

ETSY is an amazing tool that was created a few years ago. I remember seeing it in its beta phase. I watched it grow and I have a store (nothings in it now) but it has been fun to create and sell things online.

We are OK...We are alright!

I found this video searching online for wildly creative things to share. This little video brings me soo much joy...I wanted to share it with you.

Doing things YOUR way for YOU!

Clothing options for my next photo shoot



Every once and a while life presents you with an opportunity... to do things the way everyone else has done it or do it your way. You get the chance to go with the flow or chart a new course. You get the opportunity to be a pioneer and do it in a way that leaves you feeling proud and satisfied with yourself.

I have been working with the group A Work Of Heart in my SoulCollage® workshop on the concept of extreme self care. The kind of care that puts us first in our lives. The kind of care that puts what matters to us on our calendar along with soccer games, movie nights, bills, etc. The kind of care that makes us happy and replenishes us.

For the past 3 weeks I have been leading a group in a SoulCollage® workshop around extreme self care and the gift of pleasure. We have been collaging, sharing and supporting each other in our own commitment to self care. We are seeing our own strength, the gift that we are to others and who we are becoming. Self care is a radical act but it is extremely rewarding.

Out of leading the class I took on having professional photos taken of me for my promotional materials, Twitter and SoulCollage® teachers directories. I have taken photos before...by myself with the camera timer. They came out Ok but not great. This time I wanted to do things great and do it in MY unique way. I wanted to have a professional photo shoot done. I wanted to have a photo of me that I loved. I wanted something that really expressed who I am. I wanted to give myself all the attention I deserved. So I decided to assemble a great team. I called my friend Michelle who is an amazing Creative Director and she called in a friend of hers John who is an amazing photographer. This weekend we met in San Francisco for cocktails and a light dinner to discuss the shoot. We talked about location, clothing choices, colors, make-up, hair, shoes. We even went through magazines to setup the poses. I felt like a princess. I felt totally taken care of. I am so excited to do this shoot and see the results. I love everything about this process. Working with people I love and admire and getting something I have always wanted...but have been scared to make it happen. I am so excited and energized!. I brought all of that juice on to lead the SoulCollage® class. By the way...that class rocked!

MY QUESTION FOR YOU...
What have you always wanted and how could you make it happen in your own unique way?

SoulCollage®: The Gift of Pleasure

Join Us for SoulCollage®
Date: Sunday, March 1, 8, 15, 29 April 19 May 5 2009
Time: 10:30 - 12:30pm
Cost: $35/person per session
Location: A Work of Heart, San Jose, CA 95125

Click Here to Register

The Power of Self-Care

Years ago I started this practice of creating an intention for each month. It usually came out of experiences that were repeating over and over in a prior month. Creating a intention allowed me to acknowledge where I was focusing and anchor in the wisdom that came from the intention. Giving each month a focus, helped me to make each month an adventure. It has been so much fun to create these regular intentions, put them down on paper and look back at them over time...some amazing things have come out of that simple practice.

I remember I few years ago I was focusing on Miracles and I wrote down that I wanted to go to Paris. I knew that going to Paris would be a Miracle since I didn't have the financial means or the time to go. A week later I was talking to a friend who invited me to come with her to visit her parents and Yes they lived in Paris. So I said yes...knowing this was the first miracle and more would come. I got a project from a client that required a quick turn around and suddenly I had a bit of unexpected cash for the trip...miracle again. I needed a ticket and when I looked online for a flight it was double the amount I had to spend. So I felt like maybe this would not happen. Then the phone rang, I was a friend and I shared with him that I was trying to get a ticket to Paris but the tickets where out of my price range. To my surprise he offered to sell me a ticket he had that he was not using...for the amount I had to spend. So it all worked out. I went to Paris for a week and a half, stayed in a beautiful apartment with good friends, did art at the Lourve, went dancing at the Buddah lounge and had a wonderful time.

Miracles do happen ...but first there was an intention.

So this month, I have started to see how much I love to get up in the morning and just relax, sit and watch the birds on my patio or read something before I start doing things in the day. So this month is about extreme self-care. Being an expert at knowing what I need so my own tank in full before I try to assist and support other people...and making that a daily practice...so I can always contribute to others and still get my needs met. What I am learning so far it that when I take care of me I have sooo much more energy and space to deal with anything that comes my way.

So far here is what I am doing as self care and really enjoying the experience...
- Getting up in the morning and eating breakfast and just listening to music...no news!
- Laying out my clothes the night before...keeps me from over thinking in the morning...love that.
- Leaving music on so when I come home it feels warm and welcoming...like coming into a fancy hotel.
- Making lists of things I need to do on pretty paper.


Let me know if you feel inspired to share what special things will you do to practice extreme- self care in your life? I'd love to hear your ideas!

:)

Inspiration: Words from the Muses

Infinite Possibilities

Today was a delight! I lead the first session of Create Your Best Year! by setting an intention and creating a vision board that explores every aspect of that intention. It was a wonderful discussion and I really appreciate how open and honest everyone was. I saw how similar our experiences are and how perfect it is that we were all together in the workshop. I could relate to every story. I was inspired by the love and courage so many people experience in these uncertain times. It was an honor for me to lead this discussion and creative exploration.

I am so happy we were all together to look and explore life's infinite possibilities.

Miracles Happen everyday!

I have been packing my things for class today and thinking about how inspired I am to share and lead workshops in creative expression. It became so real to me last night why I love to lead workshops... my friend Dianna spent the night at my house after a night of dinner and salsa dancing with friends. We stayed up for a few hours re-living the night and laughing. Then we started to talk about miracles and how the universe provides for everything we need. I shared story after story about things that have happened, people showing up with solutions when I needed it, things unfolding perfectly despite appearances.

As I shared and she shared her stories...We got so happy and inspired. The stories kept coming. We had to stop so we could get some rest...but the energy was so electric I could hardly sleep.

Out of all that I understand why I lead creative expression workshops... I lead because I know I can have what I want and I want everyone to know that for themselves. My workshops are about creating the space to get clear about what you want and then support you in having the faith to hang on until it shows up...being flexible that what shows up may be better than you have expected.

Having faith, particularly around things I've never had before, can be a challenge to maintain. Over time my faith (not religion...but a strong belief that the universe will provide) comes from my experiences of everyday miracles. Everyday a miracle happens things work out for the better. I have learned to see them.

Today we went to breakfast in a busy part of town. My friends car is BIG so I thought parking would be really hard. When we got there as soon as we turned the corner there was a huge parking space right across the street from the cafe. It was on an end so she didn't have to parallel park. It was shaded so the car stayed cool. I say that was a miracle. It worked out better than I could ever plan. I would have been satisfied with a parking in a parking lot ... but the universe had a bigger plan.

My next workshop is
SUNDAY, February 8th 12:30 - 2:30
Creative Vision Boards: Create Your Best Year - Career/Prosperity

Taking special care of Me

I'm teaching a workshop on vision boards this weekend. I have a practice of taking care of myself before I teach. I want to be all juiced up this weekend. I take extra special care of myself before I facilitate a workshop. A few weeks ago a few friends and I went for a weekend of dinner, dancing and spa. It was a girly delight. We gab gabbed in the hot tub. We shared desserts. We got all dolled up to go out on the town together ... sipping champagne and listening to bossa nova. (I giggle thinking of it now).

So this week I am making a list (Yes I love making lists) of every delightful thing I will do to be fully charged up for this weekend. I started this evening...I purchased roses for my office. I lit new candles in the evening. I got some healthy fruit to snack on.

Reclaiming the beloved time...

I have fallen in love with Valentine's Day again! I don't know what it is about this February but love is in the air for me and the expression of love is so enchanting. I purchased these love plates from Cost Plus...I just love them. I eat my morning breakfast on them and they just make me smile. I spent 2 hours in Walgreens tonight reading Valentine's cards and laughing out loud at the funny ones. I even purchased the little ones kids give each at school to give out in my office. I am so excited!

I am declaring that its time to reclaim Valentine's day and celebrate it full tilt boogie. I mean celebrating the utimate Valentine's day. Celebrating a full day of Love and the generous expression of love.

Happy New Year!

The New Year is here and 2009 is shaping up to be a wonderful year for creative expression and putting dreams in to action. I have lots of ideas for 2009 some that I will share here and some that I will keep hidden until I am sure I will make it happen. I think that is how we need to be with our dreams. Some can go on loud speaker and others might need a little time to percolate.

I had a wonderful holiday with family and friends. I am thoroughly recharged and ready to take on the New Year.

I have 2 new classes I'm offering in 2009. Check them out, bring your friends and come join me!

Create Your Best Year through vision boards and idea catchers
Date: Sunday, Feb 2009
Time: 12:30 - 2:30pm

The Gift of Pleasure: Exploring extreme self-care through SoulCollage®
Date: Sunday, March - April 2009
Time: 10:30 - 12:30pm