Collaborations

Since my own journey through Color of Woman teacher training, I've had the pleasure of collaborating with several SiStars in our community! 

The very first collaboration was at the beginning of my CoW journey, June, 2015! Graduate Lora Pirtle invited me to join the PNW MeetUp group, and post my offerings there. When I asked about auditing her upcoming 'Mystical Mermaids' class, she replied, "no, teach it with me!"
Here are the class photos - I played harp during the visioning, and she'd prompt me to show them what's next throughout the afternoon. (Yikes!!)

Serena of the 7 Seas

The next collaboration was as I was gearing up to teach my 13 step class, Dancing with the Muse. My friend Sepha, who'd been teaching Paint Nite for several years, gave me tips for teaching in a carpeted room without running water (the chapel at my church!) and then attended! 
She asked great "beginner" questions that helped keep me on track, and helped with set up!! (The link has some of her excellent tips!) That fall, Sepha enrolled in CoW '16, and we co-facilitated many monthly circles and periodic classes over the next several years. 

Sepha, Nadya & Shiloh Sophia - 2016

With this Spring's turn toward offering circles and class virtually, I decided to invite SiStars to co-facilitate my monthly Red Thread circles, and added a second circle each month. It's exciting to team with gals who live over an hour away, and can't easily attend our in-person circles, and to benefit from their different passions and soul work.

In May Linda Allen, who is a graduate of both Red Thread Guide and Color of Woman courses, and is finishing Catt Geller's Cosmic Smashbook course, offered "What's in your Basket?" (during this time). Linda has a strong background in crafts, and we've both woven baskets, so she she suggested a 3-D approach! 

Morning's basket, leather, twine

In April, I teamed with EFT (tapping) practitioner and CoW graduate Sherry Rueger Banaka, with a Metacognative process in resilience and short tapping sequence. Gals from her tapping community joined us from England and British Columbia! Our second June circle will be with Tina Green, who recently moved to Washington State.

One of the benefits of collaboration is that wider reach, connecting with beloveds from afar and from different circles, all connected by the Red Thread. Yesterday, our attendees included 2 other IC graduates, and two students - one in CoW 2020, one in RT Guide! Each is interested in co-facilitating a circle.

Whatever the field, collaborations invite us to think outside the box:

• Who has wisdom and skills that complement yours?
• Might beathwork or movement be a good addition? 
• Can someone help with set up in exchange for attendance?
• Does a friend know a craft or skill you'ld like to learn? 
• And who is responsible for what? (Spreading the word, registration, teachings...)

My circles are currently complimentary, but when charging for events, it's important to be clear about the logistics of how expenses and income from an event will be split.

One of the silver Linings during this time of social distancing is the opportunity for unexpected collaborations!!

Happy Paint Party Friday!

Claiming Space

Several of my artist friends are claiming studio space, either in nearby business spaces, or in their homes. Recently one wrote about moving her studio into one of their largest rooms, with her husband's blessing. She realized she had "permission" all along, but didn't feel "worthy" of that large room. She invited us to notice where we play small, and if it's time to shift! 

This is a timely inquiry! For the past three years, I've had

Dining nook Atelier

my Atelier in my little dining nook, a space about 5 x 6', which opens into my kitchen. My daughter asked a few days ago if I'd thought of moving my seating area into that nook, and "claiming" my living room for my art! It's an area ~ 11.5 x 20' and I'd thought of using the back section (10 x 10') but not of moving my seating into the nook! 

Front living room

I go in cycles of more organized and clutter-full, and am currently in a cluttered need-to-dethug and organize phase! Sigh. And my daughter asked her good-at-cleaning and organizing husband, "which should and do first? Move stuff around, or declutter?" ... (you guessed it! ... sigh) I found this kool video on creativity and clutter from the "Clutter Fairy," nice to watch while I'm sorting through some piles! And she offers some great tips on going through craft stuff, to make it easier to get creative! 

As a Virgo, I have a tendency to want perfection, and can get overwhelmed when it's gotten chaotic. (CHAOS: Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome). I love the energy of rearranging, and cleaning around that! So, .... on with it! 

Last night at our Red Thread Circle, our inquiry was

around the messages of Cancer, what are our crab claws ready to release, what are they opening to receive? I played flute while Sepha led a meditation, and then we moved to out art materials. 

I drew a crab on the white board, and told the kid's story about a hermit crab decorating its shell, then outgrowing it, and needing to move on. One gal, who's changing jobs, used that imagery. A couple of others painted hands, closed fist and open to receive. I had a tangle of seaweed that my crab was moving out of.

This morning, I'm sketching the spaces to rearrange, and thinking of better organized storage. I cleaned out the under-stair closet on 4th of July, and plan some shelves and bins for seasonal things stored there. I had a field trip to Ikea last weekend, and got a Råskog cart for in use materials, and some lights (and lots of ideas!) 

Happy Paint Party Friday! 
What are you ready to release? 
What are you opening to receive?

Full Moon Musings

Tomorrow my friend Sepha and I will journey a couple of hours South, to offer a workshop for new beloveds in the Eugene area! This class coincides with Muse Day offerings around the world, where we gather to share tea, Poetry and creativity! 
I've offered several Muse Days, beginning with one for my middle grandkids in February, and one last month on grief and guardians. My friend Patricia did a wonderful spirit portrait of her beloved dog Kai, who recently crossed the rainbow bridge! 

Kia, by Patricia R.

Our weekend offering is "Musé of Creative Fires," and Musés light Fuses! Today's full moon is in Sagittarius, inviting us to remember the arrows we cast in their beauty and softness,  watching them flower into wisdom. We'll share the process of creating with attention and mindfulness, and see what wisdom's fire offers our beloveds! 

Order of the Phoenix

I'll take along my Phoenix woman, and Sepha is bringing a couple, including her fiesty demo for this playshop, Rubi! 
We met for tea and an art store jaunt this morning, and are gathering our supplies. Here we go!  One of the last instructions during our events is to hand the Musé the pen, and receive a poem or missive.

I love the message from my lady, Gypsy Rose Muse in 2016, "Sweet Nadya, we bring wisdom from the stars and ancient pathways. You are so loved, so appreciated, so honored! We invite you to attune to all your senses, and enliven your spirit.
Sparkle and shine, share the joy you know deep inside. In attending to your own joy, and in doing the little things, a-tending, you will bring your beloveds hone to themselves!"
You're invited to contemplate some of our inquiries: 

• What lights your creative fire, this Sagittarius moon
• What beautiful arrows are flowering?
• What does your Musé invite you to cause and create?

When I Met My Muse 

~ Oregon poet laureate William Stafford ~

I glanced at her and took my glass off -- they were still singing.

They buzzed like a locust on the coffee table and then ceased.

Her voice belted forth and the sunlight bent.

I felt the ceiling arch, and knew the nails up there took a new grip on whatever they touched.

"I am your own way of looking at things," she said.

"When you allow me to live with you, every glance at the world around you will be a sort of salvation."

And I took her hand.

Sacred Path ladies ~ Red Madonna  (in process)

.... You're invited to meet your Muse!  
Happy PPF!!

Good Medicine

 For this week's inquiry In her year long art Journaling class, Come to the Fire, my IC SiStar Heidi asked,
"What's in your Medicine Basket?
"In ancient times (and in modern day) many cultures turned to their medicine Women for healing body, mind and Spirit. They knew certain women carried the healing wisdoms of their ancestors. Each of these healers had their own special bag or basket of medicine.  These medicine bags or baskets contained things like herbs, crystals, a drum or rattle, a chant, feather, and perhaps a red thread to help heal the people."

Medicine Basket

My grandmother Mary knew some herbal remedies, to help family and friends when we're ill, she could give a good back rub, and share a pot of tea with neighbors. 

I don't know if she spun, but she and my mama made quilts with carded wool, using a pair of the wool cards her own mama's family brought along on the wagon train, and made beads from our heritage rose.

I do spin, play harp, Native American Flute, hand drum, give a pretty good back rub, tend gardens, make herb tea and flower essences. I enjoy painting, crafts of all kinds, and sharing the creative spark with others in my art and classes ... what are some of your gifts? 

In this week's Red Thread Circle, we explored our medicine gifts, and brought them to life on paper and in our Smashbooks. It was a sweet session, with three beloveds making good medicine. We added leaves with wishes to the Witness Tree in the main gallery before our closing circle. 
I have three more events coming up this month, starting with Red Thread Reiki 1 this weekend at a water birth center. Our class Musé of Creative Fire is part of the Intentional Creativity Guild's International Muse Day series. This will held in the Eugene area with my cohort, Sepha, our first venture into that community.  

Next, I'll lead a group through creating their own Cosmic Smashbooks at the cosmic Inner Oasis! I love opening creative and healing doors! 

What are some of your Good Medicine Gifts?
How do you share them with your community?

Good Medicine

Happy Paint Party Friday, enjoy your weekend! 

Love's Call

Three years ago, when I was just beginning my journey with Intentional Creativity, Shiloh offered her beautiful painting series "Love Called My Name" at Easter - free for forty days! I joyfully jumped on board! The Apostolorum Apostola, (apostle to the apostles), Mary was a beloved disciple and one who continued to share a message of love and wisdom over the next thirty years.

Portal

I so appreciate Shiloh's generosity, and her sharing of Mary's Message. This year we are offered a more recent set, Voyage of the Magdalene, with Magdalene scholar Kayleen Asbo. This offering is rich with photos from Kayleen studies, and story. 

Yesterday my younger grandkids helped me with the background. Keira used my large sash brush with aplomb, to paint Mary's cave in Southern France, and Z-man sprayed! He loves spray bottles! I help in their art based Playschool classroom several times a month

I intend to download the videos today, as the free access is nearly over (did I mention how I appreciate Shiloh's generosity?!)

Spray bottle! 

Last weekend, Sepha and I had a booth at the Mystical Magical May Faire in nearby Corvallis. It was fun to connect with other venders and new beloveds. I brought several of my paintings, plus flower essences and tuning forks. 

Mary, the Migdala

Today I'm finishing the pdf for my project that's one of the "bonus" offerings in my friend Heidi's year long art journaling class, Come to The Fire! I'll share some pics here after its released.

Happy Paint Party Friday!

Magical May Faire

2016 Graduation

I'm so proud of the 47 women from around the world who will graduate this weekend from the 2016 Color of Woman Teacher training, either in person, or virtually! I took the trek to California for graduation last year, and it was magical ! 
Sepha and I will join via computer, with classes Saturday, and the graduation ceremony taking place Sunday. And I'm proud of each of the 13 women who began the quest last spring, and have decided for whatever reason to take another path, they are all Sheroes!

With Carmen Baraka, 2015

Each of the graduates brings her own insights and creative voice to the teachings, and will share this method of creating with intention in her own community, and with the larger tribe. Some will teach in person, others virtually. Some work with horses for healing, some with youth, others with elders, with families, the variety is unlimited. 

80 women have already submitted applications for next year's training, and a number have been admitted, with others awaiting their phone interview with Shiloh, to see if this year's quest is a "match." (Registration may reopen early next year, if space is ) 

We are holding the Red Thread for each of them, as they hold it for us. 

We are blessed!

Sepha, Nadya and Shiloh 4/16

On the weekend, my daughter and I painted faces for a lovely school district Dios de los Muertos party that was a fundraiser for a safe grad night party at the end of the year! Two of her daughters danced "Thriller," and there were several cultural dance groups. The Azteca group was wonderful.

Painting my middle granddaughter's face

I did a little painting for the silent auction. Her blessing is protection and awareness of the issues surrounding the Water protectors at Standing Rock. One of my daughter's co-workers was the happy recipient.

Our Lady of the Shining Light

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Sharing with Paint Party Friday 💞

Into the Dark

On the weekend, my friend Sepha offered her two day workshop at a farmhouse retreat, what a wonderful way to spend a rainy weekend! We met the night before in the Wine Bar next to the studio for community, then moved into the studio for a little red Thread project.  
Saturday we went out to the refurbished turn-of the century farmhouse and set up for the weekend adventures. We brought soup and salad, tea and wine, and of course chocolate! 

Paint stations

Sepha's theme was Baba Yaga, "Fall is traditionally a time we look within. Sometimes we confront that shadow side, your Wild Woman. Learn how to embrace that dark place inside and use her teachings to open a new door in your conscious."

• What are some of the dark places coming forward for healing?
• What do you release to compost?
• What joys does this slow season bring?
• What gifts does your wise woman offer for your medicine Basket?
• What seeds are you saving, to plant in the spring?
• What treasures keep you cozy and warm?

My lady, "For a Breath I Tarry" (title from the poem by A.E. Hausman) WIP.

For a Breath I Tarry 

                           

Spreading the Word

While having tea with my Musé this morning, I was pondering promotion.

When we have offerings, how do we go about sharing the information, the Who, What, When and Where? Where will our beloveds find it? In this technical age, we have so many choices, where to begin?

I have several entry points, my MeetUp group, my artist FB page, Nadya's Atelier, and events created from that page. On Sunday, Sepha and I met, and created a couple of physical flyers, I found my thumb drive, and had some printed! Woo hoo! 

What are some of the ways to use Facebook? 
While this changes, there are some basic guidelines: 
I love Ann Manatt's tips on creating your fan page. She has lots of other quick videos on utilizing FB. Hot of the press, Ann just posted this one on increasing the effectiveness of your posts! 
And this one from Ann, on how to have your fan page show up on your personal page is awesome! I love these simple videos, that walk is through the steps!

Here are tips from Sophie Mahir oncreating your event invitation that's catchy and relays necessary info in a few words!

I'd love you too share your favorite tips! How do you and your beloveds connect?

Red Thread Story Cards

Do you have some Old Stories and Beliefs running your life? Stories that make you "play safe" rather than dream big? Do you engage in negative self-talk? 

Most of us do! With Intentional Creativity,® we have many processes for unlocking the negative beliefs, bringing them conscious, and then writing new stories in living color! The creative process alchemises true shift, and freedom from outdated beliefs.

One of my favorite ways of shifting the stories is Soulful Story Cards, affirmation cards which offer an antidote to the old stories! In the past, I've written affirmations, then processed "what comes up;" ... here we identify the old beliefs first, then seek an antidote, which becomes our affirmation. The next step is the fun part, paint! Markers! Glitter!!

Story Cards and cover

There are many other possibilities with these personal card decks: choosing favorite quotes, or guidelines like the Reiki or Breema principles, cards for ideas and dreams, prompt cards. One of my students in this year's teacher training told me she's created «Well over 100 card decks, ... mainly for insight and process." Wow! 

Red Thread Circles are ways to connect with our community, in respect and in support for transformation. We often include an activity that is simple, and bypasses the "I can't do that!" "I'm not creative, ____ is the creative One!" "I'm too (old, out of shape, uncoordinated)"  one that is non-threatening, colorful and fun (& maybe messy!) 

At our last circle, a friend who teaches kids art said she realized SHE doesn't engage in creativity as much as she'd like! In our May Red Thread Circle, we'll create a cover and several cards, and offer suggestions use. I'm curious to see what beliefs tag along, and the variety of cards that will be created! 

Happy Paint Party Friday!

Color of Dreams

Certificates and cards with Queen

I am a Color of Woman Teacher and Intentional Creativity Coach!! My certificates and the Mother Mary Oracle card that Shiloh pulled for each one of us came last week, & I'm still a bit in Awe.  I. Did. this!  WE did this - our wonderful tribe of Color of Women students and the teachers who supported us on the journey! A dream made manifest.

Today Shiloh and her beloved husband Jonathan are on their way to New York, & the UN Commission on the Status of Women, CSW60 conference. The theme this year  is Women’s Empowerment and its link to sustainable development. With the Establisment of the NGO Intentional Creativity Foundation, Shiloh and other artists and dreamers are designing and taking part in two panel discussions. The second will feature footage from the Color of Woman teachers around the world, engaged in creativity & empowering women in their communities!


The website also includes profiles of Intentional Creativity teachers around the world! You can click on the map, or type in your area to connect with someone in your area. Several also offer online classes. Here's my listing! If you've found my art or words inspiring, I invite you to write a brief review on my page.

Denise & Sepha's Story Cards

At the beginning of March my friend Sepha, who is enrolled in CoW 2016 & I hosted the first of our Monthly Red Thread Circles, in the Back Door Studio of the Co-op Art Gallery. We had a simple card making project, fun, laughter, tea & chocolate!  Our next Circle will be Thursday April 7.

This weekend we will be painting our Winged One, to help give our dreams Wings! 

Winged Ones take flight
Butterfly, birds, soaring dragon
giving wings to Dreams


Here are a few inquiries to take to your Journal - & see what Wings come!

* are your wings clipped?

* do you find it hard to focus, with too many dreams & ideas?

* do you find yourself helping others fulfil their dreams, and neglecting your own?

* Does your timing seem 'off'?

* Do you spend more time on things that distract you from your TRUE dreams and values?
In Winged one, we will identify a few dreams for focus

Journey, journal and paint to find symbols & movement
 

Happy Fifth Birthday, Paint Party Friday !!

Hop on over & enter your blog post for the opportunity to win one of the PPF necklaces!!

Red Thread Circling 'round

Story Cards

Yesterday marked the first of our monthly Red Thread Circles, & the second offering in Currents Gallery 'Back Door Studio.' My co-hort Sepha & I held held space for 4 beloveds, saying prayers for women around the world in honor of International Women's day next week. Each of us made 2-4 story cards, using tempera, colored & inktense pencils, pens & markers. 

Two of the women had been with us mid February to paint our Queens, & we are thoroughly enjoying utilizing this dedicated Art space! 

Queen class - D & Sepha

 We are planning a couple of offerings each month, and Sepha is enrolled in Color of Woman, 2016. 

Next up: Winged One, March 11 & 12
Have you dreams you wish to manifest? What wings can you give them?
In Winged One, explore giving your dreams wings to fly. We'll use active imagination and Intentional Creativity to find tools to identify old patterns holding you back, and new ways to bring your dreams alive.

Icaricia Butterfly on Camas

What wings does your dreamer have? Multicolored butterfly wings? Shimmery dragonfly wings? Or the soft down of feathers? Iridescent? Whisper soft? A slip of mist?

I invite you to consider this question - what dreams do YOU wish to manifest? What will give your dream wings?

Happy Paint Party Friday!!