thank you kelly rae...i am soaring

i wrote this to kelly rae roberts this morning in response to her inspirational e-course Flying Lessons

you have so inspired me to soar above the clouds...i have been in a giant reinvention process over the past two years...i wrote the following on my blog 1/13/2010

During this past 26 months, God forced me to slow down by removing ALL obstacles (a job and income) and presenting me with TIME! Time to reflect. Time to mourn. Time to refresh. Time to repurpose. Time to realign. Time to reframe. Time to release. During this gift of time, I found #1-ME and #2-crystal clarity of purpose and #3-this is the time for me to soar...

"To a mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders" -Chuang Tzu

It has been a Two Year Retreat, mostly silent. I had no choice but to reconnect with myself…find strength to look at what brought me to this place, find fortitude to survive, find courage to move forward, find hope to rebuild, find bits of my soul that had been scattered about the universe over the years and bring them home.

there is more on my blog here: http://cre8tiva.blogspot.com/2010/01/reflective.html

"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards." -Vernon Sanders Law, 1960 Cy Young Award Winner

this class has finally allowed me to move on with the soaring...as i was ready, just afraid to jump into the air. i jumped somewhere in the second week, it was uncomfortable and i was afraid to open my eyes at first...when i finally did, i saw my one blessed beautiful precious life before me and felt the wind beneath my wings lifting me to new heights that i never even allowed myself to dream of before...and it feels amazing.

i have made some subtle and some not so subtle changes to my blogs...i have written some really inspired posts...i have sold some of my purses to a boutique using your wholesale advice...and i have almost finished my new book for people who color outside the lines!!!

i am waving at you from the heights because i cannot seem to get enough of this soaring!!

Hilary Bravo Papier Mache...

Hilary Bravo creates wondrous things...i am intrigued by her papier mache beads...please watch the video for a glimpse at how she creates and then visit her site for a look at her paintings from photos...she has such a unique style...

be sure to subscribe to my free online magazine for creative people at top right...

doodle bags and more...

i first introduced my Doodle Bags in 2007...the line has expanded to include shoes, jewelry, books and notepads, and much more. My doodling has taken on different forms through the years too and now includes what i affectionately call "zen doodling." my book "Doodle Bags" will be out soon...

below are some examples of the collection...each bag is named and dated...

the canvas as painted

a commissioned bag with owners face

Please visit Cre8tive Compass Magazine, Blog and Radio Show 1 Artistically Speaking and Radio Show 2 Fiber Arts & Mixed Media ...showing artisans the way to make a living doing what they love!!!

Grab my new button please...i heart you!!!

taking wing...soaring

this week i started taking flying lessons...no, not those normal one involving aircraft, control panels, maps, auto pilot and fuel...special flying lessons of the sort where i am learning to soar...my heart open and my own uniqueness on display...

let me back up for a minute...i suppose that this could very well involve aircraft, control panels, maps, auto pilot and fuel...for who but myself is at the controls of my life and business? who but i charts the course of my daily life and business? who but the world around me fuels my creativity?

you may believe that i already know how to fly...and, at times, i may even have reached my dreams here in Cre8Topia...but one can always dream bigger...right?

so i find myself heading into the wind with hundreds of other would-be flyers...here...with kelly rae roberts as flying instructor extraordinaire...

Cre8Tiva & i will be sharing our experiences as i go through flight school the next 5 weeks...my expectations are really big:

1. increase awareness of Cre8tive Compass Magazine, Blog & Radio Show 1 & 2
2. learn to monetize my blog & etsy
3. establish new and meaningful connections

all photos by Rebecca E. Parsons taken on Amelia Island, FL

rouge echos...

all photos taken during a recent trip to the western North Carolina mountains...joining in the echos challenge week 15

enjoy...glimpses of rouge

wordless wednesday...

is your imagination out of focus?

Art and Soul Radio's Musing for the week...

One of my favorite writers, Mark Twain said “You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.” What helps you bring your imagination into focus so you can really see what is?

My musings on the quote: mindfulness...it takes practice to live fully in the moment and be present in your life...fully and mindfully experiencing all your senses, often will unleash vivid imaginings and delightful bouts of creativity...

it rained during my morning walk along the beach...i noticed other people scurrying off the beach...i stayed and felt the drops hit my arms and face and clothing...they were neither hot nor cold, yet the breeze from the ocean cooled my skin and felt good...

the soft rain added a fresh, clean fragrance to the salty sea air...i breathed deeply...it tasted salty on my lips as an upward curving of the corners of the mouth indicated pleasure...



the drops made a soft tapping sound as they fell on the ocean and sand...i stood and listened to the rhythm of the rain as it mixed with the sound of the waves as they moved toward shore...

i searched for a rainbow...there was none...however, i noticed the patterns the drops of rain created in the shallow water near shore...i tried to capture the circular shapes as they expanded and grew into one another...i took several photos as i watched the ever-changing patterns form and reform like an infinite kaleidoscope...knowing these patterns will find their way into my art...



when the rain stopped i noticed two feathers floating in the water...they created intricate dance patterns as they bobbed about...twisting and turning...growing close then separating...i watched this performance for quite some time until a large wave washed them from my sight...

mindfulness takes time and a commitment to yourself...i made such a vow years ago when i moved to this tiny island in the atlantic...i would take a mindful, prayerful meditative walk by the sea every morning as long as i was able...at this moment i am able...