Swirly Girl

Here & There

[Abandoned building :: Taken in Madison, Wisconsin in 2007]

I'm out & about in Blogland today:

* A new entry is up at This Ordinary Day.

* I'm Catalyst #86 over at Creative Therapy!

* A tiny interview is up in The Wish Studio.

Happy Monday!

This Is Going to be Good

Mark your calendar for a unique and inspiring show organized by the astounding creative force behind Folk & Fable and The Lovers, Dreamers and Me - Anne Carmack.  Here are the deets:

Saturday, November 7, 2009
6:00 - 10:00pm
822 Wall Street, 2nd Floor, Downtown Los Angeles
KCRW's Anne Litt will also be on hand to keep the music flowing.

CORE:  The Art & Design of the Torso will be a beautiful gallery space filled with the creations of more than a dozen artists.  The medium:  A mannequin.  The meaning:  The piece of the body that holds so many of the most important places: the heart, the gut (home of our instincts), the spine.  It's us - at our core.  

The artists who will be exhibiting their variation on the theme of CORE:

Marisa Haedike
Liz Kalloch
Kelly Barton
Mati McDonough
Pixie Campbell
Sarah Ahearn
Michelle Caplan
Outi Harma
Linda Esterley
Karin Collins
Carla Terwilleger
Jessica Seaton
Alyssa Nicol
Chanin McClurkin
Anne Carmack
Yours Truly!

Sparkly News

I've been gearing up for Squam Art Workshops, which begins in just over two weeks!  Marisa and I have been busy preparing for our class Book in a Day, and I've been creating like a mad woman so I have plenty of sparkling, inspiring goodness on my table at Vendor Night. 

My new line of beautiful, inspirational wall art is off to a strong start with Demdaco.  A few people have asked where they can be found, so here's the scoop:  Retail orders have just started to ship, so they are now slowly but surely making their way into stores around the country.  You can see the entire collection here, and I'll be re-posting all of the 6x8 designs on my Etsy site around the end of September.  Keep your eyes peeled at Hallmark Stores, one of Demdaco's main retail partners!

I'm also introducing new multiple order pricing for Ordinary Sparkling Moments.  Over the past year a number of readers have purchased a stack o' Ordinary Sparkling Moments to give to friends and clients, so I decided to make it easier for everyone to spread the sparkly love.  I will be offering the new pricing structure at the Squam Art Workshops Vendor Night, and they're also up at my Etsy site.  Here are the new prices:

* Two copies = $25 each = 10% discount
* Three copies = $23+ each = t15% discount
* Five copies = $21 each = 25% discount

Many people have purchased between 10-12 copies, so if you are interested in more than five copies, email me at christine@swirlygirl.com for information on bulk purchases.

Also - there are less than 45 of the Limited Edition Hardcovers available, so snatch them up while you still can!

Last but not least - I can't wait to release my Ordinary Sparkling Moments 12-week Discussion Guide this October, which I hope will create Extraordinary Sparkling Gatherings all over the world!  This companion to Ordinary Sparkling Moments will have questions, prompts and exercises for you and your kindred spirits to share your stories and tap into the wisdom that exists in your everyday life.

I also wanted to say THANK YOU...for everyone's support, for all of the beautiful emails and comments I receive everyday, for your orders, your enthusiasm, and for all of my creative partners.  If I tried to list everyone who has touched me, inspired me, and lifted me up I would be typing until next week, so to everyone I say Thank You, Thank You, a million times:  Thank You.

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."  ~Marcel Proust

More Squam Art Workshops Goodness

[Book In A Day will be taught at Squam Art Workshops this September!]

I am thrilled - thrilled, I tell you - to announce that I will be teaching at Squam Art Workshops this September with the lovely and talented Marisa Haedike.  Marisa and I have built a powerful friendship ever since we first met more than three years ago, and after saying things to each other like, "We should really think about teaching a class together," - hello! - the opportunity fell squarely in our laps.  Although I know better than to think this is simply some kind of fluke - that this is the inevitable result of a shared commitment to our creative ideals - I am still in a state of giddy disbelief.

I have thought about teaching for a long time now, and over the past 18 months have taught workshops, led book discussions and spoken at events, each time asking myself if this might be something I want to pursue on a larger scale.  What I find so interesting is that any events I've had this year have been opportunities that came to me unsolicited.  Like a trail of bread crumps in a quiet forest, I have been following this trail with complete trust, knowing that I am being led to my most meaningful work.

The opportunity to teach at what I consider one of the most beautiful, powerful gatherings on the planet feels more like a giant leap than one small step, and I can't wait to meet all of you - whoever you are - who decide to join Marisa and I in our class this September.  All the details are right here and here.

Big News, Updates & Whatnot

At long last I can make this announcement!  If you were at this month's Squam Art Workshops, you already got wind of this, but I can now shout from the rooftops that I have partnered up with Demdaco for a beautiful line of wall art: The Christine Mason Miller Collection.  With images and sentiments taken from and inspired by Ordinary Sparkling Moments, the designers at Demdaco have brought together a line I am very excited to introduce.  Full color, uplifting, ready to hang, with 24 images to choose from - many pictured here - these pieces will make meaningful gifts, for yourself and your loved ones.  Contact Demdaco customer service at 888-336-3226 to locate a retailer near you with The Christine Mason Miller Collection pieces.

A few other tidbits:  My June essay for In the Wish Studio is up and I've also given my website quite a few updates, including a new navigation bar.  Two more desktop wallpapers will be posted this week, as well as the latest update on the 100 Books Project.

I'd also like to tell all you bloggers out there gearing up for Marisa Haedike's e-course In the Fish Bowl - which begins this Thursday - you are in for an inspiring treat.  I've gotten a tiny sneak peek at what she has planned for you and I know none of you will be disappointed.

My First Guest Blogger :: Marisa Haedike

As regular followers of my blog know, I have written extensively about the unique challenges that accompany having an online presence.  Trying to promote my work, share my experiences in a meaningful way, stay true to who I am and make connections with my online colleagues isn't always the easiest of tasks, but it is a worthwhile journey that has opened new pathways to creative souls all over the world.  My dear friend Marisa Haedike and fellow inspiring blogger has just introduced her new e-course, In the Fish Bowl, to teach participants how to maneuver through all the trials and tribulations of building a creative presence online.  I've invited her to be a guest blogger today to talk about her course, what inspired her to create it and what her secret to success is.  Welcome Marisa...

Some people are content doing the work they were meant to do privately while others feel compelled to transform that work into being a voice in the world; I've always leaned towards the latter.  And believe me when I say that if you get within earshot of me, there's a really good chance I will start asking you about your dream, and will do everything in my power during our time together, even if it's mere minutes, to convince you to follow it.

I believe in dreams coming true.  It's what I do.

And to be honest, I think one of the early passions behind starting my own business was so that I could confidently tell others that it's true:  You CAN make a living do work that you love.

I also believe that the more people live the lives they want, the happier the planet.  As soon as I began Creative Thursday, I knew my mission for it was to one day become a vehicle to encourage others to follow their dreams, especially creative ones.  So here I am.  It's time for me to share what I've learned with you.  Everything I've listed above is what has inspired my new e-course:  In The Fish Bowl :: Life as an Artist.Online

This is an e-course for artists that will cover a range of topics from making a living, marketing and maneuvering online, while staying true to who you are (which I tend to think of this as one of the most important parts).

There's so much to say on all of these topics, especially the one about being true to who you are, so I will do my best to keep this brief.  If you are here reading Christine's beautiful blog, then chances are you are a creative who is already quite familiar with the online world.  While the internet continues to move at the speed of light, it is becoming increasingly evident that in order to keep up - especially if you are also an online business - you will have to decide what you want your place to be in this world.  This does not mean, however, that you have to compromise your artistic and personal vision to be a part of this fast moving stream.  It actually means that now, more than ever, you have to become crystal clear about what your vision is.  And then you have to remain fiercely loyal to it.

Life online is about transparency.  And much like a fish in a fish bowl, it's about finding contentment within that transparency.  It's no longer just about sharing your work, it's about sharing yourself.  As Christine mentioned in her introduction above, developing an authentic online presence and all that accompanies this is not always the easiest of paths to travel, yet a willingness to travel it can open you up to opportunities you didn't even know were possible.

Developing supportive communities, your own "fish bowls", both online and in person are what will help you navigate these waters.  With this e-course I hope to be the beginning or addition of that community for you.  As I get students signing up from all over the world, I realize once again just how connected we all are.  The opportunity for us to learn from one another is like no other time before, and the more we learn from each other, the more likely we will all create and live the lives that make us truly happy.

In closing, Christine asked me about my secret to success.  Oh the pressure :)  Of course there is no one answer to this question, because there is no one answer to what success is.  So, first and most importantly, you have to define what success means to you, and check in on that from time to time, because you'll find that your definition may change as you grow.  Take time to discover what you love most in life, then you have to believe in yourself.  You have to know where you are going, even if no one else knows or sees it yet. You have to stay dedicated to that vision no matter what, and it goes without saying that you want to be gracious, genuinely kind, supportive and loving to others along the way.  Follow your heart, remember not to take it all too seriously and have fun, because it's all a journey - one that will always continue to evolve.

Thank you for having me Christine ~ and I hope to see you all "in the fish bowl"!

Register for Marisa's course right here.

100 Books Project :: Japan [Part Two]

[Book #9 :: April 15, 2009 at Tokyo Station in Tokyo]

This is part two of the 100 Books Project dispatch from Japan.  In case you missed the stories of books 6, 7 & 8, you can get caught up here.

Once I decided my method of surreptitious gift giving was going to be more one on one than the first few books during my visit to Tokyo, I never left our hotel without at least one book in my bag.  The day after I gave two books to the lovely artists I met in the Ginza, I had to catch a bullet train to Sendai where I was to meet my husband later in the day after his meetings.  Now I'm pretty good at navigating the Tokyo subway system, but all bets are off when it comes to Tokyo Station, which is the main hub for what seems like 4.2 million different rail lines.  If you happened to be there last month and saw a blonde chick with glasses walking in circles with a glazed look in her eyes, that was me, except on the day I headed to Sendai when I had a lovely guide showing me the way.

My husband's colleague had generously arranged for someone to meet me at our hotel to take me to the proper platform, and just before I boarded the train bound for Sendai, I pulled out a book and gave it to her.  Just like the day before, the reaction I got was one of giddy surprise, and I found out the next day that she had shown my book all over her office.

[Book #10 :: Bar of the Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo]

A couple of days later my husband and I were having tea at the bar of our hotel.  The bartender working was a woman we had chatted with the day before, when we learned she had recently returned from a trip to the states.  We were enjoying our last bit of time in Tokyo before we had to head to the airport , and what do you know - I had one book left.  As we were paying our tab, I handed her the book, told her it was a gift for her, and she couldn't believe it.  She was working, so couldn't open it up right away, but it was the perfect ending to our trip and that chapter of the 100 Books Project. 

Next Chapter:  The Book Fairies

Also:  My latest interview is up at Tranquility du Jour!

Desktop Wallpapers

Decorate your desktop with wallpapers inspired by Ordinary Sparkling Moments.  I'll post two new wallpapers every month, and iPhone wallpapers are coming soon!

Be Bold:  1024 x 768 :: 1280 x 1024 :: 1600 x 1200

Unique Journey:  1024 x 768 :: 1280 x 1024 :: 1600 x 1200

Tuesday Goodness

My new stationery sets are here!  Send some love & inspiration with these two-sided, full-color flat correspondence cards.  Cards are 5.5" x 8.5" and come with 100% recycled cream colored envelopes.  I have sets of four (one of each design) and sets of eight (two of each design) available.  Limited quantities!

TODAY ONLY:  Order a Sparkling Stationery Set of Eight OR one of my Limited Edition Prints and receive a FREE mini-set of postcards (one each of six designs).  Enter the code HIYA when you check out.  Head to Paper & Stitch for all the goods.

*****

I have been flitting between various projects lately, which involve mannequins, a makeshift recording studio in my closet, stories about Japan, a secret video project and a speech about following dreams.  Part of me feels like this makes me "scattered", but when I stop and consider that I'm actually getting things done in all of this bandying about, I see that maybe my best approach to time management is focusing on an array of projects for smaller chunks of time throughout any given day.  It can't always be like this, and I know each of these projects is going to need longer spans of attention as deadlines approach, but right now I am savoring my ability to stay on different tasks for as long as my energies allow.  For at least a few more days, I have the ability to be soft in my approach to focus, to let myself glide between this and that like a bumble bee in a colorful garden.

My Integrity is Shot

In the last week, not only did I say I would be putting something new up in my Etsy shop every day this week in celebration of my new Paper & Stitch gallery, but I also said - and I quote - "I will resist Twitter with every bone in my body."

Hey guess what!  I'm on Twitter*!  So much for sticking to my guns.

I also neglected to post anything new in Etsy yesterday, as I was too busy cuddling up with Boho and her cutie pie Boho Baby.  But today is a new day and I just posted eight new photos, including the one above, from my travels to Japan.  P.S.  I need some love over at Paper & Stitch - don't forget to heart me!

I think I am going to be on a blogging binge this week, as there is a backlog of entries that I need to get out pronto before my head explodes.  I already have my third post for today organized in my head, so come back in a few!

* I'm swirlygirl18