Author, Artist, Seeker, Explorer

Posts from the “News + Miscellany” Category

Cabinet of Curiosities

Posted on January 8, 2013

Last night over dinner a friend asked what I would collect if money and space were no object. Before my thoughts went wandering to a warehouse full of mid-century chairs, I talked about my fascination with odd little objects – vintage kewpie dolls and children’s books, bird nests, food ration books from Havana, Cuba, seashells, old keys, bits and baubles from an abandoned glass factory in Amman, Jordan, even my childhood shark’s tooth collection. (How I ever managed to hold on to that I’ll never know.) I have a 1930s dental cabinet in my studio that holds many of these treasures. In this gallery you’ll find a piece of coral from Bora Bora, dried roses, vintage stamp bundles, and old sewing needle packages from my grandma. I love re-arranging, adding and organizing everything in there, always leaving a few different drawers open each time so anyone wandering by can get a sneak peek and be encouraged to go exploring. It is one of my favorite things. I’ve started a virtual cabinet of curiosities over at ordinarysparklingmoments.com. May it pique your curiosity in 2013.

Categories: Mundania, News + Miscellany

Tradition

Posted on November 14, 2012

Two years ago, I created a stack of hand-painted, handwritten cards with “You Are…” messages on them and offered them to whoever needed one. It was around the time of Thanksgiving, so last year I decided it would become a tradition and made the same offering again. This year the creations are a wee bit different. I have a vintage time card holder that I use to hold little notes, photos, messages, and embellished time cards for house guests and visitors, and this is what my latest creations are inspired by. The cards were created with a bit of paint, some pencil illustrations, a dab of glitter and a single word taken from vintage books. I only have twenty this time, but they are ready to be scattered.

If you are in need of a tiny bit of inspiration as the holiday season swooshes in, send your address to christine@swirlygirl.com. I’ll add an update here when they’re all gone.

Update: The cards are all now ready to go to their new homes. Thank you to everyone who wrote!

“Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving.”  ~Kahlil Gibran

Categories: News + Miscellany

{Slowly Coming Back}

Posted on October 1, 2012

I am very slowly but surely getting back into the swing of things after a big east coast journey. I’d like to begin my online re-entry by letting you know about the latest offering from the lovely and amazing Jen Lee. I took one of her classes at last month’s Squam Art Workshops and am thrilled to be participating in her 7-week Story Academy. It officially kicked off today but you can still register!

Categories: News + Miscellany

{Hello}

Posted on September 17, 2012

I’m dealing with some technical issues, so my latest Audio Diary and photos will have to wait a bit longer before I can get them over here. I had to steal the above photo from my bestie (the second time in a week I’ve highjacked her beautiful pictures!)

For now, I’d like to share two things…

1.  Registration for the March 2013 Matrilumina Event is now open and spaces are filling!

2.  What I shared on Facebook yesterday:  Sometimes the love is so strong and powerful I think I might burst.

More soon…

Categories: News + Miscellany

We Gather

Posted on August 28, 2012

{click on the arrows on the right and left sides of each image to see the entire gallery}

~

It has been more than a week since I returned from a 5-Day gathering with twenty other women at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California.

And before I go further, I must share that it took every bit of strength I had not to insert, oh, ten or twenty bright, inspiring adjectives in front of the words “gathering” and “women” in that sentence.

I have chosen to keep that first sentence simple and somewhat nondescript for two reasons. First, because I think it is pretty common knowledge these days that when strong, creative, passionate women meet together in person for the purpose of connection, collaboration, rest, and just plain fun, magic happens. We all know this, right? It happens all over the world in all kinds of settings within a wide array of structures – art workshops in Bali, yoga retreats on the east coast, or even a handful of friends sharing an apartment for a weekend in New York City. The details might be different, but the basic story, really, is the same:  Women gather. Magic happens. Everyone is transformed.

I also dismissed with the adjectives because trying to describe what we were up to in Big Sur has, so far, been a bit tricky, and I’m one of the facilitators! I am getting my elevator pitch down a little bit better as I am called upon to describe our retreat again and again, but I have also developed a strange fondness for not being able to offer a succinct, tightly-knit story of how this all came to be. There has been a fluid, open-air quality to this endeavor from day one, and I am not especially eager to start trying to fit it in an enclosed, boxy space.

The best way I explain it in one sentence is this:

“Our aim is to offer tools, support, stories, experiences – and time to rest – that will encourage and assist our community’s Beacons and Luminaries to go further with the work they are already doing in the world and for the world – including (perhaps most especially) in their personal lives.”

This was written right here, right now – on the fly, and without the input of my two amazing (couldn’t resist!) partners. This isn’t official or set in stone or final. It is the way I am describing it today, and it will very likely continue to evolve, just as this entire pet project of ours is bound to do.

When Pixie, Maya and I sat down to plan this retreat, we started with a list. This list was a philosophy, a set of values. These were our anchors. By starting with these anchors and forming our foundation – and then creating an event from that – we were able to work within a powerful, beautifully aligned structure that calmly withstood the usual bumps and tangles. I came away from our retreat feeling incredibly proud of the interplay between the three of us, the respect we showed one another – and our guests – and the fact that everyone there saw, through countless tiny details, evidence of the anchors that had been guiding us from the beginning. This is what this experience was about for me, and why it has been the only major project I made a commitment to during this year of moving and transition and change.

We are continuing with this work, even not knowing exactly where it is going. What we do know is that we have another 21 spaces reserved for March 3-8, 2013. Registration opens Monday, September 17, 2012 at 5:00am PST. Details are right here. I hope to see you there…when we gather again.

Categories: Dear Diary, News + Miscellany

Play Me I’m Yours

Posted on April 13, 2012

This project has been a really fun one, and the piano I started working on at the end of 2011 is now sitting in front of Royce Hall on the campus of UCLA for anyone to play and enjoy.

To learn about the project and see where all the pianos are, click here.

For an article in the Daily Bruin about the project, click here.

For another ~ and much more professionally produced ~ beautiful and inspiring video featuring my piano by George Ohan, click here.

Categories: News + Miscellany

Studio Updates + Thanks

Posted on March 19, 2012

 

I have had the immense pleasure of working with some incredibly lovely souls these past many weeks for a number of different uber-inspiring projects. I am endlessly grateful for all of this beauty ~

* Amanda Fall is the inspiring force behind Sprout ~ a gorgeous online magazine that is full to bursting with inspiring goodness. It was a pleasure being interviewed by her for the latest issue, which is the Creativity Issue. There are 60 full-color pages with art, poetry, essays, tutorials and more. Thank you Amanda!!

* I got to spend some time chatting with Ricë Freeman-Zachery last week about following our most meaningful path and she created a lovely podcast from our conversation which you can listen to right here. Here latest book is Destination Creativity: The Life-Altering Journey of the Art Retreat. Thank you Ricë!!

* All the winners of our Inspired By! Awards were announced last week. You can read about these uber-inspiring souls right here. I am currently finishing up four original collage creations for these amazing souls. Many, many thanks to the lovely Tonia Davenport for making this happen!

* I am adding the final touches to my contribution to 21 Secrets, which kicks off in less than two weeks! The creative doors will open wide Sunday, April 1st. Register here and learn the tricks of the trade from 21 extraordinary artists, including yours truly. Thank you Connie Hozvicka for making this an absolutely delightful experience!

* I had the joy of interviewing Lisa Occhipinti ~ author of The Repurposed Library: 33 Craft Projects That Give Old Books New Life ~ a while back for Somerset Studio, and a beautiful portfolio of images from her colorful work/living space is now on the newsstands along with the highlights of our discussion. And did you know? She recently unveiled a brand new website! Thank you so much Lovely Lisa!

* Lisa and I are both featured in the current issue of Studios magazine ~ a gorgeous collection of intimate peeks into the creative spaces of all kinds of artistic souls.

* Britt Bravo reached out to me earlier this year on behalf of the Arts & Healing Network (AHN), and she recently posted our podcast interview on their website. She was wonderful to work with, and I love what the AHN is doing. Here’s the scoop on the 2012 AHN Awards and their call for nominations ~

Every year the Arts & Healing Network gives out awards celebrating healing artists. This year we are expanding our award program, offering two rounds of nominations – in each round 1-4 artists will receive $5000 each. We would love to get your help in finding these artists by nominating yourself or someone you know. ROUND ONE is an Open Call for Artists Using Art to Heal. Nominations must be submitted by May 15, 2012. To make a nomination or to learn more, please click here.

ROUND TWO is called Honoring the Next Generation of Healing Artists, and is open to artists using art to heal who are between the ages of 18 and 35 years old. Nominations are due by September 15, 2012. To make a nomination or to learn more, please click here.

Learn more about the AHN Award and past AHN Awardees by clicking here.
If you have any questions, please email Tristy at ahn@artheals.org.   

~

 “We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” ~ Thornton Wilder

Categories: News + Miscellany

Midway

Posted on December 1, 2011

 

{Interior of Desire to Inspire, with photos by Tracey Clark}

We are pretty much smack-dab in the middle of the Desire to Inspire Virtual Book Tour, so there are still plenty of guest posts, chapter snippets, give aways, and interviews happening all over the blogosphere through mid-December. Here’s a quick re-cap of what’s been going on ever since things got started ~

Scoutie Girl ~ Where I shared a chapter excerpt

Gypsy Girl’s Guide ~ Where I am proud to be a monthly contributor

Roots of She ~ Where I wrote an essay in honor of a very dear friend.

Shutter Sisters ~ Where a Five-Question Interview was posted along with the very first book give away!

Stories of Conflict and Love ~ Where I wrote a guest post about finding my life’s work

Maya*Made ~ Where I shared a 60-Second Chapter Snippet and offered a book give away

This Every Moment ~ Where readers got a visual tour of the book’s contributors in addition to a guest post

The Wish Studio ~ Where I am also a proud monthly contributor (at least through the end of 2011) and we offered a journal give away.

Creative Mojo ~ Where I was interviewed by the lovely Mark Lipinski.

Simply Celebrate ~ Where I share a guest post and another journal give away (there’s still time to enter this one!)

Jennifer Louden ~ Where I gave a fun Savor & Serve interview.

Creative Thursday ~ Where I share another 60-Second Chapter Snippet and a give away!

Many thanks and heaps of gratitude to everyone who offered their virtual living rooms to me to share Desire to Inspire! For all the details on what’s still to come and links to everything posted so far, head right here to the Desire to Inspire Happenings page.

Categories: Desire to Inspire, News + Miscellany

Save the Date!

Posted on November 1, 2011

Have you heard? The Desire to Inspire Book Launch is gearing up to be an uber-inspiring evening. Airplane tickets are being booked, give aways are being organized, and goodie bags will be assembled ~ it will be a fun-filled night of celebration! Here are all the juicy details: Desire to Inspire Book Launch Thursday, December 15, 2011 6:00pm The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica, California If all that goodness wasn’t motivation enough for you to join us, take a gander at all the lovely Desire to Inspire contributors who will be joining us that night ~ Pixie Campbell, Anne Carmack, Tracey Clark, Christine Castro Hughes, Christen Olivarez, Jennifer Lee, Andrea Kreuzhage, Kate Swoboda, Liz Kalloch, Mindy Tsonas , and Vineeta Nair (flying all the way from Mumbai!)…

Categories: Desire to Inspire, News + Miscellany