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The Creativity Queen

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Painting Party Under the Oaks





We had a fun time playing under the beautiful trees at Towels Curt on a cool fall night. Thank you to everyone who stopped by and painted and an extra big thank you to those who donated canned goods and $$$ to All Faiths Food Bank. We raised $100.00 to feed families in our community- now that feels SUPERfabulicious!





Sunday, October 5, 2008

Beyond Art Therapy: Creating the Life YOU Want!


You are the boss of you! It is YOUR life. So what is it you desire to create? No really... what do you want out of your life? I remember asking myself this question, again and again, a few years back. I could not see clearly what I wanted. I had ideas, but I had a list of excuses of why I couldn't do what I desired. The list of exceptions outweighed the list of what I desired. Needless to say I stayed in the same place, longing for something different and continuing to experience the same. It was when I liberated myself from staying in the same place because of my excuses and fears I was able to step more boldly into my life and create what it is I so desired. The most powerful liberating thing is as I become more clear and release the limiting beliefs and excuses in my life, such as "I don't have enough time", "I don't have enough money", I attract more of what I do want and others who are open and ready to grow into their own divine plan. The clarity came from focusing on what I do want, and not what I don't want. Yet, I hear from many. "I don't know what I do want". So take out the art materials and ask for an answer.


Pull out paper, collage materials, magazines, markers, crayons, and anything else that gives you joy. Quiet your mind a bit before you begin and ask the question, "What would my life be like if I was living on purpose"? Allow images, colors, and words to flow from you without judgement. Put this image in a place you can see it to remind you of the life you are creating.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Let Go and Live Fully


I had recently attended a workshop for personal growth to help unclutter limiting beliefs. I was in shock and awe at the room filled with beautiful bright people who were still holding on to past beliefs that no longer fit them. In that moment I had a big bold "ah-ha". It became absolutely clear that my life's work is helping myself and others shatter these imposed limiting beliefs. As I sit with adults in my practice and help them uncover their possibilities I see, again and again, all the hurt, shame, and fear that was never expressed as a child. Think about it, if you were to look at the areas in your life that you still feel fear it would more than likely bring you back to childhood experiences. How can you gently, and lovingly release these experiences and allow yourself to grow? More so, if you have children, how can you help them to release their worries and fears so they do not carry these with them as they mature. Imagine how different your life would be if you were heard, respected, and understood and how you can change your life and you child's life by letting go of limiting beliefs. I offer the article below as a gift to help you release and let go of that which no longer serves you.


On the ride home from Naples I cried, not just little tears, but big huge bawling tears. The kind of tears that wipe you out for a whole day. I had been holding on to fear and needed to let go. Driving and crying may not be the safest, but I needed the quiet container of my car to let it all out. I was crying old tears, you know the stuff that you thought you had taken care of years ago, yet the old tapes were still rattling around in my brain. There is nothing like a big release to let go of these thoughts that no longer fit. Think about fear. A wise professor told me it all boils down to control, safety, responsibility, and self-esteem. Fear keeps us in our place. Our limiting thoughts keep us stuck. Our feelings keep us exactly were we are. Although it may be extraordinarily uncomfortable, it is familiar. We often would rather have the familiar, even if it feels bad, than to have the unknown. If we try something new and it is outside of our comfort zone it may feel unsafe.

Can you teach safety? Can a child or even an adult learn to feel safe and secure when times are difficult? What we know for sure is that life is continuously changing. It is unpredictable and uncertain. We have to learn how to be with the fear and discomfort in order to grow. In other words, we must teach ourselves and our children to feel safe, to soothe when upset, to manage all of the big overwhelming feelings. If we do not do this we fail ourselves and our children. They will continue to seek outside of themselves validation, assurance, and will find comfort in others or substances to soothe their fears. It is the biggest gift to give a child the tools to learn how to manage these feelings. It is our biggest gift to learn this for ourselves so that our children will grow from our willingness to step beyond fear and truly honor and respect our own needs for safety and self-love.



I know my big tears were beautiful reminders that I am growing and ready to move into a new emotional place. I thankfully welcomed them, knowing that my willingness to open to these big feelings already created a space for change.

My gift for you is a safe place, real or imagined, that you can retreat to when you need to. Know that this soft loving place exists only for your respite and renewal. Use the art materials to create an image of this safe place. Visit it as often as you need to, gently knowing this place is your gift to yourself.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Creative Clarity- Art Therapy and Limiting Beliefs




What if you were to live your life so clearly on purpose that whatever you did would take you steps closer to your creative purpose? I have been delightfully stepping more boldly into the life I so desire to create. Yet, in doing so I have had all the little (and not so little) gremlin thoughts creep up in my mind. We all know these thoughts- what if I fail, what if I succeed, what if I am embarrassed, what will other's think, will I be exposed, can other's see my warts and all and still lovingly embrace me, what if they reject me, or humiliate me, what if I humiliate myself. I hear these thoughts and rather than shutting them down and pushing them aside I honor them by listening to the deep underlying message, "What is it that you really want"? They answer back clearly, "Don't leave us behind, we just want to be embraced and loved".

Think about those aspects of yourself that you try to avoid upsetting by playing it safe. All they really want is some love and attention. Rather than running away, shutting down, or shutting them out maybe you can sit with these thoughts and find a way to peacefully reconcile with them using some art materials. Take a moment to use some paint, markers, chalks or oil pastels and create an image of these thoughts. Ask these thoughts what they need from you, then allow a space to listen and create artwork that gives these thoughts what they need.


When you let go of old thinking you allow space for creating new ways of thinking.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

A Creative Coaching Tool to Keep You on Track!



Need some help staying accountable for a decision you made? Want to start a new positive habit? This very simple online tool is like having your own personal accountability coach. It was inspired by something Jerry Seinfeld said, 'Don't Break the Chain' .
Here's how it works:
Pick a goal. For example, 'Do something creative every day.' 'Exercise for 25 minutes first thing in the morning.'
Mark off the days on which you achieved the goal.
Don't break the chain.

Use the increasingly long chain of marked off days as a motivator to continue creating your new habit. Go here to try it for yourself
http://dontbreakthechain.com/


Fun and simple, now that is Superfabulicious!


Remember: every paint stroke takes you one step
closer to creating your dreams!
posted 8/10/08

Art Therapist Sarasota, FL

When you take a break and listen to yourself, you find clarity. It is in these moments of reflection we are given the opportunity to grow into our bigger selves. I ask you to stop and allow this question to resonate with you: What are you growing into? Take the time to use art materials, chalks, pencils, or collage and express your thoughts and feelings.


I wrote in my journal
" I don't know the steps, but I do know the way"!
posted 7/14/08

PLAY!




I am in the middle of a vacation sandwich, a week of vacation, week of work, and week of vacation. Although I can truly say I love and adore the work I do, I am so in the mood to let summer's rhythms take over and celebrate all things playful!

So I share with you some fun picture of all things that make summer so special and I ask you,

what will you d
o to play today?

The Creativity Queen's Creative Life


Images from my friend Kath's garden

Are you living your creative life, a life filled with joy, excitement, bliss, gratitude? So many people are unhappy, feeling disconnected, stuck, overwhelmed, under appreciated, and unloved. I set the challenge to those of you whom are ready for a change- lets shake it up and create what you truly desire. Take out some magazines, paper, crayons, markers, scissors, glue/tape and set aside 30 minutes to play. Create a circle and in that circle fill it with images, colors, words, pictures you draw of what your creative life looks like: what you'd be doing, thinking, acting, feeling, when you are living your creative life. Now put it up someplace where you will see it every day. If you are ready to starting living your creative life write down three things you can do for the week that will help you get closer to the images you created.

I play with these images often and love looking back at my past images to see how far I've come in living my creative life.

So what's stopping you from creating your new life today?
posted 6/24/08

Book Signing, Circle Books St. Armands Circle





















The Creativity Queen met some special friends signing books at St. Armands Circle. Friends from Canada, NY, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Georgia, Maryland, as well as Florida, stopped by to say hello and bring a singed book back home. Thanks for spending some time with the Creativity Queen on a superfabulicious spring day!

What are you so passionate about that you would commit a beautiful spring morning to it? If you know the answer, when was the last time you did so? If you don't know the answer, take a few minutes to think of all the things that bring you joy and you'll find what you are truly passionate about!
posted 3/31/08

Creativity Queen Celebration

I am so thrilled! In celebration of my completion of my doctorate classes that I've been taking for the last 2.5 year I decided to do some self honoring. I proudly recognize my 4.0 GPA with a new addition to my office- a palette of possibilities!
I am free to create the life I want, and that is so delightful.

If there was nothing stopping you
what would you create in your life?
Is there something you can do today to get you one step
closer to the life you'd like to create?
posted 2/24/08

Art Spa Sarasota, FL

Art Spa

What delightful gratitude for all that is unfolding. We celebrated ourselves at ArtSpa, a big luscious delightful renewal for a group of women who so often care for others. Our meal at Lavanda captured the deliciousness of a morning filled with indulgent creative self-care.

Thank you to those women who dare to play big and the grand food and setting of Lavanda.






Luscious Lavanda restaurant in Towles Court-
an oasis in downtown Sarasota!



What might you do to nurture yourself today?
posted 2/24/08

Webkinz Friends Group

Our Webkinz Friends Group was such a fun way to
figure out how to be a good friend.

We used clay and made small versions of our Webkinz Friends.

Bananas got to play with his new friends!

Miley is a Rock Star!



Lilly and Cody had the coolest pad and had a beach party!















Snowball and Joe had a party at McDonalds with everyone's favorite foods!













"My heart does cartwheels of gratitude
in this joyful moment!'


Thanks Webkinz Friends for sharing
your creative play with me!
posted 2/12/08

Creativity Queen Wins 2007 Small Business of the Year Award (SCORE)

The Creativity Queen receives the Small Business of the Year Award from SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business"


It's so wonderful to TOOT your own horn when the opportunity arises. There is something about celebration of events, successes, moments- time when we made a different choice, looked at something differently, risked outside of our comfort zone. I celebrate this with all of you who try something new to learn and grow, and I celebrate this in myself!

What can you celebrate that your learned from today? Now go and TOOT yourself!

TOOT!
posted 1/24/08

Creativity Queen Art Gallery








ARTS DAY pictures from our Superfabulicious artists!
posted 1/18/01

Arts Day 2008 Sarasota, FL

ARTS DAY was a great success, we met so many wonderful people and got to create all day! Now that's a superfabulicous way to spend the day!posted 1/18/08

Arts Day Sarasota, FL



That's what 2008 feels like! POW! There is tremendous excitement brewing. We'll be at ARTS DAY in downtown Sarasota this Sunday, Jan 13th, in the Express Yourself exhibit area. We'll be demonstrating therapeutic mask making and selling cool kits so you can take home and create your own original mask. Please stop by and say hi and tell us what you are creating for 2008!

A big THANKS to Poppy and her family last year at the 2007 Arts Day!

posted 1/9/08

What gratitude!

I had an amazing holiday and beyond the beautiful wrappings and thoughtful gifts was the most spetacular treasure of all- love! What am amazing gift to be among those who love and truly get you...and I am so blessed. I offer you a gift of this superfabulicious quote:

We're all kissed by angels but some of us never think to pucker.
-- Amethyst S
now-Rivers


(My new office sign, designed and created by my very supportive husband, David)

Have you remembered to pucker today?
posted 12/30/07

Art Therapy Sarasota, FL


This time of year I give thanks for all of the courageous and remarkable individuals and families whom I have had the opportunity to work with. It always humbles me when I run into someone I worked with years ago and they smile and comment on the changes they've created in their lives. It is with awe and gratitude that I have been so fortunate to do this work for the last 19 years.

I am truly blessed!



What do you feel blessed by today?
posted 12/22/07