Prepare. Intent. Create. Transform. 2023 Creative Offering

As many of my creative friends & followers know, in 2008 I started an annual end-of-the-year creative practice where I would create an altered book or art journal identifying intentions I wanted to focus on, invite in, and give to others during the new year ahead.

Last year, I launched an updated ebook and virtual workshop & group opportunity to inspire and discover the hopes and aspirations of intention through this creative practice. It was fun and inspiring to gather together in this special way to artfully work on this process together. It is hard to believe another year and another book has transformed. It is that time of year I begin to do a final look at my year through the lens of my intentions.

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Shortly, though it will be time for this artful process to begin anew – Preparing, intending, creating, and transforming a fresh book, a new space and art for a new year ahead. Year 15 of this awesome creative practice.

For 2023, I am excited to offer the workshop again!

I hope you will join in if it interests you:

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• 1 copy of my Prepare, Intent, Create, & Transform eBook. 10 full-color pages describing how to engage in this creative practice.

• 3 live virtual eWorkshops focused on developing, making, and reflecting on your 2023 altered book & intentions. January 8, 15, & 22, 2023 7-9 pm EST

• 4 additional quarterly, live virtual eWorkshops throughout the year to check in about our 2023 intentions & make art together for further exploration & insight. March 5, June 4, September 3, & December 3, 2023 7-9 pm EST

• Recorded slide presentations of the eWorkshop content in case you cannot attend one of the events or want to save the information for your future reference.

• Access to the eWorkshop’s private 2023 FB group to stay connected to Prepare, Intent, Create, & Transform participants and creative motivation all year long!

$74.99 USD

Purchase Link

or Scan the QR Code below:

Those who purchased my 2022 eBook or attended 2022 eWorkshops, are eligible for a $25 discount off this year’s package. Look for more information about this in the 2022 FB group and in email communication to past participants.

Please note: eBook purchases are automatically sent to the email used to make your purchase. Please check your junk/spam folder if you do not receive your eBook once your purchase has been fully completed. All sales final. Email gretchenmiller@cox.net with any questions.

THANK YOU!

Wishing you an artful 2023!!

Make & Do Show & Tell

I wanted to offer a quick show & tell of some images from my Make & Do 365 journal.

I have found that this daily creative practice has taken on a new level for activating self-care and creating an opportunity of creative refuge. I’ve worked my way through filling the journal’s pages for plans and wishes… and currently finishing pages dedicated to the section on dreams. I use the valuable creative time I have committed to this journal and to myself as a way to connect to a sense of mindfulness, hope, and peace of mind – a process and act that I continue to have much gratitude for and hold sacred.

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Make & Do 365

Happy 2017!   I hope your year has gotten off on a creative start!

I wanted to introduce the 365 project I decided to work on this year: Make&Do 365.  Right now I am using a journal I have had for awhile now, Things to Make and Do by Nikki McClure.  My intention is to work in it everyday through art journaling, altered art, doodling, and whatever other creative inspiration happens.

The journal is divided into several themes: plan, wish, dream, build, explore, learn, make, grow, give, and find. Great prompts to help guide me this year. Since January 1 I have been working on the pages dedicated to planning.  Seems super appropriate with the beginning of a new year ahead and thinking about & getting ready for what the next 12 months hold!  Enjoy!

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3 Good Things Takeaway: Creative, Messy, Contained Workshop

I had a great time at Lani Gerity‘s workshop this past week-end at the Mid Atlantic Play Therapy Institute: Visual Art Journaling for Teens and Adults in Treatment: Creative, Messy, and Contained.

The day was an artful exploration of resilience building, flourishing, intention setting, strength reflection, and lots of creative goodness to fill our handmade art journals that we made from hanging file folders, basic manila file folders for the signature pages inside, and a simple pamphlet stitch to bind it all together.

I really enjoyed using the various supplies I brought in my mobile art stash– as well as sharing them with my tablemates so they could experiment with them in different ways. It was very inspiring to work in this community. We even did a table exchange of mini art in the form of artist trading cards, index cards, and craft tags to honor the concept of art as a gift, one of Lani’s prompts to explore practicing kindness and sharing joy with others through our art.  I was lucky to be gifted this art from Mary during our table exchange:

Art as a Gift

 Upon returning home, as I was unpacking my supplies, handouts, and art from the workshop, I reflected on Lani’s teachings from the day prior and the power of art making to help us cope in distressing and challenging times.

This reflection also prompted me to summarize a list of 3 good things (so many to choose from!) from content introduced during the workshop- and ways to help instill hope, gratitude, and self-care into our lives:

• Three Blessings Exercise– Dr. Martin Seligman suggests this practice as a way to foster well-being and decrease depression.  This exercise encourages us to make note of three things (for one week) what went well throughout our day and to reflect on why they went well (i.e. “why did this happen?”). According to the research of Dr. Seligman, focusing (and dwelling) on our blessings (what is good, going right with life) helps increase our well-being and decreases anxiety, depression that dwelling on bad events can actually make a lot worse. Lani puts an art-based spin to this exercise by suggesting to create art about three good things (collectively in one image or in separate images).  In one of Lani’s Happy Artist’s Life Workshops a few years ago for 6 Degrees of Creativity I even made a Pinterest board to collect images and content inspired by things that made me happy.  Re-visiting this board made me thankful that I created it— and maybe it is a good time to start adding to it again.

• Daily Creative Practice– Citing the work and practice of art therapy pioneer Edith Kramer, Lani shared that creating art everyday helps guide skillfulness (mastery). This type of practice has a direct connection to nurturing our resilience, regulation, and inspiring us to be and do the best that we can.  I love that this reminder was included as part of the day’s offerings- and very much agree with these findings!

• Sensory Relief Art- This prompt (originally to create an image representing a mini vacation and to incorporate the senses) inspired a collage that was connected to the importance of self-care, focusing on the here & now, and finding refuge & breathe in this space. I used a photograph of an old collage I created, pieces of torn (blue) magazine pages, distressed ink, and paint pens. Lots of relief in this image!

Self-Care © 2016 gretchen miller

Thanks to the Lani, all the participants I met at the workshop, and the small group of fellow art journalers that I worked with throughout the day.  I look forward to incorporating content we learned into my groupwork and adding it to my art journaling ideas and inspiration.

Related Posts:

Happy Artist’s Life Art Journaling (VIDEO)

The Art of Emotional Resilience

Journey to Resilience: Takeaways and Creative Offerings

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Have Art Supplies, Will Travel: Summer 2016 Mobile Art Stash

I am starting to put together some supplies that I want to take with me as I prep for an upcoming workshop I am attending soon and other on the go adventures. It’s been awhile since I really assessed my traveling art stash situation. This was a good excuse to restock materials, get some new ones, and organize/re-discover existing creative goodies I can use while on the go.

This month Lisa Sonara also shared this inspiring post about art supplies and journals she packs when traveling and it gave me some great ideas and new suggestions to consider.

 In June I am looking forward to attending an art journaling Master Class facilitated by Lani Gerity. I was excited to receive her list of suggested art supplies to bring to compliment the basic supplies that we’ll be using.

I took one of the tips that Lisa offered about using a cosmetic bag for art supply storage. I usually pack my art supplies in my carry on so I tend to use pouches and organizers that can easily go in my bag, won’t weigh a ton, and I can use in the airport or on the plane. I was super surprised what I was able to put into the little black pouch above!

During the workshop we’ll be creating our art journal from basic office supplies, so I tried to include some of favorite materials also in this same category. I also included some materials that I use in my art therapy groups with teens and adults or in my own creative work. Here’s what I got in the bag (with a little room to spare!)

-Crayola’s Glitter and Metallic Markers (a favorite material of choice in my groups- available at Target!)

– Various blank artist trading cards, index cards, craft tags, smash pad papers

– Alcohol prep pads (love to use these for smudging and distressing)

– Double sided tape dispenser, glue sticks (of course!), liquid glue tube, mini wite out dispenser

– Glitter glue, plastic junk mail card (for spreading paint, glue)

– Various colored ink pens, MÅLA felt markers, white ink pens

– Black cotton cord and twine, thread & needle

– TSA approved scissors (important!), jet black StazOn ink pad (must have!)

– Washi tape

 

I also re-discovered a collection of mini ink pads that are perfect to bring along (one of my most favorite materials to use in my own art journaling), but will probably put them in their own small ziploc bag that will go into my suitcase!

I am still working on gathering collage material that I want to bring. I have a ton of magazine photo collage stuff and different textures and patterns of paper that I could choose from. It was suggested by Lani to look for images that are connected to the population we work with.  Of course I’ll also be bringing my stash of dictionary pages and rub on transfer letters to use as well…..

Excited to discover what develops from this workshop!  🙂

Related Posts:

14 Secrets Challenge: Adventure Supplies & Guerrilla Art for the Soul

Twentythirteen Creating on the Go: My Mobile Art Stash

Creative Gifting: 21 SECRETS

Last year I was super honored to be invited to help celebrate 21 SECRETS’ 5 year anniversary with 21 SECRETS LIVE!  This special event included weekly live streaming workshops taught by past 21 SECRETS teachers who offered all sorts of fun art journaling techniques, prompts, and ideas. I had a blast with host Hali Karla during my broadcast that focused on the importance of community and invited participants to explore themes around giving & receiving in their art journal with the symbolism of hands. You can check out this past blog post to learn more about my 21 SECRETS LIVE! broadcast here. Lots of good convo infused with art journaling dedicated to one of my favorite themes! And what I most loved about all the 21 SECRETS LIVE! workshops was being in the moment of creating together as the process unfolded virtually on screen… a very cool experience!

I’m super excited to share today that the recording of my broadcast will be released again (!) as part of a free early bird gift for those that register for 21 SECRETS Fall 2015 between now and September 4 along with 9 other 21 SECRETS LIVE! recordings that feature Andrea Schroeder, Diana Trout, Dion Dior,  Jane Davenport, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, Kate Crane, Rae Missigman, Roben Marie Smith, & Violette Clark:

I love 21 SECRETS and all the art journaling awesomeness it has introduced into my creative life, including an amazing, inspiring community that I am so grateful to be a part of and inspired by!   🙂

Check out the 21 SECRETS Fall offerings (coming out on September 28th) here!

Creative Covenants Inspiration

Creative Covenants @ Spectrum 2015

Earlier last month, Hali Karla Arts’ holistic online creative circle Spectrum opened to much excitement and anticipation! I’ve so enjoyed seeing all the creativity, inspiration, and encouragement being shared within this community.

In this post I want to share a peek into some of the Creative Covenants that have been made by Spectrum participants (and who kindly gave me permission (thank you!) to share their art with you!).   Each time a new collection of Creative Covenants graces the Spectrum community space, it’s exciting to take in what has been created- in form, colors, symbol, intention, and the promises being made to ones creative self.

It’s also a delightful surprise to see the different ways everyone’s Creative Covenants take shape, the materials being used and how each set has its own artful personality, creative energy, and enthusiasm:

Celeste’s Creative Covenants

Celeste transformed her Creative Covenants into these round beauties! (left image are the fronts & right image features the backs)

Laurie’s Creative Covenants

Laurie included her heart shaped Creative Covenants in her art journal!

Carol’s Promises to Her Creative Self

Carol has been working on a series of different Creative Covenants on cards and tags that honor her permissions and celebrations!

Eleni’s Process & Creative Covenants

Fun to see Eleni’s Creative Covenant process from start to finish!

Britt-Marie’s Creative Covenants

A beautiful collection of Creative Covenants created by Britt-Marie!

Witnessing these Creative Covenants and many others come to life through art expression is a sacred reminder of the power of intention & its important value in our creative life.   What a courageous, soulful adventure this has already been… Thank you Hali for bringing everyone together through Spectrum’s art filled invitations!

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Spectrum 2015

• 25 contributors, 26+ workshop invitations, multi-media online community •
Registration open until Nov. 1 – Join in anytime!

20 Creative Quotes on Passion & Inspiration at Work

In the spirit of my 2015 Spectrum workshop offering, I’ve been thinking about creative work, passion & inspiration and how these concepts influence and affirm one another. In my own work and interests, whether this is as an art therapist, professor, trauma consultant, or artist; passion & inspiration are core to what continues to motivate me, serve as a guide, and sustain my energy to give to others or myself…. both in times of challenge and success.

I decided to go on a quote hunt and explore what artists, writers, designers, & others think about this relationship or have said about these concepts. Here is what I gathered…. Behold, this collection of 20 creative quotes about passion and inspiration at work… Enjoy (!):

• Enthusiasm is excitement with inspiration, motivation, and a pinch of creativity. ~Bo Bennett

• Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working. ~Pablo Picasso

• Creativity is putting your imagination to work, and it’s produced the most extraordinary results in human culture. ~Ken Robinson

• There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. ~Martha Graham

• The desire to create is of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. ~Elder Uchtdorf

• Passion is one great force that unleashes creativity, because if you’re passionate about something, then you’re more willing to take risks. ~Yo-Yo Ma

• When the creative impulse sweeps over you, grab it. You grab it and honor it and use it, because momentum is a rare gift. ~Justina Chen

• The worthiest works of all often reflect an artful creativity that looks more like play than work.  ~James Ogilvy

• Innovation is creativity with a job to do. ~John Emmerling

• Creativity is the quality that you bring to the activity that you are doing.  It is an attitude, an inner approach – how you look at things . . .  ~Osho

• I am seeking. I am striving. I am in it with all my heart. ~Vincent van Gogh

• Stay inspired, work hard and be proud of what you do. ~Andria Sato

• Most creative work is a process of people passing ideas and inspirations from the past into the future and adding their own creativity along the way.  ~Joichi Ito

• Creativity is a natural extension of our enthusiasm. ~ Earl Nightingale

•  Any activity becomes creative when the doer cares about doing it right or better.  ~John Updike

• The main thing is to be moved, to love, to hope, to tremble, to live.  ~Auguste Rodin

• Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.  ~William Wordsworth

• To create art with all the passion in one’s soul is to live art with all the beauty in one’s heart. ~Aberjhani

• If I create from the heart, nearly everything works; if from the head, almost nothing. ~Marc Chagall

• When passion and skill work together, the end result is often a masterpiece. ~Marc and Angel Hack Life

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 What are some of your favorite creativity quotes or sayings that bring passion & inspiration to your work?

 

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For Spectrum 2015, come join me and my art journaling workshop Creative Covenants to explore the values you believe are core to the way you create, practice, and live as a creative and artful being.

Discounted early bird sale going on here until the end of January!

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Related Posts:

20 Creative Quotes on Courage, Hope, & Possibility

Creating and Living with Intention

Notes on Finding & Doing Great Work

Creative Manifesting Mojo

This week I finally finished this year’s revo’lution book! Yay!

I used another children’s board book as the book’s foundation with a combination of acrylic paint, watercolor, gel pens, stamping ink, and text transfer sheets on each of the pages.

The intentions I chose for this year are Patience, Readiness, Agility, Faith, & Sincerity:

This past week I also enjoyed facilitating a fun evening of revo’lution art-making, where the room was filled with creative manifesting mojo, hot chocolate, and good company! It was bitterly cold outside (brrrrr!), but inside lots of creativity & good intentions warmed the space!

It’s always a pleasure to share & experience this art-making with others who are also interested in inviting new energy & possibility into their life, work, relationships, & more!

I hope that you are also able to work some creative manifesting mojo into your New Year as well! 🙂

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Related Posts:

Ready for Revolution Art Journaling eBook Now Available

Ringing in the New Year with Revolution Art Making

 Handmade Revolution Making Meets Art Journaling [VIDEO]

twentyfourteen revo’lution lookback

The end of year calls for an annual revo’lution reflection!  ‘Tis the season!

The 6 intentions I choose for 2014 were grace, tranquility, mercy, blithe, soul, and openness… and with the help of the revo’lution altered book I created at the beginning of this year and inspirations from my revo’lution making Pinterest board, here’s a lil’ twentyfourteen lookback:

“To accept grace is to accept the vow to give it…”  ~Max Lucado

i believe in grace & choice

Finding calmness in creativity….

Tranquility and Creativity

“Let our hearts be led by mercy….”

Mercy FTW

“Openness is a virtue, and this virtue will set you free.” ~ A Flourishing Life

Fresh Air

“Whatever is good for your soul… Do that.”

reclamation

“Carry a sense of openness and wholeness within you.” ~Barbara Ann Kipfer

Open <3’d

I continue to find this creative ritual so very valuable… and year #6 is no different…  I treasure what each intention has taught me & inspired throughout 2014 with life affirming lessons in hope, renewal, choice, and acceptance.

What were some of your 2014 intentions and how did they inspire your year?

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Related Posts:

Prepare > Intent > Create > Transform: ready for revo’lution [2014]

2014 Creative Planning

Creative Chain Reaction