Top FIVE reasons why you should make time to attend a Creative Retreat!!!!!

We can all experience burnout and enter survival mode.  What takes us to the breaking point?  Where do we blur the lines of doing too little or doing too much?  How can we "rest" in all of our madness of daily life?  

A Creative Retreat is a time set aside for building up confidence, rest and peace in our lives!  It is a SECURED and sound time of imparting into each other as creatives and building up our energy level. 

Here are my top 5 reasons you should MAKE time to attend a Creative Retreat!

#1 – Finding hidden dreams:  When we are busy with life we forget to dream.  Maybe the dreams are so deeply buried that we think we don’t have anything else to pull out!  A retreat helps you focus into your dreams and dig them back out to shine!  Your dreams are unique only to you and only YOU can access them!  

#2 – Meeting fellow dreamers and creatives!:  There is nothing like making new and inspired friendships all over the world.  When we sit with each other and share our dreams you find connections with others you may never have had before!  Sometimes, in those relationships we find more of who we are and are inspired to help and encourage others!  

 

#3 – Quiet time :  There are a lot of artisans that think this is a foreign language.  With the household chores, family and businesses…we don’t know what “quiet time” really means.  A retreat gives you that opportunity to carve out time set aside for quiet and reflection.  One of the most powerful things that fills us up…is quiet time.  Don’t run from it, embrace it and you will find your heart singing and welcoming you into a deeper peace and rest than you have ever experienced!

#4 – Stretching your imagination!:  A creative retreat can introduce you to new techniques, new tools and innovative idea makers that bring you into a new level of understanding your craft and yourself.  Even doing the SIMPLEST tasks you can find inspiration and growth throughout!  Sometimes the BIGGEST idea is in the smallest tasks.

 

#5 – Restoring a sense of FUN:  We sometimes get so caught up in our personal rules, regulations and daily grind – we forget to have FUN.  A retreat can re-introduce that child-like wonder and adventure that we all crave but don’t allow ourselves to enjoy.  When was the last time you did something or went somewhere with just the point of making an adventure?  A creative retreat gives you that opportunity to create your OWN adventure as well as a group experience.  

 Ready to attend a retreat or workshop?  

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Pathways....

I am so excited to share this with you!  I was tinkering around last night and really had a blast creating this image.  There is so much inside of us to share...and when fear tries to stop us from the simplest of creations...we HAVE to stand up and walk forward.  There is a huge world of eyeballs and hearts out there waiting to grasp the creativity floating in the air and rivers.  

I've noticed fears can stop us in a variety of ways, but most of the ways starts with our MINDS.  Before we even speak positively or negatively about ourselves and our work...our thinking is already there.  As an artist and human being, it is our job to WEED OUT those thoughts.  To dwell on only negative thoughts sets you up in a box as a captive.  To dwell on positive thoughts takes you to many places, faces and dreams.  There is something to be said about walking in a living dream.  

Your art takes you into your dream world and back out into the reality.  One of my biggest passions is to help you understand that and let yourself dream AND DO THE DREAM.  Even the smallest of ideas deserves to be in your life canvas.  Don't let any tiny giant fears hold you back.  Yes, I said "tiny giant"....our fears are masking as GIANTS in our minds, but really they are tiny...it is up to you to slay the giant and turn your focus upon what really needs to happen.

Take some time today and reflect upon your own fears and giants.  What needs to GO today.  What needs to leave your mind, so you can be FREE to take your ideas forward?  

I look forward to hearing from you about where life is taking you...and where you are letting yourself go as an artist!!!!! 

Much Love

Jen

Changing your perspective! - via a Hot Air Balloon ride...

Flight conducted by Sheldon of VegasBalloonRides.com

I recently had the pleasure of soaring above in the Las Vegas desert.  Your perspective on life and environment can completely change in a matter of seconds when you let yourself into the experience of flight.

The environment was peaceful and quiet without anxiety or fear of heights.  The pilot was extremely passionate and knew everything he needed to know to help steer the balloon and LAND the balloon!  The only thing was - we didn't have a guaranteed landing spot.  Go figure!  When you fly a balloon you literally have to "go with the flow" until you find the spot where you can safely land.  They had a crew chasing us over streets in the city following us til it was time for our landing.  They work together as a unit to help us ALL have a great experience.  It was sooooo fun!

I deeply DEEPLY LOVE symbolism in my life!  I look for meaningful TANGIBLE experiences to encourage me on my personal journey.  This was no different to me!

Here are at least TWO things I learned about perspective while flying in a balloon:  

Looking down into the basket.

 #1 - Be at PEACE with your pace! - when riding in the balloon you have to stand in the basket for about an hour and be ok with it.  You will also probably have other people sharing this experience with you.  Stand with them.  Be in that moment and float free-er than you have EVER!  Embrace the peace that comes with "going with the wind".

The pilot and crew of Vegas Balloon Rides!

 #2 - Trust your PILOT!  (and crew) - While it may not always be EASY we need to learn to trust others for the ultimate direction of our lives.  Your pilot KNOWS what he is doing.  Your pilot is PASSIONATE about your experience on this journey.  Your pilot CARES about where you are going and where you can land safely.  He lights the FIRES and takes you up high into the sky!!!!!

There are a gazillion more things you can LEARN from these experiences...but I wanted to share TWO of them with you.  I encourage you to experience this for yourself and find out what you FIND out about yourself or your life.  

Pre-flight - getting "warmed up" and ready to fly!!!!!

THANK YOU!
I want to thank you ALL for a great 2014.  This, so far, has been a great journey of purpose, love, creativity and connection.  I have had a BLAST getting to know some of you and look forward to the dreams of 2015.  I hope your dreams come to pass and that the deepest DESIRES of your hearts come into reality.  Have a very Merry Christmas and a GLORIOUS Happy New Year! 

 

SIGN UP FOR A CREATIVE RETREAT - deadline is January 1st

SIGN UP for the Signature Bridal Show! (new brides/grooms/couples) - January 18th, Noon-5pm

Thursday Thinking...."Diversity"

Today is Thursday THINKING!  

I have been thinking about diversity! 

We live in a huge world of diverse people, yet we are all human.

We have inside of us a very diverse group of inner-workings and physical being but we are all held together by our shell.

We have a genetic past and an emotional past! 

I have been thinking about the parts of us that are DIVERSE that make us up as an emotional being.  Our emotional pasts leak into our present and can affect our future.  The pieces of us that have not been addressed and go overlooked can sometimes be the factors that keep us from living a healthy emotional life. 

In some ways I think part of “growing up” is facing that fact that you are a diverse being and you have to learn to embrace ALL of yourself.  There is the you NOW and there is the you that you CAN be.  J  The intricate details of your life have been woven together to create who you are deep inside. 

Now, the kicker question.  DO YOU KNOW YOU? 

In order to relate better to those around us, sometimes it is better to learn to KNOW yourself.  Only you can truly understand YOU in some cases.  YOU learn how to deal with the diversities of YOU so that you can jump out into the world and sing with your voice loud and in clarity.  When we look into the mirror we can see the picture of what we want to be, but in reality we might only see a scribble on a paper.  That beautiful canvas of YOU is just waiting to be discovered and tapped into.  Embrace your times of despair and sadness, but don’t live in them.  Embrace your moments of joy and creativity, but don’t just live there either.  The WHOLE of who we are empowers us to use our voice, to LIVE our lives, to BE a human being on the planet. 

Without broken-ness you would not understand whole-ness.

Without fear you would not understand peace.

Without sight you would not understand SEEING. 

Embrace ALL of you.

Be the better you by KNOWING you better. 

[dih-vur-si-tee, dahy-]

1. the state or fact of being diverse; difference; unlikeness: - diverse:  of various kinds or forms; multiform.

2.

variety; multiformity.

3.

a point of difference.

For your Thursday Thinking: 

-Think about where you are now and where you want to be. 

-What are some small things you can start doing to KNOW yourself better? 

-How is your HEART doing?  (open for receiving, or closed off behind walls) 

-Complete the art below in your own “paint/draw by numbers” style – each piece of you is important to the WHOLE of you. Pick different colors, textures - be it digital or print it out and DRAW ON IT.  :)  Embrace your diversity.

After you finish, please post it up in your home - post it online and share.  Share it with me! I would love to see your results!!! <3  Sign it, and make it your own!

Here is one I put together for myself today!!! :) 

I did mine digitally! But pull out your pencils and paints!  Let's create!

Sign up now for "ARISE" Creative Retreats 2015

CREATIVE RETREAT SIGN UP

Have a wonderful thursday.

Jen

INSPIRATION LUNCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had SUCH an amazing time today at the INSPIRATION lunch!!!
I really got inspired by the ladies attending today...and how we all see things so differently and are inspired by each others' inspirations. :)  I really am passionate about making connections all over to ignite as much creativity as possible!!!!

Thanks to my attendees - and even the folks IN the restaurant were asking us what was going on hahah!!!!! I loved it.  thank you!!!!!

RETREAT DATES: 
October 3-5th, Ladonia TX - 2 nite stay included in a lovely house on a farm.   Lots of inspiration!
November 7-9th, DFW area - 2 nite stay in a local space in DFW that will truly inspire rest/creativity!
January 23-25th, DFW area - 2 ntie stay in a local space to beat the winter "blues" with inspiration!

All detailed information on the retreats are emailed to you after you sign up.  (locations/directions)

Meanwhile, enjoy, inspire and CREATE!!!! weee!!!!

CREATIVE retreats: even SUPERMAN needed one!!!!

even superman had a retreat space.

girls? DO YOU NEED TO RETREAT??????????
because I can guarantee you this crazee world, this "busyness" is getting to you...and you haven't stopped long enough to really think about YOU for a while.

The great things about a retreat:
-solitude
-finding your passions & dreams
-being around like-minded creatives.
-being able to see what you have not seen.
-create things u may have never thought you could.
-learn more about your inner-superhero.
-pay attention to the SMALL details.
-learn to hear. (both within and around)
-learn to LISTEN.
the list goes on and on....but in the creative retreats - we go on a journey of a "fortress of solitude" environment - to where you can learn, grow, be inspired and do creative things. It truly will make a mark in your life.

TO SIGN UP:
http://www.pinklightimages.com/workshops/creativeretreat2014.htm

I will answer as many and all questions that i can - so just reach out and lady friends? Please SHARE specifically with 1 or 2 women u know really need this Here to help and here to inspire. The ball is in your court!

More about the "fortress of solitude"

The Fortress of Solitude is the place of solace and occasional headquarters for Superman in DC Comics.

Fall Creative Retreat - Dates announced!!!!!

As I was completing the wonderful mission of the creative retreat this month...I started searching for the next feasible dates for the NEXT one.  I believe that we always need to "check-in" with ourselves and learn how to access our treasures.  I have been working non-stop for this whole month and really embracing the uniqueness and ideas that come with this assignment.

I truly am beginning to see all the things that hold hands together to form our creative spirits!!!  So, the next dates of the retreat have been announced!  I already have the registration page up, but I can give you early-bird pricing for the month of August. :)  Because space is limited to FIVE women only - we have a chance to have in-depth moments of conversation, creation and so many more things that access your treasures within.  Every single retreat will be variably different as inspiration is a full-flowing-river that you just JUMP into when ready. :)

When you sign up, drop ALL expectations and walk into the unknown with me!

In creating the IMAGE below:
These were moments of fear, moments of darkness and of heat and rain.  We had a mixture of environmental cues hit us on this day in moment of the shoot.  The sensitivity of the environment lends me to create thoughts and ideas into images that speak to me as a person.  Our art SHOULD speak to us! The question also is, are we listening?  I got a sense of FEAR because it was unknown territory.  We had walls that blocked us from ACCESSING our true creative spirit.  The heat of the moment poured down my face and I could barely keep up with the energy that was driving me forward into that blank space.  The moment I embraced my environment I was able to relax long enough to create images that brought an out-worldly feel directly into my heart.  It is THIS out-wordly feeling we try to create when we leave our comfort zones.  In the immediate future (yes, we are time travelers)...those next moments can bring a torrential downpour and lightning storm.  You've heard it said to "dance in the rain"....but how often do we sit inside and just watch.  We don't participate and we don't ENGAGE the rain.  I invite you, dear FIVE women....to embark on the next creative retreat...where 2 days...will help you to, ARISE.

Here is our new graphic for the Fall....  SIGN UP HERE

The Creative Retreat.....what an AMAZING TIME!

I had my first EVER Creative Retreat this year in July.  I had been waiting for the right timing to just let it fly!!!! After having some great talks this year and investing in my own creative life - I decided it was time to step up and help others get their creative lives going!

I think one of my main challenges was talking about it! What do i call it, what do i say?  In my mind I had started formulating a theme to it.  It was called ARISE.  Arise has such a GREAT motion and ACTION to it that I truly felt that word encompassed everything I wanted in the time I had to share at this retreat.  I wanted to help others ARISE to be all they were meant to be.

I spent a few months hashing out ideas and time flows for exercises.  I utilized my OWN experience for most of the way things went.  I believe that it was my time to share everything I had been given since I began this journey.  I have taken myself on the most IN DEPTH seeking journey I have ever done.  I know it has many beginnings and I feel that as I move I am always beginning or ending something on my walk.  So, as one things ends, another begins.

I talked about CARVING our own paths.  This was VITAL to me understanding where my life was going and VITAL for all of us to understand that just because there is a path already - doesn't mean we are supposed to walk it.  I think following examples are great, but I also think that SETTING an example is just as great!  We have to stop and really think about where we are, where we are going...and when to pick up your machete to CARVE the path in the jungle.

I always get a vision of Romancing the Stone...where Joan had to carve a path.

So that being said....here is a tiny montage of some of the amazing things we walked through on our journey!!!!!!!

Herez to the first of many QUARTERLY retreats!!!!!

I take only a limited number of ladies.  The smaller groups allow for us to have talking times, reflection times and some girl time. :)

The next RETREAT:  

October 3-5th, 2014 : Ladonia TX
Get your spot secured NOW!  

SIGN UP NOW:  

From the girls: 
"Her technique of combining creative play, soul searching and being still were truly invaluable!" ----Dana

"I had fun discovering my creative gifts in writing, art, games, and sharing !" ---Doris

CREATIVE RETREAT promo video - from the beginnings to the finishing point of your dreams!

I wanted to capture a visual of how I feel about the creative processes we go through.  Our biggest dreams start with the smallest tasks.

To sign up :  RETREAT REGISTRATION  -  
July 18-20th.  Only 7 slots open, 5 left.

Part of the backstory of this concept goes way back into childhood...when I used to draw and doodle....when I had a season of painting....a season of moving into photography...and other creative things I've witnessed in my short life time. :)

I used Carrie as my muse & model because as much as I've seen myself blossom...I've seen her blossom just as much.  Towards the end, those are part of her blossoming.  Writing and creative dance expression is something she has embraced.  My desires are to see YOU blossom into the creative being you are meant to be and LIVING the dreams/realities you are supposed to live. :)

Enjoy the video!
Please pass to a friend that NEEDS this....I love connecting !

All the best to you today,
Jen

The REGISTRATION is live!!!! - your time to shine!

My first RETREAT for the Creative women !!!! This is open for all creatives that want to jump-start kick-start re-start and be inspired. ♥
#encouragement #womensretreat #livethedream

#notaphotographyworkshop

REGISTER HERE

GOALS of this RETREAT:

---leave empowered, inspired and with renewed strength of mind/body/soul/spirit.

---leave refreshed & peaceful.

---leave ready to take flight with your purpose in life.

---leave with creations you have hand-crafted, written or made in your time with other women.   

These are your tokens, your awards – your tangibles.

---walking a “whole” creative journey using all the tools we are given to create.   

(including: writing, photography, crafting & other tools)