Yesterday was my birthday and I celebrated a good 6 hours of the day by myself, painting the whole day, uninterrupted bliss, listening to some wonderful chill out tunes and just going for it!
So as I begin my journey into my 38th year, just having celebrated 37, I wanted to recognize some significant memories from over the last year, those small steps and fun times that have led me to where I am right now…. so as I say goodbye to 36 and hello to 37, here are 36 memorable moments from the last year (in cronological order!)…..
Enjoying the summer, travelling, weekends away, visiting family back in the UK.
Feeling restless enough to realise I needed to change my life.
Starting to paint and create again & realizing I can live a more creative life
Taking that plunge and starting my own blog
Spending August exploring my creativity.
Joining the local art group “Hob’art” where I found my local art community
Attending a friends wedding in Sonoma Valley, where I had one of the most inspirational lunch conversations with 2 friends outside in the sun at a gorgeous place called “the girl & the fig”
Spending labor day weekend being creative with friends in Woodstock
Going back to the UK, seeing all my extended family and seeing my brother get married to Eva (who both share March 29 as their birthdays!)
Taking my first online ecourse with Marisa Haedike “In the Fish Bowl” where I met some amazing online friends, bulding my online art community.
Launching my website and online shop
Making my first sale of original art
Taking part in my first group show with Hob’art and selling art at the Hoboken Open Studio tours.
Getting comments and visitors to my blog!
Celebrating my fifth year in the US.
Raising money for The Royal British Legion through my art and expat business.
First solo show at the Sovereign Bank in Hoboken
My first of many features on Kelly Rae’s blog
Spending my first Christmas in the US
Setting my word for 2010 and Mondo Beyondo dreams
Holding my 2nd annual “Ladies with intention Brunch”
Putting my Mondo Beyondo Dreams out there
My first art retreat where i met some amazing kindred spirits and artists. Meeting Mati Rose and Kelly Rae (who inspired me to follow my creative dreams) was aaaammmmazing!
Creating a video on how I created my “Greenlife or Greylife…?” collage
My first real gallery opening in Watchung and inspiring a young girl to follow her creative dreams.
Welcoming new sponsors to my blog
My first solo art show NYC
Selling original paintings from my show.
Spring cleaning and creating a clearing for new possibiities in my life
Taking part in and being interviewed for the Digable Arts Festival
An inspiring trip to Artfest, Seattle and Portland.
Leaping fearlessly and leaving my corporate job to become a full time artist.
Having an Artist booth at my first Hoboken Arts & Music Festival
Spending my birthday painting, selling another original painting online and sitting on my front step with my best friend drinking champagne, overlooking our garden, under gorgeous trees after a storm, chatting to the neighbors and just…
…..watching the world go by.
Hi, I'm Louise and thank you so much for visiting me here. I am a mixed media artist, who is passionate about combining the healing energy of nature and color with the meditative process of mandala making
Dear Louise,
Happy Birthday to you! I loved your post. It sounds like you are in a great place with everything. So nice to see your reflections of your past year. I think that is a wonderful thing to do. And man, you have sure done ALOT! And I am wondering if it is too late to order pendant for Mother's Day? I will contact your through Etsy.
xo,
dana
You inspire me so much Louise by your journey and courage. May you have many more days like your birthday wherein a girl makes her dreams come true by not just wishing them, but by stepping out of her pumpkin carriage and making every day a step toward her intentions.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOVELY GIRL! Wow, you have come a long way in a year. It's such a special time to reflect and look forward. As a fellow Taurean (my b'day is on Thursday) I know this is a special creative time for us – check out what the horoscope legend Russell Grant says about Taurus's 2010 on msn.co.uk :
"2010 Life: Your greatest challenge in the first four months of the year will be to find a job you really love. Keeping a position just to earn a paycheque will wear on your nerves between January and April. You're much better off taking a leap into the unknown than sticking with a dull routine…"
(Note from Beth: unbelievable that you took that leap exactly at the end of Feb!)
"…Developing your creative talent will become a much higher priority from April through July, and the majority of your effort will be spent working on creative projects that could possibly be sold through a business. Your love life could hit a dry patch throughout the Spring and Summer months but don't worry, things will soon be hotting up again. Whatever joy you will find during this period will be through artistic pursuits. By mid-September, the focus will go back to work, and you'll be challenged to create a routine that isn't too gruelling. Balancing work with play should be your first order of business from September through the end of the year."
Yay to that. It's going to be a stellar year for youXx
Ps I obviously meant 'unbelievable that you actually took that leap at the end of April'!!
HAPPY (belated!) BIRTHDAY Louise!! what a fabulous way to spend your "Personal New Year" as i like to think of birthdays.
may every birthday wish you make come true =-)
Louise, Happy Birthday! What a great list, here's to a great year for you! Love TrishX
Happy, happy birthday Louise. You are such an amazing, inspiration woman and particularly to me on my journey at the moment.
As soon as I read this post I thought, that's what I'm going to do on my birthday. I'm going to spend it in my studio painting, hanging out with me.
I'm a taurean too. I love those stars that Beth has posted, given that I too have just walked away from corporate life.
Enjoy this amazing new chapter in your life.
Cathy
xxx
Happy birthday Louise! What a perfect list for your last year. You are a brave woman living your dream and that is incredible. I love the new pieces you posted here.
xxoo
Lorrie
Happy birthday to you, my friend. Looks like you had a beautiful 36th year and 37 can only get better, right? You are so brave and your spirit so bright. Beautiful things will continue to happen!
Big hugs!
Happy Birthday lovely lady. Wow! So much done, so much to come. O loved your video of you making your art. Just wonderful. I keep meaning to ask how you did it cos it would be amazing to do that for mosaics (would be a looong vid!).
hope you had a very happy birthday!
Hi Louise! A very happy birthday to you, and best wishes for a creatively fertile and prosperous next year. This is my first visit to your blog and it is *wonderful* to see a fellow Hobokenite have the artistic joy and opportunity that you've had the past year. I'm in the early stages of my own creative journey and was so glad to learn about Hob'art. I'll definitely be checking out the show(s) in town. I wish you the best and hope to see you at the next arts and music festival 🙂
warmly, Lisa B.