Found Art Friday, Needful vs. Needless

Hello lovelies. Hope you've all had a wonderful week! I've been enjoying a gloriously sunny and warm week of summer here in the Pacific Northwest, pool parties, new friends, campfires, wildflower bouquets, and lots of strawberries, among many other yummy things. I'm slowing down my writing schedule in favor of trying to squeeze out every drop of summer that I can. You never know how long it will last.

The wonderfully talented Melanie Martin sent me this mysterious photo, and it inspired so many things in me. Isn't it rather Harry Potter-esque? Like this could be the entry to a road that can only be seen by you or by invitation only? Magic might be just around the corner.

Then I started thinking along the lines of what Needless Alley might I be traveling on right now? As in, where am I wandering away from my true path? What is distracting me? What is simply wasting my time? What can I let go of in order to get back on track? And what IS my track anyway?

Then: What is need-FULL in my life? What is filling my well? Am I cultivating a lifestyle which nurtures my deepest loves, most heartfelt values and desires?

Then: the other kind of need. As in need vs. want. Remembering, that I really do live on "Needless Alley". All my true needs are filled, and if you're reading this, I'm willing to bet yours are too. And if not, I know for sure that you have everything you need to fill those needs yourself, and that you can get started right now. Let's remind everyone that they can too.




Where can you tuck this little morsel of inspiration into the world? I'd love hear your stories of how you've spread The Found Art Project love into your community.

Please remember that I'm always accepting submissions for inclusions in our Found Art Flyers. Don't be shy! I'd love to hear from you!

Smooches to all of you! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Found Art Friday, Afternoon Edition

Hello par-tay people! Its Friday afternoon, and here in the USA its the big 4th of July celebration, which means a 3 day weekend for many of us! Can I get a big ole WOO-FREAKIN'-HOO!! For us, that means my super sexy husband will be building me my own personal deck outside of our bedroom, complete with double french doors, and a vintage clawfoot tub for outdoor bathing. I did mention I live in the woods, right? :) Aside from watching my mistah work the power tools, there will also be a slumber party, a campfire, a BBQ with friends, a small town parade, and a fireworks display. Yee-haw!

Anyhoo, here's a quote that's been working its magic on me lately. What do you think?

Says Joseph Campbell:

"...I thought anybody who worked for money was a fool. I took a vow never to do anything for money. Now, that doesn't mean that when I do something for somebody I don't ask for money. I want as much as I can get, but that's the secondary part of the game. My life course is absolutely indifferent to money. As a result, a lot of money has come in by my doing what I feel I want to do from the inside. If you do that, you are doing things that attract money, because you are giving life and life responds in the way of its counterpart in hard coin. If you follow your bliss, you will always have your bliss, money or not. If you follow money, you may lose it, and you will have nothing."

We've had some big financial ups and downs the past few years, and I can't lie and say that money isn't important. It obviously is. And many times, you just have to do what you have to do to make money to make ends meet. But aside from that, have you ever held back from doing what you love because you don't think you're good enough to get paid for it? Like you're not a real artist, photographer, writer, etc. if you're not a paid professional? I gave myself the biggest case of writer's block for about 2 years when I got it stuck in my head that I had to be published, writing fiction, getting paid, etc in order for it to be "worth it" to write at all. I read this quote and BAM! Major lightbulb moment. I remembered that its ok to write simply because I love it, not for anyone else, or for any other reason. And when I say I love it, I'll agree with Dorothy Parker who said "I hate writing, but I love having written." O_o But I digress.

Let's all try to remember what our real passions are, and make time to do them because we love them, and not feel like we have to prove ourselves worthy of our passions and desires first! You are worthy because you are a child of God, gifted with talents, kindness and a smile that is meant to be shared with the world.

With that said, I was t.h.r.i.l.l.e.d. when the amazing poet Donna Hilbert submitted this piece for The Project. I absolutely love the message, and I know you and the unsuspecting folks who will find this in the world will too.

Have fun and be safe this weekend. Pursue your passion, your bliss, and look for all the simple pleasures.

(PS Submit your stuff to The Project too! :)

Found Art Friday, In Which We Remember to Play

I will not play at tug ' war.
I'd rather play at hug o' war.
Where everyone hugs
Instead of tugs,
Where everyone giggles
And rolls on the rug.
Where everyone kisses,
And everyone grins,
And everyone cuddles,
And everyone wins.

~Shel Silverstein, Where the Sidewalk Ends

Hello everyone, and happiest of Fridays to you. Congratulations, you did it! You rocked your week, AGAIN. :) I love the poem above from Shel Silverstein. I love ALL the poems from Shel Silverstein. I remember curling up with Where the Sidewalk Ends in my little reading corner in my room, consisting of a giant bean bag chair, a couple dozen stuffed animals and a ginormous stuffed gorilla my dad gave me for Christmas one year. He was one of my earliest literary influences, (Shel Silverstein, not the ginormous gorilla, though he was a happy influence on me as well.) and I love that he is all about kindness, gentleness, compassion and play. I hope you will find lots of people to play hug o'war with this weekend!

I was so excited when I received this from the amazing Emma. Look at her awesome idea! She left it completely open to encourage us and those who find it to color and play. Her quote was "Coloring is Fun!", and she is totally right! How many places can you think of to tuck this little spark of joy-filled fun into your community for some unsuspecting souls to find?




This weekend, I encourage you to remember what made you feel cozy, loved, inspired and joyful when you were a child? Is there a way to find bits and pieces of those experiences today? Also, watch and see what really fills up the love-well of those around you. What makes THEM feel cozy, loved, inspired and joyful? Fill up your well, and then, once you're overflowing, spill some love on your favorite people too.

Have a wonderful weekend! And big love to all the dads out there!

See you Monday!

PS My son is feeling much better! Thank you for the all the kind wishes! :)