Full Steam Ahead

Good-day creative mates, I've been plotting out some fun new ways to reengage with blogging, stay inspired and share my creative magic without getting overwhelmed. Aside from putting 97% of my creative energy toward my first eee-course, Legend of You (I may be taking a while to piece it together but the wait will be worth it. I have never been more proud of anything in my life. I imagine it's what mothers must feel when their first child is born. That's the kind of energy I feel. Also that all my other "birthing" won't take as long after this...)

I'm cooking up some other fun projects, goals, and challenges to explore + blog about this year.  Here are some ideas I'm churning around:

1. Creative In-spur-ation: inner and outer things to spur the creative journey.
2. Silly Sunday: something silly for the sake of pure silliness. Say that 10 times fast. This week I played dress-up (see last photo).  
3. Week-In-Pictures: A visual wrap up & some words on my journey each week. Trying to come up with a better name for this, but for now. . . 
4. 365 NightlyWanderings: 4 or 5 years ago I started to draw every night in bed. I wanted to improve my drawing skills, end my days creatively, and take advantage of that sleepy head-space to hopefully follow and collect strands of subconscious wisdom. I have rekindled this love affair and I'm taking it to bed with me every night via my iPad. A bit erotic? (^.^) More on this soon!
5. Healing for ACOA's: It's no secret anymore -- I've only shared little glimpses of my journey to wholeness after being raised by an alcoholic, but I'm ready to step out of the closet with the fact I am an "adult child of an alcoholic" and I have wandered down many windy roads to get here and I am ready to help others (ACOA's and beyond) overcome and become whole again. Yes. The aftermath IS beautiful... 

WEEK IN PICTURES:

S P A C E carved out in my studio. Hung shelves above and created a massive bulletin board.

A messy little squirrel nest made of leaves I admire every morning.

A place to storyboard Legend of You . 

To see it. To feel it (and other-such-dreams) made real. My intuition led me here and I'm loving it.

Revisited and created  

 NEW ART

Midweek: pushed past resistance and showed up to yoga class. Kundalini yoga has been one of the greatest experiences and teachers of my entire life. 

Made the best coconut chicken curry of my life.

Felt the fierceness of  what SHOWING UP can do. Do you know this feeling of pushing past?! Of showing up in the dark? Roooooar! (it moves mountains)

Some video stills: Week 3: Legend of You / Getting Grounded.

More video stills: found the legends of THIS TREE. . . what it had to share. 

Dressed in blues and silvers under the NEW MOON!

Kissed stoic lions.  

Ended it all with SILLY SUNDAY. Played dress up.

This week was all about resistance and moving forward. Onward and through. FULL STEAM AHEAD. 

With my whole heart. 

I send you love and all green lights. Wayne Dyer

+ 

Carissa

Wonder Books in person! + "Space Holding"

Little Blue typewriter + goodies to rifle through!

Beautiful messes

by Shari Sherman aka HulaDogDesigns

Demo table

Inspired Wonder-Women

by Jane Renfroe

by Jackie Tomassi

by Kim Brown

by Radha Ananda Prema

by Miriam Chacon

by Laurin MacLeish

Wisdom unfolding by Miriam and Jackie

Scatters of wisdom by Shari Sherman.... 

"Wisdom Begins in Wonder"-socrates

I am at a loss for words! This past weekend I held the first Wonder Books workshop in downtown Sanford at the Jeanine Taylor Folk Art Gallery where 8 wonder-full women gathered round and opened wide, let looooose and freeeee. Each with their own unique and wild voice. A total dream! The messages that came through serendipitously to everyone through blind pickings and painted unfoldings was a true joy to witness. The happy mistakes, the pushing through, the connections and magic that happen when creative women get together. It's a true force of nature. . . a cyclone of creative energy with all sorts of happy heart sparkles dashing about the room. Hugest thanks to our hostess with the mostest -- Mary K Shaw and Jeanine Taylor for the holding the most glorious space.

I have been working long & hard to bring this and other eee-courses to you very soon! Sign up for my newsletter in the upper right to find out when.

The art featured on the walls is a collection of "Delicate Creatures" by Carolina Cleere. We were all so happy to create amongst her creatures!!

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Last but not least: 
A sugary-sweet-collab between me -n- Rachel Awes!!

Space Holding / Holding Space unfolded back and forth with pure magic and joy. It is a reminder of the sacred essentialness of Space Holding for ourselves, our hearts, and others -- a reminder than when we get together creatively and work together creatively we amplify that energy and miraculous things bloom. To share in our journeys, to hold space for one another, to hold space for our art / our exploding hearts, to hold space for our everything we've been through to guide and lead, to BLESS / HONOR / and BURY the rest.

Taking all of that wisdom gathered in wonder-ing and sprinkling it into the lives of others. . . . 

This print is a reminder of the power that comes from Space Holding. Click here to get a print!

With Wonder, 

Carissa 

PS. There are some more photos of Wonder Books taken by the gallery right here!

Wonder Books Workshop!

I'm very excited about my upcoming workshop at the Jeanine Taylor Folk Art Gallery. It's always been my favorite gallery so I'm thrilled they are hosting my little Wonder Books workshop!! We'll be creating 3 unique mixed-media spreads inside altered board books.... geared toward awakening our wonder, inner wisdom, and empowering our path... I have a few surprises up my sleeve so I don't want to reveal too much just yet!! You'll have to come see / experience for yourself ;) 

Class info: 

Location: 211 East 1st Street  Sanford, FL 32771

Sign Up: (407) 323-2774

With Love + Wonder, 

Carissa

PS. I'm working on bringing this class to the online world too! You can sign up for my newsletter at the top right of this page to find out when.