{one truly amazing day}

Last Saturday 16 brave souls put their trust in mine and Louise Gale's hands and joined us for Your Awesome Year.

We celebrated 2011 and bid it farewell

We spent time affirming ourselves

We played with magazines, and glue, textas and pens

We took time for ourselves and time to connect

We indulged

We let ourselves dream and let those dreams pour onto our vision boards

It was truly the most amazing day.

For me it was a moment of coming home.  To finding myself in a place that I'd been yearning for and yet denying for such a long time.  I have been involved in facilitating groups and leading others in their journey for as long as I can remember.  For some reason over the last few years I've really struggled to embrace that part of myself.  Saturday left me with absolutely no doubt that this is what I'm meant to be doing and what I love to do.  Combined with the work I'm doing in my Soul Business course it was life changing.

If you weren't able to join us this time don't worry, there'll be more where that came from, including a retreat that I'm dreaming of for next year!  {Eeek, can't believe I'm putting that out there already!}

*Thanks to Ms L for being our official photographer and for all your hard work.  I couldn't have done it, or anything that matters for that matter, without you.  Muah!

{stop the press}

There's so much news to share and I want to fill you in on everything that's been happening with me over the last few weeks.  BUT I've got the most sensational giveaway to share first.

You all know I'm a huge fan of Vivienne McMaster.  She's completely inspiring and I absolutely love her work.

Vivienne has generously offered up a giveaway for her upcoming Light Hunters e-course and I'm delighted to offer someone the chance to join one of her amazing courses.

About Light Hunters {from Vivienne's website}
The Light Hunting classes invite you to ignite your relationship with light. Photography is visual poetry based on the language of light. These courses invite you not only to seek out the light on the bright beautiful days but as well to seek it out in places where others may not notice it. At the core of these courses is the idea that there is always light and you are invited to look at the world around you in a different light.

Through visual inspiration and thoughtful posts, you are will find yourself falling in love with light and see an improvement in your photography!

Light Hunters, the original course, is a 30 day class. Each day you are invited to look at a new aspect of light as these daily posts arrive in your inbox!

All you need to do to enter is leave a comment.  But be quick.  I'll be drawing the winner on Wednesday.  Class starts this week. {make sure you include an email contact for this one}

*****

Here's a quick summary of other news:

• I have two new jobs starting this week.  Excellent part-time jobs that will energise and inspire me, pay the bills and leave plenty of room for my own creative work.
• Hello Soul Hello Business is continuing to blow me away and change everything about the way I see myself in business.
• Your Awesome Year was absolutely incredible.  It was amazing for the participants and for me it was like coming home after years of denying my true calling.
• I'm working on my own vision board for 2012.
• I've got my first solo gallery exhibition opening at Red Brick on Friday 17th Feb at 6pm and I'd love you to join me.
• Things feel like they are lining up for me at the moment in the most incredible way.
• 2012 is going to be an absolutely awesome year.

{baking treats of different kind}

Little nuggets of magic for Your Awesome Year

We have just a couple of spots left for Your Awesome Year and have decided to extend registration until 12pm Sunday {tomorrow}.  Just in case there's anyone out there who has been thinking about joining us but hasn't got to doing so yet.

All the workshop info is here and you can sign up here

Dreaming and planning for this workshop has been such an incredible experience.  It's been amazing to watch it come to life and to watch me come to life with it.  Combined with the Hello Soul Hello Business course that I'm one week into {it's totally life changing my friends} I feel like I am taking off at the moment.  And it feels fan-fucking-tastic.

For those of you coming along next Saturday you are in for one absolutely awesome day.

See you tomorrow for {sunday snippets} peeps!

{dear 2011}*

 

What a crazy mixed up kinda year you were.  Truth be told I'm so very glad to put you behind me.  You were full of twists and turns that's for sure.  And yes there were good bits and gifts alongside all the crap, but I will always remember you as the toughest of the tough.  A year that nearly broke me in half.

Here's what you brought me 2011

January

• I made a list of all my dreams and hopes for the year
• I found the word that would carry me through the year.  And it so did.  I had no idea when I picked 'resolve' just how much I was going to need it.
• Had a gorgeous staycation
• I watched in horror and disbelief as floods ravaged Queensland and Victoria
• Returned to full time work and boy did I thank god for Fridays!
• A dream came true when I discovered Flora Bowley was coming to teach in Australia in 2011
• The gift of love and a new camera

February

• I celebrated 3 years of blogging, remembered tradgedy and finished an important painting
• I struggled to find balance alongside full time work and missed my artful journey pals
• I fell madly in love with Fridays

March

• Cracks started to appear as I continued to struggle with balance
• I took tiny steps
• I realised I was going to be OK

April

• I had a life changing and soul stirring art experience when I attended the Flora Bowley Bloom True workshop in Jervis Bay.  I had an incredible trip with my dear friend Jay.  I also met the amazing Tracy Verdugo.
• Ms L and I celebrated our 11 year anniversary in amidst a whole lotta stuff
• I chose happiness
• I was published in a real live book

May

• I made Cam a pretty awesome birthday present {if I do say so myself}
• We found a new home
• I turned 40, moved house and Ms L lost her job all in the same week!
• I said farewell to my beloved first studio

June

• I had two Mondo Beyondo dreams come true and learnt some things about the power of dreaming
• I held my second solo exhibition at Chair 14.  It was fabulous and exhausting and amazing
• I found a resting place
• I discovered a few things

July

• I started {sunday snippets}.  Wow, can't believe it's been 6 months.
• I struggled some more to find balance alongside full time work
• I asked some questions and reminded myself of my truth
• And then I got blocked

August

• I made friends with winter
• I published my 500th blog post
• I rode the waves
• I dreamed of escape and indulged the fantasy
• I celebrated the success of my exhibition and renovated my studio
• And celebrated a major milestone.  So proud of this one.

September

• I delivered hope to a good friend
• I showed off my new studio
• I got the dreaded lurgy
• Saw myself in a new way
• Had the perfect mini-break
• Got ready for Blogtberfest with hundreds of amazing peeps signing up to play

October

• Kicked off Blogtoberfest with a travelers guide
• Acknowledged the role that grief plays in my life
• Started work on a very exciting collaboration.
• Celebrated Ms L's birthday
• Got really, really, really sick and bailed on Blogtoberfest.  I hated having to bow out.
• Wrote a list of good and shit stuff
• Said farewell to another blogtoberfest

November

• Launched {finkigirl} in collaboration with Jay and totally changed the way I saw myself as an artist and my plans for the future.  I have so much more to say about this. It was a major highlight for 2011.
• I disappeared
• Played with self-portraiture after being blown away by this photo of Danielle.  Treat yourself to one of Vivienne's courses peeps. 

December

• I quit my full-time job after finally acknowledging the negative impact it was having on every aspect of my life
• I painted and then painted some more
• I hosted my annual open studio
• Got ready for Santa
• Enjoyed a quiet Christmas with Ms L and Mumsy
• And painted some more

Yep, 2011 you were one crazy mixed up kinda year alright.  Thank you for the hard lessons and the moments of joy.  Thank you for teaching me that I am strong and brave and kind.  Thank you for helping me understand my truth and find my path through life.  Thank you for the love and the friendships that you bestowed on me, that kept me afloat throughout all the crazy.

2011 I declare you complete!

*I love that my Canadian soul sister Danielle posted the exact same post today!  We must be totes in sync at the moment.

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An update on the 2012: Your Awesome Year Workshop

We are about two-thirds full so if you've been thinking about joining us now is the time.  We would love to have you.

I've been working today on the content and some of the treats we've got in store for participants.  It is going to be a seriously amazing and special day for everyone who comes along.  I'm so proud of what Louise and I have created.

Sign up here to pay in full or here if you'd like to go the pay-by-installments option.

{you are held}

in your hopes and your dreams

your moments of strength

as you reach for everything you know is possible

in your fear and overwhelm

in all your self-doubt and uncertainty

you are held

the universe has you firmly in her arms

these are the words i needed to hear today

i thought you might need them too

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Looking for an amazing way start to your year?  Join myself and fellow dreamer Louise Gale for an imtimate one-day visioning workshop in the lush surrounds of CERES Community Environmental Park.

More details here or register right here.