grateful

here are a few things i find myself grateful for lately

***

for the beautiful support from so many of you for my book
(my scanner isn't wide enough to show every name ~ my cup overflows)

for the wee steps in starting a new one

for the steps of all i love both far + near

(here, a photo of our oldest, abe, in shadow in the middle back)

+ for my word of the year ((held))
+ how it continues to find me
(photo of my dad, who passed a few years ago, + i).

there is always goodness to count
because all of our lives count so dearly.
love to you xox

gather the flowers

maybe when we
gather the flowers

they are surprising us
+ are actually
full of our dreams
+ wings for our flight
+ taste like blue raspberry popsicles

as long as their colors can last
+
for as long as we let them in.

*

etsy added with love etsy shop xox
+
congratulations to relyn for winning a 21 secrets spot!
(not too late to enroll/see the post below if you are interested!)

art journaling workshop "21 secrets" GIVEAWAY

giving away

one free membership

to this art journaling online workshop

taught by myself + many wonderful others

(see more here: 21 secrets)

just leave a comment here if you'd like to win
+ a way to reach you

+ as long as you are a current or new follower of 

this all i did was listen blog,

your name will be entered into a random hat

(entries taken through march 17 at noon)

*

peace n love xox

spring

(please click on pic to see bigger)

etsy added with love xox

listening to you

this lovely artist is:

lori portka

Lori is a full-time artist with a mission is to spread happiness.   Her designs appear on greeting cards, prints, calendars, prayer flags and magazines internationally.  Lori is also the creator of A Month of Thank Yous, a beautifully uplifting gratitude kit.  All of her artwork is made with an open heart and the intention to spread love and healing. 

http://loriportka.com

http://www.etsy.com/shop/loriportka

+
this lovely artist is:
ashley inzer

Hi, I'm Ashley Inzer and I run an intuitive graphic design & high end branding business. I work with entrepreneurs who dare to create the reality they dream of living.  This means I work with some serious rockstar women who run conscious-based businesses. Most of these women are coaches, healers, authors, artists & rebels. I really love the rebels :) They reveal to me time and again that we really can have it all. 

Since I am naturally an empath I feel things about people, you know? I also have 12 years of professional design experience. This makes for some seriously remarkable graphic design & brand strategy. 

• I am fascinated by human behavior and the mind/body/spirit connection. 
• I believe in the power of good feelings and delight.
• I take a stand for co-creation and compassion.

I live in Los Angeles, California with my animals & gorgeous husband. Please come and say hello through the links below!

http://www.ashleyinzer.com/

http://www.facebook.com/ashleyinzer

http://www.twitter.com/ashleyinzer

http://www.pinterest.com/ashleyinzer

*

if you would like your art/photography referencing listening here, please email me with 1-2 attachments, your links + short bio to rachelawes@gmail.com

an invitation

*

i'll be at the bibelot shop on grand ave in st. paul,

signing all i did was listen books,

february 28 from 5-9 pm.

hope to see you there!

bibelot shop on grand

xo

you are loved

yes indeed. xox

(gloves from the lovely http://etsy.com/shop/Wellofcreations)

the colors

happy valentines week

the language of the heart

is a very fine thing...

worthy of being listened to

+ followed

for as many miles as we have to

+ want to + must.

xox

*

((also))

please come if you can to an

"all i did was listen" feb. 12 book signing!
http://www.commongoodbooks.com/event/rachel-awes-discusses-her-book-all-i-did-was-listen

giving away original pages

here are some of my original typings + scribbly notes

from the rough draft of "all i did was listen".

i came across them as i began to
finally clear a space
of pilings
from the four years of making.

i need to
empty
in order
for anything new
to really emerge.

i have two manuscripts i've partially begun
+ i'd like to return to them.

i wonder if anyone would want these pages...
what i do know is i need to let them go.
in this spirit, i will give them in two parts to the next two people
who order my book here
http://rachelawes.com
(please note "pages" in the note in your order +
i will announce the winners on my facebook page)

with love to all your emptyings + emergings,
xox rachel

listening to you

this lovely artist is chrissie grace:

My name is Chrissie Grace.

Who I am in a nutshell:

Child of God

wife

mother

friend

artist

author

lover of coffee

beach girl at heart

dancer

teacher

I love to create...it is in my heart and soul and it is at the essence of who I am.

blog:  http://www.chrissiegrace.blogspot.com/

shop:  http://www.chrissiegraceart.etsy.com/

email:  gracechrissie@yahoo.com

*

+ this lovely artist is julia fehrenbacher:

"whispers of truth" art

+

poetry:

Listening

What if I just sit here 
right now 
and maybe 
forever

sipping tea
and poetry, breathing in 
each word 
like it's all 
that will keep me
alive

Listening

as the right now
wild rain
grows wilder 

just the two of us 
side by side
pouring 
our thirsty hearts
all over the place

(and)...

Dear you

you, the one reading these words

you, with your ancient, wanting heart

you, wondering if you'll ever

get it right

I invite you to pause

for a moment

to listen to the space

between

these words

to the space where softness

rests

and hunger

fades

to the space that so

gently

asks you to

stop

the thoughts

that doubt your worth

to stop the voices that compare

and leave you feeling

less

There is no less

there are no shadows or shoulds, no pretty or good

no bad or broken, no right or wrong in

Love

There is only this breath

and that which breathes it

there is only You

and your giggling, fully blossomed

Self

Julia Fehrenbacher is an author, a poet, and a painter.  Her life’s work is to step into her truest, most empowered self so that she may guide others to the same.  She lives in Corvallis, Oregon with her husband and two little girls.  If you’d like to join her on this path of shedding & opening & living from a place of truth and authenticity, please visit her at http://paintedpath.org, she’d so love to have you there. 

Julia released her first book of poetry and art, On the Other Side of Fear, in May of 2012.  It, along with her art, is available at http://juliafeh.etsy.com

*

(if you would like your art/photography referencing listening here, please email me with 1-2 attachments, your links + short bio to rachelawes@gmail.com)

new piece: hippy valentines day

(click on pic to see bigger)

etsy added w/love:

http://rachelawes.com

+

a book signing is coming up/
please come if you can!
http://www.commongoodbooks.com/event/rachel-awes-discusses-her-book-all-i-did-was-listen

+

reviews + dear emails have been coming in

about reader's responses to the book

"all i did was listen"...

(can find book here for yourself and/or as a 

valentines gift! : http://rachelawes.com)

here are a few reviews, if you've been curious

about buying one, + if you already have a book

+ wouldn't mind gifting me with an additional review

at the link directly below, that would be lovely!

http://www.amazon.com/all-i-did-was-listen/product-reviews/1467547727/ref=cm_cr_dp_see_all_btm?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

thank you, dearly, xo

valentines on my mind

preparing my heart

for the language of a valentine

these + more available as both prints + cards

etsy added with love http://rachelawes.com

and...
if you'd like a lil' window into my presentation at the art store "wet paint" last week,
my facebook page has an album of photos https://www.facebook.com/rachel.awes?ref=tn_tnmn

and
here is a personal story behind my book writing that i'd love to share with you
over at mindy's blog
http://www.wishstudiolife.com/2013/01/jan20-all-i-did-was-listen.html

xox

smart

"what does being smart mean?"

was asked at a children's sermon

+ one of the children responded

"being true of yourself"

+ i took in a whoosh of breath

+ learned from this dear littlebig teacher.

*

KID t-shirt, print + cards, etsy added w/love:

 https://www.etsy.com/listing/109896782/smart-colorful-print-rachel-awes

*

other bits o news:

i'll be speaking here this week:

http://www.wetpaintart.com/page.cfm/Current-News/Events.html

+

transformative art journaling workshop is now available for sign-up here:

21 secrets

+

find article i've written for us all about resting here:

http://girlfriendology.com/7818/resting-a-new-years-perspective-for-girlfriends-from-guru-rachel-awes/

xox

available now! transformative art journaling workshop.

now available for registration!

here is the description of the workshop i'll be offering there:

transformative art journaling

this psychologist + art playgroundist will guide you through identifying messages within of fear + trembliness + transforming them into artful affirmations in your journals. come see how the beauty within is truly astounding ~ even, + maybe especially, out of the hidden + painful places.

and! there are many more fabulous art journaling workshops offered alongside!

come see at 21 secrets!

my word for 2013

(click pic to see bigger)

~held~

my word for 2013

this word found me.

this year my word references what i am

allowing/receiving/thanking.

i am a lil' tired from a lot of making,

blissfully so.

so i simply open up my palms

for renewal.

xox

(etsy added w/love http://rachelawes.com)

listening to you

the first lovely artist is maryann mckeating

Mary Ann is a self-taught artist and licensed speech-language pathologist, who finds inspiration in just about anything and everything around her. In addition to making art, Mary Ann loves yoga, gardening, antiquing/junking, exploring, working with her speech students and following her bliss whenever at all possible.  She resides in the middle of cornfields and woods with her very supportive husband and kitty tribe in southern WI. 

she can be found at:

http://followyourbliss.etsy.com/

http://followyourblissdesigns.facebook.com/

http://twitter.com/followurbliss

http://followyourbliss.pinterest.com/

http://firstborn.wordpress.com/

+

the next lovely artist is mary nassar

Mary is a painter and art educator living in the Greater St. Louis Area. She loves creating mixed-media paintings layered with maps and geologic drawings.

This work was inspired by her experiences taking walks and hikes outside, listening and reconnecting with nature.  

she can be found at:

http://marycnasser.com/blog.html

http://marycnasser.com/

http://twitter.com/marycnasser

http://facebook.com/MaryNasserArt

*

(if you would like your art/photography referencing listening here, please email me with 1-2 attachments, your links + short bio to rachelawes@gmail.com) 

a new year + a new offering

happy new years (eve)!

transformative art journaling workshop 2013

i am excited to share the news

of this offering in 2013.

i will be teaching an online workshop,

alongside a number of other talented teachers,

through dirty footprints studio.

registration begins in january.

please click on the link to learn more!

*

+ i share this drawing, as we all turn into a new year

+ as we begin to peek into all that our deeply beautiful lives

want to offer.

*sending out love to each + every one of you.

xox

things to give away

like blowing bubbles, i send this love out to you.

feel free to copy + paste + pass it on.

let's fill up the whole wide world.

happy holidays xox
*
also! i just learned of my dear friend now hosting a giveaway
of one "all i did was listen" book + a beautiful print...
find these at: http://www.apapersnowflake.blogspot.com/2012/12/give-away-print-of-sun-signe.html

listening to you

this lovely artist is marie heb:

"I've always been an artist from the days I would quietly sit behind my childhood home, and sketch photos from borrowed library books.  However,it wasn't  until 7 years ago I became more serious about pursuing it when I serendipitously met a woman whom I connected with. She took me under her wing for a year with private studies in Fine Art.  Unfortunately, my mentor passed away, and I continued on my journey by taking many workshops, mainly in mixed media. It took me approx. 2 years to find  my style, and discovered that I don't slot  myself in a particular  category. I would say I'm  a creative soul. I love to create on how I feel in the moment.Some of my subjects are stylized, fantasy, whimsies with positive messages, angels,florals,and assemblage.

It's a beautiful  continual journey of learning and discovering.

Here's a taste of what I create. These are recent art!"

More of my artwork can be found @ my blog , Facebook or etsy.

http://petitbijouartshop.etsy.com

 http://lotuspond56-artlover.blogspot.ca/

 https://www.facebook.com/mariette.heb

+

this lovely artist is lisa erickson:

Listen to the flowers
Listening to their body language, their unfolding in the morning and closing in the evening, open pedaled to the sun and unrecognizable lines for bee paths to the center. Listening with all senses as I believe they have secrets to tell.
 (Part of a series of images about taking in flowers with all senses.)

Lisa has been interested in art since she was young. She graduated from Kansas City Art Institute in the late 80's art has led her in many directions including backdrops, printmaking, illustration, teaching, painting and drawing and recently she has started up a new body of digital work that includes cards and prints.' Hear the Flowers' is one of these new works. It is a series of five pieces depicting the five senses and is inspired from working at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in the Sensory Garden with recovering substance abuse and teenage pregnancy teens. She lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota and is married with two children and works also as a dental hygienst. 

 www.lisarydinerickson.com
www.apapersnowflake.blogspot.com

(if you would like your art/photography referencing listening here, please email me with 1-2 attachments, your links + short bio to rachelawes@gmail.com)

lovely spaces

offering thanks

that "all i did was listen"

has found its way

into lovely spaces:

http://www.commongoodbooks.com/

http://www.bibelotshops.com/ on grand ave.

http://www.micawbers.com/

http://www.livelaughlovegifts.com/

+

also online
to reach
you + you + you
with love always
http://rachelawes.com
and
http://amazon.com
 xox