all i did was listen is MOVING TODAY + a week of scrumptious DAILY GIVEAWAYS starting NOW!

pleeeease click here!: http://rachelawes.com
+ check out "all i did was listen"'s new home
starting TODAY!
the doors are WIDE OPEN
+ welcome mat is out!
once you get there, feel free to check it all out
+ be sure to click on "blog" + once there, become a new subscriber +
find a week of DAILY GIVEAWAYS!...
beginning with my book all i did was listen WITH LOVE!
share the news with your friends on your blog/facebook/twitter
+ multiply your chance of winning! (+ thank you for simply helping to spread the news)

all with love xox
http://rachelawes.com  

free cupcakes + art sale + library reading + author night at barnes + noble! + more news!

i'd love it if you could come +
please email me at rachelawes@gmail.com for the address!
...
also! tonight i will be reading some of "all i did was listen"
at the merriam park library in st. paul, mn
+ here is the link: library info for TONIGHT!
...
also! i will be one of the authors present at the minnetonka, mn barnes + noble
author night thurs, oct 10 at 7pm
...
looking forward to your company!

all with love, rachel
..
+ more news! "all i did was listen" will be moving!
 i can't wait to share all the details with you next monday!

listening to you

this lovely artist is

PIAROM

my name is conny or known as PIAROM...i have loved to paint since i was a child…but three years ago i found my way back to my muse and dove right into the world full of colors and shapes… i am a self taught artist…so i will invite you to be part of my journey right across the rich colored world...through my paintings i wanny share my world and imagination... because life is a game and i love to play...

blog
gallery

+

this lovely artist is

corrine gilman

corrine gilman is a creativity cheerleader, a big rock obstacle mover, a doer and a maker of all things mixed media. as an expressive arts facilitator she makes space for you to step into your own creativity by following your heart and not the rules, helping you kick that critic to the curb and open the door to possibility. she follows her muse recognizing that there are no mistakes only happy accidents in the blossoming of the creative spirit and wants to share this enthusiastically with you. corrine gives herself permission to be sparkly and sprinkles glitter wherever she goes. she will be teaching at lucky star art camp this october in the beautiful texas hill country.

 art camp

website

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  

yappas

i made this for my friend's pilates teacher,

who walks around the room as people are stretching

+ touches them while she encourages/guides them

+ calls these "yappas" (her marvelous made-up word).

let's all sign-up just for the yappas!

all with love xox

my deepest love

wanted to share this drawing with you...

 a gift to a newly married couple this month with part
of their sweet vows included.
...
((always yes to the deep + full + tenderest)) xox

love your life

this has to be the most unusual way i've ever delivered you a message!

come find all 39 seconds here at this link...with love xox

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5xTi_sEpoc

...
+ congratulations to sunbasil garden  for winning last week's artsyville tape giveaway!

artsyville GIVEAWAY

this is a giveaway for 6 luscious roles of colorful washi tape made by artsyville!
i love all things made by my friend aimee + have multiple items of hers on my desk + dresser + heart
like this + this + this
+ now i have these!:

just leave your name + email in the comments section below to enter
+ your name will be counted 2X if you are also an all i did was listen facebook follower (link here).
i will randomly pick a name sunday + announce the winner on next monday's blog post
(which, by the way, will be a post to not be missed!)
in the meantime + all the time,
aimee's awesome artsyville tape can be found
here + here
+ there will be 9 other giveaways of her tape in the next 9 days
on other blogs + you can find that "blog hop" schedule here
all with love xox
(GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED...winner announced in above post) 

listening to you

this lovely artist is
denise thewissen

i have been creating all kinds of things for as long as i can remember. i come alive when i have a paintbrush or a pencil in my hand, i make mosaics, i sew my own clothes, and generally have more ideas in my head than i have time to work them out. painting is my passion. it gives me energy and makes me happy and i want to share that feeling with people. with my art i want to bring some joy into the world, colour instead of grey, emotions instead of indifference, sun instead of rain. i want to take people into a magical world full of life and energy, and come out of it with a positive happy feeling. i love combining my art with quotes, make people think, urge people to see the good in themselves and in the world around them. give them a sense of wonder that they can take with them and use in their own life.

blog
facebook
website
etsy shop
red bubble shop

+

this lovely artist is

jenny grant

jenny says "namaste is a customary greeting + a symbol of gratitude + respect in Hindu. this painting tells me to just stop + be silent, mindful, + listen even though i am in the middle of a hectic life + a cluttered world. i want to listen + i want to be grateful!

jenny is a self taught mixed media artist that creates her art based on an intuitive process. her paintings evolve as she paint and when she finds her flow magic happens! she work with mixed media- acrylic paint, oil pastels, ink, color pencils, fabrics, paper and photos… anything that comes her way. her work is very rich with many layers that add depth and texture. her work is exhibited and for sale both in Sweden and New Zealand as well as on-line.

web/blog
facebook
etsy shop
society6
pinterest

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

be realistic

i found this saying on twitter this week

+ my soul stirred +

have since dedicated time for miracle planning

***

speaking of miracles,
the next day i walked into the miracle of life barn
at the minnesota state fair + met/pet this dear heart named "taffy"
who was just one day old (melt)

want to join me + plan a miracle too?
wondering what will come next for each of us...
xox
*
(print at top is etsy added with love http://rachelawes.com)

ole's starlight club + so much possibility

when i was in elementary school, my dad owned a bar called

"ole's starlight club" (ole was his dad's name).
he died a few years ago + i received his blue club shirt
+ decided to transform it + sent these drawings, along with his shirt,
 to this sweet birdie blue in australia to work her magic!

+ here's what she did!

woo hoo!

facebook

limited edition site

...

on another ((love)) note,

 i'd love to share with you

the story of when much changed for me

a few years ago... as an example for all of us ~ of how

the impossible simply ~ isn't...as kelly rae beautifully puts it

click here to see: kelly rae roberts' blog 

heartsun

in response to not feeling well,
my dear six year old brilliant friend, meseret,
made me a drawing of myself in a jacuzzi, complete with a heartsun.
i'm so grateful for the good + plenty that springs
from friendship...which includes each + every one of you.
xox
...
+ congratulations to both jennifer + terri for winning free spots
for 21 secrets LIVE (see the previous post)!
i decided to expand this giveaway from one to two winners
+ just wish i could give it to everyone who entered!
there is, however, an early bird discount for registering now, dear ones!

GIVEAWAY: 90 LIVE minutes of playing together

come create + chat LIVE next year

for 90 minutes with connie + i (+ the same with 20 others)!

the pre-sale begins today!

click here for more information:
21 secrets LIVE
AND i'm offering a giveaway for one free spot!
just leave your name + email in the comments here
+ i will randomly draw a name sunday.

peace n love xox
*
+ i'd LOVE to see you at this week's book signing!
see info here: barnes + noble, maplewood, mn 

leave no one behind

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

*

+ please join me today

on the online breaking free talk show from 1-2pm EST (12-1 MN time)

talking about living into our fullness + full color...

+ it's available ALSO to watch afterward

at this link: breaking free

*

also...i'd love your company in august!

book signings at barnes + noble are coming up ~

thursday august 8 from 7-9 pm in edina, mn

edina/galleria barnes + noble
+ saturday august 17 from 1-3 pm in maplewood, mn
maplewood barnes + noble 

listening to you

this lovely artist is

junelle jacobsen

i am Yes and Amen, Junelle Jacobsen ~ an avid photojournalist, prolific sketcher, a wild art teacher and mentor,  mum of boy-men, a nun-in-disguise, and lover of the sheep.  

i am a passionate advocate for playful curiosity and living life through daily adventures ~ i want to see, to experience, to understand and then share the goodness that abounds in this life.  it doesn’t matter if it is sketching, smearing gesso, shooting photographs, biking or hiking, writing prose, or sharing a laugh...whatever helps to see the world anew everyday -- that is my daily work, my call in life.

a huge part of that is learning to live life with open & unclenched hands, follow the divine path wherever it takes me, and remembering to have a bag packed for what’s coming next.  i choose to live life with a “Yes” on my lips, a welcoming heart for new friends, and that *adventure* word scribbled at the top of every day’s list. 

blog

my current summer class open house

the blessed barnyard

little shop on the corner

me.junelle@gmail.com

+ this lovely artist is
monika welch

i am a mixed media artist, tutor and i own a gallery here in NZ called hot ginger. i like painting woman figures, who are sometimes, strong, playful, haunting, mysterious, .....but all with stories. i like writing stories, writing songs and painting stories...which are always open to interpretation. i love to teach and share the creative LOVE. creating is its on therapy and i feel it is my life's pleasure to teach people to create....and give them permission to play!

facebook
website

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 

more on dreams...

etsy added with love xox

http://rachelawes.com 

the basket of me

etsy added w/love xox

http://rachelawes.com 

love + realsies

i had the "color run" on my calendar to do for months

(scheduled yesterday) + i had thought this run would be 

the topic of today's post.

instead, a fever rose up + said "stay home".

this reminded me of being 8 + my whole fam got sick 

+ we couldn't see the new pippi longstocking movie as planned!

the only thing left for me was to feel my sadness
+ then notice what may appear next...

sweetly, this dear artist, signe, was able to take my place
+
i moved, full circle, + ordered a pippi longstocking book + dvd!

...

another next will be a barnes + noble book signing

in roseville, minnesota, july 20 at 2pm

link: book signing 

all with love + realsies to the beats in our hearts

xox

cushion the abyss

inspired by marilyn, host of the breaking free talk show,

when she spoke of the importance of 

getting a cup of tea, call a friend, take a walk, cushion the abyss,

to get through times of blah + difficulty.

(our conversation still viewable here: breaking free show)

...

shared with great love for this place of tender

+ for the tending

xox
(+ congratulations to lura, winner of the somerset life mag giveaway from last week!)

listening to you

this lovely artist is:

vanessa brantley newton

vanessa brantley newton grew up in a musical family who loved to sing. she
is a self-taught illustrator, doll maker, and crafter who studied fashion
illustration at FIT and children's book illustration at the school of visual
arts in new york. she loves all things old and retro and it finds its way
into her illustrations and artwork. her voice for writing is as simple and sweet as the voice she sings with. she is the author and illustrator of 'Let Freedom Sing' and 'Don't Let Auntie Mabel Bless the Table' and has
illustrated numerous children's books including 'One Love' & 'Every Little Thing,' words by Bob & Cedella Marley, and 'Tallulah' written by Tori Spelling. vanessa currently makes her nest in charlotte, NC with her husband of 20 years, their daughter, and a very rambunctious cat named stripes.

blog

+ 

this lovely artist is:
flora bowley

flora bowley is an internationally celebrated painter, teacher, author, and inspirationalist.  her vibrant paintings can be found in numerous galleries, in public spaces, on album covers and on a variety of unique licensed products found around the world.  flora combines eighteen years of professional painting experience with her background as a yoga instructor, massage therapist and lifelong joy seeker to infuse her teaching and painting style with a deep connection to body, mind, and spirit.  flora’s intuitive and transformational approach to painting (and living) and has inspired thousands of people to “let go, be bold and unfold” as they step fearlessly into their creative process. flora’s book,Brave Intuitive Painting, was published by quarry books in may, 2012, and has already sold over 17,000 copies.  flora spends her time painting, teaching workshops around the world, running online courses, exploring mossy forests, and living among a vibrant community of artists in portland, or.  

to see flora’s art and find out more about her book, online courses and workshops, please visit 

website

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

somerset life! july 2013 magazine + GIVEAWAY

somerset life! july 2013 

delighted + grateful to have this spread
in somerset lifes' beautiful magazine.
i share a story here
about how my life is found in my art
+ my art found in my life...
a thin line between the two.
all with love xox
..
also a GIVEAWAY of one magazine...
simply leave a comment here if you'd like to enter,
along w/your email address,
+ i will randomly draw a name by next monday.
(i'll enter your name twice for those making a purchase
from my shop this week http://rachelawes.com)

places to meet

i would love to meet you 

in person!

here are some possible places

xox

white bear lake, mn

...

+/or online

for a skype interview

on living a fulfilling life

here: http://www.perchedtofly.com/2013/06/rachel-awes/

...

+/or you can still watch this,

aired live june 24, 8pm eastern standard time

on the breaking free internet talk show
+ available to watch afterward as well

here: the breaking free show

i found this sweet art in the sundance store 

in my trip last week to colorado

(thank you to this unknown artist!)

~ with love to you all ~

a breath between posts

a breath between posts (for a week or two)

to take in mountains/sun/moon

xox

easel work

i have walked through my moms' t-shirts,

drying in her kitchen entryway

to begin painting flowers on her cabinets

+ cleared off the clutter that was above + below.

(next, i will bring blues into those blooms)

~

walking into each others lives, through all that it is,

is not always easy work, but it is the work of this easel,

+ of my very life.

xox

listening to you

 this lovely artist is

magaly perez

i'm an artist who loves to smudge her fingers in paint and make beautiful works of art on paper. and love to share all this beauty to the world. painting is intimate for me, the solitude of space, my paper, my acrylics and brushes. a connection where thoughts and feelings are making beautiful music together . sometimes they spill loudly across the page other times is like listening to blues lavishly rattling the motions in my soul. my heart, my mind are at a flow. the rhythm feels right and once i'm feeling the groove everything i need in that given moment is in place. and i know the story--the image has begun and i'm having fun.

shop

blog

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

barnes & noble!

"all i did was listen" is now in minnesota barnes + noble stores!

(mall of america, calhoun, downtown mpls, maplewood, highland, har mar, + galleria)

for those of you not in minnesota, hopefully these will eventually travel your way as well

+ for now, avail in my shop at http://rachelawes.com or through amazon w/love.

loose

(etsy added with love xox)

http://rachelawes.com

summer tee tunes

summer breeze, makes me feel fine

blowing through the jasmine in my mind

( ~ seals and crofts ~ )

(pardon the backward mirror read!)

new tees (+ more) avail in tshirt section here with love!

xox

my makings are coming alive

carissa puts on this girl
+ brings her to life
blog + shop

jennifer bakes this book
+ blesses her into fuller being
blog + shop

+ meseret inspired the drawing on this tee
+ shows me the way i must go.

(you can click on any pic to make bigger)
thank you, each + all, for making my makings complete
with your very lives.
 xox
all + more available here