REVolution

word up #92: REPLENISH

the new word is up over at One Little Word, and this time it is REPLENISH. oh, such a word i need to start remembering on a daily basis. on my new way of better taking care of myself. of what i want, what makes me happy but also what is healthy for me.

learning to say NO. did you know NO is a complete sentence? yup. and you really don't even need to explain. TO ANYONE. geesh. go figure.

so replenish it is. working more and more in my art journal too. in a week or 2 my company will be moving AGAIN, and we are moving back into our old building. which i love. i get to have my own office again (now i'm just sitting like a duck in the shop. no really. i'm just in the middle of the shop, because there simply was no room for me anymore in the office-part of the shop). 

and there will be 2 desks. TWO. one for the business part with my computer and that boring stuff. the other?! YES. with all my art stuff. i'll bring my art journal to work. let's see how that goes. i'm planning on working in it A LOT. but i'm also afraid that all the plans i have in my head, will not work for one second. but hey, the drive is here. the will is here. the dream is here. let's just make it happen. i know i can.

life is good. replenish.
rev

oh, and pstttt. today Arjan and i celebrate our 24-together-anniversery. WHAAAATTT? yup. 24 years. i feel like a granny now.

feather. and i'm learning how to meditate, not that easy!

{feather, one of the classes from Tamara Laporte in Lifebook 2015. yes. she's such a genius and i'm really happy i gave myself that ecourse as a gift. not one moment of regret. just wow.}

 

and i'm back in the land of the living. have been sick for over a week now. started out as the flu, but over the weekend i started coughing like a seal. a huge seal. so i went to the doctors and turns out i have this heavy respiratory infection. great. so i breathe like i'm running a marathon, and i cough like an old man who smokes a package a day. or actually make that 2 packages. but i'm starting to feel a little bit better now. it was a nasty flu this year! i just hope my cute muppets won't get it, and Arjan certainly not, no need for another lung infection for him!

in January i promised myself some changes and mostly commitment. commitment to myself. to nurture myself more. to say more NO. like NO IS A SENTENCE. i'm always defending myself. explaining to others. feel quilty if i choose me. not in front of my real close friends, they totally understand me, but other people. and maybe mostly that little (or big fat huge) voice in my head. so now i try to remember (if i push myself to do something i don't feel like doing "says who!". 

and one of the things i really really really really would love to learn and incorporate in my lifestyle is meditating. maybe even some yoga. i need to get fit first and i do train with a psychical therapist. but my condition is zero (not because i just had the flu, i truly have a bad condition). so i want to work on that.

do you meditate? do you have tips, advices, ideas, do's and don't's for me? please let me know anything you want to tell me about meditating and what works for you. i need to get it into my schedule. also how you managed to get it into your schedule is more than welcome!

life is good. meditate.
rev

drawing girls gives me peace and quiet.

created this little girl a little while ago. i LOVE the lessons from Tam Laporte in Lifebook 2015. love love love it. i feel it's very calming to just draw girls. and paint them. or use some cute mixed media stuff on them.

this one turned out a bit yellow-ish, but i think that's my scanner. in real life she does have a normal color. i promise :).

i feel more happy creating again. because i was busy with work, shop, webshop, and more work, i totally 'forgot' how creating made me feel. i truly do need it on a regular basis. it just makes me feel good. it relaxes me. it gives me peace and quiet. although i love to turn up the music while creating. 

on the agenda today: it was a day off, but it was already filled with other stuff. no problem, i can still squeeze in me-time somewhere today! 

life is good. peace and quiet are a necessity.
rev 

 

nothing can dim the light.... NOTHING.

{art journal page "nothing can dim the light that shines from within"}

i've had a very needed week off last week. and all i did was create. yup. sneaked in some work mail here and there, but mostly painty hands. art journal page above is what i'm thinking about lately. nothing sure as hell is gonna dim my light! i just need to shine it the way i want it to shine and stop listening to 'other people' who want something for me. i know best. but i'm always drawn to so many things. story of my life. but one thing i know for sure, i need to create.

it just makes me feel so good to create. i really missed it. it makes me feel even more confident about my decision for the shop only to be open during workshops. confident i'm making the right choice. choosing my path. my journey. the way it needs to be for me. to feel free. to feel happy. so it's working out just perfectly for me now. as far as perfect goes. because today starts another day at the office.

and there are a few things i'm learning to change. like i don't have to explain to anybody what the heck i'm doing all day. if it's work related, mixed media, crochet or whatever related. i don't have to explain or justify what i'm doing. i'm creating my life and how it works best for me. okay okay, for the dude & the muppets too. i admit. they know i'm happy if i have creative time and i believe i've earned my stripes (business wise). 

so i guess i'm learning quit a few things lately. like i can say 'no' without explaining myself. oh. the places i go (next) ;)

on the agenda today: long office day but it's all good because good things are gonna happen. we are moving Artifex within 4 weeks so i think i've got a LOT to do. but that's okay. it's not crazy busy and another thing i have to learn (very much so!) is protecting my time. that's gonna be a hard one though. LET'S GO.

life is good. trying to find a new balance.
rev

do you go where your dreams take you? mixed media canvas love.

don't you love to get your hands dirty? paint. glue. ink. and repeat. i seriously would not know what i would do if i would not be able to get my hands dirty in paint and ink on a very very regular basis. well. i know what i would do. i would go crazy.

creating art, canvasses, drawing, art journaling, scrapbooking, crocheting. i just need to be creative. it's my quiet time. it's me connecting with my inner soul. feeding it with love. when i'm creating i forget everything around me. i'm in some sort of flow and keep going. i don't feel the need to compare my work to others. if i am good enough or not. i don't care frankly. who's boss anyway? remember: nobody has the right to critize your work, if you are happy it's OK.  

so remember when you are creating and those little, or loud, voices are telling you you aren't any good, remember YOU ARE BOSS. nobody else can judge. it's all about what makes you happy. you deserve some lovely creative quiet time and don't spoil it by listening to critics. haters gonna hate anyway. i try to shut the ongoing conversation in my head (yes, i do have those voices too). what works the best for me? MUSIC. listen to the music baby. i buy songs via itunes all the times. yes i know there are free channels, but i just feel good by buying music, supporting the artist. i don't care if they are rich already or not. that's not for me to judge. they make musich, i pay to listen. end of story. and i can listen via my iphone, ipad or sweet imac. i have lists for different moods. up tempo, or relaxed. and it works so good for me. i sing along (no my neigbours do not complain, or don't dare to ha!), and there simply is no room for inner critics to interrupt me. i'm singing and creating. what do you need more? chocolate! add chocolate to the party. 

 

i created this sweet canvas for the creative magazine "Paper Memories". do you know how i made this canvas? there is a step-by-step tutorial in Paper Memories issue nr. 2 so you can create with me. listen to music and eat some lovely chocolate.

so tell me. do your inner critics hunt you and what do you do about them to shut them the frig up?

life is good. do you go where your dreams take you?
rev

 

my promise to me in 2015

do you make promises to you in the new year? i do. not really resolutions, becauase that sounds to me more like stuff i have to quit. like smoking. (i don't smoke). or stop eating or crazy stuff like that. i do love to think about promises i make to myself for the coming year. not sure if i blog about this regularly, but i just want to point them out now. 

 

{art journal page, made during the ecourse "Lifebook 2014" from Tamara Laporte. she inspires me to create more and more freely. yes. i need more freely :)}

1. create more art

2. quit down the 'lost hours' browsing on facebook and other social media time suckers (i did actually quit down a lot, but i feel like i can do even more without facebook!)

3. work less. LESS. LESS. 

4. stop feeling quilty, when there's really is no reason besides punishing myself

5. blog regularly like i just to 

6. write new ecourses

7. tape some video's while creating my mixed media canvasses

8. try to have bestie-dates at least once every 2 months

9. finsh designing that lovely crochet girl that is half done...

10. create more DIY's i enjoy doing so much (and throw in some tutorials while i'm at it)

11. have more days off. and create art during that complete day. DON'T FEEL GUILTY while doing that.

do you have a little list for yourself you want to keep rereading? i will work this little list in my art journal some way or the other. i browse my art journals daily (is that strange? who cares) i just love to browse them. see the change in my work. feel the feelings i had while creating. what's your way of keeping your 'list of promises"  alive?

life is good. feel guilty serves nobody.
rev

 

word up #90: RELEASE

the new word is up over at One Litle Word! and this time it is RELEASE. what a gorgeous word. so many feelings came to mind when i think of release.

as i have publicly told before, my childhood was no party. and i talk about it because i hope to show other woman or girls struggling with a memories of a difficult, hard, horrible, abusive childhood, that you can talk about it. that it is okay to talk about it. that you can seek help. from friends, from professionals. you don't have to deal with it on your own. it took me years, but i'm here now. last year i was finally able to really process some feelings i've had with me for let's say all my life. 

so this word "release" means a lot to me. the journaling is in Dutch. here's the translation:

"let it go now. you don't need it anymore. you are no longer in danger, but in a loving environment. replace it with another emotion, in stead of distrust and and being on guard, you can choose trust and a feeling of freedom. you can let it go now."

although i already feel self confidence in those feelings, i truly believe by writing it down, it makes me realise even more what i have accomplished. i'm here now.

so are you gonna play along this month?

life is good. release the fear. let it go now.
rev

 

the Birgit Koopsen and Carabelle Studio Blog Hop & Giveaway!

hello and welcome to the Birgit Koopsen and Carabelle Studio Blog Hop & Giveaway-> scroll down for the details!

as you may have heard Birgit recently released her first collection of 6 mixed-media stamp sets with Carabelle Studio. and they are AMAZING. brilliant even. NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER IN MY SHOP ONLY!!

i am happy to be one of the designers she picked to try out her designs and be part of this blog hop! i started out with an art journal entry, which soon i ripped out and turned into a canvas. yes. that's how i roll :). 

{i choose to be happy}

and i've used some of her gorgeous stamp sets:

i've used the stamp set: LEAFS to create the 'hair' of my lovely girl. how i made her hair? i've used my gelato's on these stamps and that turned out exactly the way i wanted it. with the gelato's i colored different parts of the leafs. spray a little water on it. stamp on paper. cut out, ink the edges and glue on. it's like: why haven't you thought of that, right? right!

i've used the stamp set LAYERED STRIPS which is so perfect for background on your art journal or mixed media piece!

and the stamp set REACH FOR THE STARS is also used to add more definition and layers onto the background.

you can find all her stamps right here!

can i say i'm in love with these stamps? TOTALLY. and i'm not bias because Birgit is one of my besties. she simply makes the best designs, knows exactly what we creative animals need and she created it. oh, and did i mention all her stamps will be available in my store, soon?! whaha!

NOW THE BEST PART: THE GIVEAWAY!!!

if you hop over to Birgit's blog you will find a GIVEAWAY!!  BUT... if you comment here too you will have another entry into her giveaway! And even better... if you leave a comment on all participating blogs you will have as many chances to win one of her stamp sets! how cool is that?! holy guacamole you better start now!

so leave a comment on each of the listed blogs and on my blog, let us know how you like the stamps (and how brilliant we all are :), how gorgeous our projects are, and what is your favorite stamp set and Birgit will randomly pick six lucky winners.

you have time to comment until September 23, midnight CEST.

here is the list of the participating blogs, make sure to check out all these amazing designers and their beautiful projects:

Birgit Koopsen THE GENIUS who created these stamps

Revlie Schuit uhm. hello. THAT'S ME. 

Marsha Valk YOUR NEXT VISIT :)

Riikka Kovasin

Janna Werner

Lilith Eeckels

Loredana Bucario

Magda Bolinksa

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

Ana Bondu

Azoline

Chris Scrap

Carabelle Studio 

and finally don't forget to check out all the fabulous stamp sets on the Carabelle website here!

so thank you so much for stopping by, leaving lovely comments and hopping along to the next blog.

life is good. go get lucky :)
rev

word up #87: FEAR

this month it's my turn on One Little Word and i choose the word FEAR. fear is such a strong word and it had such a strong grip on me. for years. HAD. yes. past tence. HAD. no longer.

journaling is in Dutch:
it took me 39 years, but for the first time in my life, i'm not being controlled by fear(s). i've build up so many fears from my traumatic childhood. fear on the street, fear in the dark, fear alone at home. fear that something would happen with the kids. or arjan. fear build up by living in an unsafe environment in my childhood. fear that helped me through rough times. what i needed at the time to survive. but it doesn't serve me anymore. it's useless. worse, it's slowing me down, it bothers me now in my life. finally, by working my ass of with emdr-therapy i've been able to make it stop. to end it. all by myself. and that's tough. i LIVE again. free from fear.

some of you who personally know me, know i've had a crappy childhood. some of you don't. people who meet me for the first time, or read my blog for the first time, think i must be a happy chick doing fun stuff she loves. that's true. but there's a long road, a horrible journey, that brought me to where i am now. it's not the crappy childhood that made me stronger. it's how i dealt with it. how i not choose to be a victim. how i not choose to give up. how i not choose to take the easy way out. i've always chosen to fight. fight for my rights. fight for love. fight for a good life. and i'm not afraid to stand up and say: hey, look at me now! i've had a horrible childhood with abuse (yes, of all kinds), but i took care of myself since the age of 16. and nobody but me is to thank for that. to choose to run away from that house. i don't call it home even. it simply was no home to me. and to choose Arjan early on. i just knew he was the best for me, and i was save with him. and my instinct was right.

to all of you who live in fear right now. think. choose. choose you. choose life. get help. do not be ashamed of whatever is happened to you. as a child or as an adult. YOU are not a victim. you can make it chance. you can live happy and you deserve to live happy. if i can make it to a happy life, anybody can make it to a happy life. 

life is good. i love you. that's a starter :)
rev 

seek light today.

{seek light}. a gorgeous overlay i used on a sneak of one of my new canvasses. it's an app from VRSLY, and the sweetest & very talented Kal Barteski has created a few gorgeous overlays. you might want to check this out. your pictures on Instagram will beam. i'm sure mine will :).

on the agenda today: A DAY OFF. i have a freaking day off. wow. that means: art journaling, mixed media madness, working on my One Little Word, which is a special one because it's MY WORD this month! make sure to join the fun!

life is good. seek light.
rev