I am so thrilled to talk up the debut of True*Stories, a series of art prints featuring original stories and illustrations by Christine Castro.  Head over to her lovely website to order the goods!! 

Leave a comment on this entry anytime between now and 9:00am Monday, June 23rd and you'll be entered in a drawing to win a FREE PRINT of "Nothing Fails", shown above.  Visit my Etsy shop to see more details about this print. 

I am taking the day off to spend some time with the lovely Marianne. She has been staying with me for a little over two weeks, visiting from New Zealand, and we have both been buried in work. Yesterday she finished her final exams and I am 99.9% finished with my book*, so today we play!

I'll be back tomorrow, but wanted to give a quick reminder that this Friday I'm hosting a Free Print Giveaway. The Giveaway post goes up at 9:00am Friday, and anyone who leaves a comment through Monday at 9:00am will be entered in a drawing for a free print of the above image. The winner will be announced at noon on Monday, June 23rd.

Happy Wednesday!

• Pre-order your Limited Edition hardcover of Ordinary Sparkling Moments right here!

Calling all Westside LA holistic entrepreneurs!  Get involved with the newly formed Westside Holistic Chamber of Commerce:

"We are organized for the benefit of
1) any and all business professionals who consider themselfves green, holistic or alternative, and
2) who wish to work profitably with customers, clients and vendors to transform the world.
Membership is not limited to holistic practitioners. Business people of all professions are encouraged to join."

-WHCC website 

[Photo by the lovely Jen Gray.]

Greetings from Sparkletopia!  This blog has been up and running for just over half the year now and I wanted to check in and give some updates on how things are going on my end & what's coming in the second half of 2008!

First off, many thanks for all the wonderful support and encouragement I have received for this blog.  It has been a lot of fun keeping it up, like my own personal online scrapbook of All Things Inspirational that I get to share with the world. 

I started with the following features and for the most part they have stayed the same:

* 8:00am Wisdom:  my favorite, inspirational quotes

* Monday Free Association:  I think I've missed a day or two in there, but it has been fun reading everyone's comments on this weekly interactive entry

* Weekly Links...became Link o' the Week, with a new link each week to something fun & fabulous

* Ongoing Creative Projects:  If anyone discovers something that would fit in this category, please send it my way!

New features I'll be adding in the coming weeks:

* Thoughts on Hump Day:  Each Wednesday I'll post a question, hopefully thought-provoking enough to get some interesting answers!

* Art Tools:  I'm not sure if this will be weekly or monthly or what just yet, but I'd like to start posting about the art supplies I use and love, just to give everyone more ideas & encouragement to get creative.

...and who knows what else!

Anything else you'd like to see more of?  Less of?  Anything in between?

Help spread the Sparkletopia Joy - send readers this way!  This Friday, June 20th I'll be hosting a contest for a FREE PRINT from anyone who leaves a comment on my Free Print Contest entry.  The entry will be posted at 9:00am Friday and anyone who leaves a comment will be entered in the drawing.  Winner will be announced Monday, June 23rd!

From A Mad Tea [Towel] Party website:

"In summer 2008, Nicholas Gallery, located in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, will host an exhibit of tea towels from all over the world. Functional and non-functional entries are sought. Whether you're a designer with a line of functional tea towels, or an artist curious about pushing a mundane form in an exciting new direction, we'd love to hear from you."

Submit your tea towel designs today...they're due June 16! 

[Swirly & Melissa :: Taken by Boho Girl] 

Just a quick note to apologize for the infrequent posts this week.  I have a house full of guests and have been spending my limited studio time working on my book.  More tomorrow!

Mati McDonough - our blog banner designer of the month - has collaborated with Kristen of Mood Swing for a one of a kind jewelry line to debut this summer here and here.  Yeah Mati!! 

Melissa Moss has a new selection of original drawings for sale over in her Etsy shop.  Her creations fly of the shelves, so act fast!

I had lunch with the lovely, inspiring Marisa Haedike yesterday and got a sneak peek at her latest creations.  The first ones go on sale today at 1pm PST - don't miss out! 

[Large turtle seen in Joshua Tree National Park last week]

I'm back from vacation with a fully functioning internet connection, so let the games begin again!  At last - new Weekly Links, a new Monday Free Association and entries that I don't have to create sitting in my laundry room, where I was sequestered for hours at a time when all internet connections in the rest of our house refused to work.  A happy sigh of relief over here...

Our internet problems got worse and are now beginning to get better as we narrow down where the issues are.  I am now sitting on the floor of our laundry room to get caught up on all internet-related tasks because it is the only part of the house where I can hardwire to the internet. 

Hopefully our issues will get resolved today when our Superhero Tech Guy takes a look at everything, but in the meantime at least I've found a way to connect to the outside world!

So sorry for the blank pages over the last couple of days!! 

Find out the latest & greatest about this fall's Squam Art Workshops on their new blog!

P.S.  My book will be launching at Squam! 

Greetings Everyone...I am having big server problems on my end so I apologize for no posts or udpates. I just tried to upload a photograph with this entry and it failed five times in a row, so I surrender! I will get things back up and running as soon as whatever issues are going on get resolved.

Happy Tuesday!

The poppies are in full force in California's Antelope Valley - don't miss them! 

One of my superheroes - Andrea Scher - is now offering a sterling silver bulls eye pendant!  A lovely reminder to Be Your Own Superhero.

Many apologies for such sparse postings these past couple of days.  (Sparse as in none.)  My head was in the clouds after a visit up north to visit a girlfriend, and my first workshop was yesterday, so I have been moving and shaking everywhere but in my studio!  One more quick post will round out the week later today, and after that I hope you have a great weekend.  More goodies next week...

My homegirl Susannah Conway is having a sale over at her gorgeous Etsy shop - buy two prints and receive a third FREE through March 31st!  WORD. 

I am offering a four-week Creative Journaling Workshop Series in Los Angeles beginning Thursday, April 3, 2008.  Classes will be held from 1:00 - 4:00pm every Thursday.  Each week we will work on a different theme, all centered around your creative process and visions:

Week One :: I Leap :: Thursday, April 3, 2008
Our first evening together will be all about play. We'll start off with a review of basic collage techniques and then move right into the good stuff - letting your creativity run wild.
Week Two :: I Am :: Thursday, April 10, 2008
This workshop is for you to explore who you are, your values and priorities and your wildest creative dreams.
Week Three :: I Can :: Thursday, April 17, 2008
A follow up to I Am, this week is about tapping into what makes you feel brave, strong and yes, creative.
Week Four :: I Will :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
We'll wrap things up by tying everything together and using what you've learned to bring your creative dreams to life.

All materials will be supplied. If you prefer to work in your own journal, feel free to bring it, as well as any other photographs, papers, etc. that you would like to create with.

[Class size limited to 8] 

If you are interested in attending, please email me:  christine@swirlygirl.com. 

Registration for the Squam Art Workshops begins tomorrow!!