Seeking Support and Making Magic

I am not good at asking for help.  Even if I was drowning {literally or metaphorically} I'm not sure I would ask for help.  My mom used to joke {I think it was a joke} that my first words were, "I'll do it my way."

I have lived long enough to know that even when we think we are doing it our way, there are miracles and magic surrounding us, thanks to amazing people who offer us support.

I want to spend the rest of this year as a full time artist and author.  I make stuff every single day, and I put it out into the world to make it a better place.  For this reason, I am asking for support via my Patreon site.  I'm inviting you to make a monthly contribution, and I make cool stuff and share some of it with you.

Thank you so much for your consideration in joining my on this magical adventure!

CLICK HERE to see one time purchases that provide magical support, too.

First Six Weeks of Sabbatical

It's hard to believe, but I have official been on sabbatical for almost six weeks.  The objective of my sabbatical is to gain more insight into holistic education and living then sharing what I am learning.  I have been able to spend hours reading about topics like current research that says physical education and free play improve math scores in 9-10 year olds.  I have also read extensively about what was going on in education and society about one hundred years ago that lead to people like Maria Montessori and Rudolph Steiner creating such holistic applications of education that are still thriving around the world today.  I have researched mindful practices for myself and children in a classroom.  I have prepared healthy meals and moved my body more.  I have volunteered every Tuesday for painting time in my son's classroom.  I have invested hours in meetings with teachers, administrators, artists, insurance marketplace consultants, and business people.  I have felt constant fear and anxiousness juxtaposed with incredible peace and contentment.  I can feel a constant nudge forward in all areas of my life.

I have thought.  I have researched.  I have planned.  I have created.  Boy, have I created!

Here is a list of what I can remember that I have created during this sabbatical so far:

• Promotional emails for Brave Teachers Personalized Professional Development for elementary school administrators in 5 counties of Ohio and some out of state schools
• Created syllabi and calendars of Personalized Professional Development modules
• Created and emailed an 18 page PDF "Administrators Guide to Personalized Professional Development"
• Added over 6,000 words to the first draft of my book, The Transformational Classroom.
• Taught yoga every Tuesday and Saturday morning
• Created a Brave Yoga website
• Started yoga for a healthy women's group on Wednesday evening
• Did yoga on Sept. 1, with over 30 Norton Girl Scouts
• Developing a Yoga/Art curriculum for elementary age girls, Just4Girls, that will run 9/29-11/2
• Started writing Yoga Story Scripts and selling them on Teachers Pay Teachers
• Created Will U Learning--simple one page printables that turn into eight page booklets and a Lesson Plan/Extension Guide to teach a wide range of social/emotional skills to elementary age children {Will U even has his own FB page!}
• Created a workshop titled "Creativity in the Common Core Classroom" that will run live at ACoT the evening of October 6
• Created Book Art workshops for children and adults {Kids are on Oct. 10 and adult version is the evening of Oct. 22}
• Currently showing art at Nine Muses Gallery, ACoT First Floor Gallery, ACoT sidewalk windows, online, and in my studio
• Created, printed, and promoting a 54 card inspiration deck from the Summer of Inspiration Watercolor Posters
• Painted a rain barrel for a silent auction at Barberton Municipal Building, Oct. 1 - 30 for water conservation education
• Selling Summer of Inspiration originals in my studio and online
• Finished several pieces of art including:  Nature v Civilization, Joy is my superpower, Hope is my superpower, Fearless and a variety of small cubes
• Working on art for an upcoming show
• Created a Christmas Card from an original piece of art that will be formally unleashed next week
• Invited people to start hosting Art Parties
• Collaborated with artists to host a large Open House at ACoT and gallery sit on a regular basis
• Wrote 32 blog posts and innumerable Facebook posts

I'm looking forward to the next six weeks, and all that they will hold!

Two Cool Workshops for Teachers and Other Humans

I'm guiding two great workshops this month at ACoT.  They are perfect for teachers!  You can use what you learn with students of for your own creative expression.  They are open to EVERYONE--so bring your sister, neighbor, kids, best friends!


July 28, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., PAPERMAKING

Enjoy the process of making your own paper from recycled scraps using a dip method.  This paper is great for collages, book arts, cards, and other creative endeavors.  It's fun to make with children in a classroom, too.  After a demonstration you will be able to create and experiment and make as much paper as you like during this workshop.  $20   Sign up HERE

Creative Workshops For Teachers and Other Humans

7/9/2015 18:05:43

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I'm guiding two great workshops this month at ACoT.  They are perfect for teachers!  You can use what you learn with students of for your own creative expression.  They are open to EVERYONE--so bring your sister, neighbor, kids, best friends!


July 28, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., PAPERMAKING

Enjoy the process of making your own paper from recycled scraps using a dip method.  This paper is great for collages, book arts, cards, and other creative endeavors.  It's fun to make with children in a classroom, too.  After a demonstration you will be able to create and experiment and make as much paper as you like during this workshop.  $20   Sign up HERE

July 30, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m, BOOK ART


Have you ever wanted to make cook books for sketching or journaling or gifts.  This is the place for you!  We will learn simple book techniques that even young children can make.  I will show you a variety of samples of various cutting and sewing methods, and then you will create until your heart is content!  Most students will make 3 - 6 books or booklets.  $40, all materials are included.  Sign up HERE

A few samples I've made for our workshop!

I look forward to sharing these workshops with you!  It would be extra fun to make paper at the first workshop that you use to create books in the second workshop!  Do you have questions? Contact me

Where Is Brave Art

People are inquiring more about Brave Art.  Where can it be seen and purchased are the two most commonly asked questions.  {Love these sort of questions!!}

At this very moment there are two place to view and/or purchase Brave Art:

1.  My Studio and the Gallery at ACoT

I LOVE my studio space.  I have about a dozen of the 4 x 4 Cutie Cubes that go for $20.  Here are a few pics of the most recent:

Love Wins

Secret Garden

Take Flight








I also have some of my favorite larger paintings here, too. . .

Some of my other faves are in the gallery here, too!  You can see/purchase them HERE.

The other place to see and purchase Brave Art is at Miss Mercedes in Lakeside, Ohio

I love the way I see my art scattered around the shop with so many other yummy bits!

I hope your will be able to enjoy some Brave Art this summer.  It makes a great gift for weddings, graduation, or just because.

P.S.  Can you keep a secret?  Soon Brave Art will be available online at Brave Teachers!!

Online Art Show

Here are the last few paintings for my online art show.  I've titled the series "February Defrost."  I'm trying to get my creativity flowing and inspire folks just like you while I'm at it.  All of the original pieces are for sale in my etsy shop. 

I hope they provide inspiration!

Will It Still Snow In Summer?

So Sam just asked me if it would still be snowing in summer!  I'm starting to wonder about this myself!

Today I'm posting a little painting that just screams, "Think Spring!"

This one is Bloom 2

 I'm in the midst of sharing a series of little paintings I've created.  I've titled the series "February Defrost."  I'm trying to get my creativity flowing and inspire folks just like you while I'm at it.  All of the original pieces are for sale in my etsy shop.  Please share with anyone you think may be interested. 

So what are you doing to keep your spirits up and hopeful at this bleak time of year?

Courage To Fly

I think it takes sooooo much courage to take flight as a teacher these days--so many rules and laws and musts and shouldn'ts.  So this is a challenge for you, amazing teacher!!  What are you going to do this week that will take some courage and feel like you're taking flight?  Think something amazing for your students, coworkers, yourself or your family.

On your mark.
Get set
Go!

{I'd love to know what you do.  Please leave a comment or email me!}

I'm in the midst of sharing a series of little paintings I've created.  I've titled the series "February Defrost."  I'm trying to get my creativity flowing and inspire folks just like you while I'm at it.  All of the original pieces are for sale in my etsy shop.  Please share with anyone you think may be interested. 

February Defrost Update

Here are the latest paintings in my little online show I'm running all month. . .

Love the quote I shared on the Brave Teachers website to go with "Fully Alive"

Little quote for this one, too.

Read some of my thoughts here

This little one is a great reminder to  me about the imperfection of love

I'm hoping you feel love--with all the imperfection and messiness that entails.  

I'm in the midst of sharing a series of little paintings I've created.  I've titled the series "February Defrost."  I'm trying to get my creativity flowing and inspire folks just like you while I'm at it.  All of the original pieces are for sale in my etsy shop.  Please share with anyone you think may be interested. 

Simplify

I already have big plans for my summer.! I'm going to start out my summer by simplifying the amount of stuff that exists in my life.  {You know I must have a really good friend if she has already said she will do this with me!}

It takes conscious choice and intentional action to simplify anything in our lives.

I do believe the rewards are amazing.

You can see more of this super simple little painting at my estsy shop.

Change

Change is so easy to talk about.  It's so simple, really.  It's so difficult to actually do.

I've lived long enough to realize there is only one person I can change.

I am my own full time change project.

Why are we so afraid of change?  Or am I the only one?

You can check out my little painting "Change" at my etsy shop

What is changing with you today?

Bliss

What is bliss?
For me it's a state of complete and total contentment while I am total present in my life.

{Do I need to add that I don't spend much time there?!}

But I have experienced it enough that I know it's something a desire to return to.

You can check out this little piece of "Bliss" at my esty shop

What does bliss mean to you?

Bloom and Think Spring

So I don't always have internet access, but I will catch up on the number of posts when I get back to it.

Today's February Defrost painting is titled "Bloom."

I love the texture you can see of the paint on the canvas in the closeup!  This was one of the first mini canvases I painted during the summer of 2013, but this seems like a perfect time to share it with a bigger audience.

See more photos and details at my etsy shop.

I don't feel like I'm blooming, but I do feel like I'm germinating lots of rich deep goodness.
Are you blooming or germinating today or just in a state of dormancy?

Today's piece of joy

Would you like a little piece of joy?

Over at my website I said it's always a good day for joy!  Read it here

Check out my "Joy" mini canvas at etsy

Transformation

Here is the February Defrost painting for today

You can see more pictures or purchase it HERE.

This is a season of transformation for myself and my little family.  It feels pretty messy if I'm honest.  

Part of what is giving me lots of anxiety these days is the whole teacher accountability piece of education.  The whole thing just feels like a spiritual sucker punch to me.  

And then I sent my son to a Waldorf school, and I was blown away by the contrast between what he is receiving in PK and my students receive in 4th grade.  His day is not filled with bells and whistles, but teaching and learning in a beautifully human and ordinary way.  I'm struck by the fact that he is expected to have a higher level of personal responsibility than we expect from 9 - 10 year old.  

It's started to sink into the core of my being.  There is an in insurmountable chasm between teacher accountability and student responsibility.  Will politicians ever figure this out?  Probably not because there is not lots of money to be had when we just do good old fashioned learning and teach kids to be responsible members of a democratic society.  I think that would be transformational education

February Defrost

I feel like I've been silent for so long, but life has continued to hurry along.  There have been many changes in family and schedules, school, and what not.

One thing has not changed--February always feels like winter may never end!  This seems especially true this year.  So I've decided to have a little fun with some of my little paintings.

I am making one original mini canvas available at my etsy shop each day this month.

Today you will find "Be The Change."  Enjoy!

What are you doing to chase the cold desolation of winter away from your spirit?

Plein Air Painting

I'm recovering from an amazing weekend!  I got to spend time by the lake with my dad and brother.
And I got to spend a couple days painting by the lake.

I'm proud of myself for the courage it took to put myself and art out there!

Here's a glimpse into my weekend:

I hope your weekend had glimpses of beauty, too!

New Brave Art Blog

I'm so pleased to present my new art spot in the blogosphere:  Brave Art By Mim Daniel.  You can see the work I've done this spring and summer.  It also tells you when you can find me painting and where you can purchase these original pieces.

I hope you'll check it out.  I would also be so grateful if you would spread the love and tell everyone who might be interested.  Enjoy!