365 Inspirations—196: Art Ambush Project: Bringing Free Art to the People

Art by Lisa Brandel

“The world is not interested in what we do for a living. What they are interested in is what we have to offer freely—hope, strength, love and the power to make a difference! ”—Sasha Azevedo


Long, long ago, when I first started blogging, I met Lisa Brandel, who was a blogger at The Widow Lady, but who has since stopped blogging there and instead maintains a Widow Lady Facebook Page.

Her page is full of inspiration and Lisa is always doing new and exciting things. I recently found out, through Facebook, that she started an organization called Art Ambush Project. Here she is to tell you about it:

Katherine asked me to tell you all a little about this project for her blog. It’s taken me some time to do it, but I think I’ve finally found the words to express what Art Ambush project.

We are a micro-movement of people, from all different backgrounds, faiths, paths, disciplines of art who have banded together to give the unsung heroes, the everyday people doing extraordinary things, a piece of beauty. No strings attached. Nothing but love and thank you for being you.

We began this grass roots movement a mere seven months ago with four artists, including the founders, and as of this date we have over 25 artists, several coming from across the sea, and have gifted over 350 people pieces of art and supplies for art. We’ve ambushed hospice houses, chemotherapy wards (nurses and patients), doctors, survivors, people who have been through loss, people making a difference for homeless and forgotten animals, people making a difference for homeless people, people fighting for equal rights, and the list grows all the time.

This is one of the pieces given to a burn victim made by Anna Gruszka of Heart to Art Jewelry Designz

We are being the change we want to see in the world. We want more love, so we give more love. Many of our artists, including myself, know loss in our lives so we reach out and give the hand up we have either gotten or would have liked to have gotten.

I’d like you to imagine something for me. You are coming home from work, living your life, going through a rough patch, and when you get to your door you find a box. You think, “I didn’t order anything.” You take it in, and as you open it you discover a beautiful piece of jewelry, or a blown glass globe, a painting, or some handmade item. You are confused, but then you see a card. It tells you that someone noticed that you are beautiful, helpful, that you are doing all you can, and they wanted to give you something because you are. They don’t want anything from you, they just want to say “Thank you.” 

It’s a stranger. Someone you don’t know, or don’t know well. But, whoever it is took the time not only to think of you, but to send something of themselves to you.

That is the art ambush project.

No artist asks what color, age, religion, or other label the ambushee carries. They simply know it’s a soul. They take it and the story we are given and create something to give. We are the change we want to see. We are the love we want to receive, and in giving have received it.

Sometimes we receive a thank you on our facebook page, and many times the person tells us, “It arrived at the exact perfect time.” 

 
So, this writing for Katherine is my mini-ambush to you all. When you think the world is divided and has lost their collective heart remember. There is a movement, not about money, not about fame. It’s about giving people recognition, love, and a little beauty as a reminder life is good.

With love, Namaste,

Lisa Brandel, The Widow Lady and Art Ambush founder.

https://www.facebook.com/artambushproject

Have you ever made art and given it away for free?

365 Inspirations—195: Life of a Snowbird

“The birds fly south for the winter not because it’s cold, but because they have wings."—Jarod Kintz

I found Linda's blog, Thoughts from a Bag Lady in Waiting, quite a while ago and was intrigued that she was a) from Washington State and b) was headed to Arizona to live as a snowbird.

While the summer has been so lovely here and I can't imagine living anywhere else right now, the rainy cold days of winter are not always easy to get through. During that time, I have entertained the thought of moving and/or traveling to a warmer climate during the winter months.

Well, Linda did just that! Not only that, but I recently discovered that she also traveled to Kenya. Another warm place. It sounds like Linda is having lots of fun in her retirement, so I decided to catch up with her for an interview. Here she is:

And here's my interview with her:

What inspired you to move down to Arizona for the winter? 

I live in the Pacific Northwest, and I love it there. But I have Seasonal Affective Disorder – the winter blues – from November until about April, because of the relatively few hours of daylight and even fewer hours of sun. Once we were no longer working, we tried multiple short vacations in sunny places; the year before last we spent two weeks in Hawaii, two weeks in Sedona, and three weeks in Ecuador. That kept us in the sun, but it was three trips—three flights, three sets of packing, etc. We decided to try staying in just one place for two months, and that worked out better. I like Arizona in the winter, especially Tucson. And we have old friends who have been snowbirds for several years, and they invited us to come visit them last year when we were in Sedona. We liked what we saw and decided to do it ourselves.

Where did you live? How did you spend your days as a snowbird? 

We lived at the Voyager RV Resort. It’s a 55-plus community in south Tucson. We rented a park model with an “Arizona room," so we had about 650 square feet of living space, which was enough for the time we were there. There was lots to do. We learned how to line dance and do the Texas two step (we’d rarely danced together before, in 20 years). We joined a current events discussion group and a Great Decisions group. I played handbells for the first time in nearly 30 years. I went to water aerobics three times a week. We went to dances with friends. It’s not about the warmth, though. I like cold weather. It’s about the light.

How long did you stay there? 

We arrived on January 4 and left on February 28, with a weeklong extension in Sedona and an eight-day road trip home.

I saw on your blog that you were in Kenya. What inspired your trip there? 

Well, it wasn’t on our bucket list! We had some houseguests last summer who’d been to Kenya the year before, and they said it was a life-changing experience. They referred me to their friend who had taken them there, and he referred me to an outfitter in Nairobi. It was the most expensive trip we’d ever planned, and I was a little concerned we’d be the only people on our tour, but it turned out to be just right.

Tell me about your trip to Kenya. What were the highlights? 

The animals on our game drives (a lion kill, a pair of giraffes courting, a newborn gazelle and a newborn hippo), the people (our very knowledgeable guide, women in a village who’d left their homes because of abuse, a chief in a village, a third-generation British Kenyan, a conversation with the wife of the CEO of a major corporation, talks with our tent stewards and servers and other camp staff.

Have you been reflecting much on your trip since you arrived home? What experiences have changed you or made you think differently about life?

For this, see my blog entry http://bagladyinwaiting.blogspot.com/2013/06/retrospective-gifts-of-kenya.html

Are you doing more traveling since you’ve retired? Do you have any other big trips planned?

We traveled as often as we could when we were still working. But since June 25, 2010 when I quit my job, we’ve taken 29 trips of varying lengths. We’ll be going to Hawaii for two weeks in December and back to Tucson for three months next winter. Others we have in mind are New Zealand/Australia, Antarctica (just me, probably), and we’re dreaming of a Road Scholar trip on the Trans Siberian Railroad from Beijing to Moscow. But we really like road trips within the US, and we’ll be doing more of those. Next up in that mode are Colorado and the Ohio/Illinois/Missouri area, for family research.

Wow! That's a lot of trips! What has been the best part about being retired? 

The freedom to choose how I spend my time. I became a certified mediator through my local Dispute Resolution Center, and that is very rewarding. My husband and I wrote and published a book about a trip we took to Vietnam in 2005. I am getting more exercise than I used to as well.

Thanks so much for being on my blog Linda. It sounds like you have lots of adventures ahead of you!

A question for the readers here: Are you retired or do you know anyone who is? How do you (or they) spend the time?

365 Inspirations—194: LONG Summer Days

Sailboat on Puget Sound today

“I almost wish we were butterflies and liv'd but three summer days—three such days with you I could fill with more delight than fifty common years could ever contain.”—John Keats

I am just now getting on the computer. The weather has been so nice in Seattle, I haven't wanted to be online. This weekend, Yoon and I have made it a point to be outside as much as possible.

It doesn't get dark out until almost 10PM here! I absolutely love it. Last night, we walked around Greenlake at 9PM and saw the sunset on the lake.

It was so peaceful. People were sitting on the lake's edge staring at the crescent moon.

Today I cleaned house in the morning and then when Yoon finished with his yoga classes, we headed to Carkeek Park on Puget Sound with our lawn chairs and books. We found a perfect spot in the sand and set ourselves up.

The water was sparkling and the temperature was perfect. Families mingled along the water's edge. Some waded out to their waists. Cruise ships heading to Alaska passed by. It was a day for boats and water toys. We saw paragliders, sailboats, canoes, rafts, motor boats, and other floatables.

When we got home, I cooked salmon, corn on the cob, green beans and garlic toast and we ate dinner out in the garden. It's now 9:22PM and the sky in pink still from the sunset.

I'm going to go and enjoy the rest of the evening while it's still light out.

How are you spending your long summer days?

365 Inspirations—193: Returning to Peru After Almost 20 Years

Backpacking on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

“No matter the deviation, all things come full circle. You begin and end your journey in the same place, but with a different set of eyes."—Jennifer DeLucy

Lots of things are coming full circle for me. I traveled a lot in my early 20s. In fact, I never really stopped traveling. I feel life is a journey and we never really stop moving and experiencing.

My husband is taking a group of yogis to Peru in September. I debated and debated whether or not to go, and now it's sort of happening on it's own. I'm going!

One of my hesitations in returning to Peru was that I was young and dumb and it was not an easy trip for me. I was 24 or so and I was alone backpacking through Peru and Bolivia. I had been teaching English in Mexico and had to decide whether or not I should return home or continue traveling. The thing is, I had very little money to travel. I had just enough for the plane ticket from Mexico to Peru and a few hundred dollars for traveling.

I speak a little Spanish, so I lived off the generosity of locals many times. I just read through my diaries and lots of memories of that time are coming back. I had really bad dysentery and slept in places that were run down. I was sick and I sometimes put myself in dangerous situations.

The other side of the coin was that I experienced amazing beauty and adventure. I let go and let the wind and road be my guide. I traveled across Lake Titicaca all the way to La Paz, Bolivia.  I kept crossing paths with many fellow travelers and locals in the oddest of places and they were like guardian angels to me. They led me to my next destination and I saw things I couldn't believe—Machu Picchu, floating grass islands, Quechua Indians dancing around the lake in colorful clothing, a half dozen condors soaring above Colca Canyon, penguins on Islas Ballestas, mysterious lines in the sand.

A lone llama at Machu Picchu

I know there is a reason I'm returning. It has to do with that book I've been telling you about. Lots of things are coming full circle. I know we will be traveling differently this time. We'll be staying in clean, nice places and traveling with a driver. We will be taking a guided trek to Machu Picchu.

But I have a feeling my view of things will be different. I feel a calling to return. I have purpose in my life now and while I still love to be spontaneous and go with the wind, I'm wiser now about my decisions and my direction. I still live in the mystery of it all, but I see it now in a much bigger picture that becomes clearer everyday.

Did you ever feel called to return to a particular place?

365 Inspirations—192: Winds of Change

Blue Moon

“You see things; you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, 'Why not?”—George Bernard Shaw

The wind is whirling in my world.

Winds of change have come, but I'm still working out the details. I'm still just getting little pieces. It's like a gigantic puzzle I'm putting together, but I have no idea what it will look like in the end.

So for now, it's just flashes and images. Last night I had a dream I was on a huge wide river on a raft drifting. Then the current picked up and I was going over rapids. I couldn't see where I was going, but I did not feel scared. I trusted that I would be led to the right place.

I got off at a rocky shore and started to climb huge boulders up the side of a mountain. It was so steep and jagged. The view below me was amazing and scary at the same time. I had almost made it to the top when a hawk circled around and landed almost on me thinking I was food. I shooed him away. Then I scrambled up a few more rocks.

Inches from the top,  a bald eagle was peering down at me from a nearby tree branch. We were looking straight into each others eyes. I was not his prey, I was him and he was me.

Beyond the eagle, I could see berries in a tree. There were three kinds of berries growing off one branch and they looked enticing, but I did not want to disturb the eagle's turf any longer and slowly made my way back down.

Lots of these kinds of dreams about nature, the earth and animals have been coming to me. A new book is forming. I want to tell you about it. But right now I'm just flowing with these winds of change and it's so exciting.

Did you ever have a very vivid dream that you remembered? Did it have any significance for you in your life?

365 Inspirations—191: Summer Weather

"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time."—John Lubbock 

 Summer is the best season in Washington State. It's not too hot and it's not too cold. For the last couple of weeks we've had very little rain and it's been between 70-80 degrees everyday. For Seattlelites, seeing that shiny, yellow thing in the sky for days on end is really a treat that we may now be taking for granted.

Washington State tends to have a lot of rain in other months, so we really need to make good use of our summers. Our state has beautiful mountains and hiking trails everywhere. We've got the Olympic Mountains on one side and the Cascade Mountains on the other. On a beautiful day, the view is spectacular.

I try and get a walk in or sit out in the sun a little bit everyday! Gardening is another great pastime in the summer.

Today I went to yoga class again. I'm trying to get in the habit of going regularly. But today, after I type this post, I'm going to get ready or class and sit in my garden and do some lesson planning. I teach ESL on Mondays and Wednesdays in the summer, so today is my Friday! I chose to only teach two days a week in the evenings in the summer because I want to enjoy the days and the weather outside!

How's the summer in your part of the world? Is it the best season where you live?

365 Inspirations—190: Gentle Yoga Class

Yoon talking to students at Yoon's Yoga Bliss

"You cannot do yoga. Yoga is your natural state. What you can do are yoga exercises, which may reveal to you where you are resisting your natural state."—Sharon Gannon

Yoon's Yoga Bliss is 5 minutes from my house, yet I can come up with all kinds of excuses as to why I can't go. Isn't it funny how the things that make us feel sooo good—like healthy food, exercise, yoga, walking, hiking, etc.—are sometimes hard to get to due to our own minds?

Once I'm on the yoga mat, I never, ever think, "Oh gee, why did I come to yoga?" I'm ALWAYS sooo grateful. It's the getting there that becomes the obstacle.

Today I told my excuses to take a hike and headed to a gentle/meditative yoga class. I usually go for the more active class, but I'm trying other classes these days.

We started out lying down and moving in and out of postures very slowly. This was so good. It brought me out of the mind and into the body.

At the end, we all rested in shavasana pose and I felt so alert, yet relaxed.

Relaxing at Yoon's Yoga Bliss

My body felt alive again and I could feel a tingling sensation in all parts of my body. I even worked out the kinks in my neck and back due to not going to yoga for about a week! Yikes!

Finally, we sat in a little circle and Yoon played a gong and we did a little chanting. We repeated "om mani padme hum" and then sat in silence for some time.

It was a wonderful class and I'm so glad I went. I now feel very peaceful and my body is also awake again. I feel like all my muscles have been lengthened and my posture is much better. Amazing what just ONE gentle yoga class can do. I think I'll go again tomorrow morning! No excuses :)

Do you ever talk yourself out of doing something that you know will be so good for you?

365 Inspirations—189: Purple Clematis

 "In a month there will be purple stars on the clematis, and year after year the green night of its leaves will hold its purple stars."—Oscar Wilde

The clematis vine on my fence gave birth to a purple bloom yesterday. We planted it a few years ago, but it really took off this year. The vines run along our fence arbor all the way to the top. There are buds just waiting to burst out in purple, but this one was the first to make its move.

There always has to be a first. I sat there touching its velvety petals of deep purple and stared at the intricate mandala of colors in this beauty's center. I was lost in the world of this flower for a few minutes. 

My favorite color is blue, but purple is a color I'm spiritually drawn to and often wear. It's a majestic color which combines fiery red with cool blue. It's also a very tranquil color.

Clematis, in Russia and Bulgaria, is known as the "traveling flower" because it travels and moves in many directions before it starts to bloom. I love this.

Purple Clematis growing on our the arbor of our fence

The two together combined symbolize to me the majestic traveler. There's mystery and intrigue behind this beauty. I'm about to set off on many mysterious adventures. You'll hear more about that here on this blog in the months to come.

I've seen many white and pink clematis adorning fences and trellises, but I have yet to see one in purple.

It's unique, this flower. And today I'm going to celebrate its beauty and what it symbolizes. Can't wait to see the trellis explode in purple. That is coming soon....

What is your favorite flower and what does it symbolize to you?

365 Inspirations—188: grady bleu Clothing Designer, Kathleen O'Grady

"Have humility—it will take you a long way. Value your work and your worth. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Work on your own personal growth and your art and life will become better for it."—Kathleen O'Grady

I still remember sitting in P.F. Changs in Alderwood Mall with my friend Kathleen after her hair appointment. We were having fusion Chinese food and discussing dreams. I know she received a really good fortune that day in her cookie! I wish I could remember it. She told me of her plan to start her own clothing line. This was back in 2009 or 2010. Several years later she’s living that dream with her own line of clothing called grady bleu and I’m so inspired by what she has created. Here she is to talk about how it all came to be.

Thanks for being here Kathleen!

 How did you come up with the idea for the grady bleu line? When did it all first take seed?

It probably started in Japan when I lived there in the mid-eighties. I fell in love with garments dyed with indigo blue. The name for the company took seed in 2003 in Seattle. I like the lower case and the name because it has a bit of grit to it and includes the French word ‘bleu’ which adds a certain caché. 

Why blue? What is special about the color blue?

I am inspired by the history and tradition of blue, particularly how it was originally produced by using the indigo plant. The process by which the color blue is produced from indigo is special because of the labor-intensive process and because of the magical way the fabric turns blue – the fabric is green until you take it out of the dye vat and it turns blue when it comes in contact with the oxygen in the air. Blue, with its roots in indigo, dates back centuries and represents for me antiquity, history, and a certain quality of endurance. 

My line is founded on a core color palette of blues, browns, whites, beiges, blacks and greys.  In addition to this core palette, I create small exclusive lines integrating fabrics from around the world and I’ll be incorporating more and more indigo fabric into the garments.

On your website, you say, “We have lost the feeling of our relationship to clothes.” What do you mean by that?

For the most part, people have lost the knowledge and appreciation of good fabrics and quality design. In our world of speed and mass marketing clothing has been reduced to disposable items. How does one value their clothing – or anything for that matter, if it can be purchased so cheaply? Fast fashion has really degraded fashion and the value associated with the labor-intensive work that is involved in producing a garment; from the whole cycle of raw materials, to the labor involved in sewing it. And then of course there is Bangladesh and all the other “Bangladesh’s” that aren’t reported.  Then to have the garment be disposed of so easily….something is wrong with this picture. I think we (collectively) lament the poor labor conditions “over there”, but we all want the $4 T-shirt. 

You create clothes that are timeless, functional and elegant. Where do you get your design ideas from?

My design inspiration comes from a number of places and is often inspired by old-world cultures. When you learn about clothing you learn about a culture and what that culture values. These old-world artisan approaches are becoming lost more and more with globalization. It’s really a shame. 

I like Asian garments with wrap closures, vintage 1930’s lingerie and almost anything with pleats. My designs don’t follow trends. They are classic and timeless as well as fun and I think that is what people love about them.

What kind of fabrics do you use for your line and where are these fabrics from?

I like to use natural fabrics such as linen, wool, silk and cotton. I also like to incorporate ‘found pieces’ of fabric that tell a story in the garment. I have quite a trove of fabric from India, Nigeria, Thailand and Laos that I will be using in my designs.

Where can a person purchase your clothing? Do you have a catalog or is there a store or online website?

Currently, I am in two stores in Canada since retuning 4 years ago. I do pop-up shows but will be looking into setting up an Etsy store until I obtain my own design shop. 

Do you make all the clothing by hand? If so, how long does it take you for each piece?

Since returning to Canada, it’s been a challenge to find sewers. Sewing is a dying art in North America. As author Elizabeth Cline says in her book Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion,“...within the course of a generation, we have lost the knowledge of sewing.” Imagine. 

I do all the sewing for now. What often isn’t thought about is the added time it takes to lay out the pattern, ensure it is placed correctly on the fabric, pin it down, cut it and then sew it. It’s a bit like a puzzle. 

 Recently I saw you on a Canadian TV show talking about your line. How does it feel to watch your dream become a reality?

I’ve been designing for about 30 years, including when I lived in Seattle and before that in Vancouver. It feels great that it’s coming together. I’m passionate about what I do and want more people to enjoy my designs. What is that quote: “Overnight success takes about 15 years”? (30 years in my case!)

Do you have any words of wisdom for the readers here about making ones dream become a reality?

Have humility—it will take you a long way. Value your work and your worth. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Work on your own personal growth and your art and life will become better for it. Be genuine. Know you are a good person and have many gifts to offer the world. 

Thanks so much for being here today Kathleen!

To find out more about Kathleen and her work, go to http://www.gradybleu.com.

See below for Kathleen's spot on a Saskatoon TV show:

365 Inspirations—187: Take Rest

"The body says what words cannot." – Martha Graham

I'm feeling under the weather today....I rarely get sick, but I am. Going to get some rest.  My inspiration today is "take rest." Sorry it's so short today. Right now hot tea, a hot bath, hot soup and lots of liquids are my friends. Very strange to feel like this in the summer. Life is telling me to sloooowwwww down and rest. Good night friends...

What do you do when you are feeling under the weather?

365 Inspirations—186: Sitting Ducks

Sitting ducks on my walk around Greenlake today

"Each stone, each bend cries welcome to him. He identifies with the mountains and the streams, he sees something of his own soul in the plants and the animals and the birds of the field."—Paulo Coelho

By tuning into the little things all around me, I'm finding that everything is a source of inspiration.

Today, while walking around Greenlake with Yoon, I saw these adorable ducklings with their mamma sitting on a log basking in the sun. They were sunbathing.

Usually I see them in the lake or along the lake's edge, but these ducks were right out in the open. They were literally sitting ducks!

But they didn't seem to have a care in the world. They were trusting and even let me get up close. That's rare for a duck and her babies.

For some reason, the trusting nature of these ducks today gave me the trust I needed to confirm that all things will work out just fine. If I'm gentle to others, they will be gentle to me. In fact, usually animals can sense fear, anger or other strong emotions and they react accordingly.

I'm sure they can also sense a gentleness or kindness. Perhaps that's why these fluffy, little guys didn't budge.

I think this is true for everything in the world. What we put out there is what comes back to us. We can't fake emotions, because they can be felt. Intentions are so important.

What kind of emotions or energy did you put out there today? How did you feel? Did you tune into nature around you today?

365 Inspirations—185: Noticing the Little Things

"In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed."—Khalil Gibran

Sometimes my husband and I like to spend a quiet 4th of July hiking in the mountains, but this year we went to my best friend Lena's house in Seattle for barbecue and a walk down to Lake Union to see the fireworks.

It seemed like a typical 4th of July celebration, but there were some unique things about the day.

I saw a hummingbird up close in my best friend's gorgeous Butterfly Tree in her backyard where we were having a barbecue. This little guy was friendly and didn't fly away when I got close.

On the way down to the park where we planned to watch the fireworks, I saw a swing hanging from a tree in the middle of the sidewalk. Well, that was enough of an invitation for me. Put a swing in my path and I'll get on it for a ride. It doesn't matter where it is, I'm game.

I took a picture with my friends and later we discovered we were colored coordinated and even in the correct order. We were red, white and blue, but we didn't plan it that way.

We got more than we bargained for while waiting for the fireworks. A spark from a nearby firework must have fallen on the marina below us and it went up in flames. The fire department came and had to put it out.

Thinking we had had enough excitement for the day, we were just about to leave when the fireworks started.

I got some lovely shots with the Space Needle in the background. I love how little the Space Needle looks next to the fireworks.

I'm glad I spent the time with friends and was able to notice not just the big things, but also the little things that make life worth living.

Did you stop to notice the little things today? What were they?

365 Inspirations—184: Allergy-Free Zone

It almost came to this!

"Well, you potentially could plant a lower allergy garden, but while you’re out there planting it, you will be bombarded by oak pollen, maples, grasses."— Keith Phillips

All this hot and humid weather in Seattle has caused indoor allergies to sky rocket. Humidity is breeding ground for dust mites and other critters. We don't usually have warm enough weather for it to be a problem, but we have had unusually warm weather this week.

I don't really have allergies. I know that's not the norm, but somehow I was spared the allergy gene. Before my husband came to the USA, he also believed he was a man of no allergies.

But that all changed.

Perhaps it's because his environment and country changed. I don't really know.

It all crept up on him the second year or so that we lived here. We were center managers for a meditation center in Washington State and one of  his jobs was to ride the John Deere lawn mower around the enormous property and cut the grass.

A year or so after that, he was plagued with one of the worst cases of allergies I've ever seen. He sneezed constantly for months. I thought it must be his karma coming around for all the bugs he must have squashed while mowing the grass on the John Deere.

Outdoor pollen is on the decline here, but indoor allergens are at an all time high thanks to the weather.

I will say that it gave me the opportunity to clean our bedroom and create an allergy-free zone for my husband. That was the bonus to all of this.

The room now has very little in it. We have hardwood floors, and those are ideal for people with allergies. I swept and mopped the floor, cleaned the blinds and windows, took all books and other random things out of the room, bought allergy-free mattress and pillow covers and new summer sheets.

The room now feels fresh and airy. I'm hoping Yoon will be able to sleep soundly tonight for the first time in a long time. Now I'm inspired to clean and allergy-proof the rest of the house.

Do you suffer from allergies? What do you do to overcome them? 

365 Inspirations—183: Six Months of Daily Blogging

"We are always creating. Whatever a person’s mind dwells on intensely and with firm resolve, that is exactly what he becomes.”—Shankaracharya

Today I'm celebrating six months of blogging about inspirations

every

single

day!

What I've learned is that it's important to celebrate the milestones in life. Six months of daily blogging is A LOT and I can't quite be sure I'll blog everyday for the next six months, but I made it to right here, right now.

And that's how I've done it everyday.

I've just focused on putting one foot in front of the other. One word in front of the other.

Word by word, I've made it here.

It wasn't all for nothing. I've learned a lot. This is my second year of blogging every day. In 2010, I wrote 365 Lessons, which will become my next book.

Writing inspirations this year has helped me to focus on the positive in my life and all around me. It's giving me the courage to keep writing and sharing and to be, well, inspirational ^_^!

I'm finding that what one focuses on one becomes.

Did you ever practice anything daily for any length of time? What was it and how did it change or help your life?

365 Inspirations—182: Writing Coach Brooke Warner

"Writers can be so self-defeating, and they’re their worst critics. Realizing how much you beat yourself up can be a real breakthrough, and I work with authors to name their demons and to start to see how much they stand in their own way."—Brooke Warner, Warner Coaching

I’m happy to have the opportunity to interview Brooke Warner. She was my editor at Seal Press and her expertise and support helped me immensely in getting my book, Lessons from the Monk I Married, ready for publication.  In May 2012, Brooke branched off from Seal Press to form her own coaching company called Warner Coaching Inc. where she specializes in helping writers get published.

Thanks for being here today Brooke!

What made you decide to start Warner Coaching?

I started Warner Coaching in 2007 when I was still working for Seal/Perseus because I wanted to work more closely with authors in a work environment that was becoming increasingly about acquisitions and less about content development. I started really slowly at first, but word caught on and I kept getting business from referrals. Once I got my website up and running, and certified in coaching, I began to see how it could become a full-time business. But I wasn’t ready to make that leap until last year. 

What services do you offer to writers?

All kinds. Some of my clients have described my business as a “soup to nuts” operation, and that does suit me and what I do. First and foremost, I work with writers who want to get published. But because the world of publishing has changed a lot in recent years, the range of what I offer covers everything from proposal development and ghostwriting to platform building to helping authors to navigate self-publishing to understanding what agents and editors are looking for both in a proposal and in an author. Warner Coaching also offers manuscript evaluations, copyediting, and proofreading. It’s really grown based on writers’ needs and seeing all the ways in which authors need support in today’s difficult-to-navigate publishing world. 

What are some of the common problems writers you work with face?

Lots of times it’s the simple desire to finish their books that cause writers to seek me out in the first place. Many writers need accountability to make it over the hump to complete a book and get it out into the world. I also work with authors who’ve made mistakes or who’ve worked with editors or agents who’ve changed their vision of what they thought their book was or what they wanted it to be. I work with these writers to get back into alignment with what they want and why they’re writing in the first place. And then there are the many authors who have no author platform to speak of and a lot of the work I do on that front is strategic, helping them to implement and sequence a platform plan that suits their needs and personality. 

You have a new book out from She Writes Publishing called What’s Your Book? Can you tell us a little about your book?

The idea for my book came to me after enough clients had asked me, “So, what’s your book?” And I didn’t have one. I had worked on hundreds of books over the course of my career, in every genre, so I realized it was time. It’s a really simple book that covers the psychology of writing, tips for completing, platform-building advice, and a chapter on how to get published. I wanted to put together in one place everything I felt I knew about writing and publishing and the result is a fast-paced book that has been a great asset to me in so many ways. I love it when someone asks me a really big question about platform, for instance, and I can say, “Read Chapter 4 of my book.” 

What suggestions do you have for writers who are faced with self-doubt, writer’s block, fear of rejection or any other hurdle? How can they get over these?

It’s not easy! The way I work with writers to get over their fears and blocks is really through inviting in the mean and nasty voices. It’s really the only way. When I was a kid I loved The Sound of Music. At one point the Reverend Mother tells Julie Andrews’s Maria that she has to face her problems head-on. “You have to live the life you were born to live.” This made a huge impression on me as a kid and it’s the simplest guiding principle I know. You have to face your fears in the same way in order to set yourself free. You have to acknowledge the voice who tells you how much your writing sucks and how no one is going to want to read what you write. Writers can be so self-defeating, and they’re their worst critics. Realizing how much you beat yourself up can be a real breakthrough, and I work with authors to name their demons and to start to see how much they stand in their own way. It’s effective. 

Have you had any successful clients who have gotten published?

I work with a lot of different writers in different capacities, and yes, I do have many authors who’ve gotten published. I don’t think I can take credit for the successes of some of my biggest clients, though, because many of them already came with a clear agenda and/or big opportunities and wanted guidance on how best to handle what was ahead of them. I also have continued to work with authors I’ve had relationships with at Seal, or authors who published one book and came back to me for their second. I in fact have a lot of success stories, and I feel like a proud mom when that happens.  

Are most of the writers you work with interested in traditional publishing or self-publishing?

It’s really a mixed bag at this point. I do believe that traditional publishing is still the dream that most authors hold, and I understand this. You don’t invest anything up front and you have some sort of validation that your work is good. However, more and more authors are also coming to me with a greater degree of understanding about how the industry works and the ways in which it’s broken, and there are lots of authors out there who are very excited about self-publishing and the opportunities that are unique to that model. And many authors I work with say they’d like to traditionally publish, but that self-publishing is a close second, and that they don't care either way. This is a big shift, too. When I first started coaching, more people wanted to traditionally publish, and today I see that the traditional publishers don’t hold quite the allure or promise they once did. 

What is the best way for writers to get in touch with you and get help with their writing?

Thanks for asking. They can find me at www.warnercoaching.com. I also like to ask people to look for my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/warnercoaching and to follow me on Twitter at @brooke_warner. I work hard to pull together good writing tips and ideas and on Twitter I follow industry news pretty closely. I also teach a six month course for memoirists called Write Your Memoir in Six Months (www.writeyourmemoirinsixmonths) and I’m offering a lot of little intro courses so people get a taste of my style and teaching, and maybe even join the course if they’re a memoirist and they’re ready to finish already! 

Thanks so much for being here today Brooke and thanks for your insights!

Thank you, Katherine!! I really appreciate you taking the time to ask such great questions and post this to your readers.