photograph by Cig Harvey
Thank you for all the love and inspiration on my last post. Isn’t it lovely that we have each other? :) I feel such honor to be holding your beautiful stories… They are safe here, I promise.
And despite the gloomy rainy day in San Francisco, today I’m feeling so very inspired thanks to my friend Annie, who introduced me to the wonderful works of Cig Harvey. (Thanks, Annie!)
It was love at first sight! My imagination has ever since been floating in the dreamy world of her whimsical images… I just can’t get enough!
Her work combines color, design, emotion and an element of story, that is simply fascinating to me.
It is as if Cig entered my mind and snapped photos of my thoughts and feelings.
The feminine, romantic, soft, delicate layers of my heart…

photograph by Cig Harvey
The daydreamer, wanderer, messy, colorful side…

photograph by Cig Harvey
The “unbearable lightness” of being I feel, when I am kissed by the sunshine…

photograph by Cig Harvey
Aren’t you enchanted as well?
(And doesn’t it look like the pic above was shot at Squam?)
For those of you in the East coast, please take a class with her for me. Wouldn’t that be amazing???
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And you? What is inspiring you lately? Let’s exchange beautiful words and images? I’m loving your participation here. You are all so magical! Let’s expand this circle of inspiration and support even more by finding each other. Leave a note or a link. I can’t wait to see what you have to share.
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ps: Still working on responding to your comments and emails on my last post. You should all hear from me soon ;)

Windows of my soul, NYC, Feb 2009.
I promised that I would share the self employment path openly and honestly, and so here are a few snippets of raw truth.
What would you see if you peeked through the windows of my soul today?
You’d see a few disappointments. A couple of rejection notices. Perhaps you’d be able to see the gaps between efforts. You might even be able to feel that ‘void-like’ energy that comes with waiting for a response. Feels like a moment in eternity… Thank god, the universe reminded me earlier this week: “Dreams are like that, Gypsy… Most of the time you don’t even know how close you are, until after they’ve come true. Sometimes, even, the very day before they come true, it still feels like they’re a million miles away. Something to remember.” Sigh… Don’t you love Notes from the Universe? I never get tired of them and so many times the timing is impeccable and spot on.
You’d see a bit of a self absorbed human ‘bean”. Not pretty, I confess. Sorry I showed you that side. But I have to admit that this undertaking, as honorable as is, has made me a bit self-absorbed. I have to work on that, because I want to stay real. And by ‘absorbed’, I mean that I am very introspective, in my head all the time, or online all the time, or pointing my camera everywhere, missing the eye to eye connection, consumed by images on my mind, ideas, thinking of what could be, what will be. And with that, I am not very giving these days either… Sorry, loved ones. I’ve been bad. I feel kind of drained. I need to work on that. Need to generate more “chi”. Need to love you more. You see… After 2 months, the shadows have most definitely crept in.
You’d notice that I lost momentum too. Don’t take me wrong, I’m still extremely enthusiastic and taking action. But some negativity from those who insist on stating the obvious (the economy sucks. It’s hard… blah blah blah…) has finally pierced through my tough skin… And well… I’m not going to let that set me back, but let’s just say that the needling has finally tickled me a bit. So ‘Monkey Mind’ got an opening and now it is doing its work sending me scary messages 24/7: “What were you thinking? You did not go to school for Photography and your work shows! You don’t even know how to use the “a-dep” mode in your camera! With so many people out of jobs, why would YOU of all people have a chance? You should go back to producing visuals effects! Get a paid job, will you?” I’m consistently pushing through. That’s is all I can do: push through those thoughts and keep taking action.
You’d also see me juggling way too many ideas and you’d see me wasting too much time with something that is not that relevant in the big scheme of things. Gosh. Where is my producer hat? Everything is so exciting to me right now, I’m over-thinking, doing too much research and over-complicating tasks. I used to spot from afar when someone on my team was doing that! Oops! There is some learning for me here. Didn’t count on that one, but here it is. I see it. So I’m currently revisiting how I approach my workweek. So far, I had a productive new start. We’ll see. Lessons learned: I need to work at one project at a time. I need to stay on course. And I need to finish projects, not just start them. That is what is going to make or break it. Can you see hope on this one? Please say yes!
And before I bore you to death… Can I just say one more?
After this post, you’d see a much more lighthearted, optimistic, happy girl, who is a lover of all beautiful and fragile things, and who is forever changed and grateful for the life she is leading right now. Indeed, writing just puts me in such a glorious space of expansion! I see that in bright flashing lights, don’t you? And didn’t you see those dark clouds moving away too? ;) It’s worth the reminder. Just write it all out. Always.
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And you? Please tell me at least one thing I would see, if I dared to peek through the windows of your soul. You can make a comment with the answer or even post a link to an image or post on your blog. Go on – delurk! I need to get out of my retreat mode and make new friends ~
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ps: Thanks for all the hearts on my Paper N Stitch store. I did not win the Hearts competition for last month’s exhibit, but I landed in 3rd place, which really warmed my heart and showed me that anything is possible if you make a commitment to make it happen. Thank you for showing your love. It did not go unnoticed. I am back on the exhibit this month and the hearts were zeroed out. :( That saddens me cuz your hearts dissipated in space. But oh well. Thank you all the same. You rock!!!
Which reminds me… My rock star friend ~ the Dancing Mermaid ~ is leading an e-course on how to teach an Art Camp! An incredible opportunity for all the mothers, nannies, childcare workers and mermaids, looking to be more creative with kids! Check it out, right here.

Bryant Park Carousel, NY, 2009.
I keep looking at this photo and the expressions on these two cute horsies. They are on the exact same ride, but having two very distinct experiences.
The one on the foreground looks tense.
He seems to be trying to hold on tight ~
Perhaps too tight.
He is overwhelmed.
I think he’s afraid that he might
just end up falling off the ride…
But we know he won’t, don’t we?
How could he? There is just no way.
I so get him though, don’t you?
That is why we need to see ourselves
from a new perspective now and then.
On the other hand, the one in the back
looks like he is having a grand time.
Look at him. He’s got his tongue hanging out
and his head is tilted toward the camera,
as if he was saying: ‘It ain’t so bad!’
As if he wanted to let us know that
life goes round and around…
Through the highs and lows,
we just have got to keep on spinning…
Not a new concept. But I sure need to be reminded of it today!
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And how are you?
Feeling like you also need to let go of the reins a little bit?
Then I invite you to take a breather and change your focus.
Challenge yourself to see from a new perspective.
Life is about to take you for a marvelous spin.
I know it. I see it from here. :)
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And one last call for hearts on my Paper N’ Stitch store! I am now only 10 hearts away from the second place prize, which grants me another month on the exhibition.
If you haven’t yet, I would love if you could pop at my shop, sign up (it’s easy!) and click on the heart on my page. It is that simple and with that you’re boosting my mood up a little with your support :)
Thank you!