It's a New Year with Promises...

"Every end 

is a

new 

   beginning"…

- unknown

The decorations are down… the boxes are out,  I am surrounded by 

the memories of another holiday season ended 

while having entered a new year.

The first few days of January are always a time of 

reflection.

 Looking back and looking forward.

Taking inventory of the goods, the bads, and the continued dreams.

I love the concept of choosing a word for the year. 

I'm a big believer of making lists, planning and sticky notes.

(Ask my daughter… I really love sticky notes.)

So my personal word for this year is going to be… 

"BIG"

It may sound a little weird, but I am choosing this little word…
because it personifies the whole process I want to see for myself in the coming year.
I love the fact that the word 
"BIG"
is so small.
Okay… here's the vulnerable part… 
I see myself as that  l i t t l e  word… 
with the capacity for BIGness.
I see a foundation that God has been providing for that BIGness
and I now believe it's time to 
step into 
that BIGness. 

Want to join me? 
Is it time to
step into 
"BIG"
for you too? 

"BIG"
in your art
in your believe
in your serve
in your connection
in your action…
I'm planning on pushing the boundaries into 
"BIG"
this year 
in many parts of life…
starting with 
a 30 day journaling project
with Lisa Sonora Beam

Journaling with art & word...

I'll be posting the process here, as I lean in.

Please feel free to leave your words and thoughts  
if you join me on this path…  
What boundaries will you push to grow 
into your own 
BIGness?
haPPy 2014!

And so it begins...

A few things in the "art life" are aligning themselves...

I am finding that they are happening in 

"groups."
Groups of events...
Groups of people...
c o n n e c t i o n s...

A couple of years ago,
I dared myself to 
b e l i e v e 
I dared myself to face
f e a r
and I dared myself to 
s t e p  o u t...

Stepping out sure looks pretty in a group!

there's comfort in a group,
there's beauty in a group,
and there's fearlessness in a group
I love the connection that art brings! 

Here's one group of lovelies...

Rebecca Klier

Kelly Warren

Sandi Volpe

Dani Keith

Cindi Silverstein

Suzanna Leigh

now showing through the end of the month at LEDE Gallery
To see everyone's work up close and personal, take a peek at
LEDE on Facebook. The SHOP button links to everyone's work.

The other "moon & star" alignment 
involves another group of lovelies...
from the original 101010 project. 
A few month's ago, I hosted a series of artist's interviews 
that had to do with a group of creatives, pursuing their artistic dreams. 
The originator of this fabulous project, Robin Norgren,
compiled a book, based on interviews with over 40 creative women
(including me!!!! woo hooo! I am officially published)
sharing their thoughts on running a creative business.
Spark and Inspire is one amazing collaboration, 
and I am humbled and honored to be part of Robin's vision.

I will be posting a GIVEAWAY in December 
for a PDF COPY of Robin's lovely collaboration! 
The book is available now thru amazon, 
and makes for a wonderful gift.


Along with the PDF giveaway... there will be a  little goody from me 
to celebrate fearless women taking flight!

Stay in the loop by checking back!

Starting to feel 

art emerge.

Meet Laura Otero... Marketing Professional & more...

Laura is a marketing professional, graphic designer, writer 

and lover of all things creative living her best life in Charleston, SC.

On most days, you will find Laura sharing her artful adventures 

at LauraCatherine.co,

as well as helpful online tutorials, app reviews and design bits

of goodness on her MarketingWithLaura.com blog.

Blogging about online marketing has provided Laura an outlet to share much of 

what she has learned through her years in the online tourism and television markets. 

Her online marketing journey began in 2005, when she was an internet marketing director for her local tourism bureau - when social media was emerging. 

She also worked in internet sales/marketing for a top NBC station in South Carolina, whose website drew more than 500,000 visitors a month. 

In 2010, Laura signed up for Kelly Rae Roberts “Flying Lessons” e-course.

She immersed herself into artistic pursuits away from the computer and shares her progress with her readers at LauraCatherine.co. 

Laura enjoys art journaling, painting, tweeting, making jewelry, 

traveling and (of course) blogging. She has been known to hold a craft tweet-up 

and loves handmade items.

~~~

How did you finally decide on the look of your brand? What did the evolution look like?

My marketing blog, business website, personal blog, Facebook page and Twitter account all have a unified look.  This was a definite process for me, even though I’m 

a designer! I decided on red, white and black as my business colors. I didn’t want anything too girly, and felt black and white were crisp and professional enough to 

make both men and women feel comfortable on my blog.  

When I first started my blogging and business, I went with a navy and light blue color scheme, and more girly fonts. Over time, I felt like I wanted something that felt
more like “me.”

Especially with us creative folks, we have a tendency to redesign our online spaces and logos more often than others. Even though it’s been less than a year, I’m already ready to change things up! I have to remember (as a marketer) that branding myself is a process, and that is isn’t always the best decision to change things just when people have come to recognize and know me by the colors and look I’ve established.

I have also learned to not be so hard on myself. Even artists with huge followings often have their blogs on a simple blogspot site, with pretty customizations. As long as the content is high quality and it’s written from the heart, I have to believe readers won’t 

know or even care about where the blog is hosted. Another one of my favorites is 

“A Beautiful Mess” blog – another example of a simple blog platform customized 

in a way that is allows the artist to shine. 

~~~

For more information on the 101010 Project check out the101010 Website. For a complete list of questions and the women hosting them on their Websites, see below.

(Note: Due to life's unexpected twists & turns, this session of the 101010 Project features eight participants instead of the intended 10.)                                                                      




THE WOMEN, THE QUESTIONS

Laura Otero: #1. Is it necessary for your business to line up with your soul purpose?  What value is there to having that aligned?

Stephanie Guimond: #2. Do you have a business mentor?  What value does that offer to your experiences as a business owner?

Shari Sherman: #3. What animal would represent your first year of business.

Robin Norgren: #4. What business/businesses have you chosen to model your business after?

Dani Keith: #5. At this moment, what one idea do you need to start executing for your business?

Paula Joerling: #6. What part of your business have you delegated or put on hold in order to focus your energy more efficiently?

Valerie Weller: #7. How did you finally decide on the look of your brand?  What did the evolution look like?

Phyllis Dobbs: #8. Who is that one person you would like to sit and talk with about your business? What would you talk about?