Last year I took a class called
Flying Lessons from the amazing artist, Kelly Rae Roberts. There were around 350 women who took the e-course along with me. Together we have spent the last year pursuing our artistic endeavors, building our galleries of finished work, creating websites and stores, and sharing the journey with each other. I have gained so much from these fellow "Flyers".
Several of my classmates have crossed the line from classmates to on-line friends, and some have gone from e-buddies to real live friendships. Whatever the status, this amazing group of women has grown together over the last year to wonderful new personal and professional artistic heights.
One of the reasons that I feel so closely connected to them is the spirit of giving that surrounds this group. We help eachother every single day. We ask questions and someone knows the answer - from art technique, to blog or website questions, to selling work, to setting up art booths. I am so proud of our latest endeavor - banding together to celebrate our own success by creating a scholarship for the next generation of
Flying Lessons students! Our little tribe of artists have raised enough money to sponsor 8 students in Kelly Rae's next (and last!) run of Flying Lessons. And to top it all off - she is going to match our donation with 8 spots donated of her own!!
If you are an artist wanting to take flight,
click here to find the link where Future Flyers can submit a letter explaining your wish to Take Flight!! The winners will be chosen at random, and will be announced on 8/29/12 both by our group and on Kelly Rae's blog! I hope you win and begin a wonderful artistic journey of your own! You can also
read all about the journeys of other flyers on this page.
If you are not quite ready for her whole course - check out her Flying Lessons e-book (see the right hand side of my blog for a link to click)!
My flight in the last year has taken me on quite a journey - here are some of the highlights!!
*I created a blog and website - Just Mary Designs was born!
*I developed an
art line called Body Fab-YOU-lous - marrying my love of mixed media art with a message close to my heart - dedicated to helping women find peace and end their struggle with weight loss and body image challenges.
*I have sold 4 original paintings and around 25 prints! I just picked up a paintbrush for the first time 2 years ago...so selling my work is an amazing accomplishment!
*I was asked to create a piece that will be featured in a new magazine launch issue next month! Soon I will be published - holy cow!!
* I have taken many e-courses to develop my skills and in the process learned wordpress, photoshop, how to design patterns, how to paint large canvases, art journaling and more!
*I have connected into groups where each day I am in contact with several thousand artists - learning and sharing!
*I launched the daily email
Body Fab-YOU-lous Love Notes - a little reminder that peace and love are available in your body right now. I received a letter of feedback telling me that one of them made the reader weep with recognition. That tells me these are important. They are making a difference in peoples lives. I'm also promoting inspirational art from my network of e-buddies - another way to give back to my artistic community!
May your own year be one of amazing accomplishment, and your flight take you soaring to new heights!!
Here is a list of my Flyer Sisters and their posts about their own flight!
Janet Forrest
http://www.tatterednworn.wordpress.com
Cat Athena Louise
http://www.catathenalouise.com
Stacey Bockness Curry
http://starhitchedwagon.blogspot.com/
Kris Lanae Binsfeld
http://cherishdesigns.wordpress.com/
Renee Burke
http://happilyeverafterbyreneeburke.wordpress.com
Michelle Reynolds
http://www.shellsinthebush.com
Constance Rawlins
http://livingwithinyourharvest.com/2012/08/19/fly-tribe-anniversary/
Kelly Hoernig
http://www.kellyhoernig.blogspot.com
Cindy Jones Lantier
http://www.lantier.org
Kathleen Conard
http://newfromoldcreations.blogspot.com/2012/08/giving-back.html
Claudia Dow
http://www.claudiadow.blogspot.com
Susan M. Walls-Beverly
http://susanscharmingtrinkets.blogspot.com/2012/08/flying-lessons-and-art-of-giving-back.html
Linda Barutha
http://baruthadesigns.com
Linda Kinnaman
http://lindakaysart.com/blog/2012/08/19/my-dream-journey-one-year-now/
Cheryl Dossey
http://www.cheryldossey.com/
Sofia Dabalsa
http://sofiadabalsa.blogspot.com
Jill Lambert
http://jill-lambert.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-spirit-of-giving.html
Sally Rose
http://sallyhow2.blogspot.com/
Ursula Smith
http://EasyScraps.com/blog
Deborah Eaton
http://www.deborahgeaton.com/blog/
Lori Leissner
http://www.leissnerart.com/2012/08/giving-thanks-giving-back-giving-flight.html
Creative Clearinghouse
http://creativeclearinghouse.com/Online-Class-Reviews/blog/Ursula-Creative-Clearinghouse
Lenore Angela
http://www.lenoreangela.blogspot.ca/
Katharina Star
http://www.blog.katharinastar.com
Rachél Payne
http://wp.me/pWRyw-10P
Sherry Richert Belul
http://www.simplycelebrate.net/cherry-blossom-soup/gifts
Deborah Velasquez
http://deborahvelasquez.blogspot.com/
Shannon Etnyre
http://www.livingwithumami.com
Live Laugh Love Retreats
http://livelaughloveretreats.com
Kelley Miller Artworks
http://kelleymillerartworks.blogspot.com/
Wini Dougall
http://artloveandjoy.blogspot.com
Carol Bray
http://theredpaintedcottage.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-spirit-of-giving-back-by-giving-flight.html
Tracy Yarbrough
http://chickpeastudio.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-spirit-of-giving.html
Diane Enright
http://dianeenrightphotography.wordpress.com/
Jamie Burch
http://www.dancingdownserendipitystreet.blogspot.com/
Mary Cottingham
http://www.barnbugstudio.blogspot.com
Susan Dietz
http://flutterbeforeyou.blogspot.com
Lori Moon Studio
http://lorimoonstudio.blogspot.com/2012/08/fly-tribe-blog-hop-giving-back.html
Kim Hyer
http://www.apaperaddict.com
Tina Carlborg
http://www.tinachicky.blogspot.com
Catherine Pistone
http://catherinepistone.blogspot.com/
Mary MacIlvain
http://maryart.macilvain.com/
Carolyn Chenault
http://carolynchenault.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/the-big-giveaway
Comments
Lori Moon said:
I am so happy to share this journey with you. You are such an inspiration! Happy Anniversary!
Mary Cottingham said:
What a lovely, uplifting post. Best of luck with all the inspiring work you do. Happy Anniversary, I am so glad to be making this journey with you! Mary C.
justmarydesigns said:
Thanks Sally – can’t wait for the retreat – it will be a BLAST!!
Sally Rose said:
Happy Anniversary, Mary! It is wonderful to hear how much you have accomplished in the last year. You are really soaring now! Looking forward to meeting you in person next April.
justmarydesigns said:
Thanks Wini! Great to get to “know” you on-line!!!
justmarydesigns said:
Thanks Ursula! You have been such a big help to so many flyers this year! Thanks for all you do!
wini said:
Hi Mary, your creative journey and your art line is truly inspired and inspiring!! Wishing you every success in the world!! Happy Anniversary!! xo
Ursula said:
Hi Mary- Happy Anniversary!! What a great idea you have come up with and I can’t wait to see what this next year brings for you!!
justmarydesigns said:
Its been fabulous getting to know you too! Here’s to an even better year two for our whole tribe!
justmarydesigns said:
Thanks Michelle!! They Fly Tribe is awesome! I wish you well in your own pursuits!!
justmarydesigns said:
Cheers to you too Jamie! Happy to be flying with you!
justmarydesigns said:
What a nice thought that my journey would be a blueprint for others! Thanks Deborah!!!
justmarydesigns said:
Thanks Carol – it’s so much fun flying together!!!
justmarydesigns said:
Thanks Pam!
justmarydesigns said:
Yay right back at you sista!
justmarydesigns said:
Thank you Stacey! I’m so glad you love what I’ve created – that is the best possible compliment for any artist!!
justmarydesigns said:
Thanks Kris! I appreciate your comment on having a recognizable brand – that is new for me and its nice that it is noticed!!! Cheers to you too!
justmarydesigns said:
Thank you Lenore! I love using a lot of bright colors!! I find it inspirational!
Lenore said:
Hi Mary, your artwork is so uplifting and colourful, always makes me feel so good when I see it.
And I loved your post!
xo Lenore
Kris Lanae Binsfeld said:
Mary,
It has been so much fun watching your success this year! I love that you established your very own recognizable brand and have had such a fantastic year! It is a joy to be your flysister! Cheers to an amazing year ahead! :-) Kris
Stacey M. Curry said:
Way to go on a year well done!!! Love you unique brand of art…truly original which is sometime hard to do these days!!! Keep on keepin on!!
Tinachicky said:
YAY you!!!!!!! You are AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pocono Pam said:
Awesome accomplishments! TFS!
Carol said:
Congratulations on all your accomplishments that you’ve had over this past year and your upcoming publication. Love your body Fab-YOU-lous art. You are flying high with your wings, my friend!
Deborah Velásquez said:
Just Mary is Just Amazing!!! What you have done this past year is just incredible! You have put a wonderful and “possible blueprint” out there for many. Happy Anniversary!
xoxoxo
Jamie Burch said:
Congratulations, Mary, on all you’ve accomplished this year! I’m so happy to be on this journey with you. Cheers to another fantastic year for you and the tribe! ((hugs))
Michelle said:
You are such an inspiration to so many! I love that you and your Fly Tribe are encouraging others to make their dreams come true as well. Congrats on your first work being published and looking forward to seeing your next adventures.
Lori said:
Mary, it’s been a pleasure getting to know you better. I love that you’ve written out all the amazing accomplishments you’ve attained in the last year. Wow! It’s been fun to go a long for the ride. And imagine what the next year might hold??!! xxoxo L
justmarydesigns said:
Thanks so much Kathleen – blogging is like a diary from the heart!!! Glad you stopped by!!
justmarydesigns said:
Sherry thanks for stopping by!! I can’t wait to hear how the lives of the scholarship recipients are brightened!!
Kathleen said:
Mary, I just love your blog design. It is so bright and lively! I also really like the way you recapped your year. You have accomplished so much. One of the things I like about having a blog is that it helps me to see my growth and WOW have you grown. I am excited for all that the next year has in store for you as well. xo, Kathleen
Sherry Richert Belul said:
Mary, BIG CONGRATS on that wonderful list of artistic and business accomplishments! Good for you! Hey, stopping by to wish you a very happy anniversary. May the year ahead be full of fabulous soaring for us all — and for the lucky folks who win the class scholarships. :-)
justmarydesigns said:
Thanks for such a nice supportive comment Mary! I love the Flyers group too!
Mary said:
Mary – I love your story about how Just Mary Designs was born and grew. It is wonderful that you are helping others with body image and feeling better about themselves. The Flyers are such a wonderful, multi-faceted group.
justmarydesigns said:
Thanks Cheryl! I will let you know when the magazine is published – I will be celebrating!!!
Cheryl Dossey said:
It’s been a great year. Glad to see so many of the Fly Tribe members following their dreams. Congratulations on being published next month. Be sure to keep us posted. :)
justmarydesigns said:
Thank you Jill – I am glad that the Love Notes are meaningful for you! They are truly created with love!
justmarydesigns said:
Glad you were along too – it was so fun to meet you earlier this year in Hawaii!!!
janet forrest said:
Great synopsis of our year! Glad to have been along with you on the journey!
Jill said:
Mary,
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. I bet many women are thanking you as well for starting your Body Fab-You-lous love notes – they are uplifting and inspiring…so very generous and loving of you because so many of us struggle with body image—I personally thank you for making this part of your mission.
Jill