The Tour is almost over!  It's been so much fun posting about the various themes, (which are derived from actual chapters in the new book, "DECLARATION OF YOU"  by Michelle Ward and Jessica Swift.

Learn more about the book and order your signed copy here:   

http://thedeclarationofyou.com/

I hope you have taken the opportunity to view the blogs of the many other participating creative bloggers.  It has been an enlightening  and  helpful experience for me.

This week's subject is

Here are some good ways to celebrate your life:

  

THIS WEEK'S SUBJECT: SUCCESS (The Blog Lovin' Tour continues)

HAPPY JULY TO YOU!  THIS WEEK'S SUBJECT ON THE BLOG LOVIN' TOUR IS

What does success mean to you?  How do you get it?  How do you measure it?
I found some great quotes by successful people that say it all. I especially like the last one! 

BTW, I'm still on the road to success.  I hope to let you know soon that I've arrived!  

ENJOY THE TOUR!  YOUR COMMENTS WELCOMED

Self-Care

I HOPE YOU ARE ENJOYING THE BLOG LOVIN' TOUR WITH MICHELLE AND JESSICA, AND ABOUT 100 OTHER CREATIVE BLOGGERS.  I'M GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH LOTS OF AWESOME CREATIVE TYPES....LOADS OF FUN!


The book "Declaration of You" is NOW AVAILABLE!  (The whole purpose of the tour!)
Go to :
                              http://thedeclarationofyou.com/

THIS WEEK'S SUBJECT IS  SELF-CARE

I actually did not sign up for this subject because I didn't think I had much to say about it.
But then I came across this site:

 http://www.utdallas.edu/counseling/selfcare/

 which was full of great advice; some of it is excerpted from their post.
This was really helpful for me because I rarely think about taking "care" of myself, except in the most indulgent and unhealthy ways.  ("Go ahead, have that ice cream cone or pizza; another hour of sleep won't hurt"....you know what I mean!)

UT Dallas describes self-care as "a way of living that incorporates behavior that helps you to be refreshed and replenished."  It is your personal motivator to grow as a person. 

 

Who doesn't need that?!?

Some ideas....

And do them!  (I'm going to make paper dolls and read mystery novels)

I'm sure you have many great ways to care for and nurture yourself.  I would love to hear about them.

Creatively Yours,              

                      JoAnne

The Blog Lovin' Tour continues, and I'm thrilled to participate along with 100 other creative bloggers!

The tour will launch the publication of the book "The Declaration of You" this summer.   (published by North Light Books) It's all about  discovering your true passions and gifts, and what you were meant to do....and giving yourself permission to do it!

This week's subject:           INTENTION

  

The Declaration of You Blog Lovin' Tour Continues

 I've joined over 100 creative bloggers in the tour to promote this exciting new book by MichelleWard and Jessica Swift. Here we are at WEEK NUMBER 2 of the Tour.  I hope you will check out the other participants.  There are lots of great posts!  (I hope I will be able to check  out ALL of them too)

I am excited about this week's subject:  UNIQUITY

(Yes, it is a made up word, but you know what it means, right???)

I have some fun art I made to share with you, along with some musings
about being unique.  Perhaps you don't feel very unique, but I say you are
mistaken..... YOU JUST HAVEN'T DISCOVERED YOUR UNIQUITY YET!

When I saw this week's subject I immediately thought of one of my favorites verses from the Book of Psalms.  It is awesome to think that God created each one of us according to His plan.  And we are assured that there is no one else like you!

 OH- ONE MORE THING:  Please check out my post from last April entitled OOAK.
It fits perfectly with our subject!

http://joannemellerbeautifulbits.blogspot.com/2012/04/ooak.html

This is an original done with water soluble
oil pastels.

Original art "Posterized"

Good Morning all my Art Lovin' Blog Lovin' Friends! 

 I can see that this tour is going to be lots of fun.  Maybe I'll even learn more about how to use my blog  (Lots of tech-y stuff I still don't understand, but I'm trying!)

Thanks to Gail for your comment.
You asked about how I create my art.  In most instances I have scanned one of my original paintings/drawings and then altered it on a photo-editing site.  I then add the text digitally.

This is another process that I have been teaching myself for the last several months.I am starting to be aware (from what I've                read) that a lot of the features I employ on my FREE photo-editing sites are the same features used by Photoshop, so hopefully I am on the right track!

These pictures will give you an idea of the process (and all the possibilities!)

Original art changed to stripes

                      

Texture layer added, then leaves and flourishes added

                

Heart added

THE DECLARATION OF YOU will be published by North Light Books this summer, with readers getting all the permission they've craved to step passionately into their lives, discover how they and their gifts are unique and uncover what they are meant to do!

This post is part of the Declaration of You Blog Lovin' Tour, which I'm thrilled to participate in alongside over 100 other creative bloggers.  

Learn more and join us!   http://thedeclarationofyou.com/blog-lovin-tour

SEE MY PREVIOUS POST, " ENTHUSIASM: Need it!  Got it!

which kicks off the tour!