Daisybones poster via Blisschick.
What are you doing to stretch your limits or break free of self-imposed boundaries? Leave a comment for a chance to win a summer giveaway. The winner's name will be drawn from le chapeau on Monday, Aug. 10th. Bon chance!
I'm so glad I happened upon your blog today. Your photos are wonderful and I was enjoying reading several of your posts. Then I clicked to see what the summer giveaway was about. I feel it was fortuitous that I did.
There is much to motivate me in the phrases contained in this great poster by Daisybones in my the pursuit of clay, my writings, and my current struggles of daily living and I need to keep many of these phrases 'current' in my head.
There is also much for me to ponder in your question about stretching and breaking free. I feel I used to be more confident and took more risks when I was younger and I am currently re-examining my life to discard my limits. I see now I need to say to myself as I awake each day, "Today is the first day of the rest of my life" and I need to be sure to make the most of each day too. Thanks for some great reminders, I needed them.
Posted by: Linda Starr | 10 August 2009 at 07:21
What am I doing? Oh well, I don't know...I try and read as many types of books that I can even if they are banned or looke down upon or are graphic. If I want to read it, I do, and I normally learn something about myself or life in general and those that inhabit it.
Posted by: ShootingStarsMag | 08 August 2009 at 23:41
What a beautiful poster - I love it!
I've decided to stop comparing myself to others - to go out on a limb and sign up for Maddie's e-course starting in September even though I have no idea how to use my camera - catching myself before I get caught up in the drama at my job - journaling in a more authentic way. OH - and the biggest? Trying to convince myself to start a blog :)
You are an inspiration. Blessings to you :)
Posted by: michele | 08 August 2009 at 02:30
One of my favorite quotations from the letters of Violet Trefusis to Vita Sackville-West starts, "They've taken & burnt your caravan, they've thrown away your pots and pans and your half-mended wicker chairs. They've pulled down your sleeves and buttoned up your collar. They've forced you to sleep beneath a self-respecting roof with no chinks to let the stars through. But they haven't caught me yet! Come! Come away!" It ends by saying, "Live fully, live passionately, live disastrously. Let's live, you and I, as none have ever lived before." Your lovely print embodies that spirit.
I haven't always thrown all caution to the wind in my life, but just this week, I enabled the comment function of a blog I started two months ago. I finally felt secure enough in the validity of my thoughts and ideas and in the quality of my writing to let the world have at it.
Posted by: Dale Elizabeth | 07 August 2009 at 22:02
hmmm, interesting timing on this post... i was chatting to my coach the other day speaking about just that... it's like i emerge and declare my presence to the world, then retreat again.
for me, sometimes stretching my limits can be just the tiniest thing... this week it has been self-promotion with astonishing results, speaking my truth, telling people how much they inspire me
love that journal, it's beautiful
hope you are well
x
Posted by: leonie | 07 August 2009 at 16:22
What am I doing to stretch my limits?
Today I'm sending out a book proposal I've been working on for years. I queried a big name agent and she wants to see it -- and now I am terrified and sending the thing anyway. It's one of those moments where you work and work and work and then, in a split second, hold your breath and hit SEND. If she doesn't want it, I'll send it to another and that'll stretch me (to just keep going and quiet the voices in my head). If she wants it, then it'll be a stretch to become the person who'll write, market, etc. it.
Thanks for sharing the great question and beautiful, inspiring art journal.
Posted by: Rebecca Self | 07 August 2009 at 14:08
I've been following the BlissChick for a while now, so I saw the poster when Christine announced/published the other day (we've been waiting with "breathless anticipation" for it!). It's AMAZING! As for myself, I've been dabbling in being creative for years, but this is the year that I am truly trusting myself to JUST LET GO - not just follow patterns & designs, but let my spirit take me where it wants to go in journaling, fiber arts, whatever feels right to my hands, my eyes, my heart!!! It's scary at times, but I've never felt more alive in the process!
Posted by: glasswing_butterfly | 07 August 2009 at 11:33
I need to enter something like this. My life is finally at a point where I can start to spend a little time checking in with everyone else again ...
Waiting for an English student to arrive while my new website has it's galleries revamped. We're working through the kinks and bumps and trying to check how the comments section is. When I was traveling, I couldn't always get to it to release comments, hopefully it's all happening now ...
Posted by: Di | 07 August 2009 at 09:33
The Americans I know are intelligent informed people, I don't get how this can happen and yet I see it ... again and again and again. Media really needs to be made accountable and objective in the States because it's so very dangerous when manipulated to the extent that it is.
Posted by: Di | 07 August 2009 at 09:31
What am I doing? Well, funny thing you asked, I'm travelling to Jordan next March for an amazing photography trip.
Posted by: Donna | 07 August 2009 at 03:00
Christine, it is a wonderful, positive, life-affirming poster. Kudos to Daisybones for creating it using your words - and many thanks to you for making it available to everyone. What a lovely, thoughtful gesture!
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 07 August 2009 at 00:39
What a wonderful gift to give us women! The more I looked at it, the more I thought, I have to have one of these posters! And I want to give one to all my girlfriends and nieces.
But what am I doing to stretch myself or break free of self imposed boundaries? Um...saying yes where I'd usually say, why bother? Going for a run because it feels good rather than because I need to lose this many pounds, letting myself eat a big bowl of ice cream whenever I want, buying that dress I've been wanting, letting myself make mistakes, listening to my gut rather than the voice shouting at me. I can't think of all the ways. It's an imperfect, moment to moment, every day kind of thing. Hopefully it all work out to a life of no regrets.
Posted by: Cheryl de los Reyes Cruz | 06 August 2009 at 23:35
My children taught me to love myself. Growing up in a family where medicine and business was valued and the arts was "play" and a waste of time, I have always felt ashamed to have graduated with a theatre degree. That shame caused me to turn away completely from the arts.I am so far away from the arts in what I do, that people are shocked when I tell them what I have a degree in. My children have taught me to live out loud, to respect my inner soul. Lovely post Tara.
Posted by: Yoli | 06 August 2009 at 21:23
This is such a wonderful poster.
I am ready to be fearless. Block out those doubters. I may find myself alone at times, on this journey of finding my niche, but it isn't the worst place I could be.
Margie reminded me this morning- "jump and a net will appear"
Love ya!
PS: That banner is lovely. I recognize that sweet girl with the bird cage. Yes!
; )
Posted by: Christina | 06 August 2009 at 21:06
Tara you are such an inspriation! Love that poster; reminds me of this gal: http://swirlygirl.typepad.com/swirly_girl/ probably found her thru you!
Stretching; that act that is both rewarding and painful. For it only appears that one is really stretching when there is a slight amount of pain; like yoga!
I decided that I would toss my name into the universe's proverbial hat as a teacher. I have taught workshops in calligraphy with the emphasis on fabric; using letters and words as surface design for art quilts. I'm nervous about this but am forging ahead. I have been told at my workshops by the fellow travelers that my information is great & I'm funny & engauging. That gives me courage. I'm excited to see what the universe will bring me; as I recently declared 'BRING IT, I'm READY'. (even if I don't entirely feel it; I know it will come.
The trick I find about creating your own reality is just that. You've got to create it; which means you've pulled it out of your imagination so it's not quite real yet... Only in believing it's real will it become more real to you as time goes on. This is what I want for my life; and in living this; hopefully showing my 16 yr old daughter; the same. Between you and me; she teaches me so much about being fearless (and also what NOT to go out of the house in *smile*)
We are strong women and cherish that gift!
Posted by: Stacy | 06 August 2009 at 20:34
I feel I am stretching these days more than ever...always playing with new techniques. I am trying to write more...started a new journal of inspiring words. (your chinese proverb was just added :))
x..x
steph
Posted by: Stephanie | 06 August 2009 at 20:14
Oh my! self imposed boundaries are the most difficult if not impossible to break. What do I do? Ignore them, like mosquitos. I guess growing older has a heck of a lot to do with that, but the truth is that I find myself taking more and more chances, not necessary reckless ones, but ones years ago I would have walked away from.
Taking classes that have "no practical purpose" as if feeding my need for creative wings wouldn't be more practical than taking pills for depression. Creating jewelry that truly creates itself. No longer bound by what is fashionable or "in" I let the stones speak and I listen. The results are always good, perhaps not in a truly esthetic sense but in the learning process of letting go. It hasn't been easy but it has certainly been rewarding.
Posted by: Allegra | 06 August 2009 at 19:18
Hi Tara,
This is a great poster by Daisybones created with thoughts by Christine.
The ways I have been stretching:
New photo program and writing
Always on my back~burner:
Choosing to break free from a feeling of lack to rededicate to myself to feeling of complete abundance, through working mentally on it. This is my battle.
Happy Day to you Tara!
xox
Constance
Posted by: Rochambeau | 06 August 2009 at 18:59
LOVE that poster!! Wonderful! I would put that up in a girls room.
:)
Posted by: amber | 06 August 2009 at 18:06
Tara -- THANK YOU for posting our poster! I still CANNOT get over what amazing beauty Daisybones made from my words. It's just breathtaking to me. Thank you for getting it out to more women.
By the way, LOVE the looks of your new project with Maddie! :)
Posted by: Christine (Blisschick) Reed | 06 August 2009 at 15:01
Gillian, one of my favourite expressions is this Chinese proverb: "The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it." xoxox
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 06 August 2009 at 13:51
LOL, YOU being that OTHER someone, not you Tara. That didn't read right. :)
It certainly was not you. xoxo
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | 06 August 2009 at 13:41
One of the toughest things to do to break free of self-imposed boundaries (for me, you, anyone) is to believe in your abilities. Yet all the things people tell you you can't do, are really the things they can't or won't do. So turn that model around, and start telling yourself that you can do anything. When "they" tell you you can't, just smile and say "watch me". It's marvelous the opportunities that are actually there if you are open to them. Once a person told me when I started really LOVING photography, "Well, you are a painter. That is what YOU do."
Well I'm here to say that I can do what I please! And I wouldn't presume for a second to tell YOU what you can do. (YOU being that someone, not you dear Tara. Not you who forever tells me that I CAN.)
With that said, you've given me the optimism to charge out with my camera today and capture the unexpected beauty that lurks around each corner.
xoxo
You have the most inspired and beautiful day...don't let the turkeys get you down.
(Love that daisybones and blisschick! Off to see them too now.)
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | 06 August 2009 at 13:40