Want to challenge yourself to soar?

Although I have been a writer for years, I have long wanted to create things for others that combined color, images and words; things that would make people think and feel on a different level. At the end of December 2008, I took my first step toward making that dream a reality by opening an Etsy store - doodlestar.etsy.com.

I feel blessed to have such great people in my life from the folks I have met in person and through my personal blog, http://www.creativenachos.com/ to the talented writers and artists within the Etsy community. Everyone has been a tremendous source of inspiration.

I have found that for many of the people I’ve met there is one common issue that people are struggling with, including me. Whether people are running their own store, raising a family or both, there are times when you are pulled in so many directions that you sacrifice the time needed to create. In addition, each person wondered about what the best ways might be to combat the highs and lows experienced while working as an independent artist, freelance writer or business owner. I say, let's do it together.

I have decided to create this blog which I hope will serve to help people to work together to stay motivated to create. I would like to do this by offering a weekly theme, deadline and place to showcase your work. Should you choose to sell your pieces after they’ve been created, that’s fabulous but that’s not the point. The point is to simply enjoy the act of creating and focus on creating something that YOU love and that YOU are passionate about. The point is to challenge yourself artistically.

Here’s how it will work. Each Wednesday I will post an idea, something that will serve as a theme, and people will have until the following Thursday to post a link in the comments section to what they have created in response to that theme. There is only one rule.

1. How you choose to interpret the theme that is completely up to you. It simply needs to be tasteful – no pornography or messages of hate here. When you sit down to create, you cannot think about how people will or will not receive your work. You are required to simply enjoy the act of creating.

If we all work together to make this a fun place to share new ideas and works of art then we won't sacrifice our creative time. AND if we are creating things we love, we won’t be worried about what others think; we will simply be sharing our passion.

If you are interested, please leave a comment or send me an email and I will be in touch with you. Please know that I have a little girl that I'm always running after so if it takes a little time for me to get back to you, don't fret. I will definitely be in touch.

The first theme will be posted on Wednesday, January 7th!

Let's have fun, challenge ourselves and let our dreams soar to new heights!

I can't wait to meet you!