Shari Sherman

Shari Sherman

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

SPARK AND INSPIRE...A GIVEAWAY!!

And the winner is....Jennifer Urbanek!!
 Congratulations Jennifer!
Thanks to all who entered...I truly wish everyone could have won.  Don't fret! You can still own a copy of this amazing book by clicking over on my sidebar for details on ordering (if you order through my blog, I get a little slice of the pie!)  Also, for other opportunities to win, be sure to check the other participating artists' blogs and FB pages for more GIVEAWAYS. 

 
 
I am SO EXCITED to SHARE THIS with YOU!
Many of you might recall the 10-10-10 project that I took part in earlier in the year...well, the fabulous, amazing, super-powered, Robin Norgren, has taken all of that creative business goodness and compiled it into ONE AWESOME BOOK. This is a wealth of creative information that you won't find anywhere else. It is personal and heartfelt. It is like sitting down with a trusted girlfriend and asking "How Did You Do It?"  And she replies HONESTLY. 
Pick up this book and you will be INSPIRED!
 
If you are feeling LUCKY, leave a comment below because I'm giving away 1 PDF copy of the book!  The contest will end on Monday, October 29th, at midnight, at the height of the FULL MOON.  I'll choose the winner and announce it on Tuesday.  There is magic and power if you wish on that moon...the lucky winner could be YOU!
 
******************************************************************
 
Here is some info on what's included in this wonderful source of creative wisdom!
 
 
30 days worth of questions that you can take and use as a 30 day diagnostic for your idea, vision or business. This is a 30 day program with 30 questions that will help you
DEEPEN THE SOUL OF YOUR BUSINESS
 
When you are smack dab in the middle of an idea or vision and really want to hear from those who have felt the victories and the disappointments of taking such a brave leap… you need community and inside advice with no expectations and strings attached.
 
Within these pages you will find the voices of over 40 creative entrepreneurs who run their businesses both online and in brick and mortar stores, who run workshops and sell in shows, who have a range of experiences and have been in business from 1 year to more than 25 years and who offer you no nonsense information on their processes and how they have been able to keep moving in tough economic times and how they have found a way to let good ideas go when the money was not in line with the dream. We are talking on a range of topics from collaborations to big leaps that did (and did not) come together as planned.
We are talking about how to get at the soul of your business and how to stay excited about the work you offer the world.
 
The Details:
237 pages sent to your inbox
Comprehensive insight from soulful creative entrepreneurs
The list of business women include:
Kelly Thiel
Stephanie Amos
Leanne Wargowsky
Alease McClenningham
Sonya McCllough
Jean Simrose
Jan Avellana
Nolwenn Petitbois
Kelly Warren
Laura Otero
Stephanie Guimond
Shari Sherman - This is me! Woohoo!
Dani Keith
Paula Joerling
Valerie Weller
Phyllis Dobbs
Catherine Just
Katie Clemons
Kat Sloma
Laura Gaffke
Natasa May
Julene Ewert
Jodi Lebrun
Erin Fickert-Rowland
Louise Gale
Cindy Silverstein
Kim Gann
Juliette Crane
Jodene Shaw
Carrie Schmitt
Valerie Hart
Elizabeth Gonzalez
Lisa Wilson
e’Layne Koenigsberg
Mary Nasser
Amanda Fall
Beth Doan
Katherine Quinn
Liv Lane
Mandy Saile
Robin Norgren
41 artists
30 questions
Each question offers insight from AT LEAST 8 artists

You gotta be in it to WIN IT!  Just leave a comment below and that's it!  If you'd like, you can LIKE me on Facebook or Follow my Blog on the sidebar, but only if you want. It's not required to win this amazing book!

Until next time, Go Out and Be Kind!

Thursday, October 11, 2012

I AM Worthy-An ArtFirmation

 
"I Am Worthy of My Biggest Dream"
(she's wearing a butterfly crown!)

I am a big believer in affirmations...what you tell yourself, you become. It's kinda like programming or re-programming your noggin. The problem is that most people have negative thoughts running such as...I'm not this....I can't do that...that'll never happen.

The good news is that it is fairly simple to start changing your thought patterns. Simply find an I AM sentence that fits what you would like to create in your life.  Pick one that SPARKS something inside you...you don't necessarily have to believe it yet, but it will FEEL right to you.  Then, all it takes is practice.  Repeat it to yourself while you are brushing your teeth. Repeat it while you are sitting at a stoplight. Repeat it while you are waiting in line. And definitely, most especially, repeat it when you are feeling the opposite of what you want to create.  All you are doing is inputing new data into that big, beautiful brain of yours!  Give it a try.  It's worth a shot.  See what amazing changes
YOU CAN MAKE HAPPEN.

I'm creating a series of ArtFirmations™ to be used as artistic daily reminders. I'm thinking I'll also put them into a pack of cards or maybe have it so you'll be able to choose 5 or 6 cards and create your own personal deck that speaks to you.

The above piece is approx. 8" x 8" mixed media on stretched canvas. The original can be yours for $80 with prints available too! over on ETSY.
Tell Yourself You are Worthy!


Until next time, go out and Be Kind!
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Thursday, October 4, 2012

I'm on a diet...but it's not what you think


Although I probably could lose a few pounds, the type of diet I'm on doesn't involve resisting chocolate chip cookies or Papa Bee's teriyaki chicken wings.  For the past few months, I have been on an ART SUPPLY DIET.  If you're like me, and I know a lot of you are, you can resist the chips and the sweets, 
BUT, let me browse the colorful aisles of Michael's and I get heart palpitations.
Seriously.

It all started back in June, during my coaching sessions with the awesome, Stephanie Guimond, as part of her Get Clear, Get Moving program.  I have a project I'm working on, and as we discussed ways to work towards its completion, the excuse of "lack of funds" reared its ugly head. She helped me get some perspective on either cutting spending or making more.  Well, since then, I've actually been doing both.  (I'll go into Making More in my next post). 
As far as cutting spending, I did an honest appraisal of where my money was going, and besides wings and chocolate chip cookies...my money was going to buy art supplies.

 We've all been there...lured in by the 40% off coupon, telling ourselves we're just going for one item...maybe glue or some varnish. Then we take a quick look down the clearance aisle, just to see if there is anything that we will no longer be able to get.  Before you know it, your basket is filled with goodies, and your wallet is a lot lighter.

Here's the problem with that...
I literally have a TON of art supplies. As in if someone weighed the contents of my studio, it would probably equal 2,000 pounds. 
All of it accumulated from trips like I just described above.

So,  I made the decision that I'd rather complete my project than stock my studio like it's a mini-Michael's.  I vowed to myself and to Stephanie (it ALWAYS helps to vow to someone else) that from now until the completion of my project, I would be on an art supply diet.  Since I am a working artist there would be the exceptions for any supplies that are needed directly for commissions or workshops. 

And guess what, after the first couple of weeks of reminding myself, I settled into the habit of searching my studio for supplies. And much to my surprise I have found quite a bit of stash that I had forgotten about.  I have been digging deep in more ways than one.  It has forced me to be more creative, to work with what I have, to use it up, and figure it out. And mostly it has switched my perspective from lack to "Wow, I really friggin' have a LOT." 
And for that I am thankful.
Turns out I've actually gained quite a bit on this diet.

Anyone else need to go on a diet?
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