Free to be Me Journal

     Here is the official hashtag for "Free to be Me". This account is to celebrate YOU so here are a few things to keep in mind when submitting: 

1. Women entrepreneurs that you would like to highlight 
2. Photographs 
3. Your business 
4. Encouraging words 
5. A special story about seeking God through business related success or struggles 
6. DIY 
7. Your item/s that you sell in your shop (send me an email about collab to freetobemejournal@gmail.com) 
8. Organic anything 
9. Fun things to do in your town 
10. Books 
11. Anything else you can think of that keeps on topic with this account Most of all, I want to hear and share your dreams so that we can build a community of support for one another and encourage each other in the ups and downs of life. 

I Wonder Original

     I have been following along with each of your journeys and I'm so inspired by your dreams and passions in life.  You all are so amazing and encouraging!  I know God has incredible things in store for you.  Today I would like to share with you a piece of my dream... one that I was not aware of until God knocked me down and placed it in my lap.  I have a dream to open a shop "I Wonder Original" where I will set art, tees, photography, and a future e-course.  My desire is to inspire each one of you and to encourage you to follow your dreams because YOU are a valued part of this world.  I am so excited to share with you my brand new logo!

Repost Logo & Share

     If you have been blessed or inspired by Free to be Me Journal, please share with others.  Let's continue building a community of supporting and encouraging women that offer kindness to each other as we pursue our God-given dreams.  It is a tough but exhilarating journey.  Be a light to one another and show love as our Father does for us.  You all inspire me!

Give Thanks

     Sitting here thinking about how important it is that I offer thanks to God for all that He blesses me with.  So much of the time, I fill my prayers with worries, complaints or wants.  Anyone else with me?  From now on, more giving thanks!

Fashion - Gardner and the Gang

     Seriously wishing that these amazingly creative girl's clothing items came in my size!  Photo by Scandinavian Minimall(@scandinavianminimall) and clothing by Gardner and the Gang(@garderandthegang)

Happy Sunday Folks

     I hope you all have a day full of rest and basking in Jesus' love! Let your light shine!!

Photography - Lana

     This pic... Gee... It reminds me of how I allow little frustrations in life to completely overshadow the simple mundane things that give life such pleasure.  Thank you SO much, Lana(@mooninthemeadow),for sharing this photo! 

Thoughts at the Beach

     Well I'm back at home.  Sad but glad.  It was a wonderful farewell to summer and now I'm excited to prep for fall and get back on schedule.  Actually... I'm ready to hand everything over to my Savior and have Him plan my days.  Vacation is always such a time free from worry.  That's exactly how He tells us to live EVERYDAY!  Just TRUST Him!  Anyone with me?

Beach View

     View from our balcony.  Trying to soak in every second!

Wonderful Words - Amy Boliba

     Today I am honored to share with you something that has blessed me immensely.  How often do we not post a photo or have to "stage" a photo before we take it because we think it's not good enough?  For me, ALL of the time!  It's something I'm working on.  Well, I am excited to share with you Amy Boliba's (@amyboliba) thought provoking post about this subject.  I'm so happy she shared her thoughts - leave a comment of some way you struggle with this topic.  Let's build each other up instead of tearing each other down!!

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Here's me being real folks.  A couple of y'all wanted to see the outside of our home... and out of embarrassment or whatever I said something like it's not ready yet!  And now, I'm thinking what's to be embarrassed about?  This is what paying as you go looks like.  I mean, dream with me for a second, imagine a front porch going along the front with white wood siding on the house and yellow shutters to match the door.  Imagine some rocking chairs and a porch swing and big pots of flowers and ferns hanging.  That's what I see, thanks for dreaming with me! :)

Women Entrepreneurs Feature - Mary Wangerin

     Good Morning, friends!  I am giddy with excitement to share with you this week's "Women Entrepreneurs Feature".  I know you are going to love it and be filled with inspiration just as I am.  Today's feature is my sweet friend and artist Mary Wangerin.  I have been so very blessed by her sweet spirit, heart for God, and love for life that is clearly depicted in her brightly colored paintings.  Let's begin.

Me: Has art always been part of your life?

Mary: Oh my goodness yes. Life is art, after all! But in the literal sense of the question, I remember spending hours as a little girl with my crayons and blank sheets of paper. The desire to create with my hands runs deep. 

Me: How did you feel called to be an artist?

Mary: When I began to silence the noise all around me, and truly listen to my inner thoughts - what I felt was the push to begin creating again. 
I had just graduated college and my hubby and I had moved to a tiny town in the mountains. I spent hours in my little studio reconnecting with color and texture through paint, and I completely and totally fell in love. 

These words from Joseph Campbell resonate so much with what it felt like to choose this path: 
“We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”  - Joseph Campbell

Me: Where do you gather inspiration and can you explain a little about your creative process?

Mary: I am a mixed media artist. My favorite materials include acrylic paint, pastels, charcoal pencils, found objects + ephemera. Layers and layers of colorful goodness make my heart happiest. 

I'm inspired by so much of daily life - you know, the little things. A delicious cup of coffee in my favorite mug. Watching the leaves dance + twirl + fall. Good conversation. Togetherness. A field of wildflowers. Long bike rides. Road trips to nowhere in particular. The way the sunlight filters through the sheer curtains in the morning. The moon! The list goes on and on.

Me: If you had one piece of advice to share with women entrepreneurs, what would it be?

Mary: Tune into your own creative spirit. Listen to what calls you, and what comes naturally, and do that! Don't worry so much about what you think people will love, or want to purchase. Make art and don't worry about the outcome. That's where the real joy is.

Thank you, Mary, for sharing your beautiful thoughts about your artistic process and journey with us.  I have been blessed by your story and am so thankful for you! :)

Please check out Mary's artwork!

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MaryWangerin?ref=ss_profile

Instagram: MaryWangerin

Blog: http://theturquoisepaintbrush.blogspot.com/

I'm at the Beach!

     I'm at the BEACH!!  So excited!  Just wanted to let you know that there may be a lack of posts over the next couple of days.  So use instagram #freetobemejournal to submit photos, stories, thoughts, decor and DIY!  I can't wait to see your content.  Let's encourage and support one another!

You Are Good Enough

     I have to be honest... I feel this way a lot!  Sometimes I feel that there is NO way I can do anything because I'm not good enough and that no one will ever care what I do.  Do you ever feel this way?  I am so glad that we serve a Heavenly Father who loves us no matter what our circumstance.  We don't have to worry about dressing the coolest, having perfect hair, or owning the greatest business in the world.  He loves us as we are and cherishes our hearts.  If we can trust Him, we are taken care of and led along the path He created for us filled with amazing adventures along the way.  So friends, if you are struggling today, know that YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH!! Please comment below with a story or thought about how you experience the above subject.  Take time to read each other's comments and respond with encouragement.  We can learn so much from one another and need support!  

Beautiful Cake - Priscilla Chang

     Absolutely breathtaking cake by Priscilla Chang!  I'm always in awe of her beautifully decorated cakes that she shares in her feed.  One amazing and super sweet gal! :)

Breakfast - Jannicke Jacobsen

     Yummy breakfast!  Photo by Jannicke Jacobsen(@jannickeeline). She has a beautiful feed full of nature photos. Inspires me to explore!

Interior Design - Selina Lake

     Ok.  I just cannot get enough of Selina Lake's books!  So much inspiration and decor that I could actually do... many times I'll find a promising interior design book only to be let down by the lack of creativity or use of dull photographs - COMPLETELY different than the one on the cover.  Does that ever happen to you?  Well, this was absolutely not the case with Selina's books - she's definitely got it goin on!

Artist - Jodie Bond

     Beautiful photo and decor by artist Jodi Bond.  You must follow this girl's gorgeous feed - so full of beautiful inspiration and amazing jewelry!! Go check out her work! @loudnonsense

Women Entrepreneurs Feature - Melissa Lyons

     Today I am thrilled to share our FIRST EVER interview for the "Women Entrepreneurs" feature that will highlight a different female entrepreneur each week. Get ready to be inspired and gain advice on the process of dreaming to have a small business to actually owning a small business. This week, I am interviewing Melissa Lyons.  Now, if you haven't heard of her (which I'm sure you have, Melissa Lyons is the incredible artist behind the beautiful ocean and sail boat paintings that are being raved about all over instagram! Let's begin!

Me: When did you begin painting?

Melissa: 

When did I begin painting? The short answer is Feb 12,2012. I had no idea what I was doing or why I was doing it, I was just being obedient to God.

http://www.melissalyonsart.com/2012/01/sometimes-plans-change.html here is the blog post about how God spoke to me through the Noahs ark mural.

Originally I felt God telling me to take kids into my home and watch them. And I did that. I created a huge playroom, threw an ad up on sitter city and had some kids here and there. But I started to feel miserable. I hated my life and everyday was leading me down the path to depression. I remember a coworker of my husbands calling me and telling me that she might want to transition into home care instead of daycare. I thought that this was what God wanted me to do so I told my husband I would say yes, very hesitantly . I had no peace about it. My soul was in distress. Its not that I don't like kids, I love them...I am just not a babysitter or teacher. I struggle in that part of my relationship even with my own kids. I am very much a nurturer caretaker type. I love to nurse, give baths, care for them when they are sick or hurt, stay up all night rocking them, pack lunches and spiritually lead...just not abc's and 123's per say. I had started to dabble in painting because that is also what I felt God was asking me to do when I saw the mural. I was loving it so much it was a feeling I had never felt before. I felt alive. When I describe it to people the only way I can put it into words is...my soul was awakened. I wanted to keep doing it so bad but I had no idea how i would make money from it. I had never taken an art class and I never went to college. So I remember one day at church our pastor was talking about taking up our cross and following Jesus. God was speaking to me about following His will and being willing to be obedient in what he was asking. I remember going up to the altar that day and laying it all out. I cried and prayed and told God I was in. Whatever he wanted me to do, I was willing to do it. If he wanted me to lay down the art to watch kids, I would do it. I came to a point where I felt like I would rather be under his care, in his will, than doing something I loved to do without him. I trusted him that if watching kids in my home was what I was supposed to do, I would do it with my whole heart and trust him to change my heart. From that day on, I never ever got another phone call or email to watch a child and I started painting...

Me: Did you always knows you were an artist?  If not, when did you realize it?

Melissa:

I never wanted to be anything when I was a kid. I was always artistic and theatrical, I did dance and musical theatre and choir. But I have a horrible case of panic and stage fright and was always turning down lead roles because I just couldn't face my fears. I remember in 4th grade my art teacher Mrs. Pulsifer had us doing potato stamps. I can to this day remember the long roll of brown paper down the long, cold table where we all sat. We used green paint to stamp Christmas trees. I remember very vividly her walking by and smiling at me....she looked down and said, "your going to be an artist one day."

Me: What is the best part about creating your art?

Melissa:

The very best part of creating art is just that. Creating. I feel like God is the ultimate artist and everything in life is art. His art. So I feel like the dreams and colors and emotions that are all in my heart are from Him and I love seeing it all come to life.

Me: Do you have any advice for others who want to pursue their own art?

Melissa:

START. Just start. I had no idea what I was doing. I did not know what supplies to use or where to get them. I had no idea what to paint. But I trusted God that if he wanted me to do this, in His time, he would reveal it all to me. I went about a few months until I sold anything. And it was a very slow start in my etsy shop as well. I took me months before I sold anything there. And if you look back in my shop you will notice that nothing I painted back then resembles anything I paint now. I did a lot of sports art and kids art. My goal was to just keep painting until I figured out what my niche was. There were some months that I felt very discouraged and my shop almost closed down many nights. But my husband encouraged me to keep going. He is sort of the slow and steady one and I am the panicked emotional one.  The amazing thing still to this day is that I still have pieces of art that make me cringe. I look at it and say oh my gosh nobody is going to buy this EVER. But then it sells. God has used this last 2 years in my journey to teach me that I truly am my own worst enemy. I am so quick to be hard on myself and get discouraged. But everyone must start somewhere. EVERYONE. I am sure writers cringe at some of their first writings, just as I do in my early blog posts. But all of it is part of the journey. If God is leading you to start something and you have no idea how its going to work or what to do, this is a good thing. Because its only because of his supernatural leading and hand over my life that I am able to do any of this. He has provided every single month for supplies and my needs. And he has given me opportunities that I never could have arranged myself. Such as early on, I started painting flags. I am a military wife so I am very nostalgic about our flag. But then I started doing the Texas flag and one day out of the blue I got an email from Sundance Film Festival. They wanted to use my flag in a photoshoot for their catalog. This was only about 6 months or so into painting! I learned early on that if I would just keep being obedient to what God was wanting to do and I listened for His voice first everyday, he would take care of it all.

Me: What mediums do you use?

Melissa:

I have a very fast painting style. I don't like to come back to a painting. Its probably because I paint so many different subjects that when I am on something, Im really "on it" and tomorrow, I wont be...so I use acrylic paint. I also use acrylic paint because I like to use graphite pencils and charcoal and oil pastels and scratch the surface with palette knives and fast drying acrylic paint allows me to do that. I also use ALOT of texture gels and pastes, different amounts for different paintings. My beachy abstract paintings use a lot. I use them to basically mimic the feel of sand and shells and things you would find on the beach. My more decorative paintings, I use just a thin layer of molding paste as a ground for me to paint on. I NEVER EVER paint right on a canvas. There is always a layer of something. 

Wow! Thank you so much Melissa for this interview! I'm sure you all are feeling so inspired right now! I know I am! If you would like to see more of Melissa's art or purchase some of your very own visit the links below:

Melissa's Website: www.melissalyonsart.com

Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/melissalyonsart

Instagram: @melissalyonsart

Youtube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz3CQg3fMAA

No.41 - Changing the World

     If you haven't heard of or followed @no41, please go check out their organization!!  Here is their mission statement:

"No.41 uses fashion to provide sustainable employment and empower women to create change for themselves and their community." Such a wonderful and beautiful purpose.  It reminds me to wonder how I can help or change my own community - to be change instead of wishing for it.

Photographer - Sarah McAffry

     Gorgeous photo by +Sarah McAffry .  Sarah is one sweet lady and takes stunning senior portraits!  Stop by her feed for some photography inspiration.  Knoxville, Tennessee - you are super blessed to have such an amazing photographer that radiates Jesus' light!