sacred souls

I have been thinking about what the word sacred means to me. I love the word. I love all of the many meanings it has for me. For me it seems extra precious. Like life - extra precious.

I find that most of my days if I start out counting every blessing I can think of I have a beautiful beginning to my day. The need to give, share and spill open this blessings of gratefulness is stronger then ever for me. I am unsure why but, it is very real, very much apart of who I am and who I am becoming.

So I gather around my "sacred souls" I share my hopes, dreams, passions and joy with. I pray my "sacred" cares and try to let them go. I live a pretty "sacred" good life - I am very flawed and I am at peace (for the most part) with my flaws. I see them as "special" and good and yes, "sacred".

So many pieces of life come together this time of year. Reflections are huge. Know this. Our lives are meant to live full out with every tiny bit of joy we can grab hold of. Yes, keeping them sacred.

December running full out

details i adore.

I knew that December would bring lots of emotions for me. It is the first time I have been lucky enough to be so close to home (where I grew up) in over 30 years. That is crazy but, true. For me the seasons, changing weather, bundling up, decorating for the holidays, listening to music saved special for Christmas time all adds up to being truly centered and happy.

I realize more and more that in this busy crazy month of December it is important to take the time to really listen to friends and family. Be there in spirit and being mindful of being present. It is so easy to just send off a gift or cards not as easy to drop everything you are doing and be there for others.

I have been trying super lots to be there for others by listening and sharing time. Granted I have few friends in Galena (as we just moved almost two months ago) I am listening and learning about what makes me feel whole. This town, this house, the streets and buildings all make me feel whole and alive. I feel like this December is so extra special blessed. Trying to hold every moment knowing they are the most precious of all.

Happy December. Happy life. Fill it up with all that matters most to you. It counts.

grateful living

joy matters most = from my new card line Pearl Button's World

nest in love = from my new card line Pearl Button's World

my muse, best friend, daughter with paws = Pearl Button

Knowing that living with a grateful spirit. I am moved daily to be thankful for tiny moments. It is not always easy (yes, I practice daily) this lifestyle. So many pieces of life are really super hard and full of fear. I know this with my whole being.

I believe that by practicing daily the art of living gratefully I become more centered and a better me.

I am forever grateful for my life. I am loved, able to create for my living, in a marriage that is fun and good for me, parents who adore me, clients who really like me as a person and a designer. My list is long and for that I feel very lucky.

Today and everyday I am just feeling like the luckiest girl in the world to wake up each new day.

Fill your today up with joy (find it) practice finding it. I promise it works.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/kellimay

Pearl Button's Holiday Happiness Line of Cards = People are gushing!!!

our world believe all things are possible.

Pearl Button's Holiday Happiness Cards line of 6 designs is ready and gushing to bring cheer to all
this holiday season. I created six cards that are all about love, sharing, being the source of happy for others.
Lots of time was spent getting samples printed and making sure I loved the paper quality and brightness of all my colors. Yes, I have that now. All is good and so far the folks who have purchased are most delighted with them. For this I am grateful.
I have always loved cards and mailing letters the old fashioned way. I know that it will forever be part of who I am. I know the joy that comes with going to the mail box and having a little treat inside that someone took the time to send - just for you.
Kindness matters. Love matters. Giving from our true self matters. Leaving a moment in time better then we can ever imagine matters.

This card line is one of my dreams it too matters. I know that when others receive these they will smile and feel joy. I am striving daily to make this happen in a big way.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/kellimay

living life, being an artist, graphic designer + lover of life

always a journey to celebrate me = all of me daily

my nature is really to be silly, goofy and fun

lucky to be featured with Stampington Art of Journaling - and have the cover wow.

Tonight I am thinking about what it means to live your entire life as an artist, designer. I have been living this art filled life since I was very little (5 years old) I can still remember the joy in getting a new box of crayons and paper, coloring books. I escape into my own world. I feel very lucky to know my path. There is no searching for me about what is my passion, what makes me tick. I have such very big dreams. I keep marching to them. I get to the top of the mountains, really tall big mountains and I feel proud.

My biggest dream that I have yet to say out loud (on my blog) socially is that I want to be found in a big way. My soul has a calling to be known for spreading joy and happy living. I need this in my world. I create, create, create and send it into the world. I am going to go after the big dream of licensing my art. I have so many ideas, styles, layers to my art I could create a zillion lines. I just need to be seen. Being seen is all apart of really loving and celebrating yourself.

Today is the day to start celebrating myself as much as I celebrate others. Moving this next mountain. Building packages, making calls, praying and setting this intention. Today I will create a new alter around this intention. I feel good just saying this out loud.

Thanks for being part of my life = to all of you who are so good to me. Dream Big then Dream Bigger!!

Celebrating Pearl Button's World of Holiday Happiness = 6 happy cards

 

Some celebrations are bigger then others. This one folks is big for me. Pearl Button our little 11 pound JRT and I have designed 6 holiday happy cards. I have been realizing lots of dreams this year and having cards designed (really loving them) and printed and for sale is a biggie.

I have found that I go back to what I love the very most. Painting, drawing, graphic design. Taking all of these loves and combining has brought me joy when creating this line. Lots of layers, hand illustrated type. Happy words floating around = its a very good moment in my life.

I have over 30 everyday cards that will be ready to go as well. 

Knowing that my path has been moving mountains lately. Knowing that I can move them and stay steady on my path. Knowing how grateful my heart is for the ability to create.

I am lucky. I am loved. I am absolutely following my gut on this path. 

They are for sale in my etsy shop = link below. 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/kellimay 

moved across the country = letting it all sink in

hello its me and i am back in my new studio. surrounded by boxes some unpacked. still feeling the space and realizing i moved across the country again. we have now moved three times in the past 2 years. i am ready to not move for a bit. i am full of positive wonder about life and filling mine up with as much goodness and dream filling as possible. i will say this  last move has zapped me in many ways i did not expect. slowly i will rebuild my energies and once again be creating in the studio.

i am so aware of what is around me more then usual as everything seems so different. the energies in this home are wonderful, the light is amazing. i love the history and charm that i see absolutely everywhere.

the big questions i am pondering are =
* how did the dream to Florida not work like i so (knew in my heart) would. i have lists of course. so many dreams around that move. most of the ones i planned did not happen. i was gifted an entire new set of blessings - bigger and better then i could have dreamed.
* letting go of what i thought was and is not. that is one for the books. i shall be working on this for some time. dancing with the emotions all around.
* realizing that the most important in life is health. so getting me in full energies is a must.
* can i really get all of my products together and into the world = YES I CAN. YES I WILL.

so i know this for certain. i need to keep designing and printing and getting my cards and other dreamy projects ready to send out to others. this is a must as all along moving from minneapolis to florida and from florida to galena = one dream was constant.

little wishes turning into big dreams = love your life. it matters the most!

https://www.facebook.com/kelli.maykrenz

TODAY i am featured as the guest ARTIST at STAMPINGTON's BLOG !!! I know flipping to the moon.

entire piece of art

details detail oh i love those little details

closer up

lots of tiny illustration work

Today I had a really big dream come true. I worked and envisioned and built a dream board around my intentions and I am marching down the list. Checking them off one by one.

I cannot begin to gush how thrilled, excited, grateful, honored I am.

Please pop over and read the story. I have a full tutorial about how I created this dream and this piece of art.

Thank you Stampington for seeing beauty in what I create and finding my art in this big world.

http://stampington.com/blog/index.php/2014/09/22/creating-clear-vision-sea-inspired-collage-guest-artist-kelli-may-krenz/

life lessons. living brave. living strong. surviving and shining.

me at five or so. i had this hair cut until i was 17.

professional photo taken of me at 30 years old.

I have decided that this is my time in life to spill it wide open = my life that is. I believe that being an artist and sharing what makes me the person i am matters, so I am sharing. I have a full life and have lived through some unusual pains.

I grew up in a tiny river town in Iowa. I am an only child. I have very loving, gracious, proud parents who love me crazy good stuff. I was pretty sheltered in this little town. I loved the simple nature of this little town.  I loved flowers, making things pretty, drawing, creating neat spaces for my barbies to live in, dolls (I so loved dolls) dogs, rabbits. My little friends were like sisters. I loved the river and boating on the Mississippi River. Trying to express I was brought up going to Sunday school, respecting others and a pretty good person.

Somehow growing up in this small town I knew I had to move and get to a big city.
I went to college and graduated with a fine arts degree. I kept moving to big cities and creating. I grew as an artist and person.

I married at 29 (not super young) I married the wrong person. I stayed in a very ugly marriage for 11 years. It was not the good stuff you wish for. I escaped in my art world. It worked. I was very successful and noticed for my design talents.

I write this to give history of me prior to a really terrible event happening. I ended up in a very love less marriage, I ended up at 39 with the renal aneurysm (I have posted about this one) Knowing that I might not survive I made a deal with God = please let me live and I will change my life. I will get out of a love less marriage. I will face the world and let my marriage go.

I did it. I confronted my husband for the zillion one millionth time. This time he admitted that he was gay. Yes, I married a man that was gay. That is why he was loveless in so very many ways. At 40 I divorced.

Tonight is the eve of my ex husbands next marriage. This time he is marrying a man. I have no issues with sexual preference. I do have major issues with lying. Lies are some of the most horrible things in the world. They destroy faith and love and hope. Faith, love and hope can be found, healed and re learned with lots of good energy around you. I know this in every way possible.

This post is mainly for me to share hope. I am realizing how much my soul is good.
I am healed and a strong brave soul for surviving the many things I have.

I am blessed beyond to be loved for real by my hubby. I am beloved by many who have no clue the paths I have walked. I feel like my life is for sharing, helping, creating goodness and gushing it into the world. So I am sharing me. I am happy and grateful for my spirit and soul. Knowing.

My wish is that this post helps a few people in ways that are needed. Love sweet love.

working so hard for this dream.

"let the beauty we love be what we do" Rumi

Iris Dement - singer songwriter

yes, we must first really love ourselves.

The wild dreamy journey continues, marching on. Today is the first day in a very long time that I am tired. I am realizing the packing every little thing one owns is a lot to process. We just did this twice in the past year and a half. The hardest part is packing my studio. Yep, that is the hard part.

I have been listening to tons of music from my past. I use to listen to tons of Iris Dement, James Taylor, Shawn Colvin, Patty Griffin, French music, old jazz standards. The list goes on and on. Music is such a safe place to land when your days are long and things seems hard. It is just a natural escape.

Balancing the packing and my studio deadlines is all consuming. I am wanting some head space of nothing. Just nothing at all. I daydream lately about decorating our Christmas tree this year. I know it will be snowy, I know we will go cut one down, I know that I will not buy enough lights first trip to the store (I tend to over light the tree) It thrills me to have a season change again in my life. I miss it. I do so love the ocean and being there on Christmas day is something to behold.

This year will be so different from last. I am forever grateful for my life. Even when days are long and harder then most I am giddy with grace for my very blessed life.

Link here for music by Iris Dement - such a beautifully talented singer songwriter

http://irisdement.com/

sharing more of me. the big stuff. i matter most. today.

coming into my own. seeing the 12 year mark. knowing.

i was saved for a reason. knowing.

dreams keep unfolding. i am here and ready. knowing.

tiny old photo of me 12 years ago.

On the eve of the 10th of September I am sharing a big personal part of my life here. Twelve years ago I was sitting in my studio full of fear, anxiety and filled with prayers that I would live. On the 10th of September 2002 I survived a life saving surgery. At 39 years old I was very sick. I could barely walk up the steps to my bedroom. I was passing out and going by ambulance to the ER too many times to mention. Doctor after doctor no one could find anything wrong with me except that my blood pressure was to the moon high. I kept searching for the perfect doctor who would listen and help me. On my 8th doctor I was given the news that I had a serious problem. I remember hearing the news in the office, you have a blockage. Immediately I went to a Vascular surgeon. I then received the phone message saying this, "Kelli you have an aneurysm, please call the office immediately."

My life changed forever. Right in this time and place it was forever changed.

I met with my Vascular surgeon who said it was very possible and likely that I would not survive the surgery. Fate right there in the cold white office on the table I heard words that were very real. I asked if I would live again. He said I cannot promise you this, your aneurysm is wrapped around your right kidney and very tricky to know how we can help you. Okay, so he shot me straight news.

Soon after I had my life laid out in front of me and I went into the hospital for my surgery. I remember riding in the car and thinking I must live I want to feel the wind on my face again. I walked into the hospital and looked up seeing the blue sky and puffy white clouds mixed with the wind and prayed again. Let me live, I have big stuff to do. Really big stuff. Let me live.

After a very long surgery with a team of very talented surgeons. I woke up the next morning in ICU.
Hooked up to every sort of machine = breathing. I kept asking the ICU nurse where I was. YES, I was ALIVE. I could do the rest. I had life.

Ended up I had probably been born with this aneurysm and as I grew so did it. It had wrapped around my right kidney. My right kidney was mostly gone (thus being so sick from toxins etc) I was saved with veins from my left leg rebuilding my renal artery. Yes, very invasive surgery. Lots of big time surgery stuff. I am so forever grateful for my scars both mentally and physically. I lived.

I still have testing to make sure the artery stays open as it is not the one I was born with it is thinner.
I am proud delighted to say that I am a miracle. My life was saved. I get to go big things with great big love. I am trying with all that I know to live a grateful, giving, art filled life. I am sharing what I know and possible teach others.

I know that I have big love to get into the universe. I am doing this with my art and my life. I want bigger. I want to be noticed on a grand scale all because I want to share joy, love and the gift of living with others.

Gratefully celebrating me. ME alive. ME. Oh, how very lucky, beloved, blessed I am.


www.facebook.com/kelli.maykrenz

shining open by art. my life. me.

section from a large painting.

section from a large painting.

section from a large painting.

so today has been a very full day of packing, designing, creating art and lots of reflection. it is impossible to pack up your life, my studio and not really take a hard look at what's around me.

i have been creating like a crazy person over for the past several months. as i look around my studio i see that i have over twenty original pieces of art just stacked up on my tables. wow. i thought to myself that i am have really been sharing lots of me on surfaces everywhere in my studio. i have created on canvas, boards, scraps of papers, notebook covers, my journal  = really i am starting to think no surface is safe.

i have long wanted to create for me. just take the time to play and see and feel all on surfaces. the tricky part then comes the sharing. i no longer feel like the opinions or judgements can touch how i create. i know that i am truly spilling from me. there is such a gift in this. i am grateful each and everyday for art in me. so so grateful.

these pieces are newly listed and most affordable in my etsy shop found here.

www.etsy.com/shop/kellimay

oh my am i a very lucky girl. friends who shine on me. wow.

each tiny detail was lovingly thoughtful and precious.

seriously cool artwork by Diana D. Darden. FOR ME.

some of my most favorite things EVER tiny pieces of bits.  FOR ME.

the notes, ribbons, treats both tiny and big. FOR ME.

insanely gorgeous artwork by Diana D. Darden. FOR ME.

Today was one of those days when the knock on the door holds extra blessings. Yes, this truly carefully artfully created box of all handmade treats came from me from my artist friend Diana D. Darden.

Quick story of our friendship. I have long admired Diana's artwork. I had seen it in galleries and online and always was blown away with her attention to details and thoughtful art. I never really researched where she lived or anything = I just loved her art. So fast forward to me moving from Minneapolis to Sarasota. I find Diana on facebook = again I am blown away by her talents and joy she adds to all of her artwork. Lucky me we become friends. We have a great connection for loving tiny details, trims, ribbons, images etc. We started by trading bits from our studios with each other.
I find out that all along she was living in Minneapolis the entire time I lived there. WHAT!
Lesson learned for me to seek like souls right when i see them in my world.

I am also very happy to say that I love designing her business cards and marketing materials.
What joy to design for a talented friend. Another blessing.

So with a gracious gushing heart I post these photos and write about the gift of precious artists in my life who are also beautiful friends.

Thank you Diana. I am humbled by your generous spirit and crazy sweet happy gifts. These are the very best of times. I am lucky to know you and be your friend. I am sending universal love and goodness to you today, this moment and always.

Please check out her precious artwork below are a few links.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Diana-D-Darden-ArtistDesigner/152672571493366

http://www.dianaddarden.com/

gratefully giving. take time to notice the gift of friendship.

created the box with layers of papers then painting and more layers.

oh the love of details 

she loved beauty = i do i do

grateful for kindred spirits

happiness combo platter = 3 gifts ready to mail

Today was a day for packing, thinking, creating and gifting. Oh the joy I feel when I create presents for others. I truly love love love giving. I am not sure what a therapist would say about this passion I have for giving. It comes from a very real pure place in my heart. I never expect anything in return. Okay, I like thank you's. I really just feel better noticing that others need to feel loved and being a tiny light shining = hopefully saying, "hey, i notice and you are beloved."

So I created three fun packages today. I am happy to say in the midst of a very busy studio day and packing. So much of life is often over looked. I love having the ability to take time to be grateful and gush out into the world.

Grab the gifts of friends and like minds. It matters. I have learned this past year about community of like souls. I have been on this beautiful key living, creating and facing every bit of anxiety, fear and doubt. I have been very alone (thank goodness for my hubby and sweet little dog Pearl Button).
Prior to moving across the country I was lucky to have several friends to call and instantly have community. I have had big surprises this past year. I am grateful for the learning however painful the lessons. I am growing stronger, braver and getting my messages into the big world.

I matter. What I create matters. I am good at being me. If a handful of people see me truly get me that is plenty. More then enough. I wake up wanting to gush joy and gratitude for my life, and that is perfectly fine. It's who I am. I am just swell with me.

Happy is the very best path in life. Take it, you can make it thru most days with a dose of happy.
It is in the noticing. Promise.