Seeing myself through others eyes. Grateful.

me 2017

I have been working on some really big projects that will put me out into this big world. I am creating like crazy. I am doing it! I am going for it! I am not listening to any internal voices that shine doubt on me or my art! NOPE! Done with that crap! I am pushing through any self doubt or fears. This is my year to SHINE like I know that I was meant to.

I know that I have needed to ask a few friends, clients, people I admire so very much for testimonials on ME. What a hard thing for me to do ~ ask for help. I am great at helping but, asking wow there was a great deal of fear around this for me. I did it anyway. I asked.

This is one of the testimonials I received. I was so set back by his words, I read and read again. Then I looked in the mirror and thought - wow am I blessed. Crazy blessed to be this beloved.

Reading this still chokes me up. I am grateful to see myself through a few others eyes.

Testimonial by Jeff Arundel.

"I first met Kelli when a group gathered to help a friend of ours who had cancer - we were putting
on a fund-raiser, and various things were needed, including invitations and other design stuff.
Kelli (who was helping even though she didn’t even really know the person) passed out some
mock-ups. Being kind-of snobby when it comes to design, I was prepared to see some typical work
that had been pasted together, but when the designs made their way around the table to me, I saw
some of the most breath-taking, detailed, handcrafted work I had ever come across! My head
snapped up and I peered down the table, wondering ”who is this Kelli May”? At the other end sat
a tiny blonde, shyly offering her lovely work to the room (and helping a person she didn’t really know).

Once you get to know Kelli, the breadth of her talent can dumbfound you. With me, she has designed
a comprehensive line of kids clothing, hand-drawn various record jackets, painted, toted our her
sewing machine and sewn draperies and cushions, and in general brought the world-class twinkle of
natural greatness to everything she has worked on. And besides that, she paints in a signature style,
and writes, and dresses using vintage stuff. I know, it sounds like I’m making it up, but I’m not.
Kelli is a tiny Whirling Dervish of creativity, and she is gathering momentum as she careens forward
into new creations. How could one little person be so good at so much?”
~ Jeff Arundel    jeffarundel.com

Seriously, how lucky am I. The path to believing in yourself is out there. Seek it! Follow it and never ever give up!!!

www.kellimaykrenz.com
www.jeffarundel.com

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/

following my spirit to Esalen = being brave and knowing = grateful

leaving at five in the morning to fly across the country to Big Sur

second flight a little plane to get me to San Jose

embracing color and me

beauty was everywhere

Big Sur Esalen = amazing

sacred spaces speaking to my soul

the ocean and her daily magic

living mindfully with intentions

brave me

sacred sisters = so gratefully blessed 

Knowing and listening to my inner voice meant hopping on a plane and going on a retreat with 14 women i had never met (connections on facebook only) Invited by one amazing artist I admire and who inspires me (and thousands of people) Trusting in the universe of powerful change and going.

One week at Esalen with like souls = artists. Facing silly fears that were very real to me and over coming anxiety. Move across the country after selling my home of 17 years, selling most everything I owned and 2 months later pack up and fly to Big Sur. Yes, these are the times that will teach me who I am at my very core.

I found that I am not alone in my thinking or being in life. I can have very powerful connections and friendships based on common truths with other artists and like souls. I was left knowing that I can move a mountain (again) I can create and help and love love love.

For me this retreat was so inspiring, empowering and life changing. I am gushing with glee for the women who created this and for the women who attended.

I know that as my mind wraps around this sacred time I will have more to share and write. For today I will say this = I am proud of myself and I am loving the journey my life is giving me.

Mindful Living = Connections for a lifetime

traveling shrine so amazing

lucky me to be surrounded by such talents and love

this girl is all about REAL style and beauty

not a better soul to be with

passion flower - stunning

not a sweeter, more fun beauty to be blessed with

serious SHINE from within WOW

the start of something sacred for me

no better circle EVER

intentions are everything = remember this 

love this lady

these were daily gifts i received so much = grateful

beauty + beauty = stunning

There are times in my life that I know that being brave and knowing my heart is the right thing to do. I follow these always no matter how hard it might be for me, or how shy I can be, or the anxiety that finds me. I take my doubts about who I am and what I have to offer and I place them in this little invisible bag and take them with me as I face what I fear. EVERY single time I am rewarded with more happiness, more knowing of my soul, living with intentions, shining on souls and making a difference in this big world.

I create daily for a living. My goal from this retreat I bravely marched into is to create for me and make my card line for Pearl Button's World. I am using my soul filled self to start this dream.

Dream daily. I do. I know that they come true. I know with intention behind my efforts I will shine.

Grateful to you beautiful souls who have again taught me so very much about life and myself.

I love all of you so much.

Feeling Grateful = Velvet Button

I am very lucky that I get to create for a living. It has always been my passion and I can think of nothing in the world that I would rather do then be an artist. That is really good to be able to say out loud,  I like being me.

I am blessed with new clients who find me and are rich in spirit and soul. One of my new clients is Velvet Button Boutique. This new boutique is created by two long time girlfriends who have been working towards this dream. The dream is marching into reality and I am the lucky designer to be branding, designing and having a ball.

I have decided that for a bit of time I will blog daily about being grateful. Sure it is most hard to say only one thing that I am grateful for each day but, also fun to explore and write about.

I am always grateful for my friends who follow me here. Merci'

 http://www.facebook.com/730Thursday  -

http://www.facebook.com/velvetbuttonboutique?ref=ts&fref=ts

Pure Pearl Button.

Little Pearl Button resting after a long day of creating in the studio.

Pearl Buttons mom Mary. Yes, she is this beautiful and loves crowns.

Happy November 1st. Time to get the many lines of Pearl Button going strong. Believing in myself is the key to this one folks. Believe all that I know deep inside. The tiny faces of pups make me feel how true this Pearl Button life can be.

I have created over 30 Pearl Button cards and have not marketed. Hum. So starting today Pearl Button is marching forward each new day. Starting today with holiday cards. Okay just a few to start and get them out there to share joy, smiles and hopeful loving sweet messages.

Pure Pearl Button. Believing and marching forward. Thanks Mary and Cobalt for the most beautiful muse and daughter.

Here we go!

http://www.facebook.com/730Thursday

being grateful. i am.

a tiny handmade treat to make a friend know she is special.

I love to create treats for my friends. I just do. How special it is to let people know they are wonderful.
I think it is most important ~ do it now. Do not wait until a rainy day. So this week I am trying to make a special treat each day that I can give to others.

This is the first of many I am creating. I hope to take pictures of each and share.

I do think it is always better to give then to receive. For me it is a nice way to live.

growing the fun stuff.

floating in pretty graphic by me. framed for our entryway.

This weekend my friend and client Susan from Lily gave me this frame. Lucky me!!! I immediately knew that this new graphic needed to be in it and it had to be in our entryway. I love how it turned out.
Seems so perfect to greet us when we come home.

Simple little touches that make days shine. Yep.

Tomorrow starts a new week. Mine is loaded with fun creative and new adventures. Abundance is surrounding my soul and I am most grateful.

Do one thing that makes you skip today!!!

more designs by me here http://www.facebook.com/730Thursday

signs telling me so.

grass, trees, water, beauty. nature in its finest.

I have been reflecting much lately. Sending energy out and creating the move to sunny ocean loving Florida state. Of course, we have to sell our house. More good energy needed. I learned today that many of the things I adore around me in my current state of Minnesota ~ I am allergic to. Yes, grass, pollen, molds on leafs and ragweed. Okay, ragweed sounds like everyone should be allergic to it.

I am looking at this new knowledge as yet another sign to move. Create a new environment a life by the ocean (always a dream for me).

For today I am most grateful for each big and little sign that helps me know I am on the right path.

inspired. twinkle lights. moment to embrace.

New card designed by me for my new lines. Daily fun!!!

I waited and waited and today it happened. The light bulb burned bright for me. Really it was more like a strand of twinkle lights went on one by one, twinkle, twinkle, twinkle yep, then all at once this magical line of lights appeared.

Limits. I have been limiting myself creatively speaking. Why pick one style I design and create. Pick several and do them all. I am doing them ALL. This twinkle light day has me giddy. Giddy I tell you.

So here I go designing several lines, several styles and all of them from my soul.

Giddy me. Lucky me. Crazy silly happy me.

more of my stuff http://www.facebook.com/730Thursday

the love of textures, design, handmade = lucky me

Take this beautiful pitcher (30 of them)

Design a card, hand detail (30 of them)

Hand create sewn embellished envelopes (30 of them)

Take good ole burlap and sew bags to nest the pitchers (30 of them)

Take burlap bags, pitcher, tissue, gorgeous beaded ribbon, attach cards.

This was one of those lucky projects that I jump up and twirl about. Yes, it is a bunch of hand work, time intensive, details a plenty, but I adore this kind of project. I was lucky enough to have a client who needed 30 gifts and hired me to create them. Yippee.

Okay, so while I was in the midst of trimming out the burlap for hours I thought maybe, I am crazy to love such projects. I simply adore the process of seeing pieces and piles of fabric, paper, design ideas swirling in my head all come together and end in something lovely fresh and artistically done.

So I end my weekend and start my new week with this project happily given to my client. I wish for more like this. Designing keeps my soul alive. Grateful for the gifts I have been given.

More designs by me http://www.facebook.com/730Thursday