Journaling Layers #1 ~ My new online course!

Journaling Layers #1 online class is open for registration. I am proud to say. This is my third online class I have created and I can tell you the learning curve is enormous for me. I can also add that I enjoy this so very much. The private facebook groups are incredible. I am just blown away and humbled with all of the beautiful art being created.

Teaching is something very special to me. Growing up my most favorite teachers were my art class teachers. In college my design and studio courses were always the ones I would hurry to get to and not want to leave.

I am grateful that I finally decided to stop worrying about the unknown and if I would be good enough for others to show up. Life is way to short and is meant to be lived. Thank you to all who are with my on this journey. I really am forever grateful.

This new Journaling class goes in depth into these areas ~ Noticing moments ~ Fresh ways of seeing ~ Stitching to your story ~ Textile gathering ~ Natural findings ~ Searching inside ~ Layers of life ~ Spiritual healing ~ Telling your story.

I am proud to say that this class is filled with techniques that are mindfully close to my heart.

The supplies are easy as we will be creating with items you already have plus a few we can gather on our walks in nature.

Over ten hours of video lessons, PDF downloadable inspiration, lessons, quotes, tips on telling your personal stories.

You do not have to be an artist to take this course. It is all about discovering truths and story telling your path, your voice and listening to what you love.

Launch date is scheduled for the 22nd of May (my mothers birthday) Making it a most special date to share this soul filled class with you.

Registration link is right here = https://app.ruzuku.com/courses/28630/about

My website link = https://www.kellimaykrenz.com/

facing fears. learning. launching my first online class FINALLY!

spirit wands created by me. new online course. 

truth. there is no perfect, only what you make it. 

me at 54 (almost 55 years) 

i stitch to heal. i stitch to learn more about myself.

I looked at my little blog that I started so very many years ago and noticed I had not posted since November. Wow! How did that much time zap by? It just does, that is life.

I made a promise to myself in this new year of 2018 and that was to LEARN. Learn all of the things that I thought were bigger then me. To put aside the self talk that never has served me and just show up and learn. I have wanted to teach, to put together online courses about things I love to create. I have let the fear of learning how to accomplish this take over.  NO MORE!!!

I have a very smart and talented husband who believes in my talents so very much! With his help and my being brave and reaching out to a friend who is so talented with art and online courses, I just launched my first one. It was so wonderful! I love learning this stuff. I even surprised myself! I love organizing the lessons, styling the photos, chatting away about what I am creating. I even let go of not being young looking enough or pretty enough. The heck with all of that crap. I am doing it!!

I even launched with a class that to many might be odd. I do not even care. To me it is a sacred gift that I wanted to share, so I did and you know what, people showed up! Students are loving this online class. I am humbled and thrilled beyond. So excited to hear and see what they are creating. This is wonderful stuff.

Of course as I move forward it is easy to look back on my life and see how I traveled to where I am now. I have always been an artist my whole life since I was a little girl. I grew up and went to collage and became a graphic designer and illustrator. Cool! I still adore designing and illustrating. I had build up a routine of bad self talk - not enough self esteem until I was frozen. It feels great to not be frozen in fear. Sure I still suffer from anxieties but, man I have a handle on those (for the most part).

I am now creating my second online course and it will launch soon. I have plans for at least 20 courses already in list form.

My life is not as easy as some might think, I work really hard. I have some people who show up that are terribly mean to me. I live with knowing how lucky I am to be alive and I take it seriously. I want to show up and be positive to be a light. I no longer want to feel hurt by bullies and mean people. I just do not want to fear it anymore.  So I am learning how not to. I learn more daily! I work on learning and growing and facing and slaying these fears every single day.

Be inspired by your life. Show up and do the stuff you feel calling you. Try it! Do not let others tell you who you are or what you are capable of. Just listen to YOU!!! This learning gig is the real stuff. I am so grateful that I am on this path. I wish this for all of you!!!

My online course is = Creating Your Own Spirit Wand
It is over 4 hours of video lessons, 20 PDF downloads of inspiration, tips, lessons, sources.
The early registration price is $49 until the 15th of March after the 15th the price is $59

If you are registered in the class by the 15th you are entered into a drawing to WIN the Spirit Wand I create in class. I also have a drawing to win a big box of supplies from my studio. I love giving and I have been creating lots of ways to give back as a thank you for supporting me.

If you follow me at all on facebook or instagram you know what these are.

Here is the link if you are so inclined to join me. I would love that!!!
https://goo.gl/nvGGrX

Seeing my space more clearly - Studio Redesign 2017

Yes, piles and piles of stuff - just stuff really! WOW!!!

Studio layered in stuff all around me, driving me crazy. 

Cream paint covers wood that lightens up my space like crazy good!

AFTER. All walls painted cream (3 coats by hand) Furniture painted creams and blacks.

Another angle of studio. I now have four work spaces. Painting, Stitching, Letter Writing + Jewelry, Computer Design.

Corner niche, table made vintage suitcases old legs (thanks Hubby)

Vintage bookcase is painted and holds my most favorites. 

White curtains cover doors, bookcases, desk. Lamps all cream, crystal and wood. 

Chalk board wall at end of studio holds one of each of my 101 greeting cards
from my line of Pearl Buttons World.

Simple clean natural neutrals. Simplifying my space for clear vision.

I had this idea that a new clean, white vanilla - old whites and creams studio would be the answer to my busy crazy clutter that overwhelmed me when I was in my studio creating. I would wake up and come up to my studio and immediately feel overwhelmed to the point of almost having panic attacks. Panic attacks and anxiety have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I have (I am happy to say) learned how to control them for the most part. So the feeling of having them in one of my most sacred creative places was not good. I had to dive in and fix this. So I did.

I have always had a tiny studio (for 17 years it was a 10x10' bedroom) I created like mad in that studio but, not much painting or large pieces.  We moved across the country so I sold tons of everything from that studio, creating a fresh start. Believe it or not once moved I did miss a few things I had given away. One was a giant stack of handmade papers I had collected for years. Well eventually you do forget the stuff, promise.

So we were now living in Florida (loving the ocean so very much) my studio was big for the first time in my life. It was the family room in a beautiful rental on Siesta Key. Glorious space, tons of light, doors that opened to a wrap around veranda just lovely. Only one thing was missing = our love for living in Florida. So we moved. Again, I edited my stuff, tons of stuff again donated and gone.

After 18 months we moved again across the country, this time to Galena IL. Why? I had always wanted to live in Galena. Since coming to Galena in 6th grade on the trusty yellow school bus to visit President Grants home. I was smitten with the history and the charm of main street. I grew up in a tiny river town about one hour from here, Camanche, Iowa. A town build on the Mississippi river. I grew up going on the river all of the time, I loved it. Today the river (water) is one of my most favorite things and is very healing for me. I hit college and wanted to leave small behind. I left and did not look back (too much) SURE I missed my parents lots but, I saw them quite a bit. I never pictured myself not being in a big city.

So here I am a few decades later living one hour from where I grew up. I have done so much soul searching in the past four years. I have shed layers of me. I have sold, given, gifted almost everything I owned at one time. I have started over with a rule of purchasing nothing that was not found at an antique shop, yard sale, thrift shop (except soft items like beds, puffy chairs and such).
Trying to be most mindful of what comes into our home.

My hubby is very talented and can build, make anything and for that I am most blessed. He did not even question me when I said, "I need to completely get rid of everything and start over, in order to find me again and create". He (bless his heart) jumped in and helped me.

Now that I am close to being finished. A few ceiling lights to finish. My studio redesign is almost complete. I am happy to say that we spent under $750.00 including furniture, paint, lights etc.
The most expensive piece it the large gorgeous wood Armoire that houses my printers, papers, books, financial stuff and tons of good things I use daily. I adore that you must use the keys to open the doors. I love this piece. It had to be completely taken apart (which is cool that it is meant to) My studio is the top floor of our home which was once a church built in 1838. I love the feeling in this space so very much. I feel like I am honoring the magic inside this home.

I have created four spaces to meet my needs of creating, a sewing area, writing and jewelry making, painting and other fun art stuff, computer design. I am so happy with the feeling of calm where ever I look. I am being very careful and mindful of what is hung and placed in my sight. I will continue to be careful as to what I bring into my studio.

Yes, it will get messy when I create that is just fine with me. Now however, I will be able to shut it up and stop the clutter that was swirling around and driving me crazy.

I ended up donating over 20 bags to our local thrift stores and giving several bags as gifts to friends.
I also drove around and added books to the tiny little book library drops folks have outside their homes.

My listening to what I need in my life is bringing me to more nature, more creating from the strong place I feel deeply, more spiritual strength of sharing hope, positive living and love. I have big plans for myself that include online classes (journaling, painting, stitching) a book or two, licensing projects and expanding my card line. Oh, I am also planning on traveling to teach in the new year as well. I believe that I am well on my way of feeling comfortable in my studio space. I am grateful and try to never take for granted what has brought me to this time and place.

I hope by sharing my journey you are inspired to do something big for yourself, whatever that might look like for you. Be kind, love your journey and yourself. It matters the very most.

www.kellimaykrenz.com
my website where you can see and purchase all of my 101 greeting cards.

the gift of collaboration - sharing my studio with a treasured artist friend

we both adore layers, time worn looks, designing things that look vintage 

we both love textures be it with fabric, paint, papers, stitches

there is a gift in seeing with a very detailed eye the beauty that can show up

watching a piece transform and sharing the joy together

taking the forgotten old, tattered and giving it a new life

This past 4 days I shared my studio space with a dear friend and artist (who I have adored for at least 15 years) Diana D. Darden. She drove from Minneapolis to gather with me and work on designing for a big event outside of Minneapolis this October. My writings are about the gifts to opening up your space to another artist and how many wonderful moments come out of such days.

I believe there is magic to be found in the real time that sits in the studio with two people. The talk, the silence, the listening, the finding music we each love and sharing. Seeing how the other works, holds a paint brush, how they think when creating (fast in the process or slow) Timing of art is something few people can explain. Sure there are lots of quotes from really cool people about timing of art - when to know a piece is done. There is freedom, trust and pure love in sharing the experience of handing a piece of art back and forth and trusting the other person to add their energy.

I loved this process with Diana. The days were long and full of discovery and digging in our piles of time loved bits to create together. I am grateful for this time in my life. Rarely do we get to sit and create day after day with someone who we love.

My wish for others is to be brave, fearless and keep opening up your heart, your studio, your table to listen and create with others. It matters.

http://dianaddarden.com/


http://www.kellimaykrenz.com/

giving thanks for my life being saved 15 years ago. yes, i give thanks several times every single day.

i walked miles and miles in Deephaven with my dogs. everyday. 

i nested and created a home that was beautiful to me.

i lived 8 houses up the hill from lake minnetonka. 

Dr. Michael Schueppert (Vascular Surgeon) SAVED MY LIFE!

Methodist hospital filled with talented nurses, doctors saved my life. 

looking up as i walked in the hospital, the last view i saw. 

what is a renal artery aneurysm

I am a person who tries very hard to look at my life and be grateful for everything everyday. It is not easy but, I do practice the noticing, manifesting goodness and I believe in giving back in ways that I can (in being grateful for my life being saved).

Never had I imagined that I would be told without this surgery (and fast) you will die. You might die even with the surgery. WOW!!! I was not really great at processing all of this information as quickly as I thought I could. I cried and then I got serious about getting my life in order. I made lists of everything I needed to have others know (in case I did not make it) I had all of my affairs in order (as they say) I prayed. I prayed lots. I asked my main surgeon if he thought he could save me. His answer was this "You have to believe I can save you and trust me. I can tell you without this surgery you will die and soon." So with that I empowered myself with everything I knew how to.

See I had been sick, really sick. I had always been active and walked fast with my black lab like a ninja. I was loyal walking lots and lots, I did not stop to chat I power walked in every season. Then one day I came in and could barely walk upstairs. I was so tired, winded and weak. That started my journey of going to doctor after doctor, each saying that my blood pressure was super high but, no real reason for it? Then I started passing out at random spots, dressing rooms at stores, in my kitchen, driveway, restaurants each time going by ambulance to the hospital. Each time being released with a new story of nothing. I kept going. I kept searching for a doctor who would do more then give me more medicines. Finally, I asked at my local clinic for an old school doctor who would meet with me and just listen. I was told there was only one and he was not taking new patients, sorry. I begged, I drove over to the clinic and begged leaving my charts from the past 8 months for the doctor to look at. They were not super pleased with me, I did not care. I knew that I needed help. The very next morning the old school (soon to retire doctor) called me and asked how quickly I could get to his office. I said ten minutes. I was there in ten and in twenty he knew that I had an aneurysm. WOW.
He made an immediate appointment sending me to Dr. Schueppert's office.

Then the reality of realizing my situation finally came true. I knew that I was sick, finally someone believed me. Thank God.

My aneurysm was on my rental artery and had wrapped around my right kidney and had killed off most of that kidney. YEP, that is why I was so sick. I was thrilled to have an answer and also afraid of what might lay ahead. I believed with my whole heart that if I believed I would live, stayed positive, used humor to help get me through I would be fine (better then fine) GOOD!!!

I made lists of promises to myself. I would get a divorce from a very unhealthy marriage. I would create more art for me personally. I would try to help others more.  I would share more of the goodness and miracle that would be given to me by living.

I was told I would be in the hospital for at least 3 weeks. In one week I had myself managing pain with Advil (as I am allergic to pain meds) I was up and going home. Yes, I had a long recovery but, I did it.

I have also stayed true to everything on my list. I still work on that list 15 years later. As I get older I get more determined to get that big dream of mine.

I will! Yes, I will. Each day I will continue to give thanks for my miracle which is my life.

www.kellimaykrenz.com

Reflecting on this year so far, as it is my birthday week! Wow!!

Honored to have been asked to be in the fine gallery Outside the Lines in Galena. 

Making our nest "OUR OWN" We purchased this home in May. 

Designed, branded and styled this beautiful boutique for one of my best friends.

loved daily these two. my hearts.

Published in one of my all time favorite magazines Uppercase Mag.

Landed the cover of this book Uppercase Magazine published.

Discovered new painting styles within me. 

created spirit wands and loved every minute. 

our home. 

cut lots of hair off and went blondeR.

I always love to look at what my year looks like half way through as my birthday is July 15th. This day is so special to me as I have always been one to celebrate life. It has even more meaning to me since I turned 39 and almost left this heavenly earth. I am much more mindful of my time, energy and how I give love. I am delighted and most grateful to be turning another year older on Saturday.

I made a quick list of things that I have accomplished this year so far. I make vision boards and I use them. I do well with visuals they keep me on track. Gratefully I create more.

I overcame much fear, anxiety and really ended up proud of myself so far, so good. I face new stuff everyday like most of you. I am bound and determined to overcome the stuff that gets in my way.

Quick list.
1. I taught at Art is You in Minneapolis to wonderful students and fellow artists. Praying to be asked back as it was freeing, loving and so much more then I hoped for.
2. We purchased our home we had been renting for two plus years in Galena. We can now make it our  own and do improvements. We so love this house. Most of you know it was once a church built in 1838. Oh, the energy here is magic!!!
3. I love designing logos and so far I have created, branded 13 logos and counting.
4. Painted 16 new spirit warriors.
5. Added 11 new cards to my card line of 90. Now at 111. Love that number so much.
6. Co-hosted one benefit here in Galena to help a friend.
7. Super honored to have been published 3 times with Stampington Magazine.
8. Super honored to have the cover of Stitch - Illo and 8 pages featuring my art by Uppercase Magazine.
9. July 29 and 30 my art soul sister Lisa Sonora will travel from Oaxaco Mexico to co teach a two day workshop here in Galena. This is her only workshop in the USA this year. I am honored beyond.
10. Celebrated birthdays, mothers day, fathers day, and lots of everyday graces.
11. Designed and printed my licensing book. They are being created into loving artful packages that are flying around this country.  I am firmly believing I will be licensed. Yes, I will!
12. I am now making every effort to be featured in Where Woman Create as this has been a dream of mine for over 15 years. Must make it happen.

So as I reflect on Jan to July I am feeling proud of me. Proud of the family and friends who love me and help me be the very best ME i can be.

Thanks for showing up to be in my world. You matter a lot to me. With love ME.

http://www.kellimaykrenz.com/ more about my life as an artist here

http://lisasonora.com/blog/ you can still sign up for THE WORKSHOP with Lisa Sonora here.

http://uppercasemagazine.com/stitchillo/ Uppercase Magazine Stitch-Illo book

https://stampington.com/somerset-gallery Spirit Warrior Article here.

https://stampington.com/the-coloring-studio Coloring pages designed by me here.

Passport to Galena - Boho Prairie with Lisa Sonora and I

world traveler, teacher, soul spirit journal Lisa Sonora 

gorgeous Lisa Sonora 

spirit warrior painting Kelli May-Krenz 

Creative Passport Galena - Boho Prairie

A Weekend Workshop in a Magical Riverside Prairie Town Celebrating Your Spirit Warrior Creative Self

with Lisa Sonora & Kelli May Krenz

Saturday, July 29 – Sunday, July 30, 2017

For women who crave a creative getaway, in the company of kindred spirits — two caring and experienced artist / teachers who will bring out the best of your creativity.

Join us in Galena, Illinois

This little river town is magic filled. You will feel as if you have been transported back in time. This city is all about history, art, music and good food. Here we honor artists and community.

Lisa will be traveling from her home in Oaxaco, Mexico to share magic with me here in this little river town of Galena. I am gushing with grace to know that we are creating a dream come true. We have been creating on this workshop for months, combining our talents to bring you the most amazing process, soul filled days of goodness. 

We are offering our early bird pricing until the 15th of June, 2017.

Our workshop has only a few more spaces to fill, we would love for you to join us. 

When you believe as strongly as we do in sharing, giving and filling up with artistic moments you know in your heart this is the place for you.

To learn more about this workshop please follow the link below.

http://lisasonora.com/blog/

www.kellimaykrenz.com

Testimonials helping me see myself. Grateful to Tracy Verdugo.

Tracy Verdugo - Take a class with this brilliant artist. 

St. Pete Beach Florida - Tracy's class I attended.

pure love = Tracy Verdugo

the beach gave so much beauty.

sunshine and art perfect combination

amen. i do this daily.

Several years ago now I took a painting class in St. Pete Beach Florida taught by the talented crazy beautiful soulful Tracy Verdugo. This class has changed me to be a better artist. I am most grateful.
I have been working this year on going for everything I can. I want to be a big licensed artist, I want to travel and teach and I want to get my art in the mainstream. In order to do this I must work steady and hard to share more of me. I also was told that testimonials help. So I continue to open up my fears and bust through them. Tracy has become a dear friend of mine, I am silly grateful. I asked Tracy if she could possibly write a testimonial for me. This is what she wrote. I was left reading this and thinking WOW how beyond loving is this.

Here are the words my crazy talented friend shared about me. Thank you again Tracy. I love you with my whole heart.

From the moment I met Kelli Jean May-Krenz I knew that the gifts she brings to

the world go far beyond the ordinary. Her capacity to create beauty from every

thing she touches stems from, I believe, her natural inclination to find beauty in

everything she sees. I have had the pleasure of calling this gorgeous woman/

artist/teacher and dreamer friend for several years now and I am always grateful

for her sweet presence in my world.

If ever you have the chance to meet or take part in one of her classes do not

hesitate. She will shift your world as she has mine.
-Tracy Verdugo

www.kellimaykrenz.com
www.tracyverdugo.com