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.

Staying safe in what I know.

I have been through lots of big hard things in my life. We all have I know this. I have been blessed with great miracles = one of the biggest is my life. I am beyond grateful to wake up each and everyday.

So much heavy big stuff in my life of late. Balancing the emotional makings of life with a creative business is always interesting to me. I often try looking above my life as if part of me is sitting in a tree looking down on me. I wonder what really counts this moment and what can be shifted aside.
I listen to my heart (it always knows) It is in the practicing of listening and hearing that days are filled with more then just trying.

I have noticed that I tend to create what I need. If I need to be extra strong I create warriors, wise beings with antlers and adorned bodies. I am seeing myself in all that I have been creating lately. The stories that these pieces are telling me and then watching them come to life.

I have so much to learn yet, I feel like I know a whole big bunch too. I want to share more, give more and seek more like souls to surround me.

I know that I will continue to climb the biggest mountains and be grateful while I do.
I hope to be a blessing to those of you who follow me.

day 21, 22 and yes 23 of #100 days of YOU with kelli

original mixed media art, quote by me. love more.

Love your heart with tender care. it matters. Truth. We need to love ourselves with all of our flaws (that we see more then anyone else ever) It is hard to get past lots of old stuff, I know. I also know that living in the moment is everything good. It feels terrific to give love to others. Imagine how great it will feel to show yourself some of that whole love. Yes, let's do it.

I struggle with giving myself the love that I give out so freely to others. I am certainly nice to me, I am so grateful for my body and the life it gives me. I think maybe, loving the emotional parts will be a good practice for me. You know the forgiving ourselves for past hurts, not feeling like we do enough or we are enough. Turn those thoughts around every time one tries to sneak in - just say NO.

This weekend was about loving more for me. Finding ways to show love with words, actions and listening. These are all gifts we all have and can give. Let's just be mindful of who gets US and our love.

Leaving you with this idea. What would it look like to wake up tomorrow and do one really precious milestone thing you have been putting off? Like a thank you call you have been meaning to make, a special moment to share with another person who loves you (hug) even in a short note you mail out, taking a picture of something you never ever want to forget. Have fun with your life. It is precious and I promise this stuff matters the very most.

Love more.

day 19 and 20 of #100 days of YOU with kelli

what if you face that fear and WIN! make it happen. you can do it. 

Mindfully living is what we are all on this journey for. Connecting with others of like souls, wounds, visions, hope and love. Yes, we are practicing the fine art of mindfully living. Living in the moment, living in the here and now. Practicing letting go of old tapes that no longer serve us. Letting go of the hurts that folks swing at us. No need to hang on to hurt, it truly will only continue to haunt you and will never ever serve you for anything good. I promise.

So what if you face that fear and win? What would that look like for you? Would it be a huge mountain to climb and you would be faced with your wildest nightmare? Believe me if you can imagine it, it can happen (probably not) but, it can. I have imagined the worst possible things happening in my life and somehow I have been called out and given bigger more horrible things then my imagination could dream up. Oh, and I have a wild good imagination. My point is I lived through these things with lots of love and help from others. I learned so much. Yes, I suffered greatly. Yes, I live my life practicing the healing love I so deserve and need.

So perhaps you write down your worse fears, and you look at what you would need in your life to change these around and make them go away. SUPER HARD stuff no kidding. We YOU can do it.

I know with my whole heart that we are all capable of more self love. I know it!!! I learn it every single day. Give your best and love YOU.

We are on the mountain together hand in hand and we are doing this!!! Yes, we are taking our fears and making them turn into puffy white clouds that simply float away. I picture my big fears then I turn them into a puffy white pretty cloud and I send them up to the great blue sky. NOT EASY at all. Practicing makes it easier every single day. I love you.

You are safe and loved here on this #100 day journey of YOU with me.

i paint, i draw, i write every single day. i wake up and do it all over again. i believe.

my world in bits

my world in living color

my world in layers

my world inside my head

my world is happy

I have such a huge dream for my life. I realize I wake up and repeat what I did the day before. Sure I shake it up and change routine around but, really I wake up and create all day long. I am driven by a need to share, give and seriously know personal achievements. I look back on my life and zoom through all of the creating I have done both personally and in my career. I think to myself what drives me so much. Answer I know what I want and I am not there yet.

I adore color, layers, vintage, pattern, inks, paints, pencils, sketching, details in everything. I want to share my passions big, like really BIG. So I am dreaming huge. Bigger then feels comfortable at times. I push through the fears, the odd feeling that sometimes visits. I know that I am going to get to this place I dream and work for. I can see it. I can hear the conversations. I know it like I know myself.

So I keep showing up. I keep creating. I keep being grateful for the ability to wake up and have my life. I know that I am lucky to be full of passions and ideas. I am very very blessed.

We are all blessed with a knowing. Listen to yours and then charge ahead. Never to late to join in your dreams.

http://www.kellimaykrenz.com/
find more of my life right here in my new website

At the end of each day HOPE remains.

layers coming together to build my house of hope

big world. big dreams. big climbing.

at the end of each day HOPE remains.

details matter to me.

I have been thinking lots about hope, dreams, reality versus what I can actually make happen.
Yes, lots of big thoughts. I have been spilling out the journey of listening to my heart and painting. Painting like there is no tomorrow. No real direction just spilling, etching, carving, layering, scratching the surfaces of what hope means to me.

Lately, I think hope means to wake up and try my best to put direction into my day. I have so many creative energies pulling me. I know that my card line is waiting patiently for me to have it be seen by more stores. I know that I have been healing physically for months and continue to heal. I am surprised by how having shingles and nerve pain has altered my life. I am grateful that at the end of each day HOPE does remain powerful for me. I am driven by the power of hope. The listening of who I am and who I need to be.

I am about to walk into unknown adventures again. Clinging to the hope I feel inside and the knowing I am meant to be seen. Daily I crave sharing goodness, happy and really making a difference. Surrounding myself with every good intention I can muster up. Grateful as ever.

http://www.kellimaykrenz.com/

a calling. i answered. i am home.

blocks from the house we live in. Grants home.

history. yep, it makes my life better.

shadows, trails, sunshine, space wide open fields. yes, please.

When I was in 6th grade my school took a trip to visit the home of Ulysses S. Grant. I remember being smitten with this tiny little home. I remember the fake cherries in a bowl on the table. I remember thinking this is where I want to live (okay, not in the little house) the city of Galena.

Funny how the calling of my soul has been to live here for what seems like forever. We moved mountains and moved here from Siesta Key Florida. I know most think we are crazy. I do not feel crazy at all. I feel nurtured by the history everywhere I walk. I am so excited to see more then strip malls. I am thrilled with Galena. Okay, so the best of both worlds would be to have a little place on the beach in St. Pete too. Dreams still marching strong in my life.

I am drawn to this little house pictured above. It is two blocks from the house we live in. I visited today. It is clearly closed for winter. I peered into the windows and I filled with glee for on the little wooden table was a bowl with fake cherries. YES, I felt home.

There is a knowing in our souls. It matters to follow your heart. No matter how many opinions differ. Do it following your calling. Face every fear. I am still facing mine but, I happily say I am getting better. Grateful living in Galena.

more on grateful living and my art filled life here 

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

handmade valentines by me

details, layers, gold leaf $35.00

layers of love found here for $35.00

gold leaf heart with wings layered on happy brights $35.00

love sacred love found here for $35.00

collage i love - sweetheart yummy

layers of love stitched here $15.00

really, yes only $15.00

large matchbox all original graphics and vintage bits $25.00

gorgeous hand made heart box for hiding treasures $24.00

crazy pretty vintage only $22.00

I love celebrations. I love being able to create tons of art many styles, mediums all filled with the joy I live to express. So my etsy shop is stocked with very affordable originals created by me for you to give or collect.

So much to learn and do and create just wanting to keep the fresh, love of creating alive for me and price my art for others to collect and enjoy.

Thank you for being here and liking what I do. It matters to me. I notice you. Love sweet Love.

Link to my etsy shop just in case you see something that makes your heart beat a little faster.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/kellimay

finding the path when it is not always easy = still a beautiful path

This week I was lucky enough to find a new path and walk the grounds of the Ringling Museum. Wow. I felt like I took a mini trip to Europe. The rose garden alone filled me up with so much discovery and glee.

I am searching these days for a peace to wash over me. I am experiencing panic attacks. Yes, the real ones that are super scary. I have been to the doctor and working with her on all that needs to happen.
One big question remains = why and what is making me panic? Soul searching I go.

My life has been filled with lots of soul searching, giving, loving and healing. I know that I can find the way back from these panic places. I am just on the path. So until I turn the right corner and walk down the right path - I will be searching. I will be noticing. I will keep my journal daily. I will create more art (the safest place in the world for me) I will love with a bigger heart. I will give more with less.

I will be grateful that this too shall pass and I will find the path of no panic.

Real life lessons. I will share and hopefully help some others.

the creating of a logo = i love this so much

original pen and ink illustration

pen and ink illustration of laurel wreath and flower

final logo = full of layers, illustrations, favorite colors 

 

 

I love creating logos. Truly they might be some of the best things I love designing. Adore these babies. Interesting that when it comes to creating a logo for little ole me = it proves to be most challenging.

So in this New Year of 2014 I have decided to face every fear and slay it down. I love love love the child like nature of me = I am embracing this finally. Hence, this little logo that feels happy, full of hope and joy.

My wish is that I can fill the space in my world with love, joy, unconditional glee.

This tiny little simple logo is my fresh start greeting 2014. Snappy happy me. Grateful to the moon and back to be living this life of mine.

sending packages = i adore

i had a ball putting this package together today.

happy banner, 53 cards nested, tin cowboy, you name it = fun filled

One of my favorite things to do in the studio is to create really fun packages that i know the person receiving will have fun opening. I love layering treats on top of treats on top of more treats. I really just enjoy all the energy that goes out in a package.

This package contains my 53 cards I posted yesterday with some other fun goodies. A jumble of my life and loves and silly things around me that I cherish.

The person receiving this package has never received one from me before. Ooh more fresh goodness.

For today I am grateful for the ability to create for a living, to have daily passion to make things, to have an abundance of ideas and be able to bring them to life. I wish this for every single soul who reads this. Feed your soul daily it always gives back.

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