CONNECTING OUR LIFE + OUR ART
Oh my. This has been a seriously exciting day. Two pretty major things happened today, both in the category of “dreams coming true” kinda stuff. Interestingly, I’ve been feeling this low grade stress (beneath all the happiness, that is) regarding how to share all this goodness without sounding “braggy” or “too happy.” Blah. blah. blah. This concept of playing my success down or dimming my light to make other people feel better is one that has been really UP for me lately.
I think as a sensitive person who cares deeply for other people’s experiences in the world, I continually see through this filter of inclusivity, humility and grace, at least that is my intention. Then these moments arise when I just want shout about something amazing that has happened from the rooftops, but I’m SUPER aware of how this might land, so I find myself dimming it down.
It’s not that I don’t share my successes. If you get my newsletter or read my Facebook page, you know that I share all kinds of things on a regular basis—I’m kind of a born entrepreneur in that way. I’m just really *aware* of how I do it. And, while I think this awareness is mostly a good thing, I sometimes (like now) just want to say I’M REALLY FREAKING EXCITED ABOUT THIS! And, I’M PROUD OF MYSELF! And, I’VE WORKED REALLY REALLY HARD FOR ALL THIS!!! And, I DESERVE IT. Wow. Ok, I’ll stop yelling now, but…
geez. that felt good.
Thank you for letting me celebrate. Or, I guess I should actually thank myself for letting me celebrate..ha! However, it’s way more fun to celebrate with you, so thank you for celebrating with me. You can just imagine the happy dance that goes along with all that shouting…cuz you KNOW there is one happening on this rainy Portland night!
Ok, now that I’ve gotten all that residual baggage off my chest, do want to hear about the cool things that happened today? 🙂 If so, keep on reading…
I received the samples of my very own fabric line in the mail. The line is called, “Illuminate” and it’s being produced by Red Rooster Fabrics. You can see me dorking out with one of the patterns above, because, woah, wouldn’t this make a really cute dress? Just sayin’. Below is a picture of the whole line. It will all be available for all your sewing needs by the end of the year. BTW, I can barely sew a button on a shirt, so I might have to commission ya’ll for a few things.
The other super duper exciting thing that happened today (and this is very “hot off the press”) is that Kelly Rae Roberts (see my Ode to her here) and I committed to leasing this gorgeous studio space in Downtown Portland for the next twelve months. For the past year, the two of us have been scheming and dreaming up all kinds of workshops and gatherings we would love to host (think: women, tea, chocolate, pillows, candle light, wine, deep connecting, yoga, painting, writing, dancing, cross-pollinating, playing, truth telling, and on and on…you get the idea). We figured having an actual SPACE would make our actual dreams come TRUE, so we took the leap! It’s a pretty big leap, but it feels so so right in our hearts. We can hardly wait to make some magic happen here. Want to join us?
*Note to self: It’s interesting to notice how damn good it feels to just SHINE and BE HAPPY without apologies. Must remember that.
This brings me to the end of Day #5. I’m actually pretty exhausted from all the excitement today. Thank you following along and being so amazing and supportive as I work through my fears, share my epiphanies and celebrate my dreams coming true LIVE on this blog. I’ve been loving all your comments so much…they seriously bring me to tears sometimes.
I’ll sign off with one of my very favorite quotes of all time, also found on the last page of my book. So appropriate. So good.
Keep shining bright out there, and don’t forget to shout it from the rooftops once in awhile. xo flora
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won’t feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.
—Marianne Williamson
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Congratulations Flora — your fabric is looking awesome and I love that you are just shouting from the rooftops with excitement – you’ve done so so much for others in at least the art world, we all want what is the very very best in life for you…..xx
I can see why you and Kelly Rae are kindred spirits. It shows in your artworks that you share similar thoughts and ideas and it sounds like a wonderful collaboration of two minds that think along very similar lines. So happy for you and feel free to celebrate as loudly as you like…you deserve it. I have only recently discovered the two of you on facebook and fell in love with your beautiful artworks. I only hope we see your beautiful new fabrics downunder in Australia sometime soon!
I look forward to seeing more.
All the best for the future
Maggie 🙂 x
…shine on girl !!…thank you for sharing….love your work and what you are about 🙂
Hiii Flora,
WOW!!! that is certainly cause for CELEBRATION!!! I totally get the ‘am i bragging, and will someone be p’d off with me?’ … and truth is.. some might be… but… speaking my truth… when i am most p’d off with someones else’s success, brilliance or fabulousness… it’s only because I might ‘want what they’re having’ … and when people (you) show what IS POSSIBLE… we… (the onlooker) can raise a glass and ‘salute you’ knowing that.. if you can do this.. maybe … so can we.. if we so desire. Warm well wishes of ‘good on you’!!!! Thanks for sharing your shiny… and your vulnerability.
OH YAYY ON THE STUDIO hire too.
with love. DD
congratulations on your exciting news and the celebration!
i can totally relate to what you say and to the quote. and aren’t we lucky that we can liberate ourselves and each other together?
thanks for sharing so fearlessly, Flora.
xo
The fabric line looks super awesome and you deserve to be excited and proud of all your successes!
Congratulations on your success, Flora. You deserve it! And the quote is beautiful. I’m writing it down in the books for my children when they grow up.
I would be shouting too! Your fabrics are fantastic, and love the quote! Enjoy your success you fully deserve it!
Hello Flora
Congratulations – your fabric is amazing – perfect for bedding sets – are they going to be making the fabric wide enough for a king size duvet Cheers June
Ahhh. Flora. Sometimes I think that you and I are tapped into the same energy plug! I have always felt the same way about being mindful of *shining too much*, to the point where I thought this morning, I must write about that this week in my art mail-out. And there you are, sayin’ the same thing.
Your fabrics are absolutely amazing and your new space?! AMAZEBALLS!
So much awesomeness. Shine away,baby, you’re making the world a brighter, more awesome place and giving other permission to do the same.
Love Chrissy x
You are such an inspiration to so many woman, you my shout it from the rooftops and be chuffed with ‘awsomeness’ 🙂
Let your light shine bright cause it lights the path for others.
You have been blessed with so much and you generously share with others.
Love to make dresses and everything else with you beautiful material!
Keep shining.
Anke
Oh I love the fabric and since my other passion is making quilts I can’t wait to buy some of each one and create something fabulous.
Congrats!
I spent years doing nothing creative at all because someone close to me was fragile about such things, and not shy about letting me know that it upset her when I did something she perceived she couldn’t do. So i conditioned myself, as a child, not to shine too brightly and not to talk about it when I did.
You are one of the people whose example has helped me overcome that early conditioning, and in a way it is oddly reassuring to know that you have felt this fear-of-shining thing too!
The fabric is amazing! I’m thinking about a spectacular skirt, swirling with all that beautiful colour!
Congratulations on the fabric line, I can already see a beautiful swing bag, cute skirt or even a quilt made with love…I wish I lived in Portland to attend the wonderful inspiring classes that you and kelly rea are going to come up with. I just love what you both do…….. hugs and kisses from the other side of the worlds
Please continue to shine, you show the path of how to shine. Always more comfortable staying in the background, but so wanting to break free of that habit. I always think of you as a beautiful giving person, your shining never comes across as bragging, just joy filled excitement. So thankful for you sharing your journey so transparently.
Congratulations Flora! The fabric line is awesome and the studio space sounds exciting too! Shine on and thanks for sharing your talent with the world!
Flora, I love your fabrics! I also love how you reveal yourself so naturally in your blog. Sometimes I struggle with doing that and would just like to post pics and not reveal any “skin”, so to speak. Enjoy your journey! 🙂
I totally feel the same way about sharing my “wins”. Sing it loud, sing it proud, Flora!
As soon as I saw the photo of you in the dress, I thought how much I loved the front panel material. I can’t wait for your fabric to become available. Hope it will ship to Portugal, too! It’s also inspired me to try out some fabric printing of my own in my own pink graffiti style!
Simply lovely news! I am seeing a cool skirt for myself in one of your fabrics. Thanks for sharing your honestly, especially about being sensitive to others experiences in the world. Shine away!
First, Much Congrats, Flora, on your continued success! Second, although I love the concept of “going with the flow” the problem is when I allow myself to think that it happens “magically” without the hard work, then I wonder why something doesn’t happen for me. I’m having to work at the concept that intuition AND HARD WORK must go together. We know you believe in intuition, but saying you deserve it because you also worked so hard for it clears up a lot of misconceptions about how to be successful. Please continue to share. It is so very helpful. THANK YOU AND MUCH BLESSINGS!
That quote says it all! Shine your light Flora! You DO deserve it! And you and Kelly Rae collaborating on workshops and things?!?!?!? I am SO there! Can’t wait to hear more.
oh, that fabric would make some lovely blankets and quilts! beautiful stuff. congrats to you beautiful lady ;o)
I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!! This whole post just made me HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY and super proud of how hard you work and with how much heart you work. And…this is the only the beginning!
It’s so true that when you shine your own light you give others room to shine theirs! I love that quote! I love you too! I have been cooking up a group, class gathering for awhile now and oh how I would love a space like this to do it in! I wish I lived in Portland so I could join your group too! 🙂 it sounds like the coolest tea, pillows, yoga, candlelight girls group I could imagine! 🙂 Add some dance to it and all my dreams would come true there! Just reading this gives me more inspiration to pursue my own dream! Love your fabric by the way! Wouldn’t some pillows for the new studio space with your designs be awesome! You and Kelly Rae are a dream kind of team! Wishing you the best with all your endeavours and many blessings and light! 🙂
Thank you doing what you do. Your fabric looks beautiful and congrats on the space. By you shining your light you help others do the same.
Congrats. Flora,your deserve all that and more…I can relate to all you said,I am a mature woman and all my life i shy away from showing what i do and who I AM not to make others feel unconfortable, your Book and your Words have been a great help to overcome that feeling 🙁 Thank you for being you and inspiring ALL of us 🙂 I am painting and being the true me and loving it ….Love love your fabric , cant wait..i ‘ll make myself a dress 🙂 🙂
SO EXCITED for you! You being successful makes room for MORE success! I’ve been watching you bloom for a few years just through FB and your website/blog. So inspired by what you are doing and creating. And thanks for sharing your true feelings about what it’s like to share success. So great.
Don’t shrink ~ shine and help us out by being our shining example of what we are to do too! Your awesome and deserve every single ounce of success! You don’t know it, but your helping me out by allowing me to watch, witness, learn and grow on my path! Thank you!
“We all shine like diamonds in the sun, everyone of us” from the song diamonds in the sun by Girish. Shine on!
I too wish I lived in Portland so I could some to your studio. I teach yoga and I have been wanting to create a class to share the joy of creating art. I have recently begun a “goddess circle”, to create a supportive group of women and in our first meeting I had them create a simple piece of art. What was interesting is that their core issues came right to the surface. Feelings of fear arose in all of it’s different manifestations. Through yoga and art I am hoping to help others to find more freedom. You are giving me the courage to stay with this path, thank you.
Flora,
Your fabrics are FABULOUS!! Never dim your light. By shining brightly, you inspire us all.
Kathy
Flora, you do shine bright! One other thing to be proud of is your writing ability. Your spirit comes through so beautifully. I am so glad you are writing the blog. Reading the blog makes me feel like I am taking the e-course again. I was in the Sept. 2012 class and it was life changing. Congratulations on the fabric and other product lines! Well done you! You inspire so many!
Your Libra sister, 9/28,
Madelyn
Gorgeous studio space! Congratulations on all the good news.
I can relate to what you’re saying about being a sensitive being who cares about all humanity and therefore doesn’t want to make others feel bad for themselves by something I might share that is good for myself. I love the idea that when we let ourselves shine, we give others the permission to do the same. xo
i am so happy you are celebrating your success openly without censoring! you deserve it and i am so happy for you. really, you amaze me,
xo
Hi Flora,
Don’t ever apologize for celebrating and sharing your happiness of success. Everyone creates their own life and successes. If they have a problem with what you say it’s because they choose to go round in circles instead of being courageous and making it happen for themselves. You are an amazing person and an inspiration to me, I love hearing about your success, it pushes me to do more for myself. Warmest wishes, Alice X 🙂
I LOVE Kelly Rae as much as I love you! Argh, you two will be amazing! So jealous, wish I was there!
congratulations! that fabric lines looks as amazing as your paintings! can’t wait to get my hands on some of that. looking forward to what you and kelly rae cook up…you are wonderful!
Hi Flora,
Congrats on your fabulous new fabric line and beautiful new space in Portland awaiting your workshops. Your success is so well deserved. I hope one day I can attend one of your workshops in Portland…..and I’m so glad to see there will be chocolate involved!
:)Suzanne
I want to eat what you’re eating, drink what you’re drinking. I don’t smoke so don’t tell me about that!
i am loving your blog posts…and can’t wait to hear more about your new space…keep shining!
WOW!!! awesome post Flora!
your fabric is GORGeous!
so excited for you and Kelly Rae!
and your writing…. seriously. wonderful, inspiring and amazing!!! keep at it. the world needs you!
Wow Flora, how amazing for you and Kelly Rae to have a shared space!! And how amazing that space is going to be. It would be a dream of mine to one day get to that space 🙂
Flora, I am just so thrilled to have seen this post. CONGRATULATIONS on all the amazing and beautiful things happening in your life. I couldn’t be happier that you are allowing yourself to shine your light so bright… it shows us all how we can do it to. I love seeing your artwork on fabric. This opens up a whole new world for you. All the best!! Huge congratulations. xo
Be free to be excited! I understand and appreciate your desire to play your achievements down. But you have so many people joyfully celebrating your achievements 🙂
Part2….. Enjoy them to the fullest !
WOOOHOOOOO !!!!! I wish i lived closer and could come to your magical new studio, dressed in a skirt made from your new fabric. Huge happy dances Flora, it’s wonderful to have good things to celebrate and so glad you shared them here. x
Super excited about your fabric! They look so yum and luscious and make me what to start taking sewing classes again.
Shine on!
A friend put me in touch with your website, and I’m loving your 30-Day Blog Love Affair! What really resonated with me, in this particular post, was the problem of sounding “braggy” or “too happy” when talking about some of the amazing things that are happening for you right now. I totally understand about your filter of inclusivity, humility and grace. I’ve been told by a friend that’s how I see the world! I also have a hard time telling people about my successes – and I’m certain I often sabotage my success as a result! How daft/dumb is that?! I’m glad that you’re celebrating your successes, and I enjoy reading about them. Long may they continue! 🙂
Awesome and awesome! Keep rockin it!
Just wishing I lived in Portland! X
Can this be a sign up for your new space’s workshops? I’d love to pop up and play with Flora and Kelly! Count me in, Girlz!
Alysse
Oh my- this post brought me to tears. It feels like you’re holding up a mirror. These are all of the exact same feelings bubbling up inside of me right now. I’m working on “owning” that I am an artist and trying to live more out loud. Been hiding my light (or dimming it) for nearly 50 years now. You go right ahead and be truthful and joyous!!! Congratulations to you!!!! and how I would LOVE to join you and Kelly Rae in that dream space! Enjoy!
Dear sweet amazing shiny Flora!! Firstly a massive congratulations for all of your wonderful news. I’m a bit late to the party here but I am sure you are still doing the happy dance!! and I also wanted to say that I soooooo get the feeling you are describing, in fact I have been struggling with that very thing and wondering whether it was somehow related to the “tall poppy syndrome” here in Australia…well at least I know now its universal AND its normal…love the Marianne Williamson quote….I read it all the time to remind myself..lots of love from downunder xox
Love. Inspiration. Love that fabric! Congratulations! Yes, you do deserve to let it out, brag, shine, shine, shine. And more… You rock!