A year ago I started an online creative business course with Kelly Rae Roberts called Flying Lessons and it's been an amazing year since then. I started my own website, ordered some business cards and postcards, created and sold pendants and paintings. I also joined the Summer 2011 Flying Lessons Group aka my Fly Tribe - a Facebook group to connect with others doing the course - an incredible group of creative, inspirational and supportive women.
Doing the course has given me a lot confidence and courage to display my art and to travel overseas to a Squam Art Workshop in New Hampshire, USA. In two weeks time I will be flying to New York City and will spend the Saturday with some of these beautiful women touring art galleries and going shopping - it's going to be an amazing experience and I will meeting a couple of them at Squam too.
Here's a brand new painting I created for displaying and selling at a local winery in late October. It's titled The Birdcage - see the bird outside the cage looking at the cat? Protection vs freedom.
The Birdcage, acrylic on canvas, 36" x 36" 91cm x 91cm
The Fly Tribe decided to celebrate the anniversary by giving back and donating money to send one person on the Flying Lessons course. We raised enough money to send 8 people on the course and Kelly Rae said she would match us $ for $ so we have 16 Flying Lessons e-courses to give away!!! Sixteen people will be given flight!!! That's huge, enormous, wonderful, exciting - I'm so proud of the generous women in this special group and this means that 16 lucky people out there will be able to do the course and give their artistic dreams flight.
Interested??? Here's how...Check out the Fly Tribe blog post and leave a comment at the bottom. How easy and how awesome is that????
Click on the links below to join in on our Giving Back, Giving Flight one year anniversary blog hop:
Stacey
Bockness Curry http://starhitchedwagon.blogspot.com/
Kris
Lanae Binsfeld
http://cherishdesigns.wordpress.com/2012/08/19/giving-flight-giving-back/
Mary
Sterk http://www.justmarydesigns.com
Michelle
Reynolds http://www.shellsinthebush.com
Constance
Rawlins
http://livingwithinyourharvest.com/2012/08/19/fly-tribe-anniversary/
Kelly
Hoernig http://www.kellyhoernig.blogspot.com
Kathleen
Conard
http://newfromoldcreations.blogspot.com/2012/08/giving-back.html
Susan
M. Walls-Beverly
http://susanscharmingtrinkets.blogspot.com/2012/08/flying-lessons-and-art-of-giving-back.html
Cheryl
Dossey http://www.cheryldossey.com/
Sofia
Dabalsa http://sofiadabalsa.blogspot.com
Ursula
Smith http://EasyScraps.com/blog
Deborah
Eaton http://www.deborahgeaton.com/blog/
Creative
Clearinghouse
http://creativeclearinghouse.com/Online-Class-Reviews/blog/Ursula-Creative-Clearinghouse
Lenore
Angela http://www.lenoreangela.blogspot.ca/
Katharina
Star http://www.blog.katharinastar.com
Rachél
Payne http://wp.me/pWRyw-10P
Sherry
Richert Belul
http://www.simplycelebrate.net/cherry-blossom-soup/gifts
Deborah
Velasquez http://deborahvelasquez.blogspot.com/
Shannon
Etnyre http://www.livingwithumami.com
Live
Laugh Love Retreats http://livelaughloveretreats.com
Kelley
Miller Artworks http://kelleymillerartworks.blogspot.com/
Wini
Dougall http://artloveandjoy.blogspot.com
Carol
Bray
http://theredpaintedcottage.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-spirit-of-giving-back-by-giving-flight.html
Diane
Enright http://dianeenrightphotography.wordpress.com/
Mary
Cottingham http://www.barnbugstudio.blogspot.com
Susan
Dietz http://flutterbeforeyou.blogspot.com
Kim
Hyer http://www.apaperaddict.com
Tina
Carlborg http://www.tinachicky.blogspot.com
Catherine
Pistone http://catherinepistone.blogspot.com/
Mary
MacIlvain http://maryart.macilvain.com/
Carolyn
Chenault
http://carolynchenault.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/the-big-giveaway
Lovely, Michelle! I so wish I was able to be one of the gals you meet up with. Have fun in the states.
ReplyDeleteThanks, me too.
DeleteWhat an incredible give-away. I hope so, to win a spot. And what an awesome journey you have ahead. I`m sure it will be very exciting. I wish you a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteI hope so too, fingers crossed for you Conni.
DeleteHi Michelle, that's such a lovely thing to do. I've been so under the weather and busy with the kids these past few months that somehow I missed hearing about this. Wonderful generous hearts and a wonderful gift to someone lucky, well done flygirls! Lxxx
ReplyDeleteThanks Liza, hope you and your family are feeling better soon.
DeleteHi Michelle, I hope you have an awesome time in the States at Squam, meeting some of the ladies and visiting art galleries!! I have enjoyed following your progress this year. Best of luck for your future endeavours!
ReplyDeleteThanks Wini.
DeleteThanks for being such a valuable contributor to the Fly Tribe community of gals (and 1 guy) : )
ReplyDeleteI hope you have the BEST time ever in NewYork! Paint On! C x
Thanks Cat.
DeleteLOVELY painting - I hope you have an amazing trip to New York and to Squam!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary.
DeleteHi Michelle, Love the Bird Cage painting. Glad to see the Fly Tribe has been such a positive influence for so many of us. Enjoy your time in NYC, one of the best places on earth. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Cheryl.
DeleteI feel so lucky I get to see you in TWO WEEKS!!!!! Can't wait!
ReplyDeleteThanks me too. ***squee***
DeleteI love your new birdcage painting - so sweet and uplifting! I'm glad to see your beautiful creations and be inspired and encouraged by you on this journey.
ReplyDeleteJill
Thanks Jill.
DeleteMichelle - I admire your courage in flying half way around the world to attend classes at Squam Lake and to meet with friends for shopping in NYC. I would like to borrow a little courage myself! Your work is beautiful and your story is inspiring. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary.
DeleteMichelle - I so enjoy your blog posts and your beautiful art. Here is to another year of creating and growing together! xo, Kathleen
ReplyDeleteThanks Kathleen.
DeleteHey Michelle! I absolutely love your bird cage painting. It's got whimsy and depth — I really appreciate that. Hope you have a fabulous time at Squam! Happy anniversary and happy soaring! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Sherry.
DeleteI love your beautiful, colorful artwork, Michelle! Thanks for the beauty you bring to the world! xoxo L
ReplyDeleteThanks Lori.
DeleteYour latest piece is beautiful! I love it! So happy to be flying with you, Michelle. Wishing you safe travels and lots of fun on your adventures. ((hugs))
ReplyDeleteThanks Jamie.
DeleteMichelle, I'm so excited for you as your exciting travels are about to begin and I'm even more excited about being about to meet up with you while you're in the States. I'll PM you about dates when you'll be in my town. Safe travels, my friend!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Carol - see you at ArtPrize!!
DeleteI LOVE your work Michelle!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tina.
DeleteThank you Michelle, for dropping by. Oh! I just got it! Shells in the Bush, Michelle in the Australian Bush! Took me long enough. I always wondered how you came up with such an unusual name. That's so cute. It's been great flying with you. The Birdcage painting is beautiful!
ReplyDeletexo
Thanks Lenore.
DeleteBeautiful art work! So glad you are feeling so brave and that your work is on display!!! It wonderful so it's no wonder why!! Enjoy squam!!! I can't wait to hear how much fun you have!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Stacey.
DeleteMichelle,
ReplyDeleteI love your artwork... thoughtful and really enjoy the thought provoking work above! It has been a joy to be in the group with you... So happy to be your soul sister! Wish I lived close to NYC so we could meet! Have an amazing trip and will be watching for photos! :-) Cheers to an amazing year ahead! Kris
Thanks Kris.
DeleteHi Michelle! Happy Anniversary!! I am sooo jealous you are getting to go to Squam! Have a wonderful time!! Can't wait to see more of your beautiful artwork!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ursula.
DeleteHappy Anniversary, Michelle! It has been wonderful being in the Flying Group with you. I love your bright and cheerful art, your colors are amazing!
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary, Michelle! I am so happy to be flying with you. I love your colorful art, and can't wait to see more. Have a fabulous time at Squam and NYC!
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary! I love the new painting! I'm also happy to have met you through this joyous journey the past year - and I cannot wait to meet you in person while you are in NYC! xoxo
ReplyDelete