Heyas, everyone! I wanted to be sure that you knew that if you signed up for Sparkles by midnight EST tonight, you have a chance to win some amazing prizes! You can find out more and register at the official Sparkles site but I also am sharing all the basic registration information right here to make it easy. People have already signed up from around the world – Australia, Sweden, Germany, Brazil, the UK, the US, Canada and Singapore too! Join in the magic by signing up today!

Registration is open!

$31 and 5 minutes a day is all it takes to sparkle!

Register between March 22nd and midnight EST on March 24th for a chance to win amazing prizes. Keep reading for more!

What is Sparkles…

Sparkles is a creative e-course. For 31 days, you’ll go on an adventure designed to awaken your creative spirit and fill you and your days with sparkle. Each day, you’ll receive a quick-to-read, quick-to-do inspiring creative exercise in your inbox. Lessons come from an amazing array of creative guides from a wide range of disciplines (e.g. photography, writing, painting, sound, dance – even food!) They’ll show you how to get creative, even when you feel like you have no time at all!

How the Sparkles e-course works…

• Register whenever you are ready to begin.
• You won’t need any super-special supplies. Just something to write on, something to write with, some way to play music and a camera. So, with a journal, some markers, pens and crayons, an MP3 player and a camera, you’re all set.
• Within a couple of days, you will start receiving a Sparkles lesson in your inbox every day for 31 days. Each sparkle is a creative prompt (an invitation to dance, write, scribble, imagine etc.), a quick and easy exercise to awaken your creative spirit in 5 minutes or less.
• Dive into each new sparkle and let the magic begin!

And the magic doesn’t end when the course is over. With Sparkles, not only will you infuse your month with creativity but you’ll also walk away with fresh tools in your creative toolkit. You’ll be able to come back to your favourite sparkles again and again and continue to fill your life with creative joy.

Meet Your Teachers…

The most amazing creative teachers have come together for Sparkles. They are here to inspire you and to help light your creative fire! You’ll receive lessons from: your host, Jamie Ridler, Goddess Leonie Allan, Jennifer Louden, Leah Piken Kolidas, Mindy Tsonas, Carmen Torbus, Patti Digh, Fabeku Fatunmise, Kimberly Wilson, Jennifer Lee, Chris Zydel, Jenn Gibson, Ken Robert, Madelyn Mulvaney, Claudine Hellmuth, Chris Kay Fraser, Tracey Clark, Rachelle Mee-Chapman, Christine Claire Reed, Danette Relic, Amanda Oaks, Suzie the Foodie, Kate Swoboda, Christen Olivarez, Annabel Fitzsimmons, Susannah Conway, Connie Hozvicka, Andrea Schroeder, Christine Mason Miller.

Learn a bit more about all of your instructors here.

Launch Party & Prizes!

We are so excited about the launch of Sparkles that we wanted to celebrate it right – and we’re doing that with some amazing giveaways from your Sparkles instructors! Register between now and midnight EST March 24th and you will have a chance to win…

• From Christine Mason Miller: A signed copy of her delightfully inspiring book Ordinary Sparkling Moments plus a set of 12 “You are…” postcards.
• From Jennifer Louden: A copy of her brilliant Satisfaction Finder, a digital kit of enoughness and deep comfort that will help you tame the hounds of “more, more, more.”
• From Fabeku Fatunmise: A 200 year old Himalayan singing bowl, personally handpicked by Fabeku for its gorgeous sound and deep mojo, is perfect for saying buhbye to creative blocks and dipping deep into the flow.
• From Fabeku Fatunmise: Remembering Through Resonance CD (download or physical CD). Remembering Through Resonance is an uber special recording chock full of aural awesomeness to help you remember who you are, do what you love and make room for MORE! in your life.
• From Goddess Leonie: The Creating Your Goddess Year Workbook & Planner, a whopping 72 pages of worksheets & a printable calendar to help you dream, manifest, set your intentions, plan & cultivate your amazing new year.
• From Annabel Fitzsimmons: Clear space to sparkle by calming your mind and balancing your body with audio podcasts by Annabel Fitzsimmons. Find your zen through two ClearSpace podcasts on CD: Gentle Morning Yoga and Breathe and Meditate. (Open to North American sparklers only)
• From Rachelle Mee-Chapman: Win a one month stay in Flock’s cozy nest, where expert Soulcare providers and friendly Flock members offer you the support for your soulful journey. Ask an Expert a question, stay focused with Monday Intentions, or join in a monthly Group Coaching Call with spiritual director and life coach, Rachelle Mee-Chapman of Magpie Girl.
• From Leah Piken Kolidas: You get to choose which of Leah’s beautiful prints from Blue Tree Art Gallery will be coming home to you. (Open to North American sparklers only)
• From Chris Kay Fraser: A spot in her Love Letters Aren’t Just for Lovers e-class. Is it time to clear some space in that big heart of yours? The “Love Letters Aren’t Just For Lovers” e-class will gently guide you through writing seven weeks of brand new, personal, heart-expanding letters.
• From Kimberly Wilson: A copy of her book Tranquilista: Mastering the Art of Enlightened Work and Mindful Play. Tranquilista offers everything you need to bring balance and bliss into your everyday life. (Open to North American sparklers only)
• From Tracey Clark: A spot in her Picture Inspiration course. Picture Inspiration is your place to connect, click and create. Consider it an online coffee shop—
  a warm, inviting creative space to gather with other women who are traveling a picture path.
• From Tracey Clark: A copy of Expressive Photography. From portraits to landscapes, still-lifes to documentary shots, Expressive Photography will not only show you why certain images sing, it will also teach you how to create your own compelling photographic images–one click at a time.
• From Andrea Schroeder: Sleep Well, Wake Refreshed, Enjoy Your Day Meditation Kit, a meditation kit for creating Totally Awesome Days. The kit contains nine different meditation mp3s and a workbook for getting the most out of your meditations. These meditations can help you bring more joy and positivity into your days – even if you have never meditated before!
• From Chris Zydel: A 20 minute mini-astrology reading that focuses on how your creativity expresses itself through your astrological birth chart. I will be answering questions like “What is your natural creative style?”, “How can you best support and encourage your authentic creative expression?”, and “What are the challenges that come up around your creativity?” as well as tips and strategies to help you work through those difficult spots. (recording included)
• From Jennifer Lee: A copy of her new book The Right-Brain Business Plan: A Creative, Visual Map for Success. Do you dream of making a living doing what you love? Are you looking for a fun and accessible way to map out your business success? This book is for you! (Available to North American sparklers only)
• From Andrea Schroeder: Sleep Well, Wake Refreshed, Enjoy Your Day Meditation Kit, a meditation kit for creating Totally Awesome Days. The kit contains nine different meditation mp3s and a workbook for getting the most out of your meditations. These meditations can help you bring more joy and positivity into your days – even if you have never meditated before!
• From Connie Hozvicka: A spot in 21 SECRETS is an online art journal playground where 21 talented artists share their inspiring techniques, approaches, and secrets to art journaling through informative videos, pdf’s, personal feedback, and scheduled online chats! The playground is only open April 1st to August 1st–don’t miss the fun!
• From Danette Relic: Danette’s Expression-Inspired Artwork, three pieces of colourful 6×6 acrylic portraits of dancers at an outdoor music festival. (Available to North American sparklers only)
• From Madelyn Mulvaney: A scholarship to ‘the art of living cheerfully‘. This e-course explores ways to live a creative, extraordinary and impassioned life by realizing creativity extends beyond our art into the very way we live our daily lives.’
• From Carmen Torbus: A signed copy of her upcoming book, The Artist Unique, which provides inspiring insights, tools and techniques to empower an artist to find their own signature style and stand out from the crowd. (This prize will be shipped as soon as print copies are available)
• From Jamie Ridler: Soul Reflections, an at-home collage and journaling workshop designed to connect you to the deepest stirrings in your heart. Perfect for figuring out what’s next on your creative journey.
• From Jamie Ridler: A vibrant collection of inspirational interviews from wildly creative women (including many of your teachers!), Your Creative Spark is filled with tips, strategies and stories sure to bring your creativity to life!

So, are you ready to Sparkle?

Registration is only $31!

Extraordinary beauty, grace and connection from two Canadian treasures, Evelyn Hart and Rex Harrington (aka Sexy Rexy for those of you who watch SYTYCD Canada).

I originally heard this on Connie’s site. Thank you, Connie, for sharing this powerful chat between father and son.

I want to share with you something really cool that’s coming up. I have been truly blessed to be one of the regular contributors to the magical space, The Wish Studio.  (You can read my Creative Compass articles here.) Mindy Tsonas has brought together an amazing group of women to share stories and inspiration and now she’s launching The Wish Studios first ever virtual art retreat. I’ll be on holidays at the time, so won’t be able to attend, but I thought you might want to take part. You’ll recognize some of the leaders from Your Creative Spark or Creative Living with Jamie.

Here’s some info from Mindy about the Wish Full Virtual Art Retreat, April 30th  to May 2nd…

“what kind of creative adventure could you go on where you had absolutely no travel expenses to pay, no accommodations to book, and you didn’t have to pack your bags and leave your family behind?

where could you go and gather with kindred spirits from near and far, nurture and play with you inner muse, learn from and be inspired by talented artists, and get messy with paint, words, glue, photos, ideas and dreams… all in your pajamas with your favorite mug in hand?

you are invited to join us for a one of a kind, special online event… 3 days of art, creativity, and connecting with like minded souls, right from the comfort of your own home!  for an entire weekend you will be immersed in creative exploration through an exciting variety of engaging workshops brought to you by 14 amazing artists and teachers.”

• christine mason miller * author, artist and explorer (Christine is featured on Your Creative Spark and in Soul Reflections!)
• leah piken kolidas * artist and hostess of art every day (Leah is featured on Your Creative Spark too!)
• pam garrison * mixed media artist and teacher
• jennifer lee * certified life coach and creative entrepreneur (Jenn is also a part of Your Creative Spark)
• lisa occhipinti * mixed media artist and designer
• stacy de la rosa * jewelry designer and artist
• penelope dullaghan * illustrator and artist
• lisa field elliot * traveler, writer and photographer
• christine castro * artist, darling designer, and crafty mama
• kimberly wilson * yogini, author, and creative entrepreneur
• madelyn mulvaney * photographer, writer, and soon to be author
• susannah conway * writer, photographer and workshop leader (You can hear my interview with Susannah here)
• hope wallace * graphic designer and the artist of paper relics
• mindy tsonas * artist, designer and creator of the wishstudio (Mindy will be on Creative Living with Jamie in January!)

Early registration is officially open. For more details and to register, click here.

I have a funny feeling 2010 is going to be filled with inspiration!

This is so amazing. And it also inspired me to be open to experimenting. How many times do you think he tried things out before he came to this? What can you experiment with?

I love what this portrait says about finding and exploring our own artistic voices. May you be inspired to follow your own.

Thank you to Silky Hart who shared this project as a part of her Wishcasting this week.

The International Art Therapy Organization and Art Therapy Alliance are sponsoring a global interactive event called “Art Peace Sustainability.”

Submit postcard-sized art works reflecting these concepts or you can make response art inspired by the following questions:

• Does art therapy impact peace and sustainability on the planet?
• How do art, peace, and sustainability intersect?
• Does the creative process of art making resolve conflicts?
• Does art therapy build and sustain community?
• Is art therapy a “green” practice?

You can create as many artworks as you want to and participate in two ways:

1) create your image using this template, make an electronic scan or digital photo,and email to gallery@internationalarttherapy.org

OR

2) create your work on polyvore.com and submit to the Art Peace Sustainability Event Web Gallery. There will also be an on-line Official IATO Gallery.