hello everyone

Dear All

Hi

I joined up here a few weeks ago but its taken some courage to make myself a little bit visable.

I have gradually been phasing out working as a music teacher, most recently in adult education, for many years and thought i was heading towards the world of body work and healing, but somewhere along the way am still pretty confused about what is really in my heart to get behind and offer with joy and true integrity....and panicing as i feel a lot of time has gone by feeling in this limbo and being absolutely petrified.

There are 2 sites with some of my ideas in writing and painting/ photography/ a book of short stories which i would love to get published: www.dreamtimeperspectives.wordpress.com, a sort of "montage" approach and  www.4fireangels.com which was originally intended as a business idea but did not really take off. 

I would love to share these things with you...they dont get much traffic as i feel conflicted as to what exactly my intentions are and have to admit, am even shaking as I type this!

If anything strikes you as a suggestion, please fire away!

all the very best  to you and with love

malka rose

Hi

Perhaps you are paralysing yourself by worrying about what you 'should' do? What are you fearful about? Look at what you could do instead of being fearful.

Focus on what you would love to share with the world and then ask yourself some great questions:

What would happen if I did (X)

What would happen if I didn't do (x)

What wouldn't happen if I did (x)

What wouldn't happen if I didn't do (x)

You can self-publish books nowaday with the advent of digital printing, can do them in small runs or on-demand.

Just take the next step and then rest. Look at self publishing sites or publishing coaches to help you through the process.

Find a community (well done- you are here!) and celebrate your first post!

Claire

http://www.happynurses.co.uk

Hi Malka,

I think the artwork on both your sites is absolutely beautiful.  Is it all your own artwork?  I think you could do really well in selling your stuff - whether as cards or prints.  what you need is someone to help market them and unfortunately that is not me....

Have you promoted your work on other 'artist websites'.  One I quite like is 'artella' though sometimes I find it a bit 'busy'.  http://www.artellawordsandart.com/members.html  For a tiny monthly fee (about £3 - $6) you can display and sell your work in their 'gallery'.  (I haven't done it yet but it's something I'm considering!)  Also, you might like to check out 'shaman's shop' http://www.ayni.uk.com/

I think your work would sell well on the ayni website - given the subject matter. The people who run it Julie and Paul are lovely people!  They started selliing items from Peru alone but now welcome hand crafted items from others.  I see they have recently started stocking some prints.  As I say, I think yours might be quite popular  (or even your original artwork?)

I couldn't find the 'writing' bit on your sites, only the images.  but I'm not very good at manouvering my way around these blog type sites.

Congratulations on putting yourself more in the spotlight.  I know how terrifying it can be, but it does get easier!

Love Claire

Me again!  Just checked it and see I've ballsed up on my artella link (above).  when the error page comes up just click on the 'click here' and then select from the home page options "The Member Ship".

Okay,  that's it for now!

Love claire x

hi again

have only just read both messages so i will start again:

THANKYOU both claires.

The previous email was  for "happy nurse" claire.

Claire: i cannot tell you what an amazing and wonderful difference asking those questions made to my life today: no exaggeration.

Its a bit early to go through the whole story and to be honest when i first read your comment  was a bit thrown as it seemed quite tough for where i was..but you know you were spot on.....so my feedback to you is :BRILLIANT INTUITION: THANKS!

Claire Gillam: THANKS so much for your response and encouragement...it really means a lot....I have actually taken a big step today towards something which hopefully will really help the art work to evolve.....which was scary...but the big big challenge for me is serious and frightening financial ones...as i guess it is for many .....so  will definately follow up the lead you suggest.

think i know why you could not see the blog and will reset it so that at least a little of the writing is easily visable

All the very best to you both

malka x

sorry claire: i meant gillen not gillam!

Hi Malka

Glad I could help! My coaching clients pay me to be challenging, and I know a lot of this stuff because I went through it all on the way to where I am now - as Nick can tell you.......

Keep asking 'what do I want to share with the world?' and you can't go far wrong. The 'how' you do it comes in time......

Keep us posted,

Claire

http://www.happynurses.co.uk

It's okay Malka ~I knew who you meant! 

e-bay was another thought that occurred to me this morning (I tend to wake early!).  Also, I wanted to share something - might be helpful when you come to pricing your work especially your originals.  There was an artist (i think she made jugs) who was featured on Country Living magazine's crafts page.  But there was a printing error and a nought was added to her price - this made the jug hundreds of pounds.  But she did sell them!

I think if you do go for e-bay then put your prices much higher than you feel comfortable with.  You could try a test (but give it time) pricing (at least) one piece really high.

If you don't put your prices high then some e-bay savvy person may see the value of your work, buy it, and sell it for its true worth!!

on-liine artists communities like artella and Sark's http://www.planetsark.com

have forums too - you might ask other artists how and where they sell their work and writers how they got their book out. 

As the other Claire said 'keep us posted', whatever you decide to do.  I feel quite excited for you!  Your artwork really is lovely.

P.S can't seem to make the sark 'link' work today so sorry about that

Hi Malka

Thanks for all of this and yes I'd love to be able to send free e-cards!  How kind of you - thanks! 

I haven't read the book you mention but it sounds really interesting, I'll look him up.  On the inspiration to create side I'm a great fan of Sark and she has hugely inspired me (mainly through her books but now through her website) to be more creative and more visible.  The last book I read was 'Make Your Creative Dreams Real'.  Actually you could use the book for ANY dream.  And Yes, Nick has definitely inspired me too (and reassured and comforted me through his work - and continues to do so) - and this site is great and very supportive.

I know what you mean about blocks and demons!  I've been identifying a few of my own lately.  I've been doing some fairly intensive work on myself lately and I think old patterns and ways of being are coming out of the woodwork....to be acknowledged and cleared hopefully, but it's a bit tough going at times.

As for integrity and authenticity - yes big for me too.

Lovely to hear from you.  let's keep each other posted on progress!

Love Claire

Dear Claire

if you want to use the ecard site you should be able to get into the gallery with:

user name: inspired

password: tango

( right hand corner box on front page)

from there you click on the gallery in the top menu bar and can go through all the pics and choose from there what you want to send.

I dont know what sort of connection you have...it can take a while for the pictures to download.

if this doesnt work, please let me know

take care

malka x

Wonderful, it works, I'm thrilled!  Thank you so much.  I already have my 'favourites'  ear-marked for sending.

For my friends I shall try to remember to send one of your cards instead of a plain old email.  Oh - beautiful words too!

Happy creating..

Love Claire

hi

really glad it "works"

once again : thanks so much for your kindness : it has been inspiring!

malka

Hi Malka

Apologies for my slow welcome - good to see you again - just back after my holiday - love your art work and glad you are getting good feedback - anything I can specifically help with?

Nick

Hi Nick

Thank you for your welcome and for the wonderful email free email course yuou made available that led me here.

There is nothing specific i can think of right now. It feels  a bit like i am swimming in a lot of chaos as everything shifts and reforms itself. I suspect the main thing is to trust and to tune in to the sense of goodness that is behind this until a from emerges...at which point i may have some practical down to earth questions!

malka

Hi Malka

No problem - let us know when you are ready

Nick