There is something so magical about the little things in life. I find them to be enchanting gifts from the Universe & a symbol of divine mystery. From the fallen acorn that may one day become a majestic tree, to the caterpillar soon to emerge a magnificent butterfly, the flicker of a heartbeat on an ultrasound screen, to the warm little hand holding my own...These are precious moments to savour & hold close. Recently I allowed myself the grace of a meditation by the sea. It was a tiny moment in my overall day but one that took me on a beautiful adventure... As I gathered my things, ready to leave the gentle peace of what was just a blissful meditation I glanced around for a brief moment. I saw glittering diamonds dancing out at sea & full puffy clouds hanging low in the saturated cobalt blue sky. I marvelled in the beauty of what I saw. My heart felt full. It was then that I noticed a dark grey sea rock at my feet. It was tiny and heart shaped (my favourite kind!) It was smooth & cool to the touch. I picked it up and had a creative flash of painting on it. I slipped it into my pocket with gratitude and headed home. It was that afternoon that I uncovered a new creative joy- painting on teeny tiny sea rocks. I particularly relish in the imperfection of each stone, the uneven edges and unique shapes that they take- no doubt from years of being tossed around out at sea and smoothed over by countless grains of sand. Each one is completely original and the perfect mini canvas to share a story upon. If they could speak I am sure they would have amazing stories to share with us as well, of exotic sea creatures swimming overhead, colourful coral & magical mermaids. I have now taken to painting on these little sea stones whenever I have a free moment. Life is full right now with back-to-back commissions, writing my first book & raising my magnificent daughter. Sometimes I will flick the kettle on and in the time it takes for the water to boil I have begun a new tiny sea rock painting. I find the process to be so therapeutic and a wonderful way of dissolving anxiety, exploring creative ideas & anchoring myself in the present moment. I recently posted a picture on Instagram of my sea rock art and was thrilled with the warm response they received. It is always such a joy when my art resonates with others & connections are formed. In many ways my art is like a sacred magnet for like-minded Soul's which is such a blessing in my life! I am now selling these original creations in my favourite local bookstore “The Best Little Bookshop In Town,” which was recently voted as one of ‘The Top 10 Bookshops In Sydney’ (I wholeheartedly agree!) Ive also shared them at a recent art market in Cronulla with great success and am now taking custom orders for people worldwide. A small selection of these works will also be available at “The Hazelhurst Gallery” on October the 8th from 10am-3pm. So as you can see, from a tiny moment of nourishment sitting by the sea and basking in the beauty of being, I stumbled across a beautiful creative gift that is now another tier in creative business. It is sometimes in these moments of stillness that the next steps appear before us as if by magic. When we string together the 'tiny moments' of our lives, just like twinkling fairy lights, they cannot help but shine the way for happier, more fulfilling & inspired lives. We become more awakened, conscious & aware that each moment is indeed a precious gift. Your findings may even light the way for those around you (the true gift.) What do you like to do with your own sacred pockets of time? I encourage you to do more of this. I am sending you love & light as always, Sally Xo P.s If you would like something special created just for you or a loved one it would be my absolute pleasure. *You can also join my creative art tribe here for exclusive updates, freebies & inspiration. I would love to connect with you! 
I am a big believer in pursuing things that light us up. Living a life that is passionate, generous, creative & kind is one of my wildest interests. It has become an intentional endeavour to infuse as much inspiration as I possibly can into each day to feel more on track, in sync & wholeheartedly connected.
For some of us 'following our bliss' or exploring our passions can be a scary thing, especially if we haven't yet connected all of the dots to what that exactly is. I have found that by bringing inspiration into my world & surrounding myself with things that evoke a sense of joy, happiness is a more constant companion. So where do we find the inspiration? How do we bring more of into our worlds? The answer is so surprisingly simple that it is often overlooked...simply do more of what you love to do & the rest will follow! What you love to do is a sacred clue & key to your own unique happiness. Take one step towards this & the next steps will reveal themselves one by one. The following ideas work as a beautiful platform to usher in more inspiration & joy. I have also included a little pictorial sequence below to share how this looks in my own everyday life in the hope it might spark your own inspirational journey. *Bask in the beauty of mother nature. Go outside & really look around. Watch the waves as they roll onto the shore, notice the trees as they change with each season, take photo's of the moody clouds or flowers that make your heart feel happy. Become an 'avid noticer' of the small gifts in nature that are always on offer. When was the last time you watched the sun rise or set? That in itself is pure magic & something I plan to do much more of. *Become a gatherer of inspirational quotes & stories that uplift your spirit. Pinterest is an incredible place for this, as is Instagram, especially if you are a visual person. I have also created a quotes section here on my website on the Kindness Corner page to inspire & uplift us all. *Go to the bookstore & let yourself be led to the section that appeals to you the most.Take note of this as it can often be a clue to what your Soul wants you to be doing. As soon as I step foot in my favourite local bookstore I gravitate to the art & new age/spiritual section. It is in complete alignment with the art & words I love to create. *Go on an intuitive wander, a spontaneous adventure where nothing is planned. See where life takes you. I recently did this & found myself exploring the botanic gardens in Sydney & the art gallery of nsw- it was such an incredible day that has inspired a whole new way of thinking in my approach to art. *Listen to some of the greats on youtube such as Dr. Brene Brown, Marie Forleo, Tony Robbins, Lisa Nichols & Oprah Winfrey...these people are gifted speakers that can reach down into your being & ignite such positive change & a deeper understanding of the human condition. (I have added links to my favourite talks by them at the end of this blog for your listening pleasure :) *Watch a tv series that makes you laugh & see life in a happier way. For me this has been the Netflix series 'Grace & Frankie.' I have been in absolute stitches as they navigate life in their 70's as newly single women going on hilarious adventures together. *Get a stack of magazines you can cut images & words out of that spark an emotion within you. Arrange them on cardboard or in a journal as visual reminders of what you might like to achieve, where you might like to go or the type of relationship you would bring forth. *Create a sacred space in your home that is just for you where you can journal, read, drink tea & dream. Decorate it in a way that makes it feel special to you. From here the possibilities are truly endless. As Elizabeth Gilbert says; "We must participate relentlessly in the manifestation of our own blessings." In other words we do have the power to design lives that we love. By surrounding ourselves with inspiration it cannot help but permeate into our hearts & lead us to that sweet spot in life where it all just makes perfect sense. The following pictures chronicle a few such happy moments from my world over the past few weeks. I hope you enjoy them. Lets make a pact together to do more of what personally lights us up so that collectively we can shine a light so bright that it reaches the moon & back! Yours in inspiration & light, Sally Xo
Click these links to be taken to some truly inspiring talks! Dr. Brene Brown TED talk on Vulnerability & Connection. Oprah Winfrey on Life. Marie Forleo & Tony Robbins on Success. Lisa Nichols on Abundant Living.  "Butterfly Kisses" 40 x 40cm- This months FREE Art giveaway! “A little spark of kindness can put a colossal burst of sunshine into someone’s day…” “How do we change the world? One random act of kindness at a time…” For some time now I have wanted to create a little corner in my online world dedicated wholly to acts of kindness, uplifting ideas, soulful stories & creative prompts- all to invoke a more inspired way of living. I believe that kindness resides in the collective heart of us all. I also believe that the human spirit has a deep desire to connect, share & help others along the way. Quite simply put, we rise by lifting others. It enriches our experience & makes life more meaningful when we are positively impacting the lives of those around us. The more we can be of service to others, the more our life expands in the most beautiful of ways. Kindness doesn’t need to be complex or expensive. A few gentle words of encouragement, a listening ear or a smile can change the life of another- I know this because I am blessed to have been a part of such beauty. The Dali Lama once said, “There is no such thing as a stranger, only a friend I have not yet met.” Yes to this! Even our adversaries have a story behind their actions. This is not to say that we must be friends with every person on the planet, but rather to hold a space of compassion in our hearts for all beings & to travel though life with kindness as our guiding light. It will not lead us astray. Each week, here in this space, I will be sharing beautiful quotes, imagery & stories that will touch your heart & encourage your own unique way of sharing your kind spirit. I will also have creative prompts to partake in & ponder with an Instagram tag of #thekindnesscorner so we can find each other & connect. My intention for “The Kindness Corner” is to scatter sunshine & kindness around like confetti. This is a place to bring a smile to your face & lighten your days. I envisage a supportive community dedicated to nourishing each other in the most creative & kind ways. The exciting news related to this new space is that once a month I will also be giving away an original artwork to someone who is in need of more kindness in his or her life. It could be someone you know who is struggling or perhaps YOU if you are in need of some extra special care. It could be a new mother navigating the tricky waters of raising a little one or a friend feeling out of sorts on her journey. Please remember that this could be you, or a friend. Kindness is not complete if it does not include ourselves! Simply write a comment below & at the end of the month I will choose one lucky recipient & post the painting to them free of charge- my gift from me, to you. I am wishing you a very warm welcome & heartfelt thanks for being here. Clearly we have been drawn together as we share similar ideals of a kinder & more compassionate world. Much love to you, Sally Xo P.s Don’t forget to leave a comment below for your opportunity to win this months original artwork entitled “Butterfly Kisses” (worth $195) This is open to people worldwide. Feel free to also drop by my Instagram page for daily inspo or Facebook for weekly art related news. Lets connect & change this world together, one act of kindness at a time!
I renewed my vows recently to living a more intentional and conscious life with Peace at the epicentre. Part of this commitment involves regular relaxation, meditation & simply being in the moment to soak it all up. I am feeling so much more grounded, grateful & centred as a result.
This morning after a beautiful walk along the coast & a gentle yoga session I sat down to meditate. As the thoughts bubbled up I began to battle with them, get caught up in the drama of them, fidget, consider not bothering, but instead I sat with them. I breathed a little more deeply, I acknowledged their presence & listened to what they had to say. I then visualised these thoughts literally leaving my body and going up into the clouds & dissolving. What remained for a fleeting, blissful moment was peace & a sense of gentle expansion. What also arose during the meditation were these silent words; 'Surrender & Sacred Action.' I was stunned because these are the exact words I need to embrace in my life right now as I try to navigate so many things. I am raising my daughter as a solo parent, running a creative business, trying to be a present and loving family member & somehow keep a sense of self in the balance. After this meditation it all became clear that surrendering to where I am at in this precise moment is key. All of the mess, the odd socks, the few kilos that won’t seem to budge, the uncertainty that crops up at times, the fatigue, the joy, the laughter, the fun…is exactly as it should be. The way forward to step into my greater dream is by taking 'Sacred Actions' that resonate with me, that feel good and most importantly allow me to give back to others from a fuller cup. Sacred Action might be the missing ingredient that we have all been searching for...so how do you take a Sacred Action?  "Two Hearts" is available in my Store now. As you may have already guessed, I love Art! I love the concept of it, the process of it, the mystery of it and I especially love the magical moments that reveal themselves to me when I truly let go and create with wild abandon. Art offers me a sanctuary to be present, get quiet and return home. It also helps me move through times of sadness or grief.
There have been moments these past few years where I have wondered if my weary heart can take anymore. There have been equal amounts of success, joy, happiness & heartbreak. I feel like I have been tested over and over again- my beliefs, my level of trust, my faith in the dreams I hold, my faith in people, my concepts of what family is, of what success is, what this life it is all about… At times my mind has been left spinning. There has been SO much love and SO much loss. What keeps me grounded and continuing forward on this incredible journey are a few things; my beautiful daughter (love her to the moon & back), my amazing father (my rock), my wonderful friendships (totally blessed), sitting by the sea (peace restored in seconds), exercise (my great release), my spiritual beliefs (thank you Universe, Oprah & Hay House!!) & of course the joy of creating art (totally hooked) I once read a quote about how the height of our happiness is in direct proportion to the depth of our sadness. I’ve thought about this on and off over the years. For some reason it makes me relax and sink into the knowing that everything will be ok. In the depths of my sadness I have felt the murmurings of my hopeful heart advising me gently that this too will soon pass- the sun will come out and shine again, the moon will rise & the tides will turn. Change and growth is inevitable.  “Your heart & my heart are very, very old friends.” Hafiz I saw this quote by Hafiz recently & it touched me deeply. It sums up so many of the beautiful connections I have had in my life, where no matter how long I have known that person, it feels like I have known them for lifetimes. Sometimes people come into our lives to shake things up, to bring us joy & to help us see things from a fresh perspective. People we meet can be great catalysts for change & growth. Everyone we meet has a lesson to teach us- even the troublemakers! One aspect I adore about creating & sharing art is the powerful way it draws kindred spirits together. I have a whole wonderful network of people around me that touch my heart daily both in person & though channels such as Instagram, Facebook & Pinterest . Together we share our triumphs, vulnerabilities & reflections on life. It is funny to think that by a simple hashtag we can connect with people from all over the world with a common interest whether it be #art #love or #gratitude. The kindred spirits I have encountered on my journey so far often have a twinkle in their eye. Words are not necessarily needed. Laughter is close by. Support is mutual and unconditional. The sense of belonging evoked from such people is priceless. It is from these friendships that we gather our strength and head out into the world on our individual missions. These are also the people we come back to, to touch base with & debrief on our experiences. I have noticed the word “tribe” being used a lot over the past few years to denote the coming together of people with similar heartfelt intentions & visions. I love this concept! We are often born into families that whilst there is much love it may feel as if they don’t ‘get us’ on a Soul level. It is up to us to recognise and seek out people who do. Connection & a sense of belonging is paramount to being a happy, healthy & successful human being. When our heart connects with another I feel this has the power to heal the world. Underneath it all we are all the same, seeking similar things- to love, to be loved, to be happy, to share with others & to live a purpose filled life. If this resonates with you & you are looking for your tribe, come & connect with me you will be sure to meet some like minded, kindred spirits! Wishing you a wonderful week ahead, Sally XoXo P.s Have you joined my Art Newsletter yet? The first one has just gone out today! Each edition will hold exciting art news, creative inspiration, members discounts & private art viewings before anyone else gets to see it! You will also receive a massive 20% off coupon code to use with any of my art. Check it out here.  “Rest & Self Care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” Eleanor Brownn I am so excited to share this new blog space with you! I have decided to take the plunge & branch out into one of my other creative joys in life which is writing...& what better place to do it than here in my virtual home. I tend to have a love affair with words. I adore reading books, collecting quotes & weaving words into my art. For me the written word can be so eloquent & evocative. I sometimes stumble over spoken words but when I write I feel like I can fly! A dream of mine is to one day publish a book. I am starting this blog after a brief social media hiatus. Almost a month ago to the day I realised that my soul was craving simplicity on all levels. The year to date had been such a whirlwind of art sale’s, new experiences & lessons learned that I was left feeling a little frazzled. I realised that like most people I know, I was spreading myself too thin. Between motherhood, running a business, studying & the big dreams I was working towards I felt depleted both physically & emotionally. I made the bold move to unplug from social media for a month to see if I regained some of that much needed vital energy & also made the commitment to have a month of being kinder to myself via acts of self care. As if to confirm my decision, the first morning after I ‘unplugged’ I sold a beloved circular painting of mine entitled ‘Fluidity.’ I took it as a sign- to be fluid & free and to allow life to happen rather than trying to drive it so much. So began an interesting time of saying YES to the things that bring sunshine to my soul such as visiting art galleries, face to face catch up with friends, time spent in nature, resting when needed, restorative yoga, card readings by the sea, simple yet wholesome cooking, signing up to some indulgent e-courses that inspire me & of course being in the moment with my little love. Life was still full of juggling motherhood, business & study but I found that the more time I carved out for myself, the easier everything became. I felt less overwhelmed & more focused. My spark of enthusiasm began to return and ideas began going off in my mind like tiny little firecrackers!! An interesting flipside to all of this self care meant a rising awareness of what was not working so well in my life. I had to say some resolute goodbyes to things that had become draining & am still working on others that are not so easy to let go of (late nights being a big one!) With the withdrawal from social media I was able to see things more clearly. I wasn’t bombarded with constant updates chiming on my phone or feeling clouded with ‘comparisonitis.’ In a new way I recaptured the joyful spirit from which I love to create - a perfectly imperfect fusion of colour, collage, love & inspiring messages. I was able to reconnect with my inner voice & listen to what it had to say. One beautiful discovery during this time has been a love of painting intricate freehand patterns as seen in the image above. I also realised how much I missed the communities I had become a part of on Facebook & Instagram & how positive these platforms are to connect with like minded friends that span all across the globe. I am now back into the swing of things with a new school term, a newly updated website, a new blog, a myriad of ideas, hopes & dreams. I still get weary at the end of the day but at my core feel the quiet strength that I have done my best & that includes an act of kindness towards myself that day. Self compassion has become a spiritual practice for me. We all deserve to feel happy, inspired & energised. It truly is our birthright. We are each worthy of a portion of the time & the effort we so freely give to others. The journey becomes so much richer as a result. I invite you today to do something loving for yourself & to gently notice the difference it makes- however subtle. If you feel unsure of where to even begin I have listed some of my favourite 'Self love cup fillers' below. Sending you Love, Light & Gratitude for being here, Sally XoXo My Personal favourite "Self love cup fillers;"
P.S If you would like to connect with me please visit any of my social media channels or send me an email! |
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