style of a songbird

{e} everyday art.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 18:51:00 +0000

i am thrilled to announce the launch of my new blog.

please visit {e} everyday art and enjoy!

new blog home.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 15:02:00 +0000

i am very excited to announce that in the coming months this blog will be getting a facelift...actually, it will be moving to a new home with a new name!

due to the time commitment i am dedicating to the re-branding and launching of my blog, i will be taking a short break from posting here at style of a songbird.

please know i will keep you all updated and post the new site as soon as it goes live!

i can't begin to express how grateful i am for every single one of you. <3

thank you for supporting me on this journey. i'll be back soon!

bits & pieces.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 13:00:00 +0000

happy friday! hope you've managed to stay warm this week. my blogger friend from canada said it was -30 degrees! YIKES!

here are a few of the bits & pieces of my life from the past seven days...

one // my new feather earrings (from this shop) came in the mail. i feel fully {me} and wonderfully {free} when i wear them.

two // the most breathtaking sky on saturday. #thisisart

three // my sweet friend bought these fringe boots for me. total surprise. so grateful.

four // showered with more gifts this weekend! cowboy boots (the ones that will be boho-fied soon) and the most thoughtful gift from sweet shawnacy.

five // every tribe & nation represented at the night of worship last friday.

i'd love for you to link up your own {bits & pieces} posts! simply use the tool below!

have a wonderful weekend!

accepting & emerging.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:36:00 +0000

You better know that in the end

It's better to say too much

Than to never to say what you need to say again
Even if your hands are shakin'

And your faith is broken

Even as the eyes are closin'

Do it with a heart wide open

Say what you need to say

{john mayer}

and in these declarations of what we really want to say, we free ourselves

free ourselves from being "stuck"

...stuck in rewind

or in hopes for fast forward...

the best way is not to fight it , just go. don't be trying all the time to fix things.

what you run from only stays with you longer. when you fight something, you only make it stronger.

-chuck palahniuk

there is unmatched strength in this #acceptance

we are pushed forward by the wind of our release

i'm emerging into new life-giving patterns
of bravery
and honesty
with myself
and with others

...and it's cozy here
as i settle into my own skin.

DIY boho boots.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 12:30:00 +0000

my mom just snagged these boots for me.

that only means one thing.

this DIY will be happening ASAP:

{pictures to follow!}

bits & pieces

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 03:45:00 +0000

this week's bits & pieces are a combination of fashion + art journaling. {two of my favorite things.}

one // the caption on this self portrait {taken on my lunch break} on IG said "i love having hair that looks like i feel on the inside." the red came at the perfect time. still loving it!

two // wearing my "create" locket from her beautiful etsy shop (and my favorite flowy top).

three // i never want to take these leggings off.

four // i'm so glad she found a place in my art journal. i like her, with arms wide open.

five // leaving my mark on one of my sweet artist friend's {traveling} journal.

please feel free to share your link to your own bits & pieces post. and spread the word! <3

If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.

-Martin Luther King Jr.

letting myself off the hook.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 18:02:00 +0000

i shared earlier in the month that i (along with other bravehearts) am choosing acceptance over resolutions this january. acceptance as a safe place to land. acceptance as a means to emerge into new patterns clothed in grace and rest rather than performing or striving.

you find peace not by rearranging the circumstances of your life,
but by realizing who you are at the deepest level.
-eckhart tolley
(thanks to hannah for sharing this quote.)

i accept

it takes as long as it takes

a break, a pause

an earlier bed time.

i accept

that all of it counts, nothing is wasted

the flow

letting myself off the hook.

i accept

this

here

now.

so although yes, i am going to the gym more regularly, yes, i am setting new goals and exploring expanded possibilities and opportunities (even for my little corner of the internet), i am taking off the hat of my own worst critic and picking up the hat of patience and compassion (which we so often pour out to others with no hesitation).

you see, acceptance starts with us.
who we are.
not what we do.
or fail to do.

goodbye ---> more. improve. don't. stop. fix. hurry. guilt. deadlines. run faster.

i accept...

bits & pieces.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 03:29:00 +0000

new, wonderful experiences enter my life.

i am safe.

-louise liltay

the beautiful {bits & pieces} from my week...

one // words etched onto the pages of my art journal & my heart.

two // same colors. different seasons. winter's "leaves" from my poinsettia.

three // my brother & my babe. we had such wonderful adventures together this past weekend. <3

four // the manhattan skyline, from a distance.

five // another precious feather appeared before me on the streets of NYC.

i'd love for you to share your {bits & pieces} posts, too. link up below!

happy weekend!

links to love.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 03:01:00 +0000

it's been a while since i've shared some of my favorite, especially insightful, beautiful and/or helpful posts from other brave and beautiful bloggers. but my *star-ed* posts on google reader is pretty full so i thought i'd share some of the links i've been loving lately. enJOY! <3

i love when creative people share their planning and goal setting methods.

feather stamps. drool.

my friend's metamorphosis. so brave. so beautiful.

her blog. all of it.

because that which taunts us only remains in the expectation we will respond to it, or change our intention...but we know better. yes.

speaking of creative planning.

i think this is so gorgeous.

feather in a bottle. perfect.

did you choose a word for 2013? these hand stamped bracelets would be a great way to keep your word close.

perspective.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 02:14:00 +0000

weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.
-a.a. milne

this week...

i accept blessings in disguise

and beauty in unlikely places.

the cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.

-joseph campbell

bits & pieces

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 01:29:00 +0000

we can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.

-thornton wilde

please enjoy some of the treasures from my week. <3

one // proudly wearing my chickadee road "i am beauty" tattoo. falling in love with this placement for the real one... ;)

two // spent many hours in my studio prepping art mail for some of my creative kindred sisters. love how they turned out!

three // had the priveledge to MEET one of my creative kindred sisters as she passed through CT. love to you, christine!

four // sometimes an art journal page means more a few weeks after it's created...

five // this feels sacred. :: edit from sweet alisha --> every moment is sacred.

do you have a post you'd like to share? (or maybe you can whip one up now that you have some inspiration?!) feel free to link up below:

have a wonderful weekend!

i accept.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 02:33:00 +0000

as the first day of this New Year comes to a close, i am feeling full and grateful. instead of rushing to make a list of ways i failed in 2012, and could dramatically improve in these next 364 days, i am choosing to accept...

acceptance feels so much more tender than "resolution."

acceptance is softening and grace.

it's bravery and vulnerability.

{acceptance doesn't necessarily mean approval.} but is often vital for moving on & starting a new chapter.

to look at my current situation: with joys and triumphs, annoyances, and fears, unknowns and disappointments, and to boldly say, i accept you. powerful.

to look back at last year, the last five years, and see my choices through the lens of acceptance and not guilt or regret. powerful.

to look in the mirror, at my often glaring imperfections, a few more rolls than last year, fully exposed, and to genuinely say...i accept you. powerful.

to accept that i am not behind, or too late, or too much, or too little. powerful.

acceptance is the theme for January in the creative tribe i belong to...The Art Journaler Community:

we would love to have you join us.

stay tuned here for more updates on how one little word will impact the coming days for me.

{i accept.}

bits & pieces

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 03:13:00 +0000

at some point in life, the world's beauty becomes enough.
-toni morrison

this summarizes the sentiments behind these weekly posts. the words of julia cameron continue to ring in my ears, the capacity for delight is the ability to pay attention. there is so much beauty. swirling around us. and at some point, it becomes enough. when our eyes are opened, we find joy in the seemingly simple & often overlooked parts of our days.

{bits & pieces} is a challenge to discover & document the world's beauty. one photograph at a time. there are no rules, no limitations. just a way to look back, at the end of a year, for instance, and reflect on the bits of beauty and pieces of joy that surround...

one // took the first steps back into the gym this week. a little daunting. and after, a little sore. but it felt so good.

two // the red is back. and i'm loving it! my hair has always been an extension of my art. <3

three // Christmas card photo. i love this man.

four // secret message from a treasured friend.

five // feathers, feathers and more feathers. i can't get enough! (beautiful artwork by mandy)

i'd love for you to link up and share your posts of beauty & delight.

happy last weekend of 2012!

one word // 2013.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 19:24:00 +0000

i've been inspired by ali, elise (and many others) to choose a guiding word for each year.

the word for 2012 was: {peace}

i chose this word as a soft place to land during many emotion filled days, life altering decisions, & letting go--of all that was once familiar.

peace was a faithful companion.

i have now chosen my word for 2013...

{create}

...welcoming the courage to create.

...create-ing a new life, new traditions, new roles, new creative outlets, in fact, this blog will find itself re-created. {more to come on that...}

...accepting the challenge to continue to create. to trust the creative spirit that is mine. pushing through doubts & bravely picking up the brush and the pen. pushing through the perceived lack of fresh ideas and creating anyway.

i ordred this locket from my sweet friend jodi's etsy shop.

i wear it close to my heart, as reminder of my one, little word that will guide me through my days in 2013.

will you join me and so many others by aliging your decisions, dreams & days with a guiding word?

(no pressure...you can always change it half way through. stick with the word as it continues to feel 'right.')

i'd love to hear what word you choose. <3

bits & pieces

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 05:39:00 +0000

this week has been full of a range of emotions.

coordinating & buying & wrapping & sorting & delivering gifts for seventeen families through our miracles adopt a family program at work.

...and walking up to one of the elementary schools and seeing a class of five and six year olds traveling together in a single file line to gym class.

heart breaking. tears welling up.

thoughts of the angels that no longer walk with their class to the next activity, but walk the hallways of heaven.

and their families ache.

just a week before Christmas.

it's been a week full of a range of emotions.

full of light. and time to create. an unexpected afternoon at "my" Starbucks. inspiration flowing. on the brink of a new year of possibilities and unfolding.

and once again, full of {bits & pieces} of beauty...

one // these words changed me this year.

two // my heart skipped a beat when i discovered this in a package of {love} this week. thank you, christine.
three // i feel most "me" when i'm wearing dangles & head wraps.
four // "to seek beauty in the simple things." what these friday {bits & pieces} posts are all about.
five // christmas cards in the making.

i'd love for you to share your posts of bits & pieces below...

beauty to you. and light. and so much joy.

be en{courage}d.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:01:00 +0000

a c c e p t.

you are exactly where you should be.

you are right on time.

eliminate: catching up.

b r e a t h e.

something beautiful is being birthed.

exhale, release.

free yourself.

c r e a t e.

create {in the midst of} the chaos, for this is fertile ground.

create new patterns, new rhythms, new traditions.

it takes courage to be creative.

you might be surprised at what beauty will appear on the {pages} of your life.

bits & pieces.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 07:02:00 +0000

if you are new to style of a songbird (welcome, new followers and readers!), i'd love to introduce you to my weekly friday feature called bits & pieces. it's about opening our eyes to the delight & beauty that surrounds us each day and capturing those seemingly 'small' moments. nothing is 'too ordinary.' and there are no guidelines. just a weekly link up where we gather to share joy and light.

one // #secretmessage found while art journaling. and so true ---> my tribe flourishes.

two // reading my new julia cameron book by candlelight. so wonderful.

three // treasure hunting on our double date. found the most amazing used book store downtown new haven.

four // it was a really good mail week.

five // continuing to create everyday with #adventwindows.

i'd love for you to link up your own {bits & pieces} post below. remember, no rules--just recognizing and capturing the beauty that surrounds.

wishing you many moments of joy this weekend. <3 thank you for visiting my online home.
you are always welcome here.

opening windows this advent season.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 03:13:00 +0000

last week was wonderful.

it was chaotic, full, and exhausting.

but it was wonderful.

i've been joining {other brave hearts} to open some windows this advent season. i've chosen to create everyday. one page. based on one word. drawn from my magical thrifted jar from goodwill. and at the end of december, i will have a little book completed with meditations to focus on throughout the new year.

day one: soak

day two: smell

day three: invite

day four: permit

day five: give

day six: eliminate

day seven: accept

day eight: choose

it's not too late to join us.

bits & pieces.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 03:01:00 +0000

if you haven't read yesterday's post, please do.

i'm giving myself {grace} this week.

the {bits and pieces} have been scattered. and most went un-captured.

but this wild, rare, and delicate orchid (for under 10 bucks i might add) found me at the grocery store. and she had to be mine.
she's going to remind me that beauty is always waiting around the corner.
it might seem small.
but the orchid has had great meaning for me this year.
and it was just what i needed.

i'd love for you to share one (or a few) parts of your week that were extra beautiful or life-giving.
and if not, i honor that too.

Let us remember that a moment’s pause is {enough}

Make it work FOR you … not become work for you, Braveheart.
It is art … it is whatever you decide it to be.
-found here.

thank you for the permission.

have a wonderful weekend everyone. mine includes a manicure + pedicure & some time in my orange chair at "my" starbucks. <3 yes, please.

centered through creativity.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 04:58:00 +0000

i tweeted this last night: exhausted. time to ::create:: in my studio to refocus my mind before bed.

sweet mandy replied and asked what's your secret to creating out of exhaustion? i can't do it. (or at least i don't think i can).

to which i answered: release the weight of fatigue/left brain tendencies through colors & syllables--push through until my mind is clear and i can fully rest.

i'm creating a page a day in a special art journal for the month of december inspired by *magic* mandy's advent adventure. on top of mountains of responsibility and lengthy lists of tasks, reminders and plans, i'm setting aside time every evening to sneak away to my *studio* and put some paint on the page.

because that's what art journaling, writing, creating is about. getting out what is on the inside.

i live a real life beyond the pretty, polished posts that end up here.

i work a full time job.

i am married to a pastor, so i serve in ministry by his side.

i am now the social media manager for The Art Journaler as well as the online executive assistant for the incredible, Teresa.

i blog. i paint. i cook. i clean. i rehearse. i sing. i commute. {repeat}.

but i don't want to do a little bit of everything, running on steam, and not be centered or focused in any area, because i'm trying to do it {all}.

we are human beings not human doings.

and nobody can do it all.

a wise woman once shared with me the illustration of a jar, a few big stones, and lots of little ones. you can't fill up the jar with all the little stones and try to fit the big ones on the top, it just won't work. you need to put the big ones in first. and then build accordingly.

as a passionate and creative person, it's easy for me to over-commit and set up lofty goals for myself and my days.

what has been so freeing for me to realize is that ---> creativity doesn't have to be reserved for set aside "art" time. in fact, art journaling has helped me become more centered & focused this week amidst all my activity. creative planning helps to map out my priorities. i am starting to make a "red box" for the day/the week/the month. this is carved out time devoted to certain aspects of my life, so i'm not trying to fit it all into everyday.

another resource that's been helpful to me is susannah's "unravelling." this helps me to clarify my activity and cast vision for my time. each year, i pick a word (or three) and funnel my thoughts, energy and time through those guiding syllables. {just decided on my word(s) for 2013 today! super exciting!}

i hope that if you've been feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, frazzled, in a rut, "blah" or any of the above, some aspect of this post was encouraging to you. i invite you to carve out some *you* time, whatever that looks like, (for me, creating) and honor the priorities you've set for yourself. you are free from trying to fit it all in.

By the sacred yes or sacred no I mean that affirmation or negation that comes from a deep place of wisdom and courage, even if it creates conflict or disagreement. The sacred yes is not willful or egocentric, but rather is willing and surrendered. The sacred no is not rebellion or refusal, but always the necessary protecting of boundaries. ~richard rohr

tonight, i'm crawling into bed a bit {more centered}. fully accepting all i was able to accomplish today and releasing what still needs to be done.

breathing deeper.

and dreaming in {color} for what is to come.

how pinteresting.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 13:00:00 +0000

welcome to another round up of my favorite "pins" for the month {of november}! the original site is linked in the description above the pin, and the link to the board where it is found on my pinterest site is below. enjoy!

mmm... heat a mug with 2 tsp of vanilla in the oven for 1 hour at 300 degrees.

pinned here.

amazing idea.

pinned here.

so true.

pinned here.

bbq chicken quinoa salad. y u m.

pinned here.

nutella stuffed sea salt chocolate chip cookies. woah...

pinned here.

pretty pop of pink.

pinned here.

i know skinny jeans are still in, but i love this look!

pinned here.

so true.

pinned here.

bits & pieces.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 05:13:00 +0000

hello. i'm so glad you're here. joining me for my weekly link up, sharing the {bits & pieces} of joy and beauty from my week. and there were plenty of those moments to choose from.

one // gosh i have amazing friends. and my mail box has been exploding with artistic love!

two // i've been swooning over this fake tattoo from this etsy shop all week...makes me want a real one! (we put them on the same night! just doing what we know in our hearts to do!) <3

three // latest art journal page. finding light wherever i can. considering it gets dark at 4 pm here now!!

four // a #secretmessage found in a fashion magazine.

five // j and i were given the most precious gift this week. we traveled back to michigan for the holiday, and our dear friend was due to deliver her baby boy any day (official due date next week). i prayed and prayed that we would be able to meet our little nephew before we left. and my prayers were answered!! jeremy and i fell in love with little jude alexander just hours after he was born. thank you JUDE for making your way into this world on the very day we were heading back to CT. SO grateful.

thank you for the feedback on last week's post. i found that so many people resonated with the idea that our {bits & pieces} are more often than not, the ordinary parts of our days. not the *fireworks* or monumental moments. it's so transformational to start capturing those {bits & pieces}. gratitude soon follows...

i'd love for you to share your {bits & pieces} posts here:

have an amazing weekend, everyone. you are {loved.}

seen.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 23:11:00 +0000

i am afraid to show you who i really am, because if i show you who i really am, you might not like it--and that's all i got.

-sabrina ward harrison

i've always been a "girlie girl." applying a full face of make up is just a part of my routine as brushing my teeth.

i had a recent epiphany about this "practice" of applying my make up.

{the less make up i wore, the clearer my skin got.}

when i have breakouts, it's such a natural instinct to plaster on layer upon layer to try and hide each blemish and uneven patch of my skin. but in reality, all of this make up is just further clogging my pores. and not allowing the healing to happen--but just providing a "quick fix" and cover up.

and i thought, wow. that translates to our lives too.

the more we let ourselves be seen, the more freedom we find.

there is such healing in our lives {and "clearing" of our skin} when we peel back the layers and shed our defense mechanisms {hiding, retreating, reverting to what is comfortable}.

cleanse.

the fear and anxiety of the "truth." uncovering what's hidden. what no one really "sees." {release and allowing}. daily.

exfoliate.

slow, circular motions. the deep cleaning. to remove the dead cells, that which no longer produces life, and stunts growth and forward motion. we must exfoliate to reveal the beauty, underneath.

moisturize. apply life giving nutrients to the body & soul. once the filth has been removed, drench yourself with affirmation and healing emollient. {pamper.}

sometimes it starts with first, seeing ourselves. and not grimacing or wincing. but smiling. and delighting. and accepting. and loving.

kelly & liz have helped me to embrace the practice of self portraits. capturing ourselves, for who we are:

And here it is. Me. Breathing, being, knowing me. The me who walks this path trying to tell her story through words plus photos. The me trying to just lean into the truth that loving this body, this beautiful body that houses this soul who is me, is the only way forward now. Me. Beautiful. Real. Me.

Try it. Take a few self-portraits. Take 100 if you want. Find the you in there. The beautiful you. Choose to see your beauty.

(original post here).

i am beautiful. today. now. just the way i am.

i am not too much.

i am not too scarred.

or imperfect.

i do not have to hide.

i am seen.

i am accepted.

i am embraced

i am loved.

i have an account at goodwill. {plus, a video}

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 03:03:00 +0000

hope you all had a wonderful holiday! we drove 16 hours {straight} back to michigan to spend the week with our friends and family. it was a wonderful time of catching up and seeing so many people we love. (and i, of course, hit up goodwill while i was back!)

my thrifting has now gone to the next level. i now have an "account" at goodwill. yep. you heard right. goodwill has a rewards card and now i will get 25% off after i earn so many "points." (can't remember exactly how it works. but if you happen to be at your local goodwill, ask them for details!) at least it's a reasonably cheap hobby, right?!

i scored some great deals recently during a thrifting trip. hope you enjoy this video highlighting a few of them!

happy thrifting everyone!

bits & pieces.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 12:30:00 +0000

i came to a roadblock this week. looking through my iphone, trying to scrounge up some photos to include in my weekly bits & pieces collage. i didn't find any that particularly caught my eye. nothing that "screamed" blog worthy to me.

but then i stopped and thought...

these are the true bits & pieces of my life.

not a life carefully constructed so as to gain followers. not an artistic-wonderland-fantasy-frolicking-life. {although, there are those occasional 'artsy' moments}. but my ordinary, every day, life. it's full of beauty & wonder. brimming with photo opportunities...if i just take time to notice.

(then, of course, a few hours after i wrote the intro to this post, the most breath taking sunset reflecting on a lake of glass appeared before me...)

one // sparkles for the win!
two // the most perfect crescent moon.
three // yeah. that's really the sunset on the lake. unbelievable.
four // my co-worker treated me.
five // thanksgiving bonfire!

there is beauty in the {seemingly} simple things. (donuts for example. i mean those sprinkles are lovely, right?!) so i encourage you, you don't have to do a bohemian photoshoot or take the most artful picture of the three course gourmet meal you made. just continue to take snap shots of your day. recognize and capture the colors that surround you. and i'd love for your to link up your {bits & pieces} posts here:

i'm thankful for all of you. who join me here in my online home.

i truly hope you have a wonderful weekend with those that you love.