Day One: Summer Wisdom

Summer, like the other seasons has it's own unique character. It's a season that speaks of fruition, of blooming, ripening, and of seeds. Fruition not only means to bear fruit, but also the enjoyment of something that has been accomplished or manifested. Summer reminds us to enjoy, to savor. It also teaches us ways to make things grow and become stronger.













How can this wisdom be applied to your life, your creativity, your intuition, your friendships?  We will consider these questions as we gather this week.  

 














When Chelsea and I set up the tipi, there was a light rain shower and the air smelled of lilac though it has long since bloomed.  A catbird and a wren were there to greet us.  Wren reminds us to live life to the fullest and to protect ourselves when necessary.  

We attached the hanging vases and hung the prayer flags, including a new one by my friend, Susan Olafsen Hatzel!

The generous folks at Dragonhawk Publishing sent some wonderful animal & nature totem cards for the girls to explore at camp.  The Feathered Deck came in handy today and helped us learn more about Wren. 

We began with our Belonging Ceremony and I presented the morning gift.  Today's gift comes from my lovely and talented friend, Julie Bartel of Gypsy Wraps.  The girls LOVED them.

 They put them on immediately and got right to work prepping our art journals.

The journals were placed in the sun to dry, then we began prepping our canvas with Golden Gel Medium to receive an inkjet transfer .  I love Golden products and their gel medium is essential in making transfers.

 While our canvases sat in the sun to dry, we made prayer flags.  Prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom to all beings.  We used stencils and fabric paint spray to create patterns, then we added our wishes with markers.   I'll be sewing them to ribbon tonight so the girls can take them home tommorow.

This gorgeous stencil is called Skylar's Lace and was sent to the Mighty Girls from the generous folks at Royal Design Studio.  They have the most beautiful selection of stencils I've ever seen.  They can be used to stencil floors, walls, t-shirts - you name it!






















After our hard work, we pampered our creative paws with the wonderful "Wild & Free" goodies by Bodhicitta Botanicals. They are truly a delight to the senses as they are infused with essential oils and flower essence.

 We closed the morning by writing (and lighting) our wishes on Flying Wish Paper!

Girls, don't forget to bring your bendy branch tomorrow...

Special Announcement

For those of you who live far away, and those who did not get into our live session, we are extending a special invitation to join us by pixel glow for a simultaneous-ish e-session of Mighty Girl Art™ summer.  We have created the summer e-camp to run along side our live session in the mighty tipi. How cool is that?!?


You don't need to be an artist to take a Mighty Girl Art™ workshop, you just need to be female.

Creativity is your birthright!

Intuition is an integral part of creativity...as is playfulness, and wonder. Mighty Girl Art™ focuses on these key elements to evoke a sense of sacredness in the creative process, foster awareness, and nurture self-esteem.

    

WHEN: August 7th - August 11th.
*Registration closes on Saturday August 4th.  REG Closed - Thank you!!!

WHO: Mighty Girl Art™ workshops are designed for tweens/teens, but women enjoy them immensely because within us resides all the ages we've been. Little ones can participate with the help of a big sister, aunt, mom or grandmother.

*There is a translator button on the site so Mighty Girls around the world can tune in!

• If you don't think you're creative, this is the session for you!
• If you know you're creative, but have a nasty habit of comparing yourself to others, this is the session for you!
• If you're shy, or just need your space, this is the session for you!
• If you just can't get enough of Mighty Girl Art™, this is the session for you!

• If you want to form your own Mighty Girl Art™ circle with your pals, this session is for you!

WHERE: Online. Create at your own pace, alone or with friend or family member. Host a Mighty Girl Art™ Summer-e  party and invite your friends over to your screen and join the fun. *It's a buy one, and bring your bunch free!

Girl Scouts, your troop leaders can register once and all of you meet each week to do the projects together!

WHY: Because we are the gateway to this planet, and that alone is a gift worth celebrating. Because women are born creative, and it's vital that we take time to explore this gift. Because honoring ourselves is equal to honoring life itself. BECAUSE IT'S FUN!

HOW: Weekly craft tutorials and videos from inside the mighty tipi. These exercises are designed to enrich your life, not interfere with work or family time. The class site will remain open until the chill of late Autumn.  *Supply list below!

What people are saying about Mighty Girl Art™...

"It is stunning from top to bottom, full of secret places and surprises, chock, chock, chock and bursting. It is a jewel box. Our girls don't have anything like this and what they do have doesn't leave them time to devote to self-discovery and expression. This is so suited to girls who have suffered their first losses of friendship, of power, of certainty, of love . . . who have begun the long season of being overlooked and misunderstood."
- Karen Maezen Miller (author of "Momma Zen" and "hand wash cold")

***

"So lovely! You've woven many elements so gently to create a sweet, encouraging journey for our girls. Bits of wisdom, poetry, media all presented in such a non-intimidating way that I wish had been my experience as a young child. Gracious, inviting and charming, your program is an invitation to have tea with oneself and chat about possibilities and wonder."

- Flo Gascon (Wide Sky Days)

***

"My prayers have been answered: Mighty Girl Art Spring E-Session is SouLodge for girls, and though mine will only be three, I'm also taking it because my inner ten year old wants to be healed through the full-integrity magical offering that is Wendy Cook's heart and soul. Feel her howling call, then walk to the fire with me."

- Pixie Campbell (Keeper of ceremony, sacred fire and the wild deep)

***

"There are not sufficient words to express the beauty that you have embedded into this offering. I am all at once overwhelmed with joy and excitement and deeply inspired to begin such an art practice with my girls. I have purchased and taken many art e-courses over the years and I have never seen anything so magical. I know it's for girls, but it could very well heal the little lost girl in so many women I know."

- Latisha Guthrie (Herb Mother)


*Paypal will redirect you to THIS sign in page, please bookmark that page. The classroom will be locked until August 6th - at that time you will be able to access the virtual tipi and get familiar with the space. The weekly sessions are password protected and will appear in the menu bar the day after the live session. Your password will arrive via email on August 5th. Please make sure that the email address you use for Paypal is the SAME email you wish to receive your password as that address will go directly into the class roster. You will not be able to see the weekly sessions without this password!

Tools needed:

• Your hands
• your hearts
• your inherent intuition

Materials needed:

• Board book - check yard sales, thrift stores, freecycle or used book stores
• Acrylic paints
• Gesso
• Pens, colored pencils, markers, water soluble oil pastels - whatever you have on hand
• Magazine images, papers for collage
• Mod Podge
• A small crochet doily – found at craft stores like Michaels, Joanns, thrift shops, ebay or your grandma's linen closet
• Charms, beads, found objects like feathers, shells, twigs etc
• Jump rings - found at craft store (clasps, jewelry wire optional)
•  Idea-ology Pocket Watch frame: Dreamz EtCetera or your local craft store
• Silk cord or hemp cord, or necklace chain of your choice
• A pliable branch that you can easily bend into a circle
• string, or yarn or ribbon
• Mementos like a small stone, a button from grandma's sweater etc
• T-shirt - new an old one that needs a new look
• fabric torn into 7" x 7" squares *does not have to be exact 
• Clorox bleach pen

Misc:
Sandpaper, Scissors, Paint Brushes, Glue, Glitter, Jewelry Pliers (or regular pliers will do)

Mighty Girl Art featured in Wild Sister Magazine...hello Australia!

Mighty Girl Art™ Loves Punjammies™

It is with joy and gratitude that I announce another sponsor for Summer 2012.  The kind and generous sisters at PUNJAMMIES™ are sending a lovely surprise for the Mighty Girls.  PUNJAMMIES™  are created in after-care facilities by women who have been rescued or escaped from a life of human trafficking.  PUNJAMMIES™ provides needed jobs for women and the resources to help them recover and thrive.  When you purchase and wear PUNJAMMIES™, you are helping to provide a loving home, a sustainable trade, healthcare, income, dignity and freedom for our sisters overseas.

When you wear PUNJAMMIES™, you wear hope...

A Mighty Birthday

And I never met a flower
Who'd deny the higher power
That was born to shine on everyone - MaMuse

Dear Mighty J,

We celebrate YOU and your 6th ride around the sun! 

Shine on, girl, shine on!

Let the Summer Wild Rumpus Start !!!

The Spring-e-session is officially over.  Thanks and love to the Spring-e Tribe for gathering with me.  I'm in major preparation mode for the Summer Session next month!  For those of you far away, I'll be offering a pdf version.  Stay tuned for more info!

I'm so pleased to announce some new sponsors for 2012!!! 


The kindred sisters at Ember Arts will be sending a gift for the mighty girls summer tribe!  Read the story!  Wear the story!!!

 

And the generous Julie of Gypsy Wraps will be wrapping the mightylochs this summer!

Julia of Flying Wish Paper sent some of her mojo to ignite their creative fires!

The kind peeps at Hyperion have sent some soulfood for mighty parents to serve 'round the dinner table!

Royal Design Studios sent a GORGEOUS stencil to work with!

 













Dear ones at Dragonhawk have gifted us with animal wisdom!

A heartfelt thank you to Bodhichitta Botanicals for nurturing the young goddesses and to the other generous sponsors who help with supplies in order to make Mighty things happen!  It takes a village and we could not do it without you.

And if that doesn't get your heart running full gallop, my friend Susan created this beautiful flag to add to our Mighty Windhorse!!!  It will soar with all the others next month at the mighty tipi!!!

*If you wish to send a flag or your own special mojo to the girls, it's not too late!  Just email me for details.

THE WILD RUMPUS HAS BEGUN!!!

The Spring-e-session is live...If you have not received any emails from me please note that the email address you used to register at Paypal is the address to which all emails were sent. Please check for the following:

• A welcome letter containing password from me via MadMimi
• An invite from the MGA WordPress site
• An invite for the MGA Flickr Forum
• A personal email from me asking for you to confirm receipt of above emails
• A reminder email when the first week went live