Do you live in DFW? Please join me Saturday June 20, 2015!

Building Creative Confidence Workshop ~ Creative Arts Center of Dallas ~ Saturday, June 20, 2015

You dream of spending more time with the creative endeavors you love. 

You have lots and lots of ideas for creative projects and possibilities but you don't know where to begin. 

You know you want to experience more creativity in your life, but you're not sure what that would look like. 

Everything else in life pushes creativity to the bottom of your to-do list.

You find procrastination and perfectionism keep you from your creative passions. 

You just feel stuck.

If any of these sound familiar I hope you'll join me for my next live workshop at the Creative Arts Center of Dallas, Saturday June 20, 2015.

During our afternoon together I'll introduce you to several of the same simple yet powerful Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaching tools and techniques I use with my one-on-one creative coaching clients around the world. 

The methods I'll share will help you: 

*Move past common creative blocks such as procrastination and perfectionism

*Diffuse feelings of overwhelm and not knowing where to begin

* Dive into low-pressure, hands-on creative activities to start your creative juices flowing  to 

* Help you quickly and easily make more time and space in your life for the creative experiences and expressions you desire

* Build your creative confidence

* Give yourself permission to live the creative life you're meant to live 

* Enjoy more time with Creative Oasis Moments (creative experiences that make your heart sing and time fly!)

"Jill's workshop gave me permission to take time for myself and 

not feel guilty about it. It inspired me and got me going!" 

~ Sherry Houpt, Creative Oasis Coaching class participant

Your Creative Oasis can be so much more that art, music, writing or other traditional artistic outlets. It's any activity or experience that makes energizes and delights you. 

It could be gardening, cooking, yoga, dance, entertaining, comedy, reading, scrapbooking, photography, jewelry making, traveling...you name it. 

Whatever puts you in that lovely creative "freedom zone" where you're fully engaged in the joy of the process...that's your Creative Oasis and I'm delighted to help you weave more of those experiences into your life on a regular basis! 

Sound good? 

Join me for my Building Creative Confidence Workshop, and take the first small steps into the wonderful feeling and flow of creative momentum! 

What:

Building Creative Confidence Workshop

When:

Saturday, June 20, 2015

1 to 5 pm

Where: 

Creative Arts Center of Dallas
2360 Laughlin Dr.
Dallas, TX  75228

Cost:
$65 for CAC members
$95 for non-members
plus $10 material fee

*Note: This workshop is limited to 10 participants with
pre-registration required.To register call the Creative Arts
Center of Dallas at 214-320-1275 or visit their website at www.creativeartscenter.org

“I absolutely loved Jill’s workshop. I’m more mindful and aware of new ways to acknowledge and incorporate creativity in my everyday activities. I'm inspired to give myself permission to get my creative stuff out and use it.  It was like a massage for my mind! Thank you!” ~  Denise R.

Hope to see you there!

All the best from my Creative Oasis to yours,

Jill

P.S. ~ If you don't live in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area, or you can't make it to the workshop but still want to add some creative fun and fulfillment to your summer check out my "Create the Summer of Your Dreams Do-It-Yourself Kit" by clicking here. 

Add Creativity to Your Calendar & Joy to Your Life

This past Sunday I reveled in several hours of guilt-free, low-pressure creative fun with people I love dearly. Sounds good, doesn't it?

And just so you know, being a creativity coach doesn't guarantee that this is a regular thing for me. While I do my best to weave creativity into my life on a regular basis and help others to do the same, this was different, deeper, dedicated creative time and wow, did it feel great!

Here's how it came to be:

First, I gave my mom a gift certificate for an All-Girl Creative Oasis Play Day for her birthday. My sister-in-law and daughter were invited too since they're awesome, creative-loving gals.

Next, we set a date and we put it on our calendars. Seems like a simple step, but it’s huge. Putting creativity on our calendar transforms dedicated creative time from a “wouldn’t that be nice” thought to a “this is gonna happen” event. (My e-booklet Creative Oasis Dates–  Make Time to Pursue YourCreative Passion in Five Easy Steps walks you through the process.)

After we gathered around the table and took out our supplies, we found an acoustic guitar station on Pandora and relaxed into our time together. Sometimes we chatted…sometimes we just listened to the music while we dabbled with our various projects. We all agreed it was a peaceful, fulfilling and fun way to spend the afternoon.

I started off with some doodling using a kit I recently purchased. You can see the results in the time-lapse video up top. (You can find this fun-filled kit by Stephanie Corfee in my amazon associate store by clicking here.)

It was a great low-pressure way to enjoy some pure creative process and not worry about the end result. Doodling is one of my favorite dive right in Instant Oasis moments ever and this how-to book has lots of great ideas to try. I love it!

My sister-in-law, Shannon, brought a package of adorable, tiny little canvases – talk about Kaizen! They feel so small and doable - not intimidating in the least. I had a blast using watercolor and markers to create my teeny-tiny masterpiece below.

Shannon created a pinterest inspired project that was super cool! Though I didn't get a shot of the final piece, here's one in progress. (Can you see a glimpse of the painting for R.S.V.P. by Tori Pendergrass peeking through?)

My mom brought some knitting and also a cute little sprite from her fairy garden that needed her paint freshened up. Too cute, right?

Does some relaxing creative time like this sound good to you? Why not take out your calendar right now and choose a date? Can you think of some friends or family members who might like to join you? What if you forward this post to them right now with an invitation to set up your own Creative Oasis Date? 

As always, I’d love to hear all about it if you do. Please post your comments below and let me know how it goes.

Until next time, here’s to putting our Creative Oasis time on the calendar a little more often and enjoying life more than ever! 

Jill

P.S. – If you'd like to have Mid-Week Oasis Moments (bite-sized bonbons of creative inspiration) delivered each week please sign up here: http://www.creativeoasiscoaching.com/newsletter.html

You'll also receive a free copy of "Permission to Be Creative 101" – my e-booklet that will help you take the first small steps to make the time and space for creative fulfillment – your Creative Oasis – in  your busy life!

Tapping Into Your Inner Peacock

photo by Jill Allison Bryan taken at Kalachandji's in Dallas

Imagine a world where peacocks tried to hide their magnificent colors away because they worried they might be presumed too bold or showy...or because they were afraid they weren't just the right shade of blue, green or purple...or because they thought all the other birds were so much more beautiful than them so why even bother?

Sounds downright unnatural, doesn't it? That's because it is! Peacocks were born to proudly parade their brilliant feathers in all their glory.

Now if you happen to be one of the many people who try to hide your own magnificent creative colors because you're worried that you might be seen as "showing off" or because your afraid your own personal creative process "isn't good enough" or because you think everyone else's creative endeavors are so much better than yours "why should you even bother?" I'm here to tell you that line of thinking is just as unnatural as a peacock trying to hide its brilliance.

I truly believe that you and I are born to share our creative light with the world in a multitude of ways whether it be painting, writing, crafting, gardening, dancing, making music, taking photos, hosting dinner parties, decorating, acting, scrapbooking, knitting...the list goes on and on. As I love to say, your Creative Oasis is whatever makes your heart sing and time fly!

What's one small way you might tap into your 

inner peacock and share your creative colors with the world today?

If you could use some help making the time and space for creative fulfillment in your life sign up here to receive a free copy of my short e-book Permission to Be Creative 101, Mid-Week Oasis Moments (bite-size bonbons of creative inspiration served weekly) and my monthly Creative Oasis Pages newsletter.

And if you're interested in learning more about how one-on-one creativity coaching may be just what you need click here to read more about Creative Oasis Coaching and how to schedule a complimentary session to see if it might be right for you.

Until next time, all the best from my Creative Oasis to yours,
Jill

Jill Allison Byan

P.S. – If you'd like to have Mid-Week Oasis Moments (bite-sized bonbons of creative inspiration) delivered each week please sign up here: http://www.creativeoasiscoaching.com/newsletter.html

You'll also receive a free copy of "Permission to Be Creative 101" – my short e-book that will help you take the first small steps to make the time and space for creative fulfillment – your Creative Oasis – in  your busy life!

Creative Oasis Magic Formula for Creative Play

Inspired by the clever works in Craig Damrauer's New Math series, I decided to create my own formula for Creative Oasis. #1 - Add a desire to do something (anything!) creative #2 - Subtract your mile long list of excuses   #3 - Add in the pure joy of creative fulfillment  #4 - And now you have your very own Creative Oasis! Which written as an equation a la Damrearu's New Math looks like this: Creative Oasis = I want to do that - excuses + joy How fun is that? Whether you dream of painting like Pollack, writing like Whitman, or filming like Fellini the Creative Oasis Magic Formula works! If your creative dreams look a bit more like finishing a special scrapbook, knitting a sweater or making some mosaics  - that's cool too. The formula works for any creative play you desire. Remember, whether gardening, painting, cooking, dancingor writing songs,  your Creative Oasis is  anything that makes your heart sing and time fly. What's one small way you can use the Creative Oasis Magic Formula this week to enjoy your creative passion? Here are two more ways to practice using the  Creative Oasis Magic Formula in your life!       Join me for my Living the Creative Life Workshop Saturday, June 8 from 1 to 4:30pm Pigment School of the Arts (click here for more info)     Explore the powerful experience of one-on-one creativity coaching. Email me at creativeoasiscoach@me.com to schedule your complimentary session today .  Thanks for joining me for this Mid-Week Oasis Moment. Please feel free to share with anyone you think could use a bit of creative inspiration and permission! Until next time, all the best from my Creative Oasis to yours,  Jill      Jill Allison Bryan  Certified Master Kaizen-Muse®Creativity Coach Founder of Creative Oasis Coaching(TM) Singer/Songwriter        www.creativeoasiscoaching.com      creativeoasiscoach@me.com

Creative Oasis Classes & Workshops – Ready to Live the Creative Life?

Craving Creative Fulfillment?

As the new year begins, Creative Oasis Coaching offers more ways than ever for you to learn and practice easy, effective ways to enjoy a creatively fulfilling life! These classes and workshops help you make the time and space for your creative passions – whatever they may be – even with your busy schedule!  They're also a great way to meet other interesting creative loving types who find it challenging to get to their creative interests as often as they'd like. (Sound familiar? You're not alone!)

Pre-registration is required for all classes and workshops. Space is limited to 8 people per session, so please register to reserve your space as soon as possible.

#1 – "PERMISSION TO BE CREATIVE 101" 
MINI-RETREAT

Sunday, January 27, 2013

10am – 3pm

$85 for CAC members

$115 for non-members

plus $10 materials fee 

(Please bring a sack lunch.)

Do you have a closet full of creative projects you haven't touched in ages? Do you long for the time to dive into creative endeavors – painting, writing, gardening, scrapbooking, dancing, singing –  in short, whatever energizes and delight you while adding joy to your life? This mini-retreat, set amongst the inspiring classrooms of the Creative Arts Center of Dallas, is another great introduction to Creative Oasis Coaching and share great ways for you to get back on track with your creative passions!

Location:

Creative Arts Center of Dallas

2360 Laughlin Dr.

Dallas, TX 75228

For more info or to register, please contact the Creative Arts Center by calling 214-320-1275 or visiting their website at http://www.creativeartscenter.org.

#2 – "LIVING THE CREATIVE LIFE" 
WORKSHOP          

Saturday, February 2, 2013

1:00 – 4:30pm

$99 

(includes creative supplies and handouts)

A great introduction to Creative Oasis Coaching. We'll explore fun and effective ways to make more time for creativity in your life. Writing, photography, cooking, painting, singing, gardening, scrap-booking…whatever your heart longs to do, you’ll be introduced to unique tools and techniques to help you easily enjoy the creative satisfaction you desire. 

Location:

Pigment School of the Arts

4605 West Lovers Lane

Dallas, TX  75209

For more info or to register, please email creativeoasiscoach@me.com.

#3 – "HOW TO LIVE A CREATIVE LIFE" 
6-WEEK CLASS

6-week course dedicated to weaving creativity into your busy life          

Thursdays – February 21 through April 4, 2013 (no class March 28th)

6:30 to 8pm

$275, plus $15 materials fee

                           

A more detailed exploration of and opportunity to practice creativity coaching methods designed to help you to experience more creative satisfaction. No matter what your interest – blogging, photography, cooking, writing, collage, watercolor, needlework, gardening ­– whatever creative expression you love, you’ll learn and practice innovative tools and techniques to help you enjoy the creative fulfillment you crave. 

Location:

Artistic Gatherings

9440 Garland Rd., # 138

Dallas, TX  75218

For more info or to register, please email creativeoasiscoach@me.com

Are you ready to stop making excuses and start making the time and space in your life for creative fulfillment? Then sign up today for the Creative Oasis Coaching class or workshop of your choice, and take the first small step to turning that dream into a reality.

Email me at creativeoasiscoach@me.com and reserve your space today!

All the best from my creative oasis to yours,

Jill

Jill Allison Bryan

Founder of Creative Oasis Coaching

Certified Master Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coach

Singer/Songwriter

www.creativeoasiscoaching.com

Creative Oasis Fall 2012 Classes & Workshops

Craving Creative Fulfillment?

This fall Creative Oasis Coaching is offering more ways than ever for you to learn and practice easy, effective ways to enjoy a creatively fulfilling life! These classes and workshops help you make the time and space for your creative passions – whatever they may be – even with your busy schedule!  They're also a great way to meet other interesting creative loving types who find it challenging to get to their creative interests as often as they'd like. (Sound familiar? You're not alone!)

Pre-registration is required for all classes and workshops. Space is limited to 8 people per session, so please register to reserve your space as soon as possible. 

#1 – "LIVING THE CREATIVE LIFE" 
WORKSHOP          

Saturday, September 8th

1:00 – 4:30pm

$99 

(includes creative supplies and handouts)

A great introduction to Creative Oasis Coaching. We'll explore fun and effective ways to make more time for creativity in your life. Writing, photography, cooking, painting, singing, gardening, scrap-booking…whatever your heart longs to do, you’ll be introduced to unique tools and techniques to help you easily enjoy the creative satisfaction you desire. 

Location:

Pigment School of the Arts

4605 West Lovers Lane

Dallas, TX  75209

For more info or to register, please email creativeoasiscoach@me.com.

#2 – "HOW TO LIVE A CREATIVE LIFE" 
6-WEEK CLASS

6-week course dedicated to weaving creativity into your busy life          

Tuesdays – September 18th through October 23rd 

10:30 to Noon

or

Thursdays – September 20th through October 25th 

6:30 to 8pm

$275, plus $15 materials fee

                           

A more detailed exploration of and opportunity to practice creativity coaching methods designed to help you to experience more creative satisfaction. No matter what your interest – blogging, photography, cooking, writing, collage, watercolor, needlework, gardening ­– whatever creative expression you love, you’ll learn and practice innovative tools and techniques to help you enjoy the creative fulfillment you crave. Choose the morning or evening session.

Location:

Artistic Gatherings

9440 Garland Rd., # 138

Dallas, TX  75218

For more info or to register, please email creativeoasiscoach@me.com

#3 – "PERMISSION TO BE CREATIVE 101" 
MINI-RETREAT

         Saturday, October 13th

10am – 3pm

$85 for CAC members

$115 for non-members

plus $10 materials fee 

(Please bring a sack lunch.)

Do you have a closet full of creative projects you haven't touched in ages? Do you long for the time to dive into creative endeavors – painting, writing, gardening, scrapbooking, dancing, singing –  in short, whatever energizes and delight you while adding joy to your life? This mini-retreat, set amongst the inspiring classrooms of the Creative Arts Center of Dallas, is another great introduction to Creative Oasis Coaching and share great ways for you to get back on track with your creative passions!

Location:

Creative Arts Center of Dallas

2360 Laughlin Dr.

Dallas, TX 75228

For more info or to register, please contact the Creative Arts Center by calling 214-320-1275 or visiting their website at http://www.creativeartscenter.org.

Are you ready to stop making excuses and start making the time and space in your life for creative fulfillment? Then sign up today for the Creative Oasis Coaching class or workshop of your choice, and take the first small step to turning that dream into a reality.

Email me at creativeoasiscoach@me.com and reserve your space today!

All the best from my creative oasis to yours,

Jill

Jill Allison Bryan

Founder of Creative Oasis Coaching

Certified Master Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coach

Singer/Songwriter

www.creativeoasiscoaching.com

Creating Your Oasis 101 - Teleclass - Sept. 9 @ 1pm central!

Join me for a fun teleclass, "Creating Your Oasis 101" this Wednesday, September, 9, 2009 @ 1pm central/11am pacific time.  This inspirational and motivational call will be a great introduction (or refresher course) in how to make the time and space in your life for creative fulfillment.

What brings your real joy and satisfaction? Whatever it may be - writing, painting, photography, baking, gardening , tap dancing - chances are, you don't get to it as often as you'd like. Whether or not you have kids in school, fall is a wonderful time to delve into your personal oasis and enjoy the mind/body/spirit benefits of making time for you! 

This one hour teleclass will provide effective tips and inspiring prompts to help you reconnect and recommit to the creative pursuits you love in a fun, no-pressure way. 

$15 payable by check or Paypal.  Click here to register!

I look forward to helping you create the time and space for your creative oasis!  See you there!

Mountain Lesson #3 – Chipmunk Logic

(photo by Christy Cogsdill)

The card with the cute photo of a chipmunk with overstuffed cheeks has been sitting on my desk since my return from Breckenridge, Colorado. He reminds me of the sweet little creatures that feast on sunflower seeds (courtesy of my dad) on our back porch.  They’re adorable to watch as they scamper to and fro. They stuff so many seeds in their mouths that you’re absolutely sure their tiny cheeks will explode if they go for one more, and then somehow, miraculously, they pop in a couple more and do not, in fact, explode.

I’ve kept this card out because I wanted to use it for a blog post, but I just couldn’t seem to find the exact topic the photo conveyed. I’ve been home for almost two weeks now. Still not sure what this little guy was saying to me, I thought to myself, “I’ll just scan the photo and then I’ll have it – just in case.” And that’s when it hit me!

The reason I resonate so much with those hoarding chippies is I can relate to them! They’re stocking up while the gettin’s good "just in case" they show up one morning to find no more seeds.  Well, I too have a bad case of the “just in case” blues. I keep my grandmother’s china just in case I ever want to have a formal dinner party or tea. (I never do.  I’m not the formal type!) I hold onto old toothbrushes just in case I want to scrub tile grout with them. (I never do. I guess I’m not the grout-scrubbing type either.) I stash decades of documents in boxes that overflow out of my office closet, just in case I ever need them. (like I could find them if I did – ha!)

I recently read a great article on the “just in case” mentality, and I’m sure I clipped and stored it somewhere –“just in case” I should ever want to refer to it again. (Like I do today, but can’t, because I don’t have the first clue where it is!)

I have this image in my mind...somewhere in the cosmos there are these enlightened beings watching me scamper around my office with my stacks and stacks of stuff. I can hear them now, “Oh, how cute. She’s bought another book on creativity. Wouldn’t you think she’d have enough by now? Do you think she’ll actually read this one all the way through?”

Having just recently cleaned out and organized my bedroom closet and my daughter’s closet with the help of a wonderful professional organizer (Atta Girl Organizing), I know first-hand the fantastic feeling of letting go of things I really don’t need (give-away totes with ripped handles, sandals I haven’t worn in five years, clothes that don’t fit) and then putting the things I really do need and want in order. Seriously, my closet now brings me a feeling of peace and serenity. Sometimes I just look in it and sigh. It’s like my moment of Zen.

My challenge to myself, and to you, this fall is to practice feeling abundant, knowing that I have plenty, and that things that I’ll need in the future will show up exactly when I need them. I don’t have to hang on to a bunch of stuff “just in case.”

It’s interesting how creating literal space, seems to free up our time as well. Less stuff to deal with (clean, store, repair, manage) more time to create (write, sing, paint, play, run, design). What about you? Anyone have any ideas for making space in your life? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Let’s support each other this fall and enjoy the freedom of the “just in time” mentality, rather than the frenetic “just in case” pace of a squirrel storing food for the winter – which can make us nuts!

P.S. – Here’s a link to that article I was thinking of earlier. It was written by Martha Beck for the April 2009 Oprah Magazine. I found it “just in time”! 

Get Creative in No Time! (okay, in two minutes)

Give yourself two minutes to check out  my latest article published by the always inspiring Creativity-Portal.   I share an instant gratification plan to get back to your creative pursuits, quickly and easily!

http://www.creativity-portal.com/cca/jill-bryan/get-creative-two-minutes.html