2013 Is Your Year!

As we come to the close of another year and embark on a new adventure I am so proud to introduce to you the New Launch Your Creativity Community.

It is my New Year's wish to Inspire and Encourage you to reach your dreams and goals in 2013!

Join the Party Girls!!
LaunchYourCreativity.Ning.Com

Jean Koss Interview

Jean Koss

 This girl didn't outgrow her dreams, she grew them!

LYC: How long have you had a love affair with fashion?

Jean Koss: Wow, where do I begin? I guess I have to say I really started my passion with fashion when I was 6 years old because I had so much fun dressing my barbie dolls in different outfits. Once a week in the 70s my mom would take my little sister and I to Kmart and treat each of us to a new barbie outfit! As I grew older, I enjoyed putting my own outfits together. In high school, I took a fashion marketing class and learned so much! I have also modeled in fashion shows. I have such a passion that I have studied fashion, on my own, for about 24 years now. I have also worked in clothing and cosmetics over the years. I have had a lot of fun doing closet organizing and fashion parties just for free for family and friends and then I decided it was time to turn my passion into a career! 

Everyone kept telling me to go into business for myself. So after a lot of thought and prayer, I decided to go for it! And I'm so happy that I did! I now teach fashion seminars, do fashion/swap parties, closet organizing, personal styling, and I have a fun fashion blog that I give free fashion advice on! I am so blessed because the good Lord has made this possible for me. 

I'm one of the few lucky people in this world who actually gets to follow my true passion for a living. I thank my wonderful husband, family and friends for all of their support! 

I  just finished writing a book on fashion and am in the process of getting published. We all have to get up and get dressed everyday, we might as well have fun and make an effort to look our best. When you look good, you feel good!

Visit Jean's Blog... Jeanniestylist
Visit Jean's Website...Jeanniestylist

To Do List

Tickets for the April 20th event 

make great stocking stuffers!

Register here: www.launchyourcreativity.com/p/register.html

What if?

Its Coming!

We have a little HUGE secret! Stay tuned for the reveal on January 1st! New Year, New Inspiration!

Stocking Stuffers!

An Encore Performance!

Jane Button of Design 2 Market success

I am so excited to tell you that Jane Button of Design 2 Market Success will be returning to Launch Your Creativity!

Jane Button has a passion for helping creative entrepreneurs turn their creative "BIG IDEA" into the business of their dreams. Calling herself a "born entrepreneur" Jane's first company started in her basement as a cottage industry and went to a National Brand name as a multi-million dollar corporation. When creative business owners began asking for her advice, Jane started her freelance design, consulting & coaching business. 

Jane loves the freedom and opportunity that comes with being an entrepreneur and is a champion for creative entrepreneurs in the apparel, sewn product, knitting, jewelry and craft industry. Over the years, she has worked with The Pleasant Company (now known as AMERICAN GIRL®) Disney ®, Brass Key, Nordstrom, various catalogs, specialty boutiques and department stores, and numerous creative entrepreneurs who have a burning desire to create their own                      business. She has been featured in Barbara Wright Sykes books Pricing Without Fear and Do You Sew for Profit? As well as self published her own books for entrepreneurs, a keynote speaker at the Sewing & Stitchery Expo and other events. Jane freely shares her information in her seminars, workshops and books to help other entrepreneurs learn to be successful.

Understanding the artist and creative process is a key to Jane's success with her students. Because Jane does not believe in the "starving artist" concept her goal is to show creative people how to profit from their passion and fantastic creative ability.

Don't miss the event!

The Esteemed Panelist

Lidy Baars of French GardenHouse

~I am thrilled to welcome one of my 
dearest friends to the panel of speakers~

As a little girl growing up in Europe, Lidy Baars developed a love for antiques with patina and charm at the home of her grandparents. Her passion for discovering the beauty of forgotten treasures led to a a career as an antique dealer, her fabulous "eye" for quality and her ability to uncover antique and vintage gems has earned Lidy a loyal following of clients who rely on her for their vintage decor and 

style. After years in the trade, in 2007 she opened FrenchGardenHouse, online, to showcase her expansive collection of elegant, one-of-a-kind items from the late 1800's through the early 20th century. Sprinkled in with all the antiques are a few French themed new lines, as well as artist designed jewelry and gifts.

A romantic at heart, Lidy seeks out special, quality "finds" to delight and entice her customers, as well as many one-of-a-kind or limited quantity art or decorative "fun" pieces she designs herself. She has an art degree, and has worn many different hats in her professional career, managing retail stores at the young age of 19, then going on to designing and creating luxury decor accessories, designing custom florals, and working as an interior designer.

Lidy's attention to detail, and her vision of how antiques mixed with contemporary pieces can transform a home into a cozy haven is what sets FrenchGardenHouse apart. FrenchGardenHouse.com, as well as Lidy's own home, has been featured in many national magazines. Lidy has written and photographed several published articles relating to antiques, as well as decorating, and hospitality.

Lidy lives near the ocean in California with her husband, John, and their labrador puppy Bentley. The mother of two daughters, now a grandmother of three most adorable grandchildren, she loves nothing more than when her home is filled to the brim with her family. When not working in her office, or traveling far and near to fleamarkets and antique fairs to gather new heartwarming finds, you can find her creating something with glitter and glue, out with her friends enjoying life, or curled up in a cozy chair near the fire reading a good mystery.

Amitiés

Lidy Baars

Proprietor

Un Objet de Beaute est une joie pour toujours.

*Lidy will be sharing from her heart about the ins and outs of running a business, finding inspiration and her personal success story. You will be blessed by her tremendous insight.

What Was I Thinking?

You Can Do It!

Dealing with Naysayers!

This will not only give you a laugh but clarify why people rain on your parade!

Yes, that was me playing Aunt Bet!
*Spot was not harmed in the making of this video*

The Fabulous Panelist!

Tara will teach you "The Art of Negotiating".

The love of art has been a constant in the life of Tara Wilson. As a young girl she frequented the bead shops in Laguna Beach and often spent her allowance on something sparkly and shiny she found there. Her early jewelry pieces were simple strung necklaces and head-pin earrings. College introduced her to the world of 3 dimensional design, sculpture and painting. 

Tara could not quite figure out how to pay the bills creating crazy sculptures out of found objects so she earned her degree in business. Art took a back burner as she continued on to graduate school for business and finally law school. After 12 years as an attorney her creative side was badly neglected.

Tara was shopping for that perfect necklace for an outfit and just couldn't find the one that spoke to her. After deciding to make one, she popped into Garden of Beaden in Upland and was inspired by Irene Sanchez to make something more elaborate than she usually did. A love of jewelry was reborn and the hunt for cool beads and vintage jewelry was on! 

After taking an amazing soldering class with Robin Dudley Howes, the creative side was back with a vengeance. With the new techniques learned, Tara was able to combine her love of all things rhinestone and vintage with mixed media art jewelry. 

With a nod to her two Chihuahuas, Lulu and Max, the brand Lulu Max was born! Tara now works in jewelry full time and is teaching several classes. Tara has been published in Belle Armoire Jewelry and her jewelry is carried in several boutiques around the country.

Her web site is  lulumax.com and her Etsy store is www.etsy.com/shop/lulumaxjewelry

Follow Your Passions

Find Your Wings

Fly as High as You Can

A Perfectly Inspired Day!

On Sunday afternoon I had the sheer pleasure of meeting with some of my fabulous panelists  at the fabulous French Garden House.

I have to say that this event is shaping up to be nothing short of amazing! The women that will be presenting are the most inspirational, kind, generous, savvy, strong and brilliant group you can imagine. Each so willing to share and inspire.

Jenny Doh, Tara Wilson, Sharon Hughes, Lidy Baars, Deb Kennedy and Cheryl Turner

Beth Livesay

The day was filled with laughter and wisdom as only this group could dish! A few of the speakers were not able to join us and were so missed! 

Don't miss the event next April, tickets are already selling and seating is limited.

Register here NOW!

The Fabulous Panelist!

I am thrilled to announce my friend Beth Livesay will be speaking at the next Launch Your Creativity Event! 

Beth Livesay is quite the accomplished editor and author for her young age which speaks to the fact she is an amazing writer with tremendous vision. She is currently Senior Editor at Nails Magazine. Her career started as Managing Editor at Stampington & Company, where she oversaw Somerset Home, Altered Couture and Haute Handbags. In her five years there she  launched two titles: Jewelry Affaire and apron·ology. Her work as an editor has been acknowledged by the Los Angeles Times and The Storque (the official blog of Etsy).

Before being an editor, Beth dreamed of a career as a writer. She graduated from Pitzer College with a dual degree in English and Creative Writing, achieving honors in both fields. In 2006 she published her first collection of poetry. Her freelance writing began to appear in FEBZ Magazine, Canyon News and as a frequent contributor to Brides Television.com. 

More recently, she has contributed writing to several web and print publications including Where Women Create, Where Women Cook and the Huffington Post. She is a regular columnist for Romantic Homes magazine, where she oversees the Site Seeing and Ta Da features. She also serves as a writer and Assistant Editor for Made Woman Magazine (www.madewomanmag.com), empowering fellow young professionals. 

Her position as a writer and editor has given her the extraordinary opportunity to interview Rachel Ashwell, Emmy winners Jeff Stimmel and Melanie Mills, Nikki Lund, Ronnie Rothstein (owner of Kleinfeld Bridal) and a Real Housewife of Orange County. 

In order to write often and write well, Beth started her blog, Couture Over Coffee, in 2009. There, you can be read about her own interests, including wine tasting, traveling, literature and her obsession with fashion. The immense support from family, friends and people she meets while doing her job are what keep her going and keep her writing. A Southern California native, Beth resides in beautiful Laguna Hills with her two cats, two roommates and more pairs of shoes than she would care to admit. You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and even in real life. To learn more, visit: www.coutureovercoffee.blogspot.com.

It's Your Turn, To Heal Your Heart

If your heart has been broken and you've given up,

 its time to believe in yourself again!

There is hope sweet girl!

XO~

The Fabulous Panelist!

I am thrilled to welcome Christine Rose Elle to 

Launch Your Creativity.

Christine Rose Elle is a writer, stylist and well-being expert. After twenty years of enduring an ongoing stress related illness, she walked away from a successful career as a designer and wardrobe stylist to pursue a dream. She sold her three bedroom home and five closets of Betsey Johnson clothing to live la dolce vita in Rome, Italy. Her quest for radiant well-being and personal growth has continued ever since she downsized to two suitcases.

She now lives in Los Angeles with her beloved husband and two dogs where is writes daily from her clutter-free pink office, and is happy to say her illness has been dormant since she made the pursuit of serenity her number one priority.

She is a self-proclaimed glamour girl, but her idea of glamour is not what you wear on the outside, but how sparkly you feel on the inside. She is currently working on her first book The Sparkling Self: A Glamour Girls’ Guide to Well-being. She shows a step-by-step process for her readers to recognize their true talents and share them with others in a way that is meaningful.

She writes about well-being and how to live a radiant lifestyle for her website ChristineRoseElle.com and is a featured blogger on Skirt.com. In addition, her how-to articles have been published in several magazines.

It is her life’s purpose to listen deeply to the world, continue to grow, and to be inspired by others.
Her motto: “Everything you need for inner sparkle is already within.”
She loves polka dots and peep toed shoes, and has been known to sigh wistfully when in the presence of anything by Kate Spade or Valentino.

Career Highlights

Education:

-School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Fashion design, art history.

-Accademia Italiana

Costume design, Italian language.

Career:

·      Designed a line of clothing for several small Chicago boutiques, and participated in runaway fashion shows.

·      Worked for designer Betsey Johnson

·      Windows and mannequin styling for Nordstrom.

·      Wardrobe styling for commercials, print, film.

·      Photo stylist.

·      Wardrobe consultant for individual clientele.

·      Instructor of different themed workshops.

·      Fashion designer.

·      Jewelry designer.

·      Window designer.

·      Artist.

·      Illustrator.

·      Writer.

·      Wellbeing expert.

Don't miss the opportunity to unleash your inner glamour girl and define your own personal style with Christine's contagious bubbly outlook on life!

The Fabulous Panelists!

I am proud to introduce to you another fabulous speaker at the Launch Your Creativity Event on April 20,2013!

Debi Ward Kennedy

Writer . Stylist . Designer

Debi Ward Kennedy 50, is a writer, stylist, and designer whose work has appeared in FOLK Magazine, Somerset Life, Vintage Indie, design*sponge, Country Business, and many other retail and lifestyle publications. Deb contributed a regular decorating column to FOLK Magazine for every issue of its inaugural year.

While she has been a writer since early in her life, Deb began her design career in Anaheim, California when she discovered retail visual merchandising at the age of 13 on Main Street USA in Disneyland. Over 35+ years in the retail industry, she has worked as a retail stylist and store designer for many corporate and independent merchant clients, including Washington state wine industry luminaries Chateau Ste. Michelle, Hogue, and Columbia Wineries. Her design talents have also been utilized by major gift shows where Deb has presented seminars and created exhibitor displays, and the Gift and Home Channel, for whom she produced an educational video series.

Having earned a solid reputation for creating high-impact theatrical displays in the vintage industry, Deb has participated as a vendor in the Farm Chicks, Remnants of the Past, and BarnHouse shows. Her former business, Retreat, and the Retreat Vintage Market shows she hosted in Washington State, have been featured in lifestyle magazines.

Now located in Southern California, Deb has redefined her professional and personal focus in 2012. She is sharing her experience in creating affordable seasonal decorative effects on her new blog, HOMEWARDfound, as well as through freelance contributions to Creating Vintage Charm Magazine, FOLK Magazine, and other publications.

DebiWardKennedy.com    .      HomewardFoundDecor.com

See you there!

Just Between Us!

Here's some straight talk about the evil comparison mirror and other things you should know.

Presentation, Perception & Packaging!

Welcome to the third installment in the 

"Inspiration Delivered" series. 

Join me for "A Girl's Guide to Owning Her Brand"

The Esteemed Panel

I am so proud to introduce the panel of speakers for the April 20, 2013 event! 

I am thrilled to tell you that Jenny Doh is returning for an encore!

Jenny Doh is Founder of www.crescendoh.com — like a magazine but daily like a newspaper, featuring fresh and creative content from artists within all genres, coupled with their stories that highlight the power of art in our lives. Jenny serves regularly as keynote speaker across the nation to deliver messages related to creative passion, leadership, communication, and compassion. Prior to CRESCENDOh, Jenny worked for six years as Editor-in-Chief and Director of Publishing for Somerset Studio, Belle Armoire, and its many sister publications.

Jenny is an author and packager of books. To date, she has created the following books:

·       Creative Lettering (2013)

·       Journal It! (2012)

·       We Make Dolls (2012)

·       Hand in Hand (2012)

·       Creative Pilgrimage

·       Signature Styles

·       Art Saves

·       Where Women Create: Book of Inspiration (co-author)

Discover all of her current and future books here on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/entity/Jenny-Doh/B004AOKQJ2?ie=UTF8&ref_=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_6&qid=1320958508&sr=1-6&ie=UTF8&tag=c0b51-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957

For her leadership in publishing, Jenny was recognized by Folio magazine as one of the top 40 leaders within the publishing industry www.foliomag.com/2009/2009-folio-40.

In 1995, Jenny received her Masters in Social Welfare from UCLA and then worked for seven years as a social worker in child protective services in Orange County, California. Jenny received her undergraduate degree in political science from UC Irvine and has served as President of UC Irvine’s Alumni Association.

Jenny and her husband raise their two children, Monica and Andrew, in Santa Ana, California. She loves to knit and crochet, stay fit, practice archery, and play the cello.

To learn more, visit www.crescendoh.com. 

I will introduce the rest of the panel to you in the coming weeks in an on going series to hi-light each of their talents~

Success, Failure and Football

Are you ready to play the GAME?

This is the second video in the series. 

Join me weekly for "Inspiration Delivered"!

Keep your eye on the ball girls!

Welcome Fall

I love Fall, the feeling of the air growing cooler...

The colors turning golden and of course 

football season and pumpkin pie!

Not to mention the kids are back to school with boxes of brand new crayons~what is it about crayons? 

Perhaps its the freedom that little box holds.

FREEDOM

You can create anything you want, right? 

No rules, no boundaries. 

Free to express yourself any way you'd like.

Which brings me to my new video series,

 "Inspiration Delivered" 

I will be posting several videos to 

Inspire, Encourage and Challenge you!

Grab your coffee and join me right here on Tuesdays.

Welcome to the New Video Series

Join me for Inspiration!

Get Ready Ladies!

I've assembled a Dream Team of speakers

Jane Button

Jenny Doh

Beth Livesay

Deb Kennedy

Lidy Baars

Debi Beard

Tara Wilson

Christine Rose Elle

Be Inspired

Be Encouraged

Be Challenged

See you there!

Inspirational Video Series!

~Im so excited to share the news with you~

I am putting together a series of videos to 

Inspire You

Encourage You

Challenge You

The videos will start in September. 

The date will be announced shortly.

See you there!

Youve probably heard "Everyday is a gift, that's why its called the present" but have you ever really considered that? 

I know it sounds cliche but stop and think of just a few things you are thankful for today and see how your thought process changes. Research shows that people who view their world with gratitude are healthier and happier.

Now this certainly doesnt mean you should put on rose colored glasses and skip over reality but shift your perspective and see what happens.

Looking for the good things all around you will also boost your creativity!

Artist Rita Reade of Mammabellarte

  One of my dearest friends, whom I don't see nearly enough is Rita Reade of Mammabellarte. If you have had the pleasure of meeting her, you are quickly a friend and spending time in her home you are no longer a friend but family. Hospitality is a part of Rita's "Italian way". Her and her husband love to cook and entertain. Her home is filled with laughter and creativity as well as lots of paws! Rita is an amazing wood worker, the co-host of The Vintage Marketplace and the queen of soldering.

Rita Reade

Treasures

Rita's amazing work

 I am in a happy place! But take away my creativity and I would be the saddest person in the world. Most importantly to be happy with what you do is having the support from your fellow artists and if possible from your family. I am fortunate to have a husband and boys that seem to be interested when I talk about my creations. I have been making birdhouses, signs, cabinets from vintage windows and much more for 18 years.  Sharon Hughes always says: “Follow your Dreams”, YES do follow them. Surround yourself with people that support you, it’s very important. 

The Vintage Marketplace at The Oaks

Gorgeous farmhouse table

Rita with fellow vendor Amber of Black Rooster Cottage

 A beautiful and rewarding accomplishment has been starting The Vintage Marketplace at the Oaks here in Rainbow, California with my adorable sister in-law Artist Christie Repasy. As an artist I saw a need to have a beautiful venue for fellow artists to sell their creations  so Christie and I started with Chateau de Fleurs in her cottage's garden. We brought together 12 vendors and had an amazing show! Three years later we have 40 vendors and moved to an incredible park and changed the name to "The Vintage Marketplace at the Oaks".The Vintage Marketplace at the Oaks has been featured in several magazines including Romantic Homes and Romantic Country as one of the best flea markets in the state.

That's Italian!

My favorite quote in absolute is:

"Action is the foundational key to all success"
Pablo Picasso

Follow me on my blog: Mammabellarte.blogspot.com

FaceBook Page: Mammabellarte

FaceBook Page: TheVintage Marketplace

The next Vintage Marketplace is Friday & Saturday
June 1-2, 2012
Don't miss out!