"Be Your Business Card"
Dear Friends of Bluebird Fairies,
I hope this blog posting finds you in good spirits.
What does "Be Your Business Card" mean?
Last weekend along with hundreds of other women I attended Senator Leahy's Women's Economic Opportunity Conference down at the technical college in Randolph. As always, it was inspirational. The keynote was Mary Alice McKenzie. The end of the day activity consisted of stories by Vermonters that inspire us to "Change the Story" around economic equity for women.
In the middle of the day there were many, many workshops. As a young business owner, I attended one called "Pitching Your Story."
Right off the bat, the instructor said "Please do not pick a business name that you have to explain." Immediately my inner dialogue turned on and I decided to transform my business name of "Bluebird Fairies" into something that says what I do. "Be Happy" was all I could come up with.
At one point during my inner mulling, I thought about how much I like my tag line of "Earnest Little Drawings that Help You Do BIG THINGS"
My inner dialogue started to sing.
Then I heard the instructor say. "Basically you have to BE your business card."
I thought of the figure on my card and inside I implored earnestly. "YES! I can be my business card!"
Here he is:
(P.S. There's actually two. The other one is a woman with flowing hair who says "Ta Da". I can be her too!)
After the workshop I had several conversations with people. They'd look at my name tag and say "Bluebird Fairies, What's that?" And I'd brighten up with my big smile and say "Oh, they're earnest little drawings that help you do big things." And then our conversation would take off. Now, back in my 'day job' or at home feeling overwhelmed with chores I take moments to "Be My Business Card" and, well, it all gets better.
It is in these times of SO MUCH we must connect in with ourselves and love what is HERE in the NOW.
Have fun,
Emily and the Bluebird Fairies
Thank you everyone who came out to visit us at the South End Art Hop. I was so happy to meet so many people interested or intrigued with what I'm doing with these 'earnest drawings' I make with my 'other hand'.
My final moments of Art Hop 2017 were spent with my dear friend Kathleen.
Art Hop is Here!
Dear Friends of Bluebird Fairies,
As I write this I'm tidying up our studio on Pine Street and turning on the lights of the Fairy Booth.
3 years ago at this time I was opening my first box of printed fairies.Who knew how far this little drawing project would go?
I hope you'll be able to taste a bit of this year's South End Art Hop. I've already taken the students I work with through a maze of art work. We, in part, were looking for the photographs they created with photographer Melanie Webb.
Maybe you'll find them too? Most of all, find the magic and...
have fun!!!
If you're not here, please take care and think good thoughts. We have a LOT going on in our world.
Positivity must prevail!!!
All the best,
Emily and the Bluebird Fairies
Many, Many, Many Thank Yous to the Universe
Dear Friends of Bluebird Fairies,
I hope this finds you well.
Yesterday I took a little kayak trip up the river from where I live. I sat on a sunny beach and recalled a writing workshop I was in that was led by Vermont's Best Actor, the wonderful Rusty DeWees. In it he gave us a writing prompt. He said "People are always talking about what they LOVE. Just write a list of what you LIKE."
Yesterday my "fairy of the day" was the one that holds many, many, many Thank YOUs to the universe.'
So I decided take 5 minutes to write the things I was thankful for.
In Rusty's workshop we shared what we wrote. So, I'm sharing mine with you.
"I am thankful for the warm sand on my toes. The sunny day. My kayak and how our home has easy access to this river. I'm thankful those boaters have decided to move on. I'm thankful for time and space to think. I'm thankful I live in Vermont and have work that allows me to connect with people in positive ways. A whole variety of ways -- at the coop, in the copy room at work, with teachers, students, my family. With people at the fairy booth, with Arts Riot staff and owners. And that I have moments to connect in with me. That today my book group is meeting; 5 very different women coming together when we can to connect over a shared writing.
I'm thankful for Art Hop and its great way of connecting people and art and opportunity and that it's how I met Brian; the man I will someday marry and already share so much with. I'm thankful the summer is ending- only because saying that accepts the new school year in and gives it a big smile. I'm thankful to have a smile and that I most often remember to use it."
Friends, I invite you to take 5 minutes in a beautiful, natural location to write what you're thankful for. Then share it with a friend.
Have fun!
All the best,
Emily and the Bluebird Fairies
P.S. Art Hop is September 8-10. We'll be up in our studio. The Fairy Booth will be up. Fairies and other drawings will be out. I'll be SO happy to see you.
The Good Wishes Around You
Hello Friends of Bluebird Fairies,
I hope this finds you taking a moment to check in with yourself.
In the midst of it all have you been feeling, hearing, thinking and reading about the eclipse?
I have. This all started for me when a woman came to our studio to get a Fairy Card Reading in preparation for the Total Solar Eclipse on August 21st.
I asked her what it meant to her. She'd boiled it down to this-
"Lots of big endings and lots of big beginnings are occurring right now. In the middle of it is a huge question mark. We can't fight with the question mark right now."
by Edward Burke
After a wonderful 3-part fairy card reading (which I highly recommend) she left. I looked up and saw this fairy sitting on the card rack:
Here we are. On earth. Doing the best we can.
“A total solar eclipse reminds us that we are specks on a tiny orb in a vast universe, that our fates are intertwined. Our common humanity will be on display on August. 21, as millions of American join visitors from around the world for a singular cosmic spectacle. We’re all in this together. ”
