Art to Inspiration: Floral Fashion Alice in Wonderland-Styled Edition
Have you ever looked at a work of art that sparked your imagination and creativity? It might be the merging of colors, the textures, the eccentric imagery or just the statement it makes in simplicity – inspiration is everywhere and whatever makes you stop and look twice can be inspiration that you infuse into your own art & life.
Art to Inspiration is a collaborative blog series started by Supal of Chevrons and Eclairs. Every month she sends out a work of art that serves as a creative spark and asks others to respond with their interpretation of the piece, whether through a fashion collage, quote or an original work. You can join in on the fun by signing up here.
November’s art is entitled “The Other Side” and is by an artist named Linda Monfort. You can find more of her work which she describes as “Modern abstract expressionism” at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/lindamonfort
I love the freedom of the floral painting and the merging of bright and soft colors that make it feel dreamy, romantic and feminine. Here’s my fashionable interpretation of this painting (pictured at the top of the post)…
1. The painting reminded me of this floral “Calooh! Callay!” dress I had seen (and stared longingly at;) at Shabby Apple from their Mad Hatter Collection inspired by Alice in Wonderland. I love the shades of periwinkle and violet that create movement much like the painting…. Continue Reading »
Inspiration from my Youth Website DreamerENT.com: Disney’s Dreamers Academy, Jillian Jensen’s Story and More
I’m always inspired by young people who follow their dreams and serve others right where they are. Here are some of my favorite recent stories from my youth motivation website DreamerENT.com:
Jillian Jensen Shares Her Story of Facing Bullying & Inspires Us Singing Who You Are on X Factor
One of the most touching moments on this season of X Factor was when 19-year-old Jillian Jensen gave her moving version of the song “Who You Are” and shared her emotional story of facing bullying in high school…
Opportunity: Pursue Your Dreams & Apply for Disney’s Dreamers Academy
Steve Harvey and Essence Magazine are looking for Dreamers for next year’s Disney Dreamers Academy where you can get the tools to help make their dreams come true…
Olympic Inspiration: Gabrielle Douglas Tells Her Story
“…Everything is possible and just to go out there and fight. If you have this dream, just go out there and don’t be scared. Always be courageous and strong, and don’t fear. Anything is possible if you put your mind to it.”
– Gabrielle Douglas in an interview with Essence Magazine
16-year-old Gabrielle Douglas shares her story of perseverance that led her to the Olympics…
Book Pick for Teens: Finding the Perfect Wave by Cheri Miklich
Finding the Perfect Wave is a great book that dives into the world of Alli Whitton, a 17-year-old avid surfer who seems to have it all together. When tragedy and change crashes into her world she has to learn to readjust, and to boldly face the rough trials in her path…
Find Your Purpose & Build Your Business: Dare Dreamer Show Interview with Author & Financial Expert Glinda Bridgforth
On this episode of the Dare Dreamer Show I get to speak to Glinda Bridgforth, a renowned financial expert, author and speaker who talks about finding your passion, starting a business, building your brand and overcoming obstacles when following your dreams. Be inspired as she shares insight for you to go beyond daydreaming to daring to take action:
More About Glinda Bridgforth
Click here to watch Glinda help families overcome their debt on Oprah’s Debt Diet
Glinda Bridgforth is a leading financial expert who explores the emotional and cultural factors that block financial success. She brings over 30 years of experience to her consulting practice, Bridgforth Financial & Associates, LLC, and specializes in a holistic approach to money management. Bridgforth is the author of: Girl, Get Your Money Straight! and with Gail Perry-Mason, she coauthored Girl, Make Your Money Grow!. Her most recent release is entitled, Girl, Get Your Credit Straight!. All of her books are Essence bestsellers.
Bridgforth has been featured in USA Today, Essence, Ebony, Money, Black Enterprise, and Jet magazines, and has been featured on television and radio shows nationwide including Oprah, The Today Show, Larry King Live, CNN, ABC News Now and Fox Business News.
She was honored as an “Influential African American” on the highly rated radio program, The Steve Harvey Morning Show. Bridgforth was one of the featured coaches on Oprah’s widely popular, six-part series “America’s Debt Diet.” She conducts workshops and lectures around the country. In 2007 she completed a four-city national tour as a keynote speaker with Bishop TD Jakes’ BEST Conferences.
Find more inspiration in other Dreamfleur Interviews:
Discovering Your Creative Calling: Soul Dreamer Interview with Visual Artist Tony Snipes
“What is it that you love doing that you wouldn’t even have to have anybody pay you for?” – Tony Snipes
Tony Snipes, a visual artist gives advice to other artists on discovering their creative purpose… Read More »
Dreamfleur Interview With Jenna Lucado Bishop – Dreaming On In Life & Faith
”If you are going through a dry time, stop, take a deep breath, and smile. God is using ALL things, even “darker” days, for His good. He is molding and shaping your heart. You are a constant work in progress.” – Jenna Lucado Bishop.
Recently on Dream in Soul I interviewed Jenna Lucado Bishop who took the time to answer some of my questions on dreams and purpose. I was so blessed by her encouragement and what she shared… Read More »
Renaissance of a Woman Interview with Sibylla Nash, Author and Entrepreneur
Sibylla Nash gives advice to aspiring authors and shares how she balances many hats and passions…
Arise & Shine Dare Dreamer: Unearth Your Buried Dreams – Diary of an Inspirational Singer & Songwriter
Who says you have to be perfect to pursue your passion? One of my mottos is to follow the dreams in your heart no matter how impossible or lofty they may seem or how afraid you may be or unqualified you may feel. A few months back I began Project Stretch & Grow: Diary of a Renaissance Dreamer-in-Progress and began following some of the creative passions in my heart, from theater to dance. As I mentioned I wanted to share the journey of discovery here to encourage others to follow their creative passions.
It wouldn’t be right for me to encourage others to unearth their buried dreams then for me to keep mine hidden…so here’s a sneak peek at one of mine that I’ve been developing and bringing to light the past couple of months – music. Ever since I was a little girl I dreamed of singing & inspiring others through songwriting.
Music to me is a powerful language that can uplift, impact and inspire. I had always been afraid to follow my passion for music in shyness & fear that I wasn’t good enough but now am okay with sharing the process and my weaknesses; no one who starts out in anything is perfect – just begin somewhere and do it passionately imperfectly as you learn and grow.
Over the past couple of months I finally got the courage to pursue this passion more seriously and finding resources and help from others. I fearfully went through a lengthy audition process with an inspirational music company and after much self-doubting but boldness a dream I had always imagined but didn’t think was really possible came to life when I was signed as an artist on their roster. That was a spark of encouragement to me to believe that this vision can become more that I think I can do on my own if I give it over to God…
Follow me on my journey of unearthing and growing my buried dream of sharing inspiration through music. I’m starting out with a passion and a seed of a vision, improving and learning as I go along from vocal lessons to recording sessions and want to share the process, imperfections and all, to encourage you to also delve boldly into your own passions even while you’re afraid and still developing. Above is a sneak peak of “Arise and Shine (Dare Dreamer)”, an in-progress rough preview of a song I’m writing dedicated to young people I hope to inspire…
I wrote this song to dedicate to girls I meet at conferences I speak at, people I come across in life who have lost hope and to also share my story of coming awake. Over the past year or so I’ve been on a journey of learning more about songwriting and am taking some vocal lessons to develop (and boy is there a lot to learn). I recorded this at home and will be continuing lessons & later working with some amazing people on a “studio version,” but you get to have the in-progress sneak peek of the first verse and chorus!:)
What is a dream you’ve buried, and what’s one step you can take today to begin unburying it? I’d love to hear, share it in the comments!
(P.S. In the video I’m wearing the “Arise & Shine” T-shirt from my inspirational clothing line Envibrance Dream Apparel, click here to get a shirt that inspires:).
Arise & Shine (Dare Dreamer) Lyrics
Verse 1
A girl lost in the dark of night
Minus dad, misunderstood
I see the same equation multiplied throughout her hood;
She thinks she’s worthless, without a purpose
So she gives her heart away
Divides her treasures for empty pleasures
Tries to hide and numb her pain
Fear adds to her emptiness
She was made for something greater than this…
Chorus
Arise and shine
O Sleeper open up your eyes
You’re full of life
So don’t turn off your light
Lost hopes and tears of all the years
Have left you low and dry
But you’re not alone, have faith, hold on
And look up to the sky
Arise and Shine
Dear Dreamer, can’t you see
You’re full of purpose and possibility
So arise and shine o sleeper
Don’t give up now, dare, dreamer
Arise and shine look up and come alive…
For More Inspiration on Unearthing Your Dreams Check Out:
To Boldly Go Where You’ve Always Imagined…
There are those dreams you are responsible for bringing to fruition in a sense; things you want to create, experience and learn how to do. “I want to (insert activity here)… someday.” Why not now, why not today?
HeartBlooms: Give Your Dreams Some Love – Dreams in Due Season: A Poem & Message to Encourage
Those dreams in your heart are there for a reason, though you get weary don’t give up on your purpose…
The Dreamer Rejuvenation Project: Move More, Sit Less to Get Your Creativity Refreshed (& Cooper Aerobics Guest Blog)
Above: A Renaissance-inspired chalk drawing my friends and I created in high school dedicated to the Vitruvian Man (don’t worry he’s holding a bowl of fruit in front of him;) – or in this case the Vitruvian Dreamer with my additions of the moon, stars, landscape and soaring bird. Leonardo Di Vinci’s work, with the attention to detail and anatomical accuracy, is one example of the merging of art and science during that period.
Along with my passion for all things creative, I’ve also felt called to encourage artists and dreamers of all types to take care of their bodies better – how can you create well if you’re not feeling well, and what’s the good of making a masterpiece if you’re minimizing your optimal years here and ignoring the beauty in the health of your body?
My conviction for health started with my own experiences and story, realizing how my daily habits were the cause of stress and avoidable ailments that often slowed down my productivity (including blogging) and made me pursue the art of creative wellness. My long-term aim is to create a unique approach to taking care of your body – moving more, eating right – that is less intimidating & drudging. Health shouldn’t be a nuisance to your schedule and pleasure, but an intentional, integral and balanced part of being a creative dreamer who respects and lives life in full color in all areas.
Believe me I know the dread of wanting to lay on the bed instead of getting up for that work out, or the lure of those crunchy munchies (I’ll just have one more:). My dream is once day to encourage others, and myself to see the beauty in their bodies and in healthy living, and move away from the standard of unbridled indulgence our society sets (another helping of “processed-ness” anyone?)
I’ve started the Dreamer Rejuvenation Project on the blog to creatively share tips for others (and myself) to make those changes (you know those ones I’m talking about) that will help you feel better and be better for the long run.
Above: A picture from a beauty, health and wellness event I hosted at my University a few years back called “Royal Rejuvenation,” one of the inspirations behind this new series.
This summer as part of my public health program I got to intern at The Cooper Institute, an amazing research and educational organization that encourages a whole lifestyle of living well, eating better and moving more. Cooper Aerobics, the overall organization, was founded by Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper, M.D. who is called the “Father of Aerobics,” an Air Force physician who became a forerunner of providing evidence for the role of exercise in preserving health.
During my time at Cooper I got to meet amazing people along with learning about and experiencing various facets of what goes on there, from visiting the fitness center to blogging for their new healthy lifestyle website TodayIWill.com. I wanted to share my first blog here, on the importance of limiting your couch and desk potato tendencies.
As a creative I spend so many hours sitting at my desk, drawing, blogging, designing, writing – the list goes on. I’ve been feeling the effects of all of those hours of inactivity, and learning all about how harmful sitting really is – it doesn’t do the body good. Here’s my blog describing the effects of prolonged sitting and ideas to get your own potato out of that chair to get rejuvenated…
Click here to read my post “Don’t Be a Desk Potato: Ways to Get Moving…” on the Cooper Institute blog
