Mixed media collage by Becky Strahle at Farm Girl Paints
When your heart changes you see the world differently.
You see yourself differently.
You become stronger, wiser, braver, more compassionate, more lovely.
When you see yourself for who you could really be….the whole world opens up.
When the whole world opens up before you….you become brave…you begin to take steps to become the person that you really dream of becoming.
I love that my sweet friend Melody recently said that she just figured out that you can be brave and afraid at the same time!!
Don't you LOVE that!?
How true!
Being brave is taking the steps you need to when you don't know the outcome.
Fear could keep us from doing so much…but bravery is just taking that first step.
I am so proud that my friend Becky is beginning to take the steps to allow creating to be apart of her everyday life….and that she wants to share her creations with all of us.
Sometimes it just takes a step….one little step…that leads to really big and life changing joy!
I wanted you to get to know Becky a little better and then you can go over and check out her new Etsy shop!
What did you dream of being when you were a little girl?
I
always wanted to be something in the health field. I loved the idea of
helping people and making them feel better. When I was 13 I became a
candy striper:)
Have
you always had a creative voice, are you just finding it or are you
still figuring out the creative path you want to be on?
I'm
totally learning as I go along. I majored in Occupational therapy in
college. One of our first assignments was to build a step stool. This
was to teach us how to break a project down into steps or goals for our
patients. We had no instructions at all. It was a sink or swim kind
of thing. I of course painted and decorated mine really cute. This
started my love affair with crafting.
What inspired or encouraged you to open an Etsy shop and begin showing your art?
I
used to read blogs all of the time before I started mine. They
showcased their art and most had stores attached. I dreamed of someday
opening my own, but I knew I wanted to develop a "following" first and
I of course, still needed to figure out my own style. The timing just
seems right now.
Where do you create in your house?
we finished our basement I kept a whole section just for me. It has
linoleum, nice big windows and lots of light. A perfect spot for my
studio.
When do you find the time to create and how do you balance creating and your family life?
It's
tricky. I have a little one in half day Kindergarten, so that leaves
me a few hours a day. I create with my girls around too. They love to
see me paint and often want to paint too, which is what they are doing
in the background right now:)
How do you start your creative process and how to you focus to begin creative?
I'm totally inspired by words. So my starting point has been
inspirational sayings or phrases, then the image just kind of shows up
for me. I also get ideas from fashion magazines and music.
What do you dream of becoming when you "grow up"?
I
dream of following through with my dreams. I dream of God using all of
the gifts and talents he has given me. I dream of success and
contentment.
If you feel comfortable sharing with us….where do you see yourself creatively/professionally in five years?
I would love to be a successful artist with possible children's books, t-shirts, greeting cards etc… The
sky's the limit right??:) I have always wanted my own Farmhouse and
barn. I envision a crew of other artists working with me in a studio
in the barn, designing…laughing…having a blast creating
beautiful things.
What one word of advice would you give to women that are wanting to open a shop and share their art what would you say?
Do
it afraid! That's what I'm doing. You will never be truly ready or
feel good enough. Just go for it! What do you have to lose?
What steps are you taking to make your dreams come true?
It is OK to be brave and afraid..I don't think you would be normal without a little of both!!!
Thank you Miss Jeanne:) You are such a precious friend. I couldn’t have done this “brave” thing without your help. Love you bunches!!
what a great post about your friend Jeanne…Becky has a really sweet style…i really like the piece that you showed and “dream girl”…both sold…good for Becky:)
Oh, her art is really unique! I LOVE unique. My favorite is the Cheery Hat one. ADORABLE! Becky seems not only beautiful on the outside, but on the inside as well!
Yeah for Becky!!! I just love her! She would be an awesome children’s book artist!!
How are you doing Jeanne? I’m sure you’re crazy busy at this time of year…hope your week is going good…
🙂 T
Yay for Becky! She is amazing and I’m headed to her store and yours too! Have a great day!
Janet
I think you & Becky have something special in common: you are both truly inspiring ladies! Sweet post…I love visiting both blogs:)
I saw that first picture and KNEW it was Becky’s even before reading. I think THAT says something.
I love the last line of your blog–you do need both 🙂
Yeah for Becky… YOu know I love you two girls!!!
That collage is just the best. I love “Do it afraid”! Why have I never thought of it like that before right now? Thanks for this fun glimpse at the fantastic Becky!!
What an inspiration to me…you have just the right words!!!
Thanks…from the bottom of my heart!
Love ya
Janet
What a beautiful post Jeanne! I love it…and so excited for Becky!
I toatlly see Becky as a children’s book artist…how fun would that be!! I am so proud of her as well, I know she will do so awesome, great post once again Jeanne!!
Beautiful post Jeanne- so inspiring. Becky- Continue with your art- you have talent. Thank you Jeanne for the inspiration and creativity you share with all of us.
my heart is so full reading this post from 2 people that I love and admire so much! I wish you both so much success, so much joy, so much contentment. I love you so much! You’re such a gift to me and I admire both of your talents so much!
Thank you Jeannie for being the encouraging person you are to others.
I am soooo proud of Becky and her courage to go for her dreams.
Lee Ann
Thank you for introducing us to Becky! You know and meet such wonderful people. I suppose that is because you are such a nice, friendly, creative person as well! I love Becky’s dream. . .a farmhouse with a barn with a studio to invite creative people to use for fun creative collaborations. . . I’m off to check out her shop and blog!
How sweet, thank you for introducing her. You are a great friend. I am off to peek at her Etsy shop. 🙂
Smiles,
teresa
xo
i love the reminder of your post. there is a great poem by amelia earhart that talks of courage well, i think you’d like:
Courage is the price that
Life exacts for granting peace.
The soul that knows it not
Knows no release from little things:
Knows not the livid loneliness of fear,
Nor mountain heights where bitter joy can hear the sound of wings.
Nor can life grant us boon of living, compensate
For dull gray ugliness and pregnant hate
Unless we dare
The soul’s dominion.
Each time we make a choice, we pay
With courage to behold the resistless day,
And count it fair.
and jeanne, becky’s mixed media work is so fun, and i really like the line “do it afraid.”
well what do you know! I have read Becky’s blog for awhile now……and her me……didn’t even know you two new each other…….not surprised…….she is SO sweet…..as you are – your comment totally filled my heart with joy!
and yes, I would looovve to have you spend the day at the farm!!
Lovely post on Becky, Jeanne. I say good for her and keep painting!
Do it afraid! I love that mantra, may I borrow it? 🙂
I would love to read Becky’s books to my grandchildren to-be… we could imagine to play in the big red barn, and run across the fields of hay.
You are both amazing artists and women, thank you for sharing with us!
Mikal
Oh I am off for a visit…I love her blog so I know her etsy store will be amazing! What a lovely friend you are!
How sweet of you to introduce us to her…I’m off to take a peek at her etsy.
I love Becky and the things that she creates. It is so exciting that she took the leap and opened her own Esty shop and cool that you did this piece on her!
Jeanne,
I would like to say thank you for publishing this post on Becky, my wife, and for becoming a close friend and advisor as she starts this new journey.
I hope Becky and I get to meet your whole family some day.
I’d also like to know when you are going to publish a post about me? What about the husbands of all these talented, artsy, fartsy women?
To conclude, I’d like to say: “no pressure, no diamonds; keep moving forward; finish strong; and don’t tap-out.”
Peace.