Friday, April 18, 2014

The journey continues...
I was having a conversation with my son Jay, who is a Business Coach, and we were discussing what it is that makes him distinct from other coaches. Specifically it is his ability to "listen for what's missing."
The interesting thing is I was right in the middle of a struggle with my own dream, Bohemian Romance, the venue. So I asked my son, "What's missing?" and to my surprise he nailed it!
I was struggling with how to articulate the purpose of this venue and very simply he said "It's a place for ideas to arise. An artistic backdrop where one's own self expression can show up. A conduit for possibility."
Thanks Jay!

So as I continue in my quest to bring this vision about, I just want to remind you of the sale on my prints, buy one get one free, and the drawing for a free painting which will be held on April 30th.
Etsy

xoxo,
Susan

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Be Inspired!

It has been almost 2 years since my last post and obviously this is not good communication on my part. 

Yet here I am ready to serve! Truly, I am up to something that will really make a difference in the lives of women who have struggled with hardship.

Briefly, I'm in the early phase of putting together an exquisitely beautiful venue designed to serve and inspire.

Please read about it here: Bohemian Romance

In order to bring this about there is much required. I'm making a huge request of you; after looking at the website, please return here and give me your thoughts and suggestions. I'm open to hearing the creative ideas you may want to contribute to this extraordinary vision I'm inventing.

I've challenged myself to generate $30k in 30 days in order to build momentum with this project. How will I do this? My goal is to sell 1000 art prints in 30 days.

As an incentive I'm offering a "buy one get one free" sale on my 11x17 art prints from now until the end of April. Additionally, anyone making a purchase during this period will automatically be entered in a drawing where the winner will receive a free original painting* from my Etsy Store

The drawing will be held on April 30th, 2014.
If I succeed in selling 1/2 of the goal amount, $15k, there will be 2 names drawn.
If I make my goal of $30k there will be 3 names drawn. That is 3 original paintings* to give away!

For more chances to win, please post this on your blog or your facebook page and your name will be entered 2 times!

Be inspired :) 
Thank you for your continued support!
Susan

Please accept this free download of my 2014 Calendar....(if it's too small to print, let me know and I'll email you a bigger file)






Wednesday, September 12, 2012

I will be at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art gift store 

1130 State Street  Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 963-4364

 on Saturday October 13th from 12-5pm
The items I will be presenting include:

soaps

pillows




scarves/serapes


furniture


cards



I will also be featuring painted screens, as well as some prints of my original paintings....
hope you can drop by!

Peace and Love,
Susan



Sunday, August 14, 2011

Eydie Gorme - Send in the clowns.wmv


I have always LOVED this song, though I had never heard this rendition by Eydie Gorme. Also, I had no idea (until today) that this song was from a Broadway musical "A Little Night Music" by Stephen Sondheim. The music and lyrics are brilliant!
I have been working on a musical of my own for...oh, for a LONG time. Oh how I would love to have a number in my musical as poignant and memorable as this piece...
Isn't it rich?
Are we a pair?
Me here at last on the ground,
You in mid-air.
Send in the clowns.

Isn't it bliss?
Don't you approve?
One who keeps tearing around,
One who can't move.
Where are the clowns?
Send in the clowns.

Just when I'd stopped opening doors,
Finally knowing the one that I wanted was yours,
Making my entrance again with my usual flair,
Sure of my lines,
No one is there.

Don't you love farce?
My fault I fear.
I thought that you'd want what I want.
Sorry, my dear.
But where are the clowns?
Quick, send in the clowns.
Don't bother, they're here.

Isn't it rich?
Isn't it queer,
Losing my timing this late
In my career?
And where are the clowns?
There ought to be clowns.
Well, maybe next year.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Love can be messy

Monday, May 9, 2011

coming soon...

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Tuesday, March 22, 2011

peacocks and posies

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Thursday, February 17, 2011

Running Up That Hill (Deal with God) - Kate Bush

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Authentic Thursday week 8


Letting it fall apart….in our culture we try to “keep it together.” Looking good on the outside is overrated. Rather than admit we need help, many of us put on a good front…that is until we can’t fake it anymore. That’s where I was back in 2001. Everything in my life was falling apart and I couldn’t keep it together any more. Please see last weeks post so you will understand what’s going on in this post. I’m in the middle of a conversation with God.

So I say to god, “I’m not ready for this” and she says “Yes you are.” “She” you ask? Yes, my new god had a female voice. Actually she had my voice. The voice didn’t come from somewhere outside of me, rather, it came from deep inside of me. This very mature, sensible, complete and perfectly evolved part of me. She wasn’t going to let me go backward into ignorant bliss. Each time I began to panic, she would calm me down with a voice of reason. My thoughts were racing!!!
Who are you? “I am who you need me to be.” What about my belief as a Jehovah’s Witness? “That was what you needed at the time.” This means you could also be some malicious punishing god that burns people forever. “Why does fire scare you, is that the worst thing you can think of? You are eternal and fire cannot harm you. You are energy.”

Ok, so you think that’s weird? Then, (because I’m completely narcissistic) I say to god “I know things other people don’t know…” and god says “Yes you do know things others don’t. And they know things you don’t, you all need each other.” Why do I have to be an artist, I don’t want to be an artist. Why can’t I be a rich business person? “You chose this path.” No I didn’t, I didn’t ask to be born….long uncomfortable pause on god’s part, leaving me to fill in the blanks. I don’t like what she’s implying! Interpretation is open here. At the time I went through this conversation I understood this to mean that I had a pre-human existence, chose to be born and be on this journey. In fact, I still believe that. As a matter of fact god said “you came here to learn about love and jealousy.” Clearly I have a long way to go in that regard! As I review this very radical experience, as I write this post and see my words, and god’s words, I see possibility.

Well, let’s just say I continued to freak out with all of this new information. It took a good while to assimilate and digest this new concept of god. It was so foreign to my previous beliefs, yet so undeniably authentic. I continue to try and maintain an open mind and be tolerant of others beliefs. I realize that whatever concept another may have of god, though it may be completely different from my understanding, it is exactly how they need to understand god. It’s not my job to convert people into thinking like me. Still, I do hope what I’ve shared has resonated with some, and perhaps rattled a few cages. If you’re going through a spiritual crisis, you can survive. You may need help. So get help. It may be terrifying to let it fall apart, but sometimes it’s actually falling together. We all need each other…

Peace and Love,

Susan

Thursday, January 27, 2011

website

*update* My site has been transferred, so you should be able to type www.susanbrown.net and get my new site (aqua background). If you are still seeing the old site (black background) you will need to refresh your browser and hopefully the new site will appear.Thanks!

Authentic Thursday week 7


I want to conclude the story of my life this week. Of course it’s not the whole story, just an abbreviated version. I’ll be getting into the subject of “god” and that has me a little anxious. In the book, “Living Buddha, Living Christ”, Thich Nhat Hanh writes, “Discussing God is not the best use of our energy.” I agree. With that in mind, all I can do is share my experience regarding the spiritual/emotional side of life.

In September 2001, during a time when the US experienced a horrific attack, I was experiencing my own emotional breakdown. Things were ending for me. My dad had died the year before, my relationship was ending. I had left my religion, marriage and friends a few years before that, and ultimately had no God to turn to. I had started therapy but it wasn’t working fast enough. Plus I didn’t have the resources (money, health insurance) to get much of that kind of help. I was in absolute terror about my financial future and the future in general. My sister brought me to a 12 step meeting and when I saw and heard the word “God”, I knew there was no hope for me. If having a god in my life was the solution, I was screwed because I thought I knew all there was to know about such things.

I heard people sharing about “a god of your own understanding” and I thought “oh yeah, as if you can just decide for yourself who god is.” I didn’t believe it was possible to let go of my ideas and beliefs regarding this. I thought my god and religion were the only truths, absolute, set in stone. I didn’t want to go back to my religion, but I didn’t know how to move forward.

I really, really REALLY didn’t think I could go on living because I was so terrified. At the same time, I was afraid if I killed myself I would be transferred to another realm of eternal torment…not very promising. This is what you might call a spiritual crisis. I wanted desperately to be put in a hospital where I could be pumped full of drugs to shut off the chatter in my head.

I stayed up all night after that first 12 step meeting, (Friday September 28, 2001) just spinning in my head. I called my mom the next morning and informed her that I really couldn’t go on in this world, “you know how sad I’ve always been” I said, and she agreed. My sister lived downstairs from me and she came up and talked with me, and listened to me all day. I didn’t realize how much fear I had carried around most of my life. I shared with her a few things that had happened when I was a teenager…just a lot of fear and depression.

She could see how my current belief in god was keeping me in fear, and suggested that I find a new god. I wasn’t confident that I would be able to do this, but I did feel better by the end of the day. Not completely recovered, but better. The next day I went to another 12 step meeting and felt really connected to the group. By the end of the day I felt so peaceful. I thought maybe there was hope for me. That was September 30, 2001. The evening was really warm. I stood outside and looked at the stars and the moon and felt such utter and complete serenity, an absolute connection to the universe and all living things. At some point, in my state of new found bliss, I prayed. I asked this new god, whomever that might be, to review my life with me and show me where he (still patriarchal in beliefs) had been present in my journey. Suddenly I was terrified of what I had asked…I had opened a door to something new and “outside the box” of safe parameters that I had been accustomed to. Exactly who was I now praying to? The possibilities were endless. I quickly wanted to shut that door, but it would not be shut. I said I’m not ready for this. This new god said “yes you are.”

Ok, so I thought I would conclude this week, but look how much I’ve already written and there’s still a whole lot more to this conversation. Plus my arm is ready to fall off, carpal tunnel stuff.

I must leave you in suspense…next week for sure!

Much love,

Susan

Monday, January 24, 2011

website

*update* My site has been transferred, so you should be able to type www.susanbrown.net and get my new site (aqua background). If you are still seeing the old site (black background) you will need to refresh your browser and hopefully the new site will appear.Thanks!