My FACEBook Sabbatical by Joella Notte

It's time...it's really really time. I have decided to take a 60 day sabbatical from Facebook. Taking this time off to reconnect with what's real in life….Facebook has become a source of distraction, and at times has kept me from doing the things I know are important and keep my soul full.  I know I'm not alone in this and there's others out there but are too ashamed to say it.   It's embarrassing to admit but I think it's going to be really tough.  I'll miss waking up in the morning, checking in on my favourite Facebook friends and reading what's new with them throughout the day.  BUT this is something I've been wanting to do...needing to do, for a very long time now.  Yup, I'll miss sharing my inspirational messages, yummy recipes and videos with those of you who appreciate them.  However, I will still be sharing bits and pieces of my art and life through this blog which will automatically post to my FB page... in case you're interested.

Yes...I'm doing it, I really am doing it. Here’s my picture of proof! My last wall post for the next 60 days, made September 18th!

I have to admit...I'm already feeling a little disconnected.  Seconds before I posted this last post, my heart was pounding with fear and the uneasy thought that I would be forgotten, that my existence was somehow being jeopardised. I know....CRAZY!  But alas, I pushed the POST button and was relieved to find I was still all there, all ten fingers and toes and rather than fear, I felt instantly exhilarated. 

 This is the picture of me after I pressed the POST button.

Hey! Where did that sign come from?

 In my heart I knew this was the brave thing to do, this was what my soul needed. Yes. Deep deep down to the very corners of my soul, it was what I knew I needed.  For a very long time I've been hearing my heart whisper 'you should not be relying on facebook to determine your self worth. It is time for you to look at the world through your eyes'.

“It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.” Henry David Thoreau

How did I finally come to this decision?  I had been noticing I didn't have enough hours in the day to do the things or spend the time with people I used to enjoy.  I would procrastinate, thinking I should be doing more exciting worldly things...like my FUN facebook friends.  How embarrassing is that?  I was measuring my life's worth by others posts.  Don't get me wrong, I would love to see Paris and Italy like any other girl but it's not something I need or can do right now, and most of the time I'm OK with that...most of the time!  I was beginning to lose site of the real me, the me who is content to just be, enjoying the simple pleasures in life.

I was beginning to lose myself to the fictional life of facebook, where nothing is as it seems and people post only what they want the world to see, not the real stuff that goes on behind closed doors.  It always makes me sad to see friends who are going through hell in their personal lives, in a twisted kind of way, feel they must post HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY to the world.  There's something wrong with society, when we are taught to think any family having problems or are less than perfect must be disfunctional. But that's an entirely different matter and I'll leave that for someone else to write about. What I'm trying to say is we need to remember we're not getting the whole picture and should never compare our lives to those of our friends or acquaintances on facebook. 

Right Lucy?

 What is this fictional life we live on facebook?  What is the good of it?  Well it has it's perks... like keeping in touch with friends and family from afar.  For me I find it very useful in networking my art and posting the odd inspirational quote...maybe bringing a little sunshine to someones otherwise gloomy day.    

But even though FaceBook has it perks, I still feel the need to take a little needed break.  I long for the simple things, the things I haven't been making enough time for, like quiet intimate conversations with family and friends or sitting on the porch sipping lemonade, watching my gorgeous husband cutting the grass in his goofy hat.  He's gonna kill me when he sees this picture...sorry hubs!

I really need to LIVE a life I can LOVE…the life that was designed for only me. I  have known from a very young age that I was meant to create and make art. I also know in my heart of all hearts that I was designed to love DEEPLY.  I'm meant to live each day with PEACE, JOY, GRATITUDE and BLISS and share as much of it as I can with others.  The essence of my being is happiest when I'm living a quiet, authentic, simple life surrounded by nature and those I love and who love me . How do I know these things?  Because sometimes when I'm feeling lost and confused I get really really quiet and listen to the silence...shutting off all the jib jabber of  my mind.  This is where I find my TRUTH, the honest answers to life's toughest questions...from the centre of my being.

Searching the outside world for answers is like being given three different life manuals, each with very different instructions...can you say CONFUSION?

Here are a few things my HEART has being trying to tell me for so long!

~Stop living the life you think others want you to live~

~Spend more time making art from the heart (haha that rhymes)~

~Reach out and re-connect with family and friends~

~Show your husband how much you cherish him~

~Focus more on your health by practicing meditation and yoga~

~Get off FACEBOOK for awhile and get QUIET in your thoughts~

What will I be doing during my sabbatical from Facebook? 

Nurturing the relationships I hold close to my heart :)  Going for long walks. ART. I have just recently started selling my work at the FLOWER FOREST and would like to do my best to make a go of it. I will also be working on my One Artsy Chick gift card line. I am hoping to share more of myself on this blog.  I will be practicing my yoga and meditation on a regular basis, connecting with my inner truths, finding my peaceful place. filling my mind, body and spirit with yummy and delicious emotional, spiritual and physical nourishment.  I've still got so many broken peaces that need to be healed, the day to day hurts that need forgiveness. I will let myself be sad when I need to and be silly when I want to.  AND all of this will be done with my eyes wide open... when my soul tells me it's the right time.

So my friends, the ones who really love me and can't live without me (big sigh)...please  follow my journey.  I will do my best to write on my blog each week. For those of you who relate and are finding yourselves right where I am today...my hope is that through this experience I can help you in some small way, stop and look around at what's going on in the real world in your real relationships, the ones that really matter and most of all to be GRATEFUL for what you have...EVERY day be grateful.  My biggest wish for myself and you my lovelies is that we make each day count, paying attention to those around us and living what is in our hearts, what is REAL.

  I will miss keeping up with you on Facebook.  Please email or call and if you do happen to post to my wall, your comments will eventually be delivered to me through HTML :) 

Stay True 

xoxox

You Are Loved

Title:  You Are Loved

Medium: Mixed Media

Size: 6x6

Artist: Joella Notte

Love Always

I've always loved the romance of vintage. This piece was inspired by a very talented hat designer. One day I will purchase one of her little lovelies, until then painting them will just have to do.

 Title: Love Always   Medium: Mixed Media   Size: 6x6

Healing Prayer Flag

I haven't been feeling myself lately and decided to make a prayer flag asking for health and healing. To some this may just look like a pretty pieces of coloured cloth with funny writing on it. The symbols i've chosen are powerful reiki symbols believed to produce a spiritual vibration that is activated and carried by the wind across the countryside. This is my silent prayer to be spoken on the breath of nature.

Yoga Bracelets

If you just can't live without one of my Yoga Bracelets, I accept PayPal...so inbox me, you're worth it!!!

Cottage Visitors

This little cutie is known to our golden retriever as Mr. Chippy.  He and his friends keep our dog Gracie very busy running from tree to tree in hopes of catching one of them. Thankfully, they are too quick for her to catch but oh how they love to tease her with their playful nature.

This lovely couple have been hanging in our bay for a while now, they seem to like Gracie, wish we had pics of them swimming around her...you've got to see it to believe it.

we all need a little alone time. No worries, his little lady is not far away...

she would be crazy to leave a handsome fellow like this for too long. 

It's always an adventure out at the lake, maybe next weekend our family of otters will drop by or our old friend Mr. Turtle !   

GIVEAWAY - Precious Stone Bracelet

To Enter this Giveaway you can do 1 or more of the following:

1. If you're not a fan already please click the 'LIKE' tab at the top of my One Artsy Chick Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/OneArtsyChick and leave a comment on my wall about the contest!

2. Share this contest with your facebook friends by copy and pasting the following to your wall:

GIVEAWAY going on at One Artsy Chick Studio.  Check it out by clicking on the following link http://www.facebook.com/OneArtsyChick and 'LIKE' her funky page !!!  Be sure to leave a wall post, letting Joella know I sent you and we'll be entered to win.

3. Are you a BLOGGER? Post a GIVEAWAY shout out to your friends with a link to this post.  Ask them to leave a comment with their name and yours and you'll both be entered to win!

The winner will be names on my Facebook page Monday, June 13th!

NOTE:  Facbook is in no way affiliated with this giveaway.

GOOD LUCK!

Precious Stone Wrist Malas

Apple Green Magnasite Wrist Mala with Buddha Pendant

This mala is made of 18 10mm beads adorned with a pewter buddha pendant. 

It has a soothing vibration, and when used for meditation it will help you tune into the energy of your heart allowing your mind to respond to the desires of the heart. This will guide you to live your life in alignment with your hearts needs and aspirations. 

It is also a strong stone for creative visualization and imagination. Promotes positive attitude, relaxation, calmness; helps fearfulness and irritability.  Aids healing in the areas of the gall bladder, migraines, vascular, stomach, blood clots, magnesium deficiency and lowers cholesterol.

Natural Jade Wrist Mala with Love Pendant

This Mala is made of 21 8mm jade beads adorned with a round 'Love' pendant.

Jade in addition to it's special healing qualities attracts love, friendship and brings good luck, soothes the mind and releases negative thoughts.

Jade has healing qualities that will aid in the healing of stitches, rebinds skeletal and cellular systems, and is good for releasing toxins from the body.

Turquoise Quartz Wrist Mala with 'Hope' pendant.

Quartz is a stone of clarity which dispels negativity and clears away negative energy. It enhances creativity, spiritual growth, spirituality and wisdom.  It can also help particularly with concentration, studying, and retaining what one learns. Quartz is also a stone of harmony because it balances energies, and is even helpful in romantic relationships.

Quartz is a Master Healer stone, and is known to be particularly effective for chronic fatigue, arthritis, bone injuries, depression, diabetes, fibromyalgia, intestinal troubles. It also is said to improve mental and physical energy, stamina, and physical strength .

Handmade Meditation Journal

Finally, I got around to making myself a meditation journal this past weekend.  How did i do it?

Well, I started out by disassembling an old hardcover book and created personalized pages for the inside. After I was done my artsy cover, I then nailed holes through the front and back covers, as well as the inside pages.  I then lovingly stitched the entire thing together and voila...my very own Meditation Journal.

Mindfulness is being in the moment and having an awareness of where we have been (reflection) and where we are going (our goals). A meditation journal can help us with all of these areas of awareness, helping us to have a more unified awareness of ourselves.

 When we sit down after meditation and take a few minutes to journal about our experience, it gives us an idea about how effective our meditation that day was.

If we look at our experience, honestly and with a desire to learn, then we become much more aware of what our meditation practice is all about. Through journaling, we can become more aware of both our weaknesses and strengths, having a much better understanding of what we need to work on.

 

A journal also allows us to take a peek back at our experiences, and how they have changed over a period of time. We can review several days, weeks, or months uncovering the patterns our consciousness follows. Perhaps we’ll discover that we are trying too hard, or that we're putting blocks up in the way of our success.

Lastly, journaling can help us set goals.  Setting goals through meditation, can help us to develop a stronger sense of where we want to go, and how we're going to get there. Through looking back at our past experiences we can see what we need to work on to improve or what blocks need to be removed. Perhaps it’s forgiveness or patience that we need to develop. Perhaps it’s more persistence. Or more calmness. Whatever changes we want to make, having clear goals will help us realized our dreams. Our goals become a magnetic force, allowing us to travel through our experiences, in order to get where we truly want to be in life.

If you would like to order a personalized journal, please inbox me with details :) I promise you won't be disappointed.  

Hope in the City Fundraiser

Hope in the City Breast Cancer Fundraiser was a BIG success and an amazing night for all.
 

Myself and five friends, dolled ourselves up...don't we look smashing?

The experience in one word...BREATHTAKING.

I had so much fun making my purse.  Yup...it's a bra!  Oh la la!!!

At the end of the night, each one of us received this beautiful and very yummy plate of goodness!!!

Next year...same time same place ?  I can only HOPE :)

Silver Summer Pretties

Bring on the sunshine...step out into summer with some pretty silver bling !!!  These can be purchase through Naked Noth Gallery & Gifts.  Can't get to our little wilderness city in Canada? Inbox me... shipping is free !!!

Brave Girls Club - Soul Restoration

Hello my lovelies!  Have you heard about the awesome inspirational, soul quenching club called Brave Girls?  If you're into healing and finding your true self, Soul Restoration is for you!  It's not too late to register, the closing date is May 1!  All of us Brave Girls are having a blast and learning sooooo much about ourselves...we'd love you to join us!!  Find out about Soul Restoration 1 and 2 here

'Believe' Mixed Media Painting

Listen to Your HEART.  Work towards your DREAMS. Anything is possible.  You just need to BELIEVE!

Inspired by Kelly Rae's book "Taking Flight" mixed media collage. 

Meditation Malas

Turquoise Quartz Mala

The Mala is made with 108 8mm turquoise quartz precious stone beads a chain tassel with pewter guru bead.

The Mala is made with 108 8mm natural yellow jade beads and handmade tassel with a pewter guru bead.

Jade is a symbol of serenity and purity. It signifies wisdom gathered in tranquility. It increases love and nurturing. A protective stone, Jade keeps the wearer from harm and brings harmony. Jade attracts good luck and friendship. It stabilises the personality and promotes self-sufficiency. Soothes the mind, releasing negative thoughts. Stimulates ideas. A “dream stone”, Jade brings insightful dreams. It aids emotional release, especially of irritability. Jade encourages you to become who you really are.

Jade aids the body’s filtration and elimination organs. It is excellent for treating kidney problems and adrenal glands. Jade removes toxins, rebinds skeletal and cellular systems, and heals stitches. It assists fertility and childbirth. Jade balances body fluids.




This mala has 108 handmade clay beads in honeysuckle, a gunmetal focal bead and tassel made from lavender silk embroidery thread.  Very chic !

This Mala is made up of 108 handmade clay beads in turquoise with a antique gold focal bead and from that hangs a handmade tassel made of silk embroidery thread in hex.

Tassel Necklaces

Love how these tassels gently sway upon their silver chains, adding a modern, polished, yet highly feminine and graceful sway to your step. Sure to accent any mood, look or occasion.

Hope you love my lovelies !!!  If you're interested in purchasing either of these pieces, don't wait too long, they sell fast !

Charm Me Necklaces

Spring Leaves Charm Necklace

Spring Flowers Charm Necklace

Dragonfly Charm Necklace

Butterfly Charm Necklace