Louis is back in the saddle again biking for a cure with
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training.
Please visit his site to learn more about the program and to make a donation,
or maybe you are ready to join him on the ride - 100 miles of gorgeous
Lake Tahoe scenery with a fun group of truly inspirational folks.
So go check it out, there’s still time to get involved
with this life transforming experience!

Another way to contribute is to shop on his Amazon.com affiliate store
for your books and electronics.
He will pass on to the The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
the entire referral fee received from Amazon (4%-6% of every purchase).
So start shopping here. Thank you for your support!

Visit our booth this Saturday, February 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
& Sunday, February 7 from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m.
at the Seaside Lagoon where I will be offering:

Mini Reflexology sessions for only $20.00

Joining me will be Lucia Galante Johnson of Reiki Center who will be offering:

Mini Reiki sessions for $20.00 as well.

I look forward to seeing you there! Best Wishes, Donna

donna@solegarden.com * (310) 386-5659

For more information visit - http://www.redondo10k.com/expo.html

Recently I had the opportunity to re-connect with the kind and friendly Michelle Love, an  inspired designer of clothing, costumes, belly dance ensembles, finely etched leather goods, and a variety of exquisitely designed home furnishings. Down a green and glorious path flanked with fragrant jasmine and vibrant purple clematis, she welcomed me into her place of creation. Upon entering you are met immediately with the impressive presence of her huge cutting table.  Precisely placed packets of various projects in their many stages of evolution lay stacked along the perimeter seemingly overseen by a completely serious commercial sewing machine on the opposite side of the room.

One could sense just standing there in that space that a great amount of heart and soul must have been poured into each individual garment she had created. Her surname obviously not a misnomer, she seems to infuse love and great care into everything she fashions.

And aren’t these pattern weights fantastic? She told me a friend brought them to her long ago from Burma - Very old and surprisingly heavy, their original use being opium weights - hmm - fascinating…

To see her portfolio or to consult with her regarding a special project you may have, call or email:

Michelle Love at (310) 780-6382, mlove90277@yahoo.com

Entwined - that is what we are. And when something happens to one it affects the whole. Subtly sometimes and at other times cataclysmic. Precisely why with the event of the recent earthquake in Haiti, it has been difficult for so many to not become completely consumed with the intense, multi-levels of pain these people so far away have had to withstand. According to the dictionary, empathy is ” the intellectual identification with or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another.”A state of consciousness most humans share. The definition doesn’t seem to differentiate between identifying with others only in light of positive or negative circumstances, so that says to me that either could be present and one could still be “empathetic.”

After the paralyzing shock of hearing such news, whether it be the devastating chain of events occurring in Haiti or anywhere else in the world right now or any other time, a fog seems to roll over those of us who might not be immediately affected but who are still connected by that human link. We might get very wrapped up in the perceived feelings of the people actually going through the situation that we lose sight of our own path for awhile. We feel sorry, we feel a deep sense of loss, we cry, we make phone calls and commiserate, and we try to make sense of it all. We take action, send money, maybe collect food and clothing, doing what we can to help.

It is interesting the things that we think or feel during times of great tragedy. Some of us feel guilty - for being spared maybe, for living and enjoying our lives, for carrying on. After all, how can we celebrate our promotion, our husband’s birthday, the sale of our artwork when so many people are suffering out there? But we must continue to move forward not only for ourselves but for the good of the whole. There is time for empathy and experiencing the sadness, and then there is time for empathy and spreading the love and light. Hold some of those faces you’ve been seeing online in your eyes and in your heart and send them love. That is what they need from us right now. Wish them peace and strength and shower them with warm golden and green light. And in your minds eye reach out and hold their hand, give them a warm, comforting embrace and a sweet caring smile. You need to spread the light. It is an extremely important job that the world needs always but especially in times of crisis. You share the pain, then you share love and celebrate lives.

I am very excited to announce my new class being offered at the Reiki Center.

Restoring Vitality with Foot Reflexology

Come learn this powerfully transformative therapeutic modality
and see how it can enhance your well-being and that of the people you work on.

Where: Reiki Center 1848 South Elena, Suite F
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Dates: 2 Consecutive Saturdays, 1/16 and 1/23/2010
Time: From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: $195.00 (Price includes 5 laminated charts)
A $50.00 deposit is required to hold your spot
To register go online to the Reiki Center site here or call (310) 375-3755
For additional details on the class you may email me here.

Located a couple blocks from the beach in beautiful Riviera Village,
Reiki Center is an inviting and inspiring environment which
should prove a most enjoyable venue
in which to teach, learn, exchange ideas, and meet new people.

Owner and Reiki Master Lucia Galante Johnson is as warm and genuine as they come, and she has created an atmosphere of peace where you feel kindly embraced as soon as you pass over the threshold.

“Reiki Center is a full service treatment center offering
traditional Usui Reiki from the introductory level on up
to the Masters degree. Mentoring programs are also
available to qualified students.

Reiki Center also offers classes in Reiki Drumming,
Angel Reiki (Intuitive work), Retreats to sacred locations.
Reiki for Children and Teens coming soon!”

Whether it is sketches etching out the feel of the beat of Istanbul, the arcs and waves of ink in cascades of flowing feminine locks, angry women in party dresses or miles of glorious poppies like the gorgeous piece above, I am always intrigued to see what Samantha Zaza has to share for the day. Her art is inspiring, whimsical, informative and filled with heart. I am moved by the movement she creates atop a plain flat surface - just beautiful - and her words enable me to see, smell and taste of new lands near and far - go visit her sites and explore …

Before it gets popped in the mail, here is my December mailing for a new Texas connection made from the Benevolent Postcard Society. It feels so good to be drawing again!

This was November’s, and here was October’s

I received this David LaChapelle from a lovely woman in Paris - I dub her “Couture Ballerina Bearing Gifts of Flowers and Kittens”, and here she rests perched upon my living room altar.

And here she is as “Caged Ballerina With Henckel” - strategically shot in my KitchenAid alla my sweet creative boy Adam

This water color was sent to me last month
from a BPS Secret Society Member who resides on the Northern Coast of California.
An inspired painting exemplifying their love of the beach in Fall.

I am so loving this postcard exchange experience. Both fun to create, share and form new alliances with folks around the world, as well as receive happy surprises in my mailbox from the kind hearts of strangers!

Greetings!
Join me at the Many Faces of Art this coming Saturday
where I will be showcasing the fine art of Reflexology by providing
10 and 20 minute mini sessions throughout the day.
(Enjoy a great savings at only $1 per minute!)
Come sample the wonderful aromas of Sole Garden Natural Body Products
and while your there, don’t forget to enter our drawing:

Back to back one-hour Reflexology sessions for you and a friend !

Take some time out of your day to enjoy fine art, food, fun and of course RELAXATION in this gorgeous setting with it’s amazing beach cities views!
I look forward to seeing you there!
Best Wishes, Donna

Fifty percent of all proceeds will be donated to 1736 Family Crisis Center

For directions to the Faire click here

The beginnings of juicy goodness at Orly’s Attachment Theory Workshop

Had a blast with Mom, and friends old and new enjoying a six hour Art Journaling extravaganza as only Orly can pull off so seamlessly and deliciously!

What fun - the day started with an introductory exploration with friendly strangers (my table buddy Brian had great energy to share space with throughout the day), and proceeded with other thought provoking prompts, exploration of new mediums, a fantastic group of people which enhanced the really wonderful feeling in the room (although we were all somewhat introspective which was exactly where it needed to be I suppose), and an out of this world middle eastern feast!

Looks quite tasty doesn’t it? It was, and this is all that was left!

Not to be confused with scrap booking, Art Journaling is something quite different.
I will let Orly explain it briefly to you here though, as she surely knows better then I.

This was another table mates portfolio of journaling materials - a fabulous image she let me photograph. Everyone had their own way of organizing their bits of life that would at some point find their way on the glorious blank pages. And if we didn’t have much to work with or that exact thing that would bring our composition to the next level, Orly had quite a grand selection of ephemera (new word for me) to amuse us. So much enticing stuff to wade through. She got me to see ticket stubs and grocery lists in a whole new light.

Orly holds several classes throughout each week - go here to see her present schedule. If you happen to be in the Port Townsend, Washington area October 21 to 25 - don’t miss the opportunity to sit in on her class at Journalfest - both mood altering and potentially life changing, not to mention just pure unadulterated fun - she is a very warm, funny, engaging and entertaining girl !

My last page of the day on patterns and combining patterns with others to make entirely new patterns. Only four pages and not even entirely completed in six hours - a lovely way to relax and go deep or stay light - whichever serves you in that moment. You should try it sometime.