i had the idea to start working with little ones about art and empowerment when i came across your Mermaid Warrior classes. i was floored by the ease with which you weave your loving wisdom with artful freedom and the way the girls just open and bloom in that environment. i was several months off from actually beginning my summer camp at my home studio. when i saw the MiniMermaids camp i had a chance to dip back into the Mermaid Waters and soak up more of the ideas, music, loving kindness and general fun this time side by side with my little girl. we LOVED it! she’s my little assistant now.

as i held the camp last summer i found my feet and just fell in love with the girls and the techniques and our own little forest fairy excursions. i was encouraged to have a short fall camp around Thanksgiving break and to apply for the 6 week Enrichment program at my daughter’s school. that class is nearing its end now and we’re planning another camp for the Spring break.

i look back over the past year and discover that i’ve had this whole journey of self discovery. how did the Universe KNOW my inner little girl NEEDED this? ahhhh divine wisdom… permission, play, encouragement, brave art is indeed healing my own heart. i had no idea how the Universe was turning me towards my own healing and showing me my best self until I was brainstorming about the next camp and started noticing how excited I am about reliving all of these little girl things and how centered that made me feel. like i am right where i am supposed to be… now THAT’S empowerment!

-from the wonderful julee at heartcollective.

i have a new option for my warrior class
that starts oh so soon.

the video package is for those
who just want to partake in the
video portion of the class, for a smaller
price.

these 9 videos include:

*easy to follow step by step art projects

*inspiration galore: think homemade faeries
and wood nymphs, funky bohemian jewelry,
pixie rings and hair accessories, art journaling,
experimentation with different mediums,
and much more!

*gentle guidance on how to lead your own
little mermaid into making art with confidence
and joy

*helpful discussions on real girl issues such
as fitting in, bullying, comparing oneself and art
to others, doing art for the joy of it, and tips on
becoming strong in your own way and time.

if you would like hear some
words from students who took the first
class, go here.

its going to be lots of fun!

as for your creative assignment for the day:
pick a partner to do a cd swap with.

this is one of my most FAVORITE creative activities.
i love to listen to good tunes while i make stuff,
and it is inspiring and energizing when someone else
introduces you to new music.

people seem to take the class for a myriad of reasons.
here are some of theirs and mine combined into
one happy list:

why take the warrior class?

because you want to learn how to inspire and teach your own
crop of mini mermaids.

because you want to nurture and delight the little girl in you.

because you are a teacher and you are looking for new ideas
for your kids.

because you are a mom and looking for new ideas with your
kids.

because you are a mom and you want to find new ways
to connect with your girls. (you can take the class together! many do)

because something tells you inside that this may be a
good thing for you, but you don’t know why.

because it would be fun.

because it may change your life.

because it may help change the worlds
of those around you.

because it just may change the world.

at least a little bit.
but every bit counts, no?

mermaid warrior students feel free to add your own.
also, i don’t mind answering your personal questions
about the class via email,
but it would be great if you could ask on my blog
so everyone can see.
(because you may have the same questions!)

************

creative assignment: do one small thing today purely for the fun of it. because you can and i said so.

this is one of my students that i have the pleasure of working with on tuesdays. last week we made heart garlands, and she had the idea of making a heart necklace. so that was our project today.

of course i leave THE ENTIRE BOX of goodies i had put together for the necklaces at home: felt, pretty colored thread, large needles, buttons, and fabric. yep, today was one of those days. i keep a big box of extra art loot in the back of my truck just for this reason. because i am always forgetting something!

the impromptu project included: funky patterned paper, rub-ons (letters, etc,) scissors, a tiny hole puncher, and twine.

we cut the hearts out first. my little student got a bit frustrated at first because the hearts need to be on the small side. (she is 6) at one point she said, “my hearts are funny-looking and yours are perfect!”….

i explained that i have been obsessed with cutting hearts for 36 years, and to be patient with the process.

even when kids get angry i know it is tempting to do it for them, but i feel it is important to let them do it themselves.

if their motor skills are not fully developed enough to hold the scissors and make a heart, have them help you by putting their hands on the scissors while you cut. this way they feel a connection to the project.

like this little bug needed some help…but was very excited to be making a necklace too!

oh yes did i mention that it is very important that you eat dove chocolate fortune hearts and wear pink mary janes while doing this?

after you are done cutting the hearts, punch two holes in each one. we also embellished a little with the rub-ons.

and voila! your paper heart necklace is complete!

this is paper so it is not going to last forever. felt or fabric would have had a longer life. but, we had lots of fun making this and that is all that mattered. she was so, so proud when she finished!

creative assignment: make your own paper heart necklace

this is lucy.
she is about a year old.

her mother was feral, and lucy
was found as an itty bitty thing.

because she was taught
as a kitten to fear all humans,
lucy is obviously skittish.
she nips. she scratches.
she wants some love until she doesn’t
and she will let you know.

we pet her with oven mitts.

a few weeks ago i started working with
a kitty rescue house, and that is how i
met lucy and her friends.

i have a special soft spot for lucy.
she wants love so badly, but fears it at the
same time.

she reminds me a lot of delilah.

she has been almost-adopted a few times.
people come in, see her sweet face,
and want to cuddle her.

lucy is not the cuddling type.

she snarls.
they go find a nicer cat.

one woman came in and was somewhat
interested in lucy.
she asked if she could bring lucy home
and then bring her back if she was still “bad.”

my heart dropped.
bad? how could a kitten be bad?
maybe hurt. or confused.
in need of some patient owner.

but not bad.
bad is a bad blanket word.

i am beginning to see this a lot.
people come in with a specific kind
of cat they want…
usually cute, cuddly, a lap cat that
will get along with their dog or cat.

and i get that, i do.

but another part of me thinks its
not fair that you put expectations on
an animal.
animals are like people-
they are not here to be who YOU want
them to be,
they are here to be themselves.

i think the perfect owner for lucy
will be someone who comes in,
sees her sweetness underneath the snarls,
and decides to give her a chance.

we all deserve a chance.
don’t you think?

i think when you really love
someone exactly how they are,
you give them the chance to shine.

**********************

creative assignment: how can you embrace the snarly bits of you, or someone you love?

string together paper hearts.
give them away.

this is moonlight,
she is named after moonlight beach.

my friend mimi first spotted
her there, chained, fighting for
her life as a homeless man was
trying to throw her into the ocean.

mimi came the rescue,
the man got arrested…
but moonlight became
evidence and could not go home
with anybody for 3 months after the incident.

mimi visited her the whole time,
and after the court date was finally
able to take her home to live with her.

it is a god awful story,
i know it…
how could ANYONE hurt a sweet
little angel like that?

but this is not a story of
moonlight being a victim or how
terrible the world can be…

its a story of hope,
and miracles.

and how
in a quick sliver of a chance,
you can change your life and the world at large
by one simple act of good.

so to all the cynics who don’t believe
in miracles or faith, i ask you to look
into those big green eyes and see anything but
a happy ending.

*********

creative assignments will start up again tomorrow!

we are back and ready to roll, folks.

teachers, explorers, artists, students, dreamers,
you are ALL welcomed in this mix.

i have gotten emails since i led my first
course last spring asking if i would do it again.
i had no idea how it would turn out or if people
would enjoy themselves, but it turned out to be a great experience!

this class will be a bit more involved than the last
two classes…one thing that was missing was community.
so, there will be a private password protected blog where i will
share my thoughts and ideas several times a week and students
will be able to comment and have discussions.
(and connect with each other!)

there will be weekly videos
of me filming my students doing their thing.
we will continue to art journal but i have also added
lots of fun project ideas.

whether you are a seasoned mermaid warrior wanting
to continue on this path or a curious new student wanting
to help kids be more creative, this is for you!

i am going to check in with this post regularly
for your questions and comments.
before you ask anything, go here first:
http://dancingmermaid.com/mermaid-warriors-class3/

sign-ups will be for the next 3 weeks.

i was interviewed here by the beautiful rachel, who took my course last spring.

*********
creative assignment #28 dare to dream your dream even bigger. no, thats is not big enough. get out of your comfort zone and feel awkward. now what do you see??

be a warrior from mccabe russell on Vimeo.

so i spent all day obsessed with making this video
and did not get the info page down for mermaid warriors 3~
will go up tomorrow.

i had a lot of fun playing with video and reliving the summer
camps with all the footage.

it makes me fall in love with my students
all over again.

creative assignment #27
make a slideshow or video with stuff that makes you happy!

received this song via dj florian this morning
and i cannot stop listening……

creative assignment #26 share some music with someone
(like me!)