tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24578901675133673812023-11-16T09:05:08.903-08:00michal madison arti have a passion for transformation, change and making this world a better place for everyone and everything living in it. for much of my life i was just surviving through child abuse, then domestic violence. today i am learning to thrive, living from my soul, empowered and free. it is my dream to inspire others through my art to believe in themselves. dreams are true. life is an adventure. embrace each day. be present in each moment. this is your life! you belong here!michal madisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06415919038886850794noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2457890167513367381.post-74230965406066593322014-09-21T17:18:00.003-07:002022-09-10T04:34:11.110-07:00Wisdom from an 8 Year Old<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-image: none; border: 0px currentcolor; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 600px;"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templatePreheader" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; border-bottom-color: currentcolor; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-top-color: currentcolor; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 600px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="preheaderContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding-top: 9px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter">
<tr><td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 366px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mcnTextContent" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 125%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding: 9px 0px 9px 18px; text-align: left;" valign="top"><div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 125%; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>"You can't erase the past, but you can create a beautiful future." </strong>~Michal Madison</span> </div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 197px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mcnTextContent" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: 125%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding: 9px 18px 9px 0px; text-align: left;" valign="top"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<!--// END PREHEADER--> </td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateHeader" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; border-bottom-color: currentcolor; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-top-color: currentcolor; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 600px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="headerContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter">
<tr><td class="mcnImageBlockInner" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mcnImageContent" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding: 0px 9px;" valign="top"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1myKiZs2xg4UjRkZJDeRIrzDD-uf2vpMhUftw1tTatlEdywIGf7uuif8hQwPX1EkvDwxxgPrHB9ykmdXwS0GU7X-XbjPEu3Gmqmo5afKL24osJ3bAgcEiQKsRuyEu5SXtFRqH86GBnms/s1600/mysterious.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1myKiZs2xg4UjRkZJDeRIrzDD-uf2vpMhUftw1tTatlEdywIGf7uuif8hQwPX1EkvDwxxgPrHB9ykmdXwS0GU7X-XbjPEu3Gmqmo5afKL24osJ3bAgcEiQKsRuyEu5SXtFRqH86GBnms/s1600/mysterious.jpg" width="317" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<!--// END HEADER--> </td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><!--BEGIN BODY //--> <br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateBody" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; border-bottom-color: currentcolor; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-top-color: currentcolor; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 600px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="bodyContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter">
<tr><td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 600px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mcnTextContent" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding: 9px 18px; text-align: left;" valign="top"><h1 style="color: #606060; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 40px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
Wisdom from an 8 Year Old</h1>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></strong> </div>
<h3 style="color: #606060; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.5px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
I love Paije. She walked into my booth last Memorial Day weekend, when I was displaying my paintings at Art in the Park. Her mom and little bother were with her. I watched as she moved slowly from painting to painting, taking them all, as if she were memorizing each face, each brush stroke, deep inside her. She’s just eight, but the past two years have brought pain that is overwhelming. She doesn’t have a dad. She used to have a dad… but things changed. She's learned early that bad things happen and life goes on. Sometime we feel as if left us in the wake, trying to stay afloat.</h3>
<h3 style="color: #606060; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.5px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /> Soon after we met, I started teaching her art lessons. She wanted to learn how to draw eyes and faces. (I couldn’t say “No” to that!”) She soak everything up like a dry thirsty sponge. Our plan is that she draws me one of the things that we are working on together at class, and the rest of the week, she can draw whatever she wants, whatever her soul desires.<br /><br /> This past week she brought this drawing to me titled “Tears of Time”.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTzyUp8nI7wE6HpV6Xg25zK0MgKOYT8qsMG9Ssegd-y-6tsFhrIlU-Bz835yPZ4bKqn_pqWe0-pXS2vivKb73RSRTROiMzicJaTUeCAWWGOdE3dCy4Orcrkh9Pw6ZQqaNnjSmgTwfHasC/s1600/Paije's%2BTear's%2Bof%2BTime%2BSep%2B2014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTzyUp8nI7wE6HpV6Xg25zK0MgKOYT8qsMG9Ssegd-y-6tsFhrIlU-Bz835yPZ4bKqn_pqWe0-pXS2vivKb73RSRTROiMzicJaTUeCAWWGOdE3dCy4Orcrkh9Pw6ZQqaNnjSmgTwfHasC/s1600/Paije's%2BTear's%2Bof%2BTime%2BSep%2B2014.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">If you look closely you can see words, emotions, filling the iris. She’s also started writing something that goes with her art as well. She liked that I did that on my website and Facebook. (She’s one of my most avid fans via her mum’s account.)<br /><br /> Here are her words:<br /> The tears of time keep falling and falling from looking in the past.<br /> All of the sad memories that have found her heart and eyes and soul.<br /> The tears will fall until she falls asleep.<br /> Then she will forget for the night.<br /> And the tears of time will come back and it won’t stop.<br /> But she can stop it.<br /> She knows with God and her family, she can get through this.<br /> ~Paije, age 8, September 2014<br /><br /> Art heals. Art helps us deal with the chaos that is going on inside, the stuff that doesn't make sense. I love being part of that process in a child’s life. Paije’s favorite painting of mine is “Shadow’s of the Past” (at top). I understand why. She has a print to remind her that, while we can’t make the bad stuff that has happened to us disappear, we can focus on the good stuff, on the light, on what is going right in our lives today. That is where we find hope to carry on, hope to get through the pain, the loss, the heartache. Paije realizes the gift of being surrounded by people who truly love her. The strength that comes from having Creator in her life.<br /><br /> Today, I hope you find the joy and beauty that are around you, the gifts that are in your life, the strength that carries you forward.<br /> Surrounding yourself with art helps. Here’s where you can purchase mine: </span><a href="http://www.michalmadisonart.com/" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><strong>www.MichalMadisonArt.com</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">. Ten percent of every sale is donated to <a href="http://www.childhelp.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Childhelp</span></a> so that children who have been through extremely hard times can find hope. Thank you for buying my art and being a part of making Hope Happen!<br /><br /> Exquisite Blessings,<br /> ~Michal Madison</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
michal madisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06415919038886850794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2457890167513367381.post-10353263529027104172014-05-02T11:06:00.000-07:002014-05-02T11:07:56.030-07:00Connecting with Your Inner Child Tips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-PXGy-OqTXAWqnJ1o8_5JpmMytv7cA7n1Ee0tEP_qcoybIyiFCkdtD1ZAKM4hSAaOBP8chZj05Bh3Dv12jAOJUFbLKz54Y0yFCFoNiIO1N6fcxVv9y6U-E05-qyUW5O8zjV-Kke1MZ-8/s1600/hold+me+%257E+picture+of+a+small+redhead+girl%252C+huge+green+eyes+by+michal+madison.web.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-PXGy-OqTXAWqnJ1o8_5JpmMytv7cA7n1Ee0tEP_qcoybIyiFCkdtD1ZAKM4hSAaOBP8chZj05Bh3Dv12jAOJUFbLKz54Y0yFCFoNiIO1N6fcxVv9y6U-E05-qyUW5O8zjV-Kke1MZ-8/s1600/hold+me+%257E+picture+of+a+small+redhead+girl%252C+huge+green+eyes+by+michal+madison.web.jpg.jpg" height="320" width="265" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVJm8lizX89i6_IUnGq3f-YE5wtCc6Ow4umprVPjj5EGnwHScizkh3dTQjDQ5dSH_IPNOgM-XWKfmPLoFHEpkFuSmV080FDERfGY3CFXSNw-jV0eEZ36ZF0lwopYq5k2OsUlchQkK1RUJ/s1600/Whisper+My+Name.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVJm8lizX89i6_IUnGq3f-YE5wtCc6Ow4umprVPjj5EGnwHScizkh3dTQjDQ5dSH_IPNOgM-XWKfmPLoFHEpkFuSmV080FDERfGY3CFXSNw-jV0eEZ36ZF0lwopYq5k2OsUlchQkK1RUJ/s1600/Whisper+My+Name.jpg" height="320" width="234" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
There is a little child in each of us. Are you good friends with that small one? I think for survivors of childhood abuse and sexual assault it's more difficult to connect. Well, I can only speak for myself. But I have had other survivors say it was challenging in the beginning.<br />
My trauma therapy on Wednesday was great. I truly have the best-for-me therapist on the planet. He's so patient and wise. He had a few suggestions for connecting with my inner child that I'd like to share with you.<br />
<br />
<em>(I'm going to be using "she, her" as pronouns just so reading is easier. This in no way discounts the male survivors. This is for you too.)</em><br />
<br />
<strong>Make a Deal.</strong> I told you how my inner child has been disrupting my life. Showing up in the middle of my busy-ness and demanding attention. Well, we've made a deal. I'm going to make time for her and she's going to let me get my stuff done. Two days in and things are going well.<br />
<br />
<strong>Make Time for Her.</strong> Actually block out a certain amount of time in your everyday schedule to spend time with your little one. Pencil her in. When she knows you're going to show up and really be there for her, she'll open up and you heal. If you keep pushing her away, she's going to maybe hide for a while, but eventually she'll be back and she may be more demanding next time. <br />
<br />
<strong>Listen</strong>. Let her tell you her story. One way to do that is by journaling. Actually let her journal. I'm right-handed, so I'm letting her write with my left hand. It's fascinating how that works. Not only does it look like a young child's hand writing, it sounds like a small child also. She really shows up. She says things and uses words I wouldn't to describe what's going on. No one was there to listen to her as a child. Now is her chance to be heard. This non-dominant hand journaling really works. Give it a try.<br />
<br />
<strong>Do What She Wants... for a change</strong>. Did you love to color as a child? Get a coloring book and some crayons. Some days she may just want to curl up in a tight little ball and hide under the down comforter. Let her. Did you love stuffed animals? For me, my stuffed animals and my blanket, with the soft satin edge, were my friends. I didn't trust people. But, I felt safe with my stuffed toys. In my last counseling session I was feeling really small, much like a child in shock. My therapist gave me a stuffed animal to hold. I was clinging to it like a two-year-old. Finally I felt secure enough to talk again. The amazing thing is that it's actually my feeling "safe enough" that is allowing the small part of me to show up. <br />
<br />
I'm making progress. I hope these things help you connect with your inner little one. What else has worked for you? I'd love to know.<br />
<br />
Here's to Connecting ~ mm<br />
<br />
And here's my website <a href="http://michalmadisonart.net/galleries.html" rel="nofollow">Michal Madison Art</a>. Ten percent of every sale goes toward not only ending abuse, but helping heal children who have been abused. Maybe if they can start connecting with what's happening they won't be having to do all this work as an adult. They will be free, happy and healthy. Inside and out.michal madisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06415919038886850794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2457890167513367381.post-65013060580025027592014-04-30T11:32:00.000-07:002014-04-30T11:36:34.254-07:00I Want to Really Love Her... I just don't know how<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 600px;"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templatePreheader" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; border-bottom-color: currentColor; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-top-color: currentColor; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 600px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="preheaderContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding-top: 9px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter">
<tr><td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 366px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mcnTextContent" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: 125%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding: 9px 0px 9px 18px; text-align: left;" valign="top"><div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: 125%; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
Why is it so hard for me to connect with my inner child?</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 197px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mcnTextContent" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: 125%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding: 9px 18px 9px 0px; text-align: left;" valign="top"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<!-- // END PREHEADER --> </td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><!-- BEGIN HEADER // --> <br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateHeader" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; border-bottom-color: currentColor; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-top-color: currentColor; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 600px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="headerContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter">
<tr><td class="mcnImageBlockInner" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mcnImageContent" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding: 0px 9px;" valign="top"><img align="left" alt="" class="mcnImage" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/81054b6e1f9c1609d8173b94e/images/madi_s_eyes_watercolor_by_michal_madison.jpg" style="-ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline !important; max-width: 504px; padding-bottom: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom;" width="504" /> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<!-- // END HEADER --> </td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><!-- BEGIN BODY // --> <br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateBody" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; border-bottom-color: currentColor; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-top-color: currentColor; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 600px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="bodyContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter">
<tr><td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 599px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mcnTextContent" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding: 9px 18px; text-align: left;" valign="top"><h1 style="color: rgb(96, 96, 96) !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 40px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
I Wish I Loved Her...</h1>
<h3 style="color: rgb(96, 96, 96) !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.5px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">I Want to Love Her. I Don’t Know How.</span></h3>
<br />
<div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">I have trauma therapy today. And wow do I need it. I woke up feeling yucky. Headache. Allergies. Often when I feel physically weak, I feel emotionally vulnerable. The mirror I passed in the hall revealed I was walking around biting my lower lip. I put an end to that, but only God knows how long I’d been doing it.<br /><br /> The other day my girlfriend asked me why I was acting like a little girl. I hadn’t even realized I was. We talked for the next few hours. She held me. I cried. So many things are going on inside of me. So much “stuff” is surfacing. Often I feel like I’m on a roller-coaster. While I love roller-coasters at amusement parks, these emotional ones? Not so much. </span></div>
<div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">I guess I’m noticing it more now that I’m healing. Most days, I feel on top of the world. Excited about living. Free. Happy. More alive than I’ve ever been. Then suddenly in the midst of my day, as a highly functioning adult, I can collapse. Regress. Become like the vulnerable child who was wounded. </span></div>
<div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">It’s taken me a long time to even like my inner child. I love children. They are drawn to me like a magnet and I to them. But my inner child? I have a hard time with her. I tend to treat her like all the other adults in her life did. She gets in the way of me living my life. She needs me at the most inopportune times. I feel badly for not loving her unconditionally. I want to love her. Sometimes I feel sorry for her. But, honestly, I don’t have a strong relationship with her. I think when I form one, I’ll be a lot farther along on my healing journey. It’s just that I don’t trust her. She doesn’t trust the adult me either. And why should she? I’m not always there for her. I don’t love her unconditionally. </span></div>
<div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">While intellectually I know that nothing she did, as a child, was her fault. For some unknown-to-me reason, I still blame her. Just like the adults in her life did…for the abuse. (I know… It’s Wrong!) She was such an over-sexed, seductive child. As I’m writing this, I’m thinking, of course it wasn’t her fault. How could she have known anything different? Actually it was all she had ever known. That’s just sad. Really I want to wrap her up in my arms and hold her. I just don’t know how. I don’t know how to love that wounded child inside of me who is crying for my attention and love. The child inside who didn’t have any safe place to turn as a child. Well, that’s not entirely true. My aunties loved me. But, I don’t think I ever really felt safe as a child. </span></div>
<div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">That unsafe feeling followed me through life. Even now, I don’t feel entirely safe. There is still a scared little girl inside of me. Maybe that’s why I can paint frightened, sad children so well. They are me. I am them. Still. </span></div>
<div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">One day I will love the little me so much that she will be completely free. It will be safe for her to grow up completely. She won’t need to show up in my adult life and wreak havoc. Until then, I am learning to be patient with both parts of me: the adult me and the little me, who haven’t quite connected. </span></div>
<div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">You can visit my <a href="http://www.michalmadisonart.net/.eyes-of-a-child.html" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">gallery</a><a href="http://www.michalmadisonart.net/.eyes-of-a-child.html" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"> </a>and see all the different versions of little me. Maybe you’ll see your little self in their eyes also. Every sale helps today’s wounded children start their healing process. <a href="http://www.childhelp.org/" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Worthy cause</a>. Art you love. It’s a win-win deal.</span></div>
<div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Here’s to connecting with and loving our inner children!</span></div>
<div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">~mm</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter">
<tr><td class="mcnImageBlockInner" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mcnImageContent" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding: 0px 9px;" valign="top"><img align="left" alt="" class="mcnImage" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/81054b6e1f9c1609d8173b94e/images/Haunting_Fear_painting_small_boy_huge_fear_filled_eyes_vibrant_colors_watercolor_by_Michal_Madison_painter_of_emotions.jpg" style="-ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline !important; max-width: 576px; padding-bottom: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom;" width="563" /> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<!-- // END BODY --> </td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><!-- BEGIN FOOTER // --> <br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateFooter" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; border-bottom-color: currentColor; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-top-color: currentColor; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 600px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="footerContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding-bottom: 9px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter">
<tr><td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 599px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mcnTextContent" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: 125%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding: 9px 18px; text-align: left;" valign="top"><em>Copyright © 2014 Michal Madison Art, All rights reserved.</em> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
michal madisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06415919038886850794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2457890167513367381.post-20235710074443009092014-04-29T18:58:00.000-07:002014-04-29T21:39:30.949-07:00Now That's Just Creative Genius at Work. You Can Do It Too<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 600px;"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templatePreheader" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; border-bottom-color: currentColor; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-top-color: currentColor; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 600px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="preheaderContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding-top: 9px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter">
<tr><td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 366px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mcnTextContent" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: 125%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding: 9px 0px 9px 18px; text-align: left;" valign="top"><h3 style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: 125%; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
Don't wait for good things to happen. Get out there. Be Creative</h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 197px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mcnTextContent" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: 125%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding: 9px 18px 9px 0px; text-align: left;" valign="top"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<!-- // END PREHEADER --> </td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><!-- BEGIN HEADER // --> <br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateHeader" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; border-bottom-color: currentColor; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-top-color: currentColor; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 600px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="headerContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter">
<tr><td class="mcnImageBlockInner" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mcnImageContent" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding: 0px 9px;" valign="top"><img align="left" alt="" class="mcnImage" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/81054b6e1f9c1609d8173b94e/images/kenneth_cole_fw_2011_casey_taylor_angela_lindvall.png" style="-ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline !important; max-width: 489px; padding-bottom: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom;" width="489" /> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<!-- // END HEADER --> </td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><!-- BEGIN BODY // --> <br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateBody" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; border-bottom-color: currentColor; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-top-color: currentColor; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 600px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="bodyContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupBlock" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody class="mcnImageGroupBlockOuter">
<tr><td class="mcnImageGroupBlockInner" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupContentContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 272px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mcnImageGroupContent" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 9px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><img alt="" class="mcnImage" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/81054b6e1f9c1609d8173b94e/images/untitled.png" style="-ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; max-width: 306px; padding-bottom: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom;" width="263" /> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupContentContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 272px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mcnImageGroupContent" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-right: 9px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><img alt="" class="mcnImage" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/81054b6e1f9c1609d8173b94e/images/Heart_and_Sole_05.jpg" style="-ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; max-width: 420px; padding-bottom: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom;" width="263" /> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter">
<tr><td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 599px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mcnTextContent" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding: 9px 18px; text-align: left;" valign="top"><h3 style="color: rgb(96, 96, 96) !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.5px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
I have stacks of fashion magazines at my house. They're full of fun ideas. I enjoy designing clothes, as well as painting. And I use old magazines for art collages. So I keep them around.<br /> I was browsing through an old Elle magazine and happened on an article about fashion designer Kenneth Cole. He inspires me. Not just his elegant designs, but the way he uses this platform to share what he stands for. As we know, the beginning is one of the best places to start when we want to understand the magnitude of where someone is today. So let's go back...<br /> "It's 1983, and Cole, who planned to launch his collection of women's shoes during New York Market Week, doesn't have the budget to rent a hotel suite to display his wares -- let alone a showroom. Plan B involves borrowing a friend's production trailer. But the 28 year old can receive a parking permit only if he's actually filming a movie. So the designer changes the name of his company from Kenneth Cole Inc. to Kenneth Cole Productions, tells the city he's filming a full-length feature called <em>The Birth of a Shoe Company </em>and sells 72,000 pairs of shoes in under 72 hours."<br /> Now that's creative. Today Kenneth Cole is a $1 billion empire. It just shows me what our creative minds can do.</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1aVKt9UFyQD8oyeItP1qq8SGGkxP6oLUUVTVStc6EfI9tfEbyRnfDncVl01-vlUMbBt7ufc_RENPxoZmoBuCABJL6FjAEgYuNZ1PdYNUVrVhWA6sax7Kz4I0ubhB1iKVV6VE6t8nHhER/s1600/Very+Vogue+watercolor+by+Michal+Madison%252C+woman+in+Armani+raincoat%252C+black+coat+and+hat%252C+hazy+green+background_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1aVKt9UFyQD8oyeItP1qq8SGGkxP6oLUUVTVStc6EfI9tfEbyRnfDncVl01-vlUMbBt7ufc_RENPxoZmoBuCABJL6FjAEgYuNZ1PdYNUVrVhWA6sax7Kz4I0ubhB1iKVV6VE6t8nHhER/s1600/Very+Vogue+watercolor+by+Michal+Madison%252C+woman+in+Armani+raincoat%252C+black+coat+and+hat%252C+hazy+green+background_web.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></div>
<h3 style="color: rgb(96, 96, 96) !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.5px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /> Every one of us has something amazing to give to this world. What is it that you are longing to share? What do you have to give that is unique to you?<br /> Cole could have thought: "I'm poor. I don't have the backing to do this. I'll have to wait until I have the money. Besides, there are so many shoe designers. Who's going to buy my stuff anyway? What's the point?" I don't know if those feelings/thoughts ever even came into his mind. If they did, he, for sure, didn't let them stay. He didn't sit back and didn't wait for his ship to come in, he swam out to meet it.<br />Cole does way more than design. He's an activist. He uses his fashion ads to declare his truth. He stands for something and he's not afraid to let people know. I respect that! He invites conversation with others, because he wants to know where others stand on social issues as well. He knows that when we talk about things, share our thoughts, we grow. We get somewhere.<br /> Yes, there are other shoe designers at New York Market Week, but there is only one Kenneth Cole. He got creative. He figured out a way to show the world what he had. The world is a better place because he's in it.<br /> There is only one You. So what's stopping you from following your heart. Make your mark on this planet. Live your passion. Life will inspire you. I promise. And you will inspire others.<br /> Want to see what I love to do? Visit <a href="http://www.michalmadisonart.net/galleries.html" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" tabindex="-1" target="_parent">Michal</a><a href="http://www.michalmadisonart.net/galleries.html" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"> Madison Art</a>. 10% of every sale is donated to <a href="http://www.childhelp.org/" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Childhelp</a>. Creating safety for children and ending abuse is something else I'm passionate about.<br /> Find what brings you joy. Follow you bliss. Life is too short to be anything but happy. When we're doing what we love, we make a difference in the lives of others. It just happens.<br /> Here's to making a difference in this world~ mm</h3>
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter">
<tr><td class="mcnImageBlockInner" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mcnImageContent" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding: 0px 9px;" valign="top"><img align="left" alt="" class="mcnImage" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/81054b6e1f9c1609d8173b94e/images/Kenneth_Cole_Spring_Summer_2013_Sharif_Hamza_02.jpg" style="-ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline !important; max-width: 730px; padding-bottom: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom;" width="563" /> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<!-- // END BODY --> </td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><!-- BEGIN FOOTER // --> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9J9BB2IqWqbNPWUDe6R2CzwFh7Wri7b5XmGqMZMTB34Z2HzVsKWbYxZ1SXqOfJ18GXfmc6FG9jqSdQiAszMYGhjYlgflw63tyVNw2nVk4LLUgekL7NcMf8ihKKMwU8dPll4jpxJc8KGm/s1600/Very+Vogue+watercolor+by+Michal+Madison,+woman+in+Armani+raincoat,+black+coat+and+hat,+hazy+green+background_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateFooter" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; border-bottom-color: currentColor; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-top-color: currentColor; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 600px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="footerContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding-bottom: 9px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter">
<tr><td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 600px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mcnTextContent" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: 125%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding: 9px 18px; text-align: left;" valign="top"><em>Copyright © 2014 Michal Madison Art, All rights reserved.</em> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
michal madisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06415919038886850794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2457890167513367381.post-26237375080303981052014-04-22T13:58:00.003-07:002014-04-23T10:18:06.400-07:00Me? Like a Screen-Printing Nun who Transformed Modern Art and Changed the World? Are you sure you have the right girl?<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 600px;"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateBody" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; border-bottom-color: currentColor; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-top-color: currentColor; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 600px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="bodyContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter">
<tr><td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 599px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mcnTextContent" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding: 9px 18px; text-align: center;" valign="top"><h2 style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64) !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 26px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.75px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
"There will be new rules next week." Corita Kent</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Ti2Dp_jyIOzX0_vt53evTeHK7VqpqI0EaWmhbeNItb07f2D7u-tBVVHIcrivgNhyphenhyphenNfFPuIR3IxgF9bMbc94fPpY_DHLjyT-OOX0Qos3tCuvJEjq7Dls0w7DUlZKdekWu57iRTcTpQqRe/s1600/FA8676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Ti2Dp_jyIOzX0_vt53evTeHK7VqpqI0EaWmhbeNItb07f2D7u-tBVVHIcrivgNhyphenhyphenNfFPuIR3IxgF9bMbc94fPpY_DHLjyT-OOX0Qos3tCuvJEjq7Dls0w7DUlZKdekWu57iRTcTpQqRe/s1600/FA8676.jpg" height="320" width="252" /></a></div>
<div style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64) !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 26px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.75px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<h3 style="color: rgb(96, 96, 96) !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.5px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
Have you ever received a compliment that was so big you didn't know how to take it in? Here's mine. It came in a text message from my wonderful friend the Honorable Judge Mary Elizabeth Bullock after she received my painting "Hope":<br />“Michal, you are the sweetest, most talented and gifted person I have met since the loss of a very dear artist friend of mine, Corita Kent. Corita was in a convent for many years where she began her amazing art. Like you, she had the soul of an angel. Your kindness gave me hope, hope in today, hope for tomorrow and importantly – hope in human kind….”<br />To fully grasp the depth of this compliment I’d like to share with you Corita Kent (1918-1986), <strong>the screen-printing nun who transformed the path of modern art</strong>. (Wouldn’t you like to be known for transforming something? Me too.)<br /> <img align="none" height="178" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/81054b6e1f9c1609d8173b94e/images/DEC00.jpg" style="-ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; height: 178px; text-decoration: none; width: 237px;" width="237" /><img align="none" height="195" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/81054b6e1f9c1609d8173b94e/images/untitled_3_.png" style="-ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; height: 195px; text-decoration: none; width: 350px;" width="350" /><br /> Corita lived with passion. She took what she was given, a tiny art department and some students, and turned it into a global center for design and printmaking. She became pals with Buckminster Fuller. IBM was a client. Activist. Artist. Positive (She was unapologetically positive). Life inspired her. She gathered ideas everywhere she turned: from the Bible to the streets of L.A. She shamelessly copied her artistic contemporaries’ style (Andy Warhol, Shephard Fairey). And under her fearless artistic direction as an art teacher, the Los Angeles Immaculate Heart School became legendary (1947 to 1968). Buckminster Fuller said her art studio was “among the most fundamentally inspiring experiences of my life.”<br /><a href="http://www.corita.org/" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><img align="none" height="267" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/81054b6e1f9c1609d8173b94e/images/Corita_Show_web1be925.jpg" style="-ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; height: 267px; text-decoration: none; width: 600px;" width="600" /></a><br />In the late 1960s, Corita became even more of a social activist, focusing her art on civil rights and the Vietnam War. That rocked the boat for the religious leaders at the school. They didn’t like it just as much as they disapproved of the rock music she played during art class. Corita was a mover and a shaker. When the Catholic Church wouldn’t change with the times, allowing women more freedom, she left (1968). I love that she stood strong for what she believed in. I really admire that.</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0sqJrHRT65fXZ45zXyQkAuDRhhhW9J7-YzrFSfBuqJ0vQDxBBJxDGwlmhRdRdUlaaCyMZ8wTVz86pLtGV_qyFz1w6Cp-KGAs5pPJ8l_sLbf4mJZsR4eMc0yGoUNqX-tYq5-dZ1gyxFIVz/s1600/450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0sqJrHRT65fXZ45zXyQkAuDRhhhW9J7-YzrFSfBuqJ0vQDxBBJxDGwlmhRdRdUlaaCyMZ8wTVz86pLtGV_qyFz1w6Cp-KGAs5pPJ8l_sLbf4mJZsR4eMc0yGoUNqX-tYq5-dZ1gyxFIVz/s1600/450.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<h3 style="color: rgb(96, 96, 96) !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.5px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /> Kent was a nun who established herself and had a prosperous profession. She even was the cover girl<span style="color: #444444;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666;">for</span> </span></span><a href="http://davidkbalzer.tumblr.com/post/8395246094/sister-corita-kent-on-the-cover-of-newsweek"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: white;"><em>Newsweek</em>.</span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6;"> <span style="color: #666666;">She</span></span> illustrated the <a href="http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/artofthestamp/SubPage%20table%20images/artwork/love/1985%20Love/love1985.htm" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target=""><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong>Love stamp</strong></span></a> for the U.S. Post Office (1985). She’s painted the famous <a href="http://www.richardhowe.com/2011/07/26/10453/" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong>Rainbow Swash</strong></span></a> mural on a gas tank which has become a local landmark in Boston. I think it is the largest copyrighted art work in the world. Oh & they appropriately honored her, renaming the art studio at Immaculate Hear College Corita Art Center.</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="color: rgb(96, 96, 96) !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.5px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /> I think each of us longs to change the world like Corita did. And we can, by doing whatever it is that we do best and giving it our all. If you need some inspiration, I'd love to create something especially for you, or you can choose from my collection at <a href="http://www.michalmadisonart.net/galleries.html" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong>Michal Madison Art</strong></span></a>. Ten percent of every sale goes to making a difference in the lives of children (<a href="http://www.childhelp.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Childhelp</span></a>). I guess that is something I have in common with Corita.<br /><br /> I hope you have a magical day filled with unapologetic positivity,<br /> ~m<br /><br /> Mary Elizabeth Bullock, I don’t even know how to accept a compliment of this magnitude, but thank you from the bottom of my heart. Corita Kent inspires me. Thank you for introducing me to her life and her art. I love you. You make me feel like gold.<br /> </h3>
<h3 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwTNhdZ5JbQ1r_BBan7mlhcT_scz-EVWvu9LW1MHF0mn7WEG6I-5VBG73RdJmvL9zBYK99zIKi__vqHNgqEO4kCdQAbIHgApcKBgOqIfJfcypb6pgeyBC8ta0eOWUaXlNmaskkNdWAD0c/s1600/191z8ieygwqgqjpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwTNhdZ5JbQ1r_BBan7mlhcT_scz-EVWvu9LW1MHF0mn7WEG6I-5VBG73RdJmvL9zBYK99zIKi__vqHNgqEO4kCdQAbIHgApcKBgOqIfJfcypb6pgeyBC8ta0eOWUaXlNmaskkNdWAD0c/s1600/191z8ieygwqgqjpg.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></h3>
<h3 style="color: rgb(96, 96, 96) !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.5px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /><span class="mc-toc-title"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thanks to Alisa Walker, Richard Howe, David Blazer and Google (Don't you love Google?) for the great information on Corita Kent.</span></span></h3>
<div style="color: rgb(96, 96, 96) !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.5px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
If you'd like to receive my email/blog sign-up <a href="http://eepurl.com/LP82f">here.</a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<!-- // END BODY --> </td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><!-- BEGIN FOOTER // --> <br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateFooter" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; border-bottom-color: currentColor; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-top-color: currentColor; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 600px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="footerContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding-bottom: 9px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter">
<tr><td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 599px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mcnTextContent" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: 125%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding: 9px 18px; text-align: left;" valign="top"><em>Copyright © 2014 michal madison art, All rights reserved.</em> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
michal madisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06415919038886850794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2457890167513367381.post-52453584346361438672014-04-22T13:38:00.000-07:002014-04-22T15:13:17.140-07:00Cats & Kids<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 600px;"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateBody" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; border-bottom-color: currentColor; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-top-color: currentColor; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 600px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="bodyContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter">
<tr><td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 599px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mcnTextContent" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding: 9px 18px; text-align: left;" valign="top"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXhTMTsFSV4WbMQkkNH6RnzCU9I_SaALWu7lOg-feTm2oxqYDaX751Rpt4KfljmUKZ4pVhCnEXpxD1BLAxJzdUbJ7QeDJPDcnkOw7lzh7_Ca3BYLw75ETZLyTb0DgttDQHbFbFTnqx9Ya/s1600/2014-03-30+11.53.28.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXhTMTsFSV4WbMQkkNH6RnzCU9I_SaALWu7lOg-feTm2oxqYDaX751Rpt4KfljmUKZ4pVhCnEXpxD1BLAxJzdUbJ7QeDJPDcnkOw7lzh7_Ca3BYLw75ETZLyTb0DgttDQHbFbFTnqx9Ya/s1600/2014-03-30+11.53.28.png" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<h1 style="color: rgb(96, 96, 96) !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 40px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
</h1>
<h3 style="color: rgb(96, 96, 96) !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.5px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
What if they could all choose where they wanted to live?</h3>
<div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
Sid adopted me about four months ago. He showed up. He stayed. My home has become a cat haven… When I moved into my condo over two years ago I inherited a mama cat & four six-week-old kittens. They were living on my patio. It was the perfect cat-lady-starter-kit on my door step. I found a home for one kitten, but that still left me with four. Everyone, Riley, Tobi and Tate, got sprayed at four months. Well, everyone except Neytiri (the mom). I couldn't catch her. Then, I watched in horror as she got pregnant. Again! Everyone got locked inside. No boys allowed.<br />
<br />
Six babies were born exactly two months later. I loved & hugged on those babies every day. They were good therapy. All but Feisty found a new home. I was down to five cats. Finally Neytiri & Feisty were also spayed & everyone was free to go back outside. Suddenly, my Neytiri disappeared. I searched to no avail.<br />
<br />
Then just before Christmas the condo HOA said I needed to bring all the cat food inside because they were afraid I was also feeding stray cats. I was thinking: of course I am. They’re all stray cats and you should be paying me to feed them. I've cut down on the cat population by spaying six of your baby makers! Anyway, the food came inside, but the slider stayed open enough for my kitties to come in & out. That’s when I realized I had two other cats. Max. The biggest black cat I've ever seen. Not fat, big as in 44” from his nose to his tail. His body is over two feet long. I think he's part panther. Love that big guy. And the adorable green-eyed ginger kitty Sid.<br />
<br />
The biggest shock was waking up to a raccoon, looking at me, at night. Yes. In my house. The slider it's now locked in a position that only a cat can fit through. Raccoon problem solved.<br />
<br />
So back to Sid. I got him neutered. He got his shots. He became a permanent fixture on my couch.<br />
A couple of weekend ago. My girlfriend & I hear a couple talking outside.<br />
Woman: "Look. It's Joker. He's looking at me. He's inside that house. Joker. Come Joker. He's not coming to me. Why won’t he come? He’s just staring at me."<br />
Man: "That cat is no good. Leave him. Come on. Good riddance."<br />
Woman: "I can't believe he just left me. Oh well."<br />
And that was that. Away they went. We stepped into the living room. Sure enough. Sid, aka Joker, is sitting at the slider looking out. I ran outside to see if I could catch them, but they were gone. I never even saw them. I wanted them to know I didn’t “steal” their cat. The slider was ajar. They could see that. And Sid wasn’t about to leave. They haven't come for him. I guess he's really mine now.<br />
<br />
Many of you know, I also take care of my neighbor kids. Since this happened, I’ve been thinking, I bet I'd have a few of them permanently living with me, if they, like cats, could just go where they wanted and stay; where they were loved and fed and cared for. But they can't. I'm glad they at least know they can come here and get hugs and love and food, if they're hungry. They know I care deeply about each of them.<br />
<br />
There are children all around us, just like my kitties, who are starving for love and a safe place. That's one of the reasons why I support <a href="http://www.childhelp.org/" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Childhelp</a>. It’s also why Trish and I started <a href="http://www.butterflydreamsabuserecovery.com/" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Butterfly Dreams </a>for survivors. When you buy my art, 10% of every sale will be donated to ending abuse. It's a win-win for you ~fine art and a worthy cause. Here’s the link: <a href="http://www.michalmadisonart.net/galleries.html" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Michal Madison </a><a href="http://www.michalmadisonart.net/" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;">Art</a><br />
<br />
Tobi, Tate, Riley, Feisty, Max, Sid and I send love and thank you for helping make a difference in the lives of children.<br />
~m<br />
<br />
If you'd like to receive my email blog, sign up<a href="http://eepurl.com/LP82f"> here.</a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<!-- // END BODY --> </td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><!-- BEGIN FOOTER // --> <br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateFooter" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; border-bottom-color: currentColor; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-top-color: currentColor; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 600px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="footerContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding-bottom: 9px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter">
<tr><td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 599px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="mcnTextContent" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: 125%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; padding: 9px 18px; text-align: left;" valign="top"><em>Copyright © 2014 michal madison art, All rights reserved.</em> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
michal madisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06415919038886850794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2457890167513367381.post-13638989182410496202014-04-02T04:16:00.001-07:002014-04-02T04:18:07.218-07:00April Awareness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4m50q2QQLzanmiRIFYcZF4lYKfVhrQvatDIyE_LzkXbGP4cGGwc96_kvrvrgOMidwrrdtPVfrzOniQqaC8aPyUIF8rKtC-JPxXcsX15RmlEea2dWEe8m1SFes3IUAWSfw1T7OvaJw8-5/s1600/Wind+&+Rain~+pensive,+introspective+woman,+windblown,+piercing+blue+eyes,+dark+hair,+pale+skin,+red+lips.+watercolor+painting+by+Michal+Madison.web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4m50q2QQLzanmiRIFYcZF4lYKfVhrQvatDIyE_LzkXbGP4cGGwc96_kvrvrgOMidwrrdtPVfrzOniQqaC8aPyUIF8rKtC-JPxXcsX15RmlEea2dWEe8m1SFes3IUAWSfw1T7OvaJw8-5/s1600/Wind+&+Rain~+pensive,+introspective+woman,+windblown,+piercing+blue+eyes,+dark+hair,+pale+skin,+red+lips.+watercolor+painting+by+Michal+Madison.web.jpg" height="245" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #767171; font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: background2; mso-themeshade: 128;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t"
path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_49" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75"
style='width:19.5pt;height:8pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\michal\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png"
o:title=""/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img height="16" src="file:///C:/Users/michal/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.png" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_49" width="39" /><!--[endif]--></span><br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t"
path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_49" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75"
style='width:19.5pt;height:8pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\michal\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png"
o:title=""/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]-->April. Child Abuse Prevention/Awareness. Sexual Assault Awareness. </h3>
<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: background2; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #444444;">Child Abuse. Sexual Assault. They've both touched so many of us. Changed us. Haunted our lives. Fearlessness became fearfulness. Confidence shattered. Insecurity grew. Second guessing became second nature. Adrenaline surged. Fight or flight became every response. We have endure one of the most horrific crimes imaginable. We survived.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Corbel;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: background2; mso-themeshade: 128;">Years have passed since the trauma was an actual event. But not a day passes that we don't feel traumatized by what happened. Sometimes it's only a brief fleeting thought. Other days it's too overwhelming for words. Our body remembers and rehearses the pain. It takes our breath away. We break down. We break through. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: background2; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: background2; mso-themeshade: 128;"><strong>Bravely</strong> we face every day. <strong>Courageously</strong> we fight for the freedom of our souls. We cry out to Creator. We scream "NO!" We ask "Why?" We pound pillows. We kick heavy cushions. As we release the inner rage we become lighter. Our very existence becomes an inspiration to others. We become an <strong>Unstoppable Force for Goodness. Truth. Justice.</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Corbel;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: background2; mso-themeshade: 128;">The wind whips around us. <strong>Nothing knocks us down</strong>. The rain pours on our parade. <strong>We dance in it and march on</strong>. In the depths of our spirit is an unquenchable flame. We are truth-tellers. We bring hope We empower others. We live love. We walk with grace. Once again we're fearless. Confident. Brave. <strong><em>We are Survivors.</em></strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: background2; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: background2; mso-themeshade: 128;">In this newsletter you'll read on Victim's impact statement "Why? Daddy Why?" The wound go deep. You will learn the Signs Children Manifest when Being Molested. Share them with other. When you recognize a child is being hurt, do something. You will discover ways to empower children. Your eyes will be opened once again to the truth and pain of abuse through poetry by Penny Smith. You'll read words from our the CEO/Founder of Butterfly Dreams, and find out what's on our agenda this month. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: background2; mso-themeshade: 128;">I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed creating it for you. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: background2; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: background2; mso-themeshade: 128;">~ Michal Madison</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: background2; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #444444;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: background2; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's the link to the April 2014 edition of Butterfly Dream Abuse Recovery Newsletter... </span><a href="http://1drv.ms/1h1QCXk"><span style="font-size: small;">http://1drv.ms/1h1QCXk</span></a> <!--[endif]--></span></span><br />
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t"
path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_49" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75"
style='width:19.5pt;height:8pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\michal\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png"
o:title=""/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><br />michal madisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06415919038886850794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2457890167513367381.post-29871831850918662332014-03-25T15:09:00.000-07:002014-04-22T15:15:16.961-07:00Knowing When to Stop<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Knowing When to Stop</h2>
<div style="color: rgb(96, 96, 96) !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 40px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br />
<div class="irc_mutc">
<a class="irc_mutl" data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=iB2inuXYJjTobM&tbnid=npbjoXJwGB8WWM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstjohnsprolife.blogspot.com%2F2012%2F03%2Fstop-world.html&ei=2OlWU82bItGryAS6ioJQ&bvm=bv.65177938,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNHDTRwp8aK-SLL9AxdcPuc5n4JQaA&ust=1398291284182732"><img class="irc_mut" height="440" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" style="margin-top: 60px;" width="442" /></a></div>
</div>
<br />
I just burned another pot of beans. The crazy thing is that they were finished cooking when I added the salt & a few other seasonings. But instead of turning the burner off & just letting the seasonings marry in the pot, I left the heat on thinking that I would help the process along. It might have been ok, but I left the room & forgot I was cooking the beans. This isn’t the first time I’ve burned food. I need to stay focused on what I’m doing & know when to stop.<br />
The same thing happened to a painting this week. Though it’s not completely ruined like the beans are, I wish I had stopped sooner. I feel that this painting has lost some of its crispness, its edge.<br />
I think it’s an important lesson to learn in life. Knowing when to stop is just as important as knowing when to take a risk & charge forward. Sometimes we stay in a relationship that isn’t good for us, way too long, & we end up burned (been there). Or we stay in a job that no longer inspires us & we lose our edge (done that too). It’s good to reevaluate life occasionally & just check to see where you are. Are you still embracing each day with the reckless abandon & joy of a child or are you dreading waking up? If the latter is true, it’s time to stop & seek a new path. That doesn’t always mean cutting ties, but sometimes it does… sometimes it means looking at the situation with new eyes, or seeking counsel. Remember, whatever situation you are in, you are never stuck. Never.<br />
It is important to surround yourself with things that inspire you to live with passion. A meaningful painting on your wall could change your perspective & give you the extra push you need to know when to stop & when to press on. My website is <a href="http://www.michalmadisonart.net/galleries.html" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;">www.MichalMadisonArt.net/galleries.html</a>. If you see something you love, let me know, we’ll work out the details of making it yours. If you imagine something you’d love to have, but don’t see, & think I can create it, let me know, send me a message. I do commissions as well.<br />
Staying on top of your game, staying fresh, vibrant, full of life has a lot to do with knowing when to stop.<br />
Wishing you a day filled with magic & miracles<br />
~Michal Madison<br />
<br />
If you'd like to receive my email blog, sign up <a href="http://eepurl.com/LP82f">here</a>.michal madisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06415919038886850794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2457890167513367381.post-36362125329239425162014-03-25T15:02:00.002-07:002014-03-25T15:10:58.562-07:00Happiness Heals<img align="left" alt="" class="mcnImage" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/81054b6e1f9c1609d8173b94e/images/Joy_the_joy_of_Jesus_is_my_strength_abstract_watercolor_painting_with_splashes_and_drips_by_mich_1_.jpg" style="-ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline !important; max-width: 378px; padding-bottom: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom;" width="378" /><br />
<h1 style="color: rgb(96, 96, 96) !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 40px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
Look for Joy<br /> </h1>
<h2 style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64) !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 26px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.75px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
...if it's hiding... find it.</h2>
<div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Hi Friends,</span></div>
<div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">I spent a long weekend in the hospital. No, I wasn’t the one in the hospital bed, it was my adopted mum. She was in again, because her counts were down. She has cancer. She’s had it for a long time, but it went into remission for years. We celebrated. It came back. We felt sad. She’s been taking chemo pills. Her hair has fallen out and grown back in. She now has the super cute style that seems to be all over Vogue. It just grew in that way. </span></div>
<div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Mum is an amazing person. She was the first petite models back in the day. She has endured horrific abuse, domestic violence that also ripped her daughter’s life apart. They survived. They found freedom. She loves Jesus with all her heart. For most of her life she has been a social worker. Working right in the heart of a system we know is corrupt, CPS. She has the attitude, If someone good isn’t in there doing their best, the whole thing will fall apart & it’s the best we’ve got right now. I’m going to do my best to make it better. And she has. Even at the hospital, she was talking about wanting to be at work... for the children. She did not want to be at the hospital & everyone who walked in the door knew it within a few minutes. </span></div>
<div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">I was there when her beautiful Middle Eastern doctor came in and gave her the bad news that her counts were going the wrong way. She held my hand, pulled me close & said, “Madi, I’m scared.” I held her tighter. I knew she was, inside we all were. But we had to face the fear with courage. Because fear never cured anything, only Joy does. They gave her a platelets drip & I said, “Let’s imagine these platelets are little ninja angels going in to wipe out the bad guys and heal your body, making more, happy good platelet guys, so your counts will go up.” She smiled. Closed her eyes & said, “I can see them…” </span></div>
<div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">My girlfriend (her original adopted daughter), her birth daughter & I were all there with her. We were laughing so much & being silly in the crazy yellow gowns they made us wear. She said we were better than TV. Laughter is truly the best medicine. I felt better.</span></div>
<div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">The next day I was like a busy beaver. Mum was cold…she needed a fleece blanket (I’m a wiz at making them now). & She was sad… her room wasn’t helping. So I took a full sheet of watercolor paper and made her a “card”, the one in the picture. My girlfriend & I delivered them that night after she got off work in the emergency room. </span></div>
<div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Mum sent us a text: “My girls, my heart is truly filled with happiness and gratitude by the love you show me, I love you both to the moon and back for always and forever. Mom”.<br /><br />Guess what!?! Mum got to go home the next day. Happiness heals the heart & the body follows. </span></div>
<div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">If you’re feeling sad, find something that makes you happy. If someone in your life is feeling down, do what you can to lift them up. Creator heals us through Joy, Laughter, Happiness, Love. If you need something happy on your wall, I’d love to create something just for you, with your favorite word…or you can get a print of the one I made for Mum at my website </span><a href="http://www.michalmadisonart.net/galleries.html" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">www.MichalMadisonArt.net/galleries.html</span></a></div>
<div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">If you’d like to learn more about the important work that my adopted mom has dedicated her life to, visit </span><a href="http://www.butterflydreamsabuserecovery.com/" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">www.ButterflyDreamsAbuseRecovery.com</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">. It’s something Trish McKnight & I are also passionate about…you know, ending violence.</span></div>
<div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Happy Joy,</span></div>
<div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Michal Madison</span></div>
michal madisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06415919038886850794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2457890167513367381.post-76456904032802069162014-03-25T15:00:00.002-07:002014-03-25T15:12:38.174-07:00Your Story MattersYour Story Matters <br />
<h3 style="color: rgb(96, 96, 96) !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.5px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
"Alone we whisper. Together we roar." ~ Faith McDaniel</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEp0cP0zsQ1XLdqksd-tjYecgc3PF4vnnwyyNXCOoW4Z71ok0Ui1uvxhk102DrrdGhCzqNHFsHJWLI9D1RF2bdER1P94-K7JNwwczQKa_oM4OXFkfxwv2rBZZWVYP2npnZ5nvRwM0DqAM/s1600/Ginger+~+watercolor+of+little+redhead+girl+with+big+eyes+by+michal+madison.web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEp0cP0zsQ1XLdqksd-tjYecgc3PF4vnnwyyNXCOoW4Z71ok0Ui1uvxhk102DrrdGhCzqNHFsHJWLI9D1RF2bdER1P94-K7JNwwczQKa_oM4OXFkfxwv2rBZZWVYP2npnZ5nvRwM0DqAM/s1600/Ginger+~+watercolor+of+little+redhead+girl+with+big+eyes+by+michal+madison.web.jpg" height="320" width="265" /></a></div>
<h3 style="color: rgb(96, 96, 96) !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.5px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /><br />Topics like the one we shared tonight on Butterfly Dreams Talk Radio are haunting. Disturbing. As if a child could ever consent to having sex with an adult. It’s impossible. Legal? Accepted as “normal”? The thoughts raced through my mind like a pack of wild monkeys. My stomach was reeling. How could something so utterly terrifying, so life destroying, so evil as pedophilia be considered “ok” by anyone? How did this even become a topic for the show tonight? Did it need to be addressed? Absolutely! How can a small army of advocates and survivors make a difference against the appalling typhoon that is soon to hit the United States, as it has the United Kingdom?<br /><br /> We will need help that is more than human. Angel armies. We also need to join together like never before. Empower the children in our corner of the world. Do all we can to educate people and raise awareness of what abuse does to the child’s life.<br /><br /> And… Talk. Talk. Talk. Tell our stories. Let our voices be heard.<br /><br /> In the past I’ve been tempted to think, does my story really make a difference? I am not “A Child Called It”. Last week I was convinced once again, that every voice counts, ever story matters. I shared my life journey with over 200 students that were packed into a tiny auditorium, with standing room only, last Wednesday night. I shared my truth… told it like it happened. I could tell that the students were “with” me, really listening. When I walked off that stage, they broke into applause, as I was sitting down, they were all standing up, thanking me for being honest. My story. A standing ovation? Yes.<br /><br /> So many came up to me afterward to thank me. I left not only feeling validated, but knowing that I had changed the perspective of many in that room… opened their eyes to the reality of what abuse does to a child’s soul.<br /><br /> Several days later, I was told, there was still buzz on campus about my story. Saturday morning over three hundred people gathered for the Kappa Delta Shamrock 5K. Together we were running and walking to raise money for Childhelp. Together we raising awareness about child abuse. Before the race started, while we were all stretching and getting ready, student after student came up to me, thanking me again for sharing my story. Some had been unable to attend because of classes, but had heard about it. One young woman came up and said, “You have no idea what an impact you had on the guys who heard you. They are still talking about it. No one gets through to them. You did.”<br /><br />I was honored and humbled at the same time. Here I had been thinking, “Does my story make that much of a difference?” For several months now, I’ve thought, I speak because I’m willing to speak, willing to say what happened. That’s why they ask me. I’m willing. <br /><br /> I realize now, that is what is going to make a difference. Not a bunch of facts or a list of after effects found on a google search, but personal stories. Your story. My story. All our stories added together. Because stories are personal. The facts are no longer in a long list of bullet points, they are real; they are attached to a living breathing human being. That is how we will roar. By talking & talking & talking & not stopping! No one can deny your experience, your life, your story. So speak up. Share it in every way you can: Sing it. Dance it. Paint it. Speak it. Write a poem or a story or a blog. Get your story out there for the world to hear and see. That is how we are going to stop the deluge of pedophiles saying “having sex with an adult doesn’t hurt a child”. That is how we will stop this hurricane that threatens the lives of children everywhere.<br /><br /> Speak Up. Roar!<br /><br /> Here’s the link to the article that started tonight’s Hot Topic: <a href="http://together-we-heal.org/2014/03/04/we-cant-prove-sex-with-children-does-them-harm-says-labour-linked-nccl/" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;">http://together-we-heal.org/2014/03/04/we-cant-prove-sex-with-children-does-them-harm-says-labour-linked-nccl/</a><br />Here’s a link to the show: <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/butterflydreamstalkradio/2014/03/11/its-a-family-affair--pedophilia-should-it-be-an-accepted-act#.Ux3_QVi97gw.facebook" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;">http://www.blogtalkradio.com/butterflydreamstalkradio/2014/03/11/its-a-family-affair--pedophilia-should-it-be-an-accepted-act#.Ux3_QVi97gw.facebook</a><br /> Here’s a link to my website: <a href="http://www.michalmadisonart.net/galleries.html" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;">www.MichalMadisonArt.net/galleries.html</a>. Art is one of the ways I tell my story. Selling my art is one of the ways I support child abuse prevention and awareness via: Childhelp (<a href="http://www.childhelp.org/" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;">www.Childhelp.org</a>) & Butterfly Dreams Abuse Recovery (<a href="http://www.butterflydreamsabuserecovery.com/" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;">www.ButterflyDreamsAbuseRecovery.com</a>).<br /><br /> Roar my friends. Roar!<br /> ~michal madison</h3>
<div style="color: rgb(96, 96, 96) !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.5px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="color: rgb(96, 96, 96) !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.5px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
11 March 2014</div>
michal madisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06415919038886850794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2457890167513367381.post-38768169391351679762014-02-25T14:17:00.000-08:002014-03-25T15:14:00.284-07:00Follow Your Passion<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="Publishwithline" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Share Your Gift</span></span></span></strong></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div style="border-color: currentColor currentColor rgb(198, 198, 198); border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="underline" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="PadderBetweenControlandBody" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She is amazing at what she does. She can get on the radio
and talk to us like we’re right there in the room with her. It’s magical. I’ve
been there & watched her do it. I’ve seen her do a whole show with a few
notes she jotted down in a notebook before she went on the air. I was
impressed. It’s one of those things that I’d like to be able to do well. I can
do it. I can. But not with the same ease and grace. For me, it takes hours, no
days, actually weeks of preparation. I write every word out, because there is
something that happens to me when I get on the air. It’s like I lose my ability
to think and speak at the same time. Yet… I’ve kept trying to do it. Trying to
be a radio host. It’s something I’ve felt that I wanted to do. No one was
forcing me to do it. It all started with an interview with her… this woman who
makes us feel like she in the room with us having an intimate conversation. She
has become one of my best friends. She made the interview
so easy, so simple I forgot I was on the air. Someone heard that show &
thought I’d be a good host. Because with her I feel invincible on the radio, I thought,
sure I’ll do that! It wasn’t the same. I loved interviewing people. But the
anxiety I’d feel would actually cause me to go into dissociation. So I quit.
She came along and said, “Hey, let’s start a show together.” I thought… with
her, I can do this. & with her, I could. As long as she was on the air with
me, it was fun. It was easy. It was wonderful. But doing it alone? Ah… I was
back to the craziness. It wasn’t until yesterday that I realized all of this. I
realized that I was trying to do something that just wasn’t me. It wasn’t a
lack of commitment. It wasn’t even a lack of desire. It just wasn’t what I was
good at or felt passionate about or excelled at. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think there comes a time in all of our lives when we have
to choose. Do we keep trying to do something we’re just ok at? Or, do we focus
more of our energy on the thing we’re really good at, the thing we’re
passionate about? I decided to do the latter. And I feel a lot freer. I know my
bestie will still love me just as much, even if I don’t have my own show on our
amazing network. And, yes, I still feel that it is just as much mine as it was
before, when I kept struggling to be a host and feeling like I was letting
everyone down when I’d freak out and cancel yet another show. Now I feel I can
enjoy it a lot more, because I’m doing what I’m good at… painting. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What are you
good at? Follow your passion. Devote your time to the thing that you’re great
at and become better at it. Want to hear the magical host? You can. She’s on </span><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ButterflyDreamsAbuseRecovery"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">www.blogtalkradio.com/ButterflyDreamsAbuseRecovery</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
every Monday and Wednesday evening at 9pm eastern time. Her name is Trish &
I love her! Want to see what I’m good at? You can. Visit my website at </span><a href="http://www.michalmadisonart.net/galleries.html"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">www.MichalMadisonArt.net/galleries.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
and while you’re there, pick out something that touches your heart, keep it for
yourself or share it with a friend. 10% of every sale is donated to ending
child abuse (Childhelp. My art helps support Butterfly Dreams too). That’s something Trish and I are both passionate about. That’s why
we started Butterfly Dreams in the first place. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Follow you passion my friends. You have a gift that only you
can give the world. Share it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dream Big. Create Miracle. Expect Magic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Michal Madison<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dThr0hZeodUFfKZdHFIqVJTaPdvY3V2CxJlOS_v0qMepBYHNgGF_9bGxmNI1szmcSJE2Cz8d94_ZulCnw63KZZBNZfT5FaYMtEBVX3xjvnsJnC9EP3s2c_oPHnF7jj_q_9Y_8TdMF43-/s1600/Whisper+My+Name+watercolor+painting+of+redhead+with+green+eyes+and+full+lips+by+michal+madison.+web+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dThr0hZeodUFfKZdHFIqVJTaPdvY3V2CxJlOS_v0qMepBYHNgGF_9bGxmNI1szmcSJE2Cz8d94_ZulCnw63KZZBNZfT5FaYMtEBVX3xjvnsJnC9EP3s2c_oPHnF7jj_q_9Y_8TdMF43-/s1600/Whisper+My+Name+watercolor+painting+of+redhead+with+green+eyes+and+full+lips+by+michal+madison.+web+%25281%2529.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">21 March 2014</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />michal madisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06415919038886850794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2457890167513367381.post-46467761619739180942013-06-27T21:09:00.001-07:002014-03-25T15:15:18.461-07:00Painting for Peace<h3 style="background-color: white; color: #6c95b3; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i> I am continually amazed by the healing power of art! How it heals me, the artist. It heals those who see it and find inspiration. And now through it I am also able to give back and help abused children heal.</i></span></h3>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6t-zq1kCub5QO_zOT0O59ohMO3JFIs7ks8ZMIw3bzdgLWJiXO43M6QmN-_85dZuTHhUF3zg_HENg-6nokMXhcH68NIouR_HbxCWNmNOZo7J_WMI8dvD3m3P7BhuNviPomyCpETBtq0CQ3/s576/madi's.eyes+~+watercolor+of+a+child+with+big+huge+longing+eyes,+asian+child+biting+her+lower+lip+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6t-zq1kCub5QO_zOT0O59ohMO3JFIs7ks8ZMIw3bzdgLWJiXO43M6QmN-_85dZuTHhUF3zg_HENg-6nokMXhcH68NIouR_HbxCWNmNOZo7J_WMI8dvD3m3P7BhuNviPomyCpETBtq0CQ3/s576/madi's.eyes+~+watercolor+of+a+child+with+big+huge+longing+eyes,+asian+child+biting+her+lower+lip+web.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Painting for Peace</span></h2>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
the healing power of art</span></h3>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My innocence was stolen before I could speak a word. I know that is one of the reasons art is so important to me. It doesn’t need a vocabulary to help me express hidden emotions and deep feelings.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Child abuse is impossible to wrap my mind around. I don’t understand it! It was even more inconceivable while it was happening.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How could these people, who said they loved me, do these appalling things to me? I separated the evil events from my “good” parents, dividing and hiding the darkness so deep that I almost convinced myself it never happened. I dissociated. And so, as an adult, I always felt there were pieces of my story I just “didn’t” know ~ or maybe didn’t want to know… But I did want to know. I wanted to understand why I was the way I was.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But how? How does one uncover a past they’ve buried so deep in their psyche? Art! Art allowed me to discover my history in safety and continues to help me process my journey gently. It gives me the freedom to move beyond the barriers that confined me, to live in the freedom I was created to enjoy! Art helps us express emotions that we can’t find words for. There are so many art forms to express those emotions. The possibilities are limitless!</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a child I was rescued by music. I remember the moment the piano arrived at our house. It was a huge old upright grand with a magnificent full sound. I sat there mesmerized. That piano would become a place I could express my feelings. Through music I developed an inner strength. I felt alive, grounded, present. I lived at the piano, lost and found in the notes, using music to tell my story.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Later I started exploring visual art. There would be several more years of abuse before I would be in a safe enough place to truly start my healing journey using this medium. And then, it was through watercolor and collage that the puzzle pieces of my life story started to fit together. I started to understand why I ended up in more than one abusive marriage. Marriages that looked so great on the outside but were filled with assault and pain (just like my family).</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love the saying “life is a great big canvas, so throw as much paint on it as you can!” Part of my healing has involved “throwing paint”. Yes, it gets everywhere, but the benefits far outweigh any cleanup that I may have to do (besides, beach towels make great drop cloths and look so much more artistic with paint splatters!) It’s cathartic to let the paint “fly”, just to enjoy the process without allowing the outcome to be a priority.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve found when I become focused on the finished product, I lose, to a great extent, the healing power of the journey — the process. I have discovered so much about where I am today, about where I’ve been, from these “paintings without a plan”. It’s as if a window was opened and I was able to look into my inner world.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I created a collage book, as soon as I left my second abusive husband. I was unwavering, at that point, to get to the root cause of my issues and start to heal. I was determined to never allow anyone to abuse me ever again! So I started using art as part of my healing, much more seriously.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I collected pictures and words from magazines that resonated with my feelings and desires. I had a little box with glue sticks, scissors, cardstock and magazine pictures. Every day I’d create something that expressed what I was feeling that moment or what I wanted to be feeling — the life I wanted to be living. I kept them in plastic pages in a three-ring notebook. I still have this collection of collages, and still find healing in its pages.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The amazing freedom of art is that one doesn’t need to be an artist to use art to heal. Anyone can collage — just as anyone can “throw” paint on a canvas, or find a box of crayons and a pad of paper and just let the inner self express feelings. The medium we use isn’t as important as just doing it!</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The one subject I love to paint more than anything else is eyes. We all know William Shakespeare’s famous quote “The eyes are the window to your soul”. I believe that’s really true.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I see the eyes looking back at me, newly revealed from the brush strokes of my soul, I almost always see myself in those eyes: a tiny child, without words; longing searching eyes; an angry woman who’s been holding it all inside under the fragile veneer of happiness; a strong, but fragile girl who can’t stop the tears from overflowing a moment longer. These hidden layers surface to be faced, to be loved, to be healed.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple years ago, I started sharing my art on Facebook. With my art came my story. Almost overnight I discovered how un-alone I was on this journey.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wasn’t the only one whose family had stopped talking to her when she told “the secret”. I wasn’t the only daughter of incest whose parents said “it never happened”. I wasn’t the only person who had been sexually abused by <span style="text-decoration: underline;">both</span> of her parents! I wasn’t alone.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People were sharing their own stories of survival with me. When they told me how my art touches something deep inside their soul, giving them courage to face the past and start to truly live, I was inspired to continue sharing my journey.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I am continually amazed by the healing power of art! How it heals me, the artist. It heals those who see it and find inspiration. And now through it I am also able to give back and help abused children heal.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> People were connecting emotionally with my art and wanting to buy originals and prints, or cards to share with others. Right away I knew I wanted to give back, to help make a difference in the lives of children who were in the midst of healing. Today 10% of every sale from my art is donated to Childhelp. Giving back is another layer of my healing.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Childhelp has a phenomenal art therapy program that is helping wounded children heal! Through art, the silence is being broken! Through art, children are able to express those emotions they just can’t put into words. Truly, how do you put into words the pain of abuse? To me, it’s indescribable, even as an adult, because it should never ever be! Join me in making a difference in the lives of children by supporting Childhelp.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Michal’s art can be found at: <a href="http://www.michalmadisonart.com/" style="color: #7b6bac; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.michalmadisonart.com</a></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To Learn more about Childhelp's Art Therapy programs, go to <a href="http://www.childhelp.org/maks" style="color: #7b6bac; text-decoration: none;" title="www.childhelp.org/maks">www.childhelp.org/maks</a>.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">original blog: <a href="http://www.childhelp.org/blog/entry/painting-for-peace/" style="background-color: transparent;">http://www.childhelp.org/blog/entry/painting-for-peace/</a></span></div>
michal madisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06415919038886850794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2457890167513367381.post-33386788882031355672013-06-27T21:09:00.000-07:002014-03-25T15:16:19.243-07:00being tiny<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; float: left; font-size: 12pt; padding: 8px 0px 0px; width: 620px;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"There are moments in all of our lives when we forget our true greatness & allow others to make us feel small. when that happens, think of all the magical things you could do if you really were tiny. & soon you'll remember who you really are..."</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; float: left; font-size: 10pt; padding: 10px 0px 0px; width: 620px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>here's to your greatness!" </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaCaqWlzk3AsUpv6VZGvD_k-YcujEuNrRAGySgncnuC4nWZBHp22KVFMJnh64K4q_CPcQ80kuUTLdUQ5GwUfJanRnitZcC8E01j8CvAVQ24YUpssILgyOLvaNBxdgReJ-H5HPXTOgvMI3/s576/tiny+flower+fairy,+long+flowing+red+hair,+pansies,+hiding+under+flowers,+ladybug,+watercolor+by+michal+madison+fb.web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaCaqWlzk3AsUpv6VZGvD_k-YcujEuNrRAGySgncnuC4nWZBHp22KVFMJnh64K4q_CPcQ80kuUTLdUQ5GwUfJanRnitZcC8E01j8CvAVQ24YUpssILgyOLvaNBxdgReJ-H5HPXTOgvMI3/s576/tiny+flower+fairy,+long+flowing+red+hair,+pansies,+hiding+under+flowers,+ladybug,+watercolor+by+michal+madison+fb.web.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Being Tiny </span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I Feel Small… It’s definitely not a feeling I would choose, if I had my choice of feelings. But here it is. Seriously, how can feeling “small” feel so big? Small should just feel small and insignificant. But it doesn’t. Feeling Small and insignificant is usually huge and overwhelming! Have you ever felt really, really small? You know, someone said something or did something and in an instant you feel smaller than Tom Thumb inside! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve felt that way many times throughout my life. I’m trying something new. I’m trying to embrace whatever emotion I’m feeling. Emotions never stay forever, so I’m trying to make friends with whatever emotion happens to be in my life at the moment. So I ask myself, ‘is feeling small really all that bad?’ </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are moments in all of our lives when we forget our true greatness and allow others to make us feel small. When that happens, I'm choosing to think of all the magical things we could do if we really were small. You know, discover the wonder of small. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Think of all the small things that we just love! Like babies, kittens and puppies, well, little baby anything, tiny flowers, hummingbirds and butterflies, ladybugs and… the list can go on and on, because I love little things… dainty earrings, thin tiny paintbrushes for painting the details in eyes and small spoons to savor every little bite of ice cream! Yes! I like small spoons. What small things do you really like? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I imagine myself magical, like a flower fairy, or Thumbelina. I'd really like to try out being tiny enough to hide under flowers, dance with bumblebees and fly on the back of a sparrow! Life would be totally different from that perspective. Wayne Dyer says, “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” That is so true! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thinking about how fabulous and fantastic teeny tiny small is, we soon remember who we really are... we remember our greatness. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I realize I'm changing the way I look at what happened and why I've been feeling small, I'm able to see from their point of view. These people are going through their own personal “stuff” probably feeling ‘small’ in a not-so-magical way. Their decisions are a reflection of their life, not about me. Regardless of how I feel, it isn’t personal. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On top of that, my feeling small, really has nothing to do with this situation, it goes back to childhood wounds. I always felt seen for what I could do, but never seen for who I was. That simple fact made me feel very small and insignificant as a child... maybe invisible! So what happened in the present triggered that response from a long time ago. Now I can easily and completely forgive these people whose actions simply triggered a something from my past. They had no idea. It really is MY deal. Now that I understand, I can heal. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next time someone hurts your feelings or you find yourself misunderstood, or misunderstanding another person’s actions, try looking at your situation from a different perspective — maybe from under a flower or on the wings of a sparrow! You may be surprised at what you see from a new point of view! </span>michal madisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06415919038886850794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2457890167513367381.post-51265814184995879792013-06-13T21:07:00.000-07:002014-03-25T15:17:18.407-07:00Elephant Inspirations<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt;">"Art can touch emotions in someone's life and reignite a dream, even a dream that has been through devastating circumstances. So look around. Be blessed by the amazing wonder, the artistic elegance of creation. Let your heart and soul be captured. Dream Big! Expect Miracles!"</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span></i><br />
<div style="background-color: white; float: left; font-size: 10pt; padding: 10px 0px 0px; width: 620px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDo88Xq4J3nD4dOSPfTYNh_tobhyphenhyphens1pOI3-0ynBzFWD-I6DdXHtBelQRM1Srjl2q6X8FTm6842jTUhKm87fPljubJotF_0NOEzH_nXA8AVWzkFEEzvqrfRgoH1jcnPEK-7fEy7BDpcIST/s576/elephants+journey+clouds+rays+of+light+watercolor+by+michal+madison+inspired+by+A.+Hill's+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDo88Xq4J3nD4dOSPfTYNh_tobhyphenhyphens1pOI3-0ynBzFWD-I6DdXHtBelQRM1Srjl2q6X8FTm6842jTUhKm87fPljubJotF_0NOEzH_nXA8AVWzkFEEzvqrfRgoH1jcnPEK-7fEy7BDpcIST/s576/elephants+journey+clouds+rays+of+light+watercolor+by+michal+madison+inspired+by+A.+Hill's+photo.jpg" height="241" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></div>
<h2>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elephant Inspiration </span></b></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love elephants. But Lindsay love loves elephants. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, let me start back at the beginning of this elephant story. I painted this elephant picture for my girlfriend (at the time, now my best friend who really loves elephants), so tons of love went into every brush stroke. We both decided, recently, that it would make great prints and cards. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple of weeks ago I was showing at The Art Festival. I met a lot of really intriguing people, among them this interesting guy, Josh. He liked all of my art, all of it! I know, what’s not to like about him, right? But that’s not the reason... He bought one of my elephant cards, among other things. A few hours later, after lunch, he returned to buy another elephant card. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Josh and I have kept in touch since the show and He shared an inspiring story with me. This is where Lindsay fits in. Josh went to lunch with his good friends Lindsay and Eric the day he bought the elephant card. Remember Lindsay really loves elephants! (Eric loves them also). When Lindsay opened the card, tears filled her eyes. They’ve been married for a while and were excited about starting a family. But several months ago they experienced a miscarriage. It shattered their world. Together they decided to stop trying to have a baby (for a while). While it’s hard to stop chasing your dream, sometimes it’s too painful to go on. The moment Lindsay saw the elephant card, a seed of hope was planted for them. Art can touch emotions in someone’s life and reignite a dream, even a dream that has been through devastating circumstances. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently, Lindsay told Josh they are trying again. They are ready to embrace their baby and begin a magical journey! So, now I have a new dream! (When we follow our dreams, we inspire dreams in others.) I want to hold that baby! I want to look into that child’s eyes and know that s/he is here because hope is still alive in this world! I feel honored, humbled and so very blessed to have painted a picture that inspired hope and the expectation of new life! One of my mantras in life is: Dream Big! Expect Miracles! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I knew you’d like this story, because some of you may have set your dream aside for a while. It’s my hope that a story, a piece of art or anything from Creator’s miraculous repertoire of unequaled beauty will inspire you to follow your dream once again. I also know that you will join me in asking Creator to exquisitely bless Lindsay and Eric with a beautiful healthy baby! I’m 100% behind parents who are going to love, adore, protect and cherish their children! So please send them all the happy thoughts, good energy and prayers in whatever way you ask your Creator and Higher Power to pour out goodness on others. They deserve a baby I will for sure let you know when this miraculous, inspirational baby is on the way and of course when innocence arrives to grace our world! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, and one more thing… if it’s a girl, they’re going to name her Michal!!! (How cool is that!)</span>michal madisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06415919038886850794noreply@blogger.com1