Brave Girl Camp | Jeanne Oliver

New Art and a Winner!

December 13, 2010 By Jeanne

I had planned to have tons of new things in my shop today but life had other plans.

I will share more about that later.

For now I wanted to first reveal the winner of the Soul Restoration e-course offered by Brave Girls.

The winner is…..number 45.

So, I guess I better go and count and then come back…ok…the winner is….Sandie at A Bloggable Life.

Please email me your information and I will pass it along to the generous Melody and Kathy!!!

Congratulations! For the rest of us there is still time to sign up for the e-course!!!

In shop news I have five new original pieces that I have just listed.

Three of the pieces are original mixed media paintings and the other two are original canvas covered art journals that have been painted.

All orders placed this week will be shipped priority {on me}.

My shop will close on Thursday, December 16 and will reopen in the new year!!!

So, if you had your eye on anything in the shop now is the time to get it before the shop closes.

I will be shipping everyday to ensure that your orders arrive before Christmas.

And as I mentioned…any orders placed this week will be shipped priority automatically without you paying extra.

Enjoy your Monday!

Filed Under: Brave Girl Camp, Made By Hand, Shop Talk

Brave Girl Giveaway

December 9, 2010 By Jeanne

I know there are so many of you that would love to go to Brave Girl Camp.

I know how your heart deeply desires to be heard.

I know how your mind, body and soul is crying out for a rest.

I also know that it is a misconception that you always have to go away to find time for yourself.

Sometimes all you need is to do is make yourself and your heart a priority right where you are.

A year ago I attended BGC and I knew when I left what a privilege it had been to be in that first group and I KNEW it was going to be BIG.

The world needs light.

So, if you have always wanted to go to Brave Girl Camp do not fear…I have a wonderful way for you to go right where you are!

Melody Ross and Kathy Wilkens are the two amazing, creative, huge hearted women that started Brave Girl Camp.

Brave Girl Camp has sold out every camp and I believe it is almost sold out for 2011!!

Because of so many women wanting to attend and Melody and Kathy having such a heart for women…they have created Soul Restoration.

Take a look!!!

(pause my playlist first)

Kathy and Melody have so generously offered tuition to to one of my readers !!!

They have taken the curriculum they have created for Brave Girl Camp and made it available in a 6 week e-course!

I am excited for everyone of you that will take the time to pay attention to your heart!!

We take classes for painting, journal making, sketching, business advice….why not our hearts???

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this blog post.

If you want more chances to win just come back here and let me know each time you twitter, facebook or blog about the Soul Restoration Giveaway!!!

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In shop news I…I am offering 15% off my entire shop for this weekend only.

Just use the code JOY2010 at checkout and it will be automatically taken off.

I will have a few pieces of original art, new prints and new jewelry available on Monday!!

Have a wonderful weekend.

We will be taking the children to see Narnia tonight and we have our annual progressive dinner with our neighbors tomorrow (dang it…I have to clean the house).

Filed Under: Brave Girl Camp

Round Two

December 8, 2010 By jeanne

I couldn't help it!

I kept on thinking of all the other little things that I knew you guys would love that would be affordable for gift giving.

So, here is my second…and LAST…list of favorite things. Promise.

Who am I kidding…I could have another one on Friday.

Without further ado…here is round two (a bit shorter..but just as sweet).

1. I know I mentioned Mindy Gledhill last time but this time I am just putting music in general on the list. I listen to all different kinds of music all day long. A perfect gift to give someone would be a year subscription to Pandora. Seriously, it is under $40!!!

2. This is my FAVORITE….from Arbonne! I have been known to keep a broken compact full of bronzer in a Ziploc because I just couldn't throw it out. If you get it I would highly recommend the huge brush they sell with it…makes all the difference. Best bronzer I have ever used!

3. Misty Mawn is one of those artists that I just love their work. Everything she puts out is incredible and soulful. Her characters have depth and are almost haunting.

4. Misty is will be offering an online art course in January! I know this is something that is on MY Christmas list to myself:-)

5. Brave Girl Camp is obviously something that means a lot to me. I was privileged to be at the first camp over a year ago and have watched it grow so incredibly. Everyone needs to make time to listen to their heart…and this is such an incredible place to make that time. This camp is already almost (if not already) sold out for 2011. If you think this could be something for you I highly recommend you signing up.

6. Florabella Actions and Textures are such a fun way to play with your photos. It is really easy and you could lose yourself for hours on the computer dressing up all those pretty pictures you are taking.

7.I love when something looks expensive but it is not. My fake Frye boots from Target cost me $50 compared to many of my friends paying over $200 for the real thing. The best part is that all of them thought the Target ones were real! Target can often have cute but uncomfortable shoes…I promise you these are comfy (even right away). I have had mine for over a year and still wear them all of the time.

8. If I am not wearing jewelry I have made I am wearing jewelry made and designed by the amazing Lisa Souers. I get stopped EVERYWHERE I go when I am wearing one of her pieces. Keep checking her shop for updates and if you see something she has made that is no longer on her site…try contacting her to see if she is able to make another one!

9. I have to admit to you that I wasn't sure how much I would get out of Kelly Rae Robert's e-class that I took months ago. I was so pleasantly surprised by what information was in the class that I hadn't thought about and even amazing resources that she freely gave. If you are starting out or even if you have been running a business for awhile I think her new e-book is packed full of helpful information!!!

10. Whether you start with Photoshop Elements, Picnik or skip and go to full blown Photoshop….photo editing is so fun and will add so much to your photos , blog or shop. Perfect gift for any photographer in your life (might want to stick to the PS Elements or Picnik for affordability).

11. I am such a visual learner. I have never read my camera manual and I learn best hands on. If you love great photography, wonderful tips and everyday advice about capturing your life, children, products on film I really think you will LOVE, LOVE this book. This book is perfect for the amateur and professional photographer.

12. Last but not least my favorite workout pants (thanks AJ for introducing them to me). I swear I could live in these and sometimes I do and I just pretend that I worked out!! Lululemon has the best workout clothes (a bit pricey…so I don't have many) but these will hold up. Great quality and will last 10 times longer than something you pick up at Target. They better for the price.

That is it for now!!

I have loved sharing some of the little day to day things that I love.

I have such a wonderful surprise for you on Friday!!!!!

I am so excited and giddy over it!

If you have always wanted to go to Brave Girl Camp but life (and money) has gotten in the way…I have a surprise for you!!!!

Come back on Friday for a wonderful giveaway!!!!

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I almost forgot.

I am guest blogger over at Flea Market Style Blog this week.

I would love to hear your creative ideas!!!

Filed Under: Brave Girl Camp, Inspired, Made By Hand, Photography, Shop Talk, Style Page

Best Caramel Corn…EVER

October 26, 2010 By jeanne

OK…before you see the weirdest photo of me I would like to explain.

I don't know if it will do any good but I want to try!

Last year when I went to Brave Girl Camp they made the most awesome caramel corn.

SERIOUSLY AMAZING!!!

I made it a few times around Christmas and everyone LOVED it.

In fact, no one could stop eating it once it was put out.

It may be in fact…sugar crack!

So, when Kathy was going to make it again for this last camp I was the first to run up and make a fool of myself.

Lucky for me my friend Lara was right there to capture the caramel corn love.

(I am such a dork)

So, if you would also like to eat an obscene amounts of sugar and calories I wanted to give you the recipe.

The World's Best Caramel Corn

1 C sugar
1 C dark brown sugar (packed)
1 C butter
1 C light corn syrup
1 can sweetened condensed milk
3 – 4 bags buttered, salted microwave popcorn (we use 3 bags because we like to go a little light on the popcorn and heavy on the caramel)

Put some sheets of foil on your counter to cover a space about 30" x 30" (I like to make sure there's plenty of room). Spray the foil with cooking spray.

Pop the popcorn and place in a very large bowl. Transfer by handfuls to ANOTHER very large bowl, letting the grannies drop to the bottom. (This step is critical – you don't want any grannies in your caramel corn!)

Now place the other ingredients in a large, heavy pan with high sides. Cook over med – med high heat, stirring occasionally, until the caramel almost reaches the Firm Ball stage (about 240-245 degrees on a candy thermometer). Pour over the popcorn and combine with a LONG wooden spoon so you don't burn your hands.

Pour the caramelicous goodness out onto the foil, and let it cool as long as you can stand it. Then share it with someone you love!

(recipe courtesy of Brave Girl Camp)

Do not…I repeat..DO NOT contact me after your pants don't fit.

Filed Under: Brave Girl Camp, Family First, Made From Scratch

Eyes Wide Open

October 20, 2010 By Jeanne

Because I have been so busy getting the new line out I have not had a chance to share with you about Brave Girl Camp.

If you have been following my blog for awhile you know that I went to BGC a year ago and what an amazing impact it had on me.

You can read about last year here, here and here.

About six months ago two of my friends asked me if I would join them at BGC. I agreed. As the time was coming closer one of them had to back out. When it was about a month away I was regretting signing up again. I have had many trips this year and just didn't want to leave my family again…and the biggest reason was because I HAD DONE THIS ALREADY. I was worried that an experience that had been so amazing could be tainted by doing it again.

When I finally bought my plane ticket and I received the email full of all the other girls coming…..I cried.

I cried looking at their photos and hearing their stories.

I cried because many of the staff are people I love DEARLY and I couldn't wait to see.

I cried because I was so excited and happy for these new girls because of what they were about to experience.

When I came home after the first camp I was so full of ideas, dreams, resolutions that my sweet husband couldn't get a word in.

Camp for me last year was a time of quiet for me that I desperately needed to truly find my focus.

When I was quiet long enough my head and heart were able to hear and respect each other and I saw clearer than I had in a long time.

I believe you can only be brave when you know some kind of direction.

If you have a focus/direction you can be scared and uncertain but at least you can take that FIRST step into that new world.

For so many of us we can flounder for so long because we don't know our focus.

We can even allow so many others to steal our focus and we allow them/situations/commitments to distract us.

Sometimes we can stay so busy with things that don't matter that we have no energy left for the things we were meant for!

When I came home this time I didn't need to talk and talk.

This camp has been just as powerful and heart changing…but in a completely different way.

I had such a deep quiet peace as I had watched miracles.

I watched women change before my eyes.

How last time I had found focus …this time I heard so clearly to open my eyes.

Open my eyes because there is hurt everywhere.

EVERYWHERE.

On my street…in my town..in my little world..because we are all broken a little aren't we?

When I relived Melody's journey I was so aware of how much pain people can carry.

Melody has such a unique way of sharing her story that I will carry some of her experiences with me for the rest of my life.

I don't want to look at those around me the same way.

The Lord calls us to be his hands and feet and that is EXACTLY what I want to be.

What I have seen with my realtionships throughout my life is that the heaviest burden, the most painful shame, the ugliest secrets, the most devastating acts can be lightened by another.

When women come together to support, uplift, encourage, love, listen, cry, laugh…..there is healing.

HUGE…undeniable….HEALING!

I am not saying that all their problems go away.

What I am saying is that you give another person HOPE!!

Hope that life doesn't have to be what it has been.

Hope that what is in the past doesn't define you.

Hope that there are people in this world that love them and will stand by them.

That is the kind of women I want to be.