Travel | Jeanne Oliver

Introvert {extrovert}

March 26, 2013 By jeanne 25 Comments

{all photos from a recent trip with friends to wine country}

I used to think I was an extrovert.

What I am discovering is that I am an introvert (AKA hermit) and an occasional extrovert (AKA party animal).

Every 2-4 months or so I will get together with friends here in the US.

Sometimes it is for business (teaching a class etc) and sometimes just for fun.

If you read my blog you might think I am extremely social, travel a ton and spend lots of times with friends.

The truth is that it really means I see a friend every 2-4 months.

Truth!

When I am home I like to be in my pajamas, do school with my kids, hang out with my family, make art, tinker with my house, drink too much coffee……

I think you get the picture.

I don’t leave home.

I have come to appreciate that I really love home.

Love my family.

Love running a business.

Love my pajamas (they are cute and from Anthro if that makes it any more acceptable).

When I get together with friends it fills my cup back up.

Sometimes I hadn’t even realized how much I needed a break (or to actually wear clothes that don’t stretch).

I spend 2-4 days with good friends, laugh (really, really hard), eat good food, wear clothes other than pajamas, talk about our goals, eat more good food…..

I then come home, cuddle up with my family, get back into my pajamas (that I now have to wear because I ate too much good food), make art, make dinners, take walks and feel full.

Content.

I may not interact with anyone else for months:-)

I used to feel bad that I didn’t want to do things every night or that I wasn’t always going here or there.

I dreaded that kind of social life.

I have come to appreciate that this is me.

It is OK.

I love being home, creating, being with my family and occasionally doing things that require makeup and publicly acceptable clothing.

I never understood that being too social wears me out and drains me.

I didn’t realize that just the right amount of playtime fills me up, surges my creativity and makes me a better wife and mother.

Are you an extrovert, introvert or a little of both?

*******

I would love for you to watch a short video about my new art course.

I hope to see you in class.

{it starts in less than 2 weeks}

The Journey of Letting Go Trailer from Revilo Designs on Vimeo.

To register click HERE or HERE.

Filed Under: E-Courses, Inspired, Me Myself and I, Travel Tagged With: extrovert, friends, introvert, napa, yountville

Creating Along The Water {Washington is good for your soul}

March 11, 2013 By jeanne

I recently returned from teaching at Nurture Your Creative Seed.

This was the first retreat of Serena Berry {and I am sure so many more will be coming}.

I came in a day early to play with my good friends Lissa and Kim.

We ate our way through the city {the best way to see any city} and I always love seeing their sweet faces in person.

Lots of laughter binds me to women and both of these ladies have abundant joy.

After my time with friends I took the ferry to Bainbridge Island and made my way to the Hood Canal to teach.

The trees, water, mountains, house, girls, food and creative time was perfection and relaxing.

I loved my time with Mindy Lacefield, watching her create and getting to take her class along with all the girls.

Here is a peek at our time together…

{I taught both of these projects. I taught journaling and portraits}

{A stone wall that surrounded the yard and I am a sucker for moss}

{Some of Mindy’s art supplies}

{Who agrees that the palette can be as pretty as the piece being worked on?}

{Capturing some of the journaling pages of one of the girls in the class}

{Loved seeing the girls sharing all of their work with one another}

{A quick peek at a few of my journal pages}

{The retreat house and our beautiful host}

{I had so many good talks and laughs with this girl}

If you have an opportunity to attend one of Serena’s retreats I hope you don’t hesitate.

******

In shop news one of our market bags was just featured in Flea Market Style!!

I LOVE this magazine and I am so honored to be featured.

They featured a market bag that is no longer in stock but we currently are offering THIS market bag.

We are also less than four weeks away from our BRAND NEW art course The Journey of Letting Go {creating beauty from ashes}.

You can register HERE or directly on our CREATIVE NETWORK.

Filed Under: E-Courses, Travel Tagged With: art, bainbridge, hood canal, nurture your creative seed, retreats, seattle, washington

The Living Studio {City Art Walks Around The World}

February 20, 2013 By jeanne

Last fall as I was walking with Kelly through the Tuileries Gardens I instantly knew what kind of art retreat I wanted to create.

I am not the person that dreams of having art retreats or had even been planning to ever create one.

There are so many beautiful and amazing art retreats that it didn’t even seem necessary….until now!

I wanted to do something different than anyone else I knew.

The idea of creating art with you in Paris started all of this.

I wanted it to include experiences that an artist’s soul longs to do but doesn’t always take the time.

I wanted to take different cities and highlight the art they offer.

I wanted each retreat to be one of a kind.

Each city has a heartbeat all its own and I wanted to hear it and share it.

I wanted the retreat to revolve around the exhibits, some of the best food a city has to offer, finding the perfect cafe, creating art each day inspired by the art we experience and exploring based upon the city.

Even though I came up with my idea in Paris I want to start right here in the states.

{Paris will be coming soon}

THIS FALL we are launching The Living Studio {city art walks around the world}

I live right outside Denver so there is no place better to get our feet wet and start!