Visioning a Fresh 2023

 Vision Boards are a way to play and create some new thoughts to bring into fruition for a new year.  I've created these boards alone and with groups of friends.  And last year I began leading groups of people to create new visions for a fresh year in a new way.  It is relaxing and fun. I have my first workshop on Vision Board 2023 this Sunday, January 8th, Winona Arts Center, 2-4 pm. More details under images.

 

This is the beginning of some images and words that I've put together for 2023.

I did some quiet reflection time and writing to gather the images.  Lots and lots of gathering to just have fun with colors and words and images that give me a "sparkle."

 

This cluster of images makes me smile every time.  This mama bird with her little striped baby in her feathers. "Live YOUR best life." A group of friends, some green succulents, and a little red striped tent--artwork by Cindy Wunsch.

This set of images also is fun--in the forefront is a painter with her back to us who looks like she's staring at some green and two stripes of fabric.  I sewed these together from the last baby quilt I made.  More about that later.  A nautilus, and the words, "Strength and toning--tone your body, calm your mind."  Very good for me to remember.

Some images got switched around.  Getting closer to what I want to work in my life.  It's all a journey--I need to be patient. And moving one step in front of the other. "Go Boldly," a yoga image, old fashioned bicycle and woman winner, and some yummy food.

Here are the details of two upcoming Vision Board 2023 coming up this month.  One this Sunday, 1/8, 2-4 pm and the second Creating a Vision Board 2023 through Community Education on Wednesday, January 18, 6:15 pm - 8:15 pm at the Winona Senior High Art Room 158. Click on the link in the title Creating a Vision Board 2023 for the January 18th.

Details for the Sunday, 1/8, 2-4 pm workshop:

Winona Arts Center, 228 East 5th Street, Winona

Sunday, January 8, 2023

2-4pm

In this workshop we will create a collage of our hopes and dreams for this year of 2023.  We’ll begin the workshop with a guided visualization to bring us into relaxation, connect us with our body and stir our imaginations into making.  We’ll have the opportunity to create our own images and designs with paper and with stitching. Images, words and phrases will be available to use for our creating.  The instructor will bring examples and provide a large board to add images along with other materials to guide the making for a fun afternoon of creating our visions for 2023.

Cost: $46.00

Participants are welcome to bring magazines, cards, photos, fabric, newspapers, or other repurposed materials and a favorite scissors.  The instructor will bring all additional materials.

For additional information and to register: mleischen@gmail.com

 

 Come play, relax and create with us!  Everyone welcome.

Visions of New Homes and Businesses for 2022

 321 Blast off 

 

 

 

One person talked of her excitement to live in her new home.  The number is 321--she says it's 321 Blast Off!  Her images are hearts and flowers and dogs and monkeys.  She loves the saying, "Outside the Box."

Another person loves nature and getting out to see natural beauty.  Her vision board is filled with images that have Earth hope.  "A Different View" was one of her sayings, along with "A Path to Wonder, Broaden your Horizons, It's about Making Every Moment Count."  She is a Yogi and put that image on.  She mentioned that her job can be stressful; she balances her life with things that fill her up.

 

 

One person decided to create four vision boards for the parts of her life that are special to her: family, friends, and more.  She took her big board and cut it into four equal sections this the ginormous paper cutter in the Art Room.  I helped her hold the board steady.  Then she began looking through images that she brought and others in the room.  She had a few photos that she wanted to add from home and that led her to place things but not commit to the gluing.  She took a photograph of the ideas that she created, for ease to come back the next time to continue.  She took all of her things home in an envelop.

When we talked the next day, she said that more ideas were coming and she was glad to still have her little vision boards in progress.  I hope I get to see her finished vision boards one day in the future.

 

This vision board is started with a huge watercolor butterfly and a fabric flower in the lower right hand corner.  She added the Sun--from the Sun Magazine.  Other words, she used were "growing, green, piece by piece, hidden power, give thanks, living good," and more.

This person wanted to come with her sister to create visions for a business that they are working on.  Unfortunately, her sister's children were sick and she could not attend.  

 

This vision board is filled with images/fabrics that represent water and honoring water.  The river of blue strike fabric runs  diagonal on her board with a tiny strip of blue fabric very wavy representing rivers running over the map.  This project involves water and nature with flowers and bees and trees. Some of her cutting was jagged to give it a wild and raw quality. 

Everyone had an idea or a vision of what would make their life more full.  We started this workshop with a guided visualization meditation to bring our attention to our bodies to relax and calm.  Then we were ready to bring all our thoughts and words and images together to create.  It was a fun evening of making.

Watch for more workshops through the Winona Arts Center in the future.  There are ongoing Pilates Classes happening through Community Education  Fitness and Wellness called Pilates for Everyone. 

Pilates for Everyone Section 2 starts  February 16 - March 30

Pilates for Everyone Section 3 starts April 6 - May 4

Pilates for Everyone Section 4 starts May 11 - June 8

Check those out as well. We'd love to have you attend!

Vision Board Another Workshop Oh Yeah!

When we get clear about what we want and where we're going, life begins to feel a little bit lighter. And it feels like lots of fun!

Playing with color and images and words can uplift your feelings and bring hope.

Here are some fun words: 

Action, the Art of Doing

Mindful

Strength

Fun

Yeah, no

I got you

Calling all Angels

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Color of all sorts lights a person up. Flowers are very wonderful--and when no flowers bloom in this northern winter of Minnesota?  Bring out the images, the fabrics, the paints; the things that can light us up.

Be still and know

Flowering

Art Every Day 

Plant Lady,

$1,000,000

And where does one get all of the images?  Hmmm, magazines are a good start; wrappers from candy like single "dove" chocolate, tea bags, tags from clothing, paper napkins.  

Come to the workshop:

Creating a Vision Board 2022 and all the materials are there to play and make!  Give yourself the gift of a couple hours to create.

Creating a Vision Board for 2022

Thursday, January 20, 2022

6:15-8:15pm

Winona Senior High Art Room 158

901 Gilmore Ave, Winona, MN 55987, USA

In this workshop participants will create a collage of hopes and dreams for 2022 with pictures and words.  A guided visualization will bring participants into relaxation to connect with their body and stir their imagination. A plethora of images and words will be available to cut or tear and arranged on their board. Suggestions for 2022 words will be supplied for inspiration, fun, and hope!  The instructor will bring examples, provide materials and guide the making for a fun evening of creating our visions for 2022.

Cost: $36.00

Materials fee: $10.00 paid directly to instructor

Participants are welcome to bring images from magazines, fabric, newspapers, or other repurposed materials and a favorite scissors.  The instructor will bring all additional materials.

Here's the easy link to sign up

Creating a Vision Board 2022

See you Thursday evening! 

 

 

Vision Boards What Makes Magic?

When we get clear about what we want and where we're going, life begins to feel a little bit lighter. And it feels like lots of fun!

Playing with color and images and words can uplift your feelings and bring hope.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some fun words: 

Action, the Art of Doing

Mindful

Strength

Fun

Yeah, no

I got you

Calling all Angels

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Color of all sorts lights a person up. Flowers are very wonderful--and when no flowers bloom in this northern winter of Minnesota?  Bring out the images, the fabrics, the paints; the things that can light us up.

Be still and know

Flowering

Art Every Day 

Plant Lady,

$1,000,000

And where does one get all of the images?  Hmmm, magazines are a good start; wrappers from candy like single "dove" chocolate, tea bags, tags from clothing, paper napkins.  

Come to the workshop:

Creating a Vision Board 2022 and all the materials are there to play and make!  Give yourself the gift of a couple hours to create.

Creating a Vision Board for 2022

Thursday, January 20, 2022

6:15-8:15pm

Winona Senior High Art Room 158

901 Gilmore Ave, Winona, MN 55987, USA

In this workshop students will create a collage of hopes and dreams for 2022 with pictures and words.  A guided visualization will bring participants into relaxation to connect with their body and stir their imagination. A plethora of images and words will be available to cut or tear and arranged on their board. Suggestions for 2022 words will be supplied for inspiration, fun, and hope!  The instructor will bring examples, provide materials and guide the making for a fun evening of creating our visions for 2022.

Cost: $36.00

Materials fee: $10.00 paid directly to instructor

Participants are welcome to bring images from magazines, fabric, newspapers, or other repurposed materials and a favorite scissors.  The instructor will bring all additional materials.

Here's the easy link to sign up

Creating a Vision Board 2022

See you Thursday evening! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year and Visions for 2022

 2022 A new year of possibilities and hopes.  Some people make resolutions for big change in their lives.  Others say, "Nah," to that idea.  Another novel idea is to be kind to oneself with a dream of how life may be better, more full, loving, good.

This year, the Winona Arts Center is offering a workshop to open our thinking for brighter times with creating a Vision Board.  "What's a Vision Board," you ask?  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elizabeth Foley vision board

In this workshop we will create a collage of our hopes and dreams for this year of 2022. A collage is a group of pictures and words put together in a pleasing way.  

We’ll begin the workshop with a guided visualization to bring us into relaxation, connect us with our body and stir our imaginations into making.

We’ll have the opportunity to create our own images and designs with paper and with stitching. We'll cut and tear, stitch and stamp.  Images, words and phrases will be available to use for our creating.  We apply our words and images to a board that the instructor provides.

The instructor will bring examples, provide materials and guide the making for a fun afternoon of creating our visions for 2022.

It'll be a couple of hours of fun, creativity and hope!

Saturday, January 8th 

2-4pm

Winona Arts Center, 228 East 5th St, Winona

$46.00

Email instructor to register:

mleischen@gmail.com

See my 2021 & 2019 Vision Boards

 

 

Join us!

2021 Vision Board

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A new year, 2021, what is coming?  What is hoped?  Or desired?  On many January firsts of previous years, I've joined with friends to bring images and words together to bring our visions of the new year into fruition.  We'd share pictures from magazines and words we would cut out to collage some of our hopes and dreams. My word for this year is Freedom. It feels full of energy; though I'm not sure what it means yet.

Here are some things that I'm imagining and hoping for 2021.

Tundra swans rest in the back waters of the Mississippi River.  They feed and rest and chat with one another.  Their sounds are very loud.  This happens in November; then they take flight to their warmer climates south of Southeast Minnesota.  What will they discover?  What is on our paths to discover?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I image more peaceful times.  I imagine people of all colors being respected and listened to.  I'm learning and reading and becoming an ally to all people.

Everything flowers from within

But sometimes it is necessary to reteach a thing it's loveliness

tell it in words and in touch

It Is Lovely

Until it Flowers again.

Be a star, too

along with a friend, a listener, a peacemaker, a creative, a dancer, a maker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No matter, where

we come from,

we can walk together in hope.

No matter what we believe,

we can share one dream of peace.

No matter who we are

we can be one in the spirit of love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share

The Courage to Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I Am Powerful

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let's talk about Race, and water, and life. 

Here's to 2021.

Vision Board

At the beginning of the new year, its a good time to assess how is life going along and what do I need to change.  Some people do it in the form of New Year's resolutions, others with Chinese New Year, others with making of a Vision Board, others with dancing in their intentions or making a fire.

I collect images from magazines and old calendars and stuff that I find in junk stores.  I have lots of things.  This was a good way to clear some things and recycle the images that are no longer important to me.  I had not made a Vision Board in a long time.  It was fun to begin.

What is collage anyway?  Here's an entry when I was creating Soul Collage cards to give you an idea about collage.

Here's the last vision board that I created.  I like how the colors move around the frame.  I pinned up a big flower that I painted at a Barefoot Bliss Weekend that I attended in Michigan. 

I brought the frame down off the wall and took everything off.  It was a little sad to do--I wondered if I could make another one that I liked.  Would it be as good?  Or would it be junk?  Oh--there go those racing thoughts.  I had to tell myself, "Cancel, Clear," and I started over.  "I'm going to make it.  It will be what is to come next.  No judgement about good, better best."

I have a few projects that I'm thinking about.  I put all of these beautiful fabrics in a pile to use.

More images.  I cut some with the scissors and some I cut with the paper cutter.  I love that tool.

Here's the final board for 2019.  Dance, movement, art, nature, love of life, change, people.           Life as Art.  It is good.  I kept the saying above the board, "I am strong and powerful and speak my truth with clarity."  I like this new board.  It speaks to me of hope!