send your style into the world

How do you put yourself into the world?

How are you authentic?

What qualities about yourself do you share the most?

What qualities do you most admire in others?

What message do you want to send into the world?

Does your style reflect that message?

I don't focus on style very much, I think mainly because I work at home and most of the time in in a cozy sweater and yoga pants. :) But when I do go out, I think I could step it up a bit. I want to inspire creativity and positive feelings in people, through my work and my way of being. How can I make my outward style match my inner mission?

Something to think about.

{If you are interested in thinking in depth about style, I suggest Danielle LaPorte's book, Style Statement. I haven't gotten all the way through it yet, but it poses lots of great questions to think about!}

i make my own rules: by jess gonacha swift

I'm embracing this idea more and more lately. I embraced it full on a couple of night ago when I stayed out until 1:00am on a Wednesday night with a group of fabulous and inspiring women, didn't get out of bed until 9:15am (which is about 3 hours later than I normally get up!), and then I didn't post anything on either of my blogs yesterday. And I only felt the teensiest bit guilty about it! This is a step in the right direction. I'm very hard on myself much of the time and don't give myself a break to be human and sleep in on a Wednesday if I need to-- and it felt good!

What self-imposed rules is your body begging you to break today?

Have a fantastic weekend! I'll see you on Monday.

Happy Thanksgiving (& what I'm grateful for)

It's amazing to me that tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and that means the holidays are officially here again. Tomorrow I'm going to Asheville, NC with my husband for a few days, and we're going to have Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant, which I've never done before. I'm a bit sad we won't be with any family, but I'm grateful to be able to go to a new place and have a brand new experience. I think it will be fun! And with any luck, I'll eat just as much as I always do on Thanksgiving, and I'll be lying on the floor in a half-awake state at the end of the night, moaning about how full I am, and then going to eat some more pie. :) Isn't that always how Thanksgiving goes?

Anyway, since Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, it feels appropriate to tell you all what I'm feeling grateful for right now.

• My husband. I am so lucky to share my life with him. He's the best snuggler in the whole world, he believes in me to no end, and he can make me laugh like no one else.
• My Spring ladies. (Our video post will be up later today or tomorrow!! I'll be sure to let you know when.) Wow, these ladies rock my world. Smart, sassy, opinionated, motivated, positive forces in the world.... I'm honored and grateful to be creating with them.
  
• That I'm self-employed. The simple fact that I get to structure my days exactly as I please and do the work that I feel compelled to do is beyond magnificent.
• All the people that read my blog(s), comment on what I write and draw and paint, send me words of encouragement and thanks and artists I might like... I could not do what I'm doing without all of you. You amaze me, endlessly.
• That I have enough. Money, time, love, clothing, food, an apartment to live in, friends, family...
  
• My life coach, Michelle Ward. She helped me to pull myself out of a funk and start being more grateful for my life and my world. And for that, I am forever grateful.
• Everything that makes my life easier-- my car that runs well, my computer, my lights that turn on when I flip a switch, the refrigerator that keeps my food cold... I take these things for granted, but wow, life would be harder without them.
• My warm bed. I love my bed so much.
• My cat, Anika. She lights up my days and keeps me company when home alone working. She chirps when she runs and always wants a treat.

I hope you all have a terrific Thanksgiving and that you think about all you are grateful for!

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: keep out of the cookies (a new animation)

I can't believe I was able to keep this a secret for so long, but I have something really fun to share with you this morning! I've been working on another animation (you might remember the first one)-- I've been SO EXCITED to tell you all about it, and it's finally finished and ready to be released! And excitement = abundance for me, so I'm making it fit the theme of Pecannoot. :)

So, there is a purpose to this animation, which you will discover by watching it. {It is Christmas-themed, and oh-so-silly!}

And after you're done watching the animation, CLICK HERE to see what the purpose of the animation is. Here's a teaser:


Curious? My etsy shop holds the answer.

duality: a new illustration (by me)

I read something recently that I thought was pretty cool-- it was to consider that where you are and what you're feeling/thinking RIGHT NOW is your path. You're supposed to be here. You won't get to where you're going without being here. Literally! Where else could you be but right here, right now?

You know how so many times we think something is wrong? We don't have the right hair cut, the right friends, the right job, we don't know what we're doing or where we're going.... well, what if all of these things are our path, and they're actually our exactly right things, and they're meant to help us learn the lessons we are here to learn? And we have to experience the things we maybe don't like so much in order to recognize the things we do like so much?

Like, the idea of duality-- you can't know what light is unless you also know what dark is. Up, down. In, out. Maybe this is the part of your path where you're learning about darkness, so you'll know what the light feels like. Maybe you've experienced dark, and now you're reveling in the light. Maybe if we accept how we're feeling,whether we're judging it as good or bad, we can just experience life as our path, whatever that means?

I like this. It takes the pressure off. I'm supposed to be right where I am, for reasons that the universe knows, and if I trust it, then I'm on my path, wherever it takes me. And everyone else is on their own path, which means I don't need to compare myself to anyone. Oh, big sigh of relief!

Just some thoughts for the weekend. ;) I hope it's a good one for you!!

LOVE

LOVE.

How can you love a little more today?

Something to think about.

practice practice practice

Morning!

Last night I was messing around with my wacom tablet, as I really want to get better at using it. I love drawing things in my sketchbook, but I loathe scanning for some reason. To eliminate scanning drawings as much as possible would be ok with me! So, I've been practicing with my tablet, and trying to giggle at my results rather than judge myself too harshly for not being instantly perfect at using it (which I, of course, expect of myself. Sigh.)

Here is what came out of my practicing last night.I like the idea of practice, because somehow it takes some of the pressure off of creating masterpieces. I'm just learning!! How amazing that we get to learn whatever we want in this life!

What are you practicing these days? Are you judging yourself too harshly over something? How do you appreciate the process of practicing? Share in the comments if you'd like!

i am magic

I've had a very contemplative few days. It all began with an evening talk and then a Fire Starter Session the next morning with Danielle Laporte. Then I had a little epiphany in the shower the other night, which is where the idea from yesterday came from.

I realized that I AM the universe. If I can step back and out and see myself from a very far away perspective, then I can see that I am ultimately a piece of this vast swirling energy, whatever it is. Not separate from it, but actually IT. It's one of those pieces of awareness that's now sort-of going in and out of my head-- one minute it makes perfect sense, the next it's gone and I'm confused.

But I realized that we're all part of the magic and unknown that is our universe. It's all just energy. We are made of and came from that energy. And we all have a responsibility to use that energy to move in a positive direction. (Mind you, people don't HAVE to use it to move in a positive direction, but if we don't, then we're helping the entire universe move away from peace and positivity. That's a lot of power and responsibility! Don't you think so?)

I feel a little funny even posting this, because it feels a little lofty and weird to me, as well as a bit vulnerable/scary to put out there (you all might think I'm weird! You might judge me! The horror...), but I've felt really GOOD the last few days because of it. I feel things shifting, and I like it.

So I just wanted to tell you that YOU are magic. Maybe you already know this, maybe you don't. Maybe you have no idea what I'm talking about. Maybe you're smiling and thinking "How cute, she's right at the beginning-- I realized that a long time ago." But I feel like I know it at a deeper level all of a sudden, and it feels important, and that feels like a real gift.

So how are YOU today? Please do tell. I'd love to hear. :)

sitting on a rainbow: by jess gonacha

Good morning, Pecannooters!

And happy Friday before a 3-day weekend-- do you have any fun plans?
Me-- no super fun weekend-y plans. I'll be getting ready for Renegade Chicago, which is next weekend and is a totally fun plan! I'm sharing a booth with my awesome friend Kurt, and it's going to be a blast.

I got to thinking last night while talking with my coach that I don't appreciate the amazing things I have in my life often enough. I mean, I appreciate them on some level, but I'm talking like REALLY, deeply appreciating them. (Strangely, though, I do appreciate my cat this way daily. I look at her all day long and am amazed that such a furry, adorable, sweet little being lives is in my house with me. Sometimes I feel like I love her so much that I want to cry. Sometimes I feel that way about my husband, too, which is a good thing.) :)

Anyway, I got to thinking that it's like I'm sitting on a rainbow, and yet I don't really even realize I'm sitting on a rainbow. All these pieces of my life fit together to form MY LIFE, where I get to make a living as an artist, and live with an amazing, intelligent, caring, and funny man, and i have everything I need and more, and I eat delicious and healthy food, and I have the most comfortable bed to sleep in, and I have friends and family (and even an in-law family!) that love me and that I love back, and this incredible network of people that I've come to know through blogging and etsy and twitter. What a rainbow. Yet so often, I don't even think about these things. Instead, I focus on what I don't like about my life. What would happen if I focused more on what I do love about my life, and just let the rest fall into place as it's supposed to?

So, out came this little drawing. (And, I must say, I wish I owned that dress.)

What rainbows are you sitting on that you've forgotten, or that you're not paying attention to because something else seems more true, or because you are believing something about your life that you picked up somewhere and would really like to let go of?

Just something to think about this weekend. :) Comment away if you please!

*I'll see you next week, my friends.*

2010 'Make Your Year Abundant' calendar!

You guys, I'm so excited! My 2010 'Make Your Year Abundant' calendar is in my etsy shop and ready for pre-order. Ca you believe it's September and calendar season already? Whoa.

So, I don't want this blog to be about me trying to sell you things at all, but I'm *really* excited about this calendar, and I thought you would like to know that it's available, just in case you want a little dose of abundance to look at each month of 2010. :)

And, I'm having a little contest-- each person who pre-orders a calendar by the end of September will be entered into a drawing for one of two free calendars-- that means you could give one as a gift and keep one for yourself! Nice, right? Everyone needs a calendar. Everyone needs to be reminded of the abundance in their lives. Perfect.

I hope you like it!

'make your year abundant': calendar

You guys. I can't keep this to myself any longer. I decided to make an ABUNDANCE CALENDAR this year, and I'm *so excited* about it. I wanted to give you a sneak peek, as I don't have it in my etsy shop yet, but each month features my illustrations from Pecannoot- FUN, yes?

And I'll be giving away 2 for free; more on that soon. (You can sign up for my newsletter as well, if you want to get the details first!)

Happy Tuesday to you all!

you're not a real shark

good morning, dear pecannooters!

monday monday monday. i like the beginning of a new week. it's ripe with possibility. i'm incredibly excited this week because i'm going to start coaching with michelle ward (of when i grow up)-- i have some old patterns of thought that i *really* need to let go of, and i think michelle is going to be huge help in transforming my beliefs and thoughts! (oh, and you should read her blog. it's amazing.)

so, this funny little illustration is a beginning to my thought transformation. the "shark" can represent fear. or doubt. it's all an illusion (thus the shark costume. not a real shark. get it?) the fear, the doubt, the worry... it only seems real because we believe it to be real. what if we chose to not be afraid of it and let it stop us from living the life we dream of? what if we simply decided to believe something different?

this is what i want to do.

**what are the sharks in your life that just might not really be sharks at all if you take a closer look?**

it's my birthday!

a teeny break + a show!

my dears. i have to take a break here on pecannoot! as you read this i'm on my way to providence, rhode island for the opening of my show "connect/intersect" at yes gallery and studio (which is in warren, RI), and i'll be gone until monday afternoon, so i'm taking a mini break from posting here. but you don't mind, right? i thought so. ;)

and if you are in the providence/boston area, i'd LOVE to meet you if you'd like to come out to the opening! it is this friday night, june 18th, from 6-8:30 pm.

so, i'll see you back here on tuesday with more posts, and hopefully i'll meet some of you on friday. that would be so awesome.

have a terrific weekend!

coming back to life: by jess gonacha

happy monday morning, everyone! did you have a nice weekend?

mine consisted of shopping for wedding clothes with my dear fiancé (i got the cutest dress ever! i'm so excited), going to the gym, a baseball game on friday night, a long walk in my neighborhood sunday afternoon, eating tacos, playing with my dear kitty, anika, redesigning my website (to be unveiled soon!), and other miscellaneous bits of work and making things. it was lovely all around.

this is a drawing i did this weekend, called "coming back to life." i'm not entirely sure what it has to do with my life at the moment, but it's something i can relate to in general. it's always an amazing (and relieving) feeling to come out of a funk and back into creativity, so perhaps that's what it means to me. i sort-of feel as if i've been in a funk since about february, creativity-wise. just stuck a little, maybe. so perhaps this is my psyche's way to help me "come back to life." who knows. but i do know that i always feel very grateful when that spark returns. i'm sure all you creatives can relate!

what about you? in what ways do you wish to come back to life? what stories do you have about it from your life? i'd love to hear!

*also, i need more submissions!! send them my way if you please!*

these are a few of my favorite things: by jess gonacha

i was just eating some cashews, and i thought "i always draw people these days. why not try to draw some food?" so here you go-- a few of my favorite things to eat/drink!

and now i challenge you to draw some of your favorite things and send them over to me to post here on the blog!!

wish upon a star: by jess gonacha

i can't remember the last time i went outside and layed down to look at the stars. doesn't that sound fantastic? i just might have to do that tonight.

this post is just a little reminder to go for your dreams. and don't forget to ask the universe for them! you can even wish upon a star if it helps. :)

i hope you have a delightful weekend, my dears! i'll see you here on monday.
xoxo

ps- if you haven't been over to my other blog, i posted my wedding animation yesterday.... i thought you might like to see it!

don't let anything stop you: by jess gonacha

sometimes i have little realizations into how i am judgmental towards other people that make me stop for a second and reevaluate how i want to be in the world.

this happened yesterday when i came across a photo of an older, overweight man wearing a fanny pack walking in some european city. my immediate first thought was something like "that's why americans get a bad reputation when they travel. god, people like that shouldn't be allowed to represent us!" isn't that awful? i'm even embarrassed and a bit ashamed to write it, but i figure getting it out there will help me let go of thoughts like that and allow more loving thoughts to come in. so, the great thing is that i stopped, and i realized that this man probably wanted to see europe. maybe he'd never traveled there before. maybe he'd traveled there a million times. maybe he just got a divorce, maybe his mom just died, maybe he just got a big bonus at work and decided to use it to see the world. maybe this was the best moment of this man's life. maybe he was living out a dream he'd had for 20 years. who am i to judge that? i don't know what's going on in anyone else's life.

i'm so quick to judge people on what i imagine them to be, dismissing people for such and such reason, embracing and admiring others for different reasons.... but we're all just people, yes? with our own thoughts and dreams and wishes and fears.... let's give each other a break!

and back to the title of the illustration: i called it "don't let anything stop you" because i imagine the guy in the drawing is visiting europe for the first time, had been saving for many years to do it, and had many reasons NOT to do it, but lived his dream of seeing europe anyway. i'm totally inspired by people that don't listen to the things telling them NO in their lives and just go for their dreams anyway and say a big fat YES to life.

let go of your rocks: by jess gonacha

it's funny, usually i don't have any idea where a drawing is going to go when i start, but when i finish i realize that what came out was exactly what i needed.

this time i'm realizing the "rocks" that i need to let go of are the beliefs that my ideas are not good and that my artwork doesn't mean anything. these are rocks i've carried around for a loooooong time. too long. it's time to let them go, and to fill my mind with flowers. :)

so, i hope this drawing can mean something similar to all of you, and to inspire you to let go of your rocks this weekend and go outside and fill your mind with flowers! that's what i'm off to do right now. see you monday!

xoxo

go outside and play: by jess gonacha

it's 80 degrees here in atlanta, and i'm having the hardest time concentrating! i want to go get an iced chai, i want to go on a run, i want to lay in the grass..... so when ryan gets home in an hour i'm going to convince him to go on a mini adventure with me! there are many things i need to do, but being outside in the gorgeous weather is just as important. it's good for the soul. :)

so go outside! take a deep breath! enjoy it!

i'll see you tomorrow. :)