Asheville Sonshine Market July 24

Check it out.

Hello everyone!

It's been awhile since I've done an event and the fabulous Yaya invited me to vend my wares at the Sonshine Market.

I had to say YES.

What to expect?
A wide range of local artists, craft merchants, local musicians, activities for the kiddies, and I think I saw a picture of cupcakes.

The Details

Friday - July 24

4pm-dusk

Grace Baptist Church

718 Haywood Road

Click here for the Facebook Event page. 

I'm super duper excited to be part of this event.

All of my handmade intention necklaces will be available at an extrememly affordable price 'cause I'm working on moving them out to make more space in my life for coaching.

Check out my Etsy shop to see some of the magickal wares 
I will have on hand.

I'll also have sexy pin up greeting cards!

and some kick ass steampunk necklaces.

and handmade intention candles created with recycled wax.

and who knows what else I'll have at my table?


See you there! 

*************

Are you facing a huge transition in your life?

Are you ready to release your obstacles and step forward into the life of your choosing?

Are you kind of lost as to where to even begin? 

Book your free 20 minute consultation with me today.
Click here.

Peace, Inspiration, & Love,

~Amy

The Magick Muse

 Amy Riddle, C.C., Holistic Alchemist and Manifestor of Dreams is a life coach, tapping facilitator, reverend, creatress, teacher, writer, herbalist, and all out muse. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Alternative Medicine with an emphasis on herbs. She is a certified professional life coach with the Life Coach Institute of Orange County. Amy craves to inspire others to be healthy and whole in body, mind, and spirit. She has an affinity for striped socks, stinging nettle, and all things faery.

Simplify Bracelet Creation

my "Simplify" bracelet creation

Instead of pesky resolutions,

have you ever chose a word for the new year?

Just one word to represent your intentions...

Last year, my word was

Transformation.

And transform I did.

I released my intentions, I manifested, I transformed.

This year, I'm all about calming down.

This year, I want to 

SIMPLIFY.

For my word of 2013, 

I created a bracelet.

I wore my "Transformation" bracelet every single day 

for a clear reminder of my intentions.

I loved it.

So - I created my 

2014 Simplify bracelet.

I've been wearing it every day.

It reminds me that life can be much simpler.

It reminds me to take one step at a time,

read one book at a time, 

work on one creation at a time.

It reminds me to live in the now.

Approach life a breath at a time so you 

don’t get ahead of yourself and 

take on more than you need. 

~Yogi Cameron

Do you have a word of the year?

What is your word?

Share with me. 

I'd love to know.

Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
 ~Amy
 The Magick Muse

Amy Riddle is an empowerment coach, crafter of sorts, writer,
herbalist, reverend, and all out muse.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Alternative Medicine with an emphasis on herbs. 

She is a certified professional life coach with the Life Coach Institute of Orange County. 

Amy craves to inspire others to be healthy and whole in body, mind, and spirit. 

She has an affinity for striped socks, stinging nettle, and all things faery.

Pay It Forward Gift Delivery

Steampunk Circle of Life Necklace 

So - it's been an entire year. 

A whole year since the fabulous Erin Keane posted her 

Pay It Forward blog of goodness. 

I love creating. 

I love sending packages to folks.

I signed up eagerly wanting to participate. 

Well - Erin came through immediately.

I met her at Malaprop's and she gave me the best gift with 

my 2013 word of the year, Transformation.

As for me - um- I got nothing. 

I don't know what happened. 

I didn't have a clue what to create for 

Stacie Florer that "won" my Pay It Forward. 

Photo credit: http://toblackbeltandbeyond.com/category/pay-it-forward-2012/

It was on my to-do list.
I didn't have a deadline. 

 And it never got done.

This was part of my learning for 2013.

The 2 big lessons I learned last year -

1 - Don't take on too many projects at once.

2 - I need deadlines.

I've never met her in person.

She told me she likes earthy things and community.

I wanted to give her something unique.

I made her what I call 

"The Steampunk Circle of Life" necklace.

Steampunk Circle of Life Necklace 

I used the circle, representing community.

I used shades of brown, copper, and gold for the Earth. 

Steampunk Circle of Life Necklace 

In December, I am super happy to say I finally 

sent my Pay It Forward gift to

Stacie Florer. 

I also sent her a handmade candle. 

I wanted to make it super special since I was a year late!

  

I was so happy to get this message from her - 

"I received it and love it!! The necklace is beautiful...so much thought!! You nailed my style too!! And the candle is wonderfully rustic and smells lovely...thank you so much...it is a great treat for me this Christmas season!!" ~Stacie Florer

 People love getting packages in the mail.

Especially handmade!

(Again, lesson noted on deadlines. 

Hence, this year's word is SIMPLIFY.)

Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
 ~Amy
 The Magick Muse

Amy Riddle is an empowerment coach, crafter of sorts, writer,

herbalist, reverend, and all out muse.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Alternative Medicine with an emphasis on herbs. 

She is a certified professional life coach with the Life Coach Institute of Orange County. 

Amy craves to inspire others to be healthy and whole in body, mind, and spirit. 

She has an affinity for striped socks, stinging nettle, and all things faery.

Making ATCs - Artist Trading Cards

Blog 8 of 30 ~ Effy Wild's Blogalong ~ Thirty Posts in Thirty Days 

Artist Trading Cards are the size of a regular playing card...

2 1/2 by 3 1/2. 

You create art on one side, on the other side you place your information and then you swap with other artists.

I am part of an awesome group that swaps 2 ATCs monthly, 

plus birthdays!

Back in February, I posted the Artist Trading Cards 

I had received for my birthday month.

I absolutely loved getting such creations 

in the mail!

Right now, I'm on a break from making them. Sometimes I have so many passions, I end up with an unrealistic amount of creative outlets. 

However, I hope to get back into ATC creating again soon. 

I have tons of backgrounds, so it actually wouldn't be that difficult to jump back on the ATC wagon.

Earlier in the year, since I had planned on creating tons of ATCs for my group, I decided to mass produce some. 

Well, at least the backgrounds.

Here's what I did.

I took some scrapbooking sheets...

On the blank side I glued regular playing cards.

I could fit 12 per sheet. 

Next the real fun begins -

painting and decorating the backgrounds.

I used white gesso, black gesso, acrylic paints, water, paper towels, bubble wrap, foam brushes, bubble painting, 

and my fingers. 

I loved doing this. 

I just simply created 60 ATCs that are ready for their flair.

Here are some ATCs I've created this year.

Here is the 1st ATC I ever created...

and a few more I've done recently.

I love creating Artist Trading Cards. 

They are simple, fun, and the best part is....

getting them in the mail.

Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
~Amy
The Magick Muse

New Book-New Journal-New Inspiration

I got a new book! I got a new book! I got a new book!

Inner Excavation by Liz Lamoreux

I love it. Just holding it in my hands makes my heart leap.

I feel good about this book.

One super cool thing about Inner Excavation is the author, Liz Lamoreux, has an amazing website where you can follow her along with the book. 

She has it broken down by chapter with blog posts and videos where she goes into detail with what she has created. 

I love that! 

How often does one get the opportunity to go through a book with the author? 

I'm in love with this book right now.

Every chapter is designed to guide you to dig deeper 

and really reflect. 

She encourages poetry and photography. 

I'm hoping that I can start writing some poetry. 

Who knows? Anything could happen. 

Here is my Inner Excavation journal.

My Inner Excavation Art Journal

I'm most excited about this journey!

Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
 ~Amy
 The Magick Muse

A Room of One's Own

Welcome to my room!

I am so loving my space. 

It is absolutely wonderful. 

It is exactly what my heart was yearning. 

I can craft. I can blog. I can read. I can paint. 

I can do whatever I want. It is my space! YES.

I yearned for it for so very long.

I have all my books, my orange couch, crafting tables...

all I need.

***************************

I drew this witch in 3rd grade. 

my Jasmine Becket-Griffith wall 

my altar

awesome poster from Handmade In America

"be cool buy craft"

my wall of degrees and certificates

"A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction."

From 

"A Room of 

One's Own" 

~Virginia Woolf

Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
~Amy
The Magick Muse

Come see me at the Americana Burlesque and Sideshow Festival

It's time to break out the fishnets!

The Magick Muse...

will be vending at 

The Americana Burlesque 

and Sideshow Festival...

this Saturday

May 25.

All the sexiness starts at 8pm

at The Orange Peel on Biltmore Avenue

in Asheville, NC.

Check out the details at

http://www.absfest.com/.

Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
 ~Amy
 The Magick Muse

10 Things I Need for Creativity~May Blog Circle

10 Things I Need for Creativity

1. I need space. I need space to create. I need space to spread my wings. I need space for paint, jewelry supplies, and glue all over the place. After spending 2 years in a 400 square foot apartment with my boyfriend, I finally have my own craft room. It's so incredible and is so very needed for my creative muse to thrive.

my craft room

2. I need to be alone. At least in the beginning of my creating. Once I see in my head what I'm making, I can be around others creating. However, I usually do my best alone. 


3. I need incense and candles to set my creative ambiance. When I light incense and candles it automatically takes me to a place of calm. I feel centered and ready to do something inspiring. 

a source of inspiration-Sarah

4. I need the right music. It can vary. Normally I dig chick voices...if I really want to dig deep I throw on my Sarah McLachlan DVD. Works every single time.  


5. I need my home to be in order. I cannot create in chaos. Besides, it's all very feng shui. 


6. I need a big chunk of time. I don't want to be interrupted. This puts me at somewhat of a disadvantage because it means I really only have the weekend to create. Working the mundane 40 hour Monday-Friday work week incorporating the gym...well...I normally only have about an hour every evening for dinner and to get ready for the next day. No time to create. I live for 3 day weekends. I really need a creation vacation. 

Why pay regular price?

7. I need craft supplies-which means I need coupons! Let's face it, some of these supplies are not cheap. So, I'm all about the weekly coupons for Michael's, Joann's, and A.C. Moore. Gel medium costs $15.99...nah...I'll get that 40% or 50% off with a Michael's coupon. SCORE.


8. I need books. Books inspire me. Books are my friends. Just being surrounded by books, I am inspired. 

9. I need to write. Writing is very cathartic for me. Every single morning I get up and write my morning pages which are 3 pages of stream of consciousness writing. It is incredibly therapeutic. I highly suggest you try it. 


10.  I need an awesome boyfriend that understands creativity is part of who I am. Thank you Chris for allowing me to be me. 
How completely fantastic. 

Chris & I

What do you need to let out your creative muse?

This blog is part of the Flying Lessons monthly blog circle. 

Hop to the next blog to read more on 

what sparks our creativity. 

Who knows where you'll end up?

Next stop on the circle is the oh-so-fabulous Kristen Conley.

Check out her insights on what lights her creative spark here.

May you enjoy our reading circle and 

have some bursts of creativity yourself!

Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
 ~Amy
 The Magick Muse

Kick Start Art Journaling with Sara Naumann

I'm pretty new to art journaling. 

You may recall I got an amazing journal with a crow on the front from Michael Seagle at a local artists craft show.

 It became obvious it would be my 1st art journal.

Since then, I've been having some fun and experimenting.

How perfect that an art journaling class became available to me.

http://www.saranaumann.com/

I'm really singing Sara's praises. 

She is organized and pleasant and easy to understand.

I haven't taken tons of online classes, however I'm part of a year long mixed media course and every single week is a different project presented with a different teacher, 

how-to video, and how- to PDF.

I have to say some of these videos and PDFs are 

completely shitty.

Most of the videos are just downright terrible...

plus they insert their dog or cat to make it look cute. 

Well, I'm wanting to learn techniques, not see your freakin pet.

I don't want to hear your cat meow or see your dog at the pool.

I don't want to hear your child.

If you are going to offer a course, make an attempt to make it PROFESSIONAL.

The PDFs look like a 1st grader did them.

So...anyway...now that is off my chest...

I am blown away with Sara Naumann.

Finally, someone that gets it.

Someone that is professional.

Her PDFs rock. 

I can tell her heart and soul has gone into this course.

The videos are great, her voice is pleasant and elegant.

The lessons are easy to understand.

and they present challenges as well.

Sara gets you thinking!

I love that.

I love to get my brain cells spinning. 

Week #1 was finding your mentor, or 

letting your mentor find you.

Sara gave us this incredibly inspiring website, http://achievement.org,

 chock full of leaders and visionaries. 

 As I was glancing through people I noticed Sheryl Crow...really? 

I went through a big listening phase to Ms. Crow back in 2003. 

I remember The Globe Sessions playing over and over in my condo by the lake that always 

smelled of incense and spirituality. 

I was a listener of her tunes, but I never really knew anything 

about Sheryl Crow.

I started reading about her and couldn't stop.

I was amazed to find out she has a brain tumor, but is fine.

She has fought cancer, and won.

She is creative, fierce, and beautiful.

I just love her.

I found similarities between Sheryl Crow and I.

We are both from the midwest.
We are both of Irish descent.
We are both aquarians.
We are anti-war and speak our minds.

We are both strong, independent, and 

we truly embrace who we are.

Thank you Sara Naumann!

So looking forward to more art journaling exercises.

Peace, Inspiration, & Love, 
 ~Amy 
 The Magick Muse 

Artist Trading Cards

Collection of ATCs from my Birthday Month


Are you familiar with Artist Trading Cards?
They are the size of a regular playing card...2 1/2 by 3 1/2.
You create art on one side, on the other side you place your information and then you swap with other artists.

So...this year...not only am I in "The Artist Way" book club, a mixed media class, and a blog circle...I'm also swapping ATCs with women all over the world. We normally do 2 a month...but when it's your birthday month...WHOA BABY...
we send out birthday ATCs!

After reading Vickie Martin's blog, I decided I also wanted to put together a blog post with all of the
ATCs I received my birthday month.

Here we go...get ready for some fab art
the size of a baseball card!

*********************************

 This lovely witch was created
 by Melissa Humphries
from Lake Heights, New South Wales-Australia. 

Kristen Conley from Fullerton, California

added my word of the year

Transformation.

She even drew my butterfly tat!

Elizabeth McNulty from Frankfort, Kentucky 

chose my favorite flower, the sunflower

and a beautiful butterfly.

I love the vibrant color and her handwriting is so lovely.

I just love butterflies!

This ATC came from Middleton, Wisconsin from

Karen Kohn. I love the message. 

From Teton Village, Wyoming...Carin McConaughy-Munn

created a peaceful watercolor creation.

Handmade by Sandy King from 

Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada.

I love the darker colors with the heart. 

Lovely dress from Vickie Martin in Decatur, GA.

I love the look of it...

the old sewing pattern background and the colors. 

Nice! It makes me wanna throw on a sexy dress. 

Stacey WilkBrooks from Santa Cruz, California created this card

with our theme "Glitz".

The steampunk type bird is pretty awesome.

Happy Happy Girl from 

Jean Wagner of Everett, Washington. 

I dig her pigtails and rosy cheeks. 

This awesome creation is from Janine Whitling, Highgate Hill, Queensland, Australia. I always love everything she does.

Sue Grilli from Monroe, Georgia created this 

beautiful watercolor piece. 

The pink flowers make me happy. 

LaDonna Davis, Los Angeles, California 

had a special present in the flowered envelope. 

I pulled out a heart!

These two arrived on the same day and 

looked so similar to one another. 

The one on the left is from Ciarrai Samson

 from Leeds, United Kingdom. The blue is so relaxing. 

The beauty on the right is from Lynn Sweeney Bedwell 

of Salisbury, New Hampshire. 

"Let the beauty of what you love be what you do." ~Rumi

Okay, so this is not an actual ATC from my group. 

Chris drew it and hid it in a book I was reading for me to find. 

I think it's pretty freakin' cool and it's the same size as an ATC!

ATCs are fun to make and are super addicting. I feel they are challenging as well, because you are so limited in the amount of space you have to create. 

I now love going to the mailbox!

Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
 ~Amy
 The Magick Muse