Inspired Elegance

Hi Everyone! This past week I had the pleasure of emcee-ing a Runway Show benefiting Tacoma Art Place: a cooperative art space with supplies which anyone can use for 48$ a year! A huge fan of the founder, Linda Danforth, I was thrilled to be asked to MC to this event. Each participant became fashion designer for a day, creating her own gown assisted by a team of 6 fashion professionals. With a 24 hour time line, this was a race to the finish and as the designer/models walked the runway, many dreams came to fruition. This is art at its finest...Read this fantastic article by Ron Swarner of The Volcano...and support Tacoma Art Place! July 28, 2009 A night of elegance RON SWARNER: TACOMA ART PLACE BENEFIT WAS INSPIRING >>> Inspired-room The red carpet was rolled out for the "Inspired Elegance" Fashion Show Saturday night at the Hotel Murano in downtown Tacoma. The event — produced by Linda Danforth, Desiree Flerchinger and Angela Jossy — was a fundraiser for Tacoma Art Place, the non-profit Hilltop community-based art center that offers workspace, classes and low-cost equipment to artists and the general public. Inspired-Dez After a stroll through the silent auction and dessert table, patrons watched aspiring fashion designers from Goodwill's Work-force model their own creations — with the help from professional designers — made from fabric and recycled items from Goodwill. The kicker? The designs were created in a 24-hour period. The models/designers — Blanca Lopez, Jeanne Courtney, Patricia Driscoll, Carnella Rashiyd, Chris Genereux and Denise Armstrong — also received a style makeover from Embellish Multi-space Salon. Inspired-model-1 Inspired-models A video captured the pride, and nervousness, of each designer before they walked the runway. All six stories were inspiring. Artist Robbi Firestone kept the crowd lively as emcee. Tacoma Art Place's mission is to provide access to equipment and training that will allow more people to affordably explore their creativity and artistic ability. To contribute to its mission, visit its Web site. Inspired-designers-2 Inspired-designers TAP is open 1-8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday at 1116 S. 11th St., in the Hilltop Tacoma neighborhood. Special thanks to Steve Naccarato of Steve Naccarato Photography for snapping shots of the event, including the shots on this post. Another special thanks must be extended to one of the professional designers' table of friends for the added entertainment. Your attitude, fashion, dark shades and turban (head injury?) were a hoot. Posted on July 28, 2009 at 07:15 AM in Benefits, Fashion, Photo Hot Spot, Tacoma | Permalink ShareThis TrackBack TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8341c3af953ef011572411af2970b

Remember Me

My father is a "Lifer" Marine. Vietnam 2 tours, Korea 1, front lines. 28 years in the service. Although I am opposed to war, I believe in the Freedom we share as Americans. The reason I have luxury to say, "I am opposed to war," is because men and women like my father commit their lives to keeping me protected. "Thank You Soldier." I say this to each person I see in uniform...in an airport, a mall, a restaurant. I invite you to go out of your comfort zone and say those words. You will be greeted with a deep gratitude-honor these men and women. My dad left the Marines, the first real family he ever knew, to take care of me when I was 4. My mom died and he sacrificed his career, his 30 year retirement, his true love of the Marines to care for my sister and I in the best way he could-by releasing the Corps. This is a real man, my Dad. I am so proud to be his daughter. Fortunately I had the opportunity to take my Dad to the Marine Corps Museum outside of Quantico VA where he was the Operations Chief of the base. It was one of the highlights of my life, watching him introduce me to his world; a world of sandbags, tanks, guns, and Honor, Integrity and Love. It was a day I will never, ever forget. Please watch this video made by a 15 year old Lizzie Palmer. It means something to each of us who enjoy living a free life in America; free to choose...pretty much everything. Blessings, Robbi

Surprises Never Cease

Will surprises never cease? Barbara Taylor, author of the incredible book Income Without a Job wrote about my Vision Journaling workshop she attended! This teaches me that when I follow my bliss, people step even more fully into following theirs, and I get lucky enough to be put in an article about her book! Fun! Thank you Barbara Taylor! I love you for this! Blessings, Robbi

Soulebrate

This beautiful woman, Tara-jenelle Walsh, is the creator of a movement of love and connection called 'Soulcialize'. An expert 'connector', she insists on living a life filled with authenticity, excellence and beauty. I feel honored to have been featured on her site www.soulebrate.com as someone who inspires her, as she has inspired me from the moment we met years ago. This woman is up to very, very big things, committed to leaving this world in better shape than she found it. Go find her...Blessings, Robbi

Rubber Duckies and the Great Mystery

Currently I feel like one of those rubber duckies spilled from a freight liner...originally headed to California. May end up in Greenland, for all I know. Good thing is, I ALWAYS FLOAT and believe the currents will land me in the right spot. The world is a wild place...and I love the great mystery of it. One 'current' mystery is the absolute, immediate positive response to my new Vision Journaling workshops. Each person who attends is asked, "is there anything you learned or revealed to/about yourself through this process..." and the answers are profound. From deciding to finish college after a 20 year hiatus, to coming out of the closet, folks are allowing their conscious mind to be informed by their subconscious, through art! I am truly loving this new venture/adventure of supporting others to create more enriched lives through creativity. I've found a big part of my 'niche' in the world. And I'm excited. So I look at all these gorgeous, hot weather images in my own vision journal and wonder if the manifestation of my southern home will be now, or later. Only time will tell. Yesterday I mentioned to a friends that right now my life feels like riding in a gorgeous Pors-che (2 syllables, I've been informed many a time!). I'm in the passengers seat saying to God, "How about that exit?" the car blazes on. "Or that one?" passes it. "That one?" I'm just sitting back, doing due diligence and creating my art. Enjoying the velocity and the lumbar support, letting the wind whip my hair and now, I'm closing my eyes to enjoy the ride. I say to life, "BRING IT!!!!" GGGGGRRRRRRrrrrrrr

Google Alert - Robbi Firestone

Hey folks! Straight from the Mercy Me Blog Geniuses...check out the tour via their musings below! Blessings, Robbi

Robbi Firestone | The Rock and Worship Roadshow Blog Mar 23, 2009 ... We had an artist by the name of Robbi Firestone painting a portrait today. Brody and I had the opportunity to talk to her about art and Blog ...

Vision Journaling

Vision Journaling: a day of play exploring your dreams and expressing your inner artist Creating your own Vision Journal is the process of combining the Life Visioning Process with Art Journaling. A joyful method of creating 'future memories', Dr. Michael Beckwith's Visioning Process calls to mind what we must release, embrace and be grateful for in order to atttain our desired life. My art journaling process honors this, while using ones individual creative authenticity to tangibly undestand and manifest your hearts desires. Fee: $50.00 Scheduled Workshop dates: April 26, 2009 at Dragonfly on Pacific Avenue, Tacoma WA. May 2, 2009 at Feralwood Retreat Center, Olympia WA. June Date in Los Angeles to be announced. Learn a new way to fully express your authentic, beautiful self. A time of creativity and connection, this ‘play-shop’ brings fresh understanding of yourself through art, and perhaps a revelation about your own spirit of joy. Best of all, you take the journal home and keep it going. Discover deep joys, dreams, desires and passions with personal art journaling- no templates, rules, or anything predictable. Feel free to bring your own special, unlined book (an artists sketch book is my favorite: choose a journal that feels luscious) or unique items you would like to personalize your journal. I’ll provide all you need....books, glue, sparkles, ribbons and magazines for pictures, markers, pens and pencils. No experience preferred! Let’s create a Vision Journal day at your home!

Paint a Rock Star Backstage? Why Not?!!!

This Sunday I was profoundly blessed to hang backstage with the INCREDIBLE band Mercy Me, and paint an oil portrait for the lead singer, Bart Millard. Well, begin one anyway. He'll receive it in about 120 days. A profoundly gracious, kind and talented man, I feel blessed to get to know him a bit as he fluidly moved from setup, to sitting with me, performance, shower, then back to my chair for a bit more time to paint. Surrounded by loving friends and family, we were visited by luminary writer Karen Kingsbury who has sold over 15 million inspirational books! I'll toss up some photos in a bit...right now i'm just exhausted and headed to early bed. Wish me luck on Bart's portrait. He is a king, and deserves only the best. I wept with gratitude during the concert. Listen to the Mercy Me song, Imagine. its still my favorite after all these years. Blessings and love, Robbi

Passions & Possibilities Radio Show with Sue Oliver

Just did a radio show with the amazing Sue Oliver. great interviewer. I had a blast....read below! Sue Oliver, creator of the Passions & Possibilities radio show and founder of Life Sparks Coaching, brings over 15 years' experience leading individuals and groups into greatness, within corporate America, small businesses, and non-profits. I feel honored to be chosen as a guest on her show. Sue is passionate and absolutely committed to supporting clients in realizing their passions and possibilities. Specialty areas include entrepreneurship, business planning, marketing, product/service development, prosperity/finances, career management, leadership, team-building, and balance/wellbeing. An engaging, energetic, and inspiring speaker, Sue is available for a variety of presentations, particularly keynotes. She is affiliated with Accomplishment Coaching, a leading national coaching firm, International Coach Federation (ICF), and the International Association of Coaching (IAC).