i live life in quotes.

When I was a teenager one of my cousins would always joke when we got together that every other phrase that came out of my mouth was a quote from a movie. >> Guilty as charged. My family has worked some quotes into the consistent dialogue of almost all conversations. Some make us laugh so hard we cry ("no one in my family overreacts")  and some just fit perfectly in almost any situation ("ah, well...there's no competing with that!").
(obscure Disney movie quotes more often than not..."wash your hands!!" (name that movie)) 

Quotes of all sorts have always stuck with me, both silly and serious.  

As a teenager I felt painfully out of place and like I didn't belong a lot of the time. My sweet and insightful mom hung this quote in my room one day and I read it at least once a day;  

"Many of us have learned

 to cover over what is 

most authentic in ourselves

in order to protect ourselves

or gain the approval of others.

We may have lived this way so long

that we no longer know

 that this is not our way.

We can come home to ourselves..."

-Rachel Naomi Remen (emphasis added)

During the years that I struggled with infertility, I forced myself to go to a little women's get-together at my church one evening with what felt like all new or expectant mothers, and this quote from D. Todd Christofferson was shared:

"In times of distress, 

let your covenants be paramount

 and let your obedience be exact."

(you can read the entire article here.)

I can't count how many times I let these words flow through my mind when I wondered if I had done something wrong and that was why I couldn't have children.  

Over and over, through these words, I was reminded that I could take comfort in my efforts (imperfect as they were) to live in exact obedience to God's commandments and the covenants I'd made with Him, because I could be certain that my burden wasn't because of something I'd done.

I used to tape all sorts of quotes on the bathroom mirror growing up (got that from my Momma) and when I went away to college the tradition continued. Like I said, I can't get enough...

Well recently, inspired by my (and my Momma's) love for quotes, I made custom watercolor+ink quotes available in my etsy shop.  With the pieces I've made and the ones I'm working on I have already loved seeing what words are important and meaningful to other people and I love seeing what keeps people going and touches people.  

Here are a few pieces I've had a chance to do for people;

ART for sale.

Did you hear? I’m selling my artwork for the first.time.ever.

I’ve always loved&hated the idea of selling my work. Loved the idea of reaching other people and connecting through what I create.  It’s a unique conversation and I love it.  Loved the idea of the feeling of validation that would come with someone wanting what I made enough to buy it. Loved the idea of adding to the happiness in someone’s life with something I’d made that they’d see everyday.

Conversely I’ve always hated the possibility of such vulnerability and failure. Hated that it was possible that I’d put myself out there, and no one would be interested in what I had to offer. I hated the possibility that my art wouldn’t touch people. That it=I wasn’t good enough or talented enough. 

So for years (really though, years) I’ve just told people, “I don’t sell my work”. It’s safer, easier and it’s not scary either. 

Well, recently the timing and my current focuses, on home and happiness (and things that bring goodness into life), seemed right. So, I’ve made my work available to buy. And I’m still pretty scared to death.

I don’t know how it will go, but it was time to chase this dream. 

My new Etsy shop {MichelleMakesArt} is now open, check it out here.

Here are some pieces you'll find up in the shop :)