by Shirley M. Carolan
This has been a year of considerable reflection for me. It started, quite naturally, by journaling my feelings about HOW and WHERE my life was going, while keeping in mind if the direction I was headed towards was OK with me ... the kinds of gems I teach my clients when they attend either my JOURNALING or GOAL SETTING seminars.
To be sure, it’s a process and it can be long, short, or even arduous. In my case it’s been extremely arduous! That’s because I had conflicting goals and aspirations. I wanted to have a thriving writing business as well as a lucrative speaking business.
Today, I realize there is nothing intrinsically wrong with that if you are in your 30s, 40s or even 50s, and want to do both, to the exclusion of everything else. Or, your early formal education prepared you for entrees into such careers. But it’s a bit overwhelming if you’re launching both in your 70s! Not that I was literally starting from scratch mind you. While life was happening to me I was always busy on the side dabbling in both careers. I allowed “survival” to be my mentor, yardstick, and constant companion.
Perhaps St. John’s University in New York was right after all. I was taking English Lit and Poly Sci at night, back in 1962-64, while working full time as an executive secretary to the President of the company. I thought my identity then was my two-piece suit and title. St. John’s suggested that I major in English and get a BS degree. At the time, that seemed ridiculously easy to me. But that’s for another article.
Today, I am literally ridding myself of all the “fluff,” the good but sidetracking events, seminars, people, books, obstacles, both real and imagined, that I allow to impede my progress. It’s euphoric but also quite scary because it’s letting go of the familiar that I’ve surrounded myself with and quite literally striking out on a path that acknowledges my true purpose and mission in life! Why, it’s like doing a firewalk all over again with Tony Robbins but this time around I intend to succeed! This time around however, I have a wonderful, supportive, professional team who want me to succeed and won’t let me fail!
Stay tuned to learn more about my new venture and how journaling is opening the doors to success!
Shirley M. Carolan
artistwithaflair@att.net
Phone/Fax: 760-732-0332
www.shirleycarolan.com
http://smcarolan.blogspot.com
http://angelscross.blogspot.com
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
MIRA COSTA COLLEGE CALLING!
By Shirley M. Carolan
It is with great delight that I inform you Mira Costa College renewed my contract to teach “Journaling for Success” again this fall. If you missed the first class in September, don’t worry, there’s still time to register for the October 9th class.
As many of you know, Journaling is my favorite tool to get centered mentally, emotionally and spiritually! It has helped me to avoid many pitfalls and decisions I might later regret by getting in touch with my “gut” feelings. It amazes me sometimes how quickly I am ready to give my power away to others only to rue it later. That’s why I devised a whimsical “What’s Bugging Me” form. I get to lay out in writing “What’s Bugging Me,” “Why It’s Bugging Me,” “What Can I Do About It?” and lastly “What Did I Learn” from journaling about it.
But, that’s only one of the tremendous gifts of Journaling! I came up with a personal list of 30 ways to use Journaling successfully. Here are ten, not necessarily in order of importance but to give you an idea of the broad range of subjects where Journaling can further help you on your journey through life:
• A tool to take ACTION instead of procrastinating
• Attract people you want in your life at a new level of AWARENESS
• LOVE yourself more and stop putting others’ needs ahead of your own
• Let go of anxiety, especially over the things that you can CONTROL
• LET GO of the deadbeats and unsupportive people in your life with love
• DEFINE your own values and beliefs not those handed down to you
• Take back your POWER instead of being a people pleaser all the time
• Gain CLARITY about your life and what’s most important to you
• Learn how to ACT versus re-act to people, places, and things
• DEAL WITH “unfinished business” in your life–it’s blocking positive energy!
I trust the above will whet your appetite! If you are unable to attend the hands-on workshop on October 9, I will be happy to send you the Workbook for the small fee of $12.99, tax included. It is self-explanatory with lots of good tips, stories, anecdotes, and exercises you can do at leisure. It follows the workshop verbatim!
To register on line for the class please go to: www.miracosta.edu/Instruction/Community Education. This will lead you to “Community Services and Business Development classes.
I look forward to meeting you in class!
Shirley M. Carolan, ATM-G
Speaker/Freelance Writer
Phone/Fax: 760-732-0663
artistwithaflair@att.net
www.shirleycarolan.com
http://angelscross.blogspot.com
Copyright© 2007 by Shirley Carolan. All rights reserved. To reprint any portion of this article simply contact Shirley Carolan at artistwithaflair@att.net.
It is with great delight that I inform you Mira Costa College renewed my contract to teach “Journaling for Success” again this fall. If you missed the first class in September, don’t worry, there’s still time to register for the October 9th class.
As many of you know, Journaling is my favorite tool to get centered mentally, emotionally and spiritually! It has helped me to avoid many pitfalls and decisions I might later regret by getting in touch with my “gut” feelings. It amazes me sometimes how quickly I am ready to give my power away to others only to rue it later. That’s why I devised a whimsical “What’s Bugging Me” form. I get to lay out in writing “What’s Bugging Me,” “Why It’s Bugging Me,” “What Can I Do About It?” and lastly “What Did I Learn” from journaling about it.
But, that’s only one of the tremendous gifts of Journaling! I came up with a personal list of 30 ways to use Journaling successfully. Here are ten, not necessarily in order of importance but to give you an idea of the broad range of subjects where Journaling can further help you on your journey through life:
• A tool to take ACTION instead of procrastinating
• Attract people you want in your life at a new level of AWARENESS
• LOVE yourself more and stop putting others’ needs ahead of your own
• Let go of anxiety, especially over the things that you can CONTROL
• LET GO of the deadbeats and unsupportive people in your life with love
• DEFINE your own values and beliefs not those handed down to you
• Take back your POWER instead of being a people pleaser all the time
• Gain CLARITY about your life and what’s most important to you
• Learn how to ACT versus re-act to people, places, and things
• DEAL WITH “unfinished business” in your life–it’s blocking positive energy!
I trust the above will whet your appetite! If you are unable to attend the hands-on workshop on October 9, I will be happy to send you the Workbook for the small fee of $12.99, tax included. It is self-explanatory with lots of good tips, stories, anecdotes, and exercises you can do at leisure. It follows the workshop verbatim!
To register on line for the class please go to: www.miracosta.edu/Instruction/Community Education. This will lead you to “Community Services and Business Development classes.
I look forward to meeting you in class!
Shirley M. Carolan, ATM-G
Speaker/Freelance Writer
Phone/Fax: 760-732-0663
artistwithaflair@att.net
www.shirleycarolan.com
http://angelscross.blogspot.com
Copyright© 2007 by Shirley Carolan. All rights reserved. To reprint any portion of this article simply contact Shirley Carolan at artistwithaflair@att.net.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
REWARDING MENTORING!
By Shirley M. Carolan
This summer I had the privilege and opportunity to mentor three young professional women through their “ Icebreaker” speeches at my Carlsbad Toastmaster Club #2113, Tick Talk Toastmasters! They are from diverse backgrounds and bring a plethora of talent and experiences with them.
Lest you think Toastmasters is dull and repetitive, let me tell you a little bit about these amazing young women. One is a mortgage broker (her own business), one is a professional chef, employed by a very prestigious San Francisco Bay Area restaurant, and one is a very gifted artist, author, and teacher. Two of them one the “Best Speaker” trophy the night they spoke. The third one also would have won this distinguished award had she not , unfortunately, ran a little over the time limit. That’s right, you heard right … the time limit!
Everything in Toastmaster is timed, from the start of the meeting, through Table Topics, Prepared Speeches to Evaluations. For some this is a turnoff but for others they appreciate learning how to express themselves succinctly, without using a lot of unnecessary verbage, and boring an audience to death! It’s an art form but anyone with the desire can learn how to speak in public at the drop of a hat without going to pieces. I’m told the No. 1 fear is America is still the fear of public speaking, and not the fear of dying!
Getting back to the young mentees. The mortgage broker was seduced by an opportunity to get her college paid for if she enlisted in the US Army. Her stories of boot camp/training while hilarious are also a testament to her character and discipline! We were all mesmerized by the ordeals this petite young woman experienced.
Our professional chef told us about her first interview after graduation and how tough it was to convince the Head Chef that she had what it takes to handle an 8hr day job, standing on her feet, chopping, grinding nuts, fava beans, etc. with a pestle! She showed us her burn scars with pride saying they were her “medals” in her profession. And we think enduring a 1-2 interview session with a panel of people is tough!
Our artist/author riveted us with her story of being born deaf, learning the American Sign Language to communicate with family and friends. Her world was totally silent until she was about 9 years old and scientific advances changed her life forever so that now she can hear and communicate beautifully. Her artwork is outstanding and encompasses many cultures. She is written up in several magazines.
Again, it was a joy for me to work with all these talented young women. They are a joy to be around and a joy to watch grow! They will certainly leave their mark in their respective fields and then some! After 26 years in Toastmasters International I am still learning! The folks you meet are inspiring and stimulating. Why not check out a Toastmaster club near you by going to www.toastmasters.org
Shirley M. Carolan
artistwithaflair@att.net
Phone/Fax: 760-732-0332
www.shirleycarolan.com
http://smcarolan.blogspot.com
http://angelscross.blogspot.com
Copyright 2007 by Shirley Carolan. All rights reserved. To reprint any part of this article simply contact Shirley Carolan at artistwithaflair@att.net.
This summer I had the privilege and opportunity to mentor three young professional women through their “ Icebreaker” speeches at my Carlsbad Toastmaster Club #2113, Tick Talk Toastmasters! They are from diverse backgrounds and bring a plethora of talent and experiences with them.
Lest you think Toastmasters is dull and repetitive, let me tell you a little bit about these amazing young women. One is a mortgage broker (her own business), one is a professional chef, employed by a very prestigious San Francisco Bay Area restaurant, and one is a very gifted artist, author, and teacher. Two of them one the “Best Speaker” trophy the night they spoke. The third one also would have won this distinguished award had she not , unfortunately, ran a little over the time limit. That’s right, you heard right … the time limit!
Everything in Toastmaster is timed, from the start of the meeting, through Table Topics, Prepared Speeches to Evaluations. For some this is a turnoff but for others they appreciate learning how to express themselves succinctly, without using a lot of unnecessary verbage, and boring an audience to death! It’s an art form but anyone with the desire can learn how to speak in public at the drop of a hat without going to pieces. I’m told the No. 1 fear is America is still the fear of public speaking, and not the fear of dying!
Getting back to the young mentees. The mortgage broker was seduced by an opportunity to get her college paid for if she enlisted in the US Army. Her stories of boot camp/training while hilarious are also a testament to her character and discipline! We were all mesmerized by the ordeals this petite young woman experienced.
Our professional chef told us about her first interview after graduation and how tough it was to convince the Head Chef that she had what it takes to handle an 8hr day job, standing on her feet, chopping, grinding nuts, fava beans, etc. with a pestle! She showed us her burn scars with pride saying they were her “medals” in her profession. And we think enduring a 1-2 interview session with a panel of people is tough!
Our artist/author riveted us with her story of being born deaf, learning the American Sign Language to communicate with family and friends. Her world was totally silent until she was about 9 years old and scientific advances changed her life forever so that now she can hear and communicate beautifully. Her artwork is outstanding and encompasses many cultures. She is written up in several magazines.
Again, it was a joy for me to work with all these talented young women. They are a joy to be around and a joy to watch grow! They will certainly leave their mark in their respective fields and then some! After 26 years in Toastmasters International I am still learning! The folks you meet are inspiring and stimulating. Why not check out a Toastmaster club near you by going to www.toastmasters.org
Shirley M. Carolan
artistwithaflair@att.net
Phone/Fax: 760-732-0332
www.shirleycarolan.com
http://smcarolan.blogspot.com
http://angelscross.blogspot.com
Copyright 2007 by Shirley Carolan. All rights reserved. To reprint any part of this article simply contact Shirley Carolan at artistwithaflair@att.net.
CAVEAT EMPTOR!"
By Shirley M. Carolan
Regretably, I have not written in some time. You might say the muse left me. I’m now trying to get on with my writing projects and my life after a traumatic ordeal which began last spring.
Buying a new computer (regardless of the make) with all the latest bells and whistles and attendant software should be a fun and memorable experience. After all, it’s not an everyday occurrence. Alas, since last spring that has not been the case for me.
Let me begin with the end in mind: DO NOT PAY CASH OR BY CHECK FOR ANY MERCHANDISE PURCHASED FROM A RETAIL STORE! You may already be aware of this. I was not. I paid for my new Hewlett Packard computer system by check instead of using a credit card. This action has literally haunted me.
If you pay by check, or cash, beware, if the merchandise is defective, for whatever reason, you, the consumer, must bear the brunt/responsibility of getting satisfaction from a vendor. This can be a very time-consuming, frustrating, income/money losing proposition and a very stressful experience. I experienced this when I bought my new computer system at Fry’s Electronics in San Marcos in March 2007!
The system crashed innumerable times, was fixed twice at the store, the first time requiring a new motherboard; a 3rd time, a technician came to my home to repair/assess the problem, and it crashed again shortly thereafter. The store manager would not let me exchange it. Recently, an exchange was made but not like for like merchandise. Instead, a Hewlett Packard computer was inadvertently exchanged for a Compaq Presario costing much less …
The moral is: Always use a credit card when buying merchandise from a retail store. The bank, or credit card company, will pursue claims of defective merchandise far easier and more quickly than you can. While they do the pursuing, and you get your money back if that’s what you want, you can sleep soundly at night!
Shirley M. Carolan
artistwithaflair@att.net
Phone/Fax: 760-732-0332
www.shirleycarolan.com
http://smcarolan.blogspot.com
http://angelscross.blogspot.com
Copyright 2007 by Shirley Carolan. All rights reserved. To reprint any part of this article simply contact Shirley Carolan at artistwithaflair@att.net.
Regretably, I have not written in some time. You might say the muse left me. I’m now trying to get on with my writing projects and my life after a traumatic ordeal which began last spring.
Buying a new computer (regardless of the make) with all the latest bells and whistles and attendant software should be a fun and memorable experience. After all, it’s not an everyday occurrence. Alas, since last spring that has not been the case for me.
Let me begin with the end in mind: DO NOT PAY CASH OR BY CHECK FOR ANY MERCHANDISE PURCHASED FROM A RETAIL STORE! You may already be aware of this. I was not. I paid for my new Hewlett Packard computer system by check instead of using a credit card. This action has literally haunted me.
If you pay by check, or cash, beware, if the merchandise is defective, for whatever reason, you, the consumer, must bear the brunt/responsibility of getting satisfaction from a vendor. This can be a very time-consuming, frustrating, income/money losing proposition and a very stressful experience. I experienced this when I bought my new computer system at Fry’s Electronics in San Marcos in March 2007!
The system crashed innumerable times, was fixed twice at the store, the first time requiring a new motherboard; a 3rd time, a technician came to my home to repair/assess the problem, and it crashed again shortly thereafter. The store manager would not let me exchange it. Recently, an exchange was made but not like for like merchandise. Instead, a Hewlett Packard computer was inadvertently exchanged for a Compaq Presario costing much less …
The moral is: Always use a credit card when buying merchandise from a retail store. The bank, or credit card company, will pursue claims of defective merchandise far easier and more quickly than you can. While they do the pursuing, and you get your money back if that’s what you want, you can sleep soundly at night!
Shirley M. Carolan
artistwithaflair@att.net
Phone/Fax: 760-732-0332
www.shirleycarolan.com
http://smcarolan.blogspot.com
http://angelscross.blogspot.com
Copyright 2007 by Shirley Carolan. All rights reserved. To reprint any part of this article simply contact Shirley Carolan at artistwithaflair@att.net.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
WIIFM - "WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?"
By Shirley M. Carolan
Whether you are a novice or a seasoned speaker, if you incorporate “WIFFM” into all of your presentations you will succeed in capturing your audience’s attention,loyalty and patronage. That’s a pretty strong statement but it works every time.
For starters, what is “WIIFM?” WIIFM is an acronym for “What’s In It For Me?” WIIFM is very simply having and keeping your audience’s interest and attention uppermost throughout your entire presentation. Any presentation you give must address what’s of importance or of interest to your audience.
How can you be sure this will work for you? Before you script any presentation take a moment and ask yourself the following questions:
• Why have they come to hear me speak?
• Is it because I am an expert in my field?
• What are their needs, wants, goals, objectives?
• What are their expectations?
• Do I have the requisite skills and knowledge?
Now ask yourself “what are MY objectives? What would I like them to take away today?
• An idea
• A valuable shortcut
• A new product, research, etc.
• A commitment to take action on something?
• A cosr effective business technique?
• A desire to learn more and become my client?
Once, you know your audience, what makes them tick, why they are here, and can answer the above questions truthfully, you are on your way to success! You will be able to demonstrate your integrity and credibility, combined with your business expertise! This is also known as a win-win situation.
You may be the novice speaker or new Toastmaster reading this and saying “Yes, but ... what does this have to do with giving manual speeches? Good question! Everything! Once you know your audience’s expectations you will know how to fill them and leave them clamoring for more!
Start now to think about your audience first, their expectations and then craft your presentation around their interests. It’s a matter of WIIFM!
Most folks fail to do this because they are too busy “telling” the audience something vs. "showing” them. Why doesn’t this work? When you “tell” the audience something you run the risk of being boring, preachy, self-absorbed, uncaring, and/or totally inept. (Incidentally, I’ve written about this topic previously entitled “Show ...Don’t Tell! Please check out my blogsite http://smcarolan.blogspot.com to see the entire article)
You also run the risk of rambling because your presentation is not organized into meaningful parts, i.e., an opening, a body, and a conclusion! There are no transitions between the parts, nothing in it for the audience, and nothing to keep their attention focused on what you are saying. Consequently, folks will tune out on you. Later on, they may even misquote you because they take things out of context because they didn’t fully pay attention to what you said! Good organization, therefore, is tantamount to giving your audience what it needs and deserves!
Paying attention to and incorporating these few tips into your next presentation will pay you dividends! It will catapult you from being a mediocre speaker, give you more credibility in your chosen field, name recognition, and a desire by others to do business with you!
Voila, you have killed two birds with one stone and are on your way to speaking success and/or increased business!
If you would like more information on how to structure a presentation making good use of WIIFM, please email me your request and I will be happy to send you my free article “How To Use What’s In It For Me (WIIFM) Effectively!” My email address is: artistwithaflair@att.net.
Shirley M. Carolan
artistwithaflair@att.net
Phone/Fax: 760-732-0332
www.shirleycarolan.com
http://smcarolan.blogspot.com
http://angelscross.blogspot.com
Copyright 2007 by Shirley Carolan. All rights reserved. To reprint any part of this article simply contact Shirley Carolan at artistwithaflair@att.net.
Whether you are a novice or a seasoned speaker, if you incorporate “WIFFM” into all of your presentations you will succeed in capturing your audience’s attention,loyalty and patronage. That’s a pretty strong statement but it works every time.
For starters, what is “WIIFM?” WIIFM is an acronym for “What’s In It For Me?” WIIFM is very simply having and keeping your audience’s interest and attention uppermost throughout your entire presentation. Any presentation you give must address what’s of importance or of interest to your audience.
How can you be sure this will work for you? Before you script any presentation take a moment and ask yourself the following questions:
• Why have they come to hear me speak?
• Is it because I am an expert in my field?
• What are their needs, wants, goals, objectives?
• What are their expectations?
• Do I have the requisite skills and knowledge?
Now ask yourself “what are MY objectives? What would I like them to take away today?
• An idea
• A valuable shortcut
• A new product, research, etc.
• A commitment to take action on something?
• A cosr effective business technique?
• A desire to learn more and become my client?
Once, you know your audience, what makes them tick, why they are here, and can answer the above questions truthfully, you are on your way to success! You will be able to demonstrate your integrity and credibility, combined with your business expertise! This is also known as a win-win situation.
You may be the novice speaker or new Toastmaster reading this and saying “Yes, but ... what does this have to do with giving manual speeches? Good question! Everything! Once you know your audience’s expectations you will know how to fill them and leave them clamoring for more!
Start now to think about your audience first, their expectations and then craft your presentation around their interests. It’s a matter of WIIFM!
Most folks fail to do this because they are too busy “telling” the audience something vs. "showing” them. Why doesn’t this work? When you “tell” the audience something you run the risk of being boring, preachy, self-absorbed, uncaring, and/or totally inept. (Incidentally, I’ve written about this topic previously entitled “Show ...Don’t Tell! Please check out my blogsite http://smcarolan.blogspot.com to see the entire article)
You also run the risk of rambling because your presentation is not organized into meaningful parts, i.e., an opening, a body, and a conclusion! There are no transitions between the parts, nothing in it for the audience, and nothing to keep their attention focused on what you are saying. Consequently, folks will tune out on you. Later on, they may even misquote you because they take things out of context because they didn’t fully pay attention to what you said! Good organization, therefore, is tantamount to giving your audience what it needs and deserves!
Paying attention to and incorporating these few tips into your next presentation will pay you dividends! It will catapult you from being a mediocre speaker, give you more credibility in your chosen field, name recognition, and a desire by others to do business with you!
Voila, you have killed two birds with one stone and are on your way to speaking success and/or increased business!
If you would like more information on how to structure a presentation making good use of WIIFM, please email me your request and I will be happy to send you my free article “How To Use What’s In It For Me (WIIFM) Effectively!” My email address is: artistwithaflair@att.net.
Shirley M. Carolan
artistwithaflair@att.net
Phone/Fax: 760-732-0332
www.shirleycarolan.com
http://smcarolan.blogspot.com
http://angelscross.blogspot.com
Copyright 2007 by Shirley Carolan. All rights reserved. To reprint any part of this article simply contact Shirley Carolan at artistwithaflair@att.net.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
“OCEANSIDE 15th ANNUAL DAYS OF ART”
By Shirley M. Carolan
This year marked the 15th Annual Art Show in Oceanside in April. It followed on the heels of Mira Costa College Theater’s wonderful production of “Lend Me A Tenor!“ which I wrote about earlier. What a great weekend of cultural activities in our little town. We are blessed in Oceanside to have such outstanding events. I’m sure when that new downtown hotel is completed the guests will come flocking to see what we have to offer.
This year the Show was even more exciting and interesting. Despite inclement weather where I live, I was delighted when I reached the coast to find beautiful sunshine and good parking. This is one event you won’t want to miss next year so be forewarned to mark your calendars now!
As usual, there was something for everyone from young tots to seniors like myself. There was food, sweets, live music, dancing, in addition to all the wonderful art work from pottery, exquisitely blown glassware, oil paintings, watercolors, mixed media, carvings, etc. I renewed acquaintances with folks and artists that I met last year and beyond. I found the artists so eager to talk about their work and share “secrets” with me. Artists are definitely a different breed of cat from other types of professionals. They seem so laid back and not at all pushy or needy, or hustling you to buy their wares! How refreshing!
I was overjoyed when I came upon one of my favorite artists, Jacqueline Tyree. This spry young woman of 84 is a living legend. As an oil painter myself, I appreciate her beautiful seascapes of the San Diego area. She is a member of the San Diego Art Guild and her paintings are on display at “On Track” gallery in Encinitas. Also, you can learn more about her and her paintings can be seen on www.coastalartprints.com. She caught me mesmerized by one of her paintings and came over to talk to me. This year she shared her secret for drawing people quickly on canvas. Last year she showed me a short cut to drawing all kinds of birds. I am indebted to her professional expertise. In seven years of taking oil painting lessons I had not learned these wonderful techniques.
In addition to her beautiful paintings she has photos of her work made into greeting cards. Don’t you know I was the lucky recipient of one of them entitled “Surf’s Up.” She generously placed one in my hand as I started to depart.
Jacqueline is just one of the many artists you will enjoy meeting and hopefully going home with a piece of her art. Other folks told me about the Vista Art League and the great exhibits there on Main Street. Since I intend to join an Art Guild this year to exhibit and sell some of my own oil paintings I am also going to check out the Carlsbad Oceanside Art League which also had several members exhibiting their work at this show.
As a result of hobnobbing and enjoying all this art I decided to upgrade my computer, email system, etc. I wanted digital pictures of my work for my new website, etc. Unfortunately, Windows Vista has proved to be a really unexpected challenge. I’ve had several computer crashes as a result of incompatible software, as well as losing many files and articles, including this original article. Hence, I’m cutting this article a bit short because I have some follow-up stories I want to share with you.
In the meantime, here’s my new email address: artistwithaflair@att.net. I look forward to hearing from you and definitely seeing you at next year’s Art Show.
Shirley M. Carolan, ATM
Artist ● Speaker ● Writer
Phone/Fax: 760-732-0663
artistwithaflair@att.net
www.shirleycarolan.com
http://smcarolan.blogspot.com
http://angelscross.blogspot.com
This year marked the 15th Annual Art Show in Oceanside in April. It followed on the heels of Mira Costa College Theater’s wonderful production of “Lend Me A Tenor!“ which I wrote about earlier. What a great weekend of cultural activities in our little town. We are blessed in Oceanside to have such outstanding events. I’m sure when that new downtown hotel is completed the guests will come flocking to see what we have to offer.
This year the Show was even more exciting and interesting. Despite inclement weather where I live, I was delighted when I reached the coast to find beautiful sunshine and good parking. This is one event you won’t want to miss next year so be forewarned to mark your calendars now!
As usual, there was something for everyone from young tots to seniors like myself. There was food, sweets, live music, dancing, in addition to all the wonderful art work from pottery, exquisitely blown glassware, oil paintings, watercolors, mixed media, carvings, etc. I renewed acquaintances with folks and artists that I met last year and beyond. I found the artists so eager to talk about their work and share “secrets” with me. Artists are definitely a different breed of cat from other types of professionals. They seem so laid back and not at all pushy or needy, or hustling you to buy their wares! How refreshing!
I was overjoyed when I came upon one of my favorite artists, Jacqueline Tyree. This spry young woman of 84 is a living legend. As an oil painter myself, I appreciate her beautiful seascapes of the San Diego area. She is a member of the San Diego Art Guild and her paintings are on display at “On Track” gallery in Encinitas. Also, you can learn more about her and her paintings can be seen on www.coastalartprints.com. She caught me mesmerized by one of her paintings and came over to talk to me. This year she shared her secret for drawing people quickly on canvas. Last year she showed me a short cut to drawing all kinds of birds. I am indebted to her professional expertise. In seven years of taking oil painting lessons I had not learned these wonderful techniques.
In addition to her beautiful paintings she has photos of her work made into greeting cards. Don’t you know I was the lucky recipient of one of them entitled “Surf’s Up.” She generously placed one in my hand as I started to depart.
Jacqueline is just one of the many artists you will enjoy meeting and hopefully going home with a piece of her art. Other folks told me about the Vista Art League and the great exhibits there on Main Street. Since I intend to join an Art Guild this year to exhibit and sell some of my own oil paintings I am also going to check out the Carlsbad Oceanside Art League which also had several members exhibiting their work at this show.
As a result of hobnobbing and enjoying all this art I decided to upgrade my computer, email system, etc. I wanted digital pictures of my work for my new website, etc. Unfortunately, Windows Vista has proved to be a really unexpected challenge. I’ve had several computer crashes as a result of incompatible software, as well as losing many files and articles, including this original article. Hence, I’m cutting this article a bit short because I have some follow-up stories I want to share with you.
In the meantime, here’s my new email address: artistwithaflair@att.net. I look forward to hearing from you and definitely seeing you at next year’s Art Show.
Shirley M. Carolan, ATM
Artist ● Speaker ● Writer
Phone/Fax: 760-732-0663
artistwithaflair@att.net
www.shirleycarolan.com
http://smcarolan.blogspot.com
http://angelscross.blogspot.com
Monday, May 21, 2007
MIRA COSTA COLLEGE WORKSHOPS
By Shirley M. Carolan
It is with much delight that I can tell you that my Mira Costa College “Journaling” workshops have been confirmed and are being offered on the main, Oceanside, campus this summer. If you did not receive their summer brochure, the classes are scheduled for Saturday, June 9 from 9:00 am-12:00 pm, Saturday, August 4, from 9:00 am-12:00 pm, and Tuesday, July 10 from 6:00 pm-9:00 pm.
The workshop is entitled “JOURNAL YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS!” ‘Take a journey to healing, wholeness, and self-discovery. This unique and revealing workshop will help you to identify the areas of your life that need more attention and will equip you to address your unfinished business. By the end of the course, you will have a clearer picture of what success means to you and a plan for using the skills you already possess to achieve your goals.’
For more information on registration please contact Mira Costa College directly at http://www.miracosta.edu/commsvcs, or, call 760-795-6820. I look forward to seeing you in class! If you have any further questions feel free to contact me at 760-732-0663, or artistwithaflair@att.net.
Thank you.
Shirley M. Carolan, ATM
Speaker•Writer•Artist
Phone/Fax: 760-732-0663
artistwithaflair@att.net
www.shirleycarolan.com
http://smcarolan.blogspot.com
http://angelscross.blogspot.com
It is with much delight that I can tell you that my Mira Costa College “Journaling” workshops have been confirmed and are being offered on the main, Oceanside, campus this summer. If you did not receive their summer brochure, the classes are scheduled for Saturday, June 9 from 9:00 am-12:00 pm, Saturday, August 4, from 9:00 am-12:00 pm, and Tuesday, July 10 from 6:00 pm-9:00 pm.
The workshop is entitled “JOURNAL YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS!” ‘Take a journey to healing, wholeness, and self-discovery. This unique and revealing workshop will help you to identify the areas of your life that need more attention and will equip you to address your unfinished business. By the end of the course, you will have a clearer picture of what success means to you and a plan for using the skills you already possess to achieve your goals.’
For more information on registration please contact Mira Costa College directly at http://www.miracosta.edu/commsvcs, or, call 760-795-6820. I look forward to seeing you in class! If you have any further questions feel free to contact me at 760-732-0663, or artistwithaflair@att.net.
Thank you.
Shirley M. Carolan, ATM
Speaker•Writer•Artist
Phone/Fax: 760-732-0663
artistwithaflair@att.net
www.shirleycarolan.com
http://smcarolan.blogspot.com
http://angelscross.blogspot.com
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