What's your message?

awesome Ali!

GREAT message Ali!! :-) And give Simon a high five for me. YAHOOO!!!

Ali, you're wise beyond your years, lady! I've already learned so much from you. I so appreciate your message. It's enriched my life, made me think, encouraged me to appreciate more and discover new ways of thinking. My message is ever growing, always enjoying and I want to thank you for your contribution to it!
Tina J.

Ali...first Congrats on a day with no accidents..that is big!!! Second, you are so right. Anyone who journals, doodles and keeps it, scraps, blogs, paints, creates are life artists! I come here when I'm down or need inspiration. Keep going girl! You rawk!

you really do rock...seriously! You touch lives with your inspiring stories and thought provoking questions...what is my message? what do I want my kids to learn from me....to remember about me....to take with them....simply true love. Thanks for sharing Ali! T

go with the flow-ha [potty]! crack me up!
my message... take what you're given and do the best you can with it. in life. in art. with your photos. with your memories. with your passion.

Ali...THANKS!!! what a wonderful message--thanks for helping me to realize--US, all to realize that it really IS that simple! It gives me a reason to accept myself a little bit more...and to realize that its okay, even when I've had a long day, and I WANT to create, either in my artjournal, on a page, or even another item--but I'm just too tired (I'm learning to accept that i don't have as much energy at 44 that I did at 34)...and even though that sucks...I'm learning that this is my path at this point--and it's all good!
Jacquie D
thanks for sharing!

Ali, I am not exactly sure what my message is....yet....but I will being putting some thought into that. But I totally love how you describe a life artist and that is how I felt about it since the first time you posted in on this blog. I love how you look at things and this message is great and makes you think. Congrads to Simon...way to go little guy!!!!
Peace
Kim

art definition = scrapbooking to me.

I just love you.

first, congrats to simon on his progress! second, i lurk on your blog each day and i want you to know that your message helps me aspire to be a better woman. person. friend. daughter. wife. don't let others get you down. you are such an inspiration for so many of us simply bacause you are who you are. so thank you ali edwards. thank you very much!

I think some of us (and I most definitely include myself in this category) feel . . . pretentious using the word "artist" for what we create with our scrapbooks, altered items, or what have you. It is art, and I can intellectually understand the point you're making, but I'll be the first one to admit that I still can't quite get to the point of labeling myself as a "life artist" on an emotional level, which is where I think it needs to reside, at least for me.
I think this is due to all the misconceptions about artists, the process, what art is "supposed" to look like, etc. It's deeply ingrained that Exhibit A is clearly art, while my scrapbook page is just a scrapbook page. It's sort of nuts, really.
So much inner resistance. Which, of course, means it's something to take a look at.
As always Ali, your work (your life art!) makes me think even deeper about my own. That is art, isn't it?
Okay - done rambling. :)

sometimes I just want to cry cause your outlook is so damn correct. please tell me you have closet hissy fits and pound your fists screaming "f*ck!!" at least once a year....
But seriously, YOUR message is something that needs to be heard. that's your purpose. Like maybe even be a self help novelist or something. cause you are so good at it.

Love this entry!!! I'm all about the message, the everyday, embracing the imperfection that is my life. My life is different than I imagined... motherhood is different for me than most people. But I'm happy, happy with everything regardless of our differences as a family. That is my life artist speech ;)
I can't wait for yor album track at San Jose!!! :)

Ali,
You are so inspiring! This post just hit home with me. Sometimes we do get caught up in the ho-hume of life and forget to enjoy the little moments. We forget that life is to be enjoyed, not endured. I love your take as a life artist being an attitude or way of life. WOW...you really are amazing.
Thanks!
Amanda B.

My message is that EVERY moment in every day matters in EVERYONE'S life. I've always been one to appreciate the simple, everyday things in life. When I was younger I used to yearn for more, thought bigger was better...that I needed to experience this or that to have a full life. And then I fell in love. Then I bought a home. And then I had children. Then I found out what life is really all about. And I know it's fleeting and I want to remember as much of it as I can and record it for my children to see. I mostly want them to see that I paid attention. Another message...you must pay attention in your life because before you know it the moment has passed and you never fully realize just how much you missed. I am just now getting into scrapbooking. But I've been doing a blog for about a year. My background in journalistm, photography and graphics all comes together in the blog and I consider it art most definitely. When I wrote as a journalist I had an audience and a topic every day. My audience now is unknown and my topic never varies much from outside my own life...my kids, my thoughts and views on this or that. But from reading other people's blogs, yours being one of them, I see just how artful each person is...how we all share such common threads. And that makes my "art" and yours and hers and his meaningful, which is what makes art..ART to me anyway. Learning from what other people interpret as beautiful and important.
I'm a huge fan of yours. Will be taking your workship hopefully soon. Can't wait to meet you in person. Your friend Donna taught her recently and said you were just such a wonderful person...which is easily seen. I hope you don't mind, but I linked your Cafepress stuff on my StyleHive list and on my blog. If you wanna take a look the link is listed on the blog in the lower left corner. StyleHive is a place to share what things you think are hip and cool. Your stuff most definitely fits into that category. I bought two of your shirts which really speak to me...Delight in the Everyday and Capture Life. Create Art. I haven't bought a Life Artist shirt just yet because I want to get more into scrapping before I place that title on my chest. Thanks Ali for being such a sounding board for thoughts, ideas and inspiration. I totally refer to you on my blog all the time. I'm such a groupie, ha,ha.

Ali - I totally embrace your life artist message. In fact I was searching for it. When I'm scrapbooking I'm thinking about what it will mean to my children, their children and really anyone who sees them now and later. Would it be better/different if we called it "life authoring" or "life journaling", I mean every page (for the most part) has a story -- but we're usually including illustrations (pictures). My friend is a potter and after the first time he had his 4 yr old son throw a pot on the wheel his son said "when I grow up, I want to be a potter" and my friend said "but Eli, you are a potter!" I've always thought when I grow up I want to be an artist. Well, I think I am. The point is, I attach so much emotion and creative energy to my pages, that calling it "scrapbooking" didn't fit - it didn't have enough depth or maturity. I love "life artist" and when I create, I'm doing so with that hat on (not literally, still need to order one). And I no longer call my work area my scrapbook room - it is now my studio. And ya know what? It makes me happy, content, fulfilled. So keep the messages coming - lots of people are listening and (without sounding creepy)... following.
And now I see I"m rambling...
Take care : )

Life art is such a beautiful message, even when I first began creating art with my photos I never thought that scrapbooking summed it up at all, if anthing it devalued the hobby I was pouring my heart into. Life art sums it up beautifully. Thank you.

You might like to check out Dr. Stephen Covey's "The 8th Habit." I've been listening to it in the car on CD, and I think you'd like it...
Tiffany Kotz

Thanks for this entry, Ali. It definitely helped me put a couple of things into perspective.