Category: Inspiration

Couples, Couples Art, Inspiration, love, Love Boards, Love Stories

Heart and Soul

Jane Green
IMG_20181004_170648.jpg
Heart and Soul by Jane Green

The Greek story of Eros and Psyche (heart and soul) written in 2nd Century AD is a complicated tale of love.  It weaves together jealousy, deception, marriage, sacrifice, feats of strength and moments of weakness. The original beauty and the beast, in the end love triumphs and Psyche and her lover Eros (also known as Cupid) are united for all time. In this collage, I kept the classic palette of the sculpture and included a few of my photos reflecting the beauty of nature. It was one of the first pieces I did without text. Sometimes the power of the image is all you need. Just like love. This is the 3rd in a series of featured collages. View the 2nd. View the 1st.

Couples Art, Inspiration, love, Love Boards

The Art of Self Love

Jane Green
IMG_20181004_161325.jpg
Good Things by Jane Green

This second in my series of collages speaks to the process of loving and trusting yourself. This can be a lifelong journey but a truly rewarding one – and necessary before genuine relationships can occur. “Love boards” are great tools for both reflection and action. Search your heart and then choose images that relate to what you are feeling now and where you desire to go. Once your visual is done, write an affirmation on the back. I completed my Good Things in April 2014 and wrote : “A world of possibilities lay at my feet. I need only to see the good things in life and dare to cross the bridge; be authentic in my pursuits; and allow the wind to fill my sails.” Truer words were never illustrated.

View and read about the first collage, Bliss.

Couples Art, Inspiration, love, Love Boards, Love Stories

Love Boards

Jane Green

PhotoGrid_1537810659468.jpgHere’s a great way to make romance come to life. Create a visual representation using the time honored art of collage. You can do it on your own or invite friends to join you and make it a collage party. Supply the glue sticks, mat boards and magazines. Calendars, photos, book marks, greeting cards, ticket stubs … you name it and it can be re-purposed into your new work of art. It’s so interesting to see what the finished product will look like – sometimes it can surprise you and take a totally different turn. Be sure to date your collage and snap a photo of it for a keepsake. Put the finished artwork in a place of honor to inspire your dreams and to help you keep a festive heart. I’ll be featuring some favorite collages that I’ve created over the years. This one I call Bliss which demonstrates the soft, sweet, sparkling elements of authentic love. 

custom wedding gifts, Inspiration, local business, local wedding gifts, love, new products, PDX wedding, portland brides, Reviews, Wedding Gifts

The Art of Romance

Jane Green
Z6_Rollmates
Rollmates by Jonathan Sundy

Coming up with a gift that expresses the joy of being in love can be a daunting task. Especially when you want it to be an original idea. Meet Jonathan Sundy, a romantic soul and whimsical artist extraordinaire. His unique character designs capture the childlike spirit of loving hearts in sweet and simple ways that never fail to bring a smile.

Apple and Pear
Apple and Pear by Jonathan Sundy

Whether you are buying the gift for your bride, your groom or the happy couple, there are wonderful designs to choose from with options of original paintings on canvas or framed prints. Jonathan’s work is currently on exhibit at a number of venues around PDX or you catch him in person at Crafty Wonderland this Saturday at the Portland Convention Center. Note: Be sure to check out Jonathan’s illustrated books, too!

Book Suggestions, coaching, Couples, Helpful Hints, Inspiration, Reviews

Finding A Change of Heart

Jane Green

b956d260-c91a-47ac-bb7f-9677e201ee84__23760.1352579527.1280.1280.jpg

“A change of heart is the almost magical force that erases the distress in relationship and gives you a fresh start.” Whether you have been married for two years or twenty, this is a book you’ll want to put on your nightstand. Pransky offers a refreshing and surprisingly simple approach to understanding interpersonal dynamics. If you’re happily in love with your partner, this can take you to a deeper level. If you’ve hit some bumps, The Relationship Handbook can guide you in making the shift to a sweet resolution. If you want to refresh your thinking about people in general, this will do that, too!

Note: Also available in eBook format.

bridal fashion, Bridal Gowns, Brides, Helpful Hints, Inspiration, Repurpose, weddings

Trash the Dress Controversy

Jane Green

trash dressDestructive, insane, artistic – the “trash the dress” craze is a controversial trend that hasn’t gone away and continues to stir up arguments. Before you pick sides, here are a few facts:

  • It’s really all about photo ops. Always trying to offer brides something new, photographers stage these scenes days, weeks or even months after the wedding takes place.
  • Photos depict the bride actually destroying her gown in any number of ways: rolling in mud or sand; swimming in a pool; paint or wine assault … the more outlandish the better.
  • Photographers can also utilize CGI to create destructive results like fire consuming the gown. (Real fires can have tragic results like the 30-yr old Canadian bride who drowned near a waterfall in 2012 while trying to extinguish her burning dress.)
  • Some brides argue that it shows their true commitment to the groom, others say it’s an anti-establishment statement. Divorcees use it as a revenge fest.

Personally, I’m in the “this sends a negative message” camp. Letting your hair down and kicking your shoes off is one thing – this is something totally different.  Better idea: Share the goods and get a tax credit by donating the gown to a good cause like Adorned in Grace. Or repurpose the dress and use it as a costume.

Brides, Events, Helpful Hints, Inspiration, Wedding Gifts, Wedding Invitations, wedding wishes, weddings

Wedding Greeting of the Week

Jane Green

wedding greetingInside sentiment: “Wishing you a happy marriage even longer than that.”

The card is from Hallmark. Made in the U.S.A. using 20% recycled fiber. Fun Fact: Next year marks a special 100 Year Anniversary for this iconic company. In 1915, the Hallmark brothers bought a printing press and started producing their own greeting cards. Today they have over 11k full time and 20k part time employees. Still family owned and operated out of Kansas City, MO; I’ve visited their headquarters and it’s an impressive blend of history and modern day innovation.

Brides, Couples, Inspiration, Love Stories, Proposals, Romance, Wedding Ceremony, weddings

Real Life Love Stories

Jane Green

love storyDid you meet the love of your life at a cafe? In an airport? How about a subway stop? I so enjoy hearing couples share how they met, what drew them to each other, where the proposal took place … the endearing quirks and little bumps that create tales of love from real life. Some of the accounts are borderline heroic, some surprising and others are just plain sweet. It’s important to tell our love stories. The more the world spins in woe, the more these stories sparkle and shine and warm our hearts. They are little jewels that remind us again and again that love truly is all we need. Here’s a story of modern love from Sunday’s New York Times that, I promise, will make you smile from head to toe. (Any tale that begins with “I met him on a bus” gets my vote.) Enjoy this little love story. Got a story to tell? Share it here.

Brides, Green Weddings, Inspiration, Wedding Ceremony, weddings

Pearls for the Lustrous Bride

Jane Green

pearl ringThe Pin of the Week is Pearl. Even though June (the customary month for this gem) is almost gone, adding a pearl or two to your wedding is perfectly right for every season. Pearls represent true feminine wisdom … a marriage of Water and Moon energy. The oldest known gem on record, the pearl has been revered for ages as a symbol of purity and is still prized for its luminous beauty and value. Find more wedding inspirations from A Festive Heart Pinterest boards.