Art and Soul Art Studio

Paint Pottery Plano

Art & Soul

Art and Soul: Paint Your Own and/or Order Custom Painting

Julie Hart, owner Art & Soul

I view painting as an escape.  With our busy lives, painting at Art & Soul provides a “get-away” from it all.  Unlike the movies, one can visit with friends and family while engaging in a fun activity.  Many clients tell me how therapeutic painting is.  It is a chance to escape the stresses of everyday life and let your mind just go.  Everyone needs a place to just relax and let your mind go.  It is a special treat that allows your mind to go other places than your “to do” list.

I believe painting is an opportunity to embrace one’s originality.  If a painter stresses over their piece not being painted “perfectly”, I express to them that perfection is not the goal.  Perfection is what is purchased on an assembly line.  Original work, where the piece is painted with imperfections and all, is truly a “one and only” – nothing else like it.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  Go for being different.  Paint outside the box.  Why does a piggy bank always have to be pink?  Again, using your imagination leads to the most  creative painting.

I love not having to think but to create; to just allow myself to put ideas, designs and colors together, and be inspired to paint it. I like to have pieces that are practical.  In other words, plates are great, but at home, I started running out of places to hang them.  I like to paint design items that are functional (tissue boxes, cookie jars, plant holders, etc.) and I want my customers to have the same variety of choices available at Art & Soul.

Advice for Working Moms Juggling Career and Kids

Mastering the Mommy Track book

Book Review of Mastering the Mommy Track: Juggling Career and Kids in Uncertain Times

 

If you are looking for advice for working moms who are struggling to juggle kids and their career, then this book was written for you and for me. I recently had the chance to review Erin Flynn Jay’s new book, Mastering the Mommy Track: Juggling Career and Kids in Uncertain Times. Jay addresses four areas of life that concern each of us as women and mothers: home, health, parenting and work-life issues. Self-care is the underlying theme throughout the book and Jay reminds us how important it is to keep ourselves healthy! This book is full of tips, advice and reminders on everything from triggers that cause communications problems with your spouse to how to select the right type of childcare for your family. I found the book to be an easy read, full of stories of real women who have experienced struggles similar to mine and my friends. Plus Jay offers effective, simple solutions for finding the balance we crave.

Down Syndrome: Brooke’s Story

National Down Syndrome Awareness Month - Brooke Garbe

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month

 

by Mina Frannea

Down Syndrome is a congenital disorder in which extra genetic material causes delays in the way a child develops, both mentally and physically. This disorder affects about 1 in every 800 babies born in the United States. In an effort to bring awareness to this condition, the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) established the “Down Syndrome Awareness Month” which is traditionally observed in the month of October. The purpose of Down Syndrome Awareness Month is to advocate for the value, acceptance and inclusion of people with Down Syndrome and to continue to bring awareness for those who are affected by Down Syndrome and their families.

This year, four-year-old Brooke Garbe helped kick off National Down Syndrome Awareness Month as one of 200 people whose photo was selected to appear in the National Buddy Walk Video presented by NDSS in Times Square in New York City. Brooke’s photo (shown above) was selected from over 1,000 entries in the NDSS worldwide call for photos.