What is Your Currency?

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Posted on June 15, 2011

“Live out your imagination, not your history.” ~ Stephen Covey

Creative economy has been the buzzword here in Colorado and in pockets all over the United States. It is about making a living artfully through our passions and living with purpose in all that we do.

More and more, people are realizing that there is great personal value in fulfilling our lives with what we love to do, rather than just existing to make the almighty buck. Individuals are beginning to realize that the vicious circle of working lots of hours just to have, to spend, to accumulate and keep up with the Joneses does not necessarily make sense. It is not a sustainable way to live. It is hard to enjoy and live healthy lifestyles when we are stuck on the treadmill of working more hours just to be able spend more.

Relationships, community, volunteerism, thinking beyond our selves and our material needs are beginning to take priority in people’s lives, as this slow economy has forced us to see that there are other ways of being. And that is not a bad thing! I love hearing stories of people who are successfully recreating themselves and their businesses in these times of economic hardships.

There was a story this week in the Steamboat Today newspaper about an artist who decided to act upon his longstanding interest in the fabric arts. Now, he is winning international acclaim for his creativity and artistic talent in making quilts. To read his story, please visit http://bit.ly/l58Ad0. For those who are unable to travel to see David Taylor’s quilts, I hope some day he will independently publish a book and sell it on the world-wide-web, with images of his fabric creations and his thoughts about using his creative talents for personal fulfillment.

Do you have creative currency that has been dormant? Believe in yourself and dare to expend energy on making a new life for yourself through your passions. Write it, publish it, sew it, knit it, cook it, paint it, mold it, build and grow it – what ever IT is!

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Making her Debut

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Posted on June 14, 2011

“Our aspirations are our possibilities” ~ Samuel Johnson

Happy Flag Day, everyone!

Next Tuesday, a week from today, the arrival of Summer will be sharing the day with another debutante in town. Her name is She Writes Steamboat. This new meet-up group has been organized to provide networking opportunity for independent writers and publishers, filmmakers and musicians. Providing support and fostering independent publishing success is the goal.

Steamboat Springs is a good a place as any for www.SheWrites.com to make an introduction. The town has a great number of women who love to read, write and create! People arrive at this gateway to Routt County for all different reasons and from a variety of places all over the country and the world. Some come seeking refuge from their extraordinary lives elsewhere and others are simply looking for a fulfilling existence in a small town community of diverse, well-educated and energetic people.

The pathways that have led people to this resort mountain town are as varied as the people themselves. Each person seems to have a unique story of their current life or of times elsewhere. In this community there are bountiful tales to tell of women living purposeful and faithful lives.

This is an open, friendly community, and today on this Flag Day, I will hang a banner on this website to welcome anyone who wants to learn more about the fast growing and dynamic industry of independent publishing. Women wishing to move in a positive direction to bring personal fulfillment, career advancement and increased visibility for themselves and their businesses are encouraged to attend.

Author Mary Kurtz will be sharing her newly published book At Home in the Elk River Valley: Reflections on Family, Place and the West at our first She Writes Steamboat meet-up event! Join us at the Bud Werner Library www.steamboatlibrary.com on Tuesday, June 21^st at 4pm to celebrate with Mary and other members of She Writes Steamboat!

Spread the word and bring a friend!

Steamboat!

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e-Conomies. What Does it All Mean?

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Posted on June 10, 2011

“I look for what needs to be done. After all, that’s how the universe designs itself.” ~ Buckminster Fuller

e-Commerce, e-Books, e-Publishing, e-Marketing. http://rww.to/aiuHxb. You’ve heard the terms a lot lately, haven’t you? But what does it all mean? It means entertaining new ways of doing things!

Let’s face it – our economy needs a kick in the pants! We need independent spirited folks to take ideas and run with them. Brain power, our most available resource, surrounds us everywhere. It is not located in any one place. We need people who are tired of sitting around waiting for something to happen, to make things happen!

Right here in Steamboat Springs,CO there is a group of people who want to have their say, they want to be heard, and they want to be seen. Right now! They are not willing to play the game of waiting on someone else to create their future for them, or not!

She Writes Steamboat is a newly-formed meet-up group that will come together for the first time at 4 pm on June 21^st at the Bud Werner Memorial Library. www.steamboatlibrary.org. Independent publishing is one economy that is on the fast track and it is gaining momentum every day. Business people, non-profit organizations, parents, teachers, children and very ordinary folks with unique stories to tell are pumped. Internet and media technologies have changed so greatly over the past 10 years anyone can jump on the train and tell their story, inform, educate and inspire others through all independent film, music or books. Entertain that thought!

Further, the internet has provided a way for independent publishers to become visible all over the world! Are you ready to share your voice? Join Us @ She Writes Steamboat – click here http://on.fb.me/lbnPms.

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Fill Up and Write in Philly!

Film Friday – “A Guerilla Artist?”

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Posted on June 3, 2011

“Summer’s filled with breaking the rules, standing apart, ignoring your head, and following your heart.” ~ Unknown

Arriving in theatres across the country, just in time for kid’s summer break from school, is “Judy Moody and the Not So Bummer Summer.” This PG rated movie is based on Megan McDonald’s popular book series.

Judy Moody (played by Jordana Beatty), pegged as a “guerilla artist,” creates her summer of a life time along with her brother Stink and Aunt Opal, who arrives on the scene when Judy’s parents take an unexpected trip to California without the kids. Judy’s vivid imagination takes the audience on a summer ride to remember, of calamity and hilarious antics, for a fulfilling, fun-filled cinema release for both parents and kids. Just how the term “guerilla artist” comes in to the overall scheme of things is for the audience to discover.

To watch a trailer of this soon-to-be released summer film, Judy Moody and the Not So Bummer Summer, visit Reelz Channel http://bit.ly/mFEA9S.

P.S. I would remiss if I didn’t mention that today, June 3rd is Free Hug Day, so embrace your favorite filmmaker – they are the folks that keep us entertained through the power of film. I am sending a hug through the internet to my favorite film editor at Reelz Channel.

Will return on Monday with more independent publishing news. See you then.

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Coming to the Art Scene

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Posted on June 2, 2011

“Nature’s own masterpieces will never go away. If I am able to cast just a few of them in favorable light, and convince you, the viewer, to look at them again with greater appreciation and perhaps a fresh perspective, then I have succeeded as an artist.” ~ Scott L. Christensen

Tomorrow is the First Friday Art Walk in Steamboat Springs,CO. I particularly enjoy this ski resort’s monthly art walk when it is warm. It is more conducive to strolling from gallery to gallery when I’m not faced with bitter temperatures and falling snow.

This week, an exhibit arrived at the Steamboat Art Museum http://bit.ly/l9on0C that is on my list of “have to see.” The work of landscape painter and Wyoming native, Scott Christensen, will be featured until October 15. I have been aware of Scott’s work for many years now, and I am very excited at the prospect of seeing his work, first hand, rather than in print in art magazines such as American Artist, Wildlife Art, Art of the West, Southwest Art and Images West.

Scott’s work has graced the walls of the most prestigious museums in the country such as the National Museum of Wildlife, the Gilcrease Museum and the National Cowboy Museum in Oklahoma City. His paintings have won awards at the Arts in the Parks Competition and Prix de West, just to name a few. The Scottsdale Art School, Disney Animation Studios and the Fechin Institute have all been honored to have him as guest artist teaching his painting techniques.

The Steamboat Art Museum never disappoints in bringing some of the finest artists in our country to this small town of 10,000 people. A jammed, packed schedule of events is on tap here in Steamboat this summer and fall. Remember to put the exhibit of Scott Christensen’s magnificent landscape paintings on your list of fulfilling things to see and do.

Can’t get to Steamboat this summer? Order the book “The Art of Scott L. Christensen” or one of his instructional DVDs. For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/jcVZXz.

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Safe Harbor for She Writes Steamboat

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Posted on May 31, 2011

“Dwell in Possibility” ~ Emily Dickinson

On last Friday’s blog, mention was made of Chicken and Egg Pictures, a non-profit organization supporting women independent filmmakers. The tag line of this non-profit “Incubating and Hatching All at Once” well represents what I have been feeling about She Writes Steamboat http://on.fb.me/lbnPms over the past few months. I have been envisioning and growing in my mind, a meet-up group that will provide networking opportunities and support and foster independent publishing success.

I have decided the time is NOW to hatch the group and support a group of women who have stories to tell, but are still in the incubation period and want to actively hatch and grow their desires.

For those just starting down the road to independent publishing, beginning can be a scary thing! Women are good at supporting and communicating with each other in their efforts to succeed. What independent publishers have in common is a real and pressing need to inspire and entertain others through storytelling or to educate and inform all through the power of the written word. With independent publishing, there is no competition because everyone has an individual and unique narrative to tell.

So my thoughts are “why not get together, meet-up and all be there for each other.” Our first She Writes Steamboat meet-up will be Tuesday, June 21 at 4:00 pm at the Bud Werner Library Hall.

Ladies, feel free to invite others who are in any stage of publishing or those interested in learning more about the independent publishing process. At our first meeting, we will be discussing what time we should schedule our future meetings, how often we chicks should gather. We will be laying the groundwork for a group that I hope will be a safe harbor so independent publishers will not feel as if they are all alone in their publishing efforts.

Join Us! There is nothing to lose and everything to gain in learning more about the dynamic industry of independent publishing. There are no membership fees. By the way, this group is affiliated with www.SheWrites.com.

See you then!

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New Film Initiative: Women Leading

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Posted on May 27, 2011

“Leaders of the future will have to be visionary and be able to bring people in – real communicators. These are things that women bring to leadership” ~ Anita Borq

There is a new initiative focusing on films about women and girls in leadership roles, world-wide, being brought to us by PBS. “Women and Girls Lead” was kicked off several weeks ago with the TV broadcast of the film Bhutto, which chronicles Benazir Bhutto and the challenges she faced in a global leadership role as Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Independent Lens, opened up new slots in programming for independent documentary filmmakers with compelling stories to tell about women in commanding positions, and more than 1000 films were vying for a spot. Fifty films have been chosen to be broadcast as part of this new initiative.

Non-profit organizations in support of women engaged in the art of filmmaking have provided funding support and promotion of this new initiative. Organizations such as Chicken and Egg http://bit.ly/kEqk , Women Make Movies http://bit.ly/BP4hb , The Fledgling Fund http://bit.ly/hShb7T, and even media mogul Oprah http://bit.ly/8HYvLn are behind these efforts.

This multi-year initiative aimed at educating, informing and connecting people globally all through the power of film, will bring awareness about struggles and successes women and girls have when they assume leadership roles.

I look forward to viewing these compelling films right from the comfort of my home, all brought to us by PBS.

Happy Film Friday, everyone, and we will be back on Monday with more independent thoughts, words and views.

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Pilot Program for Independent Publishers

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Posted on May 23, 2011

“It is not easy to be a pioneer – but oh, it is fascinating! I would not trade one moment, even the worst moment, for all the riches in the world.” ~ Elizabeth Blackwell

According to Jamie LaRue, the Director of Douglas County Libraries in Colorado, “this is the most exciting time in publishing since the invention of the printing press. Until now, books coming through the gateway of the library have been restricted to only those that have been published by the big traditional publishing houses.” The new agreement that has been signed between the Douglas County Library System http://douglascountylibraries.org/ and the Colorado Independent Publishers Association www.cipabooks.com will allow a system whereby independent publications can be found by library patrons and libraries will essentially be fulfilling a need for the independents by helping them to find readers, too. How cool is that?

The magnitude of opportunity and possibilities that this agreement opens up for libraries all across the country and for independent publishers, too, is mind boggling. “Take this another few steps further”, a Colorado Independent Publishers Association member remarked at the signing of the agreement, “and think what this agreement can do for independent publishers of film and music, too.”

Of course, providing top quality books has always been the objective of libraries, and this will remain unchanged. Being put into place is a “rating system” that will allow the best to be included in catalog of e-booksthat will be sold to libraries.

Jamie LaRue told his story of how his mind-set had been changed toward independent publishers. He used to interview authors, and as he began to feature a few independent publishers, he realized there is a whole new generation of publishers who have outstanding, valuable stories to share but the big traditional publishing houses are passing them by. It seems his objective is to provide excellence in literature for his library patrons, whether traditionally published or not.

To read more about this e-book Pilot program agreement between the Colorado Independent Publishers Association and the Douglas County Libraries, please visit http://bit.ly/eYPEix.

You can be sure, we will be following this story as this agreement unfolds. Keep in touch with what is happening in the dynamic and changing world of independent publishing through All Things Fulfilling. This blog site is dedicated to those who have independent thoughts, words and views, that will truly change the world of publishing.

This photograph is the signing of the e-book agreement between Colorado Independent Publishers Association President, Nancy Mills and Director of Douglas County Library System, Jamie LaRue.

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All Things Fulfilling

Writing Focused on Fine Art & The Humanities

Category Archives: filmmaking

Making her Debut

Fill Up and Write in Philly!

Film Friday – “A Guerilla Artist?”

Coming to the Art Scene

Safe Harbor for She Writes Steamboat

New Film Initiative: Women Leading

Pilot Program for Independent Publishers

Taking it All In