you are going to love this ~

[artist] noun

1. a person whose work shows exceptional creative ability or skill.
2. a person who expresses themselves through a medium.

this definition of the artist comes from the inside cover of a new magazine called 'touched creatively' ...  jodi ulschmid is not only an artist who has her own etsy shop & blog, but is also the editor of this magazine and its companion blog ... her mission is one that fills my heart with gratitude & joy... both magazine & blog profile those who are pursuing a personal path paved with the hard work & dedication it takes to follow their inner muse...

'if you can change the way people think, 

the way they see themselves,

the way they see the world.

if you can do that, you can change the way people live their lives.

and that's the only lasting thing you can create.'

- chuck palahniuk

jodi is trying to do just this... in an age of mass production and dollar stores, items that have been touched by the hands and imaginations of people are sorely needed... but more importantly, the public needs to see the value of these creations... objects of daily art that reaffirm our connection to each other,  to the unique voice we all have... objects that keep our environment from being sterile... some of my most favorites possessions (even though i try very hard not to be attached to material things, i have a deep love and appreciation for all kinds of art... and so i like to be surrounded by some of them) have fingerprints embedded in them forever... i love this!

'weathering the storm'

i would like to share with you what she wrote to me when i enquired how and why she branched out into the publishing world:

'I grew up knowing I wanted to create, but people around me always said 'you can't make a living from fine art'. So the closest major to what I most enjoyed was Graphic Design. After graduating and finding a good design job, I found there was something still missing in my life. When hearing so many co-workers say they 'wished' they could be creating art from their home, my mind started to wander. Then my husband and I had our little girl and my world changed. I realized how quickly life passes by. I didn't want to miss the big moments in my daughter's life and I figured what did I have to lose doing art and design from my home? I also didn't want to be the person who just 'wished'; I wanted to see what I could make happen.

It was my husband who sparked the idea of the magazine. He told me about a new company, MagCloud, that prints magazines for anyone. He suggested that I publish one featuring my art with someone else's. Little did he know I would end up with several artists across the US in my first issue. Why did I get so many artists? Well, I know that there are many people wanting to create. Some are just starting down their creative path and some are looking for more exposure. The purpose of Touched Creatively is to form connections, to inspire individuals of possibilities within their own lives, to encourage creativity and promote the handmade community. Handmade work can't even compare to mass produced items and buyers need help seeing this. Originality, quality, thoughtfulness and care goes into the making of a handmade item and this is what Touched Creatively wants to showcase.

I am a firm believer in following your dreams. You'll never know what could happen unless you try. I'm continuing on my creative journey, always learning and being inspired by the world around me, and hoping to touch hearts along the way with special meanings and purpose.'

this community is so nurturing & proactive... let's spread the word about jodi and 'touched creatively'...