Archive | January 2012

Imagination is a powerful thing to waste

All creation starts in the imagination.

I woke up this morning with the vision of how to put my current 3D project together. I have always had a vivid imagination. I identified with the TV character Ally Mc Beal in that way. I didn’t have as much as a romantic nature as Ally, but I could fantasize just as well. I remember one afternoon, when I was in my pre-teens, I acted out different scenes from the Beatle’s movie Help. I had such a good memory, this was before we had VCRs, TiVo or dvd’s. When I was younger and had trouble sleeping, I would go to the fanstasy world I created. It got to be so vivid that I would really feel I was there. It was comforting. Of course I knew it was only my fantasy, but still when I wanted to escape, I could go to bed and fall asleep. When I started creating my real life experiences, that fantasy life eventually stopped.

When my husband and I decided to get married, we decided that he would move from San Francisco to Vallejo where I was living. I started visualizing a yellow house, living in a quiet, peaceful neighborhood. The house we eventually moved in and started our life together was a yellow house. It came with an organic garden and there were many squirrels, birds, cats. Everyone got along, just like my vision. We got married in the house and we still live here. For our 4 legged kids, this have been the only home they have lived in. We have lived here St. Patrick’s day 2001.

I love using my imagination. Sonia Choquette says that it is good to have a healthy imagination. She went on to say that if you want validation that imagination is important just look around you, everything in our world was created in the imagination first. Even Einstein said that when he created his most famous equation, it dropped in when he was listening to music.

One of my skills as a Life Coach is to teach my clients how to visualize to bring into their lives, what they want. It is a simple process. The work comes when a person has to let go of the filters, that keep him or her from becoming their own visionary alchemist changing what they don’t want into what they do want. Sometimes he or she doesn’t even know there is a brain-filter, that keeps them from seeing their clear vision. There is a saying I am going to leave you with “If you can see it, you can believe it, when you believe it, you can achieve it.”

Become a Visionary Alchemist

Let’s help their voice be heard

Jan26

Together we can let their voices be heard!

Yes, I am calling all rescue groups to be a part of my concert series. You can talk about your organization, the good work that you do and how we can help our organization. You will receive %40 of the proceeds to generate financial funds to support your Mission Statement.

One of my visions for my CD is to go out into the community all over the country and promote the message of love, dignity and respect for all animals on the planet. I heard the many heartbreaking stories of how animals are misunderstood. That if only the pet parents had stopped to observe their animals body language or taken their pet to a trainer, that many animals would have been able to stay with their people and not ended up in a shelter. Or if people who adopted a certain breed because they liked the way they looked, but didn’t have a clue about the personality traits of the dog, cat or rabbit. Then they decided that they had no time for training, the time and expense of proper grooming, or wellness checks at the vet. They gave up on their pet and took it to a shelter or worse yet, let it run in the wild, thinking that their natural instincts would get them through it. When I was working for a pet food store in the bay area, I had a customer who got a labrador from a breeder, but she didn’t have time to train the dog, the dog got destructive, so she took it to a shelter. She came into the store to buy things for her new puppy, hoping this time it would work!

I saw many of these dogs and cats that ended up at the Humane Society of the North Bay . I worked with Bobbi Durston helping dogs to get over their fear of humans. I observed the body language of perceived aggressive cats and knew that they needed a more gentle voice or patience for them to let them know I was an ok human. That is why I was so grateful to have the opportunity to work with the cats using the Open Paw Program. We saw cats who were normally afraid of a male presence allow a young man to pick her up and take her back to her kennel.

This is why this CD project is so very important to me. I truly believe if we want to bring out awareness and raise the level of understanding and compassion that all humans have. We must be the change. and part of that change is allowing us to focus on the experiences we want to see in the world. We can raise the consciousness of how animals are treated if we focus on the positive results we want to create.

If you want to participate in this wonderful journey to let all animal voices and your organization be heard. Please go to my Contact Visions Alchemy page and let’s make this happen.

Staying open to the creative process

Jan26

Yesterday, I announced my first concert date on my site, designed the flyer, wrote on my facebook wall. Today I get an email from one of the guest singers that he has a prior musical commitment he forgot about and wanted to know if I could change the date from March 18th to March 25th? The date change is fine, one more week to practice! Blessedly, it is still early enough that I hadn’t made any copies of my flyers yet or put the concert on Craigslist or the online periodicals in my area. I checked with Rita at Loma Vista Farm if the change was ok and she is fine with it too. My guides said to expect surprises along the way. I just made the date change in my Events page. It will be easy to fix my flyer information. I know whatever comes up is part of the process. By keeping my attitude in a open receptive way, there will always be a solution. Who knows maybe the change will allow more people to come? I am open to all possibilities. I am so grateful that I have this opportunity to co-create this concert experience with the Universe and my friends. I will keep you posted on further details.

The Journey of Letting Their Voice Be Heard

Jan25

Loma Vista Farms does so much for the community!

I really looking forward to working with Rita at LVF.

The first concert date is March 18th at The Vallejo First Church of Religious Science, from 1:30 to 3:00 PM. The suggested Love donation is $15 (but you are free to give more:) I am creating my rehearsal dates, contacting friends and family to help grow the concert. March 18th is only 2 months away, yet, I know that things will fall into place at the perfect time. My Brother Gabe De Los Santos who is a very talented singer/songwriter is going to be contributing his music and voice. He has agreed to do 3 of his compositions and will join me for a duet of Amazing Grace, which is featured on my Cd.

Two good friends Ed Rosenback and Lee Wingfield are going to also join me in one of my songs. They are very talented dynamic singers and songwriters also. I love singing alone but I really love singing harmony that is the Angel side of me. I have been wanting to put together a concert for a long time, but couldn’t visualize it before now. My guides tell me there will be many surprises along the way to help me to keep things lighthearted, when I get too serious and turn into an “Artiste” ( I still need to buy my baret).

In the beginning of this concert/fundraiser, I was only going to focus on animal rescue groups, I got the inspiration to support all organizations that support the message of my CD, promoting love and respect for all beings on the planet.The first organization to participate is Loma Vista Farms. They do so much for the community. They teach us how to respect the land and all of Mother Earth’s inhabitants. The message of Loma Vista Farm is this(borrowed from their website):

Founded in 1974, Loma Vista Farm has been making a difference in the community for almost four decades as a resource for environmental education.

The services the Farm provides to the community are:

A place for individuals and families to enjoy time outdoors among the many farm animals and gardens.
Field trips for schools, day cares, youth, seniors, and special needs groups
Regular visits for the nearby two preschools, two elementary, two middle, one high school, and one adult transition school
Standards-based curriculum for school-age students
Garden-based workshops for adults
Job training for college students, developmentally disabled young adults, and disadvantaged youth
After-school opportunities through 4-H
Community service and volunteer opportunities

Call the Farm at (707) 556-8765 for more information.

Loma Vista Farm is a public and private venture between the Vallejo City Unified School District and the Friends of Loma Vista Farm, a community-based nonprofit organization established in 2003. The Friends provide fiscal, administrative, organizational oversight, and leadership. The Board is comprised of teachers, parents, community members, and representatives from local businesses. The Friends’ mission is to support Loma Vista Farm and Garden Center with funding, future planning and development, and management. Check out their website to see the exciting things they are creating.http://www.lomavistafarm.org/

And Stay tuned for more details!

My new CD-This is 10 years in the making!

What You Think is What You Get

Jan22

Botticelli Woman Productions

Do you agree with the about statement? Have you had any experiences when you kept thinking the same thought over and over again and it came true? Did you ever wonder how that could happen? Have you ever heard the term “Self-fulfilling prophesy”? If you answered yes to any of these questions, these are examples of how this thing works. Many people now a days are turning to “New Thought” philosophies which actually started in the late 1800′s. The basic philosophy is What ever thoughts you put your focus on is what you create in your outer world. There is actually a scientific form of prayer that goes along with this. The science is a proven formula that get results. It is called Spiritual Mind Treatment or Affirmative Prayer. When you follow these 5 steps, you will see a difference in your life experience. I have been a student of this philosophy for over 15 years and by using Affirmative Prayer, I have received solutions to life challenges, new jobs, creative breakthroughs; I have attracted new business partnerships, My CD, My loving marriage, my cozy home, continued inner peace and joy on a daily basis. It is fun to see what new things will show up in my life and my husband’s life.

The person who created the Science of Mind philosophy is called Ernest Holmes. He embodied this so deeply, I think doubt was seldom, if ever, a word in his vocabulary. As part of my graduation from my recent Science of Mind class, I did a video project explaining what Affirmative Prayer is. I wanted to share this with you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9vT6scZG9I

I wrote the song that went with it. Who knows this may show up on my next CD.

We Can Let Their Voice Be Heard

Jan22

My new CD-This is 10 years in the making!

One of my life long dreams is coming into manifestation. I have recorded a CD to promote peaceful co-existence between all humans and animals. The name of the CD is titled “Let Their Voice Be Heard”. It is a collection of 10 songs. These songs have been written over a 10 year span. This is part of my work as a peaceful animal activist. I have worked with animals at the local humane society for over 5 years. I learned how to use the Emotional Freedom Technique on animals that were shy or fearful. I produce a show on TV called “The Paw Stops Here” that brings awareness to the public how great and amazing animals are and I interview pet parents about their four-legged kids. I have been a volunteer instructor for the Open Paw Program for Cats. It is training program for animals in the shelter. We teach them that humans are great beings so they feel comfortable around us and show their true personalities so they are adopted quicker.

What I have come to learn from working with animals is they have a tremendous capacity for love-giving and recieving. They communicate with us if we are willing to listen. And we can be surprised when we take the time to observe how they think and process information. I have one cat who uses sign language to tell me when he wants to sit on my lap and when he is hungry. I am meeting more and more pet parents who have feline and canine siblings in the same family and they co-habitate peacefully. My brother, Gabriel has an Australian Shepherd named Tucker who raised a kitten named Madison who is now over 2 years old. There are so many stories out there, I can probably live another 40 years and I still won’t hear them all.

I am using this CD to help raise funds for shelters, rescue groups and organizations that promote peace and wellness for animals. I am going to use the concerts across the country and raise money for these organizations. A percentage of the proceeds from the concert will go back to one of these organizations. I have my first concert coming up in March (I will list the event on my “events” page) If you can’t attend you can still donate something to the organization. I am so grateful that things fell into place the way they did. if you go to the “Botticelli Woman Productions” page, you can hear a sample. I am so grateful. It is true if I am open to my dreams I can “dream” them into manifestation.

Life Creating Life

Jan19

The art I am focusing on are paper sculptures, I am naming them “Life Pieces”. I call them Life Pieces because I acitvate the crystals and stones to generate the qualities into the art. Right now I have created the symbols of Joy, Empowerment, Wisdom, Protection and Pet Guardian (to watch over your 4-legged kids). Because I work with many animal allies, you not only see the faces of humans but also cat, dog and rabbit faces. I am still learning how to draw canine faces so I use a a photo of a beloved canine, named Loki who made his transition a couple of years ago. When he was in body, I saw him as a power healer and peace maker. Loki’s mom is Bobbi Durston, a very wonderful Animal behaviorist/trainer who works as the training coordinator at the Humane Society of the North Bay.

It can take 3 days to make one piece. It is a process of maintaining patience and grace. I start by drawing the base. I use watercolor pencils to make the base image:

This is the bottom layer of the Joy Life Piece

The reason it has a glossy appearance is because I apply a coat of a decoupage sealant. It makes it easier to use the shape the sun rays with my tools. The face you see is not the top layer. I will photograph the face and then resize it and then print out the design using my inkjet printer. Down below you can see the layers I use. I don’t use all the pieces, but sometimes I make a mistake in how I cut out the pieces, If I have any left over I can use it for another project.

These are the layers I use to build up the definition of the face. I use adhesive foam squares to put them all together.

Thank you Sony Cybershot, Printmaster Gold and Canon Pixma IP4820 for making my life easier.

After I’ve printed all the pieces then I apply a coat of Decoupage sealant to all the pieces. It takes an hour to dry. This is definitely not an art form if you want instant gratification, but being that I am a multi-tasking person by nature, there are always other things I am working. At the moment I am working on 3 video projects-including producing a new show on the Science of Mind teachings.

Here is an example of the layers used. This is a painted by using my watercolor pencils.

This section is being sealed with a Mod Podge. When they are all dry, then the fun starts. I take my shaping tools and pads and change them in to more of a 3D look. when the layers are put together, I affix them to a background, usually it is painted in acrylics and Mod Podge to give the the Life Piece a more accentuated look. I also use fabric paint to make simulated beads and glitter paint.

After it is put together, I then add the stones. The stones I am using right now to make the “Joy” Life Pieces are Selenite-this stone generates feelings of love and compassion. When it is held, you can feel a gentle stream of energy helping you to relax, giving you feeling of well being; Beryl-this stones helps you to release emotional baggage and point you in the right direction on how to do that; Black Tourmaline-this stone dispels and repels negative energy; Larkivite-this stone accentuates the knowlege to find answers of a spiritual nature or if you are in school. Sometimes I use Kyanite-this is a stone that is a nurturing tranquil stone. When you hold the Kyanite and Black Tourmaline in your non-dominant hand and the Selenite, it is like taking a natural valium.

Closer angleFinished Joy Life Piece

When the piece is finished. I go into my mediation room and do the activation meditation. This is where I invite Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael to activate the qualities of the stones in the art piece. I imagine the person it is going to, to connect with the qualities of the stones too. It is a wonderful feeling for me because I receive the blessings from the angels too. Once it is activated, it becomes a living energy of joy, love and compassion.

I love doing this art. I am doing my spiritual work and feel honored that I can be of service in this way. If you are interested in inviting one of my Life Pieces in to your home, you can email me at:

visionsalchemy@gmail.com

You can also contact me at: (707) 361-6854

Remember all you have to do is change your vision to change your life.

It Takes a Community to Build a Peaceful World

Jan19

Starbucks stirs up a lot of quips from people “Starbucks is like a bus stop, if you move a couple of blocks down you will see another one”. In the satirical movie on people who play the dog show circuits “Best in Show”, two characters were saying how they met. They would each see the other working on their Macs across the street from each other at their favorite Starbucks.

When I worked in San Francisco I could actually see 4 Starbucks in a 2 block radius. Yes it may make for good comedy by Jay Leno or David Letterman, but even they would have to admit that for the many, many Starbucks in the area, Starbucks does many wonderful things in the community and around the world. Just look at this inspiring video.

Yes, I myself like Starbucks. Sometimes I will go there to get away for our four legged kids who think I am there to open up the cafeteria when they are hungry or want a comfy nap for their lap time. I feel the warm, cozy energy when I walk through the doors. The Partners as they are called also epitomize that feeling. very polite, bright, sunny-they make me feel as if I am their most valued coffee patron. And I feel creatively fed when I am drinking my Chai Tea Latte or Grande size coffee. It is this indulgence that keeps my channels open to work on my video work or workshop ideas.

So I am raising my cup to say “Thank you , Starbucks for being the bright star in my world.”

You Never Know When It Will Hit

Jan18

This is a picture that sends Joy to the observer

Since I have been living a six sensory life, as Sonia Choquette, one of my favorite authors puts it, I find myself guided by my intuition 70% of the time. When I do I experience many happily unexpected surprises. My guides send a thought glimmer to me and if I am conscious and follow it, magic happens. I do believe it magic. One of the reasons my blog is called Visions Alchemy is because I believe when I change my vision to create good things, my thought is alchemically changed from thoughts to things. I see this as magical. I also use the elements of paper, glitter, stones, watercolor pencils and change them into my art.

The “it” I am referring to is intuition. Intuitive messages comes in so often that if I am not in the present moment, I miss it. but it is ok, because the inspiration will come in when it is the right time. And the times I listen, amazing things manifest. I often say “is this really happening?’ Am I seeing things clairly?” I have learned to be conscious of eliminating the phrase “I can’t believe…’ because it can change the experience.

The latest experience happened this past weekend. I heard an intuitive message to go to the Marina area in San Francisco. I love the energy of the city of St. Francis-the patron saint of animals. It is fitting to me because I am also a peaceful animal activist. I thought would be a good opportunity to interview pet parents and their four-legged kids for my show, The Paw Stops Here.

Sunday, I woke up, My nose was congested, a sinus headache was coming on because of the weather. I knew that being out in this cold wind of the Marina area may cause the congestion to increase. But I kept hearing “go to the Marina”. So David and I set off for the city. I was on a mission, so my perceived discomfort was over ridden.

When we got to the Marina, it was cold and a bit windy, but I got lost in the scenery. I took footage of a group of friends playing soccer. Someone else flying a kite that looked like a dragon. There were not many dogs around. Maybe because it was still too cold to be out. But I wasn’t discouraged. I loved being an observor. Finally I saw a young couple with a dog who had a wavy coat. I loved their energy, even though I was far enough to feel like a giant compared to the pet parents and their dog Ginger. I was attracted to their playtime together both parents taking turns throwing the ball for Ginger to chase.

Ginger eyeing her favorite ball

Ginger's Mom, Angela

I did a short interview with Angela Tobias and she told me how Ginger came into their lives. Ginger is a Goldendoodle. Very playful and boy did she love her ball. Angela said that this particular ball is always in the car. She chased the ball so quickly, it was like someone lit her tail on fire-very impressive. When I mentioned that my show is in Vallejo and they could still watch the show by going on our website, Angela said that she and her husband work at Kaiser Vallejo. She is a nurse and he is a doctor. What a small world! Of all the people in the park, I chose them. It was a fun interview. Angela has a very sweet, boyant personality and well spoken. She is someone whose energy you want to be around. I am sure her paitents love her.

When we had finished with the interview. There was a young boy with his dog. She looked almost like a smaller version of Ginger. Her name was Georgia. Since he was here with his dog, and Georgia and Ginger were having fun running around together, I asked Jack, Georgia’s person if I could ask him a few questions. He said he could talk for a short time, he had to get Georgia home. They adopted her from a breeder.I was later to find out that even though their parents would have liked to adopt a dog from a shelter, because of the allergies to dog fur in the household. Georgia was a good fit. Georgia is only 13 months old and knows her name and comes when she is called. I asked Jack if they took her to a trainer. He said that his twin sister got a lot of information from different books she researched. Jack said his family lived close by the Marina.

A place to find comfort food at a comfortable price

Park Chow on 9th Avenue was my husband and my favorite date place.

I felt I had gotten enough footage for my show and we headed out to our favorite restaurant, Park Chow. I love this restaurant. it serves yummy, comfort food at a comfortable price. We decided to have breakfast even though it was past noon. I ordered basic eggs and potatoes and an English muffin. David ordered the Blueberry pancakes with a side of bacon. The pancakes were gigantic. they sprinkled some powered sugar on them and were garnished with blueberries.The eggs were cooked just right and they were lightly seasoned with what I detected a hint of garlic. I highly recommend this restaurant. Of course I have nostalgic feelings when David and I were dating, this was our favorite date place.

Before we left, David needed to stop at the bank and I was waiting. I had to keep moving so I could warm up in spite of the icy breeze using my face as a target. There was a Kiosk that held a free magazine about San Francisco called Northside San Francisco. For some reason, my intuition said, “Pick it up”. I love reading about San Francisco so I opened the lid and took one. There on the cover was a family standing in front of the Golden Gate bridge. The photo was also taken at the Marina. I didn’t pay much attention to it at first, but there was an article that did peak my interest it was a story about a former company I worked for, Pet Food Express.

I decided to pick up a latte for the road, so we chose Starbucks. I got 2 gift cards for Christmas, I might as well use them. I ordered a Chai tea latte. As I was waiting. I looked at the cover of the magazine again. This time I noticed the photo of the young boy, he looked familiar. It was a photo of the young boy I interviewed earlier in the day! Then I looked at his father, he looked familiar too. I saw the caption that identified the family. The man’s name was Tom Sinkovitz. He is a newscaster on KRON, Channel 4 in San Francisco!

Georgia's brother, Jack

How synchronistic it was! The first people I interviewed worked in Vallejo. Jack Sinkovitz, The young boy I interviewed was on the cover of a magazine and his father, Tom Sinkovitz, is a newscaster for Channel 4 in San Francisco. I still feel there is more to this than what is here in the moment. Iwill keep my eyes and ears open to see what other things are to be revealed from this. Just another demonstration, that I never know when my intuitive mind will send me important messages. I just need to be open. BTW, when I air these interviews on my show I will let you know when to watch. Don’t live in Vallejo? You can still watch my show on our website, http://www.vcat.tv on Mondays and Saturdays at 5:30pm

Georgia is ready to play

Is anyone out there?

Jan13

That is the question I ask, right before I click the “publish” button. I see other people writing great blogs. They talk about their passions, their political affiliations, observatons on life and I am amazed at the many ways there are to express the same thing. I am working on my niche.

I call myself a modern day Renaissance woman because I do many things. I paint, I create 3d paper sculptures using watercolor pencils, watercolor paper, glycee, decoupage sealant; I write songs promoting love, understanding, acceptance, respect; I play the guitar; I am a life coach; public speaker and a Reiki and EFT practitioner. I am also a videographer and TV producer. I used to get confused on what I should be pursuing, then I realized why do I have to focus on one thing if they all sing to me and I have passion for all of these things.

So my blog is a way of letting the world know that yes, a person can share all of these things and use them separately or together. For people in their 20′s who think they have to be one thing-you don’t, you can be whatever your heart tells you to act on. If I recognized that who knows what would have shown up in my life.

I thought I had to be a secretary or administrative assistant or manager. That sounded noble and respectible. I shut off my creative side. I felt empty. I felt fragmented. I didn’t know what role I should fit into. And If I wanted to make money at these things-forget it. I was young, I didn’t realize it was ok to claim my creative side and could have found ways to integrate all my talents.

Now that I am older, I embrace my art. I find that the more I create, the better my problem solving skills have developed. I listen to my intuition more and get the answers I ask for with clarity and confidence. At 53, I feel happy, whole and complete. This is an affirmation that I don’t just align myself with, I embody these words. So back the the question-is there anyone out there. If you are and this speaks to you, let me know. Share your thoughts. I want to read it.

Visions Alchemy

Journey of a Modern Day Renaissance Woman