Monday, 9 January 2023



From TEA for the Heart & Soul Deck Created by Beth Richardson ©2021


Friday, 6 January 2023

January 6, 2023 Chautauqua

Beth's Ponderings

I want to take a moment to look back at 2022.  For me, 2020 and 2021 were pretty incredible years (despite the pandemic), yet 2022 far surpassed them.

   Though, 2022 did not start on a good note at all.  First I was sick the beginning of the year, and then I had a window smashed in each vehicle the first week of January.  After that rocky patch, things improved, and I was guided by my theme for the year which was to ‘Just Show Up.”

   In 2022, there were some activities and events I expected, such as:

    • the 20th Anniversary of the Chautauqua

    • my first ever solo art exhibition at the Corridor Gallery in Red Deer Jan. 10 - Feb. 28.  What I didn’t expect was that it was extended to April 21.

    • started putting gravel around my labyrinth path

    • publishing two more inspirational card decks - May I & Bitter TEA

    • completing my 1,000th sky drawing on Oct. 5

    • biking 577 total kms from Mar. till the snow arrived Nov. 1

 However, it was the many opportunities that came my way, that I didn’t expect, that made the year so amazing.  Such as:

    • 2nd solo art show at the Donalda Art Gallery July 19 - Aug 2

    • Voice of the Muse 4-month album program that led to my first ever album released Oct. 23, plus a book launch

    • publishing a monthly Artist Newsletter (huge thank you to my subscribers)

    • completed Reiki Level 1, Level 2 and Masters

    • started an 8-month online Yoga Teacher Training in October

    • took the Pattern Design Academy Sept 30 - Nov 21 and created loads of patterns as I learnt the process

   And that is just the highlights of my year.  While I don’t know everything 2023 holds in store, I’m sure it will be a great year.  Happy 2023!

Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d32pSkievOlvWP7qR48Qn-1PJYHjQRem/view?usp=share_link

 Whether you've enjoyed reading The Chautauqua from the first issue 21 years ago, are a brand new reader, or somewhere in between, I sincerely hope that The Chautauqua has enriched your life, as much as it has enriched mine publishing it.  If you would like to help ensure it continues to enrich others like yourself, I ask you to please consider making a donation to The Chautauqua. There are three methods available:   

Mail a cheque or money order (made out to Beth Richardson – Chautauqua) to Box 261 Mirror, AB T0B 3C0 

E-transfer to thechautauqua@gmail.com 

PayPal at https://paypal.me/thechautauqua (note: you will need to sign into PayPal first, and then specify the amount) 

   Your support and kindness is always greatly appreciated, and I look forward to continuing to bring joy and inspiration to you with each issue. Thank you so much and have a marvellous day!


And, if you are looking for a unique gift idea, please visit: https://thechautauquanewspaper.blogspot.com/p/products-for-sale.html

Contact The Chautauqua via email: thechautauqua@gmail.com or via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChautauqua     

Wednesday, 4 January 2023

Being heard is so close to being loved
 that for the average person, 
they are almost indistinguishable. 
 - David W. Augsburger

Monday, 2 January 2023



From TEA for the Heart & Soul Deck Created by Beth Richardson ©2021


Friday, 30 December 2022

You’re creating something beautiful 
when you listen to people. 
 - Cynthia Mulvaney

Wednesday, 28 December 2022

The human body was designed 
so water had a means to walk on the Earth. 
 - Deanne Juhan

Monday, 26 December 2022



From TEA for the Heart & Soul Deck Created by Beth Richardson ©2021


Friday, 23 December 2022

If you do hard things, life will be easy.  
If you do easy things, life will be hard. 
 ~ Jay Alderton

Wednesday, 21 December 2022

You have one real choice: 
To do your best, with what you have, from where you are. 
Everything else is just stalling.
- Mike Dooley (www.tut.com)

Monday, 19 December 2022



From TEA for the Heart & Soul Deck Created by Beth Richardson ©2021


Friday, 16 December 2022

December 16, 2022 Chautauqua

Beth's Ponderings

   All I want for Christmas is…

   Depending on your age that could include…

    • a dolly or pair of skates

    • two front teeth

    • a hippopotamus

    • a yacht, ring, sable, ‘54 convertible, platinum mine, ornaments from Tiffany’s, etc

    • snow and the Christmas of one’s memory

    • one’s loved one

    • to be home

   There are many Christmas classics with the theme of gifts for Christmas.  But what do we really want?  Depending on your family traditions, what you might really want is...

    • a suntan

    • help with Christmas dinner (and the clean up afterwards)  

    • more time to create memories

    • a hot meal

    • less bills (or even better all the bills you do have paid off)

      Whatever you want for Christmas, may it be a season with some joy and comfort for you all.  Merry Christmas and I’ll see you in 2023!

Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iBAV7f-ji4H_3nRc-mungOQ7wvLgEugb/view?usp=share_link

 Whether you've enjoyed reading The Chautauqua from the first issue 20 years ago, are a brand new reader, or somewhere in between, I sincerely hope that The Chautauqua has enriched your life, as much as it has enriched mine publishing it.  If you would like to help ensure it continues to enrich others like yourself, I ask you to please consider making a donation to The Chautauqua. There are three methods available:   

Mail a cheque or money order (made out to Beth Richardson – Chautauqua) to Box 261 Mirror, AB T0B 3C0 

E-transfer to thechautauqua@gmail.com 

PayPal at https://paypal.me/thechautauqua (note: you will need to sign into PayPal first, and then specify the amount) 

   Your support and kindness is always greatly appreciated, and I look forward to continuing to bring joy and inspiration to you with each issue. Thank you so much and have a marvellous day!


And, if you are looking for a unique gift idea, please visit: https://thechautauquanewspaper.blogspot.com/p/products-for-sale.html

Contact The Chautauqua via email: thechautauqua@gmail.com or via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChautauqua     

Wednesday, 14 December 2022

If you are always trying to be normal, 
you will never know how amazing you can be. 
 - Maya Angelou

email: thechautauqua@gmail.com

Monday, 12 December 2022



From TEA for the Heart & Soul Deck Created by Beth Richardson ©2021


Friday, 9 December 2022

My Artist Voice #8 December 9, 2022

   Welcome to my eighth Artist Newsletter.  Thank you so much to everyone who has subscribed to date.  If you would like to receive this newsletter via email subscription, please contact thechautauqua@gmail.com and ask to be added to the mailing list.  Please share this with friends who may also be interested.  Thank you so much for your support.  
   Christmas is just around the corner and if you are still looking for a unique gift for the special people in your life, I have books, CDs, card decks, and more for sale at 4910 47th St, Mirror.  Call 403-352-3837 to book in your shopping time slot. 

   The past month has been a full and busy one as I focussed on the Christmas greetings for the special insert for The Chautauqua.  Thankfully, that is now done for another year and I can start to relax again.
   In and around working on the Christmas greetings, I completed my Pattern Design Academy course and graduated on November 21st.  Over the 7 week course, I created a total of 91 patterns!  I thought that was pretty impressive considering I had to learn how to use Adobe Illustrator on the ipad, and I had never created a pattern before.  

   I decided to continue this artistic exploration and signed up for Anne's Atelier - her yearly pattern design membership after the course finished and completed another 45 patterns - I'm challenging myself to see how many different patterns I can create with my same teacup motifs - for a grand total of 136 patterns and variations (adding black as a background colour option) on December 7th.



Celebrations: 

- November 11th I finished my daily planner and published it with KDP on Amazon.  I discovered that I couldn't publish it as a spiral-bound as I hoped, but it's all just a learning experience, and I'm still happy with how it turned out.  You can order it directly from Amazon https://www.amazon.ca/Creative-Daily-Planner-unconventional-non-conformists/dp/B0BMJM1SD3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2VIM1YPD3IVGO&keywords=creative+daily+planner+beth+richardson&qid=1670424516&sprefix=%2Caps%2C275&sr=8-1 (I might have some copies on hand here at the house too)
- I completed all 10 days of the Unleash Your Voice singing/songwriting immersion!  This year was so much fun compared to last year when I was so scared and nervous.  Also, instead of "types" of songs as per last year, the prompts this year were more ways of expressing.  You can listen to my other songs here:
   I haven't had a chance yet to go back and see which of these I want to expand into longer songs, or decide what my next step will be with these - guess that is a task for the new year.

- I also completed Hillary Faye's 5-week Attuning to the Animal Kingdom online course the end of November.  It was different from what I expected but a great experience, and there are still some course materials and meditations I want to delve into deeper.

- and, the final celebration is my completion of the third level of Reiki!  Next up practicing and learning different healing techniques.

Recently Completed:

Since the last newsletter, I've completed...
(Top L-R) Watercolour play (9x12 mixed media paper), Rose hand-drawn mandala (paint pens on 9x12 mixed media paper)
(Middle L-R) "Winter Knitting" (8x10 acrylics), Watercolour play (9x12 mixed media paper)
(Bottom) "Embody" (18x24 acrylics) - this one I started in December of 2020 and last touched it in early March of 2021.  At the time I thought it was still unfinished but after looking at it literally every day since (as it's on my painting table leaning against the wall), I decided that it was finished as I have felt no desire to add anything else so I signed it and called it done.

   One day, the end of November, I was craving cookies, and it has been forever since I did any baking, so I made a couple dozen almond flour cookies with Skor bits.
Works in progress:

Currently, I'm working on... 
- a 9x12 page of watercolour play 
- an 8x10 acrylic painting + 16x20 Muse acrylic painting 
- mandala on 9x12 mixed media paper 
- crochet chocolates and candy for my crochet food project (temporarily on hold again)
- I am still working (slowly) on my pages in the self-paced online art course called "Painting with Words" 

- I'm learning lots in the online Awaken Love Yoga Teacher Training course - especially new meditations.

- I'm making progress through the Recipes, Remedies, and Rituals Ayurveda course - right now I'm working through the unit on skin care and I will be adding some of the practices to my daily routine.

- In November I signed up for a Morgan Le Fay mini bundle which has a Morgan Le Fay Dark Moon course and a Morgan Le Fay Summer course.  I started with the Dark Moon course as it's the winter one, and it is so neat learning more about Morgan Le Fay and the very practical aspects of being a priestess in our modern world.

Upcoming Projects: 

- I wasn't accepted for a Viewpoint Gallery exhibition in 2023, but will keep my eyes open for other opportunities to show my artwork.

- I signed up for Hillary Faye's Kundalini Reiki course which will start in January, as well as her 8-week Abundant Heart Kundalini yoga course, which also starts in January.

- The Yoga Teacher Training continues into the new year, and I'll be creating more patterns as part of Anne's Atelier membership - who knows at this point where that will lead me.
   I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and thank you for all your support this past year, especially for reading these newsletters.

Thanks for reading,
Beth 

~~~~~~~~

As a life-long creative, and recently self-taught artist, I endeavour to weave my varied interests and wisdom together in an enlightening and entertaining manner, to make people think, but above all else, bring a smile to their faces and hearts, as my style is almost childlike in its simplicity and playfulness.  While bedridden for much of 2017, I developed 5 – 10 minute practices which allowed me to commit to them daily. I’ve been called the “Queen of Small Steps” because my simple practices – though they may seem small individually – have added up to quite a body of work in a relatively short time period. 

~~~~~~~~

Thank you so much for your support, and again, if you would like to receive this newsletter directly via email please email: thechautauqua@gmail.com and ask to be added to the mailing list.  Thank you!

Back issues of this newsletter can be found here: https://thechautauquanewspaper.blogspot.com/  under the category "Artist Newsletter"

If you would like to support my artistic journey, please consider purchasing my artwork, select items available online https://thechautauquanewspaper.blogspot.com/p/products-for-sale.html or in person at 4910-47 St, Mirror, AB

or by making a donation via
Mail a cheque or money order (made out to Beth Richardson – Chautauqua) to Box 261 Mirror, AB T0B 3C0 

E-transfer to thechautauqua@gmail.com 

PayPal at https://paypal.me/thechautauqua (note: you will need to sign into PayPal first, and then specify the amount) 

   Your support and kindness are always greatly appreciated, and I look forward to continuing to bring joy and inspiration! Thank you so much and have a marvellous day!

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