Hi Everyone,
I have a favor to ask– will you please help me bring comfort and hope to healing hearts? I’ve created a new coloring card, Remembering with Love, and I’d like to share it with as many people as possible. I’m asking you to download and print out several copies and send at least one to someone you know who has recently lost someone they love. And I’d like you to give the others to friends and family and ask them to do the same. Together we can touch a lot of hearts!
Click to download a pdf of the Zenspirations®Remembering_with_Love_card.
Mother’s Day, which Americans celebrate on Sunday, is especially difficult for those who have lost a child, or who long for one of their own… as well as for those who have recently lost a parent or a spouse… or have a relative dealing with dementia, cancer or other life-threatening illness. This card is designed to send to anyone who has a hole in their heart… just to let them know someone cares. I know first-hand that nobody can grieve for you… but that it really helps to know that there is someone who cares about what you are going through. Many Zenspirations blog followers share my commitment to making a difference in the world, and what better way to make a difference than by helping to heal hearts? If you can’t print and distribute the cards, please share this blog post and/or forward the link to the free download.
Since many people struggle to come up with something to say on the inside of a card, here are a few suggestions:
You are in my heart.
Hope it helps to know that somebody cares.
Thinking of you today and hoping that you will find moments of joy.
If you knew the person who died, consider mentioning them by name in your message. It’s also nice if you can share a special memory. Most people who are grieving appreciate knowing that others remember their loved one.
Something like Thinking of you today, and remembering ______ with love, or
I know that today won’t be easy, but I hope you will take time to remember, and to celebrate _____’s legacy. May the memories of happy times you shared bring you peace.
Or even something like:
Reaching out to someone who is hurting is a great act of love– and I thank you in advance for helping me reach as many people as possible.
For those of you who will be celebrating your mom on Sunday, here is a springboard for a design I hope your Mom will love. I’d love to see what you do with the design, so I hope you’ll post pictures in the Zenspirations® Create, Color, Pattern, Play Facebook Group.
Click to download a pdf of the Zenspirations®_Thank_You_Mom_Coloring_Card.
The Sunday after Mother’s Day has special meaning for those of us in the greeting card industry– it’s the day that the National Stationery Show (NSS) opens! I’ve been attending the show for more than 30 years, and am continually delighted and inspired by this incredibly creative industry. And this year, I am super excited, because NSS (http://www.nationalstationeryshow.com) is embracing coloring, and invited me to design a spread for the 2016 directory, an 8′ x 10′ wall for the community to color, and to give seminars on coloring tools and hosting coloring events– and I’m inviting you to join me!
Here is the spread that will be in the show’s directory:
And here is what I designed for the big coloring wall.
I figured that no one will want to color higher than six feet, so I colored the top two feet digitally. Even without needing to color the top two feet, I’m going to need a LOT of help– so I’m hoping that all Color & Creativity Enthusiasts in the NY area will stop by to help color the wall Sunday, May 15th, Monday May 16th and/or Tuesday, May 17th. The wall will be in the lobby of the Javits Center, and I’ll be there coloring from 11- 12 each day. Jamie Torres, our FB group moderator, will be at coloring the wall while I’m doing signings and seminars. We are planning a Zenspirations dinner Sunday night (May 15th) at 6:30, and I would love for you to come. I’d appreciate affordable restaurant suggestions near the Javits Center; preferably someplace where we can make a reservation. I don’t know how many Zenspirations Enthusiasts live near NY city– but I’m thinking we’ll have somewhere between 5 and 25 people. Please leave a comment to let me know if you plan to come… and either Jamie or I will be in touch with details. For those of you who won’t be in NY, I’ll take lots of pictures, and try to get someone to film the wall in progress.
I started tonight’s blog by asking a favor– and I want to end by thanking Barbara Studebaker, Toni Popkin, Sandie Brosnan, Genna Wangsness, Janice Terpak, Kerrie Stark, Suzanne Freeman and Mary Ann Fellows for reviewing some of my books. Ladies I REALLY appreciate your taking the time to write the reviews. It means a lot to me. If you let me know your favorite color I will make you a personalized Thank You sign (I’ll put your name instead of the words ‘book reviewers’).
As I mentioned last month, I recently learned that the more reviews a book has the more often Amazon shows it; which helps the books sell. So if you have any of my books– (especially if you ordered them from Amazon and can be listed as an ‘Amazon verified purchase) I would greatly appreciate your taking a few minutes to write a book review. For those of you who haven’t seen my books, here is a photo so you’ll know what they look like:
I’d especially appreciate reviews on Birds & Butterflies, Color Peace and Expressions of Faith, as well as the two newest books, Expressions of Nature and Flowers of Faith. Thanks in advance for your help!
Stay Zenspired,
Joanne
Comments are closed.
Doing reviews of things I love is easy! I’ve done all but two of the books I have of yours both on Amazon and on Joann Fabrics. B&N is next on my list!
Love the way the wall turned out. Just the right amount of dangles. Can’t wait to see it finished. I know Jamie will be great at helping with the coloring wall.
My favorite colors – pink and blue (no “s” in my last name).
Oh how I wish I could be in NY for the dinner. If I had $$ and transportation I’d be there in a heartbeat. Have a great and productive trip. Can’t wait to hear all about it!
Lastly thanks for the Mothers Day card. I made the one you did last year for my Mother and will do this one as well.
Color Peece led through an amazing journey through difficult decisions I needed. I colored a page each day for Lent and the Scipture helped me see how truly blessed I was. It brought me peace, encouragement, and courage. It also help develop my skills as a coloring artist. I can’t wait to get one of her new books. That I can’t find them on Store shelves.
How do I leave a comment on Amazon?
What a lovely post! Just the other day, Pastor Rob passed away after a battle with cancer. His family will appreciate your thoughtful card!
A lovely idea with the mother’s day remembrance card, I will sure share it on facebook! Congrats with your canvas for NSS ! I am convinced that you will have a blast with Jamie and the other coloring enthusiasts. In thoughts I am there with you all… Concerning the reviews, I thought it was no use that I did some since I never ordered them from Amazon, but I will look into it.
These cards are beautiful. I have always wanted a unique card for my daughter on Mothers Day. She is such a wonderful mother to 4 beautiful children. But I never see a card for daughters who are mothers.
I love your post Joanne and the idea of creating cards for others. I was thinking they would be well received in a nursing home as well!
By the way, I am “alphafellows”, which you may have suspected, LOL. When I first joined Amazon, I just used part of my yahoo email address, never thinking that someone might want to know “who that was”! I might have to change that .
Did you see my great news, my house is under contract?! Yeah!
Ithank you for the beautiful cards! I am looking forward to making them….have a beautiful and blessed week!
Love always, Mary Anne.
Oh, and my favorite color is purple! You are so generous with everything you do! Hugs!
I have Joanne Fink’s books titled, Abstract & Geometric Designs” and “zenspirations Letters & Pattering”. I love Joanne’s books because they are so informative and inspirational. They have helped me with my art work and the creative and spiritual nature it provides me when I am looking through the books. I plan on buying more of Joanne Fink’s books soon. I follow Joanne by email and she is a very giving person with her patterns and quotes.
Thank you Joanne.
Thank you for sharing the cards. I love your designs for the NSS, I think people will love coloring it.
Another awesome blog post!
Thank you so much for all the gifts!
Especially those that will benefit others/
I love your heart.
Thank you so much for all the gifts!
Especially those that will benefit others/
I love your heart.
Thank for sharing these thoughtful and beautiful designs and words.
A close friend has recently taken up coloring to overcome some serious depression. I had given her some of your pages when she was hospitalized and she has been coloring happily ever since. How happy I am to pass along some of your works to help someone else heal a wounded heart. Thank you so much for your Zenspirations, JoAnne!
What a wonderful, generous, kind and loving post Joanne. Your art is just so inspiring. I am so proud to be a little part of this. My book arrived last week thanks so much…I am so thrilled to see my artwork there. Happy Mother’s Day for Sunday (our was in March in the UK).
Hugs, Jane xx
I have just been on to Amazon UK and was astonished that there are no reivews there. I have just written 2 for you…my Amazon “name” is Mum of 2…..I have had it for years! My review is being proessed at the moment and I hope it will be up later today. I would love to see your books in the bookshops here…I have spotted them in a few, let’s hope they appear more in the future. Hugs xx
I thought you all might get laugh or two out of my experience. I downloaded both of Joanne’s cards yesterday. As I took them hot off the presses I was dismayed to see gray lines around the card. I went in search of the whiteout I experimented with a couple of colored papers. After printing each card once I discovered there were no lines around the pictures….it finally dawned on me that these were cutting lines and folding lines!
Joanne, thanks so much for these cards.
You are an inspiration to all of us who got into the / your coloring world.Thanks ever so much for ideas and what imagination can do,if you let it go.Color my world! A wonderful and fulfilling experience for me to enjoy. Thank you.
You are so thoughtful and caring to share these Mother’s Day cards with us. I was wondering how to help my friend through this first Mother’s Day after her dear Mom passed away. Now I know how to encourage her. I love your perspective and wisdom and know you have gone through hard times that have given you these wonderful character traits of compassion, strength, courage, kindness and generosity.
Thank you!
A dear friend of mine lost her mom last year and I know I will be making this card for her! What a beautiful sentiment. Thank you for all you share!
A dear friend of mine lost her mom last year and I know I will be making this card for her! What a beautiful sentiment. Thank you for all you share!
Just want to thank you for the wonderful ideas for cards. I used your quotation “She made a rainbow….” for the inside of the cards and I stamped an image of the bleeding heart flower on front (unfortunately forgot to take a picture!!!). I sent theses cards to 2 friends whose daughters have died and another friend whose mother recently died. They all loved the cards. Doing this was also very good for me. It was the 10th Mother’s day without my son. Thanks for such beautiful inspiration!!
Thank you for the beautiful cards! I will print as many as possible and spread them around.