My father and I kept mutual journals and one of our original journals was pulled apart and offered to the community.
—
My father pointing to a favorite journal page.
I am so excited to be witnessing my Father’s dream project of community journals unfolding.
The latest addition is by Matt Roy:
He added a page from Virginia Woolf’s The Waves to create a 3-D visual on top of our journal page. Very gentle, beautiful, healing…
Now begins to rise in me the familiar rhythm; words that have lain dormant now lift, now toss their crests, and fall and rise, and falls again. I am a poet, yes. Surely I am a great poet.
― Virginia Woolf, The Waves
Recall:
ADD TO THE JOURNAL PAGES AND BE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY JOURNAL PROJECT!
Join now on ETSY:
Sign up for $30!
YOUR PURCHASE INCLUDES TWO ORIGINAL HAND-MADE DOUBLE-SIDED THERAPEUTIC JOURNAL PAGES CREATED BY MY FATHER AND I FOR YOU TO ALTER AND ADD TO.
YOU ALSO RECEIVE OUR BOOK, “DRAWN TOGETHER: MAINTAINING CONNECTIONS AND NAVIGATING LIFE’S CHALLENGES WITH ART.”
Click on image to sign up:
My father suffered a massive stroke in 2005 that left him paralyzed on one side at the age of 75. Then on November 8, 2008, Roar’s beloved wife (my mother Karin) lost her battle to pancreatic cancer. Despite all these major life changes, my father’s tenacity, stubbornness, strength, creativity and most importantly his humor- allowed him to forge a life that was both fulfilling and rewarding.
Though he resided in a long term care facility and required assistance in the most basic life necessities like toiletry and dressing, Dad always said, “I love my life.” He would wake each day excited about his next drawing. Creativity has truly saved his mental health and gave him sense of purpose and empowerment.
My father passed away October 25, 2012. I am blessed because he died knowing we realized our dream of creating a book about his post-stroke art; we pressed send to the publisher on October 15, 2012.
The book, DRAWN TOGETHER: MAINTAINING CONNECTIONS AND NAVIGATING LIFE’S CHALLENGES WITH ART, is now in my hands and ready to be shared with the world!
But I want to share it with you in a unique way by adding YOU to the journey.
Dad’s art provided him with a much needed connection to the world. We made journals together for many years as we processed life’s challenges.
Dad’s dream was to include the community in these journals. So I am making available pages from our special journals we created around 2002-2005. They are your journal pages to keep, but my hope is that you add to these pages- IN ANY WAY YOU LIKE- and send them back to me to create a COMMUNITY JOURNAL PROJECT that will be exhibited at a DRAWN TOGETHER art event.
She is a dynamic, inspiring, dedicated, focused, no-holds-barred individual. I learned so much about finding my voice simply by spending time with Leslie that weekend.
Since then I have witnessed her transformation to author and I am loving calling her my friend.
Leslie experienced years of eroded boundaries in business, a dysfunctional marriage and a journey with breast cancer. Now that Leslie has established her own strong boundaries with respect and integrity, she shares these lessons through speaking and workshops. In addition to her illustrious speaking career, Leslie holds a Bachelor of Science degree and has certificates in Education, Peer Counseling and Sports Nutrition. Leslie has had 24 years’ experience public speaking and facilitating workshops in her areas of expertise.
She is a leader and team builder in her own business and in the Toastmasters organization where she holds the highest designation: Distinguished Toastmaster.
As an outdoor enthusiast Leslie loves living in North Vancouver with her son.
—
I was eager to get my hands on her book about boundaries. It’s here!
Just the title is enough to set you on the right track!
Stop catering to everyone at the expense of yourself.
• As an entrepreneur does your team respect your boundaries?
• Do you respect theirs?
• Does your boss cross the line?
• Is your health compromised because you say yes, when your body is saying no?
• Is your relationship dysfunctional because you are a people pleaser?
• Learn where and when to draw the line to prevent undesirable or even devastating consequences in your personal and business life.
—
The book is filled with helpful tools to evaluate how you interact with people in your personal life, at work and globally. Leslie takes us through her personal journey, which, for me, is the most powerful aspect of the book.
Sometimes it takes a crisis to force us to see who we really are and what’s most important to us in life.
– Leslie Fierling
On April 4, 2013, I attended Leslie’s book launch and was so moved by both Leslie’s dynamic speech and the excitement of the book launch and meeting wonderful people.
Leslie’s children, Emma and Kevin, are powerful speakers on their own and it is very evident that this trio TRULY love and respect each other!
Kevin and Emma
Emma treated us to delicious homemade cupcakes!
I picked “NO!”
CONGRATULATIONS LESLIE!
I look forward to participating in Leslie’s workshops in the future!
Our original journal was pulled apart to offer to the community.
—
My father pointing at a favorite journal page.
I am so excited to be witnessing my Father’s dream project of community journals unfolding. Take a look at what my dear friend Jennifer did!!!
—
Jennifer Lyons pulling apart the journal and choosing her pages!
Take note of the spiral binding from the journal.
She transformed the spiral binding into a magical caterpillar filled using recycled materials. It’s GENIUS. Filled with empowering sayings, endless visual candy.
He even has a pair of glasses and his own little copy of Drawn Together!
She created beautiful cards out of the pages.
Kat Thorsen always brings tears to my eyes and a smile to my heart. I love her raw enthusiasm and character. I jumped with excitement when I found out that the journal pages that inspired drawn together were being shared to re-make. As an avid recycler and re-purposer I thought it was brilliant and courageous to let the pages that held her and her father go to be re-born through others creativity. Thank you for sharing Kat and ecstatic to keep re-making with the pages! For me the process of creating art from recycled materials is like a metaphor for my life. what was once old can now be new through the process of transformation, much like the caterpillar. – Jennifer
If you have ever wanted to change the world be inspired to make your own difference. This story presents how a sketchpad changed the life of a people pleaser trapped in a box. It is an inspirational message that shares the tools Jennifer used to release her past and embrace her gifts while following the joy of her hearts desires.
ADD TO THE JOURNAL PAGES AND BE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY JOURNAL PROJECT!
Join now on ETSY:
Sign up for $30!
YOUR PURCHASE INCLUDES TWO ORIGINAL HAND-MADE DOUBLE-SIDED THERAPEUTIC JOURNAL PAGES CREATED BY MY FATHER AND I FOR YOU TO ALTER AND ADD TO.
YOU ALSO RECEIVE OUR BOOK, “DRAWN TOGETHER: MAINTAINING CONNECTIONS AND NAVIGATING LIFE’S CHALLENGES WITH ART.”
Click on image to sign up:
My father suffered a massive stroke in 2005 that left him paralyzed on one side at the age of 75. Then on November 8, 2008, Roar’s beloved wife (my mother Karin) lost her battle to pancreatic cancer. Despite all these major life changes, my father’s tenacity, stubbornness, strength, creativity and most importantly his humor- allowed him to forge a life that was both fulfilling and rewarding.
Though he resided in a long term care facility and required assistance in the most basic life necessities like toiletry and dressing, Dad always said, “I love my life.” He would wake each day excited about his next drawing. Creativity has truly saved his mental health and gave him sense of purpose and empowerment.
My father passed away October 25, 2012. I am blessed because he died knowing we realized our dream of creating a book about his post-stroke art; we pressed send to the publisher on October 15, 2012.
The book, DRAWN TOGETHER: MAINTAINING CONNECTIONS AND NAVIGATING LIFE’S CHALLENGES WITH ART, is now in my hands and ready to be shared with the world!
But I want to share it with you in a unique way by adding YOU to the journey.
Dad’s art provided him with a much needed connection to the world. We made journals together for many years as we processed life’s challenges.
Dad’s dream was to include the community in these journals. So I am making available pages from our special journals we created around 2002-2005. They are your journal pages to keep, but my hope is that you add to these pages- IN ANY WAY YOU LIKE- and send them back to me to create a COMMUNITY JOURNAL PROJECT that will be exhibited at a DRAWN TOGETHER art event.
My father suffered a massive stroke in 2005 that left him paralyzed on one side at the age of 75. Then on November 8, 2008, Roar’s beloved wife (my mother Karin) lost her battle to pancreatic cancer. Despite all these major life changes, my father’s tenacity, stubbornness, strength, creativity and most importantly his humor- allowed him to forge a life that was both fulfilling and rewarding.
Though he resided in a long term care facility and required assistance in the most basic life necessities like toiletry and dressing, Dad always said, “I love my life.” He would wake each day excited about his next drawing. Creativity has truly saved his mental health and gave him sense of purpose and empowerment.
My father passed away October 25, 2012. I am blessed because he died knowing we realized our dream of creating a book about his post-stroke art; we pressed send to the publisher on October 15, 2012.
The book, DRAWN TOGETHER: MAINTAINING CONNECTIONS AND NAVIGATING LIFE’S CHALLENGES WITH ART, is now in my hands and ready to be shared with the world!
But I want to share it with you in a unique way by adding YOU to the journey.
Dad’s art provided him with a much needed connection to the world. We made journals together for many years as we processed life’s challenges.
Dad’s dream was to include the community in these journals. So I am making available pages from our special journals we created around 2002-2005. They are you journal pages to keep, but my hope is that you add to these pages- IN ANY WAY YOU LIKE- and send them back to me to create a COMMUNITY JOURNAL PROJECT that will be exhibited at a DRAWN TOGETHER art event.
Jennifer Lyons pulling apart the journal and choosing her pages!
BE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY JOURNAL PROJECT!
—
Paperback: 100 pages
Publisher: Influence Publishing (January 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1771410043
ISBN-13: 978-1771410045
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches
ADD TO THE JOURNAL PAGES AND BE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY JOURNAL PROJECT!
Join now on ETSY:
Sign up for $30!
YOUR PURCHASE INCLUDES TWO ORIGINAL HAND-MADE DOUBLE-SIDED THERAPEUTIC JOURNAL PAGES CREATED BY MY FATHER AND I.
YOU ALSO RECEIVE OUR BOOK, “DRAWN TOGETHER: MAINTAINING CONNECTIONS AND NAVIGATING LIFE’S CHALLENGES WITH ART.”
Click on image to sign up:
My father suffered a massive stroke in 2005 that left him paralyzed on one side at the age of 75. Then on November 8, 2008, Roar’s beloved wife (my mother Karin) lost her battle to pancreatic cancer. Despite all these major life changes, my father’s tenacity, stubbornness, strength, creativity and most importantly his humor- allowed him to forge a life that was both fulfilling and rewarding.
Though he resided in a long term care facility and required assistance in the most basic life necessities like toiletry and dressing, Dad always said, “I love my life.” He would wake each day excited about his next drawing. Creativity has truly saved his mental health and gave him sense of purpose and empowerment.
My father passed away October 25, 2012. I am blessed because he died knowing we realized our dream of creating a book about his post-stroke art; we pressed send to the publisher on October 15, 2012.
The book, DRAWN TOGETHER: MAINTAINING CONNECTIONS AND NAVIGATING LIFE’S CHALLENGES WITH ART, is now in my hands and ready to be shared with the world!
But I want to share it with you in a unique way by adding YOU to the journey.
Dad’s art provided him with a much needed connection to the world. We made journals together for many years as we processed life’s challenges.
Dad’s dream was to include the community in these journals. So I am making available pages from our special journals we created around 2002-2005. They are you journal pages to keep, but my hope is that you add to these pages- IN ANY WAY YOU LIKE- and send them back to me to create a COMMUNITY JOURNAL PROJECT that will be exhibited at a DRAWN TOGETHER art event.
Jennifer Lyons pulling apart the journal and choosing her pages!
BE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY JOURNAL PROJECT!
—
Paperback: 100 pages
Publisher: Influence Publishing (January 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1771410043
ISBN-13: 978-1771410045
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches
Wow. HERE IT IS. OUR BOOK. OUR BOOK. Can you believe it? After all the coffee meetups and work sessions with my father, all the joy and camaraderie, and pain and tears, and laughter and art making- we are finally here.
Released through INFLUENCE PUBLISHING:
Soon, you’ll be able to order the book directly through my blog and local bookstores as well as online catalogues.
There is a new paradigm, which we can choose to ignore or embrace. An emerging movement of consciousness about the health of the planet, and our individual health, is empowering people to take a more active role in their health, rather than just “blindly” following the advice of their doctor or health practitioner. – Dr. Manon Bolliger
PRE-ORDER her book now (by February 18, 2013) and get immediate access to over $500 worth of bonuses!
Check out Manon on FACEBOOK:
On TWITTER:
On LINKEDIN:
On YOUTUBE:
—
NOTE:
Naturopathic medicine delivered by a qualified ND (Naturopathic Doctor) can help you improve your health and well-being in areas such as nutrition, mental, physical, emotional and others.
The etymology of the word doctor is to teach, to show. Naturopathic doctors are not physicians.
I am delighted to be working with Jennifer Elisha, aka Jennifer Lyons, Playshop Facilitator, Artist, Author, Speaker and Creative Goddess!
China marker, acrylic on newsprint
My passion is guiding entrepreneurs who are today’s change makers- facilitating innovative personal and professional development playshops using imaginative tools and practical action plans to achieve well being and balance. I am also passionate about empowering individuals to use imaginative solutions to flow with life challenges.
– Jennifer
Busy Bee by Jennifer Elisha. Old plastic containers, bead and string odds and ends, etc.I love watching the way Jennifer observes the world. Fully. With heart.
If you have ever wanted to change the world be inspired to make your own difference. This story presents how a sketchpad changed the life of a people pleaser trapped in a box. It is an inspirational message that shares the tools Jennifer used to release her past and embrace her gifts while following the joy of her hearts desires.
Jennifer has extensive experience and education in wellness, coaching, counselling, group facilitation and leadership. Her passion is inspiring change on the planet through earth based living, and imagination. She guides people to live their purpose outside the box. She enjoys the power of group work and gathering .
Jennifer has a community of professionals she connects with to build whole and heart centered programs to suit your needs. She believes that together we can make a difference and leads her own life by being the change she desires for humanity.
Jennifer is an entrepreneur with a heart. She is an active member of groups and has been involved in various community projects since the age of five. Recently Jennifer traveled with Canadian Humanitarian to Ethiopia to work with the medical team and lead Youth Projects. In Jennifer’s spare time you will find her creating a masterpiece of recycled art, on an outdoor adventure, or getting in touch with her inner nerd through a book or research.
Jennifer in Ethiopia. Photo by Leslie Taylor WhiteRevision- the art of recycling. By Jennifer Elisha
Friends, Six Women, Six Cultures, One Humanity is a novel to honour and celebrate Canada’s diversity. Six women from profoundly different cultures and belief systems meet weekly at a salon. We watch them rising and falling as they encounter or avoid life’s challenges such as: love, success, aloneness, addiction, depression, family violence, forgiveness, courage, compassion, leadership and more. In time they recognize their possibilities and discover that rising to be the best one can be as a human supersedes all their differences. [source]
On Sunday, Dad got a chance to watch the documentary his grandson, Julian, made. He was very moved.
—
Unfortunately, Dad’s health has taken a turn for the worse as he battles bladder cancer. We spent Monday in the ER and here is Dad’s essay (he asked me to record the events):
When it came, the wreck left me alive. It flung me on the coast with a warning that what I had to look forward to now was no longer the maximum but the minimum with which I could begin my life afresh… I began to forget what life could not offer and to appreciate what it could…
– Frigyes Karinthy
Thank you family and friends for all your kind words on Monday on Facebook, on Twitter, on phone, in person!
Our dear friend, Darcy, spent the day with us.
Dad is back in his room and it’s all about making the moments the best and most comfortable they can be.
I am now going collect all the material into the manuscript! Our mindmap is the guide!
My father inspired a friend to accept help by showing how his life is rich in a residential care facility.Roar inspires youth-at-risk with his art and with his youthful humor!The staff are KEY to making Dad’s life as happy as it is. I could not be more grateful. He gives back by lending an ear, providing snacks, and being his feisty inspiring self.“Stay connected.” by Roar Thorsen
“My grandma is suffering from early Alzheimers. I write her letters and she writes back. Her letters end up being so poetic because she repeats herself a lot. I’ve been transcribing them as poetry. Might send them to some Lit mags.
I think we forget the huge cache of knowledge and experience the old folks have, and it gets trapped inside their aged and deteriorating bodies. It’s important to keep them talking as long as possible.”
“In honour of my Dad who is also an elderly stroke victim and artist and is slowly drifting away from me too. Though he fades he never stops laughing and smiling, a constant inspiration.”
“Fantastic project and inspirational. Makes me wanna start an art project with my dad .. just because!”
WE NEED HELP TO BRING THE BOOK TO THE NEXT STAGE!
Please consider supporting our project. Much love, Katarina and Roar
Ingram Content Group has announced a new standard color pricing model for print-on-demand technology that has reduced costs by roughly two-thirds, making color POD an economical publishing option for the first time. Achieved through advancements in inkjet technology, the price drop means that a greater range of book content can be printed in color and done faster around the world…
—
We will be utilizing this latest technology to produce a full-color paperback of Drawn Together!
Dad organizing his pens!We spent the afternoon cleaning his workspace. I scrubbed spilled coffee off the walls, scooped up old wrappers, lost pen caps, dried up grapes and scrubbed the sticky floor! We had a good laugh! Creativity is messy!
WE NEED HELP TO BRING THE BOOK TO THE NEXT STAGE!
Please consider supporting our project. Much love, Katarina and Roar
Creating, collaborating, commenting, contributing, conversing, communicating, caregiving, community-building, committing, crowdfunding, crowdsourcing, campaigning… some of the great C words.
As many of you know, I have been working with my father, Roar Thorsen, on our book for several years now. Joyously, we have shared a corner of the cafeteria at Lions Gate Hospital, building a collection of his work and dreaming of producing a book. As my Dad shrinks in physical size, his esteem grows taller and taller through working on his art.
—
Well the time has come.
The next step is for us to reach out to our online community to ask for help. One minute before midnight, last Friday night, we launched our Indiegogo campaign!
Please share our story! Your financial contribution is greatly appreciated!
Roar and Katarina, April 2012Roar, 1956, Sarpsborg, Norway
I love that all I am doing in my art and career feeds the graphic novel, even if I’m not working on pages in the book per se.
When I do my street art, I am utilizing the style and perfecting the technique and medium I am using in Molly.
When I am working with my Dad on our book, I am learning the ropes in independent publishing and utilizing the plan for the book with Dad laid out by Julie Salisbury to organize the way I present Molly. Julie has an extraordinary ability to see the complete project and I will be using her teachings to organize the next steps. Her Mastermind weekend intensive infused me with such clarity and confidence.
We start at the end– visualize what the book will look like. Judge the book by it’s cover.
Truly liberating to allow the creative process to sustain itself. Everything feeds everything else!
Jocelyn Louise as Molly. Styled by Jay Fisher. My street art ready to be pasted by Jocelyn in Vancouver! I am tempted do the entire book as street art images- take the story to the streets!
Next steps:
“START AT THE END”
PLAN THE BACK COVER AND TITLE
MIND MAP THE ENTIRE STORY
INCITING INCIDENT
PLOT WHAT GOES INTO EACH CHAPTER
BOOK PROPOSAL/PRESENTATION
MARKETING CHECKLIST/ BUSINESS PLAN
FOREWORD/ TESTIMONIALS/ AUTHOR’s BIO
BOOK LAUNCH: proposed date January 15, 2013
BOOK LAUNCH EVENT
Utilizing my notes from Fredrik Thorsen’s lecture on story/script.
Julie has a brilliant way of facilitating a group to support each other in the creative process and I feel on track and very excited to collaborate with her! The group was astounding and inspiring and I thank Sharon, Leslie, Nelie, Carroll, Brad, Lucca, Nathalie for their generous spirits and Hannelore for hosting the event and opening her heart to us.
The amount of info shared and exercises processed was quite remarkable and I came home loaded up with all the guidance and courage and gameplan I need to ensure that Dad and I see our project to fruition.
!["[Added to] December 2002 Page from Kat & Roar’s Journal"](https://i2.wp.com/katthorsen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/add-to-the-journal-pages-and-be-part-of-our-community-journal-project-drawntogether.jpeg?resize=380%2C380)
!["[Added to detail] Another December 2002 Journal Page"](https://i2.wp.com/katthorsen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/add-to-the-journal-pages-and-be-part-of-our-community-journal-project-drawntogether-1.jpeg?resize=380%2C380)
