The art of BE-ing

From the Animal series

"The wise know that too much doing and a thing won't get done. The secret to manifesting on the highest level is to find the perfect amount of doing and non-doing to allow the doing to be done. Sometimes much more can be accomplished simply by letting go and trusting."

- Jackson Kiddard

Aside from publishing Beauty and Wisdom, I have been co-working on a project that I am very happy to share with you. I have partnered with an amazingly gifted woman, Kei Milner right here in Santa Ynez and together we have created Be Notes. Our mission? To create functional, inspirational art and share it with the world and to create reminders what beautiful people we all are... no matter how much we do, we are be-ings. So BE you... fiercely, lovingly and honestly.  You ARE beautiful.

We decided to do a small holiday promotional run and we produced our first product, Be Note pads, which have 10 images and text (50 pages) reminding us that we are be-ings during our very very busy lives. They are also magnetic.  We are delighted that they are being carried in several stores now in Santa Barbara County and Ventura, CA

There are 4 themes (that were printed, of course we have many more!) Animals, Roads, Gardens, and Santa Ynez Valley.  We do have a website, www.be-notes.com, however, we are not yet selling any pads from there as we are gearing up for large production in 2014 when we will have the inventory to offer them online and everywhere. 

We invite you to visit our website anyway... there is a short video and there are photos of all the themes that we are offering for this holiday.  Again, we only printed 50 of each and we don't have a lot left but we wanted to offer what we did have since the holidays will be here and we believe that these are great gifts to share.  

From the Animal Series

 The cost of each pad is 13.95 + shipping/handling $3.95 (will be nicely wrapped)
 Get 2 or more for 12.50 each.
(Additional shipping will apply if purchasing more than 4 pads per order.)

From the Garden Series

If you are interested in ordering pads for yourself or for a holiday gift, please email me at robbiekaye@aol.com and put "Be Note Pads" in the subject line and let me know which pad(s) you would like to order.  We will send it priority so you get it in time for the holidays.

Below is a little sample of some of the sheets in the pads. Visit the Be Note website to see all the themes and images.

From the Roads Series

From the Santa Ynez Valley Series

From the Santa Ynez Valley Series

From the Garden Series

EnJOY!

Robbie and Kei

 

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© Robs & Kei

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© Robbie Kaye Photography

  

The Journey Continues

Thanksgiving comes at a perfect time for me this year. Though there have been challenges and losses, which are part of life too, there have been many amazing miracles that I have experienced.  So much growth, connection and love and for that, I am eternally grateful.

It's so easy to get caught up in the "Doingness" of life and even though I absolutely love what I do, I also allow it to consume me sometimes and I forget about other important aspects in my life.  I wake up early and jump on my computer instead of meditating or taking a walk. I roll over and pick up my iPhone to see if I need to tend to anything right away.  I worry that I don't have a beautiful photograph to put on Instagram for that day... or a good quote.  If I'm not diligent in my daily practices, I will allow the technological neurosis of the times to set in and eat me up.  So Thanksgiving and Hanukkah come at a great time....   I get to stop for a little bit and give my energy and love to reconnecting with people and I get to be social.  I emerge from the bubble I've been in and I find myself really wanting to listen to others... hear about their stories, their lives.... as I have been so engulfed in my own.

It's a balance... one that I am sure I will always struggle with... but I am learning that that too, is a part of life.... not the struggle, but the quest for balance... and I am grateful that at some point, I can feel the need for realignment and as I sit here writing this from my office, listening to the much needed rain, I am reminded that blogging and writing in my journal, are also a part of my daily balance practice.

Wishing you all a day of internal peace and joy.

The Beauty and Wisdom Book has been released today!

After 4 years in the making, Beauty and Wisdom, the book has been released today on Amazon.com and Goodreads.  If it's something you would like to own or give as a gift, I would be happy to share this book and project with you.  If you do purchase a book and would like it signed, I am still offering that option. Just send me a note.

Meanwhile, thank you for sharing this journey with me thus far.  It has been very exciting and fulfilling living here in the country (Santa Ynez) where I continue to feel grateful every day.  The book launch at The Outpost Trading Company was wonderful, great people, delicious food and wine and a warm reception for me and the book.  Below are a few photos and a video of the reading I did of Diana Martha Clark's essay in the book.

Beauty and Wisdom will be featured in a magazine in January (Salon PS) and we'll be preparing for The Griffin Museum of Photography in Boston for March.  So lots to do and I am so grateful for that.

Sending you all wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving, if you celebrate, and if you don't, I am sending wishes anyway for love and light on your journey.

Shine on!
Robbie

Book Launch Party and Artist Reception for Beauty and Wisdom - November 16th

I am so delighted to be having the book launch and art exhibit for Beauty and Wisdom right here in my new home town.  I am humbled by the welcoming I have experienced since moving here only four months ago.

The books will be available on Amazon.com starting November 20th and I am still taking pre-orders until then for signed books at Pre-order Book. 

It's been a wild and beautiful ride so far.... out here in the country... the irony is, I've never been so busy in my life!

I have so many people to thank for helping me along the way.  My friend and book designer Charles Guice, for one, gave the book  style and class.... and Marta Moran who walked me through the process of self-publishing, is truly an angel.... and Sarah Wilkinson who came with me to Barnes and Noble to research other photo books and who also came to my house to teach me InDesign after I told her I could never do it.... She was right.... I could.

As I consider this whole project a collaboration, so do I consider the production of this book a collaboration... I certainly did not do this all by myself and I know that without the help of my generous and caring friends.... I would be crying somewhere, very frustrated and despondent!  So.... thank you.... thank you, thank you, thank you , thank you.

And if you happen to be in the country this weekend... please!  come by and have a drink of wine, soda, and say hello!

The Most Beautiful Poem about Beauty and Wisdom

Weathering

My face catches the wind
from the snow line
and flushes with a flush
that will never wholly settle.
Well, that was a metropolitan vanity,
wanting to look young forever, to pass.
I was never a pre-Raphaelite beauty
and only pretty enough to be seen
with a man who wanted to be seen
with a passable woman.

But now that I am in love
with a place that doesn't care
how I look and if I am happy,
happy is how I look and that's all.
My hair will grow grey in any case,
my nails chip and flake,
my waist thicken, and the years
work all their usual changes.

If my face is to be weather beaten as well,
it's little enough lost
for a year among the lakes and vales
where simply to look out my window
at the high pass
makes me indifferent to mirrors
and to what my soul may wear
over its new complexion.

~ Fleur Adcock ~

The Beauty and Wisdom Book is Here!!!

Pre-order your copy here! Just click on "The Book" below.

It will give me great pleasure to send your signed book on the November 20th release date.

Below is the Robbie Kaye Autumn Newsletter.  Please let me know if you would like to receive these... I send newsletters out about 2-3 times a year.

It's been a wild year... a ride like no other. As in all of our lives, there have been many changes in mine, including moving to the country.  I love it here.  I am more inspired than ever and have been meeting the most welcoming and amazing people.  I get to wake up and hear the roosters, smell the horses and still get a cup of fine coffee at the local cafe, Valley Grind.

Meanwhile, in this sometimes crazy and nutty world of ours, it makes me happy to have some exciting good news to share with you.

The Beauty and Wisdom book will be released on November 20th and PRE-ORDERING is available right now. (Details are below)

I am delighted to share that Beauty and Wisdom will be exhibited at The Griffin Museum in Boston next year. The exhibit will be up from March 20 - May 11 and the opening will be March 27th, 2014.  If you're in Boston I hope to see you.


On another note - I gave my first IPhone photography and editing workshop here in Santa Ynez. It was so rewarding to see people get excited about what they can create with their phones by learning a few tools. I love sharing what I've learned and it feels so good to know that more people out there will be creating beauty and sharing it as well. Like I said, in this sometimes nutty world, there is beauty to be realized, even in the most unsuspecting places, and I find that very comforting. More workshops are in the works!


Here are the details about the book and pre-release book party.

Pre-order  HERE  to get a signed copy sent directly to you.  They will be shipped on the release date, November 20th.

The book contains many photographs and 20 essays from women all over the country.
(You can also pre-order the book from my website  - go to 'works' then Beauty and Wisdom).

On November 20th the book will be available on Amazon.com.Please join me for the Beauty and Wisdom photography installation and  pre-release book party on Saturday, November 16th, 3:30-7:30 pm
right here in my new home town in the country. If you're longing for art, wine and beautiful country, this is the place. Limited promotional copies of the book will be available for signing.

Outpost Trading Company
3547 Sagunto St.
Santa Ynez, CA

Join us for complimentary local wine and savory appetizers.

After 4 years  in the making - I'm ready to celebrate!

Wishing you all a season full of beauty and wisdom.

Until next time,

Robbie

Love, Loss, Learning and 70

 I get now what Billy Joel meant when he sang, "Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes."  However, I don't think we're ever prepared to say good-bye... so often, as it seems to be the case lately. Ever since my stepmother passed away only a month and a half ago, I have been hearing about others losing loved ones so frequently, it's eerie.  I know, and stress the word "know" as in intellectually, that loss is a part of life.  I just am still adjusting to the experience of it as I have been very fortunate to have not experienced it all that much until now. 

This morning, while staring out into the trees and listening to the birds, I tried to make sense of it all and the only thing I could think of was that when so much loss enters our lives, we are being given the opportunity(test?) to expand our hearts and the amount of love in them so we can comfort others and also ourselves in the process of grieving and letting go. 

Sometimes I feel that by choosing to move house and create change, that I opened Pandora's box and now everything seems to be changing, which is cool because that is what I wanted (obviously).  I just feel a little out of control every now and then... and then I stop and breathe and relax into the uncertainty of it all... and that's one thing that for sure is certain. that it is all uncertain!

I think it's good timing to introduce the book that is coming out September 12th at this time since it is about the privilege of living to and through the age of 70. I had the honor of contributing to this book and I can't wait to read what the other contributors wrote. Now, more than ever, I really feel that it is such a gift - to be here and experience all of life for that long.  I believe it is also a reminder to live each day fully so that we can enjoy those years in good health and happiness. 

Stay tuned... I met a woman here in town who is 91 and runs the local Antique store...she has more energy than Richard Simmons on amphetamines! She makes me smile and I just love her.  Can't wait to introduce you to Lee. 

The book will be available on Amazon.com, bn.com, indiebound.org, and booksamillion.com.   Can't wait!