Customer Reviews

Living Artfully: Create the Life You Imagine

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Earlier this week I was feeling a very big low in my creativity so I thought it would be the perfect time to read "Living Artfully", a book I've been wanting to spend some time with. You see, I always have dreamed of being an artist, but I have never really felt like I was one. Scrapbooking did help me realize I had a lot of creativity, and I have felt that even more since taking up digital scrapbooking and designing. But I wanted to be an "artist", someone who was inspiring and who made others want to create.

I couldn't wait to open this book and figure out how to finally achieve that. What I found is that I always have lead a very "artful life." I have a new definition of what it means to be an artist, and it turns out...I am one! This book is worth way more than the cover price just to figure that out!

Putting memories together in a meaningful way...that is "living artfully"

Creating celebrations for my family... that is "living artfully"

Preparing a meal for my family, organizing our belongings, having fun with my children... all of those things are "living artfully"

Typing blog entries...that is "living artfully"

Thank you Sandra Magsamen for helping me to realize that! And thank you for the book full of fun ideas to make my life even more "artful" and full of joy!

Katie the Scrapbook Lady

"I am definitely creating special cozy spot in my house for me to relax, sit
with my friends, read a book, learn to knit (finally I have been wanting to
do that for years). Sandra gave me a whole new way of looking at my life and
what living artfully as she says is all about. I would recommend this to
everyone."

Living Artfully is a very gentle wake up call to appreciate those around you and to see life in loving and artful ways. Sandra stresses that you don't have to be an artist, or even perceive yourself as being creative to live life artfully.
The book is filled with suggestions of things to do and creative ways to show friends and family that you love them. Although it is hard to imagine actually doing most of them, it is great fun to read and think about the few that you might do and the meaningful result those actions will have.
The thing I loved about the book is Sandra's ability to reconnect to the joy of living, the the joy of play and laughter that generally exists in childhood and gets lost bit by bit as we get older. Sandra shares her stories and offers memory triggers to help recapture your youthful spirit.

"A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write if he is ultimately to be at peace with himself. What one can be, one must be."
-- Abraham Maslow

One morning of channel surfing I stopped to watch Sandra Magsamen being interviewed and was drawn in to her talk about being creative and living artfully in our life. When this book became available for review, I jumped at it.

What does it mean to live artfully? The chapters are filled with ideas--simple, easy-to-do, no-cost ways to live artfully in areas like:

-- Making connections
-- Rediscovering your creative power
-- Creating moments that matter
-- Making your home reflect you
-- Artfully ways for special days
-- Making your mark on the world

The stories are wonderful, both from her own family and the other people she allows us to meet. The illustrations by the author are light and cheery and are complemented by the well-chosen quotes.

In the Home section, the author reminds us to celebrate the little things--change of season, different kinds of "homes," what home means, etc.

Maya Angelous said, "I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself."

As I write this mid-April, the robins returning to Minnesota are celebrating a late-spring snowfall as they dash from tree to tree, eating last season's fruit. I want to be as happy all day as they are this morning.

My favorite section was "Imagine the possibilities: Rediscovering your creative power." It's full of hope--of possibilities of living creatively. "Each day is a gift we get to unwrap--in our own way." "Think of the morning as a lesson that is unfolding to show you the creativity in the fabric of all living things" (page 42).

So many allow self-doubt and uncertainty to prevent us from being creative. The author indicates that being creative isn't just about art or making art--but about creative outreaches to others.

This is a book that will remain close at hand to return to when my creativity gene has been covered up by daily stress and wear and tear. I will return to it for inspiration, for hope, through the wonderful ideas, stories and quotes.

Armchair Interviews says: Sandra Magsamen is a very prolific writer, and this is book 19. If you think you are not creative, you need to find ways "to be creative and live artfully" with this book's help. You'll be glad you did.

I must admit I originally bought this book expecting it to be about living ART fully - so more about being a artist and living then what it is actually about...which is the idea of living artfully in the sense of finding small creative ways to make each day memorable or to mark ocassions.

There were some great creative ideas in the beginning and the end. I lost interest a bit through the middle - the book appeared to repeat earlier points a little - but I persevered and the tail of the book regained some strenght.

A light hearted read. Good for a rainy weekend. I'm not sure I'd read it twice but I will refer to it for special occasions as there was some wonderful ideas suggested.

this book will get you inspired and get you ready to create!!!! Love every bit of it!!!

Sandra challenges us to live life with placing more meaning on time spent with people or creating meaningful moments for our loved ones and our community. Her ideas make common sense, but in our busy world we need this book to bring our focus back to what matters in life. As soon as I got it, I read it from cover to cover.

I am in the middle of reading this most inspiring book and absolutely love it. Sandra Magsamen's words are so helpful that you want to read them again and again.

Living artfully is a beautiful concept and Living Artfully is a wonderful wonderful book. It is the antidote to this crazy world and the fast pace and hectic schedules. She shares a special quality of brightness and joy that is infectious.

It was truly a pleasure to take the time to read Living Artfully. We are all moving a such a fast pace that we often do not stop to 'smell the roses.' Living Artfully encourages each reader to not only 'stop and smell the roses', but that it is OK to do so. What an inspiration to read the stories and tales included by the author to encourage us all to live life to the fullest and to enjoy each day. I would recommend it to all.