Shaping my Mixed Media Vessel & A Self-Love Challenge

[@Elizabeth-uz1mn]

Having a post-it on the bathroom mirror with the affirmation(s) works wonderfully until they become ingrained….it really works! When I took your “Finding your voice “ workshop a couple of years ago, you talked about framing the self talk in terms of speaking with your best friend….it is a good model to follow, especially when fatigue brings out the “alligators” that nip at us when they rise up unexpectedly from the water. Thank you so much for the elephants….my niece FaceTimed me yesterday while she was visiting them, and now I have a video I can save. They were in Newport before coming to NYC, and I learned of them during their Newport trip. So special.

[@ArianeZurcher212]

Hi Elizabeth ❤️ I did the post it’s until they eventually fell off and, as you said, it became ingrained and a habit. It’s a nice habit to practice. I didn’t know they were in Newport first. I have to call my brother and see if he saw them when they were there! ❤️💕❤️

[@heksedansd.2919]

Hello!🙂 I'm not sewing myself, but still I'm kind of addicted to your channel😊 All the colors, the sound of the needle through fabric and paper, you and your voice...and all the beautiful art.. Thank you for the videos!❤ 🙂

[@ArianeZurcher212]

Aw… that is such a lovely comment!! Thank you, thank you. ❤️

[@alicemoline698]

Shoot.............certainly got blindsided when you suggested that we look in the mirror and say to ourselves........I love you. Hit like a brick and my eyes began to leak!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your comments about self love are what has always run through my craw........cheesy, silly and a marketing ploy. I was mouthing the words as you were saying them, they have been so ingrained in me over the years..........by myself and my observation of the "industry" of self love. This challenge will take a lot of practice. Negative speak and my inner critic are all too familiar to me in my adult life......even now. On another note, your vessel is gorgeous........the colors are striking and play well together. There's not a boring part to it. Each part has so much to "interest" going on.......HEY look at that, and then look at this and more over there..........lol lol lol..........OH.......the elephants........that must be something to watch when they bring them in and place them about. Thanks again for the visit. Blessings to you.

[@ArianeZurcher212]

Oh Alice… I’m giving you a big virtual hug. 🤗 I remember once a therapist repeatedly said to me - “You did nothing wrong” and I just wept. Always thinking of you and sending love, love, love. 💕

[@anitajansen5610]

Hi Ariane, I think this vessel is so beautiful. The elephants are also great. I don't look in the mirror often and I don't like being photographed. I have learned to give myself compliments when something went well🤗

[@ArianeZurcher212]

That’s a wonderful thing to do - give compliments when something goes well! Love that. ❤️

[@mareesharples5480]

I'm taking up your challenge as I've spent the last fifteen years looking after in-laws, parents, and my husband with his health issues, and I need a lift. Loving the vessel as it grows, and the elephants are superb. A great use of an invasive plant.

[@ArianeZurcher212]

Oh I’m so glad. I’m doing it with you! Tell me how it goes. Those elephants are just wonderful. I love that I can just wander around and among them whenever I feel like it. And I love that they’re made from the very thing that is encroaching on their food supply! Pretty ingenious ❤️

[@redparrot9489]

I am so happy and inspired to follow an artist who is simultaneously making art and overcoming mental health challenges. Me too. Re the challenge … I think saying I love you to me isn’t… eh … specific enough for it to help me. What I DO say is “good job!” when I do a self-care task. I say “I am proud of you!” I am also my own hype person so I may also say “look at you! You go girl. BOOYA! You are amazing”. I do a LOT of this kind of talk and I am not reliant on waiting to see myself in a mirror. Like do the dishes? “Good job”. Also when something good happens or I have a nice time or eat a healthy meal, I take time to expand the moment so it last long. Like savouring a meal for a few minutes after it is done and before I move from the table. I am curious about your journaling practice. Would you be willing to share what you do? 🥰(ie your process not the content🥰🥰🥰). 🥰🥰🥰🥰💕💕💕💕💕

[@ArianeZurcher212]

It's really interesting. My husband HATED doing this and still has a lot of trouble with it. He's found work arounds that seem to speak to him and make him happier. I found the mirror really interesting because at first all I did was say the words while feeling NOTHING. And while I said the words aloud, the silent voice was yelling in my head awful things. So then I put a post it note on every mirror and reflective surface. THat just felt kind of embarrassing, but it did help a little. Now I can see my reflection and sometimes I'll just smile and give a little wave, sometimes I'll say the words, sometimes I'll just give myself a little hug. At a certain point it's whatever works, but I have to say, it has been and continues to be an interesting experiment. Glad you've found ways that work for you. I love the examples you gave. ❤ Journaling... so I do not do this everyday, I do the self love, self care practice daily, sometimes that. includes journaling, but sometimes it doesn't. So for example with the I love you exercise, I noted my initial response "this is stupid" to then doing it and not enjoying it AT ALL. I then journaled about that, asking myself why? What's going on there? Why is this difficult for me? Why do I resist doing it? Why do I think it's "stupid" etc.

[@firststrokesswimacademy4156]

I love the elephants! They are spectacular! As far as self love-I started my own business three years ago and when I began it started me thinking about how strong I am, I hard I work and how fantastice I am as a person. I try really hard to keep that up, but bad days do creep in! Thanks for this and for your work on this piece, I love to watch you work and as someone else said, the sound of your needle and thread going through the work is mesmerizing.

[@ArianeZurcher212]

@@firststrokesswimacademy4156 I remember when you started your business! It does take such dedication, determination and hard work. Such an important habit to develop reminding yourself and acknowledging that!! Yay you!! The elephants… swoon

[@mariaruiz3848]

Fascinating to watch you creating. What a treat and honored to see this development of your work . I do practice to look in the mirror and recognize me. and hug me frequently. I had been learning to put myself first.. Thank you for sharing . Love the elephants.

[@ArianeZurcher212]

Thank you so much Maria. I’m glad you do that. It’s such an important thing to do and give to ourselves! ❤️

[@susanmayes9705]

Well, I loved this video. I love the vessel, and I am looking forward to seeing the next steps. The Elephants were amazing. I'm a fellow left-hander, and I appreciate your tutorials so much.

[@ArianeZurcher212]

@@susanmayes9705 Hi Susan! Thank you so much! ❤️💕❤️

[@lauremeaney7883]

I'm watching and listening to you sew and thinking about how much I love the sounds the vessel and the stitching are making. The various crinkly sounds of the materials and the pull, tug and swoosh of the sewing. I would love for you to record some of that sound - I can imagine it being played in the background at an exhibition of your work...

[@ArianeZurcher212]

That is SUCH a great idea. I can record it. That is a really original thought... You're so musically talented, do you envision it layered with music behind it, or no, just the purity of the needle, thread, fabric, swoosh? I'm going to think about how I might do that.

[@lauremeaney7883]

@@ArianeZurcher212 no I wasn't thinking music no, just the sounds. I think it could actually be video footage, of you working, like you do for us in these videos, projected on a wall, so that it's all a bit fuzzy or retro looking, with just the sounds of the sewing (maybe an occasional "that's ok" from you?

[@karenpuschmann4157]

Those elephants are fantabulous

[@ArianeZurcher212]

Aren’t they amazing 🤩

[@christinacreatesau]

Hi in Ariane, of course I accept that challenge :) Love the vessel and its special colors and textiles.

[@ArianeZurcher212]

❤️💕❤️

[@lyndaholloway5469]

Oh this will be hard. Most times I think I will never measure up. Nothing I do is ever good enough. I will give it a shot. No the things I do say to myself I would never say to my bestie. . Love the vessel. It is coming right along. WOW! the Elephants are incredible. What are they made of? Best to you.

[@ArianeZurcher212]

You just wrote everything I used to say to myself. Seriously. I hear you. I could just write - ditto. But no more! Those elephants are made from the very plant that is encroaching on their food supply, which is pretty ingenious! ❤️

[@michieleelliott1619]

Love your videos and working on positive self talk. I ask myself frequently if I would treat a beloved child the way I talk to myself. Thankful for you.

[@ArianeZurcher212]

@@michieleelliott1619 thx so much Michiele. Yes! I hear you. ❤️❤️❤️

[@TerriDeMent]

Thanks!

[@ArianeZurcher212]

Terri! Thank you SO much. Really, really kind of you. It's so appreciated. ❤

[@marthamanigross]

This vessel is amazing! I can’t wait to see it finished. ❤ I will accept the challenge. I’m horrible to myself in self talk, but I’m very supportive of others when they are challenged with life. I’ve never really been kind to myself. Time to start! Thank you for this. I’ll give it a shot. Is there a book or something that you worked from or did you just journal your thoughts? The elephants are amazing. ❤

[@ArianeZurcher212]

Thx so much Martha. I was planning to talk about the two books that I found most helpful with this in the next video, but as you've asked, I won't keep you hanging. The first, and the one I recommend doing first is this one: amzn.to/4etGJ3F I did this with my husband and a close friend (and I kind of thought it would be a fun jokey kind of silly thing for the three of us to do) Some of it IS silly, but there's a lot that was pretty powerful and it was a great way to begin. The 2nd book that kind of solidified the 1st, was this one: amzn.to/4etGJ3F It's a more serious book with lots of psychology backing up the exercises. Again did this with my husband and friend. It definitely helps to do these with others, if at all possible. It's just more powerful, I found. ❤️

[@marthamanigross]

@@ArianeZurcher212 awesome. Thank you so much. 😊 ❤️. I’m on a journey myself at the moment. This will be helpful.

[@marthamanigross]

@@ArianeZurcher212 - both links lead me to the same book. Any chance you can add the second book link please? Thank you! 😊

[@ArianeZurcher212]

@@marthamanigross yes, weird. Here you go: amzn.to/3Y3aHq1

[@marthamanigross]

@@ArianeZurcher212 thank you. That worked! 🤗❤️

[@mariaconti9704]

Thank you so much for the elephant migration part of your video. I’ve watch it at least 5 times this morning and shared with friends.🫶🏻🤗❤️💕

[@ArianeZurcher212]

Oh I'm so glad. They are even more amazing when walking among and beneath them!