‘I enjoyed this e-course immensely – it freed up a stiff heart and brought such joy to my life, and love to my home.’
(the art of living cheerfully ~ Rachel Nankivel, ~ Samoa ~)


Thank you for your fabulous ‘Photography and the Wonder of Seeing’ course. I am now the proud new owner of my very first polaroid camera and am completely thrilled with photo journaling! It’s the best photography course I have ever done and can’t wait to set up my own little exhibit in my local coffee shop. You gave me great encouragement and thank you for being uber patient with all my crazy emails!

~ Livia Knowles ~

Your classes each week here are really beautiful, just so very zen and uplifting and inspiring. I really really appreciate this course, Maddy. And I love this week’s theme. Reading this, it occurred to me that I USED to take all sorts of mini-road-trips (or super duper LONG road trips) all by myself, all of the time! And I haven’t had one in oh, so long. Now I feel I have suddenly gotten back in touch with that part of me that is filled with wanderlust. I know just where I’m going to go now. I can get up into the “thumb” area of Michigan in about 2 hours. I can take a road trip, go there and back in a day, sit on the beach & eat a picnic lunch with my dog & get sand in my hair and put my feet in the cold cold water. Thank you!

~ Jessica Morrow ~ (the art of living cheerfully)

Morning!

Hope yours a lovely weekend. Being part of your ‘Photography and the Wonder of Seeing’ course inspired me, last weekend, to make a small film…not at all grand, but rather lovely and shot with the 8mm movie camera app on my iPhone. I have set it to Bach’s Solo Cello Prelude , it’s just gorgeous.

Was shot last weekend down on the Tanzania coast near us, blissfull!!!!

Cheers, Eliza (eliza deacon)

“From the moment I saw one of Maddie’s photographs my soul recognized this kindred spirit. That recognition was even more affirmed from the first moments of conversation with her. I thoroughly enjoyed her online course… which brought in an abundance of creative blessings for my spirit + creative self. I’m honored to now call her a friend and even more privileged and thankful for the glimpse inside her world. Her art and creativity speaks volumes towards joy + bliss… Something we all need more of in our daily lives! You’re a true treasure.”

~madalyn ducher ~

“Wow. You make the camera’s eye create a focused, meditative celebration of something that otherwise might be diffuse in person… remarkable. I can feel the care and love that is coming from behind the eye. Little ‘Schubertian’ gems.”

~David Wilson ~

‘How beautiful and whimsical is your site! Just gorgeous…I just logged on to the bones of a poet blog, and what do I discover??  That you’ve catered for 17 hour time differences, and you’ve put it up already!!  A beautiful post, filled with truth, and a perfect, wonderful assignment.  How thrilling.  I literally misted up a teensy bit when I read it.  My son is scoffing as only a seven-going-on-eight-year-old boy can scoff.  Closed-eyes photography! But he can laugh,  becausee I Can’t Wait to Get Started.’

Jen Larsen

‘I have to tell you that I have followed your blog for some time now. I’d like to claim I’m your biggest fan, but I know you are seriously inspiring many women who, like me, have your blog bookmarked and read your new entries the moment they are up. Your writing has inspired me to change not only the way I journal, but the way I live my life.’

Kellene Gilloff

Thank you so much for the course Maddie! I am so much more conscious of my happiness, luck and the energy I put into the world. I hope to take it again soon. It was so fun!!

April Taylor

‘Hi Madeleine!
I live in Squamish and own a flower shop up here, and encountered your blog through the other blog I began following: soulemama. I am really busy in my life with an almost two year old and a busy store so don’t follow blog regularly but I just wanted to tell you that each time I do read your blog I feel so inspired to live with more intention, joy and beauty! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful writing and your uplifting and joyful outlook on life. Id love to meet you someday! If you are ever in Squamish, pop by, my shop is called Billies Flower House.’

~ Alanna Volp ~

I just wanted to share with you how much you inspire me. I love your blog, your photos and your videos. There is something so peaceful about a trip to your space and I so look forward to your new posts. Plus, I am a huge ee cummings fan (in a big big way- Neruda too) so you can imagine how I felt the first time I found your blog.
Thanks so much for inspiring me to up the ante on my own life and creative dreams.

~Laura McCullough-DeLorme~

I am very thankful for the emails you send each day and the posts Sunday’s and Wednesday’s.  I have enjoyed the class so far and am taking time to really connect with myself through some of the “assignments” you mention.  As a wife, mother, and teacher I often find myself drained of energy and in need of some renewal.  I am finding that inspiration with the class.  Thank you!

~ Krystal Stephens ~

I just want to share something great it happened to me this morning. Taking your class I wrote my dearest wishes, as you told us to do. I have been putting a lot of thought and time into taking at least one little step towards this dream of mine…I wasn’t sure how or what to do. I always wanted to have my own school here where I can not only teach Spanish but also arts. I received an e mail this week from a friend of mine who is Ecuatorian and want to start a story telling class ,in Spanish, on Saturdays for all of us who has children with spanish speaking background. Anyway, to make a long story short, we emailed people who might be interested and the response was great. I am so happy! Thank you for an inspirational class that is helping me so much.

Gabriela Vargas

Journaling and extending my views of photography these past six weeks have helped me come to some peaceful conclusions about some very difficult decisions. yippee! Week Five’s post and assignment really clenched the deal for me – I had my mind made up, but I felt so right about my decision after having read it. And now all kinds of happy ideas, possibilities and freedoms are hopping about in my head. You’re right – if you just have faith and take the leap, what is meant to be will be . . . and when you finally let go – well, all kinds of wonderful things begin to happen. Control is such a frightening beast, and yet thinking of being without it is just frightening. It’s all about faith and letting Thy Will be done. It was kind of you to do so, but more importantly, you were a part of something much bigger when you added me to your class the second time.

Roxy Schow

‘You transmit a very genuine warm spirit – even across the mystery that is the internet.  The main message that I wanted to send you was that I am happy for the nudge to create a happy day for myself. Sometimes I forget that it is OK to simply enjoy myself for sustained periods ~ and not only after the things on the ‘should do/must do’ list are checked off. So thank you!’

~ Patricia ~

“As I wrote I fell all the more in love with my life and began to look oh so closely at the abundance of small happinesses in my life and somehow everything seemed so possible with a simple leap of ‘yes!’”

Madelyn, not only are you a beautiful artist, you have the gift of writing I loved this quote of yours that Susan highlighted too, I love the sense of hope and excitement in your words.

Shona Cole

‘I just registered my wife for your course as an unknown gift to her. She found your info, was quite taken and showed it to me this weekend from a blog she reads called Soulemama. Thanks again , she is going to love this!’

~Tim Everhart ~

‘I have found that in the 3 short weeks of this course, my creative side is coming alive! I didn’t realize how much it had been hidden away and how much I’ve been longing to do! It’s amazing how taking specific time to take pictures and create in my journal has awakened so much! I’ve been traveling this week, which has made it a bit hard to journal. But, my friend and I are in the process of painting 6 canvases to put in her daughters bedroom! They are so beautiful. I had NO idea I could do stuff like this! Thank you!’

~karisse schilling ~

I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your class. I’ve taken a few in-person photography classes and have always been incredibly disappointed so I decided to try this on a whim and I am thrilled that I did. Your weekly assignments offered the perfect combo of inspiration and creativity. None of the assignments was so challenging that I wouldn’t attempt it, yet all of them were challenging enough that I had to expand my way of looking at things (I’m still working on the self-portrait assignment). Perfect for January. And I loved the links you provided. I would really love to take one of your journaling classes in the spring. Thanks again, you have no idea how much you’ve inspired me.

~darcy troutman ~

Thank you for such a wonderful course!  As I look back, it seems forever ago that it was Week 1 of this course.  My life has changed so much for the better and I can honestly say that journaling and photography are an integral part of my life.  I am sad that this is the last week, but excited that new doors have opened for me and that I have new friends. I look at each day as one filled with possibility, and no matter how busy I am, I take the time to do a little something at least that fulfills my artistic dreams and hopes

~sharon gollman ~

‘The persisting stars course has let me explore photography in a playful and curious way that has been fun, suprising, very moving at times and has revitalised my love of light and capturing it in the moment.  Maddie brings such delicate magic and wonder to each class that it makes the journey a really special one to be on.  I am also glad to have met some other lovely people and fellow journeyers!  I can’t wait for the next course and glad that its so soon!’

~ Fiona Monks ~

Madelyn I feel empowered already!! You speak directly to the world with encouragement and one of my favorite words…’possibility’!! Off to begin!!!

~Sherry Smyth ~

Your photography course really was a wonderful experience. Very uplifting and I loved the assignments, every single one of them, such fab projects and it was all perfectly orchestrated for me, worked easily, loved the way you worded everything and all the information! It worked really well. Also loved the gallery, the feel and look, and your lovely positive comments.

~caroline carrick ~

‘I certainly appreciate your taking your valuable time to share your thoughts with me. Obviously you are a remarkably sensitive and intuitive facilitator. Apparently you have dealt with many students’ idiosyncrasies to be so perceptive to mine.’

~ R. H. ~

Thank you so much for letting me be a part of your course. It has been a wonderful, bumpy, happy, journey for me and  I know it will continue long after this course has finished.
Your “voice” is so full of hope and light and encouragement and I am so grateful to be walking “this path” with you.

~suvarna mollerup ~

I just wanted to send a huge thank you your way and to let you know what a treat this class has been for me. You’ve opened up buckets of inspiration within me!

~Patti Christakos ~

Thank you…soooo much for this wonderful e-course. I really appreciate your perspective, perception and direction…as we explore together the wonder of photography. I am learning lovely and delicious facets of myself and I am discovering my world through photography.

~Barbara Isaacs ~

painting by misty mawn