Products
Colleen's books and original art cards can be purchased online from MI Upper Hand. One-of-a-kind cards can be purchased from Donckers and/or Mary's Closet, both located in Marquette, MI.To purchase originals or custom/specialty items, please visit our contact page.
The Butterfly Woman Book
Colorful, illustrated and
in hardcover, The Butterfly Woman is
a book for all
ages. It is a warm-hearted story of one woman's journey of
transformation, in which she learns self-forgiveness through Divine
intervention.
Click HERE to order from the MI Upper
Hand shop.
Butterfly Series Card Set
The eight cards featured
in this set
came out of my
Butterfly Series, consisting of over a 100 designs. What started out as a
creative exercise inspired by visiting Monet’s garden in Giverny,
France, back
in 1998, eventually turned into ButterFlutters.
Each design features a hand painted butterfly surrounded by a border using the same colors as the butterfly, but remixed to give it a more complex feel. The butterfly represents our soul, the essence of our being. The border represents our physical body, the shell that encases our creative spiritual beauty. The butterfly is simple and pure in color. The border is complex and detailed, but telling a story of what lies within.
The butterfly has always represented transformation. The caterpillar—bound to the earth—spins a cocoon of self-love and emerges into a beautiful butterfly. A tiny creature transforms itself into majesty and emerges from its cocoon with the ability to fly. It’s a metaphor for each of us and our own life within the framework of humanity.
Each card is blank on the inside, but has a name and a poem written on the back that expresses the message of each butterfly. I love the idea of inspiring people with the poetry to write their own messages of the heart on the inside. It gives the process a deeper meaning to not only the person writing the card, but also to the person who receives it.
“Purple Passion”, “Ring Around the Rosie”, “Briar Rose”, “Unity”, “Celtic Cross”, “Tootie Fruitie”, “Dark Side of the Moon”, and “Hearts and Flowers”.
As
a special gift idea, each card will fit into
a 5 x 7 frame.
Click HERE to order from the MI Upper
Hand shop.
Black and White Card Set
The "Black and White
Series" is a set of 12 greeting cards, created in pen and ink.
(An Eagle
card
is included as a bonus for a limited time). Colleen studied
animal medicine symbology to create a poem for the back of each card,
embodying the animal's essence. These cards make
great gifts for kids and can be colored with pencils, crayons and
paints. Cards are blank inside.
Click HERE to order from the MI Upper
Hand shop.
The Whee Women Astrology Card Set
This set contains one
card for every
sign of the Zodiac. Each original painting contains the
constellation, symbol and colors associated with each Astrological
sign. Colleen created a poem for the back of each card,
embodying the personality
traits of the sign. Cards are blank inside.
Click HERE to order from the MI Upper
Hand shop.
A Finger Labyrinth
My hand-painted finger labyrinth is an
energetic design intended to help you create a conscious stream of
focused thought while tracing your finger through its visual path of
color. The labyrinth is a relaxing way to meditate or pray and
provides a unique way of bringing renewed vitality and meaning to your
daily practice.
Before beginning, clear your mind of any expectation and/or desire and open yourself to the labyrinth’s magic. The idea here is to stand before it like a painter would stand before a clean canvas, letting the labyrinth be a new adventure of discovery each time you trace it. Then slowly, focusing only on your breath, begin to move your finger through the spectrum of color. Relax and enjoy the unfolding. When you reach the middle, take a moment to breathe in and out, once again focusing your attention on your breath. Scan your body for any tension and breathe into it until you feel completely relaxed.
There are six petals in the middle of the labyrinth and each one
represents a prayer. Working from left to right, move your finger into
each sacred petal and set an intention and focus upon it. (It is said
the original use of the rose in the middle of the labyrinth was to aid
in praying the “Lord’s Prayer”, with the six petals representing:
Faith, Surrender, Service, Abundance, Forgiveness, and Strength.) I
suggest you use this prayer if it speaks to you, or create one of your
own. The key is to feel engaged with the labyrinth experience. Before beginning, clear your mind of any expectation and/or desire and open yourself to the labyrinth’s magic. The idea here is to stand before it like a painter would stand before a clean canvas, letting the labyrinth be a new adventure of discovery each time you trace it. Then slowly, focusing only on your breath, begin to move your finger through the spectrum of color. Relax and enjoy the unfolding. When you reach the middle, take a moment to breathe in and out, once again focusing your attention on your breath. Scan your body for any tension and breathe into it until you feel completely relaxed.
When you have moved through the six petals, once again place your finger in the middle of the labyrinth and bask in a state of gratitude. Once you feel complete with this process, begin to exit the labyrinth in a slow and conscious manner. When you are finished, take a moment and reflect on your labyrinth experience. I suggest keeping a journal close at hand and write down any insights or treasures the labyrinth may have gifted you.
Use the labyrinth daily in a way that creates an enriching and powerful practice for your own personal use. Its purpose is to enhance your life and help to establish a serene daily experience.
The labyrinth outline is an exact replica of that in the floor of the Chartres Cathedral, France.
Click HERE to order from the MI Upper Hand shop.