"Our deeds still travel with us from afar, and what we have been makes us what we are." —George Eliot 🌸 This quote was on the front of the journal I had when I first went to Chile, over 20 years ago, on the University of California's Education Abroad program. ❤️ I spent hours with that journal, looking at the picture of Mary Ann Evans (George Eliot was her pen name), and thinking about the choices she must have made, and the choices I was making. 📖 I know this quote by heart, and it has popped into my mind many times over the years, as a friend to help me remember who I've been and to remind me that who I choose to be now affects who I will be later. 🌱 I give it to you as a gift. ☀️ May it bring you happiness as you reflect on who you have been, and may it bring you motivation to focus on what matters as you choose who to be now. 💖 #quotes #inspiration #stayInspired #motivation #rememberWhyYouStarted #youCanDoIt #quotestagram #AnswerTheCallToCreate #YourWritingMatters #KeikoOLeary #GeorgeEliot #MaryAnnEvans #publicDomanQuotes #nostalgia #thinkingAboutYourWholeLife #creativeLife #writingLife #artistLife #liveYourArt #liveAsAProtagonist #chooseWhatMatters https://www.instagram.com/p/CmuXf_3PUpz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

“There’s no Christmas without electrocution.” —Sergio 🎄 My husband said this last year, and I made art out of it. ✨ Apart from the literal truth of getting zapped by Christmas lights, I feel like there’s a metaphorical truth here. 🔌 He comes from a family of electricians. Years ago, when my sister asked him if he’s ever gotten electrocuted before, he said “Yes, many times.” ⚡️ I’m reaching for the meaning, but I can’t quite grasp it. 💡 In any case, this is a good fact for fiction. 😃📚 #factForFiction #AnswerTheCallToCeate #ChristmasLights #amWriting #metaphor #metaphorical #writingPrompt #quotes #quotestagram #inspiration #creativeLife #writingLife #artistLife #liveYourArt #liveAsAProtagonist #CreativityMatters #ReleaseYourWork #ShowYourWork #CreativeProductivity #KeikoOLeary #create #creative #creativity #productivity #handLettering #calligraphyLettering #calligraphersOfInstagram #letteringLove #postcard #letteringAddict https://www.instagram.com/p/CmpAjX1ODfB/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

“Your page is always lit by the candles of the past: You’re never alone when you write. You’re always with all those writers who have taught you to write.” —Billy Collins 🕯 #writing #writingQuotes #BillyCollins #writingInspiration #writersAreAFamily #calligraphy #quotes https://www.instagram.com/p/Ckj2v7ipnVA/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Please join us on Wednesday 9/22 for writing inspiration! Link in bio. Prolific Writers Cafe: How Do I Get Inspiration to Write? (Sept 21, 10 am PT, 1 pm ET) Free with membership. Event Description: Many writing projects are stalled waiting for a muse to sit on your shoulder to make you write your book. But what if that muse never comes? How will you gather up the inspiration you need to keep writing? Meet inspired writers and authors Keiko O’Leary and Stefanie Dumont at Prolific Writers Cafe to learn how to tap into writing inspiration to finish your book. You may discover that opening up to your inner writer will allow you to call in inspiration instead of waiting for it to find you. Register at http://ProlificWriters.Life/events Or use the link in my bio. #OnlineLiveEvent #RealHumanConversation #GetUnstuck #StayInspired #KeikoOLeary #AnswerTheCallToCreate #ProlificWritersLife @ProlificWriters @conscious_carefree https://www.instagram.com/p/Citz-yDLHq5/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Happy World Calligraphy Day! 🪶 I saw the Book of Kells when I was in Ireland. They don’t let you turn the pages, but… 😍 You can explore a high resolution digitized version online. It gives you a better view than in person, and you can zoom in. Thank you, Trinity College Dublin! ❤️ https://digitalcollections.tcd.ie/concern/works/hm50tr726 Link in bio. 🇮🇪 #WorldCalligraphyDay22 #WorldCalligraphyDay #CalligraphyDay #HandwrittenLettersAreTheBest #CalligraphersOfInstagram #BookOfKells #TheBookOfKells #CelticKnotwork @TrinityCollegeDublin https://www.instagram.com/p/ChGOJOGvkfX/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

I just got back from Ireland, a country where there’s poetry painted on the buildings, framed on the walls, even printed on the doorknob hangers in hotels. 💖☘️ Here’s a lovely mural in Sligo of Yeats’ poem “The Song of Wandering Aengus.” 🌿 #poetry #PoetryInTheWild #IrelandPoetry #poemsOnBuildings #poetryMural #WBYeatsPoetry #TheSongOfWanderingAengus #YeatsPoetry #Sligo #Sligeach #KeikoOLeary #AnswerTheCallToCreate (presso Sligeach, Sligo, Ireland) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChByo4PuCDQ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

My book comes out August 9! 📕 Here are actual photos of a real, physical copy. 🌿 You can order your own physical copy or ebook at https://books2read.com/your-writing-matters (Link in bio) 🌸 #YourWritingMatters #KeikoOLeary #AnswerTheCallToCreate #WritersOfInstagram #writers #writersCommunity #writersBlock #writersblocksucks #bynr #writingInspiration #bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg2stSoPAwS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Please support the Kickstarter for this book. Help my small press make a guided journal for parents of children born with clubfoot. Support our Kickstarter or spread the word. 👶🏼👶🏾👶🏿 Link in bio. https://www.instagram.com/p/CUYirBFvKcF/?utm_medium=tumblr

Draw a Celtic knot easily using a light-colored marker plus a darker pen. Swipe to see the process. 🦋 Thanks to the lovely @cherylracanelli for this technique. 💕 P.S. If you want more detailed instructions, let me know! I’m working on a handout, and your interest would be motivating. 😘 #CelticKnot #CelticKnotwork #DrawingTips #DrawingTipsAndTricks #AnswerTheCallToCreate #letsgomakeart https://www.instagram.com/p/CUYQoZ9PNAs/?utm_medium=tumblr

“And further still at an unearthly height, One luminary clock against the sky Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.” —Robert Frost, “Acquainted with the Night” 🌒 I’ve been seeing the moon a lot lately, although usually it’s not at night but rather early morning. 🌕 Maybe I’ll get a poem out of it one of these days. 🌑 What is a good writing time for you? 🌖 #writersofinstagram #AnswerTheCallToCreate #ProlificWritersLife #RobertFrostPoetry #moonpoetry #theWritingLife https://www.instagram.com/p/CUGruXcp5oy/?utm_medium=tumblr

If you’re a California resident, don’t forget to vote. 🗳 https://www.instagram.com/p/CTxmXOJvDwb/?utm_medium=tumblr

Creating is a way to show you care. 💖 Make something for someone specific to express your love. 🌾 I create tons of pictures of flowers because I just do that, but I created this one for someone specific. I edited it to express how I feel about my friend, and I sent it to her on her birthday. 🌷 I’m posting it here too, but that’s not why I made it. 🌌 Is there someone who needs to know you care? What could you create just for them? It doesn’t have to be big or time-consuming. It only has to be specific: from you, for them. 🌸 #sendlove #showYouCare #connect #AnswerTheCallToCreate #friendship #friendshipideas #beSpecific https://www.instagram.com/p/CTim-P9lPm7/?utm_medium=tumblr

Try this: Express your personality using only black and white and the letters of your first name. 🌷 What is this person like? 🌊 I’d love to see yours if you try it. 🌠 Graphic design project from David Carson. 🌾 #design #blackandwhite #butterfly #letterK #letterO #handlettering #AnswerTheCallToCreate https://www.instagram.com/p/CTaMkmnpHBt/?utm_medium=tumblr

Want to enhance your handwriting? Perfect for the Poetry Postcard Fest! ✒️ Instant Calligraphy online workshop on Saturday. Discover how to create beautiful lettering using any pen, even if you hate your handwriting. 🦋 Link in bio. 💌 #PoetryPostcardFest #AnswerTheCallToCreate #HandwritingEmpowerment #ProlificWritersLife #InstantCalligraphy #HandLetteringWorkshop #James #NameCalligraphy #Flourishing #FlourishingCalligraphy #CalligraphyForBeginners https://www.instagram.com/p/CSvMaJ2FJ7m/?utm_medium=tumblr

Faith is taking action even though you aren’t sure of the result. 🎨 It’s necessary any time you create something new. 🪄 Another name for faith is courage. 🌌 Swipe to see the full artwork. 🌸 #AnswerTheCallToCreate #calligraphy #lettering #rainbowlettering #writinglife #YourWritingMatters #YourArtMatters #ProlificWritersLife https://www.instagram.com/p/CSufP0kpYjK/?utm_medium=tumblr

Faith is taking action even though you aren’t sure of the result. 🎨 It’s necessary any time you create something new. 🪄 Another name for faith is courage. 🌌 Swipe to see the full artwork. 🌸 #AnswerTheCallToCreate #calligraphy #lettering #rainbowlettering #writinglife #YourWritingMatters #YourArtMatters #ProlificWritersLife https://www.instagram.com/p/CSue4yDp1po/?utm_medium=tumblr

You contain worlds. ❄️ Might you be willing to share one or two of them with the rest of us? 🌸 How about that idea you’ve been thinking about. Could you make it a reality in a small way, and let us experience it? ☀️ #AnswerTheCallToCreate #yourArtMatters #makeArt #yourWritingMatters #flexagon #flexagons #paperArt #foldedPaper #foldedBookArt https://www.instagram.com/p/CSsa1F_AJuV/?utm_medium=tumblr