A.R.

You are a very special person, and there is just so much I want to tell you! I do hope there is no limit on the characters to type on this message! ;)

Today, I would like to tell you that you helped so much! I had a terrifying and stressful root canal done to my molar, and just to think on the drill noise I feel pain again! BUT, today I had the inspiration from your blog, and the beautiful pictures you so Lovingly share with all of us. I went to that beach where you found the heart-shaped-rocks. I don’t remember the name of that place, but the heart on the sand, and the tranquility of the water helped me so much to relax! I really wanted to share this little personal experience with you, give you thanks for the candid spirit that you have, and for being so brave to share yourSELF with all of us.

B.

Thank you for taking all the right paths to get to where you are, sharing your love of nature and lending us a few truths we should reflect upon. God has surely blessed you!

S.J.

I just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed exploring your blog and website recently. I so reasonate with your sharing for beauty, silence and creativity. I also discovered in looking at the craft archives that I had been totally inspired by one of your articles in Somerset Life – the Grace Notes book – and actually made two as gifts for really good friends of mine. I loved doing it and it was such a great idea. So this is just a line to say a huge thank you for all you share and actually for who you are.

P.

First, I never visit blogs. But I was so inspired by your article in the recent Somerset Life issue, that I had to write to you. In the last two years I have gone through a lot of personal change. I also have a chronic illness that I must nurture everyday.

Your words and your blog are encouraging and bring hope to me, that I can create the life I want to live. I am a “secret” artist, always worrying about expressing myself through my creativity. (…) Thank you from the bottom of my heart for inspiring me to bring all that is beautiful and that can be expressed into my life.

S.C.

Monica, I just read your blog about your True Home and as I sometimes say, “There are no accidents”. It was just what I needed. I have been trying to write out my Christmas cards and have been delayed due to feelings about our home that was flooded in June, 2011. It was a historic 101 year old home that is across the street from a river. The river overflowed and brought water into our home… for 6 weeks up to the ceiling. We are rebuilding, as it was completely gutted inside to the outside walls. We hope to be mostly completed with the main floor by next summer. It has been so sad to lose what was our home. Your quote about what a home really is brought so much peace to me and inspired me to realize that my/our home is wherever we are. It comes from our hearts and is available to all we love.

S.P.

I am from India and I have been reading your blog for the last 5 years. I don’t know why it took me so long to write this note, but I so much love your blog and your work. It inspires me so much.

It enthralls me to read your thoughts, and how violently peaceful they are.

T.L.

Mostly I want to tell you how much of an encouragement you are to me. Truly. Your words and your lifestyle. Your sense of self and how you create and portray the beauty around you! When I come to your blog, I feel such peace and rejuvenation. Thank you thank you thank you, my friend. Your art is so lovely and inspiring. I know I told you all of that before… but it continues to bring such joy and refreshing to my spirit and soul that I want to tell you again.

J.F.

I still cannot believe that you did such a sweet kindness for someone you do not even know. You have taught me a great lesson. It is one I will carry with me and remember.

Thank you again. Those words simply can’t express all the love in my heart for you and for the kindness you showed a complete stranger.

R.

I feel that Source uses you as an instrument for me.

A little guidance and cheerleading, verbally…

R.F.

Cara Monica, il mio cuore gonfio di gioia ti ringrazia perchè nelle tue parole la mia energia si è alzata. Disegnare solo per i miei occhi, come mi ha scritto tu, mi ha aperto una grande porta sul mio cuore. Mi ha permesso di entrare e guardare con occhi nuovi.

Come te vedo il bello ovunque, in un filo di erba, nella pioggia che cade quando guido e nel colore che intingo con l’acqua. In questi giorni l’Energia del creare si sta muovendo anche fuori di me, mi stanno chiedendo delle piccole collaborazioni ma per me sono grandi.

Non sai quanto bene mi hai trasmesso e ciò che più conta non ho più il pensiero di essere sola.

VIA IG

Thank you for all your authentic wonderfully raw posts, they are so inspiring and help me feel and realize I am not alone!

J.F.

I have subscribed to your blog for quite a while, and I have to tell you that I so admire your courage to pick yourself up from one place and sink down roots into another place. a place that awakens your muse and fills you utterly. A place where you are continually inspired. Where you have found such peace and contentment…..so much so that it shows in the art you produce. I think that is so remarkable.

M.B.

One example of something you taught me was how to experience all of these: Nature, a picnic, journaling and photography. I finally realized I needed a good backpack. I just ordered one. I am so slow to figure out how to live and do activities that fill me up with joy.

A.B.

Blog adorabile, tra i miei favoriti.
Occasione unica per “lustrarsi gli occhi” e spolverarsi l’anima.

B.A.

You once sent me one of your heart rocks, and I kept it on my desk beside me every day. A few years ago, one of my dear friends lost her only child. I knew it was time to share the heart rock with her to help her. Your gift has a ripple effect. Now it is touching three spirits- yours, mine, and my friend’s.

M.B.

I will not forget the time in the last month when my heart was breaking and you stepped in to help ease the pain.

J.W.

One of my favorite posts ever- in sharing your beliefs, your efforts, you spur me on to do the same, to ask myself these questions, and to do the work myself!

VIA IG

Your  IG posts are so thought provoking, raw and honest. If someone did want to understand where you are, this is a wonderful place to begin.

via IG

I just wanted to tell you that I’ve been following your IG account for quite awhile now, and I’ve regularly felt both touched and inspired by your honesty and willingness to be vulnerable. You deserve praise for your artistic talent as well (of course!), but it is your humanity and rawness and your search for all the beauty life has to offer that really makes your IG account one of my very favorites.

E.M.

Your posts these past few weeks really touched me- they always leave me thinking a little deeper. Thank you.

M.B.

I want you to know that you have made a HUGE difference in my life. I am slowly, but surely, seeing and understanding how God made me. This year’s purpose is to find my Joy again and have a breakthrough and a purpose that gives me peace.

K.K.

These words, Monica, I think and live them but you share them and bring them to life. I’m sure you are touching so many with these!

J.W.

I think you just may be the cleverest person I know, and I love your honest approach to everything you do.

D.R.

I just wanted to thank you for your blog. I came across it and many things you write really resonate with me. Especially the post on stretching yourself in a healthy way. I have been consciously trying to make some major changes in my life right now and have been experiencing many emotions (mostly good, some scary) and some of the things you say have been helping me. Thank you :)

M.B.

Fabulous work, what an inspiration you are. It always astounds me how you reach into our hearts and place our dreams in front of us, thank you for being the artist you are!

Thank you for enriching my life and making me see possibilities in everyday things as well as slowing my pace to savor the gifts of life as they are presented to me.

VIA IG

You have so much wisdom to share. So glad I found you.

Your work is amazing and I love what you do… your blog posts showing your creations and your photography are TO DIE FOR!

L.

All the days you spent in England were just to prepare you for your next step… you needed some “me” time and space to prepare. Now you’re not only flying, you’re flying at warp speed!

I found you in Somerset Life magazine. I loved your article and photos. You are truly blessed with a wonderful talent.

You have given me such rich encouragement, and I don’t think you have any idea how much it means coming from someone whose art, and heart have inspired me so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

J.F.

You have a way of reaching out across time to connect to people.

You put sooo much amazing detail in all you do!! That’s why I love and admire your work so much!

You have a way of writing a post that makes me happy and makes me think all at the same time, and I love the added inspiration of your photographs and art. I always come away from your blog with a fresh take on something!

T.P.

Your words are enlightening.

M.O.

a true artist. full of heart.

one who touches souls.  inspiring.

encouraging. supportive.

moment capturer.

giver.

These words describe my friend, Monica, of The White Bench blog.

J.F.

You are a great example of perseverance.

A.

You inspire me every time I visit. You amaze me with every captured moment and every beautifully delivered quote.

I respect, so much, your true openness to life and its experiences, happy or sad, and your willingness, without hesitation, to share these personal events. You probably do not realize how great the personal and positive impact you have on others, spiritually, professionally, artistically and compassionately.

You are always the first blog I visit because I know that my day will start out on a good note. I will be able to handle what comes my way throughout my day.

K.

Goosebumps! As I am strolling through your blog…then meandering over to your store… jumping back to your blog, I am FILLED with joy.

I can scarcely believe that this amazingly confident, self-assured woman is “My Monica”. Your talents are, of course, mind boggling… they always were, but your spirit has strengthened in a way I always prayed it would.

E.M.

I wrote a post just now and wanted to thank you. Because of you being so open about your personal growth, it gave me courage to be open about my own.

Thank you so much for sharing. It really does touch others- me especially.

H.

I’m really starting to view being sensitive in a new way since meeting you! I’m starting to recognize it’s strength, so thank you.

J.

I love your life and your freedoms and your ability to create for yourself and others. Beautifully done. Beautiful life. I am so proud of you. Each Christmas I hang the little snowman ornament you gave me and cherish it more every year. You taught me to be generous to a stranger. You are never far from my thoughts or my heart.

A.

Monica, a million and more thanks for the peaceful thoughts and visuals you so graciously share. They have become a ritual in my days to encouraging a better and more fulfilled me.

M.B.

I wanted to reach out to you to let you know that you and your work has lighted my way. I couldn’t figure out where I belonged in this world and where my creativity belonged. I was a late bloomer and the only thing I could figure out was to keep playing. Every time I saw what you were doing with your creativity it was a sign of keeping playing and what might be done with my play. Honestly, I don’t know if I would have ever figured it out if I hadn’t found you.

A.

I really, really missed your posts while you were discovering more of yourself. I didn’t realize how much I needed the selfish indulgence of your artful eye and the beautiful encouragement in your words.

K.

My Sweet Monica… when I am desperately in need of comfort, I meander over here. I am (nearly) speechless and overcome with pride and joy for the blessings that God is bestowing upon you now that you have opened your heart and your spirit with complete abandon. You deserve EVERY beautiful thing that is being gifted to you and SO much more.

F.

Such an inspiring post, to print, hang on the wall, and read again and again!!!

The creative, joyful ooze that runs freely from your site is an inspiration. May your gratitude journal be bursting at the seams now that summer is nearing an end. Thank you for all you are!!!

Just seeing your blog makes me smile.

L.A.

I never seem to have enough time to wander through the halls of the artists I admire. Once again I am inspired by your work, creativity and stunning photography, always makes me want to run off with my camera in one hand and paint and papers in the other.

I missed checking in to see what you were up to and for my daily dose of artistic and photographic bliss.

Monica, your blog just exudes loveliness, and I just want you to know how delighted I am that I get to share in it.

I have honestly fallen in LOVE with your blog!

You have a warm spirit, and an enchanting eye for beauty that brings joy to all who are blessed to partake of it!

You are most certainly on the top of my list as one of the most inspiring bloggers and artists I’ve met. Thank you so much for the inspiration!

Love your blog. Everywhere I go there is a lot more to see. What a beautiful work you do.

Your blog is one I will be following and passing along to my blogging sisters!!

I bumped into your site and have spent almost 2 hrs looking at the wonderful things you have made and shared. I just wanted to thank you for your efforts in putting this together and inspiring so many people.

A.B.

I am inspired to dream big because of you, my friend :)

K.V.

Your head and heart must be both swimming with creative ideas, Monica!

B.A.

Monica, you were already a star to me, but now it is official.

C.

I just wanted to say how much I am loving your vlogs on your blog.

B.

I am so moved by these, Monica. What an incredible gift you have and share with us… one of many I have come to adore from you.

J.S.

Thank you so much Monica for all the precious thoughts you share in your blog posts. I always find deep nourishment for my soul and heart in your words. Thanks a million!

C.

You have changed so much, it is SO visible to me. Always so inspiring to me to keep growing. Tricky to say what it is… I think in how you write, how you see the world, how more open you are to life… years back you were more like I often am still, living in a safe cocoon, more on your own, less outgoing with others. You are more trusting in the world, in yourself, in your journey, etc. if this makes sense. You come across more at peace, more vibrant. You have always found joy in simple things, but you seem even more filled with joy.