Well of Creations - Funky. Hippy. Retro.

2011-07-29T08:11:00.004-07:00

Well of Creations

Welling up with Beautiful Things...

Officially beginning to focus my energy in new directions. Want to join me?

Inner Excavation: Revelations

2011-07-27T13:14:00.000-07:00

For the past two weeks I have been taking this e-course with the lovely Mindy Tsonas of Wish Studio called "This Moment"

The perfect time for me to take this course. I knew when I first started working through Inner Excavation
I needed to work through some things. The time is drawing close for my hubby to return home from his deployment. My youngest is starting kindergarten in a matter of weeks. And I just feel incredibly depleted trying to work at something or toward something that I think I still have not truly defined.

Artist? Creative? Business? Thriving? All these statements have been driving me for three years now. But to what end, I am really not clear...

Hints of Hope

2011-07-25T11:18:00.001-07:00

Creative Biz Marathon: New Directions

2011-07-22T20:16:00.001-07:00

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

This is the name of my new venture. My Creative Peace is a website which offers creativity workbooks and resources for those who are interested in integrating Creativity with Christianity in their daily lives.

I am incredibly excited about this and I hope you will be pleased by the evolution.

You can learn more about the first workbook in the series by CLICKING HERE

To check out the website: CLICK HERE

You can read previous posts CLICK HERE

To learn more about my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

Inner Excavation: Dance

2011-07-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

I have spent the last several weeks with Liz Lamoreaux' book "Inner Excavation"

However, This weekend I peeked over at Liz's blog and came across her challenge to take a self portrait and lean into what you see in the picture. I have a confession to make about what I know about myself. When I turn the camera on myself, it feels very...controlled, mechanical, unnatural. I am thinking about what my eyes are doing or how my hair looks and it is written all over my face.

BUT, when I am with my girl, the magic explodes...

Hints of Hope

2011-07-18T07:50:00.001-07:00

"I waited Patiently..." - Original Available: CLICK HERE

Creative Biz Marathon: Going Deeper

2011-07-15T08:04:00.000-07:00

The formula for a day of rest: QUIET + PAINT = GO DEEPER

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

When I woke up yesterday, I could feel the ingredients coming to together for a recipe of a different kind of day. I have a new project that I am working on with a dear friend and fellow Christian yoga instructor that is vibrant and exciting but also stretching and terrifying...

But here I was with an open heart and an open schedule...

And I am so very pleased by the results on the page as well as in my heart. I will share more soon on the continuation of My Creative Peace

I know without a doubt that the list making I implemented while organizing my business plan, the decluttering I performed a little over a week ago and the willingness to hear a new idea that I haden't thought to pursue before prepared me to sit and receive from my muse...

and move forward.

You can read previous posts CLICK HERE

To learn more about my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

Inner Excavation: From the Ground Floor

2011-07-13T07:58:00.001-07:00

Prepping my camera for this week's challenge in Liz Lamoreux' Book:

Inner Excavation

The exercise challenged me to place my camera on the ground and explore what I may be missing from that perspective.

My girl in front of our home in Arizona

At the front door of the house we go to for Sunday dinner

In the parking garage of the gym we go to

I was so excited to try this exercise and I really love what I captured from this perspective. The fun of my girl's personality definitely shows up in her shoe choices. I loved capturing the textures of the ground. But I also noticed what I have been feeling over the last weeks and months since I have officially settled back into my home in Arizona. I miss being able to walk outside our door in Germany and have nature and architecture SCREAM inspiration at me. I have been encouraged by some that "it" would come back eventually. But we are at month 11 and I am still waiting...

Read more of my Inner Excavation Journey? CLICK HERE

linking up with Studio JRU

Hints of Hope

2011-07-11T07:55:00.001-07:00

Creative Biz Marathon: Decluttered

2011-07-08T15:51:00.000-07:00

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

I have had a stack of journals in which I have collected ideas. There are about 6 of them. There is no rhyme or reason to them. Pretty little journals with random thoughts and dreams and ideas. This collection began to wear on me about the same time that I committed to writing out my business plan for the Creative Business marathon. How will I ever find the time to look through these? What am I missing out on? Do I keep re-inventing the wheel of my creativity without realizing it?

I have this same awful habit when it comes to pictures as well. Files and files of pictures on my computer. Random files simply listed by date. No wonder I feel so scattered all the time. No wonder I can't seem to think my way clear to a concise plan. I have these stacks of randomness.

Until this weekend...I look through the pages of the journals. And guess what I found? Most of them are only half way full. AND most of the ideas I am ALREADY IMPLEMENTING. And the pictures? Well that was not as clean and tidy. In fact, that took hours. LOTS AND LOTS of hours. But that too is complete.

I feel CLEANSED and ready for my NEXT STEPS...

You can read previous posts CLICK HERE

To learn more about my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

photo credit

Inner Excavation: The Joy of Silly

2011-07-06T08:10:00.001-07:00

We had a day of silliness yesterday which included donuts and books and silly faces...

We have lots of changes happening in the near future that have caused me to step back a bit from the way I have been running my business. This in part has to do with celebrating my birthday last week which is always a time when I take stock in where I am placing my priorities. I am excited to share over the next weeks how I am processing the changes. I totally recognize that the biggest change includes going back to my first creative love which is writing.

Find other creative spaces here

Hints of Hope

2011-07-04T07:23:00.002-07:00

Creative Biz Marathon: The Waiting Period

2011-07-01T13:54:00.000-07:00

photo credit

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

"For it is GOD who works in you to will and to act according to HIS good purpose"

Phillipians 2:13, New Testament of the Bible

So I looked up the following words in Biblical Greek, the original language in which the new Testament was written:

Work - to put forth power

Will - to desire, to wish, to be resolved, to determine

act (also "do") - be at work

For it is GOD who puts forth power to desire, to wish, to determine and to be at work according to HIS good purpose.

There are times where I can feel this occurring in my life and I am not happy about the process by which GOD is bringing circumstances together. But time and again I am AMAZED that while I think I would prefer to be in control of my own destiny (and to some extent I can unravel the good/hard/uncomfortable in my life) when I yield to the DISCOMFORT, the things I wish do not begin to compare to the things HE WISHES FOR ME...

So while I am feeling my momentum waning, I realize I am downright exhausted. But I have to recognize the huge amounts of forward movement I have put into place and let the seeds root down. And stop constantly gazing at the seeds.

You can read previous posts CLICK HERE

To learn more about my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

Inner Excavation: Joy for the Journey

2011-06-30T07:46:00.000-07:00

Last week I celebrated my 43rd birthday. This is me and my girl on "the day." WE were heading over to a sweet friend's house to have a yummy dinner of fried chicken, baked potato and salad. Yes, COMFORT food on my birthday!

The following day was ANOTHER friend's birthday! Her hubby was very kind to take on my girl along with their two so that we could go to a local pottery painting place.

Here is a peek at what we created...

The "meat" of this post can be found over at Joyce's lovely blog "My Pure Joy" - what a GORGEOUS name for a blog!

CLICK HERE TO READ THE POST

Hints of Hope

2011-06-27T07:05:00.006-07:00

Creative Biz Marathon: An Inventory on the Business Goals

2011-06-24T20:40:00.000-07:00

photo credit

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

ON MY PLATE AT THE BEGINNING OF 2011:

I have seriously been running and gunning over here:

I wrote a creative business plan with this group
I took over as blog leader for Etsy Homefront-military spouses who are creative entrepreneurs
I wrote a Creativity Course AND had plans to launch it February 9, 2011
I have some new products in the works for my etsy shop

TODAY:

What I was finding it that I was creating NOTHING WITH MY HANDS. And because of that it was beginning to feel like 'what is the point?' And when it begins to feel like that for me, I want to just shut it all down. ALL OF IT.

So instead... I took a deep breath and realized my limitations. I am still acting as a single mom while my mister is working in Germany. I can only do so much in this capacity. I have to say that to myself ALOT.

All this to say, I decided to pull back on offering the Creative Course as an e-course and decided instead to self publish it as a workbook. And I am getting very excited about the NEW POSSIBILITIES with this. So I say all this to say, dreams AND TIMING go hand in hand. And many times I am filtering through too much "good" things to push into the "BEST" THINGS. Because the reality is they BOTH TAKE enormous amounts of energy.

If you would like to help me spread the word about the workbooks, I have an affiliate program set up OVER HERE

You can read previous posts CLICK HERE

To learn more about my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

Inner Excavation: Finding your Inner Love Story

2011-06-22T07:20:00.002-07:00

photo credit

The first picture captures the place I am trying to get to in my heart...

The second pic is my girl showing me how to get there...

The third pic is a dear friend who is leading by example...

Linking up with Studio JRU - click here

Hints of Hope

2011-06-20T07:27:00.001-07:00

Creative Biz Marathon: Keeping it Breezy

2011-06-17T08:21:00.000-07:00

photo credit

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

Monday morning, the first official day in the new year after taking on the RADICAL TASK of writing a business plan in one day. So I left my house with a plan in my head and a song in my heart.

AND THEN...

I went to the bank.

OK did EVERYONE ELSE BUT ME know already how NOT ON YOUR SIDE THE BANKS ARE?

Here I am FIGHTING AGAINST the forces of doubt, attempting to comply with all the things legitimate business owners do ONLY TO FIND...

You actually need money first in order to open up a business account.

Hmm....

This makes ZERO sense to me. So after quite a few minutes of them trying to explain the rationale behind this little setback, I got up and moved on to the next item on my list

WHICH IS

to make money.

You can read previous posts CLICK HERE

To learn more about my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

Note: comments are turned off as I take the time to visit the lovely bloggers who have visited me :D

Inner Excavation: Where's my Poetry?

2011-06-15T19:31:00.003-07:00

Here are some pics my hubby took on our first night in San Diego. I was excited to get out of town and just take some time with our family. I was even more excited to take on the challenge offered by Inner Excavation to take some time to write a poem. The suggestions Liz offered in her book should have made this an fun exercise. Instead it became an examination of my life right now.

I have no poetry. Or I just cannot get the words out. I feel really exhausted. I think of this time last year and how every waking moment was filled with ideas and some type of art. My soul right now just feels weary. So weary that I cannot seem to get it on paper in any cohesive way that offers insight. We came home. My hubby went back to his unit. And I am putting one foot in front of the other.

*Note: Comments have been turned off until I am able catch up on getting back on all the lovely comments you all have left.

Hints of Hope

2011-06-13T10:43:00.000-07:00

So where to begin this morning...

My hubby came home for a surprise visit this past week. We got so much sun and it went way too fast. I took a break from all technology and I feel like I got my bearings back. I noticed the computer was on all the time and my tush was in the same chair way too much. I noticed that I was getting too tense about silly things. And I realized the count down is REALLY ON for my girl to begin school...

So I have started working on a new series of little girls with big hopes and big dreams and it is reminding me to PAY MORE ATTENTION...

Creative Biz Marathon: Dare You to Move

2011-06-10T08:35:00.004-07:00

photo credit

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

Moving closer...

Feeling stronger...
Committed...
My questions are more calculated...
My time is more focused..
I am FINALLY getting serious...

TODAY, I took the first big girl business steps of registering my trade name and applying for my business license. I feel butterflies all the way through the process trying to navigate the internet with information from well meaning friends who quip "oh it's easy" and "google how to start a small business." But when there are still voices within you saying why are you making all this effort? And questions on the application like "Anticipated income for this year" you wonder why you think this thing will work. But the belief has to start with ME, you know? 2011 is the year I give it a go, legitimize this thing I do with my time.

You can read previous posts CLICK HERE

To learn more about my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

Inner Excavation: On a Field Trip

2011-06-08T07:24:00.001-07:00

photo credit

So we decided to take a little excursion a couple of days ago. It was a lovely way to trick myself to trying writing poetry. I wanted to take a bit more time with the exercise so I will post my results next week.

In the meantime, here are my earlier posts RIGHT HERE

And I HOPE I am enticing you to join in.

Thanks to Liz Lamoreaux for creating such a lovely resource. Find yours HERE

Hints of Hope

2011-06-06T08:21:00.001-07:00

Creative Biz Marathon: Now What Do I Do With...

2011-06-03T07:53:00.000-07:00

photo credit

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

     So I have a confession to make. The reason why it took me so long to write my business plan is because I kind of was writing it in between the pages of about 7 DIFFERENT JOURNALS. I have filled each of these haphazardly with my random thoughts for about a year. And for some reason I couldn't seem to write these ideas ALL IN ONE PLACE.

     Today as I was making my bed I spotted them. Over in the corner next to my reading chair. And they were staring at me, asking me, "What now?" I am a bit hesitant to look at them. One part of me feels like that exercise helped me with THIS EXERCISE-a dress rehearsal if you will.

     BUT, what if there are some good ideas in there that will be locked away forever? So I am in a quandary because I already feel like I am pressed for time and I do not want to come to the end of that exploration to find it an exercise in futility. Yet I can't let them go just yet...

You can read previous posts CLICK HERE

To learn more about my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

Inner Excavation: In a Series

2011-06-01T11:31:00.000-07:00

(Read my previous posts on Inner Excavation HERE)

I am so amazed by how much fun I am having now that I have taken the "selling" piece out of my creativity. I would have never thought there was any value in simply focusing on an object from different angles but I enjoyed it so much!

I am STILL in chapter one of Liz Lamoreux's book Inner Excavation and I have no plans of moving any faster than my heart wants me to. Now I will admit that the next piece in Chapter 1 has to do with writing poetry which I am a wee bit apprehensive about. But no worries. As I let another HUGE COMMITMENT wind down today, I am looking forward to peeking into this part of me that I have not exercised before.

Anyone else reading along?

Hints of Hope

2011-05-30T08:30:00.001-07:00

Creative Biz Marathon: The Flitter and The Flutter

2011-05-27T08:30:00.001-07:00

photo credit

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

I mentioned that my business plan has sparked two great opportunities for me to move deeper into my dream to have a successful creative business. With every new step of course there is a learning curve and that curve is where many well meaning and talented people quit. So when I feel the momentum I know I need to move with it because I know that I am no one special when it comes to having the temptation to stop when the new thing seems too difficult to navigate.

So the two big steps I have taken this week is to begin marketing my e-course and setting it up as an affiliate program through e-junkie. The second step is to begin writing a game plan for submitting my art to greeting card companies. I am already on hour #4 in setting up this ejunkie program. And I have the 2011 Writers market guide GLARING AT ME begging to know when it is her turn?

BUT I am still moving forward. My energy is still high. My tenacity is taking over where "oh it's so simple" left off. Once I can mark these projects as COMPLETE I will float back to my business plan and keep plotting my course.

You can read previous posts CLICK HERE

To learn more about my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

Inner Excavation: Take A Walk...

2011-05-25T14:20:00.001-07:00

I feel like I am savoring every morsel of Liz Lamoreux's book "Inner Excavation." I know I am reading this at a time where my heart feels wounded from too much work with no return on the investment. I tried so hard when I arrived back home from Germany to immediately re-engage in the life that I had before. But I realize more and more that the life with the constant play dates and little talk about creativity or books or ideas is just one that I cannot live anymore. Let's face it (or at least I need to face it): too much sadness in the world and a continuous sense of helplessness lends itself to nothing but anger and irritation and general discontent. I want to be a part of the change we are all starving for.

So these pics are a walk through a day in my life. This day in particular was a Saturday. Josey set up her costumes for a fashion show. Then I had the lovely pleasure to meet a girl I "met" via Kelly Rae Roberts' ecourse while I lived in Germany! She is the adorable Angie Fraley of the site Om2Art. The end of our day consisted of me drooling over a beautiful yellow bike and then my girl and I on our way to grocery shop.

Anyone else reading this book?

Linking up with the lovely Studio JRU

It's Monday and...

2011-05-23T07:42:00.004-07:00

I have had a YouTube channel for a little over six months. I got onto YouTube for the same reason I got onto Facebook. Someone I respected said, "you should try this." In the case of Facebook, the person actually set up my account and ONE YEAR LATER got off of Facebook because she thought it was a time waster. Um...that was the reason I WAS NOT on facebook!

My web designer recommended I get on YouTube. So I clicked around a bit. And did little else. Then this thing showed up on my 2011 New Year Resolutions: FIGURE OUT YOUTUBE.

And finally about ten days ago, I figured it out. And NOW I understand the hype...

On another note, this clip is a promo for a great book on female bloggers called "Kirtsy Takes A Bow" - I own the book and I love the book.

Anyone else?

Creative Biz Marathon: Commitment Brings Expansion

2011-05-20T10:51:00.000-07:00

photo credit

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

In the last 24 hours:

-I got my first student for my E-course

-I got an inquiry for an affiliate program for said e-course

-My web designer picked up a new client (3 this week) which means I am garnering more experience as a project manager

The 24 hours prior:

-I was feeling the effects of the holidays and taking on a seemingly insurmountable task (like writing a business plan in 24 hours!)

-I got word that a Christmas order had not arrived though I had shipped it THREE WEEKS PRIOR

-I was feeling overwhelmed by the weaknesses in my business plan

What does this all mean to me? With my heart open and my passion strong? With the flaws exposed and the reality setting in? I still LOVE THIS THING OF MINE. LOVE IT AND WANT TO PURSUE IT....

You can read previous posts CLICK HERE

To learn more about my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

Inner Excavation Book Group: The Opening Pages

2011-05-18T07:36:00.001-07:00

I started reading (I should say SAVORING) the opening pages of Inner Excavation by Liz Lamoreux over the weekend. Part of the reason I feel like I am drawn to this book is its subtitle:

Explore Your Self Through Photography, Poetry and Mixed Media

I have never really taken the time to explore what my camera can do. I have never really explored the value of poetry. What I have explored is the value of mixed media which I AM A BELIEVER. I am still in the place in life where I only get about 20 minutes to sit down and work on a project but those twenty minutes are incredibly valuable to my sense of balance and stability.

The exercise I worked on this week is Scenes From This Day. I chose to capture an early morning with my girl. My hubby sent us beautiful flowers for Mother's Day while he is stationed in Germany. It was incredibly special to see those flowers waiting at my door when I got home. I wanted to make sure and capture the beauty of the flowers AND THE JOY it brought his girls.

I also took the opportunity to play around with some effects in Picnik: Infrared and Sepia.

Anyone else reading this book? I would love to hear your thoughts or leave your blog links in the comments.

posting at Studio JRU -click here to check it out

Hints of Hope

2011-05-16T08:18:00.001-07:00

Creative Biz Marathon: And the Journey Continues...

2011-05-13T11:28:00.001-07:00

photo credit

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

I mentioned over here that I was having those crazy doubts like why exert so much energy on a dream MY OWN DREAM, UNIQUELY MY OWN and therefore no way to tell the amount of success (or failure) is ahead of me...

This morning I woke up to an email from Bonnie Rose

and my heart was REMINDED that this work OUR ART matters

despite the hiccups and our not having it all together

despite the weariness that comes when trying to live THIS BIG THIS BOLD

It is COMMUNITY that helps us to travel FURTHER AND FARTHER even as we struggle to get it all on paper...

You can read previous posts CLICK HERE

To learn more about my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

Click here to meet other lovely creatives...

Creative Girl Group: Final Chapter

2011-05-11T07:54:00.000-07:00

photo credit

(Read the previous posts here)

This has been an incredible journey. Katharine Sise's Book "Creative Girl" was a fun read AND an inspiration. She began the book by dealing with the creative and the spiritual components of the artist's life. Then she got into the guts of the thing with the hard work and effort and energy and STAMINA needed to really have a go at creating a successful business. And then she comes full circle with having us creative peeps remember the roots, the passion, the "why" of the thing.

Sise tackles the myth of art and madness being UNAVOIDABLY INTERTWINED. She has us creatives come up with a "business plan of sorts" for our well being. We are challenged to connect with our bends toward perfectionism and procrastination. She cheerleads the idea of community and building in time to step away and get out of your head.

As you have been reading in my last few posts, I have been feeling the need to take a few steps back and breathe. It took a couple of weeks but I am feeling like ME again. I needed to do it for myself and for my family.

That said, I found a book that I feel is going to go along with this transition. It is

Liz Lamoreux's book INNER EXCAVATION

Won't you join me?

A Little Time to Regroup

2011-05-09T10:22:00.001-07:00

taken by my daughter this week

Creative Business Marathon: A Bump in the Road

2011-05-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

photo credit

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

This afternoon a customer contacted me to let me know she did not receive her product that she SPECIFICALLY ordered as a Christmas present. I FELT MY HEART DEFLATE. This is an international order which INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH shows up on my list of weaknesses. I have had this issue before where I would have the customer pay the incredible shipping costs only for the package not to arrive. For a time, I did not offer international shipping at all but decided I should give it a go and HERE WE ARE.

So, on the one hand, I feel the exhaustion from having put my HEART AND SOUL on paper trying to big dreams despite the holes in the operation. On the other hand, it makes me want to pack it up and shut it down. Why in the world does it feel so all or nothing all the time? I think part of it is I AM NOT CHARGING THE CUSTOMER ENOUGH to go through such hassles. And of course, I really do need to rethink the need for me to have to ship internationally.

So all this to say, weaknesses such as this one need to be addressed for a reason.

You can read previous posts CLICK HERE

To learn more about my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

Creative Girl Group: Chapter 17

2011-05-04T08:44:00.000-07:00

photo credit

We are finally at the end of the book. Chapter 17 is the last 'OFFICIAL' chapter that focuses on HOW TO in building your business. The last chapter is more of a recap. I will make sure and share more on that next week.

Chapter 17's subtitle is "You Are Your Own Publicist." I love this section of the book. Katharine Sise, the author of "Creative Girl" goes into the differences between marketing, advertising and publicity. I have to admit I thought marketing and advertising were synonyms.

On personal branding, Jane Lauder, General Manager of Origins (One of my FAV companies!) says:

"Creating a brand is like creating a story and there's value in telling your story over and over again. Sometimes you're too close to your product and what you may think is repetitive hasn't even scratched the surface of becoming clear to your customer. It's vital to get feedback so that you're sure your message is shining through. "

This one piece of information has prompted me to begin meeting every Wednesday with two other local business women and FOCUS ON branding. This fits nicely into Wednesday's post transition since the completion of the book is next week. I am super excited to get started.

Anyone else out there picked up this book and begun the process? I would love to hear!

CLICK HERE TO READ ON PREVIOUS CHAPTERS

I Feel Inspired (Lately)...

2011-05-02T16:55:00.002-07:00

My girl set this display on her art table and asked, "Mom can I have some paint?"

And she began to paint...

The results...

This also gave mama a chance to work on some new things...

What's inspiring you (lately)...?

This post is linked to Studio JRU this week: CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT OTHER CREATIVES

Creative Biz Marathon: Dive Deeper in Strategizing

2011-04-29T10:13:00.000-07:00

photo credit

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

I mentioned how I have a very long list of weaknesses which I have finally acknowledged are getting in the way of my success. Little nit picky things that would aid my product development to run more smoothly which I just haven't disciplined myself to just sit down and implement...

Thanks to The Creative Entrepreneur I have taken that list and brainstormed ideas on how to strengthen each of these areas. This three step process includes:

Brainstorm things that need to be done to strengthen your business
Pick one and rephrase it into a tangible and clear objective
Strategize how to meet the goal/objective you have set forth

I love this idea so much I actually went out and brought a large spiral notebook and listed on each page the weakness I had listed. I will knock each of them out one page at a time via this process. I am indeed feeling the excitement rise as I move into my future.

You can read previous posts CLICK HERE

To learn more about my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

Creative Girl Book Group

2011-04-27T20:52:00.001-07:00

New in the shop: crocheted necklaces with inspiring messages

I have been having internet issues for the last few days so I wanted to put a quick post to say I will resume the next section of chapters for Creative Girl by Katharine Sise next week.

In the meantime, I leave you with one carrot: PODCASTING

Click here to read previous posts on the book

Also, I am linking up for the first time to Studio JRU for Sneak Peek Friday- check it out:
CLICK HERE

It's Monday and...

2011-04-25T11:05:00.000-07:00

 New and Improved Workbook (and official!)

So I am pretty excited by this new development! I re-worked the title on the workbook and assigned it an ISBN and VERY SOON you will be able to find the workbook in the places you purchase books online. This is something I am so pleased to finally complete. The milestone is one that I want to just sit and rest in for a bit (oh who am I kidding?).

So we have another Monday and I am joining in the the Homefront Blog Monday Meetup. Anyone can join in! Just take the questions and answer them on your blog or fan page and leave your link over on the Homefront blog. Then be sure to go around and peruse some new blogs.

OK HERE WE GO:

1) What is your most treasured possession?
I have this desk that my hubby bought me as a housewarming gift when we moved into our first house together. We had been married for about a year and had just gone through our first deployment together. I kept bawking at the price and he basically INSISTED I would have this desk. The desk is still in storage from when we were in Germany last year so I have not seen the desk for over a year. This is one of the things I am looking forward to having back in my home.

2) What was the best gift that you gave to someone?

This is a tough question! I think it is a wood piece with an elephant carved into it that I gave to my friend Erica a few years back.

3) If you are having a "crafter's block" and finding it hard to get your craft on, what helps you get out of that?
Any of my regular readers want to answer this? HANDS DOWN the children's section of the library!

Creative Biz Marathon: Chapter 4

2011-04-22T09:48:00.000-07:00

Robin: Chapter 4

photo credit

"Put into YOUR world what you wish were there." - Pauline Rose Clance

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

I love the comments in the SWOT analysis area of this book: "Strengths and weaknesses cannot be the same." LOVE IT. You know how when you go to a job interview and you get that question about listing your weaknesses and you say something that is a masked strength?

"I care too much"

"I am committed to staying until the job is done, no matter what"

"I put others first and don't need the accolades; all that matters is the job was done right"

This was the GET REAL section: is your idea plausible? Can you really make a profit from what you are doing? What is it going to take really?

I will admit it: I had quite a long list for weaknesses. The good thing is the weaknesses are within my control to change. And I am committed to changing them. I had no startling revelations. I have realized there was work I needed to do in order to give this business a real shot. It does not help that an hour after I did this exercise I had a meeting with my first boutique who said something to the effect of "our purchases will probably taper off after January." Of course that makes sense. After Christmas, retail plummets. But it just made me realize the hustle is on and THE HUSTLE IS NECESSARY. If indeed I REALLY DO want to succeed...

You can read previous posts CLICK HERE

To learn more about my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

Creative Girl Book Club: Chapters 15 and 16

2011-04-20T17:15:00.001-07:00

Custom Invitations: Hula Hoop Themed

It's amazing how when you have resolved to keep moving forward, though the obstacles seem insurmountable, you can find the stamina to keep moving forward. I have had the chance to begin dabbling in custom invitations this week and it has been fun just to play. As you have probably heard me mention in the past, I love children's books. So the idea of making some fun invitations geared towards kids is a nice fit. Of Course I did not come up with this on our own. This is the beauty of etsy and its convo system. Sometimes you get requests to try JUST TRY.

So onto Chapters 14 and 15 of the book "Creative Girl" by Katharine Sise. Chapter 14 deals with getting your ducks in a row tax wise and setting up your business whether it be as an LLC or sole proprietorship. There is a gem in the midst of this chapter about where to go to find out what's deductible for your business: search www.irs.gov and look up "Schedule C" to find a checklist for write-offs.

Chapter 15 tackled the myth of the Starving Artist and really challenged me to think of ways to become a THRIVING artist. What jobs am I willing to take that offer exposure but may not offer money. At the same time, which jobs am I willing to take that may not work in my passionate realms but help supply monetary resources to keep the business going forward. I love this bottom line:

"You have to pay attention to and pursue what's sellable about your creativity if you want to make a living." (p. 235)

Read notes on earlier chapters here

Hints of Hope

2011-04-18T16:12:00.000-07:00

I feel a lot of things are out of control right now. Good things that I committed to that are taking more energy than I expected. And over the last few weeks I have asked for help and have been met with answers like "you are the mature one, you can handle this."

Here's the thing. If I could handle it, I would not ask for help. For so long I have been able to "handle" it and then SUDDENLY I can't. I am tired. I have been in deployment mode with my family for almost three years now. And I am TIRED.

Why not just give up the business? Because the business seems like a calling to me. A calling to spread hope in the midst of troubling circumstances. My heart is on my sleeve in my business like it is in my life. And right now my life's commitments are breaking my heart.

So I took one hour last week and I sat down and I created this piece you see. And It bought me joy. The process. The patience with myself. The reminder that this too can offer value to the world. Unconventional? yes. But not Ridiculous. And maybe this is all I have to give right now.

Creative Biz Marathon: I am An Artist

2011-04-15T11:43:00.002-07:00

"Stepping into my Life" - Rachel Awes

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

As I worked feverishly on this Creative Biz Marathon at a table in my local Starbucks, I heard the words, 'you are always here working so hard." I look up to see a gentleman that I have seen often at this Starbucks. And he is right. I am like a madwoman when I come here to work. I am a military wife whose husband is deployed. I have no family ties here where I live and I have a 5 year old who is not in school yet. She is enrolled in preschool for nine hours a week so, after drive time, I have about 7.5 hours to get done whatever I need to get done for this business I am building. So the insanity of working a business plan in 24 hours - well that was about all I could spare so BRING IT ON!

Anyway, I let myself breathe a moment and chatted with the man for a few minutes and then he asked the question: What do you do? And for the first time EVER without any HESITATION I said,

" I am an artist."

You can read previous posts CLICK HERE

To learn more about my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

Creative Girl Group: Chapters 13 and 14

2011-04-13T21:45:00.000-07:00

Now Available: Funky String of Pearls

I mentioned over here I did a craft show over the weekend. It was a complete bust. I put my all into the transformation of my 2009 table to reflect where I envision my business to be moving towards. Unfortunately, I will have to admit that in all the excitement, I did not ask enough questions. What I found when I arrived at the venue was that the environment was filled with resellers and with people who represented companies like Pampered Chef and Scentsy, both wonderful companies but not necessarily the same group that would be interested in what I am offering. I also did not question the fact that one of the two days that I paid for was Friday during the day and not only that, but the shutdown time on that day was 6pm - wouldn't this be when the shopping begins? Again, I did not take stock of the amount of wasted energy and unproductive hours and unprofitable use of time something like that would ultimately be. I left there completely aware that I would not be doing these types of settings again.

So the lovely thing about all this is that Chapter 13 of Creative Girl by Katharine Sise challenges us to structure a business plan. I had put one together while working through this book but this weekend's event was a great opportunity for me to go back and rework how I will take my work to the public. I truly want to expand past the Internet but the reality is that shows like these run anywhere from $45-80 just for space, and many times the vendor also has to give back 10% of sales. So it is a no brainer that I need to be more selective with my decisions in this area. Interestingly, this chapter also talked about having an "Exit Plan" for your business in the event things turned out to be unprofitable. I will tell you honestly that I was really taking stock in the WHY of my business this weekend. This was on the heels of the potential government shut down which would have affected all military families not getting paid so this was NOT a fun weekend.

Chapter 14 got into the specifics of HOW to set up shop, addressing issues like logos and trademarking as well as business policies and customer serivce standards. This Chapter ended with some straight talk on really defining the type of boss you want to be.

I KNOW! JUICY stuff, right?

Read the Rest of the Series Here

It's Monday and...

2011-04-11T07:41:00.000-07:00


Views from the Craft Show I participated in this weekend

I completed my first craft show SINCE 2009 over the weekend which in a nutshell was #FAIL! I will discuss my thoughts on this more in Wednesday's Post for Creative Girl Book Group so come back if you want to hear more.

Anyway, it's Monday and time for another MILITARY HOMEFRONT blog hop. Every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month, a team member posts questions which ANYONE can answer on his/her blog and post a link back over on the Homefront Blog. ANYONE can participate!

Ok on to the questions:

1. Where is your favorite place to go for inspiration?

The Children's section of the library. I love looking at the brilliance in children's book. I admire how one is able to communicate through words and pictures. It fills me with hope and reminds me of how quickly circumstances change: bad as well as good.

2. What is your most embarrassing moment as an operator of a small business?

I would have to say this weekend's craft fair. I will share the moment on Wednesday.

3. What is one thing that you have to do everyday that you dislike?

Seriously it is DOING THE DISHES! I hate it so much! And I know I should use my dishwasher but there is something in me that wants to wash the dishes by hand. Can you see the disconnect? So I wait until the end of the day and I do this marathon dish washing where I turn on the music and PLOW THROUGH.

Looking forward to reading your posts! Add your post CLICK HERE

Creative Biz Marathon: Chapter 5

2011-04-08T08:20:00.010-07:00

photo credit

 (These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

The finish line my friends! Ah...feels so good to be here. I have a notebook FILLED with ideas and excitement and promise and encouragement and

VALIDATION...

Before I put my ideas on paper, it was just this thing that rattled around in my head. So many times I would go to write these things down but something stopped me..

.FEAR.

Fear that I would come to a question that I did not have the answer to. Well guess what? That did happen during this exercise. But....NOT AS MUCH as I thought it would. You see over the past year I have been thinking about this. I have been actively and consciously thinking about and asking the right questions and I guess on some level FINDING ANSWERS.

So 24 hours later, I am now armed with this information that gives me a REAL SHOT at success. The next few days I will spend reliving the questions and thinking more deeply into the answers. But for now, I will just be PROUD OF ME.

Go ME! Go YOU!

I am at this boutique Friday and Saturday. Click the ad on the right hand side of the blog for times and location.

You can read previous posts CLICK HERE

To learn more about my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

The Event

2011-04-07T09:03:00.000-07:00

I am 24 hours away from my first vendor event in two years. I have a huge amount of adrenaline pumping through my veins. I am spending time thinking about the details and prepping as much as I can and then I will settle in and have fun with it! Click the tab on the right hand side of the blog for more details on the event.

So promise PROMISE I will be back on my reading schedule next Wednesday for the Creative Girl Book Group but in the meantime you can catch up earlier posts by

CLICKING HERE

I Feel Inspired (Lately...)

2011-04-04T10:29:00.000-07:00

By dreamy views...

and butterflies...

and inquisitive girls...

My girl and I took a little excursion on St. Patrick's Day to the butterfly garden over at Desert Botanical Garden. This was a pretty special day for a couple of reasons. First, it was the first time my girl took out her 'big girl' camera to take pics of her own. And Second (and i think in LARGE PART because of the first reason) I felt inspired to take some pics. I mentioned OVER HERE my loss of "mojo" in this area. But the beauty that was all around us and the rest that I finally took away from SO MUCH work on the business was a breath of fresh air.

What's Inspiring you (Lately)?

Creative Biz Marathon: Right Brain/Left Brain

2011-04-01T08:45:00.003-07:00


From my journal pages

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

Having to connect with each dimension separately of how I feel via questions and lists and then cumulatively as I created my mandala definitely brought some STRONG realities to the surface. Over and over again what came up is WHERE IS MY PLAN? I mentioned in my earlier posts my love of business. For me this endeavor does not work unless it is grounded in reality. I really do need to see that the risks that I am taking are calculated. In art of course, risk produces lovely new and innovative expressions. But in business miscalculated rick costs time and money; both which are EXTREMELY LIMITED resources for me. I need to know if this thing is gonna work, this business thing of mine. Or else, let's call it what it is: A HOBBY.

To learn more about my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

To see my previous posts CLICK HERE

and Remember...

Sale is this evening April 1 - click tab on the right hand side of the blog to learn more...

HInts of Hope

2011-03-30T08:19:00.001-07:00

Planting Seeds...Available NOW

Oh my goodness you guys! Are your heads spinning with how I prune and then sprout SO QUICKLY. I do not how it happens but I am telling you as I make room for change, GOD does not disappoint. So I am taking a hiatus this week from Creative Girl Book Group to let you know two things:

I will be at this event April 8 and 9 in Mesa AZ so I am prepping like CRAZY for this event. Lots and lots of nervous energy (I think I can I think I can...)

And don't forget my items are a part of the Nice Girl Blog notes Facebook Sale on April 1 - click the tab on the right hand side of the blog for more details.

If you need to catch up on my notes from The Creative Girl Book Group's first twelve chapters:

CLICK HERE

It's Monday and....

2011-03-28T10:47:00.000-07:00

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

I have two big things to share today! First of all, I am SO VERY PLEASED to announce that the lovely Roo of the infamous blog Nice Girl Notes is featuring 25 etsy military homefront team members (including me!) who have agreed to take our best selling items and mark them down 30%!

To look over the rules for being a part of the sale, check out any of the highlighted links.

Second thing: The lovely Deb of Lilac Ave is transitioning out of the role of Etsy captain of the military homefront team and I have the HONOR to be taking the reigns along with my co-captain Robin of Creations Anew.

Finally (ok I guess there were three things!) head on over to the Military Homefront Blog for our quarterly blog hop and make new friends and learn about some new blogs.

How's your Monday?

Featured over on A life Unrehearsed

2011-03-26T14:35:00.000-07:00

Don't you just LOVE the name of Bonita Rose's blog? I am honored to mention that I was invited to be a part of her Inspiration Interview series.

You can read the post over here

Creative Biz Marathon: What's in Your Head?

2011-03-25T07:50:00.000-07:00


From my journal pages

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

"This new opportunity we are moving toward sets up an inner conflict between where we are and where we want to be. If that conflict becomes intolerable, we relieve the pressure either by lowering out standards or by abandoning the goal altogether." Creative Entrepreneur, p. 69

I cannot tell you how much this one sentence is taunting me, nailing my thoughts to the wall and DEMANDING that I make peace with what I want to do with this turmoil. Take the easy way out? Haven't I done this so many times before? Haven't I said I wanted to be unique, blaze my own trail? I want to appreciate the everything experiences of my life and give my take on them to the world. A take so DISTINCTLY MY OWN that it would lend value to what I have to say, what I MUST DO.

So I keep moving through the work and I keep plotting the course before me, no longer wanting to be haphazard and random about my life. KEEP MOVING FOWARD...

To learn more about my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

To see my previous posts CLICK HERE

Creative Girl Book Group: Chapters 11 and 12

2011-03-23T08:07:00.003-07:00

(Read about the first 10 chapters here)

Alright friends I am back on track and truly taking stock of all the busy busy and assessing well... is all that "busy" really doing ANYTHING to advance my business.

Chapter 11 of the Book "Creative Girl" by Katharine Sise challenges you with this question:

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO WORK FOR YOURSELF?

I have to tell these last few weeks I was beginning to wonder if the answer to that question is "NO!"  I think I was letting things get out of control by casting this wide net with so many opportunities going on at once.  And my rationale was since my hubby is deployed why not fill my time up while I can and hopefully advance the business so that when the hubby gets home I can relax and reap the benefits of the work.  The problem?  Many things WERE NOT ADVANCING the cause.  The section in this chapter titled "Get Ready to Be Your Own Boss" helped me to see I was not being a good boss.   I needed to clean house.  And so I did.  And guess what? I feel happy.  I am waking up without this whirring sound in my head of all the things ALL THE THINGS ALL THE THINGS...

I have also added to my reading pile as a result of this chapter: "The Business Side of Creativity" by Cameron S. Foote.

Chapter 12 titled "Birth the Creative Baby"  helped me to fall in love with this baby called Well of Creations again.  I LOVE IT.  I love where it is going.  I love what I am learning about myself.   

What about you?  Are you reading along?  Leave your notes or your blog links in the comments.  

photo credit

Finally Got around to...

2011-03-21T07:25:00.001-07:00

I put together my first treasury this week. I did not realize how FUN AND EASY it would be. I believe I may have started something...

Creative Biz Marathon: Chapter 3

2011-03-18T09:13:00.001-07:00

Sensing Function - from my journal

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

The sensing function is definitely my most predominant area. The one I need to fine tune a bit more is the acting function. The words I wrote in the acting function area were filled with lots of revelations about my self. I find quite a few DESTRUCTIVE ACTIONS in that area which include:

eating emotionally - I had NEVER CONNECTED this before to my need to gain control in my circumstances and my spaces of uncertainty.

maintaining a chaotic, disorganized workspace as a form of sabotage (I KNOW I cannot work well in that type of environment)

Isolating myself when I find my circle of friends misunderstand the changes I am attempting to make in this new arena of my life.

I wrote, "My problem is I need to come out of trying to convince my group of friends/acquaintances about what I am doing as the right decision at this time in my life and start CHARGING towards the seeds planted of new lovely relationships via Kelly Rae Roberts' course."

To learn more about my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

To see my previous posts CLICK HERE

Hints of Hope

2011-03-16T15:38:00.000-07:00

"Stability" -available here

I am taking a little reprieve from Creative Girl Book Group this week to just sit and reflect. The two chapters for this week deal with what to do once you decide to take a crack at starting a creative business. I am using the chapters as a gauge for how my business is doing at this point. I hope you are getting some good information from this series and if any of you are reading along, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Click this link to read my thoughts on the first ten chapters.

It's Monday and...

2011-03-14T07:38:00.000-07:00

New Styles of Wrist Cuffs and Tattoo Covers in the Shop

I am starting out this week feeling like I am FINALLY able to breathe. I have felt overwhelmed integrating the daily chores and responsibilities of running a home and socializing with play groups and girlfriends. I know it is almost hard to believe, but the six months I lived in Germany I really only played with Josey, cleaned the house and waited for my hubby to come home because I had no transportation. To integrate play dates and church and reconnecting with friends has been more than I felt I could handle some days. BUT this week, I have cleared a path. And I am so happy to see flat lands of "nothing on the agenda." AHHHH....

OK, so it's Monday and time for the MILITARY HOMEFRONT TEAM'S set of questions:

1. What song is your personal anthem? If you don't have an anthem a favorite song will do.

There is this song by Switchfoot called "Dare You to Move" and it is my life's anthem.

I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened before

Welcome to the fallout
Welcome to resistance
The tension is here
The tension is here
Between who you are and who you could be
Between how it is and how it should be

2. What is your favorite ride at an amusement park?

I have always had this "romantic" idea about ferris wheels. I had never been on one until this past Thanksgiving. I got on the ferris wheel with my little girl (I know! her first time. MY first time!) This is when I came to the reality that I am DEATHLY AFRAID of heights. I do not know how I have gone 42 years without realizing this but I DID.

3. Where is your favorite place to go for supplies?

There is this cute little shop we found in France and I was in love with EVERY DETAIL from the layout of the shop to the products they carried. I bought an watercolor pad because I just wanted something to take home that I would most definitely use for a special occasion. And it is ON THAT PAPER that I created the originals for a collaboration I am doing with a friend on a children's book. More details to follow VERY SOON...

Now it is your turn! Take these questions, answer them on your blog and link up with us OVER HERE

Creative Biz Marathon Series: Guides

2011-03-11T11:00:00.004-07:00


From my journal pages

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

My biggest sources of information for exploring my creativity are books. The very first creative book I read from cover to cover was Twyla Tharp's Book The Creatve Habit which let me just live this idea of a creative life in the form of lists. Lists and Questions have definitely been my biggest vehicles for getting at this thing. Julia Cameron and The Artist Way was another huge spark for thinking. I would read about creativity for many years before I ever got the courage to act on it.

Reading blogs really gained momentum during my time in Germany because I many times had only access to a computer when weather or transportation hindered any outside connections. The Wish Studio and Kelly Rae Roberts were the main spaces I went to in order to dream of this life I was wanting for myself and then one day FINALLY I took the steps...

To learn more about my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

To see my previous posts CLICK HERE

Creative Girl Book Group: Chapters 9 and 10

2011-03-09T14:23:00.001-07:00

Crocheted Driving Gloves added to the shop

(Click here to read the posts on earlier chapters)

Chapters 9 and 10 of the book "Creative Girl" by Katherine Sise focused on preparing for the job interview in a mainstream Creative job and THEN what to do once you land the job. It was very interesting to rethink the dreaded questions you get in the process like "what are your strengths and weaknesses" and the sticky nature of the answers you or I give. One thing I took away from Chapter 9 is that it seems like the old stigma of having to dress in that traditional business suit has been done away with a bit. The author encouraged the reader to let a little of your personality come through in your wardrobe. I like the reasoning behind this. When you go into this process, you do want to make sure to let your boss know a bit about what he/she is getting you as a potential employee. I think wardrobe is one way of assessing whether each is a good fit.

I liked the concept in chapter 10 of continuous learning. I think this is incredibly valuable in owning your own business as well. I think a part of minimizing the risk of becoming stagnant in your work life is to continue to look for "the interesting" in the work you are doing or the industry you are involved which ultimately helps one to find passion where it can be found.

Anyone else reading along with me? Put your comments and/or your links in the comments and I will be sure to stop over.

CLICK HERE to read Sonya's take on these chapters

Hints of Hope

2011-03-07T15:45:00.000-07:00

So hard to discern sometimes whether or not difficulties in our lives are indeed reasons to slow down and change direction or if they are simply there to test the value of what it is we are striving for. I think that this "dance" will always be a part of life and for sure I think it is definitely easier for me to recognize. But MAN OH MAN, SOMETIMES... could it be a bit... well...EASIER?

Creative Biz Marathon: Mandalas as a Business Tool

2011-03-04T08:00:00.005-07:00

Robin's Mandala


Notes on the Mandala

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

I got to admit this: I was ABSOLUTELY skeptical about this exercise. I have mentioned how much I love making lists. I just really could not see what difference it would make whether I left my thoughts in list form or created the mandala.

BUT, I committed to experiencing this project FULLY and one thing I know I needed to so is remind myself how many times I have gotten at some revelation once I tackled the problem by another means AKA creatively!

I am sitting here right now looking at the original version and I am STILL AMAZED by how all these HUNDREDS of ideas I have that were floating around in my head are now down in one COLORFUL PLACE. I can place it in my work space and it offers a QUICK BOOST of support and encouragement when I am tackling the not so fun parts of business. It reminds me that I have a plan in place and I am working TOWARDS SOMETHING...

To learn more about my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

Creative Girl Book Group: Chapters 7 and 8

2011-03-02T10:06:00.002-07:00

CROCHETED fingerless gloves available now

Chapter 7 of the book "Creative Girl" helped me work through those daunting fears I have rallying around any new idea I try to implement. What an obstacle fear can be! Many times I recognize it for what it is and I am able to hold it at bay. The reality is that operating a handmade business where the majority of your sales depend on how much you are marketing...well YOU!... can turn into a bit of a nemesis, especially in those times where you might be doubting yourself.

I like the quote this chapter started with:

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage" Anais Nin

My greatest fear has to do with whether or not I have the stamina to market and promote in the manner you MUST when you are starting out. The reality is that at some point I should be able to gain some momentum because I am learning more efficient ways to market and to produce and to integrate new ideas. But I know I could not spend the hours and hours I spend now for the rest of my life. That would be ridiculous! There is a point where doing what you love has to find balance within a normal life, one that includes family and social engagements. For right now, I have INCREDIBLE wiggle room because my hubby is deployed and I do not sleep well. But there will come a day that this will all change.

Final words on Chapter 7:

"Don't be so obsessed with making the exact right step that you paralyze yourself from moving forward"

Chapter 8 dealt with putting together a resume which did not really pertain to my situation at this time. What I did like about the chapter though is the section on finding ways to build in the experience you need in whatever field you would like to forge out a career. In that way , you are working toward that day when you might need to craft your resume.

What about you? Leave your links in the comments if you are blogging along with me and I will definitely come by and visit.

READ SONYA'S THOUGHT'S OVER HERE

It's Monday and...

2011-02-28T07:55:00.000-07:00


Josey's "Tattoo"

My little one and I had an interesting conversation over the weekend. She explained to me that "when people are younger they like to write on their bodies." Then she continued, "you know mom like Jerry has stamps on his arms." Jerry is my 21 year old son (22 this week!) who recently has been designing and implementing half sleeves on both his arms. The stamps Josey is referring to are of course his tattoos. So prepare yourselves mommies for this day when your kids may decide to get tatted! I tease a bit but I actually like the ones he has chosen because he is using his original ARTWORK on his arms. As a creative mama, I can't help but be proud.

OK SO....IT'S MONDAY AND time for another Monday Meetups originated by The Homefront Team. Twice a month, questions are posted that you take back to your blog and then link back and we all come around and get to know each other better. It is open to everyone so once you check out my answers, take a few moments and answer them and leave your links over here.

1. Are you an Urban, Suburban, or Rural living fan?
I used to think I would like living in the wide open spaces that Rural life offers thinking that the isolation would be something that I would relish. When we moved to Germany, isolation was indeed a HUGE part of the package and while initially it was kind of nice to be able to clear the clutter of an overactive mind and lifestyle, I soon found that I DEFINITELY prefer a more urban lifestyle.

2. Do any of the above types of places inspire the creative side of you?
Great question! I really think the urban life suits me. I love being around interesting things and diversity of people and cultures. I think it challenges me to constantly redefine what I think of as beautiful or interesting and helps me to be a better thinker and a better human.

3. If you could live anywhere (jobs and money not a factor), where would you live?
Hands down San Francisco with some jaunts to Napa Valley. I am chuckling a bit with this one because I just did an interview over the weekend with Deb of
Lilac Ave and this is something that came up (you can read more here)

OK, ready to link up?

Creative Biz Marathon: Management/Value/Profitability

2011-02-25T13:04:00.001-07:00


Managerial Prompts


Value/Profitability Prompts

"The nature of entrepreneurship is the desire to innovate and offer something new, possibly something not yet financially proven in the marketplace."

Lisa Sonora Beam, The Creative Entrepreneur

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

I am a manager at heart. I love to create order out of chaos. So the nuts and bolts of a thing once they are nailed in place, really help me to thrive. When I cannot see my way clear to the place I need to go, I feel very aimless AND I use my time wastefully almost as a means to SABOTAGE where I am going.

What I love most about the section on Value and Profitability is that the questions offer the challenge of PRACTICAL DREAMING. Questions like what "astonishes my customers" and How would others "evangelize my products" offer just the right amount of whimsy to get at the root of the question:

IS THIS THING GONNA MAKE SOME MONEY?

To learn more about my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

Creative Girl Book Group: Chapters 5 and 6

2011-02-23T17:59:00.001-07:00

Josey and mama at the Renaissance Festival last week

So here we are at Chapters 5 and 6 of the book Creative Girl. Here is the link to my friend Jane's blog to find her take on these two chapters.

The chapters offer practical journalling prompts which aid in your decision to make a move from your current job or stay put and start slow in your "off time" until you are sure you have a handle on how your lucrative your idea is. I am coming from a different perspective in that our family made the decision to live lean and get debt free while my hubby is deployed. So what I am prepping for is when my little one starts school in August. The reality is we have been treading water so our little one would not feel abandoned with one parent gone for months at a time and the other working full time. But the time is coming when that will all change.

That said, I did take VERY SERIOUSLY the prompt to list what you don't want in a job. The reality is that the struggle to find ANY job is one where we need to be grateful for what we are able to get. I think for me I took this exercise to mean if I am going to go through the trouble of starting my own business, pouring hours upon hours into its success, what am I willing to endure? These three things I came up with for sure:

I need to create a business that thrives on innovation. I cannot produce the same thing OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
I need to have social contacts; some outside connections with others who are involved in small business but also others who are completely UNRELATED to what I am doing so that I can take a mental break.
A job that offers variety in its tasks so I am not constantly drudging through the tedious.

Another great question is what does success look like/what kind of life opens up for you when you make the plunge into owning your own business:

more calculated use of my time
becoming more strategic about where I want my business to go
less "busy" work
trust my intuition

Here is my friend Sonya's link

Feel free to add your links to your blogs if you are reading along with Jane and I. I would love to come by and see your thoughts on these or other chapters of the book.

Hints of Hope

2011-02-21T07:47:00.000-07:00

I cannot EVEN BEGIN tell you how exhausted I feel. Life has kind of hit a reset button for our family. We spent last week with the mister and we pretty much ran ourselves ragged trying to make up for 3 months without each other. In a way this is a good thing because it bolsters us for the reality that we may not see each until this deployment is over which isn't until September. Rough stuff to say the least.

So this week it was my pleasure to choose the topic for this week's Inspiration Avenue Challenge. The topic is "Breathe" which is exactly what I need to remind myself to do. Slow down, make more efficient choices. Take stock. The words in the piece "give way" came from our visit to Gibraltar last year. On the round abouts, signs were posted with these words and even then the words held deeper meaning for all the transition we have been through these past two years.

Do you want to play along? Post your submission over HERE and return to the site on Sunday to see all the entries.

Creative Biz Marathon: More Thoughts on Chapter 2

2011-02-18T07:57:00.002-07:00

Journal Pages - Gifts/Flow

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

I love how a stream a questions help you give value to do it is you are accomplishing and how you are assessing/redirecting/trusting your instincts. I find that I LOVE LOVE mixed media work and when I have an idea it comes INCREDIBLY QUICKLY which for some reason my head places LESS VALUE on it. I have taken on a mentality that if you are not COMPLETELY hating the task at hand, you must not be working hard enough.

IRONICALLY, I had to take a moment to reexamine some of the WHYS of my product line. I first started making a large tote bag - it is actually my first product that I got incredibly positive feedback on. The problem: they take an incredibly large amount of time to make! AND I cannot get the price point to the place where it should be so that it is WORTH the time I am expending. So in other words, people like it BUT NOT ENOUGH to pay the actual value of it. I have to let go of the idea that somehow I OWE THIS PRODUCT all this time because IT was the first one that produced success in my business.

BUT is it really success when I cannot get the right price for the labor and materials?

To learn more on my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

A Look Inside...

2011-02-16T07:15:00.003-07:00

I am taking a bit of a breather from Creative Girl book group this week but I will be back in the swing of it next Wednesday, I promise! In the meantime I wanted to give you a peak into the My Creative Peace Workbook.

It's Monday and...

2011-02-14T07:45:00.000-07:00

Josey's Valentine Hearts for Her preschool class

The 2nd and 4th (sometimes 5th) Monday of every month, The military homefront team blog posts questions on their blog that you can take, post and answer on your blogs and THEN LINK BACK HERE so that we all can come around and visit.

This adventure is OPEN TO EVERYONE! You DO NOT have to be a part of the Homefront Team. We just ask that when you leave your link here, you TRULY have a post that pertains to the set of questions.

So here goes...

1. Do you like to celebrate Valentine's Day or do you cringe at the thought of Cupid?

For the eight years my hubby and I have been married, I have CRINGED AT the thought of this holiday. My hubby was served divorce papers on Valentines Day. It has been such a shadow over this day despite the fact that it happened 8 years before I came along. Tough stuff, right?

2. Are you a flowers or candy kind of person? Or do you prefer something handmade?

I am a card person-surprise surprise! I ADORE WORDS. And if it is a handmade card with words... ALL THE BETTER!

3. What's your most memorable Valentine's Day story?

It would be this year HANDS DOWN. I can now let the cat out of the bag and say that my hubby decided to surprise our daughter and come home on leave from the military FOR VALENTINES DAY. I know! SWOON.......

OK YOUR TURN, Head over here and post your link!

Creative Biz Marathon: Chapter 2

2011-02-11T07:28:00.001-07:00


Robin's Journal Pages - Heart and Meaning

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

I began my creative business back in 2009 with the intention of offering something different than what I had seen around me. From there, it began to evolve into what I see written on these journal pages. Every item that I make is done in a one of a kind, unique, MADE FOR YOU fashion. I now put messages of hope on the items I create which is something that has evolved over the last year.

The #1 thing that makes my heart sing is TO WRITE. And my writing has also experienced a revolution. I am realizing that the right word placed on a product or a mixed media piece SPEAKS VOLUMES. I have discovered blogging and HAVE A PASSION FOR IT. These are cues that I have been following through on unconsciously not realizing that it is part of a wider business model.

To learn more about my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

Creative Girl: Chapters 3 and 4

2011-02-09T08:14:00.002-07:00

Fingerless Gloves back in the Shoppe...

You would think that as many creative business books I have read in the past year, I would reach a point where I have a solid formula in place. Alas, this past week I again came to some realizations about how I am spending my time. I will admit it. My prices in my shop for my items have not been in line with the reality of how much time and care I take to give each individual who chooses to purchase an incredibly special connection. So what tends to happen is I rush around with my mind all over the place because there are not enough hours in the day for the way I run my shop and the way I price my goods. Does that make sense?

Ok so onto the book. Which actually I have been talking about I guess since this all came as a revelation to me as I was reading chapter 3. This chapter challenges you to find your "Creative Happy Place." Truth be told, if your creative energies are no longer flowing beautifully into the other areas of your life, you (I!!!) need to redirect my focus.

Chapter 4 challenges you to take those revelations you got from chapter 3 and write down a clear plan of action on how to regroup PLUS encourages you to begin seeking out mentors/peers and asking them for assessments of your work and the direction you desire to take with your business. I know!! This book is rocking.

So this morning, I already feel lighter, having given myself permission to take back my creative business and work it more efficiently. Anyone else got some revelations this weeK? Leave your comments and/or share your blog link where you discuss this section or any other section of the book.

(FYI: The book is Called "Creative Girl" by Katharine Sise. Feel free to join in. I blog two chapters a week on Wednesdays)

Check out Sonya's Take on Chapters 1 and 2

Find Jane's Take over here

Hints of Hope

2011-02-05T07:37:00.004-07:00

"Loves being on her game..."

I finally got a chance to join in on the weekly challenge over at Inspiration Avenue.

The theme this week is "Shine"

What a bright and hopeful way to start the year. I definitely think this year is starting out well and truly hope yours is shaping up the same way. If not, think about what you need to do to make that turn, veer away from discontent and toward peace...

Join us over at Inspiration Avenue and show us your take on "Shine"

Creative Biz Marathon: Chapter 1

2011-02-04T07:05:00.001-07:00

photo credit

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

I wrote a bit about my prep work to start this amazing journey OVER HERE

Today I find myself feeling the magnitude of what I am doing. I am applying myself to "this idea I have." I am validating it by taking the time to commit it to paper. The reality is that I have spent many years ENCOURAGING OTHERS to live their passion that for some reason I never taken the time to make the investment in for myself. Somehow I felt it less selfish to help others. Now I realize it was fear on my part. How much easier is it to risk on SOMEONE ELSE'S dream. How easy it is to live vicariously through their successes.

What I realized more clearly this year more than any other is that when others realize their dreams that maybe YOU HELPED THEM TO REALIZE, they tend to forget that you were a part of the process. And maybe it is as it should be since they did have the vision and they did have the capability and I/YOU was/were just the gentle breeze that they needed. But when genuine happiness for the other turns to resentment, it is time to investigate the change of heart.

For ME, my heart was saying, " Your turn..."

To learn more on my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

Creative Girl: Chapters 1 and 2

2011-02-02T16:39:00.000-07:00

I had my sweet friend Jeanne take some pics of me this week. This is actually a big week for me. A year ago January 31 I boarded a plane to Germany where I truly deepened in my creative and spiritual life. It is just amazing to be here, knowing the things I have gone through and knowing how GOD fostered a deeper sense of value for living a creative life...

So I started reading through Chapters 1 and 2 of "Creative Girl" by Katharine Sise. I have read quite a few creative books this year. But this one is giving me a greater intensity for approaching this lifestyle as a means to also provide for my family. Having a creative career however calls for the same things as any successful career needs: an unfailing work ethic and strategic planning. In Chapter 1, Sise talks about mining all of the skills that you have offered in other job settings and "apply them to your next career step (p. 16)." Many creatives have found that the key to having success is to diversify the revenue streams for your career. Chapter 2 builds on these keys and reminds us to celebrate not simply destination markers but mini victories that happen on the way to the goal; those unexpected surprises that validate the path you are on.

I gotta tell you everything about these two chapters feels like I am reading this at just the right time. I got a couple of things in the works that I am excited about and I hope that I can have the courage to really move into them because they are uncharted territory for me.

So the plan is I will journal my progress in this book on Wednesdays. Meet me here and if you are working through the book with me, please leave a link in the comments. I will be sure to come around and, who knows, maybe someone else will be helped by your journey as well.

AND don't forget to check in with Jane who is also going through the book with me: CLICK HERE

This Moment...

2011-01-31T07:02:00.002-07:00

Starting Monday January 31, 2011 The lovely Mindy Tsonas of The Wish Studio will take her students on a 5 week journey toward "living the dream of your life by loving the life you have." This is my second e-course with Mindy and I am SO EXCITED for this one to begin...

There's still time for you to join in: CLICK HERE

Creative Biz Marathon: Gathering the Tools

2011-01-28T07:18:00.001-07:00

photo credit

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

So I mentioned in my last post that my work from the first three chapters was put together on airplanes. Here's what else you need to know. I KNEW that I was going to work through the book in kind of an odd setting so I prepared a spiral notebook with swatches of paint and fabric, inspiring sayings cut out of books, and pretty pens and markers. I knew when the time came where this was not simply this fun idea but would call for me to DIG DEEPER, I would need to fall back on COLOR and SURPRISE on the pages as they turned. And I will tell you that I was QUITE amazed at how some sessions, the exercise lined up PERFECTLY with what I had randomly put on the page during prep times (of course there were other times where it just seems WACKY!). AND SOMETIMES I did an exercise out of order because something I stuck on the page put me in the space to tackle the work more effectively.

OK SO...

My tools included:

5x7 spiral notebook

colored gel pens

random scrap book paper

random swatches of fabric

eagerness

determination

To read more on my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

Hints of Hope

2011-01-26T07:22:00.001-07:00

Are you feeling it in your life too?

The way you used to be, the places you used to go that were once comforting are now...well...not so much.

Are you in one of those times where you don't quite know what to do with yourself?

Wait..Hope..Hold On..

It's Monday and...

2011-01-24T11:45:00.001-07:00

Josey and her new feathers obsession

It's Monday and I guess you are getting used to me having my hands in a bunch of projects right? Well I mentioned to you a few weeks back that one of my goals this year is to get more involved with other military families because let's face I am RUNNING ON FUMES and need the support. Well we started a feature on the Military Homefront Blog called Monday Meetups where anyone with a blog can link up and answer a series of 3-5 questions. So here are this week's questions:

1 - Are you a night owl or early bird?

I am definitely a morning person. Though lately I have not been sleeping well. The months are definitely feeling like they are dragging on with hubby's deployment and I am so looking forward to seeing him for a week in 20 DAYS!

2 - Share one thing on your bucket list.

One thing on my bucket list is to go on a honeymoon with my husband. I know! Can I still call it a 'honeymoon" when we will be married 9 years in October? When we married we had two teenage boys and no money and he deployed within the first 4 months of being married. And I was thinking maybe I would count our visit to Germany for six months as the honeymoon but we had our little girl with us so I decided nah!

3 - What’s your favorite thing about yourself?

I try very hard to connect with people on a deeper level. When I ask someone a question I truly want to know the answer. The downside of this of course is (a) I SUCK at small talk and (B) I hate large crowds.

So speaking of connection...

I met via blog hopping a wonderful kindred named Jane. We got to talking via blog comments and email and decided to go through a creativity book together called Creative Girl. Upon talking further, we decided to see if anyone else would like to join in. So let us know either by way of our blog comments or email if you plan on joining in. We plan on posting our thoughts and then linking together beginning Tuesday February 1, 2011.

OK, so link up on Monday Meetups OR join us for Creative Girl Book Group. Hope to see you guys around.

Creative Biz Marathon: Clearing the Fairy Dust

2011-01-21T07:45:00.001-07:00

photo credit

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

Approximately 48 hours to go before we begin this magical adventure (yes it really does feel like that before the hard work begins!). I wanted to let you know a couple of things before the ball drops and we begin this marathon together:

1. I have an ABSOLUTE LOVE of business - My undergrad is in business and I am fascinated by what makes businesses succeed and fail.

2. I am a list maker - I have lists of lists about other lists about a list that I need to make (and I am not kidding!). So for much of this I know I will lean more on my comfort of making lists when the going gets tough in the creative component of putting together a business plan. I LOVE how beautiful the pages look in The Creative Entrepreneur

yet I know that my strong suit is LISTS.

3. I got a head start - About a month ago, I took my book on a trip overseas and worked on it while flying internationally. I put in about six hours and got through the first three chapters. This is my chance to finish what I started. I will tell you that SURPRISINGLY the work came INCREDIBLY QUICKLY onto the page because I was ready to FINALLY put it down on paper.

Alright, now we are ready to start.

To read more on my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

Back in Stock: Fingerless Gloves

2011-01-19T10:48:00.001-07:00

Wish Fingerless Gloves - now available

Thank you guys so much for the really COOL response to this new item in my shop. I have loved making them! I just wanted to leave a quick note here to let you know that I have more styles available now:

CLICK HERE TO SEE

I Feel Inspired (Lately)...

2011-01-17T07:17:00.001-07:00

By gingerbread houses... I know! I am a bit late with this one. But I just got this picture from a dear friend and this is one of those sentimental moments where I am reminded that as a girl I never built a gingerbread house. So the fact that my girl got to build her first one this year is just plain COOL

By Friends... who see you need a hand and lend you one. I still needed to Christmas shop but was having a hard time juggling running a business, being mommy and trying to take care of the normal houeshold duties since the "extra" pair of hands (my mister) is in Germany. Enter this dear woman who offered to take my girl to this event. So so COOL...

by Reunions... THIS girl was one of the MANY reasons Josey was homesick for Arizona while we lived in Germany. She loved having the time with her and her momma.

What's inspiring you (lately)?

Creative Biz Marathon: Ready to Fly?

2011-01-14T08:05:00.001-07:00

photo credit

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

As an Almuni of Kelly Rae Roberts Flying Lessons E-Course I have learned to feel the intensity that comes with a new adventure and simply note the feeling rather than FLEE for safety. This is what I am feeling this morning. I want to take out my book The Creative Entrepreneur and BEGIN and at the same time I am already preparing my heart for failure. Doesn't that seem silly? Pessimistic? Practical? Normal?

BUT...this morning I remind myself what a great catalyst anticipation can be. The momentum is just what I will need to get through the "want to quit" feelings. So I remain patient and I do not even LOOK at the book. And I let the anticipation build...

To read more on my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

Wish Studio: On my 2010 Wish List

2011-01-12T07:36:00.002-07:00

You know the little wishes that you have in your head about when this happens or that occurs, you will feel like you are on the right path? Well one of those "little things" (read BIG THINGS!) came true. I was featured this week on Mindy Tsonas' beautiful space called The Wish Studio. Check it out by CLICKING HERE.

The First Ten Days of 2011...

2011-01-10T07:16:00.001-07:00

"Lucky...Wish...Fingerless Gloves-Various Styles Available Now

I have seriously been running and gunning over here:

I wrote a creative business plan with this group
I took over as blog leader for Etsy Homefront-military spouses who are creative entrepreneurs
I wrote a Creativity Course AND had plans to launch it February 9, 2011
I have some new products in the works for my etsy shop (like the ones above)

If you would like to help me spread the word about the workbooks, I have an affiliate program set up OVER HERE

Creative Biz Marathon: Preparing to Begin

2011-01-07T07:30:00.002-07:00

photo credit

(These are excerpts from my Creative Biz Marathon Journey )

"I can feel the anticipation building as I prepare to begin this crazy, whimsical challenge to live more deeply into my creative business dreams. 2010 has been a year of practicing the title of this new life. 2011 I hope to connect with the identity behind these baby steps.

My heart feel light and air today. I feel the wings on my back wanting to spread wide and soar high. I know I am built for the beginning of things. But I want to truly prepare myself for the long haul. And that is why I am here..."

To read more on my fellow artist entrepreneurs: READ MORE HERE

Hints of Hope: Float...

2011-01-06T07:02:00.000-07:00

The Creative Biz Marathon Journey Continues...

2011-01-04T07:45:00.001-07:00

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Thank you for following the first 24/7 (24 hours, 7 days) of The Creative Biz Marathon. We are so glad you've joined us in this space. Now that the first 24/7 of this journey is coming to a close, we're super-excited about following this journey / our hearts / our biz dreams even further in 2011! In fact, we've been so tremendously blessed by this experience that we aren't stopping now!

Here's how you can continue to follow our journeys...

1. Join the CBM email list. We've created a handy sign-up process that will allow you to submit just one email signup form to join each of our email lists. You'll be free to leave at anytime if you so choose. We're sure you'll stay, though, because we're on a roll and can't be stopped! Please visit our Email Signup form here.

2. Follow each of our personal creative biz blogs, and look for the "Creative Biz Marathon" tags there. We'll be tagging CBM related posts with a "Creative Biz Marathon" tag on each of our blogs (below), and would be honored if you stopped to visit.

Sonya's blog (Sonya Mac Designs)

Alease's blogs (School of Creative Business) (Alease Michelle Studio)

Laura's blogs (Strategic Online Marketing) (Dreamy Design Works Jewelry)

Kelly's blog (Kelly Thiel Studio)

Robin's blog (Well of Creations)

3. Continue to visit the Creative Biz Marathon site...When we planned this marathon, things focused around the first 24/7 and a 6-month check-in. Over the course of the first 24/7, we've decided that there's simply too much creative-goodness going on here to delay further postings and check ins. Of course, the most activity will be taking place on each of our own blogs, so be sure to visit our personal blogs as well (see #2 above). There will be lots of updates and goodies with you here in the coming days/weeks/months. Plus, we have a few very special posts planned for our 6-month marathon check-ins that you won't want to miss! We've added an RSS option for those who prefer to read posts in a reader.

Have you Heard?

2010-12-30T10:26:00.000-07:00

the website

5 creative entrepreneurs took on a crazy task on December 27, 2010. We set aside 24 hours to write a business plan using The Creative Entrepreneur as the jumping off point. Then for the next seven days, we dialogue about the revelations we came to and the tasks we have set before us.

Would you like to peek in on the work?

Newest Endeavor: Etsy Homefront Blog

2010-12-26T07:09:00.001-07:00

I AM SO PLEASED to announce that I am serving Military Spouses/Entrepreneurs by DREAMING NEW DREAMS together over at the Etsy Homefront Artistry Blog

One of my main objective is to offer an INSIDE look of the role creativity plays in military families and allow for the families to raise awareness about what it takes to handle/survive/THRIVE during a deployment situation and for some (Like me) MULTIPLE deployments.

Won't you join me in supporting these lovely HEROES in their own right?

BLOG

FAN PAGE

I Feel Inspired (Lately...)

2010-12-22T07:33:00.001-07:00

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Inching closer and closer to the end of 2010. I am thinking about things in my life which were once locked away from my AWARENESS but now...

photo credit 

Doors have been opened and THIS NEW YEAR I will walk through them a bit more boldly than I did in 2010.  More and more I understand that courage is not about the absence of fear but the AWARENESS that things that need to change can only happen when I agree that the old way of doing things is no longer an option leaving me no other choice but to walk through. 

photo credit

The keys to my life changes are in my hands.  I could put it off and choose to hide in my own life and maybe no one will even notice.  But will I be able to hide now that AWARENESS of a different way of life been introduced to me? Maybe I could just GO FOR IT!

What things are inspiring you (lately...)?

(p.s. take a look at the revamp on my WEBSITE when you get a chance)

2011 in Flight

2010-12-19T07:38:00.001-07:00

Want to Join Me?

Where do I begin with this new venture? You could blame it on Kelly Rae Roberts e-course which I took during the summer. Or you could blame it on the months of introspection that I talk about over here during the year I spent living and learning to thrive in Germany.

This notion of Creative Peace is one I have gone back to over and over again over the last two years. I know that when I started this "idea" of living more creatively and then trying my hand at a creative business, the movements were always with a twinge of self doubt; as if I was living someone else's life. Was a creative life one I could actually attain?

The answer is a resounding YES! Now that this is settled in my mind and heart, I would love the opportunity to walk alongside you as you do some traveling yourself.

Learn more here... 

The Birth of a New Idea

2010-12-17T06:31:00.000-07:00

"Love Life" -Available for IMMEDIATE shipping

This quarter I introduced the iPad Backpack as kind of my kickoff for the business settling into the U. S. market again.

 "The Colors of Love"

Also, I brought back the large book totes which were a staple of my shop last holiday season. And it is from these two decisions that a creative customer asked if I could make an iPad carrier messenger tote style with the colors of this tote?

 I say all this to say: GO past the initial fear of trying to figure out all the details of a new line and hear the whispers of that NEW THING....

What new items are you offering that are the result of customer requests?  Leave your links in the comments. 

Expectation

2010-12-15T10:57:00.000-07:00

This piece came together pretty quickly. It is my first time on canvas which I have to talk about in another post. Why did it take so long for me to move from found and discarded objects to an "official" canvas. Also curious is the fact that I normally only work within a 5x7 space so when I picked this 11x14 canvas at the local craft store, I had to fight back the fear to GO BIG. When I finished the piece and hung it on the wall, I noticed that it wasn't that big after all...

The words "She expecting." I got from a scrap book stamp that I saw in a bin as I was waiting in line. I figured it was probably having to do with baby showers, but you know what? It doesn't have to be!

This is my submission for Inspiration Avenue's Weekly Challenge: BELIEVE

Has anyone else felt this kind of fear? I would love to hear and if you have blogged about it, leave the link in the comments so others can learn from you as well.

the Ride

2010-12-13T07:41:00.001-07:00

Me, Josey and My lovely friend Misty 

2010 is charging toward the finish line and the goals that I set in place are coming together one crazy step at a time. All that you have heard about building a website is TRUE:

1. IT IS hard work - pure and simple. The things you decide to leave out and the things you attempt to convey takes hours and hours of assessment

2. You have to know what you want - What a great idea to have all your content housed in one place. What does that mean other than now you have oodles of rambling information ABOUT YOURSELF. This is a bigger hurdle to get over than you might imagine.

3. When it is done, you will still think there was more you could do - yeah I almost can't even visit my own site because I ATE, SLEPT, BREATHED, BLED, DREAMED about it for 90 days not to mention the months prior where I spent my time getting up the nerve to do it. You know the "who do you think you are fight?" I was having it DAILY

Me and Josey on a bronco that was moving WAY FASTER than 25 cents should allow 

Alright so, with that said, take a look at

THE WEBSITE

Peace

2010-12-10T09:53:00.002-07:00

"Fill Your Well..."

This week's challenge over at Inspiration Avenue is PEACE...

Peace can seem so elusive sometimes. One minute you are experiencing it with every breath, every moment. Other times you feel like you are chasing dreams. My heart in business is all about helping others experience that feeling of peace through words of encouragement, through community, through grace. The source of my peace is talked about over HERE

So tell me, what's brings you peace?

Things Coming Together...

2010-12-07T07:04:00.000-07:00

One Wing Boutique

I sheepishly walked up to the door of One Wing Boutique Saturday night hoping to catch a glimpse of my items that are now being carried here!  I had a good excuse because the tree lighting ceremony for Chandler was going on RIGHT BEHIND ME.  

Inside the Store 

It was amazing to walk around and feel the excitement of the groups coming in to check out this new boutique. I felt myself walking around like I was in a dream.

Debbie Thomas Brewington and Lisa Miller - Owners of One Wing Boutique

So how did they find out about me? It was through a customer that saw me at my very first boutique. I am still a bit in shock by this. Because of all the traveling I did this year, I was unable to really gain traction on the 3 craft fairs I participated in in 2009. And then with with the extended stay in Germany and the customs issues that came along with trying to sell internationally, I was unable to really "grow" my business like I had envisioned.

And yet...about 10 days before I left for our travels in November. I got an email from Debbie. And here I am... I am so grateful for the support that I have received from people all around me that as I did what is best for my family, I have not been forgotten; GOD has not forgotten.

Thank you guys SO MUCH for your continued support.

Now, here's the info on the boutique ;)

Web site 

FaceBook 

Twitter 