crafty fanny

becoming unstuck

It seems that these days, metaphor is all around me. The other day, I even said to myself, "Life is like a box of chocolate." Seriously? Forrest Gump, y'all. (And, yes, I know that statement is in fact a simile, thankyouverymuch Mr. Joey Hill-AP-English-Teacher-Extraordinaire)

Yesterday Maggie spent the day at the vet getting spayed (she's recovering quite well btw) and I happened to have to day off. An unexpected day off + an empty house with no puppy = time for me to get to work on my new favorite thing: painting. 

About 30 minutes into my work, I realized that the lid to my gel medium was stuck. Like for reals stuck. I tried and tried to open it and nothing I did worked. Hot water didn't work. Grippy lid-remover things didn't work. Nothing y'all. Not even my super-human upper body strength.

I thought about giving up. I thought about stopping. Perhaps this was a sign that it wasn't meant to be? Yes, I thought about quitting. For about a second. But I was so intent on making my patchwork giraffe that I refused to not keep going. So I picked up the container one more time and gave it all I had.

It's as if I don't know my strength, because the jar slipped out of my hands, fell on the floor, the lid fell off, and gel medium (which is a paste-type substance) splattered everywhere.

Oy. So, naturally, the first thing I did was grab my camera so I could blog about it. You're welcome. And then I started to think about becoming unstuck. How I did whatever it took to get past the stuckness. How I tried everything I could to become unstuck and then it just happened. In a way I never expected. In a way I never would have anticipated. In a way that could have just made things worse, could have ruined my good mood. But I kept going, laughed and cleaned up, and knew that I had gotten some insight into becoming unstuck. For myself.

This is a big step, my friends, a really big step. 

And the giraffe is absolutely adorable. Pics soon!

your ideal life?

What does your ideal life look like?

I think one of the first steps on making a change is identifying what you are changing towards, what it is that you want to become. The specifics of the results you will see: how will you feel, what will you wear, how big will your smile be?

As most of you know, I have been on a journey of changing my life for a while now, but I finally feel like this journey is picking up momentum and movement is starting to occur. It's feels good. It feels like it's happening the way it is meant to be. And that is a lovely thing.

In working with my life coach (more on her and her awesomeness later!), one of my assignments was to write a letter to myself a year from now looking back on the last 12 months. In this letter, I got very specific, highlighting all of my goals and accomplishments and how it felt to actually achieve them. (I would highly recommend doing this, btw, it was a fantastic experience.)

As a step further, I've started thinking about where I want to be 5 years from now and doing some meditations to that end. I just try to envision snippets of my life, with the trust that it can happen, that I CAN actually make these changes for myself.

Yes, I know it's totally hippie, but just give it a shot, or not. No pressure :)

Here's what I see for myself in 5 years: I'm an artist, and I am creative every day. I am supported in my art by my family and friends, but also by a greater community, both emotionally and financially. I laugh. All the time. I play. I am at ease with myself and know that I am able to make the best decision for myself -- no second guessing. I have a family. I spend my time surrounded by the people I love and our lives are full of joy. I help other people find their paths and be their creative selves and live their lives with joy. And I know that I am still at the beginning of my journey, that this path will continue along for my lifetime and that each day is another adventure. 

Do you have any thoughts on what you see for yourself in 5 years? I'd love to hear about it in the comments. I think that there's something so very powerful to sharing these things with others (or even just saying them out loud!).

(Print available in The Love Shop)

On getting organized...

I am home from a few days up in the Portland area visiting my VERY pregnant friend and soul sister, Nicole. Now that I'm home and without any trips/retreats/workshops planned in the forseeable future, it's time to get focused and organized on my creative journey to make being creative my full time job! Whoa -- that's right, my job. Won't that be the best job ever?

Step 1 (or really step 1,000, 'cause let's tell the truth: I've been on this journey for a looong time): Get my space organized.

My confession for today (hey! It's Friday!): I am only pretend-good at being organized. I'm the kind of person who works really really hard to get a room put together and then everything looks great...until it's time to actually start a project or do something useful in the space. Then it all falls apart, and I have to start over again. This is a seriously not-fun cycle.

My space is the office/spare bedroom/guest quarters/painting studio in our very small house. This is a space that needs to be easily cleaned and easily used. I know myself and if I have clutter, I won't be able to go, to do, to create. Isn't it interesting how physical clutter can really weigh us down mentally and emotionally?

So, here's my question to you, readers: What do you do with all that stuff that you keep around for "someday?" Specifically: magazines. I have so many back issues of Martha Stewart, beloved Domino and Blueprint, and ReadyMade. I really hate the idea of parting with them, but are they just clutter?

Do you have a method for organizing and storing magazines? Especially when space and storage is at a premium? Any creative ideas for dealing with all the paper?

what's your sign?

How awesome would it be to have these Jonathan Adler Zodiac pillows on my couch (first spotted via I Heart You)? Super awesome, that's how awesome! 

I think I need these on our sofa to ensure that Tim and I are fully represented in our home!

For the record, Tim's the Libra, and I'm the Scorpio. I think we balance each other well. Or, really, he balances me well!

friday's confession

I've always wanted to dress like Donna Reed.

When I was young, I used to watch her show on Nick at Nite and loved how she wore fun, swooshy dresses. 

I think that I might actually realize this dream as an adult, because Modcloth has a ton of dresses for sale that will help me live out this fantasy.

 

 

 

Click on each photo to link to the actual dress.

So super cute, right? I can just picture myself wearing one of these under my adorable apron, baking cookies and talking to Maggie while I wait for the kids to come home...wait, um, do I want to dress like Donna Reed or do I want to BE Donna Reed?  Oh no!

How about you? Any secret style icons that you want to share with us on this fun friday?

flying solo

Guess whose boyfriend is in Colorado skiing for two weeks?

I went to the video store last night and picked out the girliest movies I could find. I think Tim's going to be relieved that he doesn't have to sit through these when he gets home! 

It's always interesting to see what one does when left up to her own devices for a few days. I'm attempting to stay productive and focused and not spend all my time watching television (we just got basic cable) and eating Taco Bell. So far, so good!

I am pretty positive, though, that my legs won't be shaved until the day Tim arrives home.

inspiration board

My homework this week for my Blogging your Way class was to create an inspiration board -- a physical collage of things I love that inspire me.

This is something that I've been thinking about doing for months now, but haven't seemed to be able to actually find the time and sit down to do it. And what a fool I've been all these months, because the process was so absolutely FUN!

Note: If you're like me and one of those people who's constantly thinking of doing things rather than actually doing them, start doing. It's way better than thinking all the time! 

Anyhoozy, here's my board! I'm going to hang it up in my office/studio/creative space/not-a-room-where-I-toss-all-my-junk-when-I-don't-feel-like-putting-it-away-room.

A couple of close-ups:

Don't you just love that photo of the couple smooching in the window? That's me and Tim in France. LOVE that pic!

PS: don't worry: only one Anthropologie catalog was harmed in the making of this inspiration board.

Hey, Anthropologie, wanna take this outside?

Oh come on, Anthro, why you gotta do me like that?

First, you point out a super cute plaid shirt dress (LOVE shirt dresses!) which completely goes with a belt and boots that I already own.

Then, you show me that you also make that dress in tones of blue and green (LOVE tones of blue and green!).

 

Next, I get my catalog last month, and it features a kicky brunette with a bob and bangs IN FRANCE!! Seriously, it's like you're talking right at me about all the lovely.

And, finally, you send me an email letting me know about an outfit with a 50's-ish vibe that features a polka-dot blouse that buttons in the front and in the back. 

Um, now it's starting to just feel mean.

my new secret weapon

Ladies, if you're of the endowed variety, have I got news for you:

The VS Body by Victoria lined full coverage bra might just change your life.  

This bra is my new favorite things and helps keep my melons where they belong: right under my chin! In the past, I've found that VS bras tend not to contain my girls. Not so, my friend. This one ROCKS!

Note: I am in no way receiving any compensation from Victoria's Secret for this post, but, hey! VS! If you send a couple of these puppies my way, I'll gladly sign for the package, if you know what I mean.

Blue Barnhouse

One of the benefits of working at a paper/stationery store is that I get to constantly check out new greeting card designs without feeling tempted to purchase all of the good ones. {ok, you're right: I'm still tempted, but hold back *most* of the time.}

I've recently found myself completely smitten with the selections from Asheville NC's Blue Barnhouse letterpress selections.

This is just a small sampling of their awesomeness:

 

The cards are beautiful but so funny that I laugh out loud whenever a customer brings one up to the register. Click on the card image to be taken to the online listing.