crafty fanny

Wednesday's inspiration: doing what works.

Here's a question for my creative peeps out there: how much pressure do you feel to always be doing something fresh and different?

My answer: all the time. I feel a ton of pressure (all self-inflicted btw) to always be doing something new.

Especially in my painting. Especially since I haven't been making art for very long. Especially since I'm still working on finding my style and building confidence in my work.

Every time I sit down in front of a blank canvas, I think "Ok. That last painting turned out well. Now what am I going to make this time?" And man, the pressure!

But recently I realized this: I don't have to do something different every time. In fact, tons of artists find something that works and do the same thing over and over again. And it's ok. In fact, it's more than okay. It's good, great even!

So I've decided I'm doing what works. And here's the result of my decision:

A Weathered Heart: Original & Print

And can I tell you how proud of myself I am for coming up with that decision? Because, you guys. I LOVE this painting. LOVE. It's just so pretty!

And it works.

And I'm gonna make some more nearly-just-like it.

Because I can.

Declare Yourself Awesome

Have y'all heard about the Declaration of You yet?

Wait?

You haven't?

Ok, so you know how I'm always saying that you have to own it? That everyone in this world has something special in them, something that makes them crazy unique and one of the secrets to living your most happy life is to embrace that special sparkly part of yourself and be who you truly are?

Ladies and gent ('cause really, does more than one boy read this blog?) here's the news of the year: there is now a whole e-course to help you own it!

Um, can we just sit with that for a minute? An e-course to help you own it? To teach you how to find those sparkly parts of yourself and embrace them? Even if they aren't what your parents/boss/partner/friends/acquaintances/family members think that you should be focusing your life around?

This is gonna be good stuff, my friends!

And...wait for it...the course is being taught by Michelle Ward and Jessica Swift!

{cue lovefest}

Y'all know how much I love Michelle already, but I don't know that I've publicly swooned over Jess yet. Cause I've been busy. Busy doing things like working with both of those ladies on Spring! Busy doing things like working with Jess on my new website design (soon, folks, very soon!! But sooner if someone wants to come over and write all my copy for me! hehe). Busy doing thigs like getting so freaking excited about this e-course!!

Seriously. Registration opened yesterday and I'm already signed up!

And you should join me! It will be so fun...like a soul searching exploration of our selves. And don't worry if you're a little shy...you already have at least one friend to sit with at lunch! Me!! And, trust, I'm crazy-fun in the lunchroom!

New print: Grow

Happy Monday, my friends!

I wanted to share a new print in the shop with you this morning: Grow. 

I love how the flower seems to be growing through the muddle and in spite of it. I think this would be a good thing for all of us to remember.

friday's confession: I'm a goober

Yes, you heard it here first: I'm a goober.

No, really, I am.

Goober, goofball, joker, whatever you want to call it, that's what I am.

And I'm owning that, because it's one of the things that makes me me. Authentically me.

We set up a post challenge over at Spring this week: What makes you authentically you? so here's my list including the good, the bad, and the ugly:

• I'm a goober (see above)
• I make myself laugh on a daily basis. Seriously, I crack myself up all the time.
• I would like to live in France someday.
• Or just inside an Anthropologie store.
• I am a crazy super fan-girl of The Avett Brothers.
• Giraffes make me swoon. Especially baby ones.
• I want to get married in a barn and dance all night at my wedding.
• I use inappropriate humor to diffuse awkward social situations.
• I am really loud.
• I like karaoke a LOT despite being a horrible singer.
• Champagne at breakfast is one of life's greatest pleasures.
• I fight waking up every single day, but am slowly discovering that I actually am a morning person.
• I have a scary ability to simply ignore mess and clutter and just live my life around it.
• Words of affirmation and quality time are my primary love languages.
• I talk to my dog all day long when I'm alone with her.
• I have an amazing vision for my life that I'm slowly working towards.
• I am insecure.
• I fake confidence until I feel it.
• I love shirtdresses and would wear one every day if I had enough of them.
• Musicals make me crazy. Even bad ones, like Lestat, the Musical.
• I sing a LOT.
• I laugh a lot.
• I smile all the time and don't realize it.
• People have told me that I'm the most cheerful person they know.
• Some people don't get me and think I'm crazy.
• I cry a lot too.
• I love to cook.
• I don't love to clean. In fact, I sort of loathe it.
• I am an artist.
• I'm finding my style as an artist.
• I still have a whole lot to learn.
• I want to make a lot of money in my life so I can spend it all traveling and eating amazing food.
• Watching people play pac-man makes me anxious.
• I'm a worrier.
• When I'm stressed out or nervous about something, I get insomnia.
• At my last day job, I had insomnia for months.
• I almost went to business school for an MBA.
• I'm so glad I didn't go to business school.
• I love children and will have one of my own someday.
• I am fiercely loyal to the people I love.
• I have a tendency to be co-dependent and take care of everyone around me first.
• I love taking naps. If I was President, I'd mandate daily siestas.
• I think our time here is too short to live lives that don't make us feel sparkly inside.
• I want to bring joy into people's lives.
• I think everyone in this world is beautiful. Including you.

Wanna play along?

New in the Shop: Wood-mounted prints

Happy Wednesday friends!

I'm really excited to be offering these gorg-eee-ous wood mounted prints (ready to hang!) in my shop:

 

I've decided that the "you are beautiful" block might be the best present ever! Seriously, ladies, don't we all need a little reminder that we are beautiful and good and everything's okay? I surely do. 

I currently only have these two prints available and hope to have more up soon! If you'd like another print mounted, just email me and I'll be happy to set it up for you!

Victoria & Albert

I watched The Young Victoria the other night.

I thought the movie was great. But I might be slightly partial considering I think Emily Blunt is adorable in everything. Even Sunshine Cleaning, which should have been way better than it actually was. And I think it's sweet she married the guy from The Office. I bet they make each other laugh.

Anyhoozy, one of the things I really liked about the movie was the story of Victoria and Albert. They really did seem to like each other.

And did y'all know that they have a museum named after them?

And did y'all know that this museum is full of really cool stuff?

 

 

This shop is full of really, really good stuff. This is just a snippet.

friday's confession: I'm letting go of the selling.

That's right: I'm letting go of the selling.

But not really (gobuystuff!), it's more that I'm letting go of my focus on the selling. I think that's better.

Here's the thing: I had a Labor Day sale a couple of weeks ago. Everything was 40% off. What a deal! What a bargain! Can you believe it?

Can you believe that I didn't sell a single thing?

And, it's just so freakin' anticlimactic, this selling online thing. You do something SO EXCITING like launch a sale. And then you wait. And then you think, oh I shouldn't just sit and watch my email all day. I should do something fun like go outside and play with my dog.

But you can't.

It feels exactly like waiting for a boy to call.

And when he doesn't call, it feels shitty. Even though I know I'm doing what I should be doing, and I have trust in my vision and my process and my art and I'm just at the beginning of my journey and all that stuff, it still hurts when the boy doesn't call. 

*Sigh* I know that I should tell myself the same thing that I would tell my sweet, beautiful single girl friends who despite being awesome, just can't get the boy. 

When the time is right, it will happen. 

And I know it's true, cause I already got the boy. Now I just need the sales.

So here's my plan: I'm letting go of the selling. Not letting go, really, cause ultimately I'm attempting to run a business, but I'm taking my focus away from it.

It's like when you're single, you can't go out for the night trying to meet a boy. That just leads to trouble. It's almost inauthentic. You will only actually meet the right person when you just go out for you. To have fun. And when you're being you, you'll attract the person.

That's how it works, right? At least that's how it's always worked for me. And like I said, I got the boy. And he's a good one. Like the best.

So the selling is gone from my mind. Now it's about being me. Making art. Grabbing inspiration. And doing it.

And I'm trusting that the sales will come.

Deep Breath.

Go.

custom printed (& stitched!) birth announcements

Hi Friends!

I just listed custom printed birth announcements in the shop!

Check them out! Tell your friends!

day brighteners

Oy. I woke up this morning feeling slightly fuzzy-headed after one too many glasses of wine at Maggie's birthday party last night (my sweet puppy girl is 1!) and was just not feeling today.

That is, I wasn't feeling today until I discovered two of the most amazing things on the internets:

1. A blog that is dedicated solely to decorating with turquoise. WHAT?! For reals, y'all, what hasn't anyone told me about this before?

(all images via the uh-maze-ing House of Turquoise!)

2. Say it with me: Giraffe. Wall. Decals.

I can't decide if they should go in the kitchen or in my soon-to-be-redone office/studio (leaning toward the studio), but (best part alert!) you can get them in turquoise!!

And just like that I've come full circle.

Big thanks to Christine at Brunch and Apartment Therapy for rocking my day!

Now I have a kitchen to clean.

more cape.

Hmm...everyone's saying yay to the cape. I'm starting to seriously consider it!

I JUST got an email from Anthro that also says yay to the cape:

See? Did I not call the equestrian chic?

Also, I tried on that exact skirt the other day. It did me no favors. Just sayin'.