Category Archives: inspiration

 

Another wonderful thing about the new year is that it offers us a chance to reconnect with things that we may have lost touch with along the way.  As we are resetting our list of goals and priorities for the coming year, we can take stock of what it is we want to accomplish and where it is we want our path to take us.

My dear friend Jeanne Oliver has recently created a wonderful new creative community that will surely inspire and encourage anyone wanting to expand their creative side.  It is a place that people will gather to share and learn and support one another and I know that with Jeanne leading the discussions it will be an amazing journey.  The community itself can be found at Jeanneoliver.ning.com

Three new courses were added recently~ All you need to do is sign up (which is free) to gain access to course descriptions and videos.  Trust me, if you are looking to be inspired, this is a great resource.

 

Creatively Made {rediscovering the beauty of your gifts}

Building a Creatively Made Business {you’ll never know what is possible until you begin}

The Journey of Letting Go {creating beauty from ashes}

 

She has also added two free videos for anyone to watch~

A business video on Markets and Shows

A mixed media art video on creating Vintage Girls

 

This new year holds so much potential and I hope that you, like me, are ready to grab all of those amazing opportunities and see where they lead you!

 

 

 

There is something amazing about the start of a new year, don’t you think?  I love that no matter how the previous year ends, there are endless possibilities and exciting adventures to be had in the coming one.  It is a time when I look at where my path has taken me, what I would like to change and what goals I hope to achieve as I continue along the road that is my life story.

 

I have all sorts of ideas for 2013 and I’m so excited to share them with you.

 

~After doing an ecourse with some amazing friends run by this incredible dearest of mine, I decided that it would be fun to add some videos to the blog occasionally.  I really think that they would give you a better sense of who I am and they would be an opportunity for me to share some of my favorite things with you.

~I have been working on my “good old stand-by recipes” list for some time now and I want to begin sharing them with you.  These are our favorite recipes that we enjoy and that are easy to make in a pinch.  I think it is always a good thing to have a few go-to meals in your pantry and freezer.

~We are really ramping up tiggy & grace and when we stock the shop the first week of February it will be filled with not only rustic one-of-a-kind pottery but even more handmade linens and wood cutting boards- and of course that delicious smoked salt.  I know February seems like a long time from now but I have a trip planned for the third week of January and I don’t want to stock the shop until I am able to get things posted as soon as you order them.  Thus, February it is.

~Speaking of trips, I think this year may be a travel-filled one.  January will take me once again to Vermont where I will be working with this incredible inspirational friend on a number of projects that we are both excited for.  There will be a lot of work but, like last time, a lot of laughter as well.  March will take me south to California’s beautiful wine country where I will immerse myself in two days of happiness and inspiration with some of the most amazing women I know.  I am also hoping to make it to Uganda with my mama next time she heads to the children’s home.  It is my dream to photograph the opening of the home and the beautiful children that will find themselves with a roof over their head and people who love them.  I don’t know that I can put my feelings about that trip into words, and I fear that after I have been it will be even more difficult, but hopefully I will capture it in a way that will help you to understand.

~I have big dreams for the gardens this coming spring and I would love to exchange tips, ideas and plans with those of you hoping to do the same.  One of the things on my Life List is “plant a garden that will sustain us through the summer”.  Now, will this be the summer that happens?  Unlikely- but it will be good practice and I’m sure to learn a lot in the process.

~I think for me, the real focus of this year, the part that will lead all of the rest that is to follow is this: I want to be present, grateful, generous with my actions and words, focused and peaceful.  I also want to work my tail off to make my dreams – and the dreams of my family a reality.  I want to honor them and appreciate the moments we share.  I want to wake each morning with a open and thankful heart.  And I want to go to bed each evening and be appreciative for another day in my journey.

Wishing you magic my friends- and laughter. Always laughter.

x

I love this video

This friend sprinkles stardust on the words she weaves into beautiful tales

Want to lose yourself in beauty?

 

 

 

 

Hello friends and happy nearly New Year~

 

Some of you may know how excited I get about my annual “one word“- the word I choose that will serve as my mantra and my guiding force throughout the coming year.  I take my word to heart and much consideration has gone into deciding on that one word.  It must feel “right”.  It must emphasize what it is I hope to accomplish in the next twelve months and hopefully push me along the road a little further.

 

This year my word is BELIEVE

 

I also came to a realization today.  Two things really.  One isn’t very flattering, but I am going to share it with you anyway.  Let’s begin with that one first…  So, the truth is I tend to fixate on things.  It is almost as if I need something to focus on in order to be happy.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I am generally a happy person, (one of my current mantras is “choose happy” as I know the power of joy) and I feel great gratitude for the beautiful life I have been given.  But, aside from that and back to what is most likely a missing synapse in my brain- I fixate.  I tend to need something new and exciting to wrap myself in.  It can be a new hobby or project.  It can be a trip or a party.  Any number of things fit the bill.  Oftentimes it is about change.  Now this could have something to do with the fact that we moved so much in my childhood and that acclimated me to adjusting to change frequently.  Thus, living in the same place for ten years, with the same basic life- well, maybe there is a part that is so ingrained in me that needs change that it has become a part of my psyche.  Anyway, I need something to focus on, to get excited about, to dream about, plan for, anticipate.  And right now I’m not finding it.  Oh, I *may* have some ideas, but I really would prefer something that doesn’t elicit the “I’m calling the divorce lawyer” response…  ;)  So, I am working on that.  Which leads me to my next epiphany…

 

I don’t do dull.  I don’t do humdrum or laid back or low-key or boring.  I admit that my craving for excitement and adventure has gotten me into a pickle or two, but honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.  I like a challenge and to do the unanticipated.  I like mixing it up and going against the grain.  My husband would say I over-burden myself or spread myself too thin in some areas, but I simply do what feels right at the time.  I am trying to curb that a bit (you know- the divorce lawyer threat…) but it is a precarious balance between staying out of trouble and keeping it lively and interesting.  Please tell me that some of you understand what I am saying here…  Anyway, I think that *believe* will serve as a reminder that I can do anything if I simply believe it.  It may not be easy, but if I believe, it will be.

 

So, back to the one word project and the give-away.  I have recently ordered a bracelet that will have a word inscribed in it and as I really loved the simple slightly bohemian design, I asked Izzy if she would be willing to donate one of those same bracelets to one of my readers for them to have their word inscribed on – and she said YES!  She is very kind and I am so excited to share one of these fabulous inspirational bracelets with one of you.  However, I’m going to keep the run of this give-away short as I want to get the bracelet out to the winner as early in the new year as possible.  Thus, I will do the drawing on Monday- New Years Eve!  Please spread the word, as I would love to get as many people on board with the one word idea as possible.  If you would like a chance to win, please leave a comment with what your word is – tweet or facebook for a second chance but make sure to come back and leave another comment.  I can’t wait to hear what your words are!