Archive for September, 2010
5 New Creative Blogs to Check Out!
Posted by: | CommentsWhen I started reading blogs, I learned very quickly, that I could really spend hours each day/week discovering and reading new blogs, not counting all of the time spent on old favorites. Every time I find a new blog that speaks to my heart and passions, I find it’s like finding a new friend. It’s hard to say, “ya know, I really have enough friends, I don’t think I need any more.” Then, I unexpectedly meet another wonderful kindred spirit that I become fast friends with and there I am, starting another friendship. Thank God for friends too… what would we do without them?
Well, blogs are really like that. We think we just can’t manage reading another one, and then we fall in love with another. Being at the Creative Connection Event last week, introduced me to so 
many wonderfully fantastic new women, that I just know not only am I going to have so many new friends, but so many more new blogs to read too!
Blogs are a great way to grow friendships as well. I can follow my new friends and colleagues on their blogs to see what they are up to, what creative projects they are enjoying, and to celebrate their journey with them. I can comment and add praise when a post asks me to and I can feel like I’m a part of their world, even if we live a world away from each other.
So, today I want to share with you 5 New Creative Blogs that I was introduced to at the Creative Connection Event: (Okay, to be honest, a couple of these I followed a bit before the event, but since I was able to meet the authors in person, I am even more excited to follow them each day, and besides if I count them, I can share them with you, right?!)
1. Debbie Dusenberry from the The Curious Sofa: Debbie owns a boutique shop in Kansas City that is known for it’s collection of furnishings, uncommon finds and great gifts. I have had her shop on my list to visit for several months, but until I get down to experience the wonder for myself, I must live vicariously through her blog. On her blog, Debbie shares her decor and shop inspirations, day-to-day happenings at the Curious Sofa, and other life experiences of being a creative entrepreneur. I think you might find her blog and shop inspiring!
2. Lisa Tutman-Oglesby authors Celebrate Creativity: (I know, I fell in love with her blog name, since we obviously think alike!) I met Lisa briefly, but since our blogs share a similar name, I really wanted to check out what inspires her and what her blog is about. Lisa recently blogged a fantastic review about the Creative Connection Event, and it was like reliving it again. Some of my other favorite things about Lisa’s blog, included the directions for sewing and crafting projects, along with some book and project guide reviews. If you are a crafter, or would like to be, Lisa’s blog may give you some inspiration for that next project!
3. Suzanne MacCrone creator of Italian Girl in Georgia: Suzanne first caught my eye with her gorgeous presentation for one of our meals. Jo Packham and Nancy Soriano, creative co-founders of The Creative Connection Event, chose one artist to feature at each of the meals we shared. Suzanne’s presentation was really simple, yet timeless and beautiful. Her light neutral colors graced the tables and entry to the ballroom location with vintage newsprint and typeset pages for the Editorial Breakfast. Suzanne created wreaths, runners, and centerpieces out of vintage paper- see them here. Gorgeous and simple at the same time… So, along with her Etsy shop creations and her beautiful photos, you can enjoy Suzanne’s creativity on her blog. Stop by soon!
4. Vicki Howell can be found at Vicki Howell.com and at her blog. She is an amazing powerhouse that is transforming the way we look at crafting. She is a blogger, author, spokesperson, marketing consultant, television host, knitter and so much more! I am amazed by all of her talents. She is bringing a hip passion to knitting and the needle arts, along with everything else she touches. Check out her blog and find movie reviews (with a knit fashion inspiration), kids’ crafts, home decor, and free projects, among so much more! Discover the creative in you!
5. The Pleated Poppy’s Lindsey Cheney has a fun thing or two over on her blog for you as well! I have read Lindsey’s blog in the past and I think you will find something you will like as well. A bit of creativity combined with snippets of her life as a homeschooling mom to three little ones, who runs her creative biz at the same time. Find out how she does it, what her inspiration is, and how she maintains a business amongst the daily. Her beautiful hand-sewn creations are fun and colorful, from bags to notebook covers. Take a break and check out her site, her blog and her shop!
Now that I’ve shared with you 5 New Creative Blogs, I can tell you that I will have to return with some more. I want you to be able to meet so many more creative and fantastic women. I am passionate about sharing creativity with others, and that includes sharing other artist and creatives with you. I will be starting a Monthly Feature to be able to share more great blogs with you! I do highlight blogs in my posts from time to time, but I want to put even more focus on it, but hosting a little Monthly Feature that will really showcase not only creative blogs, but any that I think you might find give you inspiration for your journey of Celebrating Life Everyday! (More Feature details coming soon…)
I want you to be able to meet the women who spend their days creating everything from art, to sewn creations, to designing fabric, jewelry and homes. When we support each others talents and really invest in heart-made creations, we not only support an artist in their craft, but we bring a whole new level of wonderful into our homes and lives. What better way to live than to bring handmade items into our lives to help us celebrate the daily? If I spend my dollars with an independant artist or business owner, instead of at the big box stores, I commit to making a statement that real live artists are more important than the bottom dollar for a big corporation. I want to chose who gets my dollar and my support.
So… please discover these talented women and consider making a purchase from them, or any other artist/ local business person, that is out there to make our lives more beautiful, functional, organized, or meaningful with their heart-made creations. YOU deserve it.
Oh, and don’t forget to leave a comment or two on what you discovered while visiting these blogs… I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Peek into these Rooms!
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Just wanted to share a few photos of rooms that I adore and that make my decorating juices flow…we get just a glimpse, just a peek, but for me that’s enough to fall in love.
It’s often just one or two elements that really sell a room anyway- the way the fabrics play off each other, the way the art has been combined, the juxtaposition of styles. Every piece can’t be the star in the room, just a few elements and the rest of the room supports that inspiration.
So, what do you like about these rooms? Is there anything that makes you think- “oh wow, love that!”? If not, what do you love, what makes your heart pitter-patter?
It’s the corner chair we can see ourselves reading in, it’s the fireplace nook we can feel the heat from, th
e stack of pillows on the bed we want to dive into, or the gorgeous kitchen windows that bring in all of that natural light.
We connect ourselves to the elements of a home that bring us into our world. We actually see ourselves living our routines in these spaces. That’s why we connect to them.
When I design spaces, I start by picking one or two elements as my inspiration pieces, and everything flows from that. It could be a color combo, some fabrics, a rug, a fab piece of art. But it’s that inspiration, that spark, that vision that makes a great room. That’s how I decorate my own home as well. A found piece of art, a fabric that I can’t live without, the accessory that just has to have a place.
That’s why we fall in love with our homes, it’s those pieces that have pulled on our memories, our hearts or our passions. It’s what design is all about. Falling in love with something beautiful or meaningful. Do you have that in your own home? If you don’t, it’s time you do. Start looking for that one piece that’s so great, you want to design an entire space around it.
We all deserve to be connected to our homes. 
They are part of us and they tell our story. Start telling yours today….
Off to the Creative Connection Event!
Posted by: | CommentsHello All! 
I am so excited… I have made lists, gathered the required class supplies, packed my camera, my business cards, my bag of clothes, too many pairs of shoes, and I am off!
I will be spending the next 3 glorious days in communion with about a hundred other kindred creative spirits. We will enjoy classes, speakers, discussion panels, dinners, keynote speakers, creative make and takes, networking, business connections, shopping, blogging and so, so much more. It will be a fantastic time for both me personally and for the growth of my company. When we invest in ourselves, our education, our creative spirits, and our heart’s calling, we refuel, recharge and reconnect with our passions.
I am hoping to post a little while there, but can’t honestly say I will, as our schedule is busy from morning until late evening with all of the fantastic things planned at this event. So, while I may be taking a blogging break for a few days, try to join me by taking on a small creative project of your own.
Maybe you’re going to plan a wonderful meal with a new recipe, maybe you will scrapbook your latest photos, join your kids on a nature walk, or gather some treasures on a antiquing weekend. Whatever you do, do it with creative spirit!
Oh, and please join me back here soon for the recap of the Creative Connection Event details, I know they’ll be great!
Daily Creative: A Silent Day… Just for You!
Posted by: | CommentsHave you ever thought of being silent for an entire day, weekend or week? Most of us tend to talk a lot. Maybe too much. We ramble on or just fill our minds with so much that we don’t allow ourselves to be alone with our thoughts.
When we constantly keep our minds busy, we miss out on a great many things. We miss out on our deeper inner thoughts, our creative muses, being comfortable with our own silences. It may take practice at first, but it’s almost like meditation. Quieting our thoughts and mouth to let our true selves really “speak” to us can make us grow in many other ways. 
I have always wanted to go on a weekend silent retreat, the time just hasn’t worked out yet. It is my goal to do that someday soon. I just need to really plan out in advance to m ake that happen.
So…have you ever been on a silent retreat? Have you taken time just for you and your thoughts? Maybe it’s something to add to your list. If you think “no way!”, maybe a semi-silent retreat is a place to start. Or, maybe try this first by taking a day or an afternoon all to yourself and not talking.
I have treated myself to several Silent Days and just love it. I like to do it in the fall and spring, as it seems like a perfect “change of seasons” kind of thing to do. I will often pack a lunch and go to a lake near the city and spend the day enjoying a walk, some prayer time, maybe do a short bible study, some more quiet time, and writing in my journal. I have had some fantastic creative and life changing ideas investing this time alone with myself.
Guidelines for your own Silent Time:
Go somewhere you won’t be disturbed, or let those who you live with know you need your quiet space for a while. Shut off your phone. No watching TV. Spend time reading, journaling, listening to quiet music, meditating, praying, talking a nature walk, or generally being quiet and reflective. If you choose to read, only read for a short time, and choose something simple. The point isn’t to just read your favorite book and avoid talking, but to really settle yourself into a time of quietness. Have a notebook or journal handy to jot down your thoughts.
So, dear blogging friends, my challenge to you is to gift yourself a silent time. I know it may take some planning, but set aside a day in the near future to do this. I would love to hear your thoughts on this, if you tried it, your experiences, and how you felt after you did it. I am looking at my calendar and scheduling my own day right now…
The New Shop is Named!
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Now that we are getting closer to the opening date of my new online shop… I wanted to share the naming details with you! It’s almost like having a baby and the responsibility of naming it… as much as I couldn’t wait to name my children, giving someone a name for the rest of their life was completely intimidating to me. Who was I to chose the name for another human being?!
Well, this shop is a bit like my baby… so naming it was a bit painful and intimidating too. But the essence of what this shop and business is all about really just came through, and the shop kind of ended up naming itself! Oh, and with the birth of this new shop, it has lead to other changes around here, so I have even more exciting news to be shared in the next month or two…
Okay, so without any more babbling… the name is: Celebrate HOME Studios! The shop was birthed by wanting to celebrate the soul of what home is with everyone. (To celebrate is to: set apart, to make special, to remember, to honor, to enjoy.) I want to do all those things with my home and wanted to share that love with all of you in your homes. I also wanted to have my studio where I create and make all things part of the puzzle. In my studio I am at my most creative and it is a huge part of what I do and how I do it everyday. These thoughts all led me to the name- Celebrate HOME Studios.
The actual logo isn’t quite ready for it’s reveal… so that dear friends, will have to be saved for another post. But, I hope you like it as much as I do and look forward to the creative things that come forth from my new shop. I am designing and creating new items weekly and have so many ideas to come forward in the following months as well. It really is a labor of love. I can’t wait to share it with you!
