Sitting on my studio floor today working away on the colors for my 4th fabric collection ~ this seems to be my location of choice for fabric coloring ~any one else like to create on the floor? I realized that I haven’t even shared a glimpse of the second and the third collections with you. I have yet to get up to speed with when to share new designs, as the newest ones are already starting to make appearances online. I’ll be back to share all of the groups with you, but for now here’s my sneak peek of one of my new favorites in two different color ways. 'Miss Fran'.

I miss you! Every time I think I have a moment to post from the growing list of ideas I keep meaning to share here, or plan a re-design of you that I’ve had on my to do list forever, another deadline approaches. Seems like this is becoming business as usual over here {actually a very good thing} also an important reminder of my next step that I have been putting off for far too long...

In the meantime I  think I have temporarily replaced you with Instagram. Honestly some days I think... if Instagram was my blog?! That might just be perfect?! After the two hours plus {versus two minutes} it has taken me to create this one post, because I keep coming back to edit it - maybe I need to become a faster blogger? the sound of an 'Instagram in place of a blog' is sounding really appealing right now. So fun {and so easy} to shoot a pretty photo on my Iphone {the new 4S camera pretty incredible btw} and post it. Very few words, if any to describe the shot {forcing me into brevity and less constant editing} A snapshot of my life shared in a second mixed in with so many gorgeous photos. In mere moments I’m in touch with everyone, traveling with them, enjoying the beauty of every day details, and leaving inspired and then some. Are you sure we can’t all just live in Instagram land?

But then I think about how I love sharing here in this space, my long, sometimes very long thoughts on things ~ the chance to archive my creative journey - sharing it with, and hearing from those of you who are interested in following along ~ and I know the blog, my first online home, will always be. I love this blog. And I also love Instagram. I know I don’t have to choose. Do I? I can do both ~ something I’m working out, as I’m sure we all are, in today’s technical world {in between deadlines}

Remember the days when we just had blogs? One day will I be saying, remember when we just had blogs and Instagram? But for now, I say again, are you sure we can’t all live in Instagram land?

photos:

• pretty petals
• morning latte - had to have {just} one in my new Paris cafe cup that was calling out for a coffee
• color on a cloudy day - can you spot Garbo in the photo?
• tiny houses by thelittlereddoor.etsy.com - growing my collection
• the beginnings of my book cover {!!}
• new LOVE stamp that I LOVE
• painting ceramics {just a few that will be available in the shop soon!}
• farmer’s market flowers for you
• morning light
• gardening
• drawing in the garden 
• so sometimes I dress like my characters -what can I say- it comes with the job

A little Valentine I made up with the help of Instagram and my new favorite app Brushes. I had no idea how fun it is to add drawings over the top of your photographs?!

And below are a couple of new paintings I also created in honor of today. I know some take issue with Valentine’s Day being a commercial holiday that can feel 'pushed' and I get it. I do. But, STILL! A day that focuses on LOVE is worth celebrating in my book.

*happy LOVE day*

I LOVE Boulder! I lived there for 3 years before I moved here to L.A. - And it. is. gorgeous there. A perfect location to hold a Creative Retreat. Not only the setting of Chataqua, but the energy of the town and the people could not be a better fit to support creativity and all the magic that it encompasses. To be honest, Boulder is exactly where so much of my life really started for me. It is such a special place. It is where my entrepreneurial spirit was born. Actually it is also where Creative Thursday was born, the very first Thursdays I spent chatting with my friend about where I hoped to be one day in my creative business... I can still remember the moment I named this company driving on that stretch just before the hills from Boulder to Denver. The fact that I am exactly {even better than} where I hoped to be makes me a little nostaligic and especially excited to return for a visit and experience the Makerie for the first time.

This will be the only retreat I will be teaching at for the rest of this calendar year and I’ll be teaching 2 different classes ~ 'painting with stitches' and 'creative characters'. Having taught both of these before, I can tell you they are super fun! Registration is already open and at the time of this post there are a few spaces available in each class.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La2Cexfa4_U

If your’e feeling inspired to come to the Makerie, I’m already looking forward to it and I’ll see you there!

This is my newest collaboration with Papyrus that just came out this month. I love how it turned it out. So sweet, glitter, ribbon and bedazzled to boot. Even the message Papyrus chose is perfect 'lots of love to you. happy day' You could send this to someone well past Valentine’s day!

Over at the shop right now! I listed the only 9 cards I have available to share. 

lots of love to you and oh happy day!

I celebrated a birthday this weekend. Quiet and easy just as it should be on some years. Surrounded by beautiful flowers and gifties, dining on my favorite Sushi, and cake accompanied by my favorite wine and lots of  contact with people I love. From in person visits, to calls, emails, and tweets and texts ~ thanks for all your sweet messages!...And next year! oh I’m already getting excited for next year’s birthday....

As you know I’m getting serious about this self-care business :) particularly the getting more sleep part. 

I have also let go of caffeine for now as an experiment. I want to see how my body really feels without using caffeine to wake it up. Turns out, it was tired. After the first 10 days {exhaustion kicks in first}, it’s working! I feel happier! I feel better.

So this got me thinking...If I’m needing this right now, maybe you are too? As I said in my email that I sent out last night, I can’t give you all more sleep but I can create a Care Package to brighten your day and inspire you to care more for you.

There are only 24 of these packages and they were announced to my email mailing last night.  Each one has the same collection of Creative Thursday products, a print, a postcard pack, a small bundle of 3 fabrics, and a Valentine {plus one other tiny surprise!} The print and the fabric designs/colors will be different in each one. As I post this there are only 2 left. So you really do need inspiration and permission for self care {I know I did} or this is such a good deal, you can’t pass it up! 

*Edit* later today - All the packages sold out super fast, much quicker than I had anticipated. I’ve had some requests from those of you who missed them, so I’m looking into pulling together 10 more - if you had your heart set on one? If so, let me know!

*Edit* Friday morning - ok! wishes granted. I’ve just listed 10 more over at the shop - All the packages sold out and are on their way to you! If you missed out on them this time, I may be creating some more packages at some point again.