8" x 8"

{click here to buy original}

Second up for review: Journal It, by Jenny Doh

One of the things I love about holiday weekends is momentum. There’s something about having that extra day that makes all the difference, especially when it comes to being creative. Either you started early and you have that extra day to keep going or you finished all of your other business that you usually do and voila, an extra day just for you?!

Either way, whatever you’re up to on this holiday Monday. I thought it would be fun to share this book with you today, because it’s inspiring and happens to be a perfect kickstart to getting momentum going in the first place. Which if most of us are being honest, is always the hardest part to getting any kind of creative-ness happening.

I’ve often mentioned that I’m not a journaler. Something about keeping such intimate thoughts on record in what feels like a permanent way has always felt odd to me. I judge. I do. I judge myself and have a very hard time going back and reading what I wrote. Sometimes, not even remotely as personal as an actual pen on paper journal, I even cringe at old blog posts I’ve written. But then there are those moments that I actually like re-reading what I’ve shared and I’m so glad I took the time to record it. I remember that journals are for expression in the moment, for working it out. They are the perfect place for evolving our voice and our art.

I forget that the expression of the written word combined with all kinds of creative mediums in such a raw form is so alive. That’s when beautiful books like 'Journal It' remind and inspire me to explore more of my artistic evolution in this format. Because sketchbooks I keep. I love looking back at old drawings, seeing how my art has evolved, and re-discovering old ideas.  I actually really enjoy working out an idea with pencil, pen, paints and photographic imagery, and only wish I took the time to do more of it. That’s where the some of the best ideas make an appearance, by the willingness to keep putting pencil to paper.

I think ultimately the  goal here, for all of us, is to find and practice what keeps our creative juices flowing. One of my favorite parts of 'Journal it' is seeing how all of the contributors approach this art form so differently. Getting a glimpse into their process gives the reader so many ideas on how to get started. {please note that photos were taken with the Iphone and filtered, so the actual imagery is even richer}

I love the vibrant and contrasting use of black ink and watercolor that is Bel’s specialty.

I also really like this idea of developing your own alphabet through your journaling, the way that Debra has done. I’ve been exploring more with my hand lettering lately too. My Creative Thursday logo from the very beginning has always been my handwriting. In fact my first logo came straight from the pages of one my sketchbooks. The newest version is also the title on the cover of my book.

And using needle and thread in your journal, as shown by Roben’s gorgeous example. Of course! I never thought of adding that element to my sketch book, even though combining sewing with fine art is one of my newest obsessions, that I can’t wait to explore more.

Jenny put together another wonderful collection of art and artists that is bound to get you creating within moments of breaking open the cover. Seriously. Filled with all the resources, techniques and ideas you could hope for, reviewing the imagery alone is all you need to get started.

We had the party on Sunday and Valentines we made! I honestly forgot how fun it is to make them by hand side by side with other people. Fabric, thread, sewing machines,  decorative paper, hearts from paper source, glue, pens, and GLITTER GLUE {was a hit} Everyone must have GLITTER GLUE.

One of my main 'blog goals' for this year is to finally start sharing more of what you all are making with Creative Thursday fabric. Let this post mark the beginning of that goal. I loved seeing what everyone made, what designs inspired them the most, and how different everyone’s interpretation is. I’d say that chickens!! ~ coming soon in the newest collection 'Locally Grown' ~ may be a definite winner.

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! sending lots of love your way {today and everyday} xoxo 

If you’re in L.A. - join me tomorrow for a Valentine’s Party for Creative Thursday @ Sew L.A.. We’ll be celebrating the book {I’ll be signing them too} and making Valentines from my fabric. There might even be some samples of 'Locally Grown' the newest collection to create with...I also hear there will be treats like fancy cocktails and pink cookies! Hope to see you there!!

Sunday, February 10

3 - 6 pm

Sew L.A. - 3153 Glendale Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90039
323-665-7097

{reason #1 why you need to come. they love hearts as much as I do ;) outside of Sew L.A. right now. photo by Devon aka Miss Make}

And! Incase you missed my email. I put together some special Valentine Care Packages over at the shop. There are 4 left. If you get them by Monday, and you are shipping here in the states, they can still arrive in time for Valentine’s Day.

hope you’re having a great weekend

So the book is out! as you already know or will know after you stumble upon this post.

I made a decision. After my Los Angeles event, I thought about how I want my book to be 'marketed' and that is that I don’t want it to be marketed, I want it to be promoted if people feel inspired to share it.

I am not doing a blog book tour and I am not asking bloggers to review the book. If you are seeing reviews out there it is because readers are choosing to talk about it. And while it is standard for publishers to giveaway copies specifically for people to review, most of the reviews I’ve seen are from people who actually bought the book, which is generous on top of generous {thank you}

Now before I go any further, for the record: I’m not opposed to or suggesting that marketing, blog book tours or giving people copies for review is disengenous. All of these are fine and excellent, and some would say necessary ways to get word of your book out there. I’m just an author and business owner choosing a different approach for now. Let’s be honest; a book’s shelf life is ultimately determined by word of mouth, by its readers.

That in my opinion is just how it should be. I want 'Creative Thursday' to have a life beyond it’s first printing if it speaks to people enough for them to continue to give it life and if not then that is absolutely fine. I don’t want anyone to share any reviews or links of my book, or my work for that matter, out of even the slightest bit of obligation. I want word of my work to continue to spread because - I’ll tell you about it, as I’m usually pretty fired up about new projects and also as a self-supporting business - it’s nice to keep your customers in the loop. I will also show you some additional peeks into the book in this post :)

But that’s it. Beyond that if a project succeeds or doesn’t beyond it’s initial offering, that will be up to my supporters, customers, readers and in the case of this book the stores who choose to carry it. done and done.

As an entrepreneur, the life of my business is ultimately determined by personal decisions about how I want to run it. Simply put what feels right, inspired, honest, what feels genuine - not what anyone else tells me I should be doing to either make my business grow or  sell my book. Because truthfully if I make any decisons not from these intentions, it doesn’t really work anyway. 

I love this book- more than ever, missing page and all {which you can download here by the way} Based upon the emails I’m getting, and reviews I’m reading you love it too. This alone tells me that writing the 'Creative Thursday' has already fulfilled it’s purpose. It is being received exactly as I hoped it would be. And I’m thrilled about this. I also intended for it to be timeless, so of course I want it to have a home on bookshelves and electronic devices for years to come.  With that said, every bit of positive feedback, reviews online and on Amazon, telling your friends and family about it, buying it as a gift all help move it forward. So I guess I am actually asking but I am asking you to share something positive if and only if you feel inspired to do so. If you send me an email telling me how much the book speaks to you and you also feel comfortable sharing it on Amazon, that would be awesome. 

For those of you who have emailed me and who have already posted such kind reviews, thank you so much! If you are interested in reading some here are few to get you started Stitch Craft Create,  RedlineDesign, Dining Room Empire, Sue Bulmer. And if you have posted a review be sure to let me know so I can link back to you. Thank you Melanie for suggesting 'Creative Thursday' as a giftie for Valentine’s day and thank you to those of you sharing snapshots on Instgram too, like Shayla above. And the best, I made it to Amber’s 'these are on the back of my toilet and sometimes I read them for three whole minutes' list. I am complete.

I celebrated a birthday yesterday. Actually I celebrated a birthday for 5 days {something I highly recommend doing- why just 1 day?!} And I have to say that I was feeling mixed about this one, about the number and whether or not to share anything about it online. You could say I was having a bit of a 24 hr. crisis when it comes to some of what the number 40 'means' as well as what using social media means to me these days. And then you realize how nice it is to be able to wish someone a happy birthday especially when they let you know,  that there’s also nothing you can do to change your birth year, and you get on with your day :)

I guess this is also the age where you either start lying about how many numbers you are or you embrace it. Inspired by mom I’ve opted for the latter. 

Once I got over my mini crisis I remembered how lucky I am, especially to have been here for 40 years, how I’ve never felt better, both physically and emotionally, how I finally feel like I’m getting this life thing down; how I want to live it, how I want to be, who I want to share it with. I feel younger than I did in my twenties {is that possible?!} I  know who I am now.  And on the days when I lose sight of that temporarily I know how to find my way back quicker than ever. All I want to do is take this knowledge and as often as I can show up living and appreciating every hour of every day, to the fullest. I want to love life, me and everyone more. I want to have more FUN! I want to create less struggle and more ease.  And I absolutely want to keep making art!

All in all a pretty good place to be.  hello 40. I welcome you now.