Have you ever had a moment when you realized that what you were after was there from the very beginning?

Feels particularly momentous to share here, as this blog is literally where the podcast began in 2006. And when the podcast began so did the blog "technically" because I was encouraged to post on the blog to announce each episode. 

A decade later. Completely full circle moment. I'm about to do the same thing.

I've been quiet on the blog this year, mostly because of other priorities around what I want to create and and where I choose to share right now. Most of my writing goes into my email list these days with quick posts to Instagram, Facebook and even twitter from time to time. 

I wish I could be everywhere, do everything, really I do. But it's going to take more of me and I'm working on that too :) 

When I come back here it feels so familiar and like a time past. The responsibilities of business owners, especially for small business owners and solo-preneurs have multiplied to ridiculous levels. It is simply no longer possible to do what we used to do back in the early blogging and social media days as a team of one - while still having time to actually make the "product" you are selling to support your business in the first place.

Grappling with that as someone who held out until the last possible moment before hiring help has been challenging. I've been re-evalulating a lot this year including where to take this blog?

What this time has done, is give me clarity on where I want to share again and ironically, it's podcasting. I do miss the community and the dialogue I once had here very much. I know many of you are still with me on the journey, I just don't know where to go to find all of you together and I know that this probably isn't even possible any more. So I'll find you where I can find you, but I have decided to make a new consistent home within the podcast so you know where to find me! 

Expressing verbally still comes easiest to me and having the opportunity and place to share conversations with those I admire, am inspired by and I know will keep it real. There's nothing better. Maybe it just took me a decade to be ready for that...more thoughts on that topic later and most probably in the podcast. Especially the first episode where I touch upon this topic briefly.

The good thing about the podcast is that does encourage me to post written notes and or links related to each episode back to a post. And while I am considering moving all of this to my main site, for now those episode posts will be shared here. And this also means that many of those broken links from early episodes will eventually be getting fixed. Some that are still relevant may get posted to the new podcast home. 

I had hoped to get the first 3 episode show notes up for you today but if you read above, you now know why that didn't happen ;) BUT! the good news is! the podcast launched as promised and I'm planning to post a new episode every Thursday {forever - for now ;)} We may take a short holiday break over Christmas and New Year's or we may not, as it may be the perfect time for you to tune into some inspiring conversations in your down time, while you're creating, cooking, cleaning, driving in traffic, or simply need stolen moment and break from Holiday family time. 

Looking forward to picking up the dialogue again, so if you feel inspired to share, please send me your questions, thoughts, topic and guest requests. Together we'll take this new chapter of the podcast where it is meant to go. 

Season 2 of the new series is happening also in early 2018! I just wanted to get the podcast up and going  first to get some momentum going into the next Season launch. 

For now, Happy Creative Thursday friends! You can listen to the first 3 episodes here

Listen to the podcast bit.ly/creativethursdaypodcast

Oh and! 7 days of giveaways. If you love what you hear, please tell everyone you know :)  and if you feel inspired to leave a review, please do! (especially over the next 7 days) Because when you do, if you take a screenshot before you submit the review {because iTunes takes a bit to post the reviews) , email it to marisa{@}creativethursday.com and you will be entered in the giveaway that day to win an 8.5" x 11" art print of your choice!

Enjoy! and thanks for your support so far!

And if you want to do some Holiday shopping. There's still time to get your gifts!
The studio is staying open, shipping packages until December 20 and emailing gift cards until the 24th!

Our 2017 "collection of happy" gift guide is here! including one of a kind gifts: for pretty packages under the tree, or touring, toasting and painting together in the South of France this September or taking your business to the next level in 2018. Can't decide? You can send an email gift card that can be applied to both 

1. Christmas mug
2. for the Dog Lover
3. hand painted ornaments
4. new art wall tiles
5. 2018 calendars
6. the cranky bunny mug {is temporarily sold out but restocking soon}
7. postcard set
8. enamel pins
9. animal wisdom oracle card deck
10. "I can't even" ornament
11. memory game
12. zipper pouch
13. Creative Retreat and Painting in the South of France (only 4 spaces left!)
14. For the Creative Business Owner! The Ultimate Art Business Resource List + Open your Shop in 1 Hour
15. Creative Thursday gift card

Currently Reinventing, digital filing {SO fun! and SO long overdue} while painting a Summer Floral Collection releasing to the brand new website August 24. A revisit to this blog and decisions about where it will be in the Creative Thursday world are coming next.

Late yesterday our second Kickstarter Campaign went LIVE! Thank you for all your support with Season 1! For sharing your stories and backing our first campaign to make this interview series a reality.
We'd love your support to help make Season 2 happen! Planning for a launch this Fall 2017
Can't wait to bring you the stories of 6 more inspiring creatives ❤️Marisa
p.s. I will be a mermaid in this season 😉

Wishing you a beautiful weekend and this is me SIGNING OFF for the first time in YEARS!!!

2 years ago April 3rd, escrow closed and we officially became Los Angeles homeowners.

Thank you to everyone who came out for our opening on Saturday!

In between shows, I forget just how much effort goes into an opening night. From painting to curating to hanging to marketing {& more marketing} to creating a warm environment where everyone feels inspired and welcome. A joyful and uncomfortable process all rolled into one. All with no guarantees of number in attendance or art sales.

No matter how many times you share your work and ~ stretch ~ as an artist, you never get used to it. This is why support in all forms is always so appreciated, especially in person.

Think about someone who could use your support right now and pass it on. You can never underestimate how much it means when you show up for someone else.

The painting featured: "What did the Dinosaur say to Everyone?" also titled "all of me" as this is one of my largest pieces to date.

L.A. friends! We invite you to join us at our 3rd art opening! "Fool's Gold" featuring new paintings by Outi Harma and Marisa Cummings @ the pArty! 5522 W. Pico Blvd today {no prank, no joke!} April Fool's Day, April 1 from 6 - 10 pm. 

Look forward to seeing you Saturday!

Couldn't choose just 1 so I went with both! the Unicorn and the Narwhal are here! Thank you again for all your voting help :)

Because of YOU, today's a BIG DAY!

10 years ago exactly I listed my first collection of prints in my Etsy shop. Thanks to Holly's support + blog mention and those amazing early days of Etsy when you could find new artists in a minute - I had my first 8 orders in 24 hours. After 2 years of inconsistent sales and growing debt, March 7, 2007 was a turning point, the day I started to make a living as an an artist ~ a day I'll never forget.

For someone creative, who chose not to go to art school because I didn't think it was possible for me to make a full time living with my art - this isn't a life I thought could be mine and yet it is. cliche or not - it's a dream come true. Always has been and still is.

I sometimes wonder how it all happened? {although I know how much work went into the past decade} holding my breath as I try to evolve and take risks as a business owner and artist. Will my collectors and supporters, continue to love what I create, from art to sculptures, ceramics, a book, podcast, video series, courses and fabric. One day at a time, one month at a time, I'm still here, 10 years later {technically 13} and more excited than ever to keep creating and sharing it with you.

While hearts, followers, likes and comments are much appreciated, there's nothing like the moment a collector purchases your art and becomes a loyal customer. Creative Thursday exists because of our beautiful customers. For those of you who have been with me since the beginning, endless thanks.

And to those of you who are new to Creative Thursday, Welcome! I'm excited to have you all along for the ride. Always, big plans, BIG plans for sharing more joy, inspiration and empowerment with you through thoughtful art, conversation and education. And always cheering you on as you find more fulfillment in your daily life, especially with creativity.

BIG THANKS, BIG LOVE! 

Can you believe, we have a tie? I love both of these designs and need help choosing. And maybe we won't have to choose? With enough pre-orders we can print one of each design! or if you have a favorite, cast your vote below through the end of the day tomorrow, Tuesday. thank you! 

Pre-order your pin here

Better late than never. I'm joining the party that is enamel pins!

I just started collecting pins from other artists. And Hello?! I need a Creative Thursday pin. Maybe you do too?

Problem is, I can't narrow it down to just 1. And clearly I couldn't narrow it down to less than 21...So I need your help to choose. 

List your top 3 designs below by Sunday, February 18 by 11:59 pm PST and you'll be entered to win the giveaway. I'll be sending a pin to 3 of you!

To help you choose, numbered in sort of a clockwise order

1. Unicorn
2. Panda
3. Oscar the Owl
4. Lewis the Lion
5. Pepita Pup
6. Kitten
7. Love for You Bear
8. Party Pup
9. Little Bear
10. Fox
11. Thoughtful Bear
12. Narwhal
13. Alpaca
14. Baby Whale
15. Papillon
16. Bunny Egg
17. Peep 1
18. Peep 2
19. Lucky Elephant
20. Pinky the T-Rex
21. Halo

This is a limited edition collectible. If you want to be sure to get a pin you can pre-order yours at a special early bird price only available through Sunday. 

Pre-Order your pin here.

Thanks for helping me choose! Can't wait to see which one is your favorite.

***and chosen by Random.org the WINNERS are*** 1) Erin W. and 18) Susan Foltz and 26) Beth yay! Congrats Ladies! Email me your ship to address and you'll be getting a pin as soon as they're ready!

Sending love to you today and every day. Happy Valentine's Day!

xo Marisa and the Creative Thursday characters including the newest member of the family Pinky the T-Rex ;)

Happy New Year everyone!

I didn't choose a word for the year. I always want to and then there always have several words that come to mind and narrowing then down to one feels too limiting. But I did choose an image for 2017. I'm picturing a year with more focus, clarity, ease and breathing space that has room for beautiful art and twinkly lights...plenty of twinkly lights.

Join us Sunday November 13 for our first painting workshop in the new studio!

Thank you to everyone who joined us! It was so much fun that we're looking to host another one before February 2017. Sign up to the mailing list to be notified as soon as we open registration.

After staying with us for almost eight weeks? already? {And almost as big as Pepita now} I think we need to call these two something other than "kittens" "kiddens" "tinies" "clowns" and the "shining twins" ;)

We've been waiting for the right names to come up but they haven't yet...

So! I thought since many of you have been watching them grow up from teeny, tiny fellows on social media and are already bonded to these sweeties, you might have some good name ideas? 

And we'll celebrate with a giveaway! Share your name ideas in the comments below and enter to win a new print of your choice, either Pepita and the "kittens" {above} or "I heart cats" or "I heart dogs" {below} in all black and white or your favorite color way. The little boy is the white one with blue eyes and a peach tipped tale, ears and nose and the little girl is the siamese one with blue eyes, little cream colored sock paws and a white tipped tail. The giveaway is open to international friends too! It starts now and closes at the end of the day 11:59 PST Thursday, October 25 2016. A random winner will be announced on the following Friday morning. 

**The winner is #22 Debbie! Thank you everyone for your name suggestions. A lot of good ones! There are a few we're thinking about and will decide on soon!**

Ok friends! Here we go!

This morning we realized that pulling together a new space and a group show featuring almost twenty artists in 3 weeks might be a bit ambitious ;) But we're excited!!! And the momentum is going!  We also invited lovely, "on it" artist friends for this first show who are talented, efficient and {thankfully} move as fast we do. 

An Eclectic and Awesome group show featuring Outi Harma  Jenean Morrison Cathy Nichols, Melissa Moss, Matt Adrian, Kim Bagwill, Jaime Derringer, Lori Portka, Amadea Bailey, Gus Harper, Christine Mason Miller, Sarah Stevenson, Matt Hanover, Liz Kalloch, Isabelle Bryer, Sarah Stone and Brad Davis and me!

If you'd like to share this opening with your Los Angeles friends you can invite them here via Facebook. And now we're all official with a website, so you can keep up with us there too!

Can't wait!

See you Saturday! @ the pArty 5522 W. Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90019

I kid you not. A lot has happened in exactly 2 weeks. 

On the wish list; a studio big enough to paint much larger paintings. So just a couple of months ago, I started talking to a few friends about the possibility of sharing a space?

Fast forward to 2 weeks ago, a space came up {that another friend was leaving} that hadn't even occurred to me to take it as a painting studio because it has a retail storefront in a great central LA location?! What, what? you mean we can have a studio space that also acts as a gallery/shop? And what? I could finally have a space to host those events I've been thinking about for years? And I will now have the perfect place to teach, shoot video, and host all of my talented {even out of town} creative friends who want a place to teach workshops in L.A.?  Yes, yes, yes, and yes!!

Done and done. 3 friends, me, Outi Harma {who I met in 2004 and used to share space with in the 10 women gallery} and Jenean Morrison who I met designing fabric in 2011. Also a former Groundlings Theater Member, Holly Mandel will be teaching Improv classes starting this month. A creative collective, filled with favorite people and creative pursuits all under one roof. You know, we have big plans, BIG PLANS! The photo above was taken minutes after Outi and I signed the lease this past Sunday :) You can also a quick time lapse video of us starting our first paintings in the new space on Instagram.

Still in a little bit of shock with how fast this all came together, there's a lot more to share! Stay tuned! but first save the date October 22nd: our first art show opening in our new space! 

I added some special Halloween treats to the shop this year! Along with a new {2nd} annual Halloween Tee design. 

Just over one week in, they all became friends :)

As soon as the oracle cards arrived back from the printer, I put together the deck and randomly chose my first card. The card was "celebrate".

For a moment I pondered? There's no "big" news to celebrate? So why this card? And then I remembered my conversation with a friend just last night where we talked about noticing how there's so much pressure to be "extraordinary" today, that we are losing sight of what it means to appreciate and celebrate all of the beautiful moments and accomplishments in life, both big and small, ordinary and extraordinary. 

I'm a believer in celebrating everything you want to highlight, and not waiting only for the "big" moments in your life. 

And then not long after I pulled the celebrate card (an hour to be exact)... as you know we've been fostering kittens!!...spontaneously we decided that the kitties are meant be with us. And that is definitely worth celebrating ;)

I now know why, for several reasons, this was the very first card I pulled from the "Creative Joy" deck. 

Not to mention - it's always exciting to share a new creation, especially one that combines a particularly special collection of my work painted over the past decade. More reason to celebrate!

Each word I included in the deck was carefully chosen, often correlating directly to the title of the original painting featured on the card. Since my art is so often a reflection of what I'm experiencing while I'm painting, each image contains the feeling expressed by the words. If you remember, the characters highlighted on the "celebrate" card are from a 2007 painting titled "the gang celebrates".  It was a time when my characters were developing, my art was just starting to sell consistently and my business as a full time artist was finally coming together.

I hope you will cherish this deck and share with me stories of how the words or the images spoke to you at just the right time, even if simply inspiring a theme for your creating that day.

You can order your deck here!

There's something about the momentum of calm 3 day weekends bring, that really inspires creativity for me. And it kicked off the beginning of some serious painting time which resulted in these two pieces, each measuring 8" x 24",  that will also become future growth charts! 

I'm already attached to the calm and imagination with a touch of adventure represented in these paintings, the "Wildflower Garden" and "Delightful Dreamers" (an evolution of he first version) And yes if you look closely you will see that there is a tiny kitten ;) featured in the bottom left corner of the "Wildflower Garden". 

Enjoy the newest additions to the Creative Thursday collection! The originals are available to purchase here.

I've often referred to my neighborhood as a "magical vortex" 

Only because I've never lived anywhere where I instantly felt at home, and 3 years in I love my neighbors more than ever.

As it turns out, others sense this quality too? because they keep dropping off tiny animals in our neighborhood. The assumption is that they will find a good home. And very often they do!

This is how Pepita aka "the calm chihuahua" found us. And just last week, 2 kittens found their way to our neighborhood too.

What do you do when 2 of the cutest kittens ever show up unexpectedly? Well first you foster them, then you snuggle them. Then you take way too many photos and videos of them, to share everywhere including your blog. To keep up with their daily antics, follow my video stories on the Instagram app.

Oh and you also start painting them, because they are only the BEST creative muses, next to Garbo and Pepita {who are not so sure about life with kittens}. 

"Kittens love abstract art" The first in what I'm sure will be a continuation of "kitten art".

A common question for artists;  "Where do you get your inspiration?" My standard answer is "everywhere". I honestly never know when it's going to strike but I'm always open and listening.

Last week I was introduced to this beautiful song by Aurora. It took my breath away. A remake of "Life on Mars" by David Bowie, I went searching and came across his original video. My newest music and video obsession inspired this painting series "Life on Mars".

Now I know it's highly unlikely there are flowers and gardens on Mars? But we can imagine, right? Because yes, that is also a tiny bear you see there, standing on Mars. ;)

Stay open for inspiration xo

IG Stories!

If you don't know yet? Instagram released it's own version of "SnapChat". When you update your Instagram App, you'll see a row of circles featuring the profile photo of those you follow above the photos feed. Anyone with a circle featured in that row, or with a red circle around their profile photo on their instagram page has created a "story" featuring a 10 second or less series of videos or photographs. 

As you know I've been live streaming for exactly one year, and I was recently trying out Snap Chat. All this familiarity with video made hopping on IG stories an {almost} comfortable next step. Now matter how many times you hit the record button, sharing more of yourself with an audience is always a stretch.

While I'm sure it's the novelty that's getting so many eyeballs on my "stories", I feel especially excited to explore this new short video format. I always want to create thoughtful, fun, creative content for you and this platform is no different.

I will tell you that I'm sharing even more behind the scenes snippets of life and business on IG stories than I have anywhere else. Right when I was done with the polish and perfection of Instagram, a platform I've been consistently posting to since 2010, this new feature came along. And it's basically reathed a new life into social media for me. I love sharing and learning more about all of our worlds in a less polished, real way again. 

They only stay up for 24 hours, so you might catch a glimpse of a few recent stories where I share the importance of hiring help when you need it and not waiting until you think you can budget it {if you're a solo-preneur like me, you'll think you can do it all yourself for far too long}. You can also catch the longer conversation recorded this past Monday, about my thoughts on IG Stoires, SnapChat and live streaming on Periscope. Yes, I'm still live streaming too ;) Watch the broadcast here.

To all of you who continue to follow me and tune into streams and now stories. Thank you for watching! 

I don't know about you? but I've been feeling like we could all use a little more joy these days. So I decided to gather up a collection and put together a "Box of JOY". There's a big box {only 16} and small box {only 8} packed with whole bunch "surprise" Creative Thursday treats, including a personal note from me to you over at the shop. 

And! I'm also giving away 1 SURPRISE SUPER BIG BOX OF JOY with all kinds of treats, including an original painting plus access to a mini-course of your choice. 

Here's how you enter:

1. Comment below with 1 - 2 words that describe the Creative Thursday "brand" to you
2. Share a success or a struggle {or both} and what you can personally use support, help with right now.

The giveaway is open through Tuesday August 2 @ 12:45 pm PST. A winner will be chosen randomly and announced Tuesday.

If I can add little more joy to your day by delivering happiness and inspiration in a box for yourself, or {holiday} gifts you can share, then let's do it! Good luck!

YAY!! Our winner is Kristy Wesolowski! Congratulations! Thank you everyone for sharing! It was a joy to hear from you, thoughts on branding, struggles and successes. xo

The little pear totally has eyes for the dreamy orange.

A new series of paintings and prints now available in the shop.

The way I see it, there are essentially 2 categories of people {and business owners}; the Early Adopters and the Late Majority. It's not that one is better than the other, because in the cycle of business and technology, we need both. However, having primarily favored the category of the Late Majority up until recently, I have some thoughts on why I think being an early adopter and one who EMBRACES CHANGE is everything in today's world. 

The biggest reason being; when you're first to try, you can change and pivot if it's not right for you. But once something is already started you can never go back and be first.

And the benefits of being first are...? They are BIG and different for each industry. Here's what I see in the industries that are my expertise; creativity and entrepreneurship combined with technology. For art collection and courses, in the beginning the price is less and the personal attention is more. Both the early collector and student influence the development of the artist and if/what they choose to teach. The opportunity for feedback and connection is profound. And when it comes to technology and social media your chance to have a bigger impact through building a genuine following and community is way more when you get there first and get to know the pioneers in the space. {And for my fellow foodies, once everyone knows about the next great L.A. restaurant, it means a way longer wait to get a table}.

Maybe you've seen my recent videos where I've talked about how I've realized my resistance to change - aka stubbornness - has impeded my progress. While I'm still a big believer in trusting your individual timing and choices around what's right for you, I am no longer a supporter of even well intended "stubbornness". Things are never going back to the way "they used to be". And especially as a business owner, recognizing that what worked in the past may not be what works now, is the difference between progressing and quitting. Remaining rigid and fearful about changes that are coming is only an excuse to get in your own way.

As I was writing this email, I stumbled across a live broadcast that emphasized and echoed my sentiments about how the PACE of CHANGE today, is unlike any time before. Instead of seeing change as the result of bad decisions; it's that all the decisions that lead us to this moment are the reason for the awareness that embracing change is always the best choice = me now.

This means that we have to be willing to TRY & Explore, because it's the only way to progress. I get that choosing to be in the Late Majority feels less risky. Why not see how it works out for everyone else? Just because everyone's doing it, still doesn't make it right or mean it will stick? or does it? Today, not trying is what's riskier. It's going too fast. You won't just have FOMO {fear of missing out} but you might miss opportunities entirely.

There's never a crowd on the leading edge. And usually when there's a crowd, I want out. And yes I have vision, comes with the entrepreneurial territory. I've been ahead of my time before in my first e-commerce business to choices I've made with Creative Thursday, like podcasting, online teaching, and video. But I left early. This time, I'm not leaving. Because I've realized more than ever that without the early adopters, all the businesses we support, and the technologies that support our businesses wouldn't be here. My early art collectors, like Sharon who bought one of my first {and still a favorite} character paintings featured above, are the reason I'm here. 

To all of you who collect my art , especially my early adopter/collectors, and to those of you who signed up for my very first online courses, backed my Kickstarter, subscribed to my YouTube channel, attend my live streams, and most recently bought afloral abstract and signed up for my newest course offerings, especially the one with a focus on LIVE video, THANK YOU!

Simply because, in the decade I've been blogging things have become more, way MORE. And by things I pretty much mean everything. An increase in experience and clarity coupled with a desire to be more efficient have happened for me as a business owner. I would expect this, yes? But the amount of "things" I have to keep up with, keep track of and manage as a solo-preneur have reached a tipping point. I truly can't do it all and I'm sad to say that blogging has been one of them.

I have loved this space and still do. This is not an "I'm quitting" the blog post. It's just an explanation to my less frequent posting in months/years past. 

Let's be honest, the blogging space has changed a lot since many of us started, and while I don't think it's going away any time soon or ever? the way in which we communicate and share or I should say the all of the ways {plural} have changed. They haven't become less but for many of us they became more, much more.

As a creative, an artist who likes to paint it is becoming increasingly difficult to manage my time between social media sharing/marketing and finding quiet time to create from an inspired space. Not good or bad, just how it is now. Rather than resist it as I've done in the past I've embraced it and given in to forging a new strategy on how to continue to evolve my business.

One of the other reasons it's been harder to commit to writing time here is also because I've added 2 additional start up ventures to my life and business goals as well. So in fairness it is not just the social media element, of what to post, when to post and wondering if anyone is really listening? that's hijacking all of my time - it's my choice of following inspiration and ideas that has the potential to take the story I started telling here to a much wider audience. 

With all of that said I realize as I share this with you today,  how nice it is to communicate through the written word. I love writing too. But right now I have to choose the easiest format for me to communicate my ideas and my work and lately it has been live streaming. Makes sense right? I've always enjoyed sharing via my voice, my spoken voice. I started this blog with a podcast back in the day. And this past year I found a medium that fulfills all of my expression in a much quicker format. Writing takes time for me. It takes much thought and editing on some days especially. Lately with so much going on, it's just felt easier to push a button and talk the thoughts I used to blog about, directly to you. And even better, you share back. I get engagement and community that I've missed here since the introduction of mobile devices.

And yet I know live streaming is new and not everyone is on Periscope or following videos on Facebook and reading is an experience far different than listening to and/or watching video. For this reason I don't want to miss those of you coming to visit me here either. 

Remember? when all we did was keep a blog? it feels like it was so much easier back then? Maybe I should re-read old posts and realize I felt overloaded then too ;)  I don't have the answers and I'm not sure where it's all headed - really ever? just trying to go with the flow and squeeze in as much as I can as long as I'm having fun with it all. What I am doing today actually is talking more about this subject of Blogging and What's Next? on my Facebook Page and my Periscope in - especially for those of us who've kept regular blogs for the past decade, like my friend Betz who's celebrating her 10 year blogiversary this month who inspired this live stream and this post ;)

The photo above is when Sean told me to take everything out of my head, write it down on index cards and use magnets and a white board to prioritize it. After years of listening to my constant state of overwhelm... he's been suggesting this...for a while. I finally did it, and it was an eye opener. Obvious, yet not? until I saw the pile of cards/tasks laid out in front of me - that I'm truly trying to do too much at once.

Not an overnight shift, I'm in the beginning stages of unraveling myself from the path I put myself on. While it may take longer than I hope especially as I see these new projects through - or maybe I'll just give into the juggling that I've gotten used to and call it my new normal - as this is not the first post about balance and overwhelm and it won't be the last ;-) I'll let you know how it's going.

In the spirit of not taking too much time to write, forgive the very conversational, not so carefully edited post. I'd rather say something then nothing at all for fear of it not being perfect enough. Something my experience with live streaming has taught me. Until next time! and for now, you can catch me Live Streaming on Facebook and Periscope and occasionally on Snap Chat. "See" you soon! and happy blogiversary BETZ! xo

When I started both of my businesses, first an E-Commerce site in the Interior Design space, and then Creative Thursday, I was fortunate to have mentors to guide and reassure me through those early stages. It takes so much focus, energy and faith to get something new off the ground. 

In my first business I learned how to write a business plan and actually had one in place because I needed it to approach potential investors. For Creative Thursday, I chose a different approach - partly due to the fact that I didn't know I could have a plan as an artist? I mean when I started, most people still thought you were lucky to sell your work as an artist, let alone make a living.

In both businesses I've hustled and created the majority of my own opportunities. Early on in Creative Thursday I was also fortunate to have a couple of "lucky breaks" that helped put me on the map as an Emerging Artist and a voice as a Creative Entrepreneur. I would also say the "lucky breaks" had more to do with good timing, than luck. And they also had to do with learning how to recognize the opportunity as it was happening, and run with it!

Everyone can have a lucky break, but what about afterwards, can you sustain it? 

Even with the help of early mentors, I wasn't really prepared for what it takes to stay in business, to have longevity within an economy and technical landscape that is changing at rapid fire speed, one that is shifting every time we think we have it figured out.

When I wrote my first business plan, I remember addressing what kind of business I envisioned right alongside my exit strategy. While it seems awkward to think about how you might "end" your business before you've even begun, it's a vital step, because it is going to give you clues about what happens in between.

What I see on the teaching landscape today is a lot of excitement and education about beginnings, and who doesn't love the start of something new? however I'm not seeing enough courses addressing a fundamental, must have skill before you ever begin, organization and the desire to build something that lasts. How do you evolve and stay standing well after lucky breaks and changing trends. It takes the same focus, energy and faith to stay as it does to start.

This is my introduction announcing my plans to teach again in 2016!

But first I'm re-opening the class I taught last fall and making it available as a download for a limited time to those of you who missed it. To all of the students planning to join me for upcoming classes this year, I recommend starting with Permission to Be first as it will give you a solid overview and foundation which we will build upon in 2016. Also, all Permission to Be Students will have first access to the next sessions as soon as registration opens.

Here's to LUCK + LONGEVITY and a lot of fun and more ease along the way. That's my idea of business success. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ri0T7iimbM

Why trusting your gut is so critical for business?

This is it! Our very last episode of the first season of Creative Thursday is LIVE. And I might, just might start breathing a little easier again. A labor of love, this project has taken more work and more out of me than I could've imagined. And it's all been worth it!

As it turns out, Outi's episode which focuses on trust and going with the flow is the perfect end to this first season. Because right now I need to be reminded of the advice she is offering all over again. As I wrap a project I'm incredibly proud of , I'm left with an even stronger desire to continue while simultaneously having no clear idea {yet} about how I'm going to fund the second season...as we say in the episode...something will work out...

And that's it friends. The truth about life as a business owner: no matter how experienced you are, you never get it all figured out. If you plan to expand, and you must, you will take risks. And you will never know if, how and when they will pay off. But you take the risk because you believe in it, because seeing it through brings the best sense of fulfillment no matter how it turns out.  The positive response I'm getting to this first season so far has been fantastic. The intent behind sharing these stories, to educate, inspire, provoke thought and uplift the viewer - it has all been received exactly as I hoped it would. Knowing this, there's nothing better. For those of you watching, sharing and offering me your feedback. Thank you.

So why is trusting your gut so critical for business? Because when your plan doesn't go according to plan, you can always return to your intuition and in my opinion - learning to trust that is everything. In fact, a prerequisite to starting any business = trust. It's once you're in it and overwhelmed by everything involved in actually running your business, that you can lose sight of that initial knowing.
I believe, as artist it's our role to observe, to question, to step outside the box and sometimes rebel against the plan. It's not that we all actively think about doing this, it's just how we're built.  And these are the very qualities that open us up to self expression. They are the necessary tools for creating our art. 
Join Outi and I as we talk about what it means to resist a plan while trying to maintain the structure involved with running a creative business, and always remembering to keep the faith. And for my fellow painters and those wanting to explore painting - you are going to LOVE seeing Outi's process as she describes how she starts her amazing canvases and completes her newest project, her first wall murals.

Please continue to spread the word, especially for my binge watchers, now that all 6 episodes are LIVE. I've been creating short trailers for each episode and posting them to my Facebook page making it especially easy to click and share. Thank you again for all your support in bringing this project to life.

You can find Outi Harma here:

OutiArt.com

outiart.etsy.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2lyFLQQ3yo

How does Passion Lead to Business Success? Meet Rama and Christine Hughes; a creative couple, a commercial illustrator turned art teacher and a graphic designer. Join us as we talk about what having talent really means? is your interest the same as your passion? is it really meant to be your career? and the importance of remembering that you are always free to change. Not only did I learn entirely new things about me - but I left this interview with an entirely different perspective on what leads to a creative life and career.

 You can find Rama and Christine here:

RamaHughes.com

DarlingStudio.com

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

Why is Failure good for business? What is the secret to making it ~ after you follow your dreams? Meet Bonnie Tsang a Los Angeles photographer with a focus on interiors, portraits, travel and food. A keen eye for all things beautiful Bonnie is also a social media consultant for which Time Magazine has named her one of the "Top 30 Pinterest Curators to Follow".

You can find Bonnie here:

BonnieTsang.com

Bonnie Tsang on Instagram

"I'm done with everything" In a world that values being busy and present in your business all the time, what is it like to Pause intentionally? oh, and? How much money do you actually make when you publish a book? The conversation continues, and we're barely scratching the surface. Meet Amber Dusick; mother, ceramic artist, wooden craftswoman, creator of Woodmouse Toys, blogger and author of the hilarious aka viral sensation "Parenting Illustrated with Crappy Pictures® " Drinker of wine. Eater of coconuts, who tries to have a garden, has chickens - who also likes to sew and make stuff - and is a delight to talk with. Spoiler alert: Pepita the "calm chihuahua" and Frank "the lizard" may also be making appearances...and not to worry we have plenty of disclaimers.

You can find Amber here:

AmberDusick.com

Parenting Illustrated with Crappy Pictures

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwtg0X3C36Q

This is the moment in the episode when I told Jaime about the time I thought about becoming an attorney instead of an artist. ;)

Working with integrity is number 1. Meet Jaime Derringer who founded the Online Magazine, Design Milk in 2006. Now an online influencer reaching millions, she is also the creator of Dog Milk and a sister shop Adorn Milk. An emerging artist, Jaime's work is selling to collectors everywhere. Join us as we talk no bulls*t when it comes to money, blogging, painting and what's next for the online world.

You can find Jaime here:

DesignMilk.com

JaimeDerringer.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TV5Dq4P5scE

I'm writing this to you as I watch the spinning wheel of my 2nd ever YouTube video upload. With 67 minutes remaining until the first episode of a project we've been working on for 2 years and imagining since my podcasting days goes live; this particular creative Thursday is feeling surreal.

When I started Creative Thursday, I wanted to design and make art. I didn't initially realize how valuable hearing others' stories was until I really started going for things in my life, and by things I mean - making the choices that feel risky and require BIG leaps of faith. Knowing that fellow business owners, creatives especially, made it through to the other side of those uncertain times over and over again {both professionally and personally} gave me the determination and confidence to keep going in everything I've had the courage to try. And those same stories have also taught me how to know when it's time to stop and change the direction I'm going.

When you're an artist, a creative business owner, an entrepreneur, especially one who is braving it in the online world in any number of industries, you learn super fast that there is no rule book.  No one, not even the most successful, can tell you the exact path that will work to get you where you want to go. Not only because we are all making it up as we go, but the game has changed. This is why it's more important than ever to hear stories and learn from others, and the reason why I am creating this series. Ultimately though, You will always be the only one who can discover your path. Honestly, minus the fear and sleepless nights, the uncertainty is {supposed to be} one of the most exciting parts of choosing this life. And I know this to be true, because here I stand again, with 48 minutes remaining, headed into a new adventure filled with anticipation and uncertainty. And while it's scary, it's also crazy EXCITING! and worth everything it's taken to get here.

What I also didn't realize when I started out - besides the fact that Creative Thursday is a perfect name for a weekly series ;) - is that I too have a voice, a story to share and a desire to share it. It was podcasting that opened that door for me and then blogging and then my book. And the door has remained open because of you. As I wrote to my Facebook group yesterday, all of you, especially those who have commented, written me emails, taken my classes - over all these years - and most recently supported the Kickstarter for this series - your continued encouragement of me sharing my voice and story has given me the courage and dedication to continue developing this series to share more amazing people and their stories with you. 

We're keeping it real. And by real, I mean genuine not drama. I've always been frustrated with quick snippets of interviews and conversations with all the predictable questions and no substance. I happen to be someone who does have an attention span for compelling, quality, audio and film creations. And I know I'm not the only one. These 6 episodes are long form, with each running between 50 and 55 minutes. There is editing of course, but mostly these are the entire conversations we had. And usually it takes about 20 minutes before we fully get into the focus that the episode reveals to us. While I knew all of the interviewees beforehand, and had a general idea of the topics I wanted to cover, I had no agenda. I wanted the conversation go where it wanted to go, and I knew all of these awesome, inspiring people could go there.

With all of that said, I hope you are going to LOVE this series. 

To view the first episode featuring Erin Dollar of Cotton and Flax, click on the video link above. You can also subscribe to the new Creative Thursday YouTube channel and this way you will be notified every time a new episode is added over the next 5 Thursdays. I will send out an email when they go live as well. And stay tuned to my Periscope channel, as we're working on having live Q&A's with the interviewees. To learn more about Erin and her beautiful work with Cotton and Flax you can find her at cottonandflax.com.

Game on! Years in the making, dreaming, planning, kickstartering and filming. It's finally happening! 

Season 1 has 6 episodes and one will be released each Thursday starting tomorrow.

Watch the trailer and subscribe to my new YouTube channel to know as soon as the first episode airs!!

To share the series, here's the link bit.ly/creativethursday

Thank you for all your support from day 1 of this blog. This was the beginning. And now telling my creative story is becoming so much more.

Happy New Year!

For 20% off everything at Creativethursday.com. Use the code: TISTHESEASON at checkout. Happy Holiday Time!

For the first time! hand painted glass ornaments! You can purchase them individually or in sets of 3 or 6. 

Normally I do one shop update during the holiday season, but this year I'm feeling so inspired!! that I will be posting an update every Thursday before Christmas starting @ 7 p.m EST. Join the mailing list to be the first to know as soon as the update happens.

I LOVE creating special one of a kind pieces at this time of year. The holiday music is on and the temporary studio in NY is bustling. 

Since we're crafting by hand and a small studio, only limited quantities of all new pieces will be available.

Enjoy!

Remember little Olive? She’s back and in the shop!

Another irony? a children’s book I wrote for the child I don’t yet have? But the truth is I also wrote this for me. A children’s book for grown ups too. It’s a message about being yourself, something we all talk about but do we really know how to do it?

I think being yourself is more than just a decision, it’s a lifelong discovery. One that includes embracing and being at peace with all parts of yourself and all parts of your life experience. It’s about letting go of what other’s think about who you are, where you’ve been and where you’re going.

If you tuned into my big secret reveal two weeks ago on Periscope, then you know that I’ve been struggling with fertility for the better part of a decade. I’ve decided to let the story go, because I realized that holding it close to was becoming harder than sharing it publicly.
 
I’ve spent years knowing I wanted to share this story but always planned to do so on the other side of a healthy pregnancy and baby. I’m not waiting any longer.
 
I have a collection of pieces of I’ve written. And last year as I stumbled upon a new medical fertility discovery, my hope grew and I started working on a book with the help of a literary agent. And then when I experienced yet another loss, I put it aside. With all the recent filming and editing I’ve been doing with our series, I also thought about shooting a documentary? Unsure if I could rally again in both telling the story or pursuing another fertility treatment - then this Periscope App came along and something about it made everything make sense. As far as I know no one has shared the process of the IVF fertility treatment live via video streaming?
 
When we go through challenges in life, if and only if it feels right to us, I believe it’s invaluable to share our stories – not in a crafted, edited, sensational and dramatic way but in a calm, dignified real way {yes, I’m talking to you News Media and Reality TV} Not only do I think that it offers healing to us, but it helps soothe and reassure so many who are going through something similar. Just knowing that we are not alone, especially regarding a diagnosis and subject that can be considered taboo? that no one wants to talk about. I have always loved documentaries and this is one of the reasons why I’ve also embarked on creating our series. Hearing others stories has helped me over and over again in my life. It’s one of the main reasons why I believed I could be an artist in business.

As I explore the topic of sharing my fertility journey publicly, I’m thinking about all of the reasons why we choose to keep it private. Shame, feeling like a failure, judgment from ourselves from family, friends, strangers and some religions, general discomfort in talking about our bodies, sex and health, life and loss.  I know and understand all of these reasons and yet it’s time for this to change. If you think you’re not being affected by infertility, you probably are because someone you know is going through it and they are not talking about. 1 in 8 couples is experiencing some form of infertility. And the more I open up about my story, the more I learn about how many women and men have struggled with heartache and loss on their way to motherhood and fatherhood.
 
With the intent of helping even one person feel soothed, empowered and reassured in their journey, I’ve decided to transform my struggle into another kind of creative expression. As much as I never wanted to be another “poster child” for infertility, as much as I’ve wanted to run away and hide and stop sharing anything anywhere especially on live video – what am I thinking? – I know this exactly why I need to keep going.
 
One of the reasons I didn’t pursue medical help earlier was because of my own judgments and fear simply because I was overwhelmed at the thought of it, simply because I really did not understand what was involved.
 
I am starting my 3^rd round of IVF in upstate New York this week and sharing the process via Live Stream on Periscope. This is more than just sharing about fertility, it’s about encouraging all of us to continue becoming more comfortable with being ourselves, it’s about being an advocate, especially for our health and our choices. It’s about knowing how to support those going through a challenge. 
 
People have asked how they can help. Tune in live, and share with everyone because we really don’t know who might affected and can use the support and education right now. I'm planning on posting some of the videos in one location for longer viewing; for now incase you missed the first one you can watch it here.

As followers of my work, keep collecting it and giving it! especially now {and also the holidays are coming ;)} You are supporting my business; you are supporting me. I’ll also be making art and sharing it, as painting is {always} one of the ways I stay grounded and happy.

Thank you for all the extra care during this time.

hope everyone celebrating had a FUN Halloween weekend! 

I almost forgot to share my art is in a movie that opened this past Friday, October 23.

This is a piece I wrote for my newsletter subscribers this morning.

Might seem strange that I would forget to share something so exciting? I definitely get a thrill when I see my work on the big screen or little screen {it's been in several movies and tv shows over the years}

I know it's also exciting for you, my family and friends, collectors and customers to see my work featured, because you are almost always the first to let me know you discovered it somewhere.

So if it's this exciting why did I forget to share? Because, honestly the feeling is mixed for me. To begin with, you may or may not know that a select body of my work is licensed, and up until recently when I decided to add an addendum to my contract {because of this movie} I did not know if/when my art would be featured. And as the sole creator of my work and my brand, I want to be the one deciding if and when it will be showcased in the future. While you know I like Halloween and some scary, I'm not sure Paranormal 5 and the fact that the wall my art is on turns into a tunnel to hell would have been my first choice? But it's done and here we are.

The second part of the mixed feeling is that usually when people discover my art is featured, they assume that it comes with a decent paycheck, or at least a paycheck? decent being subjective and who knows what that number would actually be in anyone's mind? I do not get paid other than one sale from the art; which in this case because it is licensed, is a small percentage of the total price, retail or wholesale depending upon how it was purchased.

Now I understand that this is when people assume the exposure in itself is worth it? and must certainly generate more sales, and it certainly may! that would be great! but since there is no credit for my art listed anywhere it will take a determined collector to track me down.

I'm not speaking on behalf of all artists, but most contracts that feature your work in film are the same. You always retain the copyright of course {make sure you do!} and you will be paid once for the piece and that price may vary depending upon how famous you already are.  And depending upon the exposure {being selected as one of "Oprah's favorite things" may be different?} you cannot count on it as a huge increase in sales for your business. With all of that said, most everyone agrees? {not sure that I do} that all exposure is good exposure - so you never know? maybe Paranormal 5 will be the tipping point for me?!

Don't misunderstand; I appreciate all of the opportunities that have come to me in my business along with the ones I have gone after that have actually worked out as I had anticipated. It's an honor when companies and individuals want to collaborate; when fellow creatives recognize your work and want to include it as a part of their art. And I'm an artist who wants to support other artists. I'm also an artist who wants to continue to support myself and my business with my work. And this does not happen without you.

I've said this before and have been mentioning it a lot lately on both Periscope broadcasts and the recent class I taught. This business does not exist without you, my customers, especially my very first customers who collected my work. Each and every sale from you is what supports me. And it does not matter what film it's in {at least for now}. If I suddenly hit it big because my art was in a movie, I'll let you know.

Until then and always: THANK YOU for supporting Creative Thursday. 

And I do recommend that you quickly purchase all of my originals before this sudden surge of fame causes me to increase my prices drastically ;)

Here's the movie poster image I see when driving around L.A. featuring the tunnel that took over the space that my art was hanging on. You can see it featured here, pre-tunnel, in the trailer.

And for those of you who love this piece "the gang celebrates"  and have asked about purchasing it? it's a classic and is still available as a print in multiple sizes and for a limited time as a canvas as well.

If you see the movie, let me know what happens :)

Have you heard about #inktober? There's a few days left! And also 5 days and counting until Halloweeeeeen this Saturday. I've been getting in the spirit with almost daily ink drawings, stepping outside of my creative comfort zone, drawing in ink vs. painting and limiting my color palette to 1 - 3 colors. Ok, fine. One day I also added black ink to a large acrylic painting {not released yet}. I couldn't resist.

This is such a great idea and fun practice to get the inspiration flowing. And so is making a trip to Halloween Town in Burbank, California by the way {open all year}. You can follow along with a few more drawings this month at Instagram.

The "Princess and the Pea" is featured in this month's issue of Pregnancy and Newborn. You can view the entire issue here. In the company of a beautiful selection of art. Thank you Lacey! 

Learning and broadcasting daily for the past month has been an incredible eye opener for me personally and professionally. My mind is blown and I'm sure it will be even more this week, because I'm headed to Periscope Summit in NYC. Of course! I'll be Scoping from the Summit. You can find all of my latest broadcasts here periscope.tv/creativethursday 

I'm realizing, while I've had so much support from our amazing creative community through all of these years, I've never truly had a Mentor, someone out ahead who I could trust to help me take the next steps, specifically in the Creative Industry.

Being a Creative Business is not like every other Business. It's an incredibly unique and personal offering. And the stereotypes that still surround both artists and women in business need to END.

My intention in leading this class is to be the Creative Business Mentor I wish I had. I want to help you grow and refine your business: to empower you to THRIVE in this industry.

We released a collection of Tinies creations at our online shop!

This is not only to share beautiful creations made with "the tinies" to give you ideas on all of the ways you can use the fabric, but also as an experiment. I like the idea of releasing entire designed collections a few times a year. We shall see if this is a new direction for Creative Thursday or not? As you know, I always have the right to change my mind, and sometimes I do ;)

So much has shifted in the way our economy perceives retail, especially over the past few years, that honestly it has me re-evaluating the direction I want to go in regards to designing products....I'll keep you posted about what I'm learning and ultimately what I decide to do.

Enjoy "the tinies"! and happy weekend!

Ok. seriously.

As soon as I said I'd be coming back to the blog...I found Periscope. Or better yet, Periscope found me.

I've been scoping almost every day now for 3 weeks and still loving it. In fact I'm headed to Periscope Summit in NY in just a couple of weeks. I don't have to tell you again or maybe I will ;)  Live streaming video is a GAME CHANGER especially for business owners. 

Honestly, I'm watching the economy shift in front of my eyes every day with this new platform. I'm also watching consciousness shift. It's incredible what's happening.

What I'm realizing for now - is that I believe this is the platform I've been waiting for. It is quickly becoming my favorite social media space and also my favorite way to communicate with everyone online.

I've shared a lot over the past few weeks from thoughts on business to life, as well as few short Adobe tech tutorials. If you've missed any so far, you can watch the replays for a short while longer on katch.me/creativethurs

If you know me, then you know I love to talk especially about life as a Creative Entrepreneur. In keeping the blog all of these years, I've often felt like I couldn't type fast enough to share all that I've wanted to share and now I just click the broadcast button and voila, I can share in the way that feels easiest for me. Prepared {I promise I'm not rambly rambling over there} but Unedited and LIVE talking. I also forgot how much I love to learn and realized that I haven't been taking nearly enough time to learn more as a business owner. And let me say that what entrepreneurs are sharing on Periscope is OFF THE HOOK.   Basically, it's a no brainer for me to be Scoping: Teaching + Learning. And to everyone who's joining me, especially on the LIVE scopes, thank YOU! It's been so wonderful to have you there, to chat with you and get your thoughts. I also very much appreciate the support as I find my sea legs with this new medium.

Per request, here are some links to product recommendations I've share on Periscope. If they are through Amazon, I am an affiliate, so if you purchase it through my link I get a small percentage back. thank you!

White Board

Canon Rebel T5I

Movo Lav for Periscoping

JellyFish Tripod Mount for Periscoping

JellyFish Tripod Legs for Periscoping

Jelly Fish Tripod Micro Ball Head for Periscoping

If there is anything else I didn't remember to include here? Remind me and I'll add it!

See you soon the Scopes sweet friends and happy holiday weekend!!

Inspired by the Meteor Shower last week. I actually say my first shooting star in the city of Los Angeles EVER. It was exciting to say the least!

And SO is Periscope. This new social media platform and what's happening with it right now, is EXCITING!! And my love for it is growing fast. In fact, this is the first painting I started LIVE on a Periscope Broadcast.

I am enjoying sharing and chatting with you all so much, I'm going to keep scoping every day this week. You can join me again live in five! If you have missed any, for a little while longer, you can watch the replays at Katch.me/creativethurs

And you can find the original of this painting just posted to creativethursday.com

AND for those of you wanting the WHITE BOARD from yesterday's Scope, click here to find it on Amazon. {and yes! I am an Amazon Affiliate}

So excited to start seeing  the "tinies" hitting shops! Even more excited to see what you all are going to make with them!

If you aren't yet familiar with the "tinies"? They are the characters and story behind my newest fabric collection, also my first with Kokka Fabrics in Japan. If you want to know more about the story? You can read about it in this post. But to sum it up, "in a world that encourages BIG, sometimes it's {also} ok to be small". 

With this theme in mind, all of the designs are a small, tiny scale! Perfect for quilting and patchwork, and bags and apparel, and everything I personally love to sew. I promise to have more photos of "the tinies" in use and in the wild soon.

In fact! Momen + - one of my favorite fabric stores in the L.A. area, especially for Japanese fabric, is hosting a contest using the "tinies". And those of you not local can participate too!

Here are all the details:

Bring anything you've made using the "Creative Thursday" collection for Kokka Fabrics by Friday, August 28. Entries will be on display August 22 - 29. Contest participants will receive a 20% discount on Creative Thursday/Kokka fabric. Entries must use Marisa's fabric only. Solids can be used. Marisa {that's me!} will judge the entries and select the top five winners. Winners will receive a Momen+ gift certificate. **This contest is limited to ages 16 years and up. For Non-Local Entries, send in a photo or mail in the entries including a self-addressed and self-stamped return envelope.**

If you are local and want to join us in person! Momen+ is hosting a special reception on Saturday August, 29 from 12 - 2 pm with sandwiches and drinks. This is when I will also be announcing the winners to the Momen+ contest.

1323 El Prado Avenue Torrance, CA 90501

For even more sewing encouragement! I'm also going to give away a fat quarter bundle in the color way of your choice.  Just leave a comment below telling me what you are going to make with "the tinies" fabric before this Sunday @ 11:59 pm PST and I'll choose a random winner on Monday. This contest is open to fabric lovers worldwide. 

I've been wanting to share a list of shops carrying my fabric FOREVER. Please send some love and buy things! at your favorite local and online fabric shops. To get you started here's a list of shops carrying "the tinies" so far. 

• Bunny Designs
• Country Fabrics and Quilting
• Craft South
• Crimson State
• Dragonfly Quilt Shop
• Fabricate in Boulder
• Fabric Spark
• Fabric Worm
• Fancy Tiger Crafts
• Gooba Designs
• In Town Quilters
• Modern Domestic PDX
• Pink Castle Fabrics
• Treadle Yard Goods
• Whimsodoodle

See you back here on Monday! with the fat quarter bundle winner. 

And the winner IS #4! Caroline!! Congratulations! I'll be in touch with you via email to get your fat quarter bundle to you! 

If you don't know! I'm LIVE streaming a broadcast every day this week on Periscope. Art + Biz + Tech Tips and thoughts on the Creative Life. And I've been using this painting as my daily reminder and cheerleader.In case you missed any of the broadcasts? you can still view them here.
http://katch.me/creativethurs
If you want me to answer any questions cover any topics, just tweet, email or share them with me in the comments below. So far...nerves aside, having a great time chatting with you all!!! see you on the Scope later today. {To view Periscope just download the free app to your phone or iPad and follow me @creativethursday}

"you got this" original is available or purchase it as a print 

New Prints! You can find them all at creativethursday.com

Also, I'm doing it! Periscoping LIVE today at 12PST with the topic of Artists vs. Social Media. Join us live on Periscope @creativethursday or you can catch the broadcast for 24 hours afterwards. see you then!

https://vimeo.com/135502112

I woke up projecting myself into the future saying "Oh, remember the days when we used to Periscope?"

That's what I say about blogging now. I totally have nostalgia for the days when I only kept a blog. Lol. 

Speaking of! Five minutes into deciding to keep my blog and... I'm super excited about this {almost} new App called Periscope. Heard of it yet? I first heard of it only a few weeks ago, and just joined it over the weekend. {My handle is creativethursday if you want to follow me there.}What I've been repeating in every one of my Persicope videos is that I am: #alreadyobsessed. 

Quick Periscope Tutorial:

• Download the App to your Phone. You can now broadcast LIVE VIDEO from your phone {only your phone, not your computer} which means of course you can take Periscope with you everywhere and Scope from anywhere that your phone has service.
• People who follow you, or just decided to pop in on your broadcast, join it and can then chat with you {up to a certain amount viewers. if it's a large group of people who've joined, somewhere in the hundreds I think?, the comments will automatically close so it doesn't get crazy overwhelming. Viewers can also "like" your broadcast by tapping the screen which creates lots of pretty colorful hearts. This is encouraged because apparently your popularity on Periscope grows by the combined number of hearts you receive from all of your broadcasts. One person can "heart" you hundreds of times on one video by the way. If you have any trolls, you can block them easily. You can also do private Periscope chats! Hide the chat altogether or just allow people who follow you to chat, but the recommendation to get your videos seen as well as interact with and meet new people - which is half the fun, is stay open to letting everyone chat
• When you follow people on Periscope either via your twitter follower list or by choosing new people, you will receive phone notifications when they are posting live. I know this can get annoying if you follow a lot of people, but the community is still small-ish and people are not posting all the time {yet!} For now, I recommend leaving your notifications to find out about new videos, as I don't follow my twitter stream all day which is another way you can learn about a live stream. Since Periscope is connected with Twitter, you can choose to have it automatically tweet a link for you every time you post a video. And not to worry if you miss a broadcast, you can view any new videos in your feed on Periscope.
  
• There is no time limit to the length of your broadcast 
• The deal is, the videos only lasts for 24 hours and then it's gone either forever or just from Periscope. You can save it to your phone {this option is available either as soon as you finish streaming or set up within the Periscope settings}, or like I did with the video above, because I didn't know about the save it to your phone option, I screen recorded it from Quicktime on my computer before it disappeared. For nostalgia - I wanted to save my very first Periscope. The rest of my broadcasts, I've been practicing and they are not so much save worthy ;) Apparently there is also a #hashtag you can add to the video to save it as well on Periscope? That's it in a nutshell. It's very new and and I'm very new to it, so don't hold me to everything here. Also, as people continue to use it and offer feedback it will most certainly change.

Honestly, because of Periscope, I haven't been this excited about social media in a long time.

Of course, let's be honest I've been excited every time I joined a new social media channel over the years and then given time, in this order:

1. Everyone jumps on board
2. It becomes less candid and more edited and styled
3. I suddenly don't feel like I'm growing my audience fast enough, so it comes becomes yet another means of measuring my self worth by comparing my life and social media following to others on the internet
4. trolls try to ruin it and
5. then I'm done.

No, not really. I'm still pretty present at most of my social media homes. My theory has been and still remains;  I try not join one unless I feel like I can commit to them fairly consistently. And then, typically I find one that fits, becomes my favorite for the time and I run with it for as long as I feel inspired to and/or have the time to give to it.

Which, let's face it. I've talked about this in my online classes before. For an artist who requires more internal/quiet time to create, engaging on social media frequently is a tough balance. I call it "brain fragmenting".

All this Periscope-ing and reengagement with Twitter this week has me thinking about hosting my first Periscope Chat on this very subject. "Artists vs. Social Media" I'd love to hear from you and get your thoughts on this, especially if you've recently joined Periscope or are thinking about joining?

Today is just one of those days where I suddenly have so much on my mind that I want to share with you. So bear with me here. This is kind of how it happens with me. Bursts of ideas to share and one of the reasons I'm excited about blogging again. Although I guess I could be Periscoping this right now, although it might not come out quite as concise, as even this long blog post. Remember, brevity = not my strong point!

Ok, quick tangent aside - back to my 5 points above. What I've noticed is that actually some social media platforms are hanging in and making a resurgence. Including Blogging, yay!! and because Twitter bought Periscope I think this will be changing the game for Twitter as well. I find this very exciting. And as someone who has complained about the demands of Social Media before, I'm not entirely sure why this excites me?! Possibly because I'm getting ready to release a video series online? and this will be a whole new form of sharing for me and the creatives I'm interviewing. And Periscope is great practice for more on camera time?

If you think about it, Periscope broadcasting is very similar to the videos I used to film from my computer and post here at my blog. Remember? the days when we used to V-Blog? Except it's live and you can chat with me in real time. In an attempt to keep it real, I never edited the videos I posted here. However I did do up to 20 takes to get it right? ha! remember that? Not on Periscope, once you hit broadcast. You are LIVE! you can of course delete your video at any time, but someone probably saw it. Because honestly the first time I posted this past Sunday, barely telling anyone I was on Periscope I had 17 viewers.

Not going to lie, Periscope ups your game in the confidence and being comfortable live and on camera department. It's a little nerve-wracking at first and distracting to try and share something visually compelling while also doing your best to connect with people chatting to you. Oh and then you might also have to start blocking trolls during your broadcast. Yup, the trolls are moving fast on this one.

Alrighty then, let's just close by saying again I'm SO excited! not only about blogging, but about the possibilities with Periscope. It has reignited my love of Social Media. {yes, I did use the words love social media} I've decided not to whine about it anymore, as there's no changing or slowing down the rate at which the internet is moving.  Instead I'm embracing it all {because actually it's a lot of fun} and I will still have time to make art ;)

Want to be a Periscope newbie too?

Found this detailed post on how to get started on Periscope by Meighan

Follow social media experts like Peg Fitzpatrick and Kim Garst on both Twitter and Periscope.They post very candid, friendly, thoughtful, informative videos especially on social media marketing and now Periscope.

And where do I see all of this going? Oh seriously! I just interrupted writing this post to watch a Live Periscope feed of 4 innovators Periscoping simultaneously. Basically it's changing the world. In terms of your business, the usual connecting and meeting new people in a very personal/candid format, offering online classes paid and free, tutorials...the possibilities are endless.

Years of thought, preparation, work and creativity condensed into 3 minutes.

Maybe one of the biggest accomplishments for this business so far? As I just wrote in my email blast; I have no words to express the depth of what I'm feeling, a combination of anxious, excitement and appreciation, as I launch the preview to this series - that has been so, so many years in the making. To say this project is near and dear to my heart is an understatement.

Perfect right? I'm so glad I'm blogging again and now I have no words ;)

What I do want to say is a HUGE thank you to everyone who has supported me with this series, especially Sean and the featured interviewees: Erin Dollar, Jaime Derringer, Amber Dusick, Bonnie Tsang, Christine and Rama Hughes and Outi Harma.

Season 1 of Creative Thursday is coming soon! My wish is that you love it as much as love creating it. 

The past few months have been filled with editing the Creative Thursday series {we're getting close to a launch date!!!} and it's come up more than once in the conversations we've been having, this idea of nothing is permanent, honoring the right to change. To which I add, the right to change your mind.

I said goodbye to this blog, and I kid you not when I thought about moving on, I had the saddest dream about the loss I would feel if all of it was suddenly deleted. I've been writing here since July 2006. 

Nine years of sharing at this one home. It almost chronicles my entire body of work along with the building of this business from the very beginning. And while I am entering a new phase of Creative Thursday yet again - I've realized that this doesn't mean that I need to leave behind what came before, but rather embrace it in the new evolution.

And the other truth is I tried writing posts on the blog at my new site and it just didn't feel the same. Something about the familiarity of the Typepad interface invites the writing. So with the help of Typepad I figured out a way I can wrap this blog seamlessly into creativethursday.com without having to give it up.

I'm so excited about this decision, that it's like the desire to blog has been reignited. More like the desire to write has been reignited.

Because here's the other thing I realized, I miss writing. Remember? I'm not a journaler but as it turns out this blog has kept me writing regularly. Lately when I've gone to craft even a simple email newsletter, the ability for it to feel effortless has not been happening. My writing is feeling rusty. Just like painting, writing is a skill that I want to keep developing.

Over the past few years, many of us stopped posting to our blogs because social media seems to have taken over. Which it may have? Who takes the time to read blog posts anymore? Actually I think speaking for my own online content absorbing habits; I do still read blog posts, I'm just way more selective about which ones. In fact, in perfect timing, I came across this beautiful post just last week.

When I was still blogging regularly here, it did start to feel like I was writing to the void. It felt a little lonely as I missed the community and the conversations we used to have here.

I know it's ok for me to return because I've accepted that blogging has changed. I have no expectations and yet I do have a curiosity about what it might continue to become? Who knows, right? Maybe it will make a big resurgence as we crave more thoughtful content online vs short sound bites that disappear in seconds into a never-ending  feed? The internet frontier = the great unknown, as if any of us could have predicted what this has all become? What I am most looking forward to in re-entering this space; is having it as my place to write and express thoughts whether anyone reads it or not. The other difference this time is that I won't be keeping up this blog out of any kind of obligation; but rather only post when I have something to communicate about the business and also when I feel like I have something meaningful to share.

I have more paintings,  more classes and more books in me. Since much of the inspiration for my work, especially my written work, was basically born here - I'm certain discoveries for the next book will be forthcoming.

For those of you who wrote to me telling me you would miss this space, it's going to stay! And I'll sign off by saying I'll see you here when I see you xo 

We adopted a tiny dog. We bought a house. I'm painting really BIG paintings, and created a new fabric collection for Kokka in Japan. I've filmed 6 episodes of my new interview series, Creative Thursday{launching in July + can't wait!!} I've reorganized my studio space again, and I've moved my online home, blog, shop everything to creativethursday.com. And I've grown up ;)

Ok, so I've been stalling on writing this post. Mostly because writing it marks the end of an era in my business. Since my business, my art, is so much a part of me, that means it's the end of an era in my personal life as well. And while I'm ready and excited for this new time, it's also bittersweet. Knowing when to let go is tough. Usually though, if I'm being honest; knowing comes easy, the actual act of letting go is harder, and then comes something I've written about for years here at this blog ~ trusting that what's on the other side is going to be good. And that the timing is always right.

Maybe the best way to close this blog is to say: after working through this process in various incarnations via my many posts, podcasts and creations since 2006 - I get it now; the trust part is everything. And if there's any tiny part of me that is still tentative, I'm deciding to move forward, anyway, once again. And that is all. 

One more time. Thank YOU from my heart, for following along with me, for all your support, and for all of the thoughtful comments and conversation along the way. While this is the end here. It feels like it's just the beginning for Creative Thursday.

see you from now on at creativethursday.com and if you want stay the most up to date with all things Creative Thursday, start with my email list and Instagram, - along with all of the other fun social media formalities, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

I did it! The first launch of the new website is happening and the original of this painting is available there. small steps one day at a time = big changes.

Happy Valentine's Day!

If you're on my email list then you're already aware of all the changes coming for 2015. And if not, it's time to let you know!

I've been ready for these changes for quite a while... and then this book showed up in my life, several times actually, the first week of the new year. And now, there's seriously no going back.

Since December, posting on this blog has felt a little paralyzing - because there's no easy way to say this, but it's time for me to let it go. It's surreal to stop a commitment you've been keeping consistently for almost nine years, especially when this is also the first time I've kept such a commitment. What I haven't decided yet, is if I will leave it up, or let it go entirely? There's a lot of good stuff here! And yet I'm also not this person or artist anymore. I've changed. What this book has me understanding more than ever, is that holding on to your past anchors you, rather than supporting you to be fully in your present and confidently step into your future.

What I know for sure is that I'm officially done with maintaining all of these online homes. Everything for Creative Thursday will be moving to one site, and that moment can't happen soon enough. The new site will absolutely have a place for me to share news and "talk" to you when I have something important and interesting to share. So, it's not like I am suddenly going to be silent now. Nope, that's not going to happen. Also, my intent with the new show is to share more of my thoughts and experiences there via video. I'm also working on re-vamping how I approach sending email updates.

We'll see? A lot to think about?! And it does not all have to be decided right this moment. I just wanted to pop in, say a quick hello and recommend this book. It really is a game changer.

happy 2015 xo

My favorite time of year. The array of twinkly, festive lights get me always.

Merry Christmas! Happy 2015! xo

A personal selection of some of my favorite things by my favorite people & makers!

After running the Kickstarter campaign a couple of  months ago, I realized more than ever how important community support is, both online and in person ~ especially for small businesses. Creative Thursday was built and still continues to grow and rely upon the generosity of others spreading the word. In gratitude {and because it's holiday time and you might want some more fun giftie ideas! for you! and for those you love!} I've compiled my first ever gift guide, featuring 20 selections including my new coloring book. I know every one of the makers and either already own {or will own something soon!} from each of them. I am sure you will love their beautiful creations too. As of this email launch, all of the items featured above are available. Many are handcrafted and made in small batches, so if you miss anything, more will be made! 

Featured above 1. Mati Rose {abstract painting} 2. Petit Pippin {soft toy} 3. Melissa Moss {zipper pouches} 4.Outi Harma & Bonnie Solomon {oracle card deck} 5. Lisa Gillespie {artisanal soaps} 6. Cathy Nichols {original painting} 7. Whimsy & Spice {cookies} 8. Laura Nelkin {knitting books + kits} 9. Frantic Meerkat {cards} 10. Betz White {sewing projects book} 11. Jenean Morrison {notebook} 12. Mincing Mockingbird {calendar} 13. Cotton & Flax {pillow} 14. Jaime Derringer {art print} 15. Christine Mason Miller {original painting} 16. Darling Design{holiday cards} 17. Woodmouse {ornament} 18. Creative Thursday {coloring book} 19. Mabel {magazine for the creative life} 20. Aureata {jewelry}

Support your favorite Makers and Small businesses this season and all year through!

OOPS! I included the wrong code in the email I sent out earlier, so please use the code: HOLIDAY2014 to receive 20% off at my Etsy shop, now through Friday, December 5 at 11:59 pm PST.

The shop is stocked with lots and lots of new treats for the holidays, from originals, ornaments, pillows, to bears in tiny holiday dresses. Enjoy!

Seven years of art and design transformed into 53 pictures and patterns just waiting to be colored!

I started this business to be creative. And my mission in all that I do is to inspire you to be creative too. So besides designing fabric for you to create with, I'm so excited to share that I have been working on a COLORING book! And it's finally ready!

I don't know if you've colored in a while? But coloring books aren't just for kids. The number of adults who turn to coloring books, not only for creativity but for relaxing and a sense of calm, is growing. And lucky for us, the number of  modern artists who are creating them is growing too. I first became introduced to them through my friend Jenean Morrison, whose beautiful and intricate designs fill a growing collection of 6 books. Jenean inspired and encouraged me to design one too {thank you Jenean!} with the best advice: "create a book you would love to color". 

So here it is! A book I'd love to color, that I know you will love too! I hope this will be a treasured and thoroughly enjoyed part of your Creative Thursday collection.

It is hard to narrow down my favorites without showing you all 53 pages, but here are a few of my favorite, favorites!

Best part {besides all the cuteness}, it's available on Amazon so you can get it super quick in time for holiday gifties. {you can even use your personally colored pattern pages for small gift wrapping}

let the holiday season begin! with CREATIVITY & COLORING!

The sheep. I couldn't resist :)

new postcards in the shop for holiday time!

New cups and ornaments in the shop! and for the first time ~ I've been wanting to try this forever ~ decal embellished ceramics. Finally! this allows me to create and repeat a design on ceramics. The faces in this series are called the "morning greeters". Perfect for gift giving, I think! It's almost that time...which reminds me. Thursday December 4th is the annual holiday shop update at 11 am PST.  See you then, and probably before :-)

6" x 6"

{click here to purchase original}

9" x 12"

If you're with me on instagram, then you know we've been growing our first zinnia garden, and I'm a little obsessed with how beautiful it is. I had no idea it was so easy to grow one. Highly, highly recommend it!

{original is available here}

6" x 6" 

I painted this several months ago and promised to tell the story about it.

It's simple really, and this is it: Right now it feels like bigger is better. That if you aren't doing something BIG all the time you aren't doing something vaulable, that you aren't valuable? you can feel like you don't count. Maybe I'm projecting? So I'll just own it myself and say this is how I feel sometimes.

It seems that first, you have to have BIG dreams, and then you have to tell everyone about them. Then you also have to SHOUT to be heard, and then if you get a bunch of people listening to you - the more followers and friends you have the more we respect you, the more we listen to you? the more we think you know what you're doing? the MORE you have going on, the busier you are = the MORE important you are. Any of this sound right to you reading this? or is it just me?

It's similar to how I felt as a kid, that I couldn't wait to be a grown up because then I would be important, and then I would be heard.

Life on these terms, is exhausting. And it's not that going for something BIG isn't worth doing or something we should reach for {if we feel like it's what we want to do? and not everbody does} but it shouldn't be the only way people can get attention or receive the respect and value they deserve.

I feel as if doing something small and quiet is underrated and overlooked right now.

That if we're not always doing something BIG {and talking about it} we will be forgotten, lost in the shuffle, that our contribution as people will lose relevance.

It might seem strange to write this post after I just ran this Kickstarter campaign - because all of this was a BIG/HUGE leap for me and I had to be in people's space way more than I've ever been - and now I'm creating something entirely new, where all the same risks apply - but this experience has made it even clearer - as to why this sentiment is especially important right now.

These characters, "the tinies" are about acknowledging the small. Because actually - the BIG moments in life are made up entirely from a collection of small moments. It's those small individual moments, that move us; and I don't want to miss those, not in my life and not in other's lives.

I also want to remember that it's ok to be quiet. It's ok to just be. It's ok to not want to do something BIG all the time.

It's ok to be small.

{I've decided to keep this original, but as of today "the tinies" are available as a print in the shop}

Last night, at 11:11 PST the campaign came to a close.

Heartfelt thank you again! to everyone who backed and supported our Kickstarter. We could not have done this without you. Now! we can't wait to bring you an excellent, thoughtful, inspiring show.

But, first a moment of rest and getting my feet back on the ground to prepare for all that's next.

 

Season 1 of Creative Thursday is happening! and we're hoping to add on 2 more episodes!

If you haven't supported us yet, you still can! 

This is just the beginning. The success of the campaign will help us launch. And the plan is to start shooting the first series of episodes close to home here in Southern California.

Everything above and beyond our funding goal will help us begin the expansion of the show; including adding on additional episodes to the first season, and starting to travel across America and overseas to film all the creatives we plan to feature.

Be a part of this adventure with us! Our Kickstarter backers are the first to view the episodes. They are the ones who will be shaping this show as it develops. And if you are a business owner, consider becoming one of our early sponsors via the campaign. While we are technically starting out. We are not new to the internet and the combined influence of our featured creatives and supporters so far, is TREMENDOUS. We're talking hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions of possible views. Since the plan is for these episodes to stay permanently online, it will be timeless exposure for the sponsors.

Thank you for all of your continued support! I am more committed than ever to create the BEST series for you. I know you are going to love it and I can't wait to share it with you.

This is it. Serious crunch time. 4 days left.

If we fund. We will commit to Season 1 of Creative Thursday.

What's happened during the launch of this Kickstarter: I'm realizing there is no way I can limit the series to 3 episodes to start. There are SO many great creatives to feature that we will find a way to shoot more episodes.We will commit to a full season of 6 with the successful funding of this campaign.

 I've added a final preview to the Kickstarter campaign page featuring dancer, Karma Raines.

"For me to connect with someone and share my love, that's one of the best things I can do." -Karma

This sentiment. It's what this series is about.

How you can help! Keep tweeting, blogging, emailing, texting, facebooking! If you need any images, writing from me to make spreading the word easier, just let me know. Here are also some tweets you can share!

"Make it happen! Season 1 of  #creativethursday" click here to Tweet

"Can't wait for Season 1 of #creativethursday! support this inspiring new series" click here to Tweet

"Yes please! thoughtful, inspired programming. Show #creativethursday Season 1 your support" click here to Tweet

Thank you so much to our backers and everyone spreading the word.  You are helping us make this happen. You are shaping what this show will become. 

After all of these years. I hope I have been clear.

Everything I have created within this business has had one message in mind.

When we fulfill ourselves, then and only then do we understand what it means to be truly happy - and not the kind of happiness that is fleeting but the kind that will sustain us through all the cycles of life.

Accessing my creativity is how I have come to understand this, and when you find something that works for you, you want to share it. Not because you think it will be the answer for everyone but because it might be for someone.

That is all I’ve ever wanted to do is inspire you – everything from my art, to my podcasts, my teaching, my books, to my fabric. Every creation is meant to be the tactile reminder of this message and encouragement. And this series, is the biggest example to date.

If you understood just how much I want to empower all of us, children, adults, men and women, all over the world, by sharing our stories through Creative Thursday the show, then nothing would keep you from supporting this campaign.

This week, I’ve added a longer preview of my conversation with Laura Nelkin {whose first book just came out!} along with another group of creatives we hope to feature.

If you would like to support the campaign as well, by becoming one of our very first sponsors of an episode, we have added 2 new options to the rewards. With the combined influence of our featured creatives, we hope to reach a large audience from the start.

AND! with so many talented people to share already, we are committing to 4 instead of 3 episodes for this first round.

I know some of you are waiting until closer to the end to see if/what is needed. Please support us now and if you want to, you can always add on to your pledge, as many of you have already done {thank you!}

My Kickstarter goal may seem ambitious for this community, as we are small, but we are mighty and together we CAN make this happen.  We already are. Continued thanks for all of your support.

Cal Patch

Karma Raines

Rama Hughes

Christine Castro

Jaime Derringer & Design Milk

Susannah Conway

Diana Fayt

Remember, it is just a mouse with a flower.

I sent out an email today that opened with "if everyone who opened this email pledged $20 to our Kickstarter campaign we would be 100% funded."

I can echo that request here by saying that if everyone of who visits this blog in a month pledges $10 we will be 100% funded.

It's true, I have officially become a fundraiser. This is what happens when you care so much about a project that needs the help of a community to build. If over all of the years of me sharing; from podcasts, to blog posts, to art - if my work has spoken to you, and you want to show your support, now is the time, and contributing to our campaign is how. 

I've updated the campaign page with another short video segment featuring Lisa Gillespie and! I'm excited to share the first ever Creative Thursday interview in full length. Recorded in September 2006 with Tracy Bennett, NFL kicker who became a Set Photographer. It's a great story with a lot of timeless advice. 

Endless thanks to all of our backers and supporters so far! and thank you for starting to spread the word. I came across this site showing us as #7 in the top 100 web series on Kickstarter. Because of you! we have hope! we can meet our goal and get this beautiful show happening.

You can also meet the first group of creatives who we are hoping to feature...with more to come soon!

Fancy Tiger Crafts

Fancy Tiger Clothing

Nest Pretty Things

Illustrated with Crappy Pictures

Cotton & Flax

Helen Dardik

creative together  8" x 8"

First - a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of our early adopters and Kickstarter Backers!! 6 days in and we're 14% funded. 

I realized when I sent out my first email and posted about the campaign, Kickstarter may be new to many of you.

If you aren't familiar with Kickstarter. How it works is: we get NOTHING unless we fund it COMPLETELY. Also this means, your card will not be charged until October 5 and ONLY IF WE REACH OUR GOAL.

If you are considering becoming a backer, we greatly appreciate if you do it sooner rather than later. More support at the beginning of the campaign from backers who know me and my work, will instill confidence in additional backers who might be meeting me for the first time through Kickstarter.

Why did I choose Kickstarter? Because there are now several crowd funding sites, including ones where whatever funds you raise, you get. Launching a Kickstarter campaign is more challenging and I like a good challenge :-) No, really, Kickstarter was the first crowd funding site I supported. I believe wholeheartedly in their mission and have been backing Kickstarter projects since 2011. For me, there is nothing better than empowering an individual to build something themselves. And honestly I think this is just the beginning of what is becoming a new approach to our economy. 

Crowd Funding = every single donation counts. This means a combined effort from a lot of people acting together, can make something happen that otherwise may never have been made. It's amazing. We get to decide what we want to see more of in the world.  

THANK YOU again to our backers so far. You have no idea how much it means to have you believe in our project at this early stage.

I wil be updating the campaign regularly as we go along. This week I have added a video preview featuring a short segment of my interview with Los Angeles artist, Outi Harma, along with a new art print of the image above and original paintings reward choices for all our backers. Next update: another preview! along with a reveal of more creatives who have just signed on to be featured in future episodes.

So this is it! The project I've been eluding to and talking about...for years {as those of you close to me know, its' been a long time coming}

Seriously big time stuff.

I've got to tell you, the relief I feel in finally seeing this project through is amazing. The show idea has been on my mind since I started podcasting in 2006. I know this is just the very beginning of where it will ultimately go, but I have to say that whatever happens with this Kickstarter campaign, I am so glad I am trying and not letting fear and a ton of resistance stop me. Because, oh believe me, it came up so many times especially in the past few weeks. Sean and I have been working on the video officially since last November and now that the long awaited campaign is up! what will we even do with all that extra energy that is suddenly freed up from worrying and thinking and thinking some more and procrastinating. Oh right, we'll be promoting it for the next 30 days straight!

This is a pause in this post when I'd like to share a quote I just heard  from Jerry Seinfeld expressed to Carol Liefer when she was nervous about filming her first TV pilot, that went something like this "Remember there will always be more, and this is just another day in your life and career."

Especially good for me to remember on a day like today as I launch something new that feels so important -  hard to keep it in perspective when it's as if everything you've done in your life, thus far, was meant for this. But I will do my best to breathe through it, while I also remain incredibly excited to share this with you.

Who knew? when I was driving over the hill from Boulder to Denver thinking about a name for my company, 14 years ago, that it would be a great name for a show {airing on Thursday}? Or maybe some part of me did know? As I've shared before, Creative Thursday was a name I chose because I knew it would support all of my artistic pursuits. Then it became the podcast and now a web series, airing May 2015. Our kickstarter campaign is looking to raise the funds for the equipment, time and travel involved to create the first 3 episodes. And should we exceed our initial goal we can make more episodes and get them to you faster!

I'm not going to describe all the details of the show in this post, as everything you need to know is right here.

I will, however, sincerely, directly ask for your help. Something that for whatever multitude of reasons is a challenge for me. I pride myself on independence, and I've built this business alone, technically speaking {because we never really do it alone} This is one of those moments when I realize just how much we do need support from one another, as I can't make this series a reality without you. So Sean and I launched our first ever Kickstarter campaign that starts now. 

What I'm most excited about; this show is for all of us. It's about sharing what is possible and inspiring you while shining a light on amazing people and work being created every day. And we'll be keeping it real, talking about what it truly means to live a creative life.

However you can help, from spreading the word of this to everyone you know and/or funding the campaign {I have all kinds of special treats set up for my kickstarter backers!} THANK YOU!!!!!

{the sad news of the loss of Joan Rivers just came in as we were preparing for this launch. I want to say thank you to Joan, and all of the women who's life and work, and bravery have pioneered the way for me and countless others.}

to view our Kickstarter campagin click here

they're here! and they're bigger this year!

12" x 9"

{original is sold}

Long overdue don't you think? 

All that cute baby clothing, I couldn't leave us out. {and to my guy friends I'm working on some designs for you too!}

You can find the t-shirt and two tank top options over at the shop.

click here to listen to the podcast

Thoughts on being a 'creative creator'

With so much content out in the world, it's important to be selective. To think about how what your choosing to include in your life is really feeding you? And rather than believe everything hook line and sinker that someone else is feeding you, be willing to question it and then make it your own.

Links featured in this episode:

TED radio hour

TED episode on 'growing up'

WTF pod with Marc Maron

4" x 4"

My creation for last week's #mycreativethursday. Hence the flowers :-) Oh and Sean's title is "crouching tiger; hidden flowers"

Happening again tomorrow on Instagram, if you want to join us?

{available as an original here and a print at the shop}

When I began painting characters they were for me and anyone else who got them in the way I did. I never started Creative Thursday solely to design for the little ones. But as it turns out, the little ones and their parents are some of my biggest fans.  So over the years I've loved painting with them in mind. Then there is also the part of me that thrives on working in all different styles and disciplines. 

From the beginning, Creative Thursday was always meant to be the umbrella for all of my creative endeavors - and it still is.

With a new project on the horizon, I have been uncertain about how to move forward with my brand incorporating everything I enjoy. And then finally - it was right in front of me. 

A way for my worlds to co-exist: 

introducing ctbaby

This marks the beginning of a subtle separation of my brand. With the hope that this will also make things clear for my customers, and for me, going forward. This decision allows me to really expand in all the directions I want to go without holding back on any of them.

With much more to come, a separate store, different designs and products, today's introduction of 'ctbaby' is a soft launch. We're starting with clothing; dresses, adjustable aprons and onesies. Exclusive Creative Thursday designs with everything sewn and printed in the studio, each piece will only be available in the shop for a limited time. We look forward to sharing more with you soon.

I'm doing something new over at Instagram and it starts tomorrow. This is the approximate post I just shared over on my feed:

So this has been an obvious one, and why I haven't I done it before? 

Well that was then and this is now, and now we have Instagram!!

Starting tomorrow 8/14/14 and every Thursday following, if you feel inspired; join me in being CREATIVE - in whatever medium you choose, you can share it with all of us on Instagram by tagging it #mycreativethursday.

I'm intentionally not giving you a lot of  notice because too much lead time can lead to too much planning and overwhelm which leads to not doing it all. k?! Believe me while I know a lot about being creative, I also know all of the reasons/excuses we use to resist it. The only way I am so prolific is because I know how to recognize those reasons and simultanesouly leave them in the dust. Sometimes you've just gotta make something already.

So if you want to play! join me tomorrow by sharing what you made or what you're working on...and to make it a little easier, if you don't know where to begin, I'm also offering a theme of flowers.

Could be anything yes? put together a bouquet, photograph flowers, do a drawing, a painting, wrtie a short poem, crochet a flower, make one out of paper, applique, embroidery...cook something with flowers or flour for that matter :-)

or create whatever your heart desires.

yes?! are you game? see you tomorrow at Instagram then!

{oh and, since last week's podcast was a long one and I have something special launching tomorrow, I'll be back with my 4 weeks of podcasting next week}

click here to listen to the podcast

As promised, 3 weeks in! I'm still podcasting :-) and this time I have a special guest, someone very dear to me, my yoga teacher for the past 12 years, Leslie Peters.

I'm going to keep the written intro to this brief as everything I want to say to you to introduce this episode, is in the opening of  the podcast itself. Also, it's a longer one, approximately 1 hour and 15 min.

A delicate topic, or rather many delicate topics Leslie and I talk about, all contained under the umbrella of loss. However the intent by sharing this conversation and inviting you into the discussion with us; is not only to provide soothing and comfort for all of us, but maybe, together, we can think about what it might be like to approach this universal experience of transitions in life with an open heart.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Iyengar Yoga

Peters & Love - Senior Care Consultants

Brene Brown TED talk on Vulnerability

Marc Maron WTF - {still one of my favorite podcasters and podcasts}

24" x 36" acrylic on canvas

A few new abstracts added to the large paintings gallery. Also if you are in LA and want to see them in person you can visit them at indeed...

If you're in L.A.! and eclectic art and furniture is your thing, like it is mine, you need to know about 'indeed...' {well actually if you are in the states, because shipping might be an option! and and you can follow along with new items that are available on Instagram @indeedhomedesign}

Our friend Jon just opened his new shop @ 5522 W. Pico Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90019.

Jon used to have a shop in Carpinteria. Let's say that over the years, most of our furniture = from Jon.

He has a great aesthetic. With so much looking the same today in design and home furnishings, I have always found Jon's finds refreshing. His pieces are Personality + Quality.

Definitely pay him a visit. indeed... is open Wednesday - Sunday. 

He even has SWAG, already! 

click here to listen to this week's episode

Last week I was going to stop blogging and this week I was going to stop painting :-)

It's true. I recently told a friend of mine, "I'm thinking about quitting." {I was referring specifically to the retail side of my business}

As I mention in the podcast, I think it's healthy to question why you are doing what you are doing, to explore the possibilities of quitting sometimes and this is why.

Allowing yourself the momentary relief that comes with imagining stopping everything, is exactly what you need to reinvigorate the continuation of what you really do LOVE.

Because let's face it, sometimes it feels like life, meaning everything outside of us, is taking the lead instead of us leading us - which is precisely why it's important to pay more attention to the natural ebb + flow.

Needless to say, I'm not quitting anything. Saying it out loud only helped me to better clarify where I really do want to go next.

BTW - loved hearing from you last week. Thank you for talking with me and letting me know a few of you are indeed still here!

{photo taken @ Liberty department store in London. Of course I loved this store display = FISHIES}

7" x 5" 

After all the flower painting, I missed my characters :-)

{original is available here}

 Click here to listen to the newest podcast episode. I have not found the best solution for the audio player to play within this post. Let me know how this direct link option works for you?

Who do I think I am? Who am I to think, with so many voices out there, you are still interested in hearing mine?

I've been reading/listening to 'The Big Leap'. It's a game changer. Have any of you read it? Highly, highly recommend the audible audio edition.

This particular episode isn't about the book, although I'm dying to talk to you about it - this is about a 4 week commitment I'm GOING {that's me shouting to convince myself} to follow through on, all because of 'The Big Leap'. 

Also, and hey! are you still here? 

I'm extremely conflicted about blogging, if I want to keep it? and if I do where I want to go with it? Is it place just for the latest and greatest news or creations or is it going to be a place where you can always count on me to be?  Is it the place where I'm really going to talk to you and let you in on my journey and process again?

What do you think?

And how do you feel about blogging vs. social media in general these days? Are we still reading/visiting blogs?

I do not read blogs at all like I used to. In fact I often find myself wanting to withdraw from following {almost} everything online and instead spend more time visiting with people in person. Honestly I think the community we've found in the neighborhood I live in has a lot to do with that shift. Because however we get it, we do need community.

{painting above inspired by a photo in one of the cutes, sweetest Japanese books ever @hedgehogdays}

It's no secret; flowers and photographing them is a great source of inspiration for me.

What started as a gift for my aunt, painted outside at 'The Porch' during our weekly gathering with the neighbors, became a series of 6.

Not new, painting flowers. Just another call back to earlier work revisited in my now style.

My adventures in painting continue...

{originals are available here and prints are now at the shop}

It's safe to say I've, slowly but surely, been reevaluating and reinventing my business since the beginning of 2014. Unravelling and completing projects and collaborations, to make space for the new. I think, the most important part of being in business is a willingness to check in often, to see if where you are headed is really where you want to go? {I'm sure I've mentioned that before because honestly it's equally as important to check in with your daily life} After almost a decade working alongside a rapidly changing world and internet, it's becoming increasingly clear where I want Creative Thursday to fit in the marketplace. While it's still forming I know it goes something like this: more ~ thoughtful, quality, visionary art and creations from the heart. I also want to provide my customers, with elegant, clear options to choose what you love with confidence and ease. 

An introduction to this new direction: a collaboration with Framed & Matted! As the featured artist in their Artist Spotlight series this month, I've chosen 3 images to start with. Each print can be purchased individually or a s a set of 3. If this is something you think you'll enjoy, having beautifully finished fine art prints, complete and ready to hang, we might expand the offering in the future.

For the longest time I've wanted to provide and recommend quality framing options for my customers -  finally I can! A lovely family owned business "We believe that great custom framing should be affordable and approachable. With only high quality materials, we have simplified the custom framing experience so our customers can find the perfect frame at an exceptional value."

You will recognize the warmth, quality and attention to detail with each framed piece. For a limited time you can purchase this series of prints here.

24" x 24"

Another {not quite as} big one. My favorite abstract to date.

{click here to purchase original}

36" x 48"

I've been so busy keeping up with all my other social media these days, I almost forgot to share my largest painting to date with you here. The small canvas at the bottom is a 10" x 10" to show you scale.

All this time I've been concerned about space when creating large works like this, where will I hang it? where will it fit? where can I paint freely withou getting paint everythwere? Really all that needed to happen was the decision to do it. There was a nail in our back fence, perfect height for this painting and that was that. Right? a familiar theme...We spend a lot of time waiting for everything to be just right before we get to the business of creating. Excuses, procrastination, blah, blah, blah. At some point you just have to decide to do it already.

{original is available here} 

Happening now! one day left. Just enter the code "summershopsale" at checkout for 30% off at the shop.

happy summer solstice!

Since the beginning of the year I've been 'threatening' to explore and expand my painting style. And I've dabbled here and there, but something in the last couple of weeks has really clicked for me.

If you've followed my work since 2004, then you may recognize an echo of my earlier pieces. If you are most familiar with my present work, then you may be wondering 'wait, what? where are the characters?' {disclaimer: the characters are not gone. they will continue to make appearances, as I love painting them, still.}

When I started this business, it was challenge for me to believe in myself as an artist let alone a painter. Now that I've been in business and developed a style within my brand it's a challenge for me to break out. Ah, sometimes....I long for the day that this life as an artist and an entrepreneur feels predictable, even just for a short while? When will that happen. um never. I know. I know this isn't what I signed up for, predictability and certainty - not so much. And to be honest, I am also growing to love, well maybe not love, but like, accept and sometimes even appreciate the challenge. It's only taken 10 years.

Pushing creative ideas forward, that's why artists are here. We need them, and we need the challenges otherwise everything creative from art and design to movies and music would remain the same. And I, me, Marisa, an artist! need to be aware of when I'm keeping myself comfortable instead of innovating.

Even though it is uncomfortable for me to push the bounds in my work, in everything I do, not just painting. I know this is what I have to do. I know I will never be satisfied doing one thing only or creating in only one style or discipline for that matter. You know this about me. It's why I named my company 'Creative Thursday'. I knew from its very inception that the name of my business had to be an umbrella for all the creative outlets I would explore. 

And while the unknown of these choices still get to me on occasion, this is also the very reason this is all so EXCITING. And. The fun I had working on these - worth every bit of discomfort. And yes I know abstract painting is not in the least bit new or exclusive to me as a painter, no? And I'm probably not breaking any serious 'art ground' in this pieces. Good God no. But gaining confidence in this medium is new - for me. All the years of working with color in my various creative careers, combined with the past decade of focused painting are present in this developing style. Something completely unique to me, and my translation of abstract panting is happening; and now I've got to see where it wants to go.

{originals are available here}

So, this little guy arrived at my doorstep. First Chinese, now Korean. 

A giraffe in a hat.

This is when an author learns more about the contract she signed. When your book gets translated into other languages, it basically gets sold in its entirety to another publisher, who also has the right to re-design it in the way they see fit for their market.

{look at that tiny tiger!}

Luckily, so far so good. I actually love both re-designs. The layout, the tiny details. And especially, the giraffe in the hat. The Asian design aesthetic seems to fit really well with mine. 

And both the Chinese and Korean characters, so beautiful. They look like art on the page.

This has me thinking seriously about how I might want to evolve my own designs, while continuing to trust more of what comes naturally to me. More negative space and I like tiny, I really do.

Re-entry to Los Angeles is happening. I had a great trip and truthfully right at this very moment, I want to live in London for a few months and I want to paint flowers.

The amount of gorgeous flowers in Europe in the summer time; this alone is worth the trip.

As is evidenced by the photo above. My first trip to Liberty of London did not dissapoint.

happy Sunday everyone

did I mention, I'm on an adventure? 

more photos soon. I mean a lot more photos. I can't stop taking them. so, so good to be back.

Go whereever you want to go.

{original is here. also available as a print}

Due to multiple requests to bring these back after seeing the photo of them in the book, and the fact that I still love this design, I'm taking special orders for you to have one! now through June 8. In fact I think I will be making myself one too.

We also created some pretty summer bundles for you in the shop.

hope you are enjoying your long holiday weekend!

The owl is a symbol of:

wisdom

transition

renewal

protection

independence

intuition

{original is sold. available as a print}

The hawk is a symbol of:

be alert and aware, the signs you are seeking are very close

power to see

clarity

messenger of the spirit

intuition

truth

leadership

optimism

focus

taking action and taking the lead when the time is right

{available as an original and a print}

The bear is a symbol of:

strength

confidence

grounding

importance of solitude, quiet time and rest

time for healing

ability to stand strong in the face of diversity

Specific meaning to the polar bear:

wisdom

magic

motherhood

strong yet playful

patience

{6" x 6" original is available here and I have also created a print for the bear and the rabbit}

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive" - Howard Thurman

How a life in Hollywood is making me re-evaluate and revisit my focus. 

Ct50 passion project

To download the audio on a Mac: click on the audio player above while also holding down the control key. A window will pop up with options to open in Itunes and download the mp3 etc. 

The rabbit is a symbol of:

anything you start right now will move forward in leaps and bounds

abundance

comfort

vulnerability

fertility

luck

artistic

Specific meaning to the white rabbit :

an invitation: calling us out of the ordinary into the extraordinary, to let go of what we think is important to explore what is of ultimate importance

possibility

spiritual enlightenment

Ok, so I've been quietly holding on to my fabric and while I do plan to save some of each design, I don't need to actually be saving it all :-)

And finishing the colors on my 8th collection last week, I'm realizing that the studio needs to make room once again = biggest destash to date.

Two big boxes, a 10 yd and a 20 yd, of Creative Thursday are available at the shop. And as of this post! one more scrap bag.

{sweet, tiny baby not included!} {she is my studio assistant Rachel's daughter}

https://vimeo.com/90883310

So I’m back on Facebook, podcasting again and blogging more….Another plan I have with Creative Thursday is to introduce you to and/or update you on projects by creatives/entrepreneurs I personally know, more often. Now, just for the record, I know there are a lot of affiliate recommendations happening these days and this is not one of them. Should I ever be an affiliate to a project I support, I will let you know.

As I’ve mentioned recently, for me: the internet is becoming saturated with voices, products, classes...While I believe the cream will always rise to the top, why not do what I can to get it there a little faster? One of the ways I would like to help cut through the saturation is by recommending people I am inspired by, know and trust. 

Christine aka SwirlyGirl is one of those people. You might already know her, or remember her? as I’ve mentioned her here many times throughout the years. My first commenter, the first person I reached out to online, who became an in person friend, and one of the first to support my work, not only by buying some of my very first daily paintings, but also by sharing my blog and my podcast with her online circle of friends way back in 2006, remember those early internet days…!

We also did a podcast when she self-published her first book. You can still listen to it here.

Relentlessly supportive, honestly she is one of the few people I know who will think of helping others, often before herself. She started and ran a successful creative company long before the internet. An eloquent, thoughtful writer, she has since had another book published. And organized, did I mention how organized she is? This awesome lady knows her stuff. 

Christine is not only a friend but we’ve worked together as well. We’ve taught classes and joined forces on a few projects including a couple of art shows. One thing you learn is that not all friendships can become working relationships, but Christine can bridge that gap. She is a great collaborator.

 What I’m saying here; If I were looking for guidance with my book, Christine is the one I would want to help me.

That’s why I have to share her newest project with you “The Conscious Booksmith” - even following my earlier post addressing too many 'online classes' - this should tell you just how much I recommend Christine as a teacher. And seriously, just watch the video above. Knowing Christine this is one of the best, most sincere videos out there in promotion of a course. There are a few, just a few offerings that I do recommend and this is one of them. I know, Christine will go above and beyond to help you develop and share your voice.

More about the “The Conscious Booksmith” from Christine:

The course has been carefully designed to provide a solid foundation and organized structure to support you in the process of creating your book. At the end of the course, you will have a beautiful binder full of downloadable tools, inspiration and resources and will be well on your way to holding your book in your hand.

The intention for the course is two-fold:

1. We will take your book idea – which usually feels huge and overwhelming – and break it down into smaller, more manageable parts.

2. We will explore your values, priorities and ideals so the book creation process unfolds on your terms.

There are plenty of books, courses and encouragement for those wanting to pursue a six-figure book contract and the New York Times bestseller list. While I love big plans and grand visions, I believe any dream – small, medium or large – is best served when pursued with careful thought and intention. When our dreams are brought to life mindfully – and reflect our day-to-day lives – they are imbued with that much more joy, light and truth. Things like families, pets, grocery shopping and laundry are all part of the process and integral elements of our journey.

This is an invaluable opportunity to tap into to the knowledge, wisdom, experience, inspiration and encouragement of an artist, author and creative entrepreneur with 18+ years of experience who loves to support the dreams and visions of others.

"let's dance"

A topic and a painting inspired by Kathleen Hannah featured in the documentary I shared in my last post, "The Punk Singer"

I realized when editing, that there is second topic included in this recording. How to turn frustration into change.

This episode runs approximately 13 minutes.

CT49 negotiating perception

To download the audio to your device with a Mac: click on the audio player above while also holding down the control key. A window will pop up with options to open in Itunes and download the mp3 etc. 

Thanks for chiming in on the last podcast. I really enjoy getting your thoughts on these topics.

Do you know this about me? I'm obsessed with stories about creatives and entrepreneurs.

This means documentaries and I get along well.

Honestly, on the days when I doubt the life I've chosen {they still happen although less often than they used to} and I think about if I still want to keep going with this art buisness or simply on days when I feel misunderstood, there's nothing better than sitting down with Sean, a bowl of popcorn, my favorite white fuzzy blanket and watching a documentary like these. 

I keep telling friends about all the new ones I've come across lately so I thought I'd put together a list of a few of them here, to share with you and also make an easy link I can just email. Most, if not all, of these you can 'watch instantly' on Netflix. I've linked each to their trailers.

Cutie and the Boxer

20 Feet from Stardom

Searching for Sugarman

the Punk Singer

Somm

L'Amour Fou

Beauty is Embarrassing one of my all time favorites, I've posted it before but it needs posting again incase you missed it the first time .

Did I miss some? What are some of your favorites?

Full disclosure, this image may or may not relate to this podcast. It's up to your interpretation. I just happen to be obsessed with the cuteness of this tiny bird button, my assistant Rachel made yesterday. It's the bird on the giraffe in my zaza zoo fabric. It always amazes me how a design becomes something completely new when you focus in on just one tiny part of it.

Ok, on with the podcast. So the deal is that you can listen to this audio in full on your computer, and sadly not on your device. Typepad is aware and working on it. I am also figuring out how to include download link so you can take me with you, if you'd like! ****Edit April 16**** to download the audio to your device on a Mac you click on the audio player while also holding down the control key. A window will pop up with options to open in Itunes and download the mp3 etc. Any of you on windows know the key command to do this same action? Is it a right-click?

This episode runs approximately 20 minutes.

Ct48 paid knowledge

I have some questions for you:

How do you know when you are ready to charge for your knowledge?

How do know when you're ready to pay someone for their knowledge?

Do you feel like people on the internet are supportive? as they once were?

What do you think about all the free content available today?

....and a few more I ask you on the podcast.

I really look forward to hearing your thoughts on this.

Ok guys. It's official. I'm back on Facebook.

Why you ask? especially after the thoughts and opinions I expressed in one of my most read blog posts.

Because, I give in. Even though many of my opinions about Facebook have not evolved, my desire to connect with others has. Let's be honest,  it's where the majority of people are connecting and getting information online. To continue to resist this, especially as a business owner who has something to share and to say, is futile.

Stubborn I've been; about a number of things related to the expansion of my business and maybe that's just a normal part of the 'business growing up' phase? Lately I am resisting less and becoming genuinely open and appreciative of more.

I am however approaching Facebook entirely different this time, and that is solely as a business. I think honestly this will be a better fit and I'll probably enjoy it more. Over the years,  I've also become increasingly comfortable managing all of the social media in a way that still feels balanced with my ultimate plan of being creative. I think when all of this started, it was easy to get on sensory overload. Probably still is...maybe our senses have adjusted?! Mine have and I'm still painting, and creating, so all good for now. What is great is that if you prefer to follow along with me there, now you can. Alrighty, then. here we go.

http://www.facebook.com/creativethursday

Something happens when April rolls around. Bunnies, lots of bunnies. 

And giraffes, who doesn't need an {easter} giraffe?

At the time of this post, there are just 2 bunnies and 1 giraffe left. If you had your heart set on one, let me know as I might be adding a few more to the shop.

4" x  4"

{original is sold - available as a print}

As I shared earlier on Instagram~

These bunnies were sewn from my fabric. They became a photograph, and now they are paintings. One medium always influences the other, which means you never have to choose just one creative focus. 

{click here to purchase originals - also available as prints}

When my book came out, I opted out of a lot of traditional "marketing" methods to reach a bigger audience. I don't know why? really? other than I was tired and I have a hard time asking people to promote my work. And right now as you know from my earlier post about teaching online, I don't feel like shouting over everyone.

Honestly, I feel like enough people out there know me and what I do, and I'd really prefer, if they chose to promote or share my work because they feel inspired too not because I asked and not out of any obligation. So I quietly decided that if this book was meant to have a life, it would all on its own. And if not? that would be ok too.

I like to think quality work created with heart and excellence will always find its audience. While I know my work is not for everyone, this book is something I will always be proud of. 

I had always hoped it would find it's way in the world and considering a Chinese version arrived at my doorstep yesterday and, I received the nicest email from someone reading it in Brisbane Australia this morning - I think it is! finding it's way. 

ready for change 5" x 5" acrylic on paper featuring one of my fabric designs

This is a message I shared with my 'daily paintings' email list and I want to share it here with you as well.

7 years ago today! 

March 7, 2007 I sold my first print on Etsy. That was it. A moment when everything turned around. I started selling my work in 2005 but March 7 was the very first day I started making a living with my art.

As I said in my email, there's so much I want to say here but I'll save it for another podcast.

For now I just want to shout out a HUGE THANK YOU to all of you who have supported me over the years. Especially those of you who bought my very first creations chairs! holiday cards {remember those?!} daily paintings and prints. I am here because of you.

First I'm having a sale for 20% at BOTH my Etsy shop and my website. Use the code: 7yearsale - Starting now through Monday March 10th @ 11:59 pm PST.

Second I'm giving away 3 big priority mail boxes to 3 different winners, filled with a surprise collection of my creations including one original painting. To enter just say hello in the comments below. The giveaway will also close on Monday night and I'll announce the 3 winners here on the blog.

many, many heartfelt thanks for all your support.

******The random generator chose the winners this morning. Congratulations!!! to #39 Cassandra, #82 Anita, and #83 Lisa Marie******

Just a quick post to let you know that today is the last day to register  and join us "In the Fish Bowl"

I've also been threatening that this may be the last e-course I run for a while, maybe ever.

Since the time I started speaking and teaching online the amount of people who are also teaching has grown exponentially. And while the majority of me loves this and believes that we all need not just one teacher but multiple at any given time, and how great is it that we can learn from so many different individuals willing to share what they've learned? another part of me becomes incredibly frustrated at the amount of what I like to call fakety-fake, fake, fake aka disingenous teaching that is happening. The amount of slick, razzmatazz presentations {for services, products and entertainment for that matter} that are being sold to people these days is disheartening. Related to online teaching specifically, the presentations seem to be selling the importance of getting a slice of this online landscape? quick! before it's all gone? maybe?! That by being online this is what is going to change your life forever. This is the thing that is going to help you fulfill your dream in its entirety. Well, it might, and it might not.  The idea that getting online is going to solve everything is not how it works. It's not as simple as that.

So what gives me the right to make these observations? Well having started my career in design literally the same year the internet became commercial, having failed online in a totally different business before this one and having succeeded online as a profitable artist in business for the past 8 years. These experiences gives me the right. That and the fact that I'm no longer questioning my gut. My feeling is you know when you know. You know when someone is smoke and mirrors. If you don't yet know, you'll learn how to recognize it.

What's a bummer in this situation is that when I see this saturation happening this is usually when I want to take myself out of the game. I don't want to be one in a huge crowd. In fact I don't care for crowds at all. It bothers me when I see everyone thinking and feeling the same, in agreement over what feel to me like surperficial ideas,  not because they're listening to themselves because they've bought into the ideas of one or a few voices are the loudest over all of the others. And today, it's fair to say that those voices are loud often for very manipulated reasons.

The cream rises to the top, I've heard it said many times. Yes, I believe it does. When you commit to creating excellent work and living with integrity to the best of your ability every day. I like to think this is the kind of cream that will rise to the top. But  in this world, particularly now due to the explosion of the internet landscape, it's seeming as if you have to wade through a whole lot of dairy to find the cream. Whoa, a lot of milk analogies there.

I don't have the desire or the energy to shout over all of these voices. I like to give it time, let it shake out and return when the haze has lifted and a more genuine group, with pure intentions remain. I feel this way with art, and the retail world too these days. 

Which is why I'm saying this may be the last "e-course" I teach for a while. I share this with you because many times people wait because they assume I will be back soon with another course. At the close of prior sessions, I have also made portions of the course material available as a download. I will not be doing that this time either. 

This group of participants is small and perfect for me to, even more than before, personalize my teaching for each individual, something I'm really excited about. So I would only to like to keep this session open for a few more. If you are on the fence or might feel intimidated, or scared at all, for any number of reasons, please don't. I promise you will feel welcome, seen, safe and supported.

I want to close by saying, I'm thankful to the voices out there who are not like me, who help me to discern and focus with more clarity how I want to express myself.  I also want to address that I'm aware that pulling myself out of the game may not be the best answer for someone {like me} who feels equally as passionate about sharing her voice as her art. I fully own that this can be a form of protection, a plan to keep myself safe by preventing possible rejection? I've given this a lot of thought and what I've decided is this: the possibility of rejection hurts me as much as the next person, but I'm braver than that. If I choose to make this my last e-course in this format it's because I believe that I may be discovering a way to share my voice in an entirely new format that speaks to me and inspires me the most at this point in my life, and creative journey. And this evolution, while scary and intimidating is a something I'm very excited about. I am also hopeful that it will be something you will benefit from and enjoy equally.

{painting featured above: "happy in my hood" 7" x 5"}

How do you come back and sum up the last 3 years in a podcast? You don't. You just come back and start talking again.

CT47 i've made it part 2

click above to listen and download

This is my long overdue promised return to podcasting including a response to part 1 that you can listen to here. So, please bare with me as I jump back into this. I touch briefly upon a lot of topics related to this subject, most importantly:

Value - sepcifically, valuing ourselves and others

I also want to add on to the beginning of the recording - where I suggest that being authentic means truly knowing yourself. I am defining this as, "the willingness to know what beliefs and ideas are yours versus the ones you've been carrying around that upon further reflection are actually not yours, but someone else's". That's the part of the unravelling, peeling back the layers, that can be temporarily unsettling while ultimately offering a lasting outcome with immeasurable reward. What I'm saying is: Do the work. Figure out who you really are. It's worth it.

Links relating to this podcast:

Slaves of the Internet, Unite! by Tim Kreider

our move

the porch

handsome coffee roasters

3 reasons , I mean 4 reasons I'm podcasting again:

1) Somewhere, somehow I promised people that  I would respond to part 1 

2) If you are interested in taking my class starting next week, here's a very up to date read on where I am in relation to our industry. I'm essentially skimming the surface of many topics that I intend to to explore in much more detail in the fish bowl.

3) I'm practicing - sharing my voice again publicly -  for a big project that I'm planning to debut in the next couple of months 

4) there is a fourth reason. I miss podcasting. and quite honestly I'm also tired of hearing {some not all} other people dominating the airwaves with disingenous *bs* that really needs to be addressed. I want to share and inspire in my way; and in a heightened state of vulnerability these past few years I've been holding back. Not any more.

5" x 7"

Ever have those days where you feel more integrated, like whatever you've been feeling, that was keeping you out of sorts, has finally settled?

Or quite simply; a day you just feel especially good. Today is one of those days. In fact they often happen on Thursday for me, which is why {of course} my business is called Creative Thursday {not Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday} All good and fine days too, but there's some kind of magic about Thursdays.

So I was filing last week, not a favorite - but necessary project that I hadn't done for almost a year - which means my file basket was overflowing and I was sorting papers for hours - BUT! I came across this image on an Anthropologie cover that I saved for future inspiration. This painting is my version of an Anthropologie catalog cover that came out sometime in the past year? I am enamored with the orange and white chevron skirt the model is wearing and I particularly love it combined with the lilac top. That Anthropologie, they are good, really good. I often save their catalogs because they feel like art pieces to me. When everything a company creates is so thoughtfully, beautifully executed down to the very last detail, that inspires me.

{click here to buy original}

https://vimeo.com/86559739

If you receive my emails then you already know! 

Love to you out there! xoxo

And by the way, Susannah put together a beautiful PDF, that includes a collection of all the articles written on the topic of 'the delicious truth about getting older', as a special Valentine's gift for you. Click here to download it.

{original is available here}

This is a dress I'd want to make for her. 

Remember my chicken bag? This is a new pattern from Lynn @ Handmaiden's Cottage,  and this image features a collection of designs from Just For Fun.

So sweet, I had to share.

This is indeed a blog post announcing the launch of my newest fabric collection, however I shared something in my email newsletter that I would like to share with you here as well. I'm anticipating {big} changes in the way my business is going to evolve this year.

And that is all;  zaza zoo is at a store near you, and I've also listed bundles in the shop.

I'm obsessed with the yellow zebras, and then the lavender giraffes and then the black and white monkeys and then the snow leopard....

I'm writing this on the eve of my 41st birthday, actually 29 minutes until to be exact. 

Since Susannah, aka my aquarian twin {I have to say it's such a treat to share a birthday with her, born just one day apart, it's as if we have been and always will be on this journey together} wrote to a group of us a couple of weeks ago about her idea of sharing the 'truthful tales of how getting older rocks', I've got to be honest and say that this prompt got me thinking about if it really does?

But you know me, if you know me, of course I'm going to come back around, to yes! it most certainly does. It has just been a particularly tough couple of months and/or past year in several ways and I'd be lying to you if I didn't acknowledge that.

But at the end of the day, there is that knowing that seems to hang on in even the darkest times, the place in us that recognizes that this is an amazing time too, even if it is momentarily masquerading as crap.  Life, to me, is still magic.

And how do I know that? I know because as I sit here listening to music with my man on the eve of my birthday, refelecting on times past, all the memories are good. They just are. And believe me, I remember when some of those very same moments also felt really hard. It's as if all the experiences just blend together and what I'm left with is a profound gratitude.

Where am I going with all of this? Here's where: What you have in the early part of your life is this freedom from awareness. No matter how well meaning those older than you are, advising you to appreciate your childhood, your twenties, your thirties, reminding you that the world is your oyster; you're just never going to get it. You are never going to appreciate the time you have in the way you should because you simply can't. You have no hindsight. You haven't lived enough yet to have it. 

But when you're 40. You know that age that seems to freak people out a little? The same age that many almost univerally say is the moment when they first felt the most in their skin. Like they finally caught up with themsleves? It's true. Literally a couple of weeks after I turned 40 {I had to adjust} I felt like myself for the first time. It's fair to say that growing up an only child, spending a significant amount of time with adults, mostly connecting with friends older than me I have always felt ahead of my years. There were moments in my twenties when I actually yearned to be 40 because I knew that the world and the people in it would finally make sense in the way I had always observed it to be. And that's exactly what happened.

A coming of home of sorts. I have the awareness now to see all the good around me as it's happening and I still have my youth. 

Notice that I didn't reference 'the earlier part of life' as 'when you are young' because I have observed that youth is relative, that it is more about a daily decision than it is about how many years you've been on the planet.

I couldn't remember if I announced my age last year, but I did. And I'm so glad I did. Because these can be the years when you start becoming less enthusiastic and anticipatory about the number and the birthday all together. Those of us in the blogging world came up together in our twenties and our thirties, excitedly, anxiously marking those days and years and all of a sudden we've stopped noting the birthdays :-) ...but nope, not this group, as you will see by the eagerness to share in a multitude of posts that will be addressing this mysterious topic of getting older.

And I say mysterious because it seems that our society and culture have almost exclusively been teaching us one view of aging, and that is one of decline not one of expansion, vibrancy and aliveness like no other.

When awareness meets with aliveness, you are unstoppable. And this meeting can only happen when you've been here for a few-ish years. How lucky we are. Those of us who get to experience this meeting place. Oh, I can't even begin to tell you the depth of appreciation I feel on most days. Do I still experience stress, worry and fear as I grow older, I do. Honestly more than I'd like to. But now I have more tools to recognize it sooner and sort it out quicker. This skill set alone gives me a sense of freedom that I never had in my 'younger' days.

I have felt more beautiful now than I ever have. I started dancing again last year so I feel in better shape physically than I ever have. I am more in my skin than ever before and on the days when I can really embrace this, the clarity I have from knowing myself so well is the best. It really, truly is an amazing time and I'm so thankful to be here @ 41.

So the reason I'm calling this post born again is because I literally feel like, in so many ways, my life is just beginning now. Like the first 40 years were just a test run {a pretty good test run, I will say}. And now I get to take all that I have learned thus far and apply it to a life lived all over again. However many days ahead I have, I'll take them! If I get another 40, I'll be so lucky.  

I am awake. I have been for a while. But now, I get it. Every day I'm here is a gift to live, I mean really LIVE.

thank you to all the women {and men} who inspire me: those out ahead of me, who have shown me and cotinue to show me the way, especially my Mom who is a daily example that life at 75 can be even better still! and thank you to all of you coming up behind me who remind me that the ideals and characteristics of youth are here for me to embrace, always.

I am so ready to just to have a whole lot more fun.  The world is still my oyster.

I have a beautiful life and I don't want to miss a minute of it.

7" x 5"

"I think if we get more excited about the unknown instead having trepidation about it..." ~ Lisa G.

Last week, out of the blue, I decided to start collecting profound {to me} things people say, and by collecting I mean actually writing them down so I can refer back to them later. This usually happens in the note app of my Iphone and today it's happening on my blog. 

You know what I'm realizing? When you really listen, people closest to you have a lot of profound insight to share. The best part is; most of the time they're not even trying to say something profound, they're just talking, and there it is.

You know what else I'm realizing? We could use a new inventory of memorable quotes. I've grown tired of repeating great minds who were on the planet a hundred or more years ago. Not that I don't appreciate insight from the past but hey, it might be time for something new. 

I'm quoting one of my dearest friends this morning because she reminded me why times of uncertainty should be welcomed and not something to fear. 

And she's right. And I know this. Yet temporarily I forgot again. Should you need a quick reminder today?

{original painting is available here}

Word on the street {or rather word from Andover} is that ZaZaZoo is shipping now. This means that soon, you can make some of these little fellows for yourself!

I made these for my niece and nephew last week and you should know; a highlight is that they are very trampoline friendly.

I shared this photo on Instagram and someone commented 'that must feel amazing'
Considering that 7 holiday seasons ago I only sold one card to one customer, it does. It really does feel amazing.

To think that before I spotted these at Target I was feeling disappointed about some things in my business. It's all relative right? How quickly we forget how far we've come. How easy it is to miss appreciating what's right in front of us. 
I have a new Valentine card with Papyrus this year, the bunnies on the right. The birdie on the left came out a couple of years ago. 

Slowly but surely coming back to life over here. And painting, lots of painting. 

Thank you for all of your kind thoughts here and on instagram. You are inspiring me to make a return...to this blog.

On the last day of 2013, we lost Sean's dad, Jim Hogan.

The question everyone asks is, "was it expected"? As if somehow knowing will make it any easier.

I lost my dad suddenly. We lost Sean's dad over the last several years. Both lived long full lives. If anything, knowing that they lived so fully is what brings me comfort. The grief is the same. In one scenario you cry a lot for many years after. In the other scenario you cry all the years along the way up until the last moment. And then, even though you thought you were prepared, you still experience all the feelings that accompany this kind of loss.

Normally I might have a lot to say here... In fact if you've noticed I've been much quieter on my blog over the last couple of years. Some of it is simply that our internet world is changing again and my growing business has demanded more time elsewhere. 

The other side is that I've experienced a lot of personal loss this year and recent years past, and for the first time in a long time I am feeling completely without words, both written and spoken. I don't know if I'm noticing loss more? if I took it in stride before? if it all feels too big and too close to my heart right now? or if we've really been through a season of life that has included more than its fair share of sadness? Probably a combination of all of the above.

What I do know is that this kind of loss is a certain part of life. Knowing this doesn't make it any easier to go through, but it does cause me to reevaluate how I want to experience it. Whether I want to make it more painful than it already is? or whether I can stay soft and loving and thankful for all who are here by our side, and all that we do have, especially each other, even on the darkest days. Sean and I were able to do this over these last few weeks, as if instead of our hearts closing from the sadness, we insisted they stay open. 

'Peace and Quiet' is something that Jim always said.

He was another father to me over the last 10 years. 

I loved hearing his stories and philosophies of life.

He always made me laugh even up until the last few days.

I was instantly welcomed into his family, with a Fosters in a frosty mug, of course.

He was there from the beginning of this business.

I painted many of my early daily paintings at his kitchen table.

Always supportive, always taking an interest in how it was all coming together.

I can't thank him enough.

for all of his support, kindness and generosity.

and most of all for his son, Sean.

{photo c. 1962, Sean, Jim, Sandy and Jennifer}

I had a new box set of holiday cards come out with Papyrus this year. One of the reasons I love their cards, besides the fact that they dressed my little characters in actual felt scarves and hats; their greetings. They always seem to choose just the right sentiment.

My wish to you, a wonderful holiday and a happy new year.

Merry Christmas xoxo

I'm joing some of my favorite L.A. artists for a gift fair @ Sew L.A. tomorrow. hope to see you there! who can resist awesome handmade shopping as well as cookies, treats and libations {especially at holiday time!} 

it's almost time...!!! 44 creations added to the shop tomorrow!

The annual holiday shop update is happening, one week from today! Time to be announced later this week. see you then

happy thanksgiving

Thought I'd share my favorite bag these days. I get compliments on it all the time. People always asking "where did you get it?"

Well it's one of those special, handmade items that you can't just get but you can make it!

Lynn offered to sew this bag for me to share at quilt market earlier this year and since then I haven't been able to put it down. It goes with me everywhere,  from the grocery store, to dance class to the airplane {it happens to be the perfect size to hold my 15" laptop for travel} and I love the long strap so it doesn't constantly slide off my shoulder even in winter wear. You can even cross it over your body. This version features the prosperity hens and red stripe from my 'Locally Grown' collection that was out in the spring. I know she titled it Sandy's Beach Bag, which it's of course, perfect for; I will also be calling it Sandy's Everywhere Bag. 

And the pockets...lots of choices for your Iphone and keys, including a beautiful deep pocket on the inside. 

Maybe you want to make one for you? or a Christmas gift?

thank you again Lynn

Lynn's shop and the Bag Pattern

A collaboration with Fun Stitch Studio, a division of C&T Publishing. 

30 boxes to pop & fold {color} collect or give!

I spent this past Saturday at a huge Girl Scouts event, Girltopia, here in L.A.. Believe me when I say, I spent hours putting together these boxes with girls of all ages and I can personally attest to the fun that will be had! Seriously these would be the best party favors?! stocking stuffers, holiday gifties, everyday gifties and as always if you're like me, you want it just because; it makes you happy.

Available on Amazon, in stores and boutiques soon and I also have a limited edition over at my shop starting today. 

Announcement: If you are needing holiday orders to arrive in time, please order this week especially for those of you ordering internationally. The studio is working on a special project November 18 - December 4. Orders will start shipping again after December 6 - 16 and then we'll be on our holiday break. There will be! an annual holiday shop update, as I have some new treats in store for you, so stay tuned here at the blog. 

even sweet, tiny babies want to make pop up boxes :-)

The first memory game? Since it sold out I wanted to create a new one, but decided to use a completely different selection of images. This way if you have the first one, you can combine both to create a much larger game. Or if you missed it? here you go!

I created a new little gocco design for the package too :-)

Still one of my favorite sentiments {and designs} now a new embroidery kit in the shop.

{click here to buy original}

happy halloween!

{click here to buy original}

This year there are TWO, one featuring a collection of paintings and the second  features fabric designs. There is also a special combined listing if you'd like to purchase both. A limited edition of each design, all calendars will be shipping in early November.

For the first time in 6 fabric collections, with the help of some lovely and talented people, I am excited to finally share with you some ideas for how I envision my fabric being used.  Especially this collection, which is intended to be exactly as it's called: 'just for fun' for grownups and kids alike.

A few of my fellow creative entrepreneurs and I got together on the weekend. We combined our talents and our products and had a party 'Just for Fun'! 

The fabric is available in stores now and bundles were just added to the shop.  Hope you really do have a lot of fun creating with this collection!! From tablecloths, to napkins, aprons, dresses, bowties, bunting, party decor to pillows and quilts... that should get you started.

Fabric by Marisa  + Creative Thursday for Andover Fabrics. Invitations by Christine of Darling Studio. Desserts and Decorations by Emilyn of Love Em Sweet. Photography by Miha Matei. Sewing by Marisa and Jennifer Au Chon.

8" x 8" acrylic on canvas

A move is often the very thing to get you opening in a new direction creatively. I feel new colors and themes percolating...I have no idea where it will go but for the first painting created in the studio, I was inspired to paint a sunset from our neighborhood. I find the light to be particularly beautiful here. 

My almost twelve years in this city - it's taken a while - but I love it more everyday. Los Angeles is a pretty amazing place to live.

{click here to buy original super fast, otherwise I might have to keep this one. also available as a print}

These are two of my favorite designs and colorway from my newest collection ZaZa Zoo. I'm sharing them with you now because for the first time, since I started designing fabric, these designs/colors may not be printed. Becoming a strike-off {which is a sample printing of the design on fabric, from the mill, to check for color, registration, etc.} may be as close to becoming fabric as we get. {please note that the photo above is from an Iphone and the colors are a bit more saturated and than in person. the elephants are on a white ground and the lion mane daisy is also white.}

There has been some reservation about me sharing this publicly, that somehow the idea of communicating a creative challenge might weaken the entire collection or worse yet my brand?!

But if you know me, then you know that keeping it real is as much a part of my brand as creating sincere art and design. This is just part of working commercially as a creative. Sometimes ideas work and sometimes they don't for any number of reasons.

Why I'm not concerned about sharing this with you? is because I've created designs that I LOVE in colors that I LOVE. I delivered the designs on time. I am proud of them, and I am super excited about them, whether they make it to fabric or not. Typically I don't share and market designs ahead of their release, but maybe from now on I should? Honestly the industry is moving so fast, it's hard for anyone to know the best best course of action in releasing and promoting a new product to give it the strongest introduction into the market. At this stage, for these particular designs I did what I knew to do, and what happens from here is pretty much out of my control.

Working in fabric, a designer is always working on new lines months in advance. Last year I doubled up, designing 2 collections at once hoping that I would be ahead. Why? to remove extra, unecessary pressure. Because as you know, I'm no longer into adding extra stress to my life and business. I'm over the whole idea that working under deadlines produces better work. I've become wiser over my years of being in business and while the majority of the creative industries likes to rush and cram things into place, I do not. I would also add that it's not just industry actually, it's personal. People in general seem to be rushing and cramming things into place all the time these days and then they wonder why they have no sense of balance, ever? But that's a whole other subject for another time. What I'm trying to say here is I'm not playing this game any more. I chose to go be self-employed to have these choices and for that I will always be thankful. Having freedom and the right to choose is the pay-off that comes from the stress of living with uncertainty every day.

However even in all of my best attempts to be ahead, my newest line, ZaZa Zoo was rushed out and sold at Spring market the same time as Just for Fun, the collection about to ship. In my opinion this did not give either collection a chance to stand out on their own. If I were a shop owner, with a budget, and I wanted a curated group of fabric from a lot of different designers to give my customers the best selection from what's new, I would probably only choose from one of the collections. Now, I could be totally wrong but I do feel that ZaZa Zoo wasn't given an opportunity to stand out on its own. Or the quilting industry just doesn't like, or isn't ready for some of the colors I chose. Regardless, it is what it is. I've been assured that two different lines will never be shown together on the table again. 

I would love to see these out in the world, I think you will love sewing with them, but it's not up to me. It's up to you, my shop owners and my customers. This is the last week to place orders with Andover before they place an order with the mill to get these printed. 

We're all doing the best we can to create innovative fabric designs that you will be thrilled to use. Whatever the outcome, it's all fine.  Just wanted you to know, should you love these as much as me.

slowly but surely coming together over here. my favorite part of moving into a new space: making it feel like home.

also featuring art by mummysam and corinne dean

the move is done. insert *big sigh of relief*

and already, we are so happy here. I can't even begin to tell you how the recent renovations and upgrade in size especially in both home and studio are making such a difference. Oh and since it's 92 degrees today, let me talk , just one more time, about the amazing miracle that's called 'having air conditioning'...and our neighbors... Honestly in all of the states and cities I've lived in, never have I experienced a neighborhood like this. The genuine kindness and support we've been shown already - a sense of community I didn't even know I had been been missing all these years.

Below are before shots of the new studio, living room {while waiting for the floors to dry}, dining room with a glimpse of the picture window with a view of the garden, master bedroom with stained glass windows that make us feel like we're in church, our neighborhood gathering at our neighbors' accompanied by wine and ice cream, and the best sunset and long palm trees that line our street. we are home.

more to come soon! have a great {labor day} weekend!

Boom! a couple of months ago our house was sold unexpectedly, or out from under us as I usually describe it. It was sudden and super stressful until...as often happens...and is hard to remember during times of extreme uncertainty...everything worked out perfectly and we found a new house, a larger one {that we have really needed for far too long} with air conditioning, and an actual large room that will be my new studio,  did I mention air conditioning?!

Packing has begun and thanks to these awesome eco-friendly bins, so much easier than ever before. If you're in the L.A. area and planning a move soon, you've got to check this company out. Rentamovingbox.biz You rent the boxes and packing material if you need it? They drop them off and pick them up when you're done. That's right, ease, recycling, handles, lids, crush proof, and an immediate incentive to unpack. 

I'll be taking a bit of a break here as I also plan to return with a brand new blog. See you on the other side!

This is going to be the beginning of an amazing time. I feel this for a lot of us. Want to come with?

I have never put my original paintings on sale before, but the studio is moving! which means it's time to make room for the new. Originals in both the daily paintings and large paintings online galleries are included in the sale.

Today is the last day to get one. Just enter the code: moverandshaker at checkout. 

5" x 7"

{original is sold - now available as a print}

"Just for Fun" - my newest collection coming soon to a shop near you! 

As I'm sure I've mentioned?! I never know how best to release what, when, where these days. I don't want to overload everyone and yet I know that people follow along in a variety of ways. So if you saw these on instagram, then you know and if you didn't then here's your sneak peek. more details to follow...

the 'dog on the vespa' is definitely going to be a party dress for me :) and of course you know how this design was inspired.

and this one! another favorite - remember it as a painting and a holiday card. I kid you not when I always say that working in one discipline inspires the other, even years later. 

{original is sold}

I've been meaning to...is the start to a lot of sentences when your a business owner. 

You have big plans or just mediocre ones too, and then the day to day tasks and certain projects of your business come first. But! eventually there's a moment when it's time; when that thing you've been meaning to do becomes the priority and voila. 

That's my long way of saying, I have been wanting to share more photography of my work in a space. It makes such a difference, really, to see art work in context. I just released the option for a new large size 17" x 22", limited edition print in the shop, and this is how they look framed. 

This is also how several of the smaller 8.5" x 11" prints look framed sided by side, combined with one of my canvases, the bunting, the patchwork, and a mobile, and a wall decal below.

While I always emphatically say that my work was never intended to be solely for babies or kids {as I've always painted for me!} It's fair to say that most of my customers by it for their children. I give in. This is my art in a nursery :)

Turns out! my assistant Rachel is expecting her first baby in just a few weeks, so she was the perfect model.

Next shoot will be for those adults who like me are still kids at heart and want what I create for themselves.

Speaking of patchwork - I've decided to add some new 'curated' fabric bundles to the shop = color to create with.

Since each fabric collection is a limited edition printing, some of the intial fat quarter bundles are now gone. However I do still have some of the patterns and I thought it would be fun to put together themed bundles, mixing six designs from different collections in color groups that inspire me.

Introducing the four 'Birds + Bunnies' bundles. 

Oh you know, before I headed out to quilt market a few weeks ago, I just whipped up my first patchwork throw.

Seriously! I made this in a day {daily quilting?!} This is when I realized that all the sewing I've been doing, especially garment sewing, is starting to pay off. My skill level and speed is improving. Also, I was given some great advice about easing into your first quilt and that is to use a 12" x 12" ruler square to cut your pieces. Brilliant! 

You can see the front is an assortment of 12" x 12" squares. At least one design from each of my printed fabric collections to date is featured. I cannot even begin to tell you how much fun this was to make and how satisfying it was to put together a grouping of some of my favorite designs and see how they all tell the same story together. Joy. They give me so much joy.

The back displays 4 more designs. I didn't add any batting or quilt this throw. I just stitched the front and the back together and the combination created a perfect summer blanket.

As I told the audience at my schoolhouse at market, "I get it. I really get it. The love of quilting and the fabric stash." The chance to layout and design a favorite collection of fabrics and then turn it into your own, timeless piece of art, that is not only beautiful but useful. I get it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIv4PHJqCnM

stop what you're doing right now and watch this move. it will fucking inspire you! 

I can't even put into words the impression this film has made on me at this particular time in my life and career. I watched it last night and all I keep thinking of is how thankful I am that I went for it. And I now get to do this for my work. I am an artist. Always have been, always will be. 

Listening to Wayne talk about his process, made me more determined than ever to keep working and creating from my heart. And now I'm so fired up! I must paint!!

do what you love. it's going to lead you to where you want to go - Wayne White

I painted myself a get well card. Thankful this cold is finally going away.

{original is available here and a print is here}

Just FYI - this is happening right now. Seriously I have most of the books in this collection and whatever your level of inspiration is now, you will be MORE inspired just picking up any one of these titles. And if you're the lucky duck to win all 21...I'm giving away 2 copies of my book and! will be including extra treats for the winners!! good luck!

I might be a little obsessed. For someone who felt intimidated at the thought of and really didn't think she would be interested in and/or have time to sew her own clothes; You must know how satisfying it is to sew something you can wear and then to top it off, in a fabric you designed. Nothing better. I'm sort of loving that my closet is getting filled with clothes I've made.

Locally Grown in dresses. Above is a pattern from a book called Simple Modern Sewing. Below is the Lulu Tunic from Alexia's book Liberty Love, and the last is the Washi Dress from Made by Rae. Red shoes by TOMS and Salt Water Sandals.

Went to Quilt Market last weekend- came back with a bad cold and somewhere beneath the cold a lot of inspiration is percolating.

Certainly because of so many things I saw at market and also because I've been thinking a lot about saturation. 

When is too much, too much? And how do we as designers continually stand out in a world that is becoming inundated with design - which = awesome + overwhelm. Do our consumers know how to tell the difference between your average 'pretty design' and something that someone crafted with a unique point of view. Are we still designing with a unique point of view or are our creative visions getting watered down by seeing so much other design? Are we consciously or unconciously just mimicking what works over and over again, or remembering to blaze our own trail?

Bunch of questions, no answers yet - your thoughts?

What I do know is that I want to continue to know myself better. And from that space I want to create quality work that I'm proud of. This is always where I want to start and from there I'm sorting it out as I go. Because as soon as I think I've figured at least some of this out, the world in which I am creating changes again. I'm telling you, every time I attend market - I think this is my 4th time since 2011, the quilting fabric industry has changed again. And that's just one of the industries my work is a part of.

I keep reminding myself that this is all just a normal part of being an artist in business, especially in 2013. Keeps me on my toes for sure, challenged and still excited about my work and where it's headed. In a world that thrives on what's new and on trend, how do we continue to set ourselves apart?

Some snapshots of what inspired me this market.

from top to bottom

1. leah duncan's booth. her designs are contemporary yet hand drawn. she's also got an etsy shop, you should check it out
2. mo bedell's booth. my first time getting to know mo better, she's a fellow andover designer - as lovely as her fabric
3. penguin + fish cutest guinea pig embroidery maybe ever
4. rashida coleman hale's new fabric with cloud9 - a favorite design of mine 'its a plus'
5. oliver + s - always love liesl's style and especially enjoyed her booth floor that her husband hand painted
6. a hand made melody skirt {which her new line btw, i was so enamored i forgot to take a photo of it or the seven islands booth for that matter} and an alexia bag from her new book liberty love 
7. heather bailey hand embroidered this huge bird, oh yes she did
8. since i'm obsessed with patchwork, i loved this dress featured at the art gallery fabric booth
9. and this painting at our hotel - could not stop staring at it, so great against the red walls
10. didn't get out to see much of portland this time but i did make it to this restaurant - which was probably one of the best meals i've had
11. missed a photo, but the little bird is also a new favorite Portland hangout

5" x 7"

{original available here}

Did you see the new notepads in the shop update last Thursday?

Want the story behind these? Well first I'm exploring adding more stationery products to the Creative Thursday collection.

Second is my continued appreciation of an organized life. I'm a list keeper for sure.

Finally, third, and most importantly to fulfill my quest for the ideal grocery list. 

We keep a weekly grocery list,  like, I'm assuming most everyone does? The way it works in our household is that Sean and I trade off going to the store for our main grocery shopping once a week.  The idea is that we try to plan ahead, limiting the time that gets eaten up by too many random trips to the store. There are always the exceptions of course, like when we want a special treat or buy something super fresh to be made the same day, or when I go to the Farmer's Market. What has taken me years to figure out is; why not only plan my grocery list ahead of time but from an actual menu for the week - and by menu I mean mostly dinners as breakfast and lunch in our family is pretty simple and consistent -  instead of going solely off of what food supplies we we are out of, and what our favorite foods are for the season. Might seem obvious - yes? to plan your meals for the week, yet for a long time I was not able to make the time for that or find a grocery list that has place for you to write them down. Because! It's so helpful to have the menu in front of you when you're actually at the store so: a) you remember why you're buying the food on your list and: b) if you forgot to write down one of the ingredients for your meals, seeing the name of the dish might remind you? 

So that's my big organization tip - or make your life easier tip - for this week. Simple, just a little pre-planning required. Taking the time to figure out what you're going to eat {at least dinners}  on each day ahead of time, makes the shopping so much quicker, while answering the daily question 'what's for dinner?', while also eliminating the stress and frenzy that usually follows that question when you're fast and furiously throwing together a meal from what's in your fridge, freezer or pantry or all of the above. 

If you don't already know this about me, I love food. While an awesome meal out on occassion is a favorite, we are happy eating at home most nights. In the past couple of years I've been having way more fun cooking and trying new recipes. I honestly think it has something to do with being more organized, leaving me feeling like I actually have the time to cook. It's become some sort of a meter as to how balanced my life is at any given moment. Time to make a meal = in balance. No time = flying by the seat of my pants. Neither one is right or wrong. I've just found that right now I like having more days in balance than out. Preparing thoughtful dinners {not necessarily laborious} has become a priority in our family, not just this thing we have to do to keep my our energy going and blood sugar up. {because you don't want to see the crankiness that ensues when Sean or my blood sugar is low}

We also take a lot of pride in trying to use all of the food we buy. It seriously bums me out to have to throw anything out at the end of the week or have a fridge filled with foods that are way past their expiration date. One simple 'menu' section fulfills all of this for me, so I decided to make my own customized grocery list. I also added a third section for 'household' items since we often buy our household supplies at different locations. Should this kind of a list also work for you? I've added a few to the shop.

All the years spent rebelling against a plan, I get it now. A little planning is good. Thank you Sean. It's his fault, I mean influence. He and I also trade out cooking on different nights of the week and if you want to see planning in action, this man has his meal preparations complete way ahead of time {I'm still working up to this}  

Ease, more ease in my life. That's kind of been my word for the year. Personally and professionally I'm seeing if I can make more choices with ease. 

Lots of new treats in the shop and a 24 hour sale that is happening until tonight, 11:59 pm PST.

pins and magnets - these little guys make me so happy.

Creative Thursday was featured in the newest issue of Mollie Makes. {thank you Mollie Makes!}Such a treat, especially because this magazine is one of my favorites. I LOVE it! I also just discovered their home edition. Something about British style and sensibility, it's a comfort and inspiration to me. They seem to like warm, thoughtful, eclectic design and crafting, with bursts of color ~ as much as I do.

If you haven't picked up a copy yet, you should! A little tricky to track down in the states, I've seen issues at JoAnn and more recently I ordered a copy from another favorite, Fancy Tiger. If you just email or call Fancy Tiger, they stock the magazine and are happy to ship it to you. Oh and! you can get an electronic edition too! {thanks Delphine}

This is the time when I finally fulfill my promise of sharing more creations/ideas of how to use my fabric on my blog.  Thought I'd start with this loveliness!

All I'm saying is everyone should have a chicken dress. For those of you wondering if and when I got tatoos. I did not. Although I'm thinking I want some now.

The dress above is modeled and made by Hollye and the pattern is Kwik Sew #3521

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5aFW_1TVOM

Speaking of dance. This is my favorite song we've danced to so far, it's by Beirut called "Elephant Gun" I'm obsessed with it today. Can't stop listening. In case you migt be in need of some new music inspiration. Or just want to get up from in front of your computer and dance.

Dance has always been a part of my life, from being a tiny ballerina to dancing in front of my mirror as a tween to late night clubbing through college, to randomly breaking into dance as an adult. I took classes off and on, ballet, tap and jazz from the time I was 4- I even performed several times  - and then in my mid twenties, a Lyrical Jazz class I was taking in Boulder intimidated me and I stopped. This decision is also what lead me to find Iyengar Yoga, which I will be forever grateful for. Twelve years in, I plan to do yoga as long as I am alive.

But...I knew I always wanted to make a return to dance. {As was evidenced by the fact that even with my multiple bouts of de-cluttering and organzing, I could never let go of my ballet and jazz shoes.} If you live in L.A., a city filled with professional dancers, now we're talking intimidation. You know how it is with some classes. There's a lot of attitude from the other dancers, and sometimes even from the teachers. With any class you have to be willing to find the one that is the right fit for you. And don't be afraid to make a change if it isn't.

Also, while it felt like forever  that I put off taking dance again - sometimes in life we can only take on one scary thing at a time. For a good several year chunk of my thirties building an art business from scratch was all I had the energy and bravery for. While this post is ultimately in service of encouraging you to do those things that have been scaring you, it's important to note that we don't have to do everything all at once and being gentle with ourselves when we are already being brave in one area of life is a nice thing to do.

I think leaving my class in Boulder was really all in my head. I let myself get intimidated. Nobody did it to me. My teacher was excellent, a former Denver Bronco's cheerleader, she lead a class full of young competition students. Class was inspiring and pushed me to become better. I think if I remember correctly my teacher even asked me if I was going to audition for the team? But I ignored that, instead spending most classes feeling like I was nowhere as good as everyone else. Oh and in class,  I felt kind of old at 26. Hindsight. Seriously, why do we start doing that age thing to ourselves so early?

Not anymore. I realized that this fear I've had - time for it to go.  Several months before my 40th birthday I decided no more waiting. If you get one thing when you turn 40 and you're an entrpreneur , it's that there's just no more room for intimidation. Whey spend one more day of my life worrying about what others think, especially in a dance class. 

So I did it. I joined a beginning ballet class to rebuild my dance foundation and in the ten months I've been been back, I've also added on a contemporary jazz class. It feels so good to be back. I'm now going 3-4 times a week.

I'm really happy with my classes and my studio. I found one here in L.A. that is all about the love of dance. The dominant attitude of the teachers is supportive. What I also think is great is the range of ages and sexes of the students who come to class. Yes, there are professionals there and even in a beginning class I'm still surrounded by great students {who continue to make me want to be better} but this time I'm ok, especially with being a beginner again. When I'm the last one, the end of the line traveling across the floor and that old feeling of self judgment creeps up I remember that it doesn't exist in my life anymore. I let it go and I have fun. And not to mention I'm getting in some serious excercise - always good for the body and the overall mental state.

I wanted to share this with you here, because a while back when I instagram-ed these photos I had several people telling me they too wanted to make the return to dance. All I want to add is this: to any of you on the fence about making a return to or being a beginner again {at whatever you love or want to explore} -  DO IT!!

12" x 9"

{click here to buy original - also available as a print}

5" x 7"

I'm playing around with some ideas for animal pillows...

So the story goes like this: Christmastime, a couple of years ago; Sean's stepmom, Jan,  had a request from her granddaughters for some chicken fabric. The request by the way is because they LOVE chickens. Aside from having an extensive garden, they also raise their own chickens and goats at their home in Northern California. Jan looked and looked, telling me she had the hardest time finding some fun chicken fabric for the girls. That's that - I thought as soon as I can, I'm designing some chicken fabric. {which I like to call the "prosperity hens"}

The second inspiration behind this story is my own desire to start a garden even in the middle of a thriving metropolis, Los Angeles; because of my love for fresh, healthy food, cooking and the kinds of delicious meals where your favorite people gather around the table for hours. I also shop locally, every week, at my neighborhood Farmer's Market. While my garden has only grown to include cherry tomatoes and fresh herbs in pots, one of these days...I will expand it.

And, this is how the desire for chicken fabric grew into an entire collection.  It's here! As always I hope you love it. From what I hear so far, the sheep might be a hit?! I also tried out a completely different, more neutral color palette, which I call "Natural", and the other with my signature brighter palette, reminds me of vintage kitchen colors so I've been calling it "Kitsch".

You can find it at independent quilt shops both brick and mortar and online, and I have fq bundles in the shop. 

Some larger samples of a few of my favorites too.

Oooh! and I almost forgot! for the first time I've introduced tiny stripes to the collection, acting as a solid to combine with the color palette I typically use. I'm super excited about these and how perfect they blend into all kinds of projects.

Speaking of! Faith of Fresh Lemon Quilts put together this great Farmer's Market Tote tutorial using "Locally Grown". Right! aren't these going to be perfect for a trip to the farmer's market? in the form of an  apron or a tote bag? In fact I've been carrying Shaerie's tote bag as my go to purse for the last few months, and made another one this week with the green wreath pattern.

enjoy, enjoy, enjoy! create! create! create! Send me photos of what you're making. I can't wait to see. Or post them in my Flickr group. Have I told you about the Flickr group? so much good stuff there! thank you for sharing what you are creating.

happy march!

{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. 

Seriously. No disrespect to a fun design element, however...does it need to be adorning every possible product available?

Clearly it does.

{click here to buy original}

I've been asked to review a couple of books this year. First up: Stitch Savvy

I met Deborah at my very first quilt market, and pretty much love everything about this lady. She is who she is, a straight shooter, fellow creative, awesome sewer who continuously cracks me up. And she's a great teacher and author. This is her second book. Her first, Stitch by Stitch, a must have for every sewer,  she sent to me as a gift with a little note encouraging me in my very early days of sewing. 

As I've mentioned sewing was always intimidating for me so I take my teacher and book recommendations seriously.

Sewing is not something to be elitist about. You know the whole, 'I sew and you don't so therefor I'm superior to you.' Seems silly right, especially when it comes to creative pursuits - but we've all gotten that from someone at sometime. We humans have taken that attitude often when it comes to all kind of activities that can feel challenging at first, and it's time for that sh*t to go.

That is one thing I will always be thankful to blogging for. Bloggers have made so many activities way more accesible and approachable. Sewing in particular. {be sure to check out Deborah's blog too}

These are the reasons I like Deborah's books so much, they are friendly and supportive right fromt the get go. She writes like she's your friend, talking to you, walking you through the steps, and thinking about any question you might have along the way, always ready with tips and ideas to make the process easier. The photography is beautiful, and the step by step instructions are simple and clear, not overwhelming at all. These are books from the heart. Her love for sewing and teaching comes through. Deborah really wants everyone to know that they too can sew, and she is here to help us. And that's that. Nothing more nothing less. 

Filled with a variety of projects for all different levels, each teaching you new techniques to expand your knowledge and confidence. 

What I also love is that at the end of each project Deborah has reommendations about what project to try next. I can't wait to get started with my favorite one first. Ok fine, I'm a little biased - and - thrilled with how sweet this tea cozy is using Creative Thursday fabric, Meet the Gang and my very first Spoonflower designs that Deborah was so sweet to purchase as soon as I made them available online. Then I want to try every recommended project after that, a Tufted Duvet, a Lovie Blanket, and a Picnic Basket.

Did I mention that Deborah is also a mom to 4 kiddos? With the level of detail in this book, makes me immediately want to ask, how did she do it all? But then, I think we are all constantly asking that of each other these days. And no one really has the answer, other than somehow you just make it work and get it done. And I'm so glad, because then we get more books like this. 

I leave you with one of my favorite Deborah quotes from the book that pretty much sums it up. And if you'd like a copy she'll be giving away two copies tomorrow at her blog.

"Remember that your instincts are way more important than rules" ~ Deborah Moebes

I got my first sample, a polar bear, last summer. I placed him on my dining room wall and he's been there ever since. Peel and place, removable, repositionable, reusable fabric wall decals. Place all of them in one room or one of them in each and every room. I LOVE these and that is all. {I think you might love them too} You can find these 2 different sets, and all the details at the shop.

https://vimeo.com/56934134

Finally!  my last video for this series :)

Another finally! links to the podcasts and videos are getting fixed. For those of you who have been wanting to go back and listen to past episodes, most of them are back with more coming soon.

happy new year everyone!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you! We've gone to the snow! and will see you again in 2013.

No matter how many years I put myself and my art out there it still feels awkward to stand in front of it at an event. I love it, I feel proud, and then I also feel completely vulnerable in a way that the online world has {mostly} sheltered me from. At this point I'm probably so used to sharing and selling online, that I almost have to relearn how to be  in person with my art.

I'm sure I have said it before {most likely after my last Renegade}, I much prefer when a customer can just purchase what they love, on their own time, and I know about it once they've made that decision. Truthfully I think I prefer to be a customer in the same way.

Most of the creatives I know, we just don't like 'selling' our art. I mean we LOVE selling it, just not selling it, you know the difference?  While this event was more of a celebration than a show, I still felt especially vulnerable. 

And this is why for this night in particular, I am so, so {that's a double so} thankful to my creatives who came! We know. We just know what's it like to put yourself out there. And we show up for one another, not just in words but in person. Most people don't get this, because they simply don't want to or aren't willing to put themselves out there. It takes bravery. It always does, even if you've done it before. Sometimes I think we forget this because so many of us are making it look easy, but everyone I know feels butterflies in their stomach every time they share new work or ask someone to come to their event. No complaints here, just awareness and observation. I chose this life as a creative entrepreneur and I love it, even down to the butterflies.

This doesn't mean that I don't absolutely understand that life is crazy, busy for most, especially at this time of year and that we can't all make it to everyone's events all the time {because we are also more global and not living in the same area}...but if you can, do. It's means so much when people show up in support of one another. Somehow I think I got this in a new way this weekend. It reminded me that I want to support others more, because when you do it's big. Every little bit matters.

I was joking that the thing with writing a book is that by the time you have the event to celebrate, you have no more friends to invite. Because most likely it's been all consuming leaving you without much capacity to socialize let alone be a great friend {or blog...ahem} But everyone understands. We know that life has moments, personally and professionally where you just have to go inward for a while. So to everyone who came on Saturday thank you!!!! It meant a lot that you were there. 

And by the way that dress I'm wearing, it's my fabric and I sewed it myself and I will tell you again the next time I see you {that's for you Anne xo}

by the way - you should also know! I'm having a final holiday shopping sale at the shop today only until 11:59 pm PST. 15% off with the coupon HOLIDAYTIME

L.A friends! I'm having a one night event in celebration of the release of my book. I hope to see you there! 

220 Pier Avenue

Santa Monica, CA 90405

7 - 10 pm

The shop update has begun. I ended up listing 49 items! Also my sewing machine had a hiccup {meaning it stopped working} mid way through the stocking sewing, so if you miss the first few, check back later as I will definitely be adding more. Hope you enjoy everything!

You can find them over in the shop. 

And! I'm one of the authors participating in a webinar on creativity with Mary Beth, Sandra and Darlene. Join us for an hour, ask us questions. Registration free. You can sign up right here.

Here's what's been happening. It's feeling a little like Santa's workshop in my studio. I love having my holiday shop update so much all I want to do is create right now. Every chance I get I'm painting, sewing, making. I have the best time working on new creations that I think you might enjoy, and while I'm at it I want to make everyone I know a gift, but first the update this Thursday November 29 @ 9 am PST, I'll be releasing at least 30 new treats, from ceramics to ornaments, to stockings , to new canvas art, to paintings. 

Also, if you didn't get my recent email, I'm still taking a few orders for personalized oranments.

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Another post to follow but if you are in L.A., Saturday December 8 - Join me for a an event celebrating the release of my book 7-10 pm. 220 Pier Avene Santa Monica 90405

until then, see you Thursday!

The Christmas music is officially on!

Like the fact that a page in your book is missing. 

Like the fact that the first 5,000 of your printed books will also have that same page missing.

For a moment there, a mistake like this on years worth of work could easily overshadow all the other incredible things happening. It really could, right? But it shouldn't. And that simply comes down to a decision, a choice to see this experience in a different light.

If so many areas of my life are going well, and this happens right smack in the middle of all the amazing I choose to interpret it as something that's also going right.

Really.

And this is why. In life, have you noticed that the one negative remark stands out over all of the positive ones, or the one mistake trumps all of the other things that have gone right. Why do we do that to ourselves? Just like in the news, the tiny percent of bad news trumps all of the incredible good news that's happening on our planet everyday. We just take all of the good for granted and then when one thing seemingly goes wrong, everything else goes down with it. Or maybe I'm the only one that does this? 

I'm not doing it anymore. And honestly this experience with a missing page in my book is kind of what sealed the deal for me on that.

Don't get me wrong. It's a big mistake. A mistake that I don't think anyone thought could happen.  I was super disappointed when I found it, talked to my publisher about it and learned that for the first printing, nothing would be done to fix it. The perfectionist in me had a hard time with this, and so did the entrepreneur and person who wants everything her customer gets to be just right. And yet the business owner in me also understood, that a publisher probably wasn't going to just eat the cost of 5,000 books with one page missing, especially for a new, relatively unknown author. Because believe me, I asked if this would happen to John Grisham? or J.K. Rowling? :) Also because the rest of the book is all there and beautifully printed.

So I had a choice, I could take years with of work that I'm incredibly proud of and celebrate it or I could whine and carry on about how my first book had one page left out. I could let one page overshadow all of the other pages.

The irony {or perfect coincidence} is that I write about mistakes in the book. In fact I'm sure I've mentioned my philosopy of mistakes many times here on my blog.  In my chapter "Redefining the Role of Perfection" I talk about how 'mistakes' happen and how I've learned to embrace them because they always add to the piece, always making it better. This is harder to say on this one because I feel like part of my art is missing, and it is. So how does a missing page make this creation better?

I've been thinking for weeks now about the best way to share this with you and I thought this is it. This is the best example for me to walk the walk. Embracing the mistakes and celebrating all of the rest. A chance for me to make a new choice. If I genuinely approach this experience with understanding, honesty and grace then maybe it can set an example for all of us to do more of this in our lives. And if that happens, then the mistake in my book has just become something way more relevant than the page that is missing.

Because really do we want to spend all of our energy frustrated with what's not working or what's gone wrong or be serious about focusing on what is working and all that is right, and love our life more. I want to love my life more. As I've mentioned, I made a new commitment to myself at the beginning of 2012, and it has made all of the difference.

And without getting too carried away with the 'tragedy' of a missing a page, I say that with sarcasm. It's only a missing page, that's all. It's not the end of the world. And in light of what so many are experiencing on the east coast this past week, I mean really. Nothing's gone wrong at all. It's awkward to even write about this now, but my books are getting ready to ship soon and it feels right to share this with you today.

I did all I could do in this past year to get this book 'perfect' for you.  What I approved and sent back to my editor did not have a page missing. Yet, at the end of the day we are all human and mistakes happen. There may even be more tucked into this book that we haven't found yet?{shoot, there were at least 5 mistakes in this blog post when I went to publish it} And I say 'we' because clearly writing a published book is a collaboration. It's a huge collaboration, one that has many check points and many eyes overseeing the process, and everyone in that process {well almost everyone} is hoping to get the best product made and out in the world. Yet even with all of those check points in place, one person can accidentally upload the wrong page to the printer. So really, in all of our combined attempts to get it just right, what can you do? Nothing. Other than...

We can strive to do the best we can and then we have to let it go, so it can become what it needs to be in the world. This is applicable to so much in life and relating to today's topic, this is especially true of our art.

I'm sad that the first books you will receive are missing one of my favorite pages, another irony or {perfect coincidence} "Know Yourself". But beyond the momentary sadness, I am still so proud of this book and cannot wait for you to have it. I hope it will bring you joy and inspiration, in fact I know it will.

So here's how it works when a page is missing. {Actually you get page 92 twice. It seems that page 92 was uploaded a second time, where page 82 was supposed to be} Apparently mistakes in books, especially when it comes to the sewing and knitting pattern worlds are quite common? What a publisher does is put what's called an 'erratum' where they post the missing page online for you to download. And for those of you who have ordered your copy directly from me, I will be including an actual print out of the page in your order. If you happen to get one of the first 5,000 copies, you've actually got a limited edition ;)

I'm so sorry this has happened, and that is all.

Now let me close this post by remembering my original intention to writing a book. To add a little bit more joy to the world in the best way I know how, through my art and my words and encouragement for all of us to keep living a life we love. And be more creative {of course!}

for all of us, together. 

I promised my daily painting subscribers the story behind this one.

Sean and I walk into a restaurant....Gorgeous interior, beyond delicious food and a marble bar decorated with an assorment of brass animal figurines? First time I've ever seen an assortment of animals lining the bar. Totally up my alley. Of course I took a photo and then decided yesterday that I had to create a painting from the randomness of it all. 

When I showed Sean the initial sketch, I said; "It's called 'Random Friends' and they're at a party". He said "Singles Mixer" - you should call it "Singles Mixer". I laughed so hard I almost fell over. It was perfect. The way they were all set up on the bar, this odd selection of creatures, the awkward expression I gave the crab, it just worked. I think the mouse and the tiny whale are hitting it off, don't you? The crab is not so sure, but he's keeping one eye on the partridge.

This might completely be one of those moments that only Sean and I will find funny - but if you get even the slightest chuckle from this painting, then it has done it's job. :)

Makes me want to create more pantings with random narratives, that also make me laugh that hard.

{click here to buy original}

Happy Halloween wishes to you out there! And for those of you on the east coast, hope you are safe and sound. Been thinking of you xo

{original is sold}

First! thank you so much for the book congratulations. I'm still taking it all in, especially since last Thursday a copy of the actual book arrived. It's a pretty amazing feeling to see years worth of work compiled so beautifully in one place. I'll be sharing some photos here, with more peeks into the inside of the book, when I return from Quilt Market which is where I'm headed this week.

This weekend I will also be having my first two book events at Quilt Market, with a Schoolhouse Presentation on Friday, October 26 at 11- 11:30  am  in room 372D. On Saturday I will be having a book signing from 3 - 3:30 pm at the F & W Booth. 

Made a new, much larger "Bunnie" with The Red Thread, featured above, and sent him off to spend some time in the Andover Booth. 

So if you are headed to market too, I'll see you there!

https://vimeo.com/51233450

It's time! for me to release this book!!!!

Rather than tell you all about it in an email or this post, I decided to make a book trailer {be sure to watch all the way to end to see my favorite part ;)} So proud of this and super excited to share it with you. A culmination of years of creations and the original intent of Creative Thursday, to inspire others to be more creative and life a life THEY LOVE! 

Now available for pre-order at my shop and on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Published through NorthLight, a division of F + W Media, the book will be shipping at the end of November 2012.  The first 100 pre-orders at my Etsy shop will also receive a free print of the cover art "Always Cheering You on"

For those of you here in Los Angeles, save the date December 1 for a book launch event with more details to come!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your support over the years. My family, my friends, my customers, my blog readers, my editor ~ All of you who have been with me on this journey, you encouraged me and inspire me to keep going and creating {always}. I wrote this book for you. xo

Let me start by saying I don't usually contribute to books, mostly because of too much work for too little pay or none at all. For reasons I am sure publishers have that I just do not fully agree with and/or understand. With that said there are always exceptions, and Carla Sonheim's book is one. 

When I started daily painting Carla was one of my first original collectors, buying what I think might still be one of my favorite polar bears to date. When you are just beginning to find your way as a professional artist and barely knowing how you are going to cobble together your rent, let alone any other expenses - you never forget who your first customers were. All of them collectively are what kept me going in those early days, pulling me forward into a very specific painting style that evolved into business that is still going seven years later. 

So when one of those customers asks if you'd like to be a part of their book, you jump, because {you've always admired their illustration style} you still want to return support from those early days. Not to mention I also love Carla's first book 'Drawing Lab for Mixed-Media Artists'. 

Carla does a fantastic job sharing fun, innovative and non-intimdating approaches to drawing. And her new book! is all about one of my favorite subjects 'Drawing and Painting Imaginary Animals'. Flipping through my copy I cannot wait to try some of her techniques to inspire a new Imaginary Animal. Watercolor Blobimals, that's all I'm saying.

In celebration of the release of her book, Carla is generously offering to gift one of you with her new book!! woohoo! If you visit here regularly, and have a fondness for little animal characters like I do. I know you're going to LOVE this book. thank you Carla! for your early support and for inviting me and my polar bear to to be a part of your newest creation.

Just leave a comment below to be entered in the giveaway. At the end of the day on Creative Thursday, October 11, I will randomly choose a winner and announce it here on Friday morning.

***Edit 10-12-12***And our winner is #71 Jenny! Congratulations Jenny! Please send me an email with your mailing address and Carla will send a book right out to you.

To everyone who came over for a visit from Carla's blog, so good to meet you too!

Introducing! all 24 patterns of Creative Thursday's newest fabric collection 'The Red Thread'. And a few of my favorite designs in larger sizes so you can see more detail.

There is a story behind the design and naming of this group and here it is: Growing up, my aunt in Germany often talked to me about 'the red thread' that runs through your life. It's a known story so maybe you've heard it?

The idea is that there is always a red thread connecting all the moments of your life and when looking back you can see it with complete clarity. How everything happens just as it should, in the exact timing that is meant to be. 

In my own life I find this to be true and since I was little the idea of the red thread has always brought me comfort. What if? our life is unfolding just as it should, always guiding us to best possible outcome for what we are wanting, and all we have to is trust, enjoy and relax into it. 

It's all to easy on the days when we don't feel like ourselves,  like everything is scary and closing in on us ~ to lose sight of the greater picture. 

As a child, I spent almost every summer in Germany visiting my family. I always left feeling more inspired than when I arrived and I let that influence also carry into the designs. Included are the lucky symbols of the mushroom {with tiny bunnies of course} the ladybugs and the flowerboxes spilling over with geraniums {there seems to be some confusion on what flower I designed in the pattern with the small green leaves, they are not pansies ;)}

You can purchase bundles, and select yardage by request at the shop as well as find it at a store near you by using Andover's store finder. There is also a free quilt pattern available for download, that Andover designed. Super cute with the little houses going around the border.

My intent with this fabric collection {when you are creating and sewing away} is a reminder, that all is well.

In celebration of October {and the moment it gets cool, which will not be today] and Halloween, I thought it would be fun to put together a few more "surprise" care packages like I did earlier this year. As I write this there are 26 10 left. And!! so excited to announce that 'The Red Thread' is officially here in my shop, other online shops and at stores near you. Will be back shortly with a post sharing a more detailed view of all 24 patterns.

Edit 10-2-12 Almost forgot to list the 2 "Thriving Artist" Care Packages.

My mom sent me a series of photos of an actual deer and bunny rabbit who are friends. Could not be sweeter. From the photos it seemed as if they were inseparable even snuggling together in a little ball.

{click here to buy original} {also available as a print}

I was about to write that this is the first tote bag I've sewn, but actually it's my second. 

The first one I created from a pattern online and this one I took a class. Even though I'm coming along with my sewing, I still really appreciate having someone step me through a pattern. Officially on my sixth class, I'm getting much quicker with my machine and reading and cutting out patterns is becoming way more familiar. Always a little intimidated by sewing, it's nice to feel progress happening!

Each pattern is so different, have you noticed? So much of a pattern feeling easy to follow has to do with someone's ability, to not just sew but to instruct someone how to sew. Especially for students like me who prefer a visual/listening learning experience. I'm not much of an instruction reader, never have been. I prefer to jump in and figure it out as I go. However, this method does not work so well with most sewing especially apparel sewing :) 

I take almost all of my classes at Sew LA, who just opened up an awesome new space in Atwater Village. {if you go, stop by Proof Bakery across the street - except on Monday because sadly they are closed - and you will not be disappointed. Oh and also Kaldi Coffee & Tea right next door has my favorite 'Pirate's Chai' hot or iced}  In fact I took some private lessons from Shaerie way before I ever knew I would be designing my own fabric. Shaerie is the owner of Sew LA as well as one of the teachers. Years of experience in sewing {I think she started as a teenager} she's great at explaining everything clearly, and thoroughly. She's also a stickler for high quality, while working smarter not harder. For this reason, her first pattern is a winner. Clear and easy to follow.

She's working on developing a line of her own patterns and the tote bag is the first to be released. Right now you can only get it here at Sew L.A. So if you're wanting a functional, quality tote bag that's easy and fun to sew, this is your pattern.

Loving my tote bag. As you can imagine it's my new favorite which means I'm taking it everywhere. I used two of the designs from my newest line {shipping any day now} 'The Red Thread'.  All in greys, bloom flowers on the outside and bunnies and mushrooms on the inside. 

At the beginning of this year ~ I said I wanted to travel more. And travel I have. It's nice when you realize that you are actually doing what you say you want to do with your life.

This past weekend we jetted off to Colorado, visiting friends and old haunts in Boulder as well as spending a couple of nights at a cabin in Keystone. Oh and! the leaves were turning. There's nothing lik the sound of aspen leaves rustling in the wind. And there's nothing like the color they turn in the follow.

I always wonder if it's worth the hassle of going somewhere far, flying and then driving, when you have just a few days to experience everything and no real time to truly unwind. And I'd say: yes! It's always worth it.

You just decide to see what you can and squeeze in as much unwinding as possible. With a view like the one above, sitting in 2 comfy chairs in front of a roaring fireplace while a sharing an awesome bottle of red wine, unwinding in 24 hrs is indeed possible. 

The truth is the shift in perspective you get on your own life when traveling even for just a few days is so worth it. You know how it is? The daily routine ruts that start to happen when you've been home too long. We really recognized this when we took our six week trip abroad a couple of years ago. Still angling for another long trip like our one to Paris. 2013 it's going to happen. In the meantime, the traveling this year, even for just a few days at a time I've been especially happy to come home, and appreciating my daily routine so much more. 

And now back to work again in preparation for another quick trip to Fall Quilt Market. I see lots of sewing on the horizon. And hey I have a book coming out!!!!!

are here! a limited edition are available over at the shop.

Inspired by my new Iphone case, a series of tiny portraits. Why I always encourage working in more than one medium. One always inspires the other{s}.

{originals are sold} {now available as individual prints or a set of all 3}

As I head into my 7th year of blogging {seriously?! for someone who really didn't want to start a blog...} ~ officially the longest blog and work break I've taken. 

And the reason many of us don't take such long breaks: because when we actually step away for longer than a week or a weekend, breaking the momentum and/or the daily treadmill so many of us are on,  we might not want to come back to life and work as we know it = exactly what happened. 

Don't get me wrong - I am excited to return, to create and make things, to share them with you {and a little less excited to return to the tasks involved with running a business}. I seriously needed this break and am so glad I took it. Could have been even longer, but then again I think we always feel that way. I thought I'd return after Labor Day, but just wasn't quite ready. So am easing back in to things this week.

I'd be lying if I didn't acknowledge that this book might also be responsible for some {even more than usual} reflection. Just a little light reading, you know, while on vacation. I am presently in the process of changing my mind and my blog ;)

Also the longest break from my usual routine of creating - but as you know, my fellow creatives - we can't totally break from making something with our hands, right? So I knitted a cowl {woot! it's true I started & finished a cowl in a few days - bless thick yarn and big knitting needles - photo to come when it's not 90 degrees out} and I also finished this cross stitch of Miss Fran for my new Iphone case. If you enjoy hand sewing, stiching, you gotta get your hands on one of these. 

Alrighty then, the book is at the printer! I'm feeling pretty well rested. Got to know San Francisco and my own city of Los Angeles a lot better.  Had a great visit with my family.  Did a little sprucing up of the blog, so as per usual no big promises as to what's ahead, but I'm excited to spend time here again, more often. I miss my blog. 

Hope August was good to you out there xo

It's done! I finished the book. So proud of it and super excited to share it with you.

While I'm not suggesting that writing a book is all consuming, it's pretty much a year long project from start to finish. One that you are not working on every single day during that span of time, but one that you are certainly always thinking about. It takes up a big slot and high priority in your mind, and project list. Me and my love of creating a piece from start to finish in one day - I'm not used to long and involved projects. Writing a book, for me, was a big adjustment. For this reason it's only a mild exaggeration to say that, upon it's completion I had a moment of feeling like I had just been given a new life. What will I do next?! {with all my free time :)}

The first thing I'm going to do with that new life, even though I have at least eight months of things I want to share with you - is take a break. 

Seems to be a movement to be spreading across the internet, various versions of - an August Break.  I love when people take care of themselves and take time off, to be creative and to enjoy their holidays and vacations. It always gives the rest of us permission to do so too. 

As it also turns out my family from Germany, always much better about taking {long} vacations especially in August - happens to be visiting this month, on their second trip ever to the United States.

Ok, then. A break it is. I'm off to visit with my family, travel, re-group, take naps, get inspired and excited thinking about all the new creative projects I get to explore. I will never be bored in this life, and that is all.

First stop, Northern California, a visit to Liz and Rob - which included a great day of conversation over coffee and Whole Foods baked goods, relaxing in their garden and admiring their awesome turquoise trim. 

I added these sewing buttons to the shop today, along with some surprise fabric bundles. Making some room in the studio. 1 lb. of fabric coming your way. As I write this there are 9 bundles left. 

And the buttons? Well they may stay awhile if you love them. Plus they come with the sweetest little corked glass bottle. Perfect for message sending later. 

You can find everything over in the shop ~ happy creative thursday!

is going well. {at least by Garbo's standards} she has officially blessed it {and napped on it}

This painting, I literally saw as it now exists in a dream. It was one of those dreams where I was admiring the painting thinking that someone else had painted it. Then when I woke up I realized it wasn't someone else's painting, it was mine. I had dreamt it and therefor created it during my sleep state.

It's wild when that happens. Have you ever experienced that before? I have  designed entire architectural spaces, clothing, watches...paintings. I try desperately to remember them upon waking but often can't. This time I did and the image would not fade away from my memory as the days passed on.

The night after I saw this painting, I had yet another dream of 3-D digital rendering of an elephant. While the imagery inspired me I have no desire to re-create it ~ however 2 elephant dreams 2 nights in a row got me curious about the symbolism behind the elephant. I came across this post online and the part that referenced the emergence of your Highest True Self is what hit me.

I know I've been quieter than usual on my blog this year. I've had to go within more,  for a number reasons, most of which, as you know is due to the writing of a book. I know some people can carry on with a blog as usual while writing a book, however I cannot because I am also carrying on with the business of being an artist behind the scenes, always. 

It's been killing me not to share all the clarity that's come out of this time and I know I've eluded to some of the changes earlier in the year. One of the biggest pieces of clarity has been a major shift in focus that involves going inward more. Seems so counterintuitive in some ways as the internet gets bigger and louder, one should shout louder, no? and yet it makes perfect sense for someone who values stillness, thoughfulness, quiet strength and gentle inspiration. It's that simple, like Neil suggested in the video I shared with you - make good art. That's what I want to do most of all. And while there's still so much more I want to say about this topic, I actually have the last book review sitting in front of me, which means it's finally time to close this chapter {pun intended} So one more time - I'll see you on the other side of that final review.

At the beginning of this year, I set a powerful intention, one that maybe for the first time ever I have actually honored. The dreams of the elephants make sense.

original is available here - also available as a print here

{for me} for a change

when I've looked at other's lives, wishing I had more of what they have. instead lately i've been looking more at my life and am really happy with what I see.

Every now and then I get super excited about a new product. {Ok, fine. Who am I kidding? I pretty much get super excited about every new creation and product.} I love what I do. You know this about me now.

But this one! ;) It's technically called 'bunting', have you ever heard of that term before? You might know it as a garland or banner, so I'm calling it a garland-bunting banner so nobody gets confused {or everyone gets super confused} I've had six of these hanging in my house since the party last week and let's just say I don't want to take them down {ever} even though Sean, who is 6'5" has run into them multiple times. That's how much I love these. {I've adjusted the height so Sean is free and clear because I love him more}

These make me seriously happy. It's like a small collection of everything I've made over the last six years, from art imagery to fabric design, paper circles and fabric squares all together. And they come in the cutest little clear top tin.

And it's colorful, just the right amount of color {especially for those, for whom just a splash of color is all that's needed}. I love color. You also know this about me. {clearly after reading this post, you'll also know that I'm loving the use of parentheses lately - whaaat is going on with these?? there must be a lot of subtext to my writing today}

So I've made these available for purchase over at the shop. Maybe they'll make you just as happy? Or someone special that you {randomly}send one too? I think these would make the best gift. 

Each one is unique, no two will ever be exactly alike. And the beauty of these! is they are so light, you can hang them with clear tape, and they stay up! {who else is over party decorations that are too heavey and fall down?} or for fun, you could also attach them with some colorful washi tape?

I hope you will love them, because I love making them. Otherwise my house will be filled with these and Sean might not be able to move freely through our space. Don't buy them for you, buy them for Sean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRMFEe1Ssso

This is a conversation that I am so thrilled is happening and one that needs to continue {forever}.

I've always hoped that my podcasts, blog and classes have been one small drop in the pond to encourage it as well. 

I have also already decided that there needs to be a sequel to this film, for those of us who have listened to our hearts followed our passions, and then what?! The conversation continues... It's not as if you decide to follow your dreams and the rest of your story is sorted out neatly from then on out.  The evolution of your passion never ends. {not that you want it to}

This was a self-funded and kickstarter funded project. One more time! This is me internet shouting to you: isn't it amazing what we can do with our voices and our art today???? Truly.

Liz supported the kickstarter and coincidentally while she and her husband Rob were here visiting with us, the premiere happened in Hollywood, so we went. It seriously moves me every time I see someone achieve a dream they set out to fulfill. Nothing better. And the premiere on Saturday was one of those nights. 

Fired-up by the moment, I insisted we record it with a self-portrait Iphone photo,  right outside of the theater on nothing better than a dirty, sticker laden, reflected window in Hollywood. Welcome to Hollywood - where everybody has a dream and the windows are a little dirty.  When I posted this to Instagram, the caption was: some epic shit is going down. If you see the film, then you'll know why that is one of the best lines from it.

This film, a must see, will be available for download online soon. Even if you've already asked yourself these questions, re-evaluated your life and headed out in a new direction, this will definitely re-ignite even more new thoughts and ideas about what's next.

How are you all doing out there? Are you feeling complacent or energized!!! or does it depend upon the day ;)

Tonight! In honor of Susannah and her beautiful new book. 

I've also had too much fun whipping up some party decor for the occassion ~ that might also be a sneak peek to something new that I'll be adding to the shop {soon}.

My postcard to you from the city. All lit up in honor of the new Spider Man movie, the Empire State Building, my view last week. I love NYC

hope you all have a very happy 4th!!

5 x 7 in.

I don't know why, now? But for the first time I've noticed the baby mockingbirds in the neighborhood. {I'm certain} new babies have hatched every year since I've been in this house, but I never heard them before.  I think because, this year, one of their nests was up against the edge of our house and I heard their little cheeps loud and clear. Now I that I'm an expert in the call of the cheep cheeps, I can always recognize them mixed in with all the other song birds.

So cute, so fuzzy, I didn't realize they grow up as fast as they do. In what feels like just a week or so, they are out of the nest and hopping around crying for their parents to bring them some food. They look all tousled and new to the world. So, in honor of the baby birds, a new painting.

{click here to buy original - also available as a print over at the shop}

One of my favorite times year, for these beauties that I get to bring home from Trader Joe's.

flowers for you. happy sunday!

6 x 6 in.

I think the travel bug has bit me again. Must plan another big trip overseas soon...

{click here to buy original - also available as a print over at the shop}

https://vimeo.com/42372767

Ok. Seriously. I think this might be one of the BEST speeches I've ever seen for the artist, just starting out, already going and especially those of us who make our art our business. - thank you for this Karin and thank you Neil 

{note to self}: let go and enjoy the ride

Another embroidery pattern added to the shop! As well as some other new treats, like these crafting bags and an adorable 'miss fran wearing miss fran' who travels in her own pouch.

Also! you should know! I'm having a summer sale, 15% off everything in the shop. It ends tomorrow, Monday @ 12 pm PST. Originally set to end at 9 am, however Etsy was down on Saturday, so I have extended it a few extra hours. Just enter SUMMER for the coupon code at checkout.

There's so much I want to say about this.

Inspired by Jess' post, a movement started by EZ, a month or so in the works already, have you heard about this yet? Have you written a post inspired by this topic?  EZ's thoughts on this are wonderful by the way and knowing her in person, I can tell you that her post is exactly like sitting down to have an in person conversation with her. 

That's what most of us are after here with our blogs, right? A feeling like if you sat down in person with the blogger behind the blog, it would be similar or the same? We pride ourselves on a sense of transparency and working from the heart. And by we I'm speaking mostly of the creative, art and design community that I've come to know over the last six years of being in this online world. 

But lately, I guess there's been a lot of backlash about blogs not being transparent enough? Portraying so much beauty and pretty, and perceived perfection that now everyone's upset because they can't measure up to a blog or a blogger they follow. Really, is this what it always comes down to? The pendulum swings one way so far that there has to always be something to rebel against. I remember the days when the beauty and sincerity expressed on blogs was a complete breath of fresh air to me ~ especially in comparison to traditional media outlets that are not only hyper edited but tend to focus almost solely on exploiting the negative events on this planet. I also remember when I asked a similar question of myself and the blog world a few years ago. But I'm feeling seasoned in this world now and I have new thoughts to add ot the mix.

To be honest blogs still provide a huge source of inspiration for me. Have I too fallen into the trap of not feeling enough in comparison. Absolutely, as I'll share more with you below. However I fell into that trap long before there were blogs. I fell into that trap as soon as I was pitted against someone in school, when I didn't make the dance team, or when my parents openly judged someone against me in front of me. To suddenly blame blogs for our lack of a sense of self is a bit extreme. And also good, because it gets conversations like this going which always means progress.

I'd say instead that we're all of after a strong sense of self. And by we, I mean every single one of us.

When are we going to realize - we can read blogs or not, support or ridicule them but it's not things from the outside that are upsetting our sense of self. Nobody is upsetting us. We are always the ones who are responsible for how we feel. We can keep letting the outside world be our excuse to disrupt us or we can decide to do the inner work and commit to developing a strong sense of self anyway. Then and only then, is when the all of this outside noise will finally fall away.

In my opinion blogs have been the closest that we've come to cracking the surface. It makes perfect sense since most of the blogs 'somebody is internet yelling at' {loving that expression that I read over at Melanie's blog} are the pioneers. They are simply finding their way with this just like the rest of us. I've said time and time again - so now I'm going to internet yell it, and I'm going to make it bold so you really know I'm yelling it:

GIVE yourselves a break. THIS is a new medium. NONE of us know how it to balance it all. NONE of us know how it's going to shake out exactly. BECAUSE as soon as we figure one part out, it changes {entirely}. TRY balancing what is changing every day. YOU CAN'T. OTHER than to find balance within yourself and do YOUR work, not SOMEONE ELSE's from that space. FIND YOUR VOICE. Be clear how you want to present yourself and your brand or your personal life or your business or both and do it. DON'T WORRY about how and why everyone else is doing what they're doing. WE ARE NOT ALL MEANT TO BE and DO EVERYTHING THE SAME.

What I'm trying to say beneath my internet shouting here is that just because someone blogs does not mean that they suddenly owe it to everyone to reveal their entire personal life. In fact they don't owe anything to anyone, unless they are professional, and then they have their sponsors who care about traffic. I have no experience with this so I'm not going to speak to it. Even then, most of those blogs that are now professional started as inspired ideas and only became professional because their inspired ideas garnered a lot of eyeballs. And since I know many of those bloggers in person, I know they are trying their best to keep their blog as true to their original inspiration and voice as they can. But it is a business. And business is not personal. It just isn't. And it also goes through changes. 

As you know if you've been coming here for a while - Authenticity, Integrity,  Truth  matter a whole heck of a lot to me. A LOT. Probably too much because the world often seems to fall short of my expectations around this. I sometimes fall short of this as well. But those values are in me, have been since the time I was small.  And I've been disappointed more times than I can count with people who claim to value these traits and reveal to me through their actions that they actually do not have a clue about what it means to live with these values.

I assume that if you visit here, you expect that I will also come to the table with these qualities in this blog. And I have tried. Absolutely I have. There are probably times I've fallen short, but I've always tried to be super clear about what this blog space is for me.

And lately, for quite a while actually, probably since I started my book and have been temporarily paralyzed, by energy and time parameters to share any of my usual thoughts here  - I've been thinking. I've been thinking so much about what I want this blog to be, for me. 

Because I'm not a sponsored blog, but Creative Thursday is my business. Yet, I've always claimed this blog in part as my personal space to also share what speaks to me. And my art, while it is my business. It's personal. So where is all of this going? Better yet, where do I want it to go? I do not have the newest answer to this yet, but this topic has become a great kickstart to defining that more. And I do know that I need to do things my way, instead of everyone else's way more than ever before.

Big surprise, the internet has changed again. It's changed in the last six months that I have been away from it more than I have been present. 

The point is that all I ask of myself and anyone, ever, is just to be true to who they are, where they are in any moment. So if your blog is professional, you don't owe it to anyone to share more personal information than you want to, or you can share as much of your personal life as you'd like. If your blog is personal, the same applies. If you only want to share what uplifts you, inspires you and feels pretty, then you have that right. If you want to lift up the rug and show the dirt, and the dustbunnies and the pile of laundry or the dirty dishes, that is your right. If you wat to vent about what pisses you off, do it. If you want to highlight stories that make you happy, do it. If you want to do both, do that. If you want to only show imagery and say nothing, fantastic. Who said blogging had to be any one way? What I ask is that we all be clear of our intentions so there's no confusion. Just one simple statement somewhere about what you intend, and that is all. And if that's not your style either, don't do it - it's just a simple request from me. Oh and guess what, you always have the right to change your mind, or your business, or your overall direction in life and your blog. You do. We all do.

With all of that said, I'm coming back to the actual topic at hand here what am I afraid to tell you? Truth is I'm not actually afraid to tell you anything. Hesitant sometimes yes, but not afraid. If I havent' told you what I'm going to share with you here it's probably because you haven't spent enough time in person with me. Because if you have, I will tell you. 

I grew up in a family where a lot of personal pain and turmoil was kept private. I was the only kid, so sometimes I felt as if I had to carry the burden of that. Not intended by my family of course. And I certainly didn't try to take it on. It just happens, because when you're little you don't know any better. You come into the world with an open heart. You don't know that there are things you are supposed to share and things you don't. You don't know yet what a bunch of people are going to expect of you. You're just you. {And honestly that person, is who I'm perpetually trying to make my way back to.}

Part of the reason I think I took so much on is because there was nowhere to share it. Because I grew up in a time where privacy was valued and just how things were done, I guess my rebellion is in being as completely honest as I can. However, with reservation and almost exclusively with those closest to me. 

There is a lot that I've openly shared on this blog and I've been told more than once in my life, even by other artists that I share too much. That I wear my heart on my sleeve, as if somehow this is a flaw. To which I've always fired back, but this is who I am. I do share freely what's on my mind, I do where my heart on my sleeve, I do want to help people, especially fellow creatives find their way - but, not entirely, not completely with every single person or on my blog. And that is also me.

I do like leaving some parts of myself a mystery, maybe even because they are a mystery to me. Not because it's somehow better to by mysterious, as I've also been told by artists, but because I don't want every bit of my heart out there in the hands of people I do not personally know or trust. Somethings that we experience in life are simply to delicate to be shared before we are our ready. And some things we know not everyone is ready to hear. 

So as I share with you my list related to this topic, I will also tell you that there are almost always personal things happening that I am not sharing with you. Not because I am afraid to, but because I don't want to.  

While my blog may be in the middle of experiencing a tiny identity crisis, it has never been my sole confidant. It has always been about my art, my inspiration, my thoughts, my life related to my creative journey. And that's probably never going to change...but never say never.

Alrighty then, some things I probably haven't shared with you - for fear I might be judged. That's really what scares us right? The feeling that we will be judged, then outcast. Worrying about what others think of us is a tough one to let go of, so I'll start with that.

• As hard as I try I still find myself getting swept away in worry, and caring far too much about what others think of me. I want people to like me and my art. However I will say that growing this business, and sharing myself and my art in an online space has been one of the best teachers in helping me to let go of this little by little. And I'm so much better than I used to be on this subject. I'm really getting ok, even if I or my art haven't been invited to that party too.
• And to that point, on some days my self worth in any moment is way too attached to the feedback I get or don't get online. 
• My feelings get hurt much less than they used to, but to echo Erin, my feelings get hurt easily and not only do they get hurt, but I usually momentarily want nothing to do with the person who hurt me ever again. 
• There are some people that I will probably never speak to again {even though I have forgiven them}, but I don't call that hurt feelings, I just call it healthy boundaries. 
• I went somewhere slightly over $30,000 in personal credit card debt while trying to become a full time artist. I'm still paying back $26,500 give or take a few dollars depending upon what I invest back into this business. I drive a 25 year old car that I LOVE, so I like to see 'paying my credit card debt back' as my 'car payment' that I don't have. While I'm not a fan of debt, I'll never regret that I took a chance, and bet on me and this business.
• Going into that kind of debt and pulling myself out of it, has taught me to look close and hard at my finances instead of sweeping them under the rug. Something that my very honest self preferred to be slightly dishonest about for some time.
• Losing my dad at such a young age, I probably think far more about death than most. While, the awareness of mortality taught me to really live my life and continues to inspire me to want the best and the most from it, I check if all of my loved ones are still breathing far too frequently.
• With all of my recent successes in this business, I still {errrgh!} compare myself to others and fall short, which not only makes me feel like crap but keeps me from creating instead in that moment. One of the reasons I too have pulled back from being online quite so much. This feeling, much like the caring about what other's think has gotten better over the years - as I mentioned above, continual practice of being in this space has really helped but so has shutting it out all together
• Because I'm a self taught artist, I often wonder if people will realize that maybe I don't really know what I'm doing. {but then I remember that I actually do know what I'm doing}
• I still feel guilty when I am doing something fun vs. something hard. I find myself justifying this far too often and I'm tired of bending over backwards to prove my apprecaiton for the creative life I reached for, went after and have worked hard to build. 
• I hired a cleaning person and a part time assistant this past year, and just this month and these are two of the best things I have ever done.
• I pretty much hate discussing politics and pretty much hate listening to discussions about politics, except for The Daily Show, The Colbert Report {the only shows that make the news palatable for me} and Real Time with Bill Maher 
• I like to live an efficient and organized life. In fact I think given the other option, living this kind of life is better, which also means that I'm becoming really hard {probably too hard} on flaky people.
• I genuinely try to live a thoughtful, beautiful, best version of my life every single day and I no longer want apologize for it, or try to downplay it - simply because this kind of living can make others feel jealous or uncomfortable because where they are in that moment means they just aren't willing to try for themselves. {On a side note, I'm so glad that blogs in particular present such seemingly effortless beauty in the world. It has made me reach for far more. It has made me care for and appreciate my surroundings in a way I never did before.}
• I also have shit days, sad ones filled with dissapointment, frustration, overwhelm, general crankiness, and bitchiness but they turn around quicker, because I choose for them to. {Daily Appreciation people - it works.}
• Fuck is my favorite swear word and when I'm fired-up and/or angry I use it all the time.
• I believe in a positive outlook, always have, always will and I don't want to pretend to be more cynical than I really am just to keep everyone else comfortable again. I've actually had people tell me "you're too positive" - not lately thankfully. 
• I've always said, my art is created mostly from joy and that is what I want to share with you here.

While I'm openly telling you that I'm not sharing everything with you in this space, I also believe so much in the power of healing that happens when sharing honest stories with one another, especially when we overcome hardships. Inevitably I almost always tell my entire story, but sometimes I wait until I'm on the other side, when I feel I have something meaningful to offer. So I hope in some small way this post is that for you. It is cathartic to share honestly of yourself, to whatever degree you feel comfortable. And remember that honesty also includes plenty of pretty. 

Miss Fran embroidered. Inspired by Ric Rac Rabbits, I created a new embroidery pattern for the shop.  Some colorful thread plus some acrylic paints, I had the best time making this yesterday. Definitely a project that can be completed in a couple of hours, for when you want to satisfy those quick bursts of creativity {you get say, maybe over a weekend?} I'm looking forward to some of that time right now.

have a great weekend!

The first was a trip to Bouler, my old stomping grounds and still one of my favorite places on the planet.

It was the Makerie that brought me back. My first time teaching there, it was delightful down to every last detail. In fact detail, I'm coming to realize, is an Ali specialty. Detail, organization {like seriously fantastic organization} overall loveliness, authenticity and heart ~ that's what goes into creating the Makerie.

I always talk about the 'top down' theory. Whoever is at the top of an organization, their character and sensibility travel all the way through and down to everything and every person involved. As a teacher I felt completely looked after and cared for.

I've had the privilige of teaching at several retreats now and what I'm realizing is that no matter how prepared, organized and rested you are before you get there, traveling plus teaching 6 hour days for several days in a row takes a lot of energy. To feel genuinely supported, so that you can show up and do your job to the best of your ability, is huge. Being efficient and organized way ahead of time so that there is no extra pressure in the final  days and hours, double huge. So thank you Ali - for all of this! And thank you to all of my students who participated in my classes. Could not be a nicer, more creative group as always. And to the Coconuts Sarah, Bel, and Monica so great to see you and finally meet you Anne! And my fellow teachers ~ more new friends to love - Alli, Liesl, Flora, Jenny, Alessandra, Aran

Photos in order of appearance

• always
• the famous Boulder flatirons - just as breathtaking every time I see them
• daisies from Ali welcoming us to our cabin
• comfy 
• Aran - photographing a delicious and beautiful meal {of course} and Ali visiting in the background
• tiny bunny by the cabins
• gifties for my students
• painting on the floor {of course}
• major creativity in progress
• bears and bunnies and foxes - a whole sampling of student work from my classes, Painting with Stitches and Creative Characters, by Elke, Amber, Jaime Corey, Julie and Anne. In 'Painting with Stitches' students had a choice to improvise their own design or use one of my embroidery patterns - I love how uniqe each one is, especially how totally different each of the bears turned out - {a favorite is 'no bad bear' - a bunny in her sassy skirt and pearl necklace holding the bear on a leash}
• special thank you to Angela and Fiskars for being so generous in donating supplies for us to try in the classes - love their crating tools and  a new favorite of mine is their circle punch
• color inspiration found in the midst of creating
• a must eat at: Tangerine in Boulder and have their entree 'Green Eggs and Ham' for brunch
•  daydreaming

I see the light. 

Meaning that my creative life will be getting back to some kind of normal, soon. Meaning that I can come back to this blog with some consistency and new inspiration.

I finished selecting and sizing all the images for the book this past week, and now I'm feeling in need of a long nap. Honestly writing the book has been such a smooth process the entire way. For some reason no matter how much work gets done at an even pace, ahead of schedule there's still a bit of crunch time on a project of this magnitude - those moments when everything comes together all at once, when you need to see all of the pieces together in order to visualize the whole. That has been the last few weeks. 

Regardless, I still had a chance to squeeze in some creativity this weekend. Since I'm excited that summertime is here {loving these long days} and I've been enjoying my mornings so much more than I used to, a new painting.

{click here to purchase original - and it is also available as a print at the shop}

7 x 5 in.

As I finish up the writing of this book {my holiday weekend was spent working on the first author review, and it's slowly but surely coming together!} I've been thinking about so much, especially about the people who have inspired me along this journey.

As many of you know, we creatives, we don't do this thing alone. I wouldn't be here ~ personally and professionally without the support of so many people, especially the creative women who have touched my life. This painting is dedicated to them. I want to say thank you for all the encouragement along the way and for continuing to inspire me going forward. xo

{click here to purchase original - and it is also available as a print at the shop}

Back from Seattle and now I have 2 posts to share on recent travels, but before I do my studio is small and overflowing with the new fabric that has arrived - so! Ric Rac Rabbit bundles are officially listed in the shop! 

I have to say I really, really love how the colors turned out in this collection, so much so I was inspired to put together my first improvised mini quilt, even pieced a heart with the help of Lizzy in her mini quilts class here in LA a few weeks ago. It's like these are colors you can eat. Do you know what I mean? They remind me of sorbet or ice cream? I combined the Ric Rac Rabbits with some Robert Kaufman Quilter's Linen {seriously gorgeous, rich colors in this collection - also the kind you want to take a bite of} and Kaffe Fassett solids. I almost sound like I know what I'm doing, comparing fabric to food, sharing fancy fabric suggestions?! what? what am I saying...dinner is in the oven and I think I'm just really hungry right now. #firsttimequilter

Have I told you already? {probably more than once} how much I am enjoying designing fabric. I don't know - something about going this new direction with my creating and my business makes me so happy. If you know me, then you know how much weight I put on following what makes you happy = a clue that you are headed in the right direction.

If you love these designs even have as much as I do, will be a thrill.

Deadlines met and a new one ahead. One final push- I am officially reviewing the entire book in the next couple of weeks. It's written. Seriously. It's very exciting.

Also on my way to Seattle for a long weekend. While away, I am going to leave you with an article by Sarah. She's right, I do trust her to write for you so I will leave the intro, explaining the intent behind this post to her. 

What I will say is that the inner critic is something we all have to find a way to cohabitate with, maybe even love? Why push against something that when embraced can transform us, making us grow and become better in ways we hadn't thought possible. The trick is finding your own way to embrace this little fellow and I really enjoyed reading about how Sarah has made peace with her Inner Critic.

The Inner Critic by Sarah Stevenson

When I first approached Marisa about writing a post for her blog, it was as part of an email to let her know that my new website would be going live and that I would love for her to take a look at it. As part of the email, I also asked if she would be interested in me writing a post for her readers called: Don’t Let Your 9 to 5 Steal Your Creativity. I almost deleted this portion of the email as, you see, I did not want Marisa to think that I was pushy or wanted yet another thing from her. My inner critic was loud and clear and it took me some time to figure out how to deal with it regarding writing this piece.

 Consider this idea from Tara Mohr, a friend and life coach, “We are hardwired to have the voice of the inner critic. No matter, how good we are at something, how far along we are on our own creative journeys, or even how famous we are; the inner critic is alive and well inside us all. It is part of our safety, security and survival and is a device that is used by our brains to help keep us in our safety zone.”

 So how as entrepreneurs and creatives do we learn to tackle the inner critic and use the inner critic to help propel our projects, business and creative lives into action?

 First, you must give a name to your own inner critic. By naming the critic it will enable you to disarm it when it arises, helping to separate it from yourself. My critics name is Freddy Two-Tone. He is a creative type-wears tennis shoes, sweater and jeans and has a cape. I don’t know how the cape came about but I think it has something to do with being super man or expecting me to be super woman.

 After naming the critic, you must also get to know it. What does it say to you about doing the work, or leaving your job to start your own creative business? Or launching into that next creative project? Who does the inner critic echo? For me it was a combination of an old boss and other people I had known throughout my creative career that always seemed to want to derail me or at least that is what I thought. In addition, he was the same age as I am now, so I could truly identify with my current situation as a new creative business owner.

Once you name and get to know your inner critic, what do you do then? You need to realize that the critic will always be with you but by being able to recognize the different voices that speak to you, you are able to determine who is in charge. Note here, YOU are always in charge not some crazy critic named Freddy Two-Tone. We need to also, realize that the inner critic is actually not the enemy but in fact someone we need to learn to coexist with and not fight. Freddy is cynical: a glass is half empty kind of guy; not at all how I am as a creative person or how I choose to live my own life. So, you see, the inner critic is not the same as our own best thinking but a voice created to question our own intentions and our own way of doing things.

 Once we realize this and only then are we able to move into a relationship with our inner critic. One way of doing this is with humor. By saying something like: “Hi, inner critic...I hear you...?” or taking it by the hand and walking it out of the room, you are placing yourself back in control of the situation. While writing this piece, I had to literally, remove Freddy from my shoulder, say I can do this, I’ve got it covered and I’m going to the library to write, so please leave me to it! Otherwise, I would still be sitting at home with a blank page in front of me, wondering why I could not fill a page with words.

By doing this we are able to move to the final step of checking out what the inner critic is trying to tell you. What ever scenario you are questioning, don’t argue with the critic.  Instead, ask yourself if what the voice is saying is true, and what you are most worried about in regard to the situation at hand. Learn to live lightheartedly with your critic and over time you will be able to say...”I’ve got this situation covered and I am going to be OK.” For me, it was saying, Marisa trusts me enough to write for her audience, I need to trust myself enough to know that I can write for her audience and what I have to say is funny and lighthearted and a step outside of my comfort zone. But I am willing to do it to share a message and to help others grow in their own creative journeys. So thanks Marisa, for trusting me and my inner critic and for having me share with you here today.

Sarah Stevenson is a registered interior designer who worked with some of the top design and architecture firms in Chicago. Like so many artists just starting out, she craved a challenging and collaborative environment -- one where her creative would blossom.

 While she certainly worked on creative projects -- one of which was photographed by the the architectural photographer, Hedrich Blessing -- the long hours took their toll. 

 That’s why Sarah now dedicates her work to helping artists and creative people in all fields carve out space in their day. She helps them find time for their own creative explorations — no matter how many hours a week they work.

 Sarah leads group explorations and founded the Create Explore Discover Art Retreat, an annual getaway that brings together women for creative workshops, fresh, local food and nature walks in the Lake Tahoe area. {note from Marisa - I really loved my time at this retreat, held for the first time last year. I highly recommend adding it to your 'retreats to attend' list. Sarah's opening registration June 1st!}

 You can find more about her work at www.sarahgstevenson.com

thank you Sarah for sharing this with us.

'Love' the original is available here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXy__kBVq1M

I started this year like many of us with resolutions - resolutions for what? resolutions that when achieved will lead to more happiness. Right? Because everything we want and hope to accomplish is because we think it will make us happier?

The difference is this year, I promised to stick with my resolutions longer than just New Year's day {and maybe the day after}.  To be honest, I backed myself far enough into a corner on this one, that I kind of had to. I started 2012 intent on moving past habits, particularly patterns of thought, that even with the apperances of progression, especially over the last 8 years, were still trapping me in the same place. 

Four months later, I can honestly say I've never felt happier. Seriously guys, for someone who is not so much a 'morning person' ~ I am waking up some days with so much enthusiasm, I'm not entirely sure Sean recognizes me. And believe me, when I'm ready, I will have a lot to share on this. Until then, one of my dear friends who also committed to this new years 'experiement' with me passed along the link to this video. I think Shawn's perspective in this TED talk refers exactly to what I have been working towards. The part where he references that happiness is based upon the lens you choose to view your world through - that's it, that's the beginning. And then there's more, a lot more...

Back! from Boulder and hit the ground running. Or it's Crazytown USA over here, as Lizzy likes to say. I'm working on some of the final details for the book and beginning the designs of 2 more fabric lines all before May 9, so now ~ I will see you on the other side of those projects.

As a fabric designer, {one who's also not good at waiting to share new creations}, I'm still learning how and when to release the next collection. This is it: #4 'The Red Thread'. There is a story behind this line that I will share in a follow up post with the official release. Since I already instagram-ed the strike-offs I thought I'd should share a sneak peek of them here too, especially for those of you who might be shop owners keeping up on the newest designs. This collection will be shown on paper at Spring Market in a couple of weeks, and is available for pre-order, with an estimated ship date of this August.

So great to see many of you at the Makerie. I really enjoyed my time teaching there, as well as my class and visit to Fancy Tiger Crafts. I promise posts on both because there is too much goodness there not to share. Especially missing Boulder, meeting new and re-connecting with some of my best long-time friends who live there. Even wondering if I could move back?! First things first, some work needs to get done.

hope your May is off to a great start! xo

My second home. I'm away teaching at the Makerie and will see you back here on the other side. If you happen to be in Boulder/Denver this weekend, come visit the Firefly Handmade Market up at Chataqua Community House 7 - 10 pm Saturday and 10 am - 3 pm Sunday, April 21 & 22.
happy weekend!

Does the world need another Numbers print? Yes it does! Especially one designed to go with my Alphabet prints. You can now find these over at the shop. Featuring a cast of characters in order of their appearance, lion, teddy bear, puppy dog, oscar the owl, fish, cat, ladybug, bunny rabbit, olive the bird {and tiny bird}

5 x 5 in.

happy sunday!

{click here to buy original}

A chance meeting while both teaching at the Squam Art Workshops, plus 2 separate moments, 1 year apart when Lizzy told Marisa "YOU need to be designing fabric" has become a friendship and now a collaboration called Creative House.

Super excited about and really proud of this newest collaboration with my friend Lizzy. We love what we do. We want to help people find their way on their path to happiness and we believe that a large part of that has to do with finding fulfilling work that you love. We are creating products that we wish we had when we were trying to find our way. If you remember Lizzy wrote this e-book and {lucky for me when I tried to get into the industry I had Lizzy's book and her guidance} Now we've added on to that knowledge and experience with this podcast. So if you're interested in getting into the world of textile design as well as learning from two creative entrepreneurs who are always cheering you on, this new podcast might be for you. You can learn more about it, and watch us chat in a little video at our new site! The first of more collaborations to come for Creative House, so stay tuned.

{thank you again to Jo for the beautiful site design} 

I know we just celebrated time with the Easter Bunny, but some of you, who are far better planners than I, are ready to get a jump on your holiday creating?! Or even better, creating in general because while this is my first Holiday inspired collection, I designed 6 of the seven designs to be enjoyed the whole year through. Then again I am also someone who's been known to let Christmas music {occassionally} play in my Itunes throughout the year.

Available in 2 color ways, you can now purchase fat quarter bundles over at the shop. 

Love this lady! Her art and her spirit. 

Lisa's a fantastic teacher too, so I have to share with you that she's having a very special one time only workshop this Sunday,  'Out of Bounds: Book Assemblage' April 15 from 1 - 5 pm at the Craft And Folk Art Museum for $65 and $55 for CAFAM members. To register online just go to www.cafam.org or email workshops@cafam.org.

I have been meaning to share a post on Lisa's book since it first came out last fall, so now's the perfect time to tell you about it too.  'The Re-purposed Library' is beautiful down to every last detail. It's one of those books that you will make you happy just by  having it in your space and you will be inspired to think outside of the box creatively by re-purposing some of those books you have sitting on your shelf - or seek out some very special vintage ones on your next thrift store or flea market outing. 

Another favorite is the trailer that Lisa's brother Nate helped her produce. Pretty much sums up the vibe of Lisa and her work. She just moved to Southern California almost 2 years ago now, all the way from New Hampshire. Courage and a quest for adventure, that's what it takes to start over and build a brand new life for yourself especially in Venice CA.  It's been great to see Lisa jump in and get acclamated so quickly with so much bravery and enthusiasm to boot. And those of us  who knew Lisa before her move out west, are so lucky to have her creative spirit here to spend time with as often as we can.  You should definitely join her at her workshop if you can! Oh and! you might want to take home one of her bookmobiles too~

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOcT7krZayc

This book arrived yesterday. It came highly recommended to Sean by Jan, his step mom. Even though he is a comedic performer, improvising and teaching  Improv in a front of a room full of people, Sean definitely considers himself more of an introvert.

Even though I've barely cracked open the cover, I'm already intrigued and I'm already going to recommend this book to you. 

The cover and the title alone totally caught my eye. I especially like the subtitle "the power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking".  {sometimes I just want to tell people to please stop talking, especially our neighbor who insists upon talking on his cell on speaker phone right outside our window}

And then we watched the TED video by Susan this morning and now I am completely fascinated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0KYU2j0TM4

I insta/tweeted a picture of the cover this morning and already the people responding with comments saying that they are reading this right now, tells me that we creatives were in need of some validation and permission to be the introverts that I personally think is necessary to do any kind of creative work.

It got me thinking about how introverted I am, really? I was definitely way more introverted as a child. Also being an only means that having a lot of  quiet and alone time is just part of the package.  Somewhere along the way I decided to develop my extrovert muscle and found that I also get energy from socializing. Listening to Susan's talk makes me wonder if I develped that muscle because society applauds that quality more?

I don't do crowds. One reason, I find attending and participating in art fairs particularly challenging. When I go to yoga class, or most classes actually I do not want to socialize. I just want to be quiet and learn. Teaching at larger art retreats and attending conferences, as fun and rewarding as it is can wollop me. I've always been more comfortable in smaller groups or one on one. Probably one of the reasons I've always enjoyed podcasting. A quiet way for me to get a message to many. 

I've discovered that an ideal week for me is an almost equal balance of inward and outward time. Actually I'd say leaning much more with an emphasis on inward time. It's true what Susan says about needing quiet time and unplugging to come up with ideas. How will we ever get our own ideas if we are constantly experiencing a barrage of other people's voices? We won't. And there will just be more of the same. Something that many of us artists think about, how to keep our unique voice evolving and not looking like someone else's vision, or conforming to creating work that is solely inspired by trend.

We have to learn how to tune out and tune in.

This becomes challenging in the world we live in where the noise has become more, not necessarily in decibles or in person socializing, but the social activity around social media. And the panic that ensues when we are not on it, feeling like we are going to be forgotten or left behind. Seriously, this is a myth that needs to be stopped before it gets started. If you do great, meaningful work you will not be forgotten, especially not by the the people who are truly your people.

I know much of my feelings about the quiet time I need are heavily influenced by the city I live in. The sound of the squeaking breaks on the garbage truck that is outside my window RIGHT NOW is SO loud. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate that someone comes so consistently to pick up the trash, but the amount of leaf blowing I hear on any given week has GOT to stop. We live in Los Angeles - I mean really how many leaves are there? 

What I want to say is that living in a big city already calls for much more inward time to balance the energy involved just in getting from point a to point b. And if you happen to be more introverted,  you can only imagine how much more quiet time you might need.

After watching this video I know that both Sean and I, are breathing a big sigh of relief. We feel like we've been given permission to indulge in what comes natural to us. We feel like we want to honor our quiet time more, even when we are together in the same space, Thank you Susan for writing your book and for adding equal value to those who live and create from a softer, quieter space.

How about you? Where do you think you are on the introvert/extrovert scale?

In the year and a half that I've been designing fabric, I've also been taking a lot of sewing classes. I cannot tell you how much it helps me understand who and what it is I am actually designing for. Learning how the pattern I design might be used, has been incredibly helpful in thinking of the best presentation and layout of the each design. (I for one really like stripes, because they are much easier, a little cheat sheet if you will, for me to cut and sew in a straight line ;))

My most recent class that I took at Sew L.A. {which if you are in L.A. I highly, highly recommend any and all classes there} was to make this Schoolhouse Tunic by Sew Liberated. What is suggested, and what I actually did this time I took a class! was make a second piece simultaneously at home. This definitely helps nail down that initial learning process into more than just instructions that literally float away from my brain the very next day, if not the same day.

The Iphone has also been super helpful with classes too, as I've found that I'm a visual learner so snapping a photo of the teacher demonstrating the next step for us,  helps me way more than just taking notes. A combination of Iphone photos, notes, and last but not least the actual pattern instructions {I'm not really a very good instruction follower kind of girl} and I was able to successfully make a second tunic at home in the span of the same 3 weeks {with minimal mistakes I might add}

The pattern is for intermediate level and definitely pushed my skill level which was perfect for where I'm at with my sewing. It takes just under 3 yds. of fabric, both fabrics shown above are from my first collection, meet the gang, and I recommend choosing the size up from what you usually wear.

Having also sewn my first small quilt last year, I find apparel sewing to be even more challenging. Then again my quilt was made from 4 blocks, all square. Some of the quilts I see - whoa - seriously skilled people working on those. Totally different sewing experiences though, apparel vs. quilting. I have to say I'm loving it all, minus that pattern cutting and the pinning. As per usual, I've got big plans and want to start designing my own line of clothing, and patterns, right after  I finish this book and...

Some accessorizing with a striped cowl and some yellow rain boots - voila. {If you're wondering what I'm looking at in these photos, it was Garbo. I'm telling you she's my muse} I've also worn both of these over jeans. Lets' just say I've been wearing one of these almost every day. 

ric rac rabbits - bunnies are everywhere

if I thought I was excited about my first line? seriously. the first production pieces arrived yesterday and I. am. beside. myself.

I'll have some bundles in the shop sooooon! so you can make something pretty!!

Thought you might enjoy this to kick off your week. Found via Matt and Kim from a vintage magazine. Seems like we've all been trying to find that 'elusive' balance for some time now. And personally, I think this list is totally applicable for today. We just need to add  an addendum about the use your personal electronic devices.

Loving the little 'Meet the Gang' button on this one. So much fun sewing and painting these this past week.  Just makes me happy. Hope you enjoy them too.

Because I've said it 100 times before, getting a change of scenery even if it is a whirlwind change of scenerey is so, SO good to do.

It helps when you have great friends you like to visit too, who also happen to live in beautiful, serene locations surrounded by vineyards. 

• So we took the Amtrak Surfliner train up North to Sab Luis Obispo this weekend. Highly, highly recommend this if you are wanting to see a glimpse of California, especially along the coast. In some sections the train goes right along the edge of the water, and it goes all the way South to San Diego too.
• Castoro Cellars in Paso Robles. One of my new favorites. There's an interesting story about the Vineyard name. I'll save it for you should you go. In fact there's almost always a good story behind wine names and labels.  Turns out I like to ask a lot of questions and learn all about wineries. Must be the entrepreneur in me? I like to know all about busineses and bond with their brands. And the bottle I photographed was the best - Due Mila Otto. You can only get it in Paso Robles.
• Tasting wine with the Frantic Meerkat aka Kim. We are enjoying the Due Mila Otto
• First time trying wine straight from the barrel. Interesting to taste the difference between a new wine and one that had aged even a year longer. 
• Mincy, Sean and Kim on to Shale Oaks. {Mincy likes to keep his privacy so this is the only photo we have of him.} When I asked questions this time, I discovered that every detail from the construction of the winery, from the countertops to the water used to flush the toilets, to the organic wine making - all completely sustainable. It's no longer enough just to be 'green' people- Sustainable is the new buzz word for businesses. And I like it.
• With scenery like this. I could probably live here.
• Vineyards seem to have incredibly sweet dogs on the premises. The first one was Roxie {by the barrels above} and the last one was Chris Brown. Do not ask the story about his name, because I don't remember. We met him at our last tasting at Pasoport which specializes in you guessed it Port. Which was especially delicious and amazing when combined with cheese + quince. good times. good times.

Creative Thursday has had the same website since 2005.  

A template site, I put together myself. It served it's purpose and did a great job of getting me started.

And then I outgrew it, at least five years ago now.  It was high time for a new one. 

You know how it goes. There's always something more pressing than getting your own site done. So then, you finally get some help! You hire someone who's a great web designer, gets your aesthetic, is easy to work with and is super patient while you squeeze in your updates in between projects over a period of two years.

And then there's today and you have a beautiful new site and you could not be more EXCITED!! {thank you Jo!}

So, I made a new bunny today {might be one of my most favorite creations to date}

I created this first holiday group with an intention of using the majority of the designs year round. It was fun to work with it, even now at the beginning of Spring time, and still feel inspired by the colors and the designs.

A few years in the making, I have been wanting to create a signature Creative Thursday softie and this one could be getting close...! A little of everything, my own fabric! {I still can't get over the fact that I'm sewing with my own fabric} machine sewing, hand stitching and painting.

This is also good inspiration for my upcoming class at the Makerie. I like to create, particularly when sewing, through improvisation, which also means working in the 'mistakes'.  When I started out this morning, all I knew is that I wanted to make a bunny that I'd love - that wouldn't be too complicated to recreate, and that could be made with slightly new variations each time.  I tend to get bored repeating the same thing over and over. Several hours, a few mistakes, and a couple of changes later, I had no idea what the final one would like until I sewed on my second attempt at the face. 

I might have to keep playing with this new fellow and make a little batch of Easter bunnies...

hope you're having a good weekend - and you remebered to set your clocks back I mean forward! I'ts 5 pm and light out!! hello springtime! happy sunday

Some days don't you wish you had one of these? Along with the crown? - already got the socks.

{click here to buy original} {also available as print in the shop}

Today is my 5 year Anniversary on Etsy. Can you believe it? I'd say where did the time go but I know where it went. Hundreds of creations + 1 awesome trip to Paris + a growing business later, I still remember the very first customer who bought one of my prints. That day changed my life in the best possible way. 

In celebration! I am having a 2 day sale {ends tomorrow @ 11:59 pm PST} over at the shop. Just enter the code '5years' at checkout.  The painting above is a special 'anniversary' piece I made in honor of the occassion.

To all of my customers who have supported Creative Thursday, and especially my Etsy customers. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!

To be able to create art that I love, that makes me happy ~ that also makes you happy! There is nothing better.

{original is sold} {also available as a print}

 I told you I was fired up! {5 new paintings over the weekend}

Oh and! Ali opened up day packages to the Makerie for a limited time. Registration ends April 1. I know I am going to see some of you there, I'm going to be bringing some new fabric...!!! :)

{click here to buy original - also availabe as print in the shop}

Learning more about the people who inspire me and hearing their stories is something I've always been passionate about. Certain that I've mentioned this before, but studying these stories - it's how I made it here, and hung on to the dream of doing creative work I loved, especially on the days when I felt like giving up.  One of the reasons I love interviews and I LOVE Documentaries. As you know when I find good ones, I can't wait to share them with you.

Since we plowed through the latest seasons of our newest obsessions, Breaking Bad and Downton Abbey {could these be more polar opposite?} this weekend was spent catching up on and devouring documentaries that have newly been released. I've got two really good ones for you and both of these are available on instant streaming via Netflix. Meaning you could walk away from this blog post and start watching them RIGHT NOW. Which I highly recommend.

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

Eames: The Architect and the Painter. See the trailer above. Oh, seriously I think you're going to love this one especially if you are a multidisciplinary artist like me. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzI8OhR0IVY

Pearl Jam Twenty. A favorite band and vocalist of mine since they officially hit the scene in 1992, made by one of my all time favorite filmmakers Cameron Crowe.

And! I also listened to this wonderful interview with Amy Butler hosted by Monica Lee. Amy was one of the very first artists I found online in 2005. I just fell head over heels for her beautiful designs and lifestyle photography that is her brand. I finally had a chance to meet her briefly at Alt this year and she could not be a more gracious, nice, lovely person. It's so nice when the brand matches the person isn't it? After hearing this interview you will know why.  And Monica {spirited and lovely, who I've also had the pleasure of meeting several times} did a great job. It's going to be exciting to see where she takes her new project Smart Creative Women.

Hope you enjoy all of these links. Seriously. So inspiring. I am totally, creatively, fired up right now!

This one kills me. I love it so much.

happy sunday!

{click here to buy original}

Snuck in some painting this afternoon. Odd to say 'snuck in' when this blog was built on daily painting. But hey! it is what it is. It's all good. Don't want to sound like a broken record, but I'm really excited to get back to more frequent blogging one of these days soon. Lots happening and a lot of projects are also starting to wrap up which means I can breathe a little more again and paint. Which sometimes they are one in the same for me.

{original is sold} {turns out there were 2 more that needed to be in this series}

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. 

You know those days when you actually stop to notice and appreciate the treasures in your home?

Well just this week I was looking at this painting again given to me by my friend Cathy. It is hanging in my kitchen so I see it multiple times everyday. And not only do I love it for it's imagery but the words get me every time.

Those two words make me think about becoming all that I'm meant to be in this life. Am I doing it? or am I holding myself back {for any number of reasons {that don't really matter}}?  Don't you just want to be free and soar? and become all that you are meant to be? And doesn't it seem like it should be that easy. Just a decision: to fly.

In case this sentiment might speak to you too today, I thought I'd share it here.

'Now fly'

7 x 5 in.

sshhh...don't tell him that he's not an elephant.

{original is sold} {available as a print in the shop}

{I've been away} for the past week speaking at/ attending Alt, and visiting with Lizzy. The fact that I left you with a bear blowing a kiss as my last post tells you where I'm at. 

The first of this year has been filled with me unravelling and quietly closing out much of what I plugged into last year that no longer has any room in my plans going forward.

I think I touched upon the burst of clarity that came with the start of the new year ~ well, attending Alt and all the events that made up this past week really sealed the deal for me. Funny how it always works, right? Getting away from it all to see clearly what is before you.

Alt was exciting, insightful and as non-stop as before {by choice as I stayed up every night until 2 am - yes I'm paying for it now}. This time I did also take a few hours to be creative. The image above is an excerpt from a watercolor I painted in a design camp class lead by Courtney.

So what sealed the deal for me exactly? Well let's just say that one of my favorite panels at Alt this time was the one on life/work balance. And one of my favorite parts of Gretchen Rubin's keynote speech was when she told everyone that 'the first step to finding more happiness is to get enough sleep'.  And then there was Ben, who I spoke with on our panel last year, who gave one of the most real, heartfelt keynote speeches I've heard in a long time, maybe ever? And then there was rooming with EZ who I also spoke with on our panel last year, one of the most gentle, genuine, kind people I've met. And then there was connecting with and meeting for the first time more people who live and create from the heart. And finally rounding out the week spending quality time being happy with Lizzy {while we made big plans, always big plans ;)} Oh and everyone should start their day listening to this beautiful song.

All of these moments lead me to what I had already been intuiting all along. Don't you love when that happens? When everything becomes crystal clear in a moment {the very moment following all of those months or even years that lead up to it} Clarity does not happen overnight. Well it can, but for me it's usually following a lot of back and forth on the subject before something clicks into place that makes me commit to my new decision in a way that I haven't before.

That's where I stand right now. I'm sure it's no accident that it's still relatively early in a new calendar year and that my time away, and my time at Alt is all working together to inspire this new insight. Truth be told I get new insight almost weekly ~ something I love.

But, this, what I'm feeling today. This feels different. My post title speaks directly to how happy I am to be home literally and metaphorically about coming home. 

I have spent much of my life chasing what's next, projecting how I want my life to be on others who I think are already there. And I think in many ways that has worked. Aspiring to be somewhere, someone you are not is a normal part of being human and it can be the very thing that pulls you forward to where you do want to be. The mistake that can happen in constantly choosing this way to be inspired is that you may find yourself thinking that the grass is always greener somewhere else. And when you finally get to that place you wanted to be, sometimes it's not so green and sometimes you miss it all together because you are already out ahead on to the next greener pasture. 

This is exhausting.  Moving forward, desiring more, getting inspired to expand is one of the best parts of being alive but using that drive to miss who you already are and what you already have can leave you with a small hole that never gets filled.  And you know what I'm going to say now, right? That little hole can only be filled by you, appreciating today just as it is. We've all heard it before. It's part of our enlightened, conscious vernacular and these days it rolls off our tongues as if we are living it all the time with the greatest of ease. Not so much. But the fact that we are talking about it means we are headed there and that is exciting.

We do not need to be dissatisfied with where we are to want and reach for more. In fact what if we loved where we are and also reached for and looked forward to more?

The truth is you don't really know what it means 'to be present' 'to truly appreciate where you are' 'to be home' until you glimpse it yourself. Over coffee time this morning, Sean talked about how we 'can't fully understand those concepts until we experience them for ourselves'. And he's right.  I want to add that at some point you just have to commit to finding it, because in all honesty I think this is what we are all chasing anyway - the happiness and contentment that comes from filling that space all on our own.

As is often the case I have so much more I want to share with you on this, and I will.  Because another realization I had at Alt,  is just how much I love my blog and plan to keep it as a part of my creative expression {maybe forever} :)

So I will be back with more thoughts as I've promised for far too long. Just as soon I get caught up on my sleep {thank you Gretchen Rubin} I've been tired for far too long. I've been trying to do too much for far too long. I've been fretting about where I am and where I'm not for far too long.  Don't get me wrong, there's been a lot of fun and awesomeness along the way,  just lately there's been a bit more whining than is necessary. And it's time ~ time to do things differently.

One of the messages I heard repeatedly at Alt and made a point to share in my talk as well, {a quick thank you! to all of you who came to my round table discussion on licensing your designs} is that we are going to make mistakes ~ meaning this is ALL a learning experience. When did we forget that? I don't know what part of us {or me} thought that somehow we had to know how to do everything right all the time, or that somehow we will know exactly how to find our creative voice and exactly how to run a business around it once we find it? Oh and not to mention that we - all of us with a presence in this online world, have it all figured out already and know how to operate within it perfectly? whaaat?? We are the pioneers. There was no one before us because remember this world barely existed 10 years ago? We certainly have more resources and support to get answers, and yet as we get those answers, techonology will inevitably change again, leaving us with more questions.  It's an exciting time.

For now I have an answer, one that I hope stays with me forever, and that is how happy I am to be home.

#10 of 10

I hope you enjoyed this little series with the bear who loves you!

{click here to buy original}

This is the ninth in a series of 10 paintings.

{click here  to buy original}

The eighth in a series of 10 paintings.

{click here to buy original}

The seventh in a series of 10 paintings.

{click here to buy original}

I wonder what his favorite tune is?

The sixth in a series of 10 paintings.

{click here to buy original}

The fifth in a series of 10 paintings

{click here to buy original}

Taking my new 'creativity as a priority' pretty seriously this week and have been painting up a storm. There are quite a few new images that haven't even been released as originals for sale yet. And! I'm increasing the availability of large size prints as well.

Now we return to the regularly scheduled programming of the bear ;)

The fourth in a series of 10 paintings. {he's traveling today}

{click here to buy original}

The third in a series of 10 paintings

{click here to buy original}

4 x 4 in.

The second in a series of 10 paintings.

{click here to buy original}

I also started this year thinking about how I want to return to making daily creativity a priority. Probably because I've been writing on this topic quite extensively over the last three months for my book, also because last year I took on too much. A large part of 2011 ended up feeling like a blur of projects one after the other without any time to savor the creative process within each one of them. And right about now some of you might be saying 'hey, at least you have your own business and you get to be creative!' And this is all true. I think you know already that I truly love my work and appreciate what I've built - but to pretend there aren't challenges in said business and that some days you don't want to take all your chips and cash them in and walk away forever {ok maybe not forever but for a while} would be a lie.

Then there's also the beauty of having your own business and running your own show, so to speak. You get to make mistakes - well the mistakes aren't always the beauty part of the process but the learning from them and refining how you choose to do things from there is. You are in charge. Which is great, and also comes with a certain amount of self-imposed pressure that can stress you out if you are not careful. Your mistakes are your own - technically there's nobody to blame but you - you are responsible for it all. 

What I'm saying here {and I'm sure I've said it before} is that I keep making up excuses not to find time for regular creativity.  And yet that is what feeds my business and more  importantly feeds me. So, it's a no brainer really? right? I have every reason to make my creative practice a priority. Yet my daily list keeps getting longer and everything else always feels more important.  Just for the record, so I don't sound like a broken record - I did get help last year! I hired someone to come in and clean every two weeks and I had an intern {a dear friend of mine saved me in more ways than one} come in once a week for the most of the last quarter. This means that I know what a difference getting help offers and that is  first on my list  {ok maybe second, right after more creative time} this year. Slowly but surely I'm sorting it out. I figure if I mention it here on my blog more than once, I'll finally convince myself to actually do what I'm talking about.

At some point you {meaning me} just have to decide that what is most important to you must come first.  So a series of 10 small paintings presented itself in my sketchbook this week, inspired by the 'love for you' bears I painted below. It's a story of sorts {not really} but it made me laugh and I hope it will make you smile too or as I said in my email {maybe even chuckle}. I watched Sean open the first email and he did. He chuckled. 

My plan is to share 10 paintings over the next 10 days. I'm making myself accountable to you, which almost always seems to work {even though I know I still owe you my 30th video...I haven't forgotten :)} I'm sending them to my daily painting list first and then posting them here the following day. Here's the first of 10. I hope you enjoy them.

{click here to buy original}

Just couldn't decide between the two different color combinations so I painted both!

6 x 6 in.

{click here to buy originals} {also made some valentine's from the first little fellow}

https://vimeo.com/34588342

One of my favorite gifts I received. I love this little thing. It makes me happy every time I look at it.

So you know I had to share it with you.

At the start of this new year, it's become especially clear just how much choosing to focus on more happiness in my every day adds up to a life well lived and excited anticipation for a really good year ahead. 

And if it takes a small solar powered flower that salutes the sun to remind me of that, I'll take it!

happy, happy new year to you xo

As the year winds down and I start to unplug {literally and figuratively}, the reality of everything I've accomplished and experienced in these last twelve months in particular is beginning to settle in, and I think I'm ready for a long winter's nap. ;) With the first draft of the book already finished, I am very much looking forward to returning here to the blog again with more to say and share with you in 2012.

Until then~ I've already snuck away and am taking a break until the first week in January. Visiting family {Ashland is so pretty and festive this time of the year with their main street all lit up above} and friends and getting inspired and excited for what's next.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday time! Happy Christmas all! 

*You are Invited*

This Friday, December 16 from 4 - 9 pm. 

9019 Ashcroft Avenue, West Hollywood 90048

Spiced Wine, Holiday Treats and Art!

Please RSVP as parking permits will be provided.

Seriously. Every time I get a glimpse of that sign when I'm driving around my city, I still get a burst of excitement. It's a small reminder that, yes ~ I am still following my dream. #nothingbetter

'What's your dream? This is Hollywood. Everybody's got a dream.' {Remember that line from Pretty Woman?}

This is also the second painting in a series, about not only where I've traveled too but where I've lived. You know what this means? It's time for a new location to live for a month or longer this time....I'm thinking maybe Australia?

{original is available here and a print is available here}

30 new handmade creations all being released at the same time over at the shop this morning. See you there!

Bursts of creative inspiration lately ~ it's the season. No surprise if you know me, I LOVE this time of year. It just makes me happy.  I'm also getting ready for my annual holiday shop update tomorrow @ 10 am PST. Looking forward to sharing some new ornaments with you....!!

This fellow is inspired by my Lizzy's holiday cards that I adore and by our new Yeti microphone that we {Sean and I} are currently obsessing about because it makes recording podcasts crazy fun. Oh and the little guy hanging on to the Yeti is Erwin. Am thinking that he is a new character?!

Seriously, who does not love a {friendly} Yeti? This might be one of my favorite paintings this year.

{original is available here and a print is here}

 My wish for you all year long.

{original is sold ~ it is available as a print here}

How might you see the world around you differently? How might you express what you see? Sean teaches a comedy writing sketch class out of our home. One of his students May brought over these incredible sculptures and gave one to Sean as a gift from her nephew, Brian. Made entirely out of bag ties and paint, these are Brian's sculptures, or twisting as Brian calls it. SERIOUSLY. Can you believe the intricacy and detail with which these are created? I mean just look at that Converse high top.

Oh and on a side note, Brian has autism. I hesitated to even use the word Autism in the title of this post, as I know that Brian wants to be known for his art and not his autism. But I chose to title it this way, to make the point that if someone can pursue their gift within a challenging condition that many do not understand, then the rest of us really have no excuse. I have very little experience with this condition, other than having one friend who's young son is on the high spectrum of Autism and responding really well to therapy, and watching the movie Temple Grandin about Temple Grandin which was a beautiful film by the way. What Temple has accomplished with her life ~ incredible. My understanding is that many of the children coming into the world today are being diagnosed as Autistic, and that there is a lot of research being done and confusion about what exactly causes it? 

As May and I were talking more about her experience raising Brian, as she is his full time care taker, what came up again and again is how the school system could not support him. I know that autism presents it share of challenges but if we can't have an education system that knows how to support someone who is different?

Clearly Brian is a thoughtful, incredibly talented artistic person.  Each of the characters he sculpts are created from his imagination and I think May was telling me that they all have their own backstory.  When you take one home with you, they come carefully encased in this translucent cases, so you can see them in full action.

Looking at work like this, from someone that society does not seem to know how to support,  got me thinking about why everyone still needs to be in the same mold. It seems like we are only comfortable with people when they fit in the box that we've all decided is NORMAL. What is normal anyway? And if we aren't there yet, embracing the differences in others, we need to be soon.  I think that the world and many of the people in it are trying to teach us, slowly but surely, that normal exists within the uniqueness of each one of us. 

As artists we know this. That is why we've chosen this path. I'm honestly not interested in being like everyone else or following what everyone else is doing. I want to make my own way and explore territory i.e. thought that hasn't been explored yet. However the tendency for me to want to be accepted and conform into the 'normal' that society set for me growing up, still exists. I have to remind myself daily that I am whole and good pursuing my path on my own terms. 

{I love the little guy on the left, holding up his leg ~ that is what they look like before they are painted}

When I saw Brian's art I knew I had to share it with you, not only because it is amazing but because it is the perfect symbol for what might be possible when we embrace who we are, just as we are and create anyway...when we step out of the box.

If you are interested in learning more about Brian and his work you can visit his facebook page. He does sell his sculptures. To purchase one or find out when and where he will be showing next you can contact Brian via email: Brian.Tolley[at}yahoo.com. Last we spoke he was having a regular booth on Sundays at the Hollywood Farmer's Market here in L.A. 

Here's to a lot of continued success for Brian and his art!! 

As long as I've known Christine, this is her. She has a never ending desire to inspire. So it's fitting that this is the title of her new book. And it's fitting that this isn't just a book about Christine, but a book filled with insight and inspiration from twenty incredible creative women who share the same desire.

I often think back to our very first lunch that turned into hours of conversation that same afternoon. From the moment I met Christine, she was inspiring me, encouraging me to keep going on my journey as an artist. And these were the days, not so long ago, where honestly I did not know if, or how I was going to make it. I had a new friend ~ she had been where I was,  she believed in me ~ she was the first to share my podcast with her friends, buy one of my daily paintings and I think that she also left the first comment on my very first blog post. Those moments of support ~ and all the one's between then and now ~you never forget.

So when you get a chance to offer some in return, you jump at the opportunity. Run, don't walk to get this book. Filled with people I adore, who inspire me ~ I've flipped through the pages and it is beautiful in every possible. I would expect nothing less from Christine. In fact you may remember when she self-published her first book, Ordinary Sparkling Moments,  and the podcast we did talking about that experience.

Today, Christine is sharing an excerpt from her book and she is also giving away this gorgeous journal to one of you! Just leave a comment below, before the end of the day this Friday 11:59 PST.  You can just say hello or if you feel inspired, share what is inspiring you right now and how you most want to inspire others. 

Desire to Inspire: Using Creative Passion to Transform the World – is a collection of stories, exercises, images, quotes, and anecdotes from twenty extraordinary contributors, all sharing insights and experiences of how they create a meaningful life and, in turn, make a positive impact on the world. Each chapter discusses a different aspect of living a passion-fueled life, and this month Christine is offering a 60-Second Snapshot of each chapter as part of her Desire to Inspire Virtual Book Tour. 

A snapshot of  Chapter 10 ~ Declarations & Intentions, by Christine Mason Miller

“I have been working with mission statements throughout my adult life…Each has been in important tool regardless of the context because it provides, if nothing else, a marker I can always turn to for guidance.” ~Desire to Inspire

The day I began writing to Desire to Inspire, I created a one-sentence mission statement that I placed in front of my computer, where it stayed until the day the book was finished. Anytime I started to worry I might miss a deadline, or become fearful that what I was writing was meaningless, I turned to that mission statement, which read:

My goal is for the book to sell well because it is fulfilling its deeper mission - to inspire those who read it.

The mere act of selling as many books as possible was not why I was writing the book, but I incorporated this aspect of the publishing process into my mission statement as a way to honor that left-brained side of myself that loves practical details. While I understand that even if Desire to Inspire is, indeed, considered an inspiring creation by a community of readers, it still might not sell well, it was important that my mission statement reflect the foundation of Desire to Inspire as well as the more measureable, nuts and bolts component of book sales.

A mission statement does not need to be lengthy or complicated, it does not need to include bullet point lists or color-coded charts. All it needs to be is a guidepost – a marker to remind you of what really matters in whatever endeavor you are pursuing. A light at the top of a lighthouse, guiding you home every time. 

Camilla was probably one of the very first artist's blogs I came to know. Maybe you too remember the moment when you suddenly became aware of just how deep the well runs with such amazing, creative, people who share a little bit of themselves, their work and their lives online.

For me that has always been Camilla. For years, at least six or so, I've been quietly visiting her blog. For some reason it took me until this year to finally comment. I think it was when I found out Morran wasn't well. Because, if you follow Camilla, then you also follow Morran.

Morran inspired so many of us for so long, that I think that when we found out she wasn't doing well ~ it was all we could do to express what she has meant to us. A number of artists started sending Camilla drawings of Morran and then last month Camilla came up with the idea to create a book made entirely of Morran drawings. She put a call out for submissions and hundreds of illustrations came in. The book will be available for purchase with all of the proceeds going to a charity. Oh. the drawings of Morran that Camilla shared so far. I cannot wait to have this book. These are the illustrations I submitted. The first painting was inspired by a favorite photo of Morran next to one of Camilla's crochet characters and the second was inspired because I painted the first.

How can we feel so connected to a little dog that we have never met? Because that is the world we live in now. That is the amazing part of this online space that we all share. That we can be half a world a way and feel like we know and care for someone {and their sweet little dog} who we have never met. 

Camilla's genuine spirit and wonderful work always inspire me. Her print that is hanging in my living room is still one of my favorites. Every time I visit her blog, I feel good. I feel inspired to be more. More genuinely myself ~ in my person and in my creative expressions, in my art. In fact I've always wished that I could write such perfectly succinct posts, in the way that she does ~ without almost every sentence being peppered with the words love :) But then again. I guess that's just me. Visiting Camilla and the chance to follow along on the adventures of Morran is just one more thing that I love.

Morran left this week. Camilla posted about it yesterday. Oh how she will be missed. It was an honor to paint her.

4 x 4 in.

As I post this, I am hearing one of my favorite Bob Marley songs in my head "3 little birds".  "Don't worry about a thing, 'Cause every little thing gonna be all right." ~ I love the sentiment in that song.

Hope those of you celebrating here in the states had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

{original is available here}

Had lunch w/ a new friend today and we got to talking about contentment. I asked her how she finds it in her life & she said 'you just decide'

{original is available here and a large print is here}

Since I've been sharing so many Iphone/Instagram photos lately, I wanted to take some pretty, clear ones of the new cards and then I fell in love with this Iphone version that I had to include after all :)

hope you enjoy the new additions! now over at the shop

Film is one of the artistic mediums that inspires and grounds me the most. Honestly {it depends upon the film of course} I think that this experience with film has been with me from an early age. I have always come out of certain films feeling not only grounded, bur more enlightened. I come out a better person, with an entirely new perspective. It's true {at least for a few hours}. Not to mention music from film is equally inspiring to me. Some of my favorite playlists that I paint and write to, are comprised mostly of music from soundtracks.

It's a powerful medium, especially with so many compelling documentaries being made today. One of my visits to Sundance, I think it was 2002, I stood in a room listening to Robert Redford talk about how Documentaries {Docs for short} 'are the future'. Several years later, I think that fellow was on to something.

One way or another I know that my love for art, performance and film will connect one of these days. Should be interesting to see how. In the meantime, if you also share the same love for film, I am going to share my favorites with you as I come across them or all at once in a big pile like this post. Enjoy and let me know what you think!

• The Adjustment Bureau - fascinating premise {and so unexpected just from watching the trailer} and a fantastic message at the end
• Buck - amazing how one can recover from emotional trauma and the idea that horses are a reflection of ourselves - whether you are a fan of horses, or not so much, this film is a must see.
• L'Amour Fou - a story about the life  and partnership of Yves and Pierre and the details of their incredible art collection - great for us creatives to glimpse inside another creative's process
• After the Wedding - one of the most real, profoundly moving films I've ever seen, beautifully acted and so compelling
• Conan O'Brien Can't Stop - saw this one just last night. have been a long time fan of Conan and really enjoyed getting to know more about him
• Picture Me - genuine, insightful {somewhat shocking} glimpse into the world of modeling and fashion
• The King's Speech - yes, I know this one won best picture and now I know why - beautiful film, down to every last detail
• Betz just reminded me to add Finding Joe - in case you didn't see my previous post about it - one of the best movies I've seen all year - seriously changed the way I look at my entire life

• ***EDIT*** Monday, November 14 - Can't believe I almost forgot this one!! George Harrison: Living in a Material World  I mean who doesn't love the Beatles, but this isn't solely about them. This is a film about George. and what an interesting man he was. I think that the world may finally be ready to listen to and understand what he seemed to be searching for. I embedded the trailer at the top of this post so you don't miss it and also if you follow the link in this snippet, you can watch a video of Martin Scorcese talking about his interest and inspiration in directing this documentary as well.
• Also! this isn't a film, and I may post about it separately, but in case time gets away from me and I forget to share; Visionaries - Inside the Creative Mind on the Oprah Winfrey Network OWN is on every Sunday and features an interview and study of some amazing creative people producing work today. SO INSPIRING. Seriously, my favorite kind of programming. I just can't get enough of hearing other's stories.

In case you might be thinking of a gift for someone special this holiday season, I have a few slots open for commissions before November 15.  I've also introduced a new small size available through the end of the year. All the details are right here.

In pulling together some of my favorite commissions over the years I realized there are a few that I didn't get to share with you.

a family as Creative Thursday characters

and an entire family tree!

We first met while teaching at Squam and she's the first person who literally looked at me and said "You should be designing fabric". And I remember exactly how she emphasized the word should in usual Lizzy style.

And it's pretty much because of her that I even decided to go to Quilt Market last year and present my designs. Because of the message in this card that she sent me.

And it's pretty much because of her that I sat down with Kathy {the art director we now both work with} to share the very beginnings of a fabric line.

And this weekend, she sent me the sweetest little bag that she sewed combining both of our new fabrics. I am literally beside myself, not only because I love it so much, but I hardly even know how to begin to thank this kind of generosity.

This bag, my new favorite that I will now carry with me everywhere, is a symbol. Not only of a friendship, with the kindest person who has the most giving heart, but also ~ a fellow artist who reminds me again and again that there is room for all of us ~ the kind of room that holds the space for all of us to succeed and thrive together.

{thank you Lizzy}

That's how it goes these days, doesn't it? Do we get a break in between Halloween and Thanksgiving anymore or as soon as the candy is taken down from the store aisles do the Christmas ornaments come in? Oh wait, I think they may have been out already in September? or were those the twinkly lights?

Sometimes it feels like retailers are rushing our seasons? Or maybe they always have and I'm only noticing because now I'm a retailer of sorts. I don't want to be one of those retailers but I've also decided not to push against it anymore and honestly Christmas time is one of my favorite seasons ~ so if it has to spill into the year a little more, that's Ok by me.

I'm also just as much of a sucker for holiday music as I am for roasted pumpkin seeds {which I did have on Halloween by the way, and thoroughly enjoyed every last one of them, in case you were wondering} I confess: holiday music is playing right now in my studio. It's inspiration for my holiday card designing which started today ~ featuring the little fellow above, shown here as a sketch. The combination of pencil lines and white paint on natural wood are so pretty. And so is holiday music {so pretty} my kind that is, which includes Sarah McLachlan's entire Wintersong album and Joni Mitchell's 'River', Ray Charles' 'Winter Wonderland' {remember that scene in 'When Harry Met Sally' where Harry and Sally are carrying home their first Christmas tree in NYC} and Nat King Cole's 'A Cradle in Bethlehem',  Mahalia Jackson's 'White Christmas', and Peggy Lee's 'The Christmas Spell'

It's Halloweeeeen! Since it's celebratory sort of day, I decided to make creativity {and carving pumpkins} my highest priority. I've been so excited to illustrate more with my sewing machine and finally gave myself the opportunity to explore this mostly new medium for me. 

Essentially a free-motion illustration on the sewing machine, on natural cotton combined with batting and my fabric on both the front and back sides ~ I also hand embroidered the border and painted the skeleton. Seriously, I loved creating this and am feeling pulled this direction in my art. I think I've probably mentioned that before? I have no idea where it will take me, but anxious to see. 

So this is the first time I've made available for purchase over at the shop. I also created this little piece to wish you a Happy Halloween!!! 

It turned out to be a particularly fulfilling creative day and now at nearly 5 pm with more work to do, I'm wondering exactly how and when the pumpkin carving will fit in? Ok, fine. You know me and my love for roasted pumpkin seeds. I will find the time. have a fun Halloween out there!

A tiny get away ~ I've been visiting my Mom in Ashland for most of the week. I  came across this display outside of one of the shops and had to share it with you. Don't you just love the colors? that red and lime green with the touch of burgundy and purple. Oh!! I am loving it!

I've been working on the book! My second official deadline met on Sunday of this week, it's fair to say I've been writing {a lot} more than my usual blog posts {even the lengthy ones}. 

This means that most likely my posts will be short and sweet over the next few months. I'm conserving my creative writing voice at the moment. Visuals, lots of visuals for you. The majority of which are courtesy of the Instagram and the Iphone. 

Also when it comes to sharing about retreats I've decided that it's best to do so with visuals so that if you decide to attend, your expectations won't be too influenced by mine and your experience at the retreat can be all your own. Fine, ok. I decided to write a caption to each of the photos below. {So much for trying not to share too much.}

Of course the title to this post kind of gives away how I felt about my time at the Create • Explore •Discover  Art Retreat. 

Retreats embody the love and intent of the founder and let's just say that every detail was infused with Sarah's beyond kind and generous spirit. She was a wonderful hostess for an intimate gathering with the loveliest people, in a beautiful setting {at the Cedar House Sport Hotel}, some of the best food {maybe ever}, delicious wine and seriously comfy bed.

Ok, that's all I'm going to say, except seriously, who would not want to attend a retreat with a bed like this?

I know better than anyone {as someone who is slightly addicted to building her business from her home studio and rarely ever leaves said studio}. It's hard to justify getting away sometimes, but every time I do I am reminded just how ESSENTIAL it is for us to do this for ourselves. 

Lucky for all of us! Sarah is doing this again next October. 

 photo captions in order of appearance

• first evening in Truckee 
• an open invitation to create {don't you just love a table full of art supplies} courtesy of Denice
• dessert {don't you love creative time interspersed by dessert time? seriously is there anything better?}
• kathleen's finished  'meet the gang' embroidery in my new class 'painting with stitches'
• i got to make a journal with Denice
• and a necklace pendant with Liz
• the dining/creative hall where we spent most of our time, all lit up at night
• every little detail, beautifully packaged by Sarah and Kathleen
• the light on the balcony to my room - fall light is just so pretty
• creative coconuts. love them more
• the european style down bedding. did i mention the comfy bed?!
• fresh berries and real whipped cream - did i mention the desserts?
• did i mention the heirloom tomatoes fresh from the organic garden on the premises?
• a visit to the town of Truckee
• my own embroidery creation 'coming home'
• squaw valley ~ a short drive away
• breathtaking sunset at lake tahoe 

https://vimeo.com/19147130

Run, don't walk to see this film. Seriously, it has changed my life. 

"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned so as to have the life we have waiting for us" ~ Joseph Campbell

3 x 3 in. and 3 x 2 in.

got some writing in, some podcasting and even some painting! = my idea of a good creative weekend. i'm so much happier when i create {often}

happy sunday to you xo

{click here to buy originals}

Finally! More than just a tiny swatch ;)

I actually scanned in every print so that I could share some of the details of each pattern with you while also trying to get the most accurate representation of color and texture. {please forgive the wrinkle here and there. Turns out scanning fabric is not so easy, nor is trying to photoshop out said wrinkles} So here's the scoop! The fabric is set to ship to stores next week. I'm waiting on an updated list of the shops carrying 'Meet the Gang' and my plan is to add the list to the bottom of this post so that you can find the fabric either near you locally or online. If you are a shop carrying the fabric and want to be added to the list, drop me a note via email or in the comments. And if you are a shop wanting to order the fabric you can see more images here and contact Andover directly to get in touch with the Sales Rep in your area. Until then I have added a limited quantity of fat quarter bundles to my shop.

When I made the decision to pursue this, I had no idea just how much I would enjoy translating my art and designs into fabric. I have already completed my next group as well as a holiday group that will be presented at Quilt Market in just a couple of weeks. Not without it's challenges, as designing fabric has been a whole new learning curve, I can't even begin to tell you how much I've loved making this. I also want to note that this venture is a big collaboration. There's a whole team of people that helped my vision become fabric. Thank you Andover, Kathy and Lizzy.  

One of my missions with Creative Thursday has always been to inspire others to be more creative {if they are wanting} and now I've actually made something that you can create with. Full circle moment.

I realized when I was putting this line together and telling the 'story' of how it came to be ~ that these characters came to life when I needed them most. During a very uncertain and scary time on my journey as an artist, I needed extra support and encouragement. Every time I painted one of these characters it felt like they were calmly cheering me on, reminding me that everything would be ok and that I should keep going. Wherever you are on your creative path, I hope these little fellows will do the same for you. Cheer you on!

Cannot wait to see what you will make :)

So this is the inspiration behind the little snippet of  Ruby that I shared with you last week. I thought it might be fun to create an embroidery pattern to complement my first fabric line "Meet the Gang". And after sharing these in my class last weekend at the retreat, I saw firsthand how much fun everyone was having stitching and painting these little fellows, especially RUUUBY!! 

And yes, painting and stitching. I'm sort of enamored with combining the embroidery and applique with acrylic paints on fabric. I started exploring that a short while ago and now with my work in fabric design, I feel like I get to combine my loves and explore a whole new direction in my art.

If you feel inspired, you can create one too. I've listed a pattern, ready to go! already printed on fabric, so you can grab a needle and thread and start stitching. I've also listed six kits that include a hoop, a needle, a sampling of thread and my fabric.

You can find everything over at the shop {pssst...including a limited number of fat quarter bundles of 'Meet the Gang' that I just listed today}

And that blog post... the one I've been promising to share...for a really long time...with larger views of the fabric...that one is next!

I hope you enjoy these new additions!

Inspired by the costume kid series ;)

I'm back from the retreat. Oh and was it wonderful in every possible way. I promise to share more with you shortly.

For now...all I want to do is paint. So much creativity inspired over the last few days. And this is what came out first. He's so darn cute. I know his emblem is kind of big, but he's very serious about this superhero business.

{click here to buy original}