Archive for the ‘Creative’ Category
March 26th, 2012 | 4 Comments »
Welcome to this month’s Pen & Paper: Living Between the Lines written by the amazing Hope Wallace Karney. To learn more about Hope and the column, please check out the announcement post!
My good friend’s daughter has always loved looking at my daily journal. Whenever we were together she would ask to see the journal I keep everyday. Not being one to hide my journal or its contents (if I have something I do not want to share I journal it in envelopes or under flaps, etc) I love showing it to her.
When she mentioned that she wanted to start a daily journal of her own, I was thrilled. I helped her find a good journal to use and encouraged her to start. By then I was invested in her journaling—so I started to check in with her every now and then. And eventually we agreed to share our journals with one another each week.
We got in the habit of texting each other photos (as shown in this post)—either of full spreads, or spreads in the works. It is especially fun when we did something together, and have the same ephemera and memories, to see how we each record that day in our journals.
Some weeks I will send my finished weekly spread, and it will help jumpstart her to catch up. Sometimes she sees how I incorporated something into my journal and she tries it in hers—which is a great way to play with techniques and find your own style.
I find that not only does it inspire her to journal, but also keeps me at it too, so we both are journaling regularly, but without pressure. Not only that, but it has strengthened our relationship outside of journaling as well. I look forward to seeing her spreads and equally enjoy sharing mine with her.
Tips for Finding a Good Journal Buddy
- Journaling for some can be private, so find someone you love and trust.
- Be sure you are both committed to making a journaling habit stick.
- Consider people of all ages—if you have a young adult in your life, encourage them to start a journal with you.
- Near or far, it doesn’t matter, with modern technology you can share your journals easily.
Good Journal Buddy Practices
- Agree upon a timeframe (every 3 days, weekly, monthly, etc.) and stick with it.
- Check in regularly. If your buddy is falling behind, gently prod them to get back into it.
- Never criticize, there is no wrong way to journal.
- Every now and then, try to journal together, even if that means doing it via Skype.
- Share quotes with one another to use in your journals.
- Write in, or send something, to share in each others spreads.
Tags: Art Journaling, Besottment, Hope Wallace Karney, Inspiration, Journal, journaling, Living Between the Lines, Paper Relics, Pen & Paper
Posted in: Creative, Creativity & Inspiration, Guest Bloggers, Pen & Paper, Random, Tips + Techniques, Treasure Chest, When You Feel
March 23rd, 2012 | 5 Comments »
Lisa Belkin wrote an incredible article about Anne Lamott this week for the Huffington Post. It really resonates with my current mindset and focus on simplicity. Belkin describes the inspiration behind the title of one of Lamott’s most popular books, “Bird by Bird.”
It comes from a moment when her brother was sitting at the dining-room table decades ago, surrounded by stacks of books for a report about birds. He was overwhelmed and drowning. So much to do. So far to the completed product. “Son,” she quotes her dad as saying, “just take it bird by bird.”
I have said that to my children often over the years, not about research papers, but about life. It has become shorthand at our house for break the problem down and tackle it in manageable pieces. I say it to myself even more frequently. No one moment, or one decision, or one mistake is an overwhelming whole, I remind myself. It is just one bird.
This knowledge is so rudimentary. Yet, amidst the trenches of overwhelm, it is so hard to remember.
In this post, I want to share two people that embody the beauty of simplicity. It is no secret that I crave structure and can barely function without it. If these two women could magically appear in my apartment, I would be one very happy lady :).
Arianna Belle Organized Interiors
Arianna’s blog is filled with beautifully organized spaces and stylish storage. She shares lots of simple tips that allow you to organize your space in bite size stages (or bird by bird!). What I love most is how she kicks your organizing butt into gear with her drool worthy images. Spend some time reading how you can recreate these images and you will find yourself sorting, purging, and organizing like a pro.
Live Simply by Annie
Annie’s creative ideas and eye for unique organizing solutions keep getting better and better. I really adore everything she pins and posts. This week she broke down the scary task of organizing your closet into manageable (and fun) chunks. It’s inspired me to tackle my new closet before it gets out of control! Like Arianna, Annie’s images are breathtaking.
While the images shared by both ladies are unbelievably beautiful, I don’t find them to be “perfect.” For the most part, the images depict beautiful organizing systems that can still work in our messy, chaotic, and imperfect lives. Their tips are actually achievable which for me is a huge relief.
I hope you enjoy these sources of inspiration as much as I do. As you enter the weekend and the upcoming week, remember to take things bird by bird.
images: 1. action organizing clips (via arianna belle) 2. this video (via arianna belle) 3. vanity tray (via live simply by annie) 4. desk photograph (via live simply by annie)
Tags: Anne Lamott, Arianna Belle, Bird by Bird, Lisa Belkin, Live Simply by Annie, organize, Organized Interiors, Simplify
Posted in: Balance & Simplicity, Creative, Creativity & Inspiration, Overwhelmed, Random, Treasure Chest, When You Feel
March 22nd, 2012 | 4 Comments »
I have a case of the blues this week. While it would have been easier to focus on dark moody colors, I chose to reach towards a color associated with lots of happy memories. Lilac has been one of my favorite colors for quite some time. It feels so light and airy that it’s hard not to feel a bit of weight lift off your shoulders when immersed in all things sprinkled with lilac. What color helps you combat the blues?
sources: flower headband (sunshine and carousels) | easter egg cookie (citrus and orange) | hexagon note card (angie allen) | turkish towels (istmus)
What color has been inspiring you recently?
… more color inspiration
Tags: angie allen, citrus and orange, collage, color, color me happy, Inspiration Board, istmus, lilac, mood board, sunshine and carousels
Posted in: Creative, Creativity & Inspiration, Random, Series, Treasure Chest, When You Feel
March 16th, 2012 | 5 Comments »
Recently, I’ve been tweeting less and spending more time reading blogs (yes, i’m an introvert!). As I come across online resources, I always email them to myself with the subject, “share!” Typically, I tweet a link to these resources—but less tweeting=less sharing. Well, today I’m going to fix that. Below are a few of my favorite (relatively new) sources of inspiration that I don’t think I’ve shared with you yet!
Hopeful World
Hopeful World is a global classroom where wisdom, knowledge and stories seed the ground of personal transformation and social change. Our online classes and digital offerings encourage personal growth while creating revenue for development projects around the world. Hopeful World is an economic experiment in transforming our drive to learn into a source of revenue and funding for emerging leaders uniquely positioned to make a difference.
We’re energized by the idea that we can help ourselves and one another at the same time and that real transformation happens when we learn the power of “we.”
The Everygirl
The Everygirl is the newest online resource helping shape the creative, career-driven woman to experience her life better lived. It is the inspiration to help you achieve your dreams, whatever they may be. Whether it’s how to incorporate a little creativity into your day or motivating you to seek out your dream job, The Everygirl is for you. It is our mission and hope for you to use The Everygirl site to be inspired, but also to take action to become the woman who believed you could, so you did!
sisterMag
sisterMAG is a new digital magazine for widely interested, active women. Regularly we will cover topics ranging from Career, Technology, Future Trends to Fashion, Lifestyle, Traveling and DIY. Women’s magazines have always mirrored social movements and developments in their content and foci of coverage. With sisterMAG we want to target a group of females which has been neglected by traditional publishing houses and editorial departments: the many up-and-coming, well-educated, very active and independent women, which are enthusiastic for the digital world and want to be presented with new and exciting content in a visually appealing way.
Naked Face Project
“Why do you wear makeup?” the eight year-old asked. “Because it’s fun!” we inevitably answer. But when we really get honest, that’s simply not the truth. We both work for organizations that promote a message of inner beauty, empowerment, and self-confidence, and we still engage in Beauty Habits – like makeup, shaving, and wearing uncomfortable feminine clothing . We’ve believed for years that these habits would enhance our appearance. After much discussion, we found the difference between what we preach and how we choose to act on a day-to-day basis troubling.
We’ve often said, “I need to go fix my face,” but really – what is there to fix? This is our journey to explore what happens when we start living in complete alignment with the message we encourage others to live by. We do not know where The Naked Face Project will take us. We do not have a hypothesis we hope to prove or know how we will feel at the end of sixty days. We’re not trying to make a political or feminist statement. We simply want to live in our own space of authentic beauty and be more intentional in our actions. That’s why we’ve chosen to completely commit ourselves in the project for sixty days. It is only through this total immersion that we believe we will come to a more authentic answer for the hard questions little girls ask.
Honestly, we expect The Naked Face Project to be very uncomfortable for us because we’ve engaged in these Beauty Habits for so long. We feel like we’ve only approached feminine beauty in one way for our entire lives. What might reveal itself when we give ourselves the opportunity to experience another way?
What resources/projects have you recently been inspired by?
image: ello lovey
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Tags: blogs, Hopeful World, Inspiration, Naked Face Project, sisterMag, The Everygirl
Posted in: Creative, Creativity & Inspiration, Inspired, Random, Treasure Chest, When You Feel
March 15th, 2012 | 4 Comments »
I am finally beginning to think about what accessories to bring into my new apartment. While the big pieces are essential for living (e.g., sleeping, sitting), it’s the little personal items that really transform a space into a cozy home. This week, we bought a regular black chalkboard for our kitchen. I love the idea of writing notes and drawing doodles in this not so fun (in my humble kitchen phobic opinion) area. However, I’m thinking of adding a little spark to this piece via some gold contact paper on the plain frame (possibly some tiny polka dots—inspired by joy’s studio). My eye has been pulled towards all the creative ways to turn ordinary store bought items into something more extraordinary—in particular, items dipped in gold! Have you transformed any ordinary items recently? What color is inspiring you this week?
sources: watch (kate spade) | earrings (a merry mishap via etsy) | gold leaf bowl (living the vintage life via etsy ) | gold shoes (found via paris hotel boutique journal) | gold sequin stars photograph (paper antler)
… more color inspiration
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Tags: collage, color, color me happy, gold, Inspiration Board, intention, metallic, mood board
Posted in: Creative, Creativity & Inspiration, Random, Series, Treasure Chest, When You Feel
March 7th, 2012 | 4 Comments »
Looking at images of all things lemon has left me longing for lazy days! I love lazy days filled with intention—a great book and magazine out to read, fresh lemons to perk up my cold water, supplies organized for a crafty project. I don’t do well with long stretches of “down” time when I move idly through them. I like to plan ahead for spontaneous breaks by putting aside little activities to enjoy when these gaps arrive. An urge to fill a big crystal bowl with lemons (for my dining table) prompted this mood board. Are you also longing for lazy days? What color is inspiring you this week?
sources: vintage buttons (miss pink robin – etsy) | flame leaf bowl (anthropologie) | lemonade (via glitter guide on tumblr) | reading in bed (rubie green via aphrochic)
… more color inspiration
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Tags: collage, color, color me happy, Inspiration Board, intention, lazy, lemon, mood board, yellow
Posted in: Creative, Creativity & Inspiration, Random, Series, When You Feel
February 27th, 2012 | 6 Comments »
… more inspiring quotes
… i received a few requests to add a “pin it” button to the posts. i tried doing this (see little “pin it” icon below). let me know if you have any issues using it!
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Tags: ambiguity, gilda radner, Quote, uncertainty
Posted in: Creative, Defeated, Overwhelmed, Treasure Chest, When You Feel
February 23rd, 2012 | 10 Comments »
This week, I’m focused on all things move related. The journey of moving comes with its ups and downs (a whole other post!). What I’ve loved the most about this process has been the purging of SO MUCH stuff! My life feels a bit lighter :).
When I lived in Boston, I missed natural light. In the new space, I am excited to use a more neutral color scheme with added pops of color—creating a very bright, clean, and cheerful effect. As such, my eye has been pulled towards neutral colors like shades of beige (a color I equated with “boring” before thinking about my new space). The greatest part of using a color scheme composed of neutrals is the ability to use the furniture in different spaces in the future (we’re currently renters). Add a little paint to the wall, hang some art, or get a colorful area rug to easily change the feel of the rooms. I’m excited to play (i.e., decorate) with my blank canvas!
sources: wedding gown photo (via the berry)|ceramic heart dish (karoArt ceramics on etsy)|bow shoe clips (No144 on etsy)|pattern circle (designed by carolyn)|twine photo (lynda naranjo on etsy)
What do you think of using a neutral color scheme with added pops of color? Do you find beige to be boring (like I did!)? What color is currently inspiring you?
more color inspiration: color me happy on pinterest
Tags: beige, collage, color, color me happy, decorate, Inspiration Board, interior design, karoArt, Lynda Naranjo, mood board, moving, No144
Posted in: Creative, Creativity & Inspiration, Random, Series, Treasure Chest, When You Feel
February 21st, 2012 | 3 Comments »
Welcome to this month’s Pen & Paper: Living Between the Lines written by the amazing Hope Wallace Karney. To learn more about Hope and the column, please check out the announcement post!
5 Blogs for Journaling and Story Catching Inspiration
After talking about Ali Edwards in last month’s post, I realized that there are so many inspiring blogs—many that you may not know about. This month, I am sharing with you 5 blogs for journaling and story catching inspiration that I enjoy!
Pam Garrison (blog | etsy)
Pam’s style is amazing—beautiful, colorful yet reserved in color at the same time, vintage yet modern.
Marcy Penner (blog—hello forever)
Marcy has a way of creating clean layouts with lots of information on them. I love her Project Life pages.
Samantha Kira Harding (blog—Journal Girl)
Kira creates bold, colorful journaling spreads.
Art Journaling (blog| journal image)
Pure eye candy. You never know what you will see! This blog contains user submissions of art journal spreads.
Amanda Johnson (blog—Here’s Looking at Me Kid)
I love the quirky style of journaling Amanda does!
What about you? Any journaling/story inspiration links you want to share?
images: links to sources within post
Tags: Ali Edwards, Amanda Johnson, Art Journaling, Besottment, hello forever, Here's Looking at Me Kid, Hope Wallace Karney, Inspiration, Journal Girl, journaling, journaling blogs, Living Between the Lines, Marcy Penner, Pam Garrison, Paper Relics, Pen & Paper, Project Life, Samantha Kira Harding
Posted in: Creative, Creativity & Inspiration, Guest Bloggers, Inspired, Pen & Paper, Random, When You Feel
February 10th, 2012 | 14 Comments »
While I normally work on these color boards for at least a week before posting (since I’m a newbie at photoshop and pretty much all things design/creative), I began this board yesterday. I thought it would be a great test to see how my skills and confidence have progressed (failed test!). I would love to fiddle around with this board some more, but will resist my perfectionist tendencies :).
For this color board, I chose pink blush. I have been so drawn to this soft color recently. And just so you know, I completely forgot when working on this board that next week is Valentine’s Day and everyone is experiencing pink + red overload. Hopefully, this board doesn’t scream Valentine’s Day and provides a quiet respite for your eyes and mind. Are you experiencing pink + red overload this week? What color is inspiring you?
sources: button badges (eva juliet) | ombre blush silk headband (mignonne handmade) | candle centerpiece (martha stewart weddings via pinterest) | gorgeous gold glitter with blush bow shoes (found via pinterest) | gift with magnificent ribbon (this is glamorous – thank you jack germain for the recommendation!)
p.s. i’m moving next week (to miami) and hope to continue posting as usual, but if I go missing, just know that I’m buried in boxes and wish i were here :).
–> find more color inspiration on my pinterest “color me happy” board!
Tags: collage, color, color board, color me happy, Etsy, eva juliet, Inspiration Board, jack germain, martha stewart weddings, mignonne handmade, mood board, pink, pink blush, Pinterest, this is glamorous
Posted in: Creative, Creativity & Inspiration, Random, Series, Treasure Chest, When You Feel
