Let's talk about you!

My, my, my--just when I thought I was going to be on a blogging roll, here it is months past my last post. Reality has kept me from pursuing my usual crafty fun, hence the lack of posts. So I decided it has been long overdue that I ask you for contributions and inspiration that you would like to share. What kind of projects have you been working on? What are your favorite types of creative endeavors? Painting? Sewing? Upscaling or refurbishing yard sale treasures? Would love to see photos of what inspires you and what kind of beauty you've brought into the world! Please share!

Bursting Blooms

Ok, so here is the entry I came up with for the Fabric8 Spoonflower/Robert Kaufman contest mentioned in the previous post. The theme is pen & ink/watercolor. So I took a design I did just a few days ago that I was planning to have for personal use and revised it to have a watercolor feel to it. Let me know what you think--does it look "water-colory" (yes, I just made that word up) enough? Wish me luck!

And speaking of fabric, if you're interested in designing, here is a contest put on by Spoonflower in conjunction with Robert Kaufman Fabrics. I hope to get an entry in myself! The theme is Pen & Ink/Watercolor. Good Luck!

http://www.fabric8contest.com/

Bora Bora!

So now that I am recovering from my ankle mishap, I am feeling the urge to create again, especially to dabble in fabric design and try to come up with fresh items that I can post on Spoonflower. "Spoonflower" you ask? What the heck is that? Well, if you are not already privy to the fantastic phenomenon that is Spoonflower, and you love fabric--feast your eyes!

Have you been looking for the perfect fabric to make those accent pillows for your couch or bed, but are tired of the stuff you find in regular fabric shops? Looking for the sweet pattern that will make your next fashion project truly you? Welcome to the relief that is a fabric oasis.

Spoonflower.com is a relatively young site that allows you to design and/or purchase fabrics of all kinds. And by all kinds, I mean not only a vast array of designs by seasoned as well as burgeoning fabric artists; I also mean a great selection of fabric weights from quilt to upholstery, including organic options. Below is a sample of one of my favorites. Bora: a Dutch designer with sweet but not-toooo-sugary aesthetic that I love. Her color palettes, her adorable characters--just stinkin' crazy cute! Anyway, head on over to Spoonflower and peruse to your heart's content. It's not only fun (if you're a fabric freak) but can be a font of inspiration, too. Think of all the great items you can sew--or have sewn for you--that will be totally unique to your own sense of fashion or decor! Enjoy!

Whoooosh!

Wow! Is 2011 really over? Was my last post really in August? Is it reeeealllly January? Wow again!
So much has been going on since then: not only my full-time freelance illustration work, but painting 3 murals, painting a bookshelf, mommy stuff, helping out my senior citizen Dad, and school volunteer opportunities. No wonder the time went by so fast!

But it all came to a screeching halt on December 1st. My community had a severe windstorm that left our power out (ours was for 4 days, but others were out as long as a week). I was leaving the house with my 6 yr old daughter when I missed a step on our back porch and I tumbled down, rolling my right ankle into an almost unrecognizable mess. After texting my husband to hurry home (which he did) and literally dragging myself back into the house, it was decided that it was wiser not to try to move me to the car ourselves (to go to the ER), and we called the paramedics. One surgery, 3 metal plates and about 10 screws later (internal "bling", if you will), I was back in my hospital room for the next 2 days. I am not only grateful for the hospital because of its excellent care, I am grateful I had a warm place to sleep as our house was still without power, and the temperature in the house had dropped to the 40s (F). Luckily a family member was able to watch my daughter for those few days; my husband, however, was valiant and stayed in the house with a roaring fireplace, battery operated camping lanterns, and tending to all our pets who camped out overnight with him in front of the fireplace.

And may I offer some unsolicited advice? If you are not a fan of keeping fit, this may hopefully help you stick to what is for many of us a yearly New Year's Resolution. I proclaim myself the poster child of why you should exercise. I have for many years been a sporadic exerciser. Sporadic meaning, once or twice a week for 3 or four weeks, take off for 9 months, 5 times a week for 2 weeks, 3 months off--you get the picture: neither serious or consistent. I am paying for that lack of activity now. The first two weeks of recovery,well, to put it nicely, made me think I had taken a trip to Hades. Not only did my ankle cause tremendous pain (even with prescription meds)--imagine feeling like a bulldozer ran over your foot every time you had to get up to go to the bathroom--but (and this is where the lack of fitness comes in) every muscle being fatigued from using crutches, getting out of breath easily just from trying to maneuver around on the crutches, developing carpal tunnel-like symptoms all the way up my arms, my leg muscles in my right leg burning from having to carry the weight of the cast (I was not allowed to put any weight on my right foot), and my left leg muscles burning form having to basically hold up all my body weight all by its lonesome self. And I'll be in physical therapy for weeks and weeks. There. See? Not worth it to make excuses or be lazy (which was my habit).

So why am I sharing all this on a blog that is more about creativity, home, and crafts? Because it's important. Not my own personal story mind you, but what the message of it is. Take care of yourself. Both mentally and physically. I've always pretty much tended to the "mentally" part of it--I like to explore, create, read, and learn; but the "physically" was always lacking. And I think a lot of us don't realize how important the physical part is because as long as we're feeling fine, the matter doesn't seem so urgent. But  if (and hopefully for your sake never "when") you have a type of accident that leaves you impaired, you will almost surely regret not taking care of yourself. I personally believe my recovery has been hindered by the fact that I have not been physically fit for quite awhile.

So if one of your New Year's Resolutions is to become more healthy (however you define it for yourself: eating better, losing weight, gaining muscle, etc.), stick to it! Do not let yourself down! Take care of yourself. You really are worth it, and your loved ones around you think so, too.

Have a fantastic, creative, healthy, happy, successful and prosperous 2012!