today...

...i would much rather be out in the woods working on my book.

days in the sun.

greenhouse...

covered bridge...

blue sky...

gloves for cold fingers.

i felt inspired today when i woke up...and then i remembered i had to go to work on my day off!

 (i know my boss is only trying to help because he knows i need the money, but after working til lunch, my inspiration had faded and i didn't get much done today.)

the sun was still out, the birds were still singing...it was a beautiful day...but i was in slump mode. not even fm's cheeriness about the greenhouse being almost finished could cure it

here is a little excerpt from my journal...

"sometimes life is hard these days(go away winter!), but there is

beauty everywhere if i only choose to see it there.

there is sadness and beauty mixed together

and sometimes it is hard to sop in the sadness

and choose to see the beauty in the simple things around me.

but with spring coming near, and the chatter of the birds, the twinkling of 

windchimes on the decks and porches throughout my

neighborhood...and the sun that shines on my face...i guess i can learn 

(am trying to learn)

to live an every day life that is messy and

lovely at the same

time."

jen

Jen Gray Blackburn, is someone that has always inspired me! I woke up thinking about her this morning...thinking "i haven't gotten my jengray.com fix all week"!
Her entries are always full of truth and the photographs speak volumes by themselves. I am very lucky to have a far away web-friend like Jen...and someday I hope I can visit her and sip tea, splash in puddles and make art. She is one amazin' lady!

go get your jengray.com fix...and see what i mean....
http://www.jengray.com/

« everything... . | Main February 17, 2012 making good. Michelle Michelle is a friend who keeps me in check about making sure I'm getting my dose of daily good. She knows that one way I refuel is by walking the fields by my house. So when Im getting cranky she will often say to me, "jen, have you gone to the field today?" A gentle reminder for me to take care of myself. It's so simple to give yourself some goodness. And it's so worth it. But no one can do this for you. You have to make the time, you have to make the plans. (maybe something like this) :) You have to know what is good for you. define it. spell it out. figure out what fills you up. know what "does it" for you. If we don't find ways to refuel ourselves, we are being irresponsible. YOU have to be a priority to YOU. There is nothing selfish about it. Build regular goodness into your life. You will be much better for having done so. (as will the people around you.) You deserve good. You deserve a thousand continuous delights... (...above post by jen gray) xo

my day in pictures

a little late valentines day post

work has been keeping me busy. switched locations. suddenly. no more downtown for me, which means no more visiting with my dear melissa or stopping in to see my mom on lunch breaks at the shop that will be open in 2  short weeks. life changing again....just a small one, but it's making a big impact. i thought i was moving closer to being able to do design work, but it seems now that i am moving stores, not only will i bee alone all day, with no lunch break, but i will be running a bucket store. they are removing the designing aspect from the store all together. and eventhough i'll be manager, i guess....since nobody else will really be working there...no pay raise and a longer drive. later hours at night.

oh, sigh. i should just be happy i have a job...i know! but....it's sapping all of my creativity and happiness. i don't do well all alone all day, unless i can be hiking or doing my art stuff.
sitting in a fake-lit square box with the noise of coolers running and no escape...not my idea of fun.

SO!
Enough of that. The book is now spread ALL over my bedroom in piles....pictures that need to be scanned....collages to make....art to finish...it will all be coming together soon and quickly.
But, another adventure starts! Remember my moms shop that I just mention is going to be open soon? I will not only be selling my art/ craft along with her wonderful things and a few choice friends ( all of which I'll post more about later)...but....new dream coming to life..

TERRARIUMS!

Thats right! I've always wanted to make them, and now it's going to happen. The green house on the porch will be ready soon....bottles and jars will be unearthed from the basement and garage....and local thrift shops...and I have a very talented welder/artist working on some frame work, to make truly unique vessels to plant in. Clay is coming together to form little mushrooms and crazy creaatures...miniature faeirie furniture and collected bones....sea shells i've been saving from St. Lucia and Sanibel Island....

pictures will be posted here first! So keep an eye out!

valentines day quote i stole from my moms blog..

LOVING IS NOT JUST LOOKING AT EACH OTHER, IT'S LOOKING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.
(Antoine de Saint-Exupery)


i love his work.


and a few pics that will be in the book...sneak-peek for those of you following the blog..


all my love!

                                                   ( what else can we do with flowers???)

                      ( "like a shotgun...needs an outcome..." treadmill workout music...xoxo Lykkie Li)

inspiration post.

(photos are of our last art night meeting at melissa's...inspiration card deck)

http://slugandsquirrel.com/home.html ....check it out!

and of course, in honor of my guilty pleasure... Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I've tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice. Robert Frost

yet to be titled...

i'm feeling blahhhhh this morning.
i'll be honest with you, the routine of a 40 hour work week is getting to me.

i'm thoroughly exhausted, and because it is february 14th next week and i work at a flower shop, i have to work extra days, and longer hours. i didn't think when i was 35 i'd be running the front counter at a flower shop! but who really knows where they are going to be, right?

i guess i'm still finding my place and trying to be okay with that. but moving this morning is like walking through think mud.

i want to work on my book, and walk to dog, and paint the 5 half-finished paintings in my little studio. i want to connect with my art friends and have tea with my mom and finish the greenhouse....

that all i got this morning :)

except the words that keep floating through my head...

"No matter how lost you are, the trick is to keep searching, because you never know what you will find…"

xo
h