Straight from the ART

I'm beginning a new feature spotlighting some of my favorite artists. Today let me introduce Danielle Daniel.

A Crown of Stories

Danielle paints gorgeous mixed-media art. I looohuuve her choice of vibrant color in this piece! My favorite feature of her work is her eyes. Those beautiful angles and layered shadowing have a vulnerable quality that pulls me in. It's deliciously childlike and innocent. I admire how seamlessly she layers. (Am I gushing too much? Sorry, fan girl over here.)

What colors do you lean towards?

Invites, Favors and Notecards, Oh My!

photo Ajih Creations

Today I'm happy to have Monique from the blog, Creative Girl Living in a Country World! I've asked her a few questions about her paper craft:

1. How did you get started in papercraft? 

Due to various events that I made invites, favors, and baskets for, my mother stated that I should do this as a business.  So that’s what I did.  I concentrated on notecards, but still do invites, favors and baskets for clients.

photo Ajih Creations

2. What are your favorite tools of the trade?

Unique color paper stock, edgers, punches and papery accessories.

photo Ajih Creations

3. What advice would you give a newbie?

The same that was given to me by a mentor of mine, “DON’T GIVE UP.”

photo Ajih Creations

4. If you were a famous actor/actress, who would you be?

Lisa Bonet

photo Ajih Creations

5. And a few either/or questions just for fun:

Sunny or rainy? Sunny

Cupcakes or pancakes?  Pancakes, I don’t eat cake of any kind, but I’ll eat the hell out of some icing.   

Shorts or skirts?  Skirts.

Thanks for sharing, Monique!

Monique's a "creative girl living in a country world" as her blog title reads! Her blog is her personal space of all things creative and inspirational, which could include almost anything (DIY's, Art, Music, Food, etc). She has weekly and monthly features such as: New Release Tuesdays, Inspiration Thursday, and Cyberspace Friday. She's also the owner of Ajih Creations, a creative services business established 2008, which features her papery line. She loves to meet new people so please stop by and say hello!
Blog, Shop, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin

Mrs. Ricefield Gets Creative

photo Mrs. Ricefield

I'm so happy to introduce you to Mrs. Ricefield! She's a dear blogging friend whose incredibly creative ideas are always inspiring . She has a knack for teaching crafts that are easy to make.

photo Mrs. Ricefield

When did you first know you loved to create?

My curiosity and need to experiment/create have always been there, for as long as I remember. I would make doll clothes out of fabric scraps and ribbons, I had lots of sketchbooks and journals from very young, I would get into the kitchen and make a mess coming up with my own "recipes." To be honest, my parents didn't see any talent in me and they never encouraged "art" but they did encourage creativity in other forms - imaginative play, writing, etc. My mom never took her embroidery, crochet, or sewing very far. I don't remember her doing anything, even though she knew how. Her focus was her academic career. My dad was also very focused on his business career, but he was an incredible musician. He played four instruments, all by ear, and he would sit on the piano or grab his guitar and just play whatever he heard in his mind. It was amazing to watch.

But my grandmas were both incredibly creative, using different media. My father's mom created incredible crochet and sewing, but her biggest talent was cooking. My mother's mom painted beautifully, embroidered, crocheted, knitted, composed music, and made flowers like I've never seen - paper, fabric, beads, a mix of all of them. She had her own business for a long time, making flowers for weddings especially. I loved going to visit and watching her make the delicate little petals for minute flowers, then add them together for yards and yards of bouquets, garlands.

So, creativity is just something that has been a part of my life in one way or another since very early on, of my own interest and by exposure to the people around me.

What's your favorite crafty tool(s)?

My sewing machine. It's hard to choose because it always depends on what I'm doing. But I would say the sewing machine because it's so prolific - I can use it in card making, sewing all kinds of fun and/or practical things, even mixed media collages. But I couldn't live without my markers, pens, paint brushes, pretty papers, ribbons, glue (that's a big one too)!!!!

photo Mrs. Ricefield

What advice would you give someone who doesn't think they're creative, but wants to be?

I thoroughly believe that everyone has creativity inside them, it's a basic skill for humans. If you think about it, you have to be creative to go through life. Here's an example, you're running late in the morning, you open your fridge and realize you have to go grocery shopping and there's nothing easily picked for breakfast. What do you do? You exercise a whole lot of creativity in a few minutes to make some kind of breakfast for yourself (and your family). And this happens all the time, everywhere, but we don't see it as creativity - dealing with people at work, keeping our kids entertained. 

If you want to make something that people traditionally think of as creative, it's a matter of training this inner ability to adapt, to create solutions. Try to put aside, even for a little while, self defeating thoughts about a lack of creativity or talent. Don't be afraid of making mistakes, they are so important for growth.

If you're not sure where to start, grab a hobby magazine for your chosen medium and use one of their tutorials. It's ok to copy at first, when you learn the basics and some fun techniques, you'll grow into your own and experiment.

photo Mrs. Ricefield

If you were a famous actor/actress, who would you be?

Ha! You got me... I'm not even sure who the famous actors and actresses are now. I haven't owned a tv in 6 years, and since my daughter was born cartoons are close to the only type of movies I watch. But let's see... Maybe Naomi Watts? I always thought she was very talented. I'd rather do what I do very well than have the most fame. 

And a few either/or questions just for fun:

Grand Canyon or the Taj Mahal? Can I have both? Sure! I couldn't choose between the two types of beauty. 

Grapes or coconuts? Grapes, yum.

High heels or flats? Flats. Comfort and cuteness don't have to be mutually exclusive. 

photo Mrs. Ricefield

Thank you so much, Mrs. Ricefield. Be sure to stop by her blog and say hello!

Interview with Sarah from SillyGrrl

I'm thrilled to have Sarah from Sillygrrl here today to tell us more about her journey to becoming a web designer. Not only are her blog designs adorable (and affordable through her Etsy shop) but she is a wonderful blog resource. This year she did a fabulous series called Six Weeks to a Better Blog.

1. How did you get started in web design?

I discovered the internet when I was 13, just about the time AOL showed up. I spent a lot of time on LiveJournal, Blogger, Diaryland and eventually had my own site hosted by another blogger. I taught myself how to code by picking through other sites to see how they were put together and redesigned my own site about 100 times before I moved on to working for bands and being paid in food. My freelance business finally took off when I decided to take it seriously, put a lot of time into creating quality blog content and opened my Etsy shop.

2. What are your favorite tools of the trade?

Photoshop, Illustrator, Google Fonts, and Pinterest for inspiration

3. What advice would you give a newbie?

Just dive in - you don't need formal training to become a designer. Google everything - there are tons of tutorials on coding and building sites. Don't give up - coding can be really difficult and confusing, but generally it's one teeny-tiny thing that needs to be fixed and your whole site will fall into place.

4. If you were a famous actor/actress, who would you be?

Ginger Rogers - little known fact about me, I performed in a bunch of musicals and was a competitive ballroom dancer in high school.

5. And a few more questions just for fun:

New Zealand or Australia? Neither haha I'm a total homebody and being in a plane for hours and hours doesn't interest me in the least

Tacos or pasta? Tacos times a million

Ringlets or braids? Ringlets, but only if they're teased into a giant fro...I like big hair :)

Sarah is a web designer & aerialist living in metro-Detroit. SillyGrrl is where she writes about her adventures as a circus performer, design inspiration and answers your web design & blogging questions. 

Working with Leather

I'm happy to have Nisakorn from Fullmoonn here to share her journey of creating with leather.


1. How did you get started in leather-work?
I started making leather products in 2008. I was fascinated with the charm of genuine leather's beauty and durability. It can be used to produce many things such as bags, shoes, jewelry and creative work that I love.


2. What are your favorite tools?
Genuine leather, hanging pendants and paper.


3. What advice would you give someone new in the business?
Love what you do. If you are happy in your work, you will get profit more than money--happiness.

4. If you were a famous actor/actress, who would you be?
Julia Roberts because her smile can brighten my days.


5. And a few either/or questions just for fun; which would you choose:
Airplane or boat? Airplane.
Frog or parrot? Frog.
Purple or yellow? Purple.


Thanks so much!! You can visit Nisakorn's leather shop here.

Sadee's Watercolor World

Today I'm thrilled to introduce Sadee Schilling whose watercolor paintings are filled with stunning beauty and tender story. We actually met each other while she lived here in the states. But it wasn't until after she moved to Germany that we discovered each other's blogs--talk about serendipity!

1. How did you get started in watercolor painting?

As a kid, I would work for hours in those "paint with water" coloring books--the ones with a kind of dried pigment already on the paper that was activated with water. When I got a little older, my favorite thing was wandering the aisles of the neighborhood craft store with my mom (Hobby Lobby, I still love you!). One day I found a set of watercolor pencils in the clearance section and my mom bought them for me. I think one of the first things I ever painted was a little Victorian teacup full of roses--her Mother's Day gift, I'm almost sure of it!

When I studied art, the curriculum was drawing-heavy and I never technically took a watercolor course. I always played around with pan-watercolors, mostly just for fun. My favorite thing was to draw with crayons and oil pastels and then paint with watercolor over the resist. It wasn't until 2008 when I was pregnant with my first daughter that I began to delve into watercolors more "seriously." Up until that point, I was painting mostly with acrylics and making these really elaborate sculptural flowers and birds from canvas.

When we found out that baby was on the way, I knew that this medium was probably too involved to keep up with, especially because of how quickly acrylic paints dry! So I started creating smaller-scale illustrations with watercolor, colored pencil, pens and ink. I loved that I could stop in the middle of my work and come back later to revive the paints with a little water! And it's funny--what was meant to be a "practical" decision turned out to be crucial in truly finding my creative voice. Fluid, unpredictable watercolor literally became the strongest "craving" of my pregnancy--and the perfect medium to communicate my joyful story of parenthood and later, the ups-and-downs of our international adventure. Watching the colors splash and bleed on the paper often feels like the visual outpouring of my soul!

2. What are your favorite tools of the trade?

A plain, sharp lead pencil; white wax crayons; watercolor paper with a rough, raw surface; sedimentary watercolors (the pigments with particles that settle into the depressions of the paper and create a rich, uneven surface); both watercolor pencils and regular colored pencils; fine-liner Indian Ink pens; acrylic ink with a quill pen. Lately I've started using my watercolors in mixed-media collage, so I'm crazy for collecting beautiful papers, especially vintage ones, richly yellowed and stained. I also love to use coffee stain on paper and a craft knife to etch in scratches and other imperfections--this method creates a vintage-paper-feel.

3. What advice would you give a newbie?

Paint as much as you can! Splash the colors, let them run and mix in ways you didn't expect would work. Don't think of anything as too "precious." Don't be afraid to over-work something, and don't be afraid to under-work something and let it sit for a while and return to it later. The greatest treasures of inspiration I have discovered come in the package of something I thought was ruined! Try out lots of different media until you find the mix that makes you feel like your soul is flowing through your fingers!

4. If you were a famous actor/actress, who would you be?

My brother told me last year that the way I wrote on my blog was kind of like a mix of Rachel Ray and Dr. Phil. Ha! But for personality, I have always loved the quirky cuteness of Meg Ryan's characters--especially in Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail.  If I could also mix in a bit of Julia Roberts' brilliance, beauty and class--the quiet but confident way she commands attention--that would be perfect!

5. And a few either/or questions just for fun:

London or New York? London--I could have an international adventure without the exhaustion of learning a new language!

Grapefruit or Raisins? Raisins! I like them in trail mix, with cashews and other nuts, butnever in bread. Grapefruit is too fussy and sour.

Sandals or Rainboots? Rainboots, although to tell the truth, I don't even own a pair. Now that seems silly, since I live in rainy Hamburg, Germany! 

Thank you so much, Sadee!  I hope you'll check out Sadee's blog; her words are as beautiful as her art. You can find gorgeous watercolor prints in her shop, Picturebook Life.

Rachel Awes: The Colorful Doodler

I'm so excited to have Rachel Awes here today! She graciously agreed to answer some questions:


1. I love your whimsical works; how did you find your art style?
i began creating art because i was moved by hearing the moments of beautiful insights from my clients in my psychology practice. i would write down something lovely they said + later try to draw it. initially, i could go through a whole notepad of scribbling to search for some authentic lines that expressed what their sentiment felt like to me. somehow, over time, these scribbled lines began to have some kind of consistency to them. my breath came through the page.

2. What are your favorite tools?

my favorite tools are my heart + ears + arms to hug + the beauty i see in people + the colors of orange + green + yellow + softblue + red. i also love markers + acrylics.

3. What advice would you give a new artist starting out?

have fun. play. follow the colors + forms that bring you joy. follow them all the way home.

4. If you were a famous actor/actress, who would you be?

pippi longstocking.

5. And a few either/or questions just for fun:

Chicago or Hong Kong? chicago.

Cream cheese or Sour cream? cream cheese.

Roses or Tulips? tulips. + for extra credit, always with love. xo, rachel


Thanks so much, Rachel! Pippy Longstocking's a favorite of mine too!

Rachel Awes is a psychologist, art playgroundist, writer, wife, mom, + friend, who loves listening to the beauty in people. Join Rachel: on her blog, her beautiful shop, pinterest, facebook and twitter.

Interview with Calligram Artist, Joni James

I'm so excited to introduce you to calligram artist, Joni James. Joni and I have been blog buddies for awhile and I've always been fascinated by her artwork. She weaves words and shapes together effortlessly.

1. I love how your art is full of words; it's such a perfect combination. How did you get started doing art this way?

I got started in the art of lettering way back in 1991. It was my escape from the noisy house full of kids. It required concentration and gave me a good outlet to savor all those quotes and poems I loved. It took about 20 years from there to discover the art of calligrams, which are the pictures made up of words. I must have picked up the idea from a class sometime along the way. They were first originated my Picasso's good friend in the late 1800's. His name was Guillaume Apollinaire. Unfortunately he died at the age of only 38 from the pandemic flu. I never seem to get tired of finding new images to bring to life with words.

2. What are your favorite tools?
Right now I'm loving the LED light pad I bought from my local art supply store. I can actually see the image I'm trying to re-create so much easier then using vellum.

3. What advice would you give a new artist?

I would have to say that it takes a long time to develop a niche, but every single step to get to that point is so very important and necessary. But, it all depends on what the individual artist really wants. Is creation an outlet for relaxation? Is it created so that you can move away from your daytime job? Would you like to see your art branch out and hit the commercial market? Any reason for creating is the right reason. Just letting it develop into what makes you happy is the most important thing.

4. If you were a famous actor/actress, who would you be?
Barbara Streisand or Diane Keaton. If I was a man I'd want to be Phillip Seymour Hoffman. He's so excellent! haha!

5. And a few either/or questions just for fun:

Grand Canyon or the Taj Mahal? Grand Canyon! I'm dying to see it up close, not just from an airplane. It's Grand!

High heels or flats? I'm definitely a flats girl and always have been. I'm way too tall. In fact, that was my nickname in high school. Too Tall Joni!

Joni has graciously offered to give away one of her prints (winner's choice)! To enter the giveaway, simply check out her shop CalligramORama then leave the name of your favorite print in the comments below. The giveaway is open until midnight (Central time) on Tuesday, May 22. I'll post the winner here on Wednesday, May 23. You may also visit Joni on her blog.

Joni James 

Inspiring Interview & Beginner Henna Kit Giveaway!

Zena and Marley from Henna King agreed to answer a few questions and also offered to give away a free Beginner Henna Kit! {see details below}

1. How did you get started in Henna tattoos?
Twelve years ago, two couples got together and said "Hey. lets start a internet company and then we can move anywhere we want!" So the four of us started Henna King because two of us, Zena and Marley, were doing Henna Tattoos in Northern California at the time. The two girls run the business end of taking orders, filling orders, phones, emails, as well as packaging and making products like our lip stain. The guys do advertising, the web, importing and shipping. Works very well for us all.

2. What are your favorite tools?
Our favorite tools for henna would be pre-made cones. Easy, simple and efective. No messy mixing!

3. What advice would you give a newbie?
Advice for a newbie would be to go stand over a henna artist at work and watch them! Or, go get a henna tattoo and ask a lot of questions.  

4. If you were a famous actor/actress, who would you be?
We all like George Clooney we think he is a great humanitarian. 

5. And to close, a few either/or questions just for fun:
Grand Canyon or the Taj Mahal?  Taj Mahal of course! Wev'e all been to India. 
Grapes or coconuts?  Coconuts, we all like Pina Coladas! 
Red or Purple? Henna Red!

Thanks so much! To enter the giveaway, tell us your favorite item from Henna King in the comments below. The giveaway ends May 14th at midnight. I'll post the winner on Tuesday, May 15th!

Paper Polaroid

I'm thrilled to be chatting with Candace from Paper Polaroid today. I invited her to show her beautiful paper creations and answer a few of my not-so-normal questions. Enjoy!

Paper Polaroid

Paper Polaroid

Paper Polaroid

1. How did you get started in paper art?

In 2007 my sister in law invited me to a card making workshop and I was hooked! The instant gratification that came from creating a simple card made me not want to stop! 

2. What are your favorite tools?
Paper, naturally! Along with paper, I am never far from my paper cutter and scoring tool (I use a bone folder)

3. What advice would you give a new craft business owner?
Do what makes you excited and do not stop. I was so convinced that I needed to share my love for paper crafting with the world that I signed up to be a teacher at JoAnnes(the craft shop). I think I only had three students total, but that did not make me stop going. The students that I did get to teach were so pumped up after the class, it got me even more thrilled about paper crafting . I held craft classes at my home. When I visited my mom out of state, I asked her to invite a few ladies over to craft. I would spend hours at night, too excited to sleep, dreaming up ideas and concepts I could teach. I remember my husband, who has always been supportive and on board with my sometimes 'wild' ideas asked me one night, "Do you think we could do this and sustain a living?" and without hesitation I quipped, "YES!" 


We were not making any money at all from my crafting classes, the money that came in went right back to purchasing materials for the next gig. Having an etsy shop was on my bucket list of things to do, so one day I just did it! I had $10.00 in my pay pal account and I decided to make that grow without dipping into my family's budget. And it began to grow...and grow. It grew into something that could sustain a living. 


Last summer we decided to close our restaurant and Erik (my hubby) and I now work from home running our 3 etsy shops: Meadow Tea, Sideshows and Paper Polaroid. We have been amazed to see the response our pinwheels and garlands have gotten. We've been featured in Shape, Good Housekeeping, Brides, Cosmo Australia. We have had celebrities purchase our party decor, been in the shop front window of Ralph Lauren NYC store. Companies like MAC cosmetics and Coldwater Creek have purchased our items to be used in photo shoots. We've even been in a commercial (well our pinwheels have). 


One of the full circle moments for me came when I got a message that a few of my heart garland photos were to be purchased to be used as craft ideas in shops around the country like JoAnne's and Michaels. We have sold items to every state in the country and many countries around the world. I am convinced that God answers prayers and honors dreams. My number one dream has always been to be a stay at home mom and my husband made that happen at the birth of our first child. I have never had to leave my children to pursue my other dreams. God has blessed Erik and I to be able to do what we love and do that from home. We are grateful and would tell anyone who is interested in a craft business to be original, be prepared to work hard, and to follow your passion!

Paper Polaroid

4. If you were a famous actor/actress, who would you be?
I would be me!...but to be fun and answer the question I would say based on looks and talent, I would have to choose : "Jack Black"

5. And a few either/or questions just for fun:
Ireland or China? Ireland (my hubby's part Irish)
Pringles or Sunchips? Sunchips..I like salt
Leggings or Tights? Not sure how they are different? but I'll say leggings as tights sound very Jane Fonda-ish :O


Thank you Candace!

Join Candace on her blog, or visit her beautiful shop, Paper Polaroid. She has graciously offered to give 15% off any item in her shop! Simply use the code SPRING15 at checkout to discount your purchase!

A Few Questions for a Designer

Since Amber did such an amazing job on my design, I wanted to share a little more about her.

1. What interested you in blog design?

I've been blogging since about 2007, when I owned my bath and body company. I always like things really customized and specific, so from the beginning I took it upon myself to learn HTML so I could edit a blog template how I wanted it. I love blogging and the whole blogging world, so the two just fit together. However, I do want to explore a lot of other design projects than just blog design. 

2. What one thing stands out to you when you open the home page of someone's blog?

Well, the banner, obviously, is the first thing you see. I always notice if things look very well put together, organized and if everything is in a sort of "brand". 

3. What's the first thing you'd advise someone to change to spice up their blog?

Hire a designer? Haha! Seriously, though, I don't know because there are so many different factors that make a "good" blog to me. It's not just the design. Some people have really successful blogs with incredibly simple, non-custom designs. It's a combination of good content, consistency, and an aesthetic that matches. 

4. Are you a lurker or commenter?

I go through phases! For all of November, December and January I commented all the time, and then I just liked to read and lurk and not comment. Now I'm just hopping back into commenting. 

5. What's your favorite fingernail polish color?

Bright blue, but I don't paint my nails.

Thanks so much! Be sure to visit Amber's blog, or chat with her on twitter!

Inspire to Inspire: "Take Flight" a Public Art Project by Jema

Jema is guest posting for me today.

Creativity, it needs to find a place in my life next to air, food, water and my morning cup of coffee.  Living full time in an RV with my hubby and four kids since January 5, 2011 has challenged my creative time.  I not only live in 300 square feet of space which hampers my studio supplies, but I am living with five other people elbow to elbow.  My creativity was being hampered, until it finally exploded onto the sides of my RV!

I can still squeeze in moments of acrylic painting on my textured canvas when the stars align, the weather is not too humid or too cold, and the wind doesn’t intend to fly my canvas like a kite.  Most of my creating is now focused on our public art project “Take Flight”.

We took our Class A RV, stripped off the manufacturer’s decals and proceeded to paint a Monarch butterfly wing outline on both sides of our RV.  The idea is to include people we meet with our family journey, and connect people all over the world with our project.  We encourage this connection by having people add their colorful vinyl decal to the sides of our RV, overlapping them, filling in the painted black outline.  We add their name, where they are from, and three things that inspire them in life.  The list of inspirations then in turn inspires others, and the circular movement of inspiring begins.

The project requires 3 ½” circular decals of oranges, blues, blacks and whites (thanks to our friends at www.decalmenow.com) which I can roll up and store behind the passenger seat of our RV.  I use our computer to enter the participants’ names on the website.  This is a creative project which needs little space, just the time to talk to people we meet, encouraging them to sticker up our RV.  It has been fulfilling to see people catch on the excitement of their contribution traveling around the United States! (very inspiring)

Public art is art which can be seen by anyone, free of charge, and enhances our daily living.   With this philosophy we want to include everyone in our project, if you can not physically put on your dot, we will add one for you.  Just add your inspirations to our list and become a part of inspiring people on the roadways of America, as well as those reading the inspirations at home in their jammies or at work on their computer screens, iPods, iPads, Android phones, you get the idea.  Go and be inspiring today!

To add your own inspirations, mosey on over to www.inspiretoinspire.com.  I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

~Jema

Searching for Serendipity

Kamika is guest posting for me today, hope you enjoy reading her journey as much as I did.

Creativity....that is a really important word to me. It has played a roll in my life since I was a child. I can remember building dollhouses out of pizza boxes, creating a fort in the woods out of old milk crates, and countless hours spent drawing. From the time I could be trusted with a needle and thread my grandma had me sewing. We started with crudely designed teddy bears stuffed with dried beans, and moved on to more complicated things. In fact when my grandmother passed away when I was 26 it was her sewing machine, the very one I learned on, that I coveted for myself.

As a young adult I expressed myself through photography and mixed media art collage. I liked to push the boundaries of what made people comfortable by using art to discuss controversial topics. I was a fairly angry twenty something, I had a lot of demons in my closet that I hadn't dealt with yet and the drawing and sewing took a back seat. Eventually the party twenty something lifestyle took over and art and creativity disappeared from my life for a number of years. They were some of the bleakest years of my life.

One day I found myself 29 years old, facing my 30's and miserably unhappy. I cried all the time, I woke up feeling like the day ahead was a chore, there was no joy in anything I did and I was drinking way too much. On a whim I pulled out my grandmothers sewing machine and started sewing. I think it was a potholder. Or something basic and simple. I honestly don't remember but whatever it was it saved my sanity! From that moment on I was crafting all the time! I started sewing aprons, cloth napkins, children's plush animals and more. Then I got into jewelry and screen printing...honestly I tried any craft that inspired me. Which was a lot! When I crafted I was happy. My mind was calm.

From there spun my blog, to document this new path I had embarked on. But to my surprise....I found put I was pregnant one year later. I continued to craft but my blog slowly morphed into one that documented the ups and downs of my pregnancy and my thoughts on impending parenthood.

Now that I am a stay at home mom I do not have the time I once did to craft, or blog...but I can still be creative. I loved decorating my baby girls nursery, a made her a mobile that she just adores, I even sewed her a dress one time. But more often than not my creativity now comes out in the kitchen and my home. My home has never been more functional as I adjust, move, and reorganize things to fit the ever changing life of a young child. I may not have much time to play on my grammas sewing machine, but I wear her old Christmas apron as I bake holiday treats and teach myself how to cook nutritious family meals. I also sing. Constantly. Claire loves music and i make up all sorts of melodies and rhymes to make her smile. When I run out of ideas we fall back on the classics, there is lots of Raffi played in our house.

One day Claire will be old enough to craft with me, and I can teach her how to sew on her great-grandmothers sewing machine. But until then my creative joys are expressed through the joys of day to day motherhood, they are expresses through love. When you have a young child your whole life becomes a creative journey, one that ebbs and flows constantly. I'm just coasting the waves and enjoying the ride.