currently: ten things

1. Trimming the tree. A huge tradition in our home has been that we ALL trim the tree together. I usually surprise the younger kids each year by hauling a truck load of baubles, berries, garland and lights from storage locker while they are in school. I get most of the house to resemble something out of the North Pole by the time they arrive home, but leave the tree for ALL of us to trim together. This year that proved to be almost fatal to our tradition. Just like the family Christmas photo, it was next to impossible to get everyone here at one time. It worked out in the end, but by the skin of our teeth. Our tree sat shimmering with nothing but 1500 white lights until this week. I am sad because I don't want our tradition to end, and yet I know the time has come to ALTER our tradition. Three of our five children are over the age of 20. This alone speaks volumes as to why we can't all agree on a date and time to be present together. I know LIFE is happening around here, but I am clinging to last bit of time I have with my "kids." To me, that is what they still are. Kids. I don't want them to stop trimming the tree with me because they have families of their own. Instead, I want to enlarge that circle of custom to include their children too. So maybe we won't all be present on the same day next year. Maybe we will trim the tree as we go. Adding to it, little by little, like we have added to our precious family over time. Maybe I will embrace the fact that instead of ONE day with all of my children I will get SEVERAL days with them as they come and go according to their harried schedules. I think I could live with that.

2. Treating myself to a Christmas coffee. I was a long lover of coffee. An over-indulger to say the least. I have recently made the choice to let go of that habit, that addiction- at least on the scale that I was partaking before. Most days I have no coffee. It was a long haul getting to that point. Headaches, cravings, more headaches, but I feel better not drinking so much of it anymore. Once in awhile I treat myself to a special cup '0 joe and it is just that- a treat. It tastes better, smells better and I enjoy it more. This week I treated myself to a cup of Christmas at Starbucks. Awesome.

3. Digging through all my drawers and bins to purge old papers, tags and trims so I could make something cool like this. There are so many projects going on out there right now in the art world, and I, like most of us, want to try them ALL. Over the last two years our lives have changed so dramatically around here that I have gone from never batting an eye at spending to budgeting everything in my life, right down to that aforementioned coffee. I hated it in the beginning. I have never had to worry over money and it was a huge life change. Did I say I hated it? I cried, I whined a little, and most of all I worried. I worried about lifestyle changes and what people would think. Crazy, right? But human. It took me a whole year to realize that I have always been thrifty. Just because I could no longer go to the mall on a whim and spend $200 didn't change who I was. I have always shopped thrifty, always cut my coupons, always looked for the deals. The only difference was now I HAD too. And guess what? In the end it didn't matter at all. No REAL important thing changed. So I didn't have a new outfit every time I met my pals for lunch. So what. The big picture is this- I am happy. I like re-purposing, recycling, reusing. It is WHO I am. So when it comes time for awsesome projects, I no longer allow myself to head to Dick Blick. I can't. I use what I have and I like it. AND I feel good. I stick to my budget, I use up some stuff that I have on hand and I move on. The end.

4. Enjoying the lights. Much to my surprise they are everywhere this year. One of the things you do on a newly formed budget is ALL THE FREE STUFF YOU CAN FIND! Turns out I wasn't the only one in the family who loved taking drives to see the Christmas lights. When we took our daughter back to college last week we took the long way. The scenic route, no highways, just lots of stoplights and neighborhoods. We were thrilled at the amount of good cheer we witnessed in the form of lights! Regular people were still making an effort. It made me smile. We are not the only family in the world to be affected by the economy over the last several years. Certainly we are not the only ones to put what matters first. GOODWILL TO MEN. Just the idea of spreading cheer through beauty and art is heartwrenching.  Every other house we saw was spreading the cheer. But the thing that touched me the most was this- most homes weren't decked out with 6 million lights. Most homes were humble in display- a simple lit wreathe on the door, or a single strand of lights strung over the railing- they were spreading their cheer, sharing their light of the season, no matter how small it was, and it made me realize  that this world might just have a chance at healing itself.

5. Finishing up the prepping of my planner for a big project starting next year! This is going to be the best way to document your everyday life. The good, the bad, the busy. Even the ugly sometimes. Life is real. It is happening. Every day, whether we like it or not. It took a long time for me to realize that, but despite if it is perfect or not, it is still ours, and for that it is worth remembering. I hope you will read more here about THE DOCUMENTED LIFE PROJECT and join in on the challenge! I will be documenting my life alongside of Lorraine, Roben-Marie, Barbara and Sandi as we host a year long project that will leave you smiling!

6. Catching up on December Daily. I was not great in the beginning, but I am getting there and will be on target by the end of December. Hopefully. I have enjoyed creating the entire project from all of those re-purposed supplies I talked about earlier. I have been using photos of every day life. Not necessarily things that remind you of the season, but to me will represent OUR December this year. This year has been filled with trials and lessons learned- something worth remembering. It has been rewarding to see it come together, especially knowing you started with a handful of stuff you thought you would never be able to work with. I will be posting a few peeks of my miniature book and pages along the way on the blog! You can also find some peeks on Instagram here.

7. Taking my busy stuff with me. I spend a great deal of my afternoon in the car. Like many of you I am the head taxi driver in my family, and from the moment that last school bell rings we are on the go, shuffling kids from here to there until dark. Having some busy work with me not only passes the time, but often sparks inspiration. I usually take my art journal, a book, my camera and some fabric or yarn project. Crochet is a great and easy thing to do in the car!

8. Finding new uses for old things. I had a bunch of leftover tags and stuff from another project that I was packaging up for the school when I came across this cute card. It asks you to list the contents of your pockets. I must confess. I am a weirdo when it comes to pockets. A. I try to have them in all things I buy. B. Anything small I pick up off of the floor I stuff in them. Yes, I know, this is usually a healthy mix of  lint, threads and paper scraps. I toss them all when I pass a trash can. I have been stuffing garbage in my pockets since my first child was born. Don't want anyone crawling around and choking on something now do we? C. I have my hands in my pockets whenever I can. I do not know why. This is something I have done since I was a child. I think maybe I used to hide my hands because I bit my nails. Who knows. I just know that this little card spoke to me! I had to use it in my planner for The Documented Life Project, along with a few art pops from my friend Roben-Marie.

9. Tis the Season to do puzzles. We always seem to drag a big, complicated puzzle out at this time of the year. We leave it set up and all take turns working on it. At any given time one or all of us will be at the table looking for that sure to be lost piece. This years' puzzle might just prove to be the toughest. Coincidence? I wonder. Our year has been, continues to be the biggest, toughest puzzle to date. We are a big family. We don't ALWAYS agree on everything but we do always find a way to work it out, work together in the end. To some degree, each one of us has been lost this year, like that puzzle piece- Just waiting to be found. And somehow we always manage to pick one another up off the floor and dust each other off. Next year will be better. Maybe. Who knows. But I do know this- we have each other. We will continue to support one another, look out for one another and count on one another to make our lives whole. Not unlike our puzzle.

10. Sitting on my stool while I can. I would sit in the studio all day and make art if I could. Which one of us wouldn't? I have been blessed these last ten years with a big beautiful studio and I love it. I took my time, over the years, making that space mine. It has served as more than a studio though, it has been a lot of things to all of us. This room is the birthplace of winning science fair boards, countless works of art, and loads of school projects. It has seen some of us huddled over a pile of beads with the glue gun making Harry Potter wands for the entire family. It has seen some of us printing dozens of term papers, year after year. It has seen some of us sneak in to write his Christmas cards late on Christmas Eve. It has seen some of create the first beautiful thing we ever saw published.  It has been more than a craft room, an art studio, a print center. To me, it has been a haven. A perfect place to retreat too when I want to be alone, think, dream. It has been a blessing. Today as I write this I am faced with the fact that I will be leaving this room behind in the New Year, and it has been sad. I will miss everything about my home, our home. We built it, we tweaked it, we worked on it for years to get it just so- we made it ours. It was perfect. It is perfect. But LIFE is not always perfect, and so we must make adjustments, arrangements, concessions. All along I have known it would be difficult to move after so long. We will be giving up alot when we do so. Alot of hard work, time, money and love went into this place. Times change, I know that. Jobs change, the economy changes, and so we must adapt. I will have a studio again, big or small, and it will be mine. I am a smart person. I know this, and yet I grieve. I saw my little girls grow into women here, my son a into a young man, my baby mature into a teen. I welcomed my first granddaughter into this home. That 's a lot of years to leave behind...and so I won't. I will grieve this "house", I will mourn the loss of my little haven, but I for one, I am taking my HOME with me.

last years christmas projects revisited

Time was not on my side this year when it came to creating ten tons of christmas crafts. Luckily for me I had whipped up a few quick and easy ones last year that I could revisit. If you need a few last minute homemade holiday gifts just click on the images to find quick and easy tutorials!

 

Enjoy and happy holidays to you all!

art stuff: 15 minutes of mixed media

So my journal is filling up and I am still loving it. This is keeping me honest- getting me into the studio, onto my stool, paintbrush in hand.

This is what I had on the table ready to go: a few colors of paint, a scraper, two paintbrushes, a fine tip sharpie, two fat tip acrylic paint pens- black and white, one roll of washi tape, scissors, a glue stick, and a sheet of painted deli paper.

I allow myself to have a few supplies on hand so that I do not cut into my 15 minutes looking for stuff. I never spend more than 5 minutes gathering these things, to keep the challenge honest- which is to say, QUICK!

Pre-selecting some supplies also adds to the challenge. I must work with what is in front of me- no sneaking into the paint drawer without cutting into my time. The clock is always ticking.

I love how this one turned out. The colors, the design, all of it. I am loving those glossy blue dots. If you haven't given this a whirl yet, I hope you will hop on board! Enjoy!

currently: ten things

1. Feeling good about letting go. Letting go of the worry, the deadlines, the chaos that this Life always seems to offer. I am feeling good about taking a breath, stepping back and enjoying MY Life. It isn't always pretty and sure as hek isn't perfect, but it is the Life God chose to Bless me with. I can not continue to be anything less than 100% happy with it. I thought I wasn't. I thought I wanted more. Sometimes I still do. More money, more recognition, more fame, more luck, more time, more of the easy life- but then God shows me, in His own special way, that it isn't always better. Happier. More peaceful- so I choose MY Life. I choose to embrace its' mediocrity and hang on. I guess I just kinda love my Life.

2. Laughing at the things my kids do. They are just being their own quirky selves, but it can be annoying and endearing at the same time. I like to think they are spreading their own naive happiness around without even realizing it, and yet- Do I want to be mortified when I catch my teenage son shaking hands with a Santa mannequin at Walgreen's? You bet. But then I look around and see the smiles he has garnered from all those around him. People who were bored, tired, sick of waiting in line. People who weren't smiling before. So I laugh a little. And then I smile inside because I realize how very truly blessed I am to have him around all the time, letting his quirky happiness rub off on me.

3. Attending Fall Awards Banquets. These things at the schools never change. If you have been to one you have been to a hundred and yet we drag ourselves their year after year. I won't miss them. I dread them sometimes, but won't miss them. They are part of the bigger picture in our lives, my Life. I have been and always will be a Mom above all things. From the carlines to the science fairs, I am on board, literally. I do very little that allows me to miss these tedious events because they define me. This is who I am. I am a Mother. Lately I question whether I am a good one, but then I look at that bigger picture I mentioned. All of my children might not be following the exact path I tenderly trimmed back for them, but they are moving forward. They are making their way. I really can't fathom a life where my perfect plan for them had worked out- but I imagine it would resemble something close to the lives of the Stepford Children. All I do know is that it's ok. It's all ok. God has them in his palm. How could it be less than ok?

4. Seeing my son's artwork on the wall. He is not a huge fan of patting himself on the back. He is quiet, smart, humble and wise. But he is talented too. He is taking an art class this year for an elective. His first. It is a basic drawing and painting course, but he is exceling and loving it too. He is hard on himself.  He is detail oriented and overly concerned and so he thinks his work is not good enough. But he is surprising himself. We were walking out of that aforementioned Awards Ceremony the other night and there on the wall of the front office is his latest piece of art. It was beautiful. I knew it immediately and so I did what all mothers do- I cried. Yep- right there to the great and horrifying mortification of both my husband and my son I wept. I was surprised and happy and proud. He knew it was hanging and never told us. He didn't think it was good enough. My reaction was genuine, but it struck my son with such emotion that I think he finally realized two things. One, it doesn't matter if he is good at something or not, I love him and am proud of him. And two, he was good enough. Good enough for us, good enough to get on that wall and good enough for himself.

5. Staying true to my 15 minutes of mixed media challenge. I know you are probably sick and tired of hearing this, but it really is a big part of my daily life right now. December is a month that I rarely have days on end in the studio, so this little bit of time each day is something I love and something I have really grown to look forward too. Like a little art rush! I find myself letting go much more easily than I normally would with a piece of art or a journal page. Because the clock is ticking I am not afforded the luxury of OVERTHINKING it. And we all know I NEVER do that!

6. Working on making some "t-shirt" yarn. I love reclaimed fabrics and in one of my recent hauls I found about a yard of jersey knit. It had the sweetest little vintage floral print on it. I tore it into one inch strips and then got foruteen blisters stretching each long strip until it was a miniature tube. I attached them all together and rolled them up into a yummy ball of extra fat t-shirt yarn. Right now I am just enjoying looking at it. I am thinking about what I will make with it- as soon as the blisters heal.

7. Listening to the sweet sound of the violin. We attended our daughters Winter Concert at school and as always it was delightful. We have known all year that she was First Chair, an accomplishment she has worked hard to keep. Regular challenges make it a coveted spot and one that you really have to work hard for- and she works very hard. It was a testimony to the hours upon hours she spends practicing to see her name on the program that night, followed by the title- Concert Mistress. Even she had to admit that all the time IN that chair was well spent. Now she is on a mission to earn that chair at the Art Center where she is part of the Youth Orchestra. oh happy Strings!

8. Painting more miniature artist board canvases. I love these and have been painting them like crazy and turning them into magnets. It really does a lot to pretty up a full family calendar! You can see some of them here and here!

9. Continuing my daily photo prompt challenge. For the most part. I do try to post something on IG each day- something creative, whether that be through art or photography. I push myself to do more with my phone camera this way. I like the fact that I am getting real time documentation of my Life. It isn't always the most interesting stuff- but it is me. It's us.

10. Enjoying long awaited and much deserved time with my better half. As of a week ago he no longer works 19 hours a day. He is no longer gone all night, five nights a week. He is home. He is here. In the present, working normal hours. Awake and alert and enjoying us as much as we are enjoying him. It is funny how quickly we forget that even the most trivial parts of our days, our nights- our lives are worth having. We don't stop to think, in the moment, that having someone by your side is what we need. We don't remember, until it is no longer in front of us, that having your spouse there to back you up is critical to family life. We don't realize until too late, that having 90% of your day to do as you please with isn't all that it is cracked up to be. A soul mate, a best friend, a comrad when things are so bad you can't bear to open your eyes in the morning - that's worth half the pay. It's worth downsizing. It is worth taking two steps back in life. I have learned a lot in the last 6 days. Most importantly, that no matter where I end up in this Life I want this man by my side. For always.

newsworthy: The Documented Life Project

One part planner plus one part art journal and one part weekly challenge equals an amazing year of organization, inspiration and community.
Join us for the Documented Life Project.

We start with a Moleskine Weekly Planner.

• If you want to buy the "as it comes" Moleskine Planner online, Click Here
• If you want to take a mini-class on how to alter your Moleskine planner including gorgeous downloads, details coming soon via Lorraine Bell's blog Here
• If you have your own calendar or planner you want to use, that's great too.

Now the journey begins!

Starting January 1, 2014, *we will issue a weekly challenge on  ways to use and decorate your planner to make it uniquely yours.  Interpret the challenge in any way you desire or be inspired by our artists.  Yes, this is free and open to everyone - artists, scrapbookers, calendar keepers, organization lovers, art journalers- yes, YOU! You can find the first challenge on any of the below blogs or the Facebook page listed.

If you would like your planner to look just like ours, we are offering a mini-class taught by artist Lorraine Bell with step-by-step video instructions, filmed behind the camera by Roben-Marie, featuring hand painted gorgeous downloads to make your book an inspiring place for you to look forward to spending some time each week (click here to see a sample of Lorraine's gorgeous planner). Watch for details coming for this class soon OR if you prefer, you can make the planner in your own style.

READ MORE ABOUT OUR STORY AND SEE A LIST OF ARCHIVED WEEKLY CHALLENGES HERE----->

You can find us:

• Facebook:
  

  https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedocumentedlifeproject/

• Flickr:
  

  http://www.flickr.com/groups/thedocumentedlifeproject/

• Instagram: #documentedlife 
  

*Our Blogs

• Roben-Marie Smith
• Lorraine Bell
• Rae Missigman
• Sandi Keene
• And our Life Photographer: Barbara Moore
  

Post your challenge response to your favorite social media and upload it to our Flickr group or Facebook group to share in the community of Life Documentors!

We would be thrilled to have you create and play along with us in The Documented Life Project. 

Who knows what can happen?!

Here are a few photos of what my planner is shaping up to look like --->

I am so excited to be a part of this group! And to be working in and with this amazing planner! I could not survive with out my yearly planner, but I, like these other artists were tired of the boring, plain agendas you would find yourself grabbing, year after year, in the school supply aisle. This planner is going to change all of that!

I love having one side of some of my pages already collaged, painted, and doodled. I plan using them as a springboard for the upcoming challenges as well as for inspiration as I create alongside of my daily life. To me, documenting your life can occur in any number of creative ways. Lists, drawings, doodles, photographs and more- ! The fold-out page construction of this planner allows you to add as many or as few pages as you choose. All the more space to DOCUMENT YOUR LIFE!

The bold and patterened tape edges are one design element that makes this planner both functional and pretty. I, for one, like to have a pop of color or a splash of pattern on each of my art journal pages. Seeing colorful stripes as I flip through my book makes me want to fill the pages with more than just my daily appointments - it makes me want to create! I can't wait to share more detailed photos along the way!

With the added option of painting your cover, this planner will be entirely YOU! I have chosen to leave my cover plain for now, but I can see that changing as the year goes on. We save photographs, we save diaries, we save art journals- most of us have stacks upon stacks, collected over the years. This project offers a deep and personal look into our ordinary, into our everyday. The routines of ourselves and our loved ones that make our memories personal. Something, that at years end, will be worth adding to that stack.

I am always anxious for the new year to arrive. Resolutions and a fresh start in so many ways- a new look at life. Won't you join me- join us, in making our daily life more beautiful? Come be a part of what is sure to be one of the most rewarding projects you take on this year!

To DOCUMENT YOUR LIFE in this planner means- staying focused, keeping up, and being creative too. Whether you like to make lists, doodle while you plan, or sketch your surroundings, this is your agenda. This is your new year. This is YOUR LIFE! DOCUMENT IT!

  

sewing stuff: she loves pretty too

When my sweet friend, and other NO. 1 fan, Lorraine at Serendipity Studios wanted me to create a painted pillow for her I knew it had to be special. She is special. She laughed when she read this - so here you go Lo- because you loves pretty too!

Can't wait to visit her beautiful studio again- it is amazing! This will fit her bright and beautiful personality perfectly!

If you haven't stopped by here and met her - do it today! She is beautiful, kind and wickedly talented! AND SHE LOVES PRETTY TOO!

art stuff: 15 minutes of mixed media

Here we go again. 15 minutes of mixed media is the best thing to ever happen to my journal.

Same routine. Set the timer to 15 minutes. I had a few supplies out and ready, but tried to keep it simple today. A few paints, a permanent marker, some spray inks,  a few paint pens and a little washi tape.

I continue to work in my small Dyan Reavely Journal. I like the smaller page layouts when I am setting the timer.

This is a fantastic creative exercise. I encourage you to set the timer and try it yourself. I think you will be pleased with the results. Enjoy!

art stuff: tiny canvas magnets

Seriously. I love these things. I have made several this week with the intention of putting them in my etsy shoppe. Something keeps happening and I can't part with them. My magnetic board is going to fall of the wall one day. These two are going into the shoppe. For sure. Like yesterday.

currently: ten things

1. Making Christmas ornaments and mourning a favorite sweater. That dreaded terrible thing happened. I put one of my favorite vintage sweaters in the dryer. It was wool. Ahhhhh. I seriously cried for three days. I have owned that sweater for years and have taken special care with it's perfectly vintage lovliness. One word. Rushing. My life lately. Soooooo, I lost one awesome article of clothing and gained a handful of sweet ornaments. Nothing like sharing your favorite cardigan with ALL your pals.

2. Smiling every time I look at my new travel cup. Just look at that sweet striped straw and mason jar body. The awesome part is that is is really plastic, not glass AND has a double insulated center so it doesn't sweat. Great for someone like me who sweats enough for both me and my travel mug. TMI?

3. Not believing how close I am to finishing the series of LOST. I know. I am years behind the rest of the planet, but I am on board now and loving it. NOT loving that it is coming to an end. I am actually being a total wierdo about it and rationing out the last season and a half that I have left. I. DON'T. WANT. IT. TO. END. Anyone who really knows me, knows that is a really, really big deal. I don't watch TV. Really. At all. Hardly ever. So for me to be hooked is kinda crazy and wonderful all at the same time.

4. Staying true to my timer. This 15 MINUTES OF MIXED MEDIA rocks! I am cooking through my journal like there is no tomorrow AND I like what I am creating. Go figure. I always have been a deadline kinda girl.

5. Wishing I could wave my magic wand and have all the kids here, dressed and ready, smiles on, eyes open and cheerful for the annual Christmas photo. I can't even find ONE day in the next three weeks that everyone can BE here. What the hek people- mama has to have her Christmas photo. So what you moved out three years ago. This weekend for sure. Because I said so.

6. Thinking that if all the signs in Wal-Mart were true I would have a hek of alot more surprises in my life. So far, all I can find under that thing is a long line.

7. Crocheting again. It is the perfect thing to do when all you want to do it count. Oh, and it is a awesome way to pass time in the car too if you are big scardey cat like me and don't like to watch the road. Yes, great for that! I have been checking out some easy patterns online and experimenting.

8. Sewing up some new pillows. Happy to see the stack piling up. They are so bright and fun and feel so good. The combination of hand drawings, painting and silky flowers is working just fine for me!

9. Taking lost of pictures. December is kinda busy in the school department. Lots of concerts and awards ceremonies and other fun, annual sorta stuff. I must have hundreds of photos that are just alike, only my children look another year older, but how could we live without them? How could I NOT take one more concert photo? One more photo of a child, big or small, with a certificate of achievement. They work hard to reach their goals and I feel more than obligated to document their milestones for them. Not having something tangible to hold onto and help you recall years from now- well that would just be plain sad. Even if it was just one more concert in a school cafeteria.

10. Decorating for the Season. I love Christmas. Twinkling lights and the smell of pine. These things make our home beautiful. Knowing and staying focused on the REAL meaning of the Season makes us feel blessed.

art stuff: recycled sweater ornaments

one beautiful vintage sweater + one super duty front loader dryer = wooly heart ornaments

Please tell me someone else has done this - accidentally dried their favorite sweater! Well, I did it this week, and after I cried for three days I chalked it up to some yummy felted wool and a handful of awesome vintage buttons.

With Christmas just around the corner I decided to use some of the salvaged wool for pretty little ornaments. Let me tell you- I LOVE them! And they were so super easy that I thought I would share. (Just don't go shrink a sweater to make 'em! )

1. Grab some wool or felt or whatever else you have on hand that is nice and chunky and cut it into the shape of a heart.

2. Stamp or print a word or two on fabric and cut out.

3. Stitch all around the edges of your heart. Doodle style stitching is my favorite, so no need to be perfect here.

4. Lay your tag out on heart and stitch around that too. A contrasting color is always my favorite.

5. Using a needle with a large eye, thread some bakers twine or ribbon through the top of the heart and tie a knot.

You could be done here, but I decided to add a tiny ring of faux greenery on the twine. I love them!

Super sweet. Super easy. AND I can share my favorite sweater with my besties!