So as I'm nearing the end of my pregnancy, we are getting so excited to meet our new son (and sweet Jimmy keeps kissing my belly and saying how he loves Baby). And, even though I'm feeling rather large, completely exhausted, and not really motivated to do a.n.y.t.h.i.n.g. ;), I'm trying to a) get my home all "nested" b) come up with meals for my family (meal planning!? what's that? grocery shopping? huh?) - hello rotisserie chickens, mac n' cheese, pizza, cereal, and sandwiches...ugh, c) somehow sleep (I think I get up 3-4 times a night to go to the bathroom or have apple juice and animal crackers- I'm so hungry!), d) somehow sit comfortably on the couch and read books with my sweet Jimmy, e) put together new art journals for the shop, f) finish up some freelance, and g) put together the guest posts for while I'm away. So grateful for the response of all that have submitted links and such - I am working through all of them and you should be hearing from me soon (unless I go into labor before I can get all of that done. Quite possible. Hopefully I will get everything done). Thank you!
My doctor has been telling me to "take it easy" because my blood pressure is having all sorts of fun spiking up and down (not good for baby or me). So the other day, I dropped my son off at preschool and went on down to Raleigh to gather some supplies for more art journals - because to me, that's "taking it easy" - perusing the aisles of paper and goodies, all by myself (since that is about to change for awhile) :) Well, I guess I "took it easy" for too long (ok, I'll admit I was standing and walking around for about 1.5 hours), and my blood pressure went through.the.roof. To the point of having vision problems. Yikes! Not good. So we scrambled down to the doctor, with bags packed, baby seat in the car, and family and friends on standby because we were pretty sure that I would end up in the hospital and have to have sweet baby soon (of course, excited to meet him, but also want him to keep baking as long as he needs! :)). Thankfully, all is ok, baby seems to be doing great and is still baking, I'm still at home, and I am now very aware of what "taking it easy" means. :)
A sneak peak of some of the wonderful goodies I am working with for new art journals. Certainly don't know when these will make it into the shop, but eventually. I am liking keeping them on my studio table for now, glancing at them throughout the day. It's nice to keep seeing the different groups of paper for different journals - helping to marinate in my brain for putting them together.I am absolutely in love with the paper in the top left - the woodsy flower-dy paper. Not a normal love for me, either - I don't know what attracted my eye to it- maybe the vintage look of it?
As I have mentioned before, I am having a Call for Submissions of Guest Posts on The Creative Place. These posts will be scheduled to post throughout February and March while I am on maternity leave. I will continue to post here and there, and hope to be fully back to blogging by Mid-Late March.I am excited to have this Call for Submissions and hope to hear from a lot of you out in blog land. I love to see others creativity, ideas and finds and am eager to share that with readers of The Creative Place.
Below are some guidelines and info for submissions. I hate to sound all formal and business-y but my hopes are to be clear about the guidelines and what is expected for a potential guest-poster and for myself. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have - about an idea, etc. Or to let me know if I've missed outlining some pertinent info. here. I will add pertinent info. here if necessary.
Getting ready for baby around here. Got a lot done last weekend (ok, my hubby did... while I sat there and watched ;) Love that man) while I was on mandatory bedrest (which has thankfully been lifted to "Take it easy"). Baby clothes, towels and washcloths are washed and folded, we found a changing table for free, diapers are out and ready to go and bags are packed. Well, my hubby has packed his half of our little suitcase (our hospital is 30-ish minutes away in Raleigh....when it's not rush hour) and baby's bag is packed. Am I packed? Nope ;) Soon :)Baby could be making his appearance earlier than anticipated - trying to tie up loose ends, stay calm, and take it easy while enjoying this last little bit as parents of one before our sweet little new addition arrives. So excited to meet him :)
+ Am finalizing the details for a Call for Submissions of Guest Posts while I'm on maternity leave and will post that tomorrow.+ Realized I never shared the rest of my December Daily/Christmas Art Journal and will share that next week (I know, it's a little late ;)).+ Still trying to make it to Raleigh to find a fab Idea Book - or at least some ingredients for one....thinking I might put it together myself and have it bound at a local copy shop. We shall see.
How are your 2011 goals (resolutions, etc.) going? Day 19 of the New Year and I'm still excited about my 2011 Business and Blog Goals. Determined to keep at these goals.
+ Slowly (keyword: slowly) working through my craft studio and workspace, getting rid of excess I don't need or am not using (giving away). I've found a bunch of inspiration via pinterest and am jotting down ideas about different ways to organize areas of my studio and workspace. Images from here, here and here.
+ I am also working on some new products for the shop, but mostly these are still in the idea-in-my-head and notes-jotted-down-here-and-there stage. Ideas and hints? Flashcards and journaling spots. Vintage Inspired. Everyday Idea Books, Art Journals, whatever you want to call them. Supplies? Just need to get going on this new product stuff. I feel like I keep thinking and talking about it, but don't really follow through. Must.follow.through.
+ I am trying not to get overwhelmed with all of the fabulous inspiration on the www I come across - I keep thinking to myself "Oh I should do that" or "This would be great in my work space"... I need to follow through on the goals I have made and not continue to create more and more ideas to overwhelm... especially with a new little one almost here. I do, however, like the idea of incorporating simple ideas into my goals such as a few of the fabulous ideas I've found (most of these are on my pinboards... LOVE pinterest).
+ I love the idea of getting an Idea Journal (different than my binder that holds my calendar, recipe planning, notes, etc.), and having it be specifically for ideas, snippets and such (like organizing paper scraps in this image - via decor8). Hoping to get out and find one this week.
+ Also loving this good way to keep track of ideas (and keep my space organized at the same time) - Idea Boards on bhg.com via pinterest- The ones currently hanging over my computer are completely full of odds and ends...from years ago. Must start over and collect fresh ideas.
(Photo of Vintage Pin Bouquet by Dara Blakeley)
