5 Ways to Live a More Creative Life

I’ve known so many creative people in my life. Not all artist standing at easels, but creative in their own ways in their gifted areas. Some bloomed late, others were taught as children. I can honestly say that with all the stress life has to offer, looking at things through a creative lens makes this world more enjoyable. I wanted to share with you 5 Ways to live a more creative life, based on creative people who are in my life, or who passed through my life and shined their creativity. Of course I know lots of artists, but this isn’t about art, that’s an obvious area creativity is standard in. These are the people that people tend to gravitate towards and they don’t even know what it is that’s drawing them.

5 Style

I remember having a teacher in high school, Ms, Fitzgerald. This woman had an amazingly creative since of style. I swear I showed up to literature really just to see what she was wearing day to day. She came by her creativity by her bloodline, she was the great, great something of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Nice, right? The creative apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. But it wasn’t in the way you would think, yes she taught literature, and I never asked if she was a writer herself, her creativity that glowed and shined for the world was her since of style. She was tall and beautiful, but it wasn’t that, it was her style. She always walked in something that was memorable, things put together that most wouldn’t have thought went, but they did and they went together well! Stacked Espadrilles, biker boots, long flowy skirts, fiercely starched white dress shirts that were tied off or French tucked, before we had Pinterest and knew what that was! Ahead of her time and always runway ready. I’m 48, it’s been ages since I had her class, but she made an impression.

So get creative in that closet! Mix up the fancy top with the chunky casual shoes and jeans. Find out what makes you feel special when you put it on, and then you’ll know you found your own creative style.

4 Cooking

Creativity in the kitchen is always loved by friends and family. I’ve known a few people that were especially gifted in this area. Best of all my grandmothers, but they get a spot below, so for this I’m thinking of my friend Cheryl. We worked together in the corporate world, and she was always bringing in her creations to share. Chery’s love for food wasn’t just limited to her kitchen, she introduced me to cafe au lait and beignets at a little hole in the wall in Atlanta that were to die for. She had a gift both in the kitchen and in finding delicious treats in the community we worked in. My favorite was her post-Thanksgiving pot pies. She took all the things she had left over and stuck them in home made pie crust topped with gravy and covered with more home made dough, then they were baked. This made returning to the office after the holiday a lot cheerier! Cheryl passed this past month, but I’m sure she’s up in heavens having a grand time with all the chefs currently in residence up there.

So get creative in that kitchen, try new spices, add a few more vegetables to your dishes! Find a new ethnic restaurant in your community, but check the health score first, I’m a stickler for that at any eatery! Mix up the weekly meal plans. Find out what makes your taste buds dance, and then you’ll know you found your own creative cooking style.

3 Home Making

The Aunts Have it! My Aunt Lynn and my Aunt Kay(well, really 2nd cousin). These two ladies had an amazing way of making any place they live cozy and inviting. I remember summers in Ohio with Aunt Kay and she would have ladders out and wet paint up. Laura Ashley inspired floral and striped wall papers were all over the place, beautiful nick knacks here and there. And Aunt Lynn’s house always smelled amazing and gave you all the feels of a cabin tucked away in the country, though it was just a twenty minute drive south of Atlanta. Hanging quilts, potpourri spices simmering, classical music floating through her house. And always a fluffy cat sitting somewhere in view.

So get creative in your home! Don’t worry about if this or that is “in” or fits a specific style. Find things that make you feel cozy and happy. This doesn’t have to be on a ridiculous budget, hit your local thrift shops. Usually they support a great cause and you can get decor for an absolute steal! DIY some items! That’s just plain fun to begin with, and you feel so accomplished when you can tell guest that you created it. Find out what makes you feel at home, where you feel cozy and nurtured, and then you’ know you’ve found your own creative home style.

2 Worship

My art mentor growing up was Lydia Ellis. Lydia is an amazing artist to this day, but I’m thinking of her in this post because Lydia was the first creative worshipper I’d ever met. Lydia sees God as her true father, and in that way has a very loving relationship with him. When I was a teen and Lydia was teaching community art classes at the local college, I lied about my age to be able to join the classes. She just winked at me and said, “Sure you’re 16”, the classes were supposed to be 16+. I’d just turned 13. Well Lydia saw a hunger for art and love in me and so she would often get me for a weekend from my mother. Lydia’s kids were much younger than me, and it was a blast to be around this family. There was always church on a Lydia weekend. But this was not your grandmother’s church. The church was a small very young church borrowing space in a building. AGAPE. There were people in jeans, flowy hippie like skirts. The music was unrecognizable, filled with drums, acoustic guitars, and joy filled voices. It was magical, and back then pretty unusual. There are lots of these now and I think that’s awesome! It was like someone had taken the musical stylings of the beetles and Carol King and dipped them in the Holy Spirit. I loved it. And y’all these folks weren’t just standing for a hymn to be sang, they clapped, they raised their hands, and moved with the sounds. There was I’m sure many former hippies, and this atmosphere for my young budding hippie artist heart was in heaven. They were worshipping creatively, making worship personal. Lydia even included her art at home as part of her worship and as these churches have evolved, she’s been included in services creating art as they spoke.

So get creative in your worship! Mix it up, find some new spiritual musicians to check out, watch some new ministries online, get your journal out and doodle what God puts on your heart while you listen to a sermon. Find out what worship style fits best with your spirit, and then you’ know you found your own creative worship style.

1 LIVING

There was nothing my Grandmothers Sally(Anna Ruth to the Kentucky folks) and Pearl couldn’t do. Cooking, decorating, sewing, canning, making a cozy pallets for little ones to watch cartoons on, crafts and so on. These two ladies will forever be The Queens of Creative Living in my heart. My Grandma Pearl( Mamaw to me) didn’t always have an easy time, but she was so good at making each of us kids feel special and loved. Special treats, special one on one time, even with a very tight budget, she made it happen. And oh her fried bologna was the best on a Saturday morning. My grandmother Sally, or as we called her, Mom, she was a top Tupperware lady, a regional manager. She worked her tail off in that business and had so many special treasures to show for it. She spent an hour every night with her bible, she was always trying new recipes, her cooking was divine, beaded crafts, making our Easter dresses, crocheting till the wee hours of the morning with Gospel music blaring, I have no idea how my Papaw slept through it. Her Tupperware prizes were sprinkled through out her home, Giant freezers filled with her creative concoctions in the kitchen, grandfather clock in the hall, family photos all around, so very homey. She was creative in how she loved everyone in our family, even those that were difficult people and were harder to love on. Holidays were tops there with homemade candies, treats, and pies, homemade beaded ornaments hanging from the ceilings, Carols in the air, and twinkling lights. These two ladies were creative at how they lived their lives and even how they dealt with pain. Losses, sickness, even murder of my Grandma Sally’s father, which she was witness to and held hostage at, and they pushed on sharing love and believing in those around them.

So get creative in that life of yours! After all, it’s really short and shorter the older we get. Find areas of your life you can enjoy more by adding creativity and love to it. One thing is for sure, we all are at some point going to deal with sickness, sadness, disappointment, but we can control how we react to it, and we can do it creatively and choose to be joyful, as these two ladies in my life did, and then you’ll know you found your own creative living style.

You Can Be a Girl Boss Too!

How You Can be a Girl Boss( or Guy Boss!) too!

I’ve had clients sitting across from me as we work on a second or third project ask, “How do I know you? Did we call you?”, or “This looks great, I can’t remember, who introduced us?” It sounds crazy, but I’m used to it actually. Why? Because I go after companies that impress me or that I see has a need and potential. This can work for just about any entrepreneur willing to cold call. Cold calls sound terrifying, I mean after-all, I’m an artist/designer, not a salesperson. But, if you’re passionate about what you do and you give it and your business the best that you have to give, you can’t do anything but succeed! So how am I getting not only in front of business owners I didn’t know before our first project and not only work with them, but became their go to Designer? Not a Designer? That’s ok, whatever you’re great at or are passionate about, this technique can work for!

Lists. Emails. Social. Towns. Talk.

What’s awesome about my technique? Anyone can do it! But you have to provide great honest service once you’ve got their attention, or it was all for nothing.

1. Lists | I Google different types of businesses I want to work with Bakery, Dairy, Restaurant, and so on. I email at least 30 of them.

2. Email | This email is the first impression. Don’t go in like a car salesman. Introduce yourself. Be friendly(I hope you really are)! Say what you like about their business or industry and how you can help. Call to action. Not car salesman. Let’s Have coffee and talk about how I can help you?

3. Social | It’s never been easier to present a professional image, no matter the budget, to keep top of mind presence with clients. Using social wisely, don’t post too much and don’t post too little. Don’t shout Buy Me, show them why they want your service or product. Make sure to share the human side of your business, how is your product made, how or why do you do what you do.

4. Towns | Pick a place you like and get out there and meet people! I often pick a town, walk around meeting shop owners, checking out what they do and leaving them with one of my postcards that show my best work. I never interrupt business owners interacting with customers. I’m patient and wait. If too busy, I leave a card behind. I make friends more often than I make a new client, but don’t clients really want someone they can trust?

5. Talk | Word of mouth was the beginning of my of business. If I didn't give my clients great service for a fair price it would have been the end of my business. When you do good work, word spreads.

I’d love to hear from you on what techniques you’ve found that work and if anything I’ve shared helped your business.

Making Lemonade Out of This Mess We're All In!

Lemons!

I’ve posted a Free watercolor tutorial for all my friends who are stuck at home during our little Covid19 Isolation. Please share! Comment! Show me your art after you follow along! If you love this and want to get my Newsletter filled with my latest design and art projects Sign up here:

Fight Post Holiday Blues with Inspiration and Goals!

The Plan

Post holiday blues have a tendency to wreck. They make me keep the tree up a wee bit longer than I should, eat a little more sweets than I should and, well the rest is downhill from there. So, instead this year, I’ve already been planning my approach. The tree will come down in a timely manner. The New year will be met with a new candle from a favorite shop and a marathon of inspiring movies.

Inspiring Movies

1. Under the Tuscan Sun

2. Chocolat

3. Big Fat Greek Wedding

4. Harry Potter Series

5. The JK Rowling Story

6. You’ve Got mail

7. Practical Magic

8. Midnight in Paris

9. Julie & Julia

10. Joy (2015) Joy Mangano( I haven’t seen yet, but I know it will be uber inspiring)

11. Moana

12. Ratatouille

13. Baby Boom

14. Chef(Netflix)

What movie inspires you most?

Nourishment!

I’ll be trying out new routines to get myself out of the office for some fresh air once a day and a little physical activity. Picking new goals for both personal and professional growth, not resolutions, but truly goals. Saying you have a New Year’s Resolution is the kiss of death for any plan! Giving my body the nourishment it needs will be a priority, rather than last on the list this year. I’ll start with a self evaluation of what I’m feeling, and what can I do to improve that. Things like energy, fatigue, etc.

Are you feeling your best? How’d you get there?

Personal and Professional Goals!

I really want these to be achievable and measurable. Goals are personal, but in a nutshell, my purpose is for this to move me down the line. Grow my business, grow my relationships, grow my faith walk, but more specific than that. I’m still working on these. One thing is for sure though, if I don’t set any goals or make any plans, this time next year, I’ll be exactly in the same place I am in business and relationships.

How are you setting and achieving your goals?

Merry Christmas Everyone and here’s to a fantastic prosperous New year!

Cinemasperation | movies that inspire

It’s time for a little Cinemasperation!

We all have them, that movie that just watching makes us feel like we could do anything. Those movies that you could watch again and again for the optimistic feelings they leave you with. I’m sharing my favorite Cinemasperation Movies. Be sure to share your favorites with us all in the comments.

1. Magic Beyond Words: The J.K. Rowling Story
   This one is great for all of us artist and writers out there. But really, it’s inspirational for anyone with a dream. You see the tough times, rejections and ugly bits of life and then you see her push past it all and just do what she loves! I could watch it over and over, ut that’s true of most on this list.

2. Chef
   We all have them, that boss, relative or even inner voice that tries to hold us back and control our creativity. Chef is the perfect movie to give your spirit a boost and a little shot of “I can make it no matter what”! Jon Favreau created a real gem here. It has a bit of language, but with passion… comes a bit of language at times!

3. Big Fat Greek Wedding
   Oh how we love a good ugly duckling tale that ends with a beautiful swan, well this isn’t just about that swan, though she does blossom. We watch Toula spread her wings and build self-confidence one step at a time and fall in love! Trust me, this one is a winner for your inspiration tank!

4. Baby Boom
   An oldy for sure but packed with valley moments and hilltop Wins that would inspire any woman who feels like the deck is stacked against her.

5. Under the Tuscan Sun
   Feel like life isn’t going the way you planned? Life isn’t fair, that’s for sure. In this film we again watch a woman hit rock bottom, only to discover an amazing new life that’s better than she could have ever planned or dreamed of. The scenery aint bad either!

Bonus Inspiration: >>> Faith Like Potatoes <<< Spiritual Inspiration!
This movie tells the life story of a South African farmer, Angus Buchan and his walk with God. He eventually goes into ministry and even creates a home for widows and orphans on his land. It’s simply amazing what you can do when you have faith in GOD, even as little as a a mustard seed.
“I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” Matthew 17:20

5 Things to Know Before You Contact a Logo Designer

Working with a designer to develop a logo is an exciting process. While a good designer will be able to provide a great variety of creative options, there are somethings that you need to already have in mind. Things that can reduce the budget and help point your designer in the right direction.

Knowing these five things ahead of time will lead to a smooth logo creation process:

Ayds that was a popular appetite-suppressant candy in the 1970s and early 1980s

1. Know the Name
   Seriously, is there a problem with the name you have? Are you constantly having to explain “No, not automobile audio, hearing aids”? Is there a change in popular culture that has affected the impact of your business? For example, there was a popular product called Ayds (pronounced as "aids") that was a popular appetite-suppressant candy in the 1970s and early 1980s, but by the mid-1980s AIDS was capturing the world’s attention and unfortunately , it was pronounced phonetically the same as the candy, and the disease caused weight, a goal of the candy. It was an unfortunate perfect storm of reduced sales and eventual destruction of a product. The moral of the story, before you spend on the branding, be sure you are still good with the name, and that the name is still good with the times. Coca-Cola, 20th-Century, and Quaker Oats are great examples of long-lasting brands that needed no changing and have a proud history of marketing.

2. Know What You Like
   Your designer will have plenty of ideas to share with you, some you may have never considered. But it’s always good to know what you like and dislike in brands you see every day. No great designer is going to rip off what you like in the brands, but rather be inspired, take note of what fonts you like what colors turn you off. A little googling homework and you’ll be ready to talk with confidence about what you like and don’t like before any budget is spent!

3. Know that It’s a Process
   It’s unbelievably rare for the first round of options for a logo to have “the one” with minor changes, even rarer to be “the one” as is. Enjoy the exploration of what could be and rather than being frustrated with it. Sometimes a client seeing the first round of logo options may even trigger an aha moment of what they want. I always try to build into a design quote, any design quote, time for revisions.

4. Know that Less is More
   I bet you think I mean in one area, NOPE! This applies in two ways, the amount of detail and the number of people in the decision-making process.

   • Design by committee almost always increases the budget and sanitizes the end product. To put it bluntly, we just don’t all have the same taste and each person tends to carve off bits of what makes each other’s taste cool, in the end often leaving a very bland brand.

5. Know When to Fire the Designer
   Did I say that? Yes, I did. Too many times I’ve seen designers sit through a consult with a client and then just do what they want. I’m not saying every idea a client has should be used. We designers are sought out for a reason, we have training and a gift for design! It’s our duty as designers to say, this or that doesn’t represent your brand well. There’s always a way to give a client what they are looking for, but with a designer’s touch that makes it professional looking. I’ve had too many clients come to me frustrated after dealing with designer s that were snotty and wouldn’t listen to their vision for the brand they wanted. Let’s think about that for a minute, their brand and a brand they are paying for. Hello! If the designer won’t listen and seems like they don’t have a heart for what you desire, FIRE THEM!

Your Message + My Design = Ministry Success!

Ways to Share Your Way to Success

GET SOCIAL

The internet has really done a great job leveling the playing field for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Getting Social is one of the biggest contributors to how my small business is not only making it but thriving! Don't you love that word, thrive. Who doesn’t want their business to thrive?

You want to get your business out there in every way possible. Post! Post! Post! Have friends share! Link! Link! Link! Blog! Blog! Blog!

Make use of as many platforms as you can! I personally regularly update my business FB page, my personal FB page to lead others over to the FB business page, LinkedIn, Instagram, Dribble and my website. Yes, I said website.

A lot of people get the website created, and then forget about it. It’s checked off the list and that’s it. That’s a terrible use of what basically these days is the first contact a person has with your business, your store front if you will. Do you not dress up the store front at holidays? Change displays to show off latest products or offers? You should be doing those same things on your website, regularly!

FIND your people

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There’s a lot to benefit from groups and forums.

You learn from others in your field in groups/forums that focus on your industry. Being active in groups that have potential clients is a great resource for future projects by demonstrating your expertise in discussions and offering advice/input. Groups such as local business forums and community boards often have people looking for a great plumber, designer or reliable realtor.

1. linkedin.com

2. facebook.com

3. instagram.com

4. Blogger.com

5. My Website, which I created through squarespace.com

6. pinterest.com

7. Local business community forums

8. dribbble.com (for designers)

9. Behance.com (for designers)

Always exercise caution when dealing with strangers!

How can your business have an edge over the competition in today’s market?

The Key to Logo Success

Design Trends

It’s so important to be aware of design trends. Coco-Cola is a great example of a well aged, beautiful logo. The logo is paired and used with design trends in mind. In this way, the branding stays fresh, while maintaining a strong brand heritage. 

Target Audience

Knowing your audience is so very important when branding a company. Everything from color to font choice greatly change to attract different audiences. Attracting that client to look twice can translate into a sale, or even many sales.

Have you noticed a certain color trending in women’s clothing, makeup and magazines? Chances are, incorporating that color into a logo for a women’s focused company would be a great move! While the color may change over time as trends change, the logo would not change and would therefor, be the consistency customers look for.

Owner Input

Listening to what a client wants and their ideas is vital. I’ve heard many stories of designers not listening to the client on what they want and being condescending to clients. In essence, an attitude of “I know what you need more than you do”. This attitude helps no one. Sure as a designer, there’s some important facts related to logo design and what’s trending that the client doesn’t know, but the client has to have a voice and they have a lot to share in developing a successful brand. They may have a certain image in mind, a color that they despise, and so on.

After all, they are paying for it!

Logo Use

Designing a beautiful logo is as much about how it will be used as it is about how it attracts customers. An amazing full color logo, that is mostly printed black and white on ink pens and embroidered shirts will not be a successful logo for that company. It seems common sense, but it’s amazing how often this isn’t taken into account.

Entrepreneur's Need Breaks Too

I just can’t say it enough, creativity doesn’t come from burn out. Neither does big breakthrough in business, medicine or anything else. Breaks are a must. Take a walk, look at the leaves or maybe see a movie. Those help for sure, but there’s no replacement for a change in scenery, no chores on your days list and complete “me time” submersion.

Before you say, “I can’t, I don’t have time”, think about this, a well-rested business person is more energized, filled with fresh ideas, and usually much friendlier to their clients. Vacations are an investment in yourself and your business.

A Break on a Budget

Being an entrepreneur can mean not knowing month to month what your income may be. For that reason, Booking.com is a great resource for trip planning. The ability to book trips with free cancellation windows is a huge plus. Book that trip, if things aren’t going as well as you’d hoped financially, you can cancel it! That takes a huge stress off trip planning when your new business is just taking off. Booking.com also shows you the overall trip price rather than per night. They also list extra charges you will receive.

Free Perks

Hotels can come with some amazing perks, or terrible experiences. There’s a wide range! Some come with water parks, free breakfast or nightly movies on the lawn. Always check crime stats, reviews, and ratings for the place you are thinking of booking and the city it’s in. We all have different standards, when a place doesn’t live up to yours, you won’t be getting that R&R that was the whole point of the break!
For my family, we’ve found we enjoy Hampton Inn & Suites at Amelia Island, FL. There’s a great free hot breakfast that changes daily and a pretty view from the pool. Spacious rooms and a historic downtown location mean an easy walk to shops and restaurants, which is always a winner with my crew. That kitchenette gets put to good use, we do free breakfast and then make sandwiches at lunch, dinner Is usually out!

Day Tripper

Maybe for whatever reason it’s not possible to completely detach and take a long weekend. If that’s the case, try a day trip. I’m sure there’s some amazing places to visit within an hour or two of your home. A small town to explore, lake or creek to dip your toes in, theme park sure to thrill, or just a special place to have lunch that’s a treat.
For instance, we’re just south of Atlanta. We have mountains about two hours to our North and three hours to the south we have beautiful Savannah, GA and Tybee Island. We have been known to get up early one morning, hit the road and be in Savannah or the mountains by 10 or 11. We spend the day enjoying the sites and foods and then we hit the road in time to be tucked into our beds by 10! It’s great, and no hotel charge!

Seeing new sites, trying new foods and exploring new places is a sure-fire way to get the ideas flowing, make new contacts and to be a Better Entrepreneur!

3 Truly Magical Places in Georgia

We creative types simply have to get regular doses of inspiration. I can't say that enough. Here in Georgia, there’s lots of creative inspiration to be had. We're blessed with enchanting accents, pretty country roads and mossy trees the further south you get. But aside from all those awesome southern charms we've also have some really cool little gems that I love telling people about. Sprinkled throughout our state in places you would least expect it, there are little doors to whimsical lands filled with books, birdhouses, and French toast. Weather you enter through a Hobbit Door or Wardrobe, you just know when you've entered a special place, and these places are just that, SPECIAL!

As you wind through the beautiful North Georgia Mountains on Highway 515 East you may spot a giant birdhouse poking out from the trees. If you investigate further you'll be rewarded with an amazing world created by the one and only Art Millican Jr, a former Disney Artist. Art helped bring to life Michael Jackson's Neverland Valley Ranch, as well as designed displays for Dollywood and Six Flags. Art's amazing playhouses have even appeared on My Backyard Goes Disney!

So, with all this Magic in his background, of course Art's place is going to be thoroughly pixie dusted. It's free to tour the Woodland Fairy Village. A path winds down a hill that's sprinkled with bird houses small, large, all the way up to Adult size! There's a Hobbit House, child sized gypsy wagon, castles that might seem a wee bit familiar, Gnome village off in the distance, and at the bottom of the hill is a giant bird house/treehouse that any kind (or adult) would love to have. Be sure to stop in the gift/Art Shop before you explore the path. You can buy a handmade birdhouse sure to please your feathered friends at home. Need a new paint brush or pen set? They've got them. Fairy door charm for your favorite bracelet? They've got them! There's just so much magic in this place. be sure to make a donation or by something while you're there. 

Find out more about Sleepy Hollow here.

Sugar Hill Bakery honestly took me by surprise. I saw something about it online and made my way there the next day. I had no idea what a treat I was in for. When we parked, and I looked up to see that you literally enter the restaurant through an antique wardrobe, I was immediately giddy. And the excitement didn't end there. The room that awaited was breath taking. I couldn't pick a spot to let my eyes settle. There were twinkly lights all about, snow dusted trees here and there, all types of mismatched in the most beautiful way chairs and sofas all around. The tablecloths and linen napkins were beautiful and set ready for the most delightful breakfast I've had since I was dining with my favorite mouse. It's just impossible to explain the space accept to say, it was magical. 

And oh my, the kid’s meals are served, are you ready for this, in old school lunch boxes! How adorable is that? So, let's talk food. When I say that I had the best French toast I've ever had in my life there, I'm telling the honest truth. My husband had an omelet that was amazing as well, i snuck a bite when he wasn't looking. Speaking of the Mr., my guy is for sure a tough guy. He's as manly as they come, and I can tell you he grinned from ear to ear. We both really enjoyed this little magical moment at Sugar Hill Bakery and Cafe. We plan on returning very soon. Oh! By the way, want to go Fairy Hunting? Enjoy mystery dinners? They do those there! Get more info about my new favorite place to get my whimsy tank filled here.

Children's Books. That's magical already, far away wonderlands, yellow brick roads, monsters and princesses. Already more magic than you can shake a stick at. But, in the town of Monroe, GA two very creative ladies, Owner Melissa Music & Designer Stephanie Cannon, have brought those wonderlands to life in The Story Shop. 

Before you enter the shop, you can tell that this will not be your typical book store. There are mushroom stools by the door and an open sign made from a book hangs in the window. And then you enter the most amazing book store this girl has ever laid eyes on! And let me tell you, I had the luck of being a teen in the 90's and getting to spend lots of time in the oh so amazing and gone way too soon Oxford Books on Far Road. So, I've seen some amazing book stores. You immediately see lots of color, shelves with books like Little Women and Jane Austin for toddlers. Hello! That's just cool. A big purple chair with a Cheshire smile across the back. Cozy nooks are everywhere just waiting for you to snuggle in with a great book. But wait, what's that near the register, why it's a giant antique wardrobe! Yep, they have a Narnia inspired wardrobe that leads to of all places, story time! The room for story time is just adorable. 

There's a yellow brick road to explore, a middle reader room straight out of Hogwarts and best of all the most amazing event space I've ever seen. It's complete with a huge table fit for a king that is set based on the theme the party host choses. This space is just fantastic. But back to the yellow brick road, where did that lead? The bathroom of course! and as you follow it to the back of the store you pass a super cozy reading nook inspired by Where the Wild Things Are, lots of books and then, gasp... 221B Baker Street. Yep, Sherlock gets a nod by this amazing shop! If you want to find out more about The Story Shop, check out their site here.

Have you found an inspiring place that gets your creativity engaged? Share it with me here in the comments. I'm always looking for a new adventure.

How to Have a Thriving Small Business

Does your brand reach out to your target audience?

Your brand is the centerpiece of your marketing. A thriving business needs a clear and consistent brand that appeals to their target audience. When customers are able to recognize your marketing materials and social media images due to a strong brand, there’s a confidence and trust that’s built. That brand should be refreshed yearly to be sure that it is growing with your customers changing needs.

Networking with local businesses can bring about both a sense of community as well as create a brain trust to help one another grow and problem solves for their small business.

Creating a group that meets monthly to discuss challenges and shares in wisdom and even barter skills is very valuable, especially to small business owners who wear many hats running their business. A great partner in this can be your city’s community development department.

sign up to get my FREE Small Business Thrive Guide

5 VOICES THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

1 Dan Miller

I can’t think of a more instrumental person that helped get me to where I am now in my career than Dan Miller. His passionate belief that we can all live a prosperous life and do it by doing what we love has been a well planted seed in my heart since the first time I listened to his podcast about 12 years ago.

Dan’s podcasts answer questions from listeners who are struggling with where they are in life or their careers, or both. He opens his heart and wealth of business experience to make suggestions and give encouragement, while still being stern when needed. After all, at a certain point you have to let go of what’s been done to you and take on your future! He is a firm believer in multiple streams of income and is honest with his listeners about the new American work scene. He also has a great library of books he’s written all of which are both encouraging and great for leading you step by step to making a living doing what you love! Even better, Dan believes you can make that happen in 48 days.

Check out Dan and be sure to listen to his amazing podcast to begin your journey to a better life doing what you love! 48days.com

2 Dave Ramsey

Simply put, when you are desperate financially it’s difficult to make good decisions. You have no margin of income to help others or for emergencies. This week position also usually effects relationships, most of the time in a very bad way.

Dave Ramsey changed my life and my relationship with my husband. His common sense wisdom with some very counter couture guidelines can take anyone from a position of weakness to a position of strength. Even better, when you’re not squeezed and stressed over money, you can be generous and help others!

I love anything that gives clear step by step instruction on how to do life better, and Dave’s book Total Money Makeover does just that.

Like Dan Miller, Dave has an excellent podcast that shares wisdom and his heart on the financial struggles so many Americans are experiencing.

Check out Dave’s podcast here and hit the library for that book, my husband and I get along so well now. daveramsey.com And thanks to Dave, we paid off 24,000 in 9 months on an artist and a cops salaries with two kids in day care($800 a month!).

3 Seth Godin

It’s not your imagination, the business world is changing rapidly. What once was a secure job is no longer, what once was an expensive set of 24 books is now free online with even more information than Britannica ever dreamed of sharing. Seth Godin has a unique perspective on these issues and how to make your self indispensable even in a day of outsourced jobs and vacant city streets that once teamed with factory workers.

My current favorite book is Linchpin, by Seth. Seth also has a free podcast and great information available here sethgodin.com

Tony Robbins

He’s loud and the music is pumping, it’s not a concert, it’s Tony! Tony knows how to break us out of our comfort zone and into beast mode! You know, go take on the world, concur your mountain, make a sale, or even the guy or girl you’ve always liked but never approached… whatever your mountain is. Tony breaks down the very basic things that we just don’t think of that are standing between us and success, be it in our work life or personal life.

His sight has blog posts to read through videos of Tony sharing some wisdom, books and of course things you can sig up for that do require a little financial investment. Check out what Tony has to offer here tonyrobbins.com

Joyce Meyer

We all have baggage. We’ve all got  regrets, past hurts and relationship wounds that haunt us or our life ins some way. I’m a firm believer that you aren’t going to get far, or even be satisfied no matter how successful you are until you’ve gotten your heart straight with God. Joyce is one of those teachers that keeps it real, speaks to us where we are in all our muck and glory. She shares her pain and her joy with everyone who reads her books or listens to her sermons.

You just aren’t going to get very far if you’re focus is constantly drawn back to the past. When your heart and head are clear and whole, you can do anything! Check out Joyce’s site here for devotionals and much more joycemeyer.org

5 Things Young Artists should do now for their Future!

Take Classes. Encourage your young artist to get art training outside of the school day. Far too little funding goes to those classes and even less time due to the number of students. Exposure to more focused art classes can help your student get ahead of the crowd when it is time to apply for scholarships for art school and other art programs. Those require a portfolio that is exceptional! Great places to try are local community colleges who have continuing ed art classes, local Community Centers and of course me!

Keep an art Journal/ sketchbook. Colleges look for that and honestly it's a great way to improve drawing skills. This is also a fantastic way for teens to process emotions during what usually is a pretty emotional time in their lives. Art journaling is very therapeutic.

Learn Art History. Read lots about Art History and all the amazing artist that have come before them. There's so many unique styles and techniques used by artists that diving in and getting to know the artists of the past and today will do two things.... 1. Inspire young artist and 2. Show them that to really make a mark in the at world you have to find your own voice so to speak. Your own style.

Explore New Mediums. Not everyone is going to find their passion through watercolor, but they may have an instant connection with pastels, photography, sculpture or stained glass. It's really important to expose art students to a variety of mediums, and put the pieces in that portfolio I mentioned earlier.

Keep a portfolio. A portfolio is vital when trying to get into special art programs or colleges. Students with a portfolio filled with a variety of mediums and techniques that show strong design skills are sure to catch the eye of schools. Portfolios should contain only the artist best work. This work will rotate out as the young artists skills improve.

If your young artist needs classes or help building a portfolio contact me!

Art Journaling Life

Art Journaling is like breathing. My travel paint set is always in my purse and sketchbook in my purse or under my arm. Doctors office, car rider line, standing in line at Disney World... you name it, I've art journaled there. Maybe it's the former smoker habit, the need to have something in my hands to curb the nerves. 

It's soothing when I'm stressed, it's an outlet when all my buttons have been pushed and Mt. St. Heather's is about to blow. It's a treasure to record special moment and favorite meals in. It's a place to record life and all that goes with it. When I'm gone my girls will have a large library of these journals to split between them. They'll be able to look through and remember family trips, milestones, and all that jazz.

@ the ER

MEMORIES & MAGIC

in

CHURCH

to

HEAL

If you want to begin art journaling it's so simple. All you need is a sketchbook small enough to be carried wherever you venture and something to make marks with. Pens, markers, crayons, paint pallets, pencils, watercolor pencils... whatever you like to use to doodle and write with. 

My favorite tools are Koi Watercolor Pocket Field Sketch Box Set which also comes with the waterbrush, the Canson Mix Media Sketchbook and a variety of waterproof ink pens such as Pigma Micron. 

Koi Watercolor Pocket Field Sketch Box Set

Pigma Micron

Canson Mix Media Sketchbook

Happy Art Journaling Friends,
Heather

Great ARTISTS DON'T JUST HAPPEN...

Of all the many artists I love, Georgia O'Keeffe has a soft spot in my heart.

For me Georgia was the introduction to the idea that artists could control what the viewer focused on. Even now her beautiful micro views of flowing flowers and billowy city streets that seem to bloom in the moon light are in my view still ground breaking. My eyes were opened to a whole new part of creativity... The point of view.

“Great artists don’t just happen, any more than writers, or singers, or other creators,” she continued. “They have to be trained, and in the hard school of experience.” Georgia O'Keeffe

Georgia was blessed with a long life to develop her style during. Her view on what it takes to be an artist is still relevant today. We would all be so lucky to find that style that's so clearly our own but wait... according to Georgia it wasn't luck at all. Check out this article from artsy on Georgia O'Keeffe and how to be an artist.

Tony Vaccaro Gerogia O'Keeffe for LOOK, 1960, 1960 Monroe Gallery of Photography

5 Tools for Better Design

I love anything that helps me keep my designs fresh and stream lines the creative process. Weather that be sourcing images, picking fonts and colors or simply a good site for inspiration. That last one is a doozie, as a designer it's really tough when you hit a creative dry spell. With that being said, I'd like to share these 5 Tools that I use to be a better designer!

1.

First up, flippingtypical.com! Flipping Typical is a website that actually shows you all the fonts on your computer. It allows you to type in a window and then scroll through to see what font in your system looks best. This baby has saved me so much time looking at the word or name in all the fonts side by side all at once. Personally it cuts down on the back and forth second guessing my font choices. 

2.

Next up... Unsplash.com. This is my favorite new tool. Unsplash is just amazing. Did I mention that it's all FREE? That's right... FREE for commercial use and HIGH RESOLUTION! IT's the holy grail of Stock Photography sites! And we're talking really beautiful photography that has more of an up to date look than most of the pricey stock image sites we all are used to using. I just can't say enough about these guys, so go check them out!

3.

Inspiration is a hugely important thing when you're a designer. It can be the difference in getting work, keeping a job and well, paying the bills. designspiration.net is a great resource to type in a key word and let the imagery fill your creative tank. Interior Design, Graphic design and so on.. it all mixes together and fills the page to create a cocktail of fabulous inspiration. You'll be ready to crank out new designs in no time.

4.

Fonts are oh so important to a good looking design. Lately my go to resource for fonts has been creativemarket.com This is a beautifully curated site that honestly has mind blowing photos, stock art and fonts, but for me they are my go to font house. I know when I'm dealing with Creative Market that I'll be getting top quality fonts. I also find I'm really inspired by all that I see featured on the site. 

5.

Travel! I know, that doesn't seem like a tool. But honestly, we all get stuck in ruts. You go to the same office, see the same people, eat the same foods and on and on. Travel breaks that monotony and revives our spirit. Even if it's just an afternoon two towns over, or a day spent driving back roads exploring your state, it exposes us to new things, new people, new tastes and redirects the course of our creativity. Every little treasure you see in gift shops, antique stores, on your hikes in the water all contribute to new beautiful ideas!

I hope these 5 Tools prove to be helpful designing and that you have a fabulous time exploring them, especially 5!