Ah...the Possibilities

 

This morning I made a drive by drop off at the Austin airport. Butler and I are now on our own for several days. As I drove home the sunrise was was painting the sky in vivid pinks and golds. My eyes drank in the changing clouds and colors. What an awesome display!

I could feel my spirit opening up to the possibilities of what I could do in the coming days. If nature can produce such a brilliant tableau, certainly I can mix my colors and patterns, too, with wild abandon! I'm inspired by the sky, the coming spring blooms, the rows of fabrics in the store, the beautiful dresses online. My creative soul is singing!

Blooming!

To Resolve or Not to Resolve, That Is the Question

The New Year...time for planning, setting goals, and, dare I say, make resolutions. I heard a funny story yesterday. Some TV show was reading resolutions from their audience, my favorite was from an 80 year old. "Been there. Done that. I'm all over that." Ah, with age, does come wisdom.

But resolutions do have their worth. They give us goals and plans for the year. I find it works best for me if I keep them small and specific. For several years I've changed my annual weight loss goal from "lose 100 pounds," to meet next Christmas 15 lbs lighter." This strategy has worked for the last 2 years, so I'm keeping it. By the time I'm 80 I will have been there, done that. Ta Dum! Small steps.

Last year I joined the blogging movement and chose a word to frame my business and goals. "Forward." It was a good mantra for me. Often I get stuck in the quick sand of broken goals. Many of you know the drill.  A stumble leads to giving up. For instance as I plan my year and pick what shows I want to do, I dream of new audiences from some of the bigger venues. When I'm rejected by the planners, I fall apart. I give up on the dream. By reminding myself of the simple word, FORWARD, last year I didn't fall on my face. When rejected I used it as an opportunity to rethink and retool but in a forward direction, maybe diagonal but forward. Small steps.

This year I'm borrowing from Kelly Lefky, That's Mrs Mediocrity to You. She posted a picture and blog that spoke to me. "Blossom."

turn your face
 to the sky
 and blossom

So that's my goal word - blossom. Since I love flowers. Relish watching spring blooms. Work with flowered fabrics. It makes sense for me on so many levels. Business wise and personally I want this to be a year when my petals unfold in splendor. Sappy!!! Yes, yes, yes. But I'm loving the image of growth and beauty. It is going to be a good year.

 

 



Blooming

Good Friday. My birthday. I time to ponder life's glories. My little lime tree has survived another winter and is optimistically blooming once more. Ahhh, the persistence of nature is a wonderous process!!!

Fooling

What kind of fool am I?

Fools rush in where wise men fear to go.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.

(A fool) is born every minute.

To fool or not to fool, that is the question.

Foolish thoughts.

Every (fool) has it's day. Today is it. Make the most of it. Do something foolish. Play. Run bare foot through the grass. Swing. Lay on your back and see what the clouds make. Pick dandelions. Skip stones. Get a friend and play leapfrog. Climg a tree. Dance instead of walking. Inspire a belly laugh in a stranger. Ride a bike with feet off the pedals, Express inner child in paint and out on refrigerator door.

Share what you did, foolishly.

A View from My Room

From my workroom window I have a view of the cul-de-sac where I live. Today is a sunny day which I haven't seen many of recently, so it is especially juyful. A breeze dances with the new leaves, and the sky is a fresh scrubbed blue. Ahh, bliss! Quietly the occasionally a bird flies through or a butterfly flits. Mother Nature is doing a good job today!

My fingers and scissors ae working on a lavendar and green palette. I'm channelling spring flowers - iris, violets and lilacs.

Bluebonnets

Thanks to my husband I have some bluebonnet shots he took in a field on his way to the grocery store. Fields of blue abound this year. Yay!!!!

Wildflowers



Georgetown Poppies by Gwen Green

I live in the heart of wildflower country. Thanks to Lady Bird Johnson in a good year we have gobs of bluebonnets, indian paints, black-eyed susans, and wild ground roses along our roads. It can be a riot of color. Last year we had barely any due to the drought. Hopefully due to our rains starting in January the wildflowers will return. We are having a few days of cool rain under constantly gray skies, but next week looks sunny and warm. Here's hoping the flowers will pop. Certainly I have a bumper crop of dandelions in my yard! And the Bradford Pear trees have done a good job of blooming. Fingers and toes crossed!!!!

Nothing lifts my spirits like wildflowers. There is something about the randomness of where they grow that fills my spirit. But it does take rain either in the fall or spring. As Butler gazes wistfully out the back door at another rainy morning, I explain that the wet stuff he doesn't like is necessary for nature's beauty. The trees are budding and will soon wear their veils of new green. Squirrels will be romping and celebrating the return of leaves. (Well, the mention of squirrels got his ears perked up!!!)



no credit available

Eagerly I await spring. What do you love most about spring? Is it like Butler, a return of the frisky squirrels? Or like me a chance to fill my senses with wildflowers?

More Future Women

I thought if I took a break I could solve problem of why that one picture is turned, but I can't. So I finish with the portrait gallery of Annarella Girls. Some are family, some are models and some are girls I've met at shows. They are all glorious, smart and beautiful. They are going to make fabulous women! It's been my pleasure and honor to have them in my life for a brief instance or many years.

Hurray for the International Women's Day. I celebrate you all.

International Day of Women

I dearly love that I get to dress the future women. I celebrate their feminity, love of ruffles, all things pink and twirling. I applaud their tree climbing, cart wheeling, and running. How wonderful that they have the opportunity to explore so many talents. Kudos to the caring women who are raising this extraordinary generation of females.

don't know why it is on its side,  but I love this girl! So turn your head!!!

Enjoy this look at our future!!!

Life Models

After blogging about finding inspiration in the lives, thoughts and works of others, I find among my facebook friends, Stephanie, a blog post which is in the same vein. She calls them possibility tracks - people she finds inspirational in the life paths they follow.People she can emulate to stretch her own possibilities. I strongly suggest you go to some of the links she offers as examples of those living loud, proud creative lives and sharing what they are learning and doing which inspires others.

Thanks, Stephanie, of Creative Living, for giving me inspiration to continue on creatively! I'm enjoying noting my possibility tracks.

Blogging for Business...Continuing the Conversation

After I posted last night, I realized I'd omitted part of my thoughts. So here goes with some more.

My premise that readers and fans would be interested in my process and thoughts is based on more than conceit. I am fascinated by what makes people tick, what makes up people's stories. I firmly believe that there are only so many personality taits but the combination of emotions, intellect, personality is what produces each unique individual. And I want to know how this impacts each person's life, especially their creative life. I find each story inspiring. I find each story amazing. Everyone has a story, and I want to hear it.

Whether it be a painter's painting, a writer's writing, a songwriter's songs, a designer's design, an actor's role  or a singer's song, I want to know what their voice is, how they choose to express it, and why they create what they do. I assume that many others want to share in the same knowledge. So that's why I write out my thoughts and think some might be interested in them. They are part of my uniquiness and part of my art.

Some artists don't want to share their thoughts; they want the audience to approach it without prejudice. I, on the other hand, want to share my voice, because it further clarifies it for myself. I don't work well in a silent vaccumn. Like I just said, we are all different. Through blogging I get to talk to my audience, sorry for that, sharing bits and pieces of me, the ordinary, the creative, the story of me. 

Love Around the World

Happ Valentine's Day. Blogs, facebook and twitter are full of expressions of love. Some very personal. That's Mrs. Mediocrity to you has a lovely picture and a heartfelt poem, "Cadence."  Brene Brown of ordinary courage shares the idea of love for all in this world and offers a gift for those who share what they've done to show love. Wonderful thoughts.

I find I'm compelled to talk about love. I was lucky enough to grow up in a house filled with love. I felt cossetted in love thanks to my parents. Now almost every parent loves their children. My parents also rspected us. What a gift! They treated our feelings, thoughts and ideas as important and taught us that the feelings, thoughts and ideas of others demanded to be treated with respect.

So I pass that along to the world. Lets get back to respect - respect for our elders, respect for our peers, repect for laws, respect for our country. Hokey, you say. Sure! But treating others with respect gives us a good framework for a healthy discussion and acknowledgement of differences. Discussions born out of respect can lead to compromises that work for the majority. Let's stop the meaness; it's not constructive. Use this Valentine's Day to find something good in an adversary. Tell me what it is!

Two totally different takes on hearts! Viva la difference! Go forward in love and respect!!

On Thin Ice

Yesterday was a MONDAY. Haven't had one for awhile. Seems like I'm skating along merrily and smoothly for days at a time when suddenly the ice gets rough. With arms wheeling I try to regain a balance, but there is that period when all I can do is barely stay on my feet much less glide. That's a MONDAY - full of bumps of frustration making every planned project a struggle. I find myself making lots of silly mistakes. Spend too much time doing over.Greet end of work day with a wipe of the brow and a big whew. Tomorrow has to be better. Surely I can't be so inept two days in a row.

This morning I am off to a much better start. Projects are back on track. And I was treated to a wonderful poem from Mrs. Mediocrity on her blog which expressed what I felt yesterday. So love it when a word wizard catches my thoughts. Pop over and give it a look.

Anyone around Winnie, Texas this weekend, look for their arts and craft fair. Simply By Shannon will be there with our combined tutu dress. It is so hard to get a good pic of it; they are so cute in person.

Forward.

Gathering Signs of Spring

This morning a large flock of robins settled in my backyard eating and chirping until Butler broke them up. Can spring be on its way? Such a mild winter that trees are budding and bushes flowering. Grass is proudly flaunting its new green.  Groundhogs in Pennsyvania and armidillos here predicted 6 more weeks of winter. Well, if this is winter bring it on. Please, no hard freezes for us so these tender harbingers of spring don't die. Just more of what we have.

Mother Nature is capricious and sometimes has a wicked sense of humor. See our last summer as proof. Now we are all holding our breath and electric bills as we wait to see when the first 90 and 100 degree days occur. Last week saw a day in the mid 80's. (Honestly no wonder I settled on making sundresses when I retired. In Central Texas they are all year long fashion without a tee and leggings underneath or a sweater over.) Like a cat I love a warm day sitting on my back porch basking in the sun. But last year was a test even for the hardiest sun lover. So, Mother Nature, can we have loads and loads of these warm days before you treat us to hot? I'm thinking until late May or even June before triple digits!

Princess Notes

I'm working in collaboration with a fellow crafter, Shannon, who makes girly, girl stuff - bows and tutus. Go to her facebook page to see. Well, she wanted a top to go with her tutus, so I've been working on a tube top with a corset tied back. Finally have the sizing and engineering done, so today I'm working on a final product. It will be frou-frou with a soft, feathery trim. It is unabashedly aimed at the princesses.

Love the princesses. They twirl with delight, dance instead of walk, and giggle frequently. Most girls have at least a little princess in them. Of course, they love pink, purple and black. They enjoy sparkle that reflects the glitter within. They are so happy when they make people smile. Who can't love these girls?

from www.pinterest.com

What happens when they grow up. Well, here in Texas they combine their princess side with their cowgirl side. Still lots of sparkly but love their boots, too. Tough, ambitious, complex. Many I know are full of good works and helping people. Creative - even if they don't dance as much as before, their imaginations are moving to their inner music. Love them, love them. And you know who you are. Writers, poets, bloggers, sewers, artists, artisans, jewelers, knitters, designers and teachers. All full of sparkle.

(I've lost the info of who posted picture above, but it is from pinterest. Go there for fun and inspiration.)

Nurture your princess today and tell me how. Put on your helmet and tutu. Forward.

A Too Short Day

Lots to do, places to go, people to see. Busy, busy. Love the tingle of energy I get when the day is full of good events.

"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see."   John Burroughs

Have a generous day - generous in spirit, generous in heart, generous in time.
PS. Thanks for the feedback on my photos yesterday.
  

A Bit of Goodness for My Soul

Found a new blog to follow. Love the images and the voice. She is anything but mediocher. Bonus she introduced me to poet Ruth Stone with the simplicity of her words she captures universal images I can relate to. Go read and let me know if you fall in love like I did. Link is for her January posts. click here

Warm Sunday thoughts.

Forward in 2012

That's it, my word for this year. I just want to keep moving forward. Little steps to grow my business, toward better health, to connect better with family and friends, to enjoy my life. After a few confusing, challenging, changing years, I am ready to go forward.

Of course, almost didn't happen this morning. It's a blustery winter day here in central Texas. As I lay in bed I decided no walk, but then one look at the expectant Butler and I changed my mind. As we walked out the door, I said FORWARD. Judging by the smile on his face and the spring in his step, I think Butler likes my 2012 word!

Do you have a word to describe your aspirations for the year ahead? I've been following lots of bloggers and their choices. Some I love are innovate, light, joy, challenge. An over all theme is optimism. A feeling that this will be a good year. Listen up politicians, cut out the negativity and join the ground swell to enthusiasm and optimism.

FORWARD!!!

Word of 2012

Kelly Rae Roberts is n inspiration. Somehow she manages to run a very successful creative business while being the mother of an adorable toddler boy, daughter and wife. She spends considerable time teaching and sharing via her e courses and blog. I've learned so much from her. I'm in awe of her energy. Love her words and thoughts.

On her blog she has posted her word for 2012. INNOVATE.

"Innovation means creative thinking, trying on new ways of considering everything and turning every thought upside down, sideways, and so on until an aha hits, until an idea emerges, until inspiration fosters movement."

I don't know about you, but I find this to be a wonderful thought for 2012. It reminds me that it is okay to return to a problem, idea or design over and over, worrying it like a dog with a bone. I don't know which time I will find that aha thought. And often it is not a mega-watt light bulb moment, but a lighting of flickering votives lighting the way, leading to movement.

So I'm going to make INNOVATE one of my words of 2012. This excites me. I think it is a good inspiration for business planning and clothing designing.

What word will you use as a guide in 2012?

Don't forget to go to my new Annarella Girl facebook page. You could be the proud winner of an Annarella Girl headband if you like me and/or comment.

Sewing Tutorial

Just a quick note to share a great blog about learning how to sew. For those who got a machine for Christmas or want to finally conquer their fear of and dust off a machine that is just hanging around, go to sew it and love it. Ashley posted a great tutorial for beginners. Easy to understand, concise and good pics. Check it out and save it. I know I'll share it the next time a grandchild wants to learn to sew.

And look at her other tutorials. She is a born teacher! sew it and love it