Ta-Dum!!!

Here it is my first attempt at a new header with pictures, or in this case a picture. Its a little larger than I wanted, but I'm tired and need to rest my poor brain. Computer plus graphics is not a natural environment for me, so even small, feeble efforts exhaust me. (I know there are a few of you out there who feel my pain.)

If anyone wants to make suggestions, please do. Any help or direction is sooo appreciated. (Designing and consructing a dress is a piece of cake compared to this computer stuff.)

Baby Steps

Happy Friday. Here comes the last weekend in June. I have no idea where June has gone. Is it just old age which speeds up the perception of time? Or is it just being so busy? Either way where has it gone?

It has been a busy month for me. Fun busy - full of grandchildren, new fabrics, special orders, designing and sewing. I've mentioned almost every post about the ecourse, Flying Lessons, I'm taking (and loving.) Kelly Rae Roberts has filled my head with possibilities and dreams. Not only the fanciful but lots of facts and tips about how to reach your goals.

One of my favorite tips is moving forward in baby steps. Breaking a big goal - like social networking down into small, doable steps. By taking deep breaths and doing one part at a time, I'm back to blogging more frequently and getting ready to start a fan page on facebook. Don't know if I'm ready for twitter, but maybe in the future.

I've taken on 2 assistants, Lucy and Nikki. Nikki is a highschooler who is helping me get all my products catalogued and then keep it up-to-date. She wants to learn how to sew and help with production which she will slowly. She only has use of her right hand and arm so we're trying to come up with tricks to make it possible to cut out and sew. Any suggestions?

Lucy is helping with the cutting out, pinning, and pressing. She, also, will be able to do some of the simple sewing, like making straps. Together they are awesome help. I hope we all will speed up the production time for each garment without sacrificing any of the quality of which I am very proud. Annarella Girl dresses are made to be worn often, washed frequently and passed on to other little girls.

Enough babbling for today. Have a good weekend. Enjoy sunshine and all the possibilities!!

Aspirations

Far away in the sunshine are my highest aspirations.

I may not reach them, but I can look up

and see their beauty, believe in them, and

try to follow where they lead.

Louisa May Alcott

Enjoy another inspirational quote from the ecourse, Flying Lessons, from Kelly Rae Roberts.

On the Balance Beam

Good Morning.

In a lesson yesterday from Flying Lessons, the ecourse by Kelly Rae Roberts she talked about balance in the creative life. First she shared this thought.

Inspiration and passion - little to zero balance

Whew! All my life I thought I had to hsve sll the parts of my being in balance - time for family, time for housework, time for friends and time to create. I spent sooo much energy trying to keep the teeter totter level. (Remember how much it smarted when your butt went crashing to the ground?)

Finally, here is someone telling me it's okay to be unbalanced. It's natural when you are in the creative whirlwind to want to shut out the rest of the world, to concentrate on your art. I needed to hear this. I suffer guilt pangs when I have to tell my family, "leave me alone."

I wonder who am I to give my craft so much attention. (After all I'm not making a lot of money.)But there are times when I'm compelled to create. I wake with an urgency to get to my workroom, to try a new fabric combination or work on a new design. I grab a cup of coffee and am gone, not physically but mentally, for days. When I surface I'm exhausted but happy. And if interrupted by a whine or chore (You say you want clean clothes this week?) watch out, here comes the witch.

There is little balance when the creative juices are flowing. I feel energetic and joyful. Can it be bad to feel so good?

Thanks, Kelly, for telling me this is normal and part of the creative life. Rather than searching for better balance, I'll try to be better at communicating my needs for crative space to all in my life.
I'm jumping off the balance beam.

Design and Color; Oh My, Oh My

I'm awash in color. My eyes leap from one pattern to another. Almost so many choices I am don't know where to start. Shades of pink? or green? or lavendar?

Bright or soft? Bold floral pattern or subtle geometric repeat? Aren't I lucky to have such a sensory overload?

The hues and tones are what I love most about the clothes. Then comes the prints. There is no method to my madness ( okay, call it insanity, if you must be literal) I just play with different remnants until I see a dress or skirt appear.

Sometimes I picture one of the girls in my life or someone I've met in the garment as it takes shape on my table. What wonderful inspiration I get from these charming, intelligent creatures. They are so special.

I'm excited as I see a fall/winter line emerge with its jewel tones. Won't they look great over leggings? or skinny pants? or turtlenecks (for those in the colder climates) or long sleeve tees?

I'm awash in beautiful colors. Aswim in varied prints. Come play with me. Choose a fabric here, add a fabric there. A dash of ribbon. Oh my, oh my!

(I tried to write this post without using an exclamation point. Well, I almost made it.)

That Summer Feeling

On this the first day of summer, it seems appropriate to invite all of you to the new exhibit at the Davis Gallery in Austin for a group show which includes 2 of my favorite artists, Laurel Daniel and Christopher St Leger.


Beach Day by Laurel Daniel


One of my favorite landscape artists, Laurel Daniel is noted for capturing the mood of place with her use of light. I am always drawn in to her pieces like the one above because it is so tranquil with the hanging towels but speaks to the fun in the sun had before. As with many artists she tells a whole story in this one scene. I'm transported to my favorite tropical isle and memories of beach fun. Ahhh...Summer dreams!

pontiac by Christopher St Leger

Christopher St Leger is an extraordinary watercolorist. Look at the vitality and movement in his portrait of a skateboarder. He takes what is traditionally a gentle, often insipid, medium and uses it with vigor. His vibrant color palettes add life in his scenes of the streets. A brilliant artist!!!!

So don't miss the chance to see the exhibit, That Summer Feeling, which runs until August 28. And visit Laurel Daniel and Christopeher St Leger at their websites. A feast for the eyes and a balm for the soul.

Grammy Summer Camp

It's been a busy week at my house. My oldest grandson, 9, has been visiting while his mom is at a confernce in North Carolina. He gets along famously with his 3 cousins, ages almost 5 to 10, that live close to me, so we've had slumber parties, swimming and joint activities that have kept all of us busy. They are a great group of kids - fun to be around. Somehow I've managed to keep up with them.

There's so much to learn with my ecourse, Flying Lessons, with Kelly Rae Roberts. Each night after the kids are in bed and I'm waiting for them to settle down, I've been reading and dreaming. Since I'm a neophyte at the technical points for blogs, websites, facebook etc, I have to read and reread. I'm determined to make better use of the social network to grow my business despite it being a slow process. Do you like the new look of the blog? More changes to come.

Then there is just my usual business. I've had some special orders to fulfill and get out. Plus my inventory is low. Next week all will be quiet here, so I should get a lot done.

All have a good weekend. Happy Father's Day to all the men in my life. I've been fortunate to know some fantastic Dads!! Love and admiration to all of them.