Kelly Rae Roberts's Blog, page 78

Baby True's Nursery with lots of DIY/HANDMADE details

I'm so excited to share baby True's room with you (can you believe he's almost 8 mos?). I have a feeling we'll move his room entirely to the guest room when he's a bit older (a little bigger + lots of built in shelving in that room for toys, books, etc) but for now, this is his room. We really really love it.

Remember how these walls came about? It's such a great story - here's post #1 about them, and here's post #2 with more photos showing their unearthing in progress.


This room was a little tricky to pull together because of the walls. As lovely as they are, they're a little busy and we didn't want to mix too many patterns + colors into the mix because we didn't want a lot of competing elements, especially in a small room like this one.

And so, we chose elements of cream and brown - cream furniture/accents, a brown zebra rug (older pottery barn rug) with a brown patterned chair (a nursery swivel/reclining chair from Target - love!) and a crib bumper with deep browns as well.


The quilt was mine when I was a baby (here's a photo of it on my baby crib) and I love, love, love that it's now in True's room. Also loving the vintage letters spelling his name.

The screen printed pillow was a gift from a friend. It reads, "dream big little one" and is available from this etsy shop.



We're using an old dresser as the changing table which works just great. Above the changing table is a small collection of favorite photos of True + other meaningful tokens.



He seems to really dig his paper mache rhinoceros (from Anthropologie) on the wall which we think is pretty special. His bookcase (from Target) holds books, toys, and more animals/stuffies like a well loved velveteen rabbit (mine from years ago, a gift to me from my mom), an adorable hand-made elephant (a gift from auntie mati), the personalized sock monkey Grandma made him, a ceramic lamb vase, and a vintage doggie toy.

We definitely have a vintage/handmade animal theme going on in this room with the zebra rug, animal paintings, birdie bumper, and more.



The closet holds more storage for clothes and whatnot while the hope chest/bench (once belonged to my great grandfather) will be the future home of more toys, I'm sure.

The vintage hanger on the closet door holds more favorite photos, memories, and treasures. To continue our animal theme, the paintings on the wall are both elephant paintings by Mati and Jennifer.



Notice the crib bumper? My mom made it for True with fabric we found at the best fabric store in the world. I love its birdies and graphic details.

I made the large collage above the crib from pages out of a vintage Winnie The Pooh book (complete with lovely kid crayon scribbles on several of the pages + illustrations). I'm a huge Winnie fan and I loved how this came together using gel medium (link on my sidebar under supplies I love), a foam brush, and book pages - super easy.



The week before True was born I stumbled upon this AWESOME lampshade chandelier project (which was inspired by this awesome lampshade project) and could not resist doing an inspired version for True's mobile. The very evening before baby True was born last October, John and I spent some time together in my studio making this sweet mobile.



While dreaming about the little soul we'd soon meet, we strung together paper scraps for the mobile, fabric scraps, attached birdie clips and decorated it with meaningful treasures like baby booties that were gifted to us, vintage baby pins, vintage rattles, baby spoons, and more. I will never forget our making this together.



Baby True seems to really really love it. He looks, and giggles, and stares. I'd say it's the highlight of his room. By the way, I've been seeing more and more of these lampshade projects around the web, including this beauty of Holly's, and this one that DEMDACO used for my product collection in their showroom (love!), and this cool idea as a jewelry holder. LOVE lampshade projects!



It reads, "beautiful baby, sweet dreamer" - found in one of my favorite junk shops.

Thanks everyone!

powerful

My friend Ali posted this video last week and I want to repost it here so as many people can see it as possible. As many of you know, melanoma gave John and I the scare of our lives and it changed everything for us so early in our marriage and time together. We are incredibly lucky to have caught it early thanks to routine skin checks and mole mapping which continue today. One of my bffs lost one of her dearest friends (and a young mother) to melanoma in recent years. And most recently, one my my highschool pals was diagnosed. This is a cancer that is extremely aggressive.

I teared up watching this video. It is p.o.w.e.r.f.u.l and so so touchingly important. Please watch, share, tweet. Thank you!

Sponsor Spotlights: Do What You Love for Life, Kaye-Lee Pantony, Amelia Critchlow, Lisa Ferrante, Amy Peters Studio + Louise Gale

Big thanks to my sponsors...I'm really enjoying these weekly sponsor spotlights where their creative talents and businesses are featured. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor (includes your ad on the sidebar + ongoing spotlights), please send me an email for further information!
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Can you honestly say that you spend most of your time doing what you love?
The Do What You Love e-course is a groundbreaking online adventure which will take you step-by-step on a path to discovering your true passion, and finding a way to make it a greater part of your everyday life.
In six weeks you will expand your comfort zone, nurture your playful spirit and use this to feed your creative soul. You will travel this path with a community of like-minded people from across the world, sharing your stories, forging new connections, and inspiring each other.
A rich combination of exercises, thought-provoking posts, inspiring interviews (including an exclusive with Kelly Rae!) and real life stories will ensure you emerge more confident, more curious and much more likely to end up doing what you love. This will be like no other class you have ever taken. And it might just change your life. Class begins on Monday June 6, and run for six weeks. Register now!

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Hi! I am Kaye-Lee Pantony an artist by nature and a psychotherapist by trade. I am the creator of the e courses Sublime and The Man Code. I also offer individual, couple and family counseling and Skype counseling. In both my e courses and counseling work I am interested in promoting people's development as a means of improving overall well being. I think that developing ourselves is essential to wellness. I believe that part of our development involves making friends with our own nature. However, first we have to examine our nature and learn as much as we can about it. I would love to hear from you so drop by my sites and ask me some questions or just say hello www.kayeleepantony.typepad.com or www.simplysublimemusings.blogspot.com or email me at kpantony@cogeco.ca Both ecourses will be offered this Fall 2011.
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the Summer course dates are here! For those wishing to join the next experimental art e-course we start: Monday 27th June 2011! For 6 weeks we delve in as an online group to; painting, collage, photography, sculpting with paper and much more. Techniques and prompts are designed for both new artists and those artists who need fresh inspiration. Discover your passion, share ideas, and be in for a chance to win a free art book (on every course!) I share pdf, and web resources, and link to a wide range of artists. There are many tips and strategies for making unique pieces of art, and as a trained tutor and artist working in the UK (Amelia Critchlow), I will give feedback on all work. The world is our art oyster, so to start creating all those wonderful ideas: enroll here, see what previous participants have said here and see links to my art and blog. Places are filling up so I look forward to seeing you on board if you decide to join us! Amelia.x
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My name is Lisa Ferrante and I am a self taught mixed media artist. All my pieces are about love, maternal love, romantic love, self love and self empowerment. They are me exposed; each purges a powerful emotion, a profound realization, another step in my evolution as a woman. A customer recently wrote: "Lisa, your package brought me, my sister and my daughter to tears. Your generosity of spirit and kindness on top of the sheer beauty of the pieces filled us to overflowing with gratitude, love for art, artists and life! We all felt so aware that what we were celebrating was the supportive relationships between women and the amazing effects we can have on our worlds".
Kelly Rae readers receive a free gift with purchase just write in "message to seller" Kelly Rae sent me! Browse my shop at chloeandsofiasmom.etsy.com for beautiful and inspirational prints and reproductions pieces for you and every woman you love. Or check out my blog atLisaFerrante.com
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Jewelry inscribed with hopes, dreams and absolute truths. Amy Peters' Studio creates jewelry that speaks to your creative and caring soul. Each unique design is lovingly created in our sunny coastal California studio and holds meaning deeper than even words can express.

1. Pocket Thoughts 2. Identity Bracelets 3. Rings

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Do you believe in the power of the Universe? Louise Gale does and she was super excited to host the blog series called "Stories from the Universe" to celebrate the launch of her new website & blog and the one year anniversary of living her creative life full-time. 12 Inspiring and creative women (including our very own Kelly Rae Roberts) shared their tales of Serendipity, Synchronicity and following their intuition.

Come read their stories here, be totally inspired and sign up to Louise's mailing list to be one of the first to receive the FREE e-book with all the stories compiled together (coming early June). A perfect gift from the universe to you.

you've been waiting for these and they're finally here!

Available now!
Six different designs, six different messages of hope.



As seen in stores nationwide, except these collectable beauties will arrive in an artful box signed by me, Kelly Rae.

DEMDACO and I have been working on these for about two years. It's so great to finally have them out in the world. We are quite proud of these lovelies and we think they're perfect as a thoughtful gift or for adding a bit of meaning to your home/office decor.



With her little birdie and her hopeful message, this one is one of my faves. The text is from an older journal entry I wrote. It reads:

In our best moments,
we understand that our vulnerabilities are what connect us,
that there is beauty in every step of the journey,
that we can love bravely,
offer comfort to our younger, broken selves,
and soar,
always soar on the brightness of being alive.

We hope you love them as much as we do! Get em' while you can! They'll arrive in an artful box signed by me.

link love + an interview

(now available!)

While we settle back to our routines, adjust back to our time zone, take our first trip to Costco, and mourn the ending of Oprah, I thought I'd share some link love with you:

* Crushing on her site/blog/art again.
* Could not have expressed this better.
* So very very deeply in love.
* I really love what I do. This is why.
* And this, too, from a recent fashion design graduate. Can you believe it?
* Intrigued.
* I so totally want to do this! And this!
* Completely entranced.
* One day I will learn how to do this.

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ps: Long time sponsor and former student, Beth Nicholls is creating magic with her Do What You Love e-course and retreat. She interviewed me for her upcoming ecourse and it was one of my favorite interviews I've ever done. We had a great conversation. Here's a five minute clip where I share how attending my first art retreat in 2006 led to my falling in love with making art and how it all felt very much like having a hot and heavy boyfriend at the time. We talk about the falling in love, the passion, the honeymoon phase and what happens after....


For those of you who are unable to listen, here's the transcript of our conversation:

Hello there. This is Beth Nicholls from Do What You Love, and I am excited to be able to share with you an excerpt from the exclusive interview recorded with Kelly Rae for the Do What You Love e-course. The e-course is a six-week online adventure that helps you expand your comfort zone, nurture your playful spirit and feed your creative soul. In the company of a community of like-minded people from across the world, you will benefit from thought-provoking posts, creative prompts (including photography, and making things!), self-discovery exercises and other inspiring interviews. These will help you identify your passion and take you further along the road towards Doing What You Love.

I interviewed Kelly Rae for the course because she really is a shining example of someone who has made a lot of choices along the way to do what she loves, for life.

This extract is taken from a 30 minute audio interview which appears in Week 5 of the course. We begin with me asking Kelly Rae about her first art retreat, which was a real turning point on her creative journey.

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KRR: I remember this feeling on my way to the retreat... I was driving in my car – it was about a six hour drive, I was alone, I was listening to music, and I just had this feeling that this was going to be big, that something was going to happen. And then on my way home, the same drive, I was about to explode. I just wanted to scream out the windows.

You know when you fall in love, and all you just – that's all you want to do - to talk about your boyfriend or your fiance, you're just like a chatty in-love fool, that's how it was for me, that's how that experience was. I probably drove the people in my life crazy. I was just talking constantly about what I had discovered and I was blogging about it, and the combination of that experience plus blogging just created a momentum for me. I created a community and the community, and the people that I met in my blogging community just kept me going. And that was almost five years ago this fall – or actually this spring.

I think it was talking about it, blogging about it, talking about it and letting the people close to me know what my dreams where so they could ask me about it and support me along the way. And pretty soon I think the people in my life could see I was serious, because I'd never really found my passion before.

BN: Did you meet any resistance along the way from other people?

KRR: Totally, yes. A lot of resistance from myself thinking all those questions that we all have, which is: "Who am I to think that I am creative, or that I've got something to offer?", or that this makes me different, or "why am I even bothering?" At the time I was working a full time job and I wasn't really interested in the business side of it at all. I was just coming home from work, skipping the gym, and making art in my dining room on weekends, at night. I wasn't getting any sleep. And then I would bring my little paintings in to my co-workers at the hospital and I would just go on and on and on, you know, like that boyfriend that we all talk about. They just thought I was crazy but it was so cute. Looking back on that, what a sweet time. I was just so in it, and I just really couldn't care less about anybody else. Even though I had those gremlins I still was like an eight-year old bringing my paintings to work. You know what I mean?

BN: I love that analogy of it being like a relationship. So you had this amazing – I guess – honeymoon period.

KRR: Totally

BN: And have you found that your relationship with your creativity has developed and changed over time?

KRR: Oh, absolutely. It's so true. I love this idea of it being like a relationship because it really is. It has completely changed – we were hot and heavy for a couple of years (!) and I would say around 2009 we started to slow down a little bit and then had to really work at it a little more. The inspiration carried me for a couple of years very well, but I would say that a couple of years ago I had to get more intentional about seeking inspiration, changing things up and working a little bit harder at it.

BN: So you'll have to watch out in 2013 for the seven-year itch!

KRR: That's really true!

***
The rest of the interview is just as juicy. To hear the full 30 minutes of insight from Kelly Rae, as well as other inspiring interviews with artists like Flora Bowley and Christine Mason Miller, sign up for the Summer session, which starts on June 6. You can register now at www.dowhatyouloveforlife.com. It might just be the most important investment you make in yourself. I hope to see you in class!

dear hawaii

(do you see the rainbow?)

dear hawaii,
there is something about our big family adventure to your warm and breezy coast that changed something in my new mama heart. on a very practical level, you gave me a subtle but important shift in confidence - a way of being and operating in new places with baby True, a specific permission to jump out of our quiet routine and into plane rides, car rides, bar-b-q's, new people, and on and on . it wasn't hard at all! i think i was armed and ready for worst case scenarios but they never arrived (and they never really do, even at home). instead, i was relaxed. baby was relaxed. and we loved it.


(this baby is happy)

i think the thing that really shifted for me was this: no stressing necessary. the days of really really hard are long gone (the early months of baby reflux). i can let all of that go, the shoe is not going to drop. thank you, hawaii. i really needed the release and that bit of confidence boost to keep leaning into all that is unpredictable and perfectly perfect.




thank you for your warm breeze, your ocean sounds, your quiet mornings that arrived easily after long long sleeps (haven't slept that much in months!).




thank you for the joys of witnessing the bliss of our friends and their families.



and for the silliness of seriously grumpy faces (doesn't like the sand or the ocean just yet!). but he loved sitting in a restaurant high chair for the first time and sitting in a grocery cart for the first time!


thank you for shaved ice. the best.




all smiles, and flirtatious, he loved all of his new pals and they loved him. it was so wonderful to introduce him to our long time friends.....




thank you for big full bellies, and a growing baby boy who is a content, sweet little soul - happy to crawl and explore and sleep and blow raspberries and offer up big smiles to just about anyone who will take them.



thank you for birthdays, for rainbows, for scrabble, and rum. thank you for endless sweets and cola, and that true blue feeling of rest. thank you for all the conversations about spirits, babies, faith, family. and mostly, thank you for creating some pretty special memories and for being the place where i fell even more in love with my family.

Sponsor Spotlights: Beth Quinn Designs, Susannah Conway, Gwynnie B Designs, Honey & Ollie!, Manusmade + Hazelnut Cottage

Big thanks to my sponsors...I'm really enjoying these weekly sponsor spotlights where their creative talents and businesses are featured. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor (includes your ad on the sidebar + ongoing spotlights), please send me an email for further information!
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Jewelry artist Beth Quinn is "a mom of two wonderful little boys, married to my best friend, and an artist who loves to create anything from paper, fabric, wood, paint and metal." Influenced by her late father's metal working and her grandmother's creativity, her jewelry is "full of her love for the old , worn and shiny ... she loves to combine texture to create jewelry that can be loved and cherished for years to come." Please head over to Beth's website where you can find her shop and her blog! Her new spring line is now available and includes a new line of children's jewelry.
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The Unravelling e-course is an 8-week online class designed to help you heal the way you see your self and your world, using photography and journalling to access hidden thoughts & dreams and encourage personal realisations, all in the safe space of a like-minded community.
Photographer & writer Susannah Conway is your guide through this process, sharing her insights and wisdom gleaned from a four-year voyage through grief and healing. You don't need any previous photography experience to do this course - all you need is a camera (iPhones are perfect for unravelling!), a journal & pen and an open heart. You can check out what past participants have said about their Unravelling journeys over here (there are videos too :)

The Summer Unravelling: Ways of Seeing My Self class is now sold out, but do join the mailing list for course updates and the inspiring desktop wallpapers Susannah shares in her monthly newsletters!
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Spring has sprung around the Gwynnie B Studio with means lots of inspiration! Blooming flowers and singing birdies have inspired my new line of handcrafted pewter gifts and plaster pretties. Each pewter piece was sculpted by me and then cast in lead-free pewter with a gorgeous luster finish. The bowls are too cute and will hold all of your special treasures and fabulous trinkets! Please stop by my shop to check things out and please be sure to also stop by my Beautiful heART blog for studio musings and all things pretty. Happy Spring chick-a-dees!!
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honey&ollie. Whimsical, wearable inspiration made of art, soul and shiny. Tiny works of art created by me, Rain Hannah: writer, knitter, mama, cat lady, and maker. Imbued with all the colors of nature, my shinies are little dreams made manifest, created in the hope that they will inspire you on your journey and encourage you to play, to laugh, to dig deep and say YES to your bliss.
Kelly Rae readers, take 10% off in the shop by using the coupon code KELLYRAE10. And thanks for supporting handmade dreams!
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Tania Wojciechowski loves making modern goods for you and your home out of natural materials. As 'manus' is the Latin word for hand, her new shop manusmade is a celebration of all things handmade. The tradition of making things by hand continues in the linen, wool, and felt used, and the modern designs are perfect for today's homes. Tania plays with both texture and text in her work – the feel of the products is as important as the emotions they evoke. Some are designed simply to be beautiful, others are meant to bring some cheekiness into your life (caution: puns and innuendos are plentiful!). Check out all the goodies here.
Like you, Tania has a lot of ideas, and is always working on ways to get out of her head and, literally, into her hands. Join in the conversation at her blog, on Facebook, or on Twitter and talk about the creative process with her!
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Hazelnut Cottage is Jan Avellana's dream come to life; an atelier that is constantly evolving towards new creative ventures. We offer pretty hand stamped jewelry and an array of mixed-media art created with the heart to inspire, encourage, comfort and remember. Brides to be, to first time and fifth time mamas, sisters, friends and thoughtful souls all find their way to Hazelnut Cottage to find that perfect, meaningful gift and we are happy to work with you to design a custom keepsake that celebrates you!

some one is 37 yrs young today...

happy birthday to my favorite 37 years young blond curly haired beard growing surfing papa husband who i love more and more everyday of the 13 years we've made our adventurous way together, while making mistakes, while having the time of our lives, while holding our memories close, while dreaming of our future, while supporting the idea that the best moment is the one we're in, while learning hard lessons, while watching one another soar, while finding our bliss as parents, while loving our hearts out.

my heart is happiest when its near yours.
happy birthday, sweet man.

truth + beauty

(prints available here)

i hope to always remember these moments. the ones where the baby and i are sleeping together on the bed, me on my back, him on my chest, him drooling, me blissed out while we sleep together, skin to skin, heart to heart.

or the moments when he's soothed by my holding him tight, when he giggles over john's growing beard, when he coos with his favorite book, or chomps ever so vigorously on his fave apples+blueberry mix.

motherhood has been the single biggest gift in letting it all go. in keeping my heart open. i've never leaned so deep into the chaos before and enjoyed its tiny scattered pieces. the discomfort passes, i suppose, with the immersion of it, and here i am, happily functioning in everyday complete chaos! it is heartbreaking and hearthealing all at once, every single moment of every single day.

there really is no roadmap on this unending spiritual exploration of truth and beauty. i hope it will always be led by heart and by soul.

card line launches!!!

i'm beyond beyond BEYOND thrilled to announce that my new card line has launched with the amazing calypso cards! wooohooo! a large card line has been a big dream of mine for quite awhile and it's so, so fun to see it finally come to life. i owe a huge thanks to my pal leigh for introducing me to calypso and vice versa. isn't it amazing how lovely people can be? leigh is awesome in that way - always sharing information and resources and introductions. love her.



the line includes blank cards, birthday cards, new baby, love, encouragement, friendship, and more. really thrilled with how they turned out. they're printed on recycled textured paper and look gorgeous, gorgeous. we'll be selling these in the online shop in the coming weeks and you can also find them in boutiques and stores nationwide! thank you, calypso cards. we think you're the bees knees! i keep pinching myself about this launch. total dream come true.