Kelly Rae Roberts's Blog, page 81

Sponsor Spotlights: Word Cellar, Dixon Hill, Gwynnie B Designs + Christine Jolley

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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Transform everyday words into unique stories, essays, and poems with The Word Cellar's Alchemy writing workshops. These online courses for creative souls will help you to find—and write—your stories. Join the fun on May 1 for the next session of Alchemy Daily , 30 days of writing prompts,inspiration, and magic—all for just $35. This fun, laid-back adventure is great for anyone who wants a bit of guidance and encouragement to write, whether you are new to the world of words or a longtime acquaintance of the page. In addition to daily prompts delivered by email, Alchemists have access to a private online community where they can share their writing and connect with fellow writers. Learn more about all of the Alchemy sessions and register for Alchemy Daily now.

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The Magic of the Moors from Dixon Hill Girl on Vimeo.

Hi! I'm Helen and I'm here to invite you to the Pennine hills of northern England this coming August for The Magic of the Moors retreat. Four days of wandering through the purple heather….the wind in your face….picking late bilberries….listening to the grouse call. It'll be a mix of holiday and retreat, with time to dig into the solitude as well the chance to visit two local towns: Haworth, where the Bronte sisters lived and wrote (we'll take a private tour of The Parsonage); and artsy, hippy Hebden Bridge - the 'fourth funkiest town in the world'.
Our focus will be on experiencing place - draining every last drop from the landscape around us, allowing it to seep into our bones and our very souls. Of course, we'll do some creating together. And, at the end of the week, we'll find ways to give back to the environment that's nourished us.This will be a small and intimate gathering and we'd love you to join us. Find out more and reserve your place here.
*********************************** Spring has sprung around the Gwynnie B Studio with means lots of inspiration! Blooming flowers and signing birdies have inspired my new line of handcrafted plaster bowls and vintage brass lockets and they're here just in time for Mother's Day. To celebrate such a special day I'm offering a 15% discount on everything in my shop!! Just add MOM during checkout for the savings. And please be sure to stop by my Beautiful heART blog for studio musings and all things pretty. Happy Spring chick-a-dees!!
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"When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence." -Ansel Adams
My name is Christine Jolley and I'm a self-taught photographer. Photography became a hobby when I moved from the US to London, England 10 years ago. It turned into a passion during a difficult time in my life and I needed to find my 'voice' again. My shop is a collection of what inspires me: landscapes, nature, travel, the everyday and the poetry of film photography. My aim is to create a beautiful piece of art for your home. My photographs are professionally printed on exhibition quality paper that will last a lifetime.
As a special 'hello' to Kelly Rae readers, I'm offering 10% off till May 1st (Use the code = 'KELLY'). For more pictures and thoughts on my life as an expat, visit my blog Just Travelin' Through or you can connect with me on Facebook and Twitter.

Sponsor Spotlights: Word Cellar, Dixon Hill, Gwynnie B Designs + Fine Art Photography

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!
***********************************
Transform everyday words into unique stories, essays, and poems with The Word Cellar's Alchemy writing workshops. These online courses for creative souls will help you to find—and write—your stories. Join the fun on May 1 for the next session of Alchemy Daily , 30 days of writing prompts,inspiration, and magic—all for just $35. This fun, laid-back adventure is great for anyone who wants a bit of guidance and encouragement to write, whether you are new to the world of words or a longtime acquaintance of the page. In addition to daily prompts delivered by email, Alchemists have access to a private online community where they can share their writing and connect with fellow writers. Learn more about all of the Alchemy sessions and register for Alchemy Daily now.

***********************************

The Magic of the Moors from Dixon Hill Girl on Vimeo.

Hi! I'm Helen and I'm here to invite you to the Pennine hills of northern England this coming August for The Magic of the Moors retreat. Four days of wandering through the purple heather….the wind in your face….picking late bilberries….listening to the grouse call. It'll be a mix of holiday and retreat, with time to dig into the solitude as well the chance to visit two local towns: Haworth, where the Bronte sisters lived and wrote (we'll take a private tour of The Parsonage); and artsy, hippy Hebden Bridge - the 'fourth funkiest town in the world'.
Our focus will be on experiencing place - draining every last drop from the landscape around us, allowing it to seep into our bones and our very souls. Of course, we'll do some creating together. And, at the end of the week, we'll find ways to give back to the environment that's nourished us.This will be a small and intimate gathering and we'd love you to join us. Find out more and reserve your place here.
*********************************** Spring has sprung around the Gwynnie B Studio with means lots of inspiration! Blooming flowers and signing birdies have inspired my new line of handcrafted plaster bowls and vintage brass lockets and they're here just in time for Mother's Day. To celebrate such a special day I'm offering a 15% discount on everything in my shop!! Just add MOM during checkout for the savings. And please be sure to stop by my Beautiful heART blog for studio musings and all things pretty. Happy Spring chick-a-dees!!
***********************************
"When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence." -Ansel Adams
My name is Christine Jolley and I'm a self-taught photographer. Photography became a hobby when I moved from the US to London, England 10 years ago. It turned into a passion during a difficult time in my life and I needed to find my 'voice' again. My shop is a collection of what inspires me: landscapes, nature, travel, the everyday and the poetry of film photography. My aim is to create a beautiful piece of art for your home. My photographs are professionally printed on exhibition quality paper that will last a lifetime.
As a special 'hello' to Kelly Rae readers, I'm offering 10% off till May 1st (Use the code = 'KELLY'). For more pictures and thoughts on my life as an expat, visit my blog Just Travelin' Through or you can connect with me on Facebook and Twitter.

link love

(i love this postcard from papaya - artwork by sabrina ward harrison. it reads. "God calls you to the place where your deep gladness + the world's deep hunger meet." It's a quote by Frederick Buechner whose books I love, especially this one.

Here are a few things that have caught my eye lately - enjoy the linking wanderings!

- don't know if i should laugh or cry.
- loving this post by goddess leonie about what it's like to have a newborn. could not have said it better.
- she is so right: We just have to breathe...and get better at being exquisitely ourselves.
- oh how i WISH i could go to this!!!! camp shutter sisters. awesome.
- inspired by what mati + co. are doing with their new teahouse studios venture - i want to attend all of their workshops!
- totally + completely smitten with this idea. just signed up. it's free!
- so grateful to her for all that she has done for me.
- i think these images are sweet/hilarious.

simple diy curtain

i'm loving our DIY bathroom curtain and wanted to share it with you guys. it's a simple tension rod layered with vintage doilies and linens (and one pillow case). super simple yet leaves an impression. and i won't even admit how long i obsessed over getting the arrangement just so. by the way, the color on the walls is one of my all time favorite benjamin moore paints called covington blue - here's a better photo of the bathroom just after we finished painting/remodeling that shows the color a bit more. and yep, i collect old mirrors - they span the entire wall.

speaking of all shades blue/green, i'm completely in love with this blog. thank you, brene, for sharing it with me!

my office (in a closet!)

(my office, in a closet)

last year when we moved into our home, i knew i would need a small office space in a totally separate area from my studio space. we live in a fairly smallish home so i needed to get creative about where i would put it. i did a quick internet search on "closet offices" and was completely inspired by this project that country living featured on their website.



i was so in love with their office in a closet that i, and i kid you not, replicated their entire project. i bought the same wallpaper they used, the same color spray paint for the file cabinets, the same desk platform, and the same shelves from ikea. i've never done that before! it felt sort of silly, but hey, I LOVE MY OFFICE! with all the other million home projects we had going on at the time of moving in, i loved and enjoyed the simplicity of following their directions (they spell out the project in step by step instructions - so cool).



of course, i made it my own by putting up photos and trinkets that have meaning to me. the baskets store monthly paperwork. the files are full. the hanging paper lanterns came from ikea. the frame on the left is lined with chicken wire that i clip my photos to. there are a couple of heart rocks, a cigar box full of mementos, a fave pic of me and john, glass teacups that hold all the sea glass we've collected....this space in meaningful and functional all at once.



i'm a tidy girl. i like my work spaces to stay clutter free. otherwise, my mind can't focus. the basket on the right holds my daily planner and my notebook that holds ideas/notes/lists and everything else. my hard drives are hidden behind the little suitcase that holds my pens and such. i found the vintage desk lamp at a local antique mall - it makes me smile.

so there you have it. it turns out that i follow directions very well. i call this my "paint by numbers" office - it was that easy. thank you, country living!

thoughts on energy

(this is an older painting from last year that i reworked. really loving stamping lately. prints will be available once the shop reopens in the next couple of weeks.)

i have been thinking a lot about the energy we all encompass and what we choose to do with that energy. lately, i've been scaling back my computer time. i've noticed that there is a very real energy that i put out into the online world: social networking, blogging, emailing. some of that online energy is enjoyed and authentic (connecting) and then there are the minutes that are strung together reading miscellaneous blogs/twitter/news feeds that carry no real meaning to me or my life but yet i get sucked in anyways...you know how it goes. and then i notice that my family and my work get what is left over - the energy that feels a little depleted. i had a great conversation about this with a dear friend. it was one of those conversations that left me completely rearranged and inspired to pay more attention to where i'm putting my energy. am i filling up my time and energy with stuff that moves my life/work/inspiration forward? or am i filling up my time with stuff that drains my energy? for me, the lines of work and life are blurry. my creativity is my life which is also my business. but sometimes, especially since the birth of true, i'm feeling the pull to create more boundaries around where and how i give my energy in regards to biz and life. i want to be more discerning about it all. i want to be more intentional. and i want my family to have my best, most powerful, most fulfilled energy - not the leftovers.

i suppose this is something we all go through every now and again. we pull back. and then we dive in again. it's a constant ebb and flow. and our capacity to hold all of that energy also ebbs and flows. i used to have a huge capacity to give and work and dive in and retreat and multi-task - all while staying connected to john, work, and the things that were really important to me. and now i'm in a season of my life where my capacity is smaller, a place where my energy feels precious and limited, a place where i have to really focus on my work and my family first before getting caught up in the periphery. oh the lessons i'm learning these days and oh how i miss getting lost in the periphery!! but i like the idea of having seasons to our lives. i'm in a more deliberate, slow season of my life. and that feels better and better the more i embrace its offerings instead of working so hard to spread myself thin. ultimately, i'm learning that there is so much peace that comes to our lives when we reevaluate how we're using our own unique energies while focusing only on filling up our moments with the stuff that really matters in our lives. i'm going to practicing this concept more and more....because our energy (our hearts, our inspiration, our ability to give) really is a precious resource. i want to use mine wisely.

Sponsor Spotlights: Rebecca Murphy Photo, Hazelnut Cottage, Katherine Quinn, Lindy Hanson + Artistcellar

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!
******************************************
"In childhood, we press our nose to the pane, looking out. In memories of childhood, we press our nose to the pane, looking in." ~Robert Brault
Every mother knows childhood doesn't last forever, not even in our memories. Try as we might bits and pieces slip away from us as we get older, and slowly we can lose sight of who we were when we were young. Luckily, it doesn't have to be that way. Join Rebecca Murphy for Encapsulate: an e-course in constructing your own family time capsule. Having worked as a professional photographer helping capture the joy and love of dozens of families she'll show you how to take simple photos that when gathered together will tell the story of your child's life right now, celebrating all the wonderful details, and providing a welcome window "back home" when your baby needs it most.

SPECIAL FOR KRR readers: Mention KRR upon checkout and receive 10% back through Paypal! This is the last time this course will be offered this year, so sign up today to create a keepsake your family will cherish for years!

******************************************
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!
******************************************
My name is Katherine Quinn and I am the New Zealand artist behind Sleep And Her Sisters. I sell my original works to 8 galleries around New Zealand and have three online shops where I also sell originals, prints and other goodies. I live with my two children, 17 year old Hannah, 5 year old Ben and our 10 year old cat... Holly. I work from my kitchen table at our home in the sunny Hawke's Bay where I love to create with paint, chalk pastels, graphite, paper and a little bit of jewellery… I also love to collect things. My favourite colour at the moment is a soft, pale, antique sort of blue.
I am a firm believer that our stories are not for us alone that they are for us to give courage, support and wisdom to each other. You can read about my creative journey and see my latest works on my blog.
******************************************
Hi, my name is Lindy Gruger Hanson and I work out of my home studio in Bend, Oregon which I call "Color Spirit Studio". I create colorful, whimsical paintings with the hope that my art can lift your spirit! Vivid color is always one of the most important elements in my work; this is followed by the liberal use of flowing, swirling line-work and textural pattern and shapes, giving each painting its own unique energy and movement. My aim is to create paintings with the belief that art can inspire people, make a house a home, and bring joy and positive energy into the world. There are colorful prints and greeting cards in my Etsy Shop and original paintings on my website. For all Kelly Rae blog readers, you can receive a 10% discount with purchase in my Etsy Shop when you use the discount code kellyrae2011. Good through May 1st. I hope you'll come by and check it out!
******************************************
Artistcellar offers quality paint and art supplies for the mixed media and textile artist. We specialize in Stewart Gill Paints, known for their high quality pigmentation and beautiful colors. Use them on fabric, textiles, paper, canvas, even leather. We carry all seven lines of paint and strive to have most colors in stock at all times. We also offer " Special Effects" – Gilding Chips, Fresco Flakes, and Fusible Films, as well as basic essentials like stencils and rubber stamps.
Artistcellar has scoured the world to find unique and affordable fibers for your mixed media and textile art projects, and lovingly assembled Mixed Fiber Packs, Recycled Silk, and beautiful soft Silk Fibers under the Artistcellar name. Don' t forget the beads! We offer gorgeous themed Miyuki bead mixes and specialty beads, perfect for sewing or gluing onto projects. And that' s not all! Come on by and check us out. Artistcellar has been under new ownership for the past nine months and customer service is our specialty. Visit us at www.artistcellar.com and find us on Facebook.

Sponsor Spotlights: Rebecca Murphy Photo, Hazelnut Cottage, Katherine Quinn, Lindy Hanson + Lisa Cousineau

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!
******************************************
"In childhood, we press our nose to the pane, looking out. In memories of childhood, we press our nose to the pane, looking in." ~Robert Brault
Every mother knows childhood doesn't last forever, not even in our memories. Try as we might bits and pieces slip away from us as we get older, and slowly we can lose sight of who we were when we were young. Luckily, it doesn't have to be that way. Join Rebecca Murphy for Encapsulate: an e-course in constructing your own family time capsule. Having worked as a professional photographer helping capture the joy and love of dozens of families she'll show you how to take simple photos that when gathered together will tell the story of your child's life right now, celebrating all the wonderful details, and providing a welcome window "back home" when your baby needs it most.

SPECIAL FOR KRR readers: Mention KRR upon checkout and receive 10% back through Paypal! This is the last time this course will be offered this year, so sign up today to create a keepsake your family will cherish for years!

******************************************
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!
******************************************
My name is Katherine Quinn and I am the New Zealand artist behind Sleep And Her Sisters. I sell my original works to 8 galleries around New Zealand and have three online shops where I also sell originals, prints and other goodies. I live with my two children, 17 year old Hannah, 5 year old Ben and our 10 year old cat... Holly. I work from my kitchen table at our home in the sunny Hawke's Bay where I love to create with paint, chalk pastels, graphite, paper and a little bit of jewellery… I also love to collect things. My favourite colour at the moment is a soft, pale, antique sort of blue.
I am a firm believer that our stories are not for us alone that they are for us to give courage, support and wisdom to each other. You can read about my creative journey and see my latest works on my blog.
******************************************
Hi, my name is Lindy Gruger Hanson and I work out of my home studio in Bend, Oregon which I call "Color Spirit Studio". I create colorful, whimsical paintings with the hope that my art can lift your spirit! Vivid color is always one of the most important elements in my work; this is followed by the liberal use of flowing, swirling line-work and textural pattern and shapes, giving each painting its own unique energy and movement. My aim is to create paintings with the belief that art can inspire people, make a house a home, and bring joy and positive energy into the world. There are colorful prints and greeting cards in my Etsy Shop and original paintings on my website. For all Kelly Rae blog readers, you can receive a 10% discount with purchase in my Etsy Shop when you use the discount code kellyrae2011. Good through May 1st. I hope you'll come by and check it out!
******************************************
Artistcellar offers quality paint and art supplies for the mixed media and textile artist. We specialize in Stewart Gill Paints, known for their high quality pigmentation and beautiful colors. Use them on fabric, textiles, paper, canvas, even leather. We carry all seven lines of paint and strive to have most colors in stock at all times. We also offer " Special Effects" – Gilding Chips, Fresco Flakes, and Fusible Films, as well as basic essentials like stencils and rubber stamps.
Artistcellar has scoured the world to find unique and affordable fibers for your mixed media and textile art projects, and lovingly assembled Mixed Fiber Packs, Recycled Silk, and beautiful soft Silk Fibers under the Artistcellar name. Don' t forget the beads! We offer gorgeous themed Miyuki bead mixes and specialty beads, perfect for sewing or gluing onto projects. And that' s not all! Come on by and check us out. Artistcellar has been under new ownership for the past nine months and customer service is our specialty. Visit us at www.artistcellar.com and find us on Facebook.

is it ok if i ramble today?

i keep waiting for myself to transition to being a morning person. it's been six months of very early rises yet i'm still just as dazed and confused at 6am as i've been my whole life. john's a morning person. true is definitely a morning person. i, sadly, am still a night owl no matter how hard i try to switch. it's 11:09am right this minute and i'm sort of beginning to feel awake after having already been awake for five hours! maddening...


(love this store display from Incahoots)

thank you guys for celebrating with me regarding the creative co-op news. it really is so exciting! some of you have asked if this changes anything with my demdaco line. absolutely not! my demdaco line will continue to grow - we've got many exciting products coming down the pipe. the creative co-op line is more home decor driven vs the demdaco line is more gift driven. both awesome opportunities....i am so lucky.

mati was in town for a couple of nites and it was soooo good to see her. we ate, chatted, shopped, got pedicures (pink + sparkles!), and took zero photos. i don't know. i think i lost my photo mojo. i've barely taken any non baby photos since true was born. it might have something to do with all the dreary weather. today, it's gorgeous outside and i'm photo happy!



the online shop is still being rebuilt and i'm holding a lot of faith that it will be up and running soon (hired a great programmer). i have so much new prouduct (demdaco) that was uploaded just as it crashed. so disappointing! i can't wait to show you.

okay, i am now officially rambling. right this minute, i am looking at baby true on our new nifty video baby monitor (why haven't we had this one all along?). he's down for a nap but he's currently rolling all over his crib, playing with his lovey. super cute.

one more thing. after baby goes to sleep, i've been watching bethenny ever after. alicia got me hooked. it's awful. yet awesome. i can't believe i'm saying this but i relate to her on some levels. and i think her husband is awesome. and i love that she turned in to a crybaby after having a child. the same thing has happened to me. i'm a serious crybaby now. happy cries. but still. mati asked me what having a baby felt like. and i told her that it felt like the christmas morning magic you felt as a child only every single day, all day long, and way more powerful. thus, the tears.

life is good.

partnering with creative co-op!!!!!!

i have really really really BIG news. i've been holding on to this information for months and months but i've finally been given the A-OK to shout it from the rooftops. this post is me SHOUTING it from the rooftops! before i tell you anything, i have to go back. back to the dream. and back to the beginning.

in early 2010, i went to my first trade show to do a signing for DEMDACO. the tradeshow itself was was a hugely eye opening experience where retailers intersect with wholesalers, where BEAUTIFUL showrooms abound, where my senses were completely overwhelmed by the sheer amount of product (good and bad) out in the world. it was my first real look at the gift/home decor industry in action and it was mind boggling. my mind was spinning with possibilities. i wrote about this experience here and here.


(he's getting so big!)

while wandering around the 18 floors of showrooms, john and i happened upon the showroom for Creative Co-op. Holy smokes. It was love at first sight - huge, beautifully styled, products I wanted in my own house. I recognized many MANY of the products - they were items I bought at my favorite boutiques - things like photo frames, birdie sculptures, candle holders. and the furniture - gorgeous. i remember telling john that partnering with them would be an ultimate dream of mine - to combine my love for art and decor with a creative home decor product line. i told a few friends about this particular dream, but i held it close, not sure how on earth to make it happen or if it was even possible. it felt like a true blue pipe dream.

fast forward a few months. i go to a barnhouse flea looking for a farm table and come home incredibly inspired again on the home decor front. i lose sleep a few nites because i'm so inspired and SURE that this is meant to be - that i'm supposed to somehow merge my love of home decor with my art. i write about the entire experience in a blog post where i write, "i just knew in the pit of my stomach that my mixed media world and my decorating world were about to collide. and it got me so excited." at the time, i had no idea how to do it, i just knew it felt good to dream about it.


fast forward a couple of more weeks (weeks!). i get a call from my new licensing agent. the news? creative co-op wants to do a large home decor line with me! i flip out. i lose my mind. i jump up and down. how could it be? how could this be? it feels like magic. i bliss out for weeks and weeks and months and months while working with their team. months go by and a full on, large home decor line is complete, and ready to launch this july (so soon!). we've been working on it since before true was born - that's how long i've been holding this secret. it's been driving me NUTS!

i don't even know what to say. except that this home decor line is big. big as in furniture big, pillows, wall clocks, home organizing items, frames, large decor pieces, and so, so much more. big as in the most creative home decor items ever. big as in inventive. big as in i'm the luckiest person on the planet.

i cannot, CANNOT wait to introduce this line to you guys. you will be blown away. i feel silly for saying this but i actually teared up when i saw the samples for the first time. TEARED UP. the line will officially launch in july at the atlanta tradeshow. i will have many of the items for sale in the online shop as well!



and that's the big news i've been holding onto for months! you know how when you have awesome news and you can't wait to celebrate with those in your life? and it feels so much better and bigger and grander once you do share the news? that's how this feels, sharing it with you all. it feels like it's happening all over again from the beginning. thanks for celebrating with me, and for all the support to make this dream even possible. i feel really really lucky and i can't wait for these products to make their way into the world. they are happy happy home decor pieces.

ps: a few of you have asked if this changes anything with my line with demdaco. the answer is no! i'm still very much in love with my partnership with demdaco and that product collection will continue to grow!