Sending this refillable journal off to a sweet friend today! She has just gone through a major move and has an exciting new job. She wanted a journal that she could carry around at work while still being a symbol of empowerment. She decided to go with red because it felt bold and that is what she is trying to be more of. I found a gold closure of a lotus and added the goddess figure inside to remind her to be true to herself. As I was creating it, I kept thinking of the Alicia Key's song "Girl on Fire". This is for all your new-found fire, Steph!
I headed down to Orlando, Florida last week for my first wholesale show. It was quite a different experience than retail. The buyers were in work-mode, searching out the best products for their stores, galleries, and boutiques. I met some great buyers who are very interested in the quality and purpose of my products. In addition, my booth neighbors were fabulously entertaining and helpful folks from North Carolina and Tennessee, who answered questions and kept me laughing.
I took a detour on the way home and stopped by Daytona Beach for a day. I was able to relax deeply and take a genuine break. I walked miles and miles on the beach and enjoyed the time of moving more slowly.
Sand art. The water washed this away right after I took the photo.
Hello, Luna.
"Words can travel across thousands of miles. May my words create mutual understanding and love. May they be as beautiful as gems, as lovely as flowers." –Thich Nhat Hanh
Thanks to Janice Jackson of Elegant Events by Jan, I got to participate in my first bridal show here in Lexington. Here are some of the sample guestbooks I created. If you are interested in something similar or a different design all together, let me know!
“Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.”
― Rumi
This is a custom-made labyrinth journal that is refillable. It is made from remnant leather, has a handbound journal inside, and hand-stitching on the front.
Taking a bit of a breather from the internet, but am sending you all peace-filled New Year wishes. I'll be exiting this year softly and welcoming this new year with an open-heart. Here is an excerpt from my new journal:
"Very little grows on jagged rock. Be ground. Be crumbled, so wildflowers will come up where you are." -Rumi
"Very little grows on jagged rock. Be ground. Be crumbled, so wildflowers will come up where you are." -Rumi
“If in our daily life we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyone will profit from it. This is the most basic kind of peace work.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh, Being Peace
Happy Holidays to all of you! May it be restful, fun, and full of peace!
"You are like a candle. Imagine you are sending light out all around you. All your words, thoughts and actions are going in many directions. If you say something kind, your kind words go in many directions, and you yourself go with them. We are ...transforming and continuing in a different form at every moment.
Just made a few more ipad/ereader sleeves! They are created from remnant leather, have ecofriendly padding inside, and have two stylus holders. They are $100 each. You can purchase them online here.
If I not book-making, I'm either doing this...
or this.
"Very little grows on jagged rock. Be ground. Be crumbled, so that wildflowers will come up where you are." -Rumi
Large refillable notebook cover on its way to Hollywood!
(And yes...I somehow hand-stitched that in cursive...)
You know how moms and grandmas always want to brag about their kids, grandkids, etc? Well, these little books were created for just that! They are small photo books that are being gifted as brag books...plus, they fit nicely in a purse so you can show off your loved ones anytime you want.
They are just over 3x5, are $35 each and hold 23 photos (if you aren't using both sides of the pages). You can put the photos inside with acid-free adhesives. If you are interested in some, message me!
I spent November and the first bit of December finishing up my show season. It has been a full year of numerous shows, and I am so thankful to everyone who came out to all of them. I began selling Christmas gifts as early as September and have created many custom orders given as gifts for friends and loved ones. Many of you shared your hearts and your journey. I heard stories of far off travels, of those grieving beginning their way on their healing journey, and of those who were fighting through a variety of hard circumstances. Many of you keep journals and reflect regularly, many of you sketch and "doodle". I can't count the number of times that you told me that you didn't have anything really important to write, but you write anyway. So do I. I write because it is good for my soul. It helps me stay aware and remember and make decisions. It also reminds me to play. Some of you even brought your journals and sketchbooks to me to show me the beautiful and fun ways that you are using them. Thank you. I deeply appreciate how you have shared yourselves with me in the incredibly diverse ways that you have. It is that sort of connection that makes doing this so rewarding. As I take a deep breath from this year of traveling from show to show often multiple weekends in a row, know that I am whispering prayers of gratitude for each and everyone of you.
And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care...
Confession: I'm not entirely sure why but stockings have always been my favorite Christmas tradition. I don't know if its because you have to get more creative with getting small gifts that fit in them or if it feels like a treasure hunt pulling small gifts from them, but I love them. I think they are really fun-both the giving and receiving of stockings. So, I enjoyed coming up with a unique, handmade stocking option. These are created from repurposed coffee bags and have little bells on top. I can even personalize them with hand-stitch names. For those of you interested in decorating either with mostly handmade or eco-friendly items, this stocking is both!
KY Crafted asked several artists to participate in a radio interview with Nick Lawrence on WUKY. Nick Lawrence features interesting guests from the central Kentucky arts community on his show Curtains @ 8. I was asked to join them along with wood artist Mick Shambrola and musicians Mitch Barrett and Carla Gover. We talked about our businesses, Kentucky Crafted, shopping local, how the holidays are a great time to discover Kentucky art and artists, giving handmade for the holidays, and upcoming holiday art events.
Nick Lawrence and I
Carla and Micth playing while Mick listens
Nick Lawrence hosting
When I was little, it was a Christmas tradition to pick out a new Christmas ornament every year. I would have been so excited to find a tiny book ornament that I could actually have written in! These little books just make me smile. They have the most whimsical, swirly hook, making them extra fun. These will make great gifts for any book lovers. You can write a little message in them or suggest using them each year to record a Christmas memory. Some customers are letting their kids draw or put their finger prints in them. The possibilities are endless!
As some of you know, I recently took a couple weeks off. I went to Bangkok for dental work, traditional Thai massage, and rest. I have wanted to visited Thailand ever since a friend brought me back a silk scarf my freshman year of college. Since then, I’ve met a massage therapist who does traditional Thai massage, studied in Thailand, and has become a dear friend. She and I both needed dental work done and decided to do dental tourism in Thailand. The dental work was by far my best dental experience. They were quick, but gentle and precise. There wasn't any pressuring or fear-inducing talk. If you are curious about it, please do not hesitate to ask about details.
The dental work was only one aspect of the trip. Being around Thai people was like coming home to parts of myself that I had either shut down or didn't realize were there. I've come back feeling relaxed and settled deep within. I did alot of watching and taking things in.
While there are many aspects to share, one of them is the traffic in Bangkok. The traffic was shocking, especially to someone who grew up in KY. I sat in taxis and tuk tuks watching the inevitable and numerous traffic jams. At times, the traffic would begin to go fast, and we would just as suddenly stop and may not move for awhile. Cars, buses, taxis, and tuk tuks were constantly changing lanes. This sometimes involved driving on the wrong side of the road. There were also motercycles with no restrictions, zipping in between traffic or even up on the sidewalk. They are like water filling the little bit of space between cars. What was most shocking to me was that I did not see one wreck nor did I see stress on any of the Thais’ faces. No one was shouting or getting angry or aggressively honking. When traffic would move, they would make room for each other. Everyone wasn’t trying to be first. If someone got in front, it wasn’t seen as cutting someone off. There was an underlining sense that there was enough space for everyone.
At one point when I was waiting to cross a street, I saw a young barefoot boy run up to the stopped traffic and start cleaning the windshields. The people in the stopped cars just smiled and paid him for his work. He scurried out of the streets when traffic started moving. I tried picturing a similar scenario happening where I live. I couldn’t conceive it. No one was angry
at this boy for just cleaning and not asking first and expecting money. They knew he was trying to make it just like we all are…and so they shared and gave what they could. With all the traffic and the weaving in and out, there was a relaxed sense of knowing that everyone would eventually get to where they needed to go. Everyone has somewhere to be and is trying to move forward.
As I enter the holidays this year, I am holding these stories close. There is space enough for all of us, room for sharing, and the ability to recognize that we are all just moving forward the best we can. Recognizing can be enough to move our hearts to be a bit more compassionate. I would encourage you to do the same…to not get too drawn into the stress of buying, going non-stop, and feeling obligated. This holiday season, may we have a softer approach towards ourselves and towards those around us. As the sign in the above picture says, let us "move in love".