Weekly Update

Life is starting to get a little more relaxed. Well, nothing has really changed, I am realizing I was allowing forces outside of myself to dictate what I focused my attention to and problems that are not mine. At this stage of the game, it isn't necessary for me to put my energy into helping someone else, when I am not doing what I need to for a stable foundation for MY dreams!

Once that realization took hold... I feel a great deal more relaxed. My dreams are big and they have emerged, are still emerging and taking shape. I am taking action, one small step at a time and feeling huge relief. Finally, it is my turn.

Everything is going to be revamped this year. Another year of living transition.. hopefully, in the apartment we have selected. It is clean and a little bigger than the upstairs of our little cottage by the river. More stuff will have to go. I am thinking to talk to my dad about space in his shed for the painted furniture. The stipulation being to set aside a weekend or two to actually get the work done and determine if I am going to keep it or make the treasures available for others by creating an etsy shop. I know what I want to do... the etsy shop sounds like it would be great fun... but I will have to be more organized and more disciplined than I have been and currently am right now.

Taking on more business and having time for my own creative endeavors is essential at this point in my life. I am no longer willing to put aside my own passions for meager pay to forward someone else's dream.

The next transition phase is about creating structures and discipline in all areas of my life.. that is exciting for me on so many levels, as that is the key for MAKING IT HAPPEN!

This blog and Shelly's Design Studio Website are key elements of that structure and discipline. Distractions are to be limited, a great deal more than they have been. I have a purpose and a goal that I intend to fulfill.

The details will follow as progress is made.. in what ever way, shape or form that takes, I welcome you to continue on the journey with me.

It has been a while and I miss the consistency of writing... and sharing with you all...

Until a day in the NEAR future, have a lovely one!
Shelly

Choosing an experience.... a principle of manifestation

These past few days have had me deep in the administrative structures of the design studio. Assessing what is working and what is not working and there is plenty not working! 

The prompt for the scrutiny comes from the looming move ahead and the desire to move into a place of my own. A place where I am the owner and I choose the level of upkeep, aesthetics and function for my lifestyle. It will be the first time as a homeowner for me. I have always rented, keeping things mobile. Not sure where I would end up or where I wanted to end up. In case... my knight in shining armor showed up on a white horse, blah, blah, blah... 

I am here now and I am ready to live my life for me. Studying the concepts and ideas of business, structure, design and the decorative arts. That is what has interested me and now it is time to really put it all together. The time for gathering has come to an end.. I have all that I need and am ready to commit to MY career. Not just something I am doing in the mean time.. la, la, la, la, la, la... 

For years I have been working with homeowners, creating beautiful environments that are expressions of who they are.. improving the function and lifestyle of their everyday lives. Now, it is time I do that for myself. I look forward to finding the perfect space to call home, and lovingly bring it to a higher standard of living. To create a beautiful space that is an expression of me is an exciting journey. To be fully self expressed in my being AND my environment, that is my desire of late... 

What about you? What have you been putting off for a lifetime? What have you longed for? When is it time to embark on your journey, rather than do what your doing to distract you?  your real desire?  What is the experience you want for you? It doesn't even have to be about your home. What is next for you... many people have achieved a result, reached a goal. Now what? Set a new goal... When you think your done... there is only one way left to go... downward. When there is always more to do, to experience, to dream, to create.. that is life! 

Inspiration keeping insanity at bay..

It is getting time to move again. The stress levels are high. The past several days have been spent gathering financial information and the like.  What a disorganized mess I have! There are many layers to inspiration and reasons to get it all cleaned up and sorted... and I won't get into them now.. I have to look at it from an inspired perspective or it is just drudgery!

Today I took a quick break and drove up to Anoka... near the old home base, as a city girl now, well, Minneapolis, city... I know to some it is small, but Anoka is a charming little town on the river in Anoka County, the Halloween capital of the world and home to many Antique and collectable shops...

One of these shops was my destination today. a shop that is only open limited days per month (a great concept in my opinion, from a business standpoint and building a serious customer base) The shop features Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. This is something that I have wanted to see and feel in person. It is a low VOC matte finish paint specifically for furniture, and it can be used on walls.

The color palette is basic and small. There is a good range of lights, mediums and dark colors. A variety of hue that  can be easily mixed. I picked up a book on mixing the paints... After the move, I may take the class, to learn the best techniques. As you recall, I have a few stray pieces of furniture around here to make into lovely accent pieces!

Then I stopped in at the quilt shop in Anoka, they have expanded! I did quite well, not looking at the fabrics at all. The bright colors and selections were attention grabbing, but provided a stimulating backdrop to the variety of patterns and samples all about the store. There was plenty of room to wander through the fabric selections and the whole atmosphere was one of spacious indulgence. I picked up a couple of patterns. One for mom, Birthday & Mother's day. Just a little something that she can use her massive stash of dishtowels with. I think I may convert some dishtowels into aprons, with the adorable apron pattern I picked up.

Well, it is time to get back to the paperwork task... going on three days solid... it is hard to remember stuff from two years back... but then, I did ok with documenting most of it... just a couple of stumpers here and there...

Updates on what is going on...

What have I been creating lately? C-H-A-O-S!!

There is so much that needs to be done, it is hard to focus. One good thing, is the hours at the new job have been reduced. This is a good thing, considering I wasn't looking for a job anyway.

It looks like I am there the peak hours of traffic. Fridays from 12-6 and Saturdays from 10-5. Monday from 9-1, as monday mornings are our staff meetings.

With moving coming up and design work picking up... time and efficiency are most desirable. There is a cute little brown house down the road that we like. It was built in 1921 and has had some renovations done to it in the 50's. Not a great deal of personality, but the floor plan is very open. Personality is easy to add... the basement is unfinished and most likely, we will finish it, making the 856 sq ft, more appealing by adding some nominal finished space downstair.

I am attracting it, this little house just blocks away.... Miracles happen every day...

Back to my paperwork and creating order... from the chaos...

Enjoy the beautiful spring weather and be inspired!

Milestone!

Wow! 5,000 page views in all time!

thanks for checking it out! 

What is pressing on your creative brain?

Happy Monday all! This morning I am reminded, there are endless things that need to be done. However, to be truly present to any one of them, what is it that you would rather be doing?

I have had color on my mind for two weeks now. Developing color palettes, just basic starter palettes for I don't know what yet....

In my minds eye, there are yellow and citrus colors with a spark of contrast.. imagine lemons on lush green branches with blue sky peeking through and then a surprise color... or dark chocolate and deep purples and wine, with champagne and blush... these are a few that I would love to further develop. The context is still a mystery, no, I take that back, I know exactly what I want to develop these palettes for. And I am going to let it incubate and percolate a while longer before revealing. Nothing may ever come of it, but it is occupying valuable creative space right now.

Maybe it is just a test to see if I will take action and make room for my own creative development again. It does involve another person or entity to create a finished product or products.. and the niche is very particular. Not the mass market, a little more exclusive, something for those who want something a bit different, it isn't trendy, it is classic and will enhance any decor.... stay tuned my friends, not to see what it is (although that is a good idea) no, more like....

"Will Shelly take action on developing the idea in her mind? Will it lead to anything expressive and hopefully profitable?" Will she sell out on herself and put her energy where there is the least amount of return on her investment? Her biggest investment being herself and everything design... Stay tuned for next week's post... What will Shelly do?"

Until then, have a fabulous week and enjoy the sunshine... 

April is Minnesota Blizzard Month!

Yes, it is nearing the end part of April and the weather is looking like a white Christmas here in Minnesota! Every three to four days, we get a deep and white boat load of snow. It is pretty and it melts pretty fast, so the white doesn't have time to get really dirty. But, green leaves and grass would be a welcome sight. I am liking the color of the sky, bright blue, deep wet tree bark black and crisp sparkly white.. it is a pretty lace pattern against the sky.

We went looking at open houses on Sunday. We managed to see 16 of them. Many were quite out of the price range, but it was nice to see what we are aspiring to. Many of the favorites were from the 1930's era. Many had original features, some even the original linoleum floors! One, had the original TERRAZZO floors, countertops and backsplash in the kitchen and bath. Very lovely, this was a spacious home that was quite out of range, but oh, to aspire to bring back the charm of that era in something that has been less than cared for.

That is the plan.. not much sewing, but the creative wheels are spinning.  As the threads of life are being spun, the process is rich with experience, emotions and very ripe for sharing... Enjoy your spring where ever you are!