Thursday, May 30, 2013

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

Friday, May 10, 2013

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! 


Thursday, May 9, 2013

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...



Tuesday, May 7, 2013

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!