learning to fly

This Saturday I met up again with some pretty inspiring ladies. We went shopping, my first little outdoor boutique a lovely lunch and more shopping. It was the perfect treat before Mothers day to laugh, share and just be inspired.

I did not take a single picture of the actual boutique, this was inside the ladies house. It was totally just lovely! Really, I don't know how else to describe it.

It was so girly and feminine. I really wanted to just stay inside and have a cup of tea or something.

This was us after lunch, full of food and ready for round two. After round two me made the long trip back home.

We first dropped of Christie. I did not take a single picture of her home, I only got to see her studio/storefront. I drooled, drooled! Christie, I think I could move right in.

Then this sweet little mamma invited me in to see her studio


Rita placed my first custom order for one my bracelets. Very exciting. Now back to her studio tour.



She makes the most beautiful signs I have ever seen. I will get my hands on one of these!

I would totally wear that. With a pair of cowboy boots of course.

After leaving these ladies, they really just filled me up with inspiration and courage to believe in what you do. And not to worry about what others think. Just do it anyway. So I created more bracelets with them in mind. I also had the honor of having two stores while we were out shopping ask to carry my bracelets in there store. That was very unexpected and totally humbling. I had just the right group of artist with me to give me a great pep talk and some sound business advice. Thank you. So I got home and journaled and this is where the flying part comes in.

This should probably be a separate post but I am on a roll right now.

Learning to fly. That's is what I feel like lately. Getting the courage to use these new wings that the Lord has given me. For a few years I have been stuck in the nest, to afraid to jump. What if the wings don't work, and I fall smack on my face, what if everyone who sees my new wings criticizes them, says they aren't good enough, you don't deserve them. So I have spent a lot of wasted time chasing the things that the whole world tells me I need to chase. I am done chasing, those things have left me empty. So I have prayed, prayed and prayed some more. Prayed for direction, discernment, courage to believe that I am worthy. Slowly He has given me wings, teeny tiny ones at first that for the longest time could not keep me totally afloat. So He continued to grow them little by little. These past few years have been the most intensely creative for me. But I have been afraid. Afraid to show that big dark world what has come out of my broken beat down self. Until finally, and I am sure it has something to do with the most inspiring people that He has recently placed in my path at the most perfect moment. They are ready, I am ready.To spread those wings and jump out of the nest. Besides how will I every know if I can fly, if I am never brave enough to jump out of the nest. So here I go...

Posting these on etsy.

And Amber, thank you. Thank you for opening your heart to me and including me in this little adventure.

xoxo

Launching my creativity

A romantic statement. Just listed this baby on etsy.

This one I will name bohemian rhapsody. My inner hippie chic.

This has been my saying for months now. And yes, we really can do it anyway.

Why not right. Live inspired anyway.

You see art really does heal the soul and yours deserves healing.

These two are for a custom order for this sweet girl

Rita tell me which one you like better before I add your metal blingage.

You see a little "tea" party amongst girls can launch into an entire new world.

Thank you Sharon for launching so many of us into believing that we can and thank you Amber for inviting me.

learning to believe

I have had so many things going or should I say racing through my mind since this weekend that I am trying to process it all. I had the privilege of going to Launch your creativity on Saturday with 3 new friends. I must say I had only met one for a split second in my driveway and the other two were a mystery. I was nervous. You see, I have this funny thing that happens to me when I am put into a new situation. I am afraid. Afraid that I will be judged, turned ones nose upon, gossiped about. But, I have been learning to be brave. So that day I put on my brave girl boots. I do believe with out a doubt that God strategically placed me in the company of these beautiful woman for a reason (Amber,Rita, Nicky). To believe. To believe in myself, to open my eyes to a whole new world of creative woman and opportunities that I did not know existed. To gently tell me that yes, I can and do deserve to do this. You see I create because I have a deep seeded need too. It is something that is deep within my soul that I must use my hands to create things. I see the world differently. Art is therapy for me. I must make art to heal for many many reasons. But I have always felt that I can create but I don't deserve too. What I have learned is, the reason I can create, is because I do it from a place that is raw, real, broken but yet beautiful. I make things to heal. While I sat at this conference among very talented woman, I started to believe, I started to dream. I felt very convicted that the reason I can make pretty things is because each time, I am able to dig deep into the broken parts of my heart and turn them into something beautiful. So here is to making something beautiful. What beautiful things are you making? xoxo

I did it

Well I did it. With a little friendly encouragement I listed my cuffs on etsy. I spent a beautiful day yesterday making a few more. I was inspired yesterday, inspired to just go for it. I have spent so much time waiting for the right time to do things. I am not going to do that anymore. I have so many projects that I keep saying I am going to do. Well spring watch out, I am ready to just tackle them all. Here is a link to my bracelets http://www.etsy.com/shop/westcoastnester



Here is some eye candy that has put me in the spring cleaning mood




I love the pop of turquoise color.



This magazine has me drooling and dreaming.

There is something about birds chirping and they are out in full force today. The hot air balloons are out in the wine country today and I can see them right out my window. A big splash of color against an ominous looking sky. I should not tell you the sad story of me sipping my coffee with the birds in full song this morning. I hear my cat scratching to come in. I go to the door to see one of those sweet little birds dangling from her mouth. Sigh.... one less little songbird in Temecula.

Happy weekend.

a new day

It's a new day today. A beautiful day here in So Cal. All my family from out of town has left and this is my first day alone (well almost have daughter home today). It is so weird, when you lose someone you love whom you are so close too. Do you just start another day. Do you do laundry, and check emails and do the things you did before? I spent a few hours with my Aunt yesterday. All her company had gone home also and I knew yesterday would be the first day truly alone in her home. We talked, laughed and cried a lot. Talked about her new normal and what that would look like. The phone rang and my cousin answered, every time it rings you sort of hold your breath and hope that no one asks for "him". Well sure enough they did, Round table pizza calling wanting to ask my uncle a few question's for a survey. I had to listen to his daughter tell them, no he was not available to answer them at this time. She hung up. It pissed me off. Is this what the next few months and maybe years look like. Someone calling asking for him and reliving those emotions over and over again.

He worked for himself and built beautiful cabinets and custom wood work. He was busy. A truck pulled up to drop off the cabinets that he ordered. Had to tell them this was not a good time. His work phone keeps ringing answering and retelling the story over and over. Waiting for customers to show up to pick up cabinets and things that he had in his shop. Over and over those little things get ya.

The service was at my house on Sunday and I am going to clean up all the little things left over today. Is that what you do, just pick up and keep going. Mop the floor, vacuum etc. I am going to turn on some worship music and set my heart before the Lord and then keep going. That is what you are supposed to do right?

I did make something beautiful today and I am going to make another it just makes my heart feel good.

What makes your heart feel good?

funny thing about grief

Exactly one week ago today I received devastating news that my Uncle went to sleep and never woke up. He was 54. He was a huge presence in our family. We were very close to him and did everything together. He lived up the street and we saw him all the time. And for that I am grateful.


Grief is a funny thing. It feels like everything should stop moving but it does not. Driving home from his house last Friday people were out walking their dogs and jogging and I kept thinking. What are you doing, don't you know what just happened. You need to stop. You need to just stop moving and be still. Life just does not work that way does it? Grief has a funny way of sneaking up on you when you least expect it. I called Starbucks to see how much their coffee service would be for the funeral. The sweet barista named Jamie said they would donate it for his service. Tears, uncontrollable tears at the generosity of that little gift. Sorry Jamie, not sure you were prepared for my moment of uncontrolled emotion. Each time the door rings and another bouquet or plant is delivered to my aunt the waves of emotions come rolling out. Those little gifts mean so much. The food, women love to bring food. How you are loved for those sweet gestures.

Grief like I said it is a funny thing. For me I need to create something and I am almost overwhelmed with a desire to make something with my hands. My girlfriend sent me a beautiful email with some inspiration on it and I knew I had to make something with it so in my mad state of grief this is what I did. And you know what it felt really good




Trusting God is where I am at today. Just trusting in Him. So in my crazy state of creating I could not stop my back was aching from bending over but I just had to make these too.




Each one of these cuffs was my cry out to the Lord. Truly what was on my heart when grief had wrapped itself around every part of it. Art and creating is such a powerful healing tool. I am going to create some more today. Just need to keep my hands busy and let my tears flow.

I will be putting these in my etsy shop. I think? Not sure what else to do with them all.

A week in review

When I look at the week in review it makes me smile. I have the tendency to look at each day separately and not the week as a whole. Today as I sit in my little place of happiness with a hot cup of coffee I am reflecting on week well done. Most of the week I spent creating. Completely holed up in my little place of happiness. A few visitors stopped by for a latte and to see if I was still among the land of the living. And living I was. I was on a non stop creating frenzy and it felt oh so good. I had a minor detour on Thursday and went out to lunch with a beautiful friend and mentor from church. I left feeling refreshed and thankful to God for the amazing women that He has surrounded me with. On Friday I was in a creating frenzy again and had a very spontaneous invitation to lunch with my daughters friend and mom from school. So we spent the next three hours talking and asking for the bottomless basket of fries to be refilled. I got home and created for hours again. My hubby has asked me to meet him in San Diego for the weekend at an old Victorian hotel in the gas lamp district. I sit conflicted. We are suppose to get thunderstorms today and those don't happen very often in my neck of the woods. These are my favorite days to nest and create. He has now bribed me with a nice dinner and maybe some shopping. So off I go. I know this is something couples should do to spice things up every now and again. But my problem lies in the fact that I am a homebody. Truly I could stay in my home for weeks at a time perfectly content. I am going to stop rambling now and drop the kids of at grandmas and pack a bag for a romantic impromptu trip. My husband did just inform me that the hotel we are staying at is haunted. NICE!! He waited until I had agreed and arraignments were made to drop that one. I will let you know if we have any visitors. Crap!! That totally freaks me out!!!

I will leave you with a picture

This is one of my visual tools I use for inspiration. I have been pulling magazine pictures out and taping them all over my walls in my studio. Sigh..... by by studio you have made me so happy this week and we have been so productive together. I am leaving just for a day or two. I will tell the ghost's hello, and who knows they could add a whole new level of spice to the weekend.

happy heart day

I had a beautiful weekend. Not to mention the weather here was gorgeous. 80 degrees if you really need to know. Went hiking up the Santa rosa plateau, almost got eaten by a coyote. Kidding about the coyote but it dig scare the crap out of me.

We are having a family Valentines day at our abode tonight that means the kids are celebrating with us. So I have been busy getting dinner in the crock pot and decorations up and ready for a nice evening.

Here is a peek:

Don't get scared over the paprika wall color. I have finally finished procrastinating and picked out the new color. I had no idea that a shade of blue would be so difficult. Now lets see how long it takes to make it to the wall.

I am a little obsessed with the napkin flowers. Not sure I can even part with them after valentines day.

This is hanging in my studio. Thought I would add a little heart cheer since I spend to much time here.
More flowers I just can't help myself.

And these pretties are what we planted in the front and back over the weekend. I told my man that flowers in the yard is what I would love for valentines day. Hopefully I don't end up killing these too quickly. I am no green thumb by any stretch of the imagination.

Hope you have a wonderful Valentines day.

My heart is full! How about yours?

The She Art Workshop

I won, I really, really won this The She Art Workshop



I entered on Jeanne Oliver's giveaway and about peed my pants when she emailed me this morning and told me I won. What a beautiful gift thank you so much. Also what a perfect way to continue to grow. I have been crazy busy painting, journaling and digging deep, in my Soul Restoration workshop. So much to let sink in having a hard time processing it all into something that I could share. My hands are covered in paint which means that today was a good day.

xoxo

Brave girl

I have picked a new word for year and it is GROW. I looked up the definition

Grow:

To increase in size, to form, to arise. To become great at, expand. To become gradually ( I love that, so feel that is how God is shaping me) to become mature or experienced.

So I am embracing that word this year. I want to grow in so many ways. I want to grow spiritually, grow in my art, grow in my healing, grow with my family. One way that I am choosing to help me grow is this

This is a gift to me. I am going to spend the next 6 weeks learning

to be brave, to grow, to become gradually. I have been busy

collecting supplies and cleaning my studio. I have a local artist whom I adore

that is coming over tomorrow and we are going to be brave together.

This is the front of my sketchbook, it is a blank canvas and some birds I have been playing with. I love the thought of a blank canvas. A new beginning a place to grow.

I have been getting everything as organized as I can. I can hardly stand the wait until tomorrow. 1-11-11 a great day to begin a new journey. Any of you joining me in being brave?

Life in Grace

I have a friend, well we have never met but she is my go to girl. She probably has no idea the light that she has shined in my life. Every morning for the past few years while my kids are quietly eating there breakfast I take my coffee and read her blog. I have made almost every one of her recipes and coveted every project she does. I am also painting my armoire turquoise in her honor. I think she had me at turquoise. You know who I am talking about, the famous turquoise kitchen. It is her birthday today and she is broken. I am all about lifting a sister up so happy birthday Edie. You do not know me, but you have inspired me, encouraged me, challenged me, made me laugh and have taught me a thing or too in the kitchen. Your Strawberry butter cream dream cake about rocked my world and the Strawberry freezer jam that you know have me addicted too has changed the lives of many.

You love the Lord with a passion that is contagious and your devotion to your family makes me try harder. Thank you sister for caring as deeply as you do, for sharing your heart so freely.

I am excited to see this new journey that the Lord has you on. I can only imagine the things He has in store for you.

I thought I would share a picture of the cupcakes I made from Edies dreamy cake recipe.

Thank you for blessing me so abundantly. Now link up friends and lets bless another sister on her birthday she could use a little sunshine.