the slow roll

Last year around this time the studio shop was wild. It was super busy and I was shocked and elated by all the orders that came pouring in everyday. I had built a little nothing into a little something and was walking around feeling pretty proud of myself.

I was also feeling pretty overwhelmed, pretty exhausted, and pretty confused...shouldn't I be happy and grateful. I felt like my joy was being gobbled up by stress. I made family members help me while on vacation, I changed flights, I cancelled flights, I declined invitations, I ignored my husband, my  dog and myself. I spent morning until well into the evening filling orders, packaging, restocking inventory, printing mailing labels, filing out those little customs forms (thank the lord I can do it online now). I was just a drag to be around and I finally just broke down and wept to my husband who had a very simple response.

It's time to slow your roll.

He was right. It was time. I had done a great thing but not really in a great way. I had risked my own peace of mind and it was awesome for a time...until it wasn't. I ended up clearing out most of my inventory and closing my virtual doors for a spell. You guys know the rest. Recently I reopened after nearly a year. Same Bananafish...different studio. A friend asked me how it was going the other day and I thought for a minute...and said "slow." She took this to mean bad...like business was bad. But, no...it wasn't bad, just slow. And slow is my new favorite thing.

Sure...orders don't come in like they used to...I only have a fraction of the inventory so that makes total sense. I don't spend all my days filing orders, I have been able to assign specific times for that. It doesn't take me three weeks to get something out...more like one. And I have ideas...so many ideas about things I want to make...for myself. Yeah...I've been actually making stuff...and not shop samples but stuff using all kinds of products and supplies. I'm taking a couple online workshops, I have caught up (mostly) on my pocket album and have been participating in the #get messy art journal group.

So the slow roll is good. It's better than good. Much of my day is devoted to my design clients which...c'mon, are really my bread and butter. It took a while for me to settle into my new normal, to accept and enjoy what the shop is now, to recognize that growth means something different to everybody, to pace myself and just go slow:)

Happy Friday!

Look for part two of simple stamping next Wednesday.
edited to add: let's switch wednesday to friday:)

the lowdown

okay. so this is going to be a total hodgepodge post. I have no time for proper punctuation or grammar, so if you would kindly overlook my lack of capital letters I would appreciate it tremendously.

So why so busy? Not that you asked but the answer is I have a terrible horrible talent for always underestimating how long everything will take. How long it will take to lose 80 pounds (15+years), how long it will take for my hair to turn gray (approx 40 years), how long it will take to toast English muffins (less time than I thought). This means I am always rushing about at the last minute trying to get stuff done and throwing my back out in the process.

Yups, I threw mah back out, while cleaning the guest room for my niece and nephew who will be here in less than 24 hours. BOOM! Oh, the rest of my house is kinda wrecked, I'm overdue on a deadline and it's hot as hell is Seattle.

Right about now you may be thinking...what about the shop, France? What about all those cute little sneaks we liked on Instagram? We about all those nature pics you took last week?

There are a few things still in production, so I was faced with a decision...open the shop without them and then be faced with having to charge people additional shipping if they want to buy the other things a little while later when they come in or...just wait till I have everything. Whew, that was a long sentence. I am not in the habit of waiting, I use to worry about people getting the jump on me.
Thankfully I have worked through those issues and will wait until everything is ready and I can present folks with my very best. 

Right now the ETA is the first week of August...so, yeah...It's coming...in the meantime I'm getting all into nature. I'm venturing out with my giant straw hat and my SPF 1000 and I'm enjoying this little life of mine. Summer and I don't always get along, but I'm trying to make friends.

aaaaand I come right back

I just wrote a long ass post about blogging and how I'm not really a blogger, but just a girl with a blog, and how it's not really the same...and yeah, I bored myself. So, I will spare you all of that.

I stumbled a bit with my Mon, Wed, Fri posting but when that happens, I somehow manage to come right back. I like this little piece of Internet I've carved out. I'm not terribly good at generating content though since I don't have kids, my dog doesn't talk, I can't legally discuss the clients and companies for whom I work, my exercise plan is for shit, I can never get good pictures of my dinner, I rarely bake, I'm reading Pride and Prejudice for the umpteenth time, I have yet to complete my monthly scrapbook spread, I don't DIY, I haven't picked up my knitting needles in a while, I haven't traveled anywhere that hasn't already been well documented, the studio shop is still quite undone, I've never had a Moscow Mule, I'm not much of a thrifter, I don't have any advice on being a designer/small business owner/ amateur rapper other than be nice and make things, I don't drink coffee, I'm not a great photographer, and much to my husband's chagrin, I have yet to succumb to World Cup fever.

What does that leave? Oh, I know...

Happy Friday the 13th

on gardens and gardening

It seems like everywhere I look folks are talking about their gardens. Truth be told, I like it and I get it. Up until a couple years ago...I didn't get it. You see, up until a couple years ago I never lived in a house, never had a garden and had never grown something from the ground and eaten it.

That's all changed since I moved into this delightful little house in the lovely PNW, but I still reminisce about my childhood. I grew up in a 10 unit apartment building with a pool in the center of a small courtyard. Although I didn't know it back then, the apartment I grew up in was bigger than a LOT of houses and we didn't really ever want for space. The best part besides the pool is that each unit was occupied by families with kids around our age. Some of which have remained in my life to this day. Over thirty years later, a couple of those families still live there...including my mom. These people that started out as neighbors and became like family have all changed and grown...some have become grandparents recently. EEK! Some have fought in wars around the world...they have children and jobs and struggles.

Even though I didn't have a garden then, I now realize as I walk through grass still wet with dew, as I pick flowers to give away or to perfume my home, as I anxiously await my budding tomatoes and pop warm raspberries in my mouth...Gardens come in many different forms. As a child I still got to watch things grow. I still got to see things being tended and loved.  I learned the lesson that what springs from the earth will eventually return to it and that you reap what you sow.

I am so thankful for what I have now, but it can never compare to what I had then. I don't own this garden...but for now, for today, it's mine to enjoy.

girl, interrupted

image taken somewhere around 25,000 feet

I was recently reading an article about a study by Fairfield University regarding picture taking and memory. The study introduced the idea that taking photos can interrupt the brains process of remembering. This "photo-taking impairment effect" is characterized by taking more pictures but remembering fewer details. It's like "outsourcing your memory to a camera."

While there are a few caveats which I will get to in a moment, it got me thinking about my own picture taking and the sheer volume of photos I take...especially with my phone. I realized that I too had fallen victim to this memory interruption. Once upon a time I absorbed moments more completely...sure there have always been distractions, but never one I held in my hand. I find that when I put the phone down my senses become far more acute and I am experiencing moments on a more visceral level which effects how clearly I remember them. It seems like I've been trusting my camera phone to do that for me. I didn't think about remembering or even experiencing...I thought about getting the right light, focusing, looking for a place to prop my phone etc. I was blocking my own brain from truly experiencing anything. This very fact was crystallized for me last week at my niece's graduation. It took place at sunset outdoors and at the end there were fireworks. I was trying my level best to get a good picture until my husband whispered to me..."they never look as good in pictures as they do in real life." I quickly put my camera down, but it was too late...they were done.

The research scientist at the university brought up the idea that photographs are less memories and more like retrieval clues. She encourages the idea of "mindful photography" which I think could be something each of us determines individually. Back to those caveats...after reading the study I thought it should have addressed the fact that not all picture taking is meant to preserve a memory...sometimes its purpose is to evoke emotion or simply artistic in nature. I also think familiarity with the process makes a huge difference.  For example...when I'm back home in LA and I drive to the beach I am able to experience everything about that drive...the sights, the smells everything, and I think it's directly related to the fact that I know my route so well I could drive it in my sleep. That cannot be said for the times I am dependent upon my GPS. I am focused so heavily on turning right or left in 100 yards or making sure I don't miss my exit that I couldn't tell you a single thing about the drive other than thank God I made it. I think the same can be said for good photographers...they don't need to focus so heavily on their technique which frees them up to experience moments more fully.

 For me, practicing "mindful photography" means allowing myself to experience first and record second. If this means missing a few pictures or less than stellar pictures, I'm okay with that. If it means having nothing to Instagram, I'm okay with that too. I also think the very idea of this should spark a conversation about storytelling. A picture is wonderful but without the details, the story...it's just an image. That's why scrapbooking is so valuable to me...it allows me to tell a broader story...a deeper more colorful story complete with words and pictures.

friday foursome | knitting

One subject.
Four favorites.

I thought that it could be fun every so often to round-up a few things that represent more than just items I want...but a nice little variety of things relative to my favorite past times.

Today's Friday foursome are all about knitting.

photos courtesy of linked sites

love it: I mainly knit in neutrals so this Sparrow palette by Quince + Co. would be a nice change.
visit it: Tolt Yarn and Wool, just outside of Seattle, is not only my favorite shop, but I love their blog.
want it: I am still pretty much obsessed with tote bags especially this one by Fringe Supply Co.
make it: This light summer shawl pattern by Whits Knits would be perfect for evenings in the PNW.

Have a lovely Weekend.

the act of seeking out

 all images taken this weekend at Golden Gardens and Kayak Point

Sometimes I feel like I lead a double life.

The virtual one and the real one. The virtual life looks a bit different than the real one, yet it is all the same. It really comes down to what I share...isn't that the same for all of us really?

If using the Internet as ones sole point of reference...one could say I go a lot of places, complete a lot of projects, cook all the time, have a garden filled with beautiful flowers and enough downtime to photograph it all. Wow! What a life...could I be that girl? When I look at my own blog and my own Instagram feed I am often struck by how pretty, fun and full it all looks. It gets me thinking about perspective and how what you choose to share becomes the narrative.

So hows about a bit of truth with your morning cup of tea.

I am a homebody and not particularly social. I have a very small group of friends and most of them live in other places. I spend long stretches of the day not speaking to another human being. I work from home so my interactions are few. This lifestyle is mostly delightful to me as I have never been an extrovert. This does not mean that I am antisocial. Actually quite the contrary. I enjoy other people. I enjoy people watching. I enjoy engaging in animated conversations. I just don't seek it out.

I decided to make some changes in 2014. While I didn't feel the need to become a social butterfly. I did and do want to get out more. I want my everyday life to be more like the life I see in my own pictures. I want the fullness to be the rule rather than the exception. I treasure my quiet simple life...I truly do...but there's so much good stuff that comes with getting out and I can't expect all that good stuff to come to me. So far I have exceeded my own expectations. Both with Keith and without him, I have explored this great city...I have embarked on a road trip, I have visited new places and dined with new people. I have cooked different kinds of food and listened to different kinds of music. I have watched documentaries on subjects for which I never previously cared. I have played with my dog and wept with strangers. I see Keith doing the same...stretching himself in ways that make me proud and happy.

One of my goals is to visit a whole list of parks here in the PNW. The parks here will blow your mind, they are really that beautiful. Every time I visit one I return home feeling joy. Fresh air, trees and a nice long walk will do that I guess...who knew? 

In addition to the parks here are a few other things I want to do this summer:

Take a cooking class.
Have tea with a stranger.
Go to more movies.
Have a picnic with Keith in our backyard
See Mt Rainier up close
Rent a cabin with a hot tub;)

invent a signature cocktail
do a bit of painting
wear more dresses
take a yoga class

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?”  
-Mary Oliver

if you don't know, now you know

My desk looks pretty clean in this picture...but there's a lot you can't see, just follow the numbers around the room.

1. Against the wall in front of my desk is a long low Expedit aka Kallax book shelf that desperately needs to be dusted. It's home to my printer, my Cameo and lots of business paperwork that needs to be filed.

2. Yes, two is tricky...it's hiding beneath my desk but it's really hiding the bottom shelf of that shelving unit behind my desk which contains 3 baskets filled with...I don't even know.

3. Is a decent looking lamp that sits atop my computer/sewing machine/ place where I sit when I get tired of standing desk. Right now it's also home to 3 large boxes that need to be broken down and recycled. oh...and if I open that window I might just catch a glimpse of my neighbor playing the accordion....naked. Just kidding about the accordion.

4. The wall to the right of my desk has three small metal shelving units that contain what's left of my shop inventory, my manual die cutting accoutrement. and some books and magazines. It's all kind of a mess.

So there you go...a picture that doesn't even show the half of it.

Happy Workspace Wednesday

Oh...i forgot to mention the door to this room  with the busted up metal dog gate in front of it.  This is a strictly no Ronin zone...he eats paper.

right now...

My feet are crazy cold because I flat out refuse to wear socks. Dear 70+ temps...please come back.

I am loving the look of my painted wood veneer

Ronin is loving his morning massage routine. Keith is jealous.

I am back to crochet for a bit.

I am wondering how I will incorporate 30 turkey meatballs into our meal plan this week.

I am doing push ups in the morning like my dad

Keith is rocking a neatly trimmed salt and peppah beard.

Ronin's ears are dirty but he almost ate my fingers when i tried to clean them.

I'm slowly checking things off my to-do list.

Keith is writing funny shit.

May is looking kinda gray.

3 things

no. 1

i am putting off the remaining wedding diy posts for a bit...
working on some templates
that might prove more useful

no. 2

i'm sorta over facebook
that's how it is for me
short bursts of enthusiasm
then nothing

no.3


i love these ipod sleeping bags
even though i don't have an ipod.
she will make customized iphone ones
i don't have one of those either...
i'm still happily rocking
my motorola razor

it's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday

in addition to the demise of my beloved Domino, I am also bidding a fond farewell to the three columned blog template. How sad that it was Perez Hilton of all people to break the tragic Domino news yesterday about noonish. Go figure, I just subscribed to the mag I've been buying off the newstand for so long, only to find out that its time in the sun is over. I know I must end my lament, but I just can't stand Conde Nast...why don't they get rid of Vogue...there's more than enough fashion fodder on-line. Okay. breathe. I do love Vogue and how it satisfies my sartorial inclinations...but, oh well ces't la vie.

As you can see...I have also axed the old template in favor of something say...a bit more low maintenance. I'm just over the sheer volume of stuff blinking and clogging up my precious white space. I needed to strip back down to the essentials and do a little blog clean-up. I know you don't recognize it, but this started off as the Scribe template and after a flurry of activity is now this. Not too bad, eh? I'm happy with it. I can see a few imperfections that I have just decided to let go. One of the things I hate about uploading a new template is that I lose all my widgets. It's a bit of a pain having to add them all back in...and I always make the mistake of not writing them down somewhere. So this is by memory...if I forgot to put a link to your blog it's not a slight but rather a lapse in memory. I also added a few links. I had no choice but to get rid of blogs that are never updated...that makes me grumpy...

incidentally...speaking of blogs that are not regularly updated...I will try and practice what I preach.

blessings in disguise

my mom says that disappointments are often blessings in disguise. I grew up hearing her say that and have come to believe that it is true. She is a lady that subscribes to the idea that attitude is everything and we all have the ability to choose happiness. I think this idea is particularly true during the holidays.

My house is still full of boxes...I'm going slow yet I feel so much better that I am thoughtfully unpacking and realizing just how lucky I have been. Taking my time has afforded me the chance to really think about where I want things to go and avoid purchasing unnecessary things.

I have been without wireless until today...but that's okay since it has kept me from spending too much time online. I managed to finish crocheting a scarf for my mom and have begun work on my first hat. I love the internet...but I needed the break.

We gave our Christmas tree to one of the movers since we didn't really have a place to store it in our new home...but thankfully...when we met up with our mover in Atlanta he told us how excited his daughter was to receive the tree. Keith and I also discovered a place where we could buy live miniature trees. It's our first live tree in a long while.

It seems that for all the times we've been lost in our neighborhood we've made a new discovery, for all the things we didn't buy because they were out of our price range we have received as gifts, and for all the people that we left behind we have been met with kindness from our new neighbors and coworkers.

I admit, this holiday I miss my mom, my friends, the feeling of a clean home and the smells and sounds of a familiar neighborhood, but I am eternally thankful for Keith's new opportunities, my adorable new office, the health and happiness of our pup and the sweet emails from dear friends who remind me that I am loved and that blessing abound.

coming up for air...

so here's the rundown of recent events:

discovered my local Target

unpacked the wine and drinking copious amounts of Malbec

Also discovered my local Kroger

Whole foods is next

I know some of you are awaiting shipments....what can I say...I'm only human

The kitchen is unpacked....everything else is not

I adore Ikea

Akira peed in the guest room

Roasters across the road is magic...pure magic

I need a pedicure...Jaimi...are you reading this?

I caved and bought a pair of Uggs...actually, they're knockoffs, so let's call them fuggs

I still need to do some address changes

Direct TV is better than Comcast

My wireless is not set up yet

ITS NOT SET UP YET

did the caps convey my frustration?

I am only documenting my December daily through photos

Words and craftiness will come later

that's kinda it for now...oh...I'm doing Facebook

don't judge

stop the insanity

oh........my.........god.

MOVING.SUCKS.ASS.

that's all i have to say,

or all i have time to say rather.

forgive the vulgarity.

i promise, there was little else I could think of that
could aptly describe this shitf!?k of a situation.

more on this later...

packing vs. anything else

photo courtesy of getty images.

I wish that all my boxes could be so neatly packed and tied up in a bow...but alas, such is not the case. I am having a terrible time getting motivated. Case in point...i could be packing rather than blogging right now.

But I'm not.

My mom would say..."i think it's because you don't want to go."

the truth:

i don't want to pack.

I decided to begin with the studio and my goodness gracious...I have no words.

None.

I do have packers who are set to come the day prior to moving, but I'm not letting them anywhere near my crafty accoutrement.

but that may change.

Maybe I need a mixed tape...something with a moving theme.

our new digs

So our brief visit to Atlanta has come to an end and we have returned to LA safe and sound. I must say that I was not prepared to like the southern city nearly as much as I did. Perhaps my love has to do with the fact that it is still shrouded in mystery. Newness makes every love affair a bit nicer, no? Anyway...a bit about the city from a first timer's standpoint:

We stayed at the Intercontinental, but I would have been pleased as punch to halt the apartment hunting and just live there.

Atlanta has more trees than I could have ever imagined. If I had to describe it I would say, it looks like a blooming city built in Central Park amidst trees, bridges and small creeks. This photo was taken from my hotel room on the 20th floor. Incidentally, rumor has it...Bill Clinton was near by aiding Senator Martin. We also had a nice chat with Mayweather on the elevator...at least Keith did. I had no idea who he was.




The service and food are spectacular. We dined at a couple different restaurant and they were all exceptional. I especially loved the prices.

Rick Hamilton. Amazing. If you ever need a realtor in the Atlanta area he is the best. He took us to ten different locations and was responsible for helping us find our new home. He even took us to a little soiree at the Adac to celebrate his friend's new store. By the way...his house was around the corner form ours, but man. whoa. Architectural Digest material. SERIOUSLY FABULOUS.

We are now in serious pack mode. The movers are coming on Monday to survey and will be back to load on the 4th. Akira is getting used to her transport crate and we are trying to decide...to drug or not to drug...any suggestions?

We are intending to purchase new furniture...so that is taking up a bit of time. It's all good...we are super excited. Oh and if I owe you an email, it is forthcoming...I just need to get my bearings.

on a weekend of fecundity...

...the creative sort to be clear. Keith and I have been hard at work trying to discover our next domestic situation from afar. It is a trying endeavor to be sure.

The issues are as follows:

#1 Many of the homes in the area near the agency look like this....



for the record...this is NOT in our price range

#2 The younger professional crowd live a bit further south in hip happening urban communities such as this...



which is also beyond my budget (understatement)

#3 I don't trust craigslist because what they describe often ends up looking like this:



which is in my price range...way in

So what's a gal...and guy to do. We've already run the gamut of excitement...until we discovered apartmentratings.com which resulted in a brief state of melancholy ...then a return to excitement tempered by caution and low expectation. Frustration has led me to threaten violence. Keith has suggested I relax several times. Incidentally, I despise being told to relax. I hope that my active nature and his passive one serves us well during this shitf!ck of a process. Yup, I said it...and I'm actually restraining myself.

We have a list and several appointments but feel as though we can't really do much until we get out there. Thankfully the agency will be flying us out on Wednesday of next week. Then we have exactly two days to find a place to live.

two

days.

shitf!ck!

the skinny

so...what's the happs in my neck of the woods. Work man. All work. a bit of play...but mostly work. I always try to turn it down a notch around this time of year. I want to revel a bit more in the craftiness of the season, but the desire never really manifests. I've got a few new clients and some pressing deadlines and my head feels as though it's being squeezed between some very large hands...but I'm plugging along. Happy to be doing what I love.


Hmmm...what else? While wasting a wee bit of time yesterday I caught a tutorial featuring this little yummy. I'm trying to decide if I need a portable die cutting system. I have one...well two. I currently own a Cuttlebug (yes the name bothers me as well) and a Quickcutz...the hand held one, not the jumbo. But the Slice just looks better. What would I use it for? Oh, you know...cutting stuff into shapes....yeah...cutting stuff. I KNOW. I HAVE NO BUSINESS BUYING ANOTHER PRETTY GADGET. The caps look so rough don't you think? I won't buy it.

but I want to.

Other non-crafty news...this...is...a...sacrilege. I'm not fond of this idea. NOT AT ALL. Who does that little mite think he is + isn't he a bit young? I'm just sayin. Why does Hollywood keeps messing things up...are they in need of good scripts? I know a bunch of scarf wearing dudes hanging out at the Starbucks busily writing far fetched screenplays as I type. Go hit Diablo Cody up...I'm sure she's got some shiz with strangely articulate teens in the oven.

Finally...I'm not gonna post the video here, but if you can spare six minutes...six teeny tiny minutes. Check this out. I know you wish I would, but I won't let it go. NO WAY, NO HOW.

not quite gaga for goop

I have never been a fan of all things Gwynnie. Not because I know her and dislike her, but rather I find her a bit too perfect. Too tall, Too well dressed, Too privileged, Too Famous. What is it in us that makes us despise the qualities in others that we would wish for in ourselves? I am old, well older, and a bit too smart to continue my dislike of Gwyneth for no good reason...so, I have decided to give her a chance and I am starting by checking out her new site GOOP. I know funny name...but I fancy saying it. Feels nice on the lips. It's got a nice pop.

Check it out, perhaps you'll like it, perhaps not, but for me...life is all about giving things a chance. So although I'm not quite over the moon yet...I'm willing to see how things go...I'm certain Gwynnie would be pleased ;)

35@35

#1 i love lists

#2 even though I've read everything from mysteries to science fiction, I still adore historical romance

#3 i have a rather large vocabulary...most of the words are no longer used

#4 i took latin in school

#5 i laugh at inappropriate moments

#6 i've never been out of the country

#7 my favorite city is NYC...bust I haven't seen all of them yet so that's a tentative fave

#8 i don't think i could ever become a vegetarian...even though i love animals

#9 i'm a liberal

#10 i like humor that includes a bit of social commentary

#11 i am a charlotte with a bit of samantha thrown in

#12 i can read the same books and see the same movies over and over again

#13 i'm actually a pretty good singer, but i have horrible stagefright

#14 i really like handbags and the color green

#15 i like gold, but i love silver

#16 i have inherited my mom's love of telling stories
but, like her, tend to be long winded

#17 i'm a loner, but not lonely

#18 i know more about science then i let on

#19 i often threaten to cut, punch, stab, strangle, shank or shoot people
...but only quietly in my head

#20 the characteristic I find most beautiful is kindness followed by compassion

#21 i use the word hate a lot...but rarely ever mean it

#22 i use the word love a lot too...and always mean it

#23 in high school i was voted most likely to become the first female president

#24 i have a thing for orange soda and pumpkin seeds

#25 i don't really like children

#26 except for the ones that belong to my sister

#27 i am super close to my family

#28 i look exactly like the grandmother i've never met

#29 i still miss my grandfather everyday

#30 i've been married twice

#31 i'm moody and dramatic which i chalk up to being an artist

#32 i have a ferocious temper, but rarely get angry

#33 if there was a soundtrack to my life it would be mostly nina simone with a bit of
80's pop for good measure

#34 entitlement and greed are the traits i most despise in others

#35 i'm not particularly good at any games that involve other people