JCasa *handmade BLOG

bits + pieces

::  we thoroughly enjoyed these insanely delicious panini and oreo truffles while friends came over for a visit with their dreamboat of a new baby this weekend!  he looked perfect in his pointy elf cap when he came home from the hospital, and now i think he may need a pebble when autumn rolls around.

::  i am honored and delighted to again be posting on habit this month.  truth be told, i was giddy when they asked me back.  molly and emily have developed such a lovely + reflective space, and i find such comfort among this community of women.

::  our kitchen/first floor renovation is moving in the right direction.  the designer really seems to "get" me and my vision, and i am looking forward to seeing her drawings soon soon soon.

::  i got voted off project run & play last week and am totally cool with how it went down.  it was a wonderful experience and i appreciated the diversity among our individual styles.  and i am still enjoying following along each week, (although i do not miss the deadlines or competition pressure).  i accepted the invitiation to participate because i wanted to collaborate with and celebrate my girls.  we created pieces that we love, and i remained true to my style to the end.  amen to that.

::  i am completely hooked on words with friends and draw something.  oh.  my.  gosh.
[want to play?  find me at 321jcasa.]

xoxo

 

notes to self : BE

be kind.
be courageous.
be fair.
be compassionate.
be honest.
be responsible.
be loyal.
be respectful.
be all that you can be.
be yourself.

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*what do you want to be?  xoxo

digging out

adjusting the arrangement my work + creative spaces this morning.  i have a love/hate thing with the layout of our home, which is magnified daily by planning for our pending renovations.  i don't really have a desinated space anymore, as my work has oozed out of my studio and into adjacent rooms.  what was initially thought of as a great idea - moving the compuer into a common area - turned out to be a major time suck (as in i am easily sucked into hours upon hours online without anything to show for it).  i have realized that i really do need and want (and deserve!) a space for work, separate from all else.  and also that i need to be more mindful about my limited work time, turn the rassafrassa computer off, and get down to doing what i love again.

so how am i going to make that happen...

whether we make adjustments for my workspace in our home, or i seek a studio outside the home is the big question.  there are pros and cons to both.  $$$ being foremost on my mind.  all i know is that the above shown chaotic studio overflow isn't working.  and all the while i am also aspiring to complete my next book proposal, format and market new designs for the Pattern SHOP and create new pieces for my Handmade SHOP.  what i do know is that it's time i stopped making excuses and deal with the matter of getting back my mojo.  a little rearrangement of things is in order, even if it will all be torn up in a manner of months.  i am hopeful this will give me the creative jumpstart i so desperately need.  xoxo

resolve

i love beginnings.  LOVE.  each new day is fresh and new and full of promise.  there is opportunity that anything can happen.  anything.  isn't that such a great word?

i especially love the beginning of a new year, what with a clean new calendar awaiting special dates and notes and doodles.  the possibilities are endless.  i spent more than a bit of time thinking about the new year over the past few weeks, and decided against making a lengthy list of lofty resolutions that are sooner forgotten than achieved.  i couldn't tell you any of my past resolutions if my life depended on it.  other than "lose weight" or "get in shape".  and how much more vague can a person get?  but rather than beat myself up about what wasn't, i choose to concentrate on what can be.

this year i set some goals.
i threw down a few challenges.
i also granted myself a few wishes.

and i was very specific with each and every one of them.

then i put them on the wall in my studio, directly above my worktable at eye level.  so they will stare me in the face each and every day.  that makes me smile.  yes it does.

there are now 12 goals up there (i've since added one more), and there they shall remain this entire year as a reminder of what is important to me and how i want to LIVE.  i love that i finally put pen to paper, commiting my energies to make each one a reality.  and i look forward to sharing bits + pieces here as things progress.

it's exciting.  it's hopeful.  it's positive.  it's a fresh and new and shiny beginning.

what is important to you right now?  do you make new year's resolutions?  are they personal- or business-related?  have you ever felt in the past like you were setting yourself up for failure?  did you do something different this year?  let's continue this conversation in the comments.  xoxo

what i found

yesterday afternoon - on Halloween, how appropriate - a giant spider jumped out of my handbag and scampered across the kitchen floor.  after i caught up with it and gave it a good slap, i figured it was probably time to clean out my purse.  here's what i found:

[ note the lack of spider carcass.  you are welcome. ]

what i found was that i felt an urgency to arrange everything all scientific-looking.  i suppose that's what happens when you're home alone, sometimes.  you arrange your bits on a white table because the white table makes you happy.  and then you stand on a chair to get a nice overhead shot.  and while you're taking the shot, you lean up against the window frame. and because you are wearing handknit wool socks, you almost slip off the chair.  but you don't slip.  and you do get the photo you were after.  as you climb down, your heart slows down to a reasonable pace.  and for a split second, you ask yourself, "why am i risking my life to arrange my bits on a white table to photograph them just so?"

oh yeah, "because it brings me joy."  simple as that.

later, everything (except the spider) went into another bag, and i had enough room to tuck in a copy of Mollie Makes.  that makes me happy, too.

so...  what is in your bag?  what brings you joy?  xoxo

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I truly appreciate your comments.  Thank you for sharing + spending time in this space.