From Chaos Comes Happiness

I've been stuck in an artless state for a few months now. Feeling unmotivated. Uncertain. Questioning what direction to go next, without so much as an ounce of creative passion in me. There is a huge amount of pressure and expectation that I put on the artist in me. Creating art is sort of a must, if you want to make money in your art. And I wasn't creating a thing, nor did I have a desire to do so. I was hopeless. It was icky. I thought,  "Maybe that was it. It was a nice run. . . maybe you're done."  Seriously. I meditated. I walked. I looked at the birds. I listened to music. I traveled. I drank wine. I laughed. I watched people. I read blogs. I read books. I sat in my mess of a studio without a bit of inspiration, and looked at the piles and piles of supplies I had . . . not knowing where to even begin. I sketched . . . a little. But nothing moved me. Not a single thing. Then, it was my birthday. I don't usually make much out of m...

I can't believe it's been almost two weeks since I've blogged. This has to be my very longest absence . . . and one that I am not happy about. Oh, how I miss my blog. But oh, how crazy busy life has been. My blog post title kind of sums it up . . . the Days of my LIVES. And yes, I meant LIVES . . . because lately, depending on what time it is when you find me, I can be living one of five different lives. There is my life as a Mom taking care of my girls, as a wife supporting a husband and his busy work schedule, as head room mom trying to plan for the 4th grade school year, life as an employee pulling thousands of files for a project, and life as an artist . . . creating and filling my soul with inspiration and joy. That last life makes all the rest even better, you know? I am still working that "short-term" project for my previous employer. I finished the first projected they asked me to work, and was immediately approached for another, more intense one. I ac...

"WHERE IS THAT MONDAY VLOG?!?!?!??" "YOU SAID THERE WAS GOING TO BE A MONDAY VLOG!!!" "YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE A GIVE AWAY!!!!" "WHAT'S UP WITH THAT????" Yes, I hear you. I hear you loud and clear. But my friends . . . I've been busy today. I've been . . . working. Yes, I have. On my Etsy Store. It's open , by the way. Did you hear that? MY ETSY STORE IS OPEN!!!!! WOOOOOOooooooo HOOOOOoooooOOOOO!!!! You forgive me for not having the Vlog all ready for you this morning, don't you? I mean, you understand. Because, you know, I've been WORKING!!! :)     :)     :) So, do me a favor, will you? Go on over to that Etsy Store and pay me a visit, will you? Here's the link: Leanne's Etsy Store You're going to love it. Now, I know I don't have a lot of stuff in the store now. But people . . . I'm making BIG strides here, d...

Wow . . . can it be that I was away from the computer all.week.long?  Where did the time go? I unplugged. Big time. But, I'm back! BIG TIME. And  JUST  IN  TIME!!! ANNOUNCING A BIG CYBER MONDAY SALE in my Etsy Shop . . . Tomorrow, November 28th, 2011, click the "SHOP" tab above, or the shop to the right of this post, or THIS LINK to get to my shop. Add the coupon code CYBERMONDAY at check out, and save 15%! 15% OFF OF YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE! Now is the time to start shopping for the holidays, my friends! Pick up something unique and special for those in your life ! PLUS . . . Purchase something on MONDAY, 11/28, and receive a free item. It could be a book mark, a magnet, or a set of cards. It will be FREE, and it can be another gift off of your list (or something special for YOU!) And here is my special addition SUNDAY VLOG with a challenge for the week. . . . ...

Oh, what a week! So glad to be here, and so happy to show you a few new items I've been working on. Hope you enjoy! Hope you are having a wonderful day! Have a Magnificent Monday!

I'm like that mad scientist (and my hair even looks the part this morning), up all hours . . . in my lab . . . with fits of sleepless laughter over the creations I am pouring myself into. It's not a pretty picture . . . but that's been me this week. I feel like I'm rushing against the clock. But there is really no clock. Just my own internal creativity trying to get out. I can't hold it any longer. Here is a sneak peek of what I've been mulling over . . . I mean . . . really . . . MY work . . . MY art . . . in a beautiful little pendant tray that you can wear and have with you all day long. I swear . . . it's a dream, I tell you. A dream. and a few more . . . But that's not all. ANNALEE at the holidays! All made by these very two hands typing right here. Seriously. When I think about what I am doing, I could cry. Seriously. A dream. I still have a little work to do on the ornaments (must add the met...

Oh, dear friends! This was a very exciting week for me! And what a MAGNIFICENT MONDAY it will be . . . for ONE LUCKY WINNER! Watch the Vlog to find out WHO will win one of my original canvas art pieces!! CONGRATULATIONS to our WINNER!!! Thank you ALL for entering the give-away! Before I leave, here is a picture of the table I set up for the Vendor Fair on Friday night (this is the one I talked about in the video.) I'm pretty happy with how it looked . . . Remember . . . this can be YOURS! Visit my Etsy shop (click on the SHOP tab above . . . or click on the "Chaostohappiness" Etsy images at the right of this post. Lots of good things coming this week . . . will be introducing a monthly email newsletter that you can sign up, along with making some new products (can you say . . . JEWELRY!!! WAHOOOOO!!!!) and CARDS, CARDS, CARDS GALORE!!! It's a pretty great time to bring some of this happiness into your life! Peace, my friends!

I woke up today . . . feeling like Christmas. I know. I know. It's way too early . . . it's not even November yet, right? Let us enjoy a little bit of this Fall before we jump into something else, don't you think? But I couldn't help it. My friend Leslie has been playing Christmas music all week, and telling us about it on her Facebook page. My sister sent an email that she was in the Christmas spirit, too. It's gonna happen, you know. Why put off to tomorrow, what you can feel today, right? If you have been around here any time at all, you know that I love Christmas. I mean, who doesn't? Ok . . . I am sure there are plenty who don't like the commercialization of it, and think it's gotten way out of hand over the years. But, my friends . . .  I love the true meaning of it. The celebration of the birth of Jesus, the son of God. The giving to others and doing kind things for others. The singing of Christmas Carols and the making of hot chocolate...

Happy Monday, friends! Time for another VLOG . . . (can it be? I thought we just did one of these!) I am OPEN for Business! (WOO HOO!) Click the tab "SHOP (GRAND OPENING)" above, or  link to my Etsy shop (at right) to see what's happening!

Greetings my beloved friends! How do you do? I can't believe I haven't written to you since Tuesday (tsk, tsk! This will never do.) I think life has been on some sort of fast speed mode, and I haven't even blinked in days. I find that I am now so far into the business planning of "From Chaos Comes Happiness", that I think I'm too far to turn back. Not that I want to turn back . . . no way, no how . . . but it brings a sense of relief to know that I am too far in to turn around. Does that make sense? Like, I've invested too much to walk away. It's kind of as if the fear has gone away, too. And I have to tell you . . . I like that! I'm creating creating creating . . . and I am so excited about everything that will be available soon. I know I keep talking about the "Etsy Store!" I am sure you are wondering what is taking so long . . . my friends, there is SO MUCH to do to get a store up. Product descriptions need to be written, photos n...

Just a little peek . . . I'm so very excited! And don't forget, Christmas is right around the corner. I'll have lots of goodies for all of those on your list. My ETSY SHOP is COMING SOON!!!! YIPPPIEEEEE!!!

My eye is twitching like crazy today. Twitch. Twitch. Twitch. It does that when I am stressed. Or nervous. Or tired. I must be stressed. And nervous. And tired. I have been reading and researching starting a business this week, reading and reading, researching and researching. I am afraid. "Afraid of what?" you ask. Failure. It's a big thing, that whole " FAILURE " thing. It has kept me out of a creative business my whole adult life. It has quietly told me that I wasn't good enough, wasn't smart enough, wasn't talented enough. It is the thing that has kept me from being the best person I can be. Twitch. It's happening now, as I type this post. Twitch. A few minutes ago, I gave my eye the ol'stare down. This time, I'm not giving in to the twitch. Because this time, I have nothing to lose. What would I do if I knew I could not fail? Oh, my friends . . . I would do it all. Twitch. Ever have the twitch? ...