Cool Inspiration for a Hot Summer Day

When the mercury's throbbing in the thermometer and you dare not go barefoot, it's hard not to want to splash aqua and white paint on everything in sight!  Here's some fresh cool inspiration to take your mind off the heat:

painted furniture lifts the spirit

vintage bottles and photographs make a breezy vingnette

if you must have a seat...The Madeline Chair

a big idea for collectors of small things

in other words...Gone Fishin'!

Going somewhere? Don't forget these...

lovely to look at

these vintage-style bowls scream for ice cream

Are Ya Thinking Good Thoughts...?

Hey You Are Ya Thinking Good Thoughts gicleé print
from 29 Black Street

Or are you lamenting the items that didn't get crossed off your To-Do List this weekend?

The flank steak that didn't come out as tender as you had hoped?  The laundry left unfolded that's now a wrinkled mess on the couch?  The dust bunnies you couldn't get to before your guests arrived?  All the time you wasted dating that good-for-nothing who still hasn't called...or the Monday morning meeting you're already dreading?

LET IT GO - 8x10 Typographic Print By Nan Lawson

Tomorrow is a whole new day!  Is it really worth dragging all that sorry baggage into a perfectly innocent week? Some things are just beyond our control; some things we don't have power over.  In the big scheme of things, some things just aren't that critical.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff - Canvas Art Poster by Laza Flair

Not that it's all small stuff, but some of it really is!  We can instead choose our battles, decide what's most important to our big picture, you know--decide to overlook the snide remark of a co-worker or the bad manners of the man who didn't hold the door for us.  Do we really want to let everything get on our last nerve?

Time Flies - Original Print by Gayana

Pay attention to the winsome smile of a stranger, the little bubble of pride you feel at making it to work on time despite the traffic, the careful way you put together a nourishing lunch for yourself so you'll know how to do it again tomorrow.

Pay attention when your mate says "I love you; have a great day today."  Pay attention when you're paid a compliment...instead of trying to brush it off with modesty.  You deserve it!  Let's just say thanks!  And glow!  Because who knows how long it'll be before we get another?

We Can Do Hard Things Black and White Print
by David's Print Shop

You know it's true!  In your heart of hearts, you know this.  Think of a time when you were stretched to the limit, at the end of your rope, running on empty with no mile markers to assure you that there was a light at the end of this grim tunnel...yet you made it through, and maybe even laughed about it in the end!

Did you grit your teeth to keep from saying something hurtful?

Did you put someone else's needs before your own again, even if they never, ever do it for you?  

Did you stay to the bitter end until your project was complete, long after everyone had gone home to their families?

Did you keep working on that custom order even after you sewed through your finger with the sewing machine? 

We Are All Made Of Stars RED Screenprint by Jessica Swift Shop

Every last one of us!  Not just the ones who get the promotion...or the ones who make the front page...or the ones whose products make the O List...or the ones with bouncing and behaving hair, tiny waistlines and the perfect boyfriend.

We are all made of sparkly, shiny, bright, powerful magic-- darkness-defying stars.  

This week I hope you will feel wonderful, exceptional, special, capable, resilient and fortified...BEAUTIFUL.

And before you get to protesting the likelihood of that,  just remember:

A Beautiful Thing 8x10 Print by Lisa Barbero

A huge thank you to the wonderful artists who made these uplifting prints.  These are just some of my favorites.  I hope you'll visit their stores and find some for yourself.  I already know which one I'm getting!  Have an awesome week!

Inspiration From Artists: My Favorite Etsy Purchases

I've bought lots of little gifts for myself from shops on Etsy--I have 19 pages of purchases to prove it!

from gift tags

to goat milk soap...

from tiny vintage teapots...

to Triple Threat Brownies...

from Spanish coins

to stoneware mugs

The variety is endless!  But of all my purchases, the ones I've found most valuable to me these days are two delightful works of inspiration that I house in my studio:

"Bloom" Primitive angel doll by Mystele of Little Glimpses Studio

This absolute angel arrived with her flocked velvety wings and a grungy eyelet lace dress, holding a button with a directive for this conflicted artist who could not decide where she should be geographically.

"Bloom Where You're Planted."

Recently I gave her something else to hold in her hands, a beautiful watercolor ACEO by Zainab Hussaen.

"Who Cares What They Think."

I've been stealing little glimpses of that ACEO a lot lately as I work feverishly to make as much product for my upcoming shows as I can manage.  It's so quick and to the point! Don't you just love it?  I hope you find some inspiration for yourself for the coming week.  In the meantime, Happy Easter! ;)

What Do You Want, Just For Today?

It's like the Universe blew this opportunity to start the week off right...right into my path!  Like she pressed this grubby thing into my palm and asked, "what do you want, Sugar?"

Well, for starters, I want to be warm! Where is spring??? I want my nose not to be cold! I want to be prepared for what's ahead of me and present enough to enjoy it.  How about you?  Just for today, what do you want this ticket to get you?