There are stages and seasons of uninspired struggle, despair, and lack of incentive to continue your art practice. As artists, we can get lost in this sea of struggle and lose focus. Losing focus can stall our movement and crush our spirit. But, there is hope! In this post, I will address how to challenge your inner critic and renew your art practice. Asking Key Questions First, you need to ask yourself some questions to determine what the struggle sounds like. Are you struggling with ... continue reading...
How to Find Your Creative Confidence
Confidence is like a muscle, you have to exercise it to make it grow. Yes, some artists are naturally gifted with more confidence than others but I am almost certain it came from practicing their art, accepting failure, learning from others, doing what they love and challenging their inner critic. In this post I will guide you through these five essentials for how to find your creative confidence. 1. Experiment Firstly, don't be afraid to try new mediums. Spend a few hours in an art store, ... continue reading...
How to Set SMART Goals
Just as I spoke about in the recent post, How to Do a Brain Dump, you need to stay focused and on track in order to accomplish your creative goal. It is important to have a reference to measure our process against. SMART Goals are exactly that. It should be used as a continuous check in for you. In this post, How to Set SMART GOALS, the process requires you to ask important questions that keep you on a very specific goal path. What is a SMART Goal? It is a well-known acronym for five key ... continue reading...
Free Printable Goal Sheet
September is a new year, a new beginning for so many. Change is in the air; hopes and dreams are renewed towards accomplishing our goals. Each month, I send out a free printable goal sheet or task list. This September I have a beautiful freebie for you! One of my favorite flowers are sweet peas. They are so fragrant and delicate and remind me of my wedding as we had them in the bouquets and on the guest tables. I have a small but beautiful array of these beauties trailing up my veranda ... continue reading...
Two Essentials for My Quiet Time Routine
Along with the release of my monthly Free Printable Task list, I like to include a sampling of new products for my shop. This month I have released four new products (journal and coffee mug) with my two favorite flowers; peonies and roses. I love the peonies and roses that adorn our front flower garden. Keep reading for learning the two essentials for my quiet time routine. Along with taking in the beauty of my garden each morning, there are two constants to my morning ritual; my journal ... continue reading...
How to Make a Reversible Collar
Have you ever struggled to find the right necklace for your outfit? Do the necklaces you choose get caught on your most delicate blouses? What if they are too bulky under your coat? I have the perfect fix for this dilemma. This DIY make is the perfect accessory to finish off a crew neckline on your little black dress, sweater or top. This collar instantly elevates your look from drab to fab. So, join me and let's use up some of your scrap fabric and learn how to make a reversible ... continue reading...
DIY Sheer Ruffle Blouse
My favorite past time is sewing. I love creating something new from a thrifted find or better yet, a thrifted piece of fabric. After finding approximately six meters of sheer lavender dotted fabric, I was thrilled to start a project. But I wanted the right project. Previous to this blouse, I had made project that used a self drafted bodice and a peplum ruffle on the bottom. Puffed sleeve pattern pieces from my McCall's #8801 worked well. Once I had thought through all the steps, I was ready to ... continue reading...
How to Silence Your Inner Critic
We all have an inner critic whether we acknowledge it or not. You may call it something else like liar, negative thoughts, automatic thoughts, But you don't let it have to take control of your thoughts, emotions and actions. The good news is you can have control over your inner critic. You can learn techniques and strategies to challenge and silence your inner critic. I will be specifically speaking to artists in this post as this is my area of interest and knowledge. You may identify some ... continue reading...
Jewels Fabric Pattern Collection
My fourth fabric pattern collection is a long time coming. I am excited to announce that fabric swatches have been ordered and I am eagerly awaiting their arrival. This Jewels fabric pattern collection has been living in my mind for months and to see it come to life is exhilarating. My love for jewelry dates back as far as I can recall. The earliest memory of my love for bling is when I cut gemstones out from the Sears catalogue, glued them to a cardboard ring, and wore it with pride. I ... continue reading...
How to Add Hidden Pockets
I think we can agree that pockets in a skirt, tunic or dress are a must. A dress is elevated to another level of chic when there are pockets. In this tutorial, I will walk you through each step to make this the easiest was to add hidden pockets to a dress. Supplies Fabric that matches or coordinates with the item of clothing you are makingsewing machinesergerpinsscissorsthreadiron Cut out a pocket shape that will fit your hand comfortably. You will need four of these - two for each ... continue reading...
