My Winter Obsession

Greetings peeps!

Just like me, I hope all of you craft artisans and yarn addicts out there are having fun this busy Christmas season. :) I've gotten so many requests this year that it's hard to keep up! I love it though and I thought I would share a couple things that I've been working on.


I'm generally always working on something that I don't have for sell in my Etsy shop. I like to make it, wear it or give it to someone else to wear and then bother to take pictures and such if I feel like it would do well on Etsy. This is the case with this handkerchief scarf. I've been working on it since last year and kinda lost interest in it until now. Since it's finally done, I've been wearing it like crazy! This one is brown & creme and has a sweet big brown button closure in the back. It's nice just to have a little something there around your neck for protection. I have sold one of these and gotten a good response from it. I'm on the fence about adding it.. What say you?

This little hat, I've made a million times before and is already in the shop. You can run and see it by clicking here! I like throwing in a little criss-cross action in the middle there. It kinda of breaks up the monotony of it all and gives it more detail and we all know detail is important. :)

The motherlode of this season has been this awesome houndstooth scarf!! I like taking pictures of the beginning stages so I can look back and see how far I've come. This scarf was a custom request from a guy at work for his wife and I was very happy to do it. Most of the time when people request something custom, they typical pick out (in my opinion) the most boring and blah colors and shapes. This time for me was different! Even though black and white could be considered boring, I don't think it was in this case because it was houndstooth. I'm a fan from way back of houndstooth so I was totally geeked at trying a new stitch AND being able to add tassels!! #swoon.

With me being a fan of houndstooth and it being very trendy right now, I think I'm going to make another scarf (with tassels of course) for Etsy and make one for me in black and red. It's gonna be awesome people. Simply awesome.

So all you Etisans, artisans, and crafters alike, what are you working on right now? Did you like the customs orders that you've made?

Ciao!

It's All About the Bendy Straw

Greetings peeps!

As a part of my monthly goals I said that I wanted to start doing nice things for myself. Why? Well, because it makes me feel good to take care of myself. After all...  Who knows better what you want than you do! So a couple weeks ago I treated myself to O'Charley's for lunch and enjoyed free pie Wednesday. I mean.... can you really go wrong with pie? That's a resounding NO! On top of that you get bendy straws. :) Bendy straws make me happy.

For me treating myself to lunch is great. It means that I'm taking time to do whatever I want, when I want. Plus it's fun to just observe and people watch. It relaxes me for some reason. I like studying people and seeing how they interact with each other. Listening to people is even more fun... Not that I'm trying to earhustle or anything, you understand. The conversation is just there for ears to hear! For example the women behind me are complaining about their job and their children and cussing all the while. It's hilarious really.. And one server just said that she's hates bread.. I don't know anyone who hates bread, so I had to ask why. She then explained that she doesn't hate eating bread, she just hates having bread duty at the job. Apparently it's too cold where you have to make the bread! See! You learn all kinds of wonderful things about people and situations.

I urge you to go do something ANYTHING that makes you happy today! It feels good. Kinda like how being under a warm comfortable throw, with hot chocolate, and reading a good book feels. Feel free to share what you did!

Ciao!

Invoking Your Inner Creative

Salutations Friends!

For a while now, I've been wanting to do a post about being creative and what inspires people to be creative. I have periods of time when I can really tap into my inner creative and come up with all kinds of things covered in awesome sauce. Then other times I just feel like all my creativity is all dried up and I'm just wandering around lost.

I dunno how anyone else is, but I almost have to set the mood to be in a creative space. I typically have more juices flowing when it's after midnight and it's just me, my project, & the silence that night time brings. It's kinda like you don't have all the sounds and distractions of the waking hours and can just concentrate on the task at hand. It's when I've done my best work. Another time I'm at my creative best is when I've seen someone else's work that I really liked.  It could be paintings, sculptures, woodworking, fashion, cooking, or whatever. If it is creative then I can be inspired from it.


A couple years ago, I was able to see KAWS artwork at The High Museum of Art here in Atlanta and it was so awesome! I loved how he kind of re-created the Simpson's and called them the Kimpson's (among other cartoon characters). I wouldn't have thought about doing that, but seeing someone else's idea or take on something makes me think outside the box!

COMPANION: Passing Through
~ Photo Source ~

I'm also a fan of my friend Courtney's artwork. He's been amusing the hell outta me since high school with this drawings. And the things he can do with color pencils are a-m-a-z-i-n-g! I've secretly been a little envious of his abilities since I first saw what he could do. I just found this doodle the other day that he did when we were in Spanish class that absolutely cracked me up! Our teacher Ms Finny would always be running of at the mouth and whatever she said she would end in 'Por favor!'

'Silencio, por favor!'

'Everyone sit down, por favor!'

'Open your books, por favor!'

And of course being teenagers, we were bored or sleep and wouldn't pay her any mind.

I've read numerous things where people advise "stocking up" of your creative ideas, so that when you don't feel creative you can nab one of your previous ideas. I've tried this before and it doesn't really work that well for me. I'm just not as passionate about the subject matter anymore once the moment has passed. So I thought I'd look up a few things and see what other advice is out there.

Wiki-How has a laughable 3 step version on how to be creative. I mosdef fail at all 3! It's a work of art! How can it not be personal?

Inc.com on the other hand gave some goodies that make sense to try out when you're in a my-brain-is-empty-of-all-creative-goodness mode.

Funders and Founders says to destroy, be wrong,  & be brave (as well as 28 others tips)! You should definitely check this one out!


So when are you at your most creative? Do you have to set the mood? And what do you do when you have a creative block?

Ciao!

It Brightens My Day!

Greetings peeps! 

Congratulations on making it through another work week! Its Divine Friday so let's have some fun. How does Divine Friday work, Sparkle? Through the week, I try to find The Divine in my everyday life and take a picture. I choose which one I think is the best and I share it here with you guys! I post it on my Instagram and Pinterest using the hashtag #DivineFriday. You should join in the fun too! Just snap a shot of whatever made you smile this week and share it on your Instagram or whatever social media of your choosing. Sounds easy, right? :)

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I can't even tell you how happy I am that its friday!! So happy Friday to you!! As you may know, I've been doing a mega amount of crocheting. It's that time of year were everyone wants something warm, soft, and comfy. Crochet R Us is definitely in effect! That's my posting has been a little lite as of late. So anyway, did I ever tell you that I absolutely love gerber daisies!?
 

My favorite color + my favorite flower =

yellow gerber daisies!

I consider this me fulfilling one of my monthly goals. The one where I said I would do things to take care of myself and make me happy. It's not often that I buy fresh flowers for the house, but I do love to do so. I happened to be near Whole Foods (which I adore) and I know that they have the best flowers... Sooooo, flowers were bought! In my opinion, The Divine is all over these guys.  :) I mean, yellow is the happiest color EVER, so having yellow flowers is a guaranteed uplifter! Am I right? 

So tell me lovely friends, where did the see The Divine this week? 

Ciao! 

What's Up There?

Happy Friday Peeps!

Congratulations on making it through another work week! Its Divine Friday so let's have some fun. How does Divine Friday work, Sparkle? Through the week, I try to find The Divine in my everyday life and take a picture. I choose which one I think is the best and I share it here with you guys! I post it on my Instagram and Pinterest using the hashtag #DivineFriday. You should join in the fun too! Just snap a shot of whatever made you smile this week and share it on your Instagram or whatever social media of your choosing. Sounds easy, right? :)

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It’s been a very busy week in the sparkle household and I haven’t posted as much as I would like to, but hopefully this next week will bring a calm to the storm that is my life. How was your week? Did you get some shopping in? I’ve bought some gifts, but I’m not done yet. Still got a little bit of time to get stuff ordered and wrapped. Speaking of Christmas... Have you decorated your house yet? I dunno if I want to get a tree or not, but I’m definitely hanging up the wreath and putting some Christmas accents around the house. Just thinking about it makes me want to snuggle up on the couch with a blanket, some hot chocolate, and a good book!

Moving on to today’s Divine Moment....

First in black & white...

Now in color!

To be honest with you, I’ve had a really hard week. Looking up at the sky makes me happy. Even when the weather is gross, you can typically find something magnificent to look at in the sky. My favorite thing to see are sun rays. The funny thing I’ve noticed is that, a lot of people never bother to look up. Not just at the sky or while outside, but in buildings too. You’d be surprised at what you see as far as architecture and ornate designs go. :o) Next time you’re out somewhere take the time to look up!

Where did you see The Divine this week?


Ciao!

 

December Goals

 Greetings Friends!

Its that time again for weekly wishes/monthly goals! Did you set any goals for last week/month? If so, how did they go? Are you just joining me? Let me explain what happens for Weekly Wishes..

The Happenings: You share your weekly, monthly, or yearly goals/wishes/achievements and you get to be a part of this big group of people that are doing the same thing. Yay! Wanna join in? Check out The Nectar Collective and add a link to your blog!

Hello friends! Did you have a good Thanksgiving holiday? Normally I would travel for the occasion, but I had work obligations that needed to be met. So this year since I would be staying in town, I thought it would be nice to go out to a restaurant. I ended up changing my mind, because I kept getting mental pictures of sad lonely people sitting in a dingy diner where the waitress wears a half apron over her blue dress, calls you ‘Hun’ and gives you a pity slice of pie. I’m sure it’s not as dramatic as all that, but that’s what was swirling around in my mind. We ended up just going to the grocery and picking up a few things and enjoyed time spent at home, with good food, in front of the tv like Thanksgiving is supposed to be.  ;o) Let’s talk about what happened last month.

 

Last Month’s Wishes

•   So last month I talked about getting the baby blanket I’m working on done by the end of November. I got a lot done, but I’m nowhere near being finished. I have about halfway to go in order to finish it. It must be done by January, so I still have some time. I’m just ready to be done with it. Besides that, I’m working on another project as well. Both will need to be worked on a little bit every day, Maybe the new project while I’m at work and the blanket while I’m at home?

•    I also wanted to start exercising at least three times a week and increase my steps to 4000+. I totally count this as a check mark off the list!! There may have been one week where I exercised only twice and days that I just didn’t make it to the 4’s (although close), but overall I did really good! And I feel all the better for it.

•    Seeing as it’s the holiday season, I did get the new items posted to my Etsy shop that I wanted to and decided on discounts for Black Friday & Cyber Monday. I think I’m going to continue having sales throughout the month into January too. I want this stuff to move move move that way I can create and add new things!

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This Month’s Wishes

 

•  I realize that in order for me to function as a normal well balanced human being, I need to journal. It’s in my DNA and I’ve been doing it since I was 8 years old. For me it’s a great way to let off some steam and tell my story without feeling judged. I’d really like to write every couple of days about whatever is going on, good or bad. Overall, I think it helps me be a better me. Can’t go wrong with that, right?

•   More yoga! Last month, one of my goals was to get some sort of exercise in 3 days a week and I did great with that. Now on top of that, I’d like to throw in some yoga. Maybe do 15 mins of yoga, a 15 min aerobic workout, and then meditate and get some Reiki in.

•  Since I didn’t finish the baby blanket last month, I have to go hard in the paint this month to get it done! Plus I’m working on a scarf at the same time. I’m working hard for the money you guys, but I love it! If I could do it as a full time job I would. :)

•     I really want to start back taking care of myself. Giving myself pedicures, doing hot oil treatments for my locs, taking time to read for fun, enjoying a yummy cup of tea. Just do things in general that make me happy and the day a little brighter.

What are your goals for this month?

Ciao!