A Fall full of Fashion

I love the colors in this collection

I am looking forward to the start of fall, cooler weather, watching the leaves change colors, and of course all the fall fashions.

This month on the blog I will have lots of posts about fashion, trends, color, and accessory style. Styles for everyone that we can wear everyday.

I want to have as much fashion information as possible, and I would like to extend an invitation to you to be a guest blogger and write a post about fashion, fall trends, accessories, or a fashion DIY project. If you would like to do a post email me at additionsstyleblog@gmail.com, with your idea.

It will be a fun month full of fashion. Join the fun!

To get us started, tell me about your style? Classic, bohemian, preppy, casual, goth, trend setting...

When did you start creating?

I always wished I that I started my art career right out of school. I did not start making jewelry full time until my mid thirties, but wished I had started sooner.

I also wished I knew what I wanted to do out of high school, so I could have gone to college for art and jewelry design. I studies business and fashion and worked in fashion for a few years, but it was never my passion.

Last week I had a post called Reminiscing about High School, everyone who commented shared a little bit about how they felt about high school. Check it out.

So here is a question for you:

Did you create and know you wanted to create right out of school?

Were you able start your creative career right out of school?

Back on Track

I've enjoyed a great week with my sister relaxing and just hanging out. She is leaving today and I will miss her a lot, but now it's time to get back on track with my business and posting blog posts everyday.

September will be full of posts about fashion, trends, and color. So join me as we prepare for fall.

It was a great week sister, I will miss you!

Your Office

The kids are going back to school and the fall selling season is getting started, so today a few cool Etsy items to update your work area for the season.

Decorative Mouse Pad for Home or Office by SeaconnetLoft

Chandelier in Black and White Petite Feed Sack by nextdoortoheaven

Recycled Aluminum Business Card Holder by steelribbons

Desk Set Recycled Record Album Pen holder by RetiredRecords

Bright and Sunny Orange red and Yellow Polka Dot by jackandjane

Organic Nesting Bowls by EcoChicHandKnits

Magazine Storage Bins by decorativeinstincts

Check out all the fun items in these amazing shops.

Reminiscing about High School

Yesterday my daughter had her first day of her senior year, bringing back all kind of memories of my high school days.

Since my sister is visiting we spent a relaxing afternoon reminiscing about our high school days. We went to the same high school 4 years apart, and we decided that all the 80's was pretty bad.

We talked about how bad we dressed, how ugly the clothes were back then, and all the scary hair styles we had.

I could not wait to get out of high school, and I've spent a lot of time trying to forget being there. A few things I do remember was hanging in the halls talking to friends, trying not to study, and counting down the days until the end of senior year.

What is a favorite memory you have from high school?

Be Inspired by a Mini Vacation

Words to Inspire

“Happiness consists of living each day as if it were the first day of your honeymoon and the last day of your vacation”
Unknown

Idea to Inspire

My sister is spending her vacation week with me this year and we are taking mini vacations all week. In her attempt to get me to take some time off, she has planned several outings for us.

This past weekend we went to a friends lake house in Wisconsin. It was beautiful and very relaxing.

I know how hard it is to walk away from work, but sometime we just need a break. Plan a mini vacation for yourself and after a day or two you will feel rejuvenated to work again.

Photo's to Inspire

Today's photo collection are pictures (taken by my sister) from our mini vacation in Wisconsin. I hope you enjoy the view, and it inspires you to create a new idea.

And the Show Season Beginnings

It has been a crazy month of planning and preparing for the jewelry sale open house I hosted yesterday in my home.

I cleaned my house, moved my furniture, cooked fun desserts, and set up my house to look like a little boutique. People stopped by throughout the day and I made a little extra money for my business.

On Friday I hosted a special preview event for my good customers and a few friends. It turned out to be a really nice event and a lot of fun. Doing this preview event is something my customers appreciate and a way for me to thank them for their support throughout the years.

It has been a long week and I am so glad it is over.

Have you ever hosted a show of your artwork?

I am glad I did all that work, because today I have to pack everything up and get it ready for a show I am doing this Saturday.

This is the first show I have as I get ready for the holiday season. I have a show in October and three in November, so it's nice to know that all my show stuff is ready to go.

Do you have a busy show schedule this holiday season?

Journal Prompt

Use your journal/sketchbook to write, draw, or collage your response to:

I see beauty in...

I see beauty in the world around me, nature, cities, and everyday objects.

What about you?

We Should Never Stop Learning

When I was in school I could not wait to get out. Now that I am done with school, all I want to do is take classes.

I enjoy talking classes and learning new skills. If it were in the budget I would take new classes all the time. When I take classes I try new mediums, learn a new business skill, and try new techniques.

Do you take classes?

Do you take classes for fun or for your business?

With so much to learn and we should never stop learning.

Be Inspired - Umbrellas

Words to Inspire

“Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be.”
Karen Ravn

Idea to Inspire

Take out your umbrella and your rain boots and talk a walk in the rain.

Photos to Inspire

The colors, textures, and beauty of the umbrella. Let this Flickr collection inspire you to find a new idea!

Palazzo by Mrkyle229

Umbrellas by Back to Nothing

Wet Umbrella by BajanKoolaid

Umbrellas by Back to Nothing

Creative Business Quick Tip - Your Work Space

Regardless of the size of your workspace it's still important to nurture a happy workspace.

Here are a few ideas to create a workspace that will inspire and make you happy.

•Add something fresh to your area, a plant or flowers.

•Try to keep your space clean. That way you are not always thinking about the cleaning you need to do when your working.

•Add inspiring photo's on a cork board so you can change them often and move the board around so you can always see it and be inspired.

•Play music or add a fountain for pleasant background noise to keep you focused.

•Surround yourself with your favorite color. Use colorful desk accessories, cover a cork board with fabric, if you have your own space paint your room a color that makes you happy.

A clean and organized space makes working a lot easier.

studio before (I know very scary)

I used all these ideas when I organized my studio earlier this year. You can see all the before and after pictures in Transformations 2010. Even thou I was resistant at first, it has really changed how I feel when I come to work everyday. It's now a place where I enjoy working.

studio after

What have you done to your craft space to make it your own?

And the Winner is...

.~*~.C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s! .~*~.

Random Number Picker chose number 42 making

Katie from Remaking Memories

The winner

Katie, enjoy trying all the projects in the Creative Awakenings book, writing and drawing in your new sketchbook, and and feeling the inspiration while wearing your inspired necklace with a lapis gemstone.

Thank you everyone who participated in my first blog giveaway!

The next giveaway will be in January 2011.

Last Day for Giveaway!

Don't miss your chance to win the Back to Being creative Gift Pack!

Value $54.95

Giveaway closes today at 6:00 pm

Click here to participate

Magazines Worth Reading

A few weeks back I had a blog post about favorite magazines. Today I put together a list of some of the more popular magazines mentioned in the comments, and a few other cool magazines worth checking out.

Fashion

There are wonderful fashion magazines domestic and international like Vogue, Glamour, Elle, Lucky, and InStyle to name a few, listed here are a few not as well known but still full of great information.

Accessories
Bust
Venus Zine
Nylon
Boho

Art/Craft

I know there are several art/craft specific magazines that are wonderful, but today's list has magazines that will appeal to everyone working in any medium.

How
Modern
Craft Art
Ornament
American Craft
American Style

Business

Art Calendar
Craft Report
Niche
Art News
Entrepreneur
Success

Lifestyle

Saveur (food)
Real Simple (everyday living)
Dwell (home)
Ready Made (diy projects)


Stampington & Company has a variety of magazines for your craft and craft business such as Artful Blogging, Where Women Create, Green Crafts, and many craft specific publications. Check out there web site for a listing of all their publications.

This is just a few to get you started , do you have any other magazine suggestions?

How many art books do you have?

I love books, art books, jewelry books, business books, personal growth books, all kinds of books. Buying books is one of my weaknesses, I always want the newest and the latest.

I have about 200 books in my collection, and I use them often for inspiration, or for a new techniques. I try to buy a new book at least once a month.

How about you?

How many books do you have about your craft/art?

How often do you use the books in your collection?

How often do you buy books?

Looking for a book?
Enter the title here to quickly check Amazon.com.




Click Here to enter the Back to Being Creative Giveaway

Be Inspired - School Supplies

Words to Inspire

“Don't wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful.”
Mark Victor Hansen

Idea to Inspire

Pull out the crayons, colored pencils, paper, and glue, and create just for fun. My daughter (a high school senior) and I love to pull out coloring books and crayons and color when we have extra time. We talk about whats going on, and enjoy spending a little time together.

Photos to Inspire

It's always amazing to me how people can take pictures of everyday normal items and make them look like art. Today's collection of photos makes school supplies art. Enjoy the colors, textures, and shapes, and let them inspire you to new ideas.

Disorganization in the Making by Simply Anastasia

ode to school by Noelia Evangelista

Work, Work, Work by plesserchick

School Supplies by Mon Solo

Click here to participate in the Back to Being Creative Giveaway

Quick Poll

I enjoy teaching. I have been teaching for several years, and I have taught classes for children and adults and every experience has been very fulfilling. Teaching has also become an important part of my business.

So, here is the question:

Do you teach what you create?
If not, have you thought about teaching?

Share your teaching experiences, or if you have thought about teaching what's stopping you.

Click here for the Back to Being Creative Giveaway.

Back to Being Creative Giveaway

Giveaway Closed

Thank's everyone for participating!

Click here to see the winner

I am very excited for my first blog giveaway. So, lets get started!

Back to Being Creative Giveaway

August 9 - 15

Closes at 6 pm on 8/15

THE PRIZE

A brand new copy of the book - Creative Awakenings: Envisioning The Life of your Dreams through Art by Sheri Gayor (value $24.95) Follow the journey of twelve artists, each who will set a personal dream or intention. Step-by-step techniques for a variety of mixed-media processes accompany each piece of finished art.

A sketchbook filled with quotes and decorated pages to keep you inspired through your journal/sketching process. The book is created with green materials, recycled wood, fiber, and printed with soy ink. (value $10)

Finally a inspired Additions necklace. This necklace was created just for this giveaway and is one of a kind. It's a washer with the word inspired stamped on it and highlighted in blue. A copper lock washer, and a genuine lapis lazuri stone. Lapis is known for wisdom, intuition, awareness, objectivity, clarity, creativity, expanded consciousness, dreams, purity, courage, serenity, everything you need to be inspired creatively. (value $20)



Total prize value $54.95

HOW TO ENTER

Choose one or all five options from the list below, and leave me a separate comment for each options you choose.

Become a follower of this blog - if you already a follower, don't forget to let me know in the comments.

Join my Facebook business page - already a fan, let me know

Visit my Etsy shop and let me know which piece is your favorite

Follow me on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway - use @additionsstyle in your tweet.

Sign up for the Additions Style newsletter - sign up box on the left sidebar

BONUS ENTRIES

Blog about this giveaway or post a link on your Facebook page and receive 2 additional entries - leave your link in the comments section.

Make a purchase in my shop this week (8/9 - 8/15 by 6 pm) and receive 5 additional entries. Also, receive FREE SHIPPING (use giveaway1 in comments for a shipping refund).

Don't forget each options on the list is a entry. Leave a separate comment for each item you choose. Also leave a link (etys shop, twitter, Facebook, email) where I can contact you.

One winner will be chosen randomly on Sunday evening (8/15) by random.org, the winner will be posted at 6 am Monday (8/16).

Have a great week!

Tomorrow is the Big Day

Tomorrow is the first day of the Back to Being Creative blog giveaway.

Stop by for your chance to win the $54.95 prize pack

Giveaway runs until August 15

Journal Prompt - If I were Younger...

The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.
Lucille Ball

I did not start my jewelry career until my mid to late 30's. I wished I would have started my art career sooner in my life. I think I would be much further along in my career if I started right out of school.

I am not complaining, I have accomplished a lot in the last 12 year and I am please with that success, sometime I just wonder.

Today is all about If I were Younger...

Write a journal entry about your hopes and dreams as if you were 10 - 15 years younger. When you are done look at your list and ask yourself "am I on track to reach those dreams", and if not what can I do to achieve them.

This journal entry should be fun and enlightening, so don't take it to seriously. Enjoy the process!

Have you been creating since your were young?

What do you Think?

I have been working on my Etsy shop all summer. I have changed titles and tags, added several new pieces, and I'm half way through changing all my photos.

I have had mixed messages about my photos, because I have gone to a more neutral background. A lot of people like the colored background. I think the neutral background showcases the jewelry more, making it stand out in the picture.

I would love to hear what you think.

Below are a few photos for your to compare. Also, you can go to my Etsy page and see what a whole page in my shop looks like. You can see all the neutral pictures on pages 1, 2, & 3, and the more colorful pictures on pages 4, 5, & 6.

Thanks for taking the time to share your opinion.

What changes have you made to your shop this summer?

Check This Out...

This is a monthly post where you can share 3 things about yourself or your business. Giving us an opportunity to get to know each other and our businesses.

Suggested ideas:
-business goals or goals you have met
-books you are reading
-a new project you are starting or doing
-places you have visited
-blog posts you have enjoyed
-a post you have written that you would like to share
-new items you have added to your shop
-new materials you are working with
-family plans or an event you are excited about
-need help with an idea - ask for help

All I ask is that you are a follower of my blog to participate and that you check out a few links from the other people who leave comments.

Let me know if you have any ideas or questions, I would love to here your suggestions. You can contact me at additionsstyleblog@gmail.com.

Be Inspired by Schools

Words to Inspire

“It's not about wins and losses at this point. It's about seeing what we can and can't do and learning.”
Mike Goldstein

Idea to Inspire

This is a great time to look into signing up for a art class. Find a class that will spark your creativity and where you can learn a new technique.

Photo's to Inspire

Today's Flickr photo's are a collection of unique schoolhouses.

Lower Fox Creek Schoolhouse by Rock Chalk Jayhawk Cartographer

Old Schoolhouse In Summertime by NE nature (Away)

Somerset, Ohio Ream Schoolhouse by cziffra1

East Dawn Schoolhouse by Robb North

Inspiration can come from everywhere, I hope today's post inspires you to find a new idea.

Are you on Track?

This is a partial reprint of a post I did last year. It's the perfect time of the year for this post, because when I think of back to school I think of renewal or starting fresh for a new season. So as we get ready for the fall/holiday season, revisiting our goals will make sure we are on track for a successful year.

Goals Revisited

Are you the kind of person who checks your goals throughout the year to make sure you are on track? If so that is great. You know what's working and what's not, and this is the time of year to make any changes for a successful year.

If your like me and wrote them down at the beginning of the year, but have not looked at them for a while, then this is a good time to pull out that list and see if you are on track.

Now that I have my list I know that I am going to have to revise a few things, and I also have a better idea of what I can accomplish before the end of the year and can wait.

Pull out your list if you have not done so for awhile and see if you can revise anything or if you are on track. What a great time, before the holiday rush, to get yourself motivated to meet your goals. Not to mention that positive feeling you get knowing that your on track.

How are you doing with your goal this year?