Tug-of-War

You know those days when you are really busy, running errands, working, and doing things for your family,  do you find those are the days when your creative juices are really flowing?

There are also those days when you have lots of work to get done or a deadline to meet and no time to let your muse take over. Sometimes its hard to decide if you should stop working and just let your creative side take over or to finish up what needs to be done.

This kind of tug-of-war can make your day challenging and unfulfilling.  I always get a burst of creativity when I am driving on long trips, or have to get something done.

There are a couple of things you can do to nurture your creative ideas, work in you journal/sketchbook for a few minutes, while the ideas are still fresh, put your work on hold and just start creating, or find a way to pencil in some time to create into your schedule.

If you just don't have time to take a break give these tricks a try:
-Take a moment
-close your eyes
-visualize what you want to do
-Make a list of the medium you want to work with
-Choose the colors you want to use
-Visualize your finished piece
-Let you mind return to these mental pictures often

You may find that the end piece is not exactly as you pictured it, but thats even better, because you nurtured your inspiration and allowed it to develop before it was executed.

"Even if its not possible to act on each moment of inspiration immediately.  It is possible to live in the moment and enjoy your creative soul."
Pam Carriker

What do you do when you have a tug-of-war between being practical and getting your work done and being creative?

Be Inspired - Go Green

Words to inspire

“We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action.”
Frank Tibolt

Idea to inspire

April is going to be full of ideas for being green and creative, so stop by each day for lots of fun ideas.

Photos to inspired

To get you motivated about being green, these amazing photos by Flickr photographers will inspire you.


Green Power by happiehippie 54


green spiral 1 by lamark


i need some green - and you? by Klaus53


green stripes by SophieMuc

5 Tips to avoid Procrastination

A couple of weeks ago I had a post called Multitasking or Procrastination, their were lots of great comments check it out.  Several people agreed that procrastination happens during the day more often then not.

Here are 5 tips to help you avoid procrastination:

Set a schedule - Write down everything, from meetings and appointments to listing items in you shop and writing blog posts.

Don't over commit - keep your schedule manageable and realistic. Use the word NO when necessary, and record each new task on your schedule as soon as you receive it.

Figure out what motivates you - Try to take on projects that you really want to do and will enjoy.  If you are looking forward to working on a project, it will be easy to get things done.  Also put the task that are your least favorite during the day when you have the most energy.  During that time it will be easier to take care of those tasks and you will get them done quicker.

Track your progress - Cross things off your list as you complete them.  To see items finished on your list will keep you motivated to continue your progress.

Reward your success - If you have a big project to finish break it up into action steps, and reward yourself when you complete each step.  The rewards can be simple, sleep in late, go out for coffee, take a longer break for lunch.  When you have completed the entire project reward yourself with something you want, a new book or magazine, a day off, a day with friends.

These are simple ideas you can add to your day.  Now you just have to put them into action, so that procrastination will be a thing of the past.

What do you do to avoid procrastination?

Must Have Tools

If you were on a deserted island and you had to choose only five creative tools, what five tools would you need?

As a jewelry artist it was really challenging to come up with a list of 5 tools.

After some thought I came up with:
Round nose pliers
Flat nose pliers
Side cutter
Wire
Chain

I realized after I came up with my list that I would prefer items that would give me the option to work on paper instead.

So here is the list of items I would like to have with me all the time. 
Sketchbook
Pencil 
Glue stick
Water color paints
Black pens

With these items I could write, draw, and collage, which would be more fulfilling for my artistic desires.

These five tools (in travel size) are perfect to bring along with me everyday.  If I am stuck somewhere waiting, I will have something that will help pass the time and let me be creative.

Your turn, what 5 must have tools would you want on a deserted island?

Non-Traditional Journaling

Do you sometimes find keeping a journal challenging? Changing up how you journal and what you journal about is a great way to enjoy the process again.

Instead of using a book or a note book, why not try journaling on 3 x 5 or 4 x6 note cards.  They are inexpensive, you can buy them in different colors or multi color packs, even with lines or without.

Carry around a thin stack of cards for a week use one everyday to jot down notes, make small collages, do quick sketches, or just for ideas you may have.  At the end of the week you can sort the cards into themes, create a to do list, bind them together or file them away.

Why not try this for a month instead and see what happens.  At the end of the month you will have a whole stack of cards with ides, mini pieces of art, or even projects you can start.

Note cards are also great for creating a travel kit, instead of bring a big book along all you will need is a pack of cards.  You could work on a new card everyday and come home with a trip full of memories.

Using the cards might be a nice break from keeping a traditional journal, what other non traditional journal ideas can you share with us?

Need Inspiration? Open a Book

Here is a simple idea to get your creative juices flowing:

Find a book in your collection that you enjoy, it can be any kind of book.  Open it up to any page and point to any word.  You could also do this process with a picture book, just open the book and answer the questions for the picture you have chosen.

Write down the word, and answer these questions.

What does the word mean to you?

How does it make you feel?

When you think of the word what pictures flash through you mind?

What kind of ideas does it generate?

How can you use those ideas in your creative process?

You now have a list of ideas you can use to get the ideas flowing.  They may not be ideas you can use currently, but the process of going through the questions and creating your lists gets you mind in a more creative thought process, helping to get your creative juices flowing.  

Do you have a favorite book that you would choose to try this exercise?

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 suggestions,  ideas or questions.  You can contact me at additionsstyleblog@gmail.com.

Be Inspired - Rays of Light

Words to Inspire

“Give light, and the darkness will disappear of itself.”
Desiderius Erasmus

Idea to Inspire

Next time you have the opportunity to start your day with the sun rise or end it with the sunset, grab your camera and try to catch your own rays of light.  Print your pictures and display them in your work area.  It's the perfect pick me up when you are feeling uninspired.

Photos to Inspire

If you catch the sun just right the picture becomes a work of art.  These Flickr photographers could see the art and have captured it in these photos.  Let their ray of light photos inspire you.


Cuba Gallery


First Light by andy_shields


Rays of light by ..Peter


Good Night Gothenburg! by S@ilor

Creative Business Quick Tip - Blogging

You have heard it a lot, blogging is good for your business.  I have found that it does bring traffic to my shop daily and has become an important part of my business.

I love blogging, and trying to come up with new ideas and topic to keep everyone engaged.  Blogging is a great way to share, educate, and show your readers who you are as an artists. 

I found a list of 5 things that will make your blog more readable. These are easy tips you can use to engage your reader and have them coming back for more.

Write Juicy Headlines - This will draw people in and makes them want to read your post.  Make them alluring, make a claim about something, try use numbers.

Make your blog post easy to read - 79% of online visitors only skim the content in your post.  Make it easy for them to get the gist of the post in a few sentences.
 
♦ Use bold, italic, and underling when possible 
♦ Bullets and numbers are another great way to share information  
♦ Write in small paragraphs with lots of white space.

Add visuals - pictures draw people in, it helps to make sense of the post.  Also it gives the eyes a place to rest and breaks up a lot of text.

Link Relevant Information - If you have previous content that is relevant, link it in your post so the reader can easily click for more information. This will free you up from writing a lot of information over again.   

What's your favorite thing about blogging?

New Inspiration Source

When I created my sterling silver jewelry collection I collected art magazines, art show fliers and brochures, catalogs, and anything else that I could get my hands on that was full of pictures.

I liked pictures of a lot of things, buildings, other jewelry artists, shapes and textures.  I have several notebooks filled with magazine pictures, and other things that I collected.  When I need a little inspiration I page through those books for ideas.

When I decided I wanted to create a new collection (my hardware jewelry) my old sources of inspiration just did not seem to work for me and my new collection.

I wanted this collection to be young and fresh and I found myself reading teen magazines, checking out online sources, and going to shops for the younger customer.  These days when I am looking at things for inspiration it's all about texture and color.  

Now that I have been creating the hardware jewelry collection for a few years, I am inspired by all new things.  I still enjoy looking at art magazines, and catalogs, but I am more inspired just sitting at my desk and digging through my hardware collection.

As you have grown as an artists has what inspires you changed from when you started creating?

Journal Prompt - Spring Plans

Spring is about opening windows, fresh air, bright sunshine, and spring showers.  It's also the perfect time for thinking about renewal, starting fresh, and making new plans.

Take a few minutes this week and start creating lists.

♦ All the things you love about spring
♦ What you want to accomplish this Spring
♦ Places you want to visit
♦ Things you want to create

Lists are easy for creating a plan.  When you are done you will have an outline of a basic plan for an inspiring and creative Spring season.

What kind of list will you be creating this Spring?

Jewelry Trends Spring 2011

For me jewelry is the perfect finishing touch for any outfit, and in some cases it makes the outfit.  This season is all about bright colors and big jewelry, my favorite.

Here are a few of the jewelry trends you can add to you Spring wardrobe.  All of these Etsy artists offer a wide variety of items for your Spring look, so check them out!

Rough Rocks

Amethyst Druzy Necklace by aniquedesigns

Natural Citrine Geode and Sterling Silver by allisonmooney

Shoulder Dusting Earrings

Raw Tourmaline Crystal Chandelier Earrings by xVELVETx

Sienna Sun Steampunk Earrings Chain Fringe Watch  by bionicunicorn

Showpiece Cocktail Rings

Lacy Love Ring by AllThingsTinsel

Adjustable Band Statement Ring Purple and Lime green by CBLadornments

Natural Elegance

Recycled Building Material Wood Bangle by inbloomdesigns

Necklace Natural Cotton Flower Bib Statement Jewelry by AutumnArt

Statement Hoop Earrings

Fan dance asian inspired black and red earrings by musettemade

Green Eyed Girl Emerald Green Quarts/Orange by WaterHorseStudios

Which jewelry trend are you going to try this Spring?

Idea Generating Checklist

Not knowing what you want to do can be so frustrating. I have had days where I sit and look at all my stuff and still don't know where to start.

Bob Eberle created a idea-generating checklist to help get you started on a project, it's called SCAMPER.

Here is what it means:

Substitute something -try other materials, processes, or technique.

Combine it with something else - new assortment, materials, or tools.

Adapt something to it - what can be adapted from a new technique.

Modify or magnify it - can it be made larger, extended, or exaggerated.

Put it to some other use - what else can be made with it?

Eliminate something - how can you streamline or compact it?

Reverse or rearrange it - try a new pattern, layout, or order.

To get started isolate your challenge or the object you are working with.  Ask the SCAMPER questions for each step of your project and see what new ideas emerge.

This is a great technique to kick start a new or stalled project or when you want to work with a new material.  

Do you have special techniques that you use to get inspired when you are stuck on a project?

Be Inspired - Open a Windows

Words to Inspire

“What you really want for yourself is always trying to break through, just as a cooling breeze flows through an open window on a hot day. Your part is to open the windows of your mind.”
Vernon Howard

Idea to Inspire

On the first warm day in your area open your window and let the breeze, the sound of nature, and the sun, inspire you.

Photos to Inspire

One of the best things about spring is opening the windows after a long stuffy winter.  I love the beautiful breeze of a wonderful Spring Day.  These Flickr photos show are so amazing you can almost feel the breeze.


Window sunset by .Eide


The Open Window by y entonces


afternoon light through an open window 139/365 by KevanLiz


Open Window by Serlunar

Spring Collection

Each season I like to add a new collection to my shop to enhance my regular collection.  This year is no exception.  I have created a collection of pieces that are made from stones from Lake Michigan and hardware. All of them are one of a kind.

I love trying to come up with something new each season, and this is one of my favorite new collection I have created.

When I was young I loved rocks!  I collected them where ever I went. I used to tell everyone that when I grew up I was going to be a geologist, until I got older and realized I would have to study science (not my favorite subject). Even though I did not become a geologist I still love rocks.

That's what make this collection special to me it combines my passion of jewelry and my love of rocks.

I have already add a few pieces to my Etsy shop with more to come.

Do you create seasonal collections?  What are you doing new for this Spring?

Spring Clean your Online Business

I am looking forward to Spring, and with it a week away, it's time to think about Spring cleaning.  Not Spring cleaning your house, but your online business.

Here are a few ideas for Spring cleaning your Etsy shop, and links to sites for more ideas.



Work on your pictures - We hear it all the time but it's something that will really make a difference in the appearance of your shop. I recently did this in my shop, changing every single photo I have.  It was a big job but worth it.

Link - Natural Sunlight Product Photography Tips

Make your titles and tags SEO friendly - When I first heard about SEO (search engine optimization) I did not think it was all that important.  After a year of reading blog posts, ebooks, and reports about SEO I realized that it would help my shop overall.

I have been working on my titles and tags over time, and I will have to say it does make a difference.  There are some days I get more views from google then I do from Etsy.  Do some research and start making your shop SEO friendly.  Don't forget your shop section you want them to be SEO friendly too.

Link - Smaller Box :: SEO

Make your banner and avatar represent you and your business - This is a topic that comes up a lot in the Etsy forums, should I change my avatar and banner often or keep them the same.   I think of my banner and avatar as part of my brand and always use the same one.  My avatar makes my business recognizable to everyone on the web.

Review your profile - Make sure it's up to date and reflects your current creative story.

Revamp your policies - Keep them current.

Link - Etsy Blog Shop Makeover Series

Social Media

There are so many ways to market your shop via social media.  Like most online business owners you have accounts on a variety of sites all over the web, and you may be spending yourself thin trying to keep track of where you want to promote.

I have found that if you have just a hand full of social sties where you spend most of your time, your marketing plan will be more effective.  If you have sites you never use but have set up an account, it's worth it to delete that account.  When you leave an account  inactive people on those sites don't think you are in business and you could lose that customer base.

Link - Social Media Examiner: Your Guide to the Media Jungle

Hope these tips and links are helpful for getting your shop ready for a busy Spring season.

What kind of things are you planning to do to Spring clean your online business?

Artist Inspirations - Kzieglerdesign

I am thrilled to have Kim from Kzieglerdesign as a guest blogger today, sharing what inspires her as a artist.  Kim's handmade books and hand drawn maps are wonderful, check out her Etsy shop to see all that she has to offer.  Thanks Kim for sharing your story with us!


KZ Loves Paper

Springtime Sketchbook Square

I. Love. Paper.

I've loved books since I was a kid. I'm on a mission to collect as many as I can. It's my dream to someday have a library that rivals the one in Beauty and the Beast.

Hand Drawn Map of Ireland

I learned to sew when I was 11, so I was pretty comfortable using needles and thread by the time I was introduced to book binding in college. It was in one of my graphic design classes. The teacher showed us how, and I couldn't put it down. I bound that book through the rest of that class and the next one (it was art history, can you blame me?), until I ran out of floss and paper. Since then, I haven't been able to keep my hands off of it.

8x10 Photo Print colored Pencils

I've also fallen in love with drawing maps. It started with a book series I was reading - there was a map in the front of the book and I was sick of turning back to see where I was, so I drew a copy. I branched out to ancient civilizations from there, and now I do all countries. I love the history associated with them, especially old-looking maps.

Sunny Side Handmade Greeting Card

And of course, I can't forget my graphic design background. I let out these urges in my greeting cards and photography. I've always said there's nothing quite as nice as an exquisite photograph, and I try to achieve that with every piece. The goofy side of me comes out in my cards. I love super-corny jokes, and don't worry, there are more to come!

Personalized Hand Bound Notepads Set of 3

I'm on facebook (www.facebook.com/kzieglerdesign), I just joined twitter (@kzieglerdesign), and I have a blog (kzieglerdesign.blogspot.com).

Don't forget to check out her Etsy shop!

Multitasking or Procrastination?

I realized the other day while I was trying to write a blog post, read an article, and clean up my space while looking for some notes, that one of my biggest challenges is staying focused on one thing until its done.

I do the same thing when I'm making jewelry.  I have a piece I need to finish, and then I see something out the corner of my eye grab it and then start a new piece of jewelry, while planning how I could create a new collection.

I know this is sometimes referred to a multitasking, but more likely in my case it's procrastination.  I am working on this and have found that if I create a plan and set time limits that I do better at getting things done.

Do you find yourself working on several things at the same time?  Do you consider it multitasking or procrastination?

 

Be Inspired - The Vase

Words to Inspire

“The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.”
Thich Nhat Hanh

Idea to Inspire

This is the perfect time of the year to cut some branches and fill a few vases letting the branches bloom in your house.

Want to add color get a nice bunch of flowers break then up into small bundles and fill 2 or 3 vases to have flowers in more then one room.

Don't forget to add some flowers to your work space for a little inspiration.

Photos to Inspire

The vase is a prefect place for your spring blooms, but in this collection of photos these Flickr photographers have turned the vase into art.


Vase Series 12 by cindasl


My colorful vase by Jolante


Vase, 5 merged by Bashed


Blue & Green Vases by disneymike

Sick Days

Well it seems I caught the flu from my daughter. As much as I want to write blog posts, I am going to have to take a couple of days off until I feel better.

There will be a new post on Wednesday.

Stay well.
Valerie

Must Have Accessories for Spring 2011

Bright colors are hot for this spring and accessories are no exception.

I pulled together a collection of accessories from Etsy that are perfect for this spring.  These Etsy artists have wonderful shops, stop by and see all they have to offer for Spring / Summer 2011.

2011 Spring Accessory Trends

Purse on a belt

Hip Bag black Leather by HomemadeBags 

Statement Necklaces

Belle Flower A Beautiful Swarovski Crystal by farilandfashions

I Want To Sparkle Tonight Necklace Reinvented by secondlookjewelry

Citrus colored bag/purses

Light lemon yellow chiffon clutch by HeidiCreations

Orange and Red Felted Wool Clutch by fuzzylogicfelt

Colorful Plastic Bangles

Swirling Turquoise and Black Resin Cuff by Beadevolution

Upcycled /Repurposed Mintage Knitting needle by sewnewthings

60's & 70's inspired Sunglasses

Vintage Sun Glasses by mrsdazo

Which accessory trend will you be adding to your wardrobe this spring?