Aromatherapy for your Studio

Aromas can stimulate, relax, excite, or sedate. They can even balance and center us. This happens because essential oils create a chemical reaction in our body that interacts with our brain.

Since it's the brain that is affected, we can create certain environments that are conducive to concentration, creativity and positive personality through the use of essential oils in our studios.

Certain scents can stimulate different reactions.

Essential oils to try:

For mental clarity and mental stimulation - rosemary, peppermint, lemon, basil, ginger, tea tree and cypress

For stress relief - geranium, pine, melissa, rose, rosewood, sandalwood and grapefruit

For Inspiration - frankincense, rosemary, sandalwood, Orange, and rose

For the end of the day to help you settle and relax your mind - chamomile, lavender, marjoram, clary sage and linden berry

To freshen and detoxify your work area - tea tree, eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, juniper and cedarwood.

Remember if you work with other people or in an area of your home shared with more people then yourself choose your method of adding scent to your room wisely.

If you work with other people around add your essential oil via aromatherapy jewelry. Here are a couple Esty options.

Lavender Earrings by FullThrottleGypsy

Made to order Design 04 Aromatherapy Wire Wrapped pendant by Nixcreations

Here are a few options from Etsy for adding essential oils to your work space.

Isis Oil Aromatherapy Diffuser Handmade by DeBaunFineCeramics

Handcrafted and Engraved Mini Reed  Diffuser Gift by newdesigneco

Grapefruit and Mangosteen Scented Soy Candle by candleBOOST

Adding an aromatherapy diffuser to yourself or studio work space will enhance your mood and ability to get your work done, as well as beautify.

I love the smell of lemon and lavender, what is your favorite scent?

Reading for Inspiration

I was really bummed to hear Borders bookstore was closing. One of my favorite things to do when I need inspiration is to head to the bookstore and spend an afternoon looking at magazines and books. 

I am going to miss my quite time hanging out in the bookstore.  I guess I will have to do more hanging out in my local library and reading at home.

The hardest thing about reading at home is all the distraction. When I sit at the bookstore or library I don't have the computer, or my supplies, or even those nagging chores starring back at me to get up and do something.

Creating a space just for reading can help with getting away from those distraction and enliven your reading experience.

The best position for reading is sitting at a table in a comfortable chair. You will find that you comprehend more and have more clarity of thought. Lying down and lounging may feel comfortable, but these positions are not good for alertness or concentration.

Try to find a space with the least amount of distraction and good lighting.

If you are doing a lot of reading remember to take breaks to avoid eye fatigue.

When you are reading for inspiration keep in mind your creative needs. The more you are aware of your needs the easier it will be to make a connection between ideas, concepts, and insights, as well as making it easier to grasp ideas.

Find the time and the perfect spot so you can read more often. The more you read the more you will develop your knowledge of creative thinking strategies and idea generation techniques.

What do you like to read for inspiration?

Be Inspired - Sounds Week 4

Words to Inspire

“Close your eyes and you will see clearly,cease to listen and you will hear truth, be silent and your heart will sing, seek no contacts and you will find union, be still and you will move forward on the tide of spirit”

Idea to Inspire

Their is an amazing collection of photos in the book that inspired theses posts.  Check out 100 Sounds to See by Marsha Engle and William Huber to see everyday things photographed artfully. I hope this book inspires you as much as it inspired me.

Photos to Inspire

Enjoy today's Flickr collection of things you hear in your home.


Booked... by Craig Richardson


Lamp by OliviaWasHere


Boiling Water by AJL Design


Open door by *Christiane*

Creative business Quick Tip

You hear it all the time, promote, promote, promote. It's one of the most important things you need to do to get your shop noticed and to make sales.

We use social media, blogs and forums to promote all the time, along with all the other online business doing the same thing.

We think because we have an online business we should be promoting mostly online, but our business can benefit from being promoted everywhere possible.

Today I have a list of ideas you can do offline to direct people to your website.

• Join non-crafty organizations in your community to network and increase your visibility.

• Consider adding your logo or your website info via a car decal.

• Do demonstrations at local events. Answer questions, pass out cards, or whatever you need to create interest in your shop.

• Make a small investment for premium products with your shop information to share with customers and potential customers. Print t-shirts, make bookmark business cards, create buttons, check out Etsy for lots of other promotional product ideas.

• Offer selected customers free samples. When I started I had a box of jewelry that I let my friends and family choose pieces for free and asked them to pass out cards.  I actually got a few orders and a good regular customer.

• Write short articles about your craft or what you are an expert in and submit them to article sites such as ezinearticles.com. Don't for get to include your shop address at the end of each article.

• Sign up for HARO.com (Help a Reporter Out) for opportunities to be featured on blog and local and national publications.


• Don't forget the obvious passing out business card, and if you make something you can wear like jewelry, clothes, or accessories, show it off and wear it everywhere.

There are many options for promoting your shop offline these are just a few suggestions to get you started.  Try including a few offline ideas to your fall/holiday marketing plan.

Do you have an offline marketing idea that works well for you?

Motivation Monday

I am always amazed at the amount of talent on internet.  I run across a new artist, writer, or business almost everyday.

We spend a lot of time online running our business, writing our blogs, and doing social media, but it's also a great place to find people who can inspire and motivate you.

Motivate yourself by following people, websites, and blogs of people who are succeeding.

By following these sites you can learn new ideas, be inspired, and use them to motivate yourself to strive for success.

When you need a little boost of motivation visit these inspiring blogs, websites, and shops read about what's new, enjoy their artwork, find that little something you need to move forward with your own goals.

Do you follow motivating sites?

Summer Accessories

One of the big trends this season is color blocking.

If buying all new colorful clothing is not in the budget, try adding color through accessories. Etsy has a wonderful collection of accessories, here are a few colorful options to spice up your wardrobe.

Sexy Leather Clutch by paulinacarcach

Snakeskin Bracelet Lilac Cuff by Heleluya

Vintage Yellow Wedges Brand New women's size 8 by BlandStairVintage

Sunhat with Handmade Flower Royal Blue by ArtqueenClaire

A Beautiful Red Orange Pashmina Scarf Shawl Wrap by beatuyplus

Don't limit how many colors you wear.  Mix up your color combination, the more the merrier. 

What's are your favorite colors to mix?

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 - Sounds Week 3

Words to Inspire

“The mountains, rivers, earth, grasses, trees, and forests are always emanating a subtle, precious light, day and night, always emanating a subtle, precious sound, demonstrating and expounding to all people the unsurpassed ultimate truth”

Idea to Inspire

Find a quite moment in your day to sit inside or outside. Close your eyes. Listen to all the sounds around you and let the amazing everyday sounds in our world inspire you.

Photos to Inspire

Subtle sounds from the home and amazing pictures from Flickr, inspiration is everywhere.


Ceiling Fan by Japegrape


A glass of running water by elitatt


Curtains by smacss


rocking chairs by jaymerae

Take care of your Number one Tools

No matter what medium you work with, our hands are our number one tool.

Taking care of our hands is important for our health and our ability to get things done.

Try these 5 hand care tips to keep you hand working at top performance.

Hand massage - Your hands get tired and taking a little time to massage your fingers and palms will make working easier. Watch this You Tube video for a one minute hand massage.

Moisturize - Keeping your hands and skin moisturized keeps them looking young and healthy.

Manicure - Having manicures that are nourishing for your nails and pamper your hands are not only a special treat they are good for your hand care.

Feed your nails with good nutrition - choose foods that are rich in calcium and B-complex.

Adjust your computer - The position of your computer monitor, keyboard, and mouse can have a profound effect on your hands. Adjust them so they are positioned at a comfortable level for your hands and body.

We use and abuse our hands everyday. If you take a little time daily to care for your number one tool, they will do what you need them to do for a long time.

What do you do to take care of your hands?

Motivation Monday

Staying motivated during the slower summer months can be challenging when you want things to happen.  

When business is slow it's the best time to try new things and learn more about your craft.

Learning new skills, putting new ideas into your business plan, and experimenting with new techniques will help you and your business grow.

This is the perfect time to take a class, read about new techniques, network with other artists, try out new ideas, and do some creative planning.

When your business gets busier you will be more motivated to accomplish your goals and ready to go with all your new ideas.

What are you taking the time to learn this summer?

Journal Prompt - Your Business

During the summer, when business is a little slower, is the best time to prepare for the busy fall/holiday season.

Taking your extra time to build up inventory, plan your advertising and marketing plan, and work on your branding, will make a difference when it starts to get busy.

Get started on that process by spending a little time with your journal.

Use this as a journal prompt: Why are you in business.

This is a good place to start your planning process.  Take your time, if it's easier make lists about your business, draw pictures of what you want your business to be like, cut out words and pictures from magazines and create a collage.  

Knowing why you are in business helps with the decisions you make with your business.

Do you have big plans for the fall/holiday season?

10 Random Thing to Know about Me

Every month I do a posts called Check This Out as a way for each of us to get to know a little about ourselves and our businesses.

Today I thought I would share a little more about myself so you can get to know me a little better.

~ I enjoy cooking and creating interesting meals
~ I am addicted to books on CD.  I listen to them everyday
~ I love magazines of all kinds, but especially art magazines
~ I like to sew, but I don't do it as often as I want
~ I love to travel by car
~ I hate to clean the house and I only do it when I have to
~ Creating is part of me, it's what makes me happy
~ I love books, I have almost 200 books in my collection
~ I like action movies
~ Fall is my favorite time of year

I would love to get to know you a better, what do you want to share?

Be Inspired - Sounds Week 2

Words to Inspire

“Love is the voice under all silences, the hope which has no opposite in fear; the strength so strong mere force is feebleness: the truth more first than sun, more last than star...”
E. E. Cummings

Idea to Inspire

Start a collection of your own pictures of beautiful sounds, that mean something to you.

Photos to Inspire

More amazing Flickr photos of beautiful sounds.


Rocky beach by Thankful!


Like Fly, like flower by claustral


waterfall by sgwizdak


It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing by dranidis

Dreams Revisited

I am one of those people who remembers most of my dreams, almost every night.

Sometimes I take out my favorite dream symbol book (The Dream Book by Betty Bethards) and try to decipher what is going on in my sub conscience.

I have discovered that most of my dreams give me insight into how I am feeling and ideas on what I need to do next.

Last year I wrote a couple of post (Dreams and Dream Facts 2) with lots of fun information about dreams.  I have taken the best from each post and today I have the most intriguing facts about dreams.

A Wish Your Heart Makes Fine Art Photography by paperangelsphotos

• You forget 90% of your dreams - with in 5 minutes of waking up you forget 50% and after 10 minutes 90%.

• In our dreams we only see faces of people we have seen before - We see hundreds of thousand of faces in our life so we have a endless supply for our brain to use in our dreams

Follow your Dreams Digital Print by valentinadesign

• You can have 4 - 7 dreams a night - on average you can dream from 1 - 2 hours every night.

• Dream incorporation - our mind takes images we see throughout the day and incorporates them into our dreams.

Framed Print Mix and Match Build Your Own Set by MatchBlox

• One third of our live is spent sleeping - Which means that in an average lifetime you spend about six years of your life dreaming.

• Research has shown that the house is the most common setting for dreams.

Brunette Dreaming Big Large Art Print by thedreamfiraffe

• Common dream that transcend cultural and socio-economic boundaries include falling, flying, nakedness in public, and unpreparedness. These shared dreams arise from experiences and anxieties fundamental to all people.

• Studies have shown that your brain waves are more active when you are dreaming than when we are awake.

Dream 5x7 by bethberg

• Not everybody dreams in color - about 12% of sighted people dream exclusively in black and white, and the rest in color. Prior to the 1950's most people dreamed in black and white, but the introduction of color television changed that.

The study of dreams is fascinating to me.  I have been reading about dreams and learning everything I can about them for years.  I find it interesting that all those crazy symbols in our dreams can give us insight into who we are and how we are feeling.

Do you remember your dreams?

Motivation Monday

“Motivation is simple. You eliminate those who are not motivated.”

Lou Holtz

Staying positive is essential to having a good work day and accomplishing your goals.

When you have people around you that are not supportive to you and your goals it makes it difficult to get things done.

Spend less time with negative people, and watch your motivation increase everyday.

I know it can be challenging if it's family that is negative. Your best option is to work when they are not around and don't let their negativity rub off on you.

Surround yourself with people who will support your desire to be creative and run your business. Participate in a craft or business networking groups in your area, or start one with your crafty friends.

Find a crafting or business buddy.  Having someone you can talk with to express your concerns, share your goals and successes, will make being creative and running your business more enjoyable.

Building an online community is another way to interact with supportive people who are working toward the same goal. Having this community will keep you motivated and give you an outlet for when things are not going well.

When you are working, and spending less time with negative people and more with your support community, you will be motivated to achieve all your goals.

Do you participate in any supportive communities?

Need a little support feel free to contact me at additionsstyleblog@gmail.com

Have a Stress Free Friday

Here is a wonderful idea for the perfect relaxed and stress free Friday. Inspired by the wonderful artists on Etsy.

Visit a garden and enjoy the beauty of all the flowers.  Get a few flowers for yourself and put them in a elegant vase.

Porcelain Flower Vase by taylorceramics

Brew the perfect cup of tea and enjoy it in a special tea cup. 

Tea For Two For Four Vintage China Teacups by GoodnessGraceVintage

Set the mood for relaxation by lighting some wonderfully scented candles.

Aromatherapy collection 14 oz soy candle Tranquility by Taromas

Climb into a warm bath scented with the intoxicating scents of thyme and lavender.

Repose Bath Affirmations Organic Thyme Lavender by TrulyAesthetic

Wrap yourself in super soft 100% cotton, large, hand woven towel.

Set of 2 Organic Beach Bath Towels Full Stripes by BeautyAndSpa

Slip your feet into soft fuzzy cozy handcrafted slippers.

Felted wool slippers light gray/yellow by Grazim

Take a long and relaxing nap on wonderfully luxurious silk pillows.

Rainbow silk pillowcases Set of 2 Luxury for the home by MyBeautifulGirl

I hope this idea for a relaxing Friday have inspired you to create your own special day.  Check out all these Etsy shops for a variety of items for the perfect Friday.

Whats your favorite thing to do when you are relaxing on a Friday?

Creative Obstacles

Since the beginning of the year I have been working hard to live a healthier lifestyle.  

I now workout about 4 -5 days a week (I am working towards 6 days). I have changed the way me and my family eat, with more fruits and veggies, I get more sleep, and now drink almost a gallon of water a day.

As the year goes on I plan to start mediating more, drink green tea daily, and find more time to relax and enjoy life.

I started all of this because I have arthritis in almost every joint in my body, and in pain most days. Changing my lifestyle helped with making my joints a little less painful, and giving me the opportunity to get out and do more.

My creative journey is effected by how I feel and my lifestyle change has made creating everyday easier and more enjoyable.

So here is my question for you today:

What obstacle have you overcome to be able to create and run your business?

Be Inspired - Sounds

Words to Inspire

“All of nature begins to whisper its secrets to us through its sounds. Sounds that were previously incomprehensible to our soul now become the meaningful language of nature.”
Rudolf Steiner

Idea to Inspire

With all the distractions throughout our day, it's the simplest sounds of an ordinary day that we take for granted.

I recently enjoyed a book called 100 Sounds to See by Marsha Engle. In this wonderful book Marsha shares her story of how she is slowly losing her hearing, and how she collaborated with photographer William Huber to capture ordinary sounds in stunning photographs.

Over the next month the Be Inspired collection is going to feature photographs of ordinary sounds in photography.

Check out all the stunning photography in this wonderful book.

Photos to Inspire

This Flickr collection is inspired by beautiful sounds you can find outside.


Nature bird by doug88888


Fountain, Trafalgar Square by Simon Crubellier


Wind / beach / orange by ►CubaGallery


Rain Rain Go Away by Little Miss. Sunshine


Lightning_sells_arizona by dartleader