10.31.2012

Be Inspired - Autumn Silhouettes

Words to Inspire

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.”
 John Muir

Photos to Inspire

The hardest part of of Autumn ending are the bare trees, but these photos capture the bare trees as amazing art.

Source: etsy.com via Valerie on Pinterest



Source: 500px.com via Valerie on Pinterest


Source: flickr.com via Valerie on Pinterest


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10.30.2012

Art That Feels the Music

Artists amaze me.  Today's artist creates a collection of abstract photographs with the use of paint, music, and his camera.


Martin Klimas


Martin Klimas begins his process with splatters of paint positioned over a speaker. Then the volume is turned up.


The vibration of the speaker sends the paint aloft in patterns that reveal themselves through the lens of his camera.


Klimas spent six months and about 1,000 shots to produce the final images from his studio in Düsseldorf, Germany.


The resulting images are Klimas’s attempt to answer the question “What does music look like?”

What do you think? Can you see the music?


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10.29.2012

Motivation Monday

                         Source: purpletugboat.tumblr.com via Valerie on Pinterest


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10.26.2012

DIY Friday Scary Snacks

Do you love Halloween? These scary treats are sure to inspire a haunting Halloween party. Even if your not into Halloween, these ideas will make tasty snacks. Enjoy!

Cake ball brains
Mad Scientist Potion
Oreo spiders
Creepy pudding
Scary Apples
Mummy Dogs
Scary cookie pops

What is your favorite Halloween treat?



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10.25.2012

Dress For Success


As work at home entrepreneurs our office is easy to get to, we set our own schedule, and we wear whatever we want.

I know when I started working at home after years of working in sales, where I traveled often and wore a suit to work almost everyday, I could not wait to work at home and wear whatever I wanted.

It's easy to just let go when you are home, and spend your day in comfy clothes, but did you know that how you dress when you are working can affect how you perform while working.

As nice as it would be to wear your PJ's all day, it's hard to be professional when your walking around in fluffy slippers and a robe.

Since the first day I started working from home I have always gotten up, gotten dressed (with shoes and everything), had breakfast, and gone to my office, just like the days when I was working 9-5. It helps me stay in a professional frame of mind, and run my business professionally.

That being said, it is nice every now and then to be in my comfy relaxed clothes, and have a relaxing day in the office, because it's my choice.

If you think about it like this, you have on your comfy lounge outfit, and are curled up on the couch with a blanket, your mind is thinking about relaxing, so when you pull up your computer it's hard to get in the mood to work on a project.

I have a friend who works at home and on many occasions she get up in the morning and starts working, just to realize that her husband is walking in the door at the end of the day and she has not even showered yet.

In the book Grow Your Handmade Business by Kari Chapin the author shared that when she really needs to get a project done, she puts on her red high heels, that are a little tight, and not so comfy, and gets to work. The shoes make her feel professional, and working in them makes her want to get her work done.

Find what is comfortable to you, but makes you feel like you are going to work. You will be surprised what a difference it makes in how you feel about your work.

How do you dress when you work home?
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10.24.2012

Be Inspired By The Leaf

Words to Inspire

“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”
 Buddha

Photos to Inspire

I would have never have even picked up a leaf skeleton or given it a second look, but these photos make the leaf skeleton look like art. I love the textures and shapes, very inspiring.

Source: modny73.com via Valerie on Pinterest



Source: google.com via Valerie on Pinterest


Source: google.com via Valerie on Pinterest


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10.23.2012

Follow Your Nose

The sense of smell is one of the most powerful senses for recalling memories. It can bring specific imagery related to your personal history or an object front and center in your mind creating an emotional response.

Experiencing different smells can be a wonderful way to inspire new ideas.

It's a simple process, when scents are inhaled they are processed through the olfactory system, which then sends the therapeutic benefits of the aroma to the brain.

Here are some common scents and how they can boost your mood and help aid in inspiration:

Peppermint: Energy boost. 
Lemon: Revitalizing and uplifting.
Orange: Good for relaxation, and peace and happiness to the mind. 
Grapefruit: Refreshing and uplifting. 
Lavender: Good for quieting the mind before bed.
Basil: Memory and concentration
Rosemary: Confidence


The scent of lemon always makes me smile and gives my brain the boost I need when I am uninspired. When I smell lemons I can't help but close my eyes and inhale deeply, I love anything lemon scented.

Need to get inspired? Experience your favorite scent by closing your eyes, breathing deeply, and relaxing your mind. Once you are relaxed the ideas will start flowing.

What is your favorite scent when you need to be inspired?


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10.22.2012

Motivation Monday


Rewire

Don't retire...rewire yourself.

Use your experience, but keep it current.

Constantly build on your skills.

Challenge them.

Share them.

Grow.

Now is the time... by Patrick Lindsay


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10.19.2012

DIY Friday - Creative Pumpkins





Pumpkins are the easiest way give your home the feel of autumn. They warm up your home and are super easy to decorate. There are so many ways to decorate your pumpkins besides carving them. Here is a list of unique ideas for decorating your pumpkins.

Spray Painted and emblished
Glitter Pumpkins
Wire embellished
Tack Embellished 
Rhinestone embellished
Once you have embellished your pumpkins, try one of these ideas to display your creations.




What is your favorite way to embellish your pumpkins?


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10.18.2012

One Thing

Last year I challenged myself to do 100 sales in 100 days from September through the Holidays. It was also the time that Etsy changed their search function to relevancy. In October of last year I had terrible sales, only 8 sales for the entire month.

I shared my dismay in one of my posts and a few days later I received a Etsy conversation from someone in our blog community.

She was very kind. She shared tips for changing my titles, gave me ideas for tags, and explained how the new relevancy function worked on Etsy.

This information changed everything for me and my business. I spent a couple months working on my titles and tags and things in my Etsy shop started to move. I had a great 2011 holiday season, and this year has been my best year on Etsy.

That one message changed my business, and changed it for the better. 

What's one experience that's changed the way you do business today?

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10.17.2012

Be Inspired by the Colors of Autumn





Words to Inspire

“The season of failure is the best time for sowing the seeds of success.”

Photos to Inspire

The colors of the autumn season can inspire new color pallets and new ideas.





Source: raysweb.net via Valerie on Pinterest




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10.16.2012

Do You Decorate for Halloween?

Since my daughter left for college, and my husband travels a lot, I don't decorate much since I am home alone most of the time.

Even thou I don't decorate a lot, I love looking at all the cool handmade items their are, so I can get in the spirit of the holiday.

Today's Etsy finds are a fun collection of Halloween decor.

Spider Web Pillow Cover by BubbleGumDish
Orange & Black Wreath by WildRidgeDesign
Dictionary Art Print Sugar Skull Rose by reimagtinationprints
Pumpkin Vinyl Wall Art Decals by EmpireCityStudios
Halloween Decor Wicked Letters Hand Painted by thepatternbag
3 Wire Sugar Skulls Wire Art by RawBoneStudio

Do you decorate for Halloween?


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