Chocolate for Mom

Here is a collection of art and accessories by Etsy artists in every shade of chocolate. The perfect zero calorie chocolates Mom won't be able to resist.

Coco Brown Luxe NeckScape scarf cowl necklace by BabyEtte

Friends 5x7 Fine Art Print by Lori411

Mahogany Leather MUSE Belt by MuseBelts

Fallen leaves 2 by 3 dots

Footprints in the sand by tairavora

Ice Swirl Large ALine Pleated Tote Bag and Brown by hmmmbymel

Check out all these shops to see a rainbow of color's you or your Mom will enjoy.

Check This Out...

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

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 - The Dock

Words to Inspire

“I firmly believe that all human beings have access to extraordinary energies and powers. Judging from accounts of mystical experience, heightened creativity, or exceptional performance by athletes and artists, we harbor a greater life than we know. There we go beyond those limited and limiting patterns of body, emotions, volition, and understanding that have been keeping us in dry-dock. Instead we become available to our capacity for a larger life in body, mind, and spirit. In this state we know great torrents of delight.”
Jean Houston

Idea to Inspire

Water is a wonderful source of inspiration. If you have an opportunity to get near a lake, pond, or a river take a few minutes on a dock and enjoy the calm.

Photo's to Inspire

Sunset Dock by Bryn Tassell

The Dock by teroti

Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay by hburrussiii

Dock in Guatemala by mandalaybus

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

Creative Business - The Entreprenette Gazette

I found another great blog post I wanted to share with you today. It is called The One Tip that Changed My Business on The Entreprenette Gazette blog.

It is a list from a variety of entrepreneurs with online and off line businesses that share the one tip that changed the way they do business. There is a lot of great information that you can use to run your shop online and off.

Check it out and let me know what you think.

Artist Inspirations - Gallery 32

Join me in welcoming Trina from Gallery 32, as she shares what inspires her to take her amazing portraits of nature. Thanks Trina for being a guest blogger!

I have always had a passion for art. When I was a child my Grandma encouraged me by teaching me how to sew, embroider and paint watercolors. These experiences still influence my work in the form of color, shape, and line. When I went off to college I decided that painting would be my major and I graduated with a BFA from the University of Kansas.


Painting has definitely influenced my photography in the way that I compose images in the frame. I like to include abstract images and I use Photoshop and ArtRage to make my images more painterly. My goal is to show my version of the world and I try to photograph the simple scenes in life that maybe get overlooked in our daily lives.


My favorite subjects to photograph are flowers, landscapes and light. I am drawn to the ever changing view of nature and the different colors and light that you see through the seasons.


My recent obsession has been with the iPhone and the many camera applications that you can use. My current favorite it the Hipstamatic which simulates those lovely lenses and films from the past. I like the imperfect nature that you get from this application. Scratched, a little blurry, odd color. The other application is Camera Bag which simulates vintage black & white film, Polaroid, Holga and so much more. I have a nice collection of vintage working cameras, however, this application is more immediate and easier to use. Don’t worry though, I still carry around my Polaroid SX-70 from time to time.

Visit Gallery 32 around the web:

website

Etsy shop

blog

Facebook

Twitter

Additionsstyle NEWS

BLOG News

If you missed it on Monday and Tuesday I had a list of 22 Rules for success. The list included some thing you may know about running your business and some new ideas, check it out and share your thoughts.

Trina from Gallery 32 has written a guest post about the inspiration behind her wonderful photography. You won't want to miss this, so stop back tomorrow (Monday) to read her story.

I can't believe that the end of the month will be here this week, coming in May creativity will be the theme on the blog. Join me for more inspiration and ways to be creative all month long.

Follower News
I want to thank everyone who participated in Check It Out... on Thursday. It was great to hear about all the things everyone is doing with their business. lavenderdreams4ever and Luann Danzl both have new blogs, stop by and check them out.

Creative Book of the Week

12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women by Gail McMeekin

SHOP News

This is the best week to buy your Mom or yourself some Hardware in Bloom to go with all your Spring styles, because until 5/2 for all orders over $20 I will include a FREE pair of earrings!

Hardware in Bloom

Have a great week!

Journal Prompt - What do you Love about Creating?

While reading about Presh and her wonderful jewelry on her blog My Jewelry Blog, she said "I believe I am living my life the way I was meant to.", and it got me thinking about creating and life.

I know I was meant to make jewelry, sometimes I wish it would not have taken me so long to figure that out.

What about you, are you creating what you were meant to create?

Take a few minutes with your journal/sketchbook and list all the things you love about creating and what you create.

If you want to get creative with your list draw pictures, use cut up magazines, or add color and designs.

When it's complete save your list and use it every time you need a little boost or an idea for your next project.

Flowers for Mom

There are so many kinds of flowers you can give your mom or mom's you know for Mother's Day. Here are a few more ideas from some amazing artist on Etsy.

Purple Flower Necklace Hand Felted by Crafts2Cherish

Scarlet Blossom Wristlet by EightSeasons

Vortex 3D Sterling Silver Pendant big by metalmorphoz

Wild Yellow and Purple Oya Scarf Shawl by Kirevi88

Container Garden Watercolor Print by Laura Trevey

Raspberry Silk Pillow with Sweetheart Organza by MiCasaBella

Visit all these Etsy shops for amazing finds for all the mom's in you life, and don't forget yourself!

Check This Out...

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

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 - Flowers

Words to Inspire

“All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today”

Unknown

Idea to Inspire

Blooming flowers are very inspiring. Fill a few beautiful containers with flowers, and place them in all the rooms to go into regularly. Every time you walk into the room the flowers will smell wonderful, and seeing them will make you smile.

Photo's to Inspire

Calla Lilly Ode by LaVita Jude

Blue Flower by CGoulao

Orphan flower II by jon fobes

Mimosa Flowers with Berries by tinyfroglet

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

Rules for Success - Part 2

Here is the rest of the list from yesterdays post, with more great tips and ideas for running your business.

Rules for Success - Part 2

Avoid Procrastination - Here are some basic reason we procrastinate, fear of success, fear of change, fear of the unknown, fear of responsibilities, fear of failure, lack of motivation, lack of skill, lack of preparation. Figure out what causes you to procrastinate and work on avoiding them.

Diversify your market - We hear this all the time, sell a variety of items within your medium at a variety of price points. You will make more money if you try to have something for everyone.

Focus - This one is easy to say, but we all know their are always distractions. Put your working hours on your calendar and use a daily to-do list to keep you on track. Here is a blog post with some quick and easy tricks for creating and using your to-do list.

Create a business plan - It doesn't have to be anything fancy, a simple outline with goals and action steps will be a good start.

Integrate charitable donation into your marketing plan - It's good for business and for the soul. Donate often.

Maintain good health and take care of yourself - When you are running a business online you are basically sitting all day long. Find ways to exercise throughout your day, drink lots of water, and don't forget to take a break, and have quite time for yourself.

Break large projects into smaller chunks - I have a big project I have been working on for 6 months now and I always felt like I was not getting anywhere. Then I found this idea 15 minutes, and for the past few months I have made real progress.

Add pleasure to your tasks - Decorate you work space, buy colorful accessories, get a comfortable chair, design a space you love and want to work in.

Plan ahead - Create to-d0 lists, prepare your work space the night before so you can start your day creating.

Don't strive for perfection - Don't become consumed at making everything perfect everyday, it's hard to do and if you don't achieve it just adds unnecessary stress.

Continually educate - For yourself, your business, and your art.

It was a long list, but I hope you found some ideas you can use to build your own success.

Rules for Success - Part 1

While reading Art Calendar magazine I found this list of Rules for Success.

Some ideas you may have heard of before, and some you many not have, but I wanted to share the list with you, to help you generate new ideas to grow your business.

To get the most out of the list I am going to break it up into two posts, half today and half tomorrow.


Rules for Success part 1

Create a Master Plan - Do you have a plan for your business? Here are a couple of posts to help you get started. Creative Planning and Passion Statement.

Set Goals and make the commitments - Need a few ideas to get your list started check out Creative Goal Writing.

Keep yourself motivated through visual stimulation - Create a dream book or collage with images of the things you dream of. This past Saturday I wrote a post called Dream Journal with ideas for creating your own.

Think like a CEO and delegate tedious tasks - There are intern programs at high schools and collages where students work for experience. This is a great way to get all your tasks done and still have time to create.

Tell your story with passion - It's important to share why you create, your experiences, and your passion for creating with everyone. The post Whats your story his tips for developing your story.

Permanently erase destructive self-fulfilling prophesies - Change the way you refer to yourself as a artists, and a business person. Instead of saying "I am a artist not a business person" try "I am a creative artrepreneur". Instead of "I am a poor starving artist" try "I create and attract abundance". See how changing the way you refer to yourself will make you a more positive person.

Take responsibility - Catch yourself when you are making excuses or blaming others. Taking responsibility will help you to correct the problem and get things done.

Feed your relationships daily - Build new relationships often and take care of existing ones.

Be prepared for success - Never leave your house without business cards, be prepared to talk about your business, and build strong business relationships. Do you always forget your business cards? Here is a tip so you always have cards with you - Business Cards

Follow your passion, not the market - Focus on creating your best work then determined the best marketing plan. Earlier this year I had a blog post called Do you Love Everything you Create, that talked about creating what you love versus creating to make money, it turned into a great discussion, make sure you check out the comments.

Consider artists as allies not competitors - Try not to compare yourself to other artists or shops, treat other artists the way you want to be treated.

Check out the rest of the list tomorrow. More info, tips, and practices for a successful business.

Additionsstyle NEWS

BLOG News

Last week I had a post called Why do you Create, What your Create? everyone who commented shared a great story about how they got started or why they create. When your done reading don't forget to add your story too.

Book of the week
The creative book of the week this week is The Creative Entrepreneur by Lisa Sonora Beam. It's the business of running a art business, while planning like an artists. I did a review on this book early last year. This book is worth checking out!

I have a QUICK POLL on my Facebook page right now, stop by and share your favorite Spring flower.

SHOP News

New items coming this week!

Have a great week!

Journal Prompt- Dream Journal

"Today is life - the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today... Shake yourself awake. Let the wind of enthusiasm sweep through you. Live today with Gusto." Dale Carnegie

A quote to inspire you to create a Dream Journal.

All you need is a journal, or sketchbook, or notebook, or even a spiral notebook. You could even check out all the amazing handcrafted journals on Etsy, for something original. If you choose a plain one decorate the cover to suit your style.

Start collection of pictures, quotes, and words. Store them in a pocket folder or a box until you are ready to work with them.

They should be items that show want your business to look like, the house you want to live in, the fashions you want to wear, the places you want to visit, all the things you dream about.

When you are ready start gluing them into your book. Also add in your own drawings, paintings, and writings. You don't have to fill it up all at once, add to it slowly.

This is your book, don't hold back, if you dream about it add it in your book. If you don't want to share it, no one ever has to see it, but you.

Use the book to keep you motivated, help you create goals, come up with a plan, and stay on track. Your dream journal your personal source of inspiration.

Do you have a dream journal?

Want a New Experience? Expand your Thinking

Here are some simple ideas to expand your thinking and discover something about yourself.

Verbally appreciate at least 10 people a day

Read a self-help book for 30 minutes, every morning

Write handwritten thank you notes

Listen to positive music or a motivational CD

Exercise for 30 minutes

What are some things you do to expand your thinking and have new experiences?

Check This Out...

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

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

Words to Inspire

“A Picture of many colors proclaims images of many Thoughts.”

Donna A. Favors

Idea to Inspire

Try to spend a day working with only black and white.

Photo's to Inspire

black and white meets cross processing by marcel.sauer.de

Week #8 theme: black & White Amy Smiffy

~heavenly black or white by ^i^heavensdarkangel2

Black and White 1 by Jim Keaton

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

Connect Online

Their are so many ways to connect on the Internet, and while visiting Julie Chats blog she shared a link to Virtual Girls' Night Out.

Every Friday night, Ann from Ann Again...and again hosts a Virtual Girls' Night Out with a great music video, a drink recipe and lot's of bloggers to hang with! Get and give tons of comments and find more followers for your blog!



Looking for something a little more low key the check out a la mode Stuffs blog for her new weekly meetup OM [one moment]. It is an opportunity to share and encourage each other to pause in our individual lives. Click on the link below for more details.



Also, to get to know the followers on this blog, I started a new weekly post called Check this out... You can use this post to update everyone on your shops, new items, blog posts you have written or read, a family event, whatever you want, so we can all get to know each other a little better.

These are just a few ways to connect on the Internet outside of the regular social media sites (twitter, facebook ...). Do you participate in any other ways to connect on the Internet?

Why do you Create, What you Create?

When I was young is was into sewing. I made everything, coats, suits, all my dresses for every dance at school, everyday clothes, just about everything.

When it came time to decide what I wanted to study in college I choose fashion. After college went on to work in a variety of fashion jobs, including sales, management, assistant buyer, and personal shopper. I worked with clothes, shoes, cosmetics, men's wear, even electronics.

Then one day I decided I wanted to really get into fashion and I moved to New York. Well, when I got to New York I only worked in fashion briefly and ended up working in the diamond district with jewelry for several years.

When I moved back to the Midwest, I was at a loss for what to do. So I got a job in sales and started making jewelry for fun.

I enjoyed making jewelry, after the first class I ever took making earrings, I went out and bought all the tools, beads, and findings, and I could not stop making jewelry.

Ever since that first class I taught myself many techniques from beading to wire wrapping and silversmithing. I took classes along the way to perfect my skills. I haven't stopped making jewelry since I started, about 12 years ago.

I love working with metal, taking a flat sheet and a spool of wire and creating something beautiful that people want to wear. I need to create, and creating jewelry satisfies that need.

What's your creative story? Why do you create, what you create?

Additionsstyle News

BLOG News

I have been working on my blog to make it place to visit when you need inspiration. On Wednesdays I have a new series called Be Inspired. You will find a variety of ways to be inspired and creative. There will be quotes, ideas and projects to boost your creativity, and photo's to inspire new idea.

Don't forget Check This Out... on Thursdays. Where you can update everyone on your shops, new items, blog posts you have written or read, a family event, whatever you want, so we can all get to know each other a little better.

Follower News

In Check This Out... last week TF shared with everyone a link to an artist who creates amazing fairies. Check out her blog Chopoli, and see her work. Thanks TF for Sharing the link!

Creative Book of the Week

The creative book of the week is - The Creativity Book by Eric Maisel. It is a easy read, with one chapter for each week and it's a year's worth of inspirations and guidance. Check out the right side bar for a link directly to Amazon.com.

SHOP News

I have almost all the pieces I created for the Hardware in Bloom collection listed in my Etsy shop and only a couple more to go. The last few pieces will be listed this week.

I got a new supply of hardware for the recycle place, and I was able to add back a few piece to my shop that I deactivated because I did not have the hardware to make them. I love new supplies, and I got some cool new items coming soon.

I jumped on the bandwagon and opened a Zibbet shop last week. I will be adding more items over the next few weeks, filling it with popular item from my Etsy shop.

Anyone else on Zibbet? Are things selling? I hope this proves to be a good venture.

Have a great week everyone!