Be Inspired - The Watch

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

When you need a little inspiration take out your sketchbook and do a few timed sketches.  Sketch as many trees, or faces, or flowers, or just doodles, as you can in 5 minutes. Do at as many times as you need until you feel inspired to do your next project.
Photos to Inspire

Look at the amazing photos I found on Flickr showcasing the watch as art.


Chiming Pocket watch by Nick Harris1


Open Time by fringelore


Pocket Watch by penniwali


Art Nouveau Pocket Watch by IGioiellidiManu

Organizing Quick Tip



Valerie's Booth Setup

Yesterday Valerie had a post about the show I assisted her with over the weekend.  Today I want to share with you a  few tips that helped Valerie streamline everything she needed for a successful show.

1) Prior to the show, set up your both at home. This way you will know exactly what to take with you and not over pack. It will also prevent making last minute decisions about set up and insuring you are fully prepared.

2) Take a picture of your set up so you can refer to it while setting up.  We took pictues with the phone so we had access to the photo easily.

3) For packing, use zip bags and small boxes to store like items. For example, Valerie has a shoe box size plastic box for her "office". The office box contains extra pens, receipt book, calculator, jewelry repair kit, business cards, stapler, tape, push pins, scissors, and baggies for purchased items.

Planning and preparing before the show will make the day of the show less stressful.

A big thank you to my sister Pam for all her helpful tips.  This was the first show that all I had were my tables and one box of supplies.  Being prepared was a big part to the success of the show.

Any other tips, that have made your craft shows successful?

Pam Moore - An aspiring organizer attempting to conquer one space at a time. As a professional coordinator, she sees the big picture, then breaks it down into details, to achieve end results. She uses these skill in organizing spaces by assessing clients needs and collaboratively finding solutions for functional spaces. You won't need an organizer, you can look forward to tips and tricks through out the year to organize your own space.

Being Prepared for a Craft Show



Shot of my booth from my phone

 I had a great show this past weekend.  It was nice to talk with everyone who stopped by my booth and to hear what people had to say about my work. 

I have done over 100 shows in the past 14 years and I have a really good system in place for creating a nice booth and having everything I need on hand for processing sales. 

My sister the organizer has helped me streamline my supplies, and I now have my entire set up in one box.  It's great.

I have had some special moments where I have forgotten stuff.  One show I remembered all my lights but only brought one extension cord and I could not reach the outlet that was available to me.  Luckily artists are nice and wonderful people, and someone shared a cord with me.  At another show I forgot business cards.  Of course since I forgot them everyone asked for one. 

Creating a list of supplies and checking them off as you pack up for your show is a great way not to forget anything.  I found a great list of What to Bring with you to a Craftshow from Indiefixx.com Buzz Blog.   It's a great place to start your own list.

Are you doing any shows this holiday season?  Have a great resource for a successful show? Please share.

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Journal Prompt - Get it Done

During the busy season it's easy to try to do several things at once. Multitasking is great, but if things are falling through the cracks then it's time for a new plan.

Use your journal to create a list of everything you want to get done before the year is over.  Don't sensor your list, just put down everything.

Take a few minutes to go through your list and pick out the top three items that you need to get done the most.  I know it can be hard to pick out the top three, but focus on your most important items first.

Now that you have your three tasks, list three action steps for each one so you can get the tasks done. Now you have a to do list that you can use daily to complete your tasks.

Put those action steps on your calendar, hang the list so you can see it everyday, focus on just your action steps until you are done with your task. 

I know some tasks will take days or weeks to finish and some you can get done in a day or even hours. By focusing on just three items at a time it will be easier to stay focused, and start to cross things off your original list.

When you have completed one of the three items on you list go back to your original list and choose another item, create action steps and add them to your calendar and to do list.

This is a easy way to stay focused and get things done during the holidays.  Of course you may need to make modification on the items that need to get done, but working with three items at a time instead of your entire list you actually see things getting done.

Get things done, start your list today!

Do you have a long list of thing you want to have done by the end of the year?

What Would you Name Your Creative Side?

When we create we get in a zone, and we are all about the process.

I know when I create I am thinking of all the different steps I have to do, and how I could take this idea in a new direction. I don't think about whats going on around me or what I have to do later, I just focus on the act of creating. Sometime it's like I'm another person outside of my regular life. 

What if you could give the creative side of yourself a name?  What would your be?

Think of a name that best works with your creative side.  It can be a combination of words that sound good together, it could have a personal meaning, be the name of someone you admire, or one that projects a certain image to the world.

This may require some thought, but if you have a name in mind share it with everyone in the comments.

I will share the name I came up for myself at the end of the day.

  

Be Inspired - Talk the Stairs

Words to Inspire

“You won't realize the distance you've walked until you take a look around and realize how far you've been.”

Idea to Inspire

Look at things with a new eye.  Go to your favorite place and look at it from all different directions, behind objects, laying down, standing up high, find a view you have never seen before and let it inspire you to look at your art with a new eye.

Photos to Inspire

Last year I had a Photos to Inspire post with fun and colorful collections of stairs. This time it's all about texture, shape, and a new perspective.  Enjoy today's Flickr collection of an everyday object.


Spin Stairs by Alberte Couto


Eye of the Stair by todd


Garfield Stairs by StickWare


Black Madonna Stairs, Prague by Mike G. K.

Quick Tip for the Holidays

I am excited to have Pam Moore back as a guest blogger, for a series of tips for staying organized this holiday season.  She will have a tip every week until the end of the year. If you have any questions  for Pam you can email her at additionsstyleblog@gmail.com


Did you have a hard time finding your Halloween decoration this year?

If so, organize now for next year. When you put away flat items (things you stick to your windows) place in a large mailing envelope and itemize what's inside by writing on the outside.

For soft item such as fabric costumes, place them inside a plastic bag lined with a paper bag. The plastic will help if exposed to moisture.

Lastly, use plastic bins to store the large and xl large items. If possible, add envelope(s) and bag with fabric items inside plastic bin as well.

To avoid items being exposed to moisture place bin(s) in a high dry space.

Another holiday organization tip by Pam Moore next week!

Be My Inspiraiton

I love blogging, but sometimes I find writing posts very challenging.  I have been trying to write blog posts and my newsletter for the last couple of days, and I have been struggling for ideas.

I thought today I would look to you for inspiration, find out what you enjoy most about this blog. 

What are your favorite blog topics?

What do you do when you get stuck?

I look forward to your ideas for inspiration!
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Tomorrow guest blogger Pam Moore will be back with the first post of her weekly series for staying organized this holiday season.

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