How I get inspired

Tired and Inspired

I’m having one of those days where I just can’t seem to get anything done and all I want to do is lay down. Maybe it’s just that I’m not as young as I think I am, but I’m noticing more and more that one or two very productive/busy days inevitably leads to a day like this…very unproductive. Do you guys ever feel like that?

Friday, Josh and Isaiah were off work/home from school because of our “snow.” In the Charlotte area, that means that a snowflake fell and everyone freaked out. We pretty much shut down. So the boys were really excited about playing outside…aaaand it had all melted by 10. Our weekends are always crazy, then they were off Monday for MLK day and yesterday was a teacher workday here and we had community group last night. Gosh, maybe that’s why I’m tired. Everyone home for 5 straight days. Wonderful but…..yawn.

I’m also really trying to make conscious steps towards health like exercising 3-4 times a week consistently and eating more plants, juicing, stuff like that. I think it’s wearing me out. ;)

Anyway… despite all that, I’ve actually been feeling pretty inspired to play with color and texture in my shop lately and I thought I would share a little bit about what helps shape what you see in my shop wares. Because my lovelies use the same kinds of materials {fabric and beads, etc}, a big chunk of it comes down to color. And I LOVE color. It might sound weird but color really moves me. It can take me to far off places, paradises, memories, feelings, tastes and smells…almost like I could dive in and instantly be sipping a cappuccino in Italy, feeling a warm breeze sweep over me on white sands overlooking sparkling clear waters or browsing through an outdoor farmers market in a bustling city.

{Here is a print from one of my favorite artists. I own several of hers and this might be my favorite, though it’s hard to choose! }

Isn’t it pretty? All of her work is equally colorful and gorgeous. I can’t get enough. {PS, you can click on all the images in this post and go right to the source.}

However, winter is typically not my favorite season and some of that is because of the absence of color around me…that’s where you have to get a little creative, but with winter comes the hope of spring. And I get very, very excited about spring. :)

I keep my phone handy all the time and when I see something that strikes me, I jot it down into a running list I have there. Sometimes it hits me in the most random ways… a colorful scarf thrown over a leather bag on the floor, tree branches stretched across the sky, fruit slices on a turquoise plate, a rusted sign on an old building, plants in worn pots, even my sweet girl’s bright blue eyes and pink lips looking up at me.

Right now, I’m really loving pinks paired with teals…

{You can see that in my Cherry Blossom necklace.}

…deep reds with aqua…

Red mailbox on the door of a house, Tinganes, Torshavn, Faroe Islands, Denmark

{Like in my Cherry Juice necklace.}

…greens with blushes…

{hmm…just realized that’s not in my shop yet. I’ll get right to work on it.}

…and green and navy.

{I’ve paired this happy couple together in my Spring Rain necklace.}

I love how eventually every color or combination that speaks to me traces back to nature. God is truly the Master Designer. There is nothing new under the sun that He did not create. Man, He has some great taste!

If you’re craving even more color, go check out my pinterest COLOR BOARD!

What kinds of things are inspiring you these days?

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