...resulted in a pretty strong reaction from Ian. For my two who are really Irish Twins, this was a little hard to explain. And my heart just broke. The only thing that made it better was we got to sit on the kitchen floor and sneak an extra granola treat when we got home. But shhhh....don't tell Addie!
Last weekend I spent the morning with my cousins shooting pictures of my products. I snapped these pictures while Jesse was taking a break. I couldn't help it...I love photography...and loved spending the morning with such great models (some of my youngest cousins). I'll have to show you more pictures later...things have been pretty busy around here lately. But since I don't have a very large studio (the spare room in our apartment) it is so interesting to see your work all in one place...or at least on a screen. It teaches the eye. And it sure was a lot of fun! Thanks Emma, Libby and Sadie! And of course Jesse!
Picture via Oh Happy Day.
I haven't posted a happy site friday in a while, but I wanted to leave you with some great clean. fun. happy. organizing tips. Well, sites. I won't pretend to have all the knowledge. I am a master at learning from the one's who have it down...and clean & organized spaces are my focus this year.
Here are some random sites and articles:
Happy Friday!!!
OK. So just when I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with how to be a great mom AND a great entreprenuer/artist, I am reminded of this GREAT event coming this month. Startup Princess is an organization I stumbled upon last year, and WOW! I am so glad I did. This online magazine and organization designed for women in start up businesses, is designed to help and support women in all stages of their business. Whether it be a service, or creating children's art work like me...there is SO much support here! Articles, network contacts, you name it. They have done away with monthly meetings, and are now hosting a few big conferences every year. The next one is SEPT 26 in Salt Lake City, UT and will feature a new favorite speaker of mine, Heather Madder. Life balance, workshops, networking, one-on-one mentoring...all there is so much support and "feasting" to have that weekend! So, if you are in the area! Come see! I am planning to be on a "raising your children while running a business" panel as well. Click here to register.
And, I will mention this as it comes up later, but in NOVEMBER, there is an overnight retreat in Park City, featuring my very favorite Gabrielle Blair from the ever popular Design Mom. How fun is that!
In case you were wondering, I was not asked to advertise...I just really believe in this group, and their efforts to support women with their dreams of staring a small business. Horray! Have fun meeting new friends and I just might see you on the 26th of September! OH...and be the first 50 to sign up...there is FREE one on one mentoring. I'd love to see some of you there! If you are coming, let me know!! It would be so fun to have a meet up!
EDIT AND UPDATE: I was just reminded that if you sign up before the 9thyou can get in for $99. Sign up after the 9th and it is $119, or $139 for late registration. And be sure to mention my name at the time of registration! Thanks!
Just try saying 'No' to that face.
As I write this, I really should be working. I should be cleaning, or folding laundry...or printing off cards or shipping orders. Or a numerous pile of tasks in my head that keep swirling around and around because I have children and often feel limitless in my capacity to do anything. When I have the time....I soar. I get so much done. I produce mounds of crinkled paper filling my waste all marked with completed "TO DO" lists. The key factor which seems to be disturbing my mood at the moment, is TIME. I don't have that TIME everyone is always asking for. IF I had time...WHEN I have time...IF I ONLY had time. Here is the truth folks: It doesn't come. At least for me it doesn't. I keep begging for my fairy tale story to come true: I am swept off my feet to a far away land where someone (a fairy princess-maid-housecleaner-mommy-of-sorts) tends to my children for 3 full days while I create, draw, color, catch up, organize and sort out my world. Well, so far, no "bibbity-bobbity-boo" is happening here. And how come? Because I am a mom. A blessed, happy, crazy-in-love-with-my-children MOM. And there is something marvelous about this role I play: I have to make choices. Making choices is empowering. Yet, I will admit there are moments when I am envious of the artists I admire who seem to have their entire day dedicated to their art and work. In my case, I am left to choose how I am most happy...and for me, it includes raising my children FIRST and then growing my business SECOND. Translation: Not everything gets done in a day.
Now don't get me wrong: I love being a mother. It is the most sacred role, and every day I am tickled by the little miracles that take place in my home. The kisses, the hugs, and "I'm sorry's" and all the playing and tickling...I don't want to be anywhere else. This is what I love most in my life. But, I am also a creative personality with a strong commitment to bringing my unique style to others, and so I am required to find balance. And I truly consider an opportunity for growth.
"How do you do it all?" I get asked all the time. It is really humerous to hear people ask me this, because I was always the one asking other people (still am actually). But this is what I tell people: I DON'T do it all. I don't think that any one can! Either you are a full time mom with a business on the side, or you are a full time business owner, with children by your side. I choose the full time mom role, and to be honest, it is where I am the happiest. BUT IT IS HARD: sometimes it feels like my full time mothering is being jabbed by my nearly full time career. Both take up every spare second, and I am constantly forced to reorganize, reprioritize, and reevaluate. Not every month, not every week...but about ever half hour. "I can either take the kids to the park, or let them play quietly while I answer emails" "I can stay up late and finish my work, or I can just wake up early, and hope the kids sleep past 6 am" etc. There are always choices to be made...Life balance isn't something you arrive at, it is something you are constantly rocking back and forth between. And I am grateful for it...it keeps me in check. It assures that I am doing what makes my world happy. More on this later...but I just want to say that this has been a HUGE topic rolling around in my head. Balance is everything.
Which leads me to make some choices: This week, I will introduce you to some helping hands I am hiring to get me through the holidays. I will also be getting rid of some products in my shop, and increasing my shipping time by a couple days. All this with the intentions of letting me be more 'present' in my home, bringing more creativity to Sarah Jane Studios as well as simplify my world a bit so I can step back and keep making choices. I have found when life is over flowing with too many good things, we are left with too little time and energy to make choices. Good choices. The kinds of choices that make you swim forward rather then treading water. I may be cutting back on a few other things, but for now, shipping times will be set back a couple days, and blogging might get spread out a bit more. But I can assure you I will be posting my progress in my effort for more life balance...a wonderful journey for anyone seeking true wholeness and wellness. (I am feeling the urge to do some yoga at the moment...)
So, today, thanks for listening. Thanks for understanding. Thanks for all your support. I would love to hear what you have learned in this journey as well, and encourage you to comment, think about it, and chime in when you find something that has worked for you. This will be an on going topic for me, so stay tuned.
In the mean time, I leave you with this quote:
I become a positive influence by standing in opposition to what matters least by choosing to live for what matters most.
~Lee Wise
xoxo,
sarah jane
"that I had a really fine nap, Mommy!"
(As if the hair didn't tell you first!)
Well, she is still surprising me:) And as I type, she has crashed after our little family had a short spin over to the petting zoo. There is still hope:) But thanks again for all your great ideas...she isn't quite liking the quiet time (she finds my work more interesting than being by herself). But that is just fine...I just keep telling myself I will have a fine partner someday! But as I write...all is quiet...which means: More art coming soon!
OH, and PS: I got a new 50 mm camera lens this weekend (Pentax SMCP-FA 50mm f1.4). I can finally take pics inside my aptarment! I am in love!
And Ian is doing his "happy dance" in response to your generosity!
Auction Closed!
Thank you so much to LANA who was the final bidder for the FULL set of my Calendar prints. $300 was the closing bid, and I am SOOOOOOOO grateful to all of you who put your 'money' in. If you want to keep bidding and contributing to the Neilson Auctions going on this weekend, check DESIGN MOM. There are still MANY amazing auctions going on.
And, if you are wishing you had won the calendar set, I will be listing them in my shop by the end of the weekend.
Thanks you all! This blogging service fest is proof enough that there are good hearts all over this wonderful world. God bless you all.
xoxo
sarah jane
Today is the day: I am auctioning off my FULL set of calendar prints in support of the Neilson Family that needs our help. For those of you who don't know, Stephanie and Christian Neilson (parents of 4 children under the age of 5 and author of the ever popular blog: Nie Nie Dialogues) were in a tragic plane crash 2 weeks ago which killed the pilot, Doug Kennard, but left the couple with severe third degree burns covering most of their body (Stephanie 80% and Christian 30%). They leave behind these 4 children who will be living with extended family while Stephanie and Christian remain in critical condition,enduring months and months of treatments. They are currently in a chemically induced coma, and are expected to be for several months. Their medical bills are expected to be in the millions, and people all around the world are committing to help.
So in my efforts to help, I am auctioning off my FULL set of Calendar prints which will be for sale in my shop this weekend retailing at $200. If you are new to my blog and shop, I have been creating a new print every month since last October, and I have finally completed the set! The set included 12 prints, each portraying my dear little girl (who will remain un-named....you choose!) caught in a moment typical of the month she finds herself in. Each print is hand drawn and digitally colored by me, printed on archival fine art paper with archival inks, and lovingly signed by me. Many customers have designated a wall in their home for all 12, or have a single frame that they rotate a new one in every month. Each print features the month on the bottom left hand corner, but you are also welcome to purchase the prints with out the month.
So...
Here is how it works:
I will start the bid at a certain amount: $50.
Write your next bid in the comments section, and keep checking to see who is the highest bidder.
Only bid in increments of $1. No loose change folks.
If someone out bids you, keep adding your bid in the comments section until the Auction is closed and I will announce the highest bidder.
The auction will close Friday Night at midnight.
And remember, the retail price is $200 for all 12 prints...so let's try and match that:)
Once you have won the bid, you will send the money to the Stephanie and Christian Neilson Fund.
Happy bidding! Good Luck!!!
Oh, and when you are done here, check out www.designmom.com for a $150 gift certificate to my shop as well as hundreds of other wonderful things for auction!!