Hello birds!

a step back on a lovely rainy Monday

The last few days I have felt a little blue... its been one of those times when after lots of effort, what I wanted didn't happen, so I figured the best thing to do was to throw more effort at it. Work. Time. Whatever I could. It was a decent distraction, but distraction only lasts so long. And after all that I have to face the fact that effort does not at all guarantee that you road you are on will take you to what you want.

So I am now thinking

that perhaps less effort

is a better answer.

Or at least effort

directed toward

other things.

So on these grey days I am trying to notice the way the dark sky makes colors brighter and to take pleasure in painted toenails and comfy flip flops. When I feel a wave of something negative I pick up a book for distraction. I write a poem. I wrap a present and put it under the tree. I draw or try to think of a pretty phrase to describe the feeling.

I don't try to find someone else to fix it,

because it isn't something that anyone

else will be able to fix.

Who knows if this is

the best method,

but its what I am

trying now.

I also ended up taking a very random

and very rainy trip to the coast

yesterday. I did manage a little walk

in the water even while we were being

pelted with rain. But the ocean is

pretty awesome (and healing)

even in the dark and the rain.

***

I have also had some fun making some lovely custom orders

which I will show you all tomorrow

when their glue has dried.

***

I am also quite happy about my new stamps that arrived in

the mail today.

They are all pictures that were

in a 19th century Pictorial

Webster's Dictionary.

I cant wait to use them.

Hope you are doing

something lovely

with your Monday night.

Toodles!

book love and blue skies

lovely blue skies

***

2 new additions to my

then I learned how to swim series
Made for a day (or a year) when you feel like you can do anything.

*

these handmade books are covered in turquoise bookcloth

and handmade marbled paper in shades of aqua and creme.

They also features goldfish cut outs taken from a wonderful goldfish print paper.

The fish are happily swimming, confident that they can get where they want to go. The shades of blue and aqua are perfectly complimented by the orange of these happily swimming fish.

small daily agenda
*
medium lined journal
***
Sprout address book
This book is made to remind you to GROW. To remind you that you can continue to sprout regardless of where you are.
This hand made hard cover book is covered from head to toe in teal bookcloth and features a sprout stamp in white ink. Being covered completely in book cloth makes this book super durable. The extra durability is great if you are one, like I am, who is sometimes a little rough with things.
This address book is filled with acid free creme paper. It is approx 5” by 7”.

The greatest thing about this address book is that it is big enough to actually write in. It is great for keeping track of those you love and never want to lose.

Books will be listed

in THE SHOP

this afternoon.

Also I have felt super lucky lately

to be feeling so much etsy love,

so thanks to you all and the etsy powers that be!

the sky and my very own set of eyes

Well,

It occurred to me last night and this morning

that sometimes when I am creating or even just

trying to see something in my own odd way

just below my surface I am secretly longing to make

something that others will approve of.

Sometimes I want to make something that

other people will like.

***

While there is nothing inherently wrong with that I have realized that sometimes what I need is just to see the world trough my very own eyes and just do or make or see what I like, what will please ME, not what I am hoping will please everyone else.

***

So today I played a little

game of ignoring the little voice

in my head

and instead I took lots and lots of photos

of whatever struck my fancy.

I tried to notice and see

and appreciate

what was around me-

and frankly

it was delightful.

***

Have an awesome Friday!

Its been an odd weekend.

But sometimes odd and unexpected are good.