Whew! What a weekend. We’ve been picking up the pieces after having a booth at the Bijou Market, and now getting ready  for our booth at Quilt Market in 4 weeks. And then there have been a few hiccups like having our mini-van in the shop for 2 weeks after a terrible car crash (did you see that one on my twitter?) and oh….did I mention that my brother is getting married this week? Mix in a few colds and normal life with kids and a house and yard, and this is what the house has been looking like:

The one thing that goes first when things get crazy are the normal: dishes and laundry…and floors, and well….it all just seems a blur sometimes. So, lest you think that life behind the screen is as pretty as my blog facade, please take notice: running a full-time shop & business with freelancing books and designs while mothering 3 kids who are home most of the day isn’t always roses.

Like these clothes at the bottom of the stairs? I think they’ve been there for at least 3 days now.

And I’m not even showing you my car or laundry room!

Sometimes, I think we’re so used to seeing things with such a pretty spin on blogs these days (and for good reason–it’s important for me to focus on the positive when I blog…it keeps me motivated to see the beautiful during every day life…which is oh so needed when life is less than pretty)….it’s important for you to know that as glamourous as it sounds to be a book illustrator, blogger, fabric designer, home owner….things aren’t necessarily pretty around here! It takes a lot of focus to keep it all in check.

I still don’t have it figured out! But since I am the housekeeper AND everything else….the role of housekeeper does take a back seat when things get overly busy. I don’t like it at all. I hate a messy house! But….it’s the sacrifice you make for running an at home business and being an artist. It just is.

And it goes along perfectly with my all time favorite motto (poem):

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
for children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

-by Ruth Hamilton, 1958

And so there you have it. Real life today.  I just went around my house clicking the camera today…no edits here.

But with that, I will say that the combination of your AMAZING responses on the survey (which ends today, FYI), and the need to make some changes around here to let this growing business suit our family a bit better, you will be seeing some changes around the shop. And soon. So stay tuned! It’s always hard to make changes, but since I’ve been in this for my family from the very beginning, changes are inevitable. I’ll talk more about that later…

Happy Monday!

{image via FLICKR}

So. ALT:

I won’t go into the nitty gritty details about the super fab conference from last week. But I do want to talk about how this era of online living is allowing creative people to find success in ways that were never before possible.

What was ALT Design Summit all about? Well, it was for people who:

1) Really like design and everything under that bracket: art, food, photography, writing, fashion, you name it

2) Are interested in the social network and media scene

3) Have their own business and/or make a living from their hobby

4) Think outside the box. Because, well, items 1-3 really don’t fit into one, do they?

There were panel discussions, presentations, and hands on workshops like this photography class by Nicole Hill Gerulat where I had the chance to really rethink the way I shoot pretty things.

I took some pretty mean pictures (thanks to One Charming Party who put these tabletops together and Nicole Hill who knows her stuff!)

That top picture is me in green skirt, thinking hard about getting my hands on a new camera.

But really, what I loved most, was being surrounded by really smart, creative people. You think you like reading blogs? Try meeting them in person. Super enlightening.

I was part of conversations that answered questions, but more importantly ALT inspired my own creative thinking. This era of reaching people, building businesses, creating spaces and launching ideas is a really thrilling place to be.  There are rules, but there is no set path to follow when it comes to having an idea and making it happen, because the rules are constantly being rewritten.

I know so many of you are creative doers and are part of communities (online and off) where you connect with other like minded people. So you probably understand that  building communities around what you do and what is important to you, is how ideas are supported, published or become successful in whatever you consider success to be.

I was able to interact with people who had a creative idea, and made it happen! Come on…you know that’s easier said then done!  But these people didn’t accomplish their goals by “traditional” measures. Instead,  by using social media to connect with people, they were able to build communities around those ideas and find success through networking with like minded people who supported those ideas.

Why is social media so important then? Because this is the era of transparency: Where the world is getting smaller and more personal (because of the internet) which is how we as human beings prefer to connect. I’m not talking about stalking celebrities (gag!) or finding out what Obama had for lunch. I’m talking about connecting the human side of all that we are and do. That is how businesses are growing. That is how we are connecting as people and communities. That is the story that we are telling and want to hear. And that is how artists, designers, and creative thinkers are carving their paths and making their voices heard. They aren’t writing books and just sticking them on the shelves. They aren’t just taking pictures and submitting them to the NY Times. They are telling the story behind the story and building communities around what they love. You get the idea.

They, like me, are interested in connecting their art to people.

It’s an amazing era we live in.

So, being around people this week who are willing to take a few risks and put themselves out there in this new era of “transparency” was just really inspiring. If you have a blog, or if you have a space where community is important to what you do, I think you can imagine the limitless potential and positive outreach there is.

I am just super passionate about this whole idea of putting yourself out there and finding new ways to make ideas happen. Maybe I get it from my dad. He is a man of big ideas. A dreamer, if you will, and always encouraged us to think things up in our heads without paying too much attention to the hard fast rules out there in the world that would stop us. I owe him a lot for that. And now, more than ever in the history of the world, ideas have a place to grow: all because of the limitless communities that are out there or that have yet to be created.

Or maybe I love talking about this because that is how I went from being a no-resume, no-art-degree, no-business-degree woman into a full-time illustrator, designer and business owner. I still marvel that I am doing what I am doing. But it’s all because now is the era where if you want something badly enough, you can make it happen.

So I guess this post is for you artists out there. There is no one right way to get yourself out there. Dream up what you want with your art, and there is a path for you. Making it happen has never been more exciting!

So, there you have it. I really like smart people who come up with conferences like ALT that support the notion that crazy people like me (mother of 3 young children, wife, children’s book illustrator, designer, business owner, blogger, and creative doer) no longer have to identify ourselves as one or the other. We can be all things wrapped up into one. All those hats we wear? They are part of a greater whole called “YOU.” And the new era of social media means that being “YOU” is just as important as your art or your hobby or your business. In fact, being you is your business. And I think that’s a pretty neat idea.

Always watch where you are going. Otherwise, you may step on a piece of the Forest that was left out by mistake.
A. A. Milne

My sentiments exactly this morning. Watch closely. Observe simply. You never know what other worlds are existing right around you: real or imaginary.

Happy Wednesday!

Oh, and P.S: There’s a Guest blogger tomorrow. I’m super excited. Stay tuned!

Photo by Katherine Le Cheminant

Next month is Sarah Jane Studios‘ 3 year anniversary! Now through the end of the month, I will be sharing my personal story of how a simple idea turned into a stay-at-home career in illustration & design

THREE YEARS AGO was an interesting time in my life. I had 2 children,  2 1/2 years old and 1 and 1/2 years old. I was finally sleeping through the night after 2 solid years of nursing and having babies. We were living in a tiny, middle story condo and my husband was in graduate school. Part of me was really tired, and the other part of me was just getting out of the slump of having my babies 12 months apart and I was finding  a new energy. I had this incredible urge to start a business from the paintings and the drawings I had been working on that summer. I had recently graduated with a BFA in Musical Theater, and was ready to put my stage life behind. I have always been an artist, and knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life in my art. I had big ideas, big energy and big hopes, but no money, tactics or direction.

But beyond my burning creative energy, I had a strong motivation to start working with my art to support my husband through school. He is a school teacher, and had just recently decided he wanted to get his master’s degree. It left him with absolutely no time to get a second job, and left me even more convinced that I needed to step in and help out.

Me and by babies the month I opened the shop.

My faith is a huge part of my life. I can’t tell you how many times you’ll find me praying in a day. This art journey of mine is no exception and during this time 3 years ago, I was very prayerful about how to start a business at home without it getting in the way of my two infants. I barely had any time! Addie’s naps were very short and Ian’s were long. They went to bed early so I had some time in the evening, but they were very early risers so it was hard to stay up late. I told God that I needed to start a business to help support my husband through graduate school, but I didn’t want to leave my babies. I also had a dream about making a mark in the children’s industry, but I told him I didn’t know how to even get started. But I started working in that direction, and prayed for a way to make it happen.

One of the first items in my shop 3 years ago

My husband came home from work one night with a clipping from a newspaper he had read that day. He never reads the paper. He prefers the computer.  But that day he had read the paper, and saw a clipping about an event specifically for women entrepreneurs who want to start a business. It was the following night and it was only a few miles away. I had no idea in that moment how much I would learn about how to get from the “dream” stage to the “make it happen and really have a business” stage. I was about to embark on a really awesome journey.

The event was perfect. Was it a coincidence that Nancy Cajun spoke on the very topic of “Turning an Idea into a Business?” Was it a coincidence that she was a published author and she spoke about the lifestyle and ropes being an author and illustrator?  Was it a coincidence that she talked about protecting your art and holding to copyrights? It was almost too perfect. It was just what I needed to really have the motivation and tools to move forward. But even more than that, I met people that night who could help mentor me, brainstorm, and give me ideas and support.

Goodnight friend: My very first sale.

But from here, I learned things like:”Know where you fit in the market, but don’t try to fit in.” “Your business needs to fill a need in the market. Identify it, and fill it.” “Do your homework and know your competition.” Simple business tips like this that allowed me to think beyond my own sketchbook and gave me the motivation to move forward. Someone like me, who had no business training, art education or professional experience in this market, needed to hear these things, and I was so grateful.

I will stop there with my story. There is a lot more to tell. But it’s long, and it’s not fair to ask you to read it all in one sitting. But what I did want to express this morning is how grateful I am this month for the mentors and support I found 3 years ago which ultimately gave me the boost I needed and the contacts I needed to get Sarah Jane Studios from my head into an LLC. I realized how guided I was then, but I see it even more now as I look back. It’s just amazing…all the people and events a long the way that took me, step by step, in the right direction.

Kelly King Anderson, founder of Startup Princess has provided a fantastic network of support, and if you are feeling the need to start a business from your hobby, or if you have already started but need some extra support or inspiration, there is an event next week that will really help you. Sept 23& 24 I’m going to be speaking about building online sales, specifically on ETSY. I’m feeling rather sentimental and hope there are “Sarah Jane’s” out there like I was 3 years ago….driven but needing help and ideas. I know how much these events can help, and I hope to see you there! Register here: www.startupprincess.com/touchpoint and enter in ‘princess’ for $50 off.

I’m going to be writing parts of my story over the next few weeks. It’s a special one to me, and I love looking back to see how I have been so led and guided the whole way.

Happy weekend everyone! And thanks for all your support. It’s been an amazing journey!

Can I just tell you. I have the best job in the world. I wake up to 3 ready-to-explore-the-world-children. I get to spend time in my home all day. I get to read picture books as much as I want. I get to draw for kids. I get to see the world like children do all day. Oh, and there are all the other minor things like laundry, dishes, carpooling, budgeting, lessons, mopping, and working late hours after kids are in bed. But truthfully, I can’t think of a better job doing what I love to do, at home.

Tonight I was sketching on the floor while the kids were playing, and Addie asked me to draw her. She had just chopped a good 6 inches of her hair into a darling bob, and wanted to pose for me. She loves to pose. Like most kids love to be in front of mommy’s camera, Addie loves to pose while I draw. And most times, she comes and finishes the drawing how she likes it. Tonight, she wanted a crown, a bow, a tutu and added the text on her shirt and some flip flops. And to be honest, it looks better after she touched it.

Juvenile line. I’ve been thinking a lot about how my children draw, and how it reflects how they see the world. And how what I draw and see is so different than what they draw and see. It’s an interesting concept: they see so much more, but draw so much less. And truly, that is the art I hope to re-achieve someday. True art is expressing as much as possible in as little as possible. And that ‘juvinile line’…a child’s expression which exposes in part how they see their world….makes all the difference.

So I’m going to be on T.V. this Monday morning. I know, pretty crazy. I would normally be really shy and nervous, but I get to speak about a topic that I am super passionate about and one that I hope other women and mother’s tuning in will benefit from. I’m going to be on my local news station with 2 other women discussing the realities of starting a business from home, as well as tips to get started. I’ve been wondering what I’m going to say, and I have some ideas…but I’m looking for more.

Starting my business nearly 3 years ago was a really scary thing. But I was so gung-ho and so driven, those fears never really crept in. I was possibly too naive to know what I was getting into, and maybe that was a good thing! But it’s interesting, because when you are a business, you have to start thinking of business-y type things. Things like:  “Will people even buy this stuff?” ” How am I going to market myself?” ” How am I going to pay for it all?” And pretty soon, all those creative ideas start to get mixed in with very non-creative realities that very often yank those creative juices and throw them to the ground. Thoughts like, “You can’t do that! No one has done anything like that before, and it’ll get run over.” Or, “That would be too costly or take too much time.” Or, “Sure you think it’s a good idea, but it has to appeal to lots more people than just you!”

Do any of these voice sound familiar? It’s interesting: the banter that goes back and forth in my head now that my art isn’t just a creative hobby any more. It’s my work! And I don’t like to call it that, because I really do love it, and it’s better to think of it as play, or I get stressed about it.  But let’s face it. You love to create! You love getting your hands dirty and just making it is what you do best. And to have a business from that? Heaven. But there is the reality that you are a business…you are ultimately in this to be successful, and you must be concerned about outcome. That is the nature of being self-employed! And if I have learned anything, thinking about outcome always inhibits by ability to create good art. Always. Hands down. But how to purely create without letting the natural worries of being a business creep in, is an art in and of itself.  Allowing yourself to truly express without worry or thought is a lot harder to do when there are people on the other side of the table. But, I also have learned, that it can be incredibly motivating  and can help you open up to that truly creative place.

My answer is Love. Love (the opposite of fear) will wipe away all those business-y concerns that we all have to think about. Love will create your best art. Love will inspire you to create from that genius place. Love will keep you going when times are hard and your aren’t having the successes you need. Love will bring other people to you who will love what you do too.

Love, Love, Love. I hear a song coming:)

But isn’t it true? We must “lose the fear of being wrong” and only then will we be truly successful because our work will be wonderful and beautiful and real.

So, I would love to know your thoughts. I am going to be giving some advice about starting an at-home business and also the realities of life as a stay-at-home-mom business owner. I hope to be taking the spin of how to keep that creative spirit alive when you are juggling all the aspects of starting a business.

What advice do you have about balancing the creative side and the business side of things? Does having a business interfere with your natural instinct to just create and not care what other people think? And if you don’t have a hobby based business, what questions do you have about how to get started or what to be aware of when you do get started?

Thanks you guys! I can’t wait to hear your responses. I have a feeling there is a lot to be said on this topic.

My sketchbooks are incredible works of art. And I say that completely without ego. See, I can’t draw in a sketchbook without 2 minutes going by when all my kids are surrounding me wanting to either 1) comment 2) color in my drawings with the nearest crayon or 2) share the chair and draw with me on the same page. What this means is that I go through phases of drawing with my kids. Sometimes it proves to be simply a supervised drawing session for them. Even though they have their own sketchbooks, they prefer to just draw in mine. But that’s wonderful too, because I see in them budding artists. Addie already is quick to tell me I am off a bit on this or that. And I have to tell you…she is very quick to say that she is the best artist in the ENTIRE universe. Don’t you think so? I thought you’d agree.

Dear Reader who wonders how I have time to do creative things,

What you need to know about being an Artist and a Mom and a Book Maker:

You will be absolutely lousy without help.

May I introduce you to man who  makes things happen around here? Oh, and have I mentioned he happens to be the most amazing man on the planet?

Say “Hi” to Kenneth. He’s the love of my life. Not only has he been on kid duty while I finish up the book at full speed, but he’s the King Gardener, Fixer-Upper, Royal Chef, Fort Maker, Grocery Shopper, and Make-Believe Player and even does the dishes. He is basically makes this whole book making process wonderful. That, and he is a writer and storyteller himself, so he understands how this all works…and enjoys it too! We don’t live close to either of our parents, and with 3 young kids in the mix, having long stretches of time to do anything is out of the question. But thanks to my school-teacher husband who has the summer off to let me work, it’s been amazing.  And on top of all that, he keeps things fun around here. He is the one that keeps me laughing when I get too stressed and knows how to have a good time when things are a bit crazy. I am seriously in love. I am so blessed to be married to my best friend. Like, really blessed.

The kids think so too.

So, when I look at my life and wonder why I haven’t cracked yet, it’s cause of him.

The end.

xo

Sarah

PS: New summertime art is in the shop today!

Last week I was so fortunate to attend the FOR YOUNG READERS conference in Salt Lake City, UT. Having gone the year before, I knew what I’d be in for: a really intense week full of content based lectures, 20 hours of mentoring and illustration projects, lot’s of homework and an overall stimulating experience. In fact, a couple of classmates and I joked that we weren’t sleeping well at night because our dreams were so vivid from all the visual stimulation our brains were getting. It was that awesome.

So, I mentioned before Kevin Hawkes was the illustration instructor for our small class of 12 students (Have you seen how cool his website is, by the way?). From 8:30am-12:30pm each morning, I had the chance to work along side super talented illustrators and get feed back and critique from Kevin and his assistant Julie Olsen, a wonderfully talented illustrator as well. As a young mom who doesn’t even get out to go to the movies, getting a week of intensive illustration time with amazing mentors was more than life changing.  Kevin Hawkes is one cool guy.  Kevin had a lot of great content heavy presentations, but all in all, I was impressed with his story and his slow but steady rise to the top of the children’s book scene. He was such an inspiration. He is a family man (5 kids!) which meant a lot to me especially after writing this post on keeping your creative mind fresh and active while managing a growing family!

He admits that he is the king of altering his style for the need of the book, which also inspired me to really take risks and follow my own intincts. He is a master at his craft, and it was seriously an honor to work with him. And he even signed the books we own of his to say “To the Wright Toddlahs” for how much i love his latest books. How cool is that?

My husband participated in the Picture Book Writing intensive, and he just soaked up time with his mentor Bonny Becker. Again, like working with Kevin, it was a bit surreal to be tutored by the same author who has charmed our bedtime story routine for 2 years now. Bedtime for Bear, a New York Times bestseller has won tons of awards, but Kenneth and I bought this the month it first came out once we realized what a treasure it was. And it is just that.

It was so delightful to hear Bonny read out loud her own book that we have read so many times ourselves. It was just as amazing to see her reveal the process of the over 30 revisions that led to it hitting the shelves. The children’s book industry aint’ for sissies-that’s for sure!  But Bonny is a wonderful talent as well as editor. She loves freelance editing and has an awareness of the craft of writing for children that a lot of picture book writers don’t have. It was such an honor to work with her! And if you love Visitor for Bear, you’ll LOVE the other 6 books she is contracted to write about Bear and Mouse that will be will be trickling out soon. We got to read Sleepover for Bear coming out this fall, and analyze Christmas for Bear that won’t even come out for 2 more years and isn’t even finished yet. It was truly inspiring!  Oh, and I have to put in a plug about Bonny’s assistant Jed Henry who I also got to meet, who is himself a budding author/illustrator. Great contacts and great experiences.

This conference has been going strong for 11 years and is one of the best there is. If you get a chance to go next year, I can promise you won’t be disappointed!

“With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I am in the final stages of this book, and it’s taken a lot of dicipline for me to get work done. But in this case, my work isn’t typical “work.” It requires a very lucid and creative mind, which under the normal pressures of mothering young children, is usually the first thing to go out the window.

It’s made me think a bit:

How can I keep my creativity from sagging while spending most of my day in exhausting responsibilities?  Especially motherhood responsibilities?

I am a young mother. I’m 30. I have 3 kids all at home, under school age. That means from 6 am – 8 pm I am 110% with my kids. Feeding, playing, cleaning, teaching, driving, disciplining, scheduling, paying bills, calling, observing, making lists, and then feeding, playing, cleaning, kissing and bedding. For 14 hours a day. And then, at 8pm (lately 7pm since my husband is on kid duty for all the “I can’t fall asleep” moments) I am illustrating. Now don’t get me wrong. I LOVE motherhood. I absolutely adore being with my kids, and we love being all together. I am so blessed to be a mother, and try and live every day in gratitude for these 3 precious blessings. We have a lot of fun around here. But….let’s keep it real. Motherhood is hard work.

This I know: Nothing kills creativity more than 1) exhaustion and 2) scheduled mundane responsibilities

How does a young mother with so many responsibilities all day, shift into “play mode” herself when the exhaustion sets in?

I can’t say I have the answer, but I have found one.  And since I think (I hope) there are others of you out there like me, I hope this helps.

Living in the present.

What I know about creativity is that it flows freely when we are loosed from the past and not gripped by the future. We must be fully present to have full access to our creativity.  This might seem obvious to some, but what tangles it up are the duties of motherhood which so easily catch us up with worries about the future, thoughts of the past and how fast our children are leaving it, and the duties of the present day which often lead to exhaustion and what I call “robot mode:” going through the list of to-do’s as quickly as possible but finding by the end we feel like a machine; a feeding, cleaning, cooking, running around machine.

How often, for instance, are you talking on the phone and getting your kids dressed and making breakfast on the stove? Happens a lot around here. Nothing is wrong with multi-tasking, but it can keep us from being present minded.

But how, do you ask, can we stay present minded when there are so many responsibilities pressuring us all around?

1) Be aware. Notice the chubby legs when you are putting them through those pant holes. Listen to the sound of the scrambled eggs popping. Watch the leaves blowing when you are on a walk with the kids. Feel the soft cotton when you are folding clothes. Your senses will be hightened even amidst routine work, and your mind will focus on the ‘now.’

2) Slow down: Look at your list of things to do, and knock out half. You will most likely only get a few done anyways, so don’t let your mind worry about more than it can handle. Do one at a time and do them well and to completion.

3) Breathe: Taking time to center yourself physically is vital. It doesn’t have to be yoga or a full hour of mediation. Even just 10 deep breathes with your body in an open, strethed position can wake up your cells to a full sense of being alive.

4) Have gratitude: Love what you do and embrace what comes every day. When you are doing the dishes be grateful for the food you have. When you picking random clothes everywhere, be grateful for fun loving children, that though messy, are yours. This turns work into joy. This brings your mind to the present and frees you of unnessesary stresses.

5) Notice how children see the world: Children are creative beings by definition. They are constantly living in the ‘now.’ They can’t comprehend the future, and they aren’t capable of digesting the past. They are in a constant state of awareness and discovery. Notice how their work is their play, and their play is their work. They can find joy in a simple accomplishment. They can find joy in a simple beauty. Adults can re-learn this skill and in doing so, discover creativity in their daily work.

This is my focus this month. I will be honest, and say that these 5 things are easily forgotten in this crazy world. But I do know, that by letting myself be present minded in my daily work as a mother allows for creativity to shine through what would normal squish it. It’s a challenge for sure, and it takes constant reminding. But it works.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this too. It’s a journey that I think so many of us are on, and we can learn so much from each other!

“The living moment is everything.” - D.H. Lawrence

Love to you all,

Sarah