My Children's Corner

Since we are getting our place ready to sell, I realized I don't really have any decent pictures of my Addie and Ian's room. It is quite a tight space: all of their toys, clothes and beds fit into this little space that I can't even take a full picture of because I can't stand back far enough! But Small Spaces require creativity, which is my favorite kind of problem to handle.

Details:

- "Manners can be Fun": Anthropologie. Published in 1936. My mother used to read this to me, and I am sure her mother read it to my mother. Fantastic illustrations. We bring this down when the kids need a little more reenforcement besides mom and dad.

- "The LIttle House" is on my top 5 children's books of all time. If you haven't read this, you need to.

- Letter A: from Anthropologie. On sale for $6

- Toad likes to hang out up here, but he often comes down to play.

- Wooden display cabinet I hand painted a while back

- Babaar print: We purchased a print while in France at a flea market. I am sure you can get them in the states though. I just liked the size...and that it was from Provence.

- IKEA shelves are a lifesaver. Not only do they fit everything, but they are square. I like squares. And White.

-The felt Crowns are from Cakies. We love these!

-Vintage alphabet poster $4 at a book arts paper store

There are more details I didn't catch here...but all the more reason for me to take pictures when we move into our new space!

What you dream is what you get. SO DREAM!

(Addie in my espadrilles)

Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine, and at last you create what you will.

George Bernard Shaw

My motto of the week. For years we have been dreaming of a house. I personally, have been dreaming of a cottage cozied up in a deep green forest with only birds and deer for neighbors. And for the upteenth time, we are on the search to find it again. And I truly believe that what you want most will in fact become a reality as you turn that wish into action.

So, this week, is get the condo ready to sell week. I have high hopes to get some more wonderful treats out for you this week in the shop, and I will keep this motto close to me as I go for it.

This week I imagine:

A clean sparse apartment to show

New art and goodies in the shop

And maybe that cottage in the woods.

Or at least...A house with room enough to be a mom AND an artist. We have been feeling a little crammed lately, but oh so grateful to have a roof over our heads.

Here's to dreaming! Make a wish, Make it happen!

Huge shop update.

In the beginning was my shop. And the shop was my world. And my world revolved around my shop. I didn't sleep. I made art and art only. And after two months was over, I crashed. And I cleaned my house. And I didn't create art because I wanted to be sane...and have a clean house. And I got very sad.

Then one day, a blessed man came and said "I will take the kids out all day on an outdoor adventure and you can stay home and enjoy a quite house." And I said, "Will you marry me?" And he said, "You already did." And then I kissed him. And then I went into my studio and locked the door and barricaded it from all distraction (including food) and got to work.

And now...I have art. It doesn't look like much when I consider I had a day all to myself. But art is SLOW folks. That is just how it is. And how it should be. And this wasn't even done in a day. It was finished in a day. I may just need to call that blessed man back and tell him my children need a second all-day-outdoors adventure. And I know he will say "yes" because that is what married people do. They give lots and lots to each other. And then after I kiss him again, I will make more gingerbread waffles.

We also have "The Rocket Launch Club" print in the shop now, with (shhh...don't tell) some free pdf downloads in the works coming soon.

And, in my efforts to get this in the shop with some other storybook dictionary prints, this one never ended up in the shop. But here it is now!

Well, there you have it folks! Whew! I can't wait to get my hands into my sketch book again. Maybe I really DON'T care about a clean house....

Meanwhile: Visit the shop!

The Art of Business.

I never intended to go a week without posting. It just happened. Thanks for checking in while I was out.

This past friday I spent the entire day with really talented, and creative people. Women entreprenuers (most who are in the 'start-up' phase) all gathered for this fabulous Start Up Princess event called TOUCHPOINT in Salt Lake City, UT. It was wonderful to be so enlightened and educated in an environment that was focused on WOMEN in business. Cause let's be honest...girls are a whole lot different than guys in this field:) I met so many great people with GREAT ideas and GREAT businesses. I met Jodi with Baby Bambu, Rebecca with Cap trappers, Chantelle with Zoom concierge services, I met the talented Ashely from Isabella's umbrella. I met Kelly who markets her husband's art just to name a few.

After this meeting, I felt motivated to discus in my blog some more of the "business" aspects of what I do...not because I have oodles of knowledge, but I find that there are so many 'unspoken' and 'behind the scenes' with how to start a business selling your craft. And from the readership I know about, I know a lot of you have ETSY shops, or want to get started with something similar.

And if I learned anything from the all day conference on Friday, it is networking and connecting is that greatest way to learn! In the beginning, when I was starting my ETSY shop, I would email people doing what I wanted to do, and what I thought was 'harmless' info that I needed, was almost like held secrets for others. I am of the philosophy that there is enough success to go around in this world. So, why not share and support each other in the mean time? I felt so supported from the other women on Friday who seem to be facing similar problems and who have similar motivations and goals.

So, I am adding a new section to my blog called "A bit of biz." And that is what they will be. Bits. Cause that is all I know right now. Just bits. But, so far they work for me, so I thought I would share:)

What a lovely afternoon for updating the shop.

They are here! Another bookplate (which I wish you could see in person...they are DARLING!) and 2 more cards for the shop: "I love my sister" and "I love my brother."

I also have both of these prints for sale together as a set like the other elephant and giraffe set. So fun! Oh...and there is more coming soon! I am signing off to get back to work! xoxo sarah jane

Photoshoot.

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!

Choices.

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