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

Just popped in to tell you...

"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!

There is goodness in the world.

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

Bid Open! Support the Neilson Family!

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!!

Thursday Auction for Nie.

The past week I have been so affected by the Nielson family, and the tragic situation they find themselves in. I am sure you have heard by now...but if you haven't, Stephanie Nielson and her husband Christian were in a tragic plane crash last week in Arizona which killed the pilot and left Stephanie and Christian in critical condition at the Maricopa Burn Center. They are both in a chemical induced coma while Christian sustains third degree burns on 30% of his body, and Stephanie sustains burns on over 80%. They are likely to be in sedation for months, while their 4 children (all under the age of 5) are living with family in Utah. The expenses are expected to be in the millions, and it seems everyone in the blogosphere world is committed to contributing. Stephanie wrote an extremely poplular blog Nie Nie Dialogues" which I have to admit, I had never heard of until this accident. But I wish I had. Or I am glad I have now. She graciously invited people into her well dressed yet humble abode, expressing her love of life, creativitiy, children, and family. I just know that if I new her, we would be kindred spirits.

But until I do get to meet this awesome family, they need your help.

Design mom is posting a Gift certificate to my shop for the auction on Thursday (the formally declared Nie Nie Day) so visit there to bid on a generous gift certificate. But since I can't hold back...I want to do a separate silent auction here.

This is how it will work:

I am auctioning off my FULL set of calender prints. I will start the Bid at say, $10. I will then let you all place your bid in the comments section of the post. Keep checking the last bid made in the comments section, and If someone bids higher than you, go ahead and place another and another, until Sunday at 9pm MST I will close the auction. The final bidder will pay the money to the Neilson Fund.

I don't even know these people, but I can't help but do something about it. One of my best friends went to school with Stephanie and her siblings, so I do know that Stephanie is only 2 years younger than I am and with 4 children...I just can't even imagine the emotional costs going on. But the amazing thing, as I am reading her sister Jane's account (who has taken all 4 children in her home and is documenting the families progress) their faith in Jesus Christ is so solid. They know that God is watching out for their family, and that their family has a divine plan. I am so relieved to know of their complete commitment to God and to each other.

So, come by on Thursday and bid! Check out Design Mom as well for another auction for my shop as well. And most of all...pray for their family. And pray for all families. Separation at any level is so challenging...and I am determined to stick by mine. See you Thursday!

I am sending my baby off to school.

Or at least that is what it feels like. Ironic, that my last Monthly print is finishing in September, just in time for school to start. Is she really done? Has she really been with me a year? So much has happened this year, and it is all coming to this dramatic finish for me. Well...I'm not finished, but this set is, and I am not really sure how I feel about it.

I have to be honest with you. My October in Polka-dot wellies was never intended to be more than just that. People just liked her so much, I got email after email saying "Are you going to make a whole Calendar set?" I am really honest when I tell you that I had no intention of making one! I just really love the month of October, and that just happened to be the month that I opened my shop. So, I answered back to all those emails saying, "Sure!" And I have loved the journey.

This series is so revealing of my journey as an artist this year as well. You will notice, that these girls aren't exactly the same in each monthly print. Some have said that they don't think they are all the same girl...and some say they are. I will leave that up to you. In some prints she seems taller, or her hair seems straighter, etc. But really, it is even more revealing of my favored technique at the time. There is a consistency, but there are a lot of inconsistencies as well, which I hope you find a bit endearing. I do.

So here we have "Month by Month" for girls. And because I am so sentimental over this parting, I will also announce, that I am making the very same set for BOYS!! Starting in October, of course. I am really excited, and I have a feeling there will be some really fun moments with this one as well.

So, now the entire year is up for sale in the shop. I have deliberated over the price for a while...I really believe in making all my work affordable. SO, it may seem like a lot to offer the whole set at $200, but it ends up being a savings of $88 total. And, for those of you who have been buying the monthly prints as they come (you know who you are!) I am reminding you that August and September's prints are on me! (as well as a few extras:) If you haven't contacted me about that, please send me off an email with your ETSY name and email, so I can look up your orders and address and I will send your prints on their way!!

And, coming soon...in a few days/weeks (or what ever my children allow) will be some really great stationery featuring this year's set as well as a calendar!

And again, thanks to all of you for all your support! I will be writing more about my journey over the past year...this post isn't intended for that. But I can't place this last print up for sale without saying THANK YOU! Really...here is a e-hug from moi!

Happy Site Friday: Junior Society

Happy Friday! Another great Inspirational sight for all: artist, designer, mother, child, vintage lover...if you haven't been hanging around Junior Society Blog (Blog of the beloved Mahar Dry Goods founder Robert Mahar) you will be now. He is a scavenger hunter, and keeps you up do date on products and activities that will leave you thinking you are still living in the old-time-when. Have so much fun! Have a great friday! OH...and thanks for all the advice and well wishing with my no-napping Addie. She did have a nap yesterday and oh the joy!! We take what we can get here! Check back soon for new art work coming soon! (wink wink).

xoxo

sarah jane