new beginnings

As one of the biggest changes occurs in my life, and I mean starting my own business, I want to thank all who have supported me thru these last few blogging years. I have spent a lot of time "working thru" things, and many of you have been there for me, encouraging along the way.

Due to a certain someone, I am not going to post my fowarding info here on this blog. If you would like to follow me and Indie Grrrl, please email me and I will point you in the right direction. It's all about fresh starts and no baggage. My past is just that. I learned from it, and am letting it go. All the best to you. xoxo

It's official

My business is now legal, well on 4-2-10. Indie Grrrl has been registered with the state, has liability insurance, has an Etsy shop( empty, but not for long), business cards ordered, and has an email address. I had thought I wanted a website, but after much thought, have decided to wait. The Etsy shop will be my online store, I will sell locally, and it's all good. I dont need a website right now. It's just too much work and would take time away from the goodness of creating. A new blog.... maybe at some point.

So what am I going to be selling?? Handmade stuff. LOL. I have been drawn back to my love of sewing( both hand & machine) and will be creating soft jewelry, small wall hangings/quilts, items that inspire "creative relaxation"- I need to trademark that! I will also be painting and be including some of my photography. I am not being too specific, because I am all about intuitive creativity. I have lots of supplies to play with, and I am really just finishing up with the organizational stuff. On 4-2-10, the Etsy shop will be open for business. I'll be back here later with the link. Thanks for stopping by.

busy busy

I am so excited to announce, "I am opening up my own business". This is something I have been dreaming of for years, and it was my goal for 2010. I have gone thru idea after idea, and finally, tweaked it to exactly as I wanted. I have my business cards ordered and Etsy shop set up. I have all the legal things( insurance, tax id #, sales tax stuff) I am also going to be selling locally at our Farmers Market starting in May. I'm looking into joining some of the other local Farmer's Markets( in the surrounding towns) as well. The excitement overwhelms me!!!

I am wondering if anyone can recommend a host for a website? I know of Yahoo and came across BlueHost the other day. Does anyone know if they are good? Or if there are any others out there?

Once my new site is set up, more info to follow.

spring cleaning

I am proud to share the progress I have made with all this weeding out, organizing, and simplifying. The feeling of "everything has it's place" is heavenly. I have 3 large trash bags ready to go to GoodWill, and it feels so good to be that much lighter.

On the subject of lighter, I have had a tough winter with my relationship with food. It has been my best friend and comfort thru some stressful times and times of plain boredom. As Spring nears, so does my desire to put simplicity into other area's of my life. Eating, for me, has gotten a bit out of control. I have not been in the mindset that I am feeding my body for energy, but that is in the process of changing. With fewer things to distract me, a kitchen cleanse seems fitting . I will admit, having a 16 and 11 yr old at home, doesnt make healthy choices the easiest, but I have a great cookbook that I am going to start using. Making healthy snacks, I just know will make a difference. And now that the weather is much warmer, I am outside more. Went for a nice walk today and soon, I can start gardening. This week I hung clothes on the line( not that that is exercise) I am just excited I can!!!

OK, back to Operation Clean Up! Then tonight, some art journaling. Here are a few of my pages done so far...

believe and trust

For the time I have been blogging, I have spoken over and over about BELIEVING! I have always thought that believing was the definite beginning of dreams coming true. For the last 3-4 yrs, the word "Believe" has shown up in my life in blog posts, in ornaments, in a key chain, in a wall plaque. I never strayed from my confidence in the word BELIEVE, never.

Unfortunately, the word itself, though beautiful in all ways, cant be magically attained. I have to work hard in overcoming many mind demons. The voices that would say I couldnt do anything or why bother. Bastards..... They werent going to hold be back any longer. I can be anything I want, right? Of course I can. It's the American Dream, I say with a smile.

The reality , and I say this from my direct experience, is until you really believe, REALLY, in yourself in all the positive goodness that you are, the dreams never seem to manifest. It's a club where, No Doubts Allowed!!

It's about letting past thoughts go free. Forgive yourself, we dont have ALL the answers.

Things dont hapen overnight, that I am sure of, but when the time is right, things happen really fast. The key is to believe and to trust that belief. Oh and patience.... Have you seen Thoughts become things.... from Mike Dooley. This stuff is so awesome.

His website, http://www.tut.com/theclub/

For daily inspiration, sign up for Notes from the Universe.

This post is a bit scattered in thoughts, but what I am trying to say is, each and every day, as I move forward, I continue to believe and am seeing the positive changes. My confidence is growing and my doubts fewer and farther between.

my desire to be open and free again

I have hesitated for a loooong time to get back to a place where I can express myself freely. These thoughts have not served me well at all, and it's time to let go. I sent this to a friend on Monday afternoon. My whole outlook seems much clearer since.

hello my dearest art friend.

I was thinking the other day, you were my very first "ART" friend, and I have been more than inspired by you over the years. I have "bla bla bla'd" you to death, made a ka-zillion-trillion declarations that I was making something, and that DAMN fear thing, seemed to always step in and prevent me.

I got a call from my Ex yesterday morning. I normally dont answer the phone, but I did. At first I thought stupid me, because he berated and threatened and tried to bully me the whole time. The remaining part of the day, he and his words crept deep inside my head. DAMN HIM!!!! Well last night, I pulled out my journal. Now I have to start by saying how much I enjoy your class. I have read and re-read all your posts, watched the video's over & over, and go to Flickr multiple times daily. But yesterday was different. When I realized my FEAR of the ex was freezing me in my own life, I also realized that same fear is preventing me from creating, something I SOOOOOOO want to do. So out came my journal. Up til this point the only thing I had done was gel medium the 1st two pages, of which I loved how it turned out and was afraid to mess it up. To HELL with the fear, and I went to my watercolors and started painting. I LOVE these pages. I will def post tonight. So this morning I woke, still furious I had allowed the Ex to get inside my head, and I turned to my journal. YUP! I gel mediumed pages 3 & 4, let dry, glued(ModPodged) random squares on the page, let dry, painted w/ acrylics, let dry. Then I didn't like it. So, nothing is ever a done deal. I pulled out my gesso, and voila, I'm in love again. It's drying now. I guess my point is, your class was adding up to be another class I paid for but was only a spectator. I am SOOOOO glad I am in the game. It seems to help me chill out in only a matter of moments. I would love to post this on my blog, to inspire others, but he may still be snooping, and he doesn't deserve to know he still can get under my skin. I know your Art Journal blog is safe, so if the mood strikes you, It's ok to post.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. We have been friends for years now, and it only seemed fitting to share in what a landmark-ish way, your class has help me out.

I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!

And her reply, received this morning...

Oh Sandy----I LOVE YOU too so very much. You have no idea how happy it makes me to see you jumping in to the workshop. YOUR PAGES ARE GORGEOUS!!! I can not say that enough. Yesterday I read your email then saw your pages on flickr and I was honestly moved to tears. I love that you took a nasty, negative situation with your ex and transformed it into such radiant, beautiful pieces of art in your journal. Wow, Sandy. Wow. You know what....I'm going to be honest with you.....you need to be honest and share. You need to share your story and show that beautiful piece on your blog. You know why? It would help so many people--and it would help so many people heal. I mean that. I really, really mean that. I think you hiding the beauty that you transformed from such a negative experience--IS your ex still having control over you. You are human. Of course you fell a little and hurt a little under his bullshit--but you didn't stay there for long--you transformed it into something beautiful...and for all its worth...that's flipping him the ol' bird if he did see it. Sandy...don't hide any longer...be you...be your beautiful, wonderful, radiant self completely--because by doing that--you will help so many others do the same. And he can snoop, linger, and be stuck in his little negative, sad world all he wants. You own who you are--and you are that beautiful field of green I saw in your journal today. Big hugs!! Big, warm, Arizona sunshine, hugs! Need I say more?

Busy as a Bee

In the next week or two, I will be posting some photo's of projects that have gone from thoughts to the tangible. I am so excited to share.

I have also been very busy working on getting a spot in our local Farmer's Market. I have been networking and am now designing my business cards and brochures. I have purchased my general liability insurance and in May, will be up and running. I have yet to tell a sole what I will be selling. No One knows. It keeps me on track. I will be completing some samples this week and mailing them off to a couple of friends. Once I have received feedback, I will make my formal announcement. Quite exciting!!

Looking forward to Spring for so many reasons. First of all the weather. The sun peeked out for a short moment today, but we have had rain/snow/snow/snow/rain, and it's gotten really really old. Secondly, I can plant my garden. I cant wait. I almost bought a greenhouse( small one) to start plants in, but realistically, I should wait. I dont want to take on more than I can handle.

Spring also seems to add to my energies. Rebirth- buds on tree's, crockus forcing up thru the earths soil, warmer kinder weather, longer days, less layers of clothing.

My daughter starts tennis in a few weeks. Her first time on the school team. My son, will start baseball soon after that. I can make trips to the beach without the frigid wind in my face. Just being outside more.

OK, off to create. xoxo

walking the walk

For I dont know how long, my creativity has lived in my head. Alot of talking the talk, if you know what I mean. A constant search for "it" and getting really frustrated along the way. Dont get me wrong, I have learned much along the way, but not reached that "satsfaction" I believed to be there too. Well until just recently. Good things come to those who wait? I dont know if I have ever believed that 100%. I mean I spent the first part of my life in that mindset, and it flew by without all those awaited dreams coming true. So what do you do? You set small goals and you go after them and you BELIEVE! That's what I did. It wasnt easy, but it sure was worth it.

In the last 6 months, I started to expand my comfort zone. I had been thinking a lot about taking a Suzi Blu class..... something I had wanted to try, but my belief system in myself was falling short. In Dec 2009, I took the plunge and signed up. It was a start. It has been an up and down time. Filled with belief, but also filled with frustration. I'm OK tho. I can put it down and pick it back up and I do.

On Jan 20, 2010, I was asked to partake in The Heart Your Art Campaign. Please check it out. It has changed my life. Melissa has taken something we all share privately, and put it out there for discussion. Her passion for art shines!

Yesterday, I started another online art class, Art Journal Love Letters. Connie's approach has always excited me. Her presence is a breath of fresh air and I always feel empowered to do my best. But, was I crazy to start something else, having not finished the other? I dont think so. I think I am gaining confidence and am excited to "try" my hand at more. I LOVE this class.

I Heart My Art!!! I have been drawing daily now, original stuff, and really loving the results. And isnt that really what it's all about?

XOXO

less time on the computer...

My goal in the last week or two has been to spend more time/focus on creating and less wasted on the computer. To give you a little background, I have a creative artist inside, struggling to show herself. The way I deal with this is I search the internet. Sometimes for inspiration and sometimes to see if my idea's in my head are worthy. Just last night, my man & I were discussing this. I am comparing my idea's to everyone elses, yet I dont want what everyone else is doing. So ultimately, I am searching for something that isnt out there, it's in my head. Does that make sense? I am definitely inspired by others art, for sure. And I own a lot of other's art. So the question becomes, why the heck am I struggling so hard to get my idea's out of my head and manifesting them into something real? This is my struggle and the time on the computer only stands as an obstacle.

When starting this blog , I didnt want it to be a place where I am always throwing out ideas only to never see them through. I cant do this any more. That was Sandy of 2009. Sandy of 2010 is having daily discussions with herself and a couple of friends and is really trying not to "think" so much. I am drawn to so many things, I have overwhelmed myself. 2010 is about simplifying and streamlining not only my thoughts, but the "supplies" I have around me.

I steer clear from telling you on such and such day I will do "X". Instead I honor what ever it is that inspires me on any given day and try. Knowing I gave it a try will answer so many of those unanswered questions. Fear is now a challenge word to me. If I fear it, I know it is something I must try. I'm taking steps forward, and tht is what 2010 is all about.

XOXO

Goddess & The Poet

For Christmas, I gave myself the gift of Suzi Blu's Goddess & The Poet art class. I ordered all my "supplies" and was ready to go. This was in Dec, early Jan. FEAR stood between me and my creativity for the hundredth time. I would watch the video's and try, then get discouraged and stop. This has happened coutless times since joining the class, but the desire to create is as strong as ever. THAT is how I know I MUST continue. I must try. I must practice. I consider my desire to create a blessing, and truly believe I have something inside that needs to come out.

Keeping the lines of communication open with myself.......

It's OK to feel... to get frustrated, to take a break, to dive back in.

I create my art for me. I dont/wont compare myself to others.

It's OK to be different and I really do love who I am. I am not alone.

A HUGE thanks to Melissa- for sharing. XOXO