Hey Guess What?

I am going to vegas next month with my two sisters. I can't wait to see them.

A couple of layouts

Day at the Lake

Oh how I wish we lived close to these lakes - I would be there every weekend!!!

Secret #2 Honoring Your Inspirations

Where do my inspirations come from - is there a theme - is it the same thing over and over. Well I will say nature is an unending source of inspiration for me - I love being outdoors - walking - looking - I am amazed at the huge bare tree or the beautiful green leaves. But equally amazed at the itty bitty snail hiding under a fallen branch. When in this environment my mind is clear I can more easily drive away the negativity. I love running and walking at the local "lake" or "woods", there I am truly at peace - fully aware of my abundance of blessings. I can clear out and then let the inspiration come in. I can see a new color combination in the bare brown trees covered with bits of snow - white agate with picture jasper. Or the lake covered with snow - amazonite and white freshwater pearls. Or it could be a name - I see a wide open space and it is beautiful and quiet and I feel so calm so I might add a "clearing" or "reset" or "anew" to my collection....inspiration comes in many different forms and while I can always find inspiration in nature I too find it in the most random of places or moods. A beautiful painting with certain colors inspires yet another new color combination. A quote brings about a feeling which translates into a new named set. A TV show inspires a design or educates me of a style. A random stranger's outfit inspires a design. Or a unique name - names a set.
As far as times when I am most receptive to inspiration - generally during the day when the kids and Steve are away. I create in my "studio" because I love it. It is my sanctuary, my sacred space. I am surrounded by MY things - photos, quotes and wonderful art work from the kids are pinned to my window shades in front of my desk. My little TV playing my favorite movies that I watch over and over again (like Goonies, 16 Candles, Family Stone, Big Fish, Transformers, Disturbia, Catch and Release, Serendipity, Sweet Home Alabama, Scooby Doo, Becoming Jane, Pride and Prejudice - eclectic and yes I said Goonies and Scooby Doo) This is my favorite room in the house - because here - so much magic happens! :)
And yet I can be TOTALLY moved to create during our weekend movie time. I sit down on our living room floor and create like mad - I just go with it - you can't ignore a creative urge - you might miss something magnificent.
And on the flip side I find that you can't force creativity or inspiration - if it's not there then it is not there and I create pieces that I am not happy with and that I do not enjoy creating. Thankfully I don't usually work on a deadline - I work on my own schedule and time frame - which usually works well for me and the "shop".
I am passionate about creating. I can't imagine a life without it. I have been at it for so long - I would be lost without it. My mom inspired the passion of creativity - she was creative - she crocheted, did ceramics, baked. And she was always letting us do some art project when we were younger. And my dad let us create in the garage with his tools and scraps of wood. There wasn't really a right or wrong way - they just let us do what we were inspired to do. So I feel I have always been creatively awake. Thank you mom and dad.
So what are the struggles of being a creative individual? I guess the biggest struggle for me is the mixing of being creative and finding the definition of success. I not only want to create but I want Star Hitched Wagon out there for lots of other people to enjoy. I am on my way - it gets better and better - but what would I define as being successful. I just haven't figured that out yet - it is something I think about often. I do know I need to get over my fear of rejection - I need to just walk through the doors of those boutiques because I KNOW my pieces would be a great fit. I believe in my art - I know the quality and beauty are present. I dream about having Star Hitched Wagon in several boutiques around the states but I am just too chicken to walk through the door. I put so much of myself into each piece that I would take the rejection so personally. But I do know that I can't taste that success if I don't try - so I keep dreaming and I keep trying to work up the courage. One day......

So some random things about me - maybe more to see for myself.
What makes my heart sing? What am I attracted too, drawn too? What do I want to try or do? Who are the people I most like to be around?

I am eclectic. I love so many things.

I so enjoy:
pinks, and red, robins egg blue, greens and browns.
numbers and letters - completely random in their order and form.
hearts
ROCKS - I collect rocks - I always have according to my parents.
bare trees
leaves
black and white photography
quotes
shabby distressed things
bright happy Riviera Ware Dishes
papercrafts
scrapbooking

My favorites to create with:
silver
Amazonite
Rhodochrostie
Garnets
Russian Serpentine
Picture Jasper
Agates
Jades
Turquoises
Freshwater Pearls
Dumerototite
faceted rondelles
faceted cuts
hearts
hammered metal
silver tubes

I adore my family - they are the world to me - I want them to be proud of me and what I do. I seek their approval.
I think I might want to try yoga again.
I think about become foster parents.
I am interested in finding out more about Reiki.
I want another baby.
I desperately want to live close to the mountains again.
I want friends in this new place.
I want a group of creative souls to hash out ideas - barriers - struggles, etc with. I MISS my friends from Wyoming.
I like people who are happy to be themselves - the good the bad the ugly.
I like people who accept me for who I am - the good the bad the ugly.
I want to learn to solder, cut metal, set stones. I have these wonderful ideas in my head for a free-er more random design - cuffs and pendants and rings.
I am an extremely spiritual being - just so eclectic in my thoughts - its probably just for me.
I want to like me more.
I cuss a lot - and I want to cut back. :)
I am a self help/spiritual book junkie - I don't always like or relate to what I read. I figure if I take one new concepts from each of the books that I read and apply them to my life and they create a positive change then I am doing good.

So what does all this tell you about me? Hmmmm I'm not sure - like I said I think this is more of a rambling of things for me to notice - an internal audit.
It does tell you that I am all over the place - which is something I am starting to/trying to accept about me.

Crawdads, anyone?

I Wish I was at CHA

I wish I had a scrapbook store so I should be at CHA.

Anywho.....
Making Memories is doing live broadcast from CHA - so if you are like me and you wish you were there to see all the new scrappy goodness - go check out their blog

They even have a Paris sighting - yes Paris Hilton - she is launching a new craft line - whodathunk?

Best thing they are giving away their Just Chillin' collection really quick like so go check it out.

Happy Scrapping!

More layouts

A few more layouts

Something to Share

My Mother in Law sent this poem to me - it is just so good - I hope you all enjoy!

Dare to Be

When a new day begins, dare to smile gratefully.

When there is darkness, dare to be the first to shine a light.

When there is injustice, dare to be the first to condemn it.

When something seems difficult, dare to do it anyway.

When life seems to beat you down, dare to fight back.

When there seems to be no hope, dare to find some.

When you’re feeling tired, dare to keep going.

When times are tough, dare to be tougher.

When love hurts you, dare to love again.

When someone is hurting, dare to help them heal.

When another is lost, dare to help them find the way.

When a friend falls, dare to be the first to extend a hand.

When you cross paths with another, dare to make them smile.

When you feel great, dare to help someone else feel great too.

When the day has ended, dare to feel as you’ve done your best.

Dare to be the best you can –

At all times, Dare to be!

- Steve Maraboli

Top 3 favorite layouts of 2008

Which Cullen Heroine Are You?

Yes I am a dork but I love these books!!!

Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

You are thoughtful and care very deeply for your family. A loving home is of great
importance to you and you always try to make people feel welcome. Although you have a great capacity to love, you also have a great capacity to hurt, so at times you can be sensitive. You're firm when you need to be, but people trust your judgment and appreciate the kind way you always handle things.

Something to check out

How did I miss this blog:
My Creative Cafe
Their stuff is way cool and the ideas super cool. They are having a blog party with $150.00 in goodies up for grabs - you need to check it out....
I so need those button dies so I can make lots of felt and chipboard buttons and those fun album dies - such fun....

She is just so Abby...

Here is another layout for Serendipity Scrapbooks Winterfest Sketchfest . This is Week 1 Sketch 3.

My beautiful niece Abby:

Another layout

Here is another layout for Serendipity Scrapbooks Winterfest Sketchfest . This is Week 1 Sketch 2:

Fun...

SO......I joined a scrapbooking community so I would stay motivated with my pages - love participating in challenges - helps me to think outside the box every once in a while. Anywho - it's Serendipity Scrapbooks. Right now they are doing a Winterfest Sketchfest it started January 1st and runs through the 31st of the month. Three+ sketches a week to try out, with 9 already posted - go check it out.

This was my 1st layout:

First layouts of 2009

Last Layouts of 2008

Acknowledging my creative self

I just purchased a new book - 12 Secret of Highly Creative Women and I joined a book-blogging group to go along with it. I figured this couldn't come at a better time.
I am currently struggling with what I want to be when I grow up. Or maybe the better question - am I already what I want to be when I grow up? Is it enough? Is it OK? Of course the situation with our economy makes me wonder if I shouldn't go back to school and get a real job - I think that this if often the case with artists or at least budding artist. Are we enough just being an Artist? Sometimes I don't really feel like a true artist or a true business owner.
I talked to my husbands step mom and voiced that I was thinking about going back to school and she said something like "oh you don't really want to go back to school do you?" My answer is NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And then she went on to say I already had a wonderful job being a mother and a very talented artist (sorry Gerrie if that's not exactly what you said - but it was something along those lines). It was so nice to be able to really voice that and hear such a positive response. And when I told my older sister Jodi that I wanted to go back to school her response was very similar - to nurture the creative side.
So that is where I am in my creative journey - thinking maybe I should go to school and get a degree because I would have a 9 - 5 job with a steady income and I could contribute more to my family's income. But I am petrified that my creative soul will dry up - because I will be too tired to create and a little sad at the loss of my creative title....Jewelry Designer, Small Business Owner.
Truly I want to remain an artist - to continue to grow and nurture Star Hitched Wagon™ - a journey that started really when I was 16. It is my heart and soul, something I truly cannot imagine NOT doing. So I guess I answered my own question - now to forge on - to grow - to become more successful - to become more organized - to accept that I am what I want to be when I grow up - I AM AN ARTIST!!!
Stacey - the Artist:


Edit: I just want to explain that my doubts come from inside - I am a truly blessed individual when it comes to support - my mom is my biggest salesman, my brother in law Brady compliments me often, my little sister is always on my site and shares is with coworkers, my mother in law is always telling me I am an ARTIST, my dad looks and compliments, my kids are proud to tell their teachers what I do, all of my family spreads the word about my website and jewelry, great business from my neighbors. SO really I just need to let go of my doubts...............

WooHoo!

My creations were again published in the January Issue Of Bead Trends magazine. I think this might be my favorite. I have two - two page layouts - featuring 6 pieces - my Zhen Set and my Endless Set. So cool!!! So be sure to pick up a copy at your Michael's or Hobby Lobby. And be sure to let me know what you think.
Next scheduled publishing is June I will be sending in 4 pieces. Woohoo!!!

Gingerbread Houses

This was a fun day in Xander's class. And let me tell you - he was definitely the general contractor and the architect on this house - bossy and knew exactly what he wanted me and him to do. Such fun though - we both enjoyed it - A LOT!!!

Winter Wonderland

Home (OK it's mom and dad's home - but it's where I grew up.)



And because of all that snow from above this is what we got to do the next day:






















Beautiful Day: