Doing Not Thinking Challenge

I am doing the challenge through my other blog but since it is mostly artistic goals I will be posting the progress here too.

I did the challenge last time Kathie at Two Frog Home suggested it. And I really liked having the goals and seeing that I was actually doing instead of just thinking. One of my BIGGEST thinking but not doing issues is my art. I think about it ALL the time. I have written down a ton of things in my art journals that I want to create but I don't actually get around to creating. So this time around I decided to put that into my goals.

So my goals for this Doing Not Thinking Challenge are:
1. Work on art once a month (great if more but I want to at least try for once a month)
2. Create Soul Collage cards (like at least 3 done by the end of challenge)
3. Organizing and decluttering - which I have been working on already but want to continue with these areas
* storage
* Michael’s office
* bedroom closet
* front closet
4. Sew one thing. I haven't sewn in years and picked up a basic sewing book at the library and want to make it a goal just to sew one thing so that I don't keep putting it off.

Recent Reads

Checked out Big-Ass Book of Crafts by Mark Montano is a fun book! Lots of kitschy crafts. Switch plates, hanging lamps, punk plates, Japanese hand-mirrors, Warhol litho-pillow, ultra-suede covered containers, fabric covered hangers and so many more. It is a big ass book of crafts but lots of fun.





Another I am reading right now is Home Hints and Tips by Rosamund Richardson. It is very interesting but also making me a little batty. It is a guide to living in modern times naturally, safely, leaving less of a foot print on the planet and just over all more healthy. Talks about all the toxins in paints, wax on foods, plastics leaching and so on - so making me a little sick to my stomach when I think about it all. It has great tips and resources though.

I would like to have both on my bookshelf.

Friends

As I mentioned in my gratitude post yesterday I received some mail love this past week. I couldn't find the card online but it is similar and from the same series as this one.

It said on the front:

"Awake, my dear.
Be kind to your sleeping heart.
Take it out into the vast
field of light
And let it breathe."

Inside she just wrote a very touching message. I have been having lots of insomnia and her words were a comfort.

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful...
1. A lovely piece of mail love I received this week from a dear friend.
2. For getting some yardwork done and the shed painted - 2 tasks I am not especially fond of with my allergies.
3. For cookies I baked this week coming out PERFECT - which is at times a challenge in high altitude.
4. For being able to wear a spring top I bought on clearance this winter
5. For the wonderful day I spent with Michael. I had one of those moments that got me choked up and teary because I am so blessed to have him in my life.

I recognize that I have much more to be thankful for in my life.

Beautiful Day

We have had a lot going on here lately. So we just needed a little break. After making a delivery to a neighboring town, we stopped by the grocery store to pick up impromtu picnic supplies. And took the long way back to Grand Junction stopping to have a picnic up on the Mesa. There is still snow up there but it wasn't too cold. Just a cool breeze. And a beautiful view of the San Juan mountain range.

On our way up we stopped in a little town that had a distillary. We took a little tour and the owner was very passionate about it. And we could relate as we are pretty passionate about our business too. Michael had a drink of the whiskey and he said it was incredibly smooth.

While driving up, I had one of those moments that choked me up. Because I realized how blessed I am. I was able to spend the day with my love in our beautiful state just enjoying a nice spring day. It was truly a beautiful day in so many ways.

Helvetica

We watched Helvetica tonight and I enjoyed it. I have a thing for typography/fonts but also from a designer-graphic artist-mixed media artist, I could appreciate it too. And even though I am a designer and have a thing for typography I didn't even realize how often Helvetica is used. I actually don't use it all that often. I didn't even have it as a font on my computer until 2 years ago when a client had it is in his logo and I was designing letterhead/business card to match so downloaded it. Probably very sad that I haven't used it. Probably will now though. :)



I really liked this guy - Michael wasn't as amused by him as I was though.

And then I also liked this guy too...

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. quality time with Michael
2. Black Bear for breakfast - we hadn't been there in a very long time and it was so good
3. That taxes were filed on time despite all the computer problems Michael had the last 2 weeks
4. That we got a big project done and mailed out
5. For the yummy cake I made on Easter

I recognize that I have much more to be thankful for in my life.

Blog Hopping

When you give a girl a camera - just beautiful

Happy Tape - look at the fun ways to wrap presents and make cards from it! Oh adding to wish list!

15 Days of Couponing (only 12 there as of now though) - I have been trying to save money - like everyone else so I have relied on coupons more lately. And I found this site had some great ideas. Make sure you click on home too as she lists deals at most grocery stores and plus Wal-mart, Target and the like.

Dollar Store Crafts - And in that saving mode - the whole site is about making crafts from Dollar Store materials! yay for thrify!

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful...
1. getting a closet organized
2. for finishing one project
3. for the client of that project - as he was really easy to work with and the project went very smoothly
4. for Facebook allowing me to keep connected to old friends, new friends and family
5. for some unexpected surprises I found the closet I organized - little presents that my Mom had sent me and some how got put in the closet.

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful...
1. For a wonderful day with Michael
2. For a trip down memory lane going through old year books
3. For a great brownie recipe - they were perfect for what I wanted this week
4. For the library as always - I have a huge stack books next to the bed. I enjoy being able to read so many different types of books.
5. For having a stack of mail love ready to mail out. I love being able to give friends a little bit of cheer.

I recognize that I have much more to be thankful for in my life.

Surfing MarthaStewart.com

I have been obsessed with MarthaStewart.com lately. Crafts, recipes, organizational tips, cleaning tips and so on. Anyway one thing I found was link to a sister site: Whole Living and it has great recipes and tips too. But thought I would at least share this link to some tips to do one thing each day to make it Earth Day everyday and help save the planet.