I hope that, if you are local, you can find a few minutes out of your Easter preparations to swing by the shop Thursday evening to meet the authors and pick up a signed copy of their first book.  It would make a thoughtful gift for a loved one who needs a little quiet reflection, a bit of comfort, or for any garden lover this Easter or Mothers’ Day.

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SYNOPSIS

Combining their photographic, design and writing talents, husband and wife team David Heilman and Sharon Cain have collaborated to create a captivating floral presentation. Stunning photography, paired with delightful prose written from the floral’s point-of-view, provides a refreshing approach to our gardenscapes. A charming addition to any library collection, for newbie or seasoned gardeners, and all nature lovers alike.

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BIOS:

DAVID HEILMAN

Born, raised and continuing to reside in the northeastern United States has given David Heilman a deep appreciation for the natural beauty of the region. With camera in hand, he has traveled extensively throughout the country, always curious to see what is around the next bend.

Primarily self-taught, David has studied the works of some of the great American outdoor photographers. With these talented artists as his benchmark, David holds a high standard for his own work.

Throughout his 25 year journey to perfecting his craft, David’s affinity with nature shines through in his photography. He looks and sees with a true artist’s eye.

“I think that people will too often look and not really see. And if I can see for them, to show them what fascinates me about a single leaf floating in a creek, or the morning light highlighting a stand of trees or the seemingly random pattern in a pile of rocks…then I have shared that single experience, that split second in time with them. And if I can give them the opportunity to enjoy that one moment, then I have accomplished what I set out to do.”

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SHARON CAIN

Born in the Midwest, and living in various regions of the United States throughout her life, has given Sharon Cain the opportunity to explore the country from a highly personal perspective. Her natural curiosity and insatiable appetite for knowledge defines her creative approach.

As an art director and designer by profession for over twenty years, Sharon has developed a clean and classic style to her design. An avid storyteller, her writing skills are the perfect complement to her visually creative talents.

“I believe good design is good design, no matter what the medium. Be it in the form of graphic design, interior, industrial or fashion design. The same theory holds true for a good story, as it does not matter the genre. As a designer, my role is to help my clients achieve their goals by visually telling their story. As a storyteller, my role is to gift my reader with a new, and hopefully, positive experience. If I can help someone be successful, or share a story that brings a smile to someone’s face, then I have accomplished what I set out to do.”

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Married for over twenty years, David and Sharon share their lives with their two canine companions, in a home surrounded by a northeastern hardwood forest. Both still curious, both still looking to see what may be around the next bend. Both still enjoying all the natural beauty our world has to offer.

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Liberty of London Spring Journal, 14.95 at Hello Bluebird

“It’s spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want – oh, you don’t quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!” -Mark Twain

I stole this quote from Simple Mom today, and it pretty much sums up the way we’ve all been feeling around here lately.  All this amazing, early spring-ness has our gaze shifted out the window, and many afternoons you can find me sitting out on the front porches while I wait for customers, soaking in the sunshine and planning all the fun things we’ll be doing this season at the shop!

At home, we’ve been busily working our garden, revamping it for the new season, with high hopes for good weather and a high yield this summer.  We are feeling so ahead of the game!  Our peas seeds are nestled all cozy in their dirt beds, paths are cleared, raised beds turned and weeded and composted.  Fingers crossed that we can stick with it and really enjoy the fruits of our efforts this year!

Do you have spring fever?  Isn’t it hard not to just drop everything and go outside?

Good Thing 85/366 : Cleaned my room and took SIX bags of clothing out for Goodwill donations.  Then rewarded myself by spending the rest of the afternoon in the garden.  Even though it was supposed to rain today, it was a gorgeous afternoon!

Good For : My drawers and my peace of mind–less stuff to manage means more time for things like growing veggies and playing in the backyard with my kiddos!

Editor’s Note: A few weeks ago, HBB artist Lexis Graap Krieg embarked on an in-depth online course that promises to help her find and follow her path for creative success.  She is generously sharing a weekly log of what she is learning along the way.  The class took a “creative breather,” but now she is back in full swing!

In HSHB, we are encouraged to send in our “Ah-ha” moments so the teachers could share them with the class. I’ve others’ moments with great admiration for their clarity, but also with some envy: I have been waiting for my “Ah-Ha” moment for weeks now. Would I have my moment of truth? Would I have the break through that others were experiencing?

One night I was lying awake in bed, sifting through the usual barrage of thoughts that spiral through my head. I was able to string together a series of words that sounded nice to me. But after careful investigation, I realized this statement spoke about my WHAT, not my WHY. I was still at square one.

I carved out a chunk of time for myself 2 days before the “DOING” stage of class started. I knew that I needed to refine the specifics of my business soul mission before moving forward. I had put this off, secretly hoping it would come to me.

I made a date to discover my mission and took myself out to coffee. I reread the collection of words and phrases I had written down and browsed through Lesson One, specifically answering questions about why I was passionate about my art and how it was helping those I was trying to reach.

After writing my answers, I looked them over and underlined a phrase that stood out and then moved on to rereading the rest of Lesson One. Further on, I read a passage that made me reread the answers I had just written.

The phrase I had underlined, JUMPED out at me now: “Live the life we have all imagined for ourselves” I realized this was the framework for my mission statement. I pulled up the thesaurus to find the right words and frantically scribbled my thoughts.

And then I realized, I had had my Ah-ha moment! My soul mission statement stared up at me: Lexisworks encourages us to live the authentic life we have imagined for ourselves.

Finally, a statement that would encompass the work I do as an artist, the professional experience I have as a graphic designer, and the desire I had to teach.

I should have known this would be my mission statement; the most popular print I sell features this Henry David Thoreau’s quote: “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined.”

This post was contributed by Lexis Krieg of Lexisworks.  Lexis is a collage artist and regular seller at Hello Bluebird, as well as owner of her own blog and shop.  You can read more of her story here.

If you had to come up with a mission statement for your own life journey, what would it be?  Has it changed over the years?  How does this statement help to guide you through the choices you make, big and small?

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Good Thing 73/366 : Listened to my 6 year old read Little Bear to me on my lap.  It was so cool to hear the funny voices he gives the characters!

Good For : Mother and son.  These days are so fleeting, and it is incredible to be able to take a few minutes to appreciate all the ways he is growing and changing so fast.  I remember when it was ME reading Little Bear to HIM, not very long ago!

Yes, we’re still doing our Year of Good Things list, even though my posting has been–shall we say–erratic lately.  It’s such a nice personal exercise to make a mental list of all the little things we give and receive that make each day a gift.  Why don’t you share some of your own Good Things with us in the comments below?

Since my revelation yesterday about National Craft Month, my wheels have been turning as to how we should bring this widespread celebration to life at Hello Bluebird.  Here’s what I came up with so far:

Week One : Go to Your Studio and Make Stuff!

With Pinterest, Facebook, and an endless supply of DIY tutorials and the prettiest craft blogs to devour, it’s not uncommon to go online for inspiration and then find all your creative time has been eaten up by browsing time.  I do it, you do it–we ALL do it!!  But THIS WEEK, we are going to take some of that time and unplug.  Put down that mouse, and pick up some scissors or markers or paint or whatever medium has you feeling giddy these days, and GET TO YOUR STUDIO*.  Now!  Be spontaneous!  Pull out a sketchbook and doodle something, get out some construction paper and fold/cut/glue something, pick out your favorite color embroidery floss and stitch the first thing that comes to mind.

This week, we celebrate the space where we allow ourselves to be like children again–spontaneously creative, not “working” but PLAYING with our art!  Don’t over think it, just do it.

Once you’ve allowed yourself this time to mess about in your happy space, please post a photo or link of what you came up with in the comments below.  Think of it as Hello Bluebird’s virtual refrigerator, where perfection lies in the process, not the end product.  You can also email me your photos if you don’t post them anywhere you can link to.  I’ll put together a gallery to share at the end of the week, and one lucky (random) submission will win a $10 gift certificate to our brick and mortar or online boutique!  Submissions will end Friday night, 11:59pm, so get busy with those crayons and don’t forget!

*Definition: A “studio” doesn’t have to be a fancy schmancy room set aside just for your craft (although lucky you if you have that!!).  A “studio” can be anywhere you get down and dirty with your creative self!  It can be anywhere: the far end of the sofa, a dining room table, a nook you’ve set aside somewhere in your home, a friend’s house, the kitchen counter, ANYWHERE!

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Good Thing 66/366 : Finn lost his first tooth!

Good For : My sweet boy.  Growing up is bittersweet, but it is made a little sweeter by a first visit from the tooth fairy!

So…did you know this?  That March is National Craft Month?  How did I not know this before today?

I mean, my house could be turned INTO a craft store.  I speak craft, I eat craft, my whole business is based on craft!  What rock have I been living under?  (well, you can be sure it’s a pretty one–that I’ve embellished with rikrak and vintage buttons and bits of old scrapbooking paper…)

I feel like we should do something to celebrate!  Any ideas?  We could have a craft party, do a giveaway, post some tutorials, have ourselves a little Pinterest pinning fun…

I’m onto something here.  Let’s put our heads together and celebrate our obsession passion with gusto!

What would you like to do for National Craft Month?  I’d love to hear some ideas!  Let’s get this party started!!

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Good Thing 65/366 : Took a long walk in the park with Brooke of Brookiellen Designs

Good For : Being grown ups together!  Brooke got to get out with her two little guys, and we got some great exercise and fresh air, plus plenty of chatting along the way.

Soooo…..How are those 2012 resolutions coming along?  Just kidding!  Me neither.  But ya know what?  Time to get back on the horse, as they say.  February kinda kicked my proverbial butt–for example, I haven’t even been in the shop since Wednesday due to a nasty tummy flu that TRUST ME you DO NOT want to get.  Before that, each of my family members took a turn with it, and before that we had about two weeks of passing a head cold/sinus/fever thingy around.  We are a very sharing family, it seems.  Lucky us, haha!

But TODAY I am feeling back to my real, chipper self, hoorah!  Do you ever feel like you bounce back from sickness feeling strangely renewed?  My hubby and I have been only wanting very clean, healthy foods, as if it is suddenly easier to hear what our bodies are probably trying to tell us all the time.  And my energy is super great today (quite the contrast to the lie-on-the-couch-and-watch-WAY-too-much-Friday-Night-Lights week I just had), so the day was spent very happily cleaning up our ginormous house mess (no Mom = yikes!) and taking a lovely walk in the beautiful sunshine with my family.  I wonder, is this what those “body cleanse” things are all about?

Just in time for my renewed commitment to better living (back to those resolutions!) and my upswing in energy, good old Tsh over at Simple Mom is launching her annual Project Simplify!  Take a gander at all the lovely details here, and let me know in the comments if you’ll be joining in.  I’ll be posting my progress on Sundays, and I hope you’ll share yours, too!

I don’t love cleaning, but, if it has to be done, “spring cleaning” is my favorite!  Why, you ask?  Because it means Spring is on the way!!

Are you a clutter bug?  What are your hot spots for disorganization?  And do all the spring changes outside inspire you to get your house ready for the new season?

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Good Thing 64/366 : Feeling better after such a terribly long tummy flu.  Ew!

Good For : Me, oh yes, me.  I’m SO glad that’s over!!

"Non-Fiction" letterpress bookmark by Paisley Dog Press, available at Hello Bluebird

First of all, thank you so much to all of you who took the time to reply to me via email or comments on my last post.  It’s always so freaking cool to know that there are people out there who are a) reading my posts and b) inspired to share in return.  It is such welcome fuel to keep on writing!

Following up on my recent admission to non-fiction addiction, I must also confess a similar affection for documentaries.  It’s really just non-fiction for the eyes!  I love watching something that leaves my hubby and I with something besides kids and work to talk about.

Tonight we watched these two documentaries:

1. History of Iran & Iraq in 10 minutes
2. What the #$*! Do We Know!?

We also attempted to watch some you-tube thingy from those Anonymous folks, but the music scared Finn enough to call downstairs for us to “please stop watching the movie with the creepy music.”  Yep, he nailed it.  We moved on.

The first documentary, aptly titled, is a short education about the US’s history with Iran/Iraq.  I learned more in ten minutes that I ever knew before, and that is just shameful!  Also, what’s up, governments?  Why do you have to be so unlike the people you watch over?

The second is a quirky (VERY quirky!) take on quantum physics and the philosophy of perception and choice.  It was zany in spots, but charming.  And PLENTY of food for thought.  It starts out kind of slow and trippy, but hang in there–it gets a lot better.  Also, I would like to adopt the older UCLA professor with the crazy white hair to be another grandpa.  He was awesome.

Sometimes it seems like I should just stick to posting about handmade stuff and shop events–stuff like that.  But, as I mentioned before, part of my mission for Hello Bluebird is to build a community of thinkers, do-ers, and change-makers.  Yep, we all love pretty stuff, but, ultimately, we are building a new society where education, enlightenment, caring and kindness are the foundation.  So, I blog about random food for thought that gets my brain working in new ways, and I implore you to reach out with your own ideas and reactions!

Do you like documentaries?  What are some of your favorites?  Is there a particular subject that you love to explore and discuss?

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Good Thing 49/366 : Watched some non-fiction TV with my hubby.

Good For : My awareness of new subjects and outside opinions.  Also good for my marriage, which can always use new subject matter to discuss and debate!

Journal : Books to Check Out, available at Hello Bluebird

Well, I was home again today.  The cold/flu/nastiness has settled nicely into my chest, as I suppose I suspected it would all along.  I figured I’d give myself the gift of another day to rest it out.  We dream-followers and mountain-movers are slow to take a break, but I decided to listen to my body for once and take a time out.

In the quietness of all this free-time, I remembered that some people actually read–as in books–when they are not working!  Reading!  Well, the problem with reading besides finding the time to remember that it exists as an option at all, is that once I start, I cannot stop!  I literally will put aside all other activities until a book is finished.  Do you do this?  Is this a thing that people do?

I also go on book-collecting binges.  That is what I did yesterday.  I was so entranced by my forgotten-and-then-remembered love of reading, that I heaped piles of  it onto my virtual plate–too much to ever devour in one day.  Here’s what I collected and can’t wait to savor:

1. One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are  by Ann Voscamp  (so far, I’m half way through it.  Beautiful, poetic language–deep grief and soaring joy of a woman’s walk with Gratitude.)
2. Uncertainty : Turning Fear & Doubt Into Fuel for Brilliance   by Jonathan Fields  (His blog is a daily favorite, and I can’t wait to finally read his book!)
3. Shop Class as Soul Craft  by Matthew B. Crawford  (to be truthful, this one was actually picked by hubby–who is the true owner of the Kindle…but it looks like great read!)
4. Jane Eyre  by Charlotte Bronte  (I should be ashamed that I have never read this book.  Remedying that immediately!  Also, fairly certain there will be a Jane Eyre obsession in my near future.)
5. Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider  (this one has been in my Kindle since Christmas, but I love giving Tsh of Simple Mom a shout-out whenever I can!)

Do you notice a certain theme here?  Yeah…I might be a non-fiction junkie.  To be honest, I never know what fiction books to read!  And, yes, I’ve already read The Help…(loved it!)

Do you have any books you are reading and loving?  What about FICTION?  And, when you read, is it all-or-nothing, or do you pace yourself with bits at a time?  I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

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Good Thing 47/366 : Rested.

Good For : Pretty much everything.

It seems that I took a break from the Good Things.  Well, not really–good things have happened and DO HAPPEN every day, recorded or not.  Kids get off to school safely, meals are eaten, house is warm, parents survive it all with humor and patience–well, that last part might be an exaggeration, haha!

It’s the middle of February.  Duh–I mean, I’m sure you know the date.  Valentine’s Day was yesterday, all sweet and mushy and lovely cliche-ness of it all.  It’s a fun holiday–no seriousness in it, just the “I’ve got a crush on you” kind of celebrating that we did in junior high, passing notes and sneaking what-nots into cute boys’ lockers and such.  Sure, it’s a confusing kind of holiday for some of us (are we doing anything this year?  should we?  are you?  does that mean I have to in return?)–but when we just let all that foolery go and enjoy the unfettered, childish romance we’re allowed for one pink-and-red, lace-trimmed day, it’s a delicious little holiday.

But…now it’s February 15th.  What in the world do we do now?  The groundhog says 6 more weeks of winter.

This winter hasn’t been the worst–not much snow, lots of warm days and sunshine.  We’ve been really blessed!  Plus we had Thanksgiving and then Christmas and even silly old Valentine’s Day to pull us along.  Now comes the hard part: the grey skies, the cold air, and no more holidays.

The winter honeymoon period is over.

Now it’s time for the real work to begin.  Now we have to eek meaning and joy–yes, even JOY, out of grey skies and cold pavement.  Now we have to make our own celebrations out of plain old Tuesdays.  How in the world do we do this?

We get back to our Good Things.

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.  ~G.K. Chesterton

Doubled by wonder?  I’ll take two heaping servings of that, yes please.  

February 15th marks the beginning of a very quiet retail season, but I feel confident that, together, we can come up with dozens of reasons to find each other’s company, to celebrate our friends and families and life’s little moments.  Even the smallest, simplest things can elevate an ordinary day into a holiday!

Happy Wednesday!

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Good Thing 46/366 : Was sick today, but used the time to start a new book!

Good for: My heart.  Everyone’s needs refilling! Being sick stinks, but having some quiet time is great medicine.

How do you beat the winter blahs?  Any ideas you’d like to share?  And what little things are YOU grateful for?  I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

The first several weeks of Hello Soul. Hello Business (HSHB) are considered to be the dreaming stage. It takes a lot of practice as well as courage to be a good dreamer. I feel like in taking this class, I am on my way to dreaming big Lexisworks dreams. I’m excited to grow myself and my business through this soulful process and I am excited for the results at the end of the journey.

I’ve been unemployed since last Fall (which is partly why I enrolled in HSHB) and over the last few months when people ask what I do, I’ve started out with “I was laid off from my graphic design job.” The truth is, that wasn’t my “do,” it was what was done to me. Since starting HSHB, I’ve decided that from now on when people ask, I will say that I am an artist. The fact is that that has always been true, but it wasn’t until this point in my life that I was able to claim it as strongly as I do now. “If you speak it, it becomes real.”

Being apart of the HSHB community has been an added bonus to this online course. My fellow classmates and I have been connecting in our blog classroom and in our own private facebook group. Everyone is genuinely supportive of one another and it’s been reassuring to have people going through the same experiences as you. Especially in the dreaming stage, it can be difficult to explain our ideas and excitement to those closest to us.

Having a network of creative woman to share our insecurities as well as ah-ha moments has helped me to lean into this course a little bit more. I know that we are all digging deep to identify the why’s, who’s, how’s and what’s of our businesses. Beth Nicholls and Kelly Rae Roberts, the two woman responsible for the content of HSHB, have put together an inspirational and soulful course for us to journey through and I am grateful that these two creative woman are sharing their knowledge and experiences with us.

Until next week,

Lexis

If someone were to ask you “What do you do?” how would you answer?  What would you wish your answer to be?  If you are an artist, do you find it difficult to call yourself one?

Our giveaway from Lexis’ first post has been extended until 11:59pm EST this Saturday night.  Leave a comment answering the question above, sharing a bit about your own creative journey, or giving Lexis some community encouragement.  You will be entered to win an 8X10 print of her print “Find Your Advenuture.” (see original giveaway post here.) 

Shop Lexisworks at Hello Bluebird here.

Follow her journey here:

Twitter: @lexisworks

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lexisworks/223184924415901

Blog: http://lexisworks.wordpress.com/