First steps on a new journey, and our very first GIVEAWAY!

You know what you love to do.  Everyone has something, a passion or hobby that makes them feel–well, RIGHT.  In the best of moments on our happiest days, we find it easy–a pleasure–to dive right into that thing, and lose ourselves in our heart’s desire.

Some days–or, many, for a lot of us–it isn’t so easy or natural to carve out that time.  We get stuck, in a funk, or pushed forward by the mundane responsibilities and distractions that fill our day-to-day lives.  It’s normal.  It happens to the even the dreamiest dreamers of us.

Sometimes we need a little push to get us back on track, back to the thing we love but forget to practice.  Yoga, running, cooking from scratch, writing, prayer, sewing, reading–different for each of us, but all the same.

Lexis Graap (now Krieg, congrats!!) has been an artist selling at Hello Bluebird almost since we opened.  Her collage-style art prints and cards (available for purchase here) have been purchased and loved by many a customer.  Recently, we even discovered that a local customer used her prints in a sweet nursery that she shared on the popular design-and-culture blog, Apartment Therapy! (click here to check it out)

Reading Lexis’s creative blog  lately, I noticed she is struggling with how to make her art a more central part of her life and career.  At the same time, I also noticed that some of my favorite, esteemed art and creative professionals were running an online course for creatives that want to take their art to the next level.  A course that, I admit, makes me drool a little.

I decided the course might be that extra push for Lexis…and she agreed!

Over the next few weeks, Lexis will be sharing her journey here, on our site, as well as on her own website.  I hope you will stop by to read about her progress, and encourage her along the way.

Here is her first post, and a GIVEAWAY! :

Hello, my name is Lexis and I am the artist behind Lexisworks and the lovely collaged prints and cards for sale at Hello Bluebird.

The desire to follow my heart and do what I love has been growing brighter and brighter over the last few months. Now thanks in part to the generous and encouraging Alex and her “creative scholarship” I am embarking on that path.

I’ve signed up for Hello Soul. Hello Business, an online e-course for creative entrepreneurs who are looking to put more soul into their businesses and make “more money than they thought possible doing what they love.”

For the next 9 weeks I will be dropping by to share my journey. To start this adventure off, Alex will be giving away one of my favorite prints, “Find Your Adventure” (shown at the top of this post).  Please leave a comment below sharing why you love handmade (open until 11:59pm Saturday, February 4, 2012).

Stay in touch with me along the journey…

Twitter: @lexisworks

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

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

**********************************************************************

About the artist:

Perhaps in life, some things are predisposed. Such is the case of art in the life of Lexis. Growing up under the wing of an artist mother proved to be nothing less than a childhood filled with constant exposure to creativity and inspiration.

Falling in love with interesting paper scraps and gathering snippets from her adventures around the US, abroad and now thrift stores, has been Lexis’ obsession and main influence in her artwork for the past several years. These bits and pieces end up collaged into inspirational works and turned into sweet prints that offer the viewer private moments in the midst of a hectic modern life.

Today you can find Lexis working in her homemade studio in the Denver home she shares with her husband, Bear, and dog, Remi. She is constantly drawing inspiration from the ever present Rocky mountains and the bits and pieces of life that inspire her.

Be sure to comment below to be entered into the giveaway!