This is Marisa from Creative Thursday and I’m an artist, blogger, and author from LA visiting you today while Holly is away. If you already know me in this internet blogging, podcasting land, then it will come as no surprise that my article today is for the creative dreamers, a subject I am endlessly passionate about.

“We All Flock To Ruby”

So you have dreams that you want to see come true? Go for them.

Honestly I don’t think that any one of us can be reminded of that sentiment enough.

If you are a regular reader of Holly’s beautiful blog, then I’m sure you are one of the dreamers, and maybe one of your dreams includes working creatively for yourself? There are always insightful and inspiring discussions going on here in support of the creative dreamers. I was one. In fact I still am. And it’s important to note that I write this as a believer in the idea that you can have what you want in your life. My dream of being creatively self-employed came true. And my intention with this post is to share some thoughts on what has worked for me in allowing that dream to become a reality. It’s about letting go, something I am still learning to practice daily both personally and in my business.

Reaching for something greater than where you presently stand is life giving. Exciting and a little bit scary, it makes you feel ALIVE. Well let me re-phrase that; if you feel hopeful that your dream will happen it is life giving, but if you are afraid it might not, it can be a very unpleasant experience. Believe me, I know all to well that there are days when because it hasn’t happened yet, it can feel more than frustrating, often even devastating. Part of the delicate dance we learn in our life is how to find happiness in the times between the dream and the realization of that dream, a place I will call the space between. Because what you come to realize is that this is where you actually live, every day, in the space between.

Once you come to accept and even embrace the space between one dream and the next, the process of letting go becomes easier. So you might be wondering, why exactly do I want to “let go” of something? Because when you let go, your dream has a chance to become real. I’m not sure how this happens exactly, but as much as I don’t want to believe it, every time I let go, something that I’ve been wanting comes in, even if it’s simply an answer about what to do next.

Chances are if you’re not letting go, then you are probably afraid, holding on desperately to the idea of what you want. And by doing this your life begins to stagnate, you become tired, you may blame those around you for things not happening faster, you begin to lose hope, you become frustrated. You make important decisions out of a fearful place instead of a hopeful place. Simply put if you’re not letting go on some level, then you are not trusting. And if you’re like me, you may even be trying to control EVERY aspect of your life. Not only that, but your present days become clouded with disappointment of what has not happened for you yet, instead of filled with appreciation for all you do have. And in a separate topic altogether, being in a state of appreciation is a blissful place to be and a sure sign that you’ve let go for a moment.

Not only does “letting go” allow room for the new dreams to manifest, but it creates this space for you to notice and be grateful for your life just as it is.

And when you appreciate your life just as it is, more space is created for happiness to come in. I think it’s fair to say that most of us are in pursuit of our dreams because we think that by having them, we will be happier. True?! So why not be excited about your next dream and feel happy now. It is also important to note that I’m not referring to “letting go” of the excitement that your dreams bring you, or letting go of the hope that they will come to fruition. I’m referring to knowing when to release the grip a little, knowing when to step back but doing so in a state of peaceful trust.

Usually there are two ways people let go. One is to give up. Right, you’ve heard that before? The familiar story is “someone gave up on their dream and then boom! their dream came true”. The second is to trust that it will all work out.

I find it very sad to “give up”. While I have unknowingly taken this approach, I find it incredibly disheartening to just throw in the towel. So recently I’ve tried a new approach, and that is to turn feelings of desperation and fear as to whether “it” will happen, into feelings of hopeful expectation that “it” will happen. This slight shift brings about a sense of knowing and calm that I can only hope to experience more often.

When I do glimpse it, this sense of calm allows me to move more graciously in life, to operate from a clear state of mind. Let’s face it. As much as we try to plan out our lives, LIFE still has a life of its own. And even though uncertainty, also known as the space between, can feel a little intimidating, there is still an excitement to not knowing how it will all turn out. What I am coming to know is that when you give into the unknown of it all, when you trust and “let go”, whatever that means to you, life will flow in the direction it is meant to, and I believe, with your best interest at heart.

Dancing this delicate dance is constant, knowing when to take action and when to step back. When I achieved what felt like my very “BIG” dream of being creatively self-employed, ~ somewhere just before it took hold, there was a moment where I let go, not so much in the trusting way, but in the giving up way. I literally felt like I had tried everything and I was all tapped out of ideas of what to do next. In my mind I had given it my best shot, and that’s all I knew how to do. Within weeks of this awareness, my business changed forever and has been going strong ever since. I experienced firsthand what happens when I let loose of my grip on my dreams. New doors opened and new inspiration appeared, a momentum took hold and it hasn’t slowed down. Now I have so many ideas at any given moment, that it’s all I can do to stay focused on one at a time.

Now that I’m fully living this dream that felt like years in the making, I am still reminded every day I run my business, of moments where I need to let go. There are always those times where you gear up and put action and effort into the direction you are wanting to go, and the trick is recognizing the subtle difference between those times and the times when you need to let go and trust that you’ll know the next step. These are also the moments when you become a hopeful, appreciative observer of the magic of your life, especially in the space between.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on what I have to say here and hopefully start a discussion so please join in with your thoughts.

Thank you for having me today decor8 readers!

(image and text by marisa haedike of creative thursday.)

My name is Kelly Maron and I run the little Chicago area letterpress studio, Paper Stories. I also author a blog under the same name and I have an etsy shop. I am so thrilled to be filling the guest spot for Holly today!

I make a variety of letterpress paper goods from cards to art prints to invitations. For today’s post I’d like to share a bit of my studio space with you, where my inspiration comes from, and the struggles of running a small business as a new mom. I think we only see the ‘good’ face of most businesses online and I’m here to show both the good and the ‘real’ life stuff that goes on behind the scenes.

I always love seeing a good studio tour but secretly feel a tad bitter by those ‘showcase studios’, you know the ones… the warehouse with the original hardwood floors from the days when the space used to be an early 1900’s sewing factory, soaring 12 foot tall windows covering the exposed brick walls, a healthy dose of antiquated metal cabinets and large wooden work tables, and of course there is always some sort of lounge area filled with mid-century modern furniture, like the infamous Eames lounge they just happened to find on the side of the road. Did I just describe my dream studio? Perhaps; but if you are anything like me, with a young business, you need to keep overhead low which means making what you have work for you. I understand that ‘fantasy’ studio tours give you something to aspire towards but I’m here to show you a more realistic space. My space. If you have been making excuses for not making your own studio space, perhaps this will motivate you!

I work from home in a converted one-car garage where I house my 1200 lb 8×12 Chandler & Price printing press. I do all the printing and cutting in this space. It is a small space and gets rather cold in the Chicago winters, but it does the job and it’s free! I have also commandeered an extra bedroom that is more of an office space. This is where I keep my boxes of envelopes and other paper goods, store my inventory, and can sit with my laptop or just sketch out ideas. Of course at any given time, I may also take over the dining room table for the purposes of boxing up cards or getting things ready for a show. In mid September I will be a vendor again at the Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago so right now, it looks less like a house and more like a tornado in a paper factory.

Since my studio is small, being organized is important. I have dedicated spaces for printing, sorting, and cutting. I have tried to fit as many tables, shelves, and cabinets as I can without hindering my ability to move around comfortably. Most of the things are either thrifted, like the vintage French kitchen tins that hold my gloves, ink, and miscellaneous printing things, and the dartboard that serves as my makeshift inspiration board, or were built from your typical hardware store supplies. I use a lot of pegboards for keeping supplies within arm’s reach. Of course, the occasional trip to IKEA never hurts either for organizational supplies.

While my studio isn’t glamorous, it is cozy and comfortable plus I have a lot of photographs and collected ephemera hanging up that makes it more personal. Unless you also have a half-ton printing press, it shouldn’t be that difficult for you to carve out a little workspace for yourself.

If having the perfect workspace has held you back from following some sort of artistic pursuit, get over it. Find a little corner, organize it, decorate it and get to it!

Okay, so you have the space. Now for the inspiration. I am going to say it… coming up with ideas is hard! Wait, I take that back… coming up with ideas that will sell, is hard. I have so many ideas at any given time, that if I were my only customer, I would be perfectly satisfied. Since that is not the case, I need to think about what sells. I find this a bit frustrating at times especially when it is April and I am designing Christmas cards. Perhaps if I were only a designer, then I could comfortably rest into my delegated role. However, I am the designer, the printer, the webmaster, the shipper and anything else that needs to get done. This can be draining. However, as many one-person business owners know, you really can’t do it all yourself and sometimes you need to take a break.

For the last three years I have been doing everything myself. Two words: Not good.

I convinced myself that I would have better control over everything that way. (Serious type-A personality issues.) Finally, a few months ago I took on an intern. A wonderful girl named Lisa comes over once a week or so and helps me with various business related things. She has been a great help and is also super fun to talk to. I have found myself looking forward to her visits and have remembered how much I love to work with other people. This has encouraged me to start collaborating with others.

Illustrations from the portfolios of Angela Navarra (left) and Jen Renninger (right).

Still in the negotiating and development phase, I am working with some wonderful illustrators to create some super fabulous letterpress goodies for next year. Angela Navarra is a wonderful illustrator who I am very excited to work with on some upcoming cards. Keep an eye out for those as early as this winter. As for next year, I can’t wait to get started on my collaboration with Susie Ghahremani of boygirlparty. I can’t even tell you what we are cooking up but I promise that if all works out as planned, it will be divine! I am also chatting with my cyber-friend Jen Renninger about a collaborative project. Oh, it makes me all so giddy inside. I hope it all works out. Talking with all these talented ladies has gotten me so excited to get printing and has also recharged my batteries so-to-speak. I’ve realized that sometimes the best inspiration can come by working with others.

However, when I am left to my own devices searching for personal sources of inspiration, I can be all over the place. I absolutely love patterns, especially ones that are found in nature or in architecture. Vivid colors make me go ga-ga. A warehouse filled with antiques makes me weak in the knees. When it comes to my card designs, I have used everything from wrought iron and vintage embroidery patterns to a city streetlamp and cupcakes as inspiration. I prefer things that are bold and graphic to soft and subtle. Having a sense of humor helps as well. Give me a card with a snarky saying and I am a happy camper.

Recently I drove nearly 2400 miles visiting seven different places. I went from the plains to the Atlantic Ocean to the mountains and back again, all the while keeping an eye out for things that inspired me. Above is a little peek of some patterns that I found inspiring. You never know what will translate into a card. Walking around with a camera is a great way to record things.

Once I am swimming with a head full of inspiration, my biggest struggle seems to be finding the time. I am so amazed by other artists who seem to balance their home and work lives successfully. I have been running Paper Stories since 2005 and was doing pretty well with time management. I had left an established career as a high school teacher, with the support of my husband (also a high school teacher) to start my own business. It wasn’t until last October that I worried that my home life might conflict with my business. I had a baby boy; Jackson Calder. He is the coolest little guy. I feel very lucky to spend every day with him. Currently we don’t use daycare so all of the day time I once used for printing, filling orders, and contacting clients has been replaced with feedings, diaper changes and walks around the block. Typically I watch Jackson until dinnertime when ‘Daddy’ gets home, then Paper Stories is open for business. I work until late at night doing all the things that once occupied my days.

I am not quite sure how I am pulling it off, and some days I would argue that I am not at all, but somehow I seem to be busier than ever with orders and upcoming projects. I must be doing something right even if I feel like I am getting on by the skin of my teeth. The past two months have been easier since my husband, Russ, has been off for the summer but in a few weeks he will head back to school while I chase a ten month around at home.

For all you creative mums and pops out there, feel free to leave suggestions for how you manage it all. I would love to know how you do it! In the meantime, guess I am just going to have to baby proof that paper tornado I was mentioning.

Coincidentally, I was just reading an article on how to raise a happy baby. Edward Hallowell, author of The Childhood Roots of Adult Happiness, wrote that children, like adults, must pursue their own interests to feel fulfilled in their successes. He says the happiest people are often those who master a skill. Something for us all to work on I suppose. Put together your space, find some inspiration and make some time, then happy mastering!

Well that is it for now. Thank you to Holly and all of you lovely readers for allowing me to share what it is like to have a small business, along with all the inspirations and frustrations that come with it. Hopefully I have given you a bit of something to relate to regardless of whether you are just dipping your toes into the creative waters or are a seasoned veteran.

(photos and text from Kelly Maron)

This is Jason Thompson again with another bookbinding, paper art post from the Rag & Bone Blog! Just a reminder: decor8 readers can save 20% on Rag & Bone Albums & Books at our online boutique, simply enter this discount code during checkout [good through Sunday, 08/24/08].

In addition to books and bookbinding, I just love paper, all kinds really. As a bookbinder, I’m fortunate to be able to work with many different types of papers here in the studio, one-of-a-kind handmade sheets, delicate Japanese Yuzen papers, imported Indian block prints, I even have a sheet of handmade paper with hundreds of houseflies in it - a surprise from one of our papermakers who found the flies in an attic window and figured - why not. Like books, paper can be transformed into so many different kinds of work. Here are a few of my favorite paper artists.

Justine Smith
Holly introduced you to British artist Justine Smith a few years ago but I have to highlight her work again. Smith uses paper currency solely as her design medium. Look closely at these floral arrangements, they’re made entirely from paper money! For Smith, currency has become her canvas, knife and scissors her brush. I’ve featured several artists at the Rag & Bone Blog who use paper money as their medium, which is after all simply paper. But we are so used to assigning value to currency, that even in the creative floral arrangements and dioramas Justine creates, we can’t help but see her “paper” as still having a face value, a value beyond the art. This is central to Justine’s practice. Her work is an exploration of our relationship with money and our response to it.

Francesca Vitali
Irvine, California paper artist and Italian expat Francesca Vitali, AKA: Frucci Designs, turns magazine pages and other types of paper into original kirigami inspired jewelry. She utilizes origami paper techniques to create geometric shapes which are assembled into necklaces and bracelets. Most pieces are created using recycled papers together with traditional materials like wood, metal and glass. Her work is affordable and sure to get lots of oohs and ahhs and surprised looks when you tell them it’s made out of paper!

FYI: Everyone has a hidden talent it seems and if you follow your creative spirit you never know where you’ll end up: Francesca has a degree in chemistry and received her PHD in organic chemistry in Switzerland. You can see the geometric and organic influences in her designs. Science and design merge!

Annette Meyer
Danish artist Annette Meyer creates ‘disposable’ clothing using wrapping materials from around the world. She says her inspiration comes from the meeting place between consumer society and the human body, bridging the world of art and fashion. She creates custom wedding dresses and tailor-made suits for advertisement agencies with the aim of creating special attention through the use of unusual materials.

Her series of paper dresses titled “ICON Dressed” showcase classic fashion cuts throughout history, from the 1800’s to the 1990’s. You can date many of the dresses just from their style and cut. Each one is made from the same floral patterned paper which is based on prints from Flora Danica porcelain motifs. You can spot the 1950’s dresses between the 40’s & 60’s - fashion really changed quite a bit in those decades.

Rob Ryan
Rob Ryan, AKA: Mister Rob, is a London-based artist who primarily creates paper cut works, through from this creative starting point he applies his paper-cut style to a variety of applications: Screenprints, textiles, ceramics, etc. Rob has paper-cut his way into posh magazines such as Vogue and Amelia, and even designed “Erasures” latest CD covers. His work reminds me a little of RISD’s own Kara Walker.

Rob has a unique style, a little sad, a little whistful, a little bit ironic. You can peruse an extensive portfolio at his website. He also has a wildly popular Etsy site where you can pick up original paper cut pieces (Starting at $500), tiles, screen prints and cards.

Nel Linssen
These delicate and striking necklaces and bracelets are all made from paper. Artist Nel Linssen doesn’t divulge the secrets to her method, but she has a minimalist style and precise technical style. What we can tell are that they are folded and possibly laced onto an inner string or wire. What keeps their twisted forms together? I’m not sure really, but I love the mystery. Nel has a great color sense, each piece is sophisticated and understated. Though if you were fortunate enough to own and wear one it would certainly be the center of attention. Their forms are organic and look as if they would move with the wearer. Be sure to check out Nels online gallery for even more eye candy. And if you’re interested in purchasing one of her pieces, they’ll set you back: necklaces average around $1,200.00 - $1,400.00.

Beatrice Coron
New York artist Beatrice Coron’s beautiful paper-cut silhouettes use shadow, negative space and a graphic style to create playful and quirky narratives. Most of these images are from her “Personal Cities” paper-cut series which began with the idea of imagining a city containing all of the essential elements of one single person’s life. Coron asked friends to describe the kind of city they would like to call home. She then made a paper-cut image of each person’s wishes, developing the concepts to their visual potential. The finished pieces are large, some several feet square.

Beatrice was born and raised in Lyon, France and has been living and working in New York City since 1984. In addition to her paper-cuts, she also designs book covers, furniture and even welded & cut gates and iron fences, which is a natural extension to her paper cutting work. You can view her work in person at The Latin American Workshop Gallery in New York City this month from July 31st to August 30th. Also at the 2008 International PaperWorks Competition August 2-31, 2008 at the B.J. Spoke Gallery, Huntington, NY.

Do you have any favorite paper artists that you’d like to share?

(images linked to sources above, text from rag & bone bindery’s jason thompson)

Hello decor8 readers! This is Danielle from The Style Files visiting you today while Holly is away. First of all I’d like to wish Holly good luck and lots of fun with her move to Germany. Moving to a different country, especially if it is to a different continent, is very exciting! Of course Holly will still be based in the U.S. but having a part-time vacation home in Europe will be very nice for her I think. For those who do not know me a short introduction: on my blog The Style Files I ‘talk’ about about design and (life) style. As I live in The Netherlands, I focus on Dutch and European design. Today I’d like to take the opportunity to share with you some of my favorite Dutch shops and design labels.

The Frozen Fountain (image above), located in a beautiful canal house, sells contemporary furniture and home accessories. Work of talented Dutch designers can be found in their collection, but they also carry furniture for international labels.

Droog Design (image above) is a must for design lovers! At Droog you can admire and purchase the designs of this well known Dutch design group. Their building functions both as an outlet and an exhibition space.

Linteloo is my favorite label for furniture! While a lot of Dutch designers concentrate on innovation and fun only (resulting in over-the-top design), the Linteloo designers also focus on quality. Their beautiful, contemporary style furniture are very comfortable and made from the highest quality materials. I have their Aulia coffee table (image above) in my home and their gorgeous Mauro sofa is on my things-for-our-new-home wish list. Linteloo is a Dutch brand with dealers in several European countries. And good news for US readers! Linteloo is now also available through several retailers in the US. Click here for a complete overview of retailers.

The beautiful cupboards in the photo of The Frozen Fountain are from Piet Hein Eek. This Dutch designer graduated in 1990 from the famous Design Academy in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. With his graduation project, a cupboard of reclaimed scrap wood, he got international recognition. Since then he has made name for himself for his excellent craftsmanship and for being ecologically responsible. Eek about his designs, “Everyone is trying to make perfect furniture so I did the opposite, I make furniture that is imperfect… I like using materials that are worthless and acting as though they are precious.” On Piet Hein Eek’s website you can see more of his beautiful work.

Sissy-Boy Homeland (image above) is a new favorite of mine. Their collection is an unique combination of old and new furniture, home accessories, wallpaper, candles, quilts and a lot more. Sissy-Boy Homeland has several stores in The Netherlands. Their store in Amsterdam at the KNSM laan is also a great place to have lunch. Excellent sandwiches and coffees are served here! On Sissy-Boy’s website you can find the locations of their shops (click on ‘winkels’).

And if you need a place to sleep in Amsterdam, NL Hotel (images above and below) is a great place to stay. This boutique, design hotel conveniently located in the city centre of Amsterdam. The beautiful interior of the hotel is designed by Edward van Vliet.

Thank you decor8 readers for taking the time to read this post. I hope you have enjoyed this mini tour with me through The Netherlands! Holly, thanks for giving me the opportunity to ‘talk’ to your lovely audience. I hope you are settling in well and that you are having a great time in Germany.

I will meet up with Holly again for our annual visit but this time we’ve invited other bloggers and blog readers to join us in Amsterdam on Friday, September 5th. If you’d like to hang out with us and meet new friends for a small informal eats and drinks social, you can contact Holly and she’ll give you the details. Mark your calendars and please make it if you can!

(images linked to sources above, all text provided by danielle de lange from the style files.)

Hello again everyone! It’s Ez from Creature Comforts and I’d like to share a little bit of my inspiration process with you all today. It’s very easy to look at a singular item and think to ourselves, I like that/I don’t like that… but pulling together a cohesive “look” from these things can sometimes feel frustrating or even impossible. A couple of years ago I could never have looked at a beloved pile of magazine tears, nicknack’s, and other odds and ends and described how they would translate into anything more than just a pile of jumbled inspirations. All this changed for me when I joined flickr (a fabulous photo sharing site) and began collecting “favorites” from fellow flickr member’s photostreams. Suddenly there was a semblance of order to the things I liked. I spotted a trend immediately, and have been fascinated to see myself revealed through the collection of my favorites ever since. f you haven’t tried flickr yet… I highly recommend it!

So for today I’ve gathered several photos I saved on flickr and have used them to inspire a fictional office space that I’d love to have. In these photos I see: Beautiful flowery pinks, soft creamy whites, and rich wood tones… delicate romantic light and crisp modern accents.

{Flickr Favs}

• Mary Goes Around by birth1226
• J by Leo Reynolds {I love this bold modern typeface painted in bright pink… so playful and fun}
• Red Peonies by Flower Press - {the colors in this beautiful fabric inspired the whole palette for the room}
• Untitled by Letteria
• Untitled by Sofia
• Magic Number One by Miniature Mouse
• Untitled by Fetie - {I see this photo representing gorgeous floor to ceiling cream toned curtains}

{Office Space}
1. “Love Candy” art print in cotton candy by Jennifer Ramos
2. Premier Wood Magnet Board at Fred Flare
3. Lip Balm Tint in Red Current by Perfumeria Gal, at BeautyHabit
4. Old School Lined Notebook by Bubbo
5. Pharmacy Desk Lamp at Crate and Barrel
6. Bayswater Bag in raspberry by Mulberry
7. Hulger - P*Phone and USB*Base in Pink at 2Modern
8. Reveal Desk at Crate and Barrel
9. Savoir Chair at Crate and Barrel
10. Walnut Desk Accessories at CB2
11. “Lawn” Fabric in Hot Pink by Flowie
12. Lost - Photographic Print by Sugar Snaps

View all of my favorites in one place right here.

Have a fabulous day!
xo,
Ez

(images linked to sources above. all words, layouts, and text by creature comforts.)