how my world has changed with one simple decsion.

 

Holy smokes, what a difference a couple weeks makes. I'm settled here in the new space. It's amazing, but what I'm finding MOST life changing about this particular move is the simple, yet profound impact that having boundaries in one's life can have.

Nothing has changed except I'm now leaving my home several times a week and going somewhere else to focus on  my work. That one tiny adjustment has CHANGED MY WORLD.

 

(in progress)

 Here's how:

- My home has become what it's meant to be: a refuge, a place to ignore the computer, a place to simply unwind, relax, and be with my family.

- My work hours have become hyper-focused. For the first time in years (maybe ever?), I am getting stuff done without the distraction of my kitchen, my tv, my phone, laundry, house chores, etc etc. I'm currently working about 32 hrs/week and making major progress. At home, it mostly felt like I was working non-stop, around the clock. My goal/dream would be to work between 24-32 hours/wk max. I'm getting there.

- Because I am now getting out into the world, I'm taking more time to actually get dressed in a cute outfit, put on make-up, etc. This all contributes the feeling of being apart of something wonderful - the world - while feeling a bit put together and less like a scattered mama on the run.

- I have co-workers (sort of!) as my door is open and I can hear the chatter and feel the inspiration of all the indie businesses in the building. I've met several of these people and it's a lovely feeling to be a part of a building community.

- I now have a commute. Traffic? No problem - I actually enjoy it. Time to be quiet or catch up with a friend or listen to the sounds of the city. 

- I can now watch hulu.com or netflix while painting which is one of my favorite things to do - paint while watching television. I'm currently on season 2 of Gossip Girl (awful, but addicting). 

Thank you, work/life boundaries! So far, so wonderful.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh!

finally - showroom tour of new goodies!

Back in January, I headed to Atlanta to the gift show for several new product line launches. I CANNOT believe it's taken me this long to finally tell you about it!

I thought I would share a couple of photos of the Demdaco showroom today plus a few shots of my favorite new products that launched in the Demdaco gift line collection. Let me tell you all about it:

 

These are the best photos of the showroom, but you'll get the idea.  I loved how Demdaco's showroom designers displayed the product. It was just so cool, and it felt like it's own little world inside the bigger showroom. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.

 

We added many new wall canvases to the collection. I think this might be my favorite release of wall canvases yet. These photos show some of them, but we've added many more from 6x6 up to 18x24. Feeling really proud of this collection. Although I no longer sell the canvases in my online shop, you can find many of these in stores nationwide, or through online vendors - try an internet search for "Kelly Rae Roberts wall canvases" and several options will pop up. I do know that Flag Fables has many of the new canvases in their online shop - I've met the owner of this store and trust their service.

 

My absolute favorite thing about this particular release are the pop frames. They come in three different colors, all sizes that the canvases come in, and you literally just "pop" any of the wall canvases into the frame. The frame makes the wall canvas, look, I dunno, more "finished" - I just love, love. Many of the canvases are in pop frames in the photos above.

 

The globes. The are awesome. The large one says "believe" while the the middle one says "discover" and the smallest says "explore." Love these - got em' all in my studio! 

The above is one of the miniature framed wall canvas ornaments. There are six different designs and I just think they're darling - either hanging or displayed on a small easel. Super sweet, and fun way to collect art.

More everyday ornaments debuted - crazy affordable and simple way to add artful touch to a gift or home.

New figurines! This one reads, "Friends. In the end it's our friendships that live in the spaces between our biggest life moments. It's our friendships that hold the divide between life and love, fear and compassion, doubt and courage. And it's our friendships that crack open our hearts to the light within ourselves."

This one is titled "Soul Sisters" and it reads, "Because you see me clearly (and I see you). Because you inspire me to love deeply. Because you celebrate my courage yet nurture my tender heart pieces. Because you are my memories. Because you always know what to say (and when to simply listen). Because you know my heart, and I know yours. Because we are side by side, heart to heart in this life journey. Because I count my lucky stars for you, every single day."

This new figure is called "Mama" and we've got one more that is a pregnant girl with "new mama" sentiment.

So, there you have it - a few of my favorite new releases! Again, I no longer sell any of my licensed items in my online shop (just matted prints and cards). I am working with a local boutique that will soon have a fully stocked online Kelly Rae store - they'll be selling ALL the products from ALL collections (gift, home, stationery, garden) which is super thrilling. When they have that up and running, I'll let you know! In the meantime, you can find these product either in  your local boutiques or online by doing a quick internet search for "Kelly Rae Roberts figurines" , "Kelly Rae Roberts wall canvases" and so on.

Huge thanks to Demdaco for their continued vision, teamwork, and amazing product development team and sales force. They're an amazing group - super grateful. If you are a retailer looking to wholesale the gift line, please get in touch with Demdaco and they'll  hook you up.

I'll share the new home decor items soon!
XO

it's like having a boyfriend.

(self portrait in my home decor mirror - mirror available via wholesale through Creative Co-op)

I often compare the creative life to having a boyfriend. There are times when we're hot and heavy, times when we're not. Much like any relationship, it requires nurturing, heart to heart conversations, adventure. There is sometimes struggle, which often requires new perspectives, new beginnings, compromise. But at the end of the day, the love is strong, it's there, and it's worth the work.

This week, my boyfriend (aka my creativity) and I are hot and heavy in the studio. We're making headway together on some deadlines and creative growth. I'm hoping, if all goes well, we'll end the week in a celebration of a job well done - perhaps a date, a glass of wine.

In the meantime, we'll be side by side hoping to make some magic:)

I wanted to share a bit of link love with you guys - a bit of what my creative friends are up to:
- My friend Tracey has teamed up with Bindu Wiles for an amazing new photography e-course. I'm a huge fan of both of their styles and love the idea of this course. I'm a big prompt girl - prompts to get me writing, creating, and photography is no different. Check out their class here - starts soon!
- Another friend of mine, Alena Hennessy, is leading Squam's first online art workshop. Alena and I are old friends. We went to college together and she was a huge supporter/encourager of mine when I first started down the creative path. She's an amazing artist, entrepreneur, and teacher. Check out her online class here.
- Have you seen Mati Rose's brand new website?

More soon!

Sponsor Spotlights: Alma Stoller and STITCHED, My Creative Classroom, Jane Davenport, Stephanie Levy of Creative Courage

I like to think of my sponsorship program as a way of playing matchmaker. These weekly sponsor spotlight posts allow me to do just that - play matchmaker between you and some really amazing people who are providing unique and well crafted offerings. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor (includes your ad on the sidebar + ongoing spotlights), please send me an email at kellyraeroberts@gmail.com for further information!

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My name is Alma Stoller and I am over-the-moon excited to tell you about my latest creative project called STITCHED.

STITCHED is a collection of 20 online video workshops by 20 talented fabric and mixed media artists.
STITCHED is about sewing, mixed media, learning, support, artistic growth, embroidery, creativity, quilting, giveaways, sharing, community and a passion for learning and growing from the art and meditation that comes from working with needle and thread.



Aside from the fabric jewelry workshop that I am teaching, STITCHED also features workshops by Kelli Nina Perkins (mixed media), Jennifer Ofenstein (paper piecing), Lynn Krawczyk (textile design), Deborah Boschert (art quilt), Mollie Johanson (embroidery), and Crafty Gemini Vanessa Wilson (Baby Quilt), just to name a few of the talented instructors.

STITCHED is also about artists coming together and forming creative and supportive alliances....knowing that often times it is better to ban together than to go at it alone.
The collection of all 20 STITCHED workshops is 89.00, that is 4.45 per workshop.
This is an unbelievable deal, which is only made possible when artists unite as one and let their creative "awesome-ness" shine through....be it, one stitch at a time.

Read more about STITCHED

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My Creative Classroom is celebrating National Craft Month in March!  Every year in March we say thank you to our students during National Craft Month. If you purchase a class in March (it does not need to start in March) you will earn a free seat in an upcoming online class. Purchase more than one class and you will be able to earn more free seats, with the max of four free seats. The seats you can earn are predetermined classes, but we worked hard to choose classes that would have broad appeal.  Follow this link for more about our special National Craft Month event!

My Creative Classroom is offering over 100 different craft classes this Spring, ranging from card making, to mixed media to fabric and embroidery classes!  Sign up for our newsletter for a chance to win a free seat to any one of our classes!

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Draw from your imagination….

If I only had time, you think.
Time to draw or paint or journal. To just play.
You DO have time: Right now.

Creativity isn’t far away, or outside of you, or laying somewhere forgotten.

It’s just a small inner click, a heart-shift,
a joy making its way from the core of you,
down through your hands and into the world.
It asks you to TRUST the mess, to fold yourself into the PROCESS
and forget trying to be PERFECT.

In return you get  creative confidence

So go for it…No one is watching.
No one is judging or comparing.

The pay off  is courage.
“Courage doesn’t always roar, sometimes courage is the little voice
at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.”

Draw Happy is a Mini Workshop I have created especially for people who say “ I can’t draw”

I have walked with hundreds of students on their creative paths to help them
develop their own drawing style and harness their creative confidence.

www.janedavenport.com/workshops

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Looking for an extra boost of creativity and courage this spring?

I'm Stephanie Levy, an American illustrator living in Europe, and I’d like to invite you to join Creative Courage - an international e-course about finding, following, and realizing your creative dreams.  

During our Spring Session (April 9th – May 25th, 2012), twelve incredible creative women -- Flora Bowley, Camilla Engman, Lisa Solomon, Tara Sophia Mohr, Tracey Clark, Angela Ritchie, Tif Fussell, Jennifer Judd-McGee, Victoria Moran, Beth Nicholls, Lucie Summers, and Marianne Elliott  -- will share their secrets on publishing books, building online businesses, creating workshops and e-courses, and thriving as creative artists, instructors, and authors.

As a unique bonus, we'll take a *virtual field trip* to Paris, France in April. I'll even send you a personal postcard featuring my collage artwork directly from Paris!

Creative Courage is your invitation for 7 weeks of fun, color, and inspiration to begin your new creative life!

Come celebrate spring and find out how you can join us here.

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Big thanks to my sponsors! It takes a lot of courage to create a business from dreams, and I'm honored to highlight their bravery + and their offerings. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor (includes your ad on the sidebar + ongoing spotlights), please send me an email at kellyraeroberts@gmail.com for further information!

be present friday (playing hookie)

(view from my desk)

Dear work, dear world, 

I am playing hookie on you today. Long shower, slow meals, sitting in the sun. Quiet house. Ahhhhh. Did I tell you that you've been a bit intense lately? That you could, you know, slow down a bit? I'm learning to take the reigns, regain my power, and lean in a bit more to the idea that I can totally create my own rules. Today, the rule is do nothing. I'm so excited! 

New print. It reads Her favorite moments were those when she let go of all expectations and worries and just simply celebrated the very moment she was living.

Exactly.