Turning my blog into books!

After getting reacquainted with my journals a few weeks ago, I decided to do something I've been meaning to do for a really long time: turn my blog into journal books. I've been writing in this blog since 2005. That's over 7 years of content and lately I've been on the paranoid side of worrying about losing it all. It was time to print! I started with years 2005, 2006, and 2007 - each getting their own book.

They just arrived the other day and I LOVE LOVE LOVE how they turned out. Each book feels super substantial, like a real book, year book size and feel. Each book has it's own table of contents, using the title of the blog posts. The photos are big, gorgeous, and the posts are all printed in chronological order. LOVE. I'm definitely going to finish up and create a book for 2008's content, 2009, 2010, and so on. 

There are a couple of options for turning your blog to books. Blurb and Blog2Print seem to be the easiest. We ended up going with Blog2Print, mainly because we were having trouble with Blurb crashing from time to time (not sure if this was a techy error on our part or what). It's a little pricey, and there are not a lot of design bells and whistles, but I've been happy with Blog2Print. For those of you who are interested, I chose the compact view to make the best use of space. Also, no page breaks between posts and large photos.

Ahhh, I feel so much better having it all archived, properly, in a tangible form. Have you guys done this yet? Curious what other printers you've used? I'd love to know for future reference. 

PS: I am hosting my monthly HUGE Hip Hip Hooray Giveaway Party here in this space on Thursday. One day only. Major prizes and party favors, including one of my original paintings. All free. All awesome. And YOU are invited. Put on your party dress, friends. And I'll see you here on Thursday!

XXO, Kelly Rae

Our work in the world, our values

I didn't start blogging seven years ago because I thought it would be a good business move. Or because I wanted to find community. Or because I wanted to share my photos or art.

I started blogging because I simply wanted to document my story. When I started blogging my story was pretty simple: I was 29 years old. I was married, no kids. I had a full time job. I didn't have any hobbies or passions (but was searching). And I most definitely wasn't an artist.

Blogging, though, as it would turn out, was simply my way into finding my voice. We all have those opportunities to really practice who we are, how our voice comes through, and blogging was my way into that process. Of course, eventually claiming my voice led to making art which led to starting a small little Etsy shop in 2006 which led to bigger and bigger opportunities.

When I began down the path of opportunities, I wasn't expecting to find myself in a sometimes frightening world of entrepreneurship and business. Honestly, it was the last place I thought I would land. No MBA, no biz saavvy, no marketing experience. Just a full heart and a willingness to simply begin - one step at a time until I found my way.

The truth is I've made a million business mistakes along the way. Tax mistakes, networking mistakes, workshop mistakes. Many more mistakes have been here on this blog: overly promoting, under promoting, under pricing, over sharing, under sharing. Lots of missed opportunities and misjudgments. It happens just about constantly. But I'm proud of myself for moving along, recalibrating, learning from my mistakes, and figuring it out as I move along. That's what we're all doing anyway, from the super seemingly skilled to the newbies. We're all just figuring it out as we go.

The other day I found myself at a Kelly Rae Roberts LLC business meeting with a team of attorneys and important business advisors. At one point during the meeting I thought to myself, "Holy smokes, Kelly Rae, you are now offically a grown up." Never before have I felt more scared or empowered when it came to my business. As my friend Leigh would say, I most definitely had on my big girl pants.

As much as I didn't expect to find myself here, the world of art + business has turned out to be a beautiful playground in which to practice my values. I think ALL jobs are playgrounds in which to practice our values - whether it's our dream job or our day job. Will I tell the truth even when it's uncomfortable? Will I speak up and use my voice in a room full of suits? Will I remain unjudgmental? Will I practice courage, grace, faith? Will I give back? Will I trust that this job is a gift and has an important lesson to teach me? Will I push myself toward excellence, but also toward self-compassion? Will I soften and keep my heart open? Will I trust that what I'm doing matters?

These are the kinds of things I'm thinking about lately: work, and values. And how they're connected. And how grateful I am for the unexpected landing spot in which I've found myself. It turns out the world of business is a tough one. Questions and decisions at every turn. To scale or stay small? More is more or less is more? Push through or step back and take a break? Sub divisions or whole new brands? How many employees? But with every question faced, I'm turning more and more toward my values for the answer and less and less toward my fears. 

That's what's is about, I think. Allowing our values to show up so they nurture and sustain our voices, while also nurturing and sustaining whatever work we do in the world, whether it's being bank teller or a CEO. It all matters. And it's all amazing.

Nourish Your Soul with containers!

Each week, I shine a spotlight on a few creations that I'm particularly proud of.  May you be inspired - and perhaps find a little something to nourish your soul.  Click here to see all the posts in this series. 

PS: All of the products featured below (and more) are sold online via Garden Gallery Works, but if you're looking for signed/matted prints and/or originals, you can get these in my online shop. 

PPS: International customers, Garden Gallery is HAPPY to ship worldwide. Please email them at gardengalleryorders@gmail.com to get started. 

You guys! We have so many great containers in the collection right now! This set of three tins is one of my favorites! Use it in the bathroom to hold cotton balls, q tips, special soaps or in the office for stamps, stationary and supplies!

Love the size and versatility of this one and come on, can we really be reminded enough that our story matters? I think not! This one reads, 'YOUR beautifully, messy, complicated STORY MATTERS tell it.' and is available here. 

This is sectioned into 3 compartments. Well, hello happy organization! It reads "Radiate Possibility, dream bigger. Get yours here. 

These oval containers are like little treasure boxes! They would make the perfect boxes for presenting a gift or for tucking away special items. Super sturdy, I totally approve!

This one is just begging to hold old post cards, heart rocks and found treasures! It reads 'Dear You, now is the time to follow your heart's deepest calling, Sincerely Faith. You can trust the wisdom and intuition within.' Get yours here. 

I adore the flower details and vintage looking design on this one.  It reads 'Beauty Matters surround yourself with it.' And the small words say 'flowers, color, love meaning.' 

And don't forget the oversized storage boxes from the post last weekend! If you're looking for more containers you're in luck! We have everything from pill boxes to buckets, suitcases to planting pots over here. 

Thanks, friends. Our mission is to continue to create products that blend creativity with meaning, beauty with function. I so love what I do.

Warmly,

Kelly Rae

New products coming soon - sneak peek!

The summer Demdaco catalog came the other day and check out this spread that shows a sampling of new products coming super soon! It's just a sneak peek, and the photos aren't the greatest, but you'll get the idea. One of the things I'm super excited about is the VERY cool perpetual calendar that you can see on the bottom left of the above spread. 

And I'm crazy in love with the scarves. Friends, they turned out super amazing. Scarves! The heart is actually a large metal piece for the wall - super cool.

Retailers, these products and MANY more are available now for wholesale. Please get in touch with Demdaco to place your orders (you can place your wholesale orders online too!)

I'll share more photos of all the newest goodies soon, especially the scarves. You guys are going to love them. Thank you Demdaco for another, gorgeous release! 

around here lately

I've been wearing my red wedding shoes again. I wore these on our wedding day, over 12 years ago, and they're just like new. I gotta break these babies in. I'm certain there is a story there, somewhere, about needing these shoes now more than ever. They feel a little bit like a time capsule, a reminder of all that was possible. And they very literally journeyed me into a remarkable part of my path.

Did I tell you that we braved the weather and went to the Tulip Festival? Oh yes we did. It felt like a good idea to put on our rain gear and just go for the adventure of it. This how memories get made, no? We were out there in the wind and rain all day and this bright pink tractor greeted us as if it were the sunniest day ever. So awesome.

I've been practicing some stricter self care policies which translates into more time alone. Now that True doesn't need me so intensely, I'm realizing just how much I've missed and deeply need alone time. Time to breathe. Time to reconnect. Time to sit still and let my thoughts get unstuck. Feels incredibly good and grounding to fall back into my journals and into an old practice of sending out weekly love notes to people I think about all week long. 

This little dude has been painting in the backyard when the weather has been nice. Notice how he's discovered the sprayer? Oh my, next up is the brayer and he'll be well acquainted with two of my favorite painting tools. Love watching him paint. He's into it for about 20 mins tops, then off to the next thing. Always moving. 

There was a funny moment the other day when I was trying to capture the scene on my desk to share over on Instagram, but instead captured myself being a total dork while trying to get a decent angle. Friends, I love photos like these. I just do.

John and I went on our first quick getaway without True. Two nights and two days of nothing but Palm Springs sunshine, sleep, drinks, food, swimming, and lounging. It was remarkable, though it was rough saying goodbye to our little guy. By the time we got to the airport and checked in I was all good, but the moments saying goodbye were teary tough. Didn't like it at all. 

We also recently went on a date to see Blind Pilot (one of my fave bands and the band on this painting video of mine) play with the OR symphony. Hands down, best concert ever. I even cried. It was that moving, and inspiring, and just GOOD. If you ever have the chance to see them play, go go go.

Spent one lovely afternoon with my friend Ali. Adore her, big time. Have you seen all that she is up to? 

This was the sweet scene at our table the other day. True is all about inviting his stuffies to lunch, to play, to everywhere. I cannot believe how endlessly cute it is to watch him chat away with his stuffies. "Oh hello! How are you today? Good? Oh that's great! I'm so proud of you! Hey, let me sing for you!" and on and on and on. Melting, and often over here.