2.28.2011

February Recap

What a great month February was!! This little blog of mine now has 156 followers on GFC!!!! I'm so excited to have gained 60 followers since Christmas. Thank you guys sooo much for reading and showing me some love... it means a lot to me that you're interested in moi!!

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Here's a round up of some of what happened on Pixie Mama last month:


Now I'm looking forward to March being an even more amazing month!!! Here's some of what's coming

  • A whole month of birthday celebrations!
  • A load of guest posts
  • A giveaway from moi
  • More recipes

Living Life Your Way.... Interview with Shona Cole

I've been working hard the last few months at overcoming my fears and following my dreams. So I'm running a series of interview with inspiring people to see what part fear has played in their life and how they've overcome it to live life their way...

This weeks interview is with Shona Cole



Hi Shona , tell us a little about yourself.

I am originally from Ireland. I moved to the US when I married an American in 1995 at the age of 23. Today we live in Texas on 5 acres and we have 5 children ages 10 down to 1. I am an Artist On Call for Stampington & Co. In March, 2010 my first book was published by North Light Books, it is entitled ‘The Artistic Mother – A Practical Guide For fitting Creativity into Your Life’. It is a mixed media ‘how to’ book and available at all major bookstores. I love to take photos of my world and my favorite colors are red, black and olive green. 




 
Have you always been self employed? And if not how did you make the change? 

No, before I became a mother I worked for a non-profit agency that ran shelters for the homeless. When I was 7 months pregnant with my first child I left work and have never been back to formal employment since. When my kids were a little older I started doing more and more art work and now I am an author, so I am essentially self employed. It took a number of years, lots of hard work and help from others to get to where I am today.


Is the life you lead now the life you've always dreamt of?

Honestly, no. I am a mother of 5 today, but I never even thought of having kids! I work at home, but I never even thought of being away from the work place. I am working in creativity and the arts – well I guess that is something I had always dreamed of doing, but not seriously. I am an author, it crossed my mind, but I couldn’t say it was a dream I had. To be honest I never really had many dreams. I kind of drifted through life reacting to what was before me. Today I am not like that, I have goals and things that I want to achieve.   



When you have faced difficulties, what has been your inspiration to keep going?

Now I have my long and short term goals lists that help me through the dry spells. Not only that, I have the belief that it is better to do something than to not do it and the only way to progress is to work at it and practice. That mindset helps me keep on going no matter what.

Fear affects us all at some point. What part has fear played in your life and how have you overcome it?

Good question. My biggest fear has been that I will not be good enough, that my work won’t measure up. So that that doesn’t become a self fulfilling prophesy I work a little harder. I don’t ever give in. I may worry a little, but then get back to work and keep on creating or writing. Then any success that I do have helps me fold away any new fears. I look back and look forward and let experience help me through.


What advice would you offer on following your heart and living your dreams?

I would say create a goal, something that you would like to achieve in the next 5 years. Then look at what you can do every day, every week to move closer to that dream. If something is worth doing then it is going to take hard work and commitment over time. Keep the dream alive by regularly re-visiting your goals and reevaluating where you are on the path to achieving your goals. 
 
In a nutshell -
Be committed
Work hard
Continually re-invent your self and your methods.
Be humble and accept criticism and direction from others.



What do you think are the three most important things you need to lead a happy and radiant life?

For me to lead a happy radiant life I need 1) my belief in God 2) time with & support from my family & creative friends 3) freedom and space in which to create.

Where can we connect with you?

I have a blog: www.shonastudio.blogspot.com. The main focus of my blog is Motherhood, mixed media art, photography and poetry. On Mondays I muse about being a mother, on Wednesdays is ‘Workshop Wednesday’ of ‘Wordless Wednesday’ and Friday is the day when I post short ideas on whatever topic I want to surrounding art.


2.27.2011

Project 365: Week 8

 

Really, really struggled this week!!! Just managed to take a picture every day - but not very imaginative :( Must try harder!!!!

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2.26.2011

Sunday Sun

I got a parcel in the mail yesterday. I won a giveaway over at Searching for Serendipity for a unique embroidered wall art. It arrived this morning, and I love it so much! Kami also included a super cute flower ring... I am one happy pixie! I love snail mail. Here it is:




And here are a couple of photos of me ;-) (and why not???!)




Baya saw me posing and wanted to join in!!!
Jeans and top: thrifted
Cardi: Primark
Headband: no idea!!!


Saturday Link ♥ Love

 Happy Saturday!!!
 
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My mum has been here for a few days this week, always good to have someone else to entertain the girls for a few days!!!

Know though, I'm feeling as if I'm a million miles behind on my to-do list - I think this week is going to be very busy playing catch up! I have guest posts to write, all my birthay month guest posts to schedule for here, a ton of things I need to take photos of and post on etsy, emails to send, things I want to make... and 3 children to look after :D I best not sit on the internet too long and get off and do stuff!!!

I'm also praying for some sunshine (or at least no rain) this weekend - I am desperate to start getting our garden tidied up ready for spring! Right now it's a bit of a mudbath, and I have a lot of work to do to make it look respectable again!

What do you have planned for you weekends?



Here's some Link ♥ Love for you this weekend:


2.24.2011

Fill in the blanks Thursday



1. I am shy, a crafter, a tea-drinker and book-lover.
2. The bravest thing I've ever done is battle all the crap that's been thrown at me over the years and come out stronger.

3. I feel prettiest when my hairs freshly dyed, and I've got a cute floral dress and colourful tights on!

4. Something that keeps me awake at night is my almost 2 year old :/

5. My favorite meal in the entire world is Nando's halloumi and portabello mushroom burger :)

6. The way to my heart is through chocolate or anything owl/deer related!

7. I would like to own a cottage by the sea.







2.23.2011

Calling fellow bloggers (or not)

 

I have 5 weeks left of being a 20-something! YIKES!!!! My birthday is on 29th March - so I want to make March a whole month of celebrations!! I already have several guest posts lined up - but this is a shout out to anyone else who would like to take part!

I'm open to guest posts on any topic - long or short, a favourite birthday memory or photograph. If you want to join in the fun email me here







A day out to Chester

We were meant to go to Liverpool yesterday, for a workshop at the World Museum... but Miss Baya kept me awake half the night, so we ended up sleeping in and not getting up in time to make it. Oops!!! So instead we headed to nearby Chester for the day. Had a picnic, a walk around the shops and a look at the museum there.

I spent a fortune in paperchase - gah! Why do they have to make everything so cute??! And found a couple of bargains in the charity shop too. We all had a great day out... and will be going to Liverpool in a couple of weeks instead!!

Here are some photos from our day:









Wednesday Wisdom

My first sale!!!

hey friends, I woke up this morning to my very first sale in my new etsy shop!!!! EEEEK! I am super excited and very very thankful! I sold my 'Deer Girl' painting.
Deer Girl - original art

What a great way to start the day!!!!

I'm busy planning fun for my birthday month (more on that later) and planning a giveaway too!!! Happy Wednesday

2.22.2011

30 Days of Lists

Clicking round t'interweb yesterday I came across this:

30DAYSButton 

30 Days of Lists - a collaboration between Kam of Campfire ChicAmy of Lemon and Raspberry and Justine of A New Beginning

Sounds like fun and a good challenge (and it's not like I have to think of lists anyway right?? oops -that's right I already have a 52 lists project going on!!! you can never have too many lists right??!)

Hop on over the the 30 Days of Lists blog if you want to find out more and join in the fun!!

And on a totally different note - when we went out for a walk yesterday, look who we saw:

Day 51

Mama and Papa duck :) They come every year, lay their eggs and hatch some cute little ducklings here! Come on spring - we can't wait to have some baby ducks to visit every day!

2.21.2011

Living Life Your Way....Interview with Kelly Martin

I've been working hard the last few months at overcoming my fears and following my dreams. So I'm running a series of interview with inspiring people to see what part fear has played in their life and how they've overcome it to live life their way...



*Hey! Tell us a little about yourself.

Kelly here! I think describing myself is a funny bit of selfishness; kinda hard every once in awhile to really "decribe" ourselves, don't you think? But in the rush of it, with a drum on my hip...here it goes:
I'm a Wife, and Mama to teens and one out of the nest.  I'm a drummer...Djembes.  I drum alot with groups of womyn around our circle hidden in the backyard. I drum when sad, mad, happy, and glad; when I meditate, or to wake up the teens!



I'm a Chicken herder, Yoga bender, crocheting,  bread-baking, Organic Master Gardener.  I volunteer a ton at our local MetroParks, and when I can afford it drink good wine, and if not, table wine suffices nicely. 

Jane Austen is a favorite on mine, and religious discussion is always at the table.  We are a practicing Pagan/Wiccan/Druid/Unity family.  We adore squirrels and raptures.  Although the eagle that took one of my Chicky babies was not very polite!!


I have a simple, quiet life.  I feel like I'm "underground", as we don't "fit" into main stream society very well.  Unschooling my teens has been liberating and enjoyable and totally against what others here in our area feel is normal.  I don't do "normal" very well.  We have a very Rainbow Family mentality.  We enjoy life as much as we can (although the stress of two mortgages gets alittle heavy.....need a home in Indiana??  How about this one??)....I am best friends with my husband, we compliment each other very well; me a Taurus, and my Sweetie a Scorpio!  *smile*


*Is the life you lead now the life you've always dreamt of? 
No.  I have dreams of Poland, Russia, the Ukraine.  I have no idea.  But my soul wants to travel; to wander.  To Be.  Not to be a tourist, to be a participant.  As comfortable and lucky that we are at this moment; I constantly think of more. 

My "word" for 2011 is : Enlighten.  And I wish to grow and stretch into that word.  Wherever that may lead me.

*When you have faced difficulties, what has been your inspiration to keep going?
  
I will draw on anything I can to keep going.  I have buried a St. Joseph statue on our other property to help it sell, I have called in friends and family to pray, I will open my windows...burn insence and sit and meditate.  I don't think I have an inspiration, as sad as that seems. 
  
I just do.   
I. keep. on. going. one. foot. in. front. of. the. other. 
  
I will say though that positive affrimations are everywhere.  I have even written them on the walls.  I refuse to let negativity get the best of me or be near me!!
  

*Fear affects us all at some point. What part has fear played in your life and how have you overcome it? 
  
I grew up in fear.  My father was a drug dealer and a wife beater.  We had a very wealthy exsistence, my brother and I.  But fearful, always on the alert, always expecting the worst to happen, walking on eggshells.  Being the oldest, I protected my Mother.  

That fear, that shadow, followed me many years until I was able to totally release my expectations of who I thought my father should be to me.  I wanted a Daddy so very much..  And he wasn't.  But he helped provide me life, so for that I am thankful.  I have overcome it by letting it go. 
  
"It is what it is".....mentality.  That first 16 yrs. of my life made me who I am, made the womyn that can speak (loudly if need be), made me an encourager, made me a fierce friend and mate.  
I got over it because I gave thanks for it.

   
*What advice would you offer on following your heart and living your dreams? 
  I would tell you what I have told my daughters: that you are worthy of every dream that you have.  That nothing, absolutely nothing, is out of your reach.  That you are powerful and creative and kind. 
  
I would blow into you a breath of courage to recognize patterns that happen in your life....to have the courage to bend and reshape and choose different paths for the fun of it.  I would remind you that we are all human and to be gentle, to not harm.  I would remind you to go outside and sit and let the trees and wind speak to you. 
  I would remind you that you are so very important and are here for a purpose.  I would tell you to trust your intuition beyond anything; to recognize fear in it's many disguises and stand up.  That what is within your heart and your dreams are the beautiful colours of who you are and not to be scared!  


*What do you think are the three most important things you need to lead a happy and radiant life?

*Trust in my own intuition.
*Friends.
*Courage to bend like the Willow.

One day I'll publish my blog.....it will be under Earthdrummer.......but until then anyone is free to email me...or in the Ohio neighborhood, come and Drumm!!

Blessed Be SisSTars!!


Thanks Kelly!

Fabric Clouds

 Saturday I spent 5 whole hours tidying/moving/decorating Lola and Kiki's bedroom. I finally got around to buying them a new wardrobe each. That meant I could finally take down the clothes rail that was hanging off the wall!!! It also meant I had to fill in the holes and re-paint that wall.

I figured that as I had to move a few things around to fit the new wardrobes in, I may as well re-do the whole room. So, I moved the bunkbeds to a different wall, took down all of the half ripped posters, moved the mountain of clothes, hoovered and wiped skirting boards... then sorted out who's clothes were who's and put them in the right wardrobes, tidied all of their things away into new homes and did a spot of decorating. The girls asked if I could draw a couple of Russian dolls for their walls, so I painted a couple of quick and simple canvases. I cut up an old book into hearts and sewed them together into long strings to hang on the large mirror in their room.

Kiki had an idea of wanting clouds on her wall.  I remembered seeing somewhere a tutorial for fixing fabric shapes to the wall with a cornstarch glue. So I kinda made it up as I went along!!!


Here's what I did:


cloud diy - for blog

I drew my cloud template on paper as I wanted the clouds to be the same size, then drew round and cut out a pile of clouds on some fabric from my stash.

cloud diy - for blog

I mixed about 1/4 cup of cornstarch with 1/2 a cup cold water, then added 4 cups of boiling water to it and left it to cool down a little.

cloud diy - for blog

The, one at a time, I put each cloud into the jug of cornstarch mix, rung out the excess water and smoothed it onto the wall. Then I used a paintbrush to paint more of the cornstarch mix onto the top of each cloud, making sure that any bubbles were smoothed out as I went along. It was pretty messy, and the mix did drip down the walls, but it dried off invisible!! 

When you want to remove them from the wall, you can just peel them off carefully and wipe clean :) Perfect decoration for a rented house! Of course - you can make any shapes you like! 



The girls were incredibly excited to have a tidied up bedroom!!!! Just hope it stays this way for a while!