Archives for May 2012

31 Things

May 22, 2012 Leave a Comment

I’m working my way, slowly but surely, through Ali Edwards 31 Things Class over on Big Picture Classes. So far we have explored five unrelated yet thought-provoking subjects of every day life.

Jewelry
Morning Routine
Read
Spirit
Conversation

Just posing these daily questions stretches your mind in ways you will find enlightening. For example, the first day’s prompt of jewelry immediately made me think of the two gold bracelets my mother wore practically every day during my childhood. These bracelets made a familiar jingle every time she moved her arms. I used to hear them when she turned her key in the door, signaling she was home from work or when she pushed open my bedroom door in the morning, waking me up for school. This was the sound I heard while she cooked dinner, turned the pages of a children’s book while reading aloud, and brushed my hair. There were so many memories that came pouring out from that one simple “thing.” Who knew that just having to tell a story about jewelry would bring back so much joy and childhood happiness. It unlocked more stories than I even knew existed and turned something so simple into something profound and memorable. This is the power of storytelling. This is the power of the written word. Only a few days in and I am already thrilled to be taking part in the 31 Things journey.

Filed Under: Scrapbooking

My Weekend

May 21, 2012 Leave a Comment

Nadia Knows Best by Jill Mansell

This weekend was spent mostly in recuperation. I had some minor surgery on Friday and was relatively immobile for the entire weekend. But luckily, the sun was shining and I had a nice place to sit and relax outside under a big shady tree. I did something that I never get around to doing on weekends…I read! Reading is my absolute favorite pastime but it’s ridiculous how infrequently I allow myself to do it during the day. So this weekend was pure relaxation and indulgence in my favorite thing. Luckily, I started a book that piqued my interest immediately and I found myself flying through the pages. Just pure escapism and exactly what the doctor ordered.

I’m looking forward to being back on my game because there have been so many interesting challenges that I have found online that I want to further explore. For example, Elise Blaha is doing a series on finding shapes in every day life and photographing them. I’m still doing Ali Edwards 31 Things, which started last week and of course, the ever present Project Life.

I wish I had more personal pictures to add to this post but as I said, I’m a bit out of commission. As soon as I am up and around again, I will be bringing lots of snapshots of my life to Daily Moxie. Stay tuned…

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Ali Edwards, becky higgins, Elise Blaha

Love Audrey

May 17, 2012 Leave a Comment

“I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.”

-Audrey Hepburn

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Crafting, Creating and Cards

May 16, 2012 Leave a Comment

For the past few years I have been very interested in scrapbooking as a way to journal your life and use art to depict certain moments in time. I’ve been inspired by a number of people within the industry (Ali Edwards is a genius) and I use their work as creative fuel (Becky Higgins, Elise Blaha, Elizabeth Kartchner, Ann-Marie, and Amy Tangerine). The beautiful way they capture a day, an event, a holiday, a personal success and put their own personal mark on it is so encouraging and motivating. I am currently working on Becky Higgins Project Life and will be taking part in Ali Edwards 31 Things online course starting later this week. I’m also working on Ali Edwards One Word project.

I find “Life Art”, as Ali Edwards defines it, to be therapeutic. To lose yourself for hours and be able to concentrate on nothing else but layout design, colors, graphics and mixed media is probably one of the most soothing and rewarding ways to deal with the curveballs life throws you. Right now I am finding that making cards is a great way to keep my hands moving, my brain engaged and my artistic side fully satiated. To spend an hour cutting, adhering, designing, writing and watching what started as a vision come together into a cohesive piece of art is the best mood elevator. Here are some of the cards I’ve been working on. I do it for no other reason than the wonderful feeling of accomplishment and inspiration.

For the longest time I have watched these women (Ali, Elise, Lizzy, Becky, Ann-Marie, Amy) do things that astound me and fill me with hope and excitement. I have worked alongside them, quietly, expressing myself through scrapbooking, and daily documenting and “life art.” Basically, I have made stuff. And I love what I’ve made. And I look forward to seeing what I will make. I have had this site for quite some time and haven’t really known what to do with it. I have been trying to find my footing. Suddenly, it all seems so clear. I’m not afraid to take a step forward and share the work I love with all my heart. I’m looking forward to starting the 31 Things adventure, to continuing the One Word adventure and to creating my own adventures along the way. I’m looking forward to sharing this all with you. But most importantly, I’m looking forward to having a small space to hang my work, a virtual hook.