Joy Comes In The Morning

It's been so beautiful here in the Pacific Northwest and amazingly, my boys, for the first time in their lives (seriously, I'm not just being dramatic...) have begun sleeping in. Which means I have hours of morning - my absolute favorite time of day - to think, work, exercise, sew, pray, dream, watch the sunrise, and sip coffee ... all until they raise their sleepy little summer heads around 8:00. It's been pure bliss. 

It inspired me to create the pretty image above along with all of these others happenings: 

                          New floral bag sitting pretty on Cascade Iron Co. steel bracket shelf 

Enjoyed a sweet morning with my Mazama mug, a moleskine, and the new plus sign Checkbook Cover 

New fabrics coming to the shop soon! 

One of my favorite parts of my work is playing with pretty color combos, like this Navy and Pink monogrammed bag. 

And while I haven't been here on the blog for awhile, you can always find me hanging out on Instagram and Pinterest. What can I say, I love pretty pictures? 

Steel Shelf Brackets - New Site Launch

There's a lot of new things in the mix around here. Both professionally & personally, but one that I'm especially excited for is my little brother's new journey into hand-forged steel shelf brackets! After my endless quest for the perfect metal shelf brackets, I finally turned to Seth - a trained carpenter and all around amazing craftsman, and these are the beauties he created for me:

I immediately knew other folks would love their clean, industrial farmhouse look and so after a few creative sessions and dozens of brackets later, we're launching his new site, Cascade Iron Co. 

What can I say? I'm a proud big sister. Seth's not only amazingly talented but he's got such a kind, generous soul.  He's more than just my brother, he's one of my best friends.

Check out my pinterest page for more Modern Farmhouse designs!

Finding Inspiration - A Few of My Favorites

rachel marvin creative

Last week I read somewhere that you can rewire your brain for happiness by thinking upon three things that you're grateful for every day. I'm not sure if this is true (or even where I read it for that matter!) but lately I've been focusing on counting my blessings and being more mindful of what I have rather than what I'm hoping for. 

Three things I'm grateful for right now: 

1. cozy saturday mornings spent with my two little boys in our jammies

2. a house to call our home

3. when my oldest hops off the bus, sees me, and runs to give me a huge hug. The best. 

And I've found these beautiful hand lettered art prints to keep reminding me of all I have! 

wild field paper co. 

maiedae

More motivation here on my inspirational quote board.

xo, allisa 

Finding Inspiration: Black + Kraft

the sweetest occasion

A little bit simple and a whole lot of impact. Loving kraft brown & black together. Here's some of my favorites...

art as life

a merry thought

ink kit paperie

Autumn Inspiration

katie stoops photography

Autumn, the year's last loveliest smile. 

It's so pretty here in Oregon during the fall and this year the warmth is staying awhile. I'm always sad to see summer end, but then the leaves start to change and out comes the cardigan… I enjoy the crisp mornings and cozy evenings.  And, it's always a good reason to have another cup of coffee. I love the warm, gold inspiration. Here's a few of my favorites. 

seventy nine ideas

free computer download | cocorrina

DIY gold leaf pinecone garland | the sweetest occasion 

rebecca newport

More autumn inspiration: Autumn Pinterest Board

xo, allisa

Long Time Gone

Long time gone...oh, it's been a long time, long time! (singing this in my best dixie chicks voice....)

But, yes it's been awhile hasn't it? 

Let me see, where have I been?  Well, between massive amounts of wedding orders and sunny mornings with the boys, I guess I've just been trying to soak up every single minute. I mentioned before that this is a bit of a transitional time for us, Jack's off to full day kindergarten and Luke will start preschool... and this mama's life as I've known it for the last five and a half years will be really different. Sure, it will only be a couple mornings where the house is empty, well not completely - I'll be here, but that's what it feels like - but I guess it marks a new beginning of mornings spent getting ready, lunch boxes, busy afternoons, and a bit of shuffling around. 

So long to our quiet, stay at home afternoons, early morning walks, and breezy schedule. 

So, if I'm being honest - I've been a little melancholy. On one side so happy with my beautiful boys and all the light they shine (except for the hours between 4 and 6, known as Crazy Town in our house when I make dinner & the boys chase each other in circles until dad comes home) but, anyway, happy you know? And then, a little sad to see my Jack Bear head out into this great big world called Kindergarten. Because, for five years it's been me & him and of course, Luke joined the party.  I built this business to be with them. 

And so now, I've been thinking. Missing my own classroom- which seems both like yesterday and a million years ago. Wondering a bit about what it would feel like to be teaching again. Considering how far I want to take it all.... And, I just don't know. 

So, I've been reflecting & waiting patiently for some guidance and direction. And in between, trying to really savor these feelings of warmth and joy with my boys at home.  It's a glorious summer. And for what happens next  We shall see.....

from the garden....

fourth of july cupcakes, decorated by the boys

custom silk clutches

cute little art block from red tile studio

I know I've missed a lot of happenings out there, tell me- what's going on in your world?

xo

Bloom Where You Are Planted

via shayla lillian

Ah, yes. One of my favorite quotes. So simple, but you know, every time I hear it, I think - "yes."  Such a powerful reminder. I have a tendency to think about what's next & where else... maybe because I grew up moving around so much and then always wanted to move on... but I know I keep myself from really shining when these thoughts come in. I think, someday we'll have that farm house, and then I'll make those pillows/finish the quilt/ really take good photos/ invite friends for dinner more/ get to know my neighbors / paint it the color I really want/ etc. It's not that I'm unthankful, goodness knows I remind myself each day of the blessings I have, but it's just those thoughts of what if, until, & if only that creep in....

Does anyone else feel like this? It's a bit maddening and depressing when I stop and say it. Any thoughts on how to let yourself just bloom? 

Well, I might just have to keep this pretty photo from shayla lillian up around the house so I wake each morning with this as my focus...

Favorite Pins and Such From the Week

pretty table setting from indska

 Hello friends! Oh my goodness, I'm making my way back from the blurry abyss of a nasty spring cold...first the boys & then me. It's been a week of late nights, early mornings, hot tea, days home from school, missed work, apple cider vinegar, and lots of movies with us pitiful on the couch. But, I'm happy to say that sun is in the forecast & we're all bouncing back. The boys, of course, rebounded much quicker, I'm always the last :)  But they were sweet and tried to 'take care of mom' - which is entertaining & endearing...but usually not very restful. 

In any event, I've missed a whole week of this blog & look forward to catching up! Thank you everyone who shared some of their recent happenings in last week's link up (didn't post? oh, there's still time! leave a comment with your newest product/project/post for us all to see.) In addition to some of my favorites pins from this week (I mean, being under the weather is one of the best times to pin right?), I'm sharing a few of your new projects below...

pretty downloads from smitten paper

party backdrop DIY from confetti pop

gorgeous handmade bouquet from our friend Corrine & her new shop, Love & Kismet

vintage inspired handmade journal from the lovely Erin at Dusty Daylight

Check out more of my pinterest boards & send your links, I love to see what everyone else is up to! 

The Beauty We Love - Quick Bit of Inspiration!

Hello! Busy week over here with wedding season in full swing, an under the weather preschooler, and end of the year celebrations to plan.  But I wanted to stop in and share this sweet little bit of inspiration I found at one of my very shops, Wheatfield. Katie is such a talented artist & I'm so happy we were able to meet at local art event a couple years ago.  This print is such a lovely reminder of living with intention.... I know I often get sidetracked and feel like I  miss opportunities, small or large, to do what I love. 

On another note, I'll be having a mega giveaway tomorrow, so check back in for that! 

Choosing Happy

image credit paper coterie

Hello!

So, I took a bit of a break there. Time away from posting and from most other things online...

To be honest, this week has been difficult for me. I've been in a bit of rut - the rainy greys of spring in Portland really weigh on me at times. I also have a lot of anxiety about the transitions in our house - my baby moving out of his crib and our oldest entering kindergarten next year (!) Then there's the general thoughts & dreams of where I've been and where I'm headed...

Throw it all together & the result is a bit of melancholy and chaos. 

Actually, I've battled with anxiety and depression my whole life. I'm really good at putting on a smile and forging ahead while also carrying around loads of pain. In middle school my English teacher wrote on my report card that he could always count on my sunny smile. I remember thinking, 'Boy, I've sure got him fooled!'  But faking it only works for so long and chocolate and coffee lose their magic eventually.

So times like now, when I'm faced with uncertainty and change, the depression and anxiety rise up again. But you know, after a bit of hiding away, praying, and prioritizing I find myself at the same point where I realize it's basically up to me to choose happiness. And goodness knows it's not as simple as just making your mind up to be happy, but it's about choosing the path of happiness, taking little steps in that direction. 

So when I found this lovely little download over the weekend it was like a cheerful little reminder that I can come out from cover, face the grey, and put on a real smile. 




Thank you lovely readers for giving me a space to share all this! 

{related reading: looking back to Ashley Pahl's guest post outlining her Rut-Busting Guide when you're feeling stuck}




  

Seeing the Forest for the Trees - My Detail Dilemma

image credit :: eloise renouf

Hello! I feel like a bit of a stranger here... it's been awhile since my last post. Somehow, I seem to blink and a whole week goes by. Does anyone else feel like that? It's been a week of transition (the toddler), managing orders (wedding season!),  cheerleading myself (detox diet), and a goal to focus on the important things (each moment with my boys). 

One of my biggest struggles in business and in personal life, is avoiding the detail overload. I am so guilt of getting wrapped up in my to-do list (oh, how I love crossing things off...) but at the same time totally missing the big picture.  Probably more than just a bad habit - maybe some sort of crutch, a bit of fear, anxiety. Who knows. But, I'm realizing more and more, that I need to let some of those details go and focus on bigger picture things, so that a whole week/month/year doesn't pass me by and I realize I missed the big stuff being too busy crossing of my list! 

The timing was perfect for my monthly contribution to Oh My Handmade, where the community is discussing 'roots & shoots' - tending to our gardens of life and business. You can visit me there today where I share some of my strategies for tackling the details to see the big picture. I'd love for you to stop by & say hello. 

I'd also love to hear if you can relate to this detail dilemma and what you do to get yourself out of that mess and focused towards the horizon. 

xo

Pin Lovin' and Winner

hafsa.zm

Hello! Happy Thursday & thanks to everyone for joining in the fun of my Pin & Win event... in addition to the hundreds of pins, I also got a chance to get know of few you a little better - through your  pinterest boards!  A few kinks along the way, like my name being autocorrected to @allisa waldo - so I had to dig through piles of pins to sort through them (yes, exactly like a game of where's waldo).  With each pin counting as an entry, random.org came up with lucky number 58 - Christina S!

This was definitely a hit & I look forward to planning another one soon. Here are a few boards I came across that I'll definitely be following. Take a look!  

Shelleanne - Decor Board   
LauraEisenga -  My DIY List   
Venetia Creation - Fashion, Fashion!     
Amy Monko - Art I Love
Dianne Gendron -  Making
Danielle Spurge - Unrealistic For Ours But Still Cool Wedding Stuff
Rubarb Love Bug - My Style
Gracie The Beagle - Party Ideas
MimiTimms - Neat Idea
LMCornell - Gift Ideas 

Again, thank you again to everyone for joining in!  xo

Finding Inspiration

Loving this....and all it makes me think about & be glad for. 


Thanks to Whitney English for designing this graphic & writing such a tremendously beautiful and inspiring post. Just what I needed this week. 

xo, 
allisa

Why I Make

Making.

After leaving teaching to stay home with my boys and give this whole creative business thing a go, I've answered lots of questions. Mostly to other moms who think I'm crazy to wake before the crack of dawn (and it probably is crazy...) to create and build this thing. Like why, as in why in the world would you choose this?  Hobby? Misplaced dream? Desperation? 

And you know, there are two answers. The first is easy. It's the drive instilled in me from a family of farmers & constructions workers to get up early and make things happen. Build it, grow it, work it. 

But the second is a little more difficult. I only first uttered it to my best friend a few months ago. And once the words came out of my mouth I almost wanted to grab them and stuff them right back in. Embarrassing maybe, but soul baring definitely. 

I make because I want to. I need to. 

Making is my therapy. 

It's my way of letting go & holding on. It's my own daily mini achievement, in a life early on where there were few. When I first learned to sew, it seemed like magic. Beyond the bungled stitches and mismatched seams, there it was - something that came from me. Like a little mark. A statement. And then, I gave it away and that felt even more incredible. And I went on, throughout high school and the surprise of college, making with fabric, wood, words... all because I needed to. 

Taking these scraps and putting them together in a way where there was beauty & usefulness seemed to me like an awfully powerful metaphor for my life. 

Calling All Guest Bloggers!

Hey now! 

With wedding season already in a full (early!) stride, I know my time for posting will dwindle a bit. Don't get me wrong, there will still be lots of posts sharing some wise words I discovered, or heaps of fabric I'm waving my magic wand at, and probably more than a few about coffee and kids and me crying because kindergarten is starting soon. 

But I digress. 

In addition to all the goodness, I'd love to share more of what *you* have to offer. I'm looking for original, succinct, clean, and pretty posts for the months ahead.  If you enjoy writing, curating collections, sharing tutorials, and exploring color than this may be for you! 

Here are a few topics I'm interested in covering (of course, if you have a brilliant idea, I'd love to hear it!) 

• Color Me Happy: color palettes, finds within specific color palettes, pantone color features, color trends

• Finding Inspiration: downloads, quotes, roundups of inspirational words 

• Crafty Goodness: tutorials, special occasion crafts (st. patricks, easter, mom's day, wedding), sewing tips, & ideas

• Print Study: Round ups, features, collections of patterns, prints, and designs (think chevrons, dots, geometrics, calligraphy....)

• Business Bits: lessons learned about running a creative business, links to fabulous business-related articles, review of books

While I'm going to shy away from promotional posts for now, all guest bloggers are welcomed to offer a few links at the end of their post to their shop/site/social media. And of course, I'll be linking and sharing your post along with you! 

If this is up your alley, please comment below with an email you can be reached or contact me directly with BLOG SUBMISSION in subject. 

Can't wait!    allisa {dot} jacobs  {at} gmail {dot} com

Creating A Home: Work and Family

I came across this gorgeous image from Caitlin Wilson via Design Sponge and my first thought was, yes!

This how I feel. I'm a home-centered gal by nature. I think because I grew up with so much change and moving and uncertainty, I work extra hard to create a home, a place, for our family. Heaped together is a whole lot of gratitude that I have this opportunity to grow my business & love my boys in the very same place. The conversations about business and creating things. It makes for such a fun dynamic in our little family, I absolutely love each morning when my son pops his head into the door of my studio and I welcome him to the day. Or the afternoons when preschool & nap time & the stars align and I can grab my cup of coffee and create. 

I know these days are fleeting and there will be a time when I'm itching to return to the classroom. Days when the boys are both in school and the house is empty.  So for now, I'm just going to soak up and cherish this crazy awesome time filled with Legos & wedding clutches. 

xo.

I would love to hear, can you relate to this at all? What is something you love about your current situation? 

find more bits of inspiration on my notes & thoughts pinterest board

The Depths of Winter

It's been all frosty morning and wool blankets around here this week.  This time of year, I find myself repeating my phrase to live by again & again, 'sometimes you gotta make your own sunshine.'  Kind of the story of my life really ;)    I love this Albert Camus quote as well & appreciate the idea that summer - the sunshine, happiness, & promise can live inside us, even in the depths of winter. 

With all this cozy time indoors, we've been crafting up a storm around here. Look forward to sharing my heart pillow (and tutorial!) soon.

xo

Shining Light

libertadleal

Hello. It's been a little while.  Initially, last week I was caught up in the rush of holiday orders and celebrations...and then the tragedy in Connecticut. Like so many of us, it's broken my heart and left me with such an empty feeling. I was working in the studio when I first heard. I stopped. I cried. And called it a day. Held onto my boys as long as they'd let me.  And then we had our own spur of the moment afternoon Christmas party. Cookies, Charlie Brown, ornament making, and lots of smooches. But, as I'm sure all of you are feeling, there's the heaviness that lingers...and I look to my boys, my own soon-to-be kindergartner, wanting to just capture every little sweet moment in a bottle.  

And as a teacher who's taking time away to raise my boys, the thought of classroom joy and hope being ripped away makes me ache. 

So for now, I'm taking a few days away from the shop, the blog, and the everything else. Taking time to cherish the light. 

The Journey of My Tree Pillow

I am thrilled to share this story. It's a journey of not just my pillow, but of the simple design that brought me a lot of happiness.

Here are a few more glimpses of the new wall hanging: 

I first shared my pillow in 2009 here, and then the Better Homes magazine debut (complete with dark under eye circles) here.

So many thanks to Better Homes and everyone who has cheered on & supported this journey!