Soul Sisters

This is a 2-part post on soul sisters; I have at least 4 of them, one hasn't a clue I exist but we'll get to that later. 

Anyone who really knows me, especially one of these 3, knows that all they have to do is whisper a doodle task and I'll drop the dusting, the laundry, and the need for nourishment. Hell, I'm nourishing my soul--who needs to eat?

The conversation happens something like this:

SS: "I know you're really busy but I kinda volunteered you to make our button this year. Hope you don't mind and you can say "No"."

Me: "Are you freakin' kidding? You know don't even have to ask."

The funny thing is sometimes these doodles end up resembling her & I. I don't try to do that and I never realize it until after the fact. 

Once again, here we are. (Immortalized on this small town swag.) 

Which gets me to the soul sister who has no idea who I am. 

It's "nesting season" here--cold, snowy, ish. For me, I hate it all except that it gives me an excuse to stay in and create. Sometimes, creating with someone else's art is better than my own. 

Her drawings inspire me, are much like my own, and are so damn cute. (Plus, not having to wait for an etsy purchase is right up my instant gratification alley.)

She hasn't a clue, but embroidering her design was just what I needed yesterday. 

Thank you, Soul Sister Lilipopo.

She calls it "Catching Wishes". I call it love.

You can get your very own instant pattern here..

Which got me thinking (surprise, surprise) that you might need a brain break.

So here's a B&W copy of the "Girls on Escape"--Print it out. Color It. Embroider it. Frame it. Whatever you want to do--just don't sell it. (Karma, remember?) 

Get it here.

Call your soul sister. Tell her Thank you. Make something.

I went to London: Custom Cards

I judge a really cute outfit by how badly I want to doodle it. The doodability factor also applies to purses, haircuts, shoes, inanimate objects-whatever strikes the old inspiration chord. 

 A co-worker of mine just returned from London. She went to the Cath Kidston store while traveling abroad {be still my heart--I cannot imagine how pretty this place is!} and came back with this.

You can have one too-they ship to the US!

 

She modeled her bag for us, shared her tales, and my "inspired chord" was struck.

She was my doodle subject for the evening.

 

She's mentioned more than once that she'd like a copy of her doodle so I got to work.

 

I turned her doodle into a little gift.

 

A few little note cards packaged in a clever envelope made just for greeting cards--I'm sharing, don't you worry.

 

The "envelope" tutorial is right here. Thank you, Nicole!

 

And just in case you don't have any time to doodle, I've created a download for Meg's card that you can just print on cardstock and cut.

 

 

{Download Here}

 

{You may use for personal use only...Art karma. It's really a bitch.}

 

I hear Cath's website calling my name.

So, sometimes, you just need a reward.

Oh yeah, give me every color.

 

 

Want your very own copy to frame? Download here

Coloring is good for the soul...

Not all people find peace in art, but some of us do. This reminded me that I used to spend hours coloring away.

(Source)

And I still do. Every night (that's the goal anyway..) I try to doodle one page in the art journal. Most recent is this one....

Chic, Rhymes with Geek

The Doodles

A free Saturday is like winning the lottery over here. I choose to use mine with a sharpened pencil, some pinterest inspiration and a blank piece of paper.

I've been OBSESSED (yes, all capitals are necessary) doodling really cute outfits since I took a skillshare class. (We've talked about this class before-but seriously for $20 you get to learn from some of the best!! Go search or sign up--not kidding.)

DIY-Talk Nerdy to Me

DIY-Eye Love You Valentines Card

I love eyeglasses and nerdy girls. I also love handmade anything and the fact that there is a day devoted to professing it to all those that you love.

 I started to sketch and was reminded of those little sewing cards from the 70's--the ones you use shoelaces to outline an image on a card. 

So here we go:  Easy instructions to DIY one of your own.

Supplies: embroidery floss, a needle, the template, and paper

I printed (and designed, really) for this particular paper: You can find @ Michael's and probably at any craft store. If you can't find, you could just use any piece of cardstock--you may just have to do some trimming.

The template is right here: download and print it. (I'll wait for you.)

If you are having issues printing, I've included instructions in the file. Otherwise this is pretty easy to do.

Mine in progress....

The back of the card--If yours resembles a messier version and it bugs you, cut a heart from some scrap paper and cover it up. 

I've made a bunch--you could color this little lady or leave her alone for your "love" recipient to color.

On my final, I used a rounded corner punch on the card, added a few gold hearts, and lined the envelope. A little nerdy love is on it's way.

Enjoy!

FireGirl Inspirations to Escape Cube Life

My Oprah girl forwarded me another e-bar* see definition below
*(e-bar: a chocolate electronic Snicker Bar for your soul in the form of links to inspiring web sites)

This bar was extra fattening, a whole chapter of goodness that felt creepily similiar to every thought I've had in the past 5 years.

"The Fire Starter Sessions| A soulful + practical guide to creating suceess on your own terms"- Danielle Laporte

{You can read Chapter 1, too..go here. And pre-order the book, or if you're in my hood, you can borrow mine when I'm finished.}

A multi tasker by nature, I was simultaneously taking this art class as I read Chapter 1. The class was a 12 session hand lettering tutorial (an Almond Joy e-bar, if you will.)

Well, duh.

Danielle's words and lettering practice= Visual Cue Cards of Inspiration to Escape the Cube Life.

I've created a download for you if you, too, need some daily inspiration to be great.

{Click here to download, print, and stick everywhere to remind you....}

My personal favorite that is in my own very grey cube is, "You didn't sign up for good enough. You signed up for awesome."

"I don't know when, I don't know how, but I know something's starting right now. Wandering free, wish I could be. Part of that world...) Have you seen the Little Mermaid?

Here's to getting your legs, and lighting yourself up!

{And if you've done either, I'd love to hear your story...}