my creative hibernation.

I so badly need to go into hibernation. I’ve been filling my head with ideas and images for the last 3 years; collecting pieces I love on my phone, in notebooks, in Google docs… I’ve been squirreling away stuff. I keep telling myself that I’ll need it later. Now it’s time.

I’m ready to do a brain dump. To go back through everything I’ve gathered and create something with it. I don’t know what it will look like, but I’m excited and hopeful. It feels important, and at the same time, I’m also afraid. What if it ends up being nothing?

I know that I care about stories and making things with layers of meaning. I’m not sure how these pieces will come together, but I’m hoping that by the spring, I’ll be able to answer this question.

I also know myself. I can easily list 10 projects or more that I would love to tackle this winter. I want to sew a lap quilt made of wools from home. I want to sew a Canadiana quilt. I want to host more mitten making workshops. I want to make an online course: How to Sew Upcycled Mittens from Sweaters. I want to help my Mom finish her online course: Sew Your First Quilt. I want to do more printing with wood. I want to learn how to sew my own clothes. I want to offer my Writing Acts of Kindness e-course….

See how this brain of mine works?! I am very good at filling my time with a whole bunch of projects that could easily veer me away from doing the work that I need to do.

So in thinking about my creative hibernation, I’ve asked myself, What will inactivity look like for me this winter? Meaning, how will I stay focused and settled? Because I need to keep my head clear in order for everything to come out.

This is my plan:

• no work on the weekends (I need to turn it off, even though I enjoy it)
• sticking to work blocks versus family time (not grabbing time here and there while the kids have a snack or watch TV)
• saying no to things that are not aligned to my goals (even if I really want to do it). Note to self: I need to really pinpoint goals so I can use them as a filter.
• slowing down and being intentional with my time and work.
• one thing / one place at a time. “I am eating lunch versus I am eating lunch and scrolling Instagram and thinking about my next project.“

So if you notice lots of projects popping up in my Instagram (@verylainie), please ask me how my writing is going. It will be the reminder I need to stay the course rather than avoiding it – because I’m afraid.

Here’s to an interesting winter…

If you’d like to follow along with me as I figure out what this looks like, you’ll find me on Instagram (@verylainie).

the Lainie List.

1. this song made me laugh at Tate’s Christmas concert. it’s really cute.
2. who knew that a picture of tea tags could be so cool.
3. this has sparked my next art project.
4. Reuben de Maid’s first makeup tutorial (he’s 13 years old)
5. The DO Lectures: Tina Roth Eisenberg
6. How to Email Busy People
7. love this fabric shop.
8. Merchant & Mills Patterns
9. I want to learn how to sew: The Victor, The Dress Shirt, The Tee Shirt, The Top 64 (as a dress)
10. The Story of Your Year
11. Wreck this Journal
12. Mom’s Peanut Butter Reindeer Cookies
13. Daddy O Doughnuts are ridiculously good. keep up with the changing menu through their Instagram account.
14. FIKA Cafe. I want to go here.

my makeup story.

I recently decided to become a grown up…

I have wanted to learn about makeup since I was in elementary school.

My mom never wore it. My grandma didn’t either.

My Auntie Lyd did. I remember asking her if she would teach me how to properly wear makeup. She once talked to me about blush and how it went along the cheek bones. I didn’t get to learn more from her. My Auntie Lyd died in a house fire when I was in grade 8.

The first time I wore makeup, I was in grade 9. My cousin Troy had asked me to be a junior bridesmaid in his wedding. My older cousin Laurie (who I thought was the coolest) took me to a pharmacy and picked out what I needed. It’s pretty much what I buy and wear now. A Cover Girl compact. Blush. Eye shadow. Mascara.

20 years later, I’ve decided to buy something different and figure out how to wear it. And I don’t know why.

And why now? We have three small children. My time is limited. And financially, I shouldn’t be spending money on something like makeup. And yet, I want to.

Maybe it’s because I’m tired of looking frumpy. Maybe it’s because I want to feel good. I have no idea. But I do love how it looks when people wear it well. I love the colour and how it can bring a healthy glow to someone’s face.

I also want to teach Charlie how to wear makeup when she’s older (if she wants to). I want it to be seen as something that is fun and more about how she feels when wearing it. I think growing up I picked up on a lot of negative messages shared by those around me. People who wore makeup were self-absorbed or caught up in their appearance. Wearing makeup was to draw attention to yourself. For me, I just want to feel more confident wearing it and more knowledgeable.

So if you happen to know of some good videos I could watch or a place to go to learn more, let me know!

my word for 2019.

Why this word?

these two lines stood out to me…

“the heart is regarded as the center of a person’s thoughts and emotions”
“the central or innermost part of something.”

I’ve had something on my mind for over a year now and I haven’t made it happen.  It’s something that is close to my heart which is why I probably keep myself busy with other projects.  You can’t fail or struggle, if you haven’t gone there yet.

In 2019, I’m going to make it happen.  It will be a part of my creative hibernation. 

Want to choose a word for 2019?  Susannah Conway has a great 5 day email course, Find Your Word (it’s free).  You need to try it.  I love it.  She has a way of taking a complex idea and breaking it down into simple and meaningful steps.

It’s been a game changer for me.  I constantly come back to my word throughout the year.  It helps keep me grounded and focused, constantly working towards my goals; where a typical new year’s resolution kept me going for a week. 

The Lainie List

2. Big Ideas Inside: A Creativity Pad for Dreamers
3. 24 Days of Kindness for Preschoolers
4. eatwhatyoulovebook.com
5. Pantone’s Colour of the Year.
6. I like to Move It.  Tate’s new favourite song.
7. Craft a Life You Love
8. 52 Lists for Togetherness
9. love these.  Buckskin Chopper Mitts from LL Bean
10. South Shore Annexe Craft Table | Wayfair.ca
11. The residue of creativity
12. How to Be an Artist
13. Why Is Japan Still So Attached to Paper? – The New York Times
14. Slow-Cooker Maple Pork Shoulder with Apples
15. Thatcher’s favourite song right now.
16. Gingerbread Man Cookie recipe
17. Royal Icing recipe
    

The Lainie List.

1. Working from home hacks.
2. Beautiful design ideas from Canva multi-page layouts
   
3. selling at my first craft fair!
4. Pixel & Bristle
   
5. Quitting Instagram: She’s one of the millions disillusioned with social media. But she also helped create it.
6. a true Northern Christmas
7. Payless opens a fake luxury store (is this for real?!)