life

RADIO SILENCE . . .

“Creativity needs to rest.”

 

I read that statement somewhere, and wish I could recall exactly where.

Sidebar: If this is a topic that doesn’t interest you, scroll on past.


But, it is something that hit me hard last spring and throughout these summer months; my work is “creative on demand”, by its very nature, and this comes with its own unique set of stressors. This is compounded, for me personally, by inherited clinical depression , anxiety (yes, I take medication and am not ashamed) and as someone who is a slow, methodical and linear sequential thinker (I envy those that can multi-task), with strong tendencies to hyperfocus on one task until it is completed. To the point of obsession.

When I am overwhelmed by all the above, I “withdraw” as a matter of self-preservation.

I’m pretty much a hot mess on a hamster wheel. Yeah, that sounds about right. And, while I can laugh about the vision this conjures up, I also know if I don’t step off the wheel when the warning signals begin rearing their ugly heads, things are really gonna’ go south. Don’t get me wrong; I firmly believe in hard work, but I also believe that the American “hustle culture”, in its current state, contributes greatly to mental health issues and burn out.

Like so many others, I am STILL trying to find balance between work and living life within my limitations . . .

“That’s all I got to say about that.”—Forrest Gump


My latest collection of stamps & dies released last week on ellenhutson.com and I have a few samples to share that might inspire you! Do you love the great outdoors or have peeps in your life that do? Then this release is soooooo perfect!!! You can see the entire collection over on the Ellen Hutson Release Page HERE (affil. link)

Gosh, I love solid stamps so. much. !!! They just make me so giddy I can’t even . . . #allthehearteyes

 

And, I gotta share my little “Airstream™” trailer tutorial from the Ellen Hutson YouTube Channel:

Video Tutorial HERE

If you don’t have that Birch Trees Cover Panel in your collection yet, well, by golly, you are missin’ out! Just sayin’ . . . I love that thing . . .

Have a great weekend!


Disclosure: Affiliate links to the products used in my projects, that I like and use may be included; I make a small commission when you purchase via those links, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for all your support!

THREE WAYS TO USE MONDO CHRYSANTHEMUM

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One of my favorite looks for floral stamps is to leave the flowers themselves uncolored (for the most part), and just color the leaves . . . In this case, watercolor them with green and gold shimmery metallic watercolors.

The flowers were stamped, and then I heat set the ink so I could mask them off to stamp the leaves.

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OK, so I guess this is really two ways, but one way gets you two cards for the price of one. These two were created by stamping, watercoloring and die cutting a whole bunch of leaves and then using the floating die cuts / frame technique. I’ve done floating die cuts before, but hadn’t tried this variation yet and followed a video done by my friend Jennifer McGuire to create this pair.

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No flowers at all?

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I think it works.

I have another post scheduled for tomorrow. Holiday cuteness involved.

Thanks for poppin’ in!


HELLO, BABY!

I’m sharing a family moment here, so if that’s not your thang, please ignore this post.

Lilly meeting little sister Elizabeth for the 1st time

Lilly meeting little sister Elizabeth for the 1st time

We’ve been staying close to home, limiting our adventures to things like the local Japanese grocery store(s), DAISO/SERIA (Japanese dollar stores), NITORI (Japan’s version of IKEA), etc.

And, with good reason; we’ve been anxiously awaiting a pretty special delivery . . . •chinkle•

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I have the sneaky suspicion these two are gonna be joined at the hip . . . •wink•

Life doesn’t get any better than these moments . . . Am I right?

Thanks for letting me share my joy . . .

GO, SEE, DO!

KINTAI BRIDGE, IWAKUNI, JAPANThere’s a Samurai Castle up high on the hill above the bridge; requires a hike or taking a gondola… We plan to come another day and do that—this first visit to Kintai Bridge we roamed the beautiful gardens, enjoyed match…

KINTAI BRIDGE, IWAKUNI, JAPAN

There’s a Samurai Castle up high on the hill above the bridge; requires a hike or taking a gondola… We plan to come another day and do that—this first visit to Kintai Bridge we roamed the beautiful gardens, enjoyed matcha ice cream and grilled squid on a stick!

STATUS: CURRENTLY OUT OF THE COUNTRY


A year and a half ago, I went to Japan to visit my daughter and grand daughter while my son-in-law was on deployment. I brought my mama with me and we had a blast—it was the chance of a lifetime.

Fast forward to last fall, when my daughter announced that grand baby #2 was on the way and asked if I would come. Second chance of a lifetime???

How does a Nana refuse such a request?

She cannot. Well, this Nana cannot. (chinkle) I brought my mama with again, so we can help out, enjoy snuggling TWO precious grandweebles, AND see more of a different area of Japan than our last visit! EEP!!!

I’m sharing photos on my Instagram of different places we’ll get to see… if you’re interested you can follow me there and see what I see!

ENTERING THE GARDENS AT KINTAI BRIDGE

ENTERING THE GARDENS AT KINTAI BRIDGE

WHITE IRIS, GARDENS AT KINTAI BRIDGE

WHITE IRIS, GARDENS AT KINTAI BRIDGE

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OUR FIRST MEAL IN JAPAN THIS TRIP? SUSHI GO-ROUND

OUR FIRST MEAL IN JAPAN THIS TRIP? SUSHI GO-ROUND

MATCHA ICE CREAM - OH, HOW I’VE MISSED YOU . . . !!!

MATCHA ICE CREAM - OH, HOW I’VE MISSED YOU . . . !!!

By the way… Japan is like food heaven for me, and I can’t help but take photos of food—especially when it’s presented so prettily… you’ll more than likely see lots of food photos, too in my Instagram stories/highlights… Just sayin’…