CALENDAR AND ART WORKS

Hello There!

I've been working towards my goals of changing my blog posting schedule to include bi-weekly posts on a consistent basis.  This week's feature is Art Works.

Art Works will include paper, collage and paint. I thought I'd show you what's up on my work surface: a mini collage of papers and paint ink. 

I found these great Post It notes with tabs at Office Depot with lined space for notes and a tab on the edge to mark your place or label a section of notes.  Also, I love the Grid Post It! With the Grid Post It I can keep track of developing ideas before committing them to the calendar. I also purchased a pack of clear page holders and dividers.  I LOVE calendars and LOVE LOVE LOVE office supplies!!!

 One of the new features I wanted to share with you is my hand painted calendar for the upcoming month of February.  

There's lots happening February....please join me to see what's new each week!

Bee Creative!
Suzy

CHANGES ARE COMING

Hello!

Time is rolling along this month at a fast pace and I'm jogging along trying to keep up.  Does that sound like you?  Seriously, I don't know if it is just me trying to keep up or if everyone else feels the same way.  We live in a fast rapidly changing world of technology where once we lived at a slower pace where people wrote letters and waited for a reply, it seems unreal and most unlikely today! Personally, I'd enjoy a slower pace but NOT that slow either, there must be a happy medium. 

Speaking of moving along, have you noticed Sunshine and Lollipops is getting a face lift? A new and improved format arrangement?  What do you think so far?  We are moving toward changes in content and posting on a more consistent basis. My 2015 goal is blogging on a regular weekly schedule. After three years of blogging rather inconsistently,  I've come to the realization blogging takes more thought and more preparation time and more planning than I have been willing to admit and it is important to me. It is important to make more time in my schedule to produce blog worthy posts rather than scramble at the last minute to meet a blog deadline.  This stuff (planning, blogging consistency) doesn't come naturally for me because I'm more of a fly by the seat of your pants kinda gal. But I am trying to change my fly by the seat of your pants style in order to bring you better and more consistent content. To help me with scheduling I've purchased several calendars (pocket and planner) to jot my notes in (because I'm old school), AND printed out a free monthly blog planner online AND I'm making use of an online calendar.  I know, it's a bit overkill, isn't it? Perhaps this is where I go wrong in my effort to keep everything written down (little obsessive that way), but I DO love planners and calendars! How about you? What methods do you use to keep track and on schedule?  

Planning ahead is key to keep things rolling along so I've also created a fun way to track my progress each month in a mini three ring binder (previously a SMASH journal converted to Blog Journal).  It's strictly for blog post ideas and a visual way to keep track of my TO DO and NOTES. I'll share one with you each month.  Here's my January planner pages: 

Goals for 2015 

Monthly Blog Calendar 

WORD Reminder 

Please join me each week for posts featuring Sketchbook Tuesday and Travel Journal Thursday, Heartstrings (featuring crafts, sewing, Home Decorating) Knitting with a Mission, HeART Craft (features Paint/Paper & Collage and Monthly Calendars).  Looking forward to celebrating my fourth year in Blog land with you! 

Bee Creative! 
Suzy

INSPIRATION LEADS TO REORGANIZATION OF STUDIO

Hi Everyone!

A steaming hot cuppa coffee in my hand and the mouse in the other, scanning down the page, clicking on this and that, pinning a few, that's how I started my day off !  Don't judge me....it IS my day off from work.  Yes there are a zillion things I need to do today...that blasted phone keeps whistling to remind me of the TO DO list that awaits. 
 You know what I'm talking about too. <wink> It's easy to fall down the (Pinterest) rabbit hole, so limiting my time is important while taking time to be inspired.

My Spring Door Wreath inspired by Pinterest

Spending time being inspired by others adds to my creativeness and that leads to thinking about my work area, better known as the studio.  Cleaning and rearranging the work areas in my studio (AGAIN) helps me realize what my current interests are and where I need to focus my creative attention. That might not be your situation but for me, it is a huge problem.  I have many interest and find it hard to concentrate on one at a time.  So I find what works for me is having specific areas or zones that concentrate on one or two crafts. 


 For instance my sewing area has long been neglected, mending piling up and several (back burner) projects need attention. I take a hard look at each area, make note of unfinished projects and then schedule in some time each day to work on them. Each area or zone has its own projects to be completed. 

 After several weeks of devoting time to the mending project, I'm happy to say the mending is finished! Mending you say? Who exactly mends these days?!? I do, especially if it is a favorite piece of clothing I enjoy wearing.  The mending gives it character and individuality and extends the life of  the garment.  It's an old fashioned idea, but one learned from my Granny and my Mom who were thrifty sewers.  Next on the list and a long time coming is a slipcover for a foot stool. Stay tuned for that!


My little desk wasn't functioning as previously envisioned for sewing so I switched it out for a larger/longer work surface which also doubles as a crafting surface when Little Misses Sunshine and Lollipop come over. The larger work surface seems to be working well with plenty of room for sewing, painting and craft projects for both the little ones and for myself as well. And the smaller desk is conveniently located to allow both girls their own space if needed <wink> or for me to supervise the activities. 

After setting up the sewing/craft area the little desk now doubles as a beading and stamping area. This area/zone is where I will spend hours making beaded jewelry and working on my journals and stamping projects.  The drawers conveniently hold the on-going beaded projects and houses the stamps and journals so the area can be easily converted for Misses S & L to use if necessary.

                                                             

                                                     It's a happy area!

 I continue to purchase beads (but on a more discriminating basis) to add to the collection.

                                       Several new designs are in the works.

One of the beading projects involves these shiny pink faux crystal buttons pictured above.  But you'll have to stay tuned for that one, I'm not giving up the details yet.

Over at the art table where I confess to spend most of my leisure time, I've been working in one of my art journals and there will be lots to share with you soon!  Yes, it looks messy but that's how I roll! No matter how big the surface area it seems I only use a very small area to work within. 

Happily the summer is rolling along and we are enjoying it.  What are you doing this summer?  I hope you are finding time to......

Be Creative!
Suzy

RELEASING THE CLUTTER ONE ROOM AT A TIME

Hi Everyone!

 RELEASE has many meanings for me, not only am I releasing the clutter outside but also the clutter within.  You know what I'm talking about, we all have our issues!  Time to let them go just like the clutter we hang onto in our homes....time to let go and bless others.  With THAT said, one of my favorite blogs is FLYLADY!  The ultimate blog about getting rid of the excess clutter in your life.  If you struggle with this, FLYLADY has great advise on how to get back on track.

I'm getting back on track now.....One Room At A Time. LOOK OUT!!!  Mom's on A Decluttering Mission!  Yes, January is a perfect time to start thinking about how much stuff has been accumulated and if it is really of importance in our lives.

 Ok, so I thought I'd start in the guest room where my daughter and grandson will be staying but it looks like they aren't coming right away so I've been given a reprieve! LOL!   Instead, I started in one of the smallest bathrooms, eewwah, I know! how glamorous is that? But my house is tiny and the bathrooms are of importance to me (and if you think about it, everyone has one and uses it on a frequent basis).  Over the toilet resides a cabinet that holds anything the medicine cabinet doesn't, and it was crammed packed!

BEFORE

Hubby has the bottom shelf and yes, the top one is mine, stuffed to the max!  I threw out boxes and expired medicine (yep) and half used bottles of hair product (mousse, gel and hairspray, oh my!) and moved other health care products to another cabinet under the sink.  Truthfully, I'm the pack rat.

SO now check out the cabinet! 

After

Uh huh, it looks pretty good doesn't it?!? That blue bag on my shelf is a travel bag and it has been recently removed.  Onward to the medicine chest and under the sink.  I was ruthless.  When I was done releasing the clutter from under the sink, medicine cabinet and above the toilet cabinet, my husband took out a 13 gallon size trash bag, it weight approximately 25 lbs!  Also, we will be donating a 3 lb. bag of hotel shampoos, hair products and soaps to our church for the needy in the area.  Releasing the clutter never felt better!

Please join me each week as I work my way through the house releasing the clutter and blessing others in need.

Suzy

INSIDE THE STUDIO PART 1

Hi Everyone!

Welcome to Brees Mimi Design Studio! So happy you are joining me today as we take a peek into the room where I create.  

Remember last week the WARNING about the messiness and chaos that abides in my studio? Enter at your own risk!

There was tremendous temptation to clean up beforehand and admittedly I did tidy up (vacumned) a wee bit before my friend's visit, but it is still very messy indeed. Ok, I am going to stop apologizing for my messiness. 

 COME ON IN!! 

As you enter the studio (aka spare bedroom) you will see in the far corner a little table known as "sewing world", to the left is "art cart", to the right is small rolling cart with scissors, glue, and sewing supplies.   I'll explain these sections in more detail in later posts, for now we will just see the perimeter spaces. 

To the right of "sewing world" is where you will find me in my favorite place....at the "work table" where most of the creativeness goes on.

The Work Table at the moment is piled with hand painted pattern paper and journals I've been making. Oh there are the usual suspects that "live" in this area: paints, glues, brushes, etc. and the "bulletin boards" or as some people like to call them "idea or inspiration" boards. 

 To the right of the work table is a "drawer stack" housing more paint, spray, stencils, pencils, watercolor crayons and glitter.  The boxes stacked on top are gelli prints and stencils. The picnic basket underneath holds miscellaneous items such as a mini crock pot, applique iron, bubble wrap and paper towels, etc. Under the basket that holds up the whole shebang are two plastic bins, one filled with minky fabric (don't ask) and the other with old cross-stitch and craft magazines that belonged to my mother. 

The lime green double closet with hot pink trim is home to neatly organized projects in progress, knitting, cross-stitch, quilting, thread, large bins of fabric and watercolor supplies. The right side of the closet is "bead world". Also in that side of the closet is extra quilt batting,  projects to finish, and a filing cabinet with patterns. It is pretty organized in there.  

 Oh and there is a colorful bar chair holding a three tier mesh office filing system (LOL) that is primarily a place to "file" sketch books, journals and other various papers that haven't made their way into a bin (trash or otherwise). More "filing" in the basket underneath and in the blue cloth bin that is behind the door. 

On the opposite side of the room are a system of cabinets which hosts my picnic basket collection on top (all labeled, organized storage). There is a row of cabinets along the top, a full length storage unit at one end, a pegboard and work (lol) surface (mainly a catch-all) and cabinets below. It takes up the whole wall and I would like to say it is pretty well organized with paper supplies, embellishments, cutting machines, crafting supplies, stamps, collage materials, more watercolor brushes, palettes and paints. 

That's it for today, I'll let your imagination fill in the rest!  

Although I do feel a bit embarrassed to share the untidiness I know that you creative people out there KNOW and appreciate the realness of a working space. 

Next week we'll dive in a bit deeper (promise it will not be cleaned up or neater than it actually is). 

Till then....BEE Happy. BEE Creative!

Suzy

Notebook & Journals Oh My!

Hi Everyone!

In the last few posts I have mentioned my love affair with notebooks and journals and today I've gathered up a few to share with you. 

Last week I talked about the little green spiral notebooks that I used for classroom notes and how they eventually turned into samples books along the way. 

 

Class notebooks

Does anyone else love three ring binders??  

3 Ring Binder Organization

Three ring binders with clear page protectors keep everything organized! And yes, I also use tab dividers for each subject (just like school days). My favorite is the binder with the printed pattern paper (actually gift wrap), it stores my ideas on decorating, color charts, business ideas, etc. The Collage binder holds papers for photocopying only and Paper Arts hold ideas for making cards, samples, diagrams and page layouts.

Travel Journals

Travel Journals make me SO happy! Several journeys are recorded in each book, with notes and drawings and lots of memorabilia! It beats carrying a boat-load of brochures and tidbits back home! You can scrap/smash your daily finds into one small book and never have to worry your baggage will be overweight again! 

Journals and Sketchbooks

I use large size spiral bound sketch books for mixed media work and keep a mini Sketch pad in the car and in my purse.  The Moleskine Journal (black)is my newest journal, I love it! See the two water colored note books? The orange and bright pink is made from watercolor paper, folded into a portfolio style and the pages inside are made from water color paper too! You can see Teesha Moore making this incredible 16 page journal here! The light pink notebook is made with 300lb watercolor paper for the cover and the inside papers are 140 cold press. I hand sewed the watercolor signatures into this book. My first hand sewn journal; I'm still working that process out. 

Happy Collection of Journals and Notebooks

Some of my favorite notebooks are the simplest to make! Check out this cute book on YouTube!  Easy and simple ideas are on YouTube. Go there and be amazed at the possibilities! 

Be sure to check back on Thursday to have a peek into some of these! 

Happy Journaling!

Suzy

Have Glue Stick, Will Travel

Hey Everyone! 


It is officially Summer when the temperature hits above the 90 degree mark in my book.  For some of you the official date begins sometime in June, here in south Florida summer has arrived. It's time to start thinking of vacation and travel plans.  We've been planning a trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park for two years and this is the summer we are going!  I can't begin to tell you how excited hubby and I are to be going West, I've been to Yellowstone and Teton National Parks before but hubs hasn't and I can't wait to see his face when he gets the first glimpse of the Teton mountains outside our cabin and the first time we pull into Yellowstone.....priceless. If you've ever been there, then you know what I'm talking about! It is a stunningly beautiful and prehistoric, wild wilderness. Be still my heart! 

Water color palette, aqua crayons, paint tubes and brushes.

Getting ready for a trip in my world, means what art supplies do I take with me.  Most people think about what to pack, like clothing and other essentials but for me it is about the art supplies and the journal. I'm a bit obsessive about it too! We'll be doing some daily hiking, using a back pack and changing hotels frequently. That means packing and re-packing and schlepping stuff around.   Most times, I look like a Sherpa with all the stuff I am carting along. It takes me days to figure out what I need to take with me, especially if I must pare down the supplies, like this year. The least amount of weight I have to carry the better! Take a look at what I'm planning  to take and keep in mind, all supplies, except journal must fit into a small zippered pencil pouch.

Journal and zippered pencil pouch carrying art supplies. 

Here's the list:

• Cutter Bees (scissors)
• Glue Stick
• Dot Glue Runner (for the heavy stuff)
• Water pen/brush
• Water Color pencils
• Pitt, Micron & Sharpie pens
• Pencil
• Eraser
• Pencil Sharpener
• Bone Folder
• Journal

Here we go, all pared down to the essentials.

 I opted for the watercolor pencils instead of palette (above) or w/c crayons. This will reduce the need for water container, brushes,extra tubes of paint, sponge and paper towels. The pencils are lightweight and will fit into the zippered pouch nicely.  

And now that the supplies are ready I started preparing a few journal pages to get me started.  I like to spray colored inks or water color the background of the pages before the trip, stick in a few stickers  and add random stamps. Later I'll add journal notes or other memorabilia to each page. 

Map of Grand Teton National Park and Park Safety 

 The more preparation done before hand means less prep time at night and more time to cut, glue and journal each days activities. I've glued in several envelope pockets (used glue dot runner to secure) and stashed small pieces of paper ready for notes or quick sketches, etc.   

Notes on the fly. 

Decorative punched edge envelope for more notes. 

Ohh, I'm seeing a pattern here....the final envelope is attached to the back flap of the journal cover; it will provide a place for maps.  I also stashed some stickers in here to use later...go ahead, you can call me a bit crazy obsessed.  But before you do, please tell me what's your destination this summer? What you do to prepare for a trip? Do you take art supplies? How do you decide what to take with and what to leave at home? 

Let Summer Begin! 

I look forward to your comments and sharing the pages of our trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks with you soon! 

Adventurer at heart,

Suzy

Blessing To Others

Hello Everyone! 


     I'm recovering from a bad cold that started right after Christmas, took me through New Year and into this week to get better. Can you believe we are already into the second week of January?! The Christmas tree came down a week ago and the rooms look larger and a bit bare without decorations. Truth be told, the less cluttered look is appealing and has me thinking about going on another decluttering mission to see what can be donated or given away. You know, the things that are cluttering up our lives can be a blessing to others when we just let them go. I'm working that as my mantra (Be a Blessing to Others by Letting GO) this year, getting rid of the excess and appreciating the simpler things in life.  
     Instead of bringing more projects into my home I plan to concentrate on some of the UFO's (Un-Finished Objects). Yes, it is time to sort through it all and see what is worth working on and what can go! I know that strikes terror into the heart of crafters everywhere and for many years I haven't been able to do it, but this is the year! I'm giving myself permission to Not Finish Objects if I've lost interest in it or just plain don't like it anymore. How about that? Pretty Bold isn't it? Why waste time on something that doesn't bring joy to your heart? Maybe I'll post photos of some of these things and you can let me know if YOU want them. LOL!  That's pretty funny considering readership on this blog. 
     Hope you will bless others by cleaning out, clearing up and donating your items to those who will enjoy them!
Have a blessed day! 




     

NO RESOLUTIONS 2012

Hello Everyone,


Wishing you all a Happy New Year! Did you make any New Year Resolutions? I've been thinking about resolutions for a few weeks now, haven't come up with anything I'd like to Resolve. It's always been the same old thing year after year for as long as I remember but I'm not going there this year. I've decided that I'm not making resolutions anymore. Maybe Resolutions will be Goals for now on.  Resolutions are easily made and just as easily broken. Goals are interestingly not that easy to make because you have to decide what goal you are trying to achieve in the first place: immediate, short-term, long-term or future and what your definition is of each time reference? So, what goals or resolutions are you making and how do you go about setting them?  I'm serious, my family didn't get "goal setting" in their toolboxes (read the post on Clutter for that definition). I'm convinced goal-setting is a learned skill but how do you go about learning it if your parents didn't teach you? Just a thought, I suppose there are books and of course the ever popular organizational web sites that can help one. Maybe my problem comes back to "organizational" skills again. LOL!  Well, here we are full circle. Maybe some day I will get it, until then, I continue merrily along my way without resolution or goals to start out 2012. Oh yea, eventually I have to look at the calendar and see what's happening......but for now, NO RESOLUTIONS!