Curating Treasuries

Lately I have been pulling together treasuries as a form of training my eye...like an artistic brain teaser.  I also find it a little therapeutic when I am getting stumped on a project and need a little break that still feels productive.  Here are some of the treasuries I have curated recently.  

The Red Line

You are my sunshine...

Colors that inspire me

You can subscribe to see my treasuries as I create them by clicking "add to circle" on the treasury page. (And if you haven't yet joined Etsy, I highly recommend signing up. It's truly a wonderful place to find beauty, inspiration, and creativity.)

Have an inspired day!

Anniversary Bliss

It is officially the 10 year anniversary of Inspirations by Faith! In celebration, I am offering ALL repeat customer who have supported me over the years (including those who have done business with me through private art commissions), 50% off any one item in my Etsy store.  Just message me with the item you would like to purchase, and I will create a custom listing just for you.  All customers, in the month of September will receive a special anniversary gift valued at $5. There will also be a tons of great items going on sale throughout the month, so make sure to check it out and check back regularly!  This is the perfect time to buy for the holidays...and if you participate in the design challenge and/or Riddle Me treasury, you can get an even bigger discount!

There is something very unique in how we all view anniversaries.  They have a way of making us look back and conjure up the special, often life-altering, moments we connect to a particular date and time.  Some can be joyous occasions. Some are, well, not.  But our minds have a way of letting us lose ourselves in those moments...such an incredible gift!  We can take those re-connections and learn, grow, heal, and even find ourselves inspired into action. 

The one custom order this last month that touched me the most deeply, was a husband's first wedding anniversary request.  It is a very rare occasion for a man to grace the virtual doorstep of my online store.  And even more surprising, he contacted me from overseas on military deployment, inquiring about my Paintbrush Bouquets.  Spending his anniversary away from his wife, he wanted to send her a paper flower bouquet in the time-honored tradition of giving paper on the first anniversary. Now I am an imaginative, and creative person, but it had never crossed my mind how great this item is as a first anniversary gift, and I just love the idea! (Not to mention that "Awwww...how sweet" moment.)  He had me add a very special message, and he picked the custom colors he knew she would love. We waited to ship so she could receive it just before her anniversary with the message on the box for her to not open it until that date.  The romantic in me can just imagine her surprise, and total adoration knowing he put so much effort and thought into making the day special and gifting something so unique.  He later messaged me to confirm the bouquet had arrived safely....and the coup de gras, he shared that it may have inspired her to start painting again.  That just makes my soul dance.

As the years have gone by, I have created many things to commemorate anniversaries of various types.  This one certainly has reminded me the incredible value of having a life partner that supports not just the everyday, but also your dreams and aspirations.  When someone supports the part of you that is inspired, creative, even a little frivolous and unconventional because they know it feeds your soul...you know you have someone in life that is of incredible value.  I know I am blessed to have that in my life {love you, Marc}, and I feel very honored to have been a part of the story this wonderful couple has begun to write.  Happy Anniversary!

The custom paintbrush bouquet :)

I need to share a few important announcements before I go eat the carrot cake my husband just handed me :)

The winner of the Riddle Me Treasury goes to *drum roll* Angela. Congratulations! She will be receiving a wonderful collection of goodies and 40% off her next order! She is a fellow seller on Etsy, and I hope you check out all her pretty wares. The answer, as many of you know, was Anne of Green Gables.  Everyone who guessed should have received a response from me earlier today with your discount coupon. If for some reason you didn't receive it, please drop me a line. If you didn't get a chance to participate, I still encourage you to click the treasury link to get a giggle, and see how the riddle treasury works just in case you want to participate in the next one.

The September design challenge is still in effect, so make sure to join in the fun.  I will announce October's challenge in a couple weeks.

So on that note, I bid you all a happy holiday weekend, and hope you all stay deeply, madly, passionately, inspired by life!

Faith

End of Summer Fun!

Hello to all!

I have created an Etsy treasury with a mystery theme.  Click on the link to view the treasury.  I ask that all guesses be messaged to me privately via etsy convo, facebook messaging, or emailed faith@inspirationsbyfaith.com. The first person to correctly guess the theme will be sent a $20 valued package of art and supplies from Inspirations by Faith PLUS receive a 40% discount on their next purchase.  It gets better…ALL correctly guessed submissions sent to me by September 1st will also get a 40% coupon towards their next purchase/order, and ALL other guesses that are not correct still will receive a 20% coupon towards their next order with Inspirations by Faith. But remember, don't post it in public comments- we don't want to ruin the fun! :)

Today I am also announcing my first design challenge.  Since my followers are small in number here, the design challenge images will be posted on facebook, but I will be posting photos of all the September challenge submissions here as well on October 1st. 

Everyone who submits by the deadline will receive a $5 gift certificate towards their next purchase from Inspirations by Faith- this includes custom/special request orders!

If you have a blog or website, I also will be happy to post a link along with your submission. 

Our design challenge for September will be to make one “Thank You” card with the following ingredients:

Vintage paper

Cardstock

Lace

Embroidery floss

Buttons

Anything can be added to the ingredients, but all submissions must have all of the ingredients listed. You can pull these ingredients together yourself, or purchase a quick pack for $4 from my store which I have put together to make it a tad easier.  Either way you do it is fine.  Click here for the link to the quick packs.  Once you have created your card, take a photo or scan of your completed card and send to me via email: faith@inspirationsbyfaith.com, making sure to include with your first name (last name and link is welcomed but optional) or if you want to just post it yourself to the facebook discussion, feel free.  All submissions are due by the end of September.

I haven’t decided to make the challenge a contest at this point since I am not sure how many people will be participating with me, but I am looking forward to the fun!

Have an inspired day!

Faith

It Could Happen to Anyone

Hello everyone!

I have started and never finished a few blogs simply because I came home just plain overwhelmed and too busy to complete anything.  Due to a freak storm in West Dearborn, our home was "hugged" by a very large sycamore branch.  We are dealing with the aftermath of 5 punctures in the roof, and the water damage that went along with it.  This just runs the old adage, "...it can happen to anyone".  Many people suffered far worse damage than us with large old maples and the like being uprooted, streets blocked by the debris, and downed telephone lines catching fires to homes.  We were on vacation, but from the pictures we have seen of the neighborhood, it looked like a war zone. 

 "Hugged" by the sycamore we asked the city to remove over a year ago....the irony (or karma via Mother Nature's sense of humor?).

Last night I went to my first in-store crop at Scrappy Chic in Livonia for some much needed R&R to take my mind off things and have a little fun with friends.  Big kudos to them for a well-run crop.  I had a ton of fun and an abundance of laughter filled hours with two fellow scrapaholic friends. As we chuckled over our undeniable paper hoarding obsessions, a friend said, "It's a sickness."  I replied with my typical blatant honesty, "Yes, but I don't want to stop it." Actually, I was a good girl and did not purchase any new lines, but you know I was looking and planning for my next paper spree. *sigh* Bad Faith! (see it does no good).

On to the important stuff...

I am a contributing artist (scroll to the bottom of the page link to find me- I was the last artist to join) for an incredibly important documentary on domestic violence by Tortoise and Finch Productions. I just received news that a donor has announced that he will match dollar for dollar up to $500 in contributions now through Sunday 11:59pm. These finishing funds are very important for the end of production and every dollar counts. Please consider contributing to a socially important and impactful film. just click the link below to help or even to check out the extended trailer: You Look a Lot Like Me

Business picked up quickly when I pulled the store off vacation mode. It has been go, go, go, baby go, so I am off to start shipping and finishing up the millions of undone projects just calling my name...

 Have an inspired day!

Faith

Imprinting Legacy

Things have been beyond busy, running from place to place on a deadline that stretches across 13 states.  There have been many moments where my intense desire to write has been trumped by my deep  desire to connect with the people in my life who are a part of my legacy just as much as I am a part of theirs.  Merriam-Webster defines "Legacy" as something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past. This concept of imprinting legacy as part of our immortality is an interesting one.  Even when our name is forgotten and the memories of family and friends are lost forever, our deeds and their repercussions live on. In both the physical actions and in the positive and negative energy that is created such as emotional damage or planting seeds of enlightenment.  


The day before yesterday, I had the incredible blessing of spending four hours with my grandfather.  I took him to a place where not only he has memories of his own childhood, but where he and I built very unique and special memories together.  His wife, my grandmother,  recently passed.  She and I were incredibly close with a connection that was extremely unique.  As I have become older, I become increasingly aware of the great gift this has been to my life.  Because of this deep bond, I did not often spend alone time with my grandfather. But one day where we did has always struck a deep chord.  

He took me to Cabrillo Beach and the maritime museum just under 25 years ago.  We spent the day walking the boardwalk, eating, visiting the museum, and having ice cream.  During this point in his life his demeanor was generally distant and many times gruff unless on his boat, and/or traveling. I have come to understand that he was most certainly the product of an environment and legacy thrust upon him as he grew up in his own home.  So, this day was even more rare because I experienced a unique view into his sincere love and gentleness towards me and others that I had honestly never seen so freely flow until then. His memories and stories flooded the day.  He shared stories about his past- of war, of family, of my father, of sailing, and of his love for my grandmother.  I witness tears in his eyes and the heartbreaking silence while he stared at the remnant of a ship whose military personal he help save during his stint in the Navy aboard the USS Conner during World War II. This day so deeply imprinted on my mind because not only did he share so much with abandon not seen before, it also was the day I realized my own sincere and deep adoration for my grandfather. 

 USS Conner DD-582

As my grandfather has progressed in age and dementia has started it's ugly course, he has actually softened and become that same man I saw that day.  Or maybe I should write that he has brought down the barrier that guarded him from being free an vulnerable to the world enough to be who he always was deep down inside.  The man that my grandmother saw more than any of us, whom she loved and adored. We have been given a gift at this time in his life where he still can imprint his legacy of love and memories, but the bittersweetness of the Thursday is not lost on me.  Dementia is a formidable foe and a treacherous thief.  And it is only a matter of time where these imprintable days of legacy will no longer be obtainable. I am so thankful for a grandfather who fights dementia with every bit of strength he has...not just for himself, but for us as well, even though he knows full well the inevitable outcome. He is a man with a profound legacy.

My Grandfather and I on Cabrillo Beach July 7, 2011

Road Trip: It's that time again....

Okay, I know what you are about to say (or not...maybe it's just the voices in my head).  "Faith, you shouldn't announce that you will be away on vacation."  And you would be 100% correct, so kids, don't do this at home.  But the fact of the matter is this: everytime I try blog after the trip, I end up out of steam by week 6 of posting smatterings on facebook then and forgetting the delightful little candid moments and inspiration that would otherwise be recorded in long format (yes, ironically that's what I call this blog- my long format).  I mean really, if I don't want to listen to MYSELF type stuff for 6 weeks about my vacation from 3 weeks prior that lasted for 3 weeks before THAT, then why would you? 

This year I am doing something new.  I will be posting as I go, sharing the bits of inspiration I see along the way.

So for any of you would-be burglars and my two stalkers who just can't seem to get enough of me, I have an attack fish waiting by the door...

...and a neighbor doing daily garden upkeep at random times (armed with a hose and pruning shears), and we informed our neighbors to watch our house with promises of homemade cookies and pie.  And if that didn't dissuade you, we have 3 kids so if it's worth something, it's probably broken and held together with duct tape.  Believe me, this house looks WAY better on the outside than it does inside. Especially with my Hayley Mills Parent Trap style boobie trapping I am doing...which reminds me, I need to buy honey.

Oh yeah, and we have the local police doing security checks.
  
Looking forward to keeping in touch with all of you as we weave are way through 6,000 miles of Swientoniowski Road Trip goodness. Stay tuned....

PS: I have been asked if the fish picture above is really a fish and if he is really our fish.  The answer is yes and yes.  His name is Plecostomus Nimbus, and he is a 13 inch long algae-eater who grew barbs on his fins because he is so damn big and old.  He will cut you. ;)

Perks for the Fans

If you are looking for a monthly "perk" at my store, make sure to "like" me on facebook so you can have access to the great monthly discounts and coupons I give to all my facebook fans.  Feel free to post, review, and keep in touch there as well.  I update much of the fun stuff going on with the business, including treasuries, causes I am getting involved in, and whatever other quirkiness I am up to.  This summer there will be a couple of design challenges I will be sharing as well, so don't wait too long to jump on board.  ;)

See you there!

Faith