OLW Blog Hop - Just Doing It

Good morning! Welcome once again to this month's blog hop for participants in Ali Edward's One Little Word class at Big Picture Classes. This is my favorite time of the month and I am ready for browsing everyone's work.

I've been really struggling the past couple of months. As you might have noticed, I haven't blogged anything except these monthly blog hops since February. So I am incredibly grateful to have these gentle reminders to get back in the swing of things. I've been thinking a lot about this month's prompt and have several ideas about broader goals for my word...but right not I know I just need to DO.

Do anything.

Do something.

Just do it.

Thanks for the inspiration, Nike.

Next up is the fabulous, Lisa. Check out her blog here.

OLW Blog Hop - The Letter Edition

Welcome to this month's OLW blog hop! Thank you so much for the prayers, love and best wishes last month during my hospitalization. My asthma is under control for the present. Hallelujah! I credit much of my recovery to keeping a positive attitude. A very difficult thing to do, particularly in the midst of adversity or illness, but the support of friends & family helps more than you can know. 

This month's prompt involved writing a little note to yourself, focusing some on where you are right now and some on where you hope to be one year from now. I really love this concept. Putting words to paper makes it 'real' to me and gives power to my intentions. I am still playing major catch up around here and dealing with heavy stuff. I have no photos of my projects but I am sharing some of my note to self. I am blogging from my heart, keeping my life real and authentic.

Dear Jenn,

Right now you are struggling to keep to your head above water. The past month has been filled with stressors, both internal and external. This time has been one of the most difficult in your life, but I have to say that you're dealing with it so well.

I'm proud of you.

You've suffered a trauma this month, one that threatens to consume you, but you keep holding on. You are surrounded by so much love and support. Jim is your rock, a touchstone that helps you get through the day. He is everything you could ask for and then more. Your mom and your two best friends share your grief and comfort you. You know that you need help to weather this storm - and you've opened yourself up to the healing process with a professional. You understand that this moment in your life doesn't define you...but you are feeling so lost. Take a deep breath and let the love wash over you. You are so strong, stronger than you ever knew that you could be. You will get through this.

One year from now I hope you'll be laughing. And smiling. And experiencing joy to be alive. You will have moved on, rising from the darkness and dangers to see and understand all of the beauty that is present in this world. You and Jim will be thriving in renewed togetherness and passion. You will be able to share all of yourself. You won't be scared anymore, seeing shadows where there are none. You will understand that you survived. You will be ready to share your story and help others who are struggling as you once struggled. You will know that no one can take your spirit. You will feel peace.

Until next time, friends. xoxo

Next up is Jill. I know you'll enjoy her amazing blog!

OLW Blog Hop - The Sad Edition

Welcome if you are on participating in the OLW blog hop. I am slightly late getting this post up....but I am writing from a hospital bed so I hope I am forgiven. I am in the midst of a severe asthma exacerbation. I will be sharing my work on last month's OLW prompts next time around.

In the meantime, please check out the wonderful Kara.

Words of Wisdom

I saw this gorgeous bit of word art on the amazing blog, Create With TLC. I've been ill and struggling a little this month but this sentiment made me smile.

xoxo,

Jenn

OLW Blog Hop - Through The Lens

Hello and welcome to this month's One Little Word blog hop! I am so glad to have you here. The hop goes live at 8:00am PST on March 1, 2012. If you're a bit early, be sure to check back!

Each month of the 1st, we gather together to  'ooh' and 'aah' over the amazing work done this month by the participant's of Ali Edwards' One Little Word class at Big Picture Classes. The blog hop participants are an amazing bunch. Their work each month brings inspiration and beauty into the world. I am so grateful to be included among them. Being a part of this monthly hop keeps me accountable with completing the class prompts, but it also keeps me in contact with a really wonderful group of women. You can catch up on all of my past OLW entries here.

This month's prompt was all about seeing your word through the lens of a camera, capturing the essence of your word and what it means to you in a series of nine photos. Last year, this was one of my favorite prompts; this year was just as delightful. I love the freedom and creativity inherent in this assignment. How you choose to 'see' your word is  just so individual. Some people are very literal in their approach, while others are figurative. Some are realistic, others are whimsical. Some document the every day moments, others the extraordinary.

This whole concept fascinates me.

My OLW for 2012 is do. My approach in documenting this word was more figurative. I tried to see things I have done or want to do in photos that are unexpected but I think they fit.

Here are my nine photos collectively.

click on image to see larger version

From left to right:
I want to do so much, but this desire to do often gets lost in the hustle and bustle of every day life.
I can do magical things.
The things I do will take me to new and wonderful places.
Fear and insecurity sometimes keep me from doing all that I want.
The things I seek to do require hard work but result in goodness and beauty in my life.
Doing it all means sometimes asking for help.
Knowing what to do is not always clear; I have to believe in myself.
Doing what is right can take me to strange and lonely places.
I can do anything I want - I am strong. I am capable. I am determined.

Jim & I are heading to St. Louis, MO this weekend to cheer on Creighton University in the Missouri Valley Conference basketball championships. Go Bluejays!!!

What do you want to do today?

Next up in the hop is Monica. Check out her fabulous blog here.

xoxo

The complete list of blog hop particiants...
Margie http://xnomads.typepad.com
Melissa S http://blog.mshanhun.com
Sharyn http://LaVieEnChic.com
Kimberlee http://scrapsandsass.blogspot.com
Jill http://jillconyers.com/
Cheri http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com
Cindy www.cynthiacrysdale.com
Jenn www.studiojenn.blogspot.com
Monica http://scrapinspired.com/
Catherine http://myview-catherine.blogspot.com/
Naomi http://poeticaperture.com/
Jamie jmpgirl.blogspot.com
Coley www.coleybelle.blogspot.com
Melissa C www.smudgetime.com
Donna http://holimess.blogspot.com/
Monica B http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com/
Veronica www.veronicanorris.typepad.com
Heidi D http://mommy.heidimdavis.com/
Lisa http://backtoallen.com/category/one-little-word/
Nikki www.inkyart.com.au
Devon http://www.youhadmeatneurotic.com
Amanda http://scrappnbee.blogspot.com
Brooklyn www.everysnapshot.com
Kristina http://hrinspirationfromthe403.blogspot.com/
Jen R http://jenritchie.com
Kara http://iwannabemewhenigrowup.blogspot.com
Eydie www.whatwecreate.net
Ruth http://suburbansahm.blogspot.com
Missus W http://www.mrswookieswanderings.blogspot.com/
Marilee http://rose-brier.blogspot.com
Cindy http://seriousplay.typepad.com
Kaylea http://www.myscrappylife.com
Dawn G www.sunshineandcreativity.com
Rebekah http://istampscrapcraft.blogspot.com/
Becky www.becky-handforth.blogspot.com
Orange Gearle orangegearle.blogspot.com
Katrina www.katrinasimeck.com
Jo http://www.mrsbeee.blogspot.com
Nicky Www.seejanebake.blogspot.com
Beth www.thesingularlyordinary.blogspot.com
Kelly http://mindingmynest.com
Tere http://terecontodomicorazon.blogspot.com/

Friday Photo Love & Thoughts on Hoarding

click to see larger image (sorry for the horrible scan)

I have been taking Amy Tan's class Stretch Your Kit, offered through Studio Calico. And I'm *loving* it...so much inspiration, so much creativity, so much fun. One of the best lessons of the class has been "use your favorites first."

Confession: I'm a scrap supply hoarder. 

When I find a product that I really love, I hang on to it. Stare at it. Store it. Think about it. Dream about it. Plan pages around it...but rarely use it. Which is a shame as these supplies are meant to be used.

Changing my mindset to using my favorite supplies first may take some adjustment. But on this recent layout I went for it! I used several products that I had been hoarding: the chipboard butterflies, the rub-on butterflies, the skinny black letters, the tiny aqua buttons, the "be" labels, the wood asterisks and the number brads.

I. Used. Them. All.

And I love it. I love seeing my favorite products on a page. I love the freedom of using beautiful supplies just 'cause I want to. I love the surge in inspiration and creativity that comes from not limiting myself. I love the "go for it" attitude. And I love the feeling of accomplishment, of completion.

I'm off to spend the day crafting...and I'm going to use whatever I want in the process! xoxo

February Take 12 - The Layout

I am having such fun with this project.

click on image to appear larger

I made a 2-pager, y'all! this is big news. I was inspired by a sketch that came in the Ella Publishing Co. Take 12 kit. The original sketch was very linear and featured a grid, which are elements that I liked & kept. But the photos in the sketch were placed in two horizontal rows, along the bottom and middle of both pages with the journaling fit in between. As you can see, I used the photos in three vertical columns and moved the journaling to the right side. The title was placed in the right upper corner in the sketch. I kept it that way but mirrored the elements in the lower left corner to balance out the page. I used simple embellishments - two kinds of washi tape, a word strip, painted chicken wire pattern for some texture & interest and an Elle's Studio calendar circle. I plan on using these calendar spots and kraft cardstock every month as a way to unify my pages.

Well, kids, I am off to catch up on a couple of the many shows I have backed up on my DVR. I need to photograph this year's Valentine mini so that I can share that project this weekend. Have a lovely night!