There is a quote I love by choreographer Martha Graham:

“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique.  And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium, and will be lost.”

-Martha Graham

I think, deep down, most of us know that to be true.  Aren’t there just days when you can FEEL the need to sit down and create something?   A little itch inside?  A small voice urging you  to put your personal stamp on something brand new?  Something that speaks of who you were or what you were feeling or how you were interpreting things in that particular moment?

So many times, though, another voice speaks up.  Oftentimes, it speaks a little louder and a bit more forcefully than the gentle guidance that tells you to create.  Yammering on and on about how you’ve got better things to do, that the end result won’t amount to much anyway, that you are not creative enough…

I must admit that I, over and over again, have give The Voice an audience.  And, many times, have actually welcomed it as a good excuse for laziness.  Actively observing the world around me and then going on to create something from that experience proves to be exhausting at times.  What I know, though, is that laziness quickly becomes a habit and so I do my very best to fight through it (despite what I’m sometimes naturally inclined to do, which is to roll over and go back to sleep, to stare mindlessly at the TV, to clean something or grocery shop or do ANYTHING but create…).  And these steps, sometimes, can be so, so small.  The process doesn’t have to be a big, intimidating thing.  It doesn’t have to result in a symphony or  a novel.  The bar doesn’t have to be raised Mona Lisa high.  After all, making things is supposed to be fun (remember?).  Have FUN!

One night, I stole a little roll of pretty masking tape from the shop (don’t worry–I left some for you!), and did nothing but tear little pieces off and stick it to things.  And just like that, the little voice was squelched.

What can you make today?  From string?  Or from twigs?  From bits of paper and a bottle of glue?  Tin foil?  Some imagination?

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This is how we do it…

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When we moved into our new space in November, one of our greatest discoveries was that THE WINDOWS OPEN!!!  We’ve got a grand total of FIVE windows that have been ready and waiting to be thrown open for MONTHS.  And this morning, much to our delight, we knew that the time had come.  Yes, yes, we know…  It’s supposed to snow.  And rain.  And do all of the things that it’s supposed to do in Iowa in March but, for today, the heat has been turned off and we are bathing in sunlight, basking in light, and breathing in some fresh air.  Feels good, doesn’t it.

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Yesterday I sat down with my set of watercolors and spent a short while painting yellow dots (if you’re wondering if painting yellow dots on a cloudy day helps change your perspective on things, it does!).  The yellow dots reminded me of our fickle friend Little Miss Sunshine and as soon as she made her appearance on my masterpiece, she demanded that I round it out with some sort of affirmation.  Ta-Da!  This is what I came up with:

I think that in the middle of all of the day-to-day “stuff” that happens around here–the phone calls and the e-mails to return, the bills to pay, the new inventory to price, the customers to chat with, and, of course, our new orders to take and design and print and assemble, it is really, really easy to let the actual CREATION of things lag behind and get lost in the shuffle.  And it is the Creating part, the really refreshing make-something-just-for-the-fun-of-it process, that led me to this type of work in the first place.  As it turns out, I NEED to play in this way, even if just for a few minutes.  When I do, I find myself so much more energized and focused and ready to take on the not-as-much-fun parts of my day (that would be the bill-paying I mentioned earlier!).

Remember when we had things like recess and art class and music class?  We actually had time set aside for us to run around and pump our legs until we could get as high as we could and paint self portraits and sing songs complete with clapping and stomping?  And then we grew up and all of those things that were a part of the routine just sort of went away for a lot of us?  Is it any wonder that so many people trudge around and wonder why their days seems so utterly short and unfulfilling and, well, just not FUN?

As we all climb out of our winter shells, I advocate play time.  Whatever that is for you.  For me, it has much to do with short little walks and colored pencils.  And for you?  Well, I guess we’ll find out soon enough, won’t we.

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This weekend, I found a perfect little vintage sundress for $.99 at the Salvation Army.  I know that it is truly vintage as the waist on this fabulous little number needed to be let out in order to fit my modern-day un-cinched waist.  I love swingy little dresses–the kind that should be worn on a summer day while picking roses and sipping cocktails (you know the kind…).  Ephemera got her hands on a large-ish collection of super-fancy patterns from which just this type of dress can be made.  I like to thumb through them and dream little dreams of spinning around in patterned fabric on sunny days.  Sigh….

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I have been such a fan of Keri Smith’s work for so long.  Every once in awhile, right when I need a good reminder, she seems to put something out into the universe that accomplishes that.  I found this the other day and thought that it could be of use to anyone working on their own creative endeavor, whatever that may be!

via The Wish Jar

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An Invitation for you:

We’d love to see you!

xoxo,

-karen, arin, and little miss ephemera

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It seems people are a little down due to the lack of sunshine.  We’ll do our best to brighten your day!  If this doesn’t do the trick, then may I suggest eating a giant bowl of ice cream?  It’s been scientifically proven to make you feel better.  I read that somewhere.

You can find the images’ rightful owners here:

1.   sunshine in a cup

2.  breakfast (that’s my kitchen, by the way)

3. boots

4. lemonade

5. cookies

6.  flip flops

7.  eggs

8. colors

9.  phone

10. ducks

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I thought we had a good thing going with cupcake day, but this ice cream sundae buffet is the most amazing thing I have ever seen!

created by Amy Moss

created by Amy Moss

created by Amy Moss

created by Amy Moss

This is my dream!  I’m ready to make this declaration today, friendly blog readers: ephemera WILL have an ice cream sundae buffet.  I don’t know when, but prepare yourself because it will happen, I promise you that.

xoxo,

-karen

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My childhood memories are made up of little scraps of tangles thread and torn tracing paper. Garbage bags full of cut calico and a countertop full of cookie dough.  Tiny treasure collections hidden everywhere: lost buttons, found rocks, lucky pennies and pressed pansies. And all of those little scraps are stitched together, somehow, by the heavy thickness of melted Crayolas and Elmer’s Glue, made into a whole that is no more significant than all of its intricately simple parts.

I grew up surrounded by Makers-of-Things, Tinkerers, and Inventors; otherwise known as Farmer Guys and The Women who Love Them. All in a place where the word “Handmade” wasn’t used as a trendy marketing tool but, instead, where it described what went on in everyday life. After all, there were broken parts to mend and holes to patch and children to entertain. And in each one of those activities, a window for just a little bit of creativity to come sneaking through and an opportunity to leave a personal mark behind.

Chances are, those things that you treasure and tuck away in special places are things that were made, once, by a real live person with two hands and some quiet time. The new mittens to match the new coat, crocheted every year by an attentive mother.  The tea towels embroidered with the days of the week to make a menial task a bit brighter.  Tatted lace doilies that made a house a home and a quilt pieced together to keep a favorite person warm at night.  Loved and used and kept and handed down.  

I believe that every object that comes into a life tells a story.  I have found that those things made by hand speak the loudest.  If you listen very closely, they’ll tell you all about their maker and the inspiration from which they were born and the event that led to the missed stitch or the mismatched button that added to their personality.  A handmade object has a life and a purpose of its own and, when it quiets down just a bit, it will whisper to its owner to take really good care of it: to honor the time and patience and vision of the person who took a little piece of herself and made it into something tangible.  

‘Tis the Season for giving.  And when you do, underneath the brown paper and string, nestled deep down, what kind of story will wait for the person who receives it?  What will be kept?  What will be loved?

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