Sharpie decorated tennis shoes

I decided to use the sharpie markers I have had for a while and liven up my boring white pro keds. It was a lot of fun and I have really enjoyed wearing them. I need to do more stuff like this.

Making lots of earrings

I have been making earrings with gold plated (sometimes bright brass) findings. I have never used gold colored metal in my jewelry. But I'm game to try it and it really does stand out more brightly on me than silver. Since I am going for light and bright in my color choices I'm switching to gold and I am having fun in the process. Here are some of the new earrings.

I was able to change out the ear wires and split rings on a few but mostly I have just made new ones incorporating the shiny gold and replacing black, gray and harsh colors from old earrings that I have liked and worn. I am not sure what I'm going to do with the ton or earrings I have that I'm not going to wear anymore.

That also goes for the clothes that I have removed from my closet. Most are pretty nice clothes but make me looked drab and now I know why. I am not going to worry about that. I am having so much fun playing with clothes and jewelry now and it wasn't long ago that I really didn't.

I have sorted my fabric stash into colors that I want to use and piles that are most likely tops, jackets, skirts, pants or dresses. I have some gorgeous fabric that I have not sown because I didn't want to make something that didn't look good once it was done. I am now confident that I can make things I not only wear but love to wear. I have also picked out patterns that will be flattering styles and can be mixed and matched easily. This is so much fun!

Clearing away the stuff that doesn't work - getting ready for the stuff that does

Today, finally, I got my color cards for my Type 1 Energy Profile. I LOVE my colors. Actually, I was not very surprised by them. I had done an intuitive color chart with 1 inch cotton quilting color samples about 20 years ago based on the colors of my skin, eyes, veins, hair, etc. (and colors I just like) and came up with almost exactly the same colors. I checked them against the card and only had to remove a few.  It's nice to confirm that I do recognize the colors that look good on me. I also checked the samples that I didn't pick against the color card and it was very obvious that these are tints. There is a big difference between the hues and these selected tints. Light and bright is the key. I think I get it. Yeah!  This is sooo much fun.

So why do I have so much black and gray and grayed out colors in my closet?

Now the clearing process begins. I put three big loads of mostly black and gray clothes and a big laundry basket full of black and gray shoes, boots and belts in another room. There goes all of my dress up and work clothes in one fell swoop. Good thing I'm not working now or going anywhere that requires me to dress up anytime soon. I have arranged my tops (mostly pretty colored t-shirts  and cotton button up shirts from the thrift store) by color. I just don't have that many choices for bottoms right now. I live in jeans - light blue denim and 1 pair of light tan jeans.

I am in the process of losing a few pounds. I will then have some more blue denim jeans and some tan/khaki slacks that fit. If I continue to lose more pounds I will have even more to wear that I already own in colors, fabrics and styles that flatter me. But what I'm really excited about is making some things that are fun, pretty and flattering. I want to learn to make and buy pieces that go together and learn to put them together in attractive, fun outfits.

I have gone through my fabric stash and put away all the fabric in unflattering colors. The ones I left out are perfect. I also went through my patterns and picked out some I like that have design lines that should work. I went through my bead stash and sorted out my colors and arranged them so I can get to them easily. I have gotten a pretty complete selection of shiny gold (colored) findings so I can make some jewelry. 

I'm ready to go. I am excited to be moving in a positive direction with my appearance, one that engages so many of my interests.

My Before Pictures

Here are two shots from the last couple of days. The first is from my phone which doesn't have a great camera so the quality is terrible. But this is me in the white cotton t-shirt. I'm also wearing faded blue jeans and dessert army boots and my favorite earrings - sliver and abalone shell. They really don't show up. The second is one with a shirt that I already own that is in a good color for me (we'll see) and earrings that match but aren't shiny gold. I got my darling husband to take the second one. Cori, our sweet dog, wanted to be in the picture, too.

Figuring out my energy profile with Dressing Your Truth

While searching around on the internet for new ideas I ran across this program created by Carol Tuttle. It sounded interesting. She seems to be in touch with my understanding of the workings of the universe. (I bet she is familiar with Abraham Hicks teachings...seems likely.) Anyway I gave it a go since I don't seem to be able to get a handle on my personal image or style. I have now read two of her books "It's Just My Nature" and "Dressing Your Truth." I have joined her website program as a member and am waiting for my materials that are specific to my type to arrive - not too patiently I might add.

I HAVE decided which type I am, although it wasn't easy it should have been. All my reservations are normal for my type...LOL.  I am a Type 1 and I actually cried when I read the profile, it was SO me. Then I went on to think I could be any of them anyway. Now that I know that it is right, it just keeps making more sense.  You should see my house - no you shouldn't because you'd think I'm messy. I like the things that inspire me in sight and I don't like to clean. But once you get to know me, you'd see that it works for me. I should get a person to clean but I don't want them messing with my stuff. I collect rabbits - carved, stuffed, ceramic, on teapots, etc. (I have to like them - not just any old rabbit though - I am selective) I collect a lot of stuff: baskets, shells, white pitchers, carved alabaster, old lanterns, funnels and oil cans, small boxes, antique sewing and cooking tools...It's all inspirational.

I'm an artist - that means that I draw (seriously draw), I sew, make jewelry (metal, beads, polymer clay, fiber/kumihimo), do leather work. I was a weaving/jewelry-making double major in college. I also garden, have a greenhouse, and used to work in a commercial greenhouse - I'm a plant geek. I love to cook and bake, too.  I also worked as a typesetter and illustrator and did graphics at every job I ever worked at as well as freelance design and illustration. I have collected a massive library of books (many, many books) on all of these subjects. And I'm good at all of it. Ask anyone I know. I decided really early on that I didn't want to get tied down to one thing. I wanted to be able to do it all, whatever I got an idea to do. Although I have been told, and read, all my life that one should pick one area and get really good at it and build a name for yourself...blah, blah, blah...I am never going to do that. And now I know that's just who I am.

Lately, I have come to the point in life when I am getting asked to take on the leadership of various groups (not paid, of course) that I have belonged to. I don't say NO well - and it makes me really uncomfortable to have to do it. But I know it is a terrible idea to say 'yes'. I can do the job but I just don't want to. I want to be free to take the next idea and run with it. So often, I just leave to avoid the issue. This is good to know. I think this is a breakthrough for me. I am not only OK with this, I don't care if anyone else is or isn't. It's just who I am.

I am so excited about learning about the style of a Type 1 - Light and bright with lots of energy movement. I am very intuitive so it makes sense and I have caught snip-its of this but felt it wasn't serious enough for much of what I had to do. I have spent years (my office working years) living in neutrals, black and gray with an occasional shot of a bright color - too bright red, blue or green.  I mostly steered away from pastels since they were too childish or froufrou. I went through a romantic period with small print, gathered, cotton long skirts and high-collared, puffy sleeved blouses with lots of pin tucks and ruffles. Lately I live in washed out blue jeans and t-shirts.

I pretty much gave up on sewing cloths for myself because they just didn't work. I now know why. The fabric was the wrong color, texture or pattern and/or the style or fabrication was wrong. The pieces I created didn't work together well to create a whole image that was light and bright. I didn't have a plan or a clue where I was trying to go. Frankly, I didn't know what looked good on me. I could see when things didn't and that was almost all the time. You should see my closet. Again, maybe not. I don't have to completely start from scratch, but close.

I make a lot of jewelry. I love earrings (dangly earrings) and let myself wear them. I haven't given myself permission to wear much other jewelry. Occasionally I make a necklace to wear. And like the clothes, they don't really look great on (on me). Lately I'm making bracelets - since I gave up my watch. I have mostly worked with silver rather than gold colored metals. Ouch! Silver is not a good metal color for my Type. Initially I was concerned but I'm realizing that the silver is not as sparkly or bright. I am interested in playing with the gold.  I now know that necklaces should not be long or chunky - around 16" - 18" in length is my guess. I have always incorporated stars so that will be fun. Round beads and circles are good. Everything should be light and bright.

I am anxious to get started. More later.

Lining up with my interests

I've gotten my studio reorganized and my computer moved to a more central location. I've got access to my galleries and my blogs so I am ready to start enjoying my creative adventures. I've done a lot of varied creative stuff in different mediums. I've done leather work, beading and lots of kumihimo braiding. It's time to appreciate what I have accomplished and have fun along the way as I explore more ways of making things.

Found Dog