Overwhelmed with ideas

I've been so inspired lately! So many things I want to try, work on, improve upon. Of course I'm always wishing I had more time to pursue these endeavors. Who doesn't?
Let me make a little list just to kinda organize my thoughts:

1. Work on my photography, get out and play, experiment with colors, textures, emotions. I've done photography for friends and family and I've even got some referrals for new contacts. I want to further this business opportunity but it seems intimidating. I feel like everything has to be perfect in order to start this small business. Why can't I realize it doesn't and I need to take this leap of faith? What's going to push me in that direction?
Speaking of this, I want to share the birth announcements I did in February. I had so much fun with just the newborn photography session alone. Then when the cards came and the mama distributed them I got so much wonderful praise! That's the whole objective for me, to hear how happy it makes the family. I'm fulfilled if I've achieved this goal!

I was very happy with the print job on these. I've used this printer a couple other times for Holiday cards so I knew they were a good choice. I printed these on a 5" x 7" double-sided cardstock.

2. Etsy
Yep, I wanna hop on the bandwagon. This is such a gorgeous community of talented artists. I want to join the fun!
You won't believe this but I actually found this sweet site a little over a year ago. (Is that right Amanda? Or was it longer?) Can't remember what magazine I was reading but I instantly checked it out and recommended it to a friend who wanted to sell her handcrafted goods online. Why didn't I join back then? Don't know for sure but I know it's been upgraded and enhanced lots since then.
Again, I want to prepare before I just "jump on". I want to offer something different, something unique to me. I want to incorporate my love of photography and paper arts. I'm thinking of using some of my photos from Paris and Venice. hmm, new project ideas, etc. Let me just sit down and create!

3. The Gym
Don't know if I've mentioned this before but my husband is addicted to the gym. He works out everyday without skipping a beat. Working out to him is like being crafty to me. He feels yucky without his daily workout. I want to embrace this lifestyle so bad. He usually works out at night after work but for the last couple of months he's been waking up at 4:45 am and hitting it before work. I told myself that when I got home from China I was going to start going with him. I want to look at it as our "together time" instead of workout time. We don't get to spend a ton of time together during the week and this extra amount will be so nice. Especially if I'm bettering my health at the same time!

I want to close this post with some inspiration so you can feel as jazzed as I do lately. Inspiration to me comes in so many ways. Websites, poems, quotes, stories, spending time chatting with people you love. I've recently received all of the above. I spent last weekend down at the condo in Lake of the Ozarks. My dad's been down working on his house in Florida since January. This past weekend he and mom drove home and we all met in the middle. I really needed this time with him! He's so good at inspiring me whether he knows it or not. So yay that he's home now!

So here goes:
love this site that came in Ali E.'s newsletter today, can't wait to sit down with my own "pencil crayons" and create ~ I love life

great photography advice that's updated all the time and such an interesting format, (check out the how-to section) ~ Simple Photo Minute

and a great quote I found in my mom's issue of Guideposts last night:
"Prayer is not asking for what you think you want, but asking to be changed in ways you can't imagine." -Anne Lamott from her new book, Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith
this is so true and I really need to remember it in regards to all my "ideas" as stated above!

And I'll leave you with a project I did awhile ago but never posted. A good friend at work was cleaning out her stained glass studio and brought a couple of these clear glass pieces in to share. I knew I could figure out a cool project with it! I decoupaged the paper and photo to the back of the glass making sure to leave some gummed edges to give it a vintagy feel. See the small crack in the lower corner? I like it that much more for the character it gives the piece.
This sits in my studio and I'm always happy to walk in and see it. The photo is from our enagement session back in 2002!
Thanks for looking~

Comments

[Sarah]

ohmygoodness! i can't take this all in. haha. for starters, everyone LOVES kallie's birth announcement. it's beautiful. :)

i'm going to check out that photography site! have i ever showed you my friend's website, dear? bradleyjensen.com -- you could easily get inspired from him, too! both brad and yourself have similar styles i think. he majored in graphic design and is doing this by himself.. so i know you could too!!!

& i love that quote. i'm saving it.

& that stained glass frame thing is the neatest thing i have ever seen! man cara, you inspire me. can we scrap together and play together soon?

i miss you!!

[kelly]

: ) beautiful piece Cara! : )
Good luck to you as you work out your dreams! : ) Sounds like you've put lots of thought into it... : ) Now comes the doing and that can be scary sometimes, eh? : )
-kelly

[Amanda Willey]

Not sure how long ago, I suppose I could check out my "member since" on my store page. A year sounds about right.
On to more important stuff -
Follow your dreams!!! Take a leap of faith, I am still leaping, but I know that as long as I have good friends like you to keep me inspired, everything will turn out right!

[Cari Locken]

Love those announcements you posted.
And this project is incredibly beautiful Cara!! WOW!!!
How ya doin' girl?! It's been a while since we talked last so I hope you are doing well.

[Kerri]

You are one of a few people, Cara, who are gorgeous inside and out and are also able to create beauty, not only with your hands, but also with your words, for others to appreciate. So glad you are you - mind, body, and spirit.

[k-joi studios]

I lurk on ETSY, just haven't got anything I could sell there right at the moment. I can't wait to see what you come up with! LOVE the project with the leaded frame! The photo is so beautiful!