Craft room redo: Before and After

No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you.  And yes, you probably really are asking yourself "Where did all the color go?!" 

Friends, I went for it and in a mad dash, gave my craft room a makeover.  A clean slate if you will.  I knew it was coming.  The nesting feeling is "game on" since being in the waiting stages of adoption.  That combined with the fact that a shift has happened in my creative schedule the past six months or so had me ready for change.  Looking back to when the girls were babies, I actually had loads (like hours) of free time when they napped to paint and create.  Fast forward to now, where we have early-risers and no-nappers.  There just aren't big chunks of time at my disposal anymore. 

Do I believe I should just shrug off my desire to create and put it on hold to things slow down?  No, if I do that my fingers will ache for years and let's be honest, life never really slows down.  I simply must create!  I can literally feel my insides settle down and breathe a long "ahhhhh" when I paint or make.  So for now, I've found myself craving a fresh start, both literally and figuratively.  I've needed the space to figure out how creating looks in my life during this season, instead of always longingly referring to all my ideas in the past.  I'm so very proud of chasing my dreams like Rosy Retreats, but it's time to let things be new again.  No more turning to chapters read over and over.  It's time to face the blank page and see what new idea seeds sprout.  

I thought it would help to literally create a blank space in the craft room.  You can see my progress through the photos below.

 (This photo isn't staged to look like a mess.  It is really this messy.  This is real-life folks!)

 (getting there)

 I painted the walls with my favorite white (Behr, "unwind", the same as my kitchen table) and wanted to dance a happy dance at the sight of the plain white.  I have no idea why this big, blank space is speaking so much to me when there's nothing on the wall.  

The after! I see this blank space and imagine possibility here, there, and everywhere.  For now, I don't plan to cover it back up with more stuff.  Instead, it will stay blank. 

 A little shelf display..

Another little display with collected bits and treasures. 

(all photos taken with my iPhone)

I'll end with my thoughts I posted on Instagram yesterday that perfectly sum up me for now: 

It's time to start fresh, to step back a tiny bit from social media, but not completely, to spend time alone with just God and I, to trust that quiet can move mountains, to let God speak about the direction of my dreams and loosen my grip on the steering wheel. It's time for a new year-round schedule for my life as an artist, for really living rich without sharing every single bit, for chasing ideas just because they'd be crazy fun. It's time to remember that it's in God I trust, not in the Internet I trust. Time for breathing, resting, quiet, and wide open spaces. Time for real connecting and grace. This is my heart today.

Shop Update! (summer series)

Good morning friends! 

It may be dark and rainy outside, but it's bright and colorful at the Rosy Life today!

 My shop just got a pretty big update with my summer series! 

 There are some originals available, as well as 8x10 art prints!

You can check it out here!

These pieces are perfect for gifting….

as well as for decorating your home! 

So much joy has been put into each piece of art…

I pray you feel that.

As always, my "work" is never done!

This is a sneak peek at a work in progress that has surprised me and delighted me. 

We'll see where it ends up! 

Local gals, don't forget you can still read all about joining me for Craft night and sign-up here!

In the meantime.

"In the meantime" describes this little pocket of life quite well. 

I'm going to have a pretty big blog overhaul (thanks to Life Made Lovely and her design team) this summer, but in the meantime here I am.  I love this little blog.  Not for the fancy reasons like SEO (I know what that is, but don't use it) or for blog stats.  I love it for the stories.  I hope blogs never go out of style.  I keep reading here and there that people don't have time to read blogs anymore, that places like Instagram are better because you can cram more in, faster.  Basically, our minds must be the size of a gnat or hummingbird by now! 

Sure, I admit with my recent computer woes (which still aren't fixed, due to me) and with my real life becoming fuller (an answer to prayer) my blog has been treated more like a fast-food restaurant than a nice, long sit around the table. 

I'm not quite sure I like that one bit.  But I'd rather show up than not so I apologize if my hello's or how are you's or comments have been seriously lacking lately.  It's been grab and go around the blog lately.  

(this is our new art room/studio/workspace-Brett built me the table for Mother's Day!)

When I say that prayers have been answered I mean that this spring's story feels totally opposite of last spring and I'm glad.  Last year was all about big ideas and LOTS of ideas and running four miles a day and being too critical of my weight and saying hi to LOTS of people but not really connecting to any. 

This year is about sticking to a few ideas and going deep with them, instead of saying yes to everything that comes my way. It's about dating Brett well....and choosing chores and family and love over art.  It's about choosing to take care of my body because it is truly a temple of God but it's also about laying obsession aside.  It's about NOT being the gal that shows up at every table, apologizing for what she put on her plate.  It's about cooking good food with my cousin and closest friend Lillie, on Monday nights and enjoying every single bit.  

In college they tried to teach us about priorities.  I remember one skit with a large glass jar, big rocks, and sand.  The big rocks represented the most important priorities in our lives, the sand equaled the small stuff.  Without speaking they showed us what happened when the small stuff (the sand) was poured in first and then you tried to fit the big rocks (the real priorities) on top.   It just didn't fit.  

Next they put the real priorities in first (the big rocks) and then poured the small stuff in after (the sand).  The small stuff flowed and filled in nicely around the big priorities. 

That little object lesson is exactly how I would sum up spring so far.  Choosing the big rocks, the most important priorities.  There are some nights I want to paint or create but I remind myself how unfair and sad it would be if I chose that over building my relationship with Brett every time.  Sure there are exceptions.  But I can't fuel the fire of my art and business and leave the things that matter the most to me trailing behind.  And so, the blog and emails and blog comments and a whole handful of other things just haven't gotten my attention lately. 

I sense a change coming for the blog, but I just don't know what that will look like yet beyond the physical.  I'll be sure to keep you updated. 

In the meantime, here's to choosing grace for our bodies, love for our families, and the big rocks over the small sand. 

Because we're happy (like a room without a roof)

Good morning and afternoon and evening!  

Folks, we are happy, happy around here today.  In fact, I've been waiting for this day all week long.  Not because it's Friday (although that's good too) but because warmer temps and the bright sun showed up and word on the street is they don't plan on packing up 'till next week maybe.

 In other words, we've been set free from the cage of "stuck inside".  Can I get a hallelujah?!  And throw in an AMEN while you're at it.  I have all kinds of little ideas, posts, and photos to share with you but today is worth stopping for and just remembering exactly how it is.  Messy, imperfect, perfect. Anna Ruth and I started the morning off together.  We snuck into the kitchen and made pancakes.  (Gasp-the internet wouldn't work so we even had a little lesson on cookbook indexes to find a recipe).  She, of course, entertained me with adorable conversation.  

 Not too shabby, if I do say so myself.  I had a waffle with natural peanut butter and real maple syrup.  It was divine.  In fact, maybe I'll have another sometime this weekend…That is my favorite waffle combination..throw in a few cups of almost black coffee. Whoa. 

 As I started the morning chores the good 'ol negative energy that likes to show up in the winter decided to rear its ugly head.  We just don't do well living inside all the time!  We are not couch-sitting types of people.  Give me the garden, river, lake, and cows any 'ol day.  I held the girls off as long as I could then gave them the "go ahead!" to get ready for outside.  Boots and coats went on over pi's and off we went.

 Anna Ruth frequently asks to do "Messy kitchen play" so that was first on our priority list.  

 She even baked me a delicious cake.  Outdoor cafe? Yes, please.

 Us Torbett girls sure know how to roam.  We delight in a whole lot of fun out of a little bit of nothing. I don't see it as boredom at all, but rather a challenge.  How much fun can we have today with nothing obvious in sight to play with? I love that kind of thinking.  We ventured off on a "nature walk"..which is kind of a funny thing to say considering we live on a farm so everywhere is nature!  

 What goodies we found!  I teach the girls there are always treasures to be found, if you only look close enough.  Yes, even when the color scheme outdoors is dull brown and gray.  I adore the lacy pattern on these leaves...

 and the bright green moss and dried flowers and plants we discovered.  So much texture!  

 We decided today would also be a good time to pull out one of our Christmas presents, the microscope!  Bound to make almost anything more interesting.  Betsy Grace didn't quite grasp the concept no matter how many times I showed her and ended up using them like glasses.  

 I was so proud when Anna Ruth excitedly squealed and showed me a bird's nest!  Sometimes it feels like I'm doing such a bad job parenting, to be honest.  But then I hear my girls appreciating God's nature or saying "Mama-look at the sky", or mimicking a bird.  And I think to myself, I must be doing all-right.  Does that make sense to anybody?

 Once we came in for lunch, the day got even better!  My neighbor friend texted and asked if she could come over.  After assuring her she was welcome any time, she and I got to visit while the girls ate lunch and watched cartoons.  Isn't it something when you have a friend who doesn't  notice your makeup free face, your messy hair and house?  

It's heaven on earth, that's what it is.  

 I am learning lately how I often trade the cheaper, less quality of things in life for the best and suffer for it.  And I suppose I don't really mean "things" at all.  Like not inviting people over because I'm admittedly tired and my house doesn't look the cleanest leaves me feeling empty and lonely.  I'd much rather have a house full and just be myself.  That leaves my cup full and overflowing.  Some of the most tired people I know are the ones trying to be it all, do it all, and look perfect along the way. I can say that because I've been there too. 

Today, standing among the messy floor, in my regular mom clothes chatting with one of my best friends….I felt happy.  Like a room without a roof.  And real.

 Of course today has also included a bit of art.  I've been trying to stay disciplined about getting up before the girls and enjoying some time in the studio.  This mornings task was to tidy up!  I just finished a painting I love and have many ideas for blog posts, retreats, activities with my girls, etc…so I needed a blank space (well, sorta) to let those things grow in. 

 I'm just loving how the background paper is looking on my counter! 

 What a nice little treat today has been! Gimme all the sunshine and outdoors my body can hold.  The girls (and Brett) and I plan on spending hours and hours outdoors this weekend. Glorifying God and thanking him for a bit of a break from being stuck indoors (which we do try to make the most of…but we're happy to be free for a few days).

 I have all kinds of artsy stuff in mind, but lately I've been reminding myself of Momastery's blog post recently…that we are enough, we have enough, there is enough.  Meaning, pausing to rest or fill back up with ideas and inspiration doesn't mean we're missing out or losing opportunities or going too slow.  Believe there is enough.  That God is our provider.  That He brings opportunities and jobs and ideas….they aren't snatched away because we needed a pause.  I remind myself that I'm a real human being on this side of the computer.  That it's ok to need real life self care…real good dates, a nap, art journal time galore.  

And so, that's just what I plan on giving myself permission to do.  

I've had an army of fillings and a crown put on this week (don't ask) so a bit of a toothache is causing me to remember…rest my child, just rest.   

Here's to being happy, like a room without a roof this weekend. 

GO,

play,

laugh and giggle and snort,

take a bath,

read a book,

draw,

say something,

say nothing,

dance,

listen to goooood music,

eat a plate of really great food,

ease up on yourself,

invite grace and goodness in,

tell perfectionism to leave,

thank God,

linger,

go slow,

watch Parenthood,

notice the light,

light a candle,

take a photo of something that delights you,

be kind.

here.