Before I started my post I wanted to let you know I have an email subscribe through feed burner to the right, so submit your email address and you will get an email notification when I update my blog.
I have participated in the One Little Word journey for the past few years.. last year was possibilities, the year before that was appreciate….. Most of you know on some level, last year was not an easy year for me. I came out standing, but barely. So honestly, my heart just hasn’t been into most things it is normally. It has taken a TON of effort to get back in my studio creating again, i think i burnt myself out a little bit with my hectic fall. I’m looking towards 2012 with a positive outlook. I try to remind myself that although 2011 was a tough one, it could’ve been a lot worse. I have started jotting down my daily thoughts in my “one line a day” book again- this is a good place for me to post what I am grateful for, or even to jot down my frustrations.
I chose “brave” for my word this year. Ali Edwards had posted on twitter late December, asking us if we had in mind what our word was going to be. I replied that after having the word “possibilities” last year, I’m afraid to come up with a word for 2012. Ali responded that maybe my word should be “brave” then. I took that word and, lived with it for a few days… I thought about it, slept with it.. lived with it. It seemed to fit. I needed to remind myself that whatever life throws at me, i am brave enough to deal…
I plan on following my prompts from Ali’s class, that I collected last year.. i really hope to embrace this word this year- and i’m starting to get excited about what it may bring to me 
To honor my One Little Word, and Yours- I have added in my easy shop the option to get your One Little Word done on a custom canvas by lil ol me!! Here are some examples, but be sure to hop on over to my shop to see more details!
1. Lianne Gray 2. source unknown 3. source unknown 4. alysia
if you have been following my blog this year, you are aware of the many obsticales i have been faced with. Switching up my instructor rolls, and no longer working with a muse. A crazy busy spring where most of which I didn’t even get into on here (i.e. a scrapbook company falsely charging my personal checking account keeping my acct in negative for over a month etc, crop on the cape etc etc). The announcement of Colorful Creations closing… a shock to me and a loss of the job I have had for over 8 years…..
As much as I know everything happens for a reason, there is the initial panic attack when something like this happens…. In June I lost a childhood friend, Keegan Heavey to cancer. I was immediately reminded (again) how short life can be, and how I am lucky and blessed in life.
As soon as i got out of the fog and started to put one foot forward… things started to fall into place…
If you follow me on facebook, you may have already guessed i DO have a new job!
I have been offered and accepted a position at Providence College for Web Production Coordinatior. I am super excited on SOO many levels… I’m excited to get more into a graphic design field (what I went to college for) I’m excited at the opportunity to learn SO many new things… I’m excited to work for Dan again, whom I did in college as well.(it’s a small world!) I am excited to leave the life of retail behind me, which I have been in since I was 15! Have I mentioned I am excited!!!???
I will miss seeing all my regulars on a regular basis, but i know i have made friendships over the years that will not go away just because the store is. I will miss working with Jayne.. and all of the {creative chicks} but once again, I know we have created friendships that will last a lifetime
I will still continue to travel and teach.. I already have classes planned for the fall at Ink About It, Papercraft Clubhouse, Absolutely Everything and the Crop Shop…. and now that I know how i’m going to pay my bills I can focus on booking more classes as well!
I am still going to open an etsy shop with my canvases, and complete the custom orders I took at the Handmade market in June.
Make sure you “like” my artist page on facebook to be the first to know more details about these fun adventures!
I am not moving from the island... I love where I live and if I can make it work to continue to live there, I will… if not… I will deal with that when the time comes.
My last shift at the store is July 28th, and I begin my new adventure on August 1st. This week is filled with planned fun events with friends… amazing burger lunch, Chart room beverages outside.. my last FREE thursday night, beach visits, and shopping for a whole new wardrobe ( i can’t wear flip flops.. but i can wear dressy open toe sandals *phew*)
Thank you, thank you thank you for all the encouraging words, the fingers, legs, arms and toes crossing…. etc etc etc… it was all fabulous and made me smile from ear to ear… i truly have some of the best friends a girl could ask for
And i’ll leave you with this pic that steph took of me in preparation of 2011… little did i know HOW much this was going to be true 
(stay tuned for more july blog post features starting tomorrow!!! and hopefully more bidding )
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