Post 1--Because I'm a Slacker!

Happy Friday Y'all!   Yes it's that time again....

Where I raise my hand and cry uncle!   I definitely have been burning the candle at both ends and juggling many various balls but that's no excuse for being late or not keeping my word to my friends, family, and those that count on me to get xyz done.  This lesson keeps coming back into my life time and time again.  Repeating itself in different ways and for various reasons. One common thread though in it all is...ME.  haha.  Very revealing, isn't it?   When something is playing on repeat, do you keep letting it play over and over again or do you change the station? It's up to you?  Anyway, that's my long winded reflection that when I disappear, not finish things on time, or don't get back to people when I should I have no one to blame but myself for taking on more than I can chew a set time frame.

Have you ever felt that way?   I know the answer is to say no more often, not really no, but thank you I'd love to but I'll have to decline at this time because my schedule is overflowing with goodness!

Easier said than done!  I want to say YES to everything!  I hate even  complaining in the first place because it's a good thing to be busy in my business There's a difference, however, between being busy, and working on the 20% of the stuff that make up 80% that reap the most rewards.  When you are 'busy', generally if you are honest with yourself, you tend to be working on the 80%  of what only nets you the 20%

That scenario was illustrated recently when I was listening to a podcast the other day by Tim Ferriss in his promotion of his new book, "Tools of the Titans" which I ordered BTW (did I ever mention I was a podcast and a self help junkie)?? haha.  Anyway,  he listed 17 questions that changed his life once he started asking himself, especially during times of great stress and challenges.  One of the questions was, "Am I chasing Antelopes or Field Mice".   Field mice are the lions low hanging fruit, they are plentiful and a great snack for the Lion, they bring him a temporary pleasure and immediate gratification but if the lion only feasted on field mice, he'd die of starvation (or exhaustion chasing them).   BUT...if he chases the Antelope, it's not going to be an easy fight, he may even struggle a bit, but when he captures his prey, he will be satisfied and fulfilled for a long time.  It's a lasting fulfillment that is worth the challenge and pursuit in an effort to stay in the game.

I don't know the answer my friends...I really don't other than I'm grateful for it all and it's going to take constant effort to recognize what I should be doing and what I should be letting go of.

With all of that long winded explanation of how and why I've become a slacker lately--I want to announce a winner (VERY LATE ANNOUNCEMENT BTW) from this post back in November.

The winner will be sent a jampacked art journaling video and a pack of 24 tube watercolors!

And the winner is......

suzieq23 said...

I am so thankful for my wonderful family who are happy, healthy and the loves of my life. I cannot imagine life without them. Time passes by so quickly these days and I am so thankful for every minute I get to spend with them.

Suzie--please email me at jodiohl at hotmail dot com with your mailing address and I'll be happy to get the video out to you!





If anyone else is interested in the video which is 5 hours long-a video broadcast of the Art Journaling Live event that features myself, Mary Beth Shaw,  Nathalie Kalbach, and Ginna Rossi Armfield,   I'm going to put up a button here for you to purchase from me at a sale price!

The retail price is 49.99 but for a limited time, I can offer it for 39.99 with 6.00 shipping US.   



Buy Art Journaling Live 3 now and save 10.00!

Okay kids...I have more to share today (haha)...I go away for a week or more and then when I come back, you can't get rid of me!    Seriously, lots of goodness to come--too much for one post I might have to do 2 or 3. I'm definitely doing a newsletter today so if you aren't on that bad boy...what are you waiting for? Join me for several subscriber only specials coming at ya later today as well as some big news you'll be the FIRST to hear!

To sign up for my newsletter (which is published 2-3 times a month during the holidays and 1-2 times a month the rest of the year) click HERE.

Thank you so much everyone, have a great weekend if I don't 'see ya' back here!  Jodi

Becoming Your Best Self

Books:

I have to admit, on top of art books, I'm a bit of a self help, business book junkie :)


When you strive to do your best each and every day, it's helpful to understand what others have done in their lives and careers  to achieve great things so that you can apply that what is meaningful into your life.  In the end, no book can make you into a superstar. The super power you need to have to achieve greatness is something that a large majority don't really want to believe in-- that power is actually an action:  to simply do the work, and do that work well. Keep striving to do it even better than you did yesterday.   Books can help you grow, learn, discover, and become re-inspired.  They are also a quiet space for me,  curl up with my book, journal or even audio book/podcast and the world opens up again in a whole new way.

 Take time to discover words and experiences--here's a few of my current recommendations along with  items on my own wish list.   

Do you have any of your own recommendations? I'd love to hear what motivates, stirs, empowers, clarifies, and moves you!

Until Next Time!

Jodi

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Stop by the shop and see what's new!

HUNDREDS of Selections in this 80% off Special Plus new release preview!

This is by far my favorite time of year over at Interweave!  I wanted to share this special offer from my affiliate who will also be publishing on my new book coming out in November/December!!!


Here it is, up to 80% off their Hurt Book sale.  I've bought books every year during this special and I haven't had any that were really damaged.  Maybe a bend in a page or so....most are pristine!

  There are over 250 offers in the mixed media category alone!!   

Save Up to 80% During the Hurt Book Sale at Interweave

Click the image to take advantage of the special!

Offer valid 6/9/16-6/14/16

Grab your favorite selection before they sell out!!

Leap Day Special!

Now's the time to pick up one of my DVD's if you haven't all ready!  Save 29% over at the Interweave store on books, DVDs magazines, supplies and more!    Click the image to be taken to the shop!    Have a great leap Day!

New ACEO's and Some GOOD News!

I wanted to share with you some of my new ACEO's that I have been working on, only a couple of which will be available on my ETSY shop-the others are already spoken for. I have only done a few cards as part of my artistic endeavors so I felt the need to get this book to guide me along. They have one on Amazon for only 4.95 used so I definitely suggest anyone interested in this miniature art form to pick it up and learn more about it, there are some very cool techniques listed within the book. One of these days, I'd love to write a book on mixed media art techniques. Of course, I'll have to get better at what I do but I'm adding having a book published to my "bucket list".

Another thing I really wanted to do this year was to submit some of my work to a national magazine to be published. It's a scary thought to even do that because there's a good chance I'll be rejected but then again, I thought to myself--well it's really 50/50....they'll either say yes or say no. The odds aren't really bad when you think of them it those terms. It's definitely a NO if you don't do it, so why not? Well, I finally worked up the courage to put myself out there with the help of some friends encouraging me to do so. A new 'online' friend who was recently published (actually published several times) gave me additional guidance before and after my submission that really has helped me.

....and the good news is: My first submission was accepted and I am now working on an article for a large magazine in the art world!!! Whoooooohooooooooo!!! I'll give more details and issue date once everything is set in stone as I suppose anything can change between now and then, but as it stands right now, I should have something(s) published before the holidays!!!!!!! You have no idea how tickled I am but how scared I am that I will fall on my face..LOL. Debbie Doubter talking right now but her sister Positive Polly is the stronger of the two twins so I am going to plug away as if it's a done deal and do my best to make the August 1st deadline!
The moral of the story is, you must at least try--and sometimes try and try again if you really want something to happen. Inaction leads to sure failure; Action and motivation leads to accomplishments and achievements. I am so glad I bought the book The Secret as it really changed my mindset and has shown me how to believe in what I'm doing and live my life as if my goals are already achieved or on their way.
So maybe writing an art book isn't sooooo out of my reach. There are several online artists that have really catapulted their career over the last couple of years, one of which also has a book coming out early this fall. If you haven't ever checked out Kelly Rae's work, do so now!! You'll love her whimsical woman who are so very inspiring.
I love the name of her book....Taking Flight. I can totally relate to the meaning behind it.
Stay tuned for the rest of the story :)
Until then, have an artfully good week!

Friday favorites and Knitting Woes

It's been a busy, trying, stressful, sickly, blah, blah, blah week so big shout out for TGIF!! Glad I have two days to recuperate before it all begins again. I went from having a great day off on Monday to puking all nite and you know what else that early Tuesday morning to playing catch up with work feeling less than 100%. During the few minutes to myself I could spare this week, I finished The Road to Home by Vanessa Del Fabbro. It was a great story of two strong woman from the same country with totally different life experiences who bond in a fateful meeting at hospital in South Africa. Despite their differences, their friendship changes each other's lives forever. It was an interesting point of view, spoken through both of the main characters. It also opened my eyes to the struggles in South Africa which although I of course have known about, I just really did KNOW about what life is like for those that live there. I'd like to learn more actually, and that's what is so great about books, the learning the evokes from the guise of play. This was one of my yard sale finds from a couple of months ago. So, I think I deserve a big pat on the back for getting ahead of my commitment of one book a month. Yippee! I'm starting Drowning Ruth, but haven't read too far into it, maybe a page and half so I am not sure you can count that as being started. Since this is my space we'll say it's started!

I'd thought I'd share every once in awhile a few of my favorite pics...these particular ones I've been playing with my picture program. If you haven't checked out Picassa 2, it's a excellent freebie. Actually unbelievable to me how nice it is for a free download. I

My DS is ohhh I think about 3 in this picture. One of the only times I could get him to wear a hat. We were at Carowinds for a day trip with Mom and Sister and her boys when they all came in and visited me in North Carolina....in my now long gone cramped two bedroom duplex.



Here's DS again 2 years later with HIS dog, Bailey (well, Bailey is actually Ken's dog) but since he moved in with us, it's now Josh's dog. I've never been big on pets, not that I don't love animals but we pretty much stopped having pets when I was going up after one drowned in our pool and then the next one we had ate all of my Mom's furniture. (Remember Bear, Mom??? LOL) Whatever happened to Bear?? I think it's one of those childhood memories that are regressed until something in your adulthood triggers a flash of memory....oh I think I remember, he was adopted by a family without furniture and but had a big yard. LOL..no just kidding :)


I've been trying to knit and well, it's slow going and that's an understatement. I have ripped out the yellow yarn about 4 times. I tried to follow a pattern that had very simple instructions. Knit 4, Purl 4 (cast on 32 stitches), okay, so somehow I'm chugging along and I end up with about 86 stitches , no lie. I talked to one of my customers and she said that I must be doing a yarn over when I purl because that increases stitches. Okay, this is all Greek to me so I'm taking her word for it. I have no idea out to stop my increases, but if I ever want to make anything worthwhile, I better get the hang of it! Heidi sent me a swap package and it included a video on how to knit, and I really really got it, but somehow, putting it into play, I've lost it! I'm just posting this in case there's any fumbling knitters out there. Know that you are NOT ALONE!! I always feel better if I know I'm not the only one who struggles with something despite my best efforts!!

On to Pink and Brown news: I hope everyone has touched base with your partners to trade emails, addresses and tips about one another. If you haven't heard from your partner, please leave me a comment so I can get in touch with them or on Rebecca's blog and she'll do the same. I did get some goodies for my Partner(s) tonite. Whooo hooooo. I've been working on some crafts to for my peeps, but I'm having some troubles finding a good thrifted item. I have a few things I've picked up, because you know you can't walk by something when thrifting less you loose out on a good deal...so I have those goodies stashed away in case I decide to use them...they just aren't Pink AND Brown. I'm going to have to put my thinking cap on to make them work..lol.

So for the weekend the agenda looks like Pink and Brown Thrifting, Pink and Brown Crafting, Cleaning my Palace, and hopefully some good ole cooking for my crew.

Till we meet again!

Lucy