Recap: Handmade Valentine Swap

I hope everyone had a lovely Valentine’s Day! I wanted to post a short recap (meaning, lots of pictures!) about the handmade valentine swap I recently participated in hosted by Lyndsey at The Stationery Place. I had so much fun creating the valentines and sending them out, but I’ll admit, it was even more fun waiting for mine to come in the mail! It’s no secret, I love receiving mail. Anticipating handmade valentines from all over the country and world made that much more exciting and my swap partners did not disappoint!

Here are some pictures of the cards I received and links to my swap partners blog posts about their valentine’s day swap experiences

All my valentines! (Minus a yummy package of hot chocolate, which I consumed fairly quickly upon receipt.) I love how pretty everything is together!

I love all the different textures and details Allyl used for the envelope, so pretty! (And the hot chocolate she included was awesome!) Thanks Allyl! 

I received this lovely card from Christine of Christhingsss in the Philippines! I absolutely love the stamps she used. I was super excited to read her post on the swap and then wait for my valentine to arrive.  Thanks Christine! 

I love the fun little addition Brianne from The Ravenna Girls included and all the creative items she used to make her valentine! I really enjoyed reading about her process in her blog post. She also reminded me how much I want to visit Daiso, a local Japanese dollar store I have heard so much about and can’t wait to go check out for myself.  Thanks Brianne! 

I’ll admit, it took me a long time to open this sweet valentine from Nikki of The Salty Pineapple, I just love the unique additions to the outside! The string, lock and key, so sweet!  The inside was just as awesome too. I absolutely love the silver doily style paper and the awesome heart pin she crafted!  Thank you Nikki! (and I totally agree, a little glitter definitely makes everything fabulous!)

A huge thanks again to Lyndsey for hosting the swap and all my wonderful swap partners! You are fabulous!

Until next time! XO –
Michaela

A Handmade Valentine’s Day.

Happy (early) heart day, everyone! One of my favorite childhood memories of Valentine’s Day has always been making a little mailbox to keep on my desk and collect valentines from my classmates.  While I no longer create those little mailboxes, I still love creating handmade valentines to share. Thankfully, there are others who share my enthusiasm out there.

This is the second year I have participated in the handmade valentine swap hosted by the wonderful Lyndsey who runs The Stationery Place, a fantastic blog featuring fabulous and unique stationery.  (If you haven’t already checked it out, be sure to stop by and take a look! I guarantee you’ll get the urge to pick up some stationery and send a fun card or letter through the mail!)

I was so happy to see her post about hosting the swap again and couldn’t wait to get started! Last year I had so much fun and received some of the sweetest (and coolest) valentines. Once she sent out the swap partners, I got to work.

My valentines were slated to go to San Diego, North Dakota, the Philippines and just across town in Seattle. I’ll admit it, I was pretty stoked to get an international destination on my list. I absolutely love connecting with people and across the globe is just too much fun!

Since I already spend a lot of time crafting cards, I wanted to include something a little extra this time around. I’ve been working with polymer clay a lot lately so putting the two together was a pretty easy combination.

I rolled some clay out and made an impression with one of my heart stamps, then attached it to the end of a large paper clip.  Bookmark, decorative paper clip, or just a plain decoration- it could be used multiple ways. Making them was so fun and easy, I plan on making more with different colors and designs.  I really hope they make it to their destination’s in good shape.

I can’t wait to see what fun valentines make their way to my mailbox this year! I’ll be sure to update once I open my valentines and snap some pictures to share.

What fun things do you do for Valentine’s Day? Do you participate in any card swaps? Would love to hear what you do to celebrate and spread some love!

Until next time friends! XO – Michaela

 

Creating Imagination.

“Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will.” – George Bernard Shaw

Happy New Year, everyone! During 2012, I focused a lot of time on developing myself and creating more art.  While I have mostly only shared my photography and experiences up to now, art has played a huge role in my life and I realized there is no better place (or time) than here (and now) to start sharing it.

Looking back, I have been creating things for as long as I can remember.  From my Aunt giving me my first camera and teaching me how to use a sewing machine, to my Nana teaching me embroidery and giving me my first Sculpey clay set.  I’ve spent a lot of time trying out different things and I love experimenting with new crafts, but my love for photography and sculpey clay has always come back to the forefront.

I’ll be honest, I had a pretty difficult time narrowing down my interests and really deciding what direction I wanted to go in with my art. Over the past couple years I have spent a lot of time experimenting with different crafts, mediums and projects, connecting with other artists/crafters and volunteering for different craft shows.  After those experiences and also receiving some great advice and encouragement from EtsyRAIN group members, I finally feel like I know what direction I am moving in and am excited to get to it.

That being said, I am currently in process of opening my own Etsy shop to share my creations with the world, but in the meantime I would like to share with you some fun little characters I recently created.  What I enjoy most about creating these characters, is bringing out imagination.  I cannot help but think of amazing adventures and stories for these little guys when I look at them and my goal is to share that excitement with others.

What adventures can you think of? I would love to hear your stories and ideas!

Until next time, XO
-Michaela

Community.

“Creativity is the power to connect the seemingly unconnected.” – William Plomer

It’s been a while, but I wanted to write about a local Instagram meetup I attended last month.  I have always had a love for photography and Instagram has helped fuel that passion even more.  The ability to instantly share photos, connect with other photographers and creatives, and also find inspiration is such an amazing tool for me.

I was lucky to find the Instagramers Seattle group.  They have already had such a positive impact on me by selecting one of my photos that was included in their mobile photography show, but through the group I have also met so many awesome people and feel like I am truly part of a growing community.

As I mentioned earlier, I attended a recent meetup (or Instameet as us gramers like to call it) where we celebrated the Instagramers Seattle one year anniversary. While I haven’t been active since their beginnings, everyone I  have met has welcomed me in with open arms.  It is such a wonderful feeling to have this kind of outlet.  To be around so many creative and genuinely kind people is contagious. Meeting every single person has been a great joy. We are all so different, yet alike immediately  because we share our connection through Instagram.   In addition to just finding more local people to share my passion, it has also given me the ability to grow a strong network of support, and if you are any kind of artist/creative/what have you, you know how important having support can be.

The team behind this group is amazing.  They are all wonderful and heartwarming individuals that make me want to do more to help this community continue to grow.  I hope this is just the beginning for such an amazing group.

Have you become a part of a community that helps and inspires you?  If you don’t have one, I encourage you to build one.  It might seem like a daunting task, but honestly even if you can find one person that shares a single passion with you, it can happen.  Start small, don’t give up, it takes time for things to grow.  But grow they will.  I would love to hear your stories.

Until next time –
XO,
Michaela Rose

Party People.
We explored the wonderful Olympic Sculpture Park on the waterfront.

Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent. – Dalai Lama

I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be. – Douglas Adams

I took my little Rosie along for the day.  She was intrigued for a while, but soon grew bored when the birds she was chasing disappeared.  

Here is a great shot of Rosie hanging out with a few fellow gramers while we were all lined up to do the famous, jumpstagram.
Photo by @Barbro

Instagramers Seattle, Instameet group shot. Say, “We love IGers Seattle!”

Dream Come True.

“Follow your dreams, for as you dream you shall become.” – Author unknown

My chosen photography, “Testing the Waters”

This past weekend I fulfilled a childhood dream. To have one of my photographs featured in print at a public place. I am honored (and honestly still relishing) that one of my Instagram shots was chosen to be included the Summer Vibes//Be Mobile Exhibit, hosted by Igers Seattle & We Are Juxt.  The exhibit included mobile photographers from all around the state and the opening was truly a community gathering full of talented people. I am so thankful to have had the experience and am now even more inspired to try to put something together on my own.  Someday… but for now, I will enjoy the moment, the experience, and the new friendships I am so grateful to have made.

Neptune Coffee, the fabulous host for the show.

My photograph included with the others up on the wall.

What dreams have you fulfilled? What dreams have you quit pursuing?  I say follow your dreams, make them happen! Don’t let the little things get in the way.  One of my favorite songs by the Dave Matthews Band sums it up perfectly, here is an excerpt:

But rushing around seems what’s wrong with the world,
Don’t lose the dreams inside your head,
They’ll only be there til you’re dead,
Dream.
Dream little darling dream.

– Dave Matthews Band, You’ll Never Know

Dream on, friends!
Until next time-
XO, Michaela Rose