Rest is IMPORTANT to FLOURISH.

Hi friends!! It's been a WHILE!

I just got back from Florida. I was visiting my family, and had the pleasure to 'meet' my nephew! Yay! 

While i was there, computer-less, i spent a majority of my time exploring my creativity in ways i don't often allow myself to do here in NY. My mom bought me a NEON EXPLOSION of fun crafty things! [sharpies, colored pencils and the COOLEST pencil pouch i've ever seen!!]

I spent time hugging doggies [they have three] and swimming everyday. I learned that computer FREE days are so IMPORTANT. I spent a lot of time just being with friends and family, but i spent a SIGNIFICANT amount of time writing, drawing, and coming up with new designs, and planning my current and future projects.

It's funny.. as artists we wish we had the time to work more on crafty things and less on business things... but this past week I learned that spending a TON of time using your right brain is EXHAUSTING. I guess the balance is okay for now... [even if i still wish i allowed myself to be crafty more often]

All and all it was a good trip and a good reminder how IMPORTANT rest is for not only my body, but for my career too!

Is there anything you've learned [about yourself] recently? I'd LOVE to hear about it! :)

Happy Wednesday friends!!

-Jenipher

Interesting...... na-doodle

So...my friend Tara sent this to me this morning and oddly enough, it's pretty accurate which COMPLETELY surprises me. 

I know it's kind of long, so i don't blame you if you didn't want to read it all. Ha. But i wanted to share anyways!
-------------------------------------------- 

"jen,

You love a good time. You are generally happy, friendly, and outgoing. You have a gift for gab. You are very witty, creative, and playful. You inspire and entertain people. You are considered by many a great companion.

You have a gift for self expression and are drawn to the verbal arts -- writing, acting, singing, and poetry. You may have a great talent in one of these areas. If your creativity is blocked or suppressed, you tend to daydream and fantasize. Your imagination needs a constructive outlet; otherwise, it may run away with you.

If you fail to deal honestly with your inner nature, you may succumb to compulsive talking. Such behavior may be merely a way of siphoning off emotional energy that is building beneath your surface. Your deeply felt emotional life cannot be avoided or suppressed. But you possess the talent to channel these feelings into highly creative and artistic form. Art and self-expression are your outlets.

You need discipline to make full use of your abilities. Too often, you may scatter your energies in many directions, beginning projects that are never finished and never really succeeding in anything.

You success depends on your ability to commit to your work and to see it through to completion. You have so much creativity and inspiring upward energy that you are in desperate need of an anchor. Hard work and discipline serve this purpose and bring out the best in you.

Because you are gifted with such a sparkling personality, you are tempted to stay on the surface and play with life.

You have the potential to live a very full and successful life thanks to your talent for artistic self expression. The key to your success is a balance between the creative forces and self-disclose."

Happy SUNday lovely folks!
Jenipher 

Opperation: Daily Pretty.

Today's colored doodle is something i have to constantly remind myself.
How about you?
Have you learned this GEM yet?

smiles to ya'll.
Jenipher :)

fear = excitment

Perfectionist;

Pronunciation: /pər-ˈfek-shə-ˌniz-əm/
: a disposition to regard anything short of perfection as unacceptable
especially : the setting of unrealistically demanding goals accompanied by a disposition to regard failure to achieve them as unacceptable and a sign of personal worthlessness.

In essence...ME.

I am a HARDCORE perfectionist, which has hindered my life for over 20 years. In fact..the reason i haven't even written in this blog in SO long, along with not cooking, disliking my own business i spend hours creating, and hindering other areas of my life, relationships and physical body, are due to an unhealthy addiction of perfectionism.

It seems like a logical thing for many folk to just say "it doesn't have to be perfect" "it's great the way it is" "just DO it!" or "good enough". But...my brain has never understood this way of thinking.

Instead... I reject myself, countless times, regardless of how much support I'm given, because nothing. was EVER enough.

Perfect enough.

Pretty enough.

Creative enough.

Thin enough.

Smart enough.

After talking with a consular, and some INCREDIBLE people in my life [Hello friends IRL and from Dream Boogie!!!] I am FINALLY making the brilliantly large task of taking the steps to REALISE and microMOVE away from this fear of un-perfection and failure.

It scares me to write this; for fear has always been my security blanket...but life is not fun this way, and will not FLOURISH in the way[s] i have faith it will if i continue to wear my perfectionism [and in return FEAR] as my [pseudo super hero] cape.

A very wise women named SARK told me tonight that FEAR and EXCITEMENT come from the same part of the body. Enjoy the exhilaration of fearful excitement!

I challenge you to take a step in the same direction!!

Smiles to you,

Jenipher :)

Eek! Grant day!

i'm so short, the mike nearly fell down from adjusting it. ha!

I know i was kind of non-existent for a good portion of last year, so i don't quite remember if i mentioned the excitement of a professional development grant i applied for.. alas...i applied for a grant from United Arts. This grant helps professional working artists make their dreams a little easier to come true. :)

It was VERY HARD work, and took months to complete but i was proud of myself i did it. Today was the grant paneling, which is essentially a meeting where they ask you about your project to see if it sounds legit. The paneling was held all day in a really stellar indie movie theater in Winter Park. I was extremely nervous so my [illustrator] friend Julissa met me there to give me hugs and moral support.

enzian ^

eek! ^

I went up at 1pm, [the first one after lunch!!] and was [knee shaking] nervous, but I honestly think i did pretty well, even when they questioned my grant. Everyone was very friendly, and my scores did go up after my paneling which I'm very thankful for.

I find out on February 4th if i receive one of the grants, and I'm eagerly awaiting the response. Either way, this experience helped me really develop what my goals for my life and business are; which is a glorious thing indeed.

that's me! ^

i looked perdy cute in my 'business casual' attire. I'm happy about that. :]

I can't express in words the gratitude i have for everyone who has encouraged and helped me along the way. It's such a lovely feeling to know that other people think I'm headed in the right direction to make my dreams come true.

I hope you have someone[s] who remind you they have faith in yours too! If not, PLEASE let me know. I'll send some encouragement your way!!

mucho love,
Jenipher

Creative Endevors..

“With each project I begin I’m reminded of the importance of listening, of appreciating and taking advantage of all the creative, dynamic and wonderfully bizarre people in my life. And like any good listener, I know it’s my duty to share this wealth of influence with others. “ - Ashley Olsen via Jeremy.



The worlds getting in the way of my blogging and creativity again..but I'm so inspired right now by others it's ridiculous! Here's my crafty and exciting goals for right now...

* Make shrinky dinks with friends tonight!

* Work on my etsy and new jewels tomorrow morning with a friend at Panera.

* Have a crafty evening inspired by Rachel's creative journal class on Saturday with a my friend Nikki.

* Meet up with a bunch of crafty local artists on Monday night!

PS: Does anyone know how to make the font on blogspot pretty colors? I saw it done before on another blog but don't know how.

Inspiration Wanted!!

I'm having trouble paying attention today. I'm at my favorite tea house, drinking wonderful tea and eating my FAVORITE cookie, and yet, i can't concentrate. I'm having inspiration block, having issues writing descriptions to update my Etsy and website. It's bumming me out! No worries though. I'm thankful i still have the whole beautiful day ahead of me, plenty of things to get done, and a fun date planned for Riley and I later tonight.

I hope your all having a inspirational day!!