Eda Doreen

:: shine ::

“ Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”
- Buddha

I have actually been burning the candle at both ends of late. Its not like it was a bad thing, but eventually it does burn from both ends until you’re left holding the wick at the center and then you get burnt.

Yesterday was a great day for me. I got up, I drank coffee and I felt a sense of release. Not from the stresses that have bothered me of late, but in my mind and in my heart. I felt ok, you can do this Sam. Get up, and change. So I did. I thought differently yesterday. I walked differently yesterday. And for the most part I went to bed with a smile on my face, not running from fear for a change. Because it left. I said goodbye to the fear and uncertainty, and judgment I had on my own soul that was entangling my stability in life. I took an oath with my heart to let go of my fears, and to walk in the light again. That’s not an easy task when it seems much easier to walk in the shade, and stop along the way.
But its okay now, and I feel it. No more fear, no more tears, just an inner strength to shine. And that all I want to do. Shine.

I will be off now to write my end of semester major paper on a respected and honored Roman Emperor.

Have a wonderful day my friends,

Shine on !

 

 

:: examining life as we see it ::

 "this soul or life within us, by no means agrees with the life outside of us. If one has the courage to ask her what she thinks, she is always saying the very opposite to what others may say " -marcus aurelius

It has been a long time since writing on my blog. I disapeared for a while. Perhaps not for the better, but for the case of learning, loving, and losing the three L's all encased in a tiny litte box we call 'life'. I have been studying hard, and working hard. I have been slacking off on my shop a little by closing it for a long time as well, which I do not believe benefited my inner creative soul for the very least. But I think now I am actually beginning to breathe again. I was drowning there for a while, in a sea of emotions, and swimming against the high tide every day, or so it seemed. I lost my best friend, and hope to recover that friendship some day, but now is not the time. I think denial is a foe and for many months, it was my friend. I cherish not my actions so much in the past, but my intuition in talking to me softly, for every breath that I take. Thankfully, I did not lose myself, and although I was told I did, over and over, I found the strength to gain the momentum in coming up for air, every time a wave of panic would hit me.

Our inner soul is not accustomed to the world around us. It is something we are only able to grasp if we truly listen to our hearts. I had the courage to ask my own soul the questions in needing and wanting to find happiness, and albeit, although others may not agree with what my heart and soul are now in love with, I cannot control this, nor do I wish or ever want too. What others say, I do the opposite. I feel the opposite, and breath the opposite of normality.

Change is a good thing in life. It enables us to grow slowly, one day at a time.

Smiles to those who care, and listen .

Sammi xx

 

:: FEATURE SELLER!! ADELE BASHEER ::

"A leader has the vision and conviction that a dream can be achieved. He inspires the power and energy to get it done." - Ralph Lauren

 

So I am so super exited today to finally feature a fantastically motivational woman, who I can proudly say has been my first and foremost inspiration from the very start of my creative career. About 10 years ago, I walked into a small gift shop in Warne Ponds, in Geelong, looking for the perfect card to share how I felt to my friend. I stumbled across Adele Basheers, magnets, greeting cards, and mini journals, and ever since have loved her inspiring words, and collective creations of which make people smile, laugh, and feel like they matter in a world full of millions.

So, today, after Adele so kindly took the time out to answer a few questions that begged to be asked, I am featuring her interview regarding her start of her small business to a super huge global rise, what inspires her as a business woman, and how we can be inspired by her.

So take it away Adele, and thanks a bunch for sharing with us all :)

 

 

Intrinsic  - Adele :)

 

Who is Adele ?

She's a slightly crazy, people loving, socially inclined entrepreneur who believes (nearly all of the time) that anything is possible!

What is Intrinsic?
Intrinsic is a magical place where dreams are created, relationships are healed, love is celebrated - and where you are encouraged to be the best you can be.

What inspires you to create the beautiful phrases, and products you represent?

Oh thank you : )

When I'm writing a card – particularly a longer verse, I'm nearly always inspired by someone I know. Our sympathy card was inspired by my grandfather who passed away many years ago. How I coped with his death is what I wanted to share with others to comfort them in their time of sadness. When friends of ours were going through some relationship challenges a few years ago I wrote a card for them about lasting love. Nearly all of our love cards are written for Jamie. I think people connect with the words because they are written with real people in mind.
We've just created and produced our first range of stationery all on our own and I was very much the muse for the range – both in terms of the messages and the design and colour.

For those of us who are starting out in our creative careers, what tips can you give to us?

Passion, Vision, Commitment, Action. They go hand in hand to making a success out of what you love.   

Know what you want. Don't worry about what other people are doing or not doing – just know yourself better. In the early years I'd sometimes get worried that we weren't growing as fast as some of the other start-ups at the time. Many of those business are no longer around.

 

 

Who inspires you the most?
I'm inspired by ordinary people who overcome obstacles to make a difference, or do what they love.....oh, and the Dalai Lama. 

Where do you see yourself as an artist in five years from now?

I'm studying psychology at them moment and I see people being my future canvas....I can't wait to colour their world!

What is your favorite Color?

I guess I'm really am a rainbow kind of a girl! Although Intrinsic is known for the “Adèle Basheer” quotes, it is our distinctive colour palettes that capture peoples attention. Colour has to resonate with me – and I can be known to play and play until I achieve just the right tone. It could be a rich yellow with just the right amount of 'butter' or a soft pink with a dash of peachiness for warmth. 
Of course I definitely have favourites. Right now I love rich, regal purple and deep fuschia pink against earthy tones. My home studio is a shade between Tiffany and Duck Egg Blue with just a little less green – a colour I mixed myself! And I have eight different shades of red lipstick in my purse!

I owe my colour sense to my grandmother, a master craftswoman and my mother, a textile artist who each transferred their passion for colour to me. 

Chocolate or coffee?

One good Italian coffee in the morning. But if I'm in Paris or New York, I can't go past La Maison Du Chocolat without a special treat!

How do you deal with stress?
When I'm being my best self, I meditate. This is the best antidote to stress I've ever found. 

Time management is an acquired and learned process, how do you juggle your time between marketing, promoting, creating, and of course family!?
Mmm....big question! I don't feel I've mastered the art of time-management   but I'm pretty good at time-juggling!

One reason Jamie and I began Intrinsic was to spend more time with our kids, Sam and Livvi, while they were young. We really contained Intrinsic's growth in the early days when we worked from home while the kids were at school. 
Nearly all of our holidays were working holidays. We'd visit different states to see stores and take orders, and as the kids were with us we became masters  at balancing fun excursions between appointments.

Jamie and I were very hands on in every aspect of our business. I spent days writing verses, he would sell the cards into the stores and at nights we would make and decorate the cards that were sold. Every Friday morning was reserved for planning and growing our business and we took most Friday afternoon's off. I think this way of working was instrumental to our early success.

How did you get to starting small, then expanding into the international market?

We were first approached by a card company in the UK about ten years ago. The CEO had purchased a number of our cards while on holiday here and loved them. Jamie and I went to the UK to meet the company and decided it wasn't the right partnership for us. While we were there though we met up with an Australian company who were just expanding into licensing. They knew Intrinsic very well and within six months we had our first licensing agreement.  About six years ago Jamie and I began our venture into the US and we now work with four main companies who license various lines of greeting cards and stationery. Our contract with the Australian publisher finished in February last year and we decided not to renew so we could resume full control of our business.

 

Would you suggest using a marketing manager or company for expansion?
This is a really important question for artists to answer and really depends upon your goals. If you are not entrepreneurial and really dislike being in front of people to sell your art, if you are underfunded, or extremely time-poor, then an agent or a company which licenses art can be a really positive move.

On the other hand, if you want complete creative control of the product you produce, what is made and how it is made. On the other hand, if you want complete creative control of the product you produce, what is made and how it is made and are not caught up into having to be the 'next big thing' then I think doing it on your own - although challenging is extremely rewarding. I've done both and while there are pro's and con's for each, I found the latter far more satisfying.

What is your most treasured item in life?

My upbringing of constantly moving home taught me not to become attached to possessions and that the real treasures in life were certain moments in time or special people in my life.

So I have three treasures in my life (in fact I call them each “my precious”!): Jamie - my soulmate, partner and best friend.
Sam - my firstborn, a kindred spirit, truth seeker and wise beyond his years.
Livvi - my youngest – adventurer, creative soul – she brings a sparkle of light wherever she goes.

If you had three wishes what would they be?
Ooh La La! I always wanted a Genie in a bottle!

Right at this very minute, I'm wishing for a little more 'me' time.

My second wish is that I always remember the magic.

My global wish is for a peaceful, more loving world. To have peace in the world, we must start with peace in our communities. To have peace in our communities, we must first have peace in the family. To have peace in the family, we must cultivate a loving and forgiving heart. As with any great change, peace begins with the individual.

__________________________

So thats it!!! Adele's passionate creative drive is what inspires me, and many others in life, and I know one thing... shes been a role model to me, even though she had never met me :)

Thanks Adele and have a great year!

 

Well, its that time of day where I bid you farewell, and take control of my monday... Keep smiling, moving forward, and hanging onto faith, hope, and love, its what I have and do, and what you do too!

 

Sam

 

time to walk.. and a time to talk..

Friends give full color to our lives

My weekend went ever so quickly, as the normal weekend would. I have not had a normal 9-5 job in over eight years, so while my regular weekend is on a Monday and Tuesday, I do take some light heartiness for those who come my way in sharing theirs. I have been somewhat lazy over the last week or so in constructing some journals, and cigar boxes, and despite my intentions to get going and move along with them, I seem to have hit a hurdle. It is not as if my motivation has gone, rather my mind has been situated elsewhere, and my body, well I decided to take better care of myself, and I started back with walking.

My walking includes a 4 kilometer stretch everyday, which is about 2.6 miles. I have to convert the miles to kilometers so that I can actually realize how far I am walking every day. And, it’s a fair distance so I believe. But, while my nightly habits of broken sleep are catching up on me in the mornings, I find myself trying to catch my tail in trying to get creative. I think in due time, I will find my flow again, but every once and a while, it is truly okay to stop, smell life, live life, and relax. Of which I am doing well of!

Shasta Daisies from my yard.

I had the opportunity also over the weekend, to have a great conversation with my close friend. I truly believe that the people who cross our paths in life, and who understand, accept, and love us for who we are, warts and all, are our guardian angels in disguise.

"True friendship comes when silence between two people is comfortable."  ~Dave Tyson Gentry
Without a good friend I would probably be all but lost in my thoughts. I know I have many great friends in my life, some I haven't seen in years, others I see every now and then, and some whom I have never even met. It is these encounters in life, where friendship is by far the greatest, where one can feel the inner fire that was dimly burning and bursts into flame when we find ourselves in someone else's heart.

Thank you for rekindling my heart, soul, and mind. You will never know how much I am indebted and grateful for a friend in you.

::The road less traveled::

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference

...Robert Frost

 

The week is coming to a close, and I have seen, touched, and learned much this week about life. I have included Robert Frost’s poem today named “The Road Not Taken” to symbolize the paths we all take during our creative, intuitive lives.

It is easy to get bogged down with complexities, emotions, and became engaged with the thoughts of trying to change the world. I try my hardest, to reach out to those I care about, and I try my best to hold out my hand as often as I can. But even I am not perfect.

Friday is a good day. Today is a good day. The sun shines a little, and the smell of humidity will embrace my senses shortly as I take my morning walk. I have yet to think a thousand thoughts, and maybe more, and I am yet to wonder about the road I will take today. The road less traveled is a road patched with identities we meet along the way. Often a mirror can be all that is needed to guide us in seeing someone else.

I have three work days left. One, two, three, and then a couple of days I will seek out in my garden. There I find my place where I can renew my thoughts, be rid of my insecurities, and walk on bright in the basking sun.

 

Have  a wonderful afternoon, and a balmy spring evening.

 

Sam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exiting News!

All the Pretty Horses by LindseysPhotograhy On Etsy

Im super exited today! This morning I heard word from Australia, from one of my inspirational hero's and motivating artist, Adele Basheer. Im not sure if you know of her, but it was in buying one of her greeting cards, and mini journals, that I purchased over 11 years ago, that has inspired me to where I am today. Her words on her products were inspiring, uplifting, and touching to the heart. And, I am proud to say that she is one of the biggest reasons today I write greetings, and make journals with a passion. Anyway, heres the best news. I wrote to Adele back in December of last year, and after a busy work schedule she has so kindly offered to answer some questions that have intrigued me in my creative career, and I will feature her answers and her works in June :)

Her works are sold across the Australasian regions, the U.S, and other major global countries! Here is a mini introduction of Adele on the Ruby Connection Blog .

How exiting is that!

Well Im heading out today, to mail some international shipments, continue painting some upcycled cigar boxes, and work on some more journals.

On that note, here is something to think about :

 "Keep your heart open to dreams. For as long as there's a dream, there is hope, and as long as there is hope, there is joy in living." Anonymous {probably a woman ;) }

Sam

::Monday Mingling::

“This soul, or life within us, by no means agrees with the life outside us. If one has the courage to ask her what she thinks, she is always saying the very opposite to what other people say. “-Virginia Woolf

 

Peacock by Geninne

 

I hope everyone's weekend was filled with fun, laughs, memories, and loads of mother's day photographs!

This little chicken had to work, but alas the day was beckoned with a bunch of flowers of which are the treasures of my heart. Speaking of flowers, treasures and hearts, did you all have a special surprise the morning you awoke? Be honest now ;) .

I met some interesting individuals over the weekend, one a world war 1 vet, who was ever so nice, pleasant and funny at the same time. He happened to be a P.O.W. and was alongside some of my own countrymen back during WW I. We truly owe them much gratitude, and respect for those still living , and for that I tip my hat to those who served so galiantly, bravely, and willingly so that we could have our freedoms today.

 

Soul Keeper Fine Silver Key, wing, and Mini Tag monogram necklace

 

"The soul would have no rainbow had the eyes no tears"

 
hey Soul Sister

I have much to do on this Monday morning. I am in the process of readying some journals, and I will be off to visit Joann’s craft store this morning for some pastel paints.

But, there is nothing I love more than bringing together a journal from start to finish. It is very rewarding.

 

Have a wonderful day,

Cherish life J

 

Sam  

 

 

 

Purple Dreams

Purple is as blue as red shines the fire in you….

 

I’ve been dreaming purple of late, colorful dreams, and recollections that have inspired my post today. In my garden right now, I have regular english lavender growing, and French lavender as well. It’s doing considerably well considering the humidity of this region. But the flowers are absolutely adorable. The bees flock to the purple flowers, and the scent of the lavender when crushed is like a misty shower in the forest sun; fresh, alive and awakening.

On the front page of etsy this afternoon, a treasury of purple inspired handmade items spurred my inhibitions to do a little more searching and the end result was glorious. Downright quaint in its own right, purple is a color of mystery, knowledge, and hope. This can be seen in the picks I have chosen .  

 

   “Hope is the dream of a soul awake.”- ::French Proverb ::

 

Bottom Left: Sterling Silver Wire Wrap Ring with Genuine Amethyst Size 7 1/2 ,

Bottom Right: 7 Ways To Wear Wrap Dress (Cap , Short or Long Sleeve) In Juicy Plum ,

Middle Left : Its Purple Darling ,

Top Right : Plum Satin Plunge Front Lace Overbust Corset-20inch Waist ,

Top Left : Medieval Alexandrite Necklace

 

 

Will you dream lavender purples with me?

Have a loverly evening : )

 

Sam

 

Happy Friday

“Peace, if it ever exists, will not be based on the fear of war but on the love of peace. “

Julien Benda

Just a quick post today, as I have been bookbinding all morning :). Well not all morning, I slept a little ha!

I just listed a cute blank journal from the "How Green is My Valley Series" here :

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=44446778

This journal would be perfect for writing in recipes, thoughts, garden ideas, plantings, or even just to sketch in under the maple tree this summer.

I also got  a chance to plod around the garden and observe the early spring flowering plants, and watch my two doggies, Sarah, and Benny play crazily.

I am in the process of trying to seed the beds, and await the beauty of the summer glory to come into its splendor. I just love gardening!!

 

 

Have a wonderful Friday evening wherever or whatever you all might be doing.

 

Best,

 

Sam

On writing

Writing from within….

Its a beautiful Saturday morning, and my thoughts over the last 24 hours or so have been focused on writing. Often it is much easier for me to write from within on paper, to express the words that convey how I feel about life, love, cherishing artistic creativity, family, friends, and passions.

So, how do you write?

Do you set pen to paper and journal your daily thoughts, meanderings, endeavors, dreams and aspirations? Or, do you keep it all bottled up inside, like I do, until the day comes to write it down, blunders and all. I read a fantastic book not long back called “Writing from Within” by Bernard Selling, and found it to be most helpful in my journaling of life in my attempts to capture every possible moment life has to offer. The author purveys an approach to creativity and life story writing from many different levels. The guide teaches the writer to deal with overcoming fear, which most often is harbored by writers block, and the misgivings of the ‘what will others think’ syndrome if I write this ? And, teaches how to look deep inside of your mind, heart and soul to recall memories from the past that constitutes the individual you are today.

The author also encourages the writer to build a library on paper of significant moments in one’s life to help with expanding and managing creativity from this point in life. On a personal level this degree of writing may often seem scary, and at times shocking, but I have learnt much about myself in writing my story in this phase.

I urge you to write from within, explore your inner thoughts, memories, and to build the life you love and want to have.

Happy Saturday!

Sam