Terri Conrad Designs

There is Magic in Serendipity

 

 

 

Do you see it? Look closely, closer yet.

Look with your heart and then you'll see there is magic inside serendipity.

I love when something comes my way that's right in alignment with my thoughts, my soul, the heart of my being. It is an unexpected - welcomed - accidental discovery. In this case, a sure affirmation that I am right where I am supposed to be.

It is this that I came upon, or shall I say, it came to me in an email, right after publishing my previous post:

 

"The soul requires duration of time -- rich, thick, deep, velvety time -- and it thrives on rhythm. Soul cannot be hurried or harried .... We may go through many events in the day but experience nothing, because the soul has not had the opportunity to feel them from many different points of view."
-- Robert Sardello

So, there you have it! That is my first lesson learned following my recent creative coaching:

Lesson No. 1

Create from a Place of Peace

(try it, you'll really like it)

 Working from one's home is becoming mainstream for so many. I have done so for the past six + years, and have allowed myself to be highly interruptable so to (I elude myself) be 100% available to my family while I am 100% focused on my creative work. Doing this day in and day out has made for a little bit of crazy - creating from chaos - contantly working simultaneously being constantly attentive to my family. Through a creative exercise I discovered what it's like to create from my soul - to allow myself to go into the "rich, deep thick, velvety place of peace & beauty, my soul. Do you know what I discovered? I like it there. I want to visit often, real often. This meant change, for me, for my family and for my work.

Lesson No. 2

Schedule Regular Work Hours

(it's okay to say, "NO!")

I awake early each morning  (5:45 when I actually hear my alarms go off) to make lunches and breakfast, and my Starbuck's coffee and to drive my girls to school. I resumed my morning meditative power walks right after I drop off my girls, and I've now scheduled my priorities (i.e. work) between 9:00 and 3:00. If it doesn't have to do with work: creating something to encourage, nurture or inspire you by bringing a little beauty or joy your way then I'm saying no, and that's okay! There's a lot that goes into managing an innovative growing creative biz on both sides: creative and business. As a commercial artist I am continually dipping into the well of creativity and if not replenished well (no pun intended) you know the story. I want my well to be nourishing, pure, and peaceful and creating these more well defined working hours, has made a monumental difference to my peace of mind. By making these small changes I am giving my soul that deep, velvety yumminess it's been craving.

Lesson No. 2

Connect with My Creator and Myself First

(then reach out and touch someone on facebook!)

There are always a few minutes I find for myself while waiting for the girls to get ready for school (all my stuff is done and I'm just drinking my Starbuck's waiting for them) and I have gotten into the habit of going to face book and my email to connect with my virtual world. That often sets the tone for the day, and more often than not, one that has the potential of infiltrating my well being. Sooooooo, I have elected, to put those extra minutes to a much better use, and that is to sit and meditate, read, pray, what ever my spirit desires, but it's for me, my spirit, and God - because that's where it all begins for me! I may do a bit more reading upon returning from my power walk, and it is then I go into my creative work. Computer connection comes in the later morning or  early afternoon now and it feeeeeeeeeeeels so much better this way. 

Profound awareness + simple changes = happy soul!

When we live in a hurried daily life, we squish Soul out. It has become such a source of renewal each day to now make time to acknowledge and celebrate my soul.

H.G. Wells said that each moment of life is a miracle and mystery and I have discovered making time for Soul illuminates this truth so beautifully.

Would love to hear your thoughts? Are you a working mom? How do you schedule your priorities? Making room for soul?

til we meet again, as always

may miracles bloom in your garden

Something Better . . .what does it look like for you?

maybe it's because we recently moved, (and donated, sold & otherwise found new homes for stuff we thought we needed) or the fact that I recently turned 50, or simply because the tides are turning for so many including me, or that I want, I need something better - what ever the reason, I find myself wanting to tell a new story with my creative business, as well as every aspect of my life.  I wonder if I am alone with this persistent thought or if you too are wanting to tell a new story.

I was recently given the opportunity to participate is some brief creative coaching which I immediately found telling and rewarding - one of my first projects was to consider what something better looked like . . .

"What does something better feel like:

I’ve searched my whole life for something more, something more than I have allowed myself to experience, afraid maybe that I was seeking, asking too much of the universe, of God to give to me. I am a child of God, a beloved creation of His. It is okay to ask for something better, something more than what I have allowed myself to experience. Something better, I pause, is a letting go, a freedom from what I know so that I am that I am – a permission to be the I am that I am – all that God created me to be, and to do. I am His instrument of peace, His instrument of hope, His instrument of joy, His instrument of faith.

Something better feels like melted chocolate, smooth, sweet & delicious taking form in whatever manner my imagination chooses at the moment.

Its form is mine to create.

Something better, is a newfound freedom, an allowance to let my heart speak, to show my true colors, to speak from my soul, to create from my soul purely, authentically without undue regard for result or purpose. For when I create purely from my soul I will be guided by the spirits whose charge I am in, it will be the voice of God speaking, working & creating in and thru me.

I am free.

There are no boundaries,

There are no shoulds.

There are no pre-conceived ideas.

Something better comes from deep within – the wet, wet water deep in the well – reach further, it is there.

Something better is a place to begin each and every day, each and every breath, each and every thought and each and every feeling. I can create something better for me, for my family, and for my work. I am creating something better for me, for my family and for my work.

Something better meets all my needs and even makes room to and does meet my wants. Something better is a long, meditative power walk at the beach each and every morning. Something better is a healthy body, that’s actively losing weight. Something better is peace of mind, calm, serene – centered. Something better looks like I have time to spend with and care for my family, I have time and the ability to create from a place of peace – something better looks calm, it feels calm – something better appeals to my five senses and moves deeper to reflect what is beyond what I see and what I know – something better draws from the spiritual depth of who I am.

Something better comes my way making room to lift up one another,  to inspire, to encourage, to nurture."

What does something better look and feel like for you?

When we meet again I'll share with you some simple yet profound awareness I've discovered, and resulting changes in my daily routine - all for something better.

til then, as always it is so good to connect with you -

may miracles bloom in your garden!

 

Heart & Home Sweet Home

 

 

 

My family and I have made our move to the place we now call home . . .what a journey it's been.

 

and I will add, followed with peace - Peace of mind,

peace in spirit,

peace in my whole being.

I am comforted to be in front of this leg of the journey . . . from chaos to calm and I am relishing each and every moment.

My soul sister, Lesa, came up from Newport Beach to spend the day with me on Saturday, celebrate my birthday, and to help my family get settled in our new digs. We enjoyed good wine, delicious filet minon (grilled by Mr. C), lots of laughs, of course chocolate birthday cake, and we hung pictures.

Boxes can be unpacked, technology plugged in, but it's when the pictures are hung that a house begins to feel like home for me. For me, it is these personal touches that imbue family and pesonality into our surroundings. I have to confess, all the wall decor and accessories in my home are those that have been designed by me in collaboration with my wonderful licensees. It's such a privilege and joy to truly be able to design my home reflecting my taste, my style.

We have a ways to go to become completely settled, and it will come, a little each day. I have a few pics to share of my home office, and will share more of my studio and other spaces once more calm is present. . .

Introducing, Shayna (yiddish for beautiful). She's our canine kid, rescued at 7 weeks from our local shelter. She is now 7 years young and the sweetest, most loving, trusting animal I have ever known. She talks like Scoobie Doo and loves to eat carrots, bananas and apples.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A peek into my home office:

This is "Grand Creative Station" where all that I create in my studio is brought into digital form so my licensing partners may take what I create and give it shape & form into the products each manufacturers.  I have a big picture window that pours in the summer sun each day (ahem it's been 108-111 of late) - thank goodness for A/C.

I love layering - it's indicative of life's many layers, it reflects depth and add beauty. I picked up this vintage screen years ago and have always had one pic or another featured with it. These pics are from my Sanctuaire collection.

This is behind Grand Creative Station and as you can see with my notes, is still a work in progress (aren't we all)

I'm so happy to have some of my custom printed fabric (spoonflower) left over from this project, and given the table & credenza are all a part of Grand Creative Station, I will create a similar skirt for this table. OH! Mr. C. built this table, and one just like it for my studio, from my imagination & expresssed need. Wow - we may be on to something . . . .

 

 

and the third wall - voila!

All of our wall decor, accessories & fabric are designed by me - and one of my favorite quotes I shall paint on the wall as time allows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a little something I created years ago, that remains a fav

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and this little vignette that curiously & unintentionally reflects pieces of my heart:

my beloved family, hope, conversations with God, and authentic happiness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you, Sweet Spirit, for peeking in on me today, and this part of my chaotic turned calm journey . . . do you know how much I value connecting with you?

Til we meet again -