what i like today...

• this video, mostly for the fashion...

• the variety of hues all neatly stacked...

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• this choker...

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• hugging it out...
• coordinate-y instrument cables...

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•  um, being home, relaxing...

hugs peeps!
z

what i like today...

• The way this frame is fashioned with a stitched-down fabric border... 

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• sleeping babies!
• getting a full week of work hours, and more for Monday.
• a free evening to devote to my Power Year.
• remembering to do my 11 minutes of meditation this morning.
• sticking to my food budget of $9 per day! 
• cute 20-minute totes with easy-to-follow directions (and a simple way to use up my fabric stash... well, ok, make a small dent).

 

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• the way the ribbons for these lace-up shoes falls to the right...

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• being hopeful!

How 'bout you?

xx

what i like today...

• The Soft White Sixites I got drummer Joey Bustos' discarded stick!
• Hanging with *This Guy*
• 3 hour naps.
• Rainy-rain.  That I get to run through without getting too drenched.
• Remembering I wrote a poem I liked in the Summer of 2005, down at a hostel on the beach in L.A.
• Chocolate raspberry cake for dinner.
• Sharing wor wonton soup with someone spesh.

{power year} an introduction.

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Hello peeps.  I just reviewed my twenty-11 intentions and all is so far, so good.  And that's good news. 

Why?  Cuz I've just embarked on a supportive process with Ms. Megan Quicke of The Power Year, and also Coffee Adventures.  I'm doing my own Power Year.  You can too if you'd like to follow along on her blog.  Very inspiring.  She lays out the steps to getting goals accomplished one by one.

At the end of January I was on the facebooks and asked Megan if she'd be doing any online workshops like the ones she's led in-person in Denver.  Don't you know, lo and behold, she acknowledged my comment in 2 minutes and in just the next 29 minutes got a call to action and sign up deadline for her Online Power Year Pledge Class posted on her facebook wall!  Inspiring.  I signed up.

Here are the first few tasks she charged us with, her Online Power Year Pledge Class, and my responses.  I'm tellin' ya, so i'll be accountable to ya.  Thanks in advance.


1. Write a SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time bound) goal for your creative project.

My Power Year SMART Goal:  "Produce well received and highly sought-after, profit-generating art." 

Now here that is broken down into what the Specifics look like... (most of these will be Measured in time - at least 3 hours of activity in these areas per week, that's a stretch for me to make that time commitment Attainable, but I'm up for the challenge.  These examples are Relevant to succeeding at my goal and the Time-boundness equals 3 hours per week throughout the Power Year!)

Produce:  schedule creative time; have ready supplies, inspiration, skill, and s p a c e; create prototypes to maximize efficient generation

well received:  develop packaging/branding; provide awesome customer service; seek feedback

and highly sought after:  online marketing of my brand; IRL networking; utilize Facebook and Twitter; offer my own affiliate program; guerrilla/community awareness; ask other bloggers/artists for reviews; comment on other blogs, utilize Etsy...

profit-generating:  participate in affiliate programs; host blog ads; wholesale goods; set appropriate price points to cover time, labor, overhead, etc.

art:  develop my own style; practice sketching; review and practice what I've been taught; study; collect inspiration

2. Then, write down five or less rules (or if you like the word “guidelines” better, cool) you will live by, in order to help you achieve your goal.

My 5 Power Year Rules:

1.  80/20 rule - if 80% completion is reached - celebrate!!!
2.  Be productive for at least 15 minutes each day
3.  Create and follow a budget
4.  Put self-care first (11 minutes meditation, 3 meals a day, 30 minutes exercise 3 times/week, get 8-10 hours of sleep/day)
5.  Jump in where I am - no accumulation!

3. Finally, identify five or less items that will be your FEBRUARY FOCUS

My February Focus:

1.  15 minutes per day clean and organize!
2.  Dating clean up - use the time to get my sh*t together first!
3.  Take a current life status inventory - what's what and where I'm at
4.  Practice my routines for the year, add them in, get up to speed, test what works (i.e.  my Power Year rules)
5.  Design and launch my Power Year give-a-way or promo (it'll be on the 11th [my Power Day] of each month, starting in March)

and P.S. my Power Year Animal is the Walrus (slow, but moving) and my Power Year Word is *pleasure*!!!

That's it folks.  A lovely foray to success and accomplishing my goals!!!  Couldn't come at a more grateful time!  I'll be sharing updates to my progress with the Power Year, my monthly focus, and for you - a monthly give-a-way or treat of some kind... stay tuned!

xo, Z

i'll be here next thursday...

Fear Not at the Trickster Arts Salon

From Jennifer Maria Harris, the artist:

Trickster  is a monthly Arts Salon that describes itself as a clubhouse for artists, seekers, thinkers, and players dedicated to community, creativity, and openness. This month's theme is appropriate for the start of the new year: the Juke Joint at the Crossroads, with a juke joint being a place to eat, drink, and dance your blues away, and crossroads being a place to make new decisions. This one-night event will include an installation of Fear Not Radio and Fear Not Indirect Mail,  performances by We are the unReal, Tom Jonesing, Wesley Frederick, and  DJ Fact.50, a workshop on connecting with your Wild Self by Gino Dante  Borges, body painting, a photo booth, and general merrymaking. Costumes are encouraged, though not required, and drinks are BYO.

I hope to see you there!

Trickster Arts Salon
2519 Mission Street

San Francisco

January 27, 2011

8PM - Midnight

my intentions for twenty-11

headed past van ness and market this morning

Ah, day six already of the new year.  I'm loving it. I've found myself skipping a bunch.  Just randomly. I just take off down the sidewalk.  Hopping from one foot to the other.  Shows it's gonna be a fantastic year!

To put some intention into the fantastic-ness, I will share some intentions here.  How 'bout eleven?  OK.

1.  I intend to create art to love and to sell.

2.  I intend to give blogging and an etsy shop a serious go.

3.  I intend to eat in a way that best supports my health; that my eating decisions stem from self-care.

4.  I intend to lead a very musical year be it enjoying live shows, playing more gigs, or learning new instruments!

5.  I intend to lay down to sleep at a consistent time each night. I intend to show self-care through beneficial sleep.  And if scheduling Intention #4 gets in the way of my regular sleep, I intend to do preventative napping.

6.  Somehow, I intend to save $10,000 this year.  (That one is just stuck in my head, begging me to write it out.  OK.  Should I specify, "In my savings account"?)

7.  I intend to have a clear, open, spacious home environment.

8.  I intend to ask inspiring people questions and surround myself with winners!

9.  I intend to meditate daily (do I?  This one feels more like a "should" goal.  Hmmm.  How about this:)  I intend to be mindful each day.  I will connect with and nurture my quite inner self each day.  (Yes, that feels bettta!)

10.  I intend to spend my time in highly selective, top hierarchy, choice ways which reflect my life values and creative priorities.

11.  I intend to be at peace with success, no matter how daunting, and accept life on life's terms. 

Thank you all for being loving witnesses to my intentions for the year. I may be calling on you for support!

xo, Zarah

Oh, and P.S.  Here's the new 2011 version of the resolution generator.  What will you do this year?

{multiples of 5} new year/new liners

Here's a new feature for the ol' bloggy-blog for the new year.  *multiples of 5*  I'll share found treats and not just one of 'em, but five.  And when?  Every day that's evenly divisable by 5.  See, I get to combine my love of inspiring, pretty things and math!

For our first multiple of 5, here are some inspiring, kick-off-the-new-year-right, lined drawers.  What better way to spruce up your space to welcome in the joy of twenty-11.  Find links below with some DIY how-to's to decorate where you store things you love.

1.

here - a detailed how-to using fabric and mod podge to line drawers

2.

here - learn how to make scented drawer liners

3.

here - drawers lined with wrapping paper

4.

here - make drawer liners from wallpaper

5.

here - a whole dresser remake, including colorfully lined drawers

Cheers, happy new year!  And happy lining!

xo, Zarah

{sweet sunday} mae chevrette

such inspiration!

{white rabbits} a new year!

*

It's late.  I'm pre-scheduling this post in a hopeful effort to become a prolific blogger in 2011.  Ya think it can happen?  What is it I really wish to accomplish with this blog and Crafters Local 415?  RockOUT Press? 

Stay tuned for a beautiful year!

meet up sunday // art in nature festival

Here are details for Sunday's Art In Nature Festival happening at Oakland's Redwood Regional Park.  You may have met Laura Inserra at the CELLspace Expo for Independent Arts.  She has put together an awesome festival with 100 musicians and artists participating in this interactive day!



It  will also be home to the next Crafters  Local 415 make 'n' take gathering!  Laura's invited me to set up some  crafty supplies, share some techniques, and just enjoy making stuff with  you all.  Look for other artists from the CELLspace expo as well!



There  will be no food vending or sales that day.  It is a purely free and  interactive event.  What project are you working on now?  Can you bring  some knitting or collage materials and enjoy making art in nature?  And  pack a lunch too!





Here are more details from Laura:



A Multidisciplinary Performing Arts Festival

Art in Nature / the Nature of Art



1st annual FREE  multidisciplinary performing arts Festival conceived for the Stream Trail of Redwood Regional Park, Oakland, California.



It will be held on October 3rd, 2010 from 12pm to 4pm as a site-specific performance

organized by SAMAVESHA, an international multidisciplinary performing arts collective,

and directed by renowned Italian composer and artistic director Laura Inserra.



Stroll along the nearly 1 mile Stream Trail of Redwood Regional Park

and be entertained by nearly 100 different artists and performers

tucked among the meadows, redwoods and oaks in this brand new family friendly (and bicycles & dog friendly) Festival.



Enjoy roaming performances and 12 different areas of live music, dance, martial arts, poetry, henna tattoo,

circus arts, theater, painting, storytelling, arts, crafts and kids events put on from Noon to 4pm.



www.ArtinNatureFestival.com