Fall is about letting go.

I cut out these words from the leaves I collected and pressed. It was a simple truth that flowed from my hands.

I watch how effortlessly trees let go of their leaves, and I wish I could do that so gracefully. Letting go is so hard. Letting go of unrealistic expectations, perfectionism, the way things used to be. It’s all a constant work in progress. But I’m realizing how much lighter I feel when I decide to let go of heavy things. Life gets a little bit easier that way.

I've been thinking about this lately, but this post came from my decision to cut about 6 inches of my hair today. It’s a small and silly thing to be so influenced by, but I’ve had my hair really long for 5 years: the 5 most turbulent years of my life so far, the first 5 years of my adulthood. I needed a change, and it’s amazing how much lighter I feel. I grew very attached to my long, wavy hair, but I need something different for a while now. It’s like a new start. So I’m letting it go, and I’m letting go of some of the deeper things that are heavy. The things that make me hesitate to keep going and keep creating. I need to let those things go.

I hope you can let go too.

xo, Michelle

a title-less post, I guess.

This is all I have to share today because my brain is full of details for current & upcoming projects. My favorite season is becoming the busiest season! Here's a quote from one of my favorite books (+ a photo of me in the mountains at one of my favorite childhood spots about a week ago). This quote helps me when I try to understand absolutely everything. Now I'm off to sketch & design new pieces!

xo, Michelle

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Someday.

This word is constantly in my head, but more so than ever lately.

Someday I'll figure out what I'm doing when it comes to the business side of this art thing. Someday this learning curve won't be so steep. Someday not every single task will be new. Someday I'll have a good rhythm to balance the creativity with the business side. Someday I'll have a better grip on marketing and finding my audience. Someday I'll be able to create all the pieces I have planned. Someday I'll make more art on a daily basis. Someday I won't feel like I'm stumbling blinding through all of this. Someday I'll look back on now and know that this was crucial learning time for me. Someday I'll decide where I want to live. Someday I'll have a real studio/room to do my work. Someday I'll fall in love with the right person and have a family. Someday all these little babies that I take care of are going to be grown up and I will miss the ages they are now. Someday I'll miss the distractions of working in my house. Someday I'll figure out my sleeping hours. (Or maybe I'll just always be nocturnal). Someday I'll get better at balancing. I hope.

"Someday" is just what I always tell myself as I'm constantly learning and improving and taking all these tasks of life one day at a time. I figure, eventually, if I keep working hard, things will get easier. Of course I'll have new challenges along the way. But there will always be "someday" and the hope of conquering each new task. I'm always dreaming of how it could be better. But it's important to note that I do enjoy the good things in each day as I'm dreaming of someday. I'm very conscious of that trap.

This over-analytical, deep-feeling personality...... it's totally exhausting.

xo, Michelle

PS. Part of my "someday" goals are that I will get better at using social media for my art life (I'm a pro with it for my everyday life. I tend to forget to share when I'm in a creative mode). Here's where else you can find me:

I feel my best when...

I put together a little list of when I feel my best. Sometimes I feel out of balance, like I'm doing too much of one thing and not enough of the things that center me and make me feel peaceful. I try to build a life of all these things I love, but sometimes I have to step back and re-focus. Here's my list:

Maybe you will make your own?

xo, Michelle

"33 Ways to Stay Creative"

I'm in the midst of preparing for my first art show (in 4 days!!!), so I thought I'd share something short and sweet this week. I found this list years ago on tumblr, and I loved it so much that I have it pinned on my little cork board above my desk. I re-read it often and it helps me figure out what's out of balance or what I can do if I feel stuck.

Hope to see some of you at my art show Saturday! Next week I'll share photos from it and write about how it went!

xo, Michelle