Create a Life of Gratitude - Thank you!

 

Consistently Expressing Sincere and Heartfelt Gratitude

For What You Already Have Is The Underlying and

Often Overlooked Force Which Opens Doors To

Immeasurable Abundance and Happiness

Well, that's something to ponder! There is so much to be said about gratitude, and a topic I often write about because it is so deeply rooted in my heart. I want to offer my heartfelt thanks to each of you who follow my work & my musings here. It is an honor and privilege to create art and design products for your heart & home - each day I sit down to work, I express my gratitude for all (and there are so many) who are a part of bringing my products to you, for the ability to create, to encourage, and to inspire. I tuck a little piece of my heart into each piece I create and THANK YOU for inviting Terri Conrad Designs into your hearts & homes!

Do you practice gratitude on a daily basis?

Create a Life of Gratitude
Oh So Sweet & Simple: acts of gratitude cost nothing but they can be the biggest something in someone's day.

Are you interested in living a life of gratitude? Try these suggestions:

• Morning gratitude session. As you arise from bed, allow yourself 2-3 minutes each morning to give thanks, expressing, "I am grateful for . . ." You can do this silently, with eyes closed, or share your gratitude in convesation at the breakfast table. I try to do this each morning before I get out of bed.
• Say thank you, and the next time you eat out, respond in kind to a waiter/waitress. When someone does something nice for you, however small, try to remember to say thank you, make eye contact and connect with the person - and when out to lunch/dinner and a food server asks "how are you?" answer with a follow up inquiring about them - you will be pleasantly surprised with the smile your question brings to their face.
• Call (or write) to say thanks. When you think about something nice that someone said or did for you or your child, let that person know what they did that you are grateful for, and why. This can be done by calling to offer your thanks, or better yet, by sending a handwritten note. Imagine receiving a handwritten note of gratitude and appreciation. Simple, but oh so sweet!
• Give thanks for “negative” things in your life. Seriously?! Yes, Although it may be a stressful and likely difficult situation to go through, when you give thanks for the negative things you are more likely to grow though the experience. Problems can be opportunities to grow and to be creative.
• Learn a gratitude prayer. There are many prayers, religious or not, that can remind you to be grateful. Find one you like, and print it out or make it your desktop wallpaper.

I'd love to hear your comment how you are expressing gratitude, what kind gesture you've made, or how a showing of gratitude has positively impacted you -

Until we meet again, I offer you this little prayer of gratitude:

Be Thankful
Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.
~ Author Unknown ~

Affirming Art for your heart & home:  available for purchase at my webstore

 

Links to Love:

we just learned of this lovely experiment:

go gratitude experiment

simple abundance gratitude journal

Books You May Enjoy Reading:

A Serenity Journal:...

by Rita E. Watson

 Simple Abundance...

by Sarah Ban..

Gratitude: A Way of...

by Lousie L. Hay,..

A Grateful Heart:...

and finally, a thought to reflect on:

"Reflect Each Day On All You Have To Be Grateful For And
You Will Receive More To Be Grateful For." -Chuck Danes

 

It's a New Day - and we're showing our laundry in the crisp fall air

and I must stop getting into my daughters' candy stash! Aren't they fabulous?! There is nothing I love more than having the privilege of being mom to these oh so sweet, and beautiful girls of mine.

Hope you enjoyed your halloween.

I was visiting Serena over at Farm Chicks  where she was "airing" her laundry room. I mentioned I had a little something I'd been wanting (for the longest time) to post about and it has to do with laundry - vintage laundry, to be precise.

Who can guess what this is: I had picked up a couple of these several years ago in a little antique shop up near Sebastopol when visiting my girlfriend, Lori. Isn't it just the cutest little thing? Anyway, I loved Serena's laundry room pics, and decided I too needed to "air" some laundry and share my sweet little vintage laundry line.

Now, my laundry room is a wee bit smaller than Serena's - I guess home builder's think west coasters needn't any space when doing laundry - Frankly, I'd like a traditional mud room that's at least 15x15 - a girl can dream can't she? Small space or not, I've managed to bring some pretty pieces in that are both functional and well simply pretty to look at as we come and go. I designed, and painted each piece at one time or another. There are two versions of my "Laundry Room" wall decor and each may be purchased now at Terri Conrad Designs.

 I want you to "air your laundry" and share how you make this oft used room just a bit special. Leave a comment with link to your blog. Okay, who guessed "vintage laundry line?" Yep! circa 1940s I think. I have one in pink too :o)

 Many more products are being added at Terri Conrad Designs and the site is being actively updated to sing like a pretty songbird in the meadow. Please do visit, create your wish list for Christmas, and buy that something special to warm your heart & home, for yourself, and your friends & family.

Til we meet again, this is on my wish list: Bella Notte linens

Yes, a girl has got to have dreams - see you in my dreams!

Getting Ready. . .

"Thy bounty shines in autumn unconfined and spreads a common feast for all that live."

Whew! What a day - I have two events coming up, an open studio next week end, and a fundraising boutique the following weekend. So much of today was spent getting things in order for the open studio day.  I hope I can share some photos of the various vignettes in my next post. I just love these little cachet pots from my Feather Your Nest home decor line. I filled these with a bounty of cinnamon pot pourri, and the other with a topiary, spanish  moss and few little fall yummies.

Santa's elves are busy tidying up and loading the Terri Conrad Designs website with lots of pretty picture frames, magnetic memo boards, stationery, scrumptious wall decor and more to feather your nest this holiday season.  We hope you'll take a moment to visit & shop for you and your friends & family.

Here's a peek at what you'll find there - and more to come - once the webstore is refreshed and renewed later next week. Til we meet again . . .

 

Are we there yet? A Bloomin' Beautiful Journey . . .

Where are you in your journey? What passage through life, or a significant experience are you traveling or do you need to finish?

Like creating something, life, is a work in progress - a journey not yet complete. This 4" unfinished wood piece is a solid reflection that life is indeed a journey - a series of starts and stops, ups and downs, hard corners, soft spots, and fragrant moments with a few "aha" moments here and there. 

The wood piece had been sitting on my desk in my studio for nearly a year, when last weekend, I picked it up and finally finished it with what I had on hand. I have just basic tools in my studio, as the breadth of my work is in creating art for consumer products - but how I love tactile design - it is where my creative turned professional journey began...creating decor for my home.

So, with what I had on hand I finished this one (creative) journey:

4" wood piece (Home Depot)

wire (also HD)

antique white paint

a swatch of burlap

velvet ribbon

flowers, vintage metal button, leaves, spanish moss and twigs complimentary of Mother Nature

Oh, and the Journey card from my "Old World" journaling cards - "Hello Beautiful" collection.

and voila - a bloomin' beautiful journey to reflect on, past - present - and future.

Sometimes, when I am in the midst of a prolonged journey,  I sound like the proverbial child, asking God, "Are we there yet?"  Do you ever want to ask that same question? As I walked my dog this morning, I noticed two more homes on the market, "Bank Owned."  What a journey those families must be taking...unexpected journeys, unplanned.  James 1:2 tells us to "consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds."  How do we do that? For me, sometimes it is taking notice of the joy in the simple (but oh so valuable) gifts in my life: health, faith, family, work, shelter, the ability to create, friendship . . .and I surrender to what is, in the moment, and trust the journey will reveal what it is intended to and take me where I must be. My job is to keep moving forward in faith. How about you?

Ann Morrow Lindbergh tells us

 

May your journey, where ever it be taking you, be bloomin' beautiful and your moments be cherished.

O Happy Day!

O HAPPY DAY!

(thank you Karola for your beautiful "Simple Peasures" using our Feather Your Nest and Rasberry Truffle scrapbooking papers)

Now, I have a little fun for you. This is a participation game, so you're gonna have to move, and maybe even groove!

Turn up the volume on your computer, then stand up, put a little sway in your hips, and click this link:

O HAPPY DAY!

Feel better? I did when I listened, and watched the glimmer in the boy's eyes as he gained power & confidence in his voice.

Last week we asked you what (or whom) is your happy place?

Congratulations Elaine! You won. Thank you for sharing your happy place:

Elaine said:

"Hi Terri, the breakfast plates are gorgeous!! I love the color and pattern! :) My Happy Place is anywhere so long as it's next to my husband....but preferably somewhere sunny next to my hubby! lol"

Random Integer Generator Here are your random numbers:

2

Timestamp: 2009-10-19 16:57:52 UTC

Email us to make your selection from our Feather Your Nest collection and your nest will soon be a bit fuzzier, warmer.

Today, at the Huffington Post, Roger Franseky writes: (oh so timely I might add)

Are you happy? Would you know if you were?

Has your definition of happiness changed as you've grown older and more successful? Is it about accumulation, more toys, more exotic travel, new experiences, more of what you thought you wanted? Is all of that making you happy? Or, as Leo Buscaglia reminded us, is "what we call the secret of happiness is no more a secret that our willingness to choose life."

Happiness can mean doing something we love, having someone to love and something to hope for. Is that it? Is that enough of an understanding of how to bring "more" of the feelings of joy, surrender, surprise, delight that true happiness invites and provokes in us?

The Boston Globe recently reported that the most popular course at Harvard was about positive psychology, or the study of well-being. Its immense appeal took everyone by surprise. Just one year before, the instructor, Tal Ben-Shahar, offered the course for the first time, and although it was certainly a hit, with 380 students enrolled, no one could have imagined that the following year the number would have jumped to 855.

"For many years," says Ben-Shahar, "the people who were writing about happiness were the self-help gurus. It had a bad rap. It was all 'five easy steps,' rather than dignity and hard work. What I'm trying to do in my class is to regain respectability for the concept of self-help. It's a great thing, if you think about it literally. It's what this country was built on."

Dr. Martin Seligman and many of his colleagues introduced the idea of "positive psychology" a relatively new area of research that "studies the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive." Psychology has been rightly been criticized for its' sole focus on mental illness rather than mental "wellness". Several humanistic psychologists, including Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, and Erich Fromm, developed successful theories and practices that involved human happiness despite there being a lack of solid empirical evidence at the time behind their work, and especially that of their successors.

Positive psychology has explored the Pleasant Life or the "life of enjoyment", how people optimally experience, forecast and savor the positive feelings and emotions that are part of normal and healthy living (e.g. relationships, hobbies, interests, entertainment, etc.), the Good Life or the "life of engagement", the beneficial affects of immersion, absorption, and "flow" that individuals feel when optimally engaged with their primary activities, and the Meaningful Life or "life of affiliation" which examines how individuals derive a positive sense of well-being, belonging, meaning, and purpose from being part of and contributing back to something larger and more permanent than themselves.

With all of this good work, and the efforts of Donald Clifton, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, and psychologists like Dan Baker, former director of the Life Enhancement Program at Canyon Ranch, we now have handholds on what many call the "new" science of happiness.
Dan Baker's book, What Happy People Know, confirms the wisdom of the research into what Seligman calls "authentic happiness" and "learned optimism." Baker notes that a major barrier to happiness is fear. He writes, "We all have a neurological fear system embedded deep within our brains, a neural network that once helped us survive as a species, but now limits our lives. The biological circuitry of fear is the greatest enemy of happiness."

We're written about how fear bind us, edits our hopes and diminishes our potential for happiness. Baker reminds us that fear is the repository for our past traumas, our fear of the future and our archaic instinctual terrors. Fear can be a gift, our way of staying out of the darkness and moving into the light of awareness and new beginnings. But if our fears own us, we have to break free...by awareness of those fears, and through the courage to challenge our fears to see if they are still real.

One of those fresh starts is the decision to be happy.

Yes, but how?

First, by love. Love yourself enough to create a life you will love living. Entertainment legend George Burns, whose own sense of purpose helped him live to 100, offered this wise advice: "Everyday, do something you love."

Here's several questions to begin your own happiness audit: "Am I living a life I love, and one that allows me to be happy?" Listen to the wisdom of your heart, and tell yourself the truth. Ask yourself:

• What brings vitality to my life? When do I feel most alive?
• What is my proudest achievement?
• What is my greatest gift? My legacy?
• For what are you most grateful?

These questions invite you to ponder the symphony of your experience, the missed notes, the flourishes and the coda. I don't deny that life can be rough, that you can (and will) experience mistakes, excesses, lies and lessons, and on occasional loss, grief and sadness. Even Charles Schultz, the creator of "Peanuts," the cartoon strip that brought us minor wisdom and wide smiles for decades, suffered his entire life with serious depression, a melancholy temperament and insecurities.

Happiness can become your default state and not some elaborate life lie by acknowledging your gifts, your lessons, the people in your "cast" who love and teach, tolerate and celebrate you. You can choose between the ambiguity and clarity.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roger-fransecky/happiness-is-a-choice_b_113400.html

Thank you Mr. Franseky.

We're off to see the Wizard . . .

This morning as I pulled out of our driveway, for the second time, with our second daughter (two different schools and two different schedules) I said, "We're off . . ." and Katelyn (aka "Katieboo") chimed in "to see the wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz."  She is full of wit, wisdom and wonder that little girl of almost 10.

My girls, are and always will be my "happy place" regardless of what may be happening in my life. If you had a pair of red shoes to click together, where would you wish to go? Where (or who) is your happy place?

Another happy place for me is connecting with each of you. Thank you, to each who visit my little creative world now and again - Oh so much happening and I'm trying to keep those plates twirling.  Speaking (ahem, writing) of, I recently made a purchase from one of my licensees to meet a deadline for a promised donation - and have been enjoying breakfast on these little pretties

There are small breakfast plates, and larger dinner plates with my Feather Your Nest art. The coffee cup, I painted at our local Paint a Dream.

INTERRUPTION: PLEASE NOTE

Mr. Fed-Ex just arrived, it's raining (neither sleet, nor rain, nor - oh we don't get snow) delivering several BIG boxes of my artist's samples. YIPPEE!

Lucky for You! Do you know why? My home is overcome with lots of pretties and I want to share one with you. All you need to do is leave a comment here sharing where your happy place is & why, and post our Feather Your Nest photo below, and our link, on your blog inviting your readers to do the same. We'll choose one comment on Sunday and you may choose one of the items shown in the photo.

  This was completely unanticipated, and I am grateful for the opportunity to share with you.

  Now, I must redirect my focus to completing my latest collection - Belle Maison (cannot reveal that for some time to come - sorry)

  But, here are two more photos showing more gift & wall decor from the July launch of my Feather Your Nest and Vintage Fruit & Flower which is derived from my Hello Beautiful collection.

Hoping you're warm & cozy today -

Looking for Integrity, Honor and Self-Control in Business

Integrity, honor, self-control - are these virtues sought after any more, valued, and esteemed in the world of business? This is not a rhetorical question, I am genuinely concerned about their diminishing value. While I may have lapses of judgment, or occasionally act out of a less than present place, I genuinely try to do my best, play by the rules and work within known boundaries. Sometimes mistakes even happen, but responsibility is assumed and appropriate amends are made - all is forgiven and we get on with the business of living life and conducting business.

But, what about when someone you have worked with will not play by the rules, will not work within known boundaries, and in fact breaks the law causing harm on various levels? "Sue them!" you shout. Easier said than done, and not as costly saying as is doing.  Those who intentionally and willfully refuse to play by the rules, do not work within the known boundaries, and feel okay with causing harm to others, know this.

When TCD first began to license its art and launched its first commercial product in January 2007, it was a very unique creative expression - we liked that - we liked that you liked that, and that more manufacturers liked that and wanted to put it on their products. They continue to as we regularly receive more contracts to sign. We are grateful and love creating unique art for your heart and home. We work very, very hard, and like most artists who license their art, wait for quite a long time (sometimes as much as three years) before tasting the fruits of our labor (translation: a regular income) - so when someone knowingly and unlawfully takes our art, or takes pieces of our art to create derivatives, as has happened to TCD since it terminated its contract early this year, with a former licensee, we are financially and creatively hurt, now, and in the future - and those virtues we mentioned diminish more into the atmosphere. And while taking something that does not belong to you explicitly for commercial gain (translation: to make money) may be about making money for the taker - for the artist, it may be the difference of keeping or losing one's home (in this harried economy), diminished value of one's business, or inability to provide for one's children.

The eternal optimist I am though, I look for the silver lining, the learning and teaching (to my children) opportunity in situations like this: TRUTH always unfolds into a deeper understanding. A fact is a temporary condition or situation. The TRUTH is a constant present. It follows . . . I will survive, that's who I am, strong, courageous, authentic - and surviving violations such as this fortify my spirit and sensitivities that translate into my gift of creating art that warms your heart and home.

As a faithful woman, I have prayed, and believe that the TRUTH will shine its light and reveal the facts, and then que sera sera, whatever will be will be.   

As we greet each day, let's take note from Paul when he wrote to the Philippians in a thank you note expressing his gratitude and appreciation for their support and gifts, he reminded them to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but encouraged them to be humble and to consider others, looking not only to one's own interests but also to others. Don't let the light go out on virtues such as integrity, honor and self-control. Let us remember to not only take care of our own interests, but to be considerate of others. Let us bring consideration back in fashion - and remember that some things never grow old with the times.

Integrity, I beleive, it is the essence of success in life and love and all things honorable. What do you believe?

Beauty is . . .defined by you

Hello, hello - it's been oh so long since I've posted because my attention, effort and energy has been needed in a myriad of places of late. Isn't that always the case with women, working women - every woman? We're multi-taskers by nature.

I've been in a contemplative mood pondering many things, and my little ol' blog is one of them...what do I want it to be when it grows up??? As I continue to take those thoughts into consideration and move toward fulfilling my professional goals & desires, I want to share a preview of what's to come (here on our blog) and give you something to contemplate: 

The Project: create an album, a collage, a scrapbook page, painting or illustration reflecting your interpretation of "Real Beauty is . . ."

I am going to create a collage (I've been yearning to get my hands creating again) with canvas, found pieces, my papers, and whatever I already have in my studio - what will you create to reflect your answer? Let's meet again to share - I will create an album (okay, truth be told I will have my uber wonderful technical support create an album) on my blog, and we will feature each and every creative expression in the album. This is just the beginning of something beautiful to share together - I'm so excited, hope you are too - feel free to pass the word.

 I look forward to embracing each of you (it may be 1, or 100, or 1000) who wish to join me in a journey exploring real beauty.  We'll begin by inquiring within to answer: "Real Beauty is . . . "

Many good things are happening here with Terri Conrad Designs, all which we are so grateful for - hard work, patience, perseverance and a concession here & there have brought us to this place. It's time to take stock and look back in order to move forward - butterflies are oh so symbolic of moving forward, aren't they . . .safely tucked in a coccoon, growing wings to fly, and gently, slowly they stretch their wings breaking out of the cocoon - beauty to behold.

On another note, I've recently received phone calls and email regarding these products and many more: If you're a retailer, you may place wholesale orders with the manufacturer. You and your customers will love my Feather Your Nest line (open Vol II home dec catalog) as well as all of the products this company offers (psst - come closer . . .I have to whisper . . .there's ALOT more coming in January) . Terri Conrad Designs has made the decision to support both the manufacturers we license our art to and the retailers who sell our products by not selling wholesale from our own website. We're still trying to determine if we will continue to sell retail from the site - for the time being, we do continue to offer a select few exclusives direct to consumer, such as My Print & Pattern Canvas Decor.

 

It is such an honor to have product manufactured by this company - their execution is bar none, and my agency has done an exceptional job in bringing this line to fruition. merci, merci.

Let's bid adeaux for now with a little quote about beauty . . .

"Never allow what you look like to determine what you can or cannot do. Never allow what you are looking at to determine what you believe. Never allow what you can see with your eyes to lure you into the belief that there is nothing more. Always, always allow your spiritual eyes to take you beneath the surface. It is there that you will see and know the truth."

Blessings to each of you who take the time to visit my creative world - may miracles bloom in your garden today

xoxo

Terri

Fresh Bloom . . .

Just popping in to wish you a bloomin' beautiful day!

In My Daughter's Eyes

I enjoyed hearing from each of you, here and at my TCD facebook page

after reading about my little faux paux as mum (this post below). 

This is my daughter (about 8 years or so ago) and the sweet subject of the story below. This happens to be one of my favorite photographs of her because, in my eyes, it captures her essence. The text overlay is compiled of favorite quotes and scripture about home, family, and the safe harbor that I believe home needs to be. 

It's been a week of several challenges between my snickerdoodle and me, and I found myself this morning considering why . . .I am not ready for her, my first born, to be entering into her teen years just yet. We've been through so much, mother and daughter, from nearly losing her precious life in a very complicated delivery, to a first year of seeming insurmountable physical challenges, physical therapy, occupational therapy, illnesses, and the years that followed seeing us thru many visits to many specialists. That little girl who has overcome so much is growing up, she is becoming independent, she needs me in different ways now - and yet she hugs me and tells me I am the best mom in the whole world. I don't know (no, okay let's be real I KNOW I'm not) but I am the luckiest mom. 

On one of those many Jr. High forms that came home there was a request to "tell us something amazing about your child." My child is strong, confident, capable beyond her willingness to see, she is witty beyond her years, insightful, precocious (still), oh so bright, beautiful, unique and so, so beloved. Today, share something amazing about your children with each of them.

I stumbled upon this lovely song by the equally lovely Martina McBride and know it is no coincidence that I did - do take a moment, if you're a mother of a daughter and listen.

In My Daughter's Eyes

Enjoy your weekend, and as always may the miracles from heaven above sprinkle and shine on your garden.

xoxo

Terri