Author: Marina

Shop update // Clearance Sale 50% OFF

One of the intentions of my One Little Word for 2014 is to focus on just a few things, in the hope that my creative spirit will have the chance to soar. On the practical side, I’m working on quite a lot of things to achieve this. Starting from my Etsy shop. In 2014 I will be focusing on selling items that reflect my creativity and hopefully will show a common style between them. I haven’t set out a clear plan yet, but I know for sure the type of items currently on sale that I want to keep in the shop:
The rest is currently on sale at 50% OFF!! the clearance section also inlcude some Christmas items that didn’t sell, so if you are stocking up for the end of the year holiday, have a look.
I’m hoping to get a new banner and to add more items soon.

2/52

Let’s roll with week 2! My lack of photographic skills is definitely not helped by a very moving toddler. This shot is the best I got form last week, but I like it because it shows how much my little one has grown…she can now look above the safety gate, and not just pick through the bars as before.
This is you playing pick-a-boo with me, trying to hide behind the gate.

Linking up with Jody.

My One Little Word for 2014 // CREATIVE

This year I embarked in yet another year long project called One Little WordSM by Ali Edwards (more info here).
Yet again, as most of the things I do, it was all decided impulsively in about 3 minutes late at night. With one eye already asleep and the other halfway there, I clicked on the ‘Register Here’ and that was it!
I had heard about this project before, but really didn’t know exactly what it was all about, so I started reading all Ali’s posts on previous years and got hooked up. The workshop is really a personal journey to embrace a meaningful word of your choice into your life, through prompts, exercises, reflections and actions. The journey can be documented through scrapbooking or in a way that suits you best. There are suggested ways of doing it, but it is really a personal choice.
My One Little Word for 2014 is: 

Choosing the right word was not easy and straight forward. During the past year, I tried a lot of different things and new approaches to my creative and practical life. I didn’t signed up for any art classes, as I used to do, but enrolled in online workshops and challenges, covering sketching, photography, scrapbooking. I discovered the work of some artists I now love and admire. All this experimenting led me to some discoveries about what I’m good and bad at, what I like and dislike. But my interest and commitment for any of those things was merely superficial and temporary. After trying one new thing I moved straight to the next one, following the trend of the moment.  I read somewhere on the internet (haven’t been able to find it again), that intelligent people can do anything, but clever ones only focus on what they are best at, or something like that.

So, one of my plans for this year was to narrow down my interests and actually stick to a couple of ideas that I enjoyed playing with last year. I want put more effort into those few things, giving them a chance to evolve and become something more than a hobby of the moment. So with this in mind I started thinking about a word that would sum up this early concept. Many popped out into my head, but none would stick or felt appropriate. Also reading other people’s words made me feel a bit superficial in trying to pick a word that would have an impact on my practical side than my inner side, so I took more time to choose my one little word.
I thought and read a lot and the word CREATIVE arrived. And the more I think about it, the more I’m convinced it is that I need this year. I still haven’t explored this word and its meaning, what are my expectations and in what ways I’m going to include this word into my daily life, and all its aspects. I have yet to decide how to document this word of mine, but I will be sharing regular posts here on the blog, towards the end of each month.

Wish me luck in starting this new journey!

Thoughts on 2013 and hopes for 2014

Every year in January I feel the urge to go through a scanning process of the past year, the good and the bad are sift through, all the finished projects are crossed of the list, all the unfinished projects make it to a new (ever growing) list, a recap of the year is made and digested. Some people prefer going through this process in December and get ready to start new things and tackle new ventures on January first. To me January is the month to think deeply and reflect on what has just been and what it will be. It’s time for dreaming about the coming year, and time to make amends for the past one.
This year is no different. We just came back from a long winter break where there was no time, nor intention, to start this process any sooner. Over the past few days I have flicked through all the 142 posts I wrote in 2013; a big jump from the 11 posts of the previous year! Every month had its own ups and downs, but mostly every month had something new to show. And this is what I want to remember for each and every one (click on the images below to see the related post).
January saw the start of “Project 52, a portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2013”. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. So much I’m keeping up with it in 2014.
http://creatingincolour.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/the-52-project-week-3.html
February set the start of the “Pick of the Month” series, which is still ongoing. A collection of monthly favorites ranging from clothes to room décor.
http://creatingincolour.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Pick%20of%20the%20Month
March was the debut month for the “30 Days of Lists” projects. The first one was an impulsive start, the other two followed easily. 
http://creatingincolour.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/30-days-of-lists-march-2013.html
April showed my love for notebooks.
http://creatingincolour.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/my-current-notebooks.html
In May I started my own project, “walk to work”, a series of daily photos taken during my commute to work and shared on Instagram.
http://creatingincolour.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/walk-to-work.html
In June I rediscovered my interest in bookbinding.
http://creatingincolour.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/handmade-concertina-book.html
July was the month of the “phone photography project” and the opening of my Etsy shop.
http://creatingincolour.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/the-phone-photography-project-part-1.html
http://creatingincolour.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/creating-in-colour-is-now-on-etsy.html
August was the time of our summer holidays.
http://creatingincolour.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/summer-skies-italian-holiday-part-1.html
In September I wrote an “I am…” list and enjoyed the process very much.
http://creatingincolour.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/a-list-september.html
October was marked by some seasonal DIY projects, including a wreath and a striped quilt for my baby girl.
http://creatingincolour.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/autumn-wreath.htmlhttp://creatingincolour.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/simple-stripes-cot-quilt.htm
In November I kept experimenting with rubber stamps and kept feeding this new obsession of mine.
December has been the more valuable family time of the year.
http://creatingincolour.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/on-saturday.html
The hope is to be able to keep up with all of the above in this new year, including new projects, more focus on a few things, better photos and lots of fun. I still don’t have a clear plan for 2014, but a few things and ideas in my head which I’ll try to finalise before the end of the month.
It’s going to be a challenge to beat 2013, but there are some coming news which will help in making 2014 an even better and special year.

52/52 + 1/52

The end and the beginning! Following this project last year has been extremely valuable to me. I was able to record an entire year into my little one’s life through photos and some fun facts. And I’m already putting together a mini book with all the posts to print in several copies for us and the grandparents. I have the same plan for 2014: “A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2014”, but maybe using less words and better photos. 
This is you on Christmas day, reading a book on your tiny chair under the Christmas tree
This week you:
  • Loved playing around the house with everyone in the family;
  • Finally learned to say your name, well almost,…Olila is as good as it gets!
  • Didn’t eat properly during dinner time, but enjoyed snacking pizzas and gelatos.
  • Had your first Italian ID card. It took a while to get the photo done, but it turned out to be very cute.
  •  Enjoyed some cuddles from your not-so-little-anymore friend G. We think it’s love!

This is you on January 1st. You spent the morning on the couch under the blanket with your favourite puppets. We think you needed to recover from the late night before (yes, you stayed up until 12.30am to celebrate), but also loved the spot where you little friend E fell asleep the night before.

Linking up with Jody from Practising Simplicity.