"...sunshine and blue skies announce the shift from Winter to a season of flowers and green leaves unfurling—it's a time that allows me to focus on new growth.
How do I want to shape what I create? How do I see what has yet to emerge? What parts of myself do I wish to encourage and which aspects do I choose to change and/or leave behind?..."
]]>Happy Spring!
We've had a few beautiful Sundays at the Channel Islands Farmers market with sunshine and blue skies to announce the shift from WInter to a season of flowers and green leaves unfurling—it's a time that allows me to focus on new growth.
How do I want to shape what I create? How do I see what has yet to emerge? What parts of myself do I wish to encourage and which aspects do I choose to change and/or leave behind? It's as though there is a tingle in the air as all things find a way through the quiet inner workings of Winter to blossom into this bright and exuberant season.
Spring is in the air and in my heart 💚
Hand-painted watercolor bird upon a large egg. I wonder what will hatch?!
xo CC
]]>It's an exciting time as more greeting cards, postcards, art prints, and sticky-note pads are joining the pocket-sized deck of whimsical daily inspiration at the booth. We are also getting ready to add all your favorite pieces right here to the website...though it may take a little while : )
In the meantime, orders can be taken on the phone and shipped out promptly.
Happy season of giving thanks! XO
]]>
Sitting at my desk, I picked a Doodlisms™ card for today: The Art of Connection. Help Someone Unexpected. It shows an indigo tortoise giving a ride to a small snail, not a combination you’d expect!
With the speed we’re able to connect through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and so on, we sometimes don’t see what’s right under our nose. Likely because we’re texting someone, or checking FB or our Instagram feeds. We don’t notice the little things. We’re not paying attention. We don’t see when someone might need a helping hand, or to hold a mug while she’s grabbing her purse, or to hold a door because his arms are full. These are the small things that don’t cost anyone anything but could mean everything.
You never know that when you hold the door a few extra seconds for the person rushing behind you, that it might help them conquer an extra snarly meeting they are rushing to—in a seemingly small way you let them know someone was watching out for them, that they’re not alone. You reached out.
Allowing someone in front of you at the checkout stand might turn his or her day from feeling hugely unappreciated into a moment to pause and smile back—because you cared enough to put them first. You reached out and lifted them up.
I dare you to try it. Even for one day. Open your eyes to those around you, hold a door, smile a warm crinkle-your-eyes-I-appreciate-you smile at the person who just served you lunch, and I’ll bet you find your own day will be that much richer.
Let's lift each other UP!
XO CC
]]>What better way to tell someone you care, or to lift them up, than to surprise him or her with a chuckle and a dash of encouragement spiced with inspiration—a Doodlisms card™!
And, just so you know. ALL our mailing lists are strictly private. Nothing is shared. Ever.
Off to send some cards to unsuspecting recipients. Wish we could see their faces when they open their surprise : )
XO CC
When Is It Good Enough?
After months of design, production, and printing challenges, including hiccups and at times screaming obstacles, the decks are now officially in stock. How thrilling! However, during the process I asked myself the following question many times: When is it good enough?
Immersed in the task of creating something new, many of us can be plagued with that simple question, 'Is it good enough?' And, depending upon our definition, it can lead to a hearty dose of perfectionism resulting in a full-on assault of the never-being-happy virus. Sigh.
Launching a product based on my creative endeavors placed that phrase, "When is it good enough?” to the ultimate self test. Can you hear me roar? Actually, it’s more like a wimpy whiny screech of frustration. And, the ensuing comments, “But it’s not good enough” and “it’s taking too long” and “that gloss doesn’t meet my vision” and “that card stock is too flimsy,” and “it's too blue", and "I’m on a deadline," flooded my sanity for several weeks. Fortunately, I began to recognize the symptoms and tackled the spread of dis-ease ; )
It's been a case of identifying what is really important: What needs attention now vs what can be addressed in the next print run, or accomplished in a new edition. It's been an incredible journey to get to the beginning.
And there's so much more to come from Doodlisms™. Exciting doesn't even begin to describe it. In the meantime, here is a new stack of Doodlisms™ decks, happily shrink-wrapped and nestled in their individual boxes, before being shipped to their new homes.
XO CC
]]>It has been quite the journey, bringing to life this first deck of cards. Exhilarating, exciting, stressful, amazing, and plenty of opportunities to navigate a slew of road bumps. Mostly, I have needed to keep the faith. Faith in myself. To know I could achieve it.
My doodle passion re-emerged last year. My favorite brother, ok my only brother : ) was going through rather steep challenges in his life. He lives half way across the world and I couldn't just pop in and visit, or take him to lunch or a movie to cheer him up. I started sending him cards every week and would add a drawing, or doodle, to show him some love. Weeks became months and I looked forward to the time spent drawing for him.
Along the way, I discovered that the more I doodled, the more ideas poured in from every direction—including creating and designing a deck of cards. I jumped on it whole heartedly and the first creation from Doodlisms was born. A happy baby, with bright eyes, and dimpled cheeks.
We're fast moving beyond the first test print run, or kindergarten, and enjoying high school. Next is college, then the world ; ) What a ride, and we've only just begun.
My dearest wish for you, is that these cards, with each bright little critter, give you a big heart-opening cheerful grin—just as they do for me.
I look forward to bringing you lots more cheerful creativity!
XO CC
]]>