image by merete

to all of you who have gathered here in 2011, who have shared in this space and helped to make this community such a vibrant and life-sustaining, creative place to be, my whole-heart and gratitude goes out to you for all that you are and all that you do.

thank you for all the breathtaking beauty
thank you for all of your unwavering support
thank you for being a part of something that means so much to me
thank you for reminding me of my purpose, every single day
thank you for helping me to be brave
thank you for sharing your own unique juiciness
thank you for keeping it authentic and real
thank you for showing your vulnerability
thank you for all of your incredible ideas and talents
thank you for all of your stories
thank you for being my fountain of inspiration
thank you for traveling this winding path with me
thank you for all you have given, contributed, and offered
thank you for shining your steadfast light
thank you for getting messy along side me
thank you for so many unforgettable moments together
thank you for being Hope, incarnate
thank you for the delicious feast and richly nourishing my life
thank you for the aching laughter, tears and warm embraces
thank you for believing in me
thank you for giving my wishes wings
thank you for making Wishstudio, and my life, one big happy mess!

{part 2, and my word of the 2012…}

i loved making this fun and functional piece for the Wishstudio as a creative and interesting solution for lighting. the idea popped into my head after i salvaged this sweet little windowpane from the curbside while driving home one night. i knew it would made a perfect light fixture. i also love the feel and symbolism of windows as they always seem to offer peeks into something more.

you will need:

one solid windowpane with glass intact
4 eye hooks screws *
5-6 feet of decorative chain *
6-8 lightweight C-hook screws
2 large S-hooks *
2 medium S-hooks *
2 ceiling hooks*
sturdy wire cutters
1 strand of glass bulb lights
extension chord*
a strand or two of beaded garland
white spray paint
tarp
optional, paint for window if desired

* please be sure all theses hardware items are tested to bear the weight of your window and are the proper fittings for your particular measurements! depending on size and weight and how low you want your window to hang, you may find better options for hanging the window you have.

the first thing i did for this easy project was to prep the strand of lights. because i chose the bigger glass bulb kind, they did not come in strands of white so i wanted to spray paint the green wire. i unscrewed the bulbs and lay the wire on top of the tarp and gave them a coat of spray paint. while it was drying i assembled the window.

next, clean your window (if you want to sand and paint it, now is the time before you add all the hardware. i liked the chippy character of the window as i found it, so i left it unpainted). screw the four eye hooks securely into the backside of the window at the four corners as this will be the side bearing the weight to hang your piece. flip the window over and screw in the lightweight C-hooks around the perimeter and throughout the middle panes. these will be used to hang the beads.

to hang your window, mark the two anchor points in your ceiling  and screw in your hanging hooks making sure they are secure. after you’ve decided how low you want your window to hang (mine is about 9″ below my ceiling), measure and cut your chain to the proper length to fit from each corner of the windowpane to the it’s anchor point. to hang, simply attach the chain to the window using the smaller S-hooks (the eye hooks and back side of the window should be on top, facing the ceiling), then hang both end chains together using one large S-hook to hang from ceiling hooks. having someone help hold the window is a big help as you secure and hand your piece.

decorate your chandelier by adding the lights to the top of the window by simply placing them on top of the glass. finally, using the bead strands (i used clear, iridescent ones to catch the light), loop them from hook to hook around the window in a decorative way. i went around the window and then crossed through the middle in an X leaving some dangling ends for a fun effect. attach the extension chord and plug it in

a beautiful and fun conversation piece for any room!

Read more >>

{a sea of words… work in progress}

“2011, for me, will be about fortifying all of this growth. it feels right to choose a word that represents the care and feeding of all that came to be last year, and the sincerity and clarity of RESPONSIBILITY seems to call to me… taking care of the business of daily living and working, committing to the basic but important tasks of the mundane and maintaining the unsexy parts of my life that support the dazzle and shine of all the good stuff.”

as i start the process again for unearthing my word for 2012, i feel once again a call back to basics. maybe it’s the natural laws of expansion and contraction or maybe it is the deep intuitive knowing that there is still work to be done around last year’s word. as someone who is a bit of a perfectionist, repeating the same word again is stirring up a lot of resistance, but who knows?… it could happen.

long before i adopted the one word practice by the amazing christine kane, words have always been a sort of map for me, a kind of flowing life-force. i love diction and definitionss and origins and always have, so i am doing my research, still digging around and trying different words on. i’m getting closer.

what words are you pondering?

may your homes be filled with love & laughter
and your hearts be full of light,
on this special day of wonder
may you be merry and bright!

{by blue bird vintage}

{by cakies}

{as featured on craftzine}

{by martha stewart}

{as featured on threadbanger.com}

{by three sixty ecotique}

{by designs by vanessa}

{by enviromom}

as a last minute wrapper and in my eternal quest to abolish the purchase of gift wrap in my home, i had so much fun searching for these fun and crafty green ways to re-use and wrap all the holiday gifts.  all you need is recycled grocery store bags, craft scraps and bits and a little imagination …fabulous, and guilt-free holiday packaging.  possibilities are endless.

5:54am ~  “mama! had a good nap!”… “mama?!?”

5:55am ~ the day begins

5:59am ~ “boo!” big brother scares the daylights out of my barely awake self

6:00am ~ morning routine of getting warm milk, taking out the dog, getting breakfast snacks and settling two boys on the couch for their morning lounge time

6:10am ~ scare up some coffee and look at the schedule and to-do’s for the day, peek at email, facebook and website

7:00am ~ text from hubby… “going to Trader Joes today”.  yes! make a list

7:15am ~ light a fire under oldest to finish breakfast (eat some fruit), get dressed, brush teeth, pack backback, find shoes and remember at the last minute to pack his lunch. barely make it to the bus in time

7:51am ~ sigh of relief, oldest successfully launched into his day

8:00am ~ rewarm coffee, set up activity for the little guy and get some work done: blog posts, return emails, etc.

8:45am ~ get myself and the little one dressed. second cup of coffee i’ll forget to drink. put away laundry that is starting to pile up. take dog out again

9:10am ~ run errands. stop by the studio. return calls and listen to fave podcasts in the car. pack snacks a must

12:00pm ~ home for lunch, down time, more work, and cross fingers for a toddler nap.

12:45am ~ “no nap!” playtime, outside if not too frigid

2:00pm ~  much needed sweet quiet time and snuggle time

3:00pm ~ wonder where the day went and think about all that’s left to do. get ready for big brother to come home

3:25pm ~ snack and homework time, downtime and playtime. maybe squeeze in a little work in between

4:00pm ~ think about dinner, peering into fridge to see what i can whip up. play referee between two loud boys

4:30pm ~ dinner prep with the wee on who loves to “cook” and insists on always helping

4:55pm ~ hubby’s home! time to work for a few hours, event in the studio, or not and have dinner round the table together

7:00pm ~ bedtime routine, books or games, and tv time (storage wars, and max and ruby, lately)

8:10pm ~ kids in bed, hopefully sleeping! downtime with husband. intend to do more work, but realize brain is mush

9:00pm ~ probably sound asleep… zzzz

there is something about the magical formula of creating space, sharing, and being seen… it’s the silliness, the weepiness, the deep safety and abundance that comes from opening up your heart and soul to give and receive in a circle of women. it’s hard to really put it into words and i’ve been at a bit of a loss to truly encapsulate my experiences in LA for what was, i’m quite assured, an unforgettable few days.

so much of it was in the moments in between, the little vignettes of time… lunch at R & D, the gaggle of us walking down Montana Ave, finding The Dress, chatting and laughing around a coffee table, yoga pants caroling, cracking open the book for the first time, driving here and there, sitting in the sunlight by the lemon trees, and so on. while the book launch party was certainly the centerpiece and the sparkly highlight of the entire trip, the life and people surrounding that event is what made the feast so memorable. it was a huge slice of This Beautiful Life, savory and delicious.

maybe it was sleeping in swirly’s studio, maybe it was the homemade crepes or those crazy-good brownies, maybe it was the cheek-aching laughter, maybe it was connecting with so many fabulous souls, or maybe it was being surrounded by so much talent and gorgeous art. whatever the formula, there is always something special about when girls gather. this trip was no different.

i am always a bit quiet after these together times, full of wonder and awe. it takes me a while to process all that was shared and experienced. i wonder how i got so lucky to have women in my life that truly make me so unabashedly and profoundly happy. i am truly and forever grateful for the unique sparkle of each and every one. this trip was the icing on the cake, such a celebration of what was such an amazing journey being a part of this collaboration from beginning to end. even with the book sitting on the table right her beside me, it all seems a little like a dream.

{swirly signing books}

{kate, pixie and tracey}

{kate swoboda}

{kate, andrea, and pixie}

{kristen and pixie}

{vineeta nair}

{jen and lisa}

{goodie bag stuffing the night before}

{ann and christine}

{liz. grace, melissa, swirly, maya and vineeta}

{maya and her bucket of bazooka}

{see more from the whirlwind adventure here…}

Read more >>

by christine mason miller

The question of why I write is still one I ponder from time to time. This personal inquiry usually occurs after a visit to Barnes & Noble, where books are stacked and displayed as far as the eye can see with memoirs from politicians and celebrities who have far more star power than I to attract the attention of the New York Times Book Review. For all the talk of how the publishing world is struggling, there are still an awful lot of books being churned out, all of them laden with the hopes that they might be the next Eat, Pray, Love.

I wrote a book this year, and was fortunate to have it published by a bona fide publisher. I sent in my proposal, revised it at their suggestion, and was offered a contract. I then met a number of deadlines for a ten-chapter, twenty-contributor, one hundred plus-image collection of stories about creating a meaningful life. I wrote it, edited it, and entrusted it in the hands of my editor, and it now sits on the shelves of the very space that sometimes tempts me to throw in the towel and pursue another career – Barnes & Noble bookstore.

With its endless array of titles, not to mention stationery displays, magazine racks, and knick knack tables, I’m not exactly sure how my book will grab the attention of potential readers. Then again, I’m not exactly sure my customer base fits the profile of a typical Barnes & Noble customer (whatever that is.) All I know is that I wrote my book to the best of my ability, and now I have to let it go. I covered topics that I feel deeply passionate about, and shared the stories of twenty astounding women. I have put together a multi-faceted marketing plan, something I started working on months before the book was released.

In other words, I am doing the work of a writer, which, these days, isn’t merely about hibernating at a desk with endless cups of coffee. It is about bringing a vision into the world and then being willing to get behind it with whatever resources I have. It is about showing up, writing, and continuing to do what I can do to improve my writing. It is about undulating waves of internal work and external work, about sitting alone with my thoughts so I can figure out how to express them and then meandering all over the world to sell these wares to an audience. It is about having much to share, but being comfortable with the idea of not sharing everything at once.

I gave up trying to predict what might sell and/or catch people’s attention long ago. I’ve experienced surprises and disappointments along these lines as a greeting card designer, a mixed media artist, a blogger, and a writer. There is no way of knowing what will take off or what will flop, and the minute I try to figure that out ahead of time my work begins to suffer. I can only do my best, and speak my truth, and embrace the sense of mystery that is a part of every creative act. This is why I do what I do. This is why I write.

************

seems fitting that as christine’s last post goes up here in the Wishstudio (sniffle, sniff), i’m somewhere snug in her nest celebrating the momentous launch of her book. it’s with overwhelming gratitude and tremendous awe that i look back at where our paths first intersected years ago, and where we are now as friends and as individuals.  so many beautiful shared experiences have come to pass, a true testament to leaning into dreams and wishing big and all those things we go on about here in this community.  it is for real.

thank you, christine, for helping me to find my wings, for encouraging me at the very beginning, and for believing in the passion and crazy notions of an absolute stranger, and for being a steadfast anchor and guiding star along my way! my life would be completely different had you not answered that initial message. i’ll always be eternally grateful for your spacial place deep in the roots of Wishstudio and therefore in my own creative soul.  thank you for all that you have contributed, all you have shared and given of yourself, and all you have taught me.

so this is not goodbye (not even close!), but a sparkly send off to the next exciting, unknown, passionate leg of the journey… who knows what will be? great things, for sure!  i can’t wait to see what unfolds for you next.

with love and immeasurable gratitude… mindy

it is almost that time again… get ready to gather round the creative fire!

February 19 – 26, 2012

last spring we embarked on a wish-filled journey of such wonderful depth and creative breath, joined by uniquely inspiring teachers and so many heart centered, talented campers. we dug deep, got messy, shared and gathered, and created art, community and connections that have lasted since. this winter we will embark once again on something truly magical!  come immerse yourself in a week of creative exploration and self discovery.

wishBIG winter 2012 workshops

Connie Hozvicka :: Let It Loose :: Grab some poster board and your paints–we’re gonna Let It Loose with our paintbrush and get FEARLESS™ with our creativity!

enjoy this perfect little yoga video created just for you by our resident yogi, michelle cohen, to help you stay grounded and stress free this holiday season! feel free to share and spread a little OM along with some holiday cheer… enjoy!

by michelle ensminger

thank you all for making it an art filled, messy fun, gather and laugh, kind of day!

captured moment of what the wishstudio is all about… creativity, community, self discovery
thank you, michelle, tobin and nina

listening to this inspiring interview the other day with Tara Gentile, it really resonated with me that i needed to weave more of the story of the wishstudio into this space – the WHY of all things, especially during this time of big change.  as things are still shifting and settling into the new co-op model, i find myself telling parts of this story all the time now, to strangers as well as old creative friends.

since Wishstudio was born, really way back in 2007 before the Wishstudio blog was even envisioned, the idea of this community was within me.  i think it always has been, it just never had enough form to be realized as it was more an abstract notion, a yearning in my life for connection and a meaningful creative outlet. this has always been the core driving force behind everything in this space as well as within my original blog, under a pink sky, where the seeds of Wishstudio began to grow.  it was about finding my community, delving back into my creativity, and along the way discovering that all of it was deeply rooted in my own personal journey. today, our core values are very much the same:  Creativty, Community, and Self Discovery.

i never aimed to create a business when i first set out into the virtual landscape, it was something that organically evolved from the community that was driving it forward.  through collaborative events (the first wishfull virtual art reatreat, a novel idea at the time), and friendships made, and ideas shared in Wishstudio, this space became a working online space for many to connect and breathe life into their wishes.  it was where i realized that inspiration and community were my passion.

Wishstudio got it’s own official home here on the web back in early 2009 and grew into this beautiful space with many more collaborations and connections through the years. quickly this place became an online launching pad for many creative projects, products, and most importantly a resource for those finding their way in living creatively.

so now as i find myself in the the toddlerhood of Wishstudio, out of the early stage of simply birthing a business into the world, the focus now has clearly shifted to How i want to do business around these parts.  the local studio space was a big part of that, the answer to a need to bring this community off the screen and into my own neighborhood, to re-create the same everyday community and creative space for people to gather in face to face.

the Co-op model evolved separately, yet parallel to the opening of the local studio.  in my mind, this was always going to be the Wishstudio Co-op in name… i guess i was thinking more in terms of the cooperative community, but not really from a business perspective. then it all aligned.  of course Wishstudio is meant to inhabit the spirit of a co-op, in all ways… sustainability, accessability, a collective soul!  so thus the change.

as i blaze the trail through the new way of doing things here in the Wishstudio, i have complete faith and believe wholeheartedly in this model and feel like this exactly where Wishstudio is meant to be.  just yesterday, someone told me how the year 2012 has been named the year of the co-op!  i have been getting signs like this all along the way in my research and in sharing my vision. i feel so excited and completely at peace how things are unfolding on this next leg of our journey.

it is thanks to all of you… our beloved creative family… that has brought Wishstudio to where it is today, and who will especially see this creative venture (and adventure!) into the years ahead.

i am immensely grateful and always awe inspired by each one of you who comes here to read, comment, share, inspire, teach, create, and gather in this space. i am blessed to be part of such a deep well of kindness, passion and talent.

thank you all for sharing in my journey!

hugs and wishes always… mindy

“Fall and I’ll catch you.  And that was all I’d ever wanted- someone to catch me.”
~ Jillian Lauren