How to Complete Your Biggest Project in Next to No Time (Daily Behind the Scenes Blog 1)

Hi lovelies

So last weekend I posted that I've been so neglectful of this blog I would share a 'what's been happening' post in the week. Well I am so crazy busy right now that I didn't, but because I'm so crazy busy it also means I've sooooo much I could be/should be sharing with you all. So I've decided everyday this week to post a daily blog of behind the scenes of what I've been up to. Heaven knows I've more than enough going on in the land of Jennibellie to fill several monday-to-fridays posts, so let's get started with this one: 

Now to put this magnitude into perspective I've other classes I'm working on that are taking over TWO YEARS! The content in this one is NOT sub-par. No corners were cut, I actually included far more than is necessary. I even launched it today (about 2 minutes before writing this post) which means lots of funky graphics were also needed to be made, payment systems set up, promo videos to be cut, sales info to be written etc etc. So how is it possible for something so big to be created in so little time?

In truth when I look at the past two weeks I'm not sure I know, everything I've done looks rather impossible. What I do know is that I have dedicated a hell of a lot of time to it over the past two weeks (more on that below) but that does not mean I stopped myself doing everything we all normally do (- including larking around as much as I wanted). I also know that the class outline was already done for me, as it was just one of the bazillion, billion ideas I had already written up in my ideas folder ready to roll with (but we all know don't we that the ideas are the easy part!). What I believe might be the main reason why in two weeks this big imposing project came together so easily, beautifully, magically even is because I could not get it out of my mind! 

Whenever I have created something with so much flow, and ease, and joy it has always been when my brain was fully engaged.

So I switched off my brain from my other 50 million 'right now' projects, this is the hardest thing for me to do as a creative. My brain wants to work on everything at once, my hands want to work on everything at once. The trouble with that is while it's fun to work that way for playing, if you want to produce something beyond that then scatty on the inside generally produces scatty results on the outside. So I crossed my other projects off and gradually allowed my excited in this one to overpower all I was doing. 

Once that excited had taken over I didn't feel like working on other projects so much. What I did do though was occasionally enjoy other projects, as I used them as a way of taking a break from this one, yet staying inspired. I didn't linger in those other projects though, I wanted to get straight back into this one. Having built this focus with this main project it somehow brought it to all the others into focus as well. No more scattiness, just crystal. clear. attention. on whatever I was doing in that moment in time.

Working this way somehow makes time stretch. I managed to complete more work in one day than is usually possible in a week. 

There is this false perspective in our society that says anything good only comes through hard work and struggle. 

There is also this idea that producing something quickly and easily means it's won't be up to scratch. Like above I felt I had to make a point of mentioning that in this class I did 'NOT cut corners'. But this way of thinking is so far from the truth! When something comes together through joy and engagement it is 1000 times better than anything created through struggle and strife. It contains more juice because it is built with enthusiasm and passion. The creation and the creator are connected, are one, meaning the creator puts all of themselves into it.  It is meaningful and has a purpose beyond being made because it was planned, or because it will bring in x amount of sales or because it is the 'it' thing to do. 

Somewhere along the way this year having to deal with some 'life stuff' I forgot the right way to bring a project into fruition, but I know this. I've always known it. This is the whole process of creating projects joyously, easily and quickly that I teach in another class: Creative Goal Journaling. Somehow this year I've been all screwed up with uncertainty and perfectionism. It feels so good to kick those to the curb and do what it takes to create a big project in next to no time: just be in total engagement.

That's if for the first Daily Behind the Scenes Blog, argh it feels so good to be back! 

See you tomorrow!

PS In case you were wondering here is a look at the class I created in two weeks and released today:

Created especially for artists and owners of handmade goods shops this class is all about how to make money from your creative skills in a way that is profitable, sustainable and most importantly enjoyable. And because I'm releasing this class on Cyber Monday FOR THIS WEEK ONLY IT IS LESS THAN HALF PRICE

wooooowweeee!

Here is a sneaky peek video. If you wanna get all the details, more sneaky peeks and topics that will be covered please head over to this page: 

http://journalworkshops.ning.com/page/rock-your-online-shop 

Happy Cyber Monday!!!!

Need a creative kick in the pants?

If so what is the one thing you can do for yourself today to gift yourself that lift/inspiration/revitalization? 

If you read my latest blogpost where I share the struggle I've had with my creativity you may know I’ve had a punishing year, but through all this I’ve learnt all we need to do to give ourselves this boost back on our creative path is one simple *small* thing. 

When we are in this space we can think that we are soooooo stuck that we need to make huge shifts in order to get ourselves moving again. This is FALSE. Every journey begins with a single step...and besides big shifts are too difficult (if not impossible) to do from this space anyway. How can you travel all the way to the moon if you cannot journey to a nearby sea? 

The art table can seem like a looming stranger that only gets more and more distant and difficult to approach the longer we dwell in a place where fear has set in, or the inspiration has dried up, or burnout has taken over. But…it’s still just our art space. It is the same as it was when we were thriving in our creativity, it does not have the ability to have its own thoughts, therefore it simply cannot loom. IT IS NEUTRAL, as is our creativity and both are ready to welcome us back into the fold with open arms. But it does take that one step to turn that intimidating stranger back into an old friend.

For my one step I am currently using the workbook out of my 'How to Ride Your Creative Camels' ekit for the starting of a new project, as it contains sections for helping along every step of the journey. Notice I say ‘starting’, I am not trying to attempt the whole project, I am just starting and using the kit as my one small step for doing this. This kit is the first product I have created for agggggeees and I made it because, well, I need it. As I said this year has been a difficult one but even in the best of times taking the creative path can be hard, it requires courage and it requires conviction, so sometimes we need such things to support us in travelling our paths. 

Your one step could be engaging in something new that you know will be of support to you, or it could be the easiest creative thing that you already know how to do, like cutting out images or organising your supplies. Your creative intuition will always know what the thing is that you could do that would put you on your path again. If you cannot hear it you are not listening hard enough. Take a moment, get quiet and when you feel connected just ask internationally ‘what smallest simplest thing I could do right now?’…then do it.

My newest ekit is all about riding your creative camels, traveling your path and dealing with any roadblocks that come up & available from my Etsy shop here:

http://tinyurl.com/creativecamels

Good luck (& love)

Jennibellie

3 Steps For Dealing with Creative Demotivation

Hello beautiful

Hey! You may have noticed I've not been around here much the last couple of months, so I'm posting (despite the fact I've a million other 'Jennibellie' things I should be doing today like send out my newsletter, or finishing tomorrows next Monthly Challenge project and video) as I wanted to be sure to post something in September. It's silly but I don't like having a zero next to a month on my 'Blog Archive' lol so here's a post all about dealing with demotivation in your creativity and how to deal with it. I originally sent this out to my list last month as I tend to send creative articles out along with the other news/exclusive videos etc.

While my creative juices are flowing again right now truth be told the past few months have been a HUGE time of demotivation for me, as things have happened to flip up my life and routine recently, which is why I was inspired in my last blogpost to write about ensuring you continue your art during the tough times...but that can be tricky, and dealing with that trickiness is what this blogpost is about. I want to share with you the formula I used to see the light at the end of the tunnel & get back on my creative camel (more on that below!)

Step One: 

Forgive yourself! Forgive yourself for not doing those things you said you were going to do and for not being as far along as you wish to be. That’s life, if we already accomplished everything we wished to well, then, what would be the point in us sticking around? Truly open yourself up and forgive yourself for everything that is over and done with, you cannot change it anyway.

Step Two: 

Move with Gentleness. This is the action step to forgiving yourself. Figure out what you were being most hard on yourself for not doing and start doing that, but with gentleness. Move slowly, don’t expect too much of yourself. As I keep reminding myself ‘a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush’ so allow yourself time to ease back into it.

Step Three: 

Self Care Mastery, as I am displaying in the pic above in my sacred space, with a good book, in my fav pink top & wet messy hair from a long self care soak. Motivation is the most difficult thing to accumulate when you are running on empty. Fill yourself up, keep yourself filled up and in the knowledge that doing this will help you achieve those things that you wish to – which may mean taking a lot of breaks as you do Step Two. Also this is where having Passion Projects comes in great, and makes you feel good about yourself because you are actually moving along on something huzzah!! If you haven’t already click here to see July Monthly Challenge video, that runs through all about starting a new Passion Project.

These above are my Passion Project - here is a blogpost I did about these if you want to read more about the benefits of having a project that is just for you (and contains a little more info about what my Passion Project is). And that's it, that's how I moved from feeling stuck and fed up to creating again. I hope if you're dealing with demotivation you'll give it a try, especially if you've been hard on yourself to try and get yourself in creative flow again (because how's that working for you?). What have you got to lose?

Here's something else that will help with getting your creative projects done and is brand new today (see I told you the above steps got me creating again!):

This  'How to Ride Your Creative Camels' ekit contains lotsa goodies to help you better understand and navigate your own creative projects and creative journeys. Learn more via the link.

It is available via my Etsy shop now:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/462147002

Now I'd better get off and get creating what I'm actually supposed to be doing tee hee don't forget to look out for the new Monthly Challenge project and video in the group tomorrow, here's a sneak peek of how mine's coming on so far:

Toodles for now.

Much love

Jennibellie

Creative Project Breeding...like Rabbits

Hello Beautifuls, 

My ramble today will be a bit on the fly, as I have many mini deadlines to do and all that really keeps rolling around in my head to talk about today (rolling around is my sure creative sign that I have to act on it....otherwise it just continues and I go crazy...er) is Creative Project Breeding!

....yeah I like that name, think I might trademark it hehe

Anyhow this concept in my head really revolves around this quote by Picasso:

“Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.”

I love this quote. I have loved it for years. It helps put my butt in the chair & create when 'I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna' (but secretly know it will really help!). It helps me keep the faith in knowing that if I turn up, so will my mojo - especially when I sit staring blankly around my studio, waiting for a pencil to spring to life and jump into my hand for me. It helps me loosen up and not expect something brilliant to evolve the instant I put paintbrush to paper & above all to remember that creativity is a process.

What I never understood about this quote before is that Picasso might not actually be talking about the project you think he's talking about. (Yeah I know he's not really talking to us, or about any of our creative projects, but wouldn't it be cool if he were, if he were a little Picasso buddy sitting on our shoulders? Much better than that damn annoying inner critic!) What I mean is this...at first glance this quote appears to mean all those things that I just mentioned - basically that if you turn up to create, then inspiration will turn up afterwards and join you. 

BUT 

what if you turned up to create because you are already inspired? Does this 'afterwards' inspiration then disappear? Does it then say 'oh I see your busy with another inspiration right now, I'll come back later?' Does inspiration then stop once that initial burst to get you creating has been given and not grow, evolve or meet up with the 'afterwards' inspiration to have a *p*a*r*t*a*y*?? Not in my experience. 

What I have realised this quote by Picasso might mean is that

Creativity Breeds Creativity. 

That it means when you are working, with inspiration flowing or not, that more and more inspiration will flow, and flow abundantly, crazily, even overpoweringly. This ties in a lot with my uber popular (thanks guys!) blogpost I did last week 'How to Get On *& Stay On* a Creative ROLL' which is all about MOMENTUM, which is essentially what I now see Picasso saying here, as:

Action inspires Creation. 

Creation inspires Action. 

That is the simplest way I can think to put it.

This has been happening to me A LOT lately. And it's kinda annoying, because while I'm busy busy busy working away on one project I suddenly get ideas & desires to start another, and then another aaaaaaand then another. Mostly I just write the ideas down, and allow them to still have room in my head to incubate, but continue on with what I am creating...

making my weekend creative action list fun, even if I deviate from it

But sometimes the inspiration is so strong I have to act, and when I do this the projects themselves just seem to come together so swiftly and easily it's like someone else did them. 

And what is more I don't feel like they are taking anything away from the other projects I am creating, in fact quite the opposite, I feel they are assisting them somehow. May be by allowing the original projects some rest-bite to cultivate and accumulate better and better ideas for making their own progress better. I also feel that going off on this inspired action adds fuel to complete other projects too, because of the Creative Roll I spoke of last week - basically it's keeping the creativity muscle well and truly flexed.

My 'Daily Gratitude Journal Kit' above is one such project. At the beginning of this week this kit had not even been thought of, and now by the end of it, it is finished and available in my shop:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/209011598/daily-gratitude-journal-kit

So what I'm hoping all this inspiration and action

(and inspired action)

means is that by next weeks Weekly Ramble I'll be announcing one of these projects, then on, and on, and on, for all of November =) lol I guess we'll have to wait n see.

Love you all, thank you for listening to me ramble

PS want something from me before next week?

I'm posting an IMMENSE video tomorrow for Novembers Challenge in the Monthly Challenge Group on Journal Workshops - it's epic & you're welcome to join us =)

The projects that take years

For this weeks ramble I want to talk about something I have been feeling a lot of in 2014...frustration. I think I have felt more frustration during my creative process this year than I have ever before, but that isn't to say I haven't learnt a hell of a lot too. For example the majority of this year I have found it *extremely* frustrating that I cannot create things as quickly, get them polished and out into the world as I wish to.

'Fed Up of this Frustration'

I have learnt that they ALL take far longer to do that you not only want, but estimate or expect. As an example my new shop item I just launched, Mystery Mail 2, has been in production for well over 12 months! It has taken so much planning, designing, creating, altering, re-arranging - on *every* item in there, that I wondered why on earth I was doing it all. 

Mystery Mail 2 next to Mystery Mail 1

Why was I putting so much effort into items when no-one would even know about them (as the whole concept of Mystery Mail is that people are able to send themselves an arty goodie surprise), but the reason was because my heart was telling me to. It was a project I really wanted to make, and make it the BESTEST ever. And BESTEST ever things, well, they take time. 

So happy with how this has turned out...even though no-one can see it

And I am learning that, and allowing that, and taking that weight off of my shoulders. I want to stay in a place of joy in my creativity, creating from that calling from the heart, not from a place of pressure, which is what happens when you are wanting to accomplish everything you have planned at once; that's the definition of pressure, and  then of frustration when it doesn't work out. 

And I've realised that this thinking alone has also raised my confidence. I will create. I will create when I want,. And when I do that beautiful things happen. I don't need to churn out 50 things a day because my creative to-do list is as long as santa's present list. 

It has been a hard lesson this year, but I am getting fed up of allowing frustration to have a hold over me. So I will create, and allow, and allow those projects that require years to have them. If my heart is still in them after all that time then they were meant to be given life, if frustration of how long the project's taking overrules my desire to create it then it was never meant to be. It's that simple.

And here is a semi-new video from a project that also took a long time to come alive - my Journal Workshops Art Community, it is from the monthly challenge a couple months ago and I'm sharing it here because...well I mention all that in the video. If you are not a member of my community please enjoy, and consider coming over to join us for more. Much love & Happy Creating =)

Jennibellie is *alive*

Hey ho, Jennibellie is *alive*

lol I've had a few days off of social media etc and I've had a few 'where have you gone', 'are you ok?' messages which feels lovely to be missed online I must say =) I've been a lil ill but am on the mend now. Creatively me being out of it (literally out of it sometimes unfortunately) has had a knock-on effect on what art I've managed to do, which is a shame because the beginning of the month I felt so ON IT!! But in coming to put this weekly ramble post together I have noticed I have managed a few things. 

(TOP TIP: Through journaling I have found out that if you ever feel really depressed or angry over your lack of productivity then simply write a list of those things you have managed to get done, however big or small & that feeling will always soon evaporate - it's much easier to be hard on ourselves for things we have not managed to get done, than notice all the great shizzle we have!)

One thing I have done this very evening is film the new video for the Monthly Challenge Group, it currently looks like this:

...so no chances of me giving it away then lol, lots of editing to be done on that first!

Another is a v.quick style of journaling I've taken to recently, in my new quickie journal, which considering how I've been feeling suits the situation incredibly:

I have also been designing new products for my shop woooooooooooooooooo

as well as spending some time stocking it up on what I've had out of stock for a while:

makin' some zine packs

but the development stage of making new items takes sooooooooooo long that it's hardly worth me mentioning what they'll be, as it'll be 6 months before they are seen lol gotta love the creation process! As I've previously mentioned too I've been switching my studios (a new updated tour of my outdoor studio is coming!) so I've been trying to make my shop organisation more functional for me - if you have an online shop then you know what I'm talking about, it's easy to drown in things quickly - so the old cart has moved inside from my outdoor studio and is doing a great job being my 'products-in-progress' organiser!

In case no-one has noticed this about me before I highly recommend BOXES, 

for everything,

just go get some boxes lol

go!

they are always in demand around here

And that's about everything for now,

hope you have a fabulousooo weekend

much love

Offers at My Etsy Shop and an Offer for Yours

Hi guys just a heads up that I will be closing my shop on Sunday. But before that I've an early Christmas gift of 20% off everything in my shop (no minimum order) until Sunday, when I will close my shop until the new year. So if you want something as a gift please get it now using the code 'XMAS2013' during checkout.

I have per-zines available:

Art-zines:

Arty-Embellishments 

& lots of other arty things:

& plenty more at the shop.

Also if you are thinking about opening your own Etsy shop but haven't taken the plunge yet Etsy have started a friend referral system that gives away free listings, to both the new shop opener and the referrer. So if you want a shop but don't want to pay for your first 40 listings, please use this link to open your shop and make both of our wallets breathe easier =)

Happy Christmas shopping & creating ;)

Much love

20,000 Subscriber Giveaway on YT

Hi guys just a little note to let you know that I've a giveaway going over on my youtube channel. I've have over 20k of subscribers and thought I'd do a little thank you, below is the video but you must comment on the video to be entered (ie not here, though comments here are welcome as usual...they just won't be an entry). The 20 winners will be picked on 16th October.

Good luck everyone =D

PS New things are going in my shop this/next week so hopefully any of you that are avid Belliettes and already have all of these prizes will have new things to pick from if you become winners =)

Making Zines Vlog

Okay so as many of you know (having brought some already from my shop, or chatted to me about them over email, or traded some with me, or just read about them previously on here etc) I am a bit of a zine-nut.

I cannot help it, that was what a journal page {below} I posted on my social media type sites was about yesterday - me trying to resist the temptation to make yet another zine that is currently residing in my head!

So I'm posting this vlog, of me in full zine-making mode, to try and envelope others into the zine fold as it is obviously an obsession of mine that will not abate...as you are likely to see more of them here anyways I thought why not.

 Here's a mini glossary of terms I use in the vlog, just to bring you up to speed:

Zine: A self publication, usually of pamphlet size

Cut n Paste: Traditional way to make a zine visually appealing, using 'cut n' paste' collage

Perzine: Abbreviation used for 'personal-zine', meaning one's own life is the main topic

Zinester: A person that reads/makes/trades/sells zines

Distro: A collective of zines; someone or place that distributes several people's zines

Okay if you would like to see my zines you can find what I currently have in this section of my shop, I am now off to go and...guess what?? lol

Much love

Jennibellie

Making Stuff, Making Stuff, Making Stuff...

Hello, 

I just wanted to do a quick post to let you know I am still alive

I often feel like if I've not posted a lot of 'new' that week that people might forget I'm here, making things
 which is silly, especially as I have posted stuff not only two days ago...but still when I'm behind the scenes 'making things, making things, making things' I get impatient at the fact I'm NOT SHARING NOW lol 'coz that's my fav bit

...so this post is just sneaky peeky pics at somethings I've been up to.

*cough* new art zines *cough*

I've mainly been making new products for my online shop, as I said in a recent post, but then when I said that I meant new stuff that just needed the finishing touches to them however now I'm a like a crazy woman that's been making even more stuff. 

Not all of it's for sale exactly, 

some is just funky packaging

...just because I love sending out the *best* parcels ever lol 

'coz that's my fav bit of this area ;)

my new large envelopes to transport some upcoming handmade art supplies: 

gorgeous no?!

I've also been making videos...well just the actual parts 

where I record me making something, 

because as I may have already mentioned 

I am in full 'making things, making things, making things' mode

Upcoming vlog (...when I get around to editing mode lol):

and finally journal page I shared on flickr, facebook etc yesterday:

So that's all for now folks, 

don't forget there is a giveaway on my facebook page at the minute for anyone who wants a chance at winning some of my new giant art journal page postcard prints:

(Names drawn tomorrow so hurry)

Happy weekend

Much love