Hello!
I’m going to stop talking now, and let Susan take it away!
Ok, short story: I have fairly big art show coming up in oh, like, a month! I’m not freaking out (yet), but I am working very, very hard to get all the artwork completed and a full collection of jewelry ready.
So, Friday, I’m in the studio, my girls are napping, my table is covered in work, I am instagraming photos to keep people informed and excited, sending out a tweet or two, reading emails as they pop-up on my phone, thinking through replies in my head, checking facebook, drinking coffee, switching art projects constantly… and listening to NPR.
This is a totally, totally normal afternoon for me.
There was an interview on NPR with Clifford Nass. He has studied the affects multitasking has on people, and especially on their creativity.
Well that got my attention real quick.
Wait, aren’t creative people wired to be amazing multitaskers? I know I am. right? Can’t our minds divide and follow multiple patterns at once? I mean, I can clearly do at least 3 things effectively at the same time… right?
Clifford Nast studied students at Stanford University (where he also teaches) and discovered that people who multitask consistently have a hard time filtering out irrelevancy, can’t manage their working memory, are always distracted, and, (the part that got my attention,) they are far worse at the creative thought process because they have trained their brains to be scattered.
Creativity is all about following a unique and intricate idea through to the end; finding relationships and combinations all along the way. As an artist, this means being present in all phases of the process, from the conceptualization to the tiny last details.
So, being the testy soul that I am, I decided to put my iPhone on the other side of the room, I turned down the screen to my laptop, and set to work. I really thought I would see very little difference in my productivity. Unfortunately, he was right. By getting rid of extra distractions I became free. My mind was able to focus. I was able to create. I didn’t feel that I had to check anything, I didn’t feel bored, and I accomplished at least 30% more work than typical.
But, how does this fit into life in 2013? We are so connected and many of us have to be very present online in order for our businesses to survive! Dr. Nass suggests taking a few moments thorough the day to hone in on those aspects of life. If you are going to check your emails, then do that. Twitter? Do that. You get to decide what is worth your time. Purposefully allocating that time lets you be focused, sharp, and in control of your mind.
I am going to be trying this all week and I expect to see amazing results. In fact, to hold myself accountable, I will do a follow-up post on Friday. I’ll share my thoughts, struggles, and show what I have accomplished.
I know this is an unusual concept for our highly “connected” society. I know it’s going to feel weird and I’m going to have to work hard at focusing, but I really think that controlling my mind will help me become a more effective communicator AND creator.
Care to join me? Maybe we will even take over the world with our super-focused-creative-minds…..
Hey everyone!
Confession time: I actually didn’t have a “purse”. I kind of feel like less of a woman for having admitted that! With two kids I just carry a huge all purpose, mammoth bag that holds everything on earth. Literally. It’s big, is cute, it’s super handy, but it’s not really an “Emily” fashion statement. I really wanted to find a large, stylish, and useful bag for my upcoming NYC trip. So the hunt began.
Requirements: Large (able to hold my ipad, 400+ business cards, and everything else needed when attending a super stylish blogging conference followed by the Renegade Craft Fair,) minimalistic and well designed (really, I shouldn’t need to explain this one)… and under $50. Ha! Good luck, Emily!
I really wanted a gold triangle on the bag. Don’t ask my why, it was just in my head and had to become reality. So I bought a bag at Target for $34, some gold leaf for around $12 and set to it!
Gold Leaf on leather handbag DIY:
1. Tape design to act as your guide
2. apply adhesive – let dry until it’s clear and tacky (15-20 minutes on leather)
3. carefully place the gold leaf – Gold leaf is incredibly delicate, but you can patch holes easily.
4. gently press the gold leaf into the leather. Gently.
5. remove tape
6. brush off all excess gold flakes
7. seal with 2-3 coats of gold leaf sealer (allow each coat to completely dry in between coats)
8. look like a million bucks & carry your new designer gem wherever you go!
SO EASY! The whole DIY took about 90 minutes with the waiting times and my constant state of distraction + project hopping.
I can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Other ideas I’ve seem floating around pinterest and other design blogs: gold tipped shoes, gilded notebooks, leather + gold triangle necklace, and gold speckled coaster.
Have fun gilding everything you own, now.
Mothers day is coming! This is my new favorite holiday…. ; ) and the perfect chance to show your momma that she is special and wonderful. To do that, you might need to look outside of the kitchen isle and flowers-to-go section of the grocery store. Don’t get me wrong, those are fantastic and I love posies and pans as much as the next girl, but a thoughtful, creative, individualized gift is always a beautiful option.
Here are few lovely items to inspire you (follow the links to check out the shops and sites!)
1. One of these little paintings by Annie Koelle would completely delight any lady. | 2. Beautiful fine art throw pillows by Garima Dhawan for an instantly artistic living space. | 3. Add some graphic elegance to your mother’s look with this Chevron Necklace by Moorea Seal | 4. A monthly gift box fitting your momma’s interests. My faves: Olive Box (perfectly designed paper goodies), Gourmet Spotting (new fancy foods to try), and Umba Box (handmade beauties created by independent artists)
Take a moment to let your mother know that you love her and that she’s appreciated (mom’s can never hear that enough)
Have a beautiful day! 
Gilded, find art, jewelry.
I’m so happy to introduce you to a new mini-collection I recently created (and will certainly be expounding upon soon.) This collection is very minimalistic and shiny (two things I love so very much).
Of course, the original ink paintings are the star of the show, but the gold leaf adds it’s own rustic, organic shiny touch to each piece. The combination makes me feel like a million bucks!
You can find these pretties in my shop
{and don’t forget about your mother! Use the code “ArtsyMother” for 20% off all fine art jewelry! All gifts come charmingly wrapped and ready to amaze your momma.}
Mother’s deserve a lot. I’m a mom now, so I know. Thank your mom for all the wonderful things she has done for you (big and small) and give her a piece of jewelry that is meaningful, beautiful, and memorable (without totally breaking the bank!)
Each necklace and earring is handcrafted and features a tiny original painting.
Check out the collection of fine art jewelry in the shop (or have me make a custom piece!) and enter “ArtsyMother” at check out to get 20% off. All necklaces will arrive packaged beautifully, ready to wow your lovely momma.
Local Treasure: Dapper Ink Custom Outfitters
Welcome to Dapper Ink Custom Outfitters! This locally owned, super creative small business is doing awesome things in Greenville, SC. Dapper Ink is owned and operated by Matt and Jenny Moreau (good friends of mine from our college days). They have taken this business from the basement of the fine art building at our university, to their home, and as of a few years ago, to this beautiful, fresh, modern, creative shop.
(This photo by TJ Getz of GetzCreative Photography)
They have spent the past few weeks freshening the design of the shop and had a post-renovation-relaunch-party last weekend. It was awesome to see so many people from the community come together to celebrate what Matt and Jenny have created.
Dapper Ink offers silk screen printing and letterpress beauties, as well as pretty much any other custom printing or embroidery you can imagine. These people are seriously committed to quality and snazzy design. To prove my point, my (somewhat picky) husband has purchased at least 10 of their custom t-shirts! I mean really…
If you find yourself in Greenville, SC, be sure to stop by and enjoy this warm and hip shop! Matt will probably invite you into the back where the real work happens so you can enjoy the action for yourself, and Jen will make you feel right at home with her warm personality. You’ll walk away with some snazzy new gear and maybe even a few new design ideas. They always seem to come to me there…
If Greenville is too far, you can find Dapper Ink on Facebook and Twitter. They have clients across the nation, so be sure to check them out next time you need to print something amazing!
PS. That awesome Long Live Print string art? There’s a DIY video here! Yes, you too can put huge string words on your wall.
This new collage “Stars In Their Place: Canis Major” was created over the course of several days which is a little unusual for me. Generally, I have a theme or message in mind, I pick out the wood, conceptualize the composition on the wood, work out the unique details, and set to work – often finishing the piece within the day. This one took a little longer (like, a week!) because of time, a few hiccups with the process, and the gold leaf (which I LOVE).
I have always been in awe of the stars and the dazzling constellations. They are so beautiful, so powerful, so explosive, and yet, they are held in place and kept in order so we can admire and be inspired by them.
“Put the Stars in Their Place: Canis Major” I love the gold leaf incorporating into this collage. The royal blue accents are so regal and graphic, as is the golden/yellow floral design. I really love way “Stars in their Place: Canis Major” came together. The wood it is based on is super thick and rugged. The cut is a little tilted on one side because of the rustic, aged edge of the wood. This collage measures around 9×11 inches.
I have been centering many of my collages around the concept of time and the vastness of space as it relates to individual people and to God. Our understanding of time and space and the greatness of our universe (not to mention what is beyond “our universe”) is so incredibly limited. It’s amazing. I can’t help by think that God, the one that placed these massive stars and constellations into place, who can see beyond all that we have discovered, chooses to see you and me. It’s mind-blowing and beautiful.
Have a lovely day!
15 minute DIY: Gold Leaf on Wood
So, a couple of weeks ago I shared my complete obsession with gold leaf and I confessed that I had never, in all of my crafty-artsy-DIY-creative days worked with gold leaf.
Well, that changed! I’m on a GL (that’s what I call it now, I refer to it so often….) creativity trend.
The grain, colors, and texture of wood contrast so beautifully with the shiny, glamorous gold leaf. It’s especially appealing to me when the gold looks a little rustic and natural. Almost as if it was formed inside or on the wood. he more natural, the better, in my opinion!
Wouldn’t this be completely beautiful incorporated into furniture design somehow? Maybe along the edges of a table, or little gleaming bits on drawer handles, or around a rustic wood frame? Just let your DIY soul take it and run.
This DIY tutorial is for applying gold leaf on wood. If you are working on paper or a less absorbent material (wood loves to drink all the glue you’re willing to feed it) the waiting time with change a bit. Wait until the adhesive is almost dry (3-4 minutes with the Speedball adhesive pen – which I love) then apply the leaf.
A few options for handling gold leaf (it’s so crazy thin and loves to tear/flake/crumble-to-the-floor)
1. use a large soft-bristle brush, create static by rubbing it on paper, and pick up the leaf by rubbing the brush over it. This will collect the whole leaf so you can use all of it.
2. If your package comes with backing paper as mine did, you can handle that, and use it to apply the gold leaf to the adhesive (as you can see in the photos)
3. cut out the shapes you desire and (with the backing paper) apply the shapes to the adhesive. Then remove backing paper.
4. You can also by gold leaf in flakes. This is convenient, but gives you a little less control over shapes and neatness.
Resources: I am working with the Speedball Mona Lisa Gold Leaf with adhesive pen. Also, I spent a while on you tube, doing my due diligence, watching an endless stream of videos, researching gold leaf techniques.
You can fully expect to see many more examples of gold leaf popping up in my work over the next few weeks (and probably for the rest of my life!) Once you start, it’s quite hard to stop…
Well, I’m happy to say, the look book samples are in the mail! Woohoo! Thank you all for your support throughout this process. Let me just tell you, getting a product line ready for shops is kind of an ordeal. But, hopefully, so worth it.
These packages are going to 10 shops that I completely adore (at least online). They hold a copy of the 2013 look book, a pretty sample, a hand written note, and an order form (fingers crossed that I get one or two back! Eeek!)
5 Things I did to make these packages pretty:
1. custom label. Design, but keep it simple. There’s no way the mail carrier is going to mess this one up…
2. silver pen lines. Simple, graphic, and shiny (all the things I love most).
3. Old school blue-red-white washi tape. Because primary colors are rarely a bad thing.
4. white tissue paper + blinged-out baker’s twine.
5. My favorite stamps: “Just for You” and my custom logo stamp (which I’m still obsessed with).
So next time you send a package, just pull out your craft box, or gather up a few random pens, and set to it! Think about composition and layout. Yes, I know it’s just an envelope, but, sometimes, these things matter!
Have a beautiful weekend everybody!
PS. If you are a shop owner/buyer and interested in receiving a look book, please send me an email! shop @ emilyjeffords.com
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I also created these two designs this week! Available at Peyton William for $70 or custom made when purchased from my shop.
