goodwill finds + inspiration

Thanks to some fellow artists I follow on Instagram, I have been inspired lately to do a major cleaning and reorganization of my jewelry-making workspace {read that as "small folding table in the corner of my bedroom" - hey, baby steps}.

{inspiration. image source: pinterest}

I had been struggling with what to put above my jewelry table that would be inspiring + functional. At one point I had a picture frame that I had once used as a display at a craft show, and then I had makeshift miniature bulletin boards. Oh man - they were hideous. haha Let me explain: I have a soft spot in my heart for clearance items. Something about saving money makes me want to do cartwheels. I also have a soft spot for buying clearance items I don't actually need or supplies I don't end up using but look cool in the fabulous fluorescent lights of AC Moore/Michael's. So, once upon a time, I bought a roll of cork at AC Moore. I thought, I can make my own bulletin board and save money, woohoo! Well, the cork was crumbly, would not lay flat to save it's life, and just was a waste of effort. I cut it and put it in random empty frames I had, and it just looked sad. So I finally gave up that idea, got rid of the frames and the cork. My next installment was fun pictures and prints I just taped with washi tape above my table. 

I think it is so important for artists to visually see inspiration while they work, to refresh and reset your mind on your ideas, to help you focus, to get outside your own head sometimes. Jessi from naptimediaries just posted about inspiration and I loved this quote from her:

"Seek inspiration outside your field to dig deep and avoid accidental copying."

So, I knew I wanted some sort of inspiration board to put up quotes, pictures, things torn out of magazines that lit my creative spark. 

Well, I finally realized I just needed a good, old fashioned bulletin board. Already made (haha). 

Sunday afternoon I went to Goodwill with the purpose of looking for a white shirt (negative), jean shorts (negative), and a bulletin board. I was walking over to where the picture frames are, and lo and behold, out from the backroom a Goodwill employee comes carrying a bulletin board. You better believe I snatched that baby up! I think it was a small God thing, looking out for me in the littlest way. :) It was $4 and in good condition. I knew I wanted to spruce it up a little, so I just painted the wood trim with 2 coats of some yellow paint I already owned. 

Voila! Here it is, painted and hanging in my "studio". :) 

{magazine cutouts, photo of my boyfriend+i, small painting from a boy i babysit, a postcard of the amazing artist thornton dial who i met, etc.}

{my friend made the piece in the frame - it says "do what you love, love what you do"}

{see that amazing wooden type drawer on the floor filled with beads? another great $5 goodwill find!}

Want to see a few more home studios/workspaces that inspire me? Click here to go to my Pinterest board. For the day I have a whole room dedicated to my art. :)

What are some ways you gather inspiration for your hobby/artwork? Taking walks, hashing out ideas over coffee dates, using inspiration boards, Pinterest? I'd love to hear from y'all! :)

coffee dates + struggles + hope

Today I'm linking up with Rachel over at Oh, Simple Thoughts for a Coffee Date!

If you read my first post here, then you know I love coffee! I love catching up with friends over coffee dates, especially if we can find a cute local coffee shop. {This month, though, I cut out going to coffee shops, so no actual coffee dates for me! I'll be writing a post about that later.} Like Rachel said, I love how friends can open up to each other over a simple cup of coffee. I've had some of the best conversations over a simple cup of joe, and it's exciting to hear how God is working in our friends lives, and then oftentimes, their reactions show me how exciting God's work is in my own life. It can be so easy to see the good going on in other people's lives, and we often forget what God has done for us in our own.

So here I sit with my travel mug full {reheated from earlier, not ideal}, and I want to share some of what's been on my heart lately...

Y'all --- the blog world is overwhelming. I enjoy writing, and I love getting the chance to have this corner of the blog world carved out for myself and Hope Collective, but I start to feel overwhelmed when I see myself at the beginning, and all that there is ahead. I get so easily distracted by all the prettiness too! haha Seriously, though, it's a blessing and a curse. I'm inspired by the beautiful spaces I see, pretty studios, perfect products, but I also get jealous and covetous. Not good, I know. So I want this space to be real --- I want to show the good and the struggles of my life, of my business Hope Collective so that others can see that believers are real people - we still struggle with sins, with ourselves and those around us. We all need God's grace, continuously, second by second.

Another thing I struggle with is my business. I almost feel like I shouldn't even call it a business yet because it is so teeny tiny. I work full-time, so it is super hard to get Hope Collective off the ground. I started this blog to help that a little bit. I get so easily discouraged about the "success" of my business, if it will ever grow, and if I'm making a difference {info on how I plan to give back coming soon}. I cannot tell you how many times I've cried about it {but my Mom and boyfriend probably could, ha!}. But, despite the struggles, annoyances, and competition, I know without a doubt that somehow God is using this/going to use this to help others. I have to trust in His timing {that is so hard}, because it just may not be the right time for my business to take off full-fledged. And that is ok. But, I have learned that it is not ok to give up...

I am learning that we must keep working at it {whatever that is for you} even when we don't see God's hand at work just yet.

I'm learning that I am so, so weak. I have so many doubts about who I am, and what I do. I struggle with guilt and shame. But I am also learning God makes and desires to make all things new! He desires us to lay down our shame and guilt, and embrace His forgiveness and joy. I feel like I'm turning over a new leaf in my life, and I can't quite put my finger on it, but it has a little to do with that - with setting aside shame, guilt and lies, and living in God's promises. We don't have to be perfect, and we never will be - but thank God for His new mercies.

"But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;" {1 Corinthians 1:27}

"Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him." {1 Corinthians 7:17}

"He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again." {2 Corinthians 1:10}

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." {2 Corinthians 12:9}

"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." {Philippians 1:6}

{all verses taken from the ESV Bible}

So, if you feel like sharing in the comments, what are some things you're struggling with, and/or are joyful about right now? What encourages you to keep going when it gets tough? 

As always, feel free to email me at ShopHopeCollective@gmail.com.

I'd love to hear from you! :)

the beginning.

////Hey Y'all!////

I'm not really sure what the norm is for your first post, but I figured I could give y'all a little bit of a rundown on who I am, why I'm here, and what Hope Collective is all about. Sounds good? Here we go!

////About me////

I'm 25 years old (about to turn 26, holla!)

A believer in Christ's hope and grace 

Love to create

Addicted to coffee and beads

Have an amazing boyfriend

Love my crazy family

Have a penchant for most things weird + silly (i.e. hedgehogs -see above picture, the Wienermobile, Star Wars, Grumpy cat)

Introvert, but once you get to know me, I let my ridiculous flag fly high

NC girl, born + raised

////What is Hope Collective?////

Hope Collective is my handmade business - I sell "Handcrafted goods for you and your home". My passion is jewelry-making, so you'll find a lot of that there, as well as notecards, embroidery hoop art, accessories, and watercolors (coming soon!). I started selling jewelry when I was about 14, and have kept at it ever since. My goal is for it to become a full-time venture, but for now, I do it on the side while working another full-time job. I started Hope Beads on Etsy awhile ago, but wanted to start selling more than my jewelry, so Hope Collective came about a few months ago. I chose the word "Hope" because in the coming months I will choose a non-profit to donate a portion of every sale to. I want my work to bring a small ray of hope into someone else's life. 

////What will my little corner of the blog world be about?////

I'm going to use this space to show my creative journey, my processes (joys + struggles), and highlight products from my shop. I want to inspire + motivate others, especially young women, to pursue their creative talents, and use those to give back since God's given us so much. I also will be highlighting other handmade shops, on Etsy and other sites, as well as shops that give back in their communities + around the world. I'll throw in a little bit of my personal life, because who wants to read about beads and shopping all day?? (well, I might...) I will do a few features on cities I've traveled to, as well as favorite spots like coffee shops, boutiques, etc.

////My Goals + Dreams for this blog////

Gain 50 followers in 2014

Post twice a week

Show that a creative business can be used to bring people hope + glory to God

Attend Influence Conference

Gain exposure for Hope Collective

Make great blog friends!

I got a lot of my ideas on how to organize what my blog is and isn't about, dreams, goals for it, etc. from this post by the lovely Rachel over at oh, Simple Thoughts:    

 5 "big picture" questions to regain BLOG FOCUS

{Like my blog design? Rachel also designed it! If you're looking for a new blog design, she is the girl for you! She is very talented, and she was super helpful and got my blog up very quickly. So great to work with!}

So, tell me, what are your goals + dreams for your blog? Introduce yourself, I'd love to get to know y'all! :)