Beautiful Mondays: Be Still and Create

I have been busy this last week. Busy with thinking. Busy with worrying. Busy with my son’s birthday. And busy with bringing my creative side into action. The ironic thing is that all this ‘busy-ness’ has left me wordless. There have been too many words and thoughts in my mind that I don’t even know what to write down anymore.

I have learned this weekend, though, the importance of communicating and not giving up, especially when things get rough. At home, we are going through some issues that can, at times, get very stressful. The entire atmosphere in our home threatens to get polluted by our negativity and hurt feelings then. With two small children that is not good. But talking and learning to take some rest helps. And I want to just encourage you to be still and take a step back when life gets a bit overwhelming.

Like I said, I have been busy with pursuing my creative dreams. I have been promoting some of my things on my instagram and facebook account. And I have been putting quite some thought into a name for myself. I just want to share some pictures of what I have been up to.

Follow me here on instagram to see more of my creativity!

Have a beautiful Monday!

❤ Nan

Beautiful Mondays: Stepping into the light

A while back I had mentioned that I had started an internship with a stylist. I had helped out with a couple of things already. This last past week, however, I got a phone call that the internship would no longer be possible, due to changes taking place in her family. I was upset, hurt, disappointed and even a little mad when I heard this. I felt like the hope that had been given to me, suddenly had shattered. My first reaction was to quit completely, not even experiment with styling for myself. But then I realized that quitting wouldn’t help anyone and it would definitely not be a positive reaction for myself.

The lady I was interning with, called back to make sure I was doing alright. She told me I do have all the talents and creativity hidden inside of me and that I should definitely continue with what I am doing. She just didn’t expect her circumstances to change as quick as they did.

I am used to things not working out. Well, I say I am used to it, but each time it happens, I get just as disappointed as the time before. When you hope something will work out well for you and it doesn’t go the way you planned or hope, no matter what it is, feelings of disappointment and hurt will always surface. This weekend, though, I realized that what we do when disappointment and hurt want to take control, is crucial. We can withdraw ourselves and quit, like my first reaction was. Or we can challenge ourselves to look beyond our hurt, step into the light and look for new opportunities. It’s like they say, there is always another door that will open when one is closed.

So, instead of quitting and feeling sorry for myself, I took a step towards the light. How? By focussing on the styling projects I have right now: a love photoshoot and a one-year-old birthday party. Doing that, focussing on that what I do have, really helped. I have felt re-energized and excited to create beauty.

Today I want to encourage you to start stepping into the light if you are feeling disappointed or let down. There is always another opportunity or a different road. Don’t let those feelings get the best of you. Try creating beauty, even if it’s in small ways that barely seem to matter.

I wanted to share a picture of the suitcases I had painted for the wedding that I had helped out with while interning. I love how they turned out!

Have a beautiful Monday!

❤ Nan

DIY: Picture displays

For those of you looking for a new and different way to display your pictures throughout your house, I have an easy “Do It Yourself”. Yesterday I was in a creative mood and I really like the results I got.

Both are very easy to make and not many supplies are needed.

For this first one, all you need is some scrapbooking paper, washi tape, scissors, a sharpie (or any kind of pen or marker), dubble sides tape (or glue) and some fun stickers, cut-outs or vellum shapes. Then the rest is up to you! Start experimenting different positions for your picture and stickers/vellum shapes till you have created your own beautiful masterpiece! The Maggie Holmes collection actually inspired me to do this. She makes some beautiful supplies for creative people. You should take a look at het blog!

This second DIY is one I have wanted to do for a while, but hadn’t made time for yet. This one is my husband’s favorite and I must say I am pretty proud of it.

For this project, you will basically need the same supplies as in the one above. Except this one also requires a jar and some ribbon. What I did was glue some scrapbooking paper to both sides of the picture. With a slick writer (the perfect pen to write on washi tape and other “slick” surfaces) I wrote love on the picture. I then placed that in a jar. I added a cute ribbon that has words on it. And I added brown string. I sewed two vellum shapes onto the string. And that was it!

I hope you will feel inspired to make some beautiful photo displaying decor for around your home.

Have a lovely weekend.

❤ Nan

Beautiful Mondays: A few of my favorite things

To be honest, it was hard for me to find something inspiring to write about for this “Beautiful Monday”. My head has been full and I have been stuck in my thoughts and worries.

So I was very thankful that I had made a board on Pinterest with things that inspires me. Looking through my pins, I noticed a certain theme on my inspiring board, creativity. Most of the things I pinned were inspirational quotes, some painted on chalkboards or pallets. Or workplaces that show the creative side of people. Viewing the different pictures made me realize that this is a board that shows a part of who I am! Who I am is something I am trying to discover this year, and blogging is one aid I have in this process.
My “inspiring” board on pinterest shows my creative interests! The workplaces are areas in which I could let my creative mind explore endless possibilities, where I can most likely come to rest as I sit back and admire my work while enjoying a cup of coffee. The quotes inspire me to find myself and be fine with the way I have been created by the ever creative, all time Creator. And the pinned moodboards and colors remind me to dream and be creative and to gather pieces together so I can find myself.

On this beautiful Monday, I just want you to focus on something that you love, something that makes you YOU. Admire who you are and let that side of you come to life!

Here are some of my favorite things from my pinterest board, inspiring. I copied them and made them into a collage to give you a pretty overview.

If you are interested in more inspiration and in seeing these pictures individually, you can follow my board HERE.

Have a beautiful Monday!

❤ Nan