This Is It! Creations

Big Sale/Big News

2011-05-10T09:27:00.000-07:00

Happy May!

We wanted to let you know that we will be taking a one-month sabbatical from production to focus on writing!

It will go from May 18th-June 17th.

If you would like to stock up on our products beforehand, we'll be accepting new orders until May 15th.

And we have a fun coupon code for you, too!
Just enter "love25" in our main Etsy shop, and 25% will be taken off your order when you check out! (This even includes our sale/discontinued items - big savings!)
expires 5/15/11

Any orders placed after May 15th will be filled in the order they were received after June 17th.

We write about living a balanced life and following your true calling, and now we’re excited to do just that!

We are so grateful that you all are on this journey with us, and we can't wait to share our new books with you!

Much gratitude,

Jodi and Dan

We're Having a Pay It Forward Giveaway!

2011-03-21T13:06:00.000-07:00

It always feels so good to give, so we're having a giveaway that focuses on paying it forward!

And the more you pay it forward, the more entries you will have!

Click here to learn more!

Yay for giveaways!

SALE!

2011-03-05T11:39:00.000-08:00

We are doing some early spring cleaning, making room for new designs, and discontinuing many products. This means that we're having a

HUGE 1/2 OFF SALE

in two of our Etsy shops!

In our This Is It! Creations shop, you can buy earrings, journals, notepads, necklaces for 50% off! We have over 100 products on sale just in this shop!

Here is a sampling of what's there:


recycled sterling silver earrings with gemstone beads

doggie drawing notepad - 7 breeds and paper colors

my life is filled with abundance journal

penguin spiral notebook

songbird hardcover journal

In our Quality Craft Supplies shop, you can buy handmade paper, beads, and charms for 50% off! We have over 50 products on sale here!

Here is a sampling of what's there:

hemp cord - we have many colors still to list!

sterling silver lobster clasps

gemstone donuts

And for being a fan, we're offering you a coupon!

If you enter SALE20 at checkout, you can save an additional 20% off everything!

This coupon will expire on Monday, 3/7.

Have fun shopping! :)

New Blog!

2011-03-03T13:06:00.000-08:00

We started a new blog where we post writing prompts & questions each day-things to get you thinking about your life and where you fit into it.

We are having a great time building a community filled with positive people, and we would love for you to come check it out!

In gratitude,

Jodi and Dan

We're Giving Away Gratitude Journals!

2011-02-10T23:14:00.000-08:00

It's true!
All you need to do is email us a store or a list of stores where you think our products should be sold!

If the store places an order with us, we'll send you an I Am Grateful For... notebook for free!

Easy peasy!

(We'll send you one notebook for every store who orders!)

Please email your list of stores to: jodianddan@thisisitcreations.com

Our products are sold in hundreds of shops across the country!

Here's the type of shops that they do well in:
yoga studios
spas/salons
independent bookstores
natural health stores
pet boutiques
galleries
boutiques

We can't wait to read your suggestions!
Please pass this along to all of your friends and help us spread the love!

In gratitude,
Jodi and Dan

Staying True to Your Vision

2011-01-31T09:56:00.001-08:00

As many of you know, we started This Is It! Creations in 2005 with a bit of creativity, a love of making journals that helped people, and the dream of working together.
In the years since, we have kept that vision alive by always coming back to what we know and love. When we veered off of that path (even slightly) through the years, we always saw signs and messages (sometimes in the form of some tough lessons) that helped us get back to our own truth - our own passion - our own vision.With that said, we have many wonderful changes coming up for This Is It! Creations.
After much soul searching over the past few months, Dan and I have decided to get back on the path that we are happiest on - the path that brings the most passion - the path where everything seems to flow.
And while it can be a bit scary to take this leap of faith - we know that it's exactly what we are meant to do.
So for now, I'll leave this a bit vague - we'll reveal our new (or old) direction and changes shortly. If you are just starting your own business - one bit of advice that I would give is to set a clear vision right in the beginning.
What does your ideal business look like?
Why are you starting it?
What do you hope to achieve from it?
How does it run on a day to day basis?
And so on...
And then keep coming back to your vision - stay conscious and tweak it through the years if necessary. But make sure that your vision is truly your vision - and not a vision that you think you should have or that you have tweaked because you want to keep everyone else happy. It has to be your own passion - your own vision.
Believe me - if you have that, life (and business) will flow.
In gratitude,
Jodi

Grateful to Let the Creativity Flow

2011-01-26T10:51:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the gates open and creativity flows through at great speeds. When this happens, it's best to just take a step back, get out of your own way, and just let it flow.

That's what we've done - and we're thrilled to share our newest creations with you!

Dan and I are both writers with a passion for inspirational writing that gives gentle reminders of how we can live our best lives. We are thrilled that we get to combine our love of writing with our love of journal making to create our interactive journals for you! These are journals that contain writing prompts - all designed to get you to go within and explore your inner self.

Here are our brand new titles:Couple's Gratitude Book: Our Place to Share What We Appreciate Most About Each Other

This is a wonderful way for new couples to start off their relationship in a positive way - for newly married couples to get their marriage off to a great start - or for couples who have been in love for awhile and just want to find new ways to express their love and gratitude.

Couple's Love: How Well Do You Know Each Other?
Our Couple's Love Quiz Book is a perfect gift for any couple who wants to get to dig deeper and get to know their partner better in a fun way!

The Commitment Book: Helping You Keep Your Word to Yourself
It includes our 4-step plan that guides you toward your goals and holds you accountable for achieving them.

Journaling Further Within: 50 More Prompts for Self Exploration
A followup to our bestselling first book with 50 more prompts - going just a bit deeper this time!

Here are our bestselling titles:I Am Grateful For...

Journaling Within: 50 Prompts for Self Exploration
Transitions: 50 Prompts to Help Guide You Through Life's Changes

And we have so many more on the way - the gates have opened, and we are just letting the creativity flow!

This is what I am most grateful for today. Being able to create products that I am passionate about. If our words can go out into the world and do even just a bit of good to help someone, than we are happy and forever grateful.

In gratitude,
Jodi

P.S. - I'll show you our new wedding-related products in my next post. We're so excited to offer favors, guestbooks, and invitations - all handmade and ecofriendly! :)

Simply Amazed.

2011-01-14T00:08:00.000-08:00

Sometimes everything lines up just perfectly, and you know that you're exactly where you are supposed to be on exactly the right path at exactly the right time. This is that moment for us. Today. Right now.

Dan and I can barely find the words to express our extreme elation - our heartfelt joy - our deepest gratitude.

This is our full circle moment.

Many years ago, I subscribed to the most wonderful website. It's the largest spirituality-based site in the world with over 1.2 million subscribers. Each day words of encouragement and introspection were sent to my inbox. I loved how reflective and caring these messages were, and I continue to read them every day.

Last year, I noticed that this site also offered spiritual courses given by some of my favorite authors and speakers. Dan and I were thrilled to take them together, and we learned so much about ourselves and each other in the process.

The website is the DailyOM. And as of today, three of our interactive journals are now sold on it.

photo credit: DailyOM
If you click on the photo, you will be directed to our journals on the DailyOm site!

We feel blessed beyond belief.

Knowing that our inspirational books will reach so many people is such an amazing feeling.

When we started our company seven years ago, our vision was to create products that were gentle reminders for each of us to take the time to go within, put ourselves back on our priority lists, and practice self care. Our vision and the DailyOM's vision are so perfectly aligned, and we are beyond honored to now be a part of it.

We probably won't come back to the ground for quite some time...

In deepest gratitude to Scott and Madisyn - the DailyOM founders,
Jodi and Dan

It's Okay to Rest

2011-01-06T11:51:00.000-08:00

When you run your own business, it's sometimes easy to forget to rest, take time off, and recharge. Dan and I are both guilty of this - our studio is in our home, and (thankfully) there are always orders that need to be made, emails to write, and products to design.One of our biggest challenges is finding balance between our work lives and our personal lives. We hardly took any time off at all last year - just a handful of days. And we work from the time we wake up until the time we go to sleep.
We knew that there was a disconnect between the positive products that we were making and the actuality of our lives. We create products that mean something to us - gentle reminders to slow down and take time for ourselves.
We recently were talking to one of our customers and friends - Nora, who is the owner of Spirit of Shakti - a wonderful yoga studio in Ashland, Oregon. She knows what it's like to be constantly pulled in when you run your own business. She is a great source of inspiration to us because she has learned that's it's okay to set boundaries and take some time to recharge. She takes every Sunday off - she doesn't leave her house, doesn't talk to anyone, doesn't let anything pull at her. She pulls all of the circuits back in just for one day. And she finds that because of this, she is much happier and more efficient the rest of the week.Over our holiday break, Dan and I took some time to rest and recharge. Something happened to us in that time - we remembered what we had been missing in our lives: ourselves.
We realized that without us, there is no This Is It! Creations. If we aren't resting and rejuvenating, we won't be able to create new inspirational products for others to enjoy.
So we made a pact that we will create more balance in our lives this year. We won't work such crazy hours, we will take one day off per week, and we will take time each day for ourselves. Period.
I'm so excited about this new era, and I look forward to letting you all know about our progress!
We feel so blessed that we get to spend our days creating products that help all of us remember that's it's okay to slow down and take care of ourselves. And now we get to put our message into practice.
Thanks for being on this journey with us!
In gratitude,
Jodi

I Am Grateful for a Fresh Start

2011-01-01T12:30:00.000-08:00

Happy 2011, everyone!
The thing that I love the most about starting a new year is that we get to have a fresh start - a clean slate. We really have that each morning when we wake up, but it seems even bigger when the new year begins.

We get to reflect on the past year - the highs and the lows - and set our intentions for the new year.

It's a time when we are all conscious and mindful. What do we want this year? What are we willing to commit to to insure that it happens? How will we get there? What are the steps we can take? There is so much possibility, and my hope and wish for us all is that we can continue this reflection throughout the year.

If we all lived our lives in this state of awareness and possibility every day, just imagine how wonderful we would feel!

So let's start with today. And tomorrow we'll start all over again.

In gratitude,
Jodi

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-23T11:07:00.000-08:00

We hope you all have a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year!
We have so many exciting things planned for 2011, and we can't wait to share them with you all!
For now, it's time for us to take a few days off to celebrate such a wonderful holiday season!Thank you for helping us make 2010 such a wonderful year!
We can't wait for 2011!
In gratitude,
Jodi and Dan

Thank YOU!

2010-12-14T17:45:00.001-08:00

It's definitely the season-we're making & shipping orders around the clock!

We have almost forgotten what it's like to sleep. And when we do, we're dreaming of what has to go out the next day.And in the midst of all of this madness, we never forget that we are living our dream, and that you all are making it possible.

Thanks, everyone, for making this our busiest holiday season ever!

We are forever grateful to all of you - we have the kindest and most wonderful customers imaginable.

Happy holidays!
Jodi and Dan

We're Thanking You By Having a Big Sale! :)

2010-11-25T13:49:00.000-08:00

It's Thanksgiving here in the US today, and we have so much to be thankful for!Dan and I wanted to thank all of you - our customers, fans, and friends - for making it possible for us to spend each day creating products that we hope bring joy to everyone who buys them.

We feel very blessed - and we know that without you we wouldn't be here. So extra big thank you to all of our supporters!

To celebrate - we thought it would be fun to have a big sale this weekend!

Here's what we're offering for you:
25% off everything in our shop + you get 1 free 4.25x5.5 notepad of your choice with every order over $25 (after the discount)!
(Please type your notepad choice in the notes to seller box when you check out.)

Enter the coupon code: THANKS when you check out.

This sale will end on Monday the 29th at 11:59PST.

Have fun shopping!

In gratitude,
Jodi and Dan

Everyone Loves a Sale!

2010-11-19T11:51:00.000-08:00

We're so excited to be a part of Celebrate Green's 50% off coupon extravaganza!

Twelve eco companies (including us!) are offering 50% off coupons for you to enjoy!Click on the picture above to see the entire page of offers - then you can click through to each company's website!

Happy shopping! :)

I'm Grateful for Mentors

2010-11-19T11:13:00.000-08:00

I am honored and grateful that I was able to spend some time this week talking about our business with Star Ladin. What a wonderful experience!Star is an amazing person who has created several companies and has helped many entrepreneurs reach their goals and succeed on their own terms. I first learned about Star through her magazine, Star Lee Magazine, which is honestly the best magazine that I have ever read. Every article speaks to me, and every issue is so inspirational. It's a must have for any woman who is thinking about starting her own business or who already is running her own business. What I love about it is that it goes deeper than just "business talk" - it also focuses on conscious living and balance.

In our conversation, Star graciously offered lots of wonderful advice and tips for me, which I am forever grateful for.

She has so much to give, and I am thankful that our paths have crossed. I know that I will continue to learn from her, and I am excited to see what the future has in store for us both!

Thank you so much, Star!

In gratitude,
Jodi
P.S. - Star has a really great offer on her magazine! Click here to learn more.

Give a Little - Get a Lot!

2010-11-15T10:29:00.001-08:00

It's so true - when you give (your time, your money, your heart) to someone - it feels just as good for you as the person you are giving to! I am grateful that we all have the ability to help others - in big and small ways - everyday.

One of the questions in our Journaling Within notebook is, "What's the nicest thing you have ever done for someone?" We recently had a giveaway where many of you wrote in your answers to this question, which we loved reading!It's a question that can really get you thinking about how much you give on a daily basis - maybe without even knowing it.Try to be more aware today of all of the things you do to give back and help others. I'm sure by the end of the day, you'll have a lot to remember! Sometimes the little things have the biggest impact. You can give a compliment, think a positive thought about someone, open the door for someone, leave a quarter on the sidewalk, put up a happy face sticky note somewhere. The list is truly endless, and it's fun to get creative! Also, if you have a positive attitude today - that is actually giving back because positivity is contagious!

Have fun giving back!
:)
In gratitude,
Jodi

Heartfelt Connections

2010-11-14T11:30:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, Dan and I have craft shows lined up every weekend from now through Christmas. When you own a gift business, this time of year can get a bit crazy! I am grateful that even in the midst of this chaos (especially at craft shows), we are still able to have meaningful connections with our customers. I think because many of our products are about self care and introspection, we draw likeminded people to our booth. People who are on a path of awakening - people who are present in their lives. It amazes me how at every craft show we do, we end up meeting the most wonderful people that we instantly connect with on a deeper level. This past weekend was no exception - we had some wonderful conversations!

Dan and I have always wanted to help people - to make the world shine a bit brighter. And we dreamed that we would be able to do this through our products. The conversations that we have at craft shows and online with our wonderful customers are showing us that we are on the right path - that there is a need for the inspirational products that we make.
Thank you to everyone we have met so far on our journey. We are grateful to all of you who continue to encourage us and show us that what we do is meaningful to you.

Through our heartfelt connections, let's all shine a bit brighter today.

In gratitude,
Jodi

Home Sweet Home

2010-11-11T17:46:00.001-08:00

We have officially entered the holiday craft show season, which means that things are extra crazy around here! It's an exciting time, and we are looking forward to showing everyone our creations!

In this midst of making journals and jewelry like crazy, I started feeling extra grateful to live in a community that has so many wonderful opportunities for its local artisans.We moved to southern Oregon last year for that very reason. Because we work from home, we got to choose where we wanted to live. While I had never been here before, I just had a feeling that this was where we were supposed to be. It was beautiful, had a thriving creative community, and seemed like our perfect forever home.

Since moving here, we have been welcomed so graciously by so many people. We both feel so at home already. We absolutely love it!

It's a small community, but it is filled with such creative, inspiring residents. There are craft markets/art shows/farmer's markets almost every day of the week!

So thank you to southern Oregon for taking us in and welcoming us to your home. We are both so grateful that it is now our home.

I wish this for everyone - to live in a place that inspires you, welcomes you, and brings out the best in you.

In gratitude,
Jodi

Sometimes Life Takes Over

2010-11-10T11:35:00.000-08:00

It sneaks up on you, and before you know it you realize that the days are flying by and you still have lots to catch up on.
When that happens (such as today for me), there is still time to be grateful.
Be grateful that you lead such a wonderfully full life.
Be grateful that you can practice gratitude anywhere at any time.
Be grateful for each moment - even be grateful for the craziness.

So with that,
here is what I am grateful for right now in this moment:
Dan - first and always. We met 9 years ago today on top of a mountain in New Mexico. We have been happily inseparable ever since. I am so thankful that we get to share every experience together.
My furry babies - Xena, Biddle, and Buncom. I may be a bit biased, but I really do have the sweetest most loving friends. I love how they make me laugh every day.
My mom. While I miss not having her close, I'm grateful that we are back to our long phone chats where we get to catch up on everything.
My job. We have officially entered the beyond crazy season, and I am grateful for tons of orders, being able to roll with it all, and loving that this is the path that I am supposed to be on.
Mentors. I got to meet someone who truly inspires me yesterday (more about this when the time is right), and I am honored and touched and can't wait to see what the future holds for us.
Sunshine. After a rainy, cold day yesterday, I am extra grateful that it's beautiful and sunny outside today.
My gemstone necklace and amethyst nugget. I have these with me at all times.
Pandora. I don't know what I would do without Internet radio. Especially when we have hundreds more journals to make.

Thank you all for going on this journey of gratefulness with me! I would love to read what you are grateful for right now in this moment.

In gratitude,
Jodi

But I'm Too Busy...

2010-11-08T10:21:00.000-08:00

We are all super busy. We all have a million things that need to be done and a million other things that we would like to get done as well. We are racing around from here to there and sometimes the thought of adding one more thing to the list can seem overwhelming.

"I would love to be grateful and practice gratitude - but how am I going to fit that in, too?"That's what is so wonderful about starting (and continuing) your gratitude practice: it doesn't take any extra time out of your day! You are simply replacing your "auto pilot" thoughts with positive, grateful thoughts.

I love that you can think about all that you are grateful for anytime! You don't have to clear a space out of your busy schedule, you don't have to meditate or journal - you can do it wherever you are at any given moment! It's all happening inside your mind, and you and your mind are always together!

Here is a list of some great moments to really feel gratitude:
- when you are driving - especially when you are stuck in traffic
- while washing the dishes
- in the shower
- walking from room to room
- in the line at the grocery store
- while waiting to pick up your kids from school
- while exercising
- while cooking dinner
- while cleaning
- while getting ready in the morning
- right before you go to sleep at night

And so many more!

I have a morning routine where I think about all that I love and am grateful for while taking a shower. I also take some time to think about my ideal life - what does it look like and feel like? Then when I am getting ready for the day, I continue to only think about things that I love. Because we attract what we think about, I want to make sure that I start the day filled with gratitude and positive thoughts.

Doing this doesn't take any time out of my day - and it makes it much more pleasant!
What do you think about during your morning routine? Are you on auto pilot? Are you already thinking about all of the things that you have to do that day? Maybe tomorrow you can try this instead and see how you feel.

There is always time for gratitude.
:)
Jodi

P.S. - Here are two great books that have helped me with my own gratitude practice:

I'm Grateful for Perfect Timing (Even When It May Not Seem Like Perfect Timing)

2010-11-07T09:41:00.000-08:00

Everything always happens in the right time. Always.

I am grateful that we all have the ability to find the silver lining in all situations. If we have faith that things always work out, and if we really believe that things always happen in the right time - then we can't help but be grateful in every moment - even in the moments where things just don't seem to be going according to our plan.
Dan was at a craft show last month, and while it was a great day weather wise, it was not a great day for sales. When the show was over, many things happened that prevented him from packing up quickly and going home. He wasn't able to park the car close to his space, and the dollies were all either being used or broken, so he had to carry everything a good distance to the car. While he was packing up, a glass fell from 2 stories up and landed just a few feet away from him. It seemed as though things weren't going very well at all. Just as he was getting ready to leave, one of the vendors pulled him aside to chat for a minute - it was about an hour after the show ended by this point. As he was talking to her, a woman ran up and asked if he was the journal guy. It turns out that she has written a book and wants us to print it for her! If it had been a normal day where he packed up quickly and went home, he never would've met this woman, and we wouldn't have the opportunity to print her book.We all have moments like this in our lives where we were able to look back and realize that we were in the right place at the right time.

In this instance, we were able to see immediately why the obstacles were being put before him. But it's not always this clear or it doesn't always unfold immediately - and that's where faith comes in. Really believing that everything happens in the right time and that things always work out for the best is key in your daily gratitude practice.

Being grateful when things are going well is a great start. It gets you in the habit so that you can be grateful, too, when it seems like things aren't going according to plan. If you have faith that everything is happening in the right time and you know that things always work out - you can't help but be grateful even if you can't seem to understand it all in that moment.
Letting go and stepping back to allow things to flow is a great practice to start. And having the ability to be grateful when times are hard is key.

I have been reading your posts on Etsy, and I am truly inspired by those of you who are either out of work or are facing serious health issues and still are able to find the silver lining. You realize that things are happening in the perfect time and you have faith that it will all work out. That is what it's all about! And on days when I find it more of a challenge to be grateful, I will think of your stories and look to you for inspiration.

Think about your own lives today and see if you can come up with a time when things just didn't seem to be working out at all, but in the end you were able to see that it all happened in just the right time. It could be a small thing (like getting a closer parking spot) or a large thing (like meeting someone that changed your life).

Everything happens in just the right time, and I am grateful for that.

In gratitude,
Jodi

If You Can Imagine It...

2010-11-06T11:00:00.000-07:00

Today I'm grateful that we all have the ability to imagine and create the lives we want.

I was reading our Gratitude Post in the Etsy forums yesterday and was delighted to see that someone imagined living in their dream home - really felt what they would feel like - and was now moving there!

This reminded me of a friend of mine who wanted to buy a house several years ago. She looked a ton of them, but nothing felt quite right. So she decided to write down a detailed list of everything she was looking for. Right away, she found her perfect house that met every criteria on her list!

If you can imagine it - you can create it. It's that simple.
Nine years ago, I was going through a rough patch in my life. I had just finished school and was ready to save the world, I was filled with idealistic dreams until 9/11 happened - then (like a lot of us) I was filled with so much confusion and sadness. I knew that I needed a best friend who could understand what I was feeling - someone who was sensitive and intuitive. I imagined what it would be like to have this friend in my life - and guess who appeared? Dan! He was from NY, traveled through Asia, and ended up on a New Mexican mountain in the middle of nowhere - right where I happened to be. We have been inseparable ever since, and my dreams were answered. If I hadn't imagined him - we may have never met.

It really does work. This is just one of many examples in my life.

Focus on the postive, be grateful for what's working in your life, and imagine and visualize every part of your life - get detailed. Really feel what it's like to be living this new life. And it will happen. It really will!

Have you had an experience where you imagined something into reality? Please post it here or in the Etsy forums!

You can also post what you would like to create. What would you like to manifest?

I'm so glad that we're all on this journey together.

In gratitude,
Jodi

Let's Get Personal!

2010-11-06T10:23:00.001-07:00

We love personalizing our products!

This is the perfect time of year to give a special, customized ecofriendly gift to a loved one, and we have lots of fun designs to choose from!

Because most of our products are made to order, you get to pick out your paper color, font type, and customization for our journals and notepads!

Couple's Love Notepad made using recycled paper.

Personalized Journal made using recycled paper and coconut beads.

Personalized Notebooks made using tree-free and recycled paper.

We also love putting your picture on our products! Who doesn't love seeing their kids or furry friends everyday on a notebook or keychain?

Your Photo Here Notebook made using recycled paper.

Personalized Bamboo Tile Keychains made using bamboo and recycled sterling silver.

If you are looking for personalized, unique, ecofriendly gifts this year - we would love to put together something extra special for you! Check out our personalized section in our Etsy shop, but the fun doesn't end there! Remember that almost all of our products can be customized! Let's get creative together and make the perfect gifts for your loved ones!

Happy holidays, everyone!

We Get to Choose

2010-11-05T08:53:00.000-07:00

Today I am grateful that we each get to choose.

We get to choose every aspect of our lives - who we love, how we spend our days, and most importantly, what we focus on - our thoughts. If we're having a bad day and noticing that our thoughts and emotions are a bit out of control and starting to spiral downward - we can turn them around just by recognizing and replacing them with positive thoughts and gratitude.Our minds are so powerful - why not have them work for you instead of against you?

The first step in turning your thoughts around is to recognize what thoughts you're having. Many of us are on autopilot a lot of the time, and we aren't even aware that we have some negative programming happening in our minds. So begin the practice of just noticing your thoughts.

Once you are aware, you can begin to replace any negative thought with a positive one. Just turn it around - focus on all that is good in your life. What you think about becomes your reality - this is really true. Look at your life now and recognize that you created it. If you are happy and living the life that you always wanted - wonderful! If you see some things that you would like to change - it's never too late! You can start today by increasing your positive thoughts and focusing on what you are grateful for.Just try it for one day and see how you feel! Being able to choose our thoughts is such a gift that we all have! I am so grateful for that! :)

In gratitude,
Jodi

We're Grateful for...

2010-11-04T09:45:00.000-07:00

friends who inspire us!

There are so many of you, and today we wanted to tell you about Shelly Jillson, our creative friend who continues to inspire us and make our lives more fulfilling and meaningful.We met earlier this year at the Lithia Artisans Market in Ashland. We live in such a great area where we are part of a weekly outdoor handmade market every weekend from April to November. Shelly is also an artist at the market - she makes beautiful flower-pressed gifts (including night lights, ornaments, and earrings). You can see some of her designs here.

Shelly is the type of person that draws people to her. She has a kind, gentle soul - and she gives the best hugs! We immediately bonded with her, and I will be forever thankful that our paths crossed when they did. We were all going through a difficult time in our lives - full of transitions, and it was so comforting to know that we could be there for each other.

I just read an interview written by a local jeweler about Shelly, where I learned that she is a cancer survivor and someone who left an abusive home to move here and heal. She is an amazingly strong person, a nurturer, a giver, and a comfort to everyone she crosses paths with. I'm so glad she's healthy and continues to bless us all with her love, her beautiful soul, and her creations!

Shelly is a true inspiration to us, and we are grateful to know her.
We love you, Shelly!Who inspires you? Please comment below or in the Etsy post. Let's spread the love!
:)
In gratitude,
Dan and Jodi