Happy Friday to all…I’m off to rest and enjoy the weekend

Lots of cardmaking and stamping…

Scraps of paper and material…

…turned into a little journal. It’s a bit flimsy because of the one strip of support. I think I’ll have to stick with larger journals with two strips at least…I suppose super tiny journals aren’t exactly so usable either!

Of course, I’m still making my leather journals…working away…

Happy Thursday to all and have fun in your creative space. Check out many other spaces at kootoyoo.

Download Printable Library Journaling Cards PDF (188 kb)

Hope you will find them useful and don’t forget to check out all the freebies on this blog. Feel free to spread the word by linking back to this post but please remember that freebies are always for personal use and cannot be resold…they are meant to be free for all forever

I started thinking about the notion of taking some time out because we need it, not only because we would like to. Maybe even the yearning to do something is really the body and soul crying out for that kind of time? I guess we have to twist the words a bit and not say that we are taking time – as if taking away from something else – rather making the time. So much more positive, even if it’s just a little mind trick on yourself perhaps. It sure has a whole different connotation to it. It might only be 5 minutes, but let’s all go make time for ourselves! You can see below that sometimes I go my journal in the midst of working, when something goes awry! Afterwards I always feel better

How many logins and sign-ups do you have? I have my blogs, social media accounts, ning networks and even online shops. I feel like having them out there, even when I don’t have time to participate, really clouds up my attention. I need to purge. So I wrote up a list and evaluated why I’m a part of that community. Also, what do I get out of it for the time spent?

I realized there was a lot I could live without and a lot that I neglected anyway. Commence the delete account mission! It felt so good to just delete stuff from my “possible” responsibilities. Less obligations and a clearer mindset. I even went through digital files and deleted random downloads and junk mail – all those distractions on the sidelines. Of course, I went a bit too delete happy and messed up one of my blogs at the same time – but that actually spurred on an important housekeeping project – check out the splash page on tortagialla.com. You certainly have to be careful and delete with care, but it’s important to purge and make room for greater things every once in a while Whew! You should try it yourself…go on and delete something.

Since I grew up in Los Angeles, all these normal countryside views are new experiences to me. I love having nature all around me, the scenery brings up thoughts of happy, simple country living. Every time we drive past these hay spirals, I tell my husband how cool it would to run up to one and hug it. Take a few photos and try to roll even. Apparently he has rolled one down a giant hill before as a kid, so I guess I am trying to live out country childhood experiences now! Last night on the way to dinner, I decided to follow my fancy and go hug a ball of hay! We stopped by a field near our house and just hiked in to take a few photos.

I felt a bit silly at first, but I was also super happy to finally carry out my little adventure. Hug the hay, try to push it (too heavy) and take some photos. Instead of dismissing the whole thing as weird, I just went with it. Like when you were a kid and nothing seems bizarre to do, you don’t care – you just have fun!

It’s not like this experience has changed my life in a huge way, but fulfilling a seemingly silly notion felt great and it was fun and funny at the same time. Maybe we all need to get a bit silly at times…these little moments of life are so happy! I will have to go scrapbook my photos now because I think they are cute! This is the kind of stuff I love about living here in Italy…it’s okay to get a bit silly and just do what you want to do. Happy Friday, have a great weekend and hope get a chance to just be silly – ciao ciao!

Journalling is a great way to get things out. Or maybe you can dance it out or sing it out. Or take your rug out and beat it! LOL. Personally I’ve come to truly realize that our time here is so limited and I just don’t want to waste any second. I always have that feeling of wanting more time and feeling the urgency…the clock is ticking!

After moving to Italy, I’ve noticed how much happier and balanced I am overall. There’s still a lot to work on, but the culture of slow living has really opened up something inside of me. I see the positives even in a bad situation and I can concentrate more on the good things in life, rather than moping around about the low points. People are much more open with their emotions in this culture and no subject is taboo to talk about. It’s interesting that it wasn’t like that in Los Angeles…bizarre! Even during a really sad time, we can joke and laugh and cry together. Isn’t that wonderful? I mean, we have to deal with issues throughout all our lives, but doing it together in a healthy way and moving on to live happy lives and experience happy things…that’s la bella vita! We just have to find the joy in it all. Everyone has a sad story and I’m sure there’s always someone in a better or worse situation. Perhaps we just have to concentrate on finding the joy, all around us…get the right perspective! From little things like cold cup of iced coffee to a grand success in your career – all those lovely happy details in life, pluck them out and celebrate the joys in life. Huzzah!!!

Download Cute Little Owlie Illustration ZIP file (442 kb)

Here’s a cute little owlie illustration that you can download in full color or just outlines. You can print it out for kids to color in, as a digital stampf or cardmaking or to decorate any of your crafty projects. Remember that my freebies are for personal use – free for all to enjoy. I’ve had owls on the brain lately, hence the cute little owlie illustration you see above. I’m anxiously awaiting the grand opening of Owl Tree Studio – a digital scrapbooking kit club that I design for – super exciting!

Since the heat makes it difficult for me to stay indoors in front of the hot computer, or do anything detailed under direct lighting – also hot – I decided to go outdoors.  See all those rolls of hay in the distance – I love the sight! If it’s too hot to do certain things, there are always others things to be done that won’t be too stressful. That something for me is planning and brainstorming. I have no issues taking a notebook and pen outdoors in the shade with a cold drink. It can be relaxing as well. Maybe it’s brainstorming of ideas. Maybe it’s compulsive list-making. Maybe it’s just some moments of peace and quiet. All of that will do you good…

Here’s a photo of our black sunflower (yup, they exist!) just blossoming. I love how the yellow still shows with the sunlight shining through. Although I still have to keep my work deadlines, just a bit of shifting and a new perspective can help me make use of all my time in an efficient manner. I’ve found that planning is a good task in these moments…I just need the time to write, ponder, scratch out and rewrite ideas. When the temperatures cools down later in the day, I’ll be much faster doing whatever work I need to complete. So I think it’s a win-win use of time, you just have to rearrange it properly for yourself. I have to say this reminds me to be grateful for my open schedule, working from home and as a freelancer. The flexibility really improves the quality of my life, I think so! Hope you are staying as cool as possible, wherever you are! Ciao ciao!