tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4916700657206152762024-03-18T23:26:16.521-04:00Studio Yuko JonesStudio Yuko Jones http://www.blogger.com/profile/04839090621639281035noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491670065720615276.post-64809803667256908432014-12-27T19:41:00.000-05:002014-12-28T01:52:36.456-05:00Wishing you a very happy New Year! <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I hope you had a great couple of days! We spent Christmas over at my in-laws, and we had a wonderful time opening presents and eating good food.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here are a few of my favorite Christmas presents from this year. The oven mitt my 6-year-old handmade for me (he decided I'm a pink, purple, orange type of person - love him! :)). The sugar pot from Anthropologie my mother-in-law searched all over for me. The super comfy mittens my sister- and brother-in-law gave me. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u1viMtILjAQ/VJ7qPyAaASI/AAAAAAAAD00/UBhZk1-t3Q8/s1600/102-ChristmasPresents.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u1viMtILjAQ/VJ7qPyAaASI/AAAAAAAAD00/UBhZk1-t3Q8/s1600/102-ChristmasPresents.gif" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Those are my
favorites because I know I'm loved every time I look at them. They took
their time to make, search, choose what I would
really like, and just thinking about that puts a big smile on my face. I'm so lucky to have such a loving family. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4ywWymKVOpU/VJ7qaZAlz5I/AAAAAAAAD08/KmmYgiIDbNw/s1600/102-ViewfromOurWindow.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4ywWymKVOpU/VJ7qaZAlz5I/AAAAAAAAD08/KmmYgiIDbNw/s1600/102-ViewfromOurWindow.gif" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We didn't have a white Christmas this year. But the sky's been blue and our grass is still green, so I can't be complaining. This reminds me of the mild winter weather I grew up in Japan and that makes me feel a little sentimental. I remember the days I used to fly kites with my brother on New Year's Day. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's been unseasonably warm around here and my son just asked me if the spring has already come. "We're not quite there yet, honey," I whispered it. <i>"We need to go through winter before flowers blossom and trees bear fruit."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And this is also how the seasons of life unfolds. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's been a wonderful year with many exciting things happening in our lives. Our boys thrived at school and I started my own creative business, and I couldn't be happier with both. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But we've also had a set of challenges that kept us up at night. I'm grateful for those challenges, too, because they helped us learn and grow. But if I'm honest, it hasn't been easy. I feel as if we've been through a long stretch of winter and now finally started to make baby steps towards spring. It's a slow progress and our path is filled with uncertainty, but there is one thing I know for sure: <i>We're moving towards our goals and dreams. </i>And that's all we need to know in order to keep going. <i></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our heart is now filled with hopes and dreams for the new year, and it's a great feeling. I know this is going to be an exciting year! <i> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm going to take some time off from the internet, including this blog, for a couple of weeks (<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/studioyukojones"><span style="color: #e06666;">my Etsy shop</span></a> will be open). I'm looking forward to spending some quality time with my family, reading good books, cleaning and organizing our home, and setting my goals for the new year. The boys are going back to school on January 5th, so I'll probably come back a few days after that. But we'll see how it goes. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">These are the books I'll be reading if you're curious ...</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Growing-Up-Social-Relational-Screen-Driven/dp/0802411231/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419749039&sr=8-1&keywords=growing+up+social"><img alt="http://www.amazon.com/Growing-Up-Social-Relational-Screen-Driven/dp/0802411231/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419749039&sr=8-1&keywords=growing+up+social" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jNoPF2TnajE/VJ8kYw0wfFI/AAAAAAAAD1M/PtA2AhfUMO4/s1600/102-GrowingUpSocial.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Growing-Up-Social-Relational-Screen-Driven/dp/0802411231/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419716354&sr=8-1&keywords=growing+up+social"><span style="color: #e06666;">Growing Up Social</span></a>: Lovely Linda at <a href="http://creeksideministries.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #e06666;">Creekside Ministries</span></a> gave me this book a while ago, and now I finally have the time to read it. Thank you, Linda! I know I'll be learning a lot from this book :) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And this...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Faster-Olympic-winning-strategies-everyday-success-ebook/dp/B004VF7YHW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419749080&sr=8-1&keywords=will+it+make+the+boat+go+faster"><img alt="http://www.amazon.com/Faster-Olympic-winning-strategies-everyday-success-ebook/dp/B004VF7YHW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419749080&sr=8-1&keywords=will+it+make+the+boat+go+faster" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CXm8qM0MNfs/VJ8lMLomQ3I/AAAAAAAAD1c/S5O2LEG47wY/s1600/102-WillItMakeTheBoatGoFaster.jpg" height="400" width="255" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Faster-Olympic-winning-strategies-everyday-success-ebook/dp/B004VF7YHW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419716312&sr=8-1&keywords=will+it+make+the+boat+go+faster"><span style="color: #e06666;">Will It Make The Boat Go Faster?</span></a>: When I took the Blogging Your Way class back in November, one of the teachers, <a href="http://thebrand-stylist.com/"><span style="color: #e06666;">Fiona Humberstone</span></a>, recommended this book, and I can't wait to get my hands on it! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Meanwhile, if you're new here or you're in the blog reading mood, you're more than welcome to check out the archives.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here are the sample of my favorite posts. </span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Stories of becoming:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2013/12/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-ja-x.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">Now Let's Talk About Fear</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2013/12/theres-something-about-giving.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">There's something about giving</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/07/let-your-ordinary-gift-shine-new-art.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">Let your ordinary gift shine </span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-sweetest-fig-new-art.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">The Sweetest Fig </span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-taste-of-happiness.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">The Taste of Happiness</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/09/at-summers-end.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">At Summer's End</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/10/one-in-million.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">One in a Million</span></a></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">DIY projects:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2013/12/trumeau-mirror-makeover.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">Trumeau Mirror Makeover</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2013/12/brick-fireplace-makeover.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">Brick Fireplace Makeover</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/03/resin-bust-makeover.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">Resin Bust Makeover</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Decorating {in progress}:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/01/our-dining-room-today-how-i-decorate.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">Our Dining Room Today</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Guest Bedroom Updates (<a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/04/guest-bedroom-seating-area-update.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">here</span></a> and <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/04/guest-bedroom-update.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">here</span></a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/09/how-i-chose-perfect-paint-color-master.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">How I chose the perfect paint color</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thank you so much for taking the time to visit this blog this year. I'm looking forward to sharing my journey with you in the new year. Wishing you a happy New Year!!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />xoxo</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yuko </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />Studio Yuko Jones http://www.blogger.com/profile/04839090621639281035noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491670065720615276.post-4651278355156274212014-12-19T11:35:00.000-05:002014-12-19T11:48:14.566-05:00Getting Ready for Christmas - Decorating with Nature <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Welcome to our home! I'm so glad you're here. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I almost didn't decorate our home for Christmas this year. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--yC1GJQBM6U/VJFaqma0cbI/AAAAAAAADxY/O0rGKBJDmjc/s1600/101-FamilyRoom-Edit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--yC1GJQBM6U/VJFaqma0cbI/AAAAAAAADxY/O0rGKBJDmjc/s1600/101-FamilyRoom-Edit.gif" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But I'm glad I did. </span> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Decorating for the season gives me the chance to pause and think what really matters. So, </span>I gathered all the pretty things I could find around our home and went on a mission to cozy up this place. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is our family room, where we spend most of our time together as a family. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Do you see the library card catalog turned into a coffee table up there? I just brought it into the room hoping that could stay, but our boys have already bumped their heads twice while wrestling. I might have to send it back to the basement...</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HG-UCIf9_2Y/VJFhZRGlcwI/AAAAAAAADyM/5vTi6ZVOyVM/s1600/101-Fireplace-Edit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HG-UCIf9_2Y/VJFhZRGlcwI/AAAAAAAADyM/5vTi6ZVOyVM/s1600/101-Fireplace-Edit.gif" height="640" width="568" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I used baby's breath for the first time last year, and </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm using it again this year. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's so delicate and it looks as if fresh snow has fallen all over the room. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2r4zH0EesrY/VJFgHHbqXxI/AAAAAAAADyA/iCucNa0ubZU/s1600/101-FireplaceCloseUp-Edit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2r4zH0EesrY/VJFgHHbqXxI/AAAAAAAADyA/iCucNa0ubZU/s1600/101-FireplaceCloseUp-Edit.gif" height="464" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's been over a year since <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2013/12/brick-fireplace-makeover.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">I painted the brick fireplace</span></a>, and it's held up great. And if I ever need to do a touch up, I just need to pull out two cans of ASCP and a piece of paper towel. It'll be a very quick and easy fix.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VbfkTpciWZw/VJFjw9GbygI/AAAAAAAADyY/jh-lULMEiIw/s1600/101-GalleryWall1-Edit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VbfkTpciWZw/VJFjw9GbygI/AAAAAAAADyY/jh-lULMEiIw/s1600/101-GalleryWall1-Edit.gif" height="392" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I feel most comfortable when surrounded by natural
elements. </span></span></span>I used grape wood, pine cones, feathers, eucalyptus and winter berries to create this nature inspired vignette. I still like the <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/07/diy-bubble-art.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">DIY bubble art</span></a> in the gallery display, but I might change them up for something different in the new year. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I covered the low bookshelf filled with the boys' toys and books with a table cloth. I already took the cloth off the shelf, but this is something I can quickly throw back on when we have guests over. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And this reminds me of something I often forget. <i>We don't always show all of our messes to other people. </i> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Some days I wonder why I can't even manage my own kitchen sink while everyone else's life seems so perfect. <i>You can't compare your inside to someone else's outside. </i>I have to remember that this holiday season. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cJuVGS5CBQ0/VJFlj4Rld0I/AAAAAAAADyk/-1hITsn4WX4/s1600/101-FloralArrangement-Edit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cJuVGS5CBQ0/VJFlj4Rld0I/AAAAAAAADyk/-1hITsn4WX4/s1600/101-FloralArrangement-Edit.gif" height="464" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">An assortment of eucalyptus and winter berry arrangement in an antique ginger jar. I went to Trader Joe's and spent $14 for the entire arrangement. You don't have to spend an arm and a leg to create a statement piece. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I smell the Eucalyptus and cinnamon scented pine cones every time I walk by this corner. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lg-I-Wr-fXg/VJFnJJfjvTI/AAAAAAAADyw/l_N0Ut5ly2Y/s1600/101-Pinecones-Edit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lg-I-Wr-fXg/VJFnJJfjvTI/AAAAAAAADyw/l_N0Ut5ly2Y/s1600/101-Pinecones-Edit.gif" height="512" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DMsmdYKs6x0/VJFPDxBil0I/AAAAAAAADwM/crRU8Wwo02g/s1600/101-TVGalleryWall-Edit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DMsmdYKs6x0/VJFPDxBil0I/AAAAAAAADwM/crRU8Wwo02g/s1600/101-TVGalleryWall-Edit.gif" height="464" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our TV gallery wall today. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I sold a few of my original artwork that was part of the display, including the pineapple art (this one is a print). After staring at the blank frames for a few weeks, I decided to fill them with the art prints from<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/studioyukojones?ref=hdr_shop_menu"><span style="color: #e06666;"> the shop</span></a>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I also did quick calligraphy art with watered down charcoal ink and added to the collection. </span>You can see what the gallery wall used to look like <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/08/new-art-our-tv-gallery-wall-completed.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">here. </span></a></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B-Xg2vKYxjQ/VJFv_qkMp0I/AAAAAAAADzY/71cDvMbo2tE/s1600/101-WinterBerries-Edit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B-Xg2vKYxjQ/VJFv_qkMp0I/AAAAAAAADzY/71cDvMbo2tE/s1600/101-WinterBerries-Edit.gif" height="640" width="512" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A simple winter berry arrangement in a white creamer. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H5a2HH-TQUM/VJFsK3Y9A0I/AAAAAAAADzA/AO0Be56CIsM/s1600/101-ChristmasTree-Edit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H5a2HH-TQUM/VJFsK3Y9A0I/AAAAAAAADzA/AO0Be56CIsM/s1600/101-ChristmasTree-Edit.gif" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our Christmas tree is decorated with white branches, baby's breath, and our usual Christmas ornaments. We're going to add our personal ornaments to the tree and bake some cookies this weekend. It's going to be fun! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There's an angel at the top of the tree, but I couldn't have it fit into the photo without having the sofa getting in my way (my husband just gave me an eye roll). </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wVrVz454Ui0/VJFuRzl8teI/AAAAAAAADzM/_v7qr7H1yOQ/s1600/101-ChristmasTreeCloseUp-Edit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wVrVz454Ui0/VJFuRzl8teI/AAAAAAAADzM/_v7qr7H1yOQ/s1600/101-ChristmasTreeCloseUp-Edit.gif" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZlZWPu1C1S8/VJFznUU50WI/AAAAAAAADzk/znDxv1YWj68/s1600/101-EcheveriaVignette-Edit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZlZWPu1C1S8/VJFznUU50WI/AAAAAAAADzk/znDxv1YWj68/s1600/101-EcheveriaVignette-Edit.gif" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The decorated deer antlers paired with my favorite <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/213806291/art-print-mixed-media-echeveria-8-x-10?ref=shop_home_active_10"><span style="color: #e06666;">art print</span></a> and nativity scene. I only took a few pieces out of the entire nativity set this year. I wanted to keep it simple. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And a few pictures from our entryway. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_-y-JOBeQB8/VJF9uP-yJNI/AAAAAAAAD0E/TtL0UYavIsg/s1600/101-EntireFoyer-Edit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_-y-JOBeQB8/VJF9uP-yJNI/AAAAAAAAD0E/TtL0UYavIsg/s1600/101-EntireFoyer-Edit.gif" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I kept the white pumpkins from our fall decoration. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--5a60ml8mYo/VJF3t1DTW2I/AAAAAAAADzw/OTu9AgH4Q-Y/s1600/101-Bust2-Edit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--5a60ml8mYo/VJF3t1DTW2I/AAAAAAAADzw/OTu9AgH4Q-Y/s1600/101-Bust2-Edit.gif" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A simple evergreen wreath decorated with brown feathers and baby's breath, and the <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/03/resin-bust-makeover.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">DIY painted resin bust.</span></a> This is what you see when you first walk into our house from the front door. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;"> </span> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zxnIc3fl-rY/VJB0XS7YwSI/AAAAAAAADuU/JmiKninoWXw/s1600/101-FoyerAntler-Edit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zxnIc3fl-rY/VJB0XS7YwSI/AAAAAAAADuU/JmiKninoWXw/s1600/101-FoyerAntler-Edit.gif" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">More decorated deer antlers with <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/02/dyi-modern-art.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">DIY modern art. </span></a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Decorating our home for Christmas helped me put things in perspective and focus on what I can be grateful for instead of what I don't have. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">No matter where you live and where you are in life, may you find the light of hope shining through the darkness of night. May you find some slow and quiet moments to unwrap the gift of love this season offers. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thank you for stopping by. Wishing you a happy and relaxing holiday season! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> xoxo</span><br />
<br />Studio Yuko Jones http://www.blogger.com/profile/04839090621639281035noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491670065720615276.post-81312851136641063652014-12-13T20:01:00.001-05:002014-12-13T20:01:43.803-05:00And The Winner is...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6QIgbNrQTyk/VIzWbfP5ZnI/AAAAAAAADtM/9Lj6v5MgbJc/s1600/100-TheWinner.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6QIgbNrQTyk/VIzWbfP5ZnI/AAAAAAAADtM/9Lj6v5MgbJc/s1600/100-TheWinner.gif" height="384" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Congratulations, <a href="http://bmorebungalow.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #e06666;">B'More Bungalow</span></a>! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">B'More, I will email you shortly, so be sure to check your inbox! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And if you didn't win or missed the giveaway, you can still use the coupon code GRANDOPENING at <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/studioyukojones"><span style="color: #e06666;">our shop</span></a> to get 15% off of your purchase until Christmas. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">* * *</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today we went to Christmas tree shopping at a local tree farm. It was so snowy that our 3-year-old could barely walk across the field! We just got a snow storm a couple of days ago, and the snow was still fresh and fluffy. It's so cold up here in the north right now! </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CF_18ILeumc/VIzaagrjb_I/AAAAAAAADtY/0tVtUFrG-4w/s1600/100-ChrstmasTreeShopping.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CF_18ILeumc/VIzaagrjb_I/AAAAAAAADtY/0tVtUFrG-4w/s1600/100-ChrstmasTreeShopping.gif" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To be honest with you, I don't care much for snow and I don't go outside during winter unless I <i>absolutely</i> have to. But the boys had a great time today and it was nice to get some fresh air. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'll be decorating and baking cookies tomorrow, so it'll be fun! What's your plan for the rest of the weekend?</span><br />
<br />
Studio Yuko Jones http://www.blogger.com/profile/04839090621639281035noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491670065720615276.post-8180585896936755982014-12-08T13:21:00.000-05:002014-12-08T15:11:41.902-05:00New in the Shop + Embroidery Hoops for Decorating<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Happy Monday, everyone! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm finally done uploading all the original artwork and art prints to my Etsy shop. It took me <i>forever</i> to do it, but I'm happy <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/studioyukojones"><span style="color: #e06666;">how my shop looks like now</span></a>! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I put the art prints that resonates with my shop image the most in the first two rows (you'll see I'm a persimmon orange type of girl), and my other favorites come below. I'm selling most of my originals too, except the ones I've gifted to others. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My latest additions are the two of my very favorite original drawings. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/214478348/original-mixed-media-art-captivating-no2?ref=shop_home_active_15" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="https://www.etsy.com/listing/214478348/original-mixed-media-art-captivating-no2?ref=shop_home_active_15" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t6d85KCTcuI/VIXX8mAGZGI/AAAAAAAADrI/nxhC4FKvLbo/s1600/Captivating%232-OriginalForSaleMatted-Etsy.gif" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/214478348/original-mixed-media-art-captivating-no2?ref=shop_home_active_15"><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Captivating no. 2</span></span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/214467312/original-mixed-media-art-captivating-no1?ref=shop_home_active_16" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="https://www.etsy.com/listing/214467312/original-mixed-media-art-captivating-no1?ref=shop_home_active_16" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jPEuZqh1NDA/VIXYGpdZV8I/AAAAAAAADrQ/_Fr-T7eiTEA/s1600/Captivating%231-OriginalForSaleMatted-Etsy.gif" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/214467312/original-mixed-media-art-captivating-no1?ref=shop_home_active_16"><span style="color: #e06666;">Captivating no.1</span></a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's sad to see them go (well, I guess they're not gone until someone buys them!), but it's also a great feeling to let them go and move forward. That's exactly why I wanted to start my own shop to begin with, so I think I'm doing a good job accomplishing my goal :) </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">They are priced higher than other originals, but you can use the 15% off coupon code for these originals too (now that's a big discount! no?) </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">* * *</span></span> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now my shop is all set up, it's time for me to take care of our home. My house turned into complete chaos over the past two weeks while I was a busy bee preparing to open my shop. I'm finally ready to do some deep cleaning and decorate for Christmas! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Michele at<a href="http://mynottinghill.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #e06666;"> My Notting Hill</span></a> just posted <a href="http://mynottinghill.blogspot.com/2014/12/lots-of-christmas-decorating.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">lots of inspiration photos for Christmas decor</span></a>, and reading her post got my wheels turning! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This year, I'm thinking about using some embroidery hoops. I think they'll add the right amount of whimsy and fun to my holiday decor. My Instagram friend and super talented <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/KimArt"><span style="color: #e06666;">Kim</span></a> offers some lovely pieces at <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/KimArt"><span style="color: #e06666;">her Etsy shop</span></a> that are perfect for Christmas, or any time of year. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here are a few of my favorites: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3n7C4aJr7no/VIXdLhFFVII/AAAAAAAADrg/Mj5hHe4qol0/s1600/99-KimArt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3n7C4aJr7no/VIXdLhFFVII/AAAAAAAADrg/Mj5hHe4qol0/s1600/99-KimArt1.jpg" height="330" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-izXtwYc64vM/VIXdOwHIFCI/AAAAAAAADro/-pgKFOWrh6w/s1600/99-KimArt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-izXtwYc64vM/VIXdOwHIFCI/AAAAAAAADro/-pgKFOWrh6w/s1600/99-KimArt2.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tW1X0AVpuQg/VIXdSjFhpdI/AAAAAAAADrw/YpNiVHUXaGo/s1600/99-KimArt3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tW1X0AVpuQg/VIXdSjFhpdI/AAAAAAAADrw/YpNiVHUXaGo/s1600/99-KimArt3.jpg" height="358" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KfRilXLYi0I/VIXdaMSVoMI/AAAAAAAADsA/iIQa3hiWrzw/s1600/99-KimArt5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KfRilXLYi0I/VIXdaMSVoMI/AAAAAAAADsA/iIQa3hiWrzw/s1600/99-KimArt5.jpg" height="333" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>All the images from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/KimArt"><span style="color: #e06666;">KimArt on Etsy </span></a></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Kim's work is absolutely beautiful and her pricing is very reasonable. The question is, which one should I get? I like so many of them! You can see the rest of her collection <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/KimArt"><span style="color: #e06666;">Here</span></a>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Have you started decorating yet? </span><br />
<br />
<br />Studio Yuko Jones http://www.blogger.com/profile/04839090621639281035noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491670065720615276.post-50776332349175086712014-12-05T15:14:00.000-05:002014-12-06T15:48:11.001-05:00Studio Yuko Jones Grand Opening TODAY & Giveaway! <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This day has come! Our Etsy shop, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/studioyukojones"><span style="color: #e06666;">Studio Yuko Jones</span></a> is officially open today!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/studioyukojones"><img alt="https://www.etsy.com/shop/studioyukojones" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ndEIsjiBGTg/VIHoaCLmtXI/AAAAAAAADqQ/T3mb-VtoPNg/s1600/98-StudioYukoJonesGrandOpening.gif" height="384" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What can I say, it's been A LOT of work, and I'm honestly sleep deprived and on caffeine overload, but I'm <i>so happy</i> that we've made it! Yay! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C2LYsSwPjqI/VIHq69G01_I/AAAAAAAADqk/wJfE-vOKZ9E/s1600/Blueberries-8x10-Watermark.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C2LYsSwPjqI/VIHq69G01_I/AAAAAAAADqk/wJfE-vOKZ9E/s1600/Blueberries-8x10-Watermark.gif" height="640" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This background appears light blue here, but it's actually white when printed. FYI</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LiWJMjuw3Zw/VIHrZePUMuI/AAAAAAAADqs/lfgCWGUnfEo/s1600/Jellybeans-8x10-Watermark.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LiWJMjuw3Zw/VIHrZePUMuI/AAAAAAAADqs/lfgCWGUnfEo/s1600/Jellybeans-8x10-Watermark.gif" height="640" width="512" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-coSy2GdY-sY/VIHrwoPG4oI/AAAAAAAADq0/nZ5PJmZewXk/s1600/Elk-8x10-Watermark.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-coSy2GdY-sY/VIHrwoPG4oI/AAAAAAAADq0/nZ5PJmZewXk/s1600/Elk-8x10-Watermark.gif" height="640" width="512" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My friends and family have given me tremendous amount of support and encouragement throughout the process, and I can't be grateful enough. My husband, Steve, has worked side by side with me the entire time and I couldn't have done it without him. My mother-in-law, Linda, has generously offered to watch my little one while we tried to prepare for the opening. If you're reading this Mom - thank you! </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">* * *</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've also learned a lot of things while trying to start a new business. Let me share the round up of what I've learned over the past month, since I missed my usual "what I learned" post :) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1. I'm so blessed to have such amazing friends and family, who encourage me to pursue my dreams. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2. Taking
action is where the real magic happens. You can plan and dream all you
want, but taking action is what ties your dream into reality. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3. When you start something new, you really don't have to know much about it. You'll learn what you need to know along the way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4. The more you do, less scary it becomes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5. Every
time I start something new, I make new friends. I made a few really
good friends from the barn event a year ago, and I've met some amazing
people through blogging. Now I started to connect with some
entrepreneurs in the creative field through Instagram, and they inspire me. I'm so looking forward to meeting more amazing people through running our Etsy shop! </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">* * *</span></span> </i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today, we're celebrating our grand opening with a giveaway. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One lucky winner will receive $100 gift card to the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/studioyukojones"><span style="color: #e06666;">Studio Yuko Jones Etsy shop</span></a>. You can use this gift card towards anything in the shop, from art prints to originals. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/studioyukojones"><img alt="https://www.etsy.com/shop/studioyukojones" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xZ85nIhf0Eg/VIHZ5oWU_wI/AAAAAAAADqA/xJfCRzYmjG8/s1600/98-GiveawayandSpeicalOffer.gif" height="512" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How to enter the Giveaway: </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Go to <a href="http://etsy.com/shop/studioyukojones"><span style="color: #e06666;">etsy.com/shop/studioyukojones</span></a> and find a print or an original artwork that you'd love to have in your home, and let us know which one you like in <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/12/studio-yuko-jones-grand-opening-today.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">the comment section below</span></a>. (If you use Anonymous, please leave a comment with your email address so that I can contact you if you win). </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This Giveaway will end 11:59pm EST Friday, December 12. The winner will be randomly chosen and announced Saturday, December 13. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We also offer <b>15% off of your entire purchase at the shop until Christmas.</b> All you need to do is use the coupon code GRANDOPENING when you check out. This offer ends at 11:59pm EST on Friday, December 26. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We have all the prints up for sale right now, and I will be adding some of my original artwork to the shop over the weekend. So please check back often! <i> </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm so thrilled our shop is finally up and running! I'm hoping everything will go smoothly without any hiccups. If you come across any problem shopping with us, please let us know. We will do our best to resolve the issue immediately. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hope you like what we offer at our shop! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Have a wonderful weekend, friends. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>*Today I'm sharing with <a href="http://www.chattingatthesky.com/"><span style="color: #e06666;">Emily at chatting at the sky. </span></a></i></span>Studio Yuko Jones http://www.blogger.com/profile/04839090621639281035noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491670065720615276.post-24681543464153320772014-12-02T02:31:00.000-05:002014-12-06T15:40:08.036-05:00One Year Blog-versary and Shop Announcement!<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One year ago today, I started this blog. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(Well, it was technically yesterday, because it's already passed midnight here - zoinks!) </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tq3efsXorjo/VHyZRkHw0sI/AAAAAAAADhw/pBPZ3o9stpM/s1600/97-OneYearBlogversaryCupcake.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tq3efsXorjo/VHyZRkHw0sI/AAAAAAAADhw/pBPZ3o9stpM/s1600/97-OneYearBlogversaryCupcake.gif" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I titled this blog, <i>northfield gate</i> (the name of our street), as a place for me to share my creative pursuits. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2013/12/theres-something-about-giving.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">I was so lost in the midst of wonderful yet messy motherhood</span></a> at the time, and this blog became the catalyst for finding my true self again through creativity. Along the way, I rediscovered my passion for art and storytelling, and I also found joy in decorating our home. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It all started here <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2013/12/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-ja-x.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">At the Barn event</span></a> hosted by <a href="http://www.chattingatthesky.com/"><span style="color: #e06666;">Emily Freeman</span></a> and her family a little over a year ago. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mqk7fiLofnM/VH1k3-aVouI/AAAAAAAADkM/7ltYRtKSSfM/s1600/IMG_4188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mqk7fiLofnM/VH1k3-aVouI/AAAAAAAADkM/7ltYRtKSSfM/s1600/IMG_4188.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At the Barn in NC</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You want to know how exactly I started this blog? While at the barn event, I was talking with Emily's sister,<span style="color: #e06666;"> <a href="http://www.thenester.com/"><span style="color: #e06666;">Myquillyn, the nester</span></a> </span>and she asked me if I had a blog. I told her that I had a blogger account but it had been sitting there for almost a year because<i> I couldn't get up my nerve to start a blog</i>. Then we both burst into laughter, because if you really think about it, it sounds absolutely ridiculous. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was the moment I realized that my fear was keeping me from doing something I'd really wanted to do. A few days later and after much thinking and strong coffee, I wrote <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2013/12/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-ja-x.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">my first blog post ever</span></a> and pressed the publish button with my trembling hand. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And a year flew by so quickly, and I've enjoyed every moment of it. I've met some amazing people online and I've learned so many new things.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After a year of much creating and learning, I could not be more thrilled to announce the opening of our online shop, <b>Studio Yuko Jones!</b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mn7bvrJGXCI/VH1ZwpTuvlI/AAAAAAAADj8/Q-rkd23onbM/s1600/97-EtsyShopOpeningAnnouncement.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mn7bvrJGXCI/VH1ZwpTuvlI/AAAAAAAADj8/Q-rkd23onbM/s1600/97-EtsyShopOpeningAnnouncement.gif" height="384" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My husband, Steve, and I have put countless hours into it, and I can't get over that it's really happening. I'm so excited and anxious at the same time!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We will have over 10 different art prints and several originals to start the shop, and we're going to expand along the way. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here is a sneak peek of some of the prints we've prepared. This is exactly how they would look like when printed, minus the watermark, of course. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VNMt5vi6N9I/VH1GYHfNjaI/AAAAAAAADio/SvOehbb-uxM/s1600/Echeveria-8x10-Watermark.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VNMt5vi6N9I/VH1GYHfNjaI/AAAAAAAADio/SvOehbb-uxM/s1600/Echeveria-8x10-Watermark.gif" height="640" width="512" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OCfdmh509vc/VH1HSToEf-I/AAAAAAAADiw/lpbItRRIywk/s1600/Artichoke-8x10-Watermark.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OCfdmh509vc/VH1HSToEf-I/AAAAAAAADiw/lpbItRRIywk/s1600/Artichoke-8x10-Watermark.gif" height="640" width="512" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n9aaJseeDkE/VH1I92RNGeI/AAAAAAAADjc/ADYF03r6LCk/s1600/Pineapple-8x10-Watermark.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n9aaJseeDkE/VH1I92RNGeI/AAAAAAAADjc/ADYF03r6LCk/s1600/Pineapple-8x10-Watermark.gif" height="640" width="512" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I had so much fun creating the "illustration" type of art. Aren't these pieces so sweet? I feel like I'm moving one stop closer to my dream of writing and illustrating children's books. Life is good! </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-braR1rcK1Pw/VH1H1QAh7wI/AAAAAAAADjE/AWhH4qPPm-8/s1600/GrowingIceCream-8x10-Watermark.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-braR1rcK1Pw/VH1H1QAh7wI/AAAAAAAADjE/AWhH4qPPm-8/s1600/GrowingIceCream-8x10-Watermark.gif" height="640" width="512" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-p_g4NGz9w/VH1IZkG-L-I/AAAAAAAADjU/ueIXA8U6j5c/s1600/Princess%26Toad-8x10-Watermark.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-p_g4NGz9w/VH1IZkG-L-I/AAAAAAAADjU/ueIXA8U6j5c/s1600/Princess%26Toad-8x10-Watermark.gif" height="640" width="512" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We're going to have a giveaway on the opening day, so stay tuned!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This year has brought me so much joy and I've learned so much. I can't wait to see what the next year will bring. </span><br />
<br />
<br />Studio Yuko Jones http://www.blogger.com/profile/04839090621639281035noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491670065720615276.post-58905983485523158222014-11-27T16:19:00.001-05:002014-11-27T21:50:53.125-05:00Have a lovely Thanksgiving weekend! <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Happy Thanksgiving!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This morning, we woke up to this...</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KRbrm24fiIk/VHeFE2QVmiI/AAAAAAAADhA/p-XoYiefGyM/s1600/96-WhiteThanksgivingEdit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KRbrm24fiIk/VHeFE2QVmiI/AAAAAAAADhA/p-XoYiefGyM/s1600/96-WhiteThanksgivingEdit.gif" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Winter has come a little early this year! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My 3-year-old made this Thanksgiving craft at preschool. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Isn't this adorable? </span>I couldn't help but show it off :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4TC8bfb4H4w/VHeF__blDxI/AAAAAAAADhM/f4rLz0KxhlM/s1600/96-PreschoolThanksgivingCraftEdit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4TC8bfb4H4w/VHeF__blDxI/AAAAAAAADhM/f4rLz0KxhlM/s1600/96-PreschoolThanksgivingCraftEdit.gif" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have to admit,
this is as far as I went with decorating for Thanksgiving this year.
I've been super busy preparing to open my online
shop! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Coffee (and lots of it) and those mini pumpkin chocolate chip muffins from Wegmans helped me get through this crazy week. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qz6MVgT7ToY/VHeGvxeyz9I/AAAAAAAADhU/jLpaqvoCHhA/s1600/96-PumpkinChocolateChipMuffinsEdit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qz6MVgT7ToY/VHeGvxeyz9I/AAAAAAAADhU/jLpaqvoCHhA/s1600/96-PumpkinChocolateChipMuffinsEdit.gif" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This year, I'm grateful for all the lovely things I have in my life, as well as <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-taste-of-happiness.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">some of the challenges we've been through</span></a>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wishing you a weekend full of warm hugs and sweet treats! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm going to make a big announcement on Monday, so please check back then!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">XOXO </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Studio Yuko Jones http://www.blogger.com/profile/04839090621639281035noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491670065720615276.post-35945373394112213432014-11-24T14:22:00.001-05:002014-12-06T15:39:45.996-05:00Getting Ready to Open The Shop <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hello friends!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've been a busy bee preparing to open <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/11/what-do-you-think.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">my Etsy shop</span></a>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm literally spending my every awake moment painting like a mad woman, except when I'm with my boys, cooking, folding laundry, or sleeping. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Note that I didn't say "cleaning." Cleaning has gone to the bottom of my priority list, and our home looks, less than well... desirable. I hope to catch up on cleaning before Thanksgiving.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today, I wanted to share some of the artwork I've recently created for the shop. These are my grainy <a href="http://instagram.com/studioyukojones"><span style="color: #e06666;">Instagram photos</span></a>, but you get the idea :) </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm turning them into prints. </span>What do you think? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GD2UB_3qUeQ/VHNp-PQl3JI/AAAAAAAADf8/7dpzIIXhfik/s1600/95-MagicIGEdit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GD2UB_3qUeQ/VHNp-PQl3JI/AAAAAAAADf8/7dpzIIXhfik/s1600/95-MagicIGEdit.gif" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N1UzVMslfv0/VHNxJBCrVGI/AAAAAAAADgo/E3ZLrvsLm28/s1600/95-TreehouseIGEdit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N1UzVMslfv0/VHNxJBCrVGI/AAAAAAAADgo/E3ZLrvsLm28/s1600/95-TreehouseIGEdit.gif" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HAk-zDJ9JaY/VHNqyk3-UBI/AAAAAAAADgE/2yt24csj3ig/s1600/95-ArtichokeIGEdit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HAk-zDJ9JaY/VHNqyk3-UBI/AAAAAAAADgE/2yt24csj3ig/s1600/95-ArtichokeIGEdit.gif" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wDxDELij5Ug/VHNvrb3lKKI/AAAAAAAADgU/LxwPYGInR9Y/s1600/95-CarrotsIGEdit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wDxDELij5Ug/VHNvrb3lKKI/AAAAAAAADgU/LxwPYGInR9Y/s1600/95-CarrotsIGEdit.gif" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4DsjlLRRdVE/VHNwN0WMmII/AAAAAAAADgc/0F37zvof4JM/s1600/95-PersimmonIGEdit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4DsjlLRRdVE/VHNwN0WMmII/AAAAAAAADgc/0F37zvof4JM/s1600/95-PersimmonIGEdit.gif" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Shop opening announcement coming soon. Please stay tuned! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">* * *</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the meantime, I managed to do a teensy bit of fall decorating. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G9a7MZHolQM/VHNQmnhAvLI/AAAAAAAADfc/59B0JN7HnFA/s1600/94-FoyerFallVignetteEdit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G9a7MZHolQM/VHNQmnhAvLI/AAAAAAAADfc/59B0JN7HnFA/s1600/94-FoyerFallVignetteEdit.gif" height="640" width="512" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was inspired by<a href="http://designaddictmom.blogspot.com/2014/10/our-not-too-spooky-halloween-party.html"><span style="color: #e06666;"></span></a> <a href="http://www.thenester.com/2014/11/dashes-risk-and-imperfection.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">Myquillyn's eye-patched decorative bust</span></a> and <a href="http://designaddictmom.blogspot.com/2014/10/our-not-too-spooky-halloween-party.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">Stacey's polka dot pumpkins</span></a> (and you might want to check out <a href="http://designaddictmom.blogspot.com/2014/10/our-not-too-spooky-halloween-party.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">Stacey's gorgeous Halloween party, too!</span></a>) </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So my fall decor isn't that original. I guess I used up the "originality" part of my brain when I was painting! But I put my own twist to them and wanted to share with you how quick and easy those projects were. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This polka dot pumpkin.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RyZyRLTwg5s/VHNQZyDsOaI/AAAAAAAADfU/F6r4qOKnkzk/s1600/94-PolkaDotPumpkinEdit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RyZyRLTwg5s/VHNQZyDsOaI/AAAAAAAADfU/F6r4qOKnkzk/s1600/94-PolkaDotPumpkinEdit.gif" height="464" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I just used <a href="http://www.amazon.com/DecoColor-Premium-Based-Marker-Carded-Gold/dp/B00DC4VMQ2/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400014378&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=decocolor+premium+prime-premio"><span style="color: #e06666;">this oil-based paint pen in gold </span></a>to paint the polka dots. Make sure to let the dots completely dry before touching the pumpkin. I ended up smudging a few parts because I was impatient. It only takes a few minutes for the paint to dry. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And this burlap eye patch.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-imO8v9P3skA/VHNQyg_gksI/AAAAAAAADfk/oEsXhNLHGAI/s1600/94-ResinBustFallVignetteEdit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-imO8v9P3skA/VHNQyg_gksI/AAAAAAAADfk/oEsXhNLHGAI/s1600/94-ResinBustFallVignetteEdit.gif" height="640" width="414" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I just cut a piece of burlap ribbon into a heart shape and applied the fabric glue all around the outline to keep it from fraying. Then I attached a piece of white yarn to the burlap using the same glue. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8YQHnlLRzss/VHNRFw1mlsI/AAAAAAAADfs/AODe9fI3Kjo/s1600/94-SuppliesEdit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8YQHnlLRzss/VHNRFw1mlsI/AAAAAAAADfs/AODe9fI3Kjo/s1600/94-SuppliesEdit.gif" height="446" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I better go back to do more painting now! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hope you have a wonderful start to the week.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Studio Yuko Jones http://www.blogger.com/profile/04839090621639281035noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491670065720615276.post-10696011005808631232014-11-16T18:43:00.001-05:002014-11-16T22:07:49.004-05:00Goodbye Fear<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you've been here for a while, you know I've dealt with <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2013/12/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-ja-x.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">my fair share of fear over the past year</span></a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The fear of becoming who I deeply am. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The fear of expressing my true self and sharing it with the world of online. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Uncovering the true shape of my soul has been spiritually satisfying and scary at the same time. Does this make any sense at all? </span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vQkWO7WU-8k/VGWMc2OD4eI/AAAAAAAADdo/vOCVbxkRUSY/s1600/93-PumpkinsEdit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vQkWO7WU-8k/VGWMc2OD4eI/AAAAAAAADdo/vOCVbxkRUSY/s640/93-PumpkinsEdit.gif" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've wanted this blog to be the catalyst for my creative journey, and I've shared various creative pursuits and personal stories here. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Why do I share them, you may ask? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Because you never know what possibilities might open up when you give and share. </span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I believe that </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">everyone has a story to tell and we're meant share our story. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As ordinary as it may seem, there might be someone out there who needs our story. </span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This has been the place for me to share my story. I'm so grateful you've taken the time to visit here. <i>Thank you. </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After almost a year of creating, writing, sharing, and finally realizing <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/10/one-in-million.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">what makes me come alive</span></a>, I've reached another milestone recently and I'm excited about it: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My constant creative companion, fear, has finally let go of my hand. </span></i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-psWJv5qd_C8/VGWM3VW743I/AAAAAAAADdw/qgGl7jaXg6E/s1600/93-Pumpkins2Edit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="324" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-psWJv5qd_C8/VGWM3VW743I/AAAAAAAADdw/qgGl7jaXg6E/s640/93-Pumpkins2Edit.gif" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My fear and I've had a life-long companionship.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As long as I could remember, I was always creating something, whether it was drawing, painting, or carving wood. It didn't matter what it was as long as I was using my imagination. I would come home from school, eat a quick snack, and spend the rest of the afternoon turning my vision into reality. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But there was something that frustrated me even as a child. Something I knew was holding me back creatively. I felt as if I couldn't come out of this invisible shell - the shell that forced me to draw a small picture on a big piece of paper, all neatly contained. I hated it. I wanted to break free from it and go wild, but I couldn't. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rr7qfOAjmGg/VGkWXQCi7HI/AAAAAAAADe8/uhbU9dFIOkA/s1600/94-WatercolorWashEdit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rr7qfOAjmGg/VGkWXQCi7HI/AAAAAAAADe8/uhbU9dFIOkA/s1600/94-WatercolorWashEdit.gif" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm finally breaking free from the shell of fear. </span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Face the fear and do it anyway.</span></i><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This has been my mantra over the past year. Dreaming and planning how to turn my dream into reality has been fun and absolutely necessary. But I've learned that taking action is where the true magic happens. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(And taking <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/10/what-ive-been-up-to-lately.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">this course</span></a> has pushed me to take the actions I was afraid to take otherwise.)</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am finally free and it feels great. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now, I'm ready to create. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Studio Yuko Jones http://www.blogger.com/profile/04839090621639281035noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491670065720615276.post-70698562783770941882014-11-08T09:23:00.000-05:002014-12-06T15:39:16.695-05:00What Do You Think?<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hello everyone! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Did you notice some of the changes I've made on the blog lately? </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This blog is currently undergoing a major overhaul. </span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Okay, it's probably not that major, but it sure feels that way. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I now have <i>a menu bar</i> under the banner, although they are not linked to any pages yet. On the right sidebar, you can find <i>social media buttons</i> where you can connect with me outside of this blog. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My husband, Steve, has been working on making those changes, and I can't be grateful enough. He's my hero! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I just created <a href="http://instagram.com/studioyukojones"><span style="color: #e06666;">my Instagram account</span></a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/studioyukojones"><span style="color: #e06666;">facebook page</span></a> a couple of days ago, so they are still in their infancy. But I'm looking forward to growing them and growing with them, and I hope you'll be part of this exciting journey. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm going to make a few more changes on the blog over the weekend as part of <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/10/what-ive-been-up-to-lately.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">Blogging Your Way course I've been taking</span></a>. It's been a little overwhelming to do this much in such a short amount of time. But then, I have to remind myself that <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/09/at-summers-end.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">change is good.</span></a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I just have to remember to pace myself a little, slow down and take a deep breath. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">* * *</span></span> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today, I have something I wanted to ask you. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you've noticed, there is a link on the menu bar that says "shop." I've been thinking about selling my artwork, both originals and some prints on Etsy. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TAiA3WpIeZs/VF0lT7hfWlI/AAAAAAAADXo/SN1Yu8_Tmko/s1600/post%2B51%2B-%2BCactus%2BGirl%2BWM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TAiA3WpIeZs/VF0lT7hfWlI/AAAAAAAADXo/SN1Yu8_Tmko/s1600/post%2B51%2B-%2BCactus%2BGirl%2BWM.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bjzvb0N94Xc/VF0l4fMJMmI/AAAAAAAADXw/yQXcChCCyaM/s1600/post%2B72%2B-%2BCaptivating%2B2%2BMatted%2Bv1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bjzvb0N94Xc/VF0l4fMJMmI/AAAAAAAADXw/yQXcChCCyaM/s1600/post%2B72%2B-%2BCaptivating%2B2%2BMatted%2Bv1.jpg" height="640" width="512" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The truth is, holding onto the finished artwork is keeping me from becoming a better artist. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Instead of cherishing and marveling what I've already done, </span>I want to push myself and try something new. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'll be honest. It probably won't be easy for me to let many of them go, but I don't want to stay where I am today. I want to be the best artist that I can be. And I believe that my best is yet to come. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm also interested in creating more pieces that I can turn into prints, like this one.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7MO5nPU3eY4/VF0f5n-NRFI/AAAAAAAADXY/Jp4k3K8GSkY/s1600/POST%2B82%2B-%2BPineapple%2BWM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7MO5nPU3eY4/VF0f5n-NRFI/AAAAAAAADXY/Jp4k3K8GSkY/s1600/POST%2B82%2B-%2BPineapple%2BWM.jpg" height="640" width="428" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I think it will be a fun way to practice illustrations for <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/10/one-in-million.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">my children's book project</span></a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, what do you think? Is selling my artwork online a good idea or not so good? Any thoughts or encouragement? I'm curious. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the meantime, let's hang out here: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pinterest<i> </i>- <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/yukojones/"><span style="color: #e06666;">@yukojones</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/studioyukojones"><span style="color: #e06666;">my Facebook page</span></a>? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Instagram (I only have a few photos, haha!) - <a href="http://instagram.com/studioyukojones"><span style="color: #e06666;">@studioyukojones </span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Have a wonderful weekend!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Studio Yuko Jones http://www.blogger.com/profile/04839090621639281035noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491670065720615276.post-47413531577577101332014-10-31T09:47:00.000-04:002014-11-04T11:55:07.437-05:00What I Learned in October<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Halloween! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What are your plans for today? Are you going trick-or-treating, going to a Halloween party, or perhaps staying at home watching a scary movie?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a full day ahead of me today, and I am ready (hopefully) to rock and roll! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, today is the last day of October. That means I'm going to share what I learned this month. Are you ready?</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">* * *</span></span></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. I have the best blog friends and readers. </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you so much for the comments you've left on <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/10/my-first-mood-boards-ever.html#comment-form"><span style="color: #45818e;">my mood boards</span></a>! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Getting your feedback helped me see the messages I'm sending you over the screen. After reading your comments here, I realized that my blog friends feel the same way with my friends and family I know in person. I think that's a good sign. Perhaps I'm getting close to finding my authentic writing voice. So exciting! </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-el9MyGhNhgU/VFM8AiO5SbI/AAAAAAAADSA/_DFgCQAldoY/s1600/YUKO%2BMood%2BBoard%2Bv.4%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-el9MyGhNhgU/VFM8AiO5SbI/AAAAAAAADSA/_DFgCQAldoY/s1600/YUKO%2BMood%2BBoard%2Bv.4%2Bcopy.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">no. 3 got the highest vote</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. I guess I'm a "peachy" person. </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Growing up, I wasn't much of a pink girl. My mom preferred red/navy/yellow over pink, so I don't remember wearing many pink clothes when I was little. When I was working on the mood boards, I was surprised that I was drawn to warm pink. As it turned out, some of you associate me with this color, too. Life is full of surprises, in the best possible way, of course. </span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. When you're learning something new, taking a class is a great idea. </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are new to something and you want to be good at it, why not take a class and learn from the the best? That's exactly how I felt when I decided to take <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/10/what-ive-been-up-to-lately.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">the blog course</span></a>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I knew it was going to be a great class, but it's been a mind blowing experience to say the least. Look at the mood board above. I would've never come up with anything like that unless I took the plunge and enrolled in a class. I'm also happy that now I know how to use Photoshop.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #45818e;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">4.</span> <span style="color: black;"><a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/10/one-in-million.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">Sometimes it takes something scary to make you realize what really matters. </span></a></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>5. My 3-year-old always wants to be the same thing as his big bother for Halloween.</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two years ago, they were the "lawn mowing guys," and a year ago, clowns. This year, they're going to be superheros. My 5-year-old is going to be Spider Man and the 3-year-old decided to be Batman. But after much contemplation, the little Batman regretted not choosing "Cider man." (That's how he says Spider man.) </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NbWqwq1LRXQ/VFM7PBvNJUI/AAAAAAAADR4/lXgMvVo_XEM/s1600/POST%2B92%2B-%2BHalloween%2B2013%2Bpic%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NbWqwq1LRXQ/VFM7PBvNJUI/AAAAAAAADR4/lXgMvVo_XEM/s1600/POST%2B92%2B-%2BHalloween%2B2013%2Bpic%2B2.jpg" height="640" width="410" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You can be "Cider Man" next year, honey :)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have to get going now, but I hope you have a fantastic weekend no matter what your plans are! </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">* * *</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today I'm sharing with <a href="http://www.chattingatthesky.com/2014/11/03/lets-share-learned-october/"><span style="color: #45818e;">Emily at chatting at the sky. </span></a></span></span><br />
<br /></div>
Studio Yuko Jones http://www.blogger.com/profile/04839090621639281035noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491670065720615276.post-57519265014994317172014-10-28T15:50:00.001-04:002014-10-28T16:20:02.322-04:00My First Mood Boards Ever! <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Happy Tuesday! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I tried something new over the weekend and I'm so excited that I couldn't wait to share it with you: <br />I made my very first mood boards - three of them - using Photoshop for the first time (!) </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Learning the very basics of Photoshop impromptu was a little tricky, but my husband (ex-IT guy) gave me a quick lesson and that really helped. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This was part of <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/10/what-ive-been-up-to-lately.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">the blog course I'm taking right now</span></a>, and I was supposed to identify my seasonal personality and create a board that reflects the aesthetics I <i>want</i> for my blog. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And these are the three boards I came up with. I'm hoping you can help me decide which one suits me the best :) </span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">no. 1 </span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is the first board I created. I really like the overall tones, but I wasn't sure about the pale yellow. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yMsmEUYIVbI/VE3Ie4L_ntI/AAAAAAAADRQ/byGwJg_EAko/s1600/YUKO%2BBB%2BMood%2BBoard%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yMsmEUYIVbI/VE3Ie4L_ntI/AAAAAAAADRQ/byGwJg_EAko/s1600/YUKO%2BBB%2BMood%2BBoard%2Bcopy.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">no. 2</span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I eliminated the pale yellow from the above board and added teal and more golden mustard to give it a little more Autumn feel. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jw90vedBizA/VE9X3iJamyI/AAAAAAAADRg/4KXezEgPolU/s1600/YUKO%2BMood%2BBoard%2Bv2%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jw90vedBizA/VE9X3iJamyI/AAAAAAAADRg/4KXezEgPolU/s1600/YUKO%2BMood%2BBoard%2Bv2%2Bcopy.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">no. 3 </span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And I had to make the third one just of course. I really like this palette too. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lp326XMkwVw/VE9YDuN-2RI/AAAAAAAADRo/7ZX07V3t88Y/s1600/YUKO%2BMood%2BBoard%2Bv.4%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lp326XMkwVw/VE9YDuN-2RI/AAAAAAAADRo/7ZX07V3t88Y/s1600/YUKO%2BMood%2BBoard%2Bv.4%2Bcopy.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I want this blog to feel <b>Creative</b> + <b>Imaginative</b> + <b>Inspirational</b> + a little <b>Nostalgic</b> when you come to visit here. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've been working on honing my writing voice for almost a year now (and still in progress - it's a lot of work!). But this is the first time I'm actually paying attention to the visual aspect of this place. I'm hoping to connect the visual aesthetics with my writing voice, and have them carry the messages in a cohesive way. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, what do you think? Which board carries those messages the best? Which one do you prefer?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'd love to know what you think. </span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span></b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">* * *</span></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: #7f6000;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">PHOTO CREDITS </span></span></b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #7f6000;">no.1: From top left clockwise:</span> <a href="http://www.ladolcevitaphoto.com/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Feather + flowers {La Dolce Vita} , </span></a><a href="http://jldesigns.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Tablescape {LJ Designs}, </span></a><a href="http://design-seeds.com/index.php/home/entry/spiced-palette2"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Mustard {Design Seeds},</span></a> <a href="http://southernpiphi.tumblr.com/page/4"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Spread love quote,</span></a> <a href="http://espressomelbourne.com/cafe-review/clement-coffee/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Coffee sign {Clement Coffee}, </span></a><span style="color: #7f6000;">Succulent {Source Unknown}, </span><a href="http://www.theperfectpalette.com/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Color Palette {The Perfect Palette}<span style="color: black;">,</span></span></a> <a href="http://hello-naomi.blogspot.com/2012/02/peter-rabbit-christening.html"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Green lemonade (hello naomi},</span></a><span style="color: #7f6000;"> <span style="color: #7f6000;"><a href="http://www.thesassylife.com/wednesday-words-of-wisdom-june-26-2013/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Dream quote,</span> </a></span></span><a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Eggs {Martha Stewart},</span></a> <a href="http://www.reveriedesign.com/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Flowers {Reverie Design}</span></a><span style="color: #783f04;">.</span></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #7f6000;">no.2</span>: <a href="http://www.laurenbphoto.com/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Tablescape {Lauren Brooks},</span></a><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/165162462/the-perfect-scarf-mustard-preorder-ships"><span style="color: #7f6000;"> Scarf {Nothernly},</span></a><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbytrysagain"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Teal succulents {Abby Powel},</span></a></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #7f6000;"><a href="http://www.theperfectpalette.com/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Color Palette {The Perfect Palette}.</span></a></span></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #7f6000;">no.3: From top left clockwise: Succulents + flowers {Source Unknown},</span> <a href="http://awelltraveledwoman.tumblr.com/post/27832012387"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Feathers {A well traveled woman},</span></a> <a href="http://design-seeds.com/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Tangerine {Design Seeds}</span></a>, <span style="color: #7f6000;">Eucalyptus (Source Unknown},</span> <span style="color: #7f6000;"><a href="http://www.100layercake.com/blog/2014/06/23/summer-hand-tied-bouquet-idea/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Flowers in wood box {100 Layer Cake},</span> </a>Color Palette {Source Unknown},</span> <a href="http://www.ripplustan.com/blog/view/338/birthday-dinner/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Sage Table Setting {rip + tan},</span></a> <a href="http://www.modcloth.com/shop/shoes-flats/backyard-hostess-flat?utm_source=pinterest&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=quicklook_share"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Shoes {Mod Cloth},</span></a> <a href="http://www.theperfectpalette.com/2012/02/pretty-party-palette-dusty-teal-dusty.html"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Purse {The Perfect Palette}, </span></a><a href="http://montanarosepainter.tumblr.com/post/28420155195"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Bonjour {Montana Rose Painter}. </span></a></span></span></b></span><br />
<br />Studio Yuko Jones http://www.blogger.com/profile/04839090621639281035noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491670065720615276.post-80575677542097554392014-10-25T13:05:00.000-04:002014-10-25T14:46:55.957-04:00I Believe<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hello everyone! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While I was <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/10/what-ive-been-up-to-lately.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">working on my blog profile</span></a>, I came up with a list of things that <i>I believe</i>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Writing about myself has been
a lot harder than I expected, and as you know, I've procrastinated
almost a year to work on this part of my blog. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Making this list gave me a better picture of who I am today, at this season of my life. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's fascinating to
see how my priorities have changed over the past several years. I definitely didn't feel that using our fine china for everyday meals would be a good idea when I got married 7 years ago! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's a bit random thing to post but I thought it might be fun to share it with you. So here we go! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">* * *</span></span> </span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe that floppy wildflowers are more beautiful than a store bought bouquet of flowers, especially when your little one picked them just for you. </span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8T6hZQbcXrE/VEqTjIL3bxI/AAAAAAAADQA/4c6xlNsVyCY/s1600/POST%2B91%2B-%2BWild%2BFlowers%2BWM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8T6hZQbcXrE/VEqTjIL3bxI/AAAAAAAADQA/4c6xlNsVyCY/s1600/POST%2B91%2B-%2BWild%2BFlowers%2BWM.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></span></b></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe in using our good china everyday.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe in celebrating small achievements and milestones in life. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe when you have <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/01/happy-birthday-to-my-best-friend.html#comment-form"><span style="color: #45818e;">a partner in crime</span></a>, taking a risk is a little less scary.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qQKQ1kEKnzs/VEvQYDjevdI/AAAAAAAADQs/iuKb5RMEdcU/s1600/POST%2B91%2B-%2BHalloween%2B2004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qQKQ1kEKnzs/VEvQYDjevdI/AAAAAAAADQs/iuKb5RMEdcU/s1600/POST%2B91%2B-%2BHalloween%2B2004.jpg" height="640" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found this Halloween picture from 10 years ago! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe that you don't fail until you give up or unless you don't learn from mistakes. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe that being unique and a bit weird is a sign of being truly yourself. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe that belly giggles can mend a broken heart.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OHSD9V9wBtI/VEvGeT_mReI/AAAAAAAADQQ/sTG0HS7U6b0/s1600/post%2B60%2B-%2BThe%2BBoys%2BBW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OHSD9V9wBtI/VEvGeT_mReI/AAAAAAAADQQ/sTG0HS7U6b0/s1600/post%2B60%2B-%2BThe%2BBoys%2BBW.jpg" height="246" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">photo credit: Linda Jones</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe there is always time for a hug or a cuddle with your loved ones.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe in the power of homemade meals. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe that kids learning how to build a fort is as important as learning ABCs and 123s. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iqTG99GfZ60/VEvVlPGYd5I/AAAAAAAADRA/bwSwhWx27CU/s1600/POST%2B91%2B-%2BBuilding%2Ba%2BFort%2BWM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iqTG99GfZ60/VEvVlPGYd5I/AAAAAAAADRA/bwSwhWx27CU/s1600/POST%2B91%2B-%2BBuilding%2Ba%2BFort%2BWM.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe all of us are created with a unique set of gifts, and <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/07/let-your-ordinary-gift-shine-new-art.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">we are meant to share our gifts with the world</span></a>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
believe that everyone has a story to tell. And <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/06/what-is-your-legacy.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">we are meant to share our story with others</span></a>, because as ordinary as it may
seem, <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2013/12/theres-something-about-giving.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">there is someone out there who needs your story</span></a>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe that you are the happiest when you follow your heart and pursue your dream, no matter what anyone else thinks.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure." </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">- Paulo Coelho, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Alchemist-Paulo-Coelho/dp/0061122416/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414256429&sr=8-1&keywords=the+alchemist"><span style="color: #45818e;"><i>The Alchemist</i></span></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">* * *</span></span> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel happy when I go through my list, and I think it's a good sign. It probably means that I am on the right track on my journey. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Listening to your heart and following your dream is a process, and it's not always easy. But it doesn't mean that we can't make it fun. Don't you agree? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wonder what your list would look like and also make you <i>feel</i> like when you read it. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a wonderful weekend! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
Studio Yuko Jones http://www.blogger.com/profile/04839090621639281035noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491670065720615276.post-92112060404796099422014-10-22T14:47:00.000-04:002014-10-22T14:52:49.983-04:00What I've been up to lately<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hello!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's been a while since I last posted, but I'm still here!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Since <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/10/one-in-million.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">I publicly announced my dreams and where my heart is right now in the previous post </span></a>(am I the only person who does this?), I thought this might be a good time to reflect on my goals and restructure my life in general, including this blog. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've been a stay-at-home mom over the past six years and I am now transitioning into a new phase: <i>work-at-home mom</i>! I still want to be a full time mom when the boys are around, so most of my creative work needs to be done while they are at school and before they wake up in the morning. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm so excited about this transition and I wanted to make this experience the best possible. So I decided to take a blog course that will help me embark on a new phase of life, and it's been an amazing experience to say the least. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>I
want to blog with purpose and I want this place to be the catalyst for my creative endeavor. </b>I couldn't ask for a better teacher than <a href="http://decor8blog.com/about/"><span style="color: #45818e;">Holly Becker of decor8 </span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">to help me achieve my goals. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://decor8ecourses.com/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="http://decor8ecourses.com" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-scMg_vh916U/VEfY7MXqk5I/AAAAAAAADPY/_OlvVW1uaKs/s1600/BYWBUTTON_2001.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://decor8ecourses.com/"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">decor8 e-courses</span></span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This blog course has truly been a blessing to me because I'm learning literally <i>everything</i> I needed to know from Holly and her fellow instructor, <a href="http://www.fionahumberstone.com/#about-fiona-humberstone"><span style="color: #45818e;">Fiona Humberstone</span></a>. They are entrepreneurs in their own creative fields and they're generous about sharing their expertise and wisdom with us students. I love that their main focus is <i>how to build a creative business</i> <i>based on your passion,</i> instead of how to build your blog audience. Building an audience is well, of course important, but that shouldn't be the drive. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>I write this blog because I want to share what I'm passionate about with other people. </b>And turning my passion into a career may not be easy, but I'm going to give it a shot. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So far, I've learned how to write a knock-out bio (which is coming soon on the blog!), how to brand a creative business using the color psychology and more. Later, they'll talk about storytelling for bloggers, and as you probably know I'm all about storytelling! I can't wait for the next lesson. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I really needed to restructure the foundation before moving forward on this journey, so I'm feeling great about this extra step I'm taking right now. It's also so much fun to learn something new. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Have you taken any classes to learn something new lately? </span><br />
<br />Studio Yuko Jones http://www.blogger.com/profile/04839090621639281035noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491670065720615276.post-87642529853534869092014-10-11T14:49:00.000-04:002014-10-17T12:10:46.753-04:00One in a Million<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've had this pain on the left side of my chest for quite some time. The pain used to come and go, but it has become persistent over the past few days, spreading all over my left shoulder and arm. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I found myself sitting in the waiting room at the doctor's office yesterday morning, feeling small and nervous, while waiting for my name to be called. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I wasn't scared, but it would be a lie if I say I wasn't worried. </span>What if I had something serious? What if something happens to me and I would leave my boys motherless. These thoughts kept circling in my head. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then a phrase floated into my mind out of nowhere, "It's not my time yet."</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5AnUSEZFn60/VDaj2iJY-HI/AAAAAAAADMc/RsUWycUZCe8/s1600/POST%2B90%2B-%2BBlowing%2BBubbles%2BWM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5AnUSEZFn60/VDaj2iJY-HI/AAAAAAAADMc/RsUWycUZCe8/s1600/POST%2B90%2B-%2BBlowing%2BBubbles%2BWM.jpg" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My gynecologist didn't find any lumps in my chest. But the phrase continued to echo in my mind, louder than before: "it's not my time yet." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If it's not my time yet, what's left for me to do? What are the things that still need to be done while I'm here on earth? I started to have this quiet conversation with myself on the way back home from the doctor's office. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I discussed with my husband, too, about the things I wanted to pursue and who I wanted to become. During the conversation, Steve blurted out, "<i>but that's one in a million. It's impossible to make a living like that.</i>" That stirred something up inside of me and I cried. <i> </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>I want to be that one in a million. </i></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b3qA2IyBWjg/VDaeqHgy4VI/AAAAAAAADMI/pydUcSQP3I4/s1600/POST%2B90%2B-%2BOne%2Bin%2Ba%2BMillion%2BWM%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b3qA2IyBWjg/VDaeqHgy4VI/AAAAAAAADMI/pydUcSQP3I4/s1600/POST%2B90%2B-%2BOne%2Bin%2Ba%2BMillion%2BWM%2B2.jpg" height="640" width="464" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2013/12/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-ja-x.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">I want to be a children's book author.</span></a> I want to create stories that makes a difference in the lives of others. I want to run a creative business and financially support my family.</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I want to be that one in a million. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I want to move towards my dreams even when they appear to be out of reach. I want to believe in myself and believe in the gifts God has planted inside of me. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>I want to be that on in a million. </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I want to live each day with purpose. I want to wake up in the morning excited to face the day's adventure instead of dragging the tired body out of bed so that I can cross off the never ending to-do list. I want to be the person I deeply am and live up to my fullest potential. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m2WA6E5-fpw/VDVjufUUAnI/AAAAAAAADLo/uxA6f6w1Lgw/s1600/POST%2B90%2B-%2BGraduation%2BBW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m2WA6E5-fpw/VDVjufUUAnI/AAAAAAAADLo/uxA6f6w1Lgw/s1600/POST%2B90%2B-%2BGraduation%2BBW.jpg" height="526" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-sweetest-fig-new-art.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">When I decided to come to America to study psychology</span></a>, some people tried to convince me not to do it. Some said I was being unrealistic, and one professor even refused to write a letter of recommendation for me. He didn't believe in me. He didn't think I could do it. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But if I gave into the fear and voices of others around me, </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I wouldn't have attained my degrees in psychology and human development. I wouldn't have had a chance to work in the field of early childhood research and found out that the path was not meant for me. I wouldn't have become as invested into empowering children and helping them unlock their potential as I am today. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Just because it's not easy to pursue and there's no set path laid in front of me, it doesn't mean that it's impossible. So I politely decline all the "be realistic" advice that comes my way. Then I turn to my dream and start taking baby steps toward my goals. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I know I can reach the stars, even from this humble and small beginning of where I am today. I'm not sure if writing children's books will be part of my career, as I know life can take a different path from your original plans. But <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2013/12/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-ja-x.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">I can't keep running from it and letting the fear hold me back anymore</span></a>. I need to give it a try and see where it takes me. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sometimes it takes a pain in the chest to make you realize what really matters. Those unexpected, not-so-lovely things can be blessings in disguise. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I believe I can be that one in a million, who lives life to its fullest. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I believe you can be that one in a million, too. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What are your dreams?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Studio Yuko Jones http://www.blogger.com/profile/04839090621639281035noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491670065720615276.post-10586547771903089442014-10-01T22:18:00.000-04:002014-10-01T22:44:52.143-04:00What I Learned in September<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I can't believe it's already October. I haven't even put out a single pumpkin yet! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That means it's time to share what I've learned over the past month. Here we go! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>1. I have officially outgrown all of my pre-baby dresses.</b> <br />And oh, I'm<i> not </i>pregnant in case you're wondering. I just gained weight... unless my dresses have magically shrunk, I suppose. </span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2. I have the best luck at Old Navy's clearance section.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, I'm going to a wedding this weekend and didn't have a dress to wear. Then I found this cute summer dress at Old Navy for $16 on the clearance rack. I <i>always</i> find something cute at their clearance aisle. I didn't want to spend much on a dress I may not wear often, so this was perfect! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I decided to add a belt I already had and my mother's vintage Gucci for more formal look. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zqKZwjWVbPo/VCsO4MbQ7EI/AAAAAAAADKE/loYRuOfPia4/s1600/POST%2B89%2B-%2BPolka%2BDot%2BDress%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zqKZwjWVbPo/VCsO4MbQ7EI/AAAAAAAADKE/loYRuOfPia4/s1600/POST%2B89%2B-%2BPolka%2BDot%2BDress%2B1.jpg" height="460" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">$16 Old Navy dress + belt + vintage Gucci purse</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I might wear this Elie Tahali jacket for the ceremony, </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pKTklqK9wvA/VCsPucqhqgI/AAAAAAAADKU/XALGlG6QIRA/s1600/POST%2B89%2B-%2BPolka%2BDot%2BDress%2Bwith%2BJacket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pKTklqK9wvA/VCsPucqhqgI/AAAAAAAADKU/XALGlG6QIRA/s1600/POST%2B89%2B-%2BPolka%2BDot%2BDress%2Bwith%2BJacket.jpg" height="504" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">With Elie Tahali Jacket</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and maybe this 15 years old pashmina for the reception. Do people still wear pashmina or is it a bit too old school? </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bm3QwOguvj8/VCsQ4-FP9UI/AAAAAAAADKo/f2-IPbwNIz4/s1600/POST%2B89%2B-%2BPolka%2BDot%2BDress%2Bwith%2BCashmere%2BShawl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bm3QwOguvj8/VCsQ4-FP9UI/AAAAAAAADKo/f2-IPbwNIz4/s1600/POST%2B89%2B-%2BPolka%2BDot%2BDress%2Bwith%2BCashmere%2BShawl.jpg" height="483" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">With the pashmina</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3. Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle {Plato}</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sometimes people who seem to be doing well are the ones who are going through the most.<b> </b>I've also learned not to compare what I'm going through on the inside with what others are showing on the outside. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Would you be extra kind to the people you encounter today? Would you also treat yourself with kindness and care? Because </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">we all have our own challenges to overcome. </span></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>4. First grade = Lots of homework (= Lots of work for this mama) </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Do your kids bring home a lot of homework? My first grader does quite a bit. Definitely more than I expected. Me no like-y too much homework-y. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What's your experience with your child's homework? What do you think is the right amount of homework? I'd love to know! </span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirate%27s_Booty"><span style="color: #45818e;">Pirate's Booty</span></a> is like the most popular snack among kids</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And I knew nothing about it until this month. It all started when my preschooler had it for snack at school. He can't stop talking about it ever since. Then my first grader told me that's his favorite snack, too. I guess I have a lot of catching up to do... </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W0A1ywvcbPE/VCq1aqyN_yI/AAAAAAAADJ0/ZlnWtQVPYEg/s1600/POST%2B89%2B-%2BBirates%2BBooty%2BImage.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W0A1ywvcbPE/VCq1aqyN_yI/AAAAAAAADJ0/ZlnWtQVPYEg/s1600/POST%2B89%2B-%2BBirates%2BBooty%2BImage.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">image via <a href="http://snacksafely.com/2014/09/ok-to-shake-your-pirates-booty/"><span style="color: #45818e;">snacksafety.com</span></a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Yes, my kids are hooked on you, Pirate's Booty.</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now it's your turn. What did you learn in September? </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">* * *</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today, I'm sharing with <a href="http://www.chattingatthesky.com/"><span style="color: #45818e;">Emily at chatting at the sky</span></a>. </span><br />
<br />
<br />Studio Yuko Jones http://www.blogger.com/profile/04839090621639281035noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491670065720615276.post-46954878111628873492014-09-27T12:50:00.001-04:002014-09-27T13:20:47.776-04:00When I Need Inspiration<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When I need inspiration,</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I create</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">something, anything, without a goal or purpose in mind. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J7Vs64VuvgE/VCRCmlep--I/AAAAAAAADIE/lVyM3cOiXIw/s1600/POST%2B88%2B-%2BMagnolia%2BBook%2BPage%2BArt%2Bin%2Bprogress%2BWM%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J7Vs64VuvgE/VCRCmlep--I/AAAAAAAADIE/lVyM3cOiXIw/s1600/POST%2B88%2B-%2BMagnolia%2BBook%2BPage%2BArt%2Bin%2Bprogress%2BWM%2B2.jpg" height="438" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Book page covered canvas + <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/05/what-i-learned-in-april-ish.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">Japanese Magnolia</span></a> | still in progress</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It may not be necessarily fruitful, but it's okay. This helps me slow down and take a deep breath. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EBLU0KX6cXc/VCWinUiM15I/AAAAAAAADJU/dXQA8YGFZBU/s1600/POST%2B88%2B-%2BBook%2BPages%2BThe%2BMetamorphosis%2BWM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EBLU0KX6cXc/VCWinUiM15I/AAAAAAAADJU/dXQA8YGFZBU/s1600/POST%2B88%2B-%2BBook%2BPages%2BThe%2BMetamorphosis%2BWM.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">* * *</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When I need inspiration,</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I take a long walk, alone</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">with my camera in my hand. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i_CwOQRiPpw/VCWkyR7FOjI/AAAAAAAADJg/UTuTXo811OU/s1600/POST%2B88%2B-%2BPhoto%2Bfrom%2Ba%2Bwalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i_CwOQRiPpw/VCWkyR7FOjI/AAAAAAAADJg/UTuTXo811OU/s1600/POST%2B88%2B-%2BPhoto%2Bfrom%2Ba%2Bwalk.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The crisp and fresh air helps me lift up my spirit. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">* * *</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When I need inspiration, </span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I decorate </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">with the things I found on my walk and in the yard. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7nJvaGRSKUw/VCRJvnX-4wI/AAAAAAAADJE/ZJvVwcPkz5k/s1600/POST%2B88%2B-%2BGallery%2BWall%2BFall%2BDecor%2BWM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7nJvaGRSKUw/VCRJvnX-4wI/AAAAAAAADJE/ZJvVwcPkz5k/s1600/POST%2B88%2B-%2BGallery%2BWall%2BFall%2BDecor%2BWM.jpg" height="640" width="506" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v4Ankix3I1w/VCRD5_T1ZGI/AAAAAAAADIM/fI9gY_nt3sE/s1600/POST%2B88%2B-%2BFamily%2BRoom%2BFall%2BDecor%2B1%2BWM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v4Ankix3I1w/VCRD5_T1ZGI/AAAAAAAADIM/fI9gY_nt3sE/s1600/POST%2B88%2B-%2BFamily%2BRoom%2BFall%2BDecor%2B1%2BWM.jpg" height="640" width="420" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I like it simple, not fussy, but full of texture. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-dGPBS0sTI/VCRGyhhz3JI/AAAAAAAADIw/zGa237ZjM9g/s1600/POST%2B88%2B-%2BBranch%2Bwith%2BLeaves%2BBrighter%2B2%2BWM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-dGPBS0sTI/VCRGyhhz3JI/AAAAAAAADIw/zGa237ZjM9g/s1600/POST%2B88%2B-%2BBranch%2Bwith%2BLeaves%2BBrighter%2B2%2BWM.jpg" height="436" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">* * *</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When I need inspiration,</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I turn to the internet</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">because there are so many brilliant and generous people out there who are willing to inspire others with their gifts. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://belgianpearls.blogspot.com/2014/09/belgian-style-living-rooms.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">Belgian Style Living Rooms</span></a></b> by Greet </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">Lefèvre</span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Belgian design is simplicity at its best. Greet explains how to create beautiful Belgian style in your own home. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><a href="http://www.thenester.com/2014/09/its-fall-time-the-barn-is-ready-and-i-want-you-to-come-here.html"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's Fall Time, The Barn is ready, and I Want You to Come Here!</span></span></a></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> by Myquillyn Smith </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Myquillyn and her family have turned the world's worst barn into the world's prettiest barn. This gives you hope for your home and for your still yet to be achieved dreams. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://emilyaclark.com/2014/09/working-with-leather-furniture.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">Working With : Leather Furniture</span></a></b> by Emily A. Clark. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you have a house full of brown furniture like I do, and still want to make your home light, airy and modern, Emily is the girl for you. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.callingithome.com/2014/09/orc-trademarking-original-ideas.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">ORC | Trademarking | Original Ideas</span></a></b> by Linda {Calling it Home}</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Linda challenges us to be original and be confident with our own ideas. She challenges us to be a game changer instead of a follower. I needed to hear this this week. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhk0-bQGx5w"><b><span style="color: #45818e;">This short video</span></b></a> by <a href="http://www.chattingatthesky.com/"><span style="color: #45818e;">Emily P. Freeman</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Some days, as a mother of two little boys, I wonder if I need to choose either my responsibilities as a parent or my passion. There simply isn't enough time and energy for both. If you feel this way like I do, this video is for you. Watching this made me cry. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">* * *</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hope your weekend is full of inspiring moments and bright sunshine. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-v4Ankix3I1w%2FVCRD5_T1ZGI%2FAAAAAAAADIM%2FfI9gY_nt3sE%2Fs1600%2FPOST%252B88%252B-%252BFamily%252BRoom%252BFall%252BDecor%252B1%252BWM.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v4Ankix3I1w/VCRD5_T1ZGI/AAAAAAAADIM/fI9gY_nt3sE/s1600/POST%2B88%2B-%2BFamily%2BRoom%2BFall%2BDecor%2B1%2BWM.jpg" -->Studio Yuko Jones http://www.blogger.com/profile/04839090621639281035noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491670065720615276.post-61858293214236846912014-09-19T18:32:00.000-04:002014-09-19T20:25:01.805-04:00How I Chose The Perfect Paint Color | Master Bedroom<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I t</span>hink
choosing a right paint color is one of the hardest things to do when
you're decorating your home. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's not just about which color you
like. You need to understand how the light in the room changes
throughout the day and which colors work together. I've tried close to a
hundred different paint colors over the past several years and now I know which ones work the best for our current home. It's been a
learning experience. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vDZeA3ebm4Y/VBsbHUy6jxI/AAAAAAAADHI/uN9X-3iXO1U/s1600/POST%2B87%2B-%2BHydrangea%2BCloseup%2BWM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vDZeA3ebm4Y/VBsbHUy6jxI/AAAAAAAADHI/uN9X-3iXO1U/s1600/POST%2B87%2B-%2BHydrangea%2BCloseup%2BWM.jpg" height="454" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Choosing the right paint color for our
master bedroom has been a challenge. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Knowing this would be the first
color we see in the morning, I've been very particular about picking the right one. I usually have a cup of
coffee there and spend a little quiet time alone in our bedroom before I wake up the
kids. I wanted this space to be calm and serene, not just pretty and
stylish. I wanted our bedroom to be a place that nurtures our soul as
well as provides rest. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I finally chose the <i>perfect </i>paint color for our master bedroom. Do you want to how I solve this decorating dilemma? </span><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I listened to my husband's suggestion.</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Totally unexpected. I know. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QzYrqor32e8/VBmmfQPJ2sI/AAAAAAAADEk/1gOIpFU7Be4/s1600/POST%2B87%2B-%2BMBR%2BPaint%2BColor%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QzYrqor32e8/VBmmfQPJ2sI/AAAAAAAADEk/1gOIpFU7Be4/s1600/POST%2B87%2B-%2BMBR%2BPaint%2BColor%2B1.jpg" height="440" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wall paint color: Gray Cashmere by Benjamin Moore</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My husband, Steve, rarely has opinions when it comes to decorating our home. He knows it's my thing and he just lets me do whatever makes me happy. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When he does speak up though, I know that's something important to him. So I pay attention. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Steve was vacuuming the guest bedroom the other day, and when he was done, he told me he wanted our bedroom to be the same color. (You can see our guest bedroom in progress <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/04/guest-bedroom-seating-area-update.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">here </span></a>and <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/04/guest-bedroom-update.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">here</span></a>.)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I had a little left over paint from painting the guest bedroom, so I decided to test the paint in our master bedroom. And you know what? I really like it. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-63YDxmvJ744/VBsY1B6EEWI/AAAAAAAADGk/Y0ANj3-70xM/s1600/POST%2B87%2B-%2BMBR%2BPaint%2BColor%2B4%2BWM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-63YDxmvJ744/VBsY1B6EEWI/AAAAAAAADGk/Y0ANj3-70xM/s1600/POST%2B87%2B-%2BMBR%2BPaint%2BColor%2B4%2BWM.jpg" height="640" width="428" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I thought I had to paint our bedroom in a different color, or at least in a different shade of gray, from the guest bedroom. I thought it would be too boring to paint those two rooms in the same color. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Isn't it funny how sometimes we create a silly rule in our head and stick to it? Those rules can paralyze our decorating decisions, or any life decisions.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uH2FBXCncE8/VBsYiMLEMHI/AAAAAAAADGc/FcSlBZtDAko/s1600/POST%2B87%2B-%2BMBR%2BPaint%2BColor%2BVignette%2BWM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uH2FBXCncE8/VBsYiMLEMHI/AAAAAAAADGc/FcSlBZtDAko/s1600/POST%2B87%2B-%2BMBR%2BPaint%2BColor%2BVignette%2BWM.jpg" height="640" width="460" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Just trying to figure out the color scheme. The furniture won't stay there.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm so glad Steve joined me in the decorating process this time. I want our home to reflect my family but not just me and my style. Never underestimate your spouse's input, even though that's something you think you're really good at. Lesson learned. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">* * *</span></span> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ExPGIMw7B7U/VBseW2t28rI/AAAAAAAADHc/am-WwWbOC04/s1600/POST%2B87%2B-%2BHydrangea%2BCloseup%2B2%2BWM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ExPGIMw7B7U/VBseW2t28rI/AAAAAAAADHc/am-WwWbOC04/s1600/POST%2B87%2B-%2BHydrangea%2BCloseup%2B2%2BWM.jpg" height="468" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/07/lately.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">Our pink hydrangea</span></a> turns into stunning shades of green and fuchsia in the fall. Every summer, I regret that I still haven't turned those blossoms into blue. But then fall comes around, and I'm glad I actually didn't do it. I'm just in love with these deep colors.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And I had to share some of my favorite pretty details in the master bedroom, just of course.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Italian Hollywood Regency gilt side table. I love the aged patina on this piece. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RNJ4Wu5Iw7g/VBsbmvyHk-I/AAAAAAAADHQ/jQ7qeKVRQ2k/s1600/POST%2B87%2B-%2BItalian%2BGilt%2BTole%2BTable%2BCloseup%2BWM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RNJ4Wu5Iw7g/VBsbmvyHk-I/AAAAAAAADHQ/jQ7qeKVRQ2k/s1600/POST%2B87%2B-%2BItalian%2BGilt%2BTole%2BTable%2BCloseup%2BWM.jpg" height="436" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Antique gilt mirror with intricate details. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CTCYQ9-p65E/VBsZGNoEfGI/AAAAAAAADGs/SUpysAke5y8/s1600/POST%2B87%2B-%2BAntique%2BGuilt%2BMirror%2BCloseup%2BWM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CTCYQ9-p65E/VBsZGNoEfGI/AAAAAAAADGs/SUpysAke5y8/s1600/POST%2B87%2B-%2BAntique%2BGuilt%2BMirror%2BCloseup%2BWM.jpg" height="430" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vintage wood and brass postal balance scale from England. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KzXAn1Tte5Q/VBsZWEShuJI/AAAAAAAADG0/yNXJAbyxMnU/s1600/POST%2B87%2B-%2BAntique%2BScale%2BCloseup%2BWM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KzXAn1Tte5Q/VBsZWEShuJI/AAAAAAAADG0/yNXJAbyxMnU/s1600/POST%2B87%2B-%2BAntique%2BScale%2BCloseup%2BWM.jpg" height="468" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Antique French ironstone gravy boat as a jewelry holder.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t9mYU6KxvRs/VBzIv8wl2mI/AAAAAAAADHs/B2MJRS3zuzw/s1600/POST%2B87%2B-%2BAntique%2BGravy%2BSeparator%2BWM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t9mYU6KxvRs/VBzIv8wl2mI/AAAAAAAADHs/B2MJRS3zuzw/s1600/POST%2B87%2B-%2BAntique%2BGravy%2BSeparator%2BWM.jpg" height="444" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">* * *</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Have you come across any decorating dilemmas? Do you involve your family or roommate in the decorating process? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Turning our house into a home truly has been a process. </span><br />
<br />
<br />Studio Yuko Jones http://www.blogger.com/profile/04839090621639281035noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491670065720615276.post-47820309895970235032014-09-13T00:05:00.000-04:002014-09-13T00:12:01.338-04:00Why I Love All Things Handmade<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I love anything handmade. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My love for all things handmade runs deep in my blood as well as my childhood memories. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CYeYeBxrBrk/VBCNuOf85YI/AAAAAAAADC0/q90q77_1Nl0/s1600/POST%2B86%2B-%2BBean%2BBags%2BNew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CYeYeBxrBrk/VBCNuOf85YI/AAAAAAAADC0/q90q77_1Nl0/s1600/POST%2B86%2B-%2BBean%2BBags%2BNew.jpg" height="488" width="640" /></a></b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As a little girl, <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/06/what-is-your-legacy.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">I played with a doll that once belonged to my aunt</span></a>. The doll came with a blue dress that my grandmother made for my aunt, and that was the only dress I had for it. My mother sewed my purple tote bag for school and knitted my yellow woolen scarf. My aunt from the paternal side used to surprise me with a gift like a handmade broach every time I went to visit her. She still sells her hand crafted items at a small cafe attached to her home. </span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was part of my childhood norm to have things handmade. I rarely had store bought character goods that were popular among other kids. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I hated my handmade things as a girl, especially the ones I brought to school. They were so different from what my friends had and I didn't want to be different. Little
did I know these hand crafted items were a lot more special and
durable. My</span> family was all about quality and craftsmanship, and I learned to appreciate things handmade as I grew older. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div>
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My grandmother made these little bean bags for my oldest son when he was 11 months old. </span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yxezoue3Mbo/VBNA_cwZhtI/AAAAAAAADEU/K8tMGWRkpJc/s1600/POST%2B86%2B-%2BBean%2BBags%2Bin%2Ba%2Brow%2BBrighter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yxezoue3Mbo/VBNA_cwZhtI/AAAAAAAADEU/K8tMGWRkpJc/s1600/POST%2B86%2B-%2BBean%2BBags%2Bin%2Ba%2Brow%2BBrighter.jpg" height="290" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">She went out for a walk one afternoon and came home with a handful of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adzuki_bean"><span style="color: #45818e;">azuki beans</span></a> a half an hour later. Then she pulled out her vintage <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimono"><span style="color: #45818e;">kimono</span></a> fabrics from her chest of drawers and quickly hand sewed these little bags filled with the beans she just picked. Did I tell you she professionally made kimonos, long before I was born? She was the one who taught me how to sew.</span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When all the bean bags were made, my grandmother showed her great grandson how to juggle. My son, who was all about throwing things back in those days, giggled with delight. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Aim_D4exvQM/VBBksxtbOCI/AAAAAAAADCk/Fvm_myOC8r8/s1600/POST%2B86%2B-%2BRipped%2BBean%2BBag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Aim_D4exvQM/VBBksxtbOCI/AAAAAAAADCk/Fvm_myOC8r8/s1600/POST%2B86%2B-%2BRipped%2BBean%2BBag.jpg" height="458" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">These bean bags have been well loved by my boys over the past five years. I used to put them away as soon as they were done playing with them. We've lost so many small toys in our home (they magically disappeared into thin air), and I figured these are too precious to be lost. But why don't I display them for all of us to see and enjoy? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, I gathered them up in a bowl and placed them in the corner of our family room. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I think of my grandmother every time I walk pass by the bowl full of bean bags. The boys can reach them anytime they're in the mood for juggling. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This probably explains why I value handmade goods. Their imperfections and quirkiness comfort me. They remind me it's good to be unique and imperfect.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am so grateful I grew up surrounded by all things handmade, those beautiful yet imperfect objects. They are unique, one of a kind and imperfect. Just like me. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And it's nice to decorate our home with something that holds special meaning to us. </span><br />
<br />
Studio Yuko Jones http://www.blogger.com/profile/04839090621639281035noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491670065720615276.post-65444720769814737542014-09-08T23:50:00.000-04:002014-09-09T00:02:29.999-04:00What I've Learned This Summer<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When I wrote <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/09/at-summers-end.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">the previous post</span></a>, I thought that would be my "what I learned" post for August</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">because that pretty much summed up what I've learned this summer. I linked up to Emily's site as always do and was going to call a day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But I've been writing this series every month since <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2013/12/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-ja-x.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">I started this blog over 9 month ago</span></a>, and I just couldn't move forward without it. So, here is my reflection from last month in no particular order: </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>1. </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Change can be difficult at
times. But it's good that things are changing because that means we are
growing. That means we are living. <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/09/at-summers-end.html"><span style="color: #45818e;"><b>Change is good</b></span></a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LjQGwX5bYi4/VAzjDODl3II/AAAAAAAADBU/7TKqgvlXcYE/s1600/POST%2B85%2B-%2BFirst%2BDay%2Bof%2BSchool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LjQGwX5bYi4/VAzjDODl3II/AAAAAAAADBU/7TKqgvlXcYE/s1600/POST%2B85%2B-%2BFirst%2BDay%2Bof%2BSchool.jpg" height="640" width="448" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The First Day of School!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My 5-year-old started first grade last Wednesday, and today was my 3-year-old's first day at preschool. No tears have been shed so far and it's been a smooth transition. So far so good! Great job, boys! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>2. I enjoy taking photos. </b><br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thank you all for the kind words <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/09/at-summers-end.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">about my photos.</span></a> I don't know much about photography yet, but I really started to enjoy capturing moments through the lens. It's my new medium for expressing my creativity. </span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3. Art has no boundaries.</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I came across this video by the Hungarian photographer <a href="http://vimeo.com/adammagyar"><span style="color: #45818e;">Adam Magyar</span></a>, which is a high speed video recording took place at Shinjuku station in Tokyo.<span style="color: #45818e;"> <span style="color: black;">This must be the coolest thing I've seen in the long time and I absolutely love it! </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/77489382"><span style="color: #45818e;">Click here to watch it on Vimeo</span></a>. </span><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/77489382" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/77489382"><span style="color: #45818e;">Adam Magyar, Stainless - Shinjuku (excerpt)</span></a> </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Art doesn't have to be limited to a paint brush, paper or canvas. Inspired by the video, now I collect eggshells for my new art project. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CybPaCXc75g/VAzXoj1vjlI/AAAAAAAADBI/5qffjXjKZCg/s1600/POST%2B85%2B-%2BEggshells%2BModified.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CybPaCXc75g/VAzXoj1vjlI/AAAAAAAADBI/5qffjXjKZCg/s1600/POST%2B85%2B-%2BEggshells%2BModified.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have no idea what I'm going to do with them, but I'm hoping to turn them into something fabulous.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>4. <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-taste-of-happiness.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">Life is a little bittersweet and it's better that way. </span></a></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>5. I want to spend more time gardening.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After reading <a href="http://thegardenerscottage.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #45818e;">Janet's {The Gardener's Cottage}</span></a> and <a href="http://mrelcascogardener.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #45818e;">Terry's {Mr. El Casco Gardener}</span></a> posts about their beautiful gardens, I'm now inspired to garden more. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Their posts reminded me how much I love and miss my grandmother, who is a master gardener and at 90, she still gardens. I learned so much from her, not only about gardening but also about life, through watching her tending her gardens every day. I see myself spending more time outside among flowers in the future. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>6. Now my 5-year-old corrects <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2013/12/what-gingerbread-boy-taught-me-about.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">my mispronunciations</span></a>. </b>He is my new English teacher. My baby is growing up way too fast. </span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">7. Embracing your unique design is the very first step of <i>becoming</i>. </span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When I started this blog to document <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2013/12/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-ja-x.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">my journey of becoming the person I'm designed to be</span></a>, I knew I need to embrace who I am today, including the good and bad (see the tagline, <i>embrace your unique design</i>?). I knew moving forward without it is like trying to climb a ladder with no rungs. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But I have to admit, embracing my unique design hasn't been easy. I constantly worry about what others think of me and seek acceptance from them. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today I'm glad to say, I finally started to make peace with who I am. I'm unique and I'm one of a kind. I don't fit in - I never did and I never will. So why do I even try? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1DVX_wID0I/VA4YgGUjX0I/AAAAAAAADBk/9OPlg5Xuk5I/s1600/POST%2B85%2B-%2BDr%2BDeuss%2BWhy%2BFit%2BIn%2BQuote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1DVX_wID0I/VA4YgGUjX0I/AAAAAAAADBk/9OPlg5Xuk5I/s1600/POST%2B85%2B-%2BDr%2BDeuss%2BWhy%2BFit%2BIn%2BQuote.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image via <a href="http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Dr.-Seuss-Why-fit-in...-Quote-Vinyl-Lettering-Wall-Decor/6710880/product.html?CID=214117"><span style="color: #45818e;">Overstock</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>It feels good to be me. </i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now it's your turn. What did you learn this summer? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Studio Yuko Jones http://www.blogger.com/profile/04839090621639281035noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491670065720615276.post-31418796426694436272014-09-01T11:10:00.000-04:002014-09-03T17:22:39.267-04:00At Summer's End<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nzh6UbdGLII/VAD7K9QGIpI/AAAAAAAADAI/dLVy54aWqOY/s1600/POST%2B84%2B-%2BTrain%2BTrack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nzh6UbdGLII/VAD7K9QGIpI/AAAAAAAADAI/dLVy54aWqOY/s1600/POST%2B84%2B-%2BTrain%2BTrack.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We spent last weekend in Adirondacks, thanks to my mother- and father-in-laws who coordinated the entire trip. We hiked, ate good food, and enjoyed a scenic train ride, which my youngest son fondly called, <i>a choo-choo ride</i>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When we finally arrived at our motel after four and a half hours of driving and a temper tantrum, our two year old niece burst into our room to welcome us. My boys joined her and together they ran in a circle shrieking, hardly able to contain their excitement for our vacation together. Then my sister- and brother-in-laws followed her into the room and gave us a hug. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've known them for thirteen years now - my sister- and brother-in-laws - even longer than I've known my husband, Steve. Back then we studied at a small state university in upstate NY. A lot has changed since then. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eQc9JEnEvwQ/U_9ia2hZzAI/AAAAAAAAC-s/vBzI5UIzrYw/s1600/POST%2B84%2B-%2BElizabeth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eQc9JEnEvwQ/U_9ia2hZzAI/AAAAAAAAC-s/vBzI5UIzrYw/s1600/POST%2B84%2B-%2BElizabeth.jpg" height="512" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-sweetest-fig-new-art.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">When I came to this country thirteen years ago </span></a>as an international student, my future brother-in-law, Jo was the one who came to pick me up at the airport. I had no idea one day that young man, who ushered me into this foreign land, would be my family. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I met my sister-in-law, Elizabeth, through Jo shortly after, and we quickly became friends. We took psychology courses together and talked about our families. I was surprised we shared many of the same values despite our cultural differences. And through Elizabeth, I met her brother, Steve, the man I would marry in just four years. It was love at first sight. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BsC5kZvM10A/VAPz5YqLfaI/AAAAAAAADA4/KAh-9vwFiGM/s1600/POST%2B84%2B-%2BSteve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BsC5kZvM10A/VAPz5YqLfaI/AAAAAAAADA4/KAh-9vwFiGM/s1600/POST%2B84%2B-%2BSteve.jpg" height="498" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thirteen years later, we're hiking up a mountain trail pulling our little ones by their hands. My sister-in-law is expecting her second baby due this winter. Things keep changing, without halting even for a moment. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8kH_6WaPeco/U_9dFCLkonI/AAAAAAAAC-M/zVQMmQElZ7Y/s1600/POST%2B84%2B-%2BHiking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8kH_6WaPeco/U_9dFCLkonI/AAAAAAAAC-M/zVQMmQElZ7Y/s1600/POST%2B84%2B-%2BHiking.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V7cBd0xBQsY/U_9fCXZRuGI/AAAAAAAAC-Y/lifmClPFF7M/s1600/POST%2B84%2B-%2BOrange%2BMushroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V7cBd0xBQsY/U_9fCXZRuGI/AAAAAAAAC-Y/lifmClPFF7M/s1600/POST%2B84%2B-%2BOrange%2BMushroom.jpg" height="454" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EBPb86FJoQ4/U_9gA8dWgCI/AAAAAAAAC-g/Fm7_Ui9Wa68/s1600/POST%2B84%2B-%2BPeeking%2Bthrough%2Bthe%2Bhole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EBPb86FJoQ4/U_9gA8dWgCI/AAAAAAAAC-g/Fm7_Ui9Wa68/s1600/POST%2B84%2B-%2BPeeking%2Bthrough%2Bthe%2Bhole.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As the first day of school quickly approaches, my motherhood anxiety is on high alert. My oldest son starts first grade and youngest one preschool in just a few days. This is the first year I have both of them in school. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I never knew what anxiety really meant until I became a mother. This must be part of our defense mechanism that kicks in the moment we hold our baby in our arms. We promise ourselves to protect our little bundle of joy no matter what it takes. Like a mother bear who tries to protect their baby cubs, we are not afraid of doing serious damage to any offender. We would do anything to protect our children. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But once they start school, we can't be there to help our little ones. They are now on their own. We moms know their every quirk and how special they are in their own unique ways. Would the teacher see what I see in them? The special sparks they have in their heart? </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qCWp1NnfiSo/VAEMPk8jvuI/AAAAAAAADAo/zOzFfOTCAtI/s1600/POST%2B84%2B-%2BKids%2BRunning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qCWp1NnfiSo/VAEMPk8jvuI/AAAAAAAADAo/zOzFfOTCAtI/s1600/POST%2B84%2B-%2BKids%2BRunning.jpg" height="640" width="364" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The first day of school always comes sooner than I want. It's rather ironic, because I remember <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/07/what-im-learning-this-summer.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">huffing and puffing when the summer started</span></a>. I know I just need a few more days of grace period to complete this mental shift. The moment my oldest son steps onto the school bus, I know it would feel right. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KDYGi9At7ho/U_9ni4kuixI/AAAAAAAAC_c/bhtN8Q3jHqg/s1600/POST%2B84%2B-%2BMushroom%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KDYGi9At7ho/U_9ni4kuixI/AAAAAAAAC_c/bhtN8Q3jHqg/s1600/POST%2B84%2B-%2BMushroom%2B2.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Changes aren't easy no matter what it is. Change forces us to let go of old ways and embrace new habits. But what if we never change? What if I haven't changed a bit over the past thirteen years. Still studying in college, enjoying my single life and partying? We go through different phases of life, just as nature moves through the seasons. It would be hard not to change. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, I loosen my grip on life and try my best to let things unfold on their own. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ctax97gOmOg/VAEGs2sAidI/AAAAAAAADAY/7z6Fx4Q4NBA/s1600/POST%2B84%2B-%2BView%2Bfrom%2BMountaintop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ctax97gOmOg/VAEGs2sAidI/AAAAAAAADAY/7z6Fx4Q4NBA/s1600/POST%2B84%2B-%2BView%2Bfrom%2BMountaintop.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Steve and I have gained a few pounds over the summer from all the rich food we ate and probably from our age. As much as we'd like to shed those extra pounds off, we're not bitter about it. Perhaps it's time for us to put our running shoes on and start jogging around the neighborhood, together, while the boys are gone to school.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Change is good.</i> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sometimes, I need to remind myself of this. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">* * *</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today, I'm sharing with <a href="http://www.chattingatthesky.com/"><span style="color: #45818e;">Emily at chatting at the sky</span></a>. </span>Studio Yuko Jones http://www.blogger.com/profile/04839090621639281035noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491670065720615276.post-37492356548768772092014-08-21T10:41:00.001-04:002014-08-21T11:24:50.818-04:00The Taste of Happiness<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was right before 6 o'clock on Saturday night. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was running late cooking dinner, sauteing chopped onion in olive oil and melted butter. I heard the sound of a lawn mower coming from a distance, slowly approaching to the kitchen window. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Why hurry, I told myself. Stephen had just started his mower and the boys would be busy following their Daddy's heels until the last blade of grass is cut short. I took a deep breath to slow down. Summer days are easy. No homework, no getting up early the next day. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BBMGWPx_o8A/U_DXnJPzmWI/AAAAAAAAC5o/u0KbD3O56kM/s1600/POST%2B83%2B-%2BQueen%2BAnns%2BLace%2B2%2BWM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BBMGWPx_o8A/U_DXnJPzmWI/AAAAAAAAC5o/u0KbD3O56kM/s1600/POST%2B83%2B-%2BQueen%2BAnns%2BLace%2B2%2BWM.jpg" height="640" width="418" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Queen Anne's Lace + my art: <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/03/living-fully-by-taking-small-risks.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">Contemplating<span style="color: black;"> </span></span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">in our kitchen</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I glanced out of the kitchen window and saw my 5-year-old just a few feet away from his Daddy. I looked around expecting to find my youngest son, but I couldn't find him. "Where is he?" I felt a tightness in my chest. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I flung opened the window and called my husband. He stopped the mower immediately, looked around and shook his head. He didn't know where the boy was. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He called the boy's name loud once, twice, and three times. No response. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My husband ran to the front yard looking for his son. I dropped the wooden spoon in the sizzling pan and ran out from the poach door with bare feet. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Where could he be? </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My heart pounded hard in my
chest, while running through the garage to the front yard trying to find
a trace of that little boy. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He was only a week shy of becoming three years old. He could make a bad choice without knowing its consequence. Did he follow a ball rolling down our steep drive way to the street? Could he be taken away by a stranger who came from the woods? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Oh no, God, no! Don't let that be!" I pleaded as I frantically looked around our front yard. He was not there. I couldn't breathe. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gtry3V3uO28/U_DgQG_O2wI/AAAAAAAAC6I/iy5jsebqUo0/s1600/POST%2B83%2B-%2BQueen%2BAnns%2BLace%2BCloseup%2BWM%2BBrighter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gtry3V3uO28/U_DgQG_O2wI/AAAAAAAAC6I/iy5jsebqUo0/s1600/POST%2B83%2B-%2BQueen%2BAnns%2BLace%2BCloseup%2BWM%2BBrighter.jpg" height="640" width="468" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I turned the corner to the side of our house, and </span>I saw his chubby legs pushing the pedals hard on his red Radio Flyer tricycle.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I grabbed him from the bike and squeeze him tight in my arms. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Thank you, God, for keeping him safe," I whispered, as I let out a sigh of relief. I pressed my lips to his soft cheeks, covered in sweat and dirt. His cheeks were warm and we were safe. But the tightness in my chest didn't go away. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K6JjYKFtsX4/U_TTu4EQBfI/AAAAAAAAC74/O3zs6kprZa0/s1600/POST%2B83%2B-%2BSweet%2BCorn%2BBrighter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K6JjYKFtsX4/U_TTu4EQBfI/AAAAAAAAC74/O3zs6kprZa0/s1600/POST%2B83%2B-%2BSweet%2BCorn%2BBrighter.jpg" height="466" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have a quiet ache that runs deep within me. My heart aches for my boys every day - when they are hurt or struggle to make new friends.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My heart grieves for the things I have lost over the years, too. The time I could've spent with my family who lives on the opposite side of the planet and the financial security we once had. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Every time I'm not sure if I could keep pushing forward, I would look up and capture something beautiful like a snapshot. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The moment my son gave me a little shiny pebble he found in
the backyard with his grin so wide and proud. The moment I wondered if I could see my grandmother again
while she's still alive, then turned around and found my husband tenderly smiling at me. I savor those fleeting moments of happiness before they slip through my
fingers. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When did my world come alive with all these of emotions? </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When did I
start tasting fresh corn so sweet, a homemade blackberry pie so
tart? When did I realize a handful of Queen Anne's Lace from our land is more graceful than a store bought bouquet of flowers? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Was it when I became a parent? When <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-sweetest-fig-new-art.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">I moved to a foreign country by myself</span></a>? When we
decided to change our careers despite the financial risks? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NLg_4xYP3ns/U_TV0PnzsxI/AAAAAAAAC8M/fRyqXaU_zLg/s1600/POST%2B83%2B-%2BBlackberry%2BPie%2BBrighter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NLg_4xYP3ns/U_TV0PnzsxI/AAAAAAAAC8M/fRyqXaU_zLg/s1600/POST%2B83%2B-%2BBlackberry%2BPie%2BBrighter.jpg" height="472" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I once knew happiness, the kind that didn't cause any aches. The safe kind that doesn't involve any risks. I lived a sheltered life and smiled like an innocent flower. I didn't know what it meant to be stepping out of that boundary of my comfort zone and really live. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All the pains and aches I've been through over the past several years have woken my senses and given me a new set of eyes to see things in a different light. I find myself yearning to live and taste life in a way I've never done before. The deeper the ache your heart knows, the more beautiful and vibrant the world becomes. You will never know what sweetness really tastes like without knowing the taste of bitterness.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm not afraid of taking risks with life anymore, for now I know the taste of true happiness. Because I know life is beautiful no matter what it brings. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Studio Yuko Jones http://www.blogger.com/profile/04839090621639281035noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491670065720615276.post-77613804281814660552014-08-17T16:24:00.000-04:002014-08-17T17:44:38.073-04:00New Art + Our TV Gallery Wall Completed {for now}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A little over six months ago, I started putting together a<a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/01/our-tv-gallery-wall-today.html"><span style="color: #45818e;"> TV gallery wall in our family room</span></a>. I finally completed the wall this past week and I'm so excited to share it with you today. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6aNWMOpbIEM/U-6QLN7v94I/AAAAAAAAC2Q/syKigsaLutA/s1600/POST%2B82%2B-%2BUpdated%2BTV%2BGallery%2BWall%2BWM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6aNWMOpbIEM/U-6QLN7v94I/AAAAAAAAC2Q/syKigsaLutA/s1600/POST%2B82%2B-%2BUpdated%2BTV%2BGallery%2BWall%2BWM.jpg" height="476" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I wonder what took me so long to complete this project. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We had our next door neighbor
over for dinner the other night, and that was all I needed to
complete this wall and even finish up</span> <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/07/what-im-learning-this-summer.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">an unfinished painting project</span>.</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I get more projects around the house done in one day before someone comes over than I do in a month. It's a sad, but undeniable truth. I guess I do my best work under pressure. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here is some of my new artwork I framed for the gallery wall. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">* * *</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Pineapple: </span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></i></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K2depDJG3OU/U-6qqjce6MI/AAAAAAAAC2w/qbJ3CXCt6no/s1600/POST%2B82%2B-%2BPineapple%2BWM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K2depDJG3OU/U-6qqjce6MI/AAAAAAAAC2w/qbJ3CXCt6no/s1600/POST%2B82%2B-%2BPineapple%2BWM.jpg" height="640" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pineapple: Pen and watercolor on paper</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm thrilled how this piece turned out. I stopped half way done and then realized, it was already completed. It's interesting what your artwork would tell you when you try to communicate with it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I decided to frame it on its side, and I really like it this way. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NzIu5WjZeMc/U-6rWIBBX0I/AAAAAAAAC24/8PO0ttxlCq4/s1600/POST%2B82%2B-%2BPineapple%2BSideway%2BWM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NzIu5WjZeMc/U-6rWIBBX0I/AAAAAAAAC24/8PO0ttxlCq4/s1600/POST%2B82%2B-%2BPineapple%2BSideway%2BWM.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Watercolor Lettering:</span></span></i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fv8DKJx2YqY/U--RmViZa8I/AAAAAAAAC3w/6U_jMrSpWoE/s1600/POST%2B82%2B-%2BHello%2BSunshine%2B2%2BWM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fv8DKJx2YqY/U--RmViZa8I/AAAAAAAAC3w/6U_jMrSpWoE/s1600/POST%2B82%2B-%2BHello%2BSunshine%2B2%2BWM.jpg" height="640" width="448" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hello Sunshine no. 1: Watercolor on paper</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m6DwCSRY7Mk/U--VB0x96iI/AAAAAAAAC5I/ubXLxwb3eSk/s1600/POST%2B82%2B-%2BHello%2BSunshine%2B3%2BWM%2BBrightened.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m6DwCSRY7Mk/U--VB0x96iI/AAAAAAAAC5I/ubXLxwb3eSk/s1600/POST%2B82%2B-%2BHello%2BSunshine%2B3%2BWM%2BBrightened.jpg" height="640" width="448" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hello Sunshine no. 2: Watercolor on paper</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Blueberries: </span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FCJhlU9Gscc/U-piEV_5zKI/AAAAAAAAC08/F5rFMj8b5eA/s1600/POST%2B82%2B-%2BBlueberries%2BWM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FCJhlU9Gscc/U-piEV_5zKI/AAAAAAAAC08/F5rFMj8b5eA/s1600/POST%2B82%2B-%2BBlueberries%2BWM.jpg" height="640" width="508" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Blueberries: Watercolor on paper</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was blending colors on paper and my son said those circles looked like blueberries. So I turned them into blueberries. How simple is that? The actual artwork is actually much brighter than the photo above, but I couldn't adjust it without changing the value and intensity of the colors. </span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Tokyo Tower: </span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i> </i></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2-zeIHGPWz8/U-6uV40VKEI/AAAAAAAAC3E/EeSA1fFNUIs/s1600/POST%2B81%2B-%2BTokyo%2BTower%2BWM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2-zeIHGPWz8/U-6uV40VKEI/AAAAAAAAC3E/EeSA1fFNUIs/s1600/POST%2B81%2B-%2BTokyo%2BTower%2BWM.jpg" height="640" width="488" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tokyo Tower: Pen and watercolor on paper</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I did a simple Tokyo Tower drawing just because I was feeling sentimental. It's float mounted on a DIY sharpie striped mat. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">* * *</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Our TV gallery wall is a collection art and objects that are meaningful to us. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z7QlgWxN9O4/U-6vtTiJIFI/AAAAAAAAC3M/RzG_72bWPwU/s1600/POST%2B82%2B-%2BUpdated%2BTV%2BGallery%2BWall%2BWM%2BNumbered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z7QlgWxN9O4/U-6vtTiJIFI/AAAAAAAAC3M/RzG_72bWPwU/s1600/POST%2B82%2B-%2BUpdated%2BTV%2BGallery%2BWall%2BWM%2BNumbered.jpg" height="476" width="640" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1. Hello Sunshine no. 2 {<i>New Art</i>} </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2. My oldest son's artwork from when he was in preschool</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3. Blueberries {<i>New Art</i>} </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4. Pineapple {<i>New Art</i>}</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5. Gazelle Horns from <a href="http://www.highstreetmarket.com/collections/home-decor/products/sprinbok-gazelle-horns"><span style="color: #45818e;">High Street Market </span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">6. <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-sweetest-fig-new-art.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">The Sweetest Fig </span></a></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">7. Artwork by a watercolorist and friend, <a href="http://kristinmalone.com/"><span style="color: #45818e;">Kristin Malone</span></a>, given as a wedding gift. </span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">8. Tokyo Tower {<i>New Art</i>} framed in the <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/05/campaign-inspired-frame-diy.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">DIY Campaign Style Frame</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">9. Jesus</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">10. <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/08/seven-years.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">Our Hawaii Wedding Picture</span></a></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Every time I look at this wall, it puts smile on my face. The best part about a gallery wall is you can continue to let it evolve - by replacing some of the art or simply adding more to it. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm looking forward to seeing how this wall is going to evolve over time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Do you have a gallery wall in your home? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Studio Yuko Jones http://www.blogger.com/profile/04839090621639281035noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491670065720615276.post-62754367179441317552014-08-11T12:31:00.000-04:002014-08-11T12:53:01.796-04:00Summer Tranquility<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">During summer, my days are filled with melty popsicles, squirt guns, building forts and knee scrapes. If I'm not careful, I can easily get overwhelmed during those busiest of days. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I yearn for simple moments that help me slow down and feel centered. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today, I wanted to share some of those moments I've been enjoying this summer. </span>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">* * *</span> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Baking a <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/348570/peach-and-creme-fraiche-pie"><span style="color: #45818e;">Peach and Creme Fraiche Pie</span></a>. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-APuunyMRTPk/U-PSZkhkf8I/AAAAAAAACrg/GhLkElmKlWQ/s1600/POST+80+-+Peach+Fraiche+Pie+Brightened.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-APuunyMRTPk/U-PSZkhkf8I/AAAAAAAACrg/GhLkElmKlWQ/s1600/POST+80+-+Peach+Fraiche+Pie+Brightened.jpg" height="462" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Watching the garlic flowers slowly dry. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eSbQ3vVeP5Q/U-QWCzigU9I/AAAAAAAACrw/996fxtopB4w/s1600/POST+80+-+Garlic+Flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eSbQ3vVeP5Q/U-QWCzigU9I/AAAAAAAACrw/996fxtopB4w/s1600/POST+80+-+Garlic+Flowers.jpg" height="640" width="448" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Spotting a squash blossom in our vegetable garden and wondering if I should <a href="http://mintgreenapron.blogspot.com/2011/06/ricotta-filled-squash-blossoms.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">fry it</span></a>. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oIemiztgOEE/U-QX0Np_FaI/AAAAAAAACsM/nGqH2R7zpWk/s1600/POST+80+-+Squash+Flower+Original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oIemiztgOEE/U-QX0Np_FaI/AAAAAAAACsM/nGqH2R7zpWk/s1600/POST+80+-+Squash+Flower+Original.jpg" height="434" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A perfectly ripe peach and not sharing it with anyone. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EJ59DeGrkro/U-QYrSJyvuI/AAAAAAAACsU/-rzZtNELN2M/s1600/POST+80+-+Peach+Brightened.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EJ59DeGrkro/U-QYrSJyvuI/AAAAAAAACsU/-rzZtNELN2M/s1600/POST+80+-+Peach+Brightened.jpg" height="488" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Spending time with good books (or at least <i>trying</i> to do so). </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ccybR4yBGNY/U-ULobGcpBI/AAAAAAAACsk/4qLP2BjRkZ4/s1600/POST+80+-+Books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ccybR4yBGNY/U-ULobGcpBI/AAAAAAAACsk/4qLP2BjRkZ4/s1600/POST+80+-+Books.jpg" height="440" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thank you,<b> <a href="http://creeksideministries.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Linda | Creekside Ministries</span></a></b>, for the book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Enough-Things-Should-Teenage-Girls/dp/1433682931/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1407523041&sr=8-2&keywords=enough"><span style="color: #45818e;"><i>Enough</i></span></a></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A DIY art project</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lvSqxyVP1R4/U-f_CaX3-gI/AAAAAAAACt0/mhtrIAYTMzw/s1600/POST+81+-+Hello+Sunshine+Vignette+WM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lvSqxyVP1R4/U-f_CaX3-gI/AAAAAAAACt0/mhtrIAYTMzw/s1600/POST+81+-+Hello+Sunshine+Vignette+WM.jpg" height="464" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">in the backyard while watching the boys play. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d8XlbxmQckY/U-gAo1-yhZI/AAAAAAAACuA/9V4L2pCPs5o/s1600/POST+80+-+Painting+Outdoor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d8XlbxmQckY/U-gAo1-yhZI/AAAAAAAACuA/9V4L2pCPs5o/s1600/POST+80+-+Painting+Outdoor.jpg" height="406" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And this is how it looked like by the time I was done with my projects. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VF3qahp_fec/U-jAYhOKzMI/AAAAAAAACv8/zc-VLd5YgTE/s1600/POST+80+-+Painting+Outdoor+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VF3qahp_fec/U-jAYhOKzMI/AAAAAAAACv8/zc-VLd5YgTE/s1600/POST+80+-+Painting+Outdoor+2.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">* * *</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">During the midst of busy summer days, I collect those easy and slow moments that nourish my soul. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">May your week be filled with many simple moments. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Studio Yuko Jones http://www.blogger.com/profile/04839090621639281035noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-491670065720615276.post-76179591315557546462014-08-06T17:17:00.001-04:002014-08-06T17:28:29.795-04:00Seven Years<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Seven years ago today, </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PgOSNjzyGZk/U-Ic4ERLuvI/AAAAAAAACqk/O-ouwO8f4uY/s1600/POST+79+-+Adam+Palmer+Wedding+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PgOSNjzyGZk/U-Ic4ERLuvI/AAAAAAAACqk/O-ouwO8f4uY/s1600/POST+79+-+Adam+Palmer+Wedding+1.jpg" height="388" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I married <a href="http://northfieldgate.blogspot.com/2014/01/happy-birthday-to-my-best-friend.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">my best friend</span></a> at a small chapel of <i>Star of the Sea Church</i> in Hawaii,</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G6UFwLoiIto/U-IxzTN-8UI/AAAAAAAACq8/uR2gHfi8Be0/s1600/POST+79+-+Adam+Palmer+Wedding+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G6UFwLoiIto/U-IxzTN-8UI/AAAAAAAACq8/uR2gHfi8Be0/s1600/POST+79+-+Adam+Palmer+Wedding+3.jpg" height="522" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">surrounded by close friends and family, who traveled across the ocean to celebrate our special day. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-43L6MatvK4E/U-Id-dCzqSI/AAAAAAAACqs/2x7MMFrtcFM/s1600/POST+79+-+Adam+Palmer+Wedding+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-43L6MatvK4E/U-Id-dCzqSI/AAAAAAAACqs/2x7MMFrtcFM/s1600/POST+79+-+Adam+Palmer+Wedding+2.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was one of the happiest days of my life. </span>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l_rDdmUdBD0/U-IzSfx5SgI/AAAAAAAACrI/e0tN6pqJImM/s1600/POST+79+-+Adam+Palmer+Wedding+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l_rDdmUdBD0/U-IzSfx5SgI/AAAAAAAACrI/e0tN6pqJImM/s1600/POST+79+-+Adam+Palmer+Wedding+4.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Seven years and after two beautiful boys, career changes, many hugs and tears, we have grown closer than ever. </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Love is a flower which turns into fruit at marriage </span></i></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">- Finnish proverb</span></i></span></span></div>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I can't imagine life without him. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Photos by <b><a href="http://www.adamapalmer.com/index.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">Adam A. Palmer</span></a></b></span></span></div>
Studio Yuko Jones http://www.blogger.com/profile/04839090621639281035noreply@blogger.com20