Small Blessings

This whole balance thing has been pretty tricky lately.  Since taking on a new role at work, I've been consumed by my job in a way that I've never been before.  It's strange to go from a place of confidence and knowledge to a place of pure learning and bumbling around. Everything is new and, while I love the challenge, it's also been incredibly busy and, well, totally exhausting.

My valentine project was an amazing distraction during my first few weeks, but since completing it I've found it hard to pick up something new (and I'm starting to miss my 100 Things List!).  One habit that I've been trying to get into is on nights when I don't go to the gym after work (a good run has been my best de-stresser lately) I stop off at a coffee shop on my way home and write for at least a half an hour.  

So I've been gathering lots of scratches of ideas and waiting for inspiration to strike...

However, in the midst of all of this craziness, there have been so many small blessings that have kept me feeling optimistic.  Little things, like running into one of my super-cheery neighbours on the subway and having one of those sunny conversations that pops you out of the whole isolated-strangers-in-the-city vibe.  Or getting to take a walk on a freakishly warm February evening and remember how good it feels when winter is over (soon, soon...). Or coming home to lovely surprise packages in the mail from one of your favourite creative buddies such as these beautiful prints:

These are the things that keep me feeling energized and inspired.  And I'm so grateful for them.

I'll be off to the country this weekend, so I probably won't update for a few days.  I'm hoping that a bit of time outside the city will help me re-focus and get something new in the works.  At the very least, I'm looking for at least one day of pure slothary.  Preferably with cookies and an unhealthy amount of tea.

I hope you all have something fun and inspiring planned for the weekend!  

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here's the big reveal of the little Valentine I've been working on lately.  I've been dreaming about this work for ages and Valentine's Day gave me the perfect deadline to see it through.

The valentine is a little chapbook of a poem and a series of pen and ink drawings.  It's a little campy, but as soon as I had the poem down I knew exactly how I wanted the rest of it to look.

If you're a regular commenter/follower of Sonnet and Mayhem, you've likely already received your own copy through the mail. (Of course, I will feel absolutely horrible if I've forgotten anyone!) Likewise, I know that I have quite a few silent followers who might have missed out either because I didn't have your mailing address or I don't know who you are. If you fit into either of these two categories and would like your own copy of the valentine, please drop me a note with your mailing address and I will lovingly send one out to you.  

And please don't be afraid to email! I know how it feels to be a silent reader of other blogs and feel weird about actually sending a message or question to another blogger, but I've had so many amazing interactions by simply reaching out and commenting, entering giveaways, or posting about someone else's awesome creative work. I won't think it's weird. I will totally love it! And I want to send out as many of these as possible.  Just ask and you will receive!

I hope if you did received one that it brightened your day a little bit! It was the best way I could think of to say thank you to all of you for your continued support and love!

FYI - Here's the poem

1.

I’m a workhorse, not a romantic

I wish you would remember that

and I rarely dream

2.

I don’t skip

I might recoil, harbour, leap, ache, covet

But I never skip

3.                                                                   

My defences are

inconsistent

Bristling at a slight

While forgiving

greater tortures

4.           

You send me into battle far too often

But to be fair,

I often grow restless

5.

If I had my way

There would be no roller coasters

or scary movies

Last Hint... I Swear

This is how I spent my evening. No further details until next Monday!

Rollercoaster

I love rollercoasters.  I thought I might love sketching one, but then I realized that it's really hard to draw a rollercoaster.

Nevertheless, here's a sample of what I was working on tonight:

Half way through...

Pretty much done... I think.

Another one for the project that I really need to finished this weekend!