Are you a slave to your daily routine?

photo of a photo I took on Ellis Island of an immigrant mill worker in Fall River, MA

I recently posted on my Facebook personal page that I was conflicted and annoyed. It was in reference to something rather mundane and not worth sharing, however, I've realized that is my general sentiment at the current moment.

Having just returned from spring break vacation, I've found it hard to get back into work. I have orders to fill and while I love making my art, sometimes my art makes me. I'm feeling the urge to create something new, start something from scratch, do some spring cleaning, get a pedicure, read a book, etc.  Pretty much anything that will take my mind off the things I have to do.

Conflicted.

I love what I do. My art, my family, my life. I'm just tired of routine. As if my 'up in the air' life isn't enough excitement already.

Now I'm annoyed.

I just had a nice breakfast/coffee with a group of my friends to celebrate a birthday for one of them. We don't get to see each other very often and it's only because our individual busy lives keep us from doing so. We did, however, manage to pull this coffee together in less than 24 hours. We should be doing this more often. Spur of the moment. Breaking the routine.

Since I'm a daily blogger (literally, I blog every day on the day and not ahead of time too often) and running late in posting today, I was thinking of doing a quick "list post" of great finds. Serendipitously, I came home to find that Tara at the Scoutie Girl blog had written an interesting post on Problogger about moving beyond "list" posts and into something more experimental and engaging with readers (btw, if you blog, you should read it).  So, I just started writing what's on my mind today and hope that I can engage some of you with these questions:

Do you find relief in occasionally breaking your routine?

Do you do something solely for yourself everyday...once a week...ever?

Do you ever stop what you are supposed to be doing to do something you simply want to?

[editor's note:  In the middle of writing this, my husband asked if I wanted to take a walk.  Without a blink of an eye, I stopped and went on a walk.  And it was good.]

Photos of old warehouse in Woonsocket, RI

As promised, here are some pictures I took at an old, nearly abandoned warehouse in Woonsocket, RI.

If you ever have the chance to explore an old place like this, be sure to bring your camera. Old buildings like this can be so inspirational (see other inspirations here). I loved the odd items left behind, old broken windows, bright paint colors, and light pouring through the windows.

I can only share a few pictures in this post since I haven't had a lot of time to upload and edit all of them (due to the new pup - also the reason this post was so late). More to come!!

Through an old metal bookshelf, a bright green glow caught my eye. It was the 2 stall bathroom with a large porcelain sink. I loved the retro green and old fixtures.

Taped with plastic, the light poured in through this window making the bathroom glow.

This scale was used to weigh large items, perhaps pallets of yarn. Its large metal base was flush with the floor. Not realizing it was there, I stepped on it. It was about 15 lbs off.

This flag hung in what appeared to be a main entrance to this space. It seemed poignant that it still hung while everything else was gone. It was as if taking it down really meant finality to this company and the people who spent time here.

[click photos for larger view]

Find a la mode here!

Find a la mode here!, originally uploaded by alamodestuff.
Park City is a wonderful town. Historic Main Street is utterly charming with it's boutiques and restaurants. Robert Redford's restaurant, Zoom, is located at the bottom of Main Street. Olive & Tweed happens to be one of the stores that carries my bags and accessories. I am completely enamored and understand the Sundance draw to this quaint town.

The city's free transit, makes getting around a breeze. We can catch the bus (for free) right in front of my bro-in-law's house and take it to Main Street, Park City Mountain Resort, or Deer Valley Resort to ski. It can't get any easier than that!

Yesterday, E and I hopped the bus to Main Street and wandered aimlessly: bookstore, Chocolate Factory, boutiques, Vietnamese food, ice cream. It was a great day of exploration. As we caught the bus home, C and M got on our same bus from Park City Mountain after a day of skiing. The perfect way to meet up at the end of our day.

It was particularly fun to be here during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Since Park City hosted the Olympics in 2002, the atmosphere was festive with Olympic celebration. Today we are visiting the training facilities and museum at the Utah Olympic Park. Makes me wish I were a bit more athletic. Watching the olympics this week, I'd like to add the atheletes to the list of what inspires me.

Have a great weekend!

blog it forward: what inspires me

Participating in blog it forward (BIF - 300 bloggers connecting to each other through posts from their own blogs) today...it's my turn to share with you what inspires me.

Much like defining success, narrowing my focus on what inspires me has been tough. I'm inspired by something different every day. Yesterday, for instance, I found myself inspired by fearless 3 - 10 year olds learning to ski for the first time ever. Their ability to learn quickly and effortlessly was amazing.

print by Hide 'n Seek

I am continually inspired by my family: my husband's daily fortitude, my youngest son's wit and compassion, my older son's wisdom and discipline. If I ever need to be inspired, I simply look to them.

I find a lot of inspiration in the kindness of others. It doesn’t take a disaster to see others reaching out to help one another. The biggest inspiration can come from the littlest gesture of kindness.

photo by She Watched the Sky

I always find inspiration in nature through colors, and clean lines; intricate patterns and organic forms.

photo by Kodilu

A visit to my local hardware store often inspires me to look at items for their simplicity in shape. Something we overlook everyday, like laundry detergent containers, can become beautiful pop art simply by grouping them together.

photo by Ned Lyttelton

I love reading modern architecture magazines like Dwell, Elle Decor and Metropolitan Home, and Sunset or gardening books. Fashion magazines and blogs inspire me through words and photos. Yesterday's BIF blogger who linked to me, A Diary of Lovely, is a great example of such a blog.

Beautiful photography inspires me, particularly modern abstract and macro.

photo by Tengtan

Everyday icons, the sounds of the city, and the urban landscape inspire me.

photo by me

The creative energy of others is also a huge inspiration. All I need to do is spend 5 minutes on Etsy, and I'm pumped to make something new.

You, my readers, are a great source of inspiration. You always have something wonderful to add and I know that I can always count on you to cheer me up, answer my questions, or simply "listen" to me.

Okay, I can go on forever. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Be sure to check out tomorrow's BIF blogger, Alexander Salvage, where you will get another great dose of inspiration!

Blog it forward mashup

One of the great things about blogging (and social media in general) is the sense of community it gives. There are so many creative people who continually come up with new and exciting ways to connect.

Victoria Smith, a.k.a. SFGirlbyBay, was recently thinking out loud on her Twitter stream. Her idea was to link a bunch of bloggers together (a mashup) to blog about a particular topic (similar to a chain letter but way cooler) She was overwhelmed with the response. She pulled together the first 300 bloggers who responded (leaving room for a future mashup) and the "Blog it Forward" mashup was born.

Topic: What inspires you

Duration: through March 24.

Today, Victoria (along with 10 other bloggers on their blogs) kicked off the mashup on her own beautiful blog, SFGirlbyBay. [BTW, the photos on her blog always inspire me. From her post you will be connected to another blogger post, and so on.

Here is the mashup schedule of participants and dates.

My post is scheduled to post on February 16, so stay tuned.

If you check out some of the blogs, please let me know which ones inspire you!

Thank you, Victoria, for putting this together.

Inspiration || Interpretation: muted colors

photo by Diana Brennan (http://www.dsbrennan.com/)

handbag by Hands Full Creations
patchwork collage print by Doll Face Design
blue Napali notecards by Blue Snail Papers

flageolet decorative bay by Maka Le Wakan
fungi bokeh photo by Phillip C. Photography

Inspiration || Interpretation: bright colors of Mexico

Photo by me

photo by MashUp
sign by John W Golden
sculpted abstracts by ArtsaFire
Lego tile cuff links by Bits and Badges
dog print by Dog Hound Blues

Inspired by summer fruit

cuff by Sleeks
ring by CaughtRedHanded
necklace by Startini
illustration print by EdisonRex

Interpreting abstract colors

source: ueno station #54

beachstone choker by steppingstones
porcelain bowl by shoshana snow
enamel necklace by GreyWillow
fused glass bracelet by poshit1
pebble ring by meetalls
scratchboard by tidbitsandbits
icuddle by SweetgumHandbags

Inspired by allium :: Interpreted through Etsy

photo taken by me in our backyard

click here to enlarge view

1. photo by Studio CVH
2. sterling silver ring by SweetLifeSpiral
3. hand blown glass oil candle by Tanner Glass *
4. fused glass tile by Michelle Prosek
5. sterling silver necklace by Delias Thompson
6. belt by Bare Tree
7. allium note cards by Anna Cote **
8. allium lamp by Hanna Nunn
9. modern note card by The Paper Peony
10. paper pom by PomLove

Rhode Island readers:

* Tanner Glass is a local RI artist
** Anna Cote has a gorgeous shop in Warren called Modern Printed Matter

Inspired by: red + yellow + lines

(via Studio X'avier)

first family abstract acylic by Mistflower Studio
red car digital collage print by StudioMem
be mine printed card by Fireapple
recycled plastic bracelet by ArtworkbyKD

Stoned, blue and piled high

My first encounter with peoples
rock piling facsination, Block Island, RI - 9/07

beachstone necklace by steppingstones
pen and ink rendering by michelleramin
stoneware tumblers by utilemud
stones on aqua glass pendant by ellecools
rock pile print by jewles917
ceramic river rocks by luckalilly
oval dish by ceramicjen

Inspired by colorful gumballs

Photo taken by me at Dylan's Candy Bar, NYC 4/09

moon drops acylic painting by Messicakes
gumball pillow by DedeEtsyShop
rainbow bubble necklace by Arielle and Pamela
balloons photo print by ScarletBeautiful2
earrings by Executeme
gumball machine limited edition print by CB78
sprinkles necklace by Stoopidgerl

Interpreting crosshatch

t-shirt by martinchandler
ring by marstinia
canvas print by hatchin
wallet by ayastudio
necklace by metalwendler