These past few weeks have not only flown by but have been crazy hectic! With "everyone" getting used to the back to schedule (ourselves included) it's easy to get overwhelmed and lose track of whats important. So we've had to take a step back and do things a little differently...

But before we get into that, The America to Zanzibar Exhibit that just ended Sept. 2nd, 2019, was just WOW!!! It was amazing to see how the exhibit bought people together from all over the world. The messages, pictures, emails, and love we received was A-MA-ZING! If you missed the exhibit you can click here for an overview of the portraits or go to customartsstudio.com/thefamily to get your very own set. Enjoy!

...Being a full time artist, mother of 2, business owner amongst many other things, is not always easy but sometimes the simple things in life can be your daily pain relievers. At Custom Arts Studio we have been inspired by the simplicity of relaxing the body to stimulate the mind. We have started a new tradition where we begin the work day with stretching and yoga! I know what you're thinking...you wish your workplace did the same thing!! Tell me about it!
This simple morning routine not only provides a sense of calmness but adds focus to tackle any day!

Think I'm gonna take a quick stretch break now, be right back...

Custom Arts Studio here. We have been super, duper busy in the studio creating new products to excite your eyes, light up your spirit and empower you! My favorite new product is our EMPOWERMENT journal. Created to supplement the 2019 Women of Inspiration Calendar or stand alone as a personal growth tool, it is chock full of goodies!

Each section focuses on one of this year's twelve Women of Inspiration  and includes:

• Did You Know...? Little known facts about each WOI
• Their Character Trait: what trait does their story embody? How do you demonstrate that trait in your own life?
• Artistic Expression: Witness a piece of writing, a poem, a speech that she offered to the world as an expression of herself

That's just the warm-up! Each week you are offered a task, writing prompt or question to ponder and write about to help deepen your connection with her, your own life and the character trait.

I have been so excited about Custom Arts Studio's newest product! Of course, before creating it for you, I put myself to the test and did product research with my own life, at own office desk,... with pen and paper scraps. Nothing fancy. No big tah-do.  My jar is a beautiful creation which, on my cluttered desk, truly stands out. That was beneficial. 

I started by writing the usual things... I would take a slip of paper, find a pen or pencil and write what one would assume you'd write- "I am grateful for my family." I folded the slip up and popped it into the jar. Day One...DONE! It felt good, I must admit. No big deal, right? Over the next 3 months, I found myself grateful for the big and small, the complex and mundane and... get this... my outlook shifted. It was a day some time in February that, with pen in hand, I had my own moment of clarity around gratitude and just how powerful it is. It dawned on me that in my hustle and bustle of raising two children, keeping house- groceries, bills paid, bathroom cleaned, etc., working part time and running my business part time... that I easily get caught up in whatever cog is not working in my life-machine and often, even when really great things happen, gloss over the amazing things in my life. When things fall apart, as is often said, I give my full attention, my full energy and passion, but it seemed that I did not give that same energy and passion for what was working well in my world...

And I am not referring to the "normal" thankfulness that is taught and learned in church or  self-help books. Not the automatic, turn it on thankfulness... I am talking about a real paused moment to really take in what life has offered you. I realized that I had been starving myself of this goodness, this "feel good" as I call it.

All of a sudden, the cute little jar being swallowed by my desk clutter took on much greater significance. Within the first 3 months of 2015, she has received more investments of gratefulness than all of 2014 combined...

Go for the "Feel Goods" and get your Gratitude Jar today!