Current Inspiration
Handmade – I'm just loving the warmth of handmade everything right now – even handmade inspiration collages instead of digital ones =) With a new (functioning!) sewing machine I'm excited to have fun things to show you soon.
Our Sparrows – We have a young sparrow couple living in the corner of our roof and I adore them! The mom is the size of a soccer ball and sings outside our bedroom window. I can't wait to meet her chicks when she has them- and in the mean time our bird feeder is stocked! I love the grey, cream and white colouring on their chests, it's a colour palette that I relate to- though I'm trying to embrace a little more colour these days.
April Showers – While it's starting to warm up here, it's decidedly…. brown. And sandy from the winter road run off. I really hope we get a few bursts of serious rain soon so the city blooms. And I bought a beautiful new trench coat last week that I wouldn't mind dusting off…
This April I Will…
Plan a project for you! – I can't tell you about it because it's secret for now, but it's going to be really fun! A ‘download something and get something in the mail from me' mash up of wonderful. Hold onto your sun hats, there will be more news soon…
Hang out with my Baba – My Baba is easily tired out these days, but I've been asking to come over and raid her house soon. She's really into giving things away, and in her basement she has a whole craft room with huge tables and banks of all the supplies you could ever want. Vintage supplies. I'm drooling! My sister raids my Baba's closet, and I raid her craft room. Where would we be without her? I love being an understudy.
Treat my creative projects like a true second job – I've been wanting to open an etsy store, do more design work, and get blogging faster (my posts take me a little while) over the winter, and it hasn't been happening. As someone who thrives when I'm working, it finally clicked: to be productive in my spare time I have to work on my side projects like they're a job. I have a new planner (SO CUTE!) on the way and have started to schedule my projects. So far the progress is really going well!
What are you plans & inspiration this month?
ps- Are you in a reader? Click through! My new sponsor ads are up and I've rearranged my categories so it's (roughly) a quarter billion times easier to navigate my archives 
kr.
{image: letterpress calendar from MPR + collage by me}
LAST UPDATED ON: April 5th, 2010
CATEGORY: All Business & Blogging Posts
I love the handmade collage! I’m looking forward to seeing what this project is all about.
.-= Megan´s last blog ..In Bullet Fashion =-.
You’re kind of too adorable! ;) I really want to put a bird feeder outside my window for that purpose. I love watching the little families that settle nearby!
.-= Becka´s last blog ..Tomato Red & Tiffany Blue Cypress Grove Wedding | Erica & Brent =-.
AHHHH… I love that organizer. I need one.
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..Happy Easter =-.
Good for you on the second job/creative projects thing. I cannot wait to see your etsy store!!!!!
Can’t wait to see what your secret is. :) My goal is to focus on myself this month health-wise and be with Tyler more as the next few months we’ll be busy.
You are an inspiration! Love the idea of treating your love (whatever that might be) as a “second job” – make it a priority, instead of letting it fade into the background. Thanks for the reminder!
.-= Lauren From Texas´s last blog ..“Have your roots done.” =-.
I love this. As always I find your monthly inspiration…um…totally inspiring! Hehe.
I, too, need to find a way to put more effort into my blog. As it is I’ve been posting about once a week, which…isn’t terrible, but I’d like to change that. It’s like the time slips through my fingers like sand, and before I know it a whole week has passed! I love your idea of setting aside time every weekend to plan weekly posts, and also of looking at it like a second job. You totally inspire me to write more and be more active as a blogger. So, thank you for that!
And I can’t wait to see what your project is! <3
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..My Moony Daydreams: Torn between two worlds. =-.
My inspiration this month is flowers. Everything is blooming right now. It’s fantastic.
Springtime supplies that kick of energy I always feel I’m lacking through winter. I can’t wait to hear more about this secret project :)
.-= Ally´s last blog ..Blackwater Falls =-.
is it lame to say I’m inspired by love…and dafodils?
.-= good girl gone blog´s last blog ..Springtime black =-.
My big plan this month is to give up soda, which is going to be so hard because I love it so much. Also, the first week of May is my finals week and I’ll be pretty much done with all my big projects by the end of this month – something I’m super excited about!
I can’t wait to see what your big project is. It sounds exciting!
.-= Stephany´s last blog ..April Challenge =-.
this really made me think about what i need/want to accomplish this month and all the creative projects i want to do… i’m writing it all down right now. :) (i adore lists) thanks for inspiring me, girl!
.-= kelly ann´s last blog ..horse feathers. =-.
Oh my gosh you SHOULD open an Etsy store. I love your stuff so you better just start putting stuff aside for me :)
This month I want to cook more than just pasta for dinner, which will take me opening up a cook book.
I love that planner by the way!
.-= Susan´s last blog ..the sausage guy =-.
Hooray for new creative projects! Can’t wait to see what you have planned!
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..monday inspiration: thoreau =-.
Hi Kyla! I just discovered your blog and think its great – looking forward to reading more :)
– a fellow Canadian –
*waves hello* Thanks Michelle! I’m glad you found me- I’m excited to check out your blog and see where you’re from in Canada =)
Aww, I love all of this!! I can’t wait for your surprise!! And OMG adorable organizer!! I love gorgeous organizers :)
.-= Margarita´s last blog ..The Perfect Easter Dinner =-.
You and me both! Just don’t try to tempt me with more planner links for a little while. At least until I get mine in the mail. Okay, maybe it would be safe for me just to peek at them… =)
i have my heart set in joining your project — it sounds like it’s going to be a ton of fun.
like you, i’m striving to complete my blog posts a bit faster — photo-processing and writing take quite a while for me to do, a bit longer than most, i think.
thanks for your idea of treating our projects as though they’re work. i think that change in perspective will help a lot.
my goal for this week is to create a viable schedule for my blog, my side-projects, work and most importantly: family time! thanks for bringing up your calendar (it’s totally cute, by the way) — i should really use mine!!
.-= katrina´s last blog ..Diana Scavenger Hunt: The Clues =-.
I’m a big fan of laying things down on paper too- I actually did that scheduling project last weekend when I was almost convinced I couldn’t manage all the balls I had up in the air. I have a separate calendar & to do for each major project that I’m working under and it has made such a difference in just how much I know I can get done, and in how well I sleep at night. Trying to keep things in my head just doesn’t work for me!
This month I’m going to, finally, push myself to create a snow video. I took a bunch of footage last October, but last October was really horrible month for me, so I never looked at the footage. Well, it turns out there’s some hilarious, belly laughing stuff in there. There’s all these tiny moments (like the moment I first met a friend!) in there. Now that I’m in a better place, I’m going to make it. Put it together to some fancy sounds, and be glad that I’m in a better place now. :)
.-= Elly´s last blog ..Photography Assignment: Take One (Still Life) =-.
Oh Elly! Do it, I would love to see that! I’m trying to find a way to video blog something fun like that (not just talking to the camera) once a month or so, it’s going to be a big job but I know it’ll be so much fun to look back at.
I’m glad I’m not alone in compulsively documenting my life! lol
To find a job that I’m happy with in our new city, and for a stress free move (ha! yeah right!) ;)
.-= Shannon´s last blog ..Squirt! =-.
Oh my goodness, a job change is on your horizons? Shannon! Congrats, that’s an amazing goal! I’m sure you’ll find something that’s the perfect fit. =)
This month I will:
1. Start a new job.
2. Track down more yarn for the blanket I am crocheting.
3. Buy a plane ticket to go visit my sister in Arizona!
.-= Lisa from Lisa’s Yarns´s last blog ..Blogging Break =-.
If you ever need more yarn I have a big box of it in my craft room that I’m not using- and it’s really nice stuff too! We’ll have to talk colours, I can send you a skein or two!
I am running a 5K and doing all the planning for my besties Bridal Shower!!
.-= Habbala´s last blog ..Baking: Carrot Cake =-.
5K?! Oh my goodness, if anyone else takes up running I’m going to have to hire someone to fan me while I think about it! ;)
Good luck! I can’t wait to hear all about it!
I really need to start SCHEDULING blogging and other free-time activities as well. There’s so much I want to do and so little time to do it all, it feels like that anyways.
I’m very excited for your big project!
.-= Amber from Girl with the Red Hair´s last blog ..The Monday Meeting: Senioritis =-.
If I didn’t schedule my blogging I don’t know what I would do! I think I would be a nervous mess! lol I’ve been writing my weeks on Saturday mornings for over a year and it’s one of my favourite habits.
Scheduling your free time sounds really boring, but it has been a huge stress reliever for me & makes sure I get to spend time on all the things that I love.
My plan for April is to stop treating my condo like a temporary place to live and start thinking of it as my home. I am going to paint and decorate and organize and learn to LOVE my tiny shoebox in the sky.
.-= hillary´s last blog ..Don’t Waste Your Time Or Time Will Waste You =-.
I hope you do! Falling in love with what you have isn’t something we romanticize a lot, but my goodness it’s worthwhile spending the time =)
My plan for this month is to have this baby, even though I’m not due until May. I figure there’s no more room in my tummy so Baby can come out any time now :) Well, any time after the nursery is done (will it ever be done?!). I’m loving everything handmade too … etsy = awesome :D
Go baby! But my cheering is selfish, I really want to meet your new family member! And no, I don’t think the nursery is ever done… until you meet your little one =)
I love your plans for this month – i’m glad i’m not the only whose posts take awhile! i keep trying to do them faster…haven’t quite figured it out yet :) And great idea about treating your creative projects like a second job…i really need to do that. i think that’s what i need to focus on this month!
.-= Piper´s last blog ..{shake it up – week 14 scoop} =-.
Oh don’t worry! They definitely take me a while- I find the only thing that helps me to post faster is to do all of it on one morning. I usually write from 8 – 11 on Saturday and then I only comment and read during the week. It means I have enough time to gather my thoughts and put them down in one go. If you find any tricks that work for you, let me know!
My plan is to start training for a half-marathon. I am actually starting week 1 today. And did I really just say the word marathon? Hold me! All I need to do now is find a race. :)
I am looking forward to read more about all your plans, ideas and goal!
.-= Stefanie´s last blog ..Patience. Oh, patience. =-.
You are so brave! I’ve beyond fallen off of my exercising plans and am starting back (slowly) with healthy eating first, treadmill second. If you’ll hold me while I try to squeak out 2 miles I will FLY to where you’re running your half! I understand the need for moral support on these things! lol =)
Sounds like you’ve got a lot of lovely things going on this month :) My goals are to get through the next four weeks of school without pulling out my hair, keep up with the race training and get back to reading for pleasure 30 minutes a day and sending out some more handwritten cards! And sleeping. Can sleeping be a goal? :)
.-= Nora´s last blog ..Promises to my Future Self =-.
With your schedule, sleeping isn’t just a goal it’s a reward!! =)
I’m shaking my pom poms for you!
You know I’m a day planner lover…and that Filofax is ADORABLE. I hope you enjoy filling it up as much as I love a good day planner :)
Excited to watch you bloom this spring, my dear one.
We’ll have to have a follow up skype date where I show you all its features and you pretend not to be freaked out by how geeky I am about organizing. Is it a date? Don’t tell me yet, we’ll have to synchronize watches. Okay…..go!
;)
I’m having a crafty month of April ahead of me – I need to finish stitching on a baby quilt that I started for my sister. It needs to be done next month!
I am excited to hear about the goodies that you find in Baba’s craft room :)
.-= san´s last blog ..Happy Easter (Bread)! =-.
A baby quilt sounds like an amazing project! You’re more ambitious than I am- but is it ok to demand pictures? =)
I’m so excited for all your April possibilities!! I am loving handmade things as well, as usual. It’s so refreshing to take scraps and random items and create art or something lovely out of it. (that calendar at the top is adorable!!) Cannot wait for your etsy.
In April I also am working on opening my Etsy, getting my sleeve tattoo finished, beginning a craft book I’m writing, and enjoying the outdoors!
Love your blog little miss!
xo
.-= Chelsea´s last blog ..{Happy Easter} =-.
You’re writing a craft book? Oh my goodness, where have I been? That’s amazing! It sounds like your April is going to be wonderful- and between the etsy & writing & tattoo finishing it’l be very similar to my May & June. I’m going to be following along very closely =)
The calendar collage is great, I love it!
I think raiding your Baba’s craft stash is going to be so much fun :)
.-= Angela´s last blog ..Maybe I Love It here After All. =-.
Thanks! I had fun making it- I was going to make another digital one but I’ve seen too much beautiful art journalling lately & I wanted to take a half step towards that. Have you seen this: http://bit.ly/dzMWTN yet? I think it’s my next project!
My plan is to keep getting healthier and spend much more quality time with my pups while enjoying this new, beautiful weather.
Happy April!
.-= Her´s last blog ..Gobbledygook =-.
I can’t wait to see the scores of pictures from your new city, miss, and I hope that includes scores of puppy coverage too!
My plan for the month is to lay off caffeine a little bit…can’t wait to see some of your projects!
.-= Dani´s last blog ..Monday Playlist: Birdsongs =-.
Oh that’s such a hard one! I’m always moderately over caffeinated, if you find a secret to backing off you might have to pass it my way =)
good luck with projects! I love a good project. My current one involves upcycling plastic pipette box inserts (like this one in blue: http://www.tripledeuces.com/users/oneway/tank/t3.jpg) to make name tags for the girls on my floors. I need to find a craft store somewhere to find the right sort of ribbon or something. But it’s a project!
.-= Bridget´s last blog ..April 2010 =-.
I love a good project too- and I’ll be on the lookout for your results!
Hoorary for another new month! I cannot wait to hear what happens as more of your plans come together. Its going to be a great month for all of us, I just know! This month I’m finally starting to feel back to my usual self (the sun, seeing green grass and flowers majorly improves my mood and outlook) so I am using Spring as my inspiration. Even now I’m rocking a bright orange shirt, with a plum cardigan, and turquiose jewelry. It sounds a little crazy, but somehow I’m rocking it. =)
It’s just amazing what a little sunshine and fresh air can do, isn’t it? All of my cabin fever has completely washed away! And also? I love that you’re rockin’ a rainbow of colours, if anyone can it’s you <3
I adore the calendar collage. So pretty!
This month I’d like to makeover my blog, get back into jewellery designing and do more thrifting! :)
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Sunday Smile #2 =-.
Those all sound like perfect endeavours- and if you’ve done jewellery design in the past I’m going to have to troll your site for past mentions! Look out! =)
My plan for this month is to lose 10 lbs. I need to stop slacking!
.-= Barbara´s last blog ..WTF Friday-Easter Edition =-.
Oh my goodness, that’s a huge goal! Good luck- I’m sure you’ll do great =)