The Stamp Spot

IN // 1st quarter of 2015 check-in for my One Little Word

My One Little Word for 2015 is IN, see my initial post here. All the details can be found on the creator Ali Edwards website here.

I thought it might be fun and interesting (and even shocking!) to look back over each quarter during 2015 and check in with my OLW. That is not to say I don't check-in far more frequently than that but an overview/summary/reflection is more share worthy and interesting than checking in say weekly.

Here is how IN was or currently is present IN my life:

 

January - March 2015

 

I was/am 

IN the grip of a very hot summer

IN the adjustment phase of having no dog after 8 years, finally I have stopped looking for him and I no longer find myself in the dog food aisle at the grocery store

IN the dumps about not being with my son (again) to celebrate his birthday and that he is (still) a half a world away

IN in a big way packing up my Mums house

IN up to my armpits, sometimes head, with boxes

IN the congregation for a same sex wedding

IN the back to school routine

IN the excitement of going on our first family holiday since 2009

IN amongst what feels like a fabric store at home

IN love all over again with the man I choose to live the rest of my life with

IN the local Library for the first time

IN a plane (for our holiday)

IN a train (Problogger conference)

IN a hire car (during our holiday)

IN a cabin (yup holiday)

IN a decluttering mindset

IN a place of uncertainty with almost every aspect of my life

IN the throes of adjusting to having an extra family member close by

IN a trial and error phase of parenting a teenage son

IN the car a whole lot (for said teenage sons sporting commitments)

IN to goal setting in a very big way, far more than I am usually (Elise's Daily Goal Tracker sheets are a huge help in visually tracking them)

IN the grip of excitement and joy of learning a new baby is on the way (times two - 3rd grandchild and 2nd step grandchild both due in August)

IN my sewing room, a lot! 

IN a trial phase of introducing handmade products to my online store (I have so much fabric available to me, so I think why not!)

IN book reading mode on a daily basis

IN a lot of online classrooms (6th one just began)

 

I feel more present, more aware and more INvolved in my life and in my loved ones lives, my One Little Word IN feels like a good friend already, and is one I am happy to have IN my life IN 2015 (and no doubt beyond).

 

Cheers

Michelle x.

 

 

 

New products for The Stamp Spot

I have launched a whole bunch of new products ... I have very much enjoyed creating products from concept through to launch. The journey has been so fun!

 

Custom made flair (can be found instore here) :

 

 

 

 

 

Valentines Day mini kits - (kit and add on flair can be found here):

 

Other flair sets:

 

 

 

 

Graphics where used during the creation of the above products was found here:

http://www.sonyadehartdesign.com

 

All new products can be found instore at The Stamp Spot.

 

Cheers

Michelle x.

IN

 

 

My One Little Word for 2015 is IN.

I know how my word feels, though I am struggling to articulate that into words so as to convey what it means to me.

In part, to me personally, it means - committed fully and wholly, as in all in; be involved with awarenes, as in count me in; to belong and feel included, as in I am in and of this family, in the mix; immersed in living, life and the everyday as in checked in; pushing away from the edges and into the middle as in in the flow. 

In part, to me personally, it does not mean - left out, on the outer, checked out, not committed, wishy washy attempts, scattered and distracted, going through the motions.

 

 

 

I intend to explore my one little word, to have it visible via some artwork and printing of quotes such as the one above, to dive in to this word and get the most out of it during 2015.

Ali Edwards year long class will help me and remind me. This will be my fourth year of doing One Little Word and I think I am in the right frame of mind to glean the most this year.

Earlier years saw me more concerned about the how's and where's of documenting and the what withs - what album, what paper, what colour palette - clearly not the focus of this class! I did move on from those first year dilemmas to find myself bailing out of the more difficult tasks that Ali set. Now I do not mean Ali seeks out how to make this difficult, not at all. Just that some of the prompts/tasks raised some difficult to process thoughts and feelings - some months I felt so confronted with what exploring my word brought up that I simply either a. didn't do the task at all or b. did the absolute minimum and then distracted myself with anything but my One Little Word.

I think.

I am ready.

I know my word IN is truly apt.

 

I am all in, in 2015.

 

Cheers,

Michelle x.