I wanted to thank everyone who entered into the giveaway last Friday, I really enjoyed reading all the comments. I’m really excited to announce that the Giveaway winner is Elisabeth Lyons. Please send me an email with your address to info@inspiredbyanentta.com and congrulations!!
I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and you'll see you on Monday!
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Last year I was transitioning from being a portrait photographer to what I am today, an inspirational photographer. It was a really hard transition for me because I kept comparing myself to everyone around me. It was a thought that I had to fight off every single day. I knew that comparing myself wasn't good for me, but I still did it with forms of jealously, envy and covetousness coming into play. Today, I see a beautiful light under a long tunnel I went through and even though I still have to work through some days I now have a much better understanding of it all.
First off, I've been noticing how the word 'covet' and 'envy' has been coming up in advertising like it's not big deal, desensitizing the meaning of those words and implications they have on your lives. If you think those words are okay then you must have never heard this proverb, "A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones." Here are a few things that I know about covertness and envy, it destroys all the joy and meaning we have in the things that cannot be bought. We covet and envy the lives of others and the things that they poses all too easily while missing all the blessings in our lives. The grass is greener on the other side, but is it really?
So what does covet and envy have to do with comparison, well when we envy another or covet what they have we are just really comparing ourselves and measuring up short. Most of the time we are comparing our weaknesses to their strengths. In the bible it says in II Corinthians 10:12, “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”
Mind you, I've struggled with this also so what better person to tell you that comparing yourselves kills creativity it also kills the good in your life. It's not okay to think that you are not enough, because the truth is YOU ARE ENOUGH! Sometimes it's really hard to believe that and receive it in our lives, but it's the truth. Today I heard this, "You should have no excuses for lack, for He has given us what we need to succeed, we just need to find it." If you do some soul search, the hard kind that hurts, you will be amazed at the beauty you will find in you. I am very passionate about this topic so don't be surprised if I keep reminding you not to compare yourself. Grow at your own pace, don't rush the process as you wouldn't rush a butterfly emerging itself from a cocoon. Let people inspire you instead of letting their inspiration make you compare yourself. Be still, be happy and know you are ENOUGH!
I am an artist and not a writer (not yet) so please be patient with my grammar and such until I learn that skill better as I know I am enough and I will get it down. This is the best way I can describe to you what's been on my heart.
I've written about this subject in a few different ways as it's such an important topic, you can read the posts here, here, here and here.
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Mother's Day was a very beautiful day for me. The house was surrounded by beauty, roses and more flowers, it's the perfect way to keep me happy. I rearranged my house to fit everyone as it's rather a small space with a combined living room and dinning room. We all loved the new arrangement so much that I've decided to keep it. As a gift, my sweet husband gifted me with an iPad (a week or two ago as I couldn't wait) that I now get to do my digital illustrations on, easier then learning Illustrator for me. Above is my first real attempt at illustrating in my iPad. It's not perfect and will be a work in progress, but a good start.
Did you do anything special for Mother's Day, go out to eat and not cook? I'd love to hear how your special day went if you are a mother.
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(A Peak Into Michelle's Studio & Sketchbook)
I have discovered so many talented people on instagram from watercolor artists, photographers, crafters to florists. It's a vast pool of endless inspiration beautifully flowing whenever you need it. In this vastness of creativity one artists talent captured by creative soul with her beautiful watercolor work, her name is Michelle Schneider from The Art Of Michelle.
When going through her blog I get inspired by the way she captures and shares her creative process. Her sketchbooks are detail and oozing with gorgeousness. As a wannabe watercolor artist I truly enjoy her beautiful work. Her work is beautifully complex, but after going through her instagram feed or blog I instantly want to get out my watercolor set, what can be more inspiring?
Recently, Michelle took on a beautiful challenge of painting 12 birds. Her goal was to paint 12 birds in 12 days so that she could fill her studio walls with beautiful painting and get some practice in. Now she is selling these beautiful prints in her beautiful Etsy shop.
Michelle is also generously giving away one of her 12 Bird Challenge prints to one lucky winner on this blog! To enter the giveaway please leave me a comment below on which featured print you would like most (barn owl or chickadee) and where you'd like to hang it & LIKE this post. The winner will be selected on May 17th.
Website Etsy Store Instagram Blog Facebook
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If anyone doesn't know, I am a Christian. The purpose for this blog is more than just posting pretty pictures of flowers and the things that inspire me. The bigger purpose is inspiring women, to show and share God's beauty with others. I want my work and my life to be meaningful and not in a selfish way, but in a humble serving others type of way.
Lately I've been noticing a shift on my blog, a not-so-good shift where it's just me posting pictures to get a post out. For that I'd like to apologize. You can say it's no big deal, which in ways it isn't, but if I continue down this road, it will no longer be about the greater picture, it would turn into being noticed and getting my blog popular. So, I don't want to make any excuses, I've just gotten busy in the doing, which completely misses the greater picture and it doesn't let God direct my work. I've got some things to figure out in my personal life and relationship with God as well. While I'm working out some things I'll still post whatever comes up, but I'm hoping for another shift, one that will touch women's hearts in a positive lasting way.
I don't want this blog to be for everyone because then I'm striving for the wrong things, I want this blog to stand out for those who really need it. I don't want to just be a popular blog, but a blog that moves hearts and propels women to do better and to be greater. So I've shared my heart and where I am at the moment. I hope there wasn't too much rambling and that some of this makes sense. How this is all going to happen, I have no idea, but this isn't really about me.
Thank you for letting me share with you!!
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I take pictures every. single. day. I can't help it, when I see something that catches my eye, I grab my camera and capture it. It also comes naturally to me, it's never forced. Today I had a very busy day working with a client on some headshots and styling a table for a tea party, I ran around today like a mad woman. When I culled my images I didn't just find my clients headshots, but there were to many more unrelated images. They were things that made my day beautiful, things that I am thankful for and beauty that I couldn't pass by without admiring it. This is me every. single. day. Sometimes I don't even realize when I reach for my camera until 15 min later I am snapping photo's instead of having breakfast and it's 12pm, this happens more time than I like to admit.
So I challenge you to step away from what you 'have-to-shoot' and just capture the things that you see around you. Capture the things that fascinate you or you think are beautiful and then at the end of the say see what you get. You life will tell a beautiful story. For me, this happens automatically therefore I am always surrounded by God's gifts.
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I've been sightly obsessing over the gorgeous tulips I got the other day. After a hot day they've opened up ever so beautifully. I've caught myself staring at them and just being captured by their beauty. It's going to be so sad to watch them go, but there will be more to replace them as I've formed a true love for them.
This week is filled with clients photo-shoot, a tea party at my church, blogging events, business meetings, and articles to shoot. It going to be a very exciting week which includes mother's day! I find myself ready to tackle my hectic schedule as the sunny weather we've been having gives me such energy.
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Next Friday I will be featering one of my favorite artists Michelle from The Art Of Michelle, there will also be a giveaway just in time for Mother's Day.
I hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend! It's so sunny here in Seattle and getting warm, which means I'll be spending my weekend outside even if it means taking my office outdoors that's where you will find me.
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The Country Style magazine makes my heart skip a beat. I discovered Country Style magazine while at Barnes & Nobles in Palm Springs California and instantly fell in love with it, how could you not with all the country romance it was brimning with. As I went online to buy a subscription I found out that it's and Australian magazine and to get it to the US would be about $200. As inspiring as this magazine is to me, that was out of the question (for now).
Last night I went out and bought a iPad for business purposes and one of the business purposes are magazines for inspiration. You could not believe my joy when I found out that Zinio had this gorgeous magazine digitally and only for $6 an issue! That's about 75% less than what I would pay at the store for it. Now I'm wondering why I waited so long to purchase my iPad. If you don't see me for the next few day's I'm busy downloading Country Style issues and spending my days day dreaming.
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