Simple...

...my word for today is simple. Trying to simplify my life, streamline my needs, prioritize my obligations. Trying to focus in on only the most important things and then creating room to breathe.

I took some photos of soap today {more of which you can peek at here}. Not typically the one's I typically shoot for product photos with the soaps all wrapped up and decorated...ready to gift away or show off to guests or to display. Just soap...in it's raw naked basic form. I'm not sure what my motivation was to photograph my soap in this way but I love the way they turned out. They captured the simple beauty of the craft; the beautiful function of the soap just as it is...free of any unnecessary adornment.

I'm wishing that I can find the same sort of fulfilment from my life...beautiful for just what it is.

Love is in the Air...

...As in I'm loving some of these new product pictures that I've been taking. Loving that things are finally getting somewhat done. Loving that things are coming together.

I think that sometimes you have to get to a sort of clearing with the clutter on your 'list' before things open up and you can say "aaahhh, now that's good!" At least today, right now, and in this moment that's how I'm feeling with regards to all the Madeline Bea work that I've been doing.

Now, I really need to start focusing on that baby room and getting poor Baby Maya some clothes washed for whenever it is that she decides to come out and meet us...

We are proud to announce that new products will begin filtering into our website and our Etsy shop starting tomorrow, Wednesday, January 28th. Included in our new products will be items from our three new/improved product lines:

{These beautiful new logos were designed by Summer over at Chocolate Box Designs! Just an FYI: She makes awesome "mommy cards" for any mommies out there who need an easy way to give info. out at school drop-off!}

We’ll be doing a more formal introduction of our new products all next week right here at the Madeline Bea Soap Co. blog. Stop by each day from Monday, February 2nd through Friday, February 6th as we feature a different product or line and enter to win one of our daily give-aways!

To sweeten the pot a little more, we’re hosting a special promotion just in time for Valentine’s Day. From February 1st thru February 14th, receive a free Softest Lips Lip Tube with every $10 or greater purchase from our Etsy shop!

I'm off to do more photo editing!

Thing Are Coming Together...

It was a madly productive weekend and I can finally say that my ideas, new products, and pre-baby promotions are being actualized. Since well before the holidays, I have had clear visions of my business goals for these early months of 2009. Up until this point, I've been working constantly but really unaware of what my specific time line would be and I've been hesitant to say when the new products would be available. I can now say, with certainty, that new products (and the return of some of your favorites) will be filtering into the shop beginning on Wednesday. {Hopefully} tomorrow I'll be announcing a special Valentine's promotion and sharing details about a new round of daily give-aways here at the M.B. blog.

On a totally unrelated note: if you're looking for some inspirational motivation, Shutter Sisters has just announced their new One Word Project beginning February 1st. The idea is for you to pick one word that describes your life at this moment and take pictures all month that focus on that one word. You can share your pictures in the Shutter Sisters Flickr Group. Check out this post for all the details! {oh, and my word for February is Nesting} I'd love to hear what your words will be!

Preparing for Change...

My little Layla was sick yesterday. She spent much of her day in my arms letting me cuddle and care for her. I was quickly reminded that in only a few short weeks she will no longer be my "little one." And although I'm so excited to have Baby Maya in our home, a part of me was so sad for the change that was about to come. Brent later reminded me that we had felt the same way about Rayne three years ago when Layla was about to enter our lives.

I think that, up until this point, my idea of getting ready for the baby was to try and get everything done that I wanted to...creatively, business-wise, and around the house. I know that once Maya arrives, my spare time will be out the door and I will have a long adjustment period of getting used to our new schedule and dynamic before I can get into any sort of productivity swing. But, in being so busy and doing so many things, am I really getting ready for Maya or am I just in full denial?

I think that a part of me just keeps busy to prevent myself from wishing for labor right now! With both my previous pregnancies, I was ready to deliver at about 7 months. They both came over a week late which made me very depressed and hopeless for a good 4 to 6 weeks. I think that by filling up my time with so many "pre-Maya projects" that I'm trying to protect myself from getting over anxious.

Another part of me really does want to make the very most of these last few {relatively} easy weeks. Last night as I was giving the girls a bath and getting them to bed, I realized how well I had our routine down. We are comfortable in our daily patterns. I know how to read their moods and how to respond accordingly. I know that I will be guaranteed a two hour "quiet time" in the afternoons. I also know that once Maya arrives, my life will be unpredictable for weeks. (Did I mention that I thrive on routine? It seriously helps with anxiety...)

So, I guess what my day of sitting quietly with Layla revealed is that what I really need to be doing is slowing down. Preparing for things to stand still for a while and not progressing in any direction but just being what they are. Preparing to go with the flow more and be okay with the lack of control that I'll have. The lesson in patience that I will receive is unavoidable. The best I can do is embrace that lesson.

Riding the Wave...

The creativity/productivity has been rampant around here! I am profoundly grateful for this particular flow because I know full well that most all of my productivity and creative endeavors will go out the window for a bit once Baby Maya arrives. I also know that creativity does not always equal productivity and getting the urge for both simultaneously is rare and precious. When this does occur (to quote my very understanding husband upon coming home from work yesterday found me, our home, and our children covered in projects and absolutely no plans or space for dinner), 'you need to harness it!' Here's a glimpse at some of the craziness that's been ensuing around here.

...working on our holiday memory book...

...making some decorations for Baby Maya's room...

...doing some very special Madeline Bea work...

...most certainly not worrying about the great big mess...

...besides, I think the clutter helps her get in the zone!

Happy creating to you also! And if this isn't your day or week or month for creativity and productivity, ride that wave too. Your body and the universe give you what you need when you need it.

Slingin' It...

Well, in continuation of a very un-focused weekend, I'm sitting here bright and early on a cold Monday morning debating the pros and cons of some baby wraps...trying to decide which will be the best match for baby Maya and I. I purchased one to use with Layla (a very simple hammock type) but Layla nor I ever got used to it or comfortable with it. But I truly love the idea of baby-wearing and I think it will be critical with two little ones and a business that I'd like to continue running. I've pretty much narrowed it down to one of these three:

The (appropriately named) Maya Wrap Lightly Padded Sling

The Moby Wrap

Handmade Handsfree Carrier from Lovey Duds

If anyone has any expertise on the topic, please share!

Happy Monday to you! I'm going to try to be a little more productive today than I was this weekend...wish me well!

You MUST Watch This...

http://whodoesshethinksheis.net/

...most definately so if you have a creative spirit that you've been neglecting!

33 Weeks...

I can't believe that in less than two months, Maya will be here in my arms instead of moving about (rather actively) in my belly. When I was pregnant with Layla, I felt so big and uncomfortable and I didn't want anyone taking any pictures of me. I now regret that so much because I have almost no pictures of my pregnancy with her. So, I wanted to be sure that this time I put aside my insecurities and get some nice photos of my pregnant self. Brent, a self-proclaimed non-photographer, was so kind to help me get some really nice shots this weekend. He did so well and we had a nice time together capturing this special time in our lives.

It's so funny...by this time in both my previous pregnancies, I was so ready to have the baby. But this time, I'm very happy to savor these last few weeks of semi-calm, normal, regular life. I know what's coming, and I will embrace it when it does, but for now I'm just going to relish that little bit of free time I have. I'm going to do truly selfish things while the girls are napping. I'm going to read books. I'm going to sit and cuddle on the couch with my husband. I'm going to sit and eat entire meals at a time. And I'm going to go to bed early!

If you'd like to see more of my pregnancy pics, you can check them out here!

Coloring Winter...

We were hit with another snow storm yesterday which re-blanketed the Earth around us with a fresh coat of white paint. I love it's freshness and simple beauty, but I'm a girl who needs some light and color! So, I've been busying myself indoors with lovely, bright colors. I've been working on so many different projects: new soaps, new favors, painting, collages, etc. One project that I'm tackling is a little memory book with pictures from our past summer. I've been collecting some images from six months ago and I can't believe how much the girls have grown and changed in that little bit of time. Anyway, the colors and the artistic work is keeping my spirits alive during these pale months of winter. What are you coloring your world with these days?

Today I Am Dreaming...

...that I am here. It's mid-September in New Hampshire in a beautiful campground. I'm surrounded by artful, creative, inspired people all gathered together at a retreat for our artistic souls. I'm connecting with people who are like me. I'm learning new artistic techniques, gathering inspiration, and getting to know the me that is inside in a way that I've never done before.

I'm missing my family...but I know that they are home being well cared for by my wonderful husband. They've all supported my decision and determination to be here. We are all embracing the fact that I needed this time and space alone to nurture my creative spirit. I will return to them with a new appreciation for art and life.

Today, I am dreaming of attending this years Squam Art Workshop.

Knitting Envy...

I so wish I could knit! I would love to make one of these beautiful cocoons from this shop for baby Maya. I would love to wrap her up, all snug-as-a-bug-in-a-rug style in this soft, beautiful handmade creation...oh I'm sooooo tempted!

One day, I will learn to knit. Most likely long after my personal baby days are over. But then maybe I could make one for my grandchild...

Photo above taken by Studio Williams

Back in the Swing of Things...

Well, the Christmas tree is still up and a few new toys still don't have permanent homes, but I've let it go for now. I had to get back to business and start making soap again. The busy holiday season has left me super depleted and I need to get stocked up pronto! It's been really nice to get back to 'work' at a more normal, relaxed enjoyable pace. Don't get me wrong...I like it very much when things are busy. But I love to savor and enjoy the art and craft of what I do also.

Not only do I have batches and batches of soap to make, but I have been flooded with creative ideas and ambitions that I'm trying to actualize as well. I've been working on new designs for wedding & shower favors, improvements to my baby line (big surprise, huh?), and a new toddler line as well inspired by my little Rayne with her itchy skin! So I've been doing much research and ordering to prepare for the creation of all the new items as well as building up stock of the oldies-but-goodies.

This surge of creativity has spilled over into so many other avenues. I've been loving swimming around the Internet and gathering inspiration from so many blog and websites. I've added some new ones to my list on the left that have been particularly motivational. Also, as a sort of Christmas present to ourselves, Brent and I trekked out to one of our local antique shops in the search for the perfect piece to house art supplies for the girls and I. We desperately needed a centralized, easy location for all our tools, paints, paper, etc. We settled on this one...it's perfect in all it's rustic, completely functional beauty!

We are loving the easy access to all our favorite activities. There's even a shelf for all my soap-making tools! Finally, after two years of making soap, I have somewhere other than a big rubbermaid container to store it all!