Behind the camera

Spoiler alert: the flowers aren't fresh-cut. 

But really, who doesn't love an idyllic little scene like this? A bright corner, flowers, and color-coordinated and thoughtfully-arranged desk accessories that are symbols of productivity. But as I was looking at these shots the other day, I felt compelled to share some of the things that too often we choose to edit out or omit altogether before we post or share with the world.

As a creative person, it's natural to want to share the beauty. But I also want to share the chaos in the beauty, and the stories behind what we do that make them more rich, more meaningful, and more human. I don't want to edit out the crazy, and often imperfect details of my everyday.

So yes, I will share shots that look like this:

 

...and this:

 

But I'll also share shots like this:

That's my one-year-old in his footie PJs. In the afternoon. He is determined to get to the boxes that mom worked on while watching Shark Tank re-runs the night before. Note the exercise ball in the background, which has not been used for anything exercise-related for quite some time (unless, of course, you count playing "catch" with a toddler exercise). 

Lest you think that I'm supermom and am able to run a successful business while caring for two active boys, I should disclose that we're blessed to have the most fabulous caregivers watch our littlest guy three days a week while his big bro is at school. He gets loved on and played with, and we get work done. I am also grateful for Mark, my fabulous husband and business partner, who helps me in countless ways and keeps our house (and our business) humming along. 

While the boys are at school and the house is empty, I'm not busy making batches of home-made yogurt or laundry detergent. I am not tending to live chickens, or planning the upcoming week's meals, or stirring the pot of home-made soup on the stove, or exercising (as I probably should). I'm sending e-mails, setting up photo shoots in our dining room, scheduling calls with our distributor, replying to Etsy convos, sketching in my notepad, meeting with our shipping manager, editing photos, listing products, posting on our social media channels, and basically squeezing in as much "heart and hustle" as I can for the business between 9 and 5 so that when my boys get home, I can be present for them. It doesn't always work out that way, and more often than not that means speed-dialing take-out, or a family dinner at IKEA down the road. And I'm usually picking up where I left off after the last story has been read and the final good-night kiss has been given.

 Above: Here is the same busy toddler next to the lines of boxes that stretch from our front entry and into our kitchen. To me, these boxes are a reminder of the shortage of space in our home-based studio. To this little guy, they're just a slam dunk waiting to happen. When each box of shipping supplies arrives, I open and inspect it in our kitchen before the items are stored. You wouldn't believe the things I find he's squirreled away in these boxes. A particular pair of Spiderman underpants comes to mind.

Too often these days, I find myself looking around and pining for more space. Wishing that my desktop always looked neat and orderly and photogenic. Longing for a warehouse to store all of the boxes coming in and out of our space. Heck, I'd just appreciate a buffer of space between work and home life from time to time. But I'm reminded to look at these sweet days and just savor them. To try not to compare my beginning to someone else's middle. And to thank God for the daily blessings that He gives rather than to wish for more (or less) than I have right now, in this moment.

Even on good days, our life is chaotic. But there's a beauty in that chaos, and I wouldn't trade this life we have for anything else.

Thank-you so much for joining us on this journey!

xo 

P.S. Click here to follow the beautiful chaos on Instagram (@inklingspaperie).

merry christmas!

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!
Luke 2:10-11

facing the giants (or in this case, dinosaur)

No, this entry doesn't have anything to do about paper. Good. We've gotten that out of the way.

Our son is 2 1/2, and suffice it to say that we've already gotten some good mileage out of our Detroit Zoo membership. Every time we go, we discover something new. So we were excited to round the corner during a recent outing and see this "preview" of the upcoming dinosaur exhibit, Dinosauria. What you can't see from this photo is that the T-Rex roars. And moves. I'm talking tail, neck, jaws... Now imagine that you are two, and that all of the animals you've seen so far that day are real. Logic would lead you to assume that this, too, was very real. And very close. With nothing but a rope between you.

Caleb stood frozen in his footsteps, and clenched his "bat" (a carrot-shaped bat from Easter). Every time the T-Rex would roar, he would swing the bat menacingly. Which pretty much sums him up. This photo was taken shortly before I explained to him that the dinosaur was "pretend." A conversation which went over almost as well as my feeble attempts at explaining why Rice Krispies eventually stop snapping and crackling. I'm still not sure if he understood me this time around, but I guess we'll find out if he asks to bring a bat (or some other toy that can be repurposed as a weapon) the next time we go to the Detroit Zoo.

May the giants (or dinosaurs) you face today turn out to be far less menacing than you originally thought. Or not. In which case, don't forget your carrot bat.