I have a confession to make. All my life I have been scared of rejection. So much so that I used to beg my siblings to ask for permission anytime we needed it. I know, I know: the worst that could happen was them say ‘no.’ Yeah, but in my head it felt/feels like more than that. I can’t even describe it accurately. Its not just rejection I fear now, though, but also change.

Lately, I’m coming to the realization that getting a job in the creative field will be no easy task for me.  Just achieving my degree seems so far out, still. Much less getting an actual job. And what could a career move, right now, mean for my family? For our lives? What other changes might it require? Its terrifying and scary, to think about.

Over the past month or so, a recurring theme seems to exist in my observations: have courage and go for it. Whether it be about taking risks, chasing after your dreams or having faith that God will see me through it. Its constant. Even my stepmom said these words to me in an email just this morning: Take a deep breath and jump. The strange part was the effect those words seemed to have on me. I instantly felt emotional and I can’t even tell you why.

The job I have now is a good one that gives me management experience and a good paycheck. Its not fulfilling for me, though. Its just a stepping stone. I’ve been praying and begging for signs as to what I should do with my career for months. Lately, I started seeing lots of design opportunities on Craigslist. And then a former peer contacted me with some design work to have done. My designs skills being needed felt great after several months with no classes/projects.

Today, though, my train of thought was ambushed. My dream company posted a link with a job opening. I was excited at first, and then the thoughts of rejection and change took over. Me? They wouldn’t hire me. They are so awesome its intimidating. And change? Holy cow, that would be a big change for us.

I’ve been praying for signs, asking God to scream the answers at me so I don’t miss them. But maybe they’re already there. Maybe I’ve already been seeing them, just not with the right perspective. Maybe all those messages weren’t just coincidence. Maybe those were the signs.

Maybe that’s why my stepmom’s words were so moving. It wasn’t the words, rather the realization. Maybe He’s telling me to go for it. Don’t be scared, He’ll take care of us. My dream career isn’t something I’m going to bump into. Its something I’m going to have to chase after. That might require me running and getting a little out of breath. I might trip and fall. It might even turn around and stick its tongue out at me when I’m lagging just out of reach.

Maybe it will require me to take a deep breath and jump.

Marriage is not easy. Its not all butterflies, snuggles, holding hands and love letters. Its often uncomfortable, frustrating, and downright hard sometimes. Do I love my husband? Of course. Do I always like him? Next question, please.

I will proudly say, though, that I have grown so much in the past three and half years we’ve been together. I owe a lot of it to him. He is my best friend, an awesome partner, and my biggest challenger. He calls me out when I’ve crossed a line and backs me up when I’ve been challenged. He’s my biggest cheerleader but I still haven’t been able to get him in one of the uniforms.

Yes, this is a very old photo.

But like I said, it isn’t all fun and games. Since we’re still a young couple, its often rough and stressful. We’re both growing individually. We’re also still learning how to work together and take the other’s feelings and desires into consideration.

Lately, though, Billy–I mean Bill–has been working extra hard on himself. I’m pretty proud of him, so far. He came to me the other day and told me he wanted to start writing about his battles within himself. He’s working towards a better him. A better perspective, better habits and better decisions.

Though he’s no Hemingway, I’m sure his content will be valued by many. And on that note, I think you should go check him out over at his new blog: Becoming Bill. And don’t forget to tell him who sent you.

The other day I found a delightful surprise in my inbox. Ink361 is a web version of Instagram. I love using it to get a better look at some of the awesomeness on the mobile app. I also like to be able to save my camera photos, so quick and easily, to my computer for keeps.

Anyway, I’ve been a member for some time, now, and they sent me a gift. I received an amazing credit with Blurb to create a book of my Instagrammed photos. I paid shipping and handling and that’s it.

There are a few copy errors and some of the photos are a bit sketchy, but I was really cut on time and had no time to edit. The coupon code didn’t last for very long and I was rushed and up late trying to get it finished {amongst other responsibilities} at the last minute. Literally.

But I’d be lying if I told you I was disappointed. Its such a treasure, with the fading away of print in so many areas. I feel lucky to have so many things I love in my hand at once. Print is not dead, if you ask me. I do find it so very romantic, though.

I love it, really. Its something I look forward to enjoying for years to come.

I thought it would be really cool to do one of these, yearly, filled with my favorite moments/images from the year. Or do a yearly book filled with Lilie Jo’s art work?

What would you fill your photo book with?

p.s. Do you Instagram?? Follow me @littlewishball

Happy Fall, love! Its finally here. The mornings greet me with crisp air that smells of Autumn. Perfect for snuggling into a light scarf and boots. I’m a warm weather girl, but if it weren’t for Fall, I wouldn’t get to wear my favorites: boots, scarves and borrowed flannel {because his is always better than mine}.

Recently, I received an order for a shop banner. Little Miss Kelsey is a vintage style photographer. She has an amazing collection of props and attire as a result. However, her collection started over-flowing and she had to find something to do with it. Kelsey’s Kute Finds is a way to help these jewels find new homes.

When Kelsey decided to open the shop, she turned to me to design the banner/header.  Let me tell ya: the girl has good taste.  We wanted to stick with the retro/vintage feel so we started out with some illustrated vintage fancy ladies and a lace background. Kelsey liked the idea but thought more of a pinup feel would be better. Being more than happy to oblige, I gave her just that and changed the background, also at her request. The typography never changed.

I love the final design and really enjoyed working with Kelsey. Her shop is full of treasures with a design to fit. I hope you’ll check it out!

Need some design work done? I’d love to work with you on whatever your needs may be. Check out my shop over here.

Hey there, darlin’! Can you believe Autumn is finally at our door step? I couldn’t be more happy.  That is, unless I had more time to be able to enjoy it! I’ve been a busy girl indeed.  I’ve been designing, mothering, wifing, leading the salon and trying to stay as organized as possible as to not lose my sanity.  I got lucky enough to have a day off of work to be able to spend the morning out here soaking up the crisp air with my coffee.

Today I wanted to share my first project of the school semester with you. We were to create a typographical design for our bucket lists. I originally planned to design around the idea of hair with phrases mingling in with the strands. However, that design ended up just frustrating the fire out of me.

I thought the hair would, obviously, represent my hair profession, while the design its self would explain my other career half.

click for larger image

At the last minute, I came up with a whole new idea I liked even better. I’ve always been a fan for cameos. Though my collection is near non-existant, I love their classic beauty. I love that cameos have stretched across many eras, yet are still easily modernized.

Maybe that’s how I think of myself: a modern woman trying to live a classic life.

What kind of visual design/image/idea do you think would best represent you?

This past week, I went to my cousin to ask for ideas of scripture I could share with a friend in a hard place.  I wanted to encourage and empower this friend with both wisdom to know what to do and strength to act.  I was afraid of telling her the wrong thing and knew God’s advice and wisdom was far superior than mine.  She suggested studying Ephesians {chapters one & two}.

Then in church, Pastor Brandon shared a few good verses to use when praying for others.  Once again, Ephesians came up.  This is when Ephesians 3:16 was brought to my attention.  Its perfect.

Sometimes all we can really do for those in need is listen and pray for them.

Since its my birthday, I figured a gift was in order.  Here, I have a pretty little print packed with a powerful prayer.  I plan to also use this one a lot during our church’s 21 Days of Prayer campaign.

The print is formatted to print as large as 8.5”x11”.  I wanted something pretty but simple.  I wanted to do something with my two favorite colors.    Purple is Lilie Jo’s and my favorite.  I love putting orange with purple because its just never seen.  I think the two contrasting colors with the balance of the neutral grey complimented each other quite nicely.  I didn’t try an intracate or detailed design because I didn’t want to distract from the message.

I can’t wait to frame and hang this one in Lilie Jo’s room.

What will you do with yours?

Hey there, darlin’! How are the summer days treating you?  Mine have been well.  Very well.  However, I feel them slipping away.

This is officially my last week of summer break.  My baby little lady isn’t even here to share it with me.  Sad face, indeed.  Instead, I’m filling this week with lots of solo coffee drinking, Mad Men, errands, chores grown up friends and spouse time.  Lilie Jo is away at her father’s for two weeks and I start a new job Monday.

This is new news here.  I held off sharing any details about it for fear of another let down.  I know that’s not a positive thing to say, which I usually try to stear clear of, but its how I truly felt.  I start Monday as a salon manager at JC Penney Salon.  I am ecstatic and also nervous.  I’m going back to work full time and intend to try to do that with a full time school schedule, this Fall, as well.

I know it will be hard and there will be little room for play, but with my supportive husband and a big new planner, I’m ready to give it my all.

My goal is to take the JC Penney Salon, here in Bowling Green, and turn it around.  They’ve been without a manager for about a year and were already in bad shape even then.  Bad enough that I only lasted four months as a stylist there when we first relocated.  I’ve never held a manager or leader position quite like this, but I do feel like I’m a better candidate now than I was a year ago.

I always talk about how fast children grow and change, yet I’m not sure that speed is limited to just children.  We just don’t see it with our eyes, as much, in adults.  As much as I feel I have grown and changed over the past seven years, its sometimes surprising to see its still happening.  The growth and change never stopped.

Anyway, here I am babbling.

I really wrote to you to share a new print.  My lovely cousin, Lacey, suggested I create something to go with Colossians 3:12-17.  It seemed impossible to create anything as clever as this one.  But I put my pencil to the paper and started brainstorming.

I don’t think its quite as clever or cute, but this is my version. Print, Pin and do what you like with it.  It can be printed as large as 11”x8”.

{ink pen}

My summer break has officially begun.  Happy day.  I don’t even mind all the house work I’ve added to my schedule.  Its been a gray, drizzly day.  I have covered it in flanel and filled it with coffee and photo editing, as well.

{ink pen, pastel}

While I was cleaning and putting away my school supplies {so they were no longer loitering by the couch}, I went through my work from drawing this past semester.  I did a lot of drawings over this past semester.  This teacher had us work more on speed.  We always finished at least one drawing in class {other than big project assignments}.  In my first drawing class, we would spend 3-4 classes on one drawing.

{inda ink}

I loved having so many to look through, this time.  Billy and I went through and picked out our favorites.  The class was broken up into three segments: still life, figure drawing, and landscape/spaces.  Notice you don’t see any figure drawings on the list.

{mixed media}

This one here {above} has probably gotten the most attention.  I shared some photos of it on Facebook and it received several comments.  She’s already been claimed and gets to go to her new home in July.

{ink pen}

{ink pen, india ink}

This was the second to last drawing I did this semester.  I finished it in one class sitting.  Its quite possibly my favorite.  Its sitting out for all to see.

{pastel, graphite}

This was our final project, which was inspired by Kandinsky.  I really like the bright colors and am generally happy with how it turned out.  However, I don’t know that I’ll be using oil pastels much, on my own.  Then again, maybe I just need to try playing with a more high quality product.  I just wasn’t too crazy about it.

This summer, my goal is to get my hands on some water colors.  After playing so much with ink washes, I’m dying to dabble in that colorful world.

Its my last week before classes and I’m swamped.  About 95% of my time not spent taking care of Lilie or eating is spent on school work.  I only have one final exam to study for, but I have several tedious and time-extensive projects I’m working to finish.

This first of which is due tomorrow.  This Kandinsky-inspired oil pastel has been something I’ve been sporadically dropping work into.  Sometimes I’m excited about how its coming along but, occasionally, I hate it.  I’m finding that I’m not really a fan of this medium, either.  Maybe that’s the problem.

However, ink pen is one I always hated.  Since I’ve been forced to experiment and use it anyway, though, I’ve really come to enjoy it.  The past few weeks of landscape drawing outside have been absolutely marvelous.  An activity I hope to enjoy often this summer.

Yesterday, though, we were handed a sheet of watercolor paper and told to use our India ink and do a wash drawing outside. I’ve come to so love this medium and am just dying to get my hands on some watercolors. My next trip to Hobby Lobby will not exist without watercolors.  This day, though, I used my ink pens and brushes.  This is when the piece was half finished.  I can’t wait to show you the finished product.  It is likely my favorite from this whole semester.

Sorry, I haven’t been too present, lately.  Let me get through this last week and a half of school and I’ll be ready to throw some goodies your way.

Happy May Day!

Oh, darlin’.  What a week it seems to have been.

In case you hadn’t noticed, Fuzzy Little Wishballs has been through, yet another, makeover.  This was all initiated by some malware code being planted in my blog.  Yep, I got hacked, yet again.  Needless to say, I’ve sought out the best in security plugins and tightened my ropes.  This baby’s solid–err I hope.

Luckily, I had planned on doing a redesign after school let out, so I already had a pretty good idea of what I wanted.  I love the new look and hope you don’t have any trouble finding what you need.  If you’ll notice, I actually switched some links out over on the right.  Some that were never used {google+ & tumblr} for new ones {flickr & instagram}.

So, please look around and see what you can get into.   Also, I’m missing quite a bit of posts from my first six months.  I’m still working on getting that restore.  That’s taking a back burner, for now, though.