The Last 3 Months

Hi friends-

I’m resurfacing after an intense 3 months. I didn’t think it had been that long since I’ve blogged, but I guess it has. Time flies when you’re having fun!

The last of the summer was spent wrapping up our riding season for Pony Club. Our kiddos participated in their first team Tetrathlon, then went on to test (or earn) their ratings. If you aren’t familiar with Pony Club, it is a standardized international program that kids can work their way through. Everyone passed with flying colors.

Then I jumped into my planned travels of the year. I attended Summit Photo Workshops in Jackson Hole, where I learned action photography from the best. We had classroom sessions and then broke out to take photos of athletes rock climbing, white water kayaking, bouldering, mountain biking, trail running, fly fishing, and a whole bunch of other stuff for almost a week. The day we went down the river it was dumping rain, and we got in a crazy lightning storm another day that caught half of us at 10,000 ft and the other half at the bottom of the mountain. The wilderness survival class we had the first day almost came in handy…haha! Honestly, it probably deserves its own blog post, but I’ll just say it was life-changing in many ways. It lit a fire in me to do something more meaningful with my business and social media platforms. And when one of the instructors said the “wilderness was his church”, I knew I’d found my tribe.

No, I’m not quitting interior design ;).

Then I traveled to North Carolina for the world’s largest furniture market. I try to go there every year and a half. This time I went with a slightly different agenda. I packed an art portfolio and I went with the intention of seeing if any companies wanted to license my artwork. It was HARD for this introvert to do, but I put on my big girl pants and talked to anyone who would listen. I’m happy to say I am now talking with one company. Keep your fingers crossed for me, will you?

Don’t worry. I hit showrooms hard as well to see all the new introductions in the furniture world. Are you ready to see a little bit of the pretty?

Things are warming up in our homes, folks.

There were lots of jewel tones, as well as rusts and pinks all over the place. Gray has lived on longer than any of us thought possible, but at the very least, we’re infusing it with color and warmth. There was lots of facial art that was blurred or abstracted in one way or another. I loved it all!

I am also excited to announce you can now purchase mattresses through Tawna Allred Interiors! I’ve been locked out of that industry for the last decade, but I found the most amazing little company at High Point that opened their doors to me. The mattresses are American-made, crazy comfortable, and there’s something for everyone: from the health-conscience natural mattress to the 20-year warranty workhorse (which would also be great for couples with big weight differences).

Right before I left, I announced I was quitting Facebook. A few of you have talked to me in person, given virtual high-fives, or are curious about why I’m making that decision.

There are a few.

It’s been on my mind for several years, actually.

For one reason or another, I would back away from it when the thought entered my mind. Google uses it for ratings. I have fielded questions for Pony Club or my design business there. And every once in awhile, I’ve made some important connections. So why quit? Why now?

It’s as simple and complicated as I woke up one morning and knew it was time.

I never liked how they yanked everyone around. It’s becoming widely known about the addictive behaviors that are baked into the platform. If you haven’t heard of it, read Simon Sinek’s “Leaders Eat Last.”

And I want more time.

More time to be present. More time to dedicate to my art and my other creative pursuits. I don’t want to be pulled down a rabbit hole every day. Whether it’s right or wrong, when everyone starts saying, “You have to do this,” I question it.

If you’ve come along for the journey this year, you know I’ve spent it going back to my roots. I’ve done a deep-dive back into my art. It feels like a new beginning. My style is starting to emerge. New revenue streams are being created by coming to the studio and doing the work.

No, I’m not quitting interior design. (Can you tell a few people have asked me that?)

I’m combining my art with it to make a stronger business. And those two things are going to be made even stronger by my photography and storytelling.

If you’ve been with me since the beginning of the year, you also know I felt like I needed to write a book. That tedious work continues as well. This book is written to my daughter, but could really be for any young woman entering the world after graduating from high school. It’s the things I wish I’d known before I went to college. Whether it’s chicken scratches I hand to her in a year and a half or a real, published book, I’m making it happen. It’s a work that I would want to leave in the world. And if you are reading this and know a great person in the publishing industry to contact, will you send me a message? Through the comments or contact page of course.

You won’t find me on Facebook (or actually Twitter either. I deleted it yesterday).

I AM still on Pinterest and Instagram. Mostly Instagram. I have two accounts there. One for personal/business stuff and one for Pony Club. Please follow along if you wish!

So that’s what’s going on over here.

I’ll just finish with this:

If your heart is calling you to do something, what is stopping you? Jump in and do the work, as hard as it may feel at first. It’s waiting for you to claim it.

P.S. This post reminds me I quit reading the news about a year ago, and watching most T.V. shows. It’s been the most refreshing thing I’ve done in a long time. Give it a try! I think you’ll like it.