creativenachos.com Blog

I was going to begin by saying, “I don’t really like to talk about myself” and then I got hysterical laughing. You guys know me; I share crazy things about my life here all the time so clearly that’s not true. I think what I meant to say is that I get tongue-tied when people ask me questions about myself. It’s one thing to share my pj and red clog stories because those are things that are on my mind thus I choose to share. However, it’s another to be on the spot. What am I talking about, you wonder? Well, I was interviewed by an artist I adore and initially I was a little star struck and a little tongue tied.

Ruth, owner of Allover Art, interviewed me for a new series she is doing called, “Monday Must-Have“. I recently featured her awesome tutorial and giveaway on the Thursday Sweet Treat. Then, out of the blue she asked to interview me. I am such a fan of her work and was honored to be asked. When I began to answer the questions, I found myself looking for the “perfect” answer. Isn’t that what we do when we want to be seen in the best light? Isn’t that what we do on a first date or when applying for the school or job we desperately want? We try to put our best self forward. However, that best self can sometimes be someone we think we want to be but someone that is not at all who we are. So, I stopped and gave myself a little time. I want to present my best Natasha – no question – but I also want to present the real Natasha. So, after a little bit I went back and answered those questions as honestly as I possibly could and it felt great. To be fair, I should tell you that I laid in bed last night feeling vulnerable but the excitement I felt at promoting the work I am doing soon overshadowed the worry that I’d let myself roam too far out there. In the end, I decided to simply hang in there, like my favorite hippo, and enjoy the ride. The interview says, “This is me. This is what I do. I hope you enjoy it.”

If you have a moment, I’d LOVE for you to read the feature, leave a comment and then check out Ruth’s work if you have not already done so. It would mean the world to me…here is the link…http://alloverart-nc.blogspot.com/2009/02/monday-must-have-doodlestars.html

Have you ever tried to put your “best” self forward only to find that you felt uncomfortable in your own skin? How does it feel when you are true to you regardless of what anyone thinks??

I love art. I love going to museums and seeing the works of great painters and sculptors but I also love meeting artists of all kinds and learning about their process, their life. I find that there is little more I love more than feeling the passion an artist or writer feels for their work.

On the Thursday Sweet Treat, I started an “Artist Play Date” which allows me to learn something from an artist I admire. Today, Allover Art shared a tutorial for pendants that I now want to try and she is having an awesome giveaway.

I’d like to invite you to see her work (follow this link to today’s post and giveaway http://thursdaysweettreat.blogspot.com ) AND I’d like to ask for you to share some of your favorite artists with me here.

Who moves you? What artists and writers inspire you??

Can’t wait to hear from you!

Photo by Natasha Reilly

Last week, I was lucky enough to get a chance to see Billy Joel in concert at Shea Stadium, home of the New York Mets.  An old friend first introduced me to Joel a million years and one moment ago. I was sixteen and we were standing in McDonald’s when the static-filled version of Piano Man began to play. My friend sang and, as I listened to the words, I fell in love.

Unlike the aunt who makes you suffer through the same tale each and every time you see her, Billy Joel’s songs are the stories we never grow tired of hearing. Some of his songs, like New York State of Mind, capture our own longings. As my friend Claire said, “There isn’t a New Yorker alive who doesn’t get what that song means.”

Others allow us to relate in a way we may not be able to otherwise as in Goodnight Saigon which harnessed a moment in time that made some men in the audience stand and sing with closed eyes.

I read that Joel worked on an oyster boat on Long Island when he was young. It makes me wonder if that was his inspiration for one of my favorite songs, The Downeaster Alexa. It’s a moving portrayal of events within the lives of people of the North Atlantic fishery. In Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, we learn of Brenda and Eddie’s highs and lows; we all know people like that, ones who have risen and then fallen and split apart.

Perhaps that is why people like Billy Joel because he talks about regular folks living regular lives; he provides connection. Whatever it is, he’s an incredible lyricist, and he’s also an amazing performer because he can make you feel like you are sitting in his living room even while sitting in an arena.

Are you a Billy Joel fan or have a song of his that you like?

If not, what musician really speaks to you? Whose songs do you love to sing for the meaning as much as for the joy of simply singing?

Photo courtesy of Sandi Henderson of Portabellopixie

When I first stumbled across designer Sandi Henderson’s site, Portabellopixie, I instantly fell in love with the vibrant colors of her fabric collection and the fabulous music that played during my visit. Over time, I discovered that Sandi is not only a talented designer but she is also a friendly, down-to-Earth woman with a great sense of humor. When I recently caught up with Sandi, who had just unveiled Farmer’s Market, a striking, new fabric line, she shared her thoughts about music, starting a business and balancing work and family.

CN: You are the creative mastermind behind, Portabellopixie, a fun, colorful site that’s always filled with music. It’s clear you love music, if you had a theme song for your life what would it be?

Sandi: Oh, can we just do an entire post on this one topic?!  Yes I love music-it was my first creative endeavor.  I have played the piano for pretty much as long as I can remember.  Learning how to read music through playing the piano made it simple to learn other instruments in a day.  Once you have the fingering down-you already know everything else!  I can play 6 different instruments even though I have only studied one extensively.  Music is a huge part of our household and we play/listen to everything (which is probably evident by the broad spectrum of music I play on my blog.)  Except for the angry stuff-that doesn’t make the cut.    I find it incredibly hard to design or work without music playing.  I pretty much always have a song that is my favorite at the moment, right now (don’t laugh!) it’s “Lost Highway” by Bon Jovi.  It gets me up and moving.  Another thing I love, books on tape.  Listening to Harry Potter at the moment-I love them because they are so long that it’s hard to feel like you’re ever listening to the same thing over and over.

CN: What is your first memory of creating a piece of artwork you love?

Sandi: The first craft that I became addicted to was scrapbooking.  I remember how incredibly excited I was when I discovered it!  I scrapped one 12 by 12 page with about 20 pictures on it (trying to get the most bang for my buck-I was a sophomore in high school).  I was in love with paper crafting!  Now when I look at that page, I realize how rather pitiful it is, but I still love it.
 

CN: Tell us a little about your children. Do you involve them in your creative process? Do you try to foster creativity in your children’s lives? If so, how?

Sandi: My kids are amazing.  Hands down the funniest kids I’ve ever known.    My daughter is truly the reason I am where I am.  Before she was born, I was a phlebotomist.  I fully intended on returning to work after she was born, but the second I saw her I knew there was no chance of that happening.  I have always sewn, and when she was born I started making her little dresses and hair bows.  It is truly one of the happiest times that I can remember-having nothing else to do but hang with my kid all day and craft for her.  The first few months of her life during all the crafting heaven, I kept researching ways to add to our income from home.  My husband was in school, not bringing in money wasn’t an option.  I stumbled upon eBay and found that mothers like myself were selling their children’s clothing for big bucks (in my eyes at the time, now I truly see how underpaid these wonder women are!). The search for a brand name started. I wanted something that was a completely new word to avoid copycats.  I have always had a soft spot for Portobello Road which is where the root of my name came from.  I changed the spelling to make it my own and added “pixie” to add a fun element to it.  Portabellopixie was born.  That venture introduced me to designer fabrics and the rest, as they say, is history.  If I had a boy first, I am 100% positive that I wouldn’t be here now.
 
My son is every bit as inspiring as my daughter.  When I designed Ginger Blossom, I thought I had finished and realized that there was nothing that I could use for my son!  Tortoise Plaid was born.  He is also the inspiration for a collection of boy projects and patterns I am working on.  It has been a fun to switch gears and design for boys!  Stay tuned…

CN: Do you ever have those days where you just want to stay in bed with a good book or a pint of ice cream and a good movie? What motivates you to get up each day and get back to work?

Sandi: Yes.  And I take them!  A lot of people have the view that I must be going on 3 hours of sleep each night but I can assure you that is not the case.  I am not the kind of person that can do that-occasionally the late nighter will occur but generally I am a bear if I don’t get 8 hours of sleep each night.  So that’s pretty much the key to my getting up and keeping going-decent amounts of sleep.  But even still, those lay around days still happen and I relish in them and never feel guilty.

 Featured in this photo is the new line, Farmer’s Market. 

Photo courtesy of Sandi Henderson of Portabellopixie

CN: How do you know when you are finished with a design and it’s time to let it go?

Sandi: I just “know.”  I usually try arranging art for one print in dozens of different ways and when it finally works, I have an “ah ha!” moment and smile, save it and move on.  I am usually going on a “feeling” I am working for and tinker my art until I find I have found that “feeling.”
 

CN: When you need to recharge your creative batteries, what do you do?

Sandi: Luckily I haven’t really experienced a creative block yet.  There is so much more to an art based business than just designing.  After I turn in the artwork, there is months of business work to do to promote the fabric so by the time I am ready to get started on a new collection, enough time has passed and my fingers are literally itching to get going again!  That’s where I am right now and my head is overflowing with ideas for the next line.  This probably seems funny because Farmer’s Market has just debuted, but I turned in the work on it about 7 months ago.
 

CN: When you get to the end of your life, what are the three creative goals you hope to have accomplished?

Sandi: Oh I’m pretty lucky.  I’d say I’ve accomplished 2 of them already.  Signing on with a fabric manufacturer, debuting a line of sewing patterns-both of which I have done!  The last goal would be difficult but wonderful to accomplish.  I would love to have my brand continue to benefit my family after I die.  If I were to die today, so would the business.  Look at Marimekko-when founder Armi Ratia died in 1979 the company didn’t flounder.  It is still going strong and very popular.  I’d love to see Portabellopixie or Sandi Henderson have longevity like that.
 

CN: Do you remember the moment you decided to pursue your dream to become a designer? Since that time, have you ever doubted yourself? If so, how do you fight those feelings?

Sandi: Yes, I remember.  Again it was an “ah ha!” moment.  I felt that I had found the way to turn my craft into a real source of income for my family and never looked back.  There are certainly times of doubt-starting a business is not easy and to be successful is based on much more that just your art.  Writing big checks is hard when you don’t have a lot to fall back on in the beginning.  Dustin and I have been very careful to only progress on what we could pay cash for though so if something doesn’t pan out the way we expect, we don’t have to worry about paying for a loan that we don’t have the income for.  Luckily, we’ve been very blessed so far and haven’t lost money.  I wouldn’t say that we’ve made much yet either though LOL, but that also comes with starting a business.  In a few more months, I think we’ll actually be able to keep some of the money coming in.
 
CN: Who has been the biggest creative influence in your life?

Sandi:  Oh boy…there are so many creative people that I admire.  But I would have to say that the one I am most impressed by is Amy Butler.  I read in her Midwest Modern book that her studio takes the stance that every person is worth the time to answer a question, email or call.  I know this to be true and not just words for a book.  When I was selling on eBay, I emailed with questions for her and always, always had a return answer.  I was a teeny person in regards to her, my fabric purchases made her personally about 50 cents, but they always saw that my questions were answered.  It is something that I have tried to apply to my business.  I always try to answer all questions that come my way.  Moreover on Amy, when I finally met her and her husband David in person, they remembered who I was which was huge to me.  So while I think my style is much different from hers, I have watched her trail with much admiration.  I hope that in 5 years people will look at me with a fraction of the respect I have earned for her, which is based absolutely not at all on her success but how she treats the people around her. 

CN: As a kid, I would draw on the walls; sometimes I still do, don’t tell anyone. Where is the craziest place you have ever sketched a design?

Sandi: Fun!  I draw on the walls too.    My bedroom has a big mural type thing that I started when we moved into this house and still haven’t finished.  The weirdest place is probably on myself.  When inspiration hits, I’ve got to get the idea down before it flees my short lived memory!  I’ve been known to have flowers or shapes sketched on my skin.
 

CN: If you were asked to create an original, specialty dish at your favorite restaurant, what would you create and what would you name it?

Sandi: Hmmm…I would probably do a sampler plate of my favorite foods.  If would definitely have Fresh Mozzarella, Fresh Basil and Fresh Tomatoes, Carmelized onions, Spicy Tuna Sushi, really good Chocolate, mango and really good bread.  Dried Apricots with a little sea salt on it (sounds very strange, but it’s so good!)  That’s my favorite kind of food!  Yum.  

CN: Nacho readers are a diverse, creative and inspiring group. Many are balancing full-time jobs, creative projects and/or families. For all those who are reading who may want to create their own fabric line, what advice would you give on how to balance running a business with raising a family?

Sandi: To make sure that your family is really on board.  It takes support from your loved ones to make it work!  Set priorities, realize you can’t do everything.  When you can afford it, hire help!  Don’t go into debt; only take on what you can realistically accomplish.  Over deliver when you can.  Find a niche that isn’t already being filled.  If it’s what you are truly passionate about, don’t ever give up!

Thanks for spending time with the Nachos, Sandi!

For information on how Sandi designs fabric or to view more of her work, visit http://portabellopixie.typepad.com/portabellopixie/.

 Bridget Murphy’s First Race

Bridget Murphy is one of those people you want to have in your life. From her ability to make others feel comfortable in any situation to her knack for making people laugh when they least expect it, she is a true inspiration. Bridget is driven to succeed but her drive does not blind her to the needs of others. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. The closer she moves toward accomplishing her dreams, the more she strives to help others to follow their passion. As Bridget prepares to run the NYC Half-Marathon, she is not just focusing on training, she’s working to help kids improve their health and their lives. 

CN: Congratulations on being accepted into the NYC Half-Marathon! When did you decide that you wanted to run it?

Bridget: I’ve always wanted to run a marathon – specifically the NYC marathon. I saw that the NYRR (New York Road Runners) posted the application for the Half-Marathon so I applied through NYRR and eventually through the charity, Team for Kids.
 
CN: The Half-Marathon will bring you one step closer to the NYC Marathon. How long have you dreamt of running the NYC Marathon?

Bridget: As long as I can remember I’ve always wanted to run the NYC Marathon. I can remember walking to First Avenue with my family and cheering all the runners on. I always thought it was such an amazing accomplishment and wonderful experience to run through all five boroughs and have millions of people cheering for you. I’m not an athlete by any stretch of the imagination but it amazes me how every year hundreds of ordinary people run the marathon.
 
CN: Has running been a childhood dream?

Bridget: Not running but the marathon, yes, has always been a dream. I would also like to train for triathlons.
 
CN: What is your first memory of running?

Bridget: Hmm…probably a first memory of running was just with my brother running crazy through the park or in the fields in Ireland.
 
CN: What benefits does running give you – mentally, physically, and emotionally?

Bridget: So far my longest run was the Colon Cancer Challenge last year that was a little over 9 miles – mentally I would say it prepares you for challenges in life – everyday life. I say to myself – well if I can run such and such a distance this challenge at work shouldn’t be too bad (I just have to keep reminding myself of that!). I’ve always admired a woman that has a strong athletic body – not the slinky kind we normally see. But I’ve only recently strived to achieve that strong body not just a sexy bod (ha!). It’s incredibly challenging. Emotionally, it’s true after exercise the endorphins are released and I do feel energized. While I’m running I listen to my music and all kinds of thoughts flow through my head! I can think of the bills I need to pay or a song may come on that reminds me of my grandma. Running gives me the freedom to just think clearly.

CN: So, you use music when you are working out/training, what’s the one song that really keeps you motivated and excited to push yourself?

Bridget: I always use music! It’s the one time that I always listen to music. Rocky – seriously rocky pushes me. The trumpets and the visual I have in my head of him boxing Drago (Rocky IV) and running up the steps really pumps me (even if that is corny!).
 
CN: You will be running for Team for Kids…tell us a little about it? How can people help?

Bridget: Team for Kids is a great organization that supports youth running programs. These programs help children fight obesity, become more active, learn the importance of nutrition and support their self-esteem by setting goals. People can donate to Team for Kids by visiting their website, and clicking donate. If they are interested in donating under my name, my last name is Murphy registration number: 262140.
 
CN: How do you keep yourself motivated to run? Train?

Bridget: Well it can be extremely challenging to stay motivated. After a long day at work or school I can be drained. But I have to focus on my goals – whether that’s running a Half-Marathon or running one more mile than the previous day. For my training I am going to have to become diligent about my weekly schedule. I know I’m a procrastinator but when I have to finish 13 miles in 3 hours I’m going to have to stick to it. In between now and July the NYRR hosts other races and I plan to participate in those to keep my motivation alive.

CN: That’s right! You’re currently working a full-time job and going to school for your graduate degree. That’s intense! How will you juggle everything with training?

Bridget: It will be a great lesson in learning how to balance life’s complications! I know it’s going to be extremely hard but I’m not just running for me I’m running for a charity and I have lots of friends and family behind me.
 
CN: What is the most creative part of running? Putting together the training schedule?

Bridget: Well I’m really creative in thinking of reasons why I don’t need to run on a particular day – so the challenging part is remembering why I’m running. On days when it just seems tedious I may chose a different path or mix up my music. Eventually on the weekends I would like to run along the Hudson River.
 
CN: How will you put the schedule together for running the NYC Half-Marathon?

Bridget: Every week is different whether it’s because of work, school or friends. I will have to see what each week brings and make sure I’m getting in the amount of miles I need and within a good time. Team for Kids also organizes group runs which I plan to join.
 
CN: If you had a bumper sticker on you that everyone would see as you ran by what would it read?

Bridget: American Gladiator in Training!
 
CN: For all the people reading this who may dream of running the NYC Half-Marathon and NYC Marathon who are balancing work and/or family, what advice would you give them?

Bridget: I’m still learning that things you really want you have to really work for – and accomplishments don’t happen overnight or in a week. It’s incredibly easy to get side-tracked but it’s important to remember not to let those “interruptions” distract you. Just put your nose to the grindstone and work at it – but enjoy the small accomplishments along the way.

Again, if you’d like to support Bridget Murphy and Team for Kids, visit the Team for Kids website or simply click on the words, Team for Kids, here. On the Team for Kids website, select “Donate” and click on the link to donate to a Team for Kids member running the Half-Marathon and enter Bridget Murphy’s name and registration number: 262140.
 

Jane was born in New York and moved to Ireland with her family when she was 13. Now, on a trip to the Big Apple with her father, this wild woman with a brilliant sense of fun hopes to “do a Kerry polka with Barack Obama” tomorrow. Does anyone know if he will be at the parade?

CN: Thanks for hanging with Creative Nachos, Jane. You haven’t been in New York City in 9 years. How’s the trip been so far?

Jane: Just great thanks!

CN: You were born in New York but moved to Ireland when you were 13. That must have been hard.

Jane: No, because we’d been back to visit people and my friends in America were going on to other schools. The hardest thing to do was to learn 3 languages, including Irish. I had German, French and Irish in one year; my Mum paid for me to be tutored. I should have paid more attention you see because when I was training in hotel management, I was in a hotel in Dingle and everyone spoke Irish. My oldest son is so good in Irish.

CN: Are you in hotel management?

Jane: No, I trained to be in it but when I got married I realized the hours weren’t suitable. So, now I work as a catering assistant in a hospital. The hours are better, you see. I work Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5pm.

CN: What do you do?

Jane: I work in a small outpatient’s canteen serving all people coming in and in out-patient clinics, as well as serving the visitors and patients.

CN: Is this your dream job?

Jane: No, my dream is to be a dietician.

CN: How did you become interested in that?

Jane: When you are serving patients you refer to the dietician regularly so as I learned what to do I became more interested in it.

CN: Are you able to be creative within your job? If so, how? If not, what do you wish you could do?

Jane: No, my current job isn’t creative at all; you are only a number. But I would be able to be as a dietician. I would be able to do things like give talks in schools about healthy eating. That’s popular now. There are promotions are going on in schools like Cool Food Dudes where kids get points for eating healthy. I would be able to help kids who have health problems due to food allergies or diabetes, you see.

CN: What steps are you taking to become a dietician?

Jane: I’m doing a course through my job; I go every two weeks. There are different parts to it like first aid, communications, food hygiene, cross contamination, caring and nutrition to improve standards in the hospital.

CN: How do you balance your job and course while raising three kids?

Jane: The thing that keeps me going is my Mum is there after school and my husband has flexible hours – well, he doesn’t have to be in an office from 9am – 5pm.  He’s on the road so once he finishes all he has to do for the day then he can get the kids. My kids are involved with hurling, music, football, dancing, youth club; one of my children has mild dyslexia but we did Montessori courses years ago and it helped.

My day to day schedule is up at 7am, get my daughter ready then get my older boy ready for bus. I take my daughter to her Grandma’s where she has breakfast and then head to work. It’s nuts. My husband gets the middle guy ready but I have it tougher.

CN: Do you ever feel like you’re going to lose your mind?

Jane: Yes and then I go for a walk. I go for walk to America. (She laughs). Actually what saves me is my neighbor and I do runs together – one picks them up or drops them off. Our neighbors are great.

CN: Have you gotten a chance to relax on your trip?

Jane: Yes, I’ve done loads of shoppin’. Great retail therapy! And it was great to see where I was born. But I miss the kids a lot and my husband.

CN: Are you excited to spend St. Patrick’s Day in NYC?

Jane: Yeah, my kids want to see me on the TV at home.

CN: What is one crazy habit you have?

Jane: When I have a few drinks, I’m gameball for anything.

CN: If you had a theme song what would it be?

Jane: “Please Don’t Stop the Music” by Rihanna

CN: If you had to walk around with a bumper sticker on you, what would it read?

Jane: Mom’s Taxi

CN: What is one thing you love about Ireland?

Jane: The slower pace of life. And my family and friends.

CN: What’s one thing you love about America?

Jane: That no one cares who you are or what you are.

CN: If you could do one crazy thing at the parade tomorrow, what would it be?

Jane: Do a Kerry polka set with Barack Obama!

Thanks Jane. Barack, if you’re reading, keep an eye out for Jane!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you all!

Recently, I went to visit a fellow nacho. She came to the door carrying her adorable son and wearing the happiest, most colorful pair of pajamas. Although she had just come from an event that had required her to dress up, she decided to change as soon as she got home because she wanted to be super comfy for our play date and, from my recent pajama post, she knew that I would dig the PJs.  I only wish I had worn mine as well.

This woman, who maintains a full-time job while raising her son, had been seeking a little creative inspiration in her life.  
“I was getting a gift for someone when I spotted the pajamas. I just loved the colors,” she admits.
More often than not, we find ourselves doing or getting things for others with little or no thought for ourselves. While selflessness can be a beautiful thing, it’s also important to do something or treat ourselves to something nice. When we take care of ourselves and make ourselves feel special, we are able to give more to those around us.

That was not the end of the surprises she had to share with me. She whipped out these marvelous new shoes; a Valentine’s Day gift. Her husband wanted to get her something she truly wanted so she told him about the shoes. When she saw them, she fell in love.
“I was a woman obsessed,” she confesses.
Much like my search for the red clogs, this woman hunted high and low for these shoes. The color and the inner cushioning make walking in them like walking around with little clouds strapped to your feet.

The happiness that comes from these things is not a superficial happiness. It’s not a happiness that revolves around obtaining “things” but instead it is a happiness that flows from a woman who was creatively inspired by what she saw and so, added those splashes of color to her life. When the color, life and creative energy this woman normally feels on the inside is apparent on the outside, she feels phenomenal. The entire ensemble is a celebration of her.

As the time came for me to depart she settled in for a little light reading; something to celebrate the memory of childhood.  
When is the last time you got something nice for yourself? When did you last celebrate YOU?