Sugar & Cloth

It’s been kind of a whirlwind week! Tuesday morning I filmed a few DIY’s with the Live Well Network at Native Citizen in Houston. Let me just say that I apparently need to memorize everything I say word for word, because off the cuff smoothness I cannot do. It’s a shame DIY’s can’t be explained through sarcastic jokes, because I’m great at those.

Now I’m in Dallas with Smilebooth training to be a tornado fighter… not really, but checking into a hotel and having to be warned to hide in the bathroom if I hear tornado sirens is totally not cool, especially for a girl from West Virginia. Needless to say, getting to my computer to blog wasn’t my top priority.

While I’m away getting my Twister on, I thought I’d share a few photos from the filming on Tuesday and to make you want all of the vintage goodness in Native Citizen as much as I do. If you’re local, definitely check it out!

Surprisingly, there was a little paper mache action going on too!

I’m quickly learning that I can’t always keep up with everything myself, so I’m trying to let go of the reigns a little bit and ask for help. This is where you come in!

If you’d like to contribute to Sugar & Cloth with DIY’s or unique columns, I’d love to hear from you! I’m also looking for someone in the Houston area that would be willing to work on a per project/as needed basis to help with DIY projects and in-store events (there’s also never any shortage of cupcakes!).

If you’re interested, please email me at ashley[at]sugarandcloth.com with the subject line “Contribute” and a link to your portfolio, website, Instagram, or any relevant material that showcases your work and ideas. Can’t wait to meet you!

photo source, design by Sugar & Cloth

I was really overwhelmed by your response to my cry for help post on finding balance last week. It was so encouraging to hear from those of you that left comments and emails for me, I’m glad to know I’m not alone and that we can relate! So, I wanted to talk to you about being open or guarded in relationships, because without going into too much detail just yet, I could use the venting. I’ve been kind of a mess behind the scenes over here in case you haven’t noticed my out-of-the norm absence much yet..

I’ll go ahead and be the first to say that I haven’t had the best of fortune with people close to me lately. I’m quickly realizing that when I’m not doing well I tend to just shut down and guard my heart. I have no issues with talking about a problem or circumstance, but really getting the dirty truth behind my reasons or feelings for something seems to totally escape me. It normally ends in clamming up to keep the temporary peace rather than solving the problem or being uncandidly honest.

In some ways it seems really logical to try and spare feelings, but at the end of the day it’s really just masking the problem, right? At some point you’ll have to be honest to set yourself free a bit, but how and when is the best way is always the question, isn’t it?

photo via Yellow Yellow  design by Sugar & Cloth

Lately I feel like I’ve failed at a lot of things. The last few months have been a complete whirlwind of new adventures, life changes, new job opportunities, and some closing doors. To let you in on a little secret, I kind of have a bad habit of being a workaholic. It’s not uncommon for me to stay awake until 3 o’clock in the morning working on a DIY or finishing a design, but lately I’ve been trying to force myself to enjoy life in the moment a little more. Just simple things like taking a quick walk in the afternoon or trying something new around town, but honestly, I’m starting to realize that I haven’t learned balance.

I tend to be one or the other, super workaholic or mini vacation mode 24/7 because I’ve exhausted myself. It’s really strange, and easily one of my worst traits. How have you learned to balance life and work? I’m having to remind myself that it’s okay to not work all of the time and to not feel guilty for it. Do you ever have that thought? I’d love to hear your ideas!

photo via Design Love Fest, design by Sugar & Cloth

Guys, can I be really honest with you? It’s been a tough few weeks for me. With all of the commotion of moving, traveling, working, things I’m afraid to tell you, and even things as simple as finding our new grocery stores or dry cleaners, I’m feeling pretty worn out.

It’s funny though how it’s the times that you feel the most down that simple things you normally wouldn’t give a whole lot of thought to suddenly seem more beautiful, like this quote from Mother Teresa. It really struck me. It’s not about what you’re doing, who you are, or how important something seems to be, it’s all in your motive behind it. Sometimes I just have to take time and remind myself of what’s important.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if the whole world would… “do small things with great love.”