LIFE & LETTERS / NO.5

E is for EXPECTATIONS

I've been struggling with this one for quite a while now, and I have a knack that many other creative types deal with the same issue. I struggle with balancing the expectations that I have of myself as a designer and as a person, as well as the expectations that I feel others such as my professors, friends, and family have for me. While putting some pressure on yourself or feeling that external pressure is good and pushes you forward into places you could never expect, when do these expectations become more of a hinder than a motivator?

I certainly don't have all the answers, but I've started to realize that expecting myself to take on the whole world is first of all, not possible, but it isn't healthy either. When you put too many expectations on yourself, you start to cripple under the pressure and fail to really be doing the creative work that you have the potential to do. When these self expectations became too much for me to bear, I started to write some life rules for myself. Design and my personal life are so integrated that I made my list a general place to turn to when I started to feel the expectations getting the better of me. I think that sitting down, and writing a list of small sayings or motivational rules to turn to when you're in a mental bind like this has been life-chaning. It's just a small thing, but it's so great to turn to when you're in need.

1. Family comes first.
2. You can never do it all, so don't try.
3. Sleep, Kelsey, sleep.
4. Take care of the body and the mind — the rest will fall into place.
5. Practice every day.
6. Slow down and experience the moments of the day.
7. Take time to have fun.
8. Don't be afraid to fail.
9. Get out of your comfort zone — that's where the magic happens.
10. Stay optimistic.

That is just a portion of some of my rules, but I know that when I'm abiding by these, I'm meeting my own expectations. Sometimes, that's all you need to get by.

Be sure to stop over at my blog to see what Life Letter Ciara talked about and illustrated today! Just follow the link on the image below!



Life & Letters covers topics for creatives and bloggers going through the alphabet one letter at a time.

IMPRINTS BY JTRAV / NO.3

"This one goes out to the one I love."

IMPRINTS BY JTRAV / NO.2

"I took some images in Michigan a few weeks ago."

Thanks again, Travis! -C

Video: LORD KNOWS

Tim Lampe is a designer in Atlanta and writer for I'm A Bear! Etc and is currently focusing on the fact that it's Dum Dum Girls release day.

As you readers may know, I really like the Dum Dum Girls. Last year they released one of my favorite albums. Dee Dee went back in to the studio shortly after and recorded a few new tracks that didn't fit the themes on "Only in Dreams". She added two covers and another B-side and this week released the End of Daze EP. It's short, it's sweet and it's really really good. It's a great progress for Dee Dee and her Dum Dum Girls project and it only gets me more excited for further records from her. If you have Spotify or Rdio, check out End of Daze, or even purchase the EP on iTunes or in record stores. You'll be glad you did. Here is the video for the single off the EP titled "Lord Knows".

SNAPSHOTS WITH TIM LAMPE / NO.3

Welcome to Snapshots! This week we're taking a look at great views/heights and a little more. It's been a busy week and there's a few themed weeks I have coming up, but this week I'm just going to go through some of my favorite captures. Just a reminder that you can find me on Instagram under the user @timlampe and you can tag some of your Instagram treasures using the hashtag #instatreasures. Here we go!

Top Left, taken by @robinmay
If you've gone this long without following Instagram legend Robin May, make sure you turn that around this week. Her photos are gorgeous.

Top Right, taken by @jessemorrow
Excellent composition and a stunning view.

Bottom Left, taken by @tavcalico
Another great shot playing with light and shadows. The contrast and grain make this photo stand out.

Bottom Right, taken by @connor
He doesn't post often, but when he does we get gems like this.



Left taken by @alostfeather
Seems like the golden hour was prime for this shot.

Right taken by @livia_xo
I'll never get tired of waves splashing, but the colors and edit on this one are top notch.



Left taken by @norteno
If you're a lover of signage, this is your guy to follow. The last two photos I wanted to mix it up just a bit because I end up devouring a lot of signage and typography captures on Instagram.

Right taken by @erikmarinovich
If you're not familiar with typographer Erik Marinovich, look him up now. Otherwise, enjoy his ongoing journey of finding delicious hand-type in San Francisico.


That's it for this week! See you next week with another batch of photos. Want to see your photos featured here next week or the upcoming weeks? I have a very personal tag I use called #instatreasures and invite you to tag your photos there as well!

BIRTHDAY WISHES

Well my birthday is this week so I thought I'd put together a birthday wishlist of sorts, though I have no expectations of anyone getting me these things. haha. These are just some things I've been eyeing for a little while that I'll probably save for. I don't ever ask for gifts and if people even ask what I'd like, I have no idea what to say. I can't imagine people spending money on my birthday. I'm more into sharing experiences, like going to my favorite restaurant with my friends. That's good enough for me! But for all you libras out there, you might want to keep this for your list too!

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 (but in oatmeal!)

LIFE & LETTERS / NO.4

D is for DATING

How has dating affected your creative life? I know this isn't necessarily a motivational post of any sorts, but as I was sitting here I started thinking to those outside influences that can begin to work their way into the creative spectrum. And maybe this was also sparked from some meanderings through Marie Claire—shh don't tell.

As a newly-single designer, the ways in which I work have changed drastically over the past couple of months. Of course, now I have more time to myself to get down to business and focus on my design career, but on the other hand I've been missing the feedback that having someone constantly around—especially someone else in the creative field—gave me. Are we supposed to be in the constant flux of creativity and creative-practice as we head in and out of relationships? How do we start to navigate our creative paths as we navigate our love lives? This series by blogger and graphic designer Amanda Jane Jones spotlights creatives and their significant others, and is a cute and interesting look into how some couples bridge this dichotomy.

While I don't have any of my own answers, and I'm surly in the midst of this wild journey, I'd love to start a conversation about this. Do you feel your relationships have helped or hindered your creative endeavors? How do you deal with following your creative passions and keep building relationships? I'm guessing it's a game of give and take, but I'd love to hear your side of the story.

Be sure to stop over at my blog to see what Life Letter Ciara talked about and illustrated today! Just follow the link on the image below!



Life & Letters covers topics for creatives and bloggers going through the alphabet one letter at a time.