By "This Union" I refer to the union between myself...and a simple batch of name tags. Yes, name tags. I periodically get inquiries as to how I created these little tags, and there’s only one way I know/will go about them.

​Let me paint this picture from the very beginning for you. Three years ago, I received a request from a group asking if I could create name tags for their event shaped in the state where each person was from. Now, at the time, I was four months pregnant with our first child...living on the third floor of an apartment building in Oklahoma City...where my husband was playing Triple-A baseball for the Dodgers. Typically, baseball season meant I was a traveling circus when it came to work. Everything from pens and brushes, to cutting mats and a whole artillery of paper were relocated to our temporary home - - wherever that was at the time. The times we were lucky, it was a cozy little rental, but sometimes it meant setting up shop and working on the hotel room desk. Hey...whatever works! My husband's days were always spent at the field. We'd eat breakfast together and then off he would go come noon, until I would see him again very late that evening after his game. Not to mention that anywhere from every four to eight days or so he was back on the road for a few days. So, I had plenty of time at this point in life to be productive! The hard part: navigating around a new city to locate materials needed to complete the task (oftentimes piecing them together from multiple stores, all in different cities around the area...ah!) and the up and down of the third story apartment building stairs...pregnant...in the Oklahoma summer heat! Again: a big ah!! But, definitely a blessing in disguise, considering it gave me that extra little push of exercise and movement. Especially when I was oftentimes sitting and cutting/writing/assembling for such long periods of time!

Now, before I continue, let's get another thing straight. If I'm given an idea, food for thought...anything, when it comes to a design or making something -- I will try with everything to make that vision come to life! In one way or another, eventually, I will make it happen. And I typically want my hands to be a part of every aspect of whatever it is that I'm creating. When I first got this request, I of course right away without thought, told her that it was something I could do. I put together a cute little visual to confirm it on her end and then thought to myself, "oh boy...this isn't just one adorable little golden backed, hand drawn state -- this is for 172..adorable..little golden backed..hand drawn states" (or whatever the crazy number was)! It was more than 150, let's put it that way.

Low and behold...it was happening. So, on top of the other work I had going on at the time...I brushed up on my geography and the states were created! Below is a picture of the finished product.

At the time of the first batch, I simply hand drew each state that was needed on the list, cut out the initial hand drawn original states and then used each of those as a stencil for the additional numbers of each state that were needed. I hand drew each of the states in pencil by looking at a visual of the state outline pulled up on the internet on my laptop. From then, I used a small precise-cutting pair of scissors, and cut out the detail of each hand drawn state - giving life to each stencil. 

​Once we were home and off the road after season, I created two official plastic stencils - one for each layer - the white layer which is a more detailed version of the state and where I write the names; and the second layer being the backing/border (which is a little less detailed, more of an overall generic shape of the state).

Still to this day, I hand draw (or trace my original hand drawn stencils), hand cut both layers, hand write, and hand assemble each of the states. I'm thinking by now I could probably ace the United States map! Just saying... 

I originally created these little gems with the sole purpose of being a name tag; to be worn on clothing. With all of the work that goes in to them, I always think...what else can be done with these!? My thoughts now are -- why not incorporate this idea into the place setting at an event. Place cards are usually used at formal events to inform guests of their designated seat at the table. Upon entering an event, a seating chart directs each guest to a specific table, but once there...a place card establishes the seat in which each guest will be sitting at that assigned table. States are the perfect design to be used at any event! First and foremost, they are a conversation starter among the seated guests, being able to see where each person is from...and second, they are a unique touch to the overall design of the decor.

Being that they are a little larger in size than the name tag states, they really make a statement placed on a napkin at the center of a place setting. A very personal, custom, and unique touch!

Simply “state”d: this is how I go about it! My process. And although with the intention of originally being a one time thing, I just adore the fact that these truly are such a fun little sentimental piece and receive so much love. Your hometown is your home...town. It’s pride, it’s so many sweet memories, it’s a whole lot of...everything about you - - it’s where you began! Can’t beat that. And even if your pride doesn’t lie in your home town - maybe it’s the state where you started your next chapter, or the state where you have all of your school pride invested. We all have that certain somewhere that means the world to us!

Until next time.
xo
CRH

As funny as this comment might be, I feel that balance gives you a sort of energy and confidence. Especially in times of needing to slow down, to clear your head. It's so easy to harbor stress in every corner of your mind; letting it completely consume your outlook on the day and how you approach it. The moment you balance that noise in your head out with something to help you take a step back...that day is yours. On days when I feel my productivity level is at an all time low of zero and yet, in addition to that, I have a toddler yelling at me for a bag of Cheez-Its and a 5 month old on her fifth wet bib of the day; well...I need that relaxing cup of tea, moment of silence, and victorious sent email to refocus my outlook and say "yep...you can make it to the end of this day!! And yes, you can still dream up plans for things you want to work on with your hands that yes, you will get done!". Energy. Confidence. The gifts of balance!

Find it! Whether it's dedicating yourself to going to a yoga class before or after work to get your head on track and your body feeling good and moving; finding a quiet spot in your house at the end of a long day to read a good book; taking a break to sit outside and just...stop and listen; or having one little square of chocolate when you feel like you're completely defeated by your diet. It matters. It all matters and it all helps. There's a quote that I always remember from one of my Yogi tea bags that I drink daily, and it says "a relaxed mind is a creative mind". Now, obviously I resonate with this being a creative person, when nothing can be more true for a creative individual than to feel relaxed. However, I think this goes for anyone and with any area of work. Relaxing your mind or balancing the thoughts in your mind...is only going to benefit your life, your work, your every day. Easier said than done, yes...I know this. But, any little initiative to making balance a part of your life, even just one little teeny tiny span of time in your day with it to reboot - well, it's better than nothing!

Captain Balance here, stepping off of my soapbox and calling it a night. Yay for balance! And yay for a fun post to come. Stay tuned and Happy Hump Day, friends!

xo
CRH

​So last post I talked about my mom-game and “figuring it out” - this post is all about “working” it out!

Last year was a bit all over the place work wise.
Momming full time typically means I lack two very crucial things to create anything artistic: my hands! The moments that I was able to take a breather and sit to be productive, I definitely tried to take full advantage. Very thankful for my husband and mom for helping lighten the load when it comes to work and watching the hand thief (...my toddler!).

Below is a gallery of a few pieces of my work from last year. Custom wedding signage, invitation suites, and paintings; hand created state shaped event name tags; as well as several stationery pieces that I put together. Before Penelope was born, I had a major itch to finally produce a few products with my art that I could have ready to go when someone simply clicks a button - primarily stationery sets and cards. Something I’ve always wanted to accomplish, I’ve just never quite taken the time to get organized with it all. So, I made that my mission before the second baby arrived and put together a few pieces. I currently sell the items in my Etsy shop and am just sort of using this time to figure out the yes’s and no’s to it all. Figure out a new direction for what works and what doesn’t with it. So, we’ll see where that all goes in the year ahead!

Excited to find a groove between motherhood and taking the time for me and for my work. I often times find myself putting art on the back burner to take care of the day to day. While I love being a Mom, I also hate to not create (...you’re welcome for the rhyme)! Art is just a part of my make up, and when I don’t have my hands working on something...I often feel like I’m losing a part of...well, me! So, really trying to find the balance in it all - family, staying active and healthy, taking care of myself, and staying productive -  focus more on “working” on me...my art. Now, if anyone knows where those extra 20 hours are in a day to get all of that done...call me and let me know!! Thanks!

But really...there’s nothing more important than balance. For the sake of productivity and sanity, I feel as though it ranks up there as the highest priority of figuring it out in life. Have to have a healthy balance with it all! Easier said than done. Wishing you all luck in figuring out that balance for the year ahead. I have a feeling it will be a good one. Don’t lose sight of what makes you happy and makes you...you! What’s our word!?...balance!

Here’s to a healthy, happy, PRODUCTIVE, balanced (haha, I had to), and successful 2019 - in life and with your loves.

xo
CRH

...it is 2019!
That it is Chels. Welcome to the party!
February 1st, 2019...to be exact. When was my last post? Oh, you know...just spring of last year! March 20th...of last year. To again, be so exact!
Unacceptable. Probably the only word to sum it all up.
I’m not one for making New Years Resolutions - it is what it is and if I make any sort of resolution, it better darn well be for life, not just for a few months to kick off yet another year. However, I do hope to turn to my blog more often this year as an outlet to chat with you all and write...to get away once and a while. That’s always been my sole purpose in having my blog, and I apologize I haven’t been better about it. Once upon a time in my single days, when free time was actually something that existed...I was semi good about it!
So...top of the 2019 daily (...maybe weekly, so I don’t completely overcommit to being an overachiever) to do list: write - post, update, communicate, whatever you want to call it!

I’m coming at you today during naptime - hal...le...lu...jah for naptime!
Both kiddos are down at the same time (knock on wood), so I have a chance to quick do something productive. So, here we are! Hi!!
In this post I sort of just want to catch up. Let you know where I’ve been in the almost YEAR since I went missing in action and update as to what in the world I’ve been doing - in life, with work, everything.

For starters, shortly after my last post, we found out that we were pregnant with our second little blessing - a baby girl!
Our son, Levi, was a little over a year at the time, and turned the big 2 (...yikes!) this past December.
So, last year consisted of me chasing around and wrangling my son on a daily basis, all while growing our sweet baby girl and managing what work I could in the midst of it all. Something I’ve figured out about motherhood: it is a never ending saga of “figure it out”. How to manage your ( and everyone’s) time, life, and emotions; all on very little sleep and with lots of hormones!

First pregnancy, that’s all you focus on...pregnancy. Happily and healthily growing your little miracle. When you have your first baby, you slowly figure it all out - how to raise a child, get yourself back on your feet, develop routines and then have to adapt to new ones a month later...you know, all the good stuff! After what seems like forever in getting to a point of somewhat confidence, you then (God-willing) get pregnant with your next and it’s back to square one; but this time...there’s no time to focus on this pregnancy because, yes...that’s a child attached to your leg!
(...my 2018 in a nutshell!!)
No, 2018 was incredible. We have so much to be thankful for and are truly blessed beyond measure.
We welcomed two nephews into our family last year - my sister in law, Jeni, gave birth in February to our nephew, Hunter, in Texas; and my brother and Olivia welcomed Isaac here in April. Our family also grew by yet another when my little brother married his high school sweetheart, Emily, in December.
It’s an amazing and truly special thing to see your family grow!

And then of course, there was November...when we welcomed our beautiful daughter, Penelope Grace Hicks, into this world!
She made her grand and rather rushed entrance on the morning of November 8th, and I can truly say that it feels like she has been a part of us all along. She is definitely a special piece of our hearts. This sweet little girl completes our family in the most wonderful way - to say we are smitten would be an understatement. Like any parents typically are, we were weary of how Levi would react to a new baby in the family, but he loves her so much and she just adooores him! Seeing these two beautiful little souls grow day after day and love each other the way that they do, is like no other. To be their mother is more than I could have ever asked for in this life.

Now, I have to say...
life with two definitely kicked things up a notch in the “figure it out” department of the motherhood saga I spoke of before!
I can honestly say that I feel like I’m just now getting to that harmonious place of figuring life out with two.
(Who am I kidding...there are still days that I don’t get my face washed until 11 am! Not to mention, it’s been three months!)
But, I’m getting there...we’re all getting there and “figuring it out”!! I am very thankful for my husband - for the help, love and support he gives to not only me in raising our family,  but to our children on a daily basis. He is such an active, loving, and strong force in our family and I couldn’t ask for a better partner in this wonderful life!

Goodness, what...a...year!

And then...there’s work! I’ll save that for a separate post. So, I’ll update soon with all of that goodness.
Talk soon, enjoy your weekend!

​xo
​CRH 
​

...indeed it has!
Although...it hailed here in Florida today. Little strange!? I'd say so!

​This is about the time of year that the rain rolls in about every afternoon; something I love the most about Florida weather. The afternoon showers in the spring! It's always the most peaceful beautiful time in the evenings after the rain. Not to mention the quiet downtime of the shower itself. With those rainy days will come all of the beautiful flowers! Looking forward to that the most this year; watching our newly planted garden hopefully flourish.

The inspiration of the spring season and the beautiful flowers  brings about vivid bright colors and energetic imagery. Today I took some time during the rain shower to work on a few of my paintings. An afternoon oh so very well spent! Dreaming of beautiful patterns, colors, and imagery. My goal is to turn these paintings into prints. Worth it? We'll see. But, it's been a long-awaited dream in the making and I hope to make that a reality very soon. It's about time!

I wish for everyone that you spent a rainy afternoon dreaming in color...but if you didn't have the beautiful chance, try and dream in color soon!

xo
​CRH

I always knew, even before having a child, that come birthday time...I would have trouble controlling my excitement in planning it!
I'm sure every mama feels this way and especially when it comes to the big O....N....E; and naturally, with your first.
Low and behold, perusing the dollar section of Target (always welcoming you so kindly at the entrance!...) with my then, probably 7 month old, I come across an adorable little pendant hanging sign that read Happy Birthday in somewhat primary colors. I'm not sure I was even quite thinking about his birthday at the time, however, this simple little sign triggered the motor and the wheels started spinning. So, I buy the little sign, completely against my intuition, the whole time thinking to myself,
"Chelsea...you can make this sign!" -- I buy it anyways.

Now, I'm not really a "theme" kind of gal. I think it's very cute and for some occasions...very appropriate. However, I personally will always base any and every decorative aspect of my life and especially event planning off of color scheme first and foremost. I was immediately attracted to the little sign in Target primarily for the colors and the sweet pom pom trim. So, in the back of my mind, I set those as the colors that I would somewhat incorporate and build off of. I'm no expert, so don't take advice from me - but personally, I like to take colors, a pattern, something that you love and are inspired by decoratively, to build the entire design off of for an occasion. I think I apply this to even decorating for the holidays! It wasn't until I found a tartan plaid pattern with similar colors to the sign that I officially said "yep, there it is!" His birthday is December 3rd, so this was the perfect tribute to the Holiday Season, complementing the light holiday decor that I had already placed around the house, but not making it too too terribly "Christmasy".

After solidifying colors, and being delightfully inspired by the sweet plaid pattern -- invitation design was now in full swing.
I knew that in addition to the design I had in my mind, I wanted to incorporate some way to tastefully ask people to give rather than bring a gift if they felt inclined. Levi is a healthy, blessed little boy, and there are many out there experiencing less fortunate circumstances. Then I thought, well, that's not always something people feel comfortable doing, so why don't I do something in addition to that which everyone will want to participate in, and we can still touch some lives in some little way. So I decided to design several different card designs that littles ones would love. I would then attach one to each invitation so that people could write a message and they could be delivered to the children at the hospital in hopes of uplifting their spirit; through whatever it is that they are facing. I created the designs for the greeting cards on my Apple iPad Pro with the Apple Pencil and the “crayon” effect - to make it look as though little Levi drew the pictures. I designed a little logo for the back of each card reading “Love, Levi” - hoping to one day soon establish that as a line of children’s cards. (I also used the Pro to create the painted background of the invitation and information insert). With all of that said and done, invitations were pretty much complete - - I pulled the hunter green color out of the plaid with the envelopes and finished the entire look off by tying the set together with red and white baker’s twine.

I'm not a real overly anal, organized person...by any stretch of the imagination. However, when it comes to creatively planning something, you've never quite seen a list
of thoughts built so quickly - - with a stack of detailed sketches to accompany those lists...visually explaining them! That...is how my brain works.
I have a thought, it gets written down. To express it...I draw a picture!
One of my first thoughts with the party: a photo-op board.
I knew it was something I wanted and right away, I knew exactly how I was going to create it. I wanted to make it something that the littles would be able to walk up to and put their own faces in without help from Mom or Dad, and to have something painted around the face holes to catch their attention. I'd used the chalk sheets from Home Depot in the past to make chalk signs, so we knew the material we were using, and went ahead and cut the three holes out with a jigsaw. In my originally sketch, I had three little children on the board...then it evolved to whimsical little monsters...until I finally had the epiphany to use Levi's three best animal friends. From a very early age, Levi had the sweet sensitivity to hug and love on his stuffed animals. His Curious George, Curduroy the bear, and a horse we named "Horace", quickly became his "tribe". And the amazing inspiration for our photo-op board! Using  just a simple craft paint to paint them.
The only remaining detail to the photo-op board that I knew I wanted to incorporate was a balloon swag in one of the corners. Which I had seen so many times in inspiration pictures, and always loved, but was so afraid to attempt. I read tutorial after tutorial, and finally the night before the party...there I am stringing together balloons into little bunches with fishing line. Not sure that was the complete way any of the tutorials advised me to do it, but I had fishing line in my husband's tackle box, and a sewing needle from my mother...so that's how that thing was going down! I assured myself I would adhere the balloon bunches to the board with double sided tape and all would be fine.
Sure enough...they did just fine!

One of the other major "sketched" elements of the party was the outside table. I knew I wanted a long rectangular table, with a banner strung from one end to the other and to cover that table in kraft paper, incorporating some sort of crayon display to use as the centerpieces. At first I wanted large cubes with holes drilled to place each jumbo crayon in, but we ended with the final design of two 2x4 boards (one for each rectangular table) with large holes that my husband used a drill press to create, scattered along them for the crayons to set in. 
Come the day before the party...my husband was loathing me for this table design! I had it all sketched out...what was the big problem? There I am bossing him around
as to how long I wanted the reclaimed wood he had cut for the end pieces of the table to hold the banner and that I wanted them put down into a hole in the ground at each end -- receiving look after look telling me in not so many words: "is this necessary!?" He kept advising me to forget the banner...we don't even need it.
...ha! Let me repeat...HA!
Men!
My husband knew very well that that would not be the case. In no way would I ever let this go. So, he hammered those big ol long boards down into the ground at each end of the rectangular tables, and we braced them between the table and a large tree stump on each end. ...tada!! We all survived.
I had him drill a hole through the top of each board, so that I could string the jute/baker's twine through, securely hanging the banner.

I carried the kraft paper look through the decor in the house as well, covering our kitchen island/table with it and placing the food atop that. I also incorporated the plaid pattern and a splash of Christmas tree trimmings into the table centerpiece as well.

All in all...it was such a special day!
Our little man was surrounded by all of his incredible loved ones, successfully celebrating his first year of life and the wonderful little boy that he is!!
Definitely cannot ask for more than that. So blessed.

xo
​CRH

Oh, ya know...it's just me! Still here; this I promise you.
Although, with my last post being over a year ago, that miiiight lead you to think differently.
Where have I been exactly?
Figuring out...the Mom-Game! 

When I posted previously, we were anxiously awaiting the arrival of our Baby Boy. Well...the time came at 41 weeks and 36 hours worth of an induction!
December 3, 2016 - - we welcomed our greatest blessing into this world,
Levi Miller Hicks.
8 pounds 11 ounces  |  22 inches

iFor all those many months, you plan...you educate yourself...you anxiously await...but nothing, and I mean nothing...can prepare you for the feeling that will come over you the moment that you become a mother. The moment that you first touch your baby, hear their first little cry,  look into their eyes for the first time;
​it's a love that can't be put into words.
I'm pretty sure the first week we brought Levi home, I just sat there and stared at him! In complete awe of God's amazing grace. The incredible gift that he had given us.
 
Now why you may ask...haven't I had a second to keep up my posting rhythm, when I was sitting there simply staring at my child?
Let me break it down to you this way...
the first month of being a Mom, I would look at the clock which read 2:00 and go "Oh, I still have yet to wash my face today!"
Thoughts to follow in the next few months included:
"Yes, yes indeed...I did only sleep a total of 2 1/2 hours last night!"
"Is it good to sleep upright in a rocking chair all night!?"
From the get-go, our son was never a good sleeper. We tried any and every thing we could. If there were some sort of award for tightest tucked-not coming undone-swaddling...I'm 99.9% sure I would wear that badge on my shirt!
Probably about four or five months into parenthood, my husband and I think we're sitting real pretty. We've got little routines going...our little man is healthy, he's growing...we're seeing little 5-6 hour stretches of sleep at night...we've got it going on! Then our pediatrician tells us to lose the swaddle, it's time for the little man to be mobile in the crib. She might as well of just plucked the swaddling badge right off my shirt, along with my well-rested spirit, and thrown them right into my disarrayed diaper bag!
About the time he was able to roll over well on his own from both directions, he began getting himself into comfortable positions and the sleep took a turn for the better.
However, like his parents...our strong-willed little man was running the show on when and how he was going to sleep.
At nine months, we officially heeded the advice of our pediatrician and read the book she had been recommending for months to us on sleep training.
I was completely against this from the beginning - - my husband: all about it.
But, after nine months of horrible sleep...you better believe I was desperately laminating the pages of this darn book!
(It was actually my reading material through Hurricane Irma).
Three nights into applying the book...our little man was sleeping through the night!! Thank you, Jesus!

The moral of that drawn out story: my partial lack of posting: sleep deprivation.
So now you might be thinking, "okay, post-sleep training you're sleeping now...you're starting to get in a groove...still no time to write?"

Come the moment in raising a child that you figure out how to somewhat master sleep...there's still the daily movement.
And by that I mean: they begin to crawl, they're on the loose and into...everything. Pulling stuff down, pulling up on things,
begging for you to help them up, pick them up...you name it!
They begin to walk...you're in trouble.
You've never seen all of the objects in your house strewn all over your floor quite as fast as having a toddler!
They've got the wheels to move efficiently, enhancing their speed to quickly get into everything.
All in all: getting anything done is...next to impossible. Or so that's how I've felt.

Call it dramatically overwhelmed...call it a first time Mom...call it all excuses; but organizing my everyday plans, doing any work, prioritizing my thoughts, everything outside of
monitoring my child's next move...is a lot to handle. In order to have my two hands to artistically to do any of my work...I need my two hands! Often impossible to call my own.
I am incredibly thankful to have the support and help of my husband, and beyond grateful for the time and the sweet moments that I am given the opportunity to enjoy with my son every single day. To watch and help him grow; to teach him, laugh with him, play with him; and to cherish every hug, every kiss, every look.
Moments that I will never forget, never take for granted.

All in all...I've completely neglected communicating, and for that...I am sincerely sorry. There is so much that has happened and quite a bit to share.
I can promise that updates will come -- updates on life, updates on design, updates on it all.

xo
CRH