Sometimes we are asked to share… our hope… our dreams… ourselves. It’s not always easy. But it’s almost always worthwhile. We learn from each other when we share. We learn about ourselves when we give our gifts to the world. I am working today on sharing myself, my news, my dreams, with the world around me, and soon with this space here. What will you share today?
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Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
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A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give. ~Author Unknown
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The real differences around the world today are not between Jews and Arabs; Protestants and Catholics; Muslims, Croats, and Serbs. The real differences are between those who embrace peace and those who would destroy it; between those who look to the future and those who cling to the past; between those who open their arms and those who are determined to clench their fists. ~William J. Clinton, 1997
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It must have been about a month or so ago that I first heard about StepsandSnips and the wonderful woman behind it, Celina Wyss. It was one of the internets happy chance meetings! Last week we spent time trading emails; having little mini conversations about life, photography, and the things we care about. What an amazing time! She was kind enough to share her half of our conversation over on her blog last week, and today I am so excited to share mine! Celina runs an etsy shop filled with gorgeous photography and is now at the helm of an awesome new project. I had already figured out that she was a wildly creative artist with her camera (among other things!), but what I was so stoked to learn more about was her way of taking on life; squeezing the most she can out of it, and turning it into a passion filled existence. I am so glad I met her, I think you will be too! Enjoy!
RM: I think I truly connected with you as soon as I read two words on your blog bio page: “photography” and “travel”, two things we have very much in common. I’m curious, how do you find inspiration for your photography? Do you brainstorm ideas or just head out with your camera and shoot what you find?
CW: I am all about the details. I like to see the beauty in things that are often overlooked. That is where my best inspiration comes from. I am constantly daydreaming about photography even if I don’t have a camera with me. Usually I will visually set up a shot in my head but 90% of the time that idea does not make it to my computer. I like to play, adjust and refocus on objects until I get something that really grabs me in that tiny LCD display window. I am a total “chimper!” Which means I look over pretty much every shot I take immediately after. That is why I love shooting still life so much. I don’t have a time limit or antsy subjects to worry about. When I am feeling really stuck I like to have a word or prompt to get me focused on shooting.
Being a fellow traveler I am willing to bet that, like me, you have a certain adventure that you are pining for, scheming and hoping to bring to life, where will it take you?
Adventure to me is immersing myself in a new experience. Whether that be trying a new hobby or stepping into a town I have never been to before. I relish exploring something new for the first time. There is something very magical about laying your eyes on a new site and just taking it all in. The very first encounter is something that can’t ever be repeated. I think that is where the thrill lies with me in travel.
Before I even knew about your photography and travel I knew about your latest collaborative undertaking, The Blank Slate Project, can you tell us a little bit more about what that is?
The Blank Slate Project is a traveling collaborative journal that I launched January 1, 2011. Participants are sent the journal to host for up to 2 weeks and have the opportunity to add their own personal stamp to the pages. It is a positive, feel good project so I am hoping for a lot of inspiring journal entries, photographs, poems and sketches to fill the pages. Everyone can contribute in their own unique way, even if they aren’t a creative type. The wait list for the journal is up to 20 now and fear if I get many more I will have to start a second journal.
I’ve been an avid journal keeper for pretty much my whole life, so the idea of a shared, traveling journal was immediately intriguing… What ever gave you the idea??
The idea came to me as a sort of happy accident. I am just getting back into journaling myself and really was itching to try art journaling as well. In one of my (frequent) trips to the bookstore I picked up a pack of Moleskine journals not realizing the pages in them were not meant for the project I was intending. Instead of returning them or having them sit on my shelf unused I started to think of ways I could turn these blank journals into a project for my blog. The Blank Slate Project was born from me wanting a way to bring a community together in a positive, uplifting way. Originally I was thinking limiting it to women only then decided anyone who wanted to contribute should be involved. So far though, only women have jumped on board.
One of the prints available in her shop!!
I also see on your blog a fabulous Life List. I find it so inspiring, and think you are remarkably brave for sharing it, what have the responses been from other’s after seeing some of the things you want to do in your life??
Thank you! I think the Life List is one of those things that has a life all its own. You read about it on someones blog and find inspiration in their dreams and soon you find yourself thinking about your own list. I truly believe we all have a list, even if we have never spoken the words out loud. The desires are there. I chose to call mine a “Life List” instead of a “Bucket List” because I want it to be about living. As far as response goes it has been incredibly positive. It got my husband thinking about things he would like to do as well though I haven’t officially convinced him to pen his own list yet. My mom immediately encouraged me to start checking off items. A few other bloggers have commented and shared their lists as well. I was completely being myself when sharing the list and honest with all of the entries so I am not entirely sure how I go about documenting the day I get to check off “Make Love in the Rain.” My dad does, in fact, read my blog.
I like to try and think of myself as living a creative, engaged life (or at least attempting to!) and am drawn to people who seem to be doing the same. How do you keep your energy up to live creatively when it would be much simpler to just plop down and watch some television?
I rarely ever watch TV which helps though I definitely have my vices. I am a one of those geeky gamer chicks who spends a lot of time playing various sorts of online games. So I still do have my downtime. I think it is easiest to find energy to create when I am inspired. If I get involved in a project that I am really excited or passionate about I will see it through. Which is why I let my interests wander. There are some weeks I won’t pick up my camera at all and instead I can be found in the garage working on soldering necklaces. I think I may have some sort of Craft Attention Deficit Disorder. I am also the first to admit that at times I have way too many projects going at once.
What pumps you back up on a day when you aren’t feeling that urge to do more, do you have a shelf of ideas to draw from or some go-to sources of inspiration? Yes, I might totally steal ‘em!! 
I love learning new things. LOVE IT! So I am constantly seeking out ways to fit in classes or explore new creative endeavors. That keeps me going for sure! I am also lucky enough to have a dedicated craft room where I can leave all my projects out while I work. Sometimes if the inspiration just isn’t coming I have to walk away and take a break. Forcing it is never really productive or fun for me. I also have a note-card app on my iPad dedicated for blog and craft ideas. So when the light bulb goes off in my head I can make a note of it and file it away for when I am ready to try to tackle it.
And some easy ones, please share with me some of your favorites…
Book: The Road by Cormac McCarthy had a huge impact on me reading it. It literally rocked me to my core. A must read book!
Band: Ooh I don’t know if I can narrow it down to one. I would have to say between The Killers and Nickleback
Movie: Love, Actually
Artist: Ansel Adams
Blogs (you can list as many as you love!): Favorite guilty pleasure blog: Post Secret (http://www.postsecret.com/) Favorite uplifting blog: Roots of She (http://www.rootsofshe.com/) Favorite crafty blog: Eighteen 25 (http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/) Favorite marriage blog: The Long Haul Project (http://thelonghaulproject.com/) Favorite photo blog: Shutter Sisters (http://shuttersisters.com/) and I could go on and on and on…literally
Piece of camera equipment: My trusty speedlight
Quote: My new favorite quote is: “Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.” – Will Rogers.
Ah, I love that quote!! Thank you so much Celina for chatting with me and for sharing so much inspiration. I think we should do this again!! Take a trip over to Celina’s blog to read more about The Blank Slate Project, or to see what new creative endeavor she’s taking on. And if you’re like me and think her photography is irresistible, head on over to her etsy shop to get a print for yourself!! You can also find Celina on Facebook and Twitter! (We like to tweet a lot!!)
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Jumping at several small opportunities may get us there more quickly than waiting for one big one to come along. ~Hugh Allen
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