Yes, that’s right, I have made the switch to BLOGGER!

As much as I love how EASY WordPress is, switching to blogger just seemed better, because it really allowed me to hav more customization with backgrounds, headers, etc, as well as making it easier as far as followers and comments go.

So hopefully you will make the switch with me– Please head over to http://alexandraraedesign.blogspot.com/ and make sure you follow me by clicking the button on the right hand side of the page! This allows you to get EMAIL updates of Allie awesomeness.  Also, please update your GoogleReaders and RSS feeds. I don’t want to lose anyone!

And have no fear! Every post that you loved about this blog IS OVER THERE! Every post, every comment… it’s all over there! So please, GO CHECK IT OUT!

(This ability to move it all would not be possible without this site: http://wordpress2blogger.appspot.com/  It worked miracles.)

I vowed a couple of weeks ago that not only was I going to try to post something every day, but I when I DIDN’T post something, I wasn’t going to make excuses!

Well, obviously I failed at one of those, and I’m about to fail at the other! I keep forgetting my memory card at home, so I have all of these photos to post and blog about while I’m on a break at work… but I keep forgetting them! Ahhh!

I just wanted to do a little post to let everyone know that I was STILL ALIVE! And I promise you, I’m dreaming of big ideas. And this summer, my goal is to MAKE THEM HAPPEN!!  I’m taking the Creativity Boot Camp class, and one of our challenges  has been to  “squash” all of our creative naysayers, as well as embrace the fact that we are artists–to not be as critical or saying that being an artist is “not enough.” Because it is. And that’s inspiring.

Wow. That got deep, fast!

Happy things to think about: I’m nearing my 100th post! YAY! Do you know what that means? Yeah, that’s right A GIVEAWAY. Keep checking   back for updates. It’s going to be funnnnn!

All photos found via weheartit by searching  “promise”

What am I gushing about? Well, this AMAZING UP photoshoot.  OH MAN. I’m in love. With the photoshoot, the idea, the photographer… I’m only mad that I didn’t think of this first. After all, you guys do know how much I LOOOOOVE UP! So! Check out Wildflower Photography’s site as well as the photos below that I took from the Facebook photo album. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

What do you think? I always love feedback!

In other news, My new TOAST catalog came in the mail… I’m loving the photos, etc inside. I can’t wait to use some for my art journal! 

Want to win some? OhSoBeautifulPaper is having a giveaway! Check it out here.

I know I promised a suprise here today, but my weekend (mis)adventure put me back at least 7 unexpected hours. What happened, you ask?  Well! Let me tell you! (Warning! Long post)

So, I spent the weekend visiting boy, who is staying about an hour and half away from our hometown this summer, working in Bowling Green. I got up there on Friday, and planned to drive back on Monday (Memorial Day). My mom gets all panicky about traffic, so she insisted that I leave no later than 12:30 on Monday. I was a good girl and left BG at noon. 10 minutes after I left SUNNY BG, the skies OPENED UP with some of the heaviest rain I’ve ever seen. Since I was in the left lane, I couldn’t pull over, so I just kept pushing through. After about 20 minutes, it stopped–right before a CRUCIAL exit I had to make. EXCEPT, some jerk wouldn’t let me over into the lane I needed to be in! He even WAVED to me as he passed me. Ugh! So I missed the exit and kept driving, and I got on the phone with my dad to try to figure out a) where I was and b) where I should go. I planned on pulling over to the next exit–but lucky for me, that didn’t come until almost 20 minutes later. I pulled off the exit, came to a fork in the road, and turned right. Which  turned out to be, by far, the road less traveled by. I pulled into someone’s driveway (surrounded by cornfields) and turned off my car so I could calm down and talk to my dad. Dad and I finally figured out where I  should go (with the help of my gps that wasn’t working when I missed my exit…grrr…) and I turned the key to turn on the car and….nothing happened. My car wouldn’t start. At all. BOOOOOOO.

My parents ended up having to drive (with some very close family friends who had AAA) almost an hour and a half to come get me. Then we had to wait almost 3 hours for a tow truck. Then and hour for the tow truck to get my poor car loaded. Then an hour and a half home. Oy vey.

But I’m safe, my car is at the doctor, and I’m home. With plenty of ideas that I brainstormed yesterday while sitting in a cornfield, getting a suntan…until it started raining.

I’ll be back later tonight with  some fun things! But until then, tell me: What (mis)adventures have you had on the road?

I’ll be back on Tuesday with some of our regular scheduled programs… and a surprise!

Name: Lehua Ruble [pronounced: "lay-who-uh"] but soon to be Lehua Cortez!
Age: 24 years young
Blog: www.thegirlandboy.com
Prefered form of “creative” mediums/arts: all things paper!

Can you describe the creative process that you typically go through when working on a piece of art?
Usually when I come up with the great idea, I write it down and sketch it out, along with any details that are immediately in my head. This mostly occurs when I am at work during the day, so if I don’t write it down, I will lose the inspiration and the detailing that went with the thought process. Once I get home, I head to the studio to work on the new piece.

Do you have any secret strategies or tactics that you use to help you generate creative ideas?
Mmm..not really. I read blogs daily. They usually give me a sense of inspiration. Some times when I’m stumped, I’ll take a walk around some of my favorite stores or pop into a thrift store to see what items I can find that can give me a new project to work on. I also love going into book stores, sitting on the floor and just reading. I find it stress relieving and you get fresh ideas.

How do you know when you’ve produced a really creative project?
To me, as long as I’m excited about it, that’s all that matters. I think when you start creating for the purposes to please others, it becomes more of a daunting task and less enjoyable. I try to keep my own style and have others appreciate it, rather than to create something just for others.

Do you ever run out of ideas when working?  If so, how do you deal with this problem?
Oh yes! When I get stumped or just can’t figure things out, I tend to just take a break and come back to it. Fresh eyes and a clear mind always makes for the best projects. I also like to clean my studio because sometimes I find things that I’ve forgotten that I had and it inspires for new projects!

Do you have any works that you’ve created that you are particularly proud of?  If so, which ones and why?
I really loved the way our wedding invitations turned out. I’ve had so many sleepless nights thinking of new, fresh and creative ideas that I started getting really worried. But one day it all came together and I couldn’t be happier with the turn out.

[seen here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/laceydesigns/sets/72157622279826519/]

What’s your FAVORITE thing you’ve ever created?
My favorites are usually my mini albums.
This one is one of my favorites because it was a great day spent with my brother and sister and we don’t get to do that often. Plus it was my birthday!

[seen here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/laceydesigns/sets/72157622495248315/]

Do you have any works that you’ve created that you are NOT particularly proud of?  If so, which ones and why?
Of course. Sometimes I create things with a great idea in mind, but they don’t always turn out that way. Or sometimes I journal what I am feeling and I late look back at it and am kind of embarrassed.

What creative advice would you give to someone that wanted to become an artist, even if only as a hobby?
Embrace your own style. It is what will set you apart. && Have fun with what you are doing!!

Hey everyone! Just a quick note to tell you I have updated my 101 in 1001 project! So if you’re reading via an RSS feed, Facebook, or a Reader, come check up on my progress (on the 101 in 1001 tab on my blog). Please, feel free to hassle encourage me about getting everything done! I need motivation! If you would like to do something with me, let me know! I can always use a buddy!!

photo found via weheartit