Dream Big

For those of you who read my blog yesterday I was going to talk about Homevestures and an inside look at it but I have to put that aside for a minute and talk about Dreams because it feels so relevant. It might be at the root of everything I write and do. So lets talk about it now for a minute.

I want to share with you a fantastic quote by Sterling W. Sill on dreams. He says..."Just suppose that you had a special book where you kept a written list of those dreams and ambitions for which you had an unquenchable thirst.  A good book of dreams and some well thought-out blueprints for accomplishment will turn ambitions into realities.  Among the amazing inventions of man and the miraculous creations of God, nothing can match the human mind,which is the instrument given us by God with which to think, plan, imagine, love, and dream.  The Bible tells us of many inspired dreams that have been put into people's minds by Deity himself.  The fact that we have been divinely equipped for dreaming indicates that the function is important and that God certainly did not intend to do all of our dreaming for us."

Ok, the first assignment is to get a SPECIAL BOOK (I think I want to follow this to a T) and think...think...think... about my dreams.  What the heck are they? My sister helped me realize yesterday that I love the furniture part of owning the business...but not the dealing with people everyday who have a hard time making up their minds or deciding whether they are going to spend the money, or the paper work. My real estate instructor said "price overcomes ALL objectives". So I know that sometimes in retail you don't get your price and you often lose your shirt on pieces.

I want to get past the think part and really write what my dreams are. What do I and you have an unquenchable thirst for?  Is there a burning that is always there that never goes away, like a leaky faucet? I'm reading this book called 'The Fire Starter Sessions' (a gift from my big sister, sharing her crayons again...). Danielle Laporte asks a VERY relevant question..."How do you want to feel"? For me I know I want to be creative...but last night after leaving a missionary setting apart I realized that I want to feel 'important'. Really my creativity is the way that I do that.  I love being creative...but I want something more from creativity and that is feeling important. And when I say important I mean valued. Like people value my work and what I do and feel that it is important.  Who the heck knows why I want to feel that way but I do.  For me I knew that feeling important was at the core of 'what I want to feel' because it brought me to tears.  And as I've thought about how I want to feel the feelings that bring an emotional charge seem to be at the essence and root of everything for me.  And some psyco analysis might look at my desire and come up with all these things and reasons.  It doesn't matter. It is what it is, and we have all been endowed with a great capacity to dream and feel.  Which capacity will allow us to design and craft our lives. Bruce R McConkie once said... that if we put our foot on the path to the celestial kingdom we will get there. Really?! Think about that...? That has got to be one of the hardest dreams out there! So, all I'm saying is we can actually take baby steps at practicing dreaming with other stuff and eventually grow to realize that 'HEY' dreams are possible and if yours is the celestial kingdom 'Go for it!'

For me right now I think I'm at a more telestial groveling level. WHICH...will make it all the more rewarding as I do progress...!

I have ambition...! Do you?  What the heck is it though???? Well I'm not going to lie, right now I would like my creativity to bring financial reward.  I've been selling myself cheap and free and now that I'm pushing 50 I'm ready for the money! But do I have a GOOD BOOK OF DREAMS? No....What about a WELL THOUGHT OUT BLUEPRINTS FOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS? No again... I have some work to do...and I'm okay with that because this sounds and feels like it's going to be exciting! So, would you like to join me in this journey...would you like to put this to the test...are you afraid...? I really believe this is a true principle.  I'm in...first get the book, think of how I want to feel, think of my dreams, draft a well thought-out blueprint (and go to lunch with a bunch of girlfriends at noon).

Let's check back in and see what we've come up with...Remember that 'God did not intend to do all our dreaming for us...

Need to be Creative

If your the creative type or not... you might get what I'm asking...Have you ever felt like a five year old who loves to color without crayolas or paper? This was me this morning...and when I thought about the people around me that could help me out, it didn't seem like there was anyone who'd be willing to share their crayons or paper. I think I would have been satisfied by just looking at and smelling a new box of crayons....thats how desperate I felt. So I decided to text my big (as in she's older than me and yes she is a big deal and extrememly talented) designer sister. In relative terms I told her that I have no crayons and no paper. So, like a champ she whips out her 96 box of crayolas with the built in sharpener...and boy was she willing to share.  I told her my delema, no start up capital, no clientel, and no location. She's like... wow, you do have a problem..., and here's the reality.  Do you want to help people make up their minds everyday about furniture that they love but don't want to spend the money on?  I'm like, No Way! I want to put together this amazing product line and just let everyone come fall in love without me having to work to sell them on it or the price.  I want to create these WOW spaces that enliven and inspire. Then I asked her if I was being realistic? Maybe, and maybe not...

She later texted me and said "I've got it! Write a book. And use your pinterest as inspiration."
I texted her back and told her I'd need a little more convincing...but I was feelin it.

In this virtual world we can dream BIG! But also remember there IS someone out there who is willing to share their crayons and paper and sharpener. God puts them there.

My next post is going to be an inside look at the meaning of 'Homevestures'.

 

ALOHA AQUA!

So for many of you who are on Pinterest you probably noticed my OBSESSION! Let me explain... First this artist from the South of Wales crochets these sea urchin creations.  What fascinated me the most is the colors and textures juxtaposition the sand and wood pilings. Then I had a major throw back when last night with my family everyone was talking about their oldest memory. Mine was before I was three walking on the beach in Hawaii with my mom and dad...remembering the sand under my feet and the water lapping up as the sea weed wrapped around my little ankles. Then my mind began to think of the summers in California...

This amazing artist used a kind of analogous color scheme (colors that are next to each other on the color wheel).

Here's what came of my obsession ...

MY INSPIRATION                                                        




  
Sherwin Williams--Parakeet & Reflecting Pool



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Mary Cassat 'The Boating Party'

  
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Small Solar Powered Beach House

 
Kitchen & Dinning Area                                     Living Room

  
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Can you think of your oldest memory...?  It was once said...


Memory is the cabinet of imagination, the treasury of reason, the registry of conscience and the council-chamber of thought. Giambattista Basile ;-)

Vicki Stecher on Pinterest aloha aqua board to see lots more images.

I Wish I Could Be A Chameleon...

cha·me·le·on

   [kuh-mee-lee-uhn, -meel-yuhn] Show IPA

noun

1.

any of numerous Old World lizards of the familyChamaeleontidae, characterized by the ability to change thecolor of their skin, very slow locomotion, and a projectiletongue.

2.

any of several American lizards capable of changing the colorof the skin, especially Anolis carolinensis (Americanchameleon),  of the southeastern U.S.

3.

a changeable, fickle, or inconstant person.

Listening to conference this weekend gave me so much desire to make some serious changes in my life.  As I listened to each talk I thought to myself "I want to do that", and "I want those blessings", and "I know that it is possible for me to reach that exalted state". The Prophets and apostles even told us how...and then I found myself wishing it could be as easy as being a Chameleon...just change my skin color. Just change my color according to each different situation and challenge, just do it by nature.  But unfortunately our natures are fallen, and I noticed that it's only the Chameleons' skin that changes...And we all know that change can't just be skin deep. So for me right now I'm going to seek the changes that the Lord promises that will come to our minds and our bodies...and our hearts.  I know where to go...now God bless me and anyone else that wants to...to go and do and receive the promises and blessing and knowledge and witness and power and peace and love...by going and doing.

"Here's my heart...oh take and seal it...seal it for Thy courts above."

Sincerely Vicki

song; Come Thou Fount

"Road Kill"

Ok! I'm about to share, no... let me say... GIVE AWAY!, one of my biggest $$$$$$$$ making ideas EVER!
 When we lived in Louisiana road kill was very different than here in New Jersey.  It was weird, dead  armadillos all over.

I'll never forget coming home from a vacation one day and finding a similar sight in the center of my front yard...I wondered... "how the heck did that get there"?  It's funny how armadillos decompose...everything goes but that hard shell.  So... I was left with this kind of bowl in my front yard.  That's right, no one got it...we just watched it day after day slowly disappear.  I remember the kids used to mow around it.



Oh please don't go!  The best is yet to come...!

Here in New Jersey it's "BANK"!
 
deer fox

  

raccoon rabbit

 

opossum beaver

 squirrel
 
snake Ssssss

birds & fowl fowl

Unfortunately skunk, cats and dogs.  Sorry if I hit a sensitive cord with the last two.

Now if you commute to work you will probably notice new road kill each day or so.
So what if  "WE" (any takers, investors) set up a company that dealt directly with this lucrative business of dealing in furs and skins...we could start something very different and profitable.

The nice part about this is that you have all the animal protection agencies off your back.

And all of a sudden your a "HERO" because you picked up a huge deer in some one's front yard. 
Now deer skin is very valuable...the Indians used it for shoes, clothes, blankets, tents, etc... because it was so durable, soft, and waterproof. Here you can see this Indian used very "little" deer skin.


Strangely enough I have a couple of guys that will do the pick up... What's worse is your probably thinking how strange I am...but the truth is I've worked for some very high end fur and leather companies and was involved in custom work.  In fact I sized Sammy Davis Jr up for a pair of leather pants.  Also, I had years of experience selling "Gucci" handbags, luggage and ready to wear. It's amazing what a snake, leather bag can go for...

STRANGE

The way I see it working is we build a team of who wants to pick up, who wants to skin, dispose, truck, dispatch, design, market, build social networking and who wants to INVEST?

Then we tell our customers how they can earn a few extra buck just by driving to work.  Having the newest iphone 4S would be the best because the commuter dictates into the phone the animal and location. Then sends the message to us and we send a message back stating the pricing of the animal based on its condition and freshness.  Winter by the way is going to be better. We send out a pick up team, which will be divided by the area geographically day by day and they will pick up.  We then take it to our taxidermy's and begin collecting pelts.

Now... if we want to expand the business the further north we go the better fur we get.  Coyote, bear, moose, fox... Its such a nice way to clean up the environment and make "Bank"!


Here are a few interiors and apparel lines using fur, which by the way is so opulent....

fur



feathers





interior

fur used in interiors

I know some might think "ewe gross"!  But remember necessity it the mother of invention and why let a great opportunity "pass" you by!



Music while posting "Fire On The Mountain" The Greatful Dead

Keep on loving me...Vicki ;)