August Daisy Love

Do you sense the change in the weather? For me it’s the light. This time of year the color of the light is different. It seems to become more rosy gold. Here in Montana the mornings and evenings are much cooler even with day time highs in the 90’s. It’s definitely changing which always makes me a little sad. I hope wherever you are you are squeezing out the last bits before back to school and autumn rolls around!

This month I want to introduce you to Anna Feucht.

She is a wonderful addition to our weekly chats on the message boards. I love her layouts and pocket spreads about her family and life in Sweden. Here she is in her own words:
Hi! My name is Anna and I live in the deep forests of Sweden. I share my life with my two boys Alfred, 1 and Frank, 3 and of their dad Linus. We’re the kind of family that likes to keep our door open for friends and family to come by for coffee, dinner or just to hang out. We don’t have much but what we do have we like to share with people we love. My boys are such fun characters, both of them, and it is so fun to see how much they have in common but still how clear their different personalities are. Frank has so many thoughts on life and Alfred is sunshine on two legs. They both know what they want and one is an introvert and the other an extrovert. And both of their smiles and laughter’s makes my heart melt like butter!

When I’m not home I work at a kindergarten, since this spring, and I love it! I have the best co-workers a person could ask for and get to spend plenty of time outside. Also being creative really comes in handy when working with small children, there is a constant need to find new ways to tackle things and to come up with awesome activity ideas. Earlier I have been working with book keeping which I also really like.

I have always had a thing for pretty papers and stickers. Sometimes I try different things like boppin lace or make wire baskets but I always circle back to paper crafts. Today I mainly do pocket scrapbooking and creative planning mixed in with a card or two and some list making. Other than paper crafts I love to knit and gardening. That interest varies over time how ever and now with two small ones it’s not always easy to find the time and possibility. This year I have included Frank a lot in growing tomatoes and planting seeds. The result hasn’t been a huge success this year but the learning process and the time spent together has been fabulous! The journey it self really has been the goal.

I got a chance to ask Anna a few questions.
What talent would you most like to have
To learn languages easily. I’ve always dreamt of being able to talk all the languages of the world. Just imagine what a treasure that would be! If I ever find a genie in a bottle that is my first wish.

Favorite quote that describes yourself or your life right now?
“This too shall pass” With small children that is both comforting and a reminder to savor each moment. During sleepless nights it’s been what’s keeping us afloat. And all the same it makes me really sad to know that my boys will grow up and not need me in the same way they do now. I’ll really miss the closeness of small children!

What is a quality you most like in a person?
Honesty. Not sure if it’s age or personality but I just can’t stand guessing if people say what they think or not. Giving honest opinions about things even if it’s not what I want to hear makes me appreciate the positive even more. One thing I want to get better at is telling others when I think they’ve done something good, we’re strange like that sometime that we don’t give each other more compliments, about everything! Like I really like they way you think about X or I am so impressed but your parenting skills or what ever. No need to mentally hoard nice things, right?
What is on your mind lately? or what is changing in your mind lately?
Over the last year I’ve learnt a great deal about myself. What started with creative planning ended up working as a way to find out how my own brain works, very fascinating and daunting at times. For example I have realized just how important it is for me to have a creative outlet. And to take time to think things through. I’ve been going from jotting down to dos that barely makes sense to take time to sit down and be precise. Taking that time actually saves me time. And I’ve learnt what is realistic to get done in contrast to what I want to get done. Man is that nice! Instead of being disappointed because there’s yet another task to migrate I get the satisfaction of a finished list.

Where do you find/get your strength?
In balancing myself. I have a great need for both time alone and time together with loved ones. Both needs fuels each other and if one gets ignored the other suffer. My boys gives me plenty of inspiration and joy that I use when I do something creative. They see the world so differently and are masters at finding the details that I overlook. And my time alone gives me room to collect my thoughts and document all those encounters we have in our daily life. Without each other they wouldn’t hold as much value as they do!

Thank you Anna for sharing your thoughts with us. What a great reminder about balance and giving yourself the time you need alone and with others. Those two things are both so nourishing and important!

Here are some of Anna’s layouts that I really love. She has such a fun style with layers and quirky little bits she uses in creative ways. She also has two really darling boys!