Actions Speak Louder

                         Here's some advice to not give advice.

How We Invest Our Hours

I loved when Zachary said this original quote on Project Runway Jrs. He was the young designer on that show who is well known for being wise beyond his years....both in the things he says and with the clothing he designs. So this month the chalkboard is asking us to invest in our hours as wisely as Beyonce does. And Zachary. Thank you, Zachary, for your wisdom.

Create What You're Looking For

 This seems to be the business philosophy of the era. Many a successful entrepreneur creates their own business service or product based on the fact that they just couldn't find what they were looking for out there, so they had to invent it. Frustration as inspiration. This is what my chalk wanted us all to think about this month.

Respect Over Neglect--a powerful fraction to remember

So it's a new year. A clean slate. Literally. Starting over again. I'm exchanging the blog haiku posts for chalkboard quote posts instead. I took a course in chalk boarding last year. Each month I'll post a quote a la chalk board. I'm new to it...plus I'm a human...so these won't be perfect...but the words still are intended to inspire.

 So to start with the process....chalkboards can get pricey.....so make your own and give yourself many to play and practice with. Marker board, particle board, or any old wooden pieces you have lying around will work. Get some chalkboard spray paint and go outside, so you don't harm your health. I wore a respirator mask and rubber gloves too. Place the boards on some kind of protective surface, so the lawn/work surface doesn't get its health harmed either. Also...the fine art of patience is required to wait til one side of the board dries before you spray the other side. Use your good judgment about how many coats you want on your board. You have a discerning eye to tell how many coats suit your taste.

 This was an old abandoned plumber business sign a dear friend gave to me. After the paint is dried and you've sanded down any bumps or rough patches and repainted, if needed...then take your chalk and cover the whole board. This dust seasons the board so the chalk adheres better and also cleans off when that time comes. I often hear new "chalkies" complain that when they wipe off their first chalk work the markings stay on the new board. I assume this is because the board wasn't seasoned first.

 Then go back and erase all the chalk you just put all over the surface of your board with a chalk eraser. This primes the surface.

 Then wipe it all down with a wet cloth and let dry. It still leaves a thin coat of dust which leaves a nice worn effect. This art form does require a little patience to wait for things to dry. But then your surface is all ready for you to play with. And that's the cool part about chalkboard work....you can keep erasing until you're fine with your results. Yes, chalk boarding is a transient art form...but you can take pictures.

This is my New Years quote for 2016. I know the layout is not perfect, but the words are what I need to get into my psyche right now. It's so easy in this era to get pulled away from focus with the endless tasks and expectations. One can end up neglecting all kinds of things like healthy diet, exercise, creative project time, tax work, friendships/relationships/family, cleaning and clearing clutter/environment, blogs, sites, etc. (My economics instructor used to often say, "When you do any one thing you are neglecting many other things in life, so choose carefully.")

 So, in 2016, I intend to replace the word neglect with the word respect. That means giving attention to our body, how we fuel our bodies and minds, our important people and animals in our lives, our environment, etc. Respect over neglect. Just a simple phrase may even change my refrigerator from becoming a George Carlin comedy routine. Happy 2016!