To blog or not to blog that has been my dilemma for quite some time….Well I guess the answer is obvious, I’m gonna  blog so here I go. Wish me luck, yikes, gah!

Why such a dilemma?  Hmmmm, so many reasons, starting with…

Do I really need one more thing in my busy, crazy life that requires me to spend even more time on the computer? I already have, 1 Hotmail account, two G-mail accounts, 2 websites to maintain, 2 Twitter accounts (ok I kinda gave up on this one)  a Linked In account and then of course there is Facebook, the great eater of time ( i may have a problem here) but that is another blog post I’m sure…But really, yeash, can you see my dilemma.  Why do I need this? OK I’m going to ask myself again (since I’m not to sure if anyone will actually read this blog), WHY DO I NEED THIS??

Well here is what I have come up with, bear with me please….Because I LOVE doing what I do, I LOVE to create stuff, not just stuff, BEAUTIFUL stuff and lots of it and of course I love to share it with everyone. In fact, my little design brain just doesn’t seem to shut off, nope, nada, never…And a blog is a way for me to get more personal about the process of design, share and possibly explain my creative process, hopefully get some feedback from y’all (i really hope there is a y’all out there) and maybe just maybe, inspire and encourage anyone wanting to follow their own passion and do what they LOVE! Oh and I’m also thinkin, this blog is a way for me to spend LESS time on FB, cause I’ll just post everything that’s going on with Charly Blair Designs and Around the Hounds here ….Yah right! Anyhoo, here’s to good intentions.

My 2 adopted greyhound Isabelle & Chester and I

When I was younger I thought I had a problem. I was forever being  told my head was in the clouds, or I just wasn’t paying attention, I was forgetful, distracted, dozy, etc…But in truth, I was always dreaming, imagining, creating, escaping any boring or uncomfortable situation by drifting away to a better place..I imagined beautiful worlds with beautiful people all elegantly dressed in gorgeous bold brilliant colors (i have a thing for color) I imagined the most amazing houses, all beautifully decorated and painted in my favorite color palette of the moment in fact I could get lost in a color palette  for days and when I wasn’t daydreaming, I was drawing, sketching, painting, reading, playing with my dogs or riding my horse.  It was all so endlessly inspiring to me, a great way to escape the boring or mundane aspects of life.

YEP, my creative brain is what got me into heaps of trouble.

Parents – Why did I always lose or misplace stuff and why couldn’t I clean my bedroom or finish the dishes? What was wrong with me?

Teachers – She is such a wonderfully creative child but she needs to pay more attention to spelling and punctuation  and we are not sure why she feels she is above doing homework?  P.S. I love you spell check, but why weren’t you there for me in grade 5

Friends – I lost track of time and I’m soooo sorry I am late yet again.  BTW what is your name again?

Me  to Kids &  Hubby – Where did I put my purse, car keys, glasses???

Kids & Hubby to Me – Mom…NOT again!!!! BTW your glasses are on your head.

It took me till my fortieth year to figure out that my creative brain wasn’t so much a curse but a gift, I just needed to find way to harness all that creative energy then get the right support team around me to help with my weaker areas.

SIMPLE  DIMPLE….HA!  If only it was that simple but at least learning to recognize and focus on my strengths instead of beating myself up for my weaknesses led me to believe I could achieve some of the dreams swirling around in my head.

In 2002 I launched Around the Hounds a company that specializes in making custom designer dog collars and 8 years later with an incredible support team around me (it took a while but find them I did) we continue to grow and thrive…Dog collars,  who knew!!  UH, er, if you do the math, I think I also  just gave away my age….

Due to the success of ATH and amazing love and support of my business/life partner Robin, I was able to recently launch a new creative venture www.charlyblair.com which specializes in One of a Kind Jewelry Design.

I think I have finally given my design brain the challenge it has been craving all these years as I have never felt so utterly, joyously, deliriously, blissfully happy and at home.

For me 2010 is not about making resolutions but it is about recognizing with deep knowing that  I am doing what I am supposed to do, living the life I am supposed to live, being with the people I am supposed to be with.

It is also about being grateful for everything and everyone in my life. I have been blessed with incredible kids who I adore and who seem to understand me and forgive all my human imperfections (my lack of cooking talent is an endless source of entertainment ) and with a wonderfully supportive  partner who seems to love me to the end of the earth  in spite of my crazy brain and also believes in my dreams and helps make them happen…I’m such a lucky gal

2010 is going to be a great year

Char

Here is a little preview of  some of the stuff I have been working on…It is a little nerve wracking to go beyond the dog world with my jewelry designs but there is a diva in me that wants to creatively express herself

Vintage Glam Collection - Crystal Palace

Vintage Glam Collection - Vienna

Vintage Glam Collection - Titanic

Vintage Glam Collection – Silver Flower

Vintage Glam Collection - Baroque