My Book Birthday: Give Yourself Margin

On September 15th, 2020, a book that I wrote and illustrated for Andrews McMeel Publishing was published. The book is an illustrative guide to reconnecting with your creative self. I called it “Give Yourself Margin“. Today I am celebrating my book’s 1 year birthday.

CLICK HERE to purchase your copy or to leave a review.

An enormous thanks to my agent Lindsay Edgecombe at Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency. This book was literally a dream come true. In fact, it was an item on my Vision Board that came to fruition. I’m so full of gratitude that I got a chance to REALLY WRITE a book that has touched so many people’s hearts.

“Give Yourself Margin” is for anyone who could use a bit of encouragement and permission reconnect with their creative selves.

HERE’S THE STORY OF HOW THIS BOOK CAME TO BE. THE STORY GIVES ME GOOSEBUMPS AND CONFIRMS TO ME THE IMPORTANCE OF TIMING AND OF PUTTING WHAT YOU WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN IN YOUR LIFE OUT THERE.

I’ve shared this story before, but 3 years ago I was at an all time low personally and professionally. I was exhausted from motherhood and running my small business. For years I had put myself in the back burner in pursuit of doing “the right thing”. And because of that, I had lost my own creative spark.

One day in January 2018, I jotted down the phrase “give yourself margin” and felt this strong connection with those words. I needed to give myself space to rediscover and reconnect with my own heart’s desires.

I WAS TIRED OF CHASING THINGS THAT DIDN’T MAKE ME FEEL ALIVE INSIDE.

So, in a sudden change, I started working less. I ripped down the ugly wallpaper from my kitchen. I started yoga. I started making the art that I needed to see rather than what fit the usual “Gingiber” aesthetic. I went on walks. I reconnected with old friends. And everyday, I thought about the ways that I could “give myself margin” to be a little bit happier.

That year was one of the best years of my life. BECAUSE I lived a bit more and worked a bit less, so many magical things started happening. My family felt the difference. I felt peaceful. My friends noticed the changes too. I slowed down, quieted my mind, and was finally able to trust my own intuition.

And, after a year of living intentionally, the best thing happened: I shared about my experience on Instagram. My now literary agent saw my references to “Give Yourself Margin”, wrote to me and said the magic words: “We should make a book based on this phrase”.

Here’s a part of the story I don’t think I’ve shared publicly yet. I had actually pitched several book ideas out into the world during the previous 2 years. I tried children’s books. Craft Books. Embroidery Books. How-to Books. But every idea was rejected. And rejection stinks.

IF YOU DON’T LEARN HOW TO BE RESILIENT WHEN FACED WITH REJECTION, YOU MIGHT GIVE UP RIGHT BEFORE THAT NEXT AMAZING THING IS ABOUT TO ENTER YOUR LIFE.

For years, I kept showing up, making work I was excited about, and getting success on social media from my artwork. But for some reason I just couldn’t force a book deal to come together.

WHEN THE TIMING ISN’T RIGHT, YOU CANNOT BUDGE THE DOOR OPEN, AND YOU RISK WASTING VALUABLE EMOTIONAL ENERGY ON SOMETHING THAT ISN’T MEANT TO BE YOURS YET.

I finally let go of the idea of forcing a book into existence. Instead a did something different for me: I simply released the dream into the world and decided that when the time was right, I would get to write a book. It it was meant for me, it would find me.

As an experiment I decided to release an Embroidery Book called “Woodland Stitches” on my own with A LOT of help of some good friends, Regan and Sada Lewis. Together we launched a book that sold incredibly well on Amazon. It was proof of concept that I had good ideas. I needed that win. I needed to remember that sometimes the way we imagine a big dream coming true doesn’t always show up the way you would expect it. 

After “Woodland Stitches” released, I just felt this immense sense of gratitude. I also had fully resigned myself to the idea that getting a “book deal” didn’t define my success one way or the other.

There is always more than one way forward towards your goals, and the way these things come together is usually for more beautiful and intricate than you could have ever imagined.

Once I had let go of the tension of wanting a book deal so badly, it was as if that act of surrender made my ACTUALLY READY for a book deal. Does that make sense? Maybe this all sounds rambling to you, but I’ve seen time and time again in my career and life that I can almost strangle the magic out of opportunities by trying to get it “PERFECT” and “JUST RIGHT” when I think I want it. I think sometimes that type of energy stifles inspiration and opportunity.

MY PROCESS IS THIS CONSTANT EBB AND FLOW BETWEEN IDENTIFYING WHAT I WANT AND BEING PATIENT WITH THE PROCESS THAT GETS ME THERE. DOES THAT FEEL FAMILIAR TO YOU AT ALL? 

If this instinct is accurate, that means that time is our GREATEST GIFT. If we can keep showing up, making ourselves ready, and leave room for opportunities to present themselves, then maybe JUST MAYBE given enough time, we will see big things happen in our lives. We just cannot rush the process.

The day I saw my book in Barnes and Noble was a “PINCH ME” moment.

And now we are here, on my book release birthday. Thank you for showing up and supporting this little dream of mine.

I hope that you purchase a copy of “Give Yourself Margin” that it reminds you that sometimes less is more. Sometimes the things we need are the things we often put on the back burner. Reconnecting with your true creative self might be exactly what you need during these uncertain time.

If you already have a copy, I hope you pull it off of your bookshelf and give it a second look. It will encourage you to give yourself some margin.

YOU DESERVE TO RECONNECT WITH WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU.

It has been 1 full year since this book entered the world, and I have seen hundreds of you share about the book, talking about how it feels like sitting down with a dear friend and finding encouragement within its pages. So many of you have purchased a copy for yourself and a copy for your closest friend. THANK YOU! This is a little book that I believe will provide lasting inspiration for years to come.

THERE IS SO MUCH HAPPENING IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW. SO MUCH NOISE. SO MUCH SADNESS AND HEARTACHE AND GENUINE STRUGGLE.

The world keeps spinning. I made this little book: a book filled with my most personal thoughts and an abundance of illustrations. We put it out into the world during a time of extreme uncertainty, hoping that it would resonate. 

Friends old and new, I couldn’t have done this without you. Thank you for cheering me on! I want to cheer you on in your journey, too.

Thanks for reading about the story of my book, “Give Yourself Margin“. I hope this story reminds you that those big dreams you have can happen.