Happy Monday, y’all!
Kevin and I are racing to finish our Photoshop and Facebook Marketing classes this week in preparation for the sessions we’ll be teaching at the Haven Conference starting this Friday. My session will focus on helping folks learn how to manipulate photos to virtually try out different pieces of furniture, colors, landscaping and decor items, etc. using Photoshop. Kevin’s will focus on helping folks learn the basics of Facebook marketing, including how to grow your email list and raising awareness about your brand. We haven’t had much experience speaking at conferences, but hopefully the info will be helpful to whoever signs up for our classes!
And speaking of manipulating photos in Photoshop- I had fun working on one for a gal named Eve recently. She sent me this photo of the exterior of their home…
…and said they’d love to see it with a different color of paint, a front porch that spans the entire length of the front house, a new garage door and some more landscaping, so here’s what I pasted together for her:
I dragged the porch in from this photo I found on Pinterest:
Obviously, the windows are different, but I thought it would at least give her a better idea of how a long porch would *sort of* look. I also found these beautiful Colonial homes while I was online searching:
Aren’t those pretty color schemes too? I sent them to Eve so that she could also ponder those possibilities, but I’m not sure the last one is perfect for her particular style of home. I think it works on that one because of the pediment over the front door, but it was just too pretty not to share!
Anywho- I look forward to making my Photoshop course available online after the Haven Conference too. And for those not interested in learning Photoshop, but want a photo manipulated- I’m also looking forward to partnering with 10 more people on design consultations at some point during the first week of August too. I’ll try to give you a heads up in advance this time so those of you who are interested know what time and day they’ll be available!
And on a personal note…
I went to our neighborhood’s farmer’s market last week, and as I was standing there amidst all my neighbors and the sweet vendor’s fabulous offerings, chatting with old friends and meeting fun new ones, I started to feel completely overwhelmed. Not because of anything anyone said or did, but simply because that’s how social anxiety works. Fellow sensitized folks know, it just swoops in, takes over, and you end up expending a tremendous amount of energy merely to appear “normal” until you can either calm yourself down or, and more likely, until you can figure out how to get the heck out of there without looking “abnormal”. :-/
Fortunately, I had to go pick up Steevenson up around that time, so I had an excuse to dash off before I: insert any number of calamaties that were probably all in my head HERE. 😉
But seriously, can I get an amen that just because it’s “all in your head” doesn’t make the struggle any less real?
Anxiousness aside, I am immensely excited to…
- get out of town
- see old friends
- meet new friends
- hang out with my family at a hotel (my mom is coming with us to watch Sonny while we teach)
- share one of my passions with kindred spirits
I just wanted readers who are going to know that you can absolutely be abnormal with me, and that I will most certainly be winging it in every. single. way.
The sessions, the social situations, my outfits…all of it. Because friends and family make the world go around, and life is too short to be bound by the horizon of our front doors, Amen? 🙂
Layla
PS- This is the FINAL WEEK of the Annie Selke Rug Challenge! If you missed it in previous posts, these are the 3 rug designs I ended up submitting:
In a nutshell, there are 14 of us in the challenge, and Dash & Albert will produce the ten rugs with the most votes when voting ends THIS Thursday.
You can only vote once (because you vote by “liking” the photos on Instagram, which you can only “like” once) but if you haven’t already voted and you’d like to throw one (or three!) my way, I sure would appreciate your support. All you have to do is double-tap the photos of my rugs on the @AnnieSelke Instagram feed to “like” or “heart” them, and that’s it! 🙂 You can click through the banner below if you’re on a desktop, but you must have an Instagram account to be able to log in and vote…
Thanks again, guys! XO
That is an amazing transformation, and it’s so smart to give such a realistic view of what’s possible.
When you described being at the market with friends and the sweet vendor and feeling overwhelmed, I thought you were going to say overwhelmed with joy. You have a lot going for you–your family, including the adorable Steevenson, your talent and work….You may feel anxious, but many people are thinking, “you rock!”
I like the transformation and think it would actually look better if they changed that lower window to two to match the other side.
Conference speaking: you need to consciously slow your speaking. You will talk fast without realising it. Remember to breathe. Take a conscious breath after you have made a point or finished a slide. It will calm you and allow the audience to process what you just said. Make brief eye contact with individuals occasionally, without looking at one person too long. Smile!!
You know your subject and will do great!
If you panic, turn toward the screen or reach for your water and take a couple of breaths. It will feel like a long pause to you but not to the audience.
great speaking tips!
Hi Layla, I’ve followed your blog for years, in particular I watched the adoption updates and said hopeful prayers for a joyous outcome. <3 Never would I have imagined that you suffer from social anxiety. Isn't it funny how you perceive someone online. You're so funny and sweet and down to earth. I share this because I suffer as well and no one understands!! I've tried to talk to girlfriends about it but they think it's "in my head." Thank you for being real and putting yourself out there. xo
well said!
wow, i absolutely LOVE what you did with the color and porch for ms. eve! incredible transformation. you are so talented in design. great eye.
wishing you both all the best on your speaking engagements. good luck!
have you seen the shirt about winging it that adds “eyeliner” to the list? so cute!
Love the colonial look! You always do an amazing job with your prestos!
I totally get the anxiety thing. I left Haven a day early my first time there because I was feeling so awkward (I don’t think Brittany & Sandra have forgiven me yet for leaving without saying goodbye!)
I am actually still going back and forth on if I am going this year because of the stress of it! I think today is the last day to get a ticket so I need to make up my mind! Would love to see you and Kevin and your mom and meet Steevenson if I can get myself to go! Shoot me a text so we can be sure to connect.
I just LOVE your prestos! You are so incredibly talented! I agree that changing that single (yet triple) window on the right to a double to match the other side would look great and add a good balance. Do you ever have people send you follow up pictures? Obviously this would take a long time to complete but I would sure love to see some follow ups if anyone ever does. Now….I may need to send you a photo of my sunroom to see what you can whip up! :))
Thanks, Kim!
Folks don’t send follow-up photos too often, but I love to share them when they do! 😀
I’ve been enjoying your Instagram “stories” and your endearing personality always makes me smile. Maya Angelou said it well…. “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Thank you for the kind words of encouragement, Cindy! I love that quote too! 😀
Prayers my fellow “anxiety sister”. Actually on a very small dosage
of meds that keeps me from getting full blown attacks. Yoga has really
helped me alot!! No public classes, I do “Yoga with Adrienne” on Youtube!
You would like her quirky personality and the peaceful intentions she sets for
each practice. Start with her “30 Days of Yoga” series, for all skill levels.
Peace Layla
Layla, I have followed you for years. I have always admired you. I now admire you even more for your openness about your struggles. We all have them. The more we talk about them, the more accepted they will be. Thank you for sharing. God Bless You!
I do like the dark grey exterior. Looks classic.
Eves’ house would look so awesome with a porch across the front, and a color change! I too would change out that window between the door and the garage to match the other side.
As for your anxiety, I too struggle among a group. My mouth goes dry, my words jumble in my mouth and my brain feels like it is spinning. Don’t know what you call it, but I call it a panic attack. I have practically run out of situations, just to calm down. And I avoid being social if I can. That’s the wrong thing to do, as it just makes it worse, I think. Thank you for making me feel like I am okay, that this is something others feel too!
Cute tshirt. You need to sell that one
Leyla,
What photoshop program would i buy to use with my MacBook pro?
Any version will work! 🙂
Layla, I was taught a little trick on how to make a “uncomfortable” situation bearable by flipping it emotionally. I used to not be able to go thru a fast food drive thru so my teacher told me to drive thru and order one, as in 1 french fry. I did that a few times and now can order a whole order…so much tastier than just 1 ha! Pray you will feel empowered with His help, Blessings
Oh don’t you just HATE that sudden rush of ‘oh, gosh I can’t cope!’ I get it fairly often and I have to rrrrrreally train myself to breathe. I find when I get that ‘panic attack’ I have shallow breathing, so I force myself to recognise the symptoms and force a deep breath and release my muscles. You would be surprised how many people actually have social anxiety.
I wish you great success on the presentation! I reckon with your bubbly personality and having Kevin with you, you guys will rock it in!
On a lighter note, I think the first do-over is the best one. I think maybe a red or yellow door would look great too, but that’s just me. I think having a porch on that house of Eve’s really makes it special.