2011 Collected & 2012 Began - Part 3

Cole Here - Metal work done.  Now the rubber meets the road.  I am writing this in hopes that it happens in my own space.  "do what I blog, not what I do"

Tackling the bags of supply's a jumble after the Christmas dash.  Are any of you like me an in the insane rush to get handmade commissions & gifts made you now have no idea where your supply's actually are.  Cultivate is my word for my work in 2012 but "EVERY THING IN IT'S PLACE is my phrase for my home in 2012 (& Yes my studio is in my home... so no excuses).

I went out with my art sisters for holiday lunch this week and everyone was saying that they are the only ones who go into their studio so that is where the christmas presents are stored, wrapping, and in general piles.  Except for Sister Darcie - who let's just say - is a super hero of organization.  She has a small but mighty studio and keeps it neat.... I need to work on it!

So step one - WADE IN.... survey, breath and set a 15 minute timer.  Garbage bag in hand, and basket of doesn't belong here in the corner & goodwill bag in the other corner.  Start by cleaning out a path & table work area.

Step Two - Continuing to work in 15 minute incraments until you need a break, drink or just to sit down....

Step Three - keep your goals in mind.  Brenda Dayne from Cast On podcast (yes - I do not knit but I listen to a knitting podcast - I love her what can I say)  does an "annual airing of the stash"  I love this idea.  What do you really have, what can you make?  Try taking the first three month challenge.

• Challenge - Do not enter a craft supply store from Jan - March.  Works completely from your stash.  
• Air your stash
• Make project bags where you can gather all you need for a certain craft.  
• I make supply suitcases - one for felting, one for altered book journaling,

Tomorrow - Keep working on the studio!

2011 Collected & 2012 Began - Part 1

Cole Here - I am a self-confessed planner.  I love to look back and collect those things I loved about the last year & begin the new year with a vision-casting session for myself.  This is the start of a multi-part series on refocusing your art in 2012

I have spent a lot of time thinking, praying and talking through my art goals.  I believe it is one of the reasons I am as productive as I am.  Smash (hubby) said something to me this year that helped me focus - "climb up a coconut tree every so often and see if you are still going in the direction you chose, then hit the ground and go powerfully in that direction!"

• UFO's - to continue, to set free or to return to stash as a cuttable piece.  Let it go with grace!
• Successes - I love to Collect all my art successes on one journal page - it always makes me feel great.
• Learning I want to continue to incorporate into my work - do you have techniques that you just plane forget to do, even though you love it?  I have a technique page in the back of my art journal that I fill with successful techniques.  Just to keep track of them. I flip to it when I am stuck on a painting.
• I have a few learning binders where I put articles I want to keep.  I also try to flip through and purge these at this time.

More tomorrow.... Squirt is up!

FREEMONT SUNDAY MARKET & MISSING CALENDARS

Darcie & I will be at Freemont Sunday Market sharing our wares. Yesterday we prepared about 50 substrates each for UCU & market season. It is refreshing to see a bunch of untouched canvases ready to splash paint on. We are working hard and loving it.

This is the thing - whenever you get moving on a project and start feeling really great about your progress - isn't it strange how life kind of balances out that excitement with HORROR? I have lost my daily planner and am totally unprepared for life without it. I have ripped apart a few places in my house, car, Jack's toys, and I am at a loss.

I am embarking on a Google calendar - I have friends who do their meal planning, family schedule & all calendarie things on Google. Pray for me... I am not the best at this I actually prayed this morning for guidance through this process (I am seriously concerned). I am also figuring out how to FLY with an electronic calendar.

I'm Back!

Hello ~ I have been trying to do it all... and doing none of it well! I know no one else has this problem.

So what changed - Baby Boy (now almost two) started sleeping through the night, I met some fabulous Mom's (Go RCC Mops) & one of them introduced me to the FlyLady! Check her out... She teaches you how to FLY by cleaning and organizing your home to make it easier to live.

She helps you bite off a little at a time, so you can change your space in small ways that make a huge difference. I have moved 240 pounds of stuff out of my house in the month of March. Literally - doing organization 15 minutes at a time (with the loving help of my Momma!)

I am FLYing to Create. In honor of how I like to learn & the FLY principles - I am using this blog to provide you with small (less then five steps) bite-sized projects to get you in the studio & painting! WOOP! Stay tuned...