This year has been wonderful and trying, as all life is. I had wonderful adventures with my art friends all over, and a smashing good time with Jen Crossley as she visited early this year and again later this fall. My Video "Backgrounds to Bindings" with Cloth Paper Scissors was released, as well as several pieces of my art in various magazines. Getting to spend time with friends Dusty DeHaven, Kristen Robinson, Ruth Rae, Jen Cushman and Elena Etcheverry, Pam Carriker, MaryBeth Shaw, JoAnne Sharpe, Stephanie Rubiano and others truly was a blessing! Spending time with cousins Wendy Richards and Laura Miller has also been a treat!
Teaching in France and vending at the Columbus Ohio and Atlanta Georgia Country Living Fairs have blew me away- made all the more special by spending extra time with friends Shelly Grim, Christy Grant, Shari Replogle and Paula Marquis.
The serious health issues plaguing me the end of this year has made me anxious for the new year to begin all fresh and new! Some great things to look forward to- another visit from my bestie from down under-Jen Crossley--guaranteed good times! New venues to teach for! Working on my own book! Several Art Faires to vend and enjoy. And organization! I am looking forward to organization.
2013 had me traversing the nation, and indeed the continents teaching. I was home less than 3 months, and therefore my house and studio has taken an incredible hit organizationally! I have made a plan to conquer this in 2014. I am planning to use this blog as an accountability record both artistically and organizationally.
I have chosen a guide word to help me through 2014. That word is:
Reduce ~ Reduce ~ Reduce
I'm thinking about so many areas of life! Reducing my art stash. As an instructor, I tend to collect in multiples for students. This year I will be purging my stash (hint hint- might be a good year to take classes with me!) Reducing my art stash will reduce clutter in my home and studio.
Reducing what I spend on art supplies. This one will be tough. It is not unusual for me to spend over 300$ a month on art supplies. This year I am challenging myself to spend no more than 30$ a month (except for workshop supplies.) I feel it will help challenge me to use what I have in different ways. It will force me to become more creative. (Plus it will help reduce the stash!) As a bonus, I am going to try and spend 0$ on art supplies for the first 3 months of the year.
Reducing my to-do list. Whether that means re-evaluating or actually finishing some of these things, it will happen.
Reducing the more than 400 emails a day that get backed up in my email folder. Unsubscribe will be my friend. Mass newsletters that answer the same questions, and other means of consolidating to help me not dread turning on the computer.
Reducing the time spent away from home- which will probably also help reducing my to-do list!
If all this can come together, I am hoping my health issues will reduce!
Anyway, I will be holding myself accountable and posting successes and failures alike here if you want to journey along with me in 2014.
(This is the ugly effect of being away from home more than 9 months of the year! Studio stash out of control!- but I have a plan!)
