Creative Priorities

This new year has inspired me to rethink some priorities, especially in the creativity department. I've joined a few blog groups that share their work weekly, which I think will be a great outlet, and so far has been!

 I changed my blog around a lot! I haven't felt yet that this blog has had a specific voice other than my own personal ramblings. But I am now hoping to focus more (but not entirely) on creativity and I am excited to see where that takes the blog.  I will be posting on Wednesdays for "What's on Your Workbench Wednesdays" hosted by Stamping Ground, and participating in Creative Everyday and Artists in Blogland.  If you're looking for some creative focussed blogs, I hope you will check these spaces out.

 Today I went out and bought a beautiful sketch book. It is everything I had hoped for; 95 lb. paper (perfect for painting, drawing..any medium really), small size at 5X8, and spiral bound so it lies flat. I have been filling sketch books for years, but somehow have been less habitual about it lately. My plan is to use the journal for sketching jewelry designs and as a place to collect some creativity.

To kick off these new goals, here is my first sketch:

Ahhhh, the New Year.

I've been reminiscing over the last year, since of course the New Year's arrival has inspired thoughts of the things to come.  I love the reflection and expectation that a new year brings, a blank slate for new beginnings and closure for what has been.

I'm really looking forward for this year because I am nearly positive that it is going to be full of only planned craziness, none of this out of control crazy that my life seems to have a way of attracting.  For instance, we plan on buying a house this year, which will be a whirlwind, but a planned adventure as well.

Once, I tried to count how many houses I've lived in during my lifetime and I lost count in the mid 20s.  You can imagine how exciting it will be for me to move into a home, own it, and plan on staying in it for (what?!?!) years.  I'll just have to learn to fulfill my gypsy needs with travel rather than with obsessive moving.

Some of the unplanned crazy from 2011, because I feel like sharing:


Matt proposed.

I homeschooled my kids for two months while we were stranded in relocated to Oklahoma City for Matt's job training

We drove halfway across the country twice with two kids, a dog, a lizard, and a ferret, and finally made it here to a different house, and a different state, to start a new life together.

I started this blog (181 posts!), mostly to help keep me sane while I homeschooled the kids in Oklahoma.  I learned a lot about HTML and gained a huge appreciation for public school.

I got married.

I started my Etsy shop (65 sales!!), also to keep myself from going crazy as a new housewife.  The dishes are only entertaining for so long...I learned a lot about owning an online business, paypal, and macro digital photography.



So there you are, a glimpse through my last year, pretty crazy/exciting, right?  Cheers to the up and coming 2012, to stability, settling in, and more craziness (but please more of the planned-for variety).

Happy New Year Y'all!