Humblearts Journal

Squirrelin' Away for Winter!

Look what I did with my Saturday morning.  I turned into a little Christmas elf and made a tiny felted squirrel, are my pointy ears showing?  I plan on making a whole little forest of creatures for my girls for Christmas and then one each for all my little nieces and nephews.  Bunnies, bears, birdies, raccoons and who knows who else will pop up on my work table.  My aunt sent me a wonderful collection of wool roving and a needle felting kit.  So I've made some beads, a very funky felted lariat and have some other ideas brewing.  Fiber is fun, thanks Rosanne!!!

Speaking of squirrels, I did a trade a few months ago and I'm finally getting around to blogging about it.  It's one of my favorite pieces of art in my house now.  Tricia from Frizzelsticks painted this little masterpiece and framed it!  She titled it "Two Squirrels are Better than One!"  It was such a wonderful trade, thanks Tricia!!!

Studio Friday - Secrets

Here is my entry for Studio Friday's secret theme!  My secret, I never pick up after myself.  Look at my desk! Oil pastels from collages done 2 days ago, shopping bag from over a week ago.  Beads and random projects spread across the table.  Copper foil tape backings, that I should have thrown away yesterday.  Okay, just took care of that.  Sheesh, Louise!

Now, here are 20 random things/secrets about me from Janee's tag.

1. I hate to clean house.  2. I'd like my husband to be Mr. Mom.  3. I bought my first cd ever last week, Alanis Morissette.  4. I want to decorate for Christmas already.  5. I watched a Christmas movie this week by myself.  6.  I had purple hair one year.  7.  I studied abstract painting in college.  8.  Thanksgiving is at my house this year, I've never cooked a turkey.  9. I used to be a vegetarian  10.  I have a drawer full of yarn in our living room.  11.  I want to design a calendar based on a year in my hometown.  12.  I'd like to design a line of greeting cards.  13.  I wanted to work for Walt Disney when I graduated from High School.  14. My all time favorite movie is Raising Arizona.  15.  I become a Christian 11 years ago, after having a dream of how much God loves us.  16.  I don't know my two younger sisters very well.  17.  I don't work on projects because I'm afraid of failing.  18.  I miss snow.  19.  Step by Step Beads will be publishing a project of mine next year.  20.  I love to play cards with my grandma.

Now, I'm going to tag my mom, Stefani, Tine, Deryn, and Amy.

Pre-Holiday To-Do's

Ah, this month's to-do list is short and sweet.

1. Finish samples for my website. (by Saturday)

2. Update website: optimize for searches, add new links, find more listings and places to submit for reviews. (1 hour everyday)

3.  Start google adwords for my holiday boutique. (next week)

4.  Call my gallery and new store to set up appointments for holiday work.  (tomorrow)

5.  Find 2 new places to contact about selling my jewelry.  Send promo materials, follow up with a phone call.

Let go of everything else.  Bead Cruise registration ends on November 21st.  The SCBWI conference is next weekend.  So there are lots of little ends to tie up for both of those events. 

The gallery will be selling my work at a holiday sale at the local art museum and I won't be doing an event until next month with the Bead Society.  It will be a different pace this year, but I'm not going to do shows, just to do a show.  I'm tired of being disappointed trying to sell my work to the wrong market.  I don't have to do everything today, some successes can wait until the time is right.  It's tough to trust that my needs will be taken care of, that it's okay to slow down and listen to that inner voice that says wait - when I really want to go running forth into unknown disasters of my own making.  I need to find a place of peace in my own heart and let that peace be my guide for which steps to take next.  You see, we can waste months, even years, doing busy work, trying to get ahead when there is the possibility of just one simple step to get you to where your next adventure lies.  For me, it's writing a book, how I can I write a book if I don't leave any time for myself for that creative process?  It's not just one selling season, not just this month or next that I'm thinking of; I'm ready for a life change and that means taking chances that are not on the beaten path. 

Be brave, face your life head on and know that there is a purpose and a plan for you, a plan for your good and for you to prosper.  Walk in peace this month.