I feel like I have landed with a bump into the fresh new year, and suddenly the house is quiet with everyone back to school and work and it is time to snap out of the fuzzy, "what day of the week is it?" mindset of the holidays and jump back into normal life again.
I like this feeling of anticipation, having rested and relaxed, and now ready to plan and prep for the year ahead. I have so many ideas for my jewellery, and personal hopes too, so this morning I am setting out my hopes for 2012. Not resolutions, because just that word makes me feel doleful with the sense of mid February guilt that always follows January's resolve. I end up wearing them around my neck like a medieval penance. But, a shortish list of hopes - that I find more exciting than intimidating. And I'm actually writing them down this year rather than having them tumbling around in my mind. I'm also writing a formal artist's statement for Wild Acre jewellery. Seems as if this is the year I get a little more organised, harness that free spirit just enough to feel there is a good structure in place for what I hope to achieve. Which does all sound a bit like Buzz Lightyear saying "I'm not flying....I'm falling with style!" Well, hopefully not falling, but at least "moving forward with some energy and clarity," (doesn't quite have that Hollywood ring!).
So my hopes for Wild Acre? Without boring you with the fine details:
To get my work into galleries and shops. Just a few ones that I love, and seem a good fit with my jewellery. I have a meeting next week with a gallery that approached me during the holidays which is an exciting start.
To further investigate the possibility of securing ethically mined/recycled supplies for my work.
To work on the jewellery business 4 days a week and grow the sales.
To work towards 3 or 4 collections to include necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings in each.
Deepen the link between my wild acre of garden and surrounding wetlands and fields, and the jewellery designs.
To continue building my skills base at the Hopton and Furlong School of Jewellery.
Investigate the possiblilities of exhibitions and larger craft fairs and pop-up shops.
Plan better, a season ahead.
Do my first business tax return - arrrgh!
Grow my gorgeous flowers more for pleasure than business, but enjoy the selling when it happens.
My personal hopes
Savour - time with my peeps. Disconnect and unplug from technology now and again.
Sleep - earlier to bed in the week. 6 and a half hours sleep a night is just. not. enough.
Food - I may not be the breadwinner in this family but I want to be the breadmaker. Every week, it is a no brainer. Make very sure my veggie daughter is getting enough iron. Eat less, eat better. Eat together as often as we can.
Exercise - this is a crucial 6 months for me - I find the discipline to do more than walking the dog, or I buy my clothes a size larger and stop moaning! I will not be whingeing about my muffin top this time next year, I am boring even myself about it!
Prayer. Use it or lose it. It is a habit, let's not be super-spiritual about it. So grateful God doesn't give up on me.
Photography. I got a big girl's camera for Christmas. Now I need to learn how to use it. Maybe a short course, because the instructionmanual door stop makes me want to cry!
Time management. Pootling is lovely, it is cosy but it doesn't really get stuff done. Curb the pootling just a little.
Read more. Watch tv less or not at all.
Write my 'small stones' every day in January, and when I feel like it after then. Little poetic scraps that celebrate or investigate a moment in each day. Held and polished a little, a way to slow down and appreciate the small beauties and feelings that occur but are usually obscured by busyness.
Find one special word that sums up my hopes for the year and hold it close. Can't think of one yet, will let you know when I do.
I'm not going to do them all and I am fine with that, but it is good to know what I am aiming for.
Do you have hopes for 2012? Hope is a good thing, it keeps us moving forward, don't you think?
small stone 4
Difficult news makes my ears feel full, as if hearing the words, somehow bungs them up and makes my hearing muffled.
I like this feeling of anticipation, having rested and relaxed, and now ready to plan and prep for the year ahead. I have so many ideas for my jewellery, and personal hopes too, so this morning I am setting out my hopes for 2012. Not resolutions, because just that word makes me feel doleful with the sense of mid February guilt that always follows January's resolve. I end up wearing them around my neck like a medieval penance. But, a shortish list of hopes - that I find more exciting than intimidating. And I'm actually writing them down this year rather than having them tumbling around in my mind. I'm also writing a formal artist's statement for Wild Acre jewellery. Seems as if this is the year I get a little more organised, harness that free spirit just enough to feel there is a good structure in place for what I hope to achieve. Which does all sound a bit like Buzz Lightyear saying "I'm not flying....I'm falling with style!" Well, hopefully not falling, but at least "moving forward with some energy and clarity," (doesn't quite have that Hollywood ring!).
So my hopes for Wild Acre? Without boring you with the fine details:
To get my work into galleries and shops. Just a few ones that I love, and seem a good fit with my jewellery. I have a meeting next week with a gallery that approached me during the holidays which is an exciting start.
To further investigate the possibility of securing ethically mined/recycled supplies for my work.
To work on the jewellery business 4 days a week and grow the sales.
To work towards 3 or 4 collections to include necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings in each.
Deepen the link between my wild acre of garden and surrounding wetlands and fields, and the jewellery designs.
To continue building my skills base at the Hopton and Furlong School of Jewellery.
Investigate the possiblilities of exhibitions and larger craft fairs and pop-up shops.
Plan better, a season ahead.
Do my first business tax return - arrrgh!
Grow my gorgeous flowers more for pleasure than business, but enjoy the selling when it happens.
My personal hopes
Savour - time with my peeps. Disconnect and unplug from technology now and again.
Sleep - earlier to bed in the week. 6 and a half hours sleep a night is just. not. enough.
Food - I may not be the breadwinner in this family but I want to be the breadmaker. Every week, it is a no brainer. Make very sure my veggie daughter is getting enough iron. Eat less, eat better. Eat together as often as we can.
Exercise - this is a crucial 6 months for me - I find the discipline to do more than walking the dog, or I buy my clothes a size larger and stop moaning! I will not be whingeing about my muffin top this time next year, I am boring even myself about it!
Prayer. Use it or lose it. It is a habit, let's not be super-spiritual about it. So grateful God doesn't give up on me.
Photography. I got a big girl's camera for Christmas. Now I need to learn how to use it. Maybe a short course, because the instruction
Time management. Pootling is lovely, it is cosy but it doesn't really get stuff done. Curb the pootling just a little.
Read more. Watch tv less or not at all.
Write my 'small stones' every day in January, and when I feel like it after then. Little poetic scraps that celebrate or investigate a moment in each day. Held and polished a little, a way to slow down and appreciate the small beauties and feelings that occur but are usually obscured by busyness.
Find one special word that sums up my hopes for the year and hold it close. Can't think of one yet, will let you know when I do.
I'm not going to do them all and I am fine with that, but it is good to know what I am aiming for.
Do you have hopes for 2012? Hope is a good thing, it keeps us moving forward, don't you think?
*********
small stone 4
Difficult news makes my ears feel full, as if hearing the words, somehow bungs them up and makes my hearing muffled.
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