What are you hopes and dreams for this year?
OK I must confessing something that I regret; not keeping a journal of what I have carried out to completion is pretty high on the list, believe it or not.
Why? For two reasons: 1. I look around the house and don’t see a whole lot of knitted projects around, and I have made a lot of wooly items. It would be sooo fun to know what I did and who I made them for. 2. It is an encouragement to the soul to see how far you have come over the years.
So if there is any kind of advice to new crafters I would say keep a record of what you have done. And if there is any kind of advice to older makers like me; it is never too late to start. For many of us creating a one of a kind quality piece of wearable art is not just about the end result it is about the journey…
If you know me at all you know how I love a new beginning.
And how the beginning of a New Year has me all giddy with the hope of what will come! It feels almost like a fresh start, where I love to dream about the possibilities. Yes, I do make a list, and I also give myself permission and grace to make mistakes and move on. I do want to extend a few more thoughts on paper like what didn’t work, and what I really want to repeat. Besides new things I want to try.
In an effort to not bore you, or make you think your crazy should look anything like mine. God compares you to No one! I just want to share the big ideas of this years excitement.
Do you have crafty goals this year?
One of my big goals for this year is to not feel so cringy for Christmas. Yes this is always the big one in my head going into a New Year. It seems like a get to November and think of all the things I could make the people I love to gift for. But of course by then it is too late to knit 12 sweaters, spun with my hand spun, all original patterns reflecting who they are as a person,,,, Yes, insanity is strong with this one. I do have to say I was proud of myself this year. I decided to lay aside all the me made marvelous that popped into my head. It is ok to not make the majority of your gifts.
However that does bring me to what I love to do, and that is make gifts for others. So that will be on my list of things to spread out for the year and not have so much anxiety right at the last minute. ~ And why not keep track of what I am doing. What I have learned, because I learn something each time. If you are also wanting to keep track of your beautiful art I have created “Thee Bee-utiful Journey” if you want to download it.
Are there any big steadfast goals you want to keep? Or something you want to stop?
These are the goals I try to keep in perspective. I think I am finally on the bandwagon for getting a little exercise this year.
How is this year different? I’m not sure I can tell you other than my perspective has changed about how it looks. I think that having a healthy dose of grace in place, and recognizing that it doesn’t have to take over my life has helped. Also setting up a good reward for myself month by month. Keeping the benefits in sight is nice.
Is there just that one thing that you know will be great for you, but you can’t seem to bring yourself to make the commitment? I understand
Do you have in mind what a perfect day looks like?
Wouldn't it be fun to be the kind of gal that gets to schedule everything out to the nine… However I am also the kind of girl that has never realized that vision. I feel like this has come with quite a few lessons along the way. There is always something to come at me from a different angle. I know that my life isn’t really my own, and in this element I have chosen to give it over. So why put together a perfect day? Because I do have those days that are unproductive and times that I don’t use time very well, and I think it is important to have something to fall back on. It’s never too late to start - even in the middle or end of the day. I always feel better when I do, no matter how bad the day was.
Are you looking to make a difference for others this year?
Recently I was blessed with a shepherds wagon that I have been dreaming of turning into a fiber weekend experience. I would love to host classes and share the experience of my little fiber farm with others. There is a lot of “To Do list” that goes along with this one, and I think that the biggest part is wrapping my head around my shortcomings, and being satisfied with letting people peek over the fence at my work in progress dream.
By the way, the Butterfly Warrior Princess slept in the wagon recently and her biggest complaint was that her dog is a bed hog. That feels like high praise to me.
Last but not least are there goals to hold onto?
I have been devoting more and more of my time to this business. It is a treasure to live on this little acre of the world that has been given to me to make beautiful. I love to share what is going on here. Helping those who want to learn about diggin’ deeper into natural fibers, in many art forms. The goal is to keep up what I have been doing and farm out or streamline the things that I don’t do as well. The dream is to be better at networking this year. I'm not sure what it looks lie just yet. Adding a small team of like minded helpers, and/or colabing with fiber-steaders and likeminded artist is the vision. If you have some thoughts on this let me know I can always use some help in this area!!!
Here’s to hopin’!
I hope this is a little bit inspiring. Let this be a year to remember with the possibilities of doing something new and fun, with keeping up what is meaningful, with making things beautiful! If you are in a place of wanting to learn a new technique in fiber arts with natural fibers, drop me a message. If you are the source of inspiration for my next workshop, you will get it for free.