Prototypes

I've been trying to keep up with Etsy's blog the past few days. One of the posts I read today was talking about how to get your shop noticed. Suddenly it dawned on me: if I could make the Bloggess or Wil Wheaton a hand knit geek ornament and somehow send it to them, I am sure they would show it off and other people would want to buy them. So now I have to design the prototypes and start knitting. I already plan on making a TARDIS, Star Trek logo, and a binary ball. I sent out a call for suggestions to twitter. All suggestions welcome. No geek shall be ignored. Wish me luck for staying focused and Adam not getting frustrated that I haven't finished his Jayne hat yet.

365: A Year of Creativity

My brain is tired and I want a nap, but I told myself I would do this post before moving from the couch. I can't seem to catch up on energy lately. I need to go for more walks, they seem to help me feel alive.

I am going to start a year long create-a-day project along side my good friend Christina. I was inspired by an Etsy blog post and a reminder that practice is what moves basic understanding to incredible execution. I invited Christina to join me because I knew that I would get a few weeks in and drop it completely if I was on my own. She also seems to need the extra nudge to think outside her full time job and normal life.

The problem I am having now is figuring out what will be the thing that I create every day? Part of me says knitting because I enjoy doing that and can easily fit it in while working at my job. But then I think I want whatever it is to be quick enough that I can get one done every day. I have lots of different craft/art skills that could use some additional time and practice but I need some sort of focus so I can't hop between them constantly. Maybe I can switch monthly. Some skills I could make a new object every day and other skills I could work on every day but only finish one object in the month. That might work. Later I can plan what the agenda for each month will be. Since we are part way though this month already, I will start with a new object a day. I am thinking about some simple embroidery. I have a few patterns from Sublime Stitching that I want to try.

Hopefully I will post at least once a month to give an update on how the year adventure is going.

Until again, shalom.

Curve-balls and itches

Life is sure good at throwing curve-balls. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I am taking a leave of absence from my full time job. My plan is to take this down time to push myself towards habits I have been wanting to establish and goals I never thought I had time for. Of the minor goals, I will get myself in a daily exercise routine and I will tackle many of the lingering house projects we have had looming over our heads since we bought our house a couple years ago.

The biggest push will be towards taking the energy of my creative itch and turn it in to a small business. I keep reading articles about going for your passions, quitting your day job and finding something more meaningful, and how our current culture is ripe for small creative endeavors. I don't plan on making my living off of my art, at least not yet, but I do want to contribute to the greater creative conversation.

Although I wish the circumstances leading up to this were different, I look forward to being able to step off my current path and reevaluate where on the spectrum I want to reenter. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. I know I will need lots of encouragement to keep motivated. I will need lots of wisdom and guidance to make sure I take this time to seek God's plan for my life.

Peace be with you all.