Hello Friends!
I always enjoy the moment when I finally get the chance to sit down and write a new blog post – mainly because it means I am a little bit more on top of things! This morning, I certainly did not feel that way, but after some morning tea and planning, I’m feeling much more positive!
On the day-to day, I am still struggling a little to shake the feeling that I am failing to make progress in any aspects of my life. However, I recently watched Emma Watson’s Vogue Carry-On video and she mentioned how she has been ‘sowing a lot of seeds over the last four or five years. (That) you can’t always be in the reaping stage, or the harvest stage in life.‘ I liked that concept because it really captures how I feel about this year – it has been a year of sowing seeds. Maybe next year I will begin to reap some of the rewards of harvest. Even tiny steps will eventually lead some place new.
Today, I would like to start with the thing that is bringing me the most joy at the moment– my Friend of Note Christmas project!
(I suspect this post will be a long one!)
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
That’s right, it’s almost that time of year and this girl is cracking into a new product! One that I won’t allow myself to neglect – sorry Halloween! You may be wondering, (especially considering how I am constantly questioning it), if I am feeling so overwhelmed, why don’t I give myself a break on the sticker front? Well, over the past year or so, I’ve come to learn that if I am not creating something, my outlook on life can become rather dark and hopeless.
Creating makes me feel that I am at least striving towards something worthwhile, even if the practice simply helps me improve my skills. It’s something I look forward to! It’s the weeks when I don’t make anything at all, that I feel my worst, particularly because it takes me so much more effort to get back on the creative train again. So, onwards we go! Onwards to Christmas.
About a fortnight ago, I was eating breakfast when I was struck with a very exciting concept for a Christmas product. Originally, I was going to keep it under wraps, but I really enjoy sharing my progress and since this project will take me all the way through to mid-November, I decided I will let you in on the secret. I am going to create a Sticker Advent Calendar! Nope, not a typical advent calendar that spits out stickers each day, but rather, a fun little game of decorating the tree.
The pack will come with an A4 poster of an illustrated tree and a sheet of 24 stickers – these will be the decorations that will be used to trim the tree! Each day, a new decoration is added until Christmas Eve when you will be left with a completely decorated tree! I just think it will be a bit of fun! So far, I’ve drawn the tree and now I am beginning to work through the 24 stickers, I currently have 22 to go so I better get a wriggle on!
New Gift Tags
I’ve dabbled with gift tags in the past, though have never been truly happy with them… until I had a brain wave! By printing the tags on glossy 200 gsm card, and backing them with matte sticker paper, the tags look more professional, are sturdier AND can be easily written on. I created this tag at the request of a customer this week and I was VERY happy with the results! I probably won’t be launching my former cake range in tag form any time soon, but as I illustrate new cakes, this will be something I will tap into.
Talented Friends
I have a new addition to my home! My friend & gallery co-worker, Cal, ever so kindly offered me a painting from the works he created last year. It was challenging to pick a favourite but this one stood out to me and I absolutely love it! Did I mention he built the nifty frame? It is one of my favourite things in the world to be able to add creations from my friends to my house and this painting, coincidentally, fits in so darn well! Every time I look at it, it makes me happy! :)
The Artist’s Way
As I seem to have an affliction for taking on new projects despite having far greater priorities, I recently started reading The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron! It’s typically a twelve-week program, but just like my schooling, I think I will have to do it part-time. ;p So far, I am enjoying challenging my negativity towards creativity. I finished week one and found the reading and activities interesting – the biggest take away being the task of Morning Pages and weekly Artist Dates.
The former involves writing 3 pages of stream of conscious every morning, pretty much a brain drain. I have stuck at it for 11 days straight so far and it does make my morning feel a bit more intentional – I’m interested to see if, long-term, my brain feels a little less cluttered.
Artist Dates sees an individual setting aside ~ 2 hrs per week to ‘nurture’ their creative conscious – it’s time for excursions, creation & gathering inspiration, without company. Julia warns that it’s the thing you will prioritise least and already I can feel the reluctance. Last week, I left it right to the end and even then, really had to push myself to do something. I ended up taking myself to the local nursery and buying some ‘potted colour’ and treating myself to a coffee, a marshmallow topped brownie and a ham, cheese, tomato sandwich for breakfast – a questionable choice perhaps, but I had fun and it brought me some joy!
I’m not sure what this week’s activity will be, but I would like to start seeing some more movies, so I might take a look at that! Considering, I have a tendency, and desire, to constantly be ‘productive’, I think these ‘dates’ will be good for me. Hopefully better than the proper dates that I have been forcing myself to go on…
Dating
So, let’s be real, if you’re attempting to juggle work, study and a creative side hustle, dating probably needn’t be a priority. YET, it can be hard to give up once you head back down this path. You feel you should keep trying ‘because you never know what’s around the corner’ … despite the fact that it steals from the small precious window of time you have for socialising with friends. And, that it tends to leave one feeling more aware of being alone than when one was happily single with no aspirations of dating.
Sometimes you have to recognise that you can’t have, or do, everything at once, which can be difficult when you fear life is slipping by.
Study
I have felt something of standstill with my studies for a fortnight now, but I am making slow progress… just far from the pace I first aspired towards. I think slowing down this current module has been important because there were some aspects I was struggling to wrap my head around. Plus, thanks to a shake-up of mentors, I finally feel I have a better understanding. But GEEZ, it’s hard to not feel you’re failing simply because you are not thriving as much in study as you imagined. Especially, when you’re impatient for the day you can move on from your current workplace.
In an attempt to keep inspired, last week I set myself up a new study space, hoping to create an environment that I wanted to work in. It actually helped a lot! I took this further by setting the mood with low-fi music and by changing up all my backgrounds (iPhone focuses) to match the theme. Sure, these things can be disregarded as procrastination, but for me it is really helps add a ‘glamour’ to the prospect of studying. I actually feel excited for study tomorrow, which is a nice change.
I feel so fortunate that I can change up my environment by studying in the main house, particularly as it allows me to leave everything set up – something that would never be possible in my tiny house.
Hope you are all well! Talk soon,
Fiona x
Favourite post yet!!