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| fancy that design house print |
(don't let it hit ya' on the way out 2012!)
I admit I secretly hoped we would all wake up on 12/22 totally enlightened and fifth dimensional and living on a conscious, peaceful planet and we did to some extent,
but I wanted more -
I wanted a lot more.
In my own life the crazy stressful holiday work time (I make about 35% of my annual income in about 6 weeks) was bookended by the two Sandy tragedies - the first a hurricane that swept away so much and left us holding on to what we came to realize was most important; the second a much greater tragedy that brought what really matters into even crisper focus and all of us to our knees.
(in 2013 we have 3 mercury retrogrades in water signs so the theme of wet weather will continue as well as the water themes of children and childhood - of feelings - do you like how you feel, are you being well-used - and compassion - there will be a grand trine in July that could see a huge surge in compassion on our planet next summer and yes, compassion often comes out of loss and need - so there may be challenges ahead)
Anyhoo, I have been thinking a lot lately about what to do with this blog. It is going in a lot of different directions and I would really like to give it a stronger focus.
In the meantime I'll continue counting down some 2012 lessons and see what this brings up.
Lesson # 9 - Having less to work with requires us to be more creative
When I opened my shop Uncorked on Etsy 5 years ago I had one product - a test tube cork necklace. I picked the name Uncorked because ... well, mostly because it had the word cork in it, I guess.
(plus I didn't have Olive for a couple months and my studio name was still Dream Scenes from my old work and that didn't fit anymore and I was tired of it)
There are lots of reasons why Uncorked is a terrible shop name but luckily none of them occurred to me at the time because having that name forced me to work with just that one material to grow the shop.
Restricting the material I worked with allowed all the amazing work to flow through me - it forced me to be more creative.
This is just one example of how having less to work with enables more creativity - we knew this as kids and parents instinctively know that when we give our kids too much their creativity is hampered.
This restriction definitely doesn't have to be about the materials we work with, but if we find our creativity stifled or ourselves overwhelmed with all the possibilities - some self-imposed restrictions can be a real benefit.
2 comments
I discovered that everybody "makes" jewelry. Very few weave beads. To distinguish myself I made a rule that all of my pieces would have a woven component. Just so happens that weaving beads is my first deep creative love.
Here is what I know about rules (i.e. limitations) when you make them people walk right up to the edge just to see how far it can be stretched. Vague rules work best- so the rule is really MOSTLY make things that contain woven components.
You weathered the storms well Cat. I hope you have fair sailing, and vague rules, next year.
spot on Kathy - everybody 'makes' jewelry - and vague rules for 2013 xo
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