2008 Review, Affirmations and a GIVEAWAY

Happy 2009! I don't know about you but a brand new year always makes me feel slightly giddy and most definitely hopeful. We rang in the new year quietly here which suits me just fine. There's a certain pleasure celebrating in a quiet & reflective way, at least for me. I'm not one for resolutions either, I like to list affirmations or mantra words instead - I find them easier to embrace and put to work.

The year 2008 was a hard one for me. There were many good changes personally and professionally, but it also brought a life-changing decision and upheaval when we moved our family cross-country to the Southwest. Like anything new & unfamiliar it involved some uncomfortable feelings and emotions. And much like grief, I found that if I could just let myself feel it, I would accept it and move on. I still struggle with it some days...


**click to enlarge**

I took a look through all of my journals and around the studio at my creations for 2008 and made the mosaic above. It features some of my favorites (and apparently yours too from the feedback here & Flickr faves). As I added each one to the grid, I could see a pattern emerge -I need to do more of these! Certain things kept popping up: faces, hearts, legs & shoes, the color red, shades of blue & green, nature, birds, trees - very interesting... Most pieces & sketches make me smile while others have me asking myself "what was I thinking?" lol. In order to review and critique it properly, I decided to ask myself a few questions. I hope these questions will help you too if you're trying to evaluate your work:

What were my influences, ie. what was holding my attention at that time?

What made my pencils & brushes 'sing'?

Which pieces nurtured & replenished my soul?

Do I feel accomplished & proud of any in particular?

Is there a media that isn't working for me? Rather, where are my strengths?

What am I wasting my time on trying to master?
I was gentle with myself on this one as ANYTIME you are creating ANYTHING it isn't a waste of time, however I tend to be stubborn and keep at something even when I'm not enjoying the process of it any longer :>

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One last thing, I am now officially announcing my GIVEAWAY starting today. All comments must be in by January 14th to be eligible. The GIVEAWAY will be the winner's choice of a fine art print (I'll have a few to choose from) and of course I'll tuck a few other goodies in. To enter, leave a comment and share an AFFIRMATION that's worked for you, or maybe one you're ready to embrace for 2009 (special note: please be sure to include a way for me to get in touch with you, otherwise I'll have to give it to someone else!) I'll also be posting this on Flickr for all my fine FLICKR friends there.

My wish for everyone in 2009 is that it brings YOU everything your heart desires...and more :>

Ringing in the new!

As we count down to a new year, I want to thank everyone who has supported my work this past year, encouraged & inspired me along the way and helped me imagine all the possibilities.

It was quite a year of stops and starts but I learned along the way that the destination is not as important as the wonderment of the journey. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to share it with you all.

Wishing everyone lots of creativity, love Y, laughter & luck in 2008!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!



"For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning."
~ T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding"

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day."
~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce