Hello 2014!

Four days into the New Year and I feel like I'm already behind.  Never fear, just take one day at a time. First I'll start with my Good Things Jar.  Remember that?  Take an empty jar, decorate it and when good things happen to you during the course of the year, write them down on slips of paper and put them in the jar.  On December 31, take them out and read them.  We always remember the bad things that happen to us, but rarely the good or nice or sentimental things.  Breakthroughs, accomplishments, etc.  Well, I did that for the whole year and read my slips of paper on New Year's Eve.  Some things I forgot had happened and I'm glad I wrote them down.  I've already started 2014 with 2 slips of paper.

I ended up with 47 slips of paper for the whole of 2013.  I won't share everything because some things are personal or you just wouldn't get it but I will give some highlights.

• had an artist date at a local museum - saw Romare Bearden
• first time experiencing torrential rains followed by thunder snow -yes, it snowed and thundered at the same time
• got a costume consultant gig with Old Salem Museum and Gardens, another gig with Historic Bethania Center making bedding and window treatments for a historic room
• learned how to knit socks
• was present at the birth of my niece Zanna Joy
• realized that my writing was becoming much better, clearer and tighter
• participated in several doll/ornament swaps
• did my first large painting, Day of the Dead Dancer, 24" x 36", in acrylic paint
• had several commissions
• took a soft sculpture workshop with Lisa Lichtenfels
• have a figure on permanent display in the Children's Museum of Winston-Salem
• got back to painting on a regular basis
• received a beautiful Steampunk doll from Christine Shively
• finished my Regency short stay
• went to 2 book signings: Craig Johnson of the Longmire series and Lemony Snicket
• went to my first fiber festival - SAFF Southeastern Animal & Fiber Fair
• went to the Greensboro Aquarium, Zoo, and Science Center
• completed NANOWRIMO with 51306 words

Not bad huh?  Plus all the other things I accomplished, I guess I had a pretty good year.  I'm really cutting myself some slack right now.  And it is difficult but I'm working on it.  There were times last year when I would beat myself up over not doing enough.  I could have done more but I get another chance this year.  Live in the present, enjoy the day.

I will not be writing resolutions.  Don't believe in those because I never stick to them.  I do believe in goals.  I have a general list, personal list, and creative list.  One of my goals this year is also on my Bucket List and that is to do plein air painting in a National Park.  This one isn't just any National Park but one that is also on the World Historic Registry.  Yosemite National Park.  I have a friend I haven't seen in years who will be doing an internship there for six months.  I will be going.  I've got a lot of work to do and things to sell.

Sorry I didn't write much at the end of last year.  I had two craft fairs in November along with NANO and a fair in December plus a last minute commission.  Won't be doing that again.

It's a new month and a new year and I have left the gate. 

CHARGE!!!!!!