Friday, November 7, 2014

thinkin' about stuff

As I work through the last couple of months of 2014, I am of course looking ahead to 2015.

For the last 15 years I have been working on my art, exploring new things along the way-- sometimes finding myself sidetracked, most often with the whole "I bet I could do that and add it to my business" path.  I've been met with some success when I've taken a different fork in the road, but I am finding in retrospect that while I have learned from each experience, it has overall taken a bit away from what I am best at--

my cross stitch designing.

I have thinned out an already too thin budget of time, and have ultimately found myself with less to show for my body of work in the one area that has -always- benefited me.

My goal at one point had been to make my designing my career by the time I was 45. Well, I just celebrated 49, and while I am closer to making my dreams come true, I have come to the realization that in order to do that, I really need to reel myself in. That's not to say I will limit myself creatively. No, instead I think I need to look at things differently in my designing.

There are so many things I've not tried to incorporate into my needlework. Techniques, materials. Other distribution opportunities, returning to magazine work. Kitting my designs. Embellishments. Networking.

The list goes on and on.

I have decided that 2015 is going to be the year that I concentrate on my designing.

It scares me just a tad.

I regularly go through the self-doubt that I think most artists go through. However, I think the only way for me to push past that is to work hard. Draw a lot. Chart, stitch, create. Make connections and expand what I do as a 'cross stitch designer'.

I've always sustained myself on a limited income, and I really don't think it can get any worse than it has been in the past. It's not like I can't find something to supplement my income if I find need of it.

But I won't know unless I try, right?

50.

That's a good round number.

New goal, let's go!

Holiday Helpers, the December installment of the Whiskerkins Collection. Available on my website. www.carolynmanningdesigns.com

I have been stitching at night before bed, kind of a wind down bit of free form cross stitch thing that helps shut my brain off so I can get a good night's sleep.  Here is one of the latest bits. I might turn these into pin cushions at some point, as I still intend to do some finished pieces for my Etsy Shop.

The first of the four new snowbugz from the third swarm. 



6 comments:

  1. you are good!!!!!!!!!!
    go for it!!!

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  2. :-} 49... Been There. Getting waay PAST That! ;-D

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  3. I am sure everything will work out for you. Good luck. xx

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, dear! I've wanted this for such a long time, and now that it's right there staring me in the face, I do what I usually do. freak out a lil bit!

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