Talking with my good friend recently, I wondered if I have been putting off productivity in place of busyness. Before Christmas I made sure I had lots of supplies and materials in place to get really creative after the New Year. I would put the hustle and bustle of the Holidays to rest, and get to work in the studio. I would let the winter inspire my quiet contemplative side and use my ideas for projects that can only be done when there are no other distractions to melt the time. Then she asked me what I had been working on . . . in my glass . . . I didn’t have an answer. I had let the studio sit in quiet again, and needed to remedy that.
Galaxy Pendants/ Fused Glass
I decluttered the workbench and dug into the shelves, and found . . . I HAVE been creating glasswork, I just haven’t finished it. Well, that changed this week. I made time for stringing some of the pendants I made in December, photogaphing them and adding them to our Etsy shop. I enjoyed writing the descriptions for these pieces and realized I can’t wait to get cracking on more.
Fused Glass Pendant Necklaces
I signed up for a great workshop in March with Tanya Veit of AAE Glass, and watched some tutorials about processes that look exciting and challenging to add to my artwork.
I’m waiting for a glass order to be delivered today so Mike and I can proceed with more lights that include copper and glass. I’m filling some new molds with beautiful colors again, and feeling so grateful for the priveledge of doing what I do.
I also realized that I HAVE been productive in the studio, it’s just been in the business side of things and that is the really hard part, the part that just doesn’t come natural. The part that can throw me for a loop if I let it, but a part that is critical to being able to keep our business going.
That same friend once told me that Libras (as we both are) are all about balance, and I think I must have some pretty crazy moons or planets in my charts that make for a substantially “tipped” scale. I long for balance but it just escapes me. I am getting a good start on balancing business.
Are there places in your work that you are finding hard to balance? What tools do you have in place to help you remedy that? Please tell me about them in the comments below.
Thanks.
Oh do I ever dream of balance in my life! I’m a Libra, too! Lately I’ve been having the toughest time balancing my sahm duties with my work at home duties. I’ve been struck with the strongest desire to craft and promote for weeks now but it has coincided with my daughter going through her worst teething yet (wants to be held, fussing, won’t sleep long). Needles to say no one is happy or balanced over here.
Tools I rely on? Google calendar to schedule meals (save the recipe in the description of the event “dinner”) & tasks (laundry, wash dishes, vacuum, pay bills) each day so I don’t have tons of (lost) to-do lists. Also Google docs to jot down blog or other inspirations that I can flesh out on my computer during naptimes and after bedtime.
I talk about more tools on my blog if you’re interested:
http://knittedhome.blogspot.com/p/nitty-gritty.html?m=0
(Sorry for the novel!)
Thanks Annie,
I’m excited about looking into some of the tools you mentioned: IFFT and Dropbox especially.
Hi, I’m a home maker with a husband and toddler. I find it hard to balance housework, educating my toddler, doting on my husband, and keeping up to date on my blog. Oh yeah, I start working from home on this Sunday. I haven’t realay discovered a remedy for all of that yet, but I just choose to focus on the positive about the work I was able to get done that day. ☺
I tend to do one thing for weeks and then switch, so maybe there is balance in the long term? This libra thinks balance is a four letter word! As long as you find time to be creative and take care of yourself and your family, I say fit it in as you can, and ditch the guilt. Lovely pendants!