A whole new look

This challenge has done several amazing things for me recently and everything seems to be falling into place. Through the month of October I put myself through a challenge that I pursued because I knew I needed the discipline. The discipline to complete a repeating task every day. To accomplish little by little a larger goal I have set in my dreams.

I am definitely a dreamer. I don't go a day without thinking up some wonderful idea for a new design or future plans for the bigger picture. Similar to most people, it is much more difficult to follow through with the dreams and goals I set forth. This challenge forced me to take the next steps toward those goals, and it was totally it.

Every day for a month I posted at least 5 items to my shop. I started out great, every day they were up and shared before the days end (some very late at night) but still they made it!  The purpose was to be consistent. If it had been any other time in my life I may have told myself "I will get that done tomorrow" or "I can finish this in the morning" and then putting it off again and again.

Some items were old pieces I have had laying around or packed up in jewelry boxes and some items are brand new collections. Days where I had the privilege to spend at least a few hours in my studio creating. Always with the hustle by the end of the day to get them photographed and listed.

I was able to share 155 items, some old some new. I was focused on creating new designs that are beginning to define my aesthetic and style.  I found many new ways to create the designs I have in store for the future and am learning the how to document my work and share it.

I have the freedom now to create new pieces without the old ones weighing me down. Most importantly, I was so overwhelmed with all the tasks ahead of me that I was struggling to chose a name and website for my business, which was holding me back.

Now everything just seemed to fall into place through this challenge! I am very excited to announce that my business will have a whole new look that connects my talent and passion with who I am and what I love. A new name, new colors, new logo, and a new beautiful website coming very soon!!

A Dream Without a Plan is just a Wish.

This 5 a day challenge, sure is a challenge! It is keeping me super busy and someday's I think....WHY did I do this challenge right now?!....Why did I promise the WHOLE month...This is not a good time, I am too busy!

Well, it is never a good time to work hard. It is never a good time to push towards a goal. But, if you don't MAKE the time then you will never accomplish anything.

I heard a great quote the other day that's been helping me stay inspired... "A dream without a plan is just a wish."

This was such a great reminder for me as to WHY I started this challenge, because I have a dream. I want to be successful with my jewelry and I want people to adore it. I want to create beautiful things that can be worn and shared and past down.

So, this challenge I have learned a lot about myself. One thing I learned is that I try to make things WAY more complicated then they need to be. I just need to list 5 things, the purpose was mostly to get the hundreds of pieces of jewelry I have ALREADY MADE out there. No Kendall, that does not mean MAKE 5 new things every day. That is surely a good way to fail and that has almost happened several days this week. I spend the whole day created, making, experimenting, with new ideas and designs. Then its 9 pm and I haven't listed a thing.    I have to keep reminding myself WHY I started this challenge and just put out there what I already have.

There are a lot of new designs in process but you will just have to wait! ;)


To catch up on my 5 a Day Challenge read my original post here.
Also, you can see all my new work on my etsy shop listing every day until the end of the month!

When I Grow Up, I Want To Be Me

 

 



"You're Free to Fly" Lithography Print Series 2009

Visiting Home is always a magical experience. Spending time with siblings, looking through your closets to find things you thought you needed only to be left behind. Everyone seems to fall into their roles growing up. My sisters bicker and I'm stuck in the middle. My mom takes on her motherly role caring for us all and telling us to clean our rooms. For me, I fell into the free spirited dreamer, the sensitive girl I've always been. Being away from my daily routine, daily chores, cooking, cleaning, errands and the never ending to do list I was able to clear my mind and open up to the present moment. I was able to find me again.

For the past 3 or 4, maybe more years I have been so focused on my goals. So focused on my Jewelry Design, graduation, senior show, soccer, moving, getting a job, my husband and my future. Somewhere a long the line I lost that Peace inside when I am creating, when I am drawing or making, the true cliché "artist" mentality.

I have of course been pursuing my dreams as a Jewelry Designer and Artist through college and now with my business, but its still different. Everything I have been doing, designing and making has been for a client, for a purpose, for an end goal. It doesn't have that pure innocent moment of creating with no agenda. To spend the whole day painting, just because.

Watercolor "Be You"

 

I pulled out many of my drawings hidden under my bed at home and remembered being in those moments of making, the process of drawing, whether you have an idea in the beginning or not it always transforms into something you never could have planned or imagined. My hands take over my mind and the magic of creating flows onto the paper. I am not worried about the world, if they will like it, if it will be good enough or if I will finish it in time. There is not timeline, no purpose and no one who needs to like it but me. Even then, If I don't love the final piece, the process fulfilled my craving and I can always change it or make it again... because its mine.

I think I have lost and found this passion over and over again temporarily consumed by commitments, the daily grind or flirting with the ideas of other "dreams." Its good to explore these interests, learn from them and continue to grow. As long as you can always come back to what really makes your heart beat, what truly gives you that peace inside and lets you be you.

"You're Free to Fly" 2009 Lithography Print Series

Jumping back in..

Its funny how being an artist call fill your life with so many beautiful unique moments and experiences. At the same time, if you aren't careful life can catch up with you and the freedom to create will slip away. There are thousands of artists out there that this has happened to. Theresthe high school art fanatic whose told by their dad they have to get a real degree or they wont pay for college. They end up in a dentist office with nothing but magazines to fill their dreams. Then there is the kid who sort of took the advice and did "Art-Ed" Don't get me wrong there is absolutely nothing wrong with teaching art, its admirable and rewarding. However, how many of those teachers are REALLY focused on their own artwork and creative ideas. Then of course theres the BFA student who was so passionate about his or her work, come graduation its on to the big world with bills to pay and no more athletic scholarship to lean on.... That one was me. 

My last post was sharing my postcards for my upcoming Senior Show at Art Ave. It was my last big moment in school as a BFA student. From the moment that show started my life has been on fast forward, rushing past without a pause. After that show was packed up, the next day I drove 14 hours to New Hampshire back to my family. Sounds peaceful right, it wasn't. After unpacking an over packed Van full of stuff I compiled over 4.5 years of school into the house I set on to continue planning my second show. I planned a dual show to sort repeat my show from school at home for all my local friends and family to experience. It was only a week later so not much unpacking or visiting with family happened.

All of my artwork was up in the house for 3 or 4 days and then it all came down along with the suitcases again. Now I was off to Houston Texas. After only being home for about 2 weeks with not much relaxation or organization I was on a plane to Texas a few days before Christmas, first Christmas away from home, my family and my sisters. I was off to spend it with my Husband, our first Christmas on our own! Exciting right?!

Of course the adventure moving cross country sounds fun but it was difficult. We were basically thrown into the biggest state in the Country where we only knew a few people and they were all at-least 5 hrs or more away anyways. We made the best of it, started building our collection of things and used furniture, and got jobs of course! As you can imagine there wasn't too much artistic creativity happening but I guess thats what happens when you grow up, get married, move away and start a life with someone, right. 

Needless to say we finally started to get settled, I got my Jewelers bench set up in our bedroom and began organizing my tools and collections. Before I knew it we were packing our bags again and headed to Oregon for Juniors new job. To make a long story still kind of long we are now in Oregon I love it here, its beautiful and life is good. We are very busy with our jobs and building relationships and building our new home. Finally, its time to get back to what I really want to do....Creating. Sharing. Exploring. Making. Doing.

Easier said then done. I still have a full time job working for Jared, the Galleria of Jewelry! On top of that Im married, I need to exercise, make meals, clean my house, walk my dog, build relationships, go to church, etc. etc. etc. Life gets in the way sometimes and I have really been struggling with this. Not only my current situation but future as well. What will happen when I decide to have children!? Will I even have time to dream have creative ideas never mind put them into action. Its something many of us deal with, The balance. 

Until very recently I thought I had to give several things up to really make my dreams become a reality. However thats not true, it just takes a bit more focus, determination and planning. At this point I still have a job, a husband, a dog, a home, a gym membership, and most importantly my studio.

I made my space to work, I have everything set up to make. I am getting my blog back, posting images of work, reworking my logo, organizing contracts, building a web presence, drawing, designing, and planning events and shows. 

It will only happen if you jump back in and make it happen.