Nope, not going to do it. Life is crazy for everybody and if I haven't accepted it by this point, well then, that's my problem not yours. I'll admit it, time management has never been my strong point, though working on it is on my list...
Moving across the country seemed like a great idea, a grand adventure, a new start, challenging myself to think out of my box; why, I'll start a blog and chronicle it! Cliches, all of them. Life threw curve balls at me, and never having been the athletic type, I dropped to the ground in the fetal position and waited for the wobbly, leather orb to pass me by so someone else could catch it. Then I threw a pity party for about six months. Plain and simple.
Let me illustrate how I have felt for most of the year;
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| Like this |
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| or this... |
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| but more like this if I'm going to be truthful |
However, there have been some positive steps also;
I have had my first gallery show, "Common Threads" highlighting my fiber jewelry at Your Design in Broken Arrow. Alisa, the owner, is amazing and doing wonderful things for local artists by giving them a platform to get their work seen. I met some very welcoming fabric/fiber artists at the reception which lead to me becoming a member of Fiber Artists of Oklahoma.
Making fantasy pieces like this for the show really helped wake up my mopey muse;
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| "The Monarchs At Natural Bridges" Mixed Media |
I was accepted into a great collective of talented people called The Artisan Group. Valerie, the founder, has created a wonderful group that gives artists a chance to market themselves through celebrity gift lounges and charity events, in addition to providing very valuable lessons and support for growing one's business.
I was able to make a special piece for the MS Society Connecticut Chapter's silent auction and help be instrumental is raising over $1800 for their cause. I have made special pieces of jewelry for Jordan Sparks of American Idol, Tyra Banks, and am now working on a huge project for the official gift lounge at the 46th Annual CMA Awards (more on this later). Plus I have met some really great like minded people who act as a sort of family. The camaraderie and encouragement these fellow artists display for each other is truly touching and inspiring.
I also became a RAW Artist and had my first showcase with them in July. It was a great evening and wonderful to be able to get my work seen by a new group of local people and artists. RAW also gives artists great support, opportunities, and advice on the business of art. Kristen, the coordinator here in Tulsa is a powerhouse and does a wonderful job organizing these events.
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| Tulsa RAW - Mixology |
So, all in all, it has been a year of healing, but also a year of discovery and firsts for me. I look forward to taking myself in new directions with my work and business. I continue to learn and grow my knowledge of my materials. Baby steps, you know, to go along with the times I still curl up in the fetal position and swear I can't do it. I can and will.
One thing I won't do though is end this post promising I will become better about posting to my blog, that would be another blogging cliche now wouldn't it? Aw, what the heck, I really will try... but no pinkie swears!
