Inspiration for a joyful and creative life

©Sally Evans Sunlight Through the Leaves

Each year I like to pick a theme for the year.  It helps me to focus on what I want and how I want to live.

I’ve been working on getting my life less complicated, less cluttered, and moving more toward spending my time in a way that feels fulfilling and enjoyable.

One of my big changes last year was to spend more time creating.  I am definitely moving in the right direction!

In order to spend more time enjoying making jewelry, art, projects for our home, and inspiring others to create, I have continued to work on ways to keep things more organizing.

My sister and I have been working together and experimenting with creating systems for work and home that simplify and make day to day tasks easier.

I look forward to tweaking and playing with that even more because I am really seeing a difference.

We both realized how creating limits has given us more freedom.

Examples of that include the number of projects I am working on at one time.

And while that may sound simple to some of you, believe me that has been a work in progress!

I just wrote a post about having a Fresh Start on my jewelry and art site.

I wanted to start the year but clearing my creative spaces which include my studio, the sewing room, and my office.  I include my office because that is where I write and it helps to not be surrounded by piles of things to do.

The idea is to continue to make choices that feel good and that allow me to simplify the day to day tasks and make things easy to maintain.

That allows me to enjoy having freedom to do more of what I want, whether that is to create jewelry, art, make a flower arrangement, play with my family and friends, or make some beautiful pillows for our bed.

And the most important part is practicing being in the moment and enjoying it, no matter what I am doing.

I think it is going to be a great year!

What is your theme for the year?  What do you want to practice?

My sister and I have been working on a project to simplify and streamline things so that we can make more time for creativity and to do the things we love…..like making jewelry and art , sewing, cooking, crafting, photography, writing, etc.

One of the things we are experimenting with is breaking things down into 15 minute blocks.  We both really like this concept so far.

It doesn’t seem like much time, and yet some of the projects you work on that can be overwhelming, quite honestly, are just a series of small steps that really can be accomplished in 10 – 15 minutes.

What are some of the things that you have done to simplify or streamline?

If you want to know about marketing your art, Alyson Stanfield, the ArtBiz Coach,
has been helping artists for years.  She has a great blog and newsletter with tons of
great information and resources.

I am excited about going to her Social Media Workshop in Golden, Colorado
October 15 and 16^th.

She is calling it a social media “immersion” to help us figure out how to use facebook,
twitter, etc. to genuinely connect with people.

It is primarily for artists but would work for any creative entrepreneur who would like to engage with their followers.

She is a great example of how to do it right so I look forward to learning from her!

Click here for more info on the workshop.  I hope you’ll join me.  I think it is going to
be fun!