I received the following quote in a newsletter from Sally Evans and it really fits where I am in my art licensing journey. There is some hesitancy and thinking about drawing back; however, and that is a big however, I am committed to this next move. If I don’t totally commit I will never know what I can accomplish…so I Am Committed.

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.

All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.

– quote by Scottish mountaineer William Hutchinson Murray

The only way I know to get from point A to point B is head toward point B….so I am headed to point B in my art licensing journey.

So I look forward….leaving behind those things that might keep me from accomplishing goals or growing personally. 2010 is a new year of great possibilities and I will find something good in every day. I will look for all the opportunities, walk through the open doors, stay focused on what is important, let go of excess baggage and most of all I will LIVE!

Life is hard, and often we find ourselves facing extremes….economy, health, jobs, etc….and sometimes in all of the hardness of life we panic. We feel totally unable to cope, survive or even pretend that we are coping or surviving. That is when we have to decide to live life where we are.  Right now everyone I know is facing something—some uncertainty, something bigger than their ability to cope—we are all trying to keep the paddles moving and keep our boat going. It is not easy, it is not the ride we signed on for; however, it is where we are and it is what is required.

We make choices to get up, put one foot in front of the other, take some kind of action and live where we are. It may not be easy, perfect, pretty or even satisfying; however, we do it because that is what we must do.

So, for anyone who might happen upon this post….my thought for you is don’t stop paddling…no matter what you are facing…keep going…keep getting up….keep moving. If you have totally lost your will to try another day….Pray. God hears every prayer, and His plan is always better than ours.

….just want you to know you are not alone…God cares and He is in the boat with all of us. I care and that is why I felt certain I had to write this post.

the content on this website is copyright protected…writing, photos, art…it is all original…please do not use without written permission. vickieleastudios 2009

Change comes whether it is the weather, the economy, work, etc. We have choices on how we respond to change and for most of us changing isn’t easy; however, it can be a great event if we allow it to be.

In my last blog I talked about changing my workspace and that is still happening. I am almost there and when I get things back in order I’ll post pictures. As I am redesigning that area I also have been thinking about other changes I need to make. A book I recently happened upon at the library, “CATS, The Nine Lives of Innovation” has sparked some thought on how I do things.

We are all creatures of habit and those habits can be good…they help us be efficient in different ways…or they can be harmful to our physical health or in work habits. This book talks about how we need to change the “norm” in order to bring innovation into our lives. Now this isn’t about our morning routine necessarily; it is more about how we get into ruts doing our work in the same ways and not thinking outside the box to find or see different ways to approach our work. It is an interesting book and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to think in a different way.

One of the ways I am working on getting outside my box is by taking classes to challenge or inform me of better ways of doing things or teaching me new skills. This week I started a class on multiple streams of income/ways to earn a living as an artist. Laura Bray is the artist presenting the class and this link is to her newsletter.

http://www.katydid-designs.com/Newsletter.html

Positive change can be just as refreshing as the change in the seasons. My challenge is to find ways to get out of the “norm” in my life and make positive changes and grow as an artist.

     beautiful fall colors

“in order to change, we must be willing”vlos2009

Although most of my  list went by the wayside and I haven’t been able to stop time or prolong our summer; that’s ok because important things have happened.

Her remark made me stop and think about this summer…her last summer before she graduates from college in December. Mostly, it has been good to have this time with my daughter…hours spent laughing, watching movies, sewing, crafting, antiquing, looking through racks of clothes at Goodwill, talking, stuff. Stuff that is so much more important than a “to do” list which usually is too long and filled with more than I can accomplish in a year much less a summer. Oh and did I mention our flower garden where we have watched butterflies and bumblebees and small bugs that turn lavender to match the flowers? All of this has been time well spent and we have moments to cherish…

So when the day arrives for her to head back to college I will be thankful that my “to do” list didn’t get in the way of spending time together rather than marking things off a list.

“the only list that matters is the one with fun at the top.” vlos2009

I love fabric…all kinds of fabric. My stash is large and it is very hard to pass up buying more fabric anytime I set foot in my local Hancocks or Hobby Lobby, in fact any fabric store works for me…just give me fabric.

Since I have been sewing from an early age…eleven or so…my sewing machine has had lots of fabric pass through the feed dogs….dresses, blouses, slacks, coats, purses, home decor and of course, there are always the patching jobs that seem to fall on me.

Sewing and crafting have been second nature all of my life and I learned through the patience of my mother who along with my grandmother could sew anything they wanted. They both loved quilting and my mother still keeps a quilt in the frame and one or more ready for the frame.

So….fabric has played a big part in my life and walking down the isles touching and seeing the bright colors and wonderful designs is like walking through a candy store for me.

As an artist. one of my goals is to design fabrics….it will happen!

These pictures are of some of the quilts I have inherited from my mother and grandmothers.

Nothing fancy….just scraps from clothing projects or even old feed sacks; however, each stitch lovingly placed by dedicated hands.

There are many creative people on the web and I love reading the blogs and looking at creative sites.  As this site develops I will be featuring other artists who inspire me to keep going after this dream of licensing my art. So many artists are willing to share their knowledge and that really impresses me.

Today the sites I would like to highlight are:

www.artlicensingblog.com This site is a wealth of information and Tara Reed is one talented lady and so sweet to share her knowledge.

www.melodyhogan.com Melody Hogan is a gifted artist and a friend

www.monicalee.typepad.com Monica Lee is another talented artist and her site is always a neat place to visit.

I wish all of these ladies much success as they continue to pursue their dreams.

Live your dream!