New Year Resolutions

Rowan Berries in the Snow

When I first started my jewellery-making studio I had a lot of time to make pieces for exhibitions and shows because I had no customers taking up my time! Now I have managed to build up a number of customers but I no longer have time to make exhibition pieces. Of course it would be wonderful if all the exhibition pieces I made, I sold to my customers, then I would be able to have my cake and eat it, so to speak. Sadly it doesn't seem to work that way ...yet. I still hold out hope that I can turn things around.

Meanwhile, as I do every New Year, I am making a few 'rules' for myself and my art practice:

• stop selling on consignment at places where my pieces don't sell quickly, the pieces are just languishing there
• take some 'retreat' time to focus solely on ideas
• say no to repairing other peoples jewellery - why is this so difficult to do??
• stop worrying about worrying too much
• stop spending so much time on the computer
• stop spending so much time on Etsy, it is like a time-sponge and is only a small part of my business
• realise I can't do everything I want to do, so something has to go - this year it is less downhill skiing, and less knitting-group get togethers
• spend more time just wondering and thinking with my sketch book open in front of me
• stop thinking about money and how I need more of it
• get out of the production work head space whereby it is all about time and price

Well, I expect I could think up a lot more rules but as I said I must cut down on computer time. Now I am going to the work bench to see what gee-gaws I can clear away to make room for those exhibition pieces in the works.