20 things you must do to succeed / be happy / be liked / be more creative...

This started as a list of 5000 things because it feels like there are that many articles and tips and tricks out there. However, it is now a list of 20. I have been reading, and kind of researching, a lot this past year on ways to improve my work and myself. I am always looking for better ways to manage my time to be as efficient and productive as I can in the blocks of time that I have. I often feel as if I don't have enough time, yet when I do have time I have difficulty deciding what to work on - almost as if with an extra few minutes at home I'm going to finish every project I've started in the past year.

So, instead of working on my art I've been spending time reading lists and articles and watching videos on the internet - time well spent, I think. 

1. Stand up straight
2. Change up your usual routine,
3. Build good habits (is that the same as routine?)
4. Do what you love
5. Don't do what you love
6. Find your passion - "have the courage to follow your heart and intuition"
7. say, "yes."
8. Take care of yourself
9. Follow your curiosity
10. Stop looking for approval
11. Get excited!
12. Stop comparing
13. Be present
14. Do the work 
15. Remember that we all learn differently
16. Do the work, stay connected, be pro-active
17. Make a plan and be honest with yourself
18. Do what you are
19. Take a nap
20. Stop reading all the advice on the internet (because it's never ending) and just get to work

Stitching work in progress... 

articles / videos / art by:  1. Amy Cuddy: Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are (TED talk) 2. 6 Ways to Find Your Inner Visionary in 2014 BY Marla Tabaka for Inc. 3. 5 Scientific Ways to Build Habits That Stick by Gregory Ciotti 99u 4. How to Find Your Purpose and Do What You Love
by Maria Popova on Brainpickings 5. Penelope Trunk: Bad career advice: Do what you love 6. Steve Jobs Stanford Speech 2005 (video and text) 7. Seth Godin: When you're offered precisely what you were hoping for... 8. Maria Moraca: How to Take Care of Yourself During Tough Times 9. Mr. Self Development 10 Amazing Life Lessons You Can Learn From Albert Einstein 10. Austin Kleon 11. Jeremy Dean: Anxiety: Getting Excited Beats Trying to Calm Down 12. Elizabeth McKenzie: Stop Comparing and Start Living 13. James Victore: Op-Ed: Confidence vs Shyness on 99u 14. James Victore 15. Ken Robinson: How Schools Kill Creativity 16. Finding an Audience for Your Art: Top Tips (Textile Artist) 17. 5 Tips for Small Business Owners (A Beautiful Mess) 18. Melanie Pinola, Don't Do What You Love, Do What You Art 19. Sean Blanda, 10 Creative Rituals Your Should Steal 20.

2014... slow to start - time to organize (again)

so, it's January 3rd and I'm already failing on my plans for the new year... I haven't started my new Daily Visual Journal - not sure if I really want to anyway, it just isn't a priority right now. Also, I keep writing a list of things I want to accomplish in 2014 but then forget about the list. Maybe this is resistance (War of Art is a great book)...

In good news, I am planning new work for a two person Fiber show in June at Live Coal Gallery with Sarah Mark. We are both super excited about this show and promise it will be a great one!