I’m so excited to start a new year of Making Something Every Day! Here’s the first week of work:

Day 1: Embrace Imperfection Ganesha postcard.

I love the idea of Ganesha, Mover of Obstacles. Also, I live in Alabama, so it’s kinda hard to get away from the houndstooth elephant. HE. IS. EVERYWHERE.

Day 2: notes for a new piece.

I mentioned this poem “Why I am not a painter” in one of my posts last year. It occurred to me on the drive home from Arkansas, that in all the years I’ve loved that poem I’ve never looked up the painting. Mike Goldberg is an abstract expressionist. I should have known. I’ve been obsessed with the abstract expressionist movement since before I even knew what abstract expressionism was. It is a style that has always spoken to something deep in my soul. I don’t know if it’s about the freedom or the wildness but all that color and all those big, bold stokes energize me. I’ve never been tied to art having a particular meaning. It doesn’t have to be a picture “of” something. If it evokes a feeling, even a negative one, then it’s doing what it’s supposed to do. I was so excited to see “Sardines” for the first time, I immediately wanted to do something based on it and the poem. Still thinking about what, but it will probably be one of my big four for the year.

Day 3: got some new storage & supplies for my work table. Got it all organized so I can work, work, work!

I’m slowly getting my workspace streamlined. I’s a battle between what I want to have in that space and what I need to have in that space.

Day 4: Doodle time with Liza.

I got a copy of “Art, Doodle, Love” from my mom for Christmas. It’s a beautiful journal. I was making this doodle one night before I put Liza to bed. When she came in and saw it, she immediately got one of her new journals she got for Christmas and started making some of the same marks. It was a good moment between us.

Day 5: Forget-Me-Not Postcard. (Bought a box of postcards to alter. First of many altered cards this year.)

I’m already enjoying the snot out of this box of postcards. It’s so fun to mess them up!

Day 6: Massive postcard painting.

Did I mention how fun it is to mess up the printed perfection of these little dudes?

Day 7: 2 postcards. (Bonus points to the person who gets the one on the right.)

Yeah, it’s a Doctor Who quote. I thought the Roses were too good a theme to pass up.

Except that implies – in this big grand scheme of Gods and Devils – that she’s just a victim. But I’ve seen a lot of this universe. I’ve seen fake gods and bad gods and demi gods and would-be gods – out of all that – out of that whole pantheon – if I believe in one thing… just one thing… I believe in her.

So there’s the first week! Looking forward to the next! 🙂

Day 294: Working on a new baby blanket. (Posted a day late.)

Day 295: larger version of piece from my tiny art journal.

Day 296: Car crochet!

Day 297: Finished the baby blanket!

Day 298: Made a sweater for my dog sister.

Day 299: Painting with Liza’s new art supplies.

Day 300: hat.

Day 301: Finished hat!!

Day 302: beginnings of a new cowl. (Posted a day late.)

Day 303: Oversize postcard.

And that’s it! The 303 days I made art in 2013. Now, on to 2014!

Day 287: Lotsa fun today making prints with the gelli plate and working with @Obajoo!

Day 288: Making a larger version of the collage from Day 282. Trying to get the yellow house just right.

Day289: Yarn: Doctor Donna. Pattern: Oswin Shawl. Started: 11/23/13. #loveeverythingaboutthistweet

Day 290: @kingjrd and I are co-crocheting a comfort blanket for a grieving friend.

Day 291: Secret Christmas project.

Day 292 & 293: Last Christmas present finished!!

Since returning from Nepal, I’ve thought a lot about if I would continue making something every day. Frankly the decision wasn’t all that hard.

I’ve had a couple of people ask me about the year and what it’s meant to me. Every time I’ve responded that I’ve loved this year. I’ve love the freedom to spend time on creative things combined with the structure of every day. I feel like the body of work I’ve produced in this past year allows me to call myself an artist.

When I started, I wanted to work every day. That was the goal. To be in practice every day and to recognize and call out for myself when I accomplished that. From that perspective, I feel like the year was a success. My end total was 303 days out of 365. The only thing I would change would be the number of days that I wasn’t able to work or the work I did was crochet instead of paper and paint. A challenge for the next year, right?

So I will be continuing with a second year of Making Something Every Day. Here’s a refresher of the guidelines:
• Every day.
• 20 minutes.
• Post a photo.
• No more than 2 yarn posts per 7 days.

I’m adding one more thing. I want to finish 4-6 larger pieces of work this year so I will add that as a guideline. I finished several large pieces this year, but it wasn’t intentional at all.

Since returning from Nepal, I’ve thought a lot about if I would continue making something every day. Frankly the decision wasn’t all that hard.

I’ve had a couple of people ask me about the year and what it’s meant to me. Every time I’ve responded that I’ve loved this year. I’ve love the freedom to spend time on creative things combined with the structure of every day. I feel like the body of work I’ve produced in this past year allows me to call myself an artist.

When I started, I wanted to work every day. That was the goal. To be in practice every day and to recognize and call out for myself when I accomplished that. From that perspective, I feel like the year was a success. My end total was 303 days out of 365. The only thing I would change would be the number of days that I wasn’t able to work or the work I did was crochet instead of paper and paint. A challenge for the next year, right?

So I will be continuing with a second year of Making Something Every Day. Here’s a refresher of the guidelines:
• Every day.
• 20 minutes.
• Post a photo.
• No more than 2 yarn posts per 7 days.

I’m adding one more thing. I want to finish 4-6 larger pieces of work this year so I will add that as a guideline. I finished several large pieces this year, but it wasn’t intentional at all.