My friend, Caroline, is coming back to town. We were certified on the press at the Vis Arts Ctr in Richmond last month, so we want to give it a try- together! We’ll spend the day setting type and printing. I’m working on this print, but it will not look the same once I pick out type and ornaments.
I wanted to give myself something to visualize before I started.
The words, though, will hang on my wall to give me a reminder of how I want to be.
I love New Year’s Day. I love thinking of change, options, ways to be healthy, and ways to grow. Yes, I’m one of those resolution makers.
I have to admit I don’t keep many of them. Or some, I’ve made and dropped and made again. So, in the long run, I’m keeping up.
This year I am considering my eating habits and working on eliminating sugar. I think I’ve tried this every year since I first read Sugar Blues about 100 years ago.
I am also considering adding more reading (fiction) and cutting my screen time. Oh I say I’m reading when I’m staring at my laptop, but glancing at headlines and flitting from page to page really doesn’t count.
Writing– I’m considering designating a time every day to write. See I’ve already started.
And see what I did there? These are all considerations. When I don’t happen to keep them up each day, I will bang my head against the table a little less. I haven’t failed since they weren’t absolute rules.
Speaking of failure. I turn 65 in June. I have a lot to consider before then. So this reading and writing will be a good thing.
I’ll let you know if cutting sugar from my diet was a good thing, too.
Peace,
Susan
I’ve been somewhat distracted lately. I spent time at a fabulous retreat in Asheville, NC (Life is a Verb Camp), and came home to adopt a 9-month old puppy with special needs. She has taken much of my time lately. And when I’m not with her, I’m printing.
If you are local, I’ll be at the Sunken Well Tavern (corner of Hanover and Littlepage) Tinsel Town Market this Thursday (Dec. 8) from 6-9 with cards and prints. It should be a festive evening!
In the meantime, remember to slow down, enjoy each day, and give someone a hug.
xoxo
susan
I have an unusual habit– when I am ready to create, I write first. Whatever is on my mind. Then, I think about what I’ve written, process and reflect, and finally create the print or card.
This week I’ve been doing a lot more thinking, ruminating really. And it’s gotten me nowhere. Soooo, I’m back to what works. I am writing.
Not that I’ve been sitting around doing nothing. We adopted a cute Golden mix. She is the joy of my life, but takes some specific care because of health issues. When I’m not walking her, I am printing. These two quotes resonated with me this week– so they became prints!
You may be seeing more of this type of work. As I always say, I print what I’m thinking.
If you are local, please consider coming to the Sunken Well Tavern on December 8 for the Tinsel Town Holiday Market. I’ll be there with cards and prints and taking orders for custom holiday stationery, too.
In 1988 or ’89, when I was teaching high school and overseeing the student government, we came up with a phrase for spirit week: Good is not enough. We meant to share it as motivation– to encourage students to do more, try harder, reach higher. Even the football team yelled it during warm-ups before games.
I think about my own work now and ponder the impact of those words. If good is not enough, then nothing can be shared unless it is great. Perfect. No blemishes.
I struggle with that because I’ve spent a lot of time lately thinking about failure and how important it is to fail well. By that, I mean to take risks, push myself. And if that means something doesn’t work, that’s fine. I’ll learn from it and move on. Yet, sharing mistakes or work that isn’t quite there is risky, too. What will people think?
Photographer Donna Hopkins addressed this in a recent blog post, and I found myself nodding along as I read:
There will always be those who discount my work, places that make me fearful, and things that stir up doubt and insecurity. And this is why mentors are important. These are the people I respect, and I see something in their life and work that can help me to take the next steps.
I absolutely love her quote from photographer Henry Lohmeyer :
It’s not our work at its best that begs to be heard, it’s our glorious falters, our enormous mistakes and it’s our honest brokenness that wants to be heard. It’s not our work that we’re showing, it’s ourselves and we deserve noting.
Working hard, learning more, trying again–these are traits that will help me improve my work. But being honest in the process and not simply showing shiny, pretty results makes the journey real.
