Athena Dreams Design

Things I Learned on my Summer Vacation

I'm over at Scoutie Girl today, come on over and talk about your summer vacation . . .

34 Weeks In

 

• I keep reading things where people are saying "Summer is almost over . . " and we here in the Bay Area have just had the 3rd hot-ish day of the summer. Seriously.

• Maybe I'm a freak, (does it make you nervous to read a sentence that starts like that) anyway, BUT, I have not missed a hot summer, one little bit. I got a taste of hot in NH in July, and that's all I really needed. 75 degrees and sunny, give me that every summer and I am Happy.

• On a walk the other evening, I saw some kids with that big fat chalk, drawing on their driveway. It was one of those "damn I wish I had my camera" moments, but I have saved the image in my head. 5 kids. Laying on their bellies on the driveway, each engrossed in their own chalk drawing. Sunset. Golden light on their heads and backs. Pure child concentration energy. Can you see it?

• Thoughts This Week: Social Media. I can't decide. 75% of the time I am "eehhh". Perhaps that means I really am decided.

• I realised this week - for real sure - that I don't like being told what I have to do. There's still enough of the adolescent or the rebel or the realist (maybe a mix of all of those) in me, that I bristle when told things like: This is the way it's done, so you have to do it this way too. (another thought on social media)

• When the new and the fun and the innovative become the norm, then the innovation and the indy depart for other destinations and it's just another establishment (yet another thought on social media - and life).

• My cat just brought me a present, and it's alive and squirming.

Do those Things . . .

My new-est bracelet idea, with minature art pendants and beads, and chain and wire. Wrap it 4x, wrap it 5x and clasp it shut... it shines and shimmers, and tinkles and clinks, and there's always something different to look at....

* * * * * * *

Do those things that make you happy.

Do those things that make you want to get up and do a little happy dance.

Do those things that make you feel 5 years old all over again. Remember bringing home a drawing that you spent an afternoon making in kindergarten, a drawing you loved making from start to finish, to give it to your Mum.

Do those things that make you grin so wide, that your eyes get squinty and your face feels a little stretched out afterwards.

Do those things that you put at the bottom of your list, because there's more important things like: balancing the check book or picking up the dry-cleaning, sweeping the kitchen floor or meeting a deadline. Turn the list upside down, and do the *fun* things that might be at the bottom of yours too.

Do those things that you wake up thinking about.

Do all of those things because they feed every other little thing you could possibly have on your list of must-do's, to-do's and need-to-do's.

Do those things that you are moved to do because they feed your soul, your imagination your spirit and your chi.

Just do those things . . .

 

August 2011 .:. Biz Goals

I touched on everything that I had listed for July, and then some, and even took a week off and went back east to visit family. OH, swimming in lakes again, just heaven, and eating 3 ears of corn for dinner (and skipping the rest of the meal), and floating in the water looking at the clouds, and playing with the kids. Sweet.

1. Continue discussions about marketing and talking about my work, and really delve into the deep waters of WHO, not just what, my art and design is. - very helpful, and quite fun, still happening
   
2. Patterns baby - a few and more to come
3. Website art done so coder can do her thing.
4. Writing more about the topics and issues that really really interest me, that really make me nervous AND excited. Delving deeper. - yes and more of this
5. Declare to the universe at large that I am available for work that will feed me both creatively and monetarily, and will also be a collaboration filled with synchronicity and balance and deep value, and dare I say joy, yes I do, and joy for all involved. - THIS one, in an of itself, was tremendously successful!

And so now to August:

1. Design projects on deck
2. Create Jewelery Making Goals
3. Work on writing projects
4. Finish designing birthday cards
5. Newsletter for Etsy shop
6. Paint
7. Enjoy the August sun

OK, here goes everything... we're on for a new month and it's coming fast, and I am so ready for it!