Athena Dreams Design

Finding my Pocket

 

My husband is a bass player, and I hear him talk about many things musical, but mostly he talks about all things as a variation on a groove.
He wants to find it.
He wants to create it.
He wants to move it.
He wants to feel it.
He wants to build on it.

And he also wants a pocket.
And he wants to sit in that pocket. A lot.

When he's performing I usually know when he has settled himself down in that pocket, he gets a big 6-year-old goofy grin on his face, and often times so does the drummer he's playing with.

It's funny but after a lot of years of listening to him talk about this stuff, I am not exactly sure what his definition of the pocket is. I (of course) have my own interpretations:

One of them is: I imagine the pocket to be like getting the perfect rhythm going on a see saw. Both people are about the same size, and neither is into dropping the other one, and neither wants to throw off the balance or end the fun while it's happening.

I am thinking this morning about how I find my pocket. Or pockets. I am thinking about variations on a groove, and I would like to sit in some pockets too. So where do I find a pocket outside of musical references:

• somewhere comfy and happy
• somewhere easy and effortless
• where ideas and energy are able to sustain
• where there is a give and a take
• where I can feel the moment in my mind and my body
• where the energy and dynamics are constantly reworked and recycled and reused and remade

I know I can create a groove on my own, but can I find a pocket on my own, or is more than one person needed to stitch that together? Are you looking for your pocket?

When Work is Play

I love this photo for so many different reasons, but mostly because there is my 20-something mother working the childcare on a tricycle playing with her kids. One of my brothers had been riding on the back of my trike and fell off, (tho the finger to my mouth in the universal sign for oops, and his body language is telling me there might be more to the story).

Work is work and play is play. Or is it really like that? Do the two need to be in opposition to each other? I don't think I ever thought they needed to be, and yet I've never consciously teamed the two together, especially when it comes to looking for work. Work is serious. Work is about being "professional". And play, well, play is play.

Last week I was challenged to think about work as play, specifically to approach looking for more freelance work as I would approach a playground.

For me, play is about spontaneity, it's about imagination, it often features play"mates" and its about fun and exchange and movement. There is a dynamic to play that is all about energy and letting the moment go where it will. Now that's a new and different way to approach looking for clients, and surprise surprise, it actually makes me feel excited about the process.

Look at all the definitions of Play (as a noun):

1. a dramatic composition or piece; drama.
2. a dramatic performance, as on the stage.
3. exercise or activity for amusement or recreation.
4. fun or jest, as opposed to seriousness: I said it merely in play.
5. a pun.
6. the playing, action, or conduct of a game: The pitcher was replaced in the fourth inning of play.
7. the manner or style of playing or of doing something: We admired his fine play throughout the game.
8. an act or instance of playing or of doing something: a stupid play that cost us the match.
9. one's turn to play: Whose play is it?
10. a playing for stakes; gambling.
11. an attempt to accomplish something, often in a manner showing craft or calculation; maneuver: They tried to buy up the stock in a takeover play.
12. an enterprise or venture; deal: an oil and drilling play.
13. action, conduct, or dealing of a specified kind: fair play; foul play.
14. action, activity, or operation: the play of fancy.
15. brisk, light, or changing movement or action: a fountain with a leaping play of water.
16. elusive change or movement, as of light or colors: the play of a searchlight against the night sky.
17. a space in which something, as a part of a mechanism, can move.
18. freedom of movement within a space, as of a part of a mechanism.
19. freedom for action, or scope for activity: full play of the mind.
20. attention in the press or other media; coverage; dissemination as news: The birth of the panda got a big play in the papers.
21. an act or instance of being broadcast: The governor's speech got two plays on our local station.

Each one of these definitions broadens my understanding of play as work, but look at #18:
Freedom of movement within a space, as part of a mechanism.

#16 is doing something for me as well: elusive change or movement, as of light or colors.

So what's your favourite definition of play?
Do you integrate play into your work? In your search for work?

 

So What Am I Waiting For?

 

Do you ever ask yourself that same question? Do you ever find that you are waiting for your moment, though you might not know exactly what it will look like or feel like, nevertheless you hope it’s on the way, and so you wait for it? And wait some more? Do you find yourself waiting for approval from a teacher or mentor, or from your peers, waiting for the nod that says NOW, you’re ready?

To read more, join me over on Scoutie Girl.

April 2011 .:. Biz Goals

First of April, April Fools Day. Does anyone else ever get curious about the origins of some of these "holidays"?  Wikipedia is not always totally reliable, but it's a quick source of information, and so, April Fools Day:

The earliest recorded association between April 1 and foolishness can be found in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (1392). In the Middle Ages, New Year's Day was celebrated on the 25th of March in most European towns. In some areas of France, New Year's was a week-long holiday ending on the 1st of April. So it is possible that April Fools originated because those who celebrated on the 1st of January made fun of those who celebrated on other dates. The use of the 1st of January as New Year's Day was common in France by the mid-sixteenth century, and this date was adopted officially in 1564 by the Edict of Roussillon.

OK, end of the research, and on to the goals:

March went a little something like this:

1. Finish up design for at least 2 more product categories, and submit. - done! New shop at Society Six! I need to upload more art, but there are 2 pieces available as iPhone covers, and more coming for laptop skins!
   
2. Work more on re-branding and asking for testimonials/words from peers. - asking really does work, and I need to do more!
3. Be BOLDER in presenting showing and talking about my work - this is a life lesson for me. - baby steps, working on the bold, shoulders back, chin up!
   
4. Create AND finish 2 new paintings or illustrations, and I mean FINISH! - ignored my own directive, BUT got a few pieces started.
5. Make some time to dig in the garden a bit, pull some weeds and make a plan for planting.- started!
6. When feeling down or frustrated or impatient (or any other related feelings) spend a moment to count all my blessings. Mmm-hmmm, always a good list item

And then there is April.

1. Come up with work for one more product category, and that will complete the list of 4 new products. And then it's on to marketing...
2. Approach the finding a mentor thing a little differently. I am going to get really really specific with myself about what I would like a mentor help with, and put it out there again.
3. Work on portfolio for fabric designs, so I will have something to show when I arrive here in May.
4. Write some announcements and info pieces on my work to send to blogs for stories, and get them out by mid April. 
5. Hire a Wordpress coder to finish the site. THIS is my second lesson in how to work smarter. 
6. Put design portfolio together and target places that I'd like to design work for.
7. Paint, that's all I'm saying, no quantity directives, no finish dates, just paint.
8. Walk. Every. Day. Rain or shine. Get your butt (and feet) up on the hill and Walk.

OK, GO April. Hope you all have a great month!

________________________

IF you are new to The Meetup or would like to play along, here's the scoop:

• Post a list of your business related goals for the current month on the 1st of each month on your blog. {If the 1st falls on a weekend, post on the following Monday.}
• Come back over here and leave a link to your goals blog post in the comments of my current month's goals.
• And then {and this is the most important part, since we are a community} visit all the links in the comments, stop in and say hello, have a conversation, meet and greet and etc.
• You can also "meet" the Meet Up peeps, go here and visit the links.

Creating the Road You're On

An Invitation to Travel, original mixed media painting by Liz Kalloch

As small business owners, creatives, and entrepreneurs we are all on our own road to somewhere.

For most of us there is no map, no mapquest directions to be downloaded, no Michelin guide to help us find our way. So, what do we do? We create most of it as we go. I like to think of it as creating for the journey, and since creating is fun and gets us to unexpected and sometimes miraculous destinations, and a road map that you have to fold up neatly to get it back in the glove box isn’t, I’m going with the fun map. . .

I am over at Scoutie Girl today, to read the rest of the story, go HERE.

11 Weeks In

• Our cat had never been outside until she came to live with us, she is now an indoor/outdoor cat. She, like many cats, hates the rain. Today she tried to go out, and a raindrop splatted in her face. Her response? Hiss at the raindrop and run back inside. I am right with her on this.

• The house we used to live in leaked. Leaked a lot. Leaked in many rooms. Many things were damaged. I worried every time it rained. And then we moved into the house we're in now and the FIRST thing I had checked out was the roof. Was it going to leak? Answer: No. But I still worried in the back of my head. And 2 years into living here the roof does not leak, BUT the window in my painting studio? Yeah, it leaks. This goes under the heading of be careful what you worry about, it might end up coming true.

• The more I go into my studio to paint, the more energy and excitement I have about painting. Funny (and not so funny) how that works.

• Wisdom thought today: Don't go to sleep and fall back into old patterns, you might miss an opportunity to see things differently.

• When on a spending budget, don't go looking at the new spring shoes from Keen. It's temptation. It won't end well.

• Inspiration begets inspiration.

• Talking about the things that excite, inspire and remind us why we do what we do are lifelines to further inspiration. Details? Go here, and here.

• I have some great wind in my sails right now. I write this to remind myself the next time I hit the doldrums that the wind always picks up again. Always. (see below)

• My grandfather used to tell me that the only thing we could count in this world is change. (see above)

March 2011 .:. Biz Goals

Welcome March! Isn't it March that they say in like a lion out like a lamb about? I always loved that phrase, it gives such a visual metaphor for winter moving into spring.

Okay, and wow, its really March. Did anyone else get up thinking, damn, it's already March? Okay, so since time is streaming by us so very quickly, let's get to the goals...

 Here were my February goals

1. Identify 3-5 new product categories to create with my art/design. Research. Prototype. Came up with 5 or 6, and one is already done and done: pillow covers!
2. Find a mentor. I have NO idea how to do this, but the first step is always putting it out there. I want to find a mentor who is also an artist and a designer, and has worked their art and design into brilliantly placed, licensed product that are seen and bought and loved all over the world. OK, so I identified 2 people - Amy Butler and Tricia Guild, and I wrote them both letters! So it's in their hands now, and fingers crossed, they say YES!
3. I think #2 above might go under the category of working smarter.
4. Repeat #2 from last month. Yes!

And March will go a little something like this:

1. Finish up design for at least 2 more product categories, and submit.
2. Work more on re-branding and asking for testimonials/words from peers.
3. Be BOLDER in presenting showing and talking about my work - this is a life lesson for me.
4. Create AND finish 2 new paintings or illustrations, and I mean FINISH!
5. Make some time to dig in the garden a bit, pull some weeds and make a plan for planting.
6. When feeling down or frustrated or impatient (or any other related feelings) spend a moment to count all my blessings.

OK, so here comes March, spring will be on the other side, and the world is full of possibility!

________________________

IF you are new to The Meetup or would like to play along, here's the scoop:

• Post a list of your business related goals for the current month on the 1st of each month on your blog. {If the 1st falls on a weekend, post on the following Monday.}
• Come back over here and leave a link to your goals blog post in the comments of my current month's goals.
• And then {and this is the most important part, since we are a community} visit all the links in the comments, stop in and say hello, have a conversation, meet and greet and etc.
• You can also "meet" the Meet Up peeps, go here and visit the links.

A Good Pillow (Cover)

Who would have thought that a pillow cover or 2 created with my artwork, could make me feel as happy as a little kid... not me, but they do.

Last week, my shop opened up at a european website called Envelop, debuting 2 pillow covers. One made from the painting Night Garden, and the other from the painting Matilija Poppy (pictured above, showing the front and the back).

The work to put these pillow designs together was a perfect yummy blend of three things I most love:

• painting (which was already done, but still plays a part)
• creating patterns
• colour 

You know all those wiser-than-many-of-us-people who are saying things like find something you love to do, work hard and go for it? They are SO not wrong, in fact they are SO very right.

So if you have been thinking about getting your work onto some textiles that are printed on demand and shipped all over the world (and I know some of you have), go here, and DO IT.

Pillows people. More pillows to come... Pillows!

8 Weeks In

• Ever since I read that Vincent Van Gogh considered orange to be the colour of insanity, I have felt a little uneasy around it. How to use a colour that might be insane? But when paired with pink and purple and lavendar, it's kind of lovely I think. Orange has started to grow on me, and I figure it's made me uneasy long enough, why not be friends.

• My design studio is in the midst of being reorganised and it's an utter and total and collosal mess! I am not berating myself about how long it is taking ( a new thing), I am merely plowing through the mess and divesting myself of things that I no longer need or want.

• Things are calm and peaceful inside my head when the worry monster is away, and he's been away for a while now. I am hoping that Stan found another place to live and won't be back. Don't get me wrong, I do not wish him on some nice unsuspecting person, hopefully he found a lovely hollow tree, on the side of a hill, and he watches the sun go down into the ocean every evening. That's what I hope for him.

• When I am super busy, making lists is very calming.

• When I am super busy, staring out a window and watching the trees or the birds is very calming.

• When the worry monster is away, there is so much room to think and plan!

• I think I have discovered my maximum book reading capacity: 3 non-fiction, 1 business, 1 novel and a book of poetry. That's all I can read simultaneously. Hmmm perhaps that isn't the right word, I don't mean to imply that I am reading them all at the same moment, but in the same sphere of time. 3. 1. 1. 1. Six, yeah, that might be it.

• I was thinking about the threads of my life the other day. Some are tangled, some are dangling, some have not yet been used and many many more are woven and lovely and integrated and holding the warp in place, and it got me to thinking about the tapestry of a life. What would your life look like if it was woven into a tapestry, to hang on the wall of your home?

• Did I mention that things are so much easier when the worry monster is gone. Yeah. I know I did. It is just such a revelation that apparently I needed to mention it 3 times here.

• OK last thought for week 8: snow is being predicted for the Bay Area, get this, AT sea level on Thursday or maybe Friday this week. Think it's really going to happen? I'm going to keep my camera ready.

On the Road to Damascus .:. A Story

Samarah, the center of her family, yearns for a bigger world, a bigger life, she dreams in patterns and colour. She paints images of leaves and flowers on the walls of her family home, and she learns about fiber and the weaving shuttle from her grandmother. Weaving the fabric for her family's clothing has given her the beginnings of a skill she wants more of: she wants to weave tapastries and the fabrics for the clothing she has seen the travellers wearing and trading when they come through her village.

You never know where the seeds of a painting will come from. While researching damask patterns for another project, I started wondering where the word came from, did it have something to do with the weave or was it about where the idea for the weave or fabrics came from? And it was a place name, Damascus.

I tried to imagine what the Middle East might have been like in the Middle Ages. And then I began to imagine a girl who was a pattern designer and had a love of fabrics and fiber, and Samarah was born. 

In the painting, she and her travelling companions have stopped to rest by an oasis. Some water, some food and a rest from the dusty roads. She is day-dreaming about her life to be. The background of the painting is a damask pattern painted into a dreamy bed of purples and periwinkles and lavenders. I believe that Samarah's life was magical and happy: She lived and worked as a weaver in one of the oldest and most culturally rich cities in the Levant. She designed fabrics and patterns in rich and sumptuous brocades, and found satisfaction and joy in the life that she dreamed and then created for herself

You can find On the Road to Damascus here.