Studio Friday - "Look Back"

This weeks Studio Friday topic is "Look Back" something I don't do that often but it's very good for us all to step back for a few minutes and ponder on our journey, whether personal or creative. Studio Friday has a great excerpt on their site, by Jamie Smart:

"The people who are happy and fulfilled measure their progress by comparing where they are against where they’ve come from. The people who are stressed and dissatisfied measure progress by comparing where they are against their ideals. Just think about that for a moment.
The happy, fulfilled people look at how far they’ve come. The unhappy, dissatisfied people look at how far they have to go to reach an ideal. "

I have to say that I am one of the happy people. I measure my own success by how far I've come, both professionally and creatively. That's not to say I don't plan and make goals because I do, I firmly believe in goal setting. Although let's face it we all have bad days where we feel like everyone is getting all the breaks but us, usually for me that's when I'm going through other personal stuff or a creative block.

This last 6 months I can see a big change and I know my first layouts were VERY different to what I'm doing now. But in my own work I can see variation from day to day, week to week. I'm very emotion driven I think. If papers aren't working for me it shows, or if I'm not feeling 100% it also shows. Looking back to a little over a year ago, I had no Design Teams, only a couple of publications and had only dabbled in digital! What a difference a year makes huh? All from goal setting I might add, but I can look back and see the successes I've had and be happy, and know which direction(s) I want to forward in next.

So look back at your first layout or card and then to one you made recently... I bet they are WORLD's apart!

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Studio Friday - 7 deadly sins

This weeks prompt for Studio Friday continues the 7 Deadly Sins theme with #6 Envy.

What do you desire that you are lacking and someone else has? If you could have it would you really want it or is it just a notion? How come you want to have it? What can you do to still that desire so that there is no need to be envious of any thing or anybody?

I could go on another rant about this industry lately, and the total lack of respect for others that some people exhibit but I'd just be rehashing what I wrote last week. So instead I'll share a little of my story. in 2005 I got my first project picked up for publication (yep nearly 2 years ago!). I got the bug and got it bad. I wanted to get on a design team and so I applied, for lots! And I got turned down, for all of them. I got turned down for other publications too. I started to get envious of other designers getting published and getting design teams and didn't like that it was taking the joy out of my creating, so I took a break. This was back when I had blog #1. I stopped blogging too! I just kinda dissapeared from the scrap world for a while, I didn't even create really, bar a few birthday cards.
Then I got my joy back. I realised that I wasn't getting picked because someone else was better, because my work wasn't up to par, and honestly I realised I wasn't putting the time in needed to get better. So I put that time in! And guess what? it paid off! Literally weeks later I got another publication. Then a month or two later another publication and design teams. Since then I haven't looked back. Whilst I LOVE my design teams and resume of published work I do this because I LOVE to create! Once that joy goes its obvious in your work.
As is also evident I restarted the blog, cos I love to share. I love to promote other people (sketches) and will do my best to help anyone with advice, information etc. If you have a question I'll do my best to answer it, if I don't know the answer I probably know someone who does, lol!
So yes once upon a time the green eyed monster lived here, but I got over it! Moved forward and worked through it. I'm still working through it, its ongoing because I'm changing all the time, learning new things, going in different directions.
So how about you? Does the green eyed monster reside in you?

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Studio Friday - 7 deadly sins

I am experiencing a RUSH of assignment deadlines right now. Need to get projects created scanned/photographed and submitted. I've been keeping a tally of how many things I created this year and the figures are amazing! Must get that together to share sometime! I put March's totals in my monthly round up, must update Jan + Feb. Just something fun to do as I want to see how many things I create for the year. I am almost releived that we won't be riding this weekend (its raining buckets at the moment!). This means I can get some things created at the weekend and get a head start. Naturally I chose this busy week to reorganise my patterned paper and make a start on organising my scraproom!

Anyway onto Studio friday! I missed last weeks due to deadlines etc so catching up on: week 4 - sloth:

The biggest factor in me getting things done is the computer, or more importantly being online. Had no internet Wednesday and I got lots acheived, seriously the computer though a technoligcal blessing is sometimes a downfall! I spend way too much time online! I know people have done days/weeks without the computer and I couldn't do that. Its an addiction. Last week I had no laptop all week, and I had a mixed reaction to that loss. On the one hand I had no way to surf during breakfast, or pop online after dinner (without booting up the pc, and dissapearing into my office). Yet I got much more done on paper. I'm not sure how I feel about that yet. See the internet is my lifeline, it's how I communicate with family and friends in the UK, and my scrap buddies spread out through the world. It's how I blog, and submit work, and shop. Honestly I'd miss it terribly BUT I wish I weren't online so much. I remember back in England (back in the day) they did TV rental that took coins. Wouldn't that be good? A quarter for 30 mins of internet? Once your 30 minutes is up you gotta go DO stuff or put in another quarter. I'd either get stuff done, or cost myself a fortune!

Week 5 - wrath!

Wrath. Anger. Hatred. Prejudice. Discrimination. Not...good. How does it show up every now and then in your studio? Do you break things just because you are in its grip? Why? Do you smash your last creation and destroy it? How do you deal with it?

I've thought long and hard about this one and I have to say it. This industry sometimes SUCKS. There! Its out! I have many people I look up to in this industry, one of them recently has been a victim of hate it just makes my heart ache. I've been a victim myself, it sucks. When did it all get so competitive? Seriously are some designers so afraid of others talents that they'll step on anybody to get ahead? Where is the enjoyment in knowing you got that position by backstabbing someone else? When I first started in this publishing/DT thing I don't remember it being so bitchy, maybe I just wasn't tainted by it then? or chose to ignore it? I dunno, but its out there now, wish it weren't but it is.

How do I deal with it? I get out he emotions by venting to friends, or being here for them to vent. Creating helps (even if I don't post it online) especially art journalling. Chocolate and alcohol always helps... and remember... Karma!

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Studio Friday - 7 deadly sins

Ok so its been a while since I joined in the studio friday challenges. but I figured I'd jump back on board and check them out again. I noticed they are doing a series and thought I'd dive straight in with this! Starting with a recap of sins 1 & 2

Deadly Sin #1 - LUST I do seem to have a slight problem with lusting after scrapbook products, mostly things like rub-ons, stamps, and certain patterned papers, oh and chipboard alpha's! Ok I do have a problem it seems with lust.

Deadly Sin #2 - GLUTTONY This one doesn't apply to me! Hurrah! I am not a scrap snacker. If I've creating then I am creating not snacking. Pretty good job as I am WAY messy and would get it everywhere. that brings me to the current topic of...

Deadly Sin #3 - GREED

What is it you are greedy about or feel greedy about? Is it material or is it a behavior? Are you greedy for emotions? Do you hoard? How do you want to change for the better? It can be small steps or do you rather take a big step to change?

Three little words in there ring true for me: Do you hoard? When I sent out my newsletter this week I spoke about my monthly project for April which is purging, organising and getting this room under control. You know when I first started scrapbooking everything fit into a tote! Um yeah... I have slightly more than that now, and I know I'm not alone! I am a hoarder! I tend to 'save' supplies for that perfect layout for that certain product. If you're a scrapbooker you know what I mean right? This week I did a few paper layouts and I was so proud of myself for using Heidi Swapp chipboard alphabets on TWO layouts! Go me! This took serious resolve for me. Heidi Swapp chipboard alpha's are my golden goose of products, heck I'll be honest ANY chipboard alpha's. Here is a photo of 'some' of my collection, these are just Heidi Swapp ones.

Another hoard for me is ribbon. This isn't all my ribbon! This is just what was on the table while I reorganise. Its an ongoing process to find a good loose ribbon storage solution.

Finally my latest passion - rub-ons. Not just any rub-ons though! Heavens I have had some duds! These are by one heart... one mind. If you've never used these, go find yourself some! I got all these in February as part of my DT package and WOW I am in rub-on heaven!

See I got more rub-ons too last week which I haven't unpacked yet! Yep my name is Di Hickman and I am a scrapbook supply hoarder...

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