CREATIVE ADVENTURE - WEEK 5

TRY SOMETHING NEW

Well, I did try some new things this past week. I created this new blog for one thing, and I created a new group, Designing With Polymer Clay over on Facebook. We already have 90 members!

I feel like so much of what I am doing these days is new. I learn something new every day. It sometimes feels a little daunting to be stepping out into the unknown, to pursue goals in areas that I have so little experience in. But it's definitely exhilarating too!

In the area of illustration, I checked out a new book, "Breaking Into Freelance Illustration: A Guide for Artists, Designers and Illustrators" which was recommended by an illustrator I'm a big fan of, Roz Fulcher. I'm still working my way through the book, but there is a lot of great information there.

CREATIVE ADVENTURE - WEEK FOUR

TRACKING OUR SUCCESS

This week we're supposed to design a system to track our successes as we travel on our creative journey towards our dreams.

I'm just using a notebook at the moment. I record the date, and what I accomplished that day towards my goals, and then I set my intentions for the following day.

What I’ve done recently towards my goals:

Romance Novel:
I created an outline from all of my notes, so that I know which scenes/plot points need to be in which chapter and roughly how many chapters I’m going to have.
I added several pages to the chapter I’m currently working on
I also worked on a query letter. Though I’m a long way off from needing one, it helped me to figure out the “hook” for my romance, and how I will promote it when the time comes.

Licensing:
Entered into a program to learn more about licensing
Doing research on the type of products I would like to license
Working towards creating a line to market

Illustration:
Submitted an illustration to “Illustration Friday”
Purchased two books on freelance illustration
Received high praise for my work from two of my favorite illustrators :o)

CREATIVE ADVENTURE - WEEK THREE

I'm a little behind in doing my Creative Dreams Come True assignment for this week. According to Andrea:

"Our assignment for this week is to chart out more specifically what dreams you want to have come true this year.

For each category, i list the main things i do want to work on this year, then i create an intention statement. the intention statement really conveys how i want this part of my life to feel and it is that feeling that can capture everything on your list, plus all sorts of other wonderful things that you haven’t even thought of yet."

So here's my list:

This is my health
I feel healthy, strong, and full of energy

• Walk and exercise consistently
• Drink more water
• Eat more fruits and vegetables
• Make sure to get enough sleep
• Take breaks to stretch during long periods of working at the computer or on artwork
  

These are my relationships
My relationships are mutually supportive, loving, nourishing, respectful, and uplifting

• I make the people who are important to me a priority in my life
• I don't waste my time on people who are filled with negative energy
• I laugh often with the people I love
• I support other artists/creative people in their endeavors

This is my abundance
I have multiple sources of income from things I love to do

• I continue to save money
• I find more ways to market myself and my business
• I am receptive to and prepared for the opportunities that come my way
• I remember that my abundance is unlimited
• I am grateful for all that I have
  

This is my creativity/purpose
My purpose is to use my talents to the best of my ability

• I allow myself time to experiment and explore
• I listen to my own voice and inspirations
• I devote more time to my drawing
• I commit to writing at least three pages daily
• I take steps daily towards my goals
• I continue to educate myself in the areas I wish to succeed in

This is how I practice self love/self care
I love, respect, and nurture myself in the same way I love, respect, and nurture my family and friends

• I take time to meditate regularly
• I connect with God/the Universe regularly
  
• I am true to myself
• I allow myself to enjoy my life, to spend my time as I see fit
  
• I appreciate the beauty all around me on a daily basis
• I listen to my own heart and follow my own agenda

This is how I experience happiness/adventure
I believe in unlimited possibilities so there is potential for happiness and adventure every day

• I remember to enjoy the journey
• I find something to laugh about every day
• I am grateful every day
• I am open to new experiences
• I remember and celebrate my past successes

Comments:

ABCcreativity said...

this is fantastic ginny!

it's wonderful to give yourself permission to do things in your own time. i don't mean to have strict "deadlines" to any of this. it's more important to enjoy the process and to get something out of it. looks like you have real clarity here about what you want and that is so important.

Redheaded Stepchild said...

Wow! We have a lot in common in our goals, don't we? Oh, and I dabble in polymer clay, too! Go, girl!

WEEK TWO ON THE JOURNEY - REMEMBERING WHERE WE'VE BEEN

Last week we listed the dreams we'd like to have come true in the next year. But this week, we're to take a look back at the dreams we've already had come true, the goals we've already achieved. So, in no particular order, here are mine:

• I wanted to learn to sculpt, primarily dogs. I couldn't find any instructional books, videos, or classes in my area to teach me what I wanted to learn, so I taught myself through trial and error
  

• I wanted to sell my original sculptures. I sold the second one I created and have sold hundreds since then

• I've also sold hundreds of whimsical clay miniatures as well

• My pieces have been purchased by people all over the world - England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Canada, Spain, Italy, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Germany, Japan, China
  

• I had a book on creating Christmas ornaments of polymer clay published by Design Originals

• I have had numerous projects published in magazines

• My designs have also appeared in several other collaborative books

• I have had several articles about myself and my work appear in several magazines
  

• I worked as a freelance designer for Polyform Products and American Art Clay Company

• I was flown all expenses paid to Atlanta, GA by Plaid Enterprises, Inc. and paid as a designer to work with their products for several days alongside other designers. What a wonderful trip that was! We were treated very well by Plaid.
  

• I was contacted by producers of the Carol Duvall TV show and asked if I would like to appear on their show. I did nothing to solicit them, they came to me, and it was very flattering. Things didn't work out for a myriad of reasons. By then, I had realized that craft designing was NOT where my heart was at all, so I guess things worked out as they should. But I received high praise from the producers and from Carol Duvall herself. So, like they say with the Academy Awards, it was nice just to be nominated. LOL

• I have designed art for product packaging for Plaid Enterprises

• I have been commissioned by breed clubs to create art that was used as trophies for winning placements

• I have been paid well to teach others to work with clay
  

• I have received high praise from two artists whose work I am a HUGE fan of - that was worth more than gold to me :o)

• I created my first needle felted teddy bear and love how he came out
  

• I have taught myself html code

• Created my blog

• Created my own website which I am now in the process of recreating
  

• I've learned to create and edit videos - even if I do still need a bit of work on that! LOL

• I found true love and remarriage after divorce

• I had a second child, after suffering through two stillbirths, and have two children I love dearly who are now grown

• I lived right on the beach in Cocoa Beach, FL with the ocean in my backyard :o)

• I paid cash for my beloved Mustang GT

• Purchased our first house

• Remodeled our house
  

• I've successfully shown much loved champion Boxers and English Cocker Spaniels

• I've helped take care of 3 month old tiger cubs (well mostly I played with them, but I did bottle feed them a few times too! LOL)
  

• I learned to ride horses when I was kid, and talked my parents into letting me have one. One of my first dreams come true! My parents figured I would lose interest, so they told me I could have a horse if I saved enough money for one. After a year and a half of saving every penny I earned or was gifted with, I had raised 2/3's of the money needed, and they kicked in the rest, and I got my horse Shane.

• I rediscovered my love of writing and I'm about halfway through the writing of my first novel

• Learned how to make bullet lists on blogger LOL
  

I know there's more, but this is all that comes to mind right now, and it's a pretty good start I think. :o)

5 comments:

SugarberrySensations said...

Ginny, I can not tell you how much I enjoyed reading your dreams that you have accomplished - it was FABULOUS!

You are indeed a lucky girl, but a lot of your luck comes from you being so INCREDIBLY TALENTED!!! I ♥love♥ your work!

Hugs,

Lori

ABCcreativity said...

pretty fantastic start ginny!

Carrie Anspach said...

Very impressive and inspiring list! I love how many times your dream came to you unsolicited....beautiful :)

Redheaded Stepchild said...

Wow - great list Ginny! You got to play with tiger cubs?!?!? How cool is that?

Ginny Baker said...

Thanks for all the lovely comments everyone. I'm headed over to your blogs now to respond! :o)

BEGINNING THE CREATIVE ADVENTURE

Today kicks off the Creating Dreams Come True Adventure and our first assignment is to make a list of our dreams and post it online. Andrea suggested we list 100 or more small, medium, and large dreams, but I'm choosing to focus specifically on my dreams for 2010. I believe nothing is more powerful than focused energy, so I would rather focus my energy on specific dreams for 2010, rather than dissipate it by trying to focus on too much at once. But, that's me. Everyone has to do this program in the way they feel will work best for them. So, here's my list for 2010:

• To focus more than ever on my writing, both fiction and non-fiction

• To finish the romance novel I'm writing

• To create tutorials on sculpting that I will make available for sale

• To get more free publicity for my artwork in the form of articles on blogs and in publications

• To continue to build my illustration portfolio

• To redesign my website

• To regain my blog following and reach even more people

• To create more videos for You Tube

• To do more needle felting, along with my clay sculpture

• To USE my airbrushes on a regular basis

• To learn to work more with digital art

• To license my artwork
  

• To travel more - this year to Ireland and Scotland, land of my ancestors

• To take more time to expand and enjoy my social life

• To take better care of myself

I'll probably add more as I go along, but this is plenty to get me started on the new year. :o)

I didn't want to lose the lovely comments I received when I moved this post here, so I copied and pasted them. Hope nobody minds.

Carrie Anspach said...

Hello Ginny!

I'm on the creative adventure as well and I love you list! I love your focused energy concept and I look forward to seeing all these dreams and more come true for you this year!

roz said...

Happy New Year, Ginny. I think I'll hop in your bag when you head to Ireland and Scotland. I am half British and desperate to go back for a visit. I was actually married in Scotland. Edinburgh.
Hope you're settling in well to your new digs. It's so funny to me that we were both in Vegas and now in the Mid West.

ABCcreativity said...

great list ginny!

yes we all have to do everything in whatever way feels right for us :)

Redheaded Stepchild said...

I look forward to seeing you and the rest of us creative dreamers fulfill our dream goals!

Ginny Baker said...

Thanks ladies! I'm off to respond to each of you on your own blogs. :o)

Today kicks off the Creating Dreams Come True Adventure and our first assignment is to make a list of our dreams and post it online. Andrea suggested we list 100 or more small, medium, and large dreams, but I'm choosing to focus specifically on my dreams for 2010. I believe nothing is more powerful than focused energy, so I would rather focus my energy on specific dreams for 2010, rather than dissipate it by trying to focus on too much at once. But, that's me. Everyone has to do this program in the way they feel will work best for them. So, here's my list for 2010:

To focus more than ever on my writing, both fiction and non-fictionTo finish the romance novel I'm writingTo create tutorials on sculpting that I will make available for saleTo get more free publicity for my artwork in the form of articles on blogs and in publicationsTo continue to build my illustration portfolio To redesign my websiteTo regain my blog following and reach even more people To create more videos for You TubeTo do more needle felting, along with my clay sculptureTo USE my airbrushes on a regular basisTo learn to work more with digital artTo license my artwork
To travel more - this year to Ireland and Scotland, land of my ancestorsTo take more time to expand and enjoy my social lifeTo take better care of myself
I'll probably add more as I go along, but this is plenty to get me started on the new year. :o)