I'm Baaack!

Yep, I know that it's been a while.  I've needed an attitude adjustment and I got it!  In spades!  Given the recent kick in the butt - gentle though it was - I'm recommitting to being here on a regular basis again.  Warts and all.

Back to Writing

This month, I plan to revise, renew, and revamp this website.  It needs a lot of work because it doesn't really reflect me.  (No wonder I don't want to be here!)  The look doesn't reflect me, the platform doesn't work as well as I'd like, and the content is more of a brochure than useful information for people looking for either my products and services or help with the issues coming up in their lives.

The first thing that I'm considering is changing my platform from SquareSpace (my current hosting company) to WordPress, which many folks tells me will make my life much easier.  I did love my blog more when I was on WordPress, so that part doesn't surprise me.  I didn't think that WordPress would have all of the features that I wanted down the road, but it turns out that the few things that it doesn't have standard in the platform come as easy add-ons these days.  Of course, the painful part will be the transition back, but if it's better for the long haul, it should be worth the momentary pain.

Back to Glass Artistry

In good news, I was back in my glass studio on Sunday!  Yes, I know that it's my garage, but it's where I create my fused glass, so I still get to call it my studio.  I did a little prep work to get things ready for a few large tiles (6" by 6") that I want to experiment with next time I'm in the studio.

I also had fun working with some small molds and my set of GlassLine pens.  I can use these pens to create spots or lines of color in the molds, so I can create veins in leaves or multicolored butterflies.  You can create similar effects with colored frit (ground glass), but it can be challenging when working small to confine the frit to a thin line in a mold.  Not impossible, just very challenging.  Why go for extra challenging, when you can do the same thing an easier way?  The small molds are now ready to go the next time I'm ready to fire up the kiln.

The last thing I did in the studio was to create a few more pendants.  For these, I was working with a set of four 2" teardrop-shaped pendant molds and a 3" diamond-shaped pendant mold.  I layered black frit in the bottom of the mold, added some dichroic glass shards over the black background then layered clear frit over the top.  I've done quite a few of these already and create a mosaic look in the finished pendant.  They are quick and easy to make, but the result is very stylish.

Back to Ease

Yes, I know it's the year of Kick-Ass this and Kick-Ass that.  I'm taking a little advice from Jen Louden, aka The Comfort Queen.  She wrote a great blog post here that speaks about how being yourself is good enough.  I wholeheartedly agree!  With all of the stuff happening to me right now, the last thing that I need is outrageously enormous goals.  Some days, just the ability to get out of bed and get one thing done seems like a major accomplishment - and it is, and that is enough.

So, I'm adjusting my attitude.  I am already good enough and I already do enough.  Every thing that I CAN tackle is a bonus.  I will take smaller steps more often, instead of trying to stride like a giant over and through every obstacle coming at me.  I will take care of myself first, so that I can in turn take care of others better.  I will remember these principles and use a little time and my discernment to look at what the next best step is and take it as soon as I am able.

Since there are several areas in my life that are a work in progress - cleaning up and clearing out my house, working on my glass artistry more often, working on my business (marketing plan, promotional materials, website, newsletter, etc.), and working on the legal issues - there are many choices at every moment I am active for where to take the next best action step.  Back to basics.  One small step at a time, at each moment I am able.  And that is good enough for me.