Wednesday, January 2, 2013

One step forward, one step back

Each year I show the predictions I made about the previous year on my blog.

So what were my predictions for 2012? Here are the things I stated I planned to do:

1. Continue to make meaningful art and show the process along the way.

2. Create at least one tutorial each month.

3. Interview one artist a month.

4. Interact with my blog readers and followers (just as soon as I have a working computer, that is).

5. Create one assemblage each month.


1.  I continued to make art.  Some of it may have been meaningful, some of it not.  I've always believed in the adage that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  Often, the pieces I think are the worst, are given rave reviews by my readers and followers, while the pieces I've felt the best about don't get many comments.

2.  If you included some of the altered book lessons I created, I believe many of them could be called tutorials.  And, as always, if I create something, I fully explain how I made it.

3.  I did not have time to interview any artists last year.  I had hoped to do so, especially during AEDM (Art Every Day Month), but when my computer or possibly browser stopped allowing me to see links, including the ones I created on this blog, I ran out of time to interview anyone.

4.  Some days I'm really, really good about getting around to everyone, while others, I can't leave comments.  I'm trying to correct that problem, but so far, everything I've done has been in vain.

5.  I may not have created an assemblage every month, but I created at least one, and often more, mixed media pieces each month.  To prove that, I want to share some of my creations from 2012.


(A quiltlet I created in January, 2012)


(An ATC sized book I made over one weekend in February, 2012)



(Mixed media art created for a challenge in March, 2012)


(My bEARTHday feast, April 22, 2012)


(May, 2012 was all about the garden because I was busy getting ready for company)



(Beginning in June, 2012, I started taking day trips, like this, my first one to Newton, KS)

 
(This is one of the Summer of Color entries I made in July, 2012)


(August, 2012 had me creating many signs using buttons in exchange for tutorials)


(In September, 2012, I compared similarities between how I altered fabric and paper)



(During October, 2012, I created a wall hanging I called "Sun Feathers
after I received the feathers in exchange for a tutorial)


(In November, 2012, I participated daily in AEDM, and finished my AB classes when I created the covers)


(In December, 2012, I created and mailed art journals to several friends) 

I hope you enjoyed this look back.

I would also like to make a few comments about blogging in general, and my blog specifically.

Once again, I need to repeat that I am myself. I make no pretenses that I am someone I am not. I am reasonably articulate, write with passion and occasional humor, and love mixed media art and fabric surface designs. Other than that, I make no claims (except that I need a much better camera!).

Add to that, the fact I tell it like it is. If I make a mistake or something turns out wrong, I don't rewind the day to make it better than it was. I let everyone know what to expect. After all, if it can go wrong, it probably will, and I will usually cause and report it.

I have learned to make things my way. Due to a limited art budget, I seldom have all the materials needed to complete a project I want to work on. That means I must improvise. In fact, sometimes I don't have any of the materials I need! If that's the case, I start with the original instructions and find similar materials. From there, I usually follow my own rules, often hoping for the best, and offering alternatives in the form of a tutorial.

Although this is primarily an art blog, I also add a few (and sometimes more than a few) times I go out and about. I also add photos of my home and yard.  I used to wonder if these were distractions to my art blogging and tutorials, but, after reading the number of comments I get from these ventures, it seems they are popular with my blogging friends, followers, and occasional visitors.

Which leads me to leaving comments. I get so infuriated when I have to type in those senseless words blogger loves to frustrate us with just to leave a comment. I usually get them wrong and have to reenter a new sequence. Oftentimes I learn the comment will be visible after someone approves it. Why not just let us "publish," since the author must approve it anyway!

Speaking of leaving comments, if I visit your blog, I leave a comment. I don't expect you to know I was there if I don't let you know I visited . To me, it is courtesy. And I love it when people leave me comments. However, one thing I probably will not do is reply by e-mail. I much prefer a blog reply and that means on your blog, not mine. I don't expect you to return to my blog to see what I have written in comments that might or might not pertain to you. If I must make a correction or addition to a tutorial, I do it in a blog post, not in the comment section of my blog. 

And finally, I still cannot leave comments on blogs with embedded comments.  I've tried different browsers, and nothing has helped.  To see how to change your embedded comments, please scroll to the end of this post to learn how to change them.

And that is my take on blogging, which hasn't changed much since 2006, except for how I leave comments on others' blogs.


Now for 2013:

My word for 2013 is DOCUMENT.  The nicest thing about this word is, it can be a noun, where three of its meanings are writings that provide information, a written account of ownership or obligation, and anything serving as a representation of a person's thinking by means of symbolic marks, which in my case comes from my keyboard.

As a verb, this word can mean to record in detail and support or supply with references, something I always do.

As for my intentions/predictions/resolutions:

1. Continue to make art that I hope some will find meaningful and show the process along the way.

2. Create at least one tutorial each month.

3. Interview one artist a month.

4. Create several mixed media pieces each month.

5. Create at least one scrappy journal each month.

Now that I've written them down, I have to live with these resolutions/predictions.  Join me on January 2, 2014 to see how well I lived up to them.  In the meantime, join me during 2013 for some hopefully fun, and occasionally inspirational, times with Bleubeard and me. 

30 thoughtful remarks:

voodoo vixen said...

You are one of the few people I know that actually come with resolutions and in the majority of them you actually keep them, I gave up on that many years ago as I hate starting the year with expectations and ending it as a failure!! LOL
I agree about the camera,yes, you really do need a new one as I would love to see more detail of your pieces and have them in focus!! :)

Helen said...

I have to agree, I don't know anyone who makes such resolutions AND keeps them. Good luck with this year's - I look forward to following the progress.

Anonymous said...

Nice word and list. I enjoy all your posts - even those non-arty ones about travels and food and friends. You are a whole person and it's nice to see posts about you and what you do. Happy New Year, enjoy the process. xox

Halle said...

Document is an awesome word! And one that you'll be able to do all year long.

Rebeca Trevino said...

you've had quite a productive year. i am happy to have gotten to know you and your art by way of blogger. i have learned a lot from reading your posts. thank you, too, for the encouraging comments you leave when you visit me.
i look forward to all the amazing work, ideas, techniques and creations we will share in the coming year.
cheers to you!

Susan said...

Hi Elizabeth,

I think you did great last year. I've said it before but I really appreciate all the time you put in your blog, tutorials and in the comments you leave. Especially because I usually find it hard to write down a nice, original comment. (maybe because English isn't my native language ??)

I'm very happy my parcel arrived at your doorstep today. I was afraid it would take forever :).

I wish you all the best for 2013 and I'll be visiting your blog to keep tracks on your resolutions/predictions.

Love Susan

carol l mckenna said...

Wonderful reflections of 2012 and your wonderful art work and all ~ Happy New Year ^_^

'So good to 'see you' again ^_^

(A Creative Harbor aka ArtMuseDog and Carol ^_^)

Craftymoose Crafts said...

I have enjoyed getting to know you a bit via all your blog posts--I love to see what others are doing artwise & it is fun to get a glimpse into what they enjoy doing inaddition to creating.

Jorin said...

Happy new year to you! I like your blog and especially your tutorials about altered books. I want to make more altered books in future, so I will have a look to your blog often.
Love
Jorin

Teri said...

I had to turn on my word verification lately as I was getting tons of spam comments daily. Nasty (porn, etc) comments among them. With the verification, I don't have to see the nastiness. And for the same reason (plus there are some people who troll blogs to have sport leaving ugly comments) is why I moderate. I realize it is a hassle but it's what has to be.

I love your blog and the challenges and reading along how you do things. After the library book sale this spring, I'm going to do your altered book lessons. Just gotta find that perfect book!

Caterina Giglio said...

admirable resolutions E, and you do such a good job of keeping them... my one and only resolution... be happy.. xx happy new year!

Susan said...

Hi Elizabeth,

I'm happy you like it!! I'm sure you'll like the magazine. Feel free to use the papers in anyway when your done reading. I use mine quite a lot.
And yes the workshop is free and a lot of fun.

Love Susan

Terrie said...

You had a very creative and sharing year - I recognized all those projects! I'm a long time reader and never miss a post, but I don't leave a comment every single time. Just know I'm out there and I'll try to check in now and then to say hi and encourage you to keep going.

By the way, I like your occasional forays into your yard or home - I think it helps make us more real to each other if we see a glimpse of a home or yard or family or...in addition to our creative projects. That's probably why blogs like WOYWW succeed - we all have a touch of voyeur in us. :)

Happy New Year to you and Bleubeard

Darla said...

I enjoyed looking back through your year of art. You are very generous with your time and tutorials. I always learn something. I may not use the idea at the moment but it rattles around in my head and I can always click on tutorials on your side bar. Looking forward to your posts in 2013.

Darla

MadBirdDesignsUK said...

Hi Elizabeth thanks for doing your blog and sharing your art. Happy New Year Joan

~*~Patty S said...

Wonderful year in review Elizabeth...I admire how organized and concise AND creative you are!

I think Documentation is a super word and you will/do excel at it!

Wishing you and Bleubeard a very Happy and Artful 2013
I am excited to spend another year with you here in blogland
oxo

Laura Spano said...

Hello there! Thank you for stopping by my blog. I love your post here, especially the parts about comments. I had a friend tactfully suggest I turn off the word verification thing- I didn't even realize that I had it activated! Those things drive me crazy- I never get it right in less than three tries. Best wishes in getting your goals met for the coming year!

voodoo vixen said...

OK E, dinna be going to into shock, but your parcel is in the post!! WoooHOOO! It will be interesting to see if it goes faster from here than in Calgary!!

Anonymous said...

I love that rocking book cover. Maybe Santa will bring you a new camra this year. Wishing you the best in 2013.

XX Rachel XX

TwinkleToes2day said...

I love reading your blog and all your ideas. I find your work very inspirational.
I apologise for simply lurking and not always leaving comments. I find I get more reading on that way ;)

I too find the verification thingy annoying and generally won't make the effort to comment on those blogs unless I feel I 'have to'
I'm looking forward to joining you in 2013 and hope to start an AB this year too :0)
Have a wonderful 2013 - Mo x

Margaret said...

Well I think you should be giving yourself a big pat on the back for last year's efforts, you did amazingly well and I enjoyed every bit of it! Happy creative new Year to you! Mx

JoZart Designs said...

Really interesting and reflective review of the year and I think you more than reached your goals last year even if sometimes it wasn't quite exactly to your expectations.
Good luck for this year and the main thing is that you enjoy all you do and do lots of it! Happy crafting and a healthy peaceful 2013.
Love Jo x

donnalouiserodgers said...

Ah I don't really measure you by the completedness of your resolutions, but by your generosity of spirit, your sense of truth and justice, and your fabulous art,

NOW - I know this is like saying I am in France and you live in the equivalent of south Italy but are you anywhere near LA next week?

Happy New Year Dear Friend

dx

Terrie said...

Thanks for visiting - I swear you have more trouble with blogger than anyone else I know! It's SO annoying and I can tell it makes you frustrated some times. I just hate it when my computer doesn't cooperate. Here's hoping that in 2013 blogger will be nicer to you!

Darcy Marshall said...

i am hopeless with resolutions, instead I have a bucket list of things i want to do in my lifetime, and occasionally i get to cross one off. Some are big things like visting countries etc but others are tiny,tiny thing like finishing off a mini book..doesn't matter on the size they all go on the list.

Re. the reading club, of course you don't need to be on fb, that is just a place to chat. With my challenge being a monthly one this year there is lots of time inbetween posts for people to forget they are playing lol the fb group is where they can chat and keep in touch and encourage each other to get on with the books and the art. Plus its much easier for me to answer any questions very quickly in there as I am always on fb lol

But as with all the info, I have only set out 'guidelines' thats all they are, make it work however you wish. x

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

Hi Elizabeth and Happy New Year to you. As a friend wished me I shall wish that 2013 brings you more of what you like and less of what you don't :-)
Still unable to post pics from my computer; I really don't want to download Picasa as I had it once before and didn't particularly like it. I also don't want to upload photos directly from my phone as it's easier to crop and/or edit some way once they're on the computer. Still if I can't sort it out any other way I'll be forced to upload from my phone.
I love to read your 'out and abouts' and intend to get out more myself this year. I don't make resolutions as such but am thinking it may be a good idea to lay some things out on my blog that I'd like to try to do and maybe that would encourage me to make more effort.
Anne x

SandeeNC said...

I enjoyed your post very much, and I must say I agree with you about replying through the blog comments, I don't reply through e-mails either, I have so many blog friends to visit that replying by e-mail would just double the load! waving hi from the rainy hills of North Carolina :)

Elizabeth said...

Hi Elizabeth, I really enjoyed reading through your post and admiring your beautiful projects and photographs. I particularly like the piece with the cardinal - gorgeous colours and, as we don't get cardinals over here in Scotland, I miss seeing them as I did during my year long stay in Wellesley. I don't make resolutions anymore - I fear I just set myself up to fail and I get pretty fed up beating myself up about them. At my age, I'm happy to potter along and do what I can when my health allows. I don't know if mine is one of the blogs you can't leave a comment on ... I do so hope so. I wish you a healthy, happy and prosperous 2013 - Elizabeth xx

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

Me again ;-) Just to let you know I've installed Google Chrome and pic uploading problem solved. Before I had a problem I used to get a 'Browse' option which I know you didn't. Now I do have a 'Choose File' option which simply wasn't there. So pics are uploaded now.
Anne x

Dianne said...

I always enjoy my visits here, and your attention to detail and dedication to your readers is what brings us back! and the humor...and the absolute authenticity! loved the look back over the year. and your self-evaluation...is it a bit of the scientific or academic part of your personality surfacing? a very useful tool for artists as well, I just don't often think to do it. thank you sooo much for all you share with us!

So sorry to hear you didn't get the package...now I am concerned that I only 'thought' I mailed it? maybe there was a problem and it will find it's way back to me? as my daughter used to say when she was young: Shucky Darns! I hope it shows up. =(