Ahead in 2023

Happy New Year!

Writing the round-up for 2022 and putting together the gallery page for everything I’d made during the year, naturally set my mind thinking about what I’m going to do this year.

In my task manager I have a list of things that I want to do here on the blog. Some things, like the Gallery pages, I have recently made a start on. Others, like sharing the designs that I make, need a bit more thought put into them. I need to make the processes for keeping this type of thing up-to-date as straightforward as possible.

Writing about making art

One thing I do want to do this year is write up some of the how-to and testing type posts that I’ve got on my ideas list. There are a handful already on the blog and I have some partially written up waiting for me to take some photographs to illustrate them. My biggest problem (other than persuading myself to prioritise doing it) is what to call the category. I already have two for techniques and testing but I’d rather have a single category than encompasses all that and more; basically one that covers anything that isn’t me rambling on or showcasing a finished thing. Possibly making art, for all the things that are about the process or supplies involved in creating.

Actually making art

As far as creating goes, I shall continue making just as many cards as I need and no more (unless something really inspires me) and I shall try to make more art. I want to go back to my collage experiments and also do something with all the bits of textiles and fibres I’ve been accumulating. Maybe this year I’ll manage to prioritise doing a couple of things on my list of “things I’d like to make for people”.

Personally

On a personal level, all of 2022’s scans have shown that the drugs I’m on are still working and the cancer is still stable and I will be very happy if that continues long into next year even though I know the odds are that my treatment plan will have to change at some point. But until then I shall continue ignoring the fatigue as much as I can and using the energy I do have in a productive fashion.

I shall be taking a short break from blogging as I take time to tidy up all the stuff that has accumulated in my studio/office and make space to start creating some more things to write about!

Here’s to hoping that the New Year blesses us all with moments of peace.

Look after yourselves, stay warm and do something that makes you happy.