Evaluation of SMART Goals and Etsy Update!

Last Monday I started a weekly SMART goal list to help keep me motivated and accountable before the Norcross Art Show in October. Were they smart you ask? Well, let's just say that I did not take into account LIFE. Yes, that thing called life that sometimes gets overwhelming. I should have added to the list last week as #1 -start art classes at Arbor Springs. Because this took a huge chuck of my creative time. But the ball is now rolling on that aspect of my life and now I can move on. So I completed #3, #4 and #5. My etsy shop is up and running now with porcelain pendants. And our family enjoyed not 4, but 5 meals around our own table. So this week: 1. clean out the garage studio so that I can walk in there and find things!
2. organize afterschool art class lessons for next three weeks
3. work on completing at least 5 felted bird sculptures
4. PapernStitch site uploaded (new format! looks great!!)
5. dinner around the table at least 4 times

Hope you have a wonderful creative week too! I am dying to paint, so I may sneak a little in on Friday......

Food For Thought

Is the life I'm living the life that wants to live in me? -parker palmer

Just some food for thought tonight. As I've returned to some normalcy this week I have been seriously thinking about this little life I am living. And I can't help but think about how to make it better, no actually more full-filling. You know, the kind of life that has no regrets. I've been a little testy with the children, husband, darn cute dog, and friends (sorry guys). I find that whenever this sort of unrest begins to stir in me something really amazing is around the corner. So I wait.....still waiting....... My fortune in the cookie Saturday night actually said, "Opportunity is knocking on your door, answer it tomorrow". Seriously freaky. Especially since that is the analogy I use often for my own life, that of opening and closing doors. Being willing to open them is the key. So I'll be sure to let you know the door that needs to be opened as soon as I find it. Otherwise, this week I am ticking away at my SMART goals.

Monday SMART Goals

7 Weeks. Yep. 7 Weeks. 7 WEEKS! There's no time for this Lily, we must get going! I am a regular reader of the papernstitch blog. Brittni does an amazing job not only writing her own posts, but she selects guests to post on her blog. My favorite series is written by the clever Brenda of Phydeaux Designs. She writes a blog column entitled Crafty Business. Any crafter will tell you that the business side is the hardest to manage, it's a left brain activity. And since as a general rule crafters are right-brained, we all need our hands held while navigating the business side of our business.

My favorite post so far has been this one on SMART goals. So clever. I am a goal setter and list maker. But, are they really SMART goals? Brenda says that, "SMART goals are just goals that do set you up for success. It takes a little practice to change your goals from “I want to do X” to “I will do X in this specific way by this specific date. SMART is an acronym: Specific, Measurable, Achievable or attainable, Realistic, Timely”"

So starting today, I am making a weekly SMART goal list and posting it on my blog. It will help hold me accountable, keep me on track, and make me really think about what direction my business seems to be taking. So here goes:

1. add legs and stands to felted birdies made on St. Simons trip

2. take photos of felted birds, download and upload into flickr

3. take photos of pendants, download, upload to flickr

4. add pendants to etsy listings

5 make dinner and sit at the family table 4 nights (this will be the hardest with our schedule!)

I'm off to start some legs now! I hope you have a SMART crafty week yourself. J