Holiday Thoughts and Creative Pursuits

I know it has been a long time since I updated here, and I apologize to my followers.  I allowed too many things to interfere.  Holiday “busy-ness”, out-of-town family visiting, and then the mother of all colds hit me.  I have been down for the count for almost 2 weeks.  Still coughing now but at least my mind is functioning again.

Rather than pick up where I left off – in the middle of Create Every Day Month – I will just start from here, and with this post move forward.  Perhaps I will share some of my creative activities in the past few weeks, and also some of my thoughts.

What is it about this time of year that adds a note of craziness to many peoples’ lives?  Are we all called upon to do more than is humanly possible simply because it is the “holiday season”?  Certainly it often is more than we are comfortable with.  

If you work in the retail field, it is hard to be immune to the manic regime of sell, sell, sell because we have to make up for the lack of sales the rest of the year.  We hear all over the media how sales are down due to the economic pressure we are all feeling.  Many large retail businesses are having “Black Friday” sales every weekend up until the 25th! 

Those of us who are handmade artisans and artists are feeling it too – we work harder and harder to create and present our very best stuff to the world, with very few sales to show for it.  Then we have special discounts, free shipping, and whatever other perks we think will bring more shoppers into our online stores to purchase.  It is mind-numbing to be checking my online store 3 or 4 times a day in the hopes that there will be more orders to fill!

Yet, we are forgetting how this time of year need not be ONLY about sales volume and how much we need to spend to buy gifts for our loved ones.  How easy it is to forget there are other important issues – like how much we can give of ourselves (not only from our wallets), and how we can connect (or reconnect) with other people we care about. 

Perhaps if we can refocus our intentions and make the next few weeks about what and who we are grateful for in our lives, we can end the year in peace and harmony, knowing that we have done all we can and have the opportunity to begin a new year with new hopes and plans. 

I didn’t know when I sat down today to write this blog post that this would all come out.  So, there you are – totally spontaneous.  On to a few pictures of creative experiments and projects in process now.

Wire-Wrapped Millefiori Ring

Wire-Wrapped Lampwork Bead Ring

Artist Trading Card – Pretty Lady

Glass Painting

Wire-Wrapped Pendant – Carnivale 

Until next time – Creatively Yours in Spirit,

Arlene

Technorati Tags: Art Every Day Month,fused glass,wire-wrapping,jewelry,Artist Trading Card,Spirit Essence Art,holidays,Black Friday,pendant,rings,glass painting