What I learned from a year of blogging

I just finished my first year of blogging!

This is a great milestone for me because it is not the first time I tried.  I registered this blog in 2009, but in two years I wrote 2 post, with probably as many views.  I had recently quit my job to stay at home full-time with my kids.  I thought I would have so much time but discovered I had less time for myself than ever.  I think there was just so much going on I failed as I struggled coming up with something creative on a regular basis. Truthfully it was just the lowest thing on my priority list. Did the world really need one more mommy and craft blog???   One year ago on November 28, I felt compelled to revisit the idea of blogging, which terrified me.  I had in my mind this was a writing and journaling thing.  What would make this time around different?  I followed through with that burden laid on me and I found a whole new relationship with blogging.  I feared the day I posted my link on my Facebook page, and my world knew I was writing.  Here are some of the things that encouraged me and defined the time;

1. Write about what you’re PASSIONATE about and add ORIGINAL photos!

When my girls were little I had very little time to make artwork,  I turned to photography as a quick way to capture all that was going on around me at its fast pace.  When I returned to blogging I began to see how important this hobby was in telling the story.  I love using my own photography on my blog, it often speaks just as loudly as the words.  Not to mention it adds consistency and I don’t have to worry about infringing on someone else’s copyright.  I found that there was more than one theme I was drawn to writing about – I let my heart guide me towards what to write.   I love looking back now and seeing the growth in my interests and artwork.  My passions lead me to my “voice.”

2. Give yourself a creative project

I think I stumbled upon the post-a-week project around new-years.  I just didn’t have the time or ambition for a daily routine so once a week sounded more my style.  I often give myself goals every year but always add a few fun goals along with the serious ones.  So after receiving an ice cream maker for Christmas, the idea of a flavor a week in 2011 began.  The two ideas really rolled together and gave me a sure post every week.  Amazingly, I averaged about three posts a week when I added something about my family, a reflection or an art project I was working on.  I am thankful for these different areas as they narrow down the blogosphere of readers but didn’t limit me to just one topic.  I read up on tagging, and try to be consistent when labeling my posts.   I think I surprised myself this year writing over 185 posts and almost 15,000 views!

3.  Be flexible

It was daunting at first to commit to posting every week but after a while it became a habit .  As ideas came to me  I started  keeping a note in my email so when I had a chance to sit down I didn’t just stare at the screen.   I also learned that you can write posts and schedule them ahead of time.  That way if I was having a good week I could write-up my post and schedule a date in the future for it to automatically publish.  Sometimes it just doesn’t work that smoothly (sorry to any of you who got used to 8AM posts…)  I found that it was important to let this be a natural thing – so If I didn’t post much during a week it meant there was a lot going on or I just didn’t have much to say…  Beyond scheduling I have found that some of my random posts at odd hours are the ordained ones.  How encouraging it is to post something in the middle of the night and get an immediate response from someone trolling around commenting “I really needed to read that just now.”  I would have missed that if I kept to a rigid schedule.

All in all, I am thankful for this experience to write and share in this space.  I have grown in confidence  in all areas and it has challenged me creatively, spiritually and professionally.   I have even written a few guest posts and diy’s art projects shared on other blogs.  I thought blogging would connect me to the world outside this small town, but found in addition to that it has connected me to my family and friends even more.   Thank you for reading and commenting,  sometimes that is just the encouragement I need to continue writing.  I have loved having a chance to be transparent  and grow as a follower, wife, mother, friend and artist, and share that journey with my readers.  For now the plan is to keep writing and making more artwork to share in this space.

Thanks for joining me on the ride.

Kate

 

with just a spotter kayak

This summer “my” pool is under construction, which has been a halt in my workout regime.  But, I am learning how to diversify, I trained and ran my first 10k this spring.  It was a great goal and accomplishment for me but still doesn’t feel as natural as the water.

Recently I have been captivated by  Diana Nyad‘s story who at the age of 61 swam 56.16 miles in 29 hours.  I should mention that those miles were open water, shark infested, and between cuba and florida.   I love her story, her passion for swimming, and her zeal to meet new goals despite age.  Here’s a quote from her site “Until a year ago, I hadn’t swum a stroke for 31 years. Swimmer’s burnout gripped me to the point that I could have sworn I would never, ever swim a lap again in my life. But approaching 60 last year threw me into the existential angst of wondering what I had done with my life. I felt choked by how little time seemed left.”  

I am a little older than Diana was when she hung up her cap and goggles the first time, yet I know what she meant about swimmers burnout.  There was a time when I couldn’t remember how to have fun in a pool, all I did was swim laps.  I am thankful that I have learned a new balance in the water,  I can enjoy the training and the recreation.  I haven’t done a lot of open water swimming, other than a few triathlons, but her story definitely inspired me. A quick google search revealed all kinds of open water and long distance swims, I feel like a whole new world just opened.  Is there something that you were once captivated by that you gave up on?  Is there a new goal or idea that you need to dive into?

Last week on vacation at our cottage, I swam across our little lake, which is quite a bit further than this photo appears, especially on the way back when you swim against the wind.  My sister-in-law joined me in a spotter kayak, luckily there weren’t many boats out that day.   It felt good to be in the open water, to get into a rhythm with the waves and not be hindered by flipturns or walls.  I would love to train for a longer swim but even if  it’s just sandy lake this may be a new summer tradition.

to market. to market

I have been wanting to make it out to sell my pottery at the farmers market all summer, last saturday was the first opportunity.  I am so proud of our little town for organizing the market, we are in the second year here and there was quite a bit of traffic last week.  Sadly after all the worrying I did about my stall set up, I didn’t even take one picture.

My intention was to print cards off to sell every week inspired by seasonal produce but sometimes you just have to keep your ideas to try at a later date.  I have managed to make a few, this week I set up next to the garlic lady so she inspired these little cloves.   She was so patient with me as I asked her a ton of questions about growing garlic, that will be a MUST to put in my small garden this fall.  Needless to say with her in the next stall all my garlic dipping bowls sold.  I’ll have to throw a few more in the studio this week.

Here are links to the other carvings peppers and asparagus

rhubarbarian take 2

A while back in May I showed some clay projects I was working on with rhubarb leaves from my garden.  I finally managed to squeeze them into my last glaze kiln load.   I thought you might like to see how they turned out and let you know some of them are available in my etsy shop.  I love the new aqua glaze and how it brings out the texture of the pressed leaf. Shown below are large & small clay journals, The large bowl and matching spoon (which holds 8 cups of strawberries!) and 2 folded wall vases.

My little blog was also showcased today on The Daily Post which features themes and ideas for bloggers who participate in the 2011 post a day and post a week challenge.  It has been a surprising joy for me to blog about the things I love the most.  Thanks wordpress for helping me share my passions for art, faith, family  and ice cream!

milestones…

This is my 100th post (I know already!) and I ran my first 10K ever this morning at the Grand Rapids river bank run.  Who would have ever thought I would be doing either of these in 2011.   I was overwhelmed by the mass number of people moving in the same direction.  The image of so many individuals moving towards the same goal, like a highway of people.  Very aware of all that were around me, I found that I consistently miscalculated people.  It’s that unseen training and inner drive that keeps one going, not matching outfits, skin color, or body size.  Soon after I was cheering for that runner who slowed down on the side of the road and those defying my judgement. How important encouragement is, (I loved my two personal cheerleaders) even more so as the end draws near.   Each runner with their own beautiful story and motivation, racing together to finish.  I saw this as the simplest observation and found it easily transferable to spiritual applications.  This is what we train for friends; eternity.  You Can Do It!

Hebrews 12:1-2   Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

Isaiah 62:10-12  Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people.  Build up, build up the highway!  Remove the stones. Raise a banner for the nations. The LORD has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: “Say to Daughter Zion,  ‘See, your Savior comes!  See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.’  They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the LORD; and you will be called Sought After,  the City No Longer Deserted.

We were so thankful for our little getaway, it was just what we needed.  An overnight, little family time and a pool.   I loved seeing all these little love notes on the table this morning.  ”I hope that we stay here every night” heart heart heart!

Nut fell asleep in the car holding her balloon from the race.  Static electricity took over, clinging to her cheek and making her hair dance as she bobbed in her sleep.  Poor innocent little thing she was just as wiped out as I was…  yet she even amuses us in her sleep.

block printing

Beautiful film.  I love seeing the process and the rhythm of pressing the block – almost like a song.

small perspective

 

I had some left over pieces of clay after cutting out the windows in my larger journals.  Not wasting the time it took to create them, I decided to make them into mini journals.  This is great fun for me and gave me a chance to practice the Coptic stitch with paired (two) needles.  I remembered after this that I used to make such books when I was a little girl.  I had a set of calico critters, gray bunnies that I cherished greatly.  Back then I spent hours sewing cloaks for them out of felt, making beds with little embroidered carrots on them, and lastly little books for them to use at school.   I nearly forgot about this little set until my girls receive an identical new rabbit family as a gift, and 20 years later sent me searching for the silver Crowley’s gift box which I used to keep them in.  Now days the old and new are all mixed together and my girls love playing with them.  I am amazed at the vintage handmade items, how they fancy them as I used to, the creativity at even that young age and of my youth.  Do the joys of childhood transfer over to adulthood?  Does our innocent play speak of who we are created to be?

Last summer I was in a bible study with three other amazing women, in which we worked through Experiencing God  by Blackaby and King.  We  talked about spiritual markers in our faith journeys and how to draw on them and grow from them.  Spiritual markers were defined in the book as “ The times God clearly spoke to you that are recorded in your spiritual journal can become spiritual markers in your life.  Go back and review your journal six months, one year, and two years later.  Observe ways God has been faithful to do what He promised.  Examine whether you have been faithful to obey what you knew God was telling you to do.  It can be rewarding to see how much you have grown spiritually since you wrote in your journal in times past.  When you face times of transition in your life,  what God said to you in your journal can also provide clear direction for you as you make decisions today.”

I tried to start this blog a couple of years ago but failed, only writing a few entries, in that two-year span.   The timing was not right but as I look back I see this early reflection  here written nearly two years ago.  I am kind of amazed at timing, the nature of it, the building of events and experiences.  I am learning about the documentation of it and how best to capture them.  My spiritual growth and my journey to become an artist is not stagnant but abundant!  I heeded that advice in Georgia, from the retreat and from the locker room.  Learning the good with the challenging, I can honestly say I love my family more, God more, and am following those early passions of creating and working in clay.  I taught over 90 students at our little studio in town, and wrote a grant for a pottery studio.  I am currently taking time off teaching to pursue my own artwork, and building my own home studio.   I still haven’t gone back for my Masters degree but will be watching for the right time.  Overall I am thankful, for the few records I have kept, old discoveries that help me to have confidence in this journey, and the time to keep playing!.  It also is sweet to watch my kids play and dream about who they will grow up to be… so far so good.

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  Philippians 1:6

 

 

The makers project

I sometimes miss living in a city and being surrounded by the energy and artistic creativity.   But, then again, living in the country allows influence from nature and a slower and peaceful way of life.   Fortunate for me most city dwellers are tech savvy which allows me to experience their creativity vicariously through artists like photographer Jennifer Causey, who documents all types of artisans, and their workspaces in her collection  The Makers Project.  There are too many gorgeous images to share, click on the link to see for yourself.  inspiring.

new mugs & bookcovers

I opened my first glaze load Tuesday morning, which yielded some of the richest colors!  I am so pleased at so many of the results, I have a hard time picking my favorites, I just love colors and variety.  I will be updating my etsy shop this week, so be checking for first dibs!  The book covers will follow shortly as they take a bit more time to hand craft.

 

chase my rainy blues away

I am getting ready to lead a silk scarf painting workshop at a women’s retreat in April  so my mind is all things silk, dye and watercolor.  I have been eyeing these pillow covers at CB2, I would love to make a few with my own little spin on them.

A few years back I experimented with sun prints and cyanotypes with the best intentions of putting together a strong composition of items of my late grandmothers treasures.  It never quite turned out the way I hoped, but I have new-found hope and inspiration after reading this craft dept. article on yellow owl workshop.  They used an original print and hand treated silk to produce this lovely scarf…. maybe I’ll mix the two projects.  I love these results, did I say love, I meant LOVE!