HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! 2009.............

Happy New Years everyone!!

I don't know about anyone else, but I"m glad 2008 is over!

Business-wise and artistically it was fine, but on a personal level it sort of sucked. Something I realized after hitting the deer though, is I've been so overwhelmed by the bad things, I've sort of overlooked the good things. I've forgotten to celebrate the good in life. So one of my resolutions this year is to feel gratitude for the positive; to look for the the little things that are good and stop focusing on the major bad stuff I can't control anyway. Back in August I made a pendant called "God's Tear" (http://mkpbeadart.blogspot.com/2008/08/week-32-gods-tear.html#links) that was about finding the beauty amidst the sadness, but things kept happening and I lost the thought.... well I refuse to do that again! Have you ever heard of comic artist Keith Knight? I love his artwork, it's very expressive, and he started a strip within his strip that he calls Life's Little Victories. You can see one of his strips here: http://www.salon.com/comics/knig/2008/12/31/knig/index.html . I've decided this is an excellent way to accentuate the positive in my life.. so everyday I'm going to be looking for that victory... and stop worrying about the next shoe to drop. Today's ( #6 for me, I started this on Monday) was grand... being able to sleep in as late as I wanted, and still wake up before my daughter did! YES! (it's very important to say YES! with the exclamation point after you find your victory.. so repeat after me... YEESSS! )

I have a few other goals this year, and I'll share them all I'm sure in the next few weeks, but a big for me me is I'll be posting at least weekly on this blog. I've actually quite proud that I've managed to post mostly on a weekly basis for almost 2 years now. In fact, this will be my 100th blog! However I did so because I was doing YOJ weekly jewelry challenge, but I'm taking a break right now, at least for this quarter... so my posting will be on my own. I've got some exciting plans for my art this year, and I want to save my limited time for them right now.

What about the pendants in this entry? Each one is in a different style, so you know I've had fun making them! This year I'll continue exploring wireworking and metal techniques. I'm taking a class on cold connections starting in a few weeks, I'm very excited about that! I'm hoping to take more classes this year, even perhaps trying other mediums. Learning is one of the steady joys in life, and I am ready to embrace happiness again!