Commitment To Learning

Business and art are always evolving, requiring us to learn new things to stay on top of what is important for our business and our medium.

In jewelry making their are always new techniques for me to learn, and when you are running an online business their is a never ending amount of things coming out often. 

Every week I set aside time to learn something new. I check out new websites, blogs, and books. I believe you can never stop learning, and that it will make me a better artist and blogger.

Question:

What are you committed to learning that will accelerate your personal growth?

Answering this question should give you some insight as to where you want to go with your art and your business. Once you have identified what you want to learn, make a commitment to yourself to make it happen. 

When you have completed that goal, ask yourself the question again and again. It's a question you can ask yourself throughout your career, so you keep learning and reaching your goals. 

Motivation Monday

                         Source: flickr.com via Divine Consciousness on Pinterest

Do Something Great

Never underestimate your potential.

Or discount your ability.

Most great achievements are based on perseverance.

Believe in yourself.

When others give in,

keep going.

When you falter,

have faith

and surge ahead.

It's Never Too Late.. by Patrick Lindsay

DIY Friday - Spring Bracelets

Bracelets were big on the runways for the Spring/Summer 2013, and their is no reason to spend a lot of money when you can make your own. The best part of making your own is that you can use the colors you like and create the styles you love. Try one of these easy to do bracelet trends to add to your Spring wardrobe.

Safety pin and bead bracelet

Leather and tube bracelet

Painted bangles

Embellished friendship bracelets

Eclectic mix bracelet

Hardware bracelet

Do you like to wear bracelets in the Spring and Summer?

Remember Everything

Here is a little tip to help you remember information, learn a new technique, and in the process make your brain a little stronger.

The 3 x 10 technique.

Dr. Douglas Fields a neurologist at the National Institute of Heath who researches memory and learning, discovered that your brain makes a stronger connection to remembering what you are reading, practicing, or mastering something new, to do it 3 times rest for 10 minutes and then do it again.

Do this process as many times as needed until you have mastered what you need to remember.

I use this technique all the time when I need to practice a speech or class notes, and when I try a new technique. I have found if I try something 3 times, take a break and come back to it 3 more times, I figure out the steps I need to take and remember them for next time.

Next time you need to remember something give this technique a try, and in the process make your brain a little stronger!

Would this technique be helpful with anything you need to remember?

Inspiration From Land to Sea

“At first a small line of inconceivable splendour emerged on the horizon, which, quickly expanding, the sun appeared in all of his glory, unveiling the whole face of nature, vivifying every colour of the landscape, and sprinkling the dewy earth with glittering light.” 
- Ann Radcliffe

Goodnight landscape painting by MaiAutumn

Landscape painting pink sky reflection by VictoriaVeedell

October Hills California Autumn by MarshNelsonFineArt

Art print Cityscape series by SilkByLena

Landscape painting by RozArt

Landscape  Painting Beach by ShirleyArt

All of today's art work is from Etsy.com. Click on links to see what each artist has to offer.

Are you inspired by landscapes?

Need Some Blogging Inspiration? Grab a Magazine

If you have been blogging for a long time finding new content, writing, and sharing, can get a little stale.

Need a little inspiration to spice up your blog, it's time to grab a stack of magazines, some sticky notes, and a notebook, and do a little research.

I know what your thinking - why magazines?

Magazines are a medium that are similar to blogging and that has been around for a long time. There are things in print publishing that as bloggers we can build upon.

Any magazine will do for this project, but if you can find some that cover the same topic as your blog then that's even better. You can use old magazines you may already have, or head to your local library to check out new magazines or magazines you have never looked at before.

This process can help you blog in a number of ways:

Discover marketing ideas - like what they do on the front cover to entice people to purchase their magazines.

Layout ideas - how they are using photos within an article, what kind of type, and colors to draw the reader in.

Post ideas - magazines are a great way to find ideas for posts, and to inspire post titles.

Learning about your niche - if you choose a current magazine that covers your topics, there is always something to learn about what is happening in your niche, and the latest news.

Writing tips - a good article can teach you a lot about effective communication.

Reader engagement - review how the magazine gets their reader to contribute.

This project is really easy. You just have to set aside some time, at least an hour, and start paging through some magazines.

It's best to start with a quick go through and see what catches your eye. Use your sticky notes to mark things as you go.

Once you have done the quick scan, now start at the beginning and slowly page through, noticing photos, headlines, colors, and opening lines.

Some questions to keep in mind while your are going through this process:

What techniques are they using to draw people to the magazine?
What makes you pause to read an article?
Why do you skip over articles?
How is the pictured used?
How effective is the headline?

This is where you want to start taking notes for story ideas, design and layout ideas, headlines structure, and whatever you might think will work on your blog.

You can do this process whenever you need inspiration, or make it a regular part of your blogging process.

This project is a great way to get away from your blog and get a fresh perspective. Grab a stack of magazines and see what you can learn today.

What magazine do you think would inspire ideas for your blog?

Motivation Monday

                         Source: moonshineandwool.tumblr.com via Barb on Pinterest

Keep Exploring

Life is a journey.

A wonderful odyssey.

But some people just wander around in circles.

Caught in a rut.

Break out.

Try new ways.

New things.

Explore new paths.

Take the mystery tour.

It's Never Too Late... by Patrick Lindsay

DIY Friday - Unexpected Flowers

This time of year it is not as easy to get the flowers for displaying in your home or for yourself. Why not get creative and make your own flowers from some unexpected materials.

Duct tape flowers

Egg carton flowers

crystal flower

straw flower

doily flowers

Orange peels

What is your favorite unusual material to create with?