Making resolutions

2008, while it had lots of roller coasters and loss of loved ones, also proved to be quite an amazing year for me. I forced myself to step outside my comfort zone in many areas of life, and for the most part, was rewarded for doing so. The accomplishments started small and got bigger as the year progressed.

While I can often be shy and a bit of a peripheral person in groups, I stepped up and lead a parent-run science action program at my daughter's school. While a simple thing in itself, it laid the foundation for bigger steps.

I got braver about showing my work, and joined and became an active member of RACWI (Rochester Area Writers and Illustrators) and the Art FLiEs (my fabulous illustration critique group). Both have been priceless and brought my self-confidence up a great deal. Each meeting leaves me inspired and energized to do more.

The next three things, however, were the biggest leaps for me this year.

This spring, I lead a writers workshop program for a group of 1st graders. I talked with them about how a picture book is brought to life from the very first ideas and scribbles to the final printing process, and likened it to what they were doing themselves in learning to write and tell stories. I showed them examples of my own books I am working on, and many examples of finished books by area authors and illustrators. To say that I was petrified to speak in front of the class is the understatement of the century, but I knew in my gut that I had to do it. And once it was over, I felt a tremendous rush of empowerment and satisfaction...and dare I say it? The desire to do more. I am extremely grateful to my friend Bonnie for talking me into doing it with her class (or should I say for not allowing me to not do it), and bringing something to life within me that I simply did not know was there. The courage I received from that experience lead me to go on to do the next things I list here.

And then this past summer, I learned to drive. At 37, that's a biggie. (I had attempted to learn at age 25 and even got my license, but it was such a horrid experience and we never lived in a driving friendly environment or had a standard, so the years went by without ever getting behind the wheel.) I'm still a work in progress on four wheels, but I've driven in snow enough times now to feel I can properly call myself a driver.

The last big accomplishment of 2008 came this fall. I was asked to make a couple of sleeping bags for a school children's auction. I have made several for my daughter's Webkinz and a couple for gifts as well. I felt awkward delivering the handmade items and felt sure on auction day that there would be no bids for them next to the many commercially packaged games and toys provided by other parents. I nervously peered into the bid bags to discover each of the three bags I'd donated had nearly half a bag full of bids by children hoping to win them. I was stunned. And I was perhaps even more stunned to leave that afternoon with orders for more bags from a couple of parents whose children had not won them but desperately wanted sleeping bags for their own Webkinz.
While sewing those custom orders up, I made up some extras and on a whim took them down to a neat little boutique gift shop in town that sells Webkinz. This was something that once again terrified me, and I nearly turned back even as I was crossing the store's threshold. I took a deep breath, resisted the urge to bolt, and showed the shop owner what I had made. As I was showing her, a woman walked up and asked if she could buy one...that her daughter would love it for Christmas. About 30 seconds later, we were working out exclusive selling rights for the shop to carry my bags. And so ten minutes after I took a deep breath to force myself to go into the shop, I was suddenly in business. Critter Bags, as I named them, have been blossoming in my house ever since!

My 2007 self never could, or more importantly, never would have done any of that. 2008 taught me to take chances, have at least a nibble of confidence (that seems to be enough...the rest follows), and just DO.
I am sincerely anxious to see what 2009 will bring. I hope that it will be a continuation along this line, with new ventures and experiences opening my world even more.

My resolutions for this year (besides the "lose that last 20 pounds and be done with the long, stinkin' weight loss journey already") are to release a brand new website focused on children's illustration and writing, and to really get my work out there and attempt to get work in the publishing field. I usually make resolutions and then renew them each year, but I actually crossed them off the list last year. How crazy is that? So here is to a fresh, new year, and to fresh, new creativity and drive, and to accomplishing even more goals!

Happy New Year!

It was a dark and stormy night...

Well, not so much stormy as snowy. But it was dark. There were four illustrators piled into a car driving home through said snow, while looking out for renegade roadside deer and attempting to devise a brilliant plan for an upcoming talent show. So I suppose it was somewhat stormy inside the car. Or maybe not.

Regardless, the evening brought about much laughter, and the birth of a blog.