Renew. That’s my word for 2017. Wth everything going on in the world right now, I knew I needed help to keep focussed and positive. I puzzled over which word was right for a long time – but everything I came up with seemed forced. I decided to let go of it, knowing that it would come to me when it was ready. Sure enough it did; I woke up one morning and it was repeating itself over and over in my mind. So ‘renew” it is. Do you choose a word each year? If you’d like to share, I’d love to know what you’ve chosen.
One of the things I’ve been meaning to do forever is give this blog a makeover. It only took a few weeks (!!!) to come up with a design that felt fresh and …. well … “renewed”. What do you think? I’ve reorganized my posts to make sure all of my tutorials – both mixed media and Photoshop/PSE – are easier to find – right from the menu along the top. I have found I love making tutorials and have a list of them to record during what’s turning out to be a very wet, very cold winter here in my little corner of California. If you have a suggestion for a tutorial be sure to leave a comment.
In keeping with my desire to “renew” aspects of my life, I have decided to put digital designing on the back burner for now and am closing my shop at Scrapbookgraphics at the end of the month. This was a difficult and emotional decision for me because designing has been front and center in my life for the past eight or nine years. Frankly, though, I’m just plain burned out. The need to fulfill my shop obligations and my family life issues of the past couple of years have taken a toll on my mojo. So, I’m going to take a few months to renew my spirit. I want creating art – just for me – to be a priority. As you can see from the images below, I’ve made a good start already. I’ll continue to blog and share my art, as long as you want to read what I have to say, and I’ll continue sending my newsletter because I know I won’t be able to resist designing for fun now and them. Who knows … I might even renew my interest in selling product. But at least for now, these next few months are for me.
I hope 2017 brings you all the happiness your hearts can hold!
Beautiful art Vicki!! I wish you the best!
Thank you, Diane!
Good luck to you, Vicki. I really understand.
Thank you for the past 3 years in your team – I learnt a lot. Hope you will find back your mojo. I will miss you as a designer.
Gina
Thanks, Gina. I’ve loved having you on my team! You’re a wonderfully talented artist and I’d love to keep in touch. Hope you are doing well. Hugs!
Good luck for the future Vicki. I’m hopeful that we may see more of you on the Just Art site where you can share your art.
Your blog looks fantastic. Clear and concise. I love the uncluttered look.
Hugs,
Robyn
Thank you, my friend. I do plan to spend some time at JA – I love the community you have created there! Hugs to you!
Love your word for 2017, Vicki. I have followed along with you from afar for a number of years within the digital world. I know your decision to renew and travel on this different journey would be emotional, but there does come a time to move away and renew… I wish you well in your paper designing in that new journal with ‘GESSO’ etc. you have talent in that arena which you should stop and enjoy. I am a lurker on your blog. I love your makeover, I need to look at mine (1 day). My word for 2017 is JOY (in the words of Robert Wagner: Joy is not in things it is in us). I am taking that along with me in 2017. I will still peek into your world via your blog. Enjoy your Renewal in 2017. I wish you lots of happiness for 2017. xx Cheers Lucy/Scrapinthyme
Lucy! I certainly know who you are! All the way back to the Den days, right? I’m so glad you’ve stopped by – I love feeling connected to my digi friends!
I love “JOY” – in fact I almost chose it when “renew” chose me! I’d love to keep in touch, so feel free to lurk any time! Are you on Facebook?
WOW that was a shock to read but I fully and totally understand where you are coming from. I’ve struggled myself with designing for the last couple of years but just haven’t been able to quite let go. I guess I’m not ready just yet.
Big decision you have made but I’m sure it’s the perfect one for you and I hope you renew and refresh over the next year and come back to designing, if you don’t and head in a different direction least we still have FB and can stay connected that way.
I just love your new blog look, it’s so fresh and RENEWED lol.
Good luck with it all I have to go shopping now :p
Cheers
Lesley
Thank you so much for your kind words, my friend. I hope the time I spend I me will get me motivated to design again. Keep in touch, Lesley!
Good luck Vicki! You will be missed as a designer, but I look forward to getting your newsletters and seeing your art. Wishing you all the best!
Thanks, Deb! That means a lot to me!
I can definitely understand your need to “renew.” 2016 was a difficult year for me, filled with health problems. I took a step back from almost everything after my stay in ICU. Part of me wants to pick up where I left before, but the other part of me says “no,” and I keep struggling with that… In light of those health problems, my word for 2017 was very easy to pin down – “wellness.” That is my main focus & goal – everything else is going to take a backseat as my doctors & I continue trying to figure out what’s going on with me & discover the ROOT CAUSE to my health issues so we can treat that & the other stuff will follow. I wish you well in your journey to renew….
Oh, Lizanne! I wish you all the best and will send lots of healing thoughts your way! I hope you stay in touch!
I love your new word…have fun focusing on you again…and I love what you have done so far! Looking forward to another year of following your art and YOU! 🙂 Happy New Year, my friend!
Thanks, so much Tammy! I hope to share and blog more this year. Maybe more photos too! 🙂
I just saw that you’re leaving SBG – I’ll miss you! But I’ll keep up with your blog. Thanks for your work the past few years, and I’ll certainly be visiting the sale, though there’s probably not much I don’t already have.
Sharon, you already know how I feel about you. I’m so glad you are writing again and I’ve seen your pages pop up here and there. Please stay in touch. Big hugs!
Vicki, this is an excellent word! Renew! If I knew what ‘it’ was, I could ‘renew’ it. LOL I feel more like I am breaking free. Free from the constraints from my family and spouses, or significant others. (Don’t misunderstand – I love(d) those people. But, I tend to lose myself with others, letting them have more control of me than I like.) Free from what other folks have expected of me. Free from the negativity that enters my home. I have limited my contact with some people who used to keep me bogged down in their nasty mire. So, perhaps, ‘escape’? Or, even just ‘anew’!
I love the simple design you chose for your blog. I was a member of FanExtra, still am, and Tom, the owner, would do blog evaluations if you asked. He did one on mine and politely gave me suggestions. The main thing I took away from that review was that I want MY content to be the spotlight. Not the distracting blinkies, links and other frills I had adorned my first blogs with. I still have most of that on my blog, but, on separate pages.
I really ‘get’ your need to focus on you and your art! I did it, though, it was originally my intention to create and provide elements for folks who wanted to do more art-like work, like me, rather than scrapbook pages. The ideas I had could be used for both. Then, I found that I wanted to keep those things I made for me! LOL That, and a lot of other folks had beat me to it and I really didn’t feel I could add much to what was already our there.
Enjoy yourself. I would love to stay on for the ride and see what you do!
Sincere Good Wishes for Your Happiness!
Su
I’m always so happy to hear from you Su! What are you up to lately?
And thanks for the comments about my word. That’s exactly why I am happy it chose me – so I can figure out what I need to renew! Life is so crazy, we all need something to ground us and for me lately, it’s been art for art’s sake.
Big hugs, my friend!
Vicky,
My words for 2017 is “Uncertainity”. “Fear”
Radha
I certainly understand those choices, Radha! I’ve been feeling those things myself! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you keep in touch.