Happy Autumn!! I can’t believe I let nearly a month go by without a post! I’ve been a bit overwhelmed with what I’ve taken on over the last couple of months. I am committed to a couple of things, then I received a few assignments, and I’m creating new work for my website relaunch (the last, I’m sure). Over the past week, I’ve thought a lot about ‘falling back.’ Not just in the seasonal sense, but in a professional sense as well, and not necessarily in a negative way. We always talk about New Year’s Day being about starting over, and Spring being all about renewal. But what about Fall? We can celebrate winding down a bit, taking things a bit slower, making monsters, giving thanks, and looking forward to a long winter filled with quiet time, and reflection, projects we feel guilty about doing in the summer, because they keep us indoors when we feel we should be outdoors. Shorter days and colder nights made a little warmer with soup, and cookies, and giggles, and later (as Homer might put it), basking in your laptop’s warm glowing warming glow…
I started to fall back early this year. I’ve been giving myself permission to slow down (although that doesn’t always happen after the boys get home)! Ironically, I’ve been getting more done by slowing down. Maybe that’s not the right way to put it. I’ve been shirking the things that aren’t important, I don’t have to say yes to every request, I don’t have to let people take my time, it doesn’t make me ‘nice’ if I do. All this has enabled me to ‘start.’ I’ve been putting together some things online. A couple of shops actually, which if you look up and to the left, are coming soon (the piece with this post will be available through Spoonflower, along with its coordinating prints)… I’ve sort of reinvented myself. I’m simpler. Wait. No. I’m not ‘simple’, but I’m not junking up my site and blog with all sorts of bells and whistles. I don’t need to. I want to show you what I can do. That’s all…It was supposed to relaunch a few months ago, but I want new work on it, not old stuff. Kev has been really patient, and it won’t be completely finished when it is launched, but it will be new, and that’s what’s important. That I’m drawing every day…
The only bad thing about falling back is if it’s into old habits. I have one that has reared its ugly head: eating at my desk. HUGE no-no! I am so against it. I’ll keep an open bag or box of whatever…in the kitchen, where I have to get up and go there to get it. But at my desk leads to mindless eating, so I’m going to try to nip that in the bud, but I just haven’t want to leave my projects (paying and personal)!
I hope you’re enjoying falling back too, that you’re able to slow down a little, enjoy the seasonal color (we just ate acorn squash for the first time this season, so amazing) and maybe some cider and doughnuts! I’m going to get a pumpkin for my studio. They’re sort of like toddlers. A bit awkward, chubby, and bright and cheerful ; )
Sounds good, Andi. Happy Autumn!