Look What I Made – A Commitment to Craft

If you read my post on Wednesday you would have seen me make my commitment to completing 3 books by September .

This is part of an all encompassing plan for my Freestyle Life. The resources available via the World Wide Web (apparently the typing of  www dot is no longer necessary) are pretty amazing.  I’ve realised that you don’t have to spend a fortune setting up a web site, nor do you need to be an expert in the craft in order to produce a good looking site and have it do some snazzy extras.  Just some extra reading , or watching a You Tube video.  I recommend this one by Tyler Moore I used a different Responsive Theme but all in all it made the whole journey a lot less daunting.

I have, until now, resisted the urge to create a “list” (an email list for marketing/promotional  purposes) mainly due to the niggly feeling of the whole “hard sell” vibe to them.   Which I think goes along with my muddled feelings about money.  Perhaps it also goes with my afore felt self doubt. Not imagining that a “list” of people would be interested in my creative journey.  Who am I to expect people to want hear what I have to say?  Slowly, I have come to know the truth of Marianne Williamson’s often mentioned quote “....As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”  Always worth Tweeting.

 Whilst I have admired many lifestyle coaches over the years I have found myself turning away from them as they seem to enjoy more commercial success.  I’ve seen it as a kind of selling out.  Lissa Rankin highlighted a talk on facebook this week by Sera Beak which in a way went along with my feelings on the subject.  However as I have moved along my own creative and sharing path I have found a new point of focus.  In order to maintain this creative and enriching life it is necessary to create an income.  Surely the ideal way to create this income would encompass the sharing of this creative knowledge.  Back to Marianne “And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” In order to shine times are a changing and it may be necessary to go ‘a little’ commercial.

And so I am creating a list in order to share the light and share my journey along this creative path, the first stage being the 3 books.  You can add your name to my list, firstly I’m planning on sending out a more detailed update of the writing process that will only be available here.

For Me Made May ’14 this week I wore a piece of my Ribbon Jewellery each day.  It’s bringing up lots of ideas for new pieces and helping me find what works and does not, in a way this is bringing in the market research I never really done first time round. 

May 5-10 Me-Made-May'14

Looking at what others have been doing (great Pinterest pics here) I am feeling the urge to make an outfit before the end of May.    Off to check blogisphere for other creative magic making this week over at Handmade Harbour and Jamie Ridler’s Studio.

Namaste

Catherine

Handmade Monday - I'm back on Etsy

This is a short and sweet piece to announce my return to Etsy.  It felt appropriate to make the announcement on a Handmade Monday.

I've changed things up a little.  I'm using the same logo and banner as here for my shop header and renaming it Catherine McAtier.  It's the label I was born with and is one thing that has definitely stayed with me throughout good times and bad.  So I thought I'd give myself some recognition.

Taking baby steps at first I've only added 12 pieces so far, some of them you may recognise already.  The plan is to get the content right and work the bejeesus out of the promoting - that is way up on my list for this week.

Using advice from the Etsy Site itself and knowledgeable sources like Craft Blog UK I'm feeling pretty chuffed with the whole thing.  The proof now, as they say, will be in the pudding.

I would be delighted to hear your comments on my shop - descriptions, pictures, pricing - all comments welcome.  Nothing like a little constructive criticism to start the week off. 

In keeping with the Handmade Monday ethos I'm dropping over to Handmade Harbour now to check out what you other lovely creatives have been up to.  You should check it out if you haven't already.  And anyone who knows me, knows I'm not really one for 'shoulds'.

Lots of Love

Namaste

Catherine

xxx

Monday is for Making

I was feeling a little bashful hopping over to Handmade Monday this week as I hadn't made anything.  Then I remembered that I had put together this little necklace for myself.  I had to add my signature London Bus piece to it and a little charm my son gave me for Christmas.  I must admit to cheating a little because I really wanted to wear something bright last week, I had the chains done but nothing to hang them from so I just took a strand of bright pink chiffon ribbon and tied it on.  Lazy but I liked it.

As Worn By Alice

Today is short and sweet and I am so looking forward to Thursday when I go on August Break - no words, just pictures for 31 days, I'm sure some of my pics will incorporate words too.

Susannah Conway's August Break

Have you checked out Handmade Monday yet? Wendy really does get a lot of great people together, and being late to the party means there's so much more to see.

Hope you all have

a Happy and Healthy Week

Namaste

Catherine

xxx

Monday is for Making

Been Making My Brand

  

I said last week that I'd be working on Branding.  I've finally settled on this logo, having decided to dispense with The MacsX and  start using the label I was born with.  I've placed my name in the middle of a Paisley Pattern as Paisley is where I am and it is a town with a great creative history, threads and Paisley Pattern playing one of the major parts.  I wrapped the embroidery hoop in London Bus Ribbon from The London Line by Helz Cuppleditch - the London bus having, played a major part in my creative story so far.

So, on the making table this week I have the Ribbon Jewellery Links I showed off a few weeks back.  And I have lots of embroidery patterns to put together for my new book.  Some might say 'busy, busy, busy' but I'm really having fun, fun, fun - long may it continue.

A 'little' late to the party, I'm off over to Handmade Harbour to check out all the other lovely creative goings on this week.

What have you made of Monday?

Namaste

Catherine

xxx

Time For More BS

So, that was the week that was;

Checked in at Handmade Harbour on Monday and contemplated the concept of Christmas in July - the hottest July Ever.

I'm loving the Creative Mornings vibe and would so love to be involved in something like it at a local level - a theme that's kind of stuck, more later.

Wednesday I posted a piece about choices and my choosing not to be a Domestic Goddess.  My gut told me not to post the piece.  But I failed to listen and, at a time when the traffic to my blog is building up, this piece had the lowest hits ever.  Lesson learnt: Trust The Gut.  I had already said I'd only write 2 long pieces per week - that way I can focus on quality - and I can easily fill the other 4 days with Feedly and Pinterest finds, like the posts for Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week.

And, as always, Sunday is for the BS, round off one week and set up the next.

Branding was the key task for this week and I think I now have that sussed, I just have lots to do to put it all together, so watch out for the changes ringing through this week.  You may have noticed already that I've changed the name here.  Keeping it simple really, using the label I was born with Catherine McAtier.

Almost got the label sussed - just need to add the Paisley Touch

Whilst on the surface I'll be re branding everything in the background I'll be working on my first mini project.  I'm taking the advice of Marianne Cantwell being Free Range and jumping right in, giving myself 6 weeks to get the project off the ground.  I could say more but I'm still ironing out the creases.

Suffice it to say I'm still reading Lissa Rankin's Mind Over Medicine, and I'm thinking if my mind can help heal my body can it help heal my town too?  I wanted nothing more, when I finished college, than to move out of Paisley.  I so wanted to move to London - the grass is always greener etc.  I'm finally coming to love the beauty, history and possibilities held by Paisley.  There are a lot of positive Paisley vibes out there, it takes a little digging to find them.  But I've started digging and my first project will involve a lot more.  I believe it's time to be grateful for the history, be hopeful for the future and live and enjoy the now.

Namaste from a True Paisley Buddy

Casting wonderful wishes for the week ahead...

Catherine

xxx

More Easter in July than Christmas

It would seem that I have spent the first half of this year playing catch up.  Signed myself up for all sorts of creative goodness and found myself backing out or showing up long after the train had left the platform.  Like this year's House of Pinheiro Swap pictured below.  I haven't been able to post the pic before now because I wanted to be sure that my swap partner, Vanessa from SimpleFibreLife had time to receive it.

From Vanessa to Me............................................................From Me to Vanessa

Now my burning question is - Can I turn things round and move swiftly on to Christmas in the space of one month?  Well,  I guess the first question I really have to ask is: Do I want to?  And that's followed with a resounding, YES.

In the spirit of using what I've got and taking advantage of my major fail from last year, leaving Christmas till December, I already have some Christmas stock put together.

Getting Ready for Christmas in July

Until now, I have dug my heels in and refused to embrace the whole Christmas package before December.  And that strategy time and again has got me nowhere.  So I can stay stubborn and repeat those old habits, or let it go and embrace the whole start Christmas early malarkey.  And in my tradition of wholeheartedly embracing things I'm jumping on the whole Hand Made Christmas bandwagon and planning the homeliest handmade Christmas ever.

This is, of course, all subject to change.  If I jump the success money hurdle before the end of the year I would swap it all (or postpone it slightly) for Christmas in New York - definitely high on my wish list.  What's your biggest wish for Christmas?

So, a (or not so) quick pop over to Handmade Harbour to check out what everyone else has been up to.  So much gorgeous creativity out there.

Have a crafty July week - whatever that may be

Namaste

Catherine

Monday is for Making

and Using What We Have

Last week I showed you the beginnings of some luxurious ribbon jewellery. Today I bring you the one piece that is now ready to wear.

Is it just me or is it a 'creative' trait ? - I love the idea and the working out how to transform that idea into reality.  However, half way through the creative process I can already see the end result and seem to have difficulty in distinguishing the fact that seeing the end result is not the same as having the end result in your hands.  Note to self, new rule on the Rules for Creatives with no Rules - #1 "if you start it and blog about it then you MUST  finish it."  i am such a critic of those who do not follow through or maintain momentum - which just goes to show that the flaws we see in others truly are those that lie within.

Something else I said I would do a few months ago was create my own desktop calendar pieces.  In order to bring some accountability to that one I even volunteered my services over at Going Home to Roost.  Whilst as we go to print I haven't completed the final piece for August as it will involve some threaded texture - for July I'm using some Pic Monkey trickery and invite you to download and use July and fill it in for all it's worth - you could even take it over to Pic Monkey and add in your plans for the month.  After all once they're written down they're more likely to come to life.

August will be inspired by the Zen canvas I have at home, colours will vary but the essence will remain the same.

Another thing I'm committing to over the next week is designing a canvas to enter the Pinterest competition on Stratejoy.  I'm aiming to have this ready for Thursday's Thoughtful  Thread.

So, as far as making is concerned I'm committing to a pretty busy time. Between that and compiling pieces for my daily blog posts and getting my Etsy Shop up and running I am looking forward to a creatively busy week.

Pop on over to Handmade Harbour to see what some other Creative Lovelies have been up to - and be inspired.   I've already been inspired over at Highland Monkey, especially loving the recycling element.

What are you committing to this week?

Namaste

Catherine

xxx