Words for living

As the end of the year approaches, like me you've probably come across a lot those blog posts and Facebook promotions getting you to think about resolutions, creating habits, setting goals for the New Year. I'm a sucker for all that, but very quickly get overwhelmed with all those ideas and intentions and never actually do any of it once we get to January.

But there are two things I've come across over the years which seem to offer a simpler approach. No goals, no lists, no new routines, just some words.

The first idea is from Christine Kane, a singer-turned-business-coach. She proposes that you choose a Word of the Year. Just one word - and it's not a goal, not necessarily a "doing" thing, more of an "attitude" thing, a way to approach whatever the new year throws at you. Click here to follow her process for choosing your word.

I tried this once before, and I managed to dig out a blog post about it too! The blog post about putting my word into practice was illuminating to read as well, three years on - if you want to know more about my "process", then have a read of this and know that nothing much has changed!

My word for 2018 is ACTION. If you read my last post, you'll probably understand one reason why I chose it. But I want it to mean actually getting stuff done, my stuff, to stop feeling so muzzy headed and frustrated with the outside world, and just get on with my life. It could mean political action if necessary, although this was not my intention.

The second thing I highly recommend is from Nicholas Wilton, an artist from California. He's such an unassuming chap but always has some really helpful advice about art and living the life of an artist - I thoroughly recommend his blog and newsletters and free video series.

Nicholas suggests that you choose three words - words that sum up why and what you do. The instructions for choosing your words are here.

A year or so ago, I chose the words: RHYTHM COLOUR NATURE.

Rhythm, because I like to listen to music with a strong and/or interesting beat - jazz, world music - all sorts of weird stuff. And rhythm is also pattern - and I love patterns - collecting them, doodling them, stitching them.

Colour - because I love bright colours!

Nature - because I love wild nature, wild landscapes, plants and leaves, shells, as well as "natural" materials like string and unbleached paper and calico.

I even made a little book with pics of some of my work - and I have a few left if you'd like to buy one (£8 plus P&P)

But I'm continually mulling this one over, and so I've had another go at my "words". My new words are:

NATIVE because I love all things indigenous - tribal - Sami, Indian, native American, Inuit, Aborigine etc as well as ancient symbols and marks, such as runes.

ELEMENT to describe the wildness I love - the elements of rain, wind, fire etc, but elements are also "basic" materials - so referring to my preferred materials of cotton, linen, shells, recycled fabrics. Elements are also parts of a whole - so could be pattern or colour - the elements of a design.

TRUTH because (again, see last post) one of my big things is honesty, being truthful, finding the "truth". It also refers to using unpretentious, simple materials - materials that don't pretend to be anything else. Natural, unvarnished, unpolished, raw, as you find them. Unbleached, recycled, found - honest. This one also loops back to "element", and "native".

The other thing I like about these words, is that they could refer to my very deep interest in food -  particularly traditional (native?) methods of cooking, like making sourdough. What is cooking if not creating something wonderful from basic materials? One of my Christmas presents is to go on a fermenting workshop and learn to make sauerkraut and kefir!

It's also been a jolly good excuse to have a play with my new favourite font:

These are good words too:

If you could describe your intention for the year, or for your art, what would you word or words be?

Word of the year 2015: Choice

Choice.

New Year, time to rethink so many things. It's only when I stop that I realise how I haven't - stopped, that is - for so long. Literally. It's a rare thing for us to sit on the sofa, Girl locks herself in her lair most evenings, we never watch TV (especially since all the Montalbanos are repeats and I don't like the current Wallander). But now I've stopped I wonder what on earth takes up so much of my time. I'll probably remember, suddenly, when term starts on Tuesday.

My haul from K&S, virtually untouched.

This year I want to have a stab at consciously choosing how to spend my time, and to make sure I choose things that are meaningful for me. For example, I want to choose to stitch. And paint and print. Because I just haven't. I don't really know why (apart from the usual practical reasons, the Grand Plan being very much on my mind still but it now involves architects :0 ). I stitch things for class, and I managed some work for Art Trail, but for me? Nada. I feel I've let myself down. (I still haven't used my gelli plate, acquired in October. I did try the lucet...)

I am aware that instead of choosing, I end up doing things that are mindless, easy or just because to actively choose the alternative would be slightly difficult or uncomfortable in some way, or will end up disappointing someone, letting them down: last year both Mr G and I ended up being on committees, baffling for two people who much prefer to work alone and are very suspicious of any team activity...yes, I'm looking at you Mrs B. Himself has managed to shed his responsibility, so I'm just picking my moment. Just sayin'.

Bunting, made for community art group.

And I know I spend too long footling on this iThing, so that will have to be curbed. Strangely though, I haven't kept up with my blog reading, so despite being online so much I do feel out of touch with everything going on out there in textileblogland. And we are going to bed so late now we're practically nocturnal. Gosh, next week will be a shock! We'll have to wind back the bodyclock at least three hours!

Not sure what the whippet will make of early mornings sans duvet-time...

I'll let keep you posted on how I get on! Do you have a word for 2015?

I saw this idea on facebook, courtesy of Jane laFazio and Christine Kane, and it resonated. I used Christine's free tool to work out my word, and I think I'm happy with it. Not what I was expecting but not as immediately mindblowing as she made out it would be.