New Work and New Focusing Trick

 New holiday creation in my Etsy shop

Here's how I'm spending this chilly Saturday morning of puttering in my studio :
-listening to my Basic Italian CD to learn a new language
-thinking I have to burn the other Italian CDs to my ipod
-looking for a 90's bracelet from France that I just saw somewhere that I have an idea for altering
-noting a new idea of making some stars out of my new favorite material, cardboard
-looking for some interesting backdrops so I can start taking etsy photos of my newest creations
-checking etsy for keywords and tips so my listings can get seen, I'm still struggling with this since they changed the relevancy parameters back in September.

A larger version, available soon.

Some of you might already know about my quest for focus when in my workspace. There are just too many exciting things going on, all those found objects, materials, inchoate ideas... Today, as the ideas, or actually "impulses", started flowing, I got what turned out to be an insight--write down all the things I was trying to do at once. The act of putting it down on paper had the same effect as making a to-do list (which I do religiously, my favorite part being shredding it when I've done everything or transferred the undone things to a new list)--it put what seemed utterly chaotic into a manageable perspective. It really isn't that unsurmountable in the short morning. Sitting down and planning what you're trying to accomplish must trigger calming brain waves.

Three less Christmas-y looking options for making your gift card stand out under the tree. 

Good for repurposing later!

But I'm still looking for the bracelet...