“Are we there yet? Starting any journey is fun. Sometimes, though, as the first blush of excitement fades, we realize just how far it is we actually have to go.

Don’t look too far ahead in your training. For now it’s enough to do what you need to do today and this week. The weeks to come will be here soon enough.”

This holds true with anything, really. Baby steps. One day at a time.

Tomorrow, I will turn another year older. As I was writing an email to a close friend of mine a few days ago, I closed it with “Can you believe we’re going to be 29?!” Not really thinking that we’re actually turning 28 this year. Of course, after realizing my mistake I felt relieved and silly (and old), but this is just another example of how time will fly too fast if you let it.

• lesson one: when i was starting my freelance design career, it was more of a hobby while holding down a full-time job. i closed deals with a verbal agreement and a handshake. i began to take on more business outside of my social circle (friends, family, family-friends) and came across a partnership with a local non-profit. they referred one client in particular who was opening up a new restaurant in downtown nashville. she needed business cards which i produced but because she did not approve them in time, the printer delivered them a day late. she refused to pay, the non-profit refused to back me up and there i was… high and dry. always, ALWAYS work with a written agreement. it doesn’t have to be anything fancy as long as it outlines the terms and includes signatures from both parties.

• lesson two: a few months ago, i received an email interested in booking one of my artists. (i wear many hats these days.) having just finished up a week of booking rejections, i lowballed the offer and the venue immediately accepted. ALWAYS do your research. I looked up their website after they had signed the contract and realized that i could’ve bid twice as much and they still would’ve accepted it. doh!

• and most recently, lesson three: a volunteer from a large non-profit in atlanta contacted me about bidding on some design projects. since most of my work involves telecommuting, i keep my portfolio online. i sent them the link and asked for more information so i could begin discussing fees. they came back and said they would like me to present a hard copy portfolio and would like me to travel to atlanta for a face-to-face meeting. eventually, i agreed and spent a pretty penny on some professionally printed portfolios. mapquest directions and a single volunteer’s phone number in hand, i circled the block six times waiting to see the parking garage that “you can’t miss.” it was raining, and i was trying to navigate through aggressive traffic to find a destination that apparently did not exist. hindsight, of course, is always 20/20. when traveling, ALWAYS get as much information as possible. this includes phone numbers for all contacts (including the director, or director’s secretary) and landmarks (i.e., the parking garage across from the park with the large red sign that says ‘enter here’). i also have since purchased a tomtom which tracks parking garages. pfft!

i’m kicking myself for the (painful) expensive lessons i’ve learned, but you can bet that i will never repeat them!

“they say today’s high will be in the 40s. to be sitting out here this morning when it’s still in the 30s is probably crazy, but i love it. i’m not sure why i haven’t always started my mornings like this. i wax more poetic when i’m still a little sleepy and there’s really no better jumpstart for me than coffee & writing. everyone should see this shade of blue sky. it’s ridiculous — almost purple… [complimentary] to the different shades of green that the sun makes by highlighting the leaves facing east. the wind is blowing ever so slightly… almost as if the trees are all waving good morning. i maintain that god is still the best artist i know.

…

john lennon once said ‘life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.’ that is the truest statement. never have i had a bigger blessing than to be able to SLOW DOWN and enjoy what’s going on around me. life is beautiful. carpe diem.”

recently watched movies that should never have been made:
the happening (why m. night shyamalan, why?!)

i was surprised yesterday when the doorbell rang but no one was at the door when i answered. looking down, i noticed a large package with my name on it. inside were all sorts of idea generators, design reference books and creative inspirations! happy early birthday to me!

i decided to dive into this book first: caffeine for the creative mind – 250 exercises to wake up your brain. i love what the intro had to say…

“if you were going to run a marathon in two months, you would prepare, wouldn’t you? you would train for that event; you would set a schedule of activities that would prepare your body for what would be asked of it on that day, because you knew that day would arrive. what if you had to prepare for a marathon, but you didn’t know what day it would start? all you knew was that it was coming. it could be any day. you would probably prepare your body every day for the chance that it might be the next day. preparing our bodies to endure physical activity is just like preparing our minds for creative activity. yet, we often don’t take steps to effectively train for idea generation.”

daily creative maintenance. i love it.

challenge #1: pimp my red flyer. (aka, a common red wagon)

Curtain by Erika Johnson. Installation, 2008.

CURTAIN UP: we are players on a global stage, capable of action, empowered by brave new technologies of information and connection.

CURTAIN DOWN: information overwhelms me. i am aware of more violence and injustice and destruction and corruption and horror than i can comprehend. my head spins, and thought i am enraged and called to action by a thousand awful things, i do not act.

CURTAIN is a fearful, playful, hopeful attempt at reclamation, an invitation.

other recently seen movies worth noting: nick and norah’s infinite playlist. apparently i’m also a sucker for awkward teenage comedies. i can’t remember the last movie i saw in the theatre where i laughed as hard as i did in this one. cute, chaotic, quirky. i loved it.

switching gears.

a twitter friend of mine had a blog theme a few weeks ago called wordless week where she solely used images to express herself. a fun idea and one that i’d like to try (if i can remember to blog for a whole consecutive week). at any rate, i’ll start here.

Abinadi by Casey Jex Smith. Pen & ink and color pencil on paper, 2007.