Preparing for the New Year - Embracing Happiness

While I have been considering home and work for the New Year, I have also been taking in to account considerations of my personal happiness. In particular, what measures I can take to increase my happiness and the happiness of those I love. As I think of it, I have been adding to a little list of the things that make me happy. Some reminders for when things inevitably get out of balance -

Send more handwritten letters and cards
Visit art galleries
Browse book shops
Read for the sake of reading
Make jewellery
Catch up with friends
Schedule 'me-time' in my diary
Knit for my family
Get my hands dirty in the garden
Pick up the camera
Grow or buy flowers for the table
Take yoga classes
Craft with the children
Plan a holiday
Cook new recipes
Walk in the rain-forest
Remember birthdays
Re-read The Happiness Project
Be Christina

What's on your happiness list?

If you are keen to read more about happiness, head to the happy authority, Gretchen Rubin.
And maybe start a Happiness Project of your very own.

Preparing for the New Year - Business Goals

Satisfied Mind earrings in Onyx

I'm taking a little break from the bench at the moment, after a frenzy of work leading up to Finders Keepers, The French Market and Christmas. I do believe I have earned a little rest. But while my tools are laying quiet, my pen has been particularly busy as I plan for the year ahead. I'm carrying a notebook with me at all times, and I'm often unable to sleep due to the threads of thoughts running through my mind. I'm feeling incredibly inspired and I'm capturing as many of those ideas as I can.

There was a time where I would have scoffed at writing down my business goals and dreams for the year. It sounded like a deluded waste of time. Surely it was all quite simple, all in my head, or could be worked out as I went along. Those in the know will laugh at my naivety. Those who share my old sentiments, listen up! Grab a pen and a notebook and write yourself a little plan for your business for 2014, and you may very well most certainly will surprise yourself. As I did. There is an ah-hah! moment waiting for you. This may be the very best place to start - The New Years Revolution kit - it is free to down load and prompts you will all the questions you need to consider to start planning a successful 2014 for your business. The other place you need to visit is Jess Van Den's blog, Create and Thrive -  in particular the Planning for your Handmade business in 2014 post.

What I have learnt is that by writing it down and defining my dreams I am better able to understand what I want, where I am heading, and what the step by step process is to get there. It offers me a much greater clarity to see it in black and white, without a jostle of thoughts and distractions. What business decisions are urgent? What ideas can be left to percolate? What order shall I do things? No point getting new business cards printed right before having a logo designed! Which markets will I attend? How long do I anticipate being on 'maternity leave'? Will the shop remain open? Shall I work towards producing two collections, or three? Am I better off investing in advertising, or photography?

2013 saw a mental shift take place in me, where I no longer saw my jewellery making as a hobby, but as a business. That change inspired many others. I truly believe that I can make a profitable small business as a jeweller and a stay at home Mother, while maintaining a happy balance. The keys for me are being organised, not being afraid to ask for what I'm worth, and planning towards the future.

I have big plans for this coming year and I look forward to continuing to share this journey with you!


There are some great resources out there for small creative businesses -
Create and Thrive
Big Hearted Business (I particularly love the Inspiration Bombs)
The Collaborative Happiness Project (in particular the Career posts)
Do What You Love for Life
Business Advice From Creative Business Owners
Design Sponge Biz Ladies

So get reading, get writing and leave a comment or send me an email about your small business plans!

Preparing for the New Year - Decluttering

A finished holiday project - a photo gallery in the hallway

I quite like the chance of a clean slate for the New Year. Tying up loose ends, preparing for the year ahead and decluttering the 'stuff' that accumulates in the home. Being organised reduces stress, and with Cohen beginning Prep next year and a new baby due in May, I am especially mindful of staying organised and calm this year! So I am focusing my attention on book lists, uniforms, business goals, and decluttering these next couple of weeks. I remember reading in Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project, that instead of more storage, perhaps what we need is less 'stuff'. It's so true. But not just by getting rid of lots of our stuff, bringing less stuff in to our homes - which is something I have been more mindful of in 2013 and will continue to strive for in 2014.

I've made myself a decluttering list that I am crossing off as I go.

Children's Bedrooms
Bathroom cabinet and drawer
Pantry and fridge
Closet
Under the kitchen sink
Laundry and linen closet
Studio
Clutter collection points - on top of the fridge
Car
Handbag

I made a start the day before Cohen's birthday, by sending him off to the park with his Dada while I sorted out his bedroom. It seemed a little overwhelming at first. All those small toy parts, piles paper and craft projects. Armed with garbage bags and a time limit, I planned to be ruthless. I had to be, with his birthday the next day and Christmas only a couple of weeks after that, and the influx of toys that accompanies both. Quite quickly the mess was tamed and two garbage bags were filled with rubbish and one with toys to be donated. A clean room with a place for everything. What a great feeling of relief and satisfaction when the job was done. Cohen was particularly pleased, as like most five year old boys he does not enjoy cleaning his room and seeing that I had cleaned it meant he was off the hook.

Now to the rest of the house... Oh, it can seem quite overwhelming when you look at it as a whole! Despite cleaning every day, despite being quite house proud, despite simplifying our shopping, clutter accumulates, the pantry becomes a mess, bits and pieces get deposited and forgotten atop the fridge. My handbag and car seem especially prone to attracting 'stuff' since having children...

Will you be joining me in decluttering?
How do you do to prepare for the New Year?


There are some great decluttering resources online.
A room by room guide to what to toss.
10 Creative ways to declutter
Declutter 101
Decluttering is not your final answer - bringing less in to your home