I hope everyone had a happy new year and a bit of downtime from work. There’s so much to look forward to in a new year and I’m feeling really excited and buzzing with energy. As I look forward into 2011 I’ve thought about my one word for the year and believe that overall the word focus…well, will be my focus! There are so many things I want to accomplish, but in the end it’s all about focusing my efforts to get the proper balance and actually get things done. I’m often all over the place, starting projects and ideas left and right. I’ve gotten into the habit of writing ideas into an idea journal, but often they just get stuck there because we never have enough time, right? Although it’s great to follow those spurts of inspiration when they appear…it’s still important to have guidelines and goals towards specific success points and milestones. It doesn’t mean there’s no room for fun and play…but at the end of the day you eventually have to take steps towards your destination, otherwise you aren’t getting anywhere.
Looking back at 2010, I’m quite proud of the series and longer projects that I’ve been able to follow through with. That’s why I think focus is so important. I’ll just have to learn to shelve ideas when they conflict with existing schedules and get back to them later when I’m not so inspired…instead of loafing around during those periods and letting myself fall oh-so out of focus!
These first days of the new year, I’ve been going through all my blogs and preparing to clean my mailing lists. I want each website as specific as possible and at some point to give everything a facelift. For each blog, I’ve set my specific goals, so there’s a guideline to follow by. Here on tortagialla it’s been the most difficult because it’s a bit of everything. Just my generally artsy crafty life, but I have admit the whole point is to create work, get more work and ultimately be a licensed artist. I’ve been doing so much research on art licensing, but it’s definitely time to take bigger actions. This is my year…I can feel it! So on tortagialla I will have to hold myself accountable by posting work – meaning I have to get it done and ready to show off. This means specifically my art licensing collections as I get my portfolio together. Obviously other crafty projects and ideas will pop up along the way, but that has to be the focus if I want to be taken seriously and become a licensed artist. I know I can do it and so that is what I will work towards.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me through this blog and my other websites(BackToPaper, JustGraphic, AndFeeling). I really do appreciate it so much and love all the inspiration and virtual camaraderie I receive by participating in this WWW of artists, designers, bloggers and creative souls in general. Grazie! Have a fabulous and focused 2011!
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To receive this super cute motivational poster as a printable PDF, 
20 Comments
Oh my. Focus is a word that would be perfect for me to work on too. Although, trying to get me to truly focus could be scary!
And I love that collection of illustrations at the end of the post. So cute!
Thanks so much, Mollie! I suppose focus shouldn’t be a bad thing… but it is possible to get too focused and miss the big picture, huh? Eek! So much to think about… oh and thank you for your comment – I love your work, so it means a lot when you say you love my illos! Grazie!
Your illustrations are always so adorable and inspiring to me, since I would love to be able to illustrate like that. Great idea to use focus as the word for the year. It’s so easy to get distracted with all the wonderful ideas floating around. Focus is the hardest thing but the key to move forward. Best of luck to you with your 2011 pursuits!
Thanks so much, Terri! Lovely to hear from you and it makes me so happy to know some folks like my work! Keeps me going for sure..and I will definitely be working on focusing and moving forward. Happy 2011!
Focus would be a good word of the year for me too but I have few other things to get sorted first so my word for this year is something else, maybe I will follow with ‘focus’ next year
Good luck with all your plans and focus for this year, you are hugely talented so I expect there will be a lot of good things happening for you this year
Thanks so much, Veronika… you are so kind! I hope that I will be able to focus properly this year and take myself to the next level…
Cute blog by the way… and an adorable name your husband gave to you!
It’s very interesting to me that you picked the word FOCUS – here’s a little more of an explanation:
http://wayoutwear.blogspot.com/2011/01/word-is-begin.html
Happy New Year to you!
Happy New Year to you Denise and thanks for visiting this blog… oh very interesting… I checked out your link and I suppose it’s something many of us search for. A word can make such a difference…I think because it helps to direct us…focus us? haha… you know what i mean!
Oh, Linda!
I think you are already a very focused person.
With such energy!
And yes, I think you are right—this will be your year!!!
{give Vash a hug from me!}
Thanks Pam! Haha…I suppose I get certain things done…but I need more! haha… thank you for your support and comments and emails – I really appreciate it and I feel really loved and thankful for all of it. Will definitely give Vash a hug and kiss for you
Have a fabulous 2011 yourself!
Dearest sweet linda, focus is such a wonderful word for 2011!! My word for the new year would be fearless.
I am so happy that you had such a wonderful 2010!! Wishing you LOVE and JOY this new year. Thanks so much for always sending me your love, support and blessing! Have a lovely merry happy week sweet friend and love to you!
Thanks, Jacqueline! You’ve always been so sweet and encouraging to me…thank you! Love your word as well…striking out for sure…all the best to you in 2011!
Hi Linda, what a very cute blog you have here. Thanks for visiting me, it gave me a chance to find you. I see you’re a California girl living in Europe too. You’ve chosen a climate much more similar to California however, clever you!
Best of luck with the FOCUS this year, definitely a goal I’m aiming for too
thanks so much, joanie! oh I didn’t know we had that in common – cool! good luck with your 2011 goals too!
Dearest sweet linda, came by to see how did your first week of 2011 went…i hope it’s off to a good start! Wishing you a lovely merry happy weekend and love to yoU!
Thanks so much, Jacqueline! This first week is so busy…haven’t been posting much at all!
Hi,
Happy New Year! I want to inform you that you have been given a Stylish Blogger Award . It works like tag post. Just share 7 things about yourself and pay it forward to other 15 blogs that you like.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RaEwUjUiGlc/TSPkikvFH4I/AAAAAAAAAIc/TXmc7raedJs/s1600/Stylish-Blogger.jpg
Here’s my post if you’re interested in playing along!
http://sandycoleman.wordpress.com/2011/01/08/stylish-blogger-award/
Thanks for sharing your great blog and inspiring us all.
Hi Sandy! I wanted to thank you for nominating me with the award and lovely to hear from you and that you love my blog – wow! What an honor…grazie grazie! I very much appreciate the time you took to think of me and post about my blog. Only thing is that I don’t post awards on this blog…but thank you so much either way. Hope you have a fabulous day!
Dear Linda……..what a great word for the year FOCUS…….should be mine too!
I love your whimsical illustrations……i’m sure you’ll find some licensing partners this year who will adore your creative whimsies!
Love, violette xo
Hi Violette – Thanks for your encouragement…something I’m trying to do. I think I’ve focused a bit on other things rather than this blog … maybe need a bit of balance! I do hope to get into licensing and thank you for your support as always!
4 Trackbacks
[...] goal is a be a licensed artist and I’ve already blogged my intentions to focus this year. I’ve come to realize that I’ve jumped into the sea of creative businesses [...]
[...] joined along with this idea for 2011, posting about my word FOCUS. It is already April and I find myself revisiting and re-evaluating my goals based on that [...]
[...] Hi everyone! I want to reach out and say thank you to everyone who responded and commented to my New Year post about focus. I really wanted to get started with my right foot forward in 2011! I suppose things have been [...]
[...] Focus I have written about and proclaimed my word of the year as focus, then revisited the topic…but now I’m rethinking it again. When I first decided that I [...]