Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-anges.....

That is an understatement, isn't it? The world is changing at such a remarkable pace it seems so impossible to keep up. Try as I might, there is always some new platform to sign up for, some new program to learn and master, always something new but it seems that we still have to keep up with the old. Being self-employed there are so many possibilities but it is so easy to get scattered - to try to be all over the place. But if "I don't keep up", I may miss the newest latest greatest marketing thing or whatever else there is out there. 

Being all over the place - does it work???? By jumping on the next bandwagon, do you drop what you were doing and forget all the people who follow you on an established platform? Do you try to keep up with it all - and add another thing to the to do list? It is overwhelming thinking about it all.  At some point, it seems the best tact to take is to wait it out and to see if some of those who first jumped on have success with a platform. Although then you risk losing out on being a leader. 

I have thought many times to stop writing this blog. It takes a crazy amount of time to create a good post, write, photo, process, post, proofread, etc. I have stepped back on the frequency of blogging compared to what I used to do. It is true that so many people have completely stopped blogging (and yes - I miss them, do you?). Many former bloggers have turned to Instagram to post a quick photo. Or they are do "stories" on Instagram or film Facebook Live posts. I have not caught on to either of those things. I think of my on-line life as a part of my business and I don't want things I do to disappear after the amount of work I put into them. 

Me, I do continue to blog. I still find it a relevant platform. I can't say absolutely everything in a small photo someone sees (or doesn't see because of the algorithm changes) on their phone. (BTW - if you are on IG, have you noticed that every 4th or 5th photo is now a sponsored post/ad?) With the crazy -- seems like weekly -- changes Facebook and Instagram seem to put out, it seems like my blog and my newsletter (sign up on right sidebar please!) are two places that I can control. I can't control who comes and reads here but at least it is a place that I can put what I want readers to see. And this blog is a place to page back through and look at what I was doing at what month and year in the past. I am coming up to my 12th blogging anniversary in a couple weeks and it is kind of amazing to think that I have been doing this for over a decade. 

In my world now, it is a great big jumble --- my head is literally spinning around. I have an book coming out, I have some great things planned - now to put them into work, classes to plan for this summer and I have my family, home, and life to keep up with. Wish me luck - but then your life is probably the same. 

Here's what my studio looks like now ---- UGH - such a mess. The big table is split into sections - 

1. pottery glazes and a small place to paint

2. computer space for writing, processing photos, and designing patterns on my wacom tablet and Ipad Pro with Procreate

3. Overhead rigged tripod with a set up for shooting video

4. Sides of the room are piled with crap and inventory waiting for orders

5. The floor needs a good sweep and wash but I never seem to find the time nor the need because it is just me.

It really is a nightmare but I just try to focus on what is in front of me so I don't look at the rest of the piles until I need to. I don't find it necessary to clean it all up - as my friend Sally says - we just work amongst the squalor. 

That's what I am thinking about today - random ramblings. I hope you (and I) are off to a good productive start to the week. 

p.s. Opening photo is of test prints of new digital patterns I am working on. Lots to come on that soon.