What’s happening in 2019

Hi and welcome back to a new year on the Chrissie Murphy Designs blog.  It’s been a while since my last post and so much has happened since then (which I plan to tell you about in upcoming posts).  For now though, I want to fill you in on what’s happening in 2019.

Let’s begin with what’s staying the same…

OK, I’m still intending to be releasing new blog posts every Thursday night.  Artist Interviews will continue as well with the first one scheduled in for two weeks time!  Yay!!!  Social media is back up and running as well, so if you’re not following along in social media land, head to Facebook now and click the like button. When you’re done there, head to Instagram and click that follow button.  Lastly head to Pinterest and click the follow button there as well.   Now, you won’t miss a thing.

Connect with the Creator posts will also be continuing, as will lots of pics and posts about new art I’m either working on, or have finished.  You know I am really looking forward to creating this year.  The Lord has been so good to me.  In my time with Him over the last two months, I have come away full, hungry for more and I’m so expectant! He has given me fresh insight into the way I’ve been creating.  He has also revealed some new ways of expressing the adoration I have for Him, while conveying His sovereignty at the same time.  I’m so ready to get into it!

What’s going to be different…

There’s two different things that I’m going to be introducing this year.  One will have its home on social media, the other will be living on the blog.

The first is The Friday Squiz

So in short, every Friday we’re going to have a squiz at something.  Sounds really broad hey? Well, it kinda is.  You might recall my desire to share regular reviews of art supplies and craft products, apps and podcasts etc…. and I haven’t been the best at delivering (I know, I  know and it’s been on my mind all year!).

Well to combat it, every Friday I’m gonna have a squiz at something.  The Friday Squiz will live on my social media platforms (not the blog) and it’s not intended to be a comprehensive post that goes into everything something can or can’t do. It’s intended to be a five minute snapshot, listing a couple of quick pro’s and con’s and a few thoughts on the product we’re reviewing.

How is it going to be different to other product reviews? Well, it will be different due to the range of things we’ll be reviewing. It’s going to be more than just art and craft supplies, it’s going to be about everything!! I am committed to making sure these posts are interesting, engaging and unexpected.  I do not want them to be predictable! So tomorrow, we’re going to be having our first Friday Squiz, and we’re going to be looking at Kaisercraft Gel Pens. I know what you’re thinking, that’s kinda predictable Chrissie…. well, I am beginning in a nice and familiar place…. just don’t go getting get too comfy.

The second is monthly Plan With Me Posts

Last year I hinted at being a bit of a planner lover, check out this post if you missed it.  Well this year, I’m super pumped to be joining the online planner community to share a monthly “Plan with Me” post.

I’ll be sharing how I’ve set up my planner for the month ahead. We’ll look at different sorts of layouts or things we might want to track, things like habits or follower counts etc. We’ll also look into using it as a way of being accountable when it comes to goals you might have set for yourself. It will also become the source of where you store your dream lists. I’m so excited to get into this with you all. The monthly “Plan with Me” post will be released on the last Thursday of every month.

This year I’m going to be working in the beautiful planner above from Kikki K called the “Wonderful Planner” (yes, it truly is wonderful, she is my baby and I love her) and you can get one here if you’d like one.

However, I’ll stress here now that you can work in any planner you have handy.  Last year, I worked with the one above from K Mart and it did the job.  If you’re an artist who’s trying to get serious about where your creative journey is heading, if you’re a working mum who’s got commitments left, right and centre, or if you’re a blogger trying to maintain a regular schedule… planning is your best friend.

I need to plan!

I’ll be honest now and admit that the older I get, the more full on I find life is and the less effective my brain is at remembering things.  I need to plan, because if I don’t, I forget important things and I have disappointed people quite seriously in the past.  It’s hard to build up trust when you’ve broken it repeatedly through being forgetful.

And it goes without saying that I am a goal and dream oriented kinda gal. I love achieving things (I am an Enneagram Type 3). I’m not too bummed when things aren’t achieved, but man, am I fired up when they are! It encourages and nourishes my soul. It proves to me that all things are possible with the Lord. And because they are I dream big! I love recording my hopes and dreams and seeing the Lord show up and deliver. This is how you build faith, you believe for things that are unseen, and you rejoice when He orchestrates their materialisation.

So that’s what is happening in 2019

I have a bit of a footnote to add to all of this… Last night I shared this piece of work on social media, it’s my first piece of 2019. I confessed that in the past I have been consumed with producing lots of art versus embracing the ENTIRE creative process. In summing up, what I’m trying to say is that I’ll be working slower this year.

I want to take the time to explore the entire creative process, to let it grow me, to let it expand my capabilities. So even though I intend to share pics of my new work, they just won’t be as frequent. I’m hoping that even though they are not as frequent, you are able to take more away from a finished piece when it is done.

So that’s it for this week. I’m so keen to get into 2019 and unpack all it has to offer. May your new year be filled with abundance, generosity, goodness, depth and beauty.

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Until next time, listen to your heart and sharpen your coloured pencils. A masterpiece awaits!

Bless you my friend

Chrissie xx