Tools | Elizabeth Fram

In preparing to turn the page from the old year to the new, I like to use this week between holidays to get myself organized. I think it’s a really healthy exercise to go back over the events of the past 12 months in order to take stock of both the accomplishments and the areas where I want/need to concentrate more effort in the year ahead. In addition, if I can get a leg up on some preparatory computer tasks, such as clearing out obsolete files, setting up new folders, and outlining my goals for 2017 in a somewhat organized way, it’s then possible to jump right into my routine on January 2 with a sense of control and purpose. It may be something of an illusion, but I like the feeling of getting a fresh start.

2016 brought with it the discovery of some wonderfully useful tools, many of which I have shared in this blog. As the year closes out, here is a short list of three more gems that I hope might add some value to your practice going forward. They have all helped me to feel more organized and better equipped, resulting in more time to make art…and isn’t that what we all want?

Amy Lynn Andrews’ Knowtbook: Last June, in my post A Worthwhile Plunge, I recommended Amy as a fabulous resource when starting a blog. She shares an amazing amount of information for free on her website, blog, and in her weekly Useletter, but this fall I decided it was time to invest in her $24 “Knowtbook”. It is essentially a reference manual comprised of her extensive notes on a ton of online information, including the finer details of creating a website, understanding traffic and SEO, social media, networking, time management and productivity. Straight talk delivered to you via Workflowy (see below), it really is her notebook, so you continue to receive her changes and updates in real time, at no extra cost to you.

WorkFlowy: If you are a list maker this is an unbelievably convenient and easy way to keep on top of all your lists, in one place and accessible online from any device. I guess the one downside is that you need to be connected in order to make any additions or changes, but everything can be easily printed if you choose. I’ve found it’s extremely handy for staying on top of tasks, especially when I’m already at the computer and ideas / items pop up.

Bullet Journal: Admittedly I use several different platforms (Asana, Evernote, Workflowy) to keep myself organized in a big-picture kind of way, but so far the Bullet Journal, “the analog system for the digital age”, has absolutely been the most successful way for me to stay on top of my daily/weekly tasks. You don’t have to buy anything — although you have that option. I started one last March with an old notebook filled with graph paper and it continues to work perfectly. Once you get a handle on the basic theory, you’ll see that it is completely customizable. It’s made a huge difference for me and, while I continue to juggle more than I probably should, it has kept me on the straight and narrow and I find less things fall through the cracks now.

And finally, a cherry on top for the avid reader:

Modern Mrs. Darcy: I was so happy to stumble upon this blog last week! It was the perfect discovery during the holidays, or anytime for that matter, when you’re in the mood for finding a good book. It’s kind of like the semi-annual NPR books shows that feature booksellers from all over the country. The reading lists and recommendations inspired me to map out a list for 2017. Can’t wait to get started!

Were there any systems that you adopted in 2016 that made your life easier/more productive? Personal experience is the best reference, so please share your feedback.

As always, thank you for joining me here at Eye of the Needle; I appreciate your time and ideas! Happy New Year…may it be one of your best.

One night last week, as I was chopping vegetables for dinner, in the midst of wherever my mind was wandering, it occurred to me that the knife I was using somehow made a job I’ve done a thousand times recognizably more satisfying and even pleasant. I’m not waxing poetic here – most dinner prep is a routine chore, but it was an “aha moment” to be aware that I had subconsciously reached for that particular knife because of the enjoyment derived in using it.

It’s definitely not fancy or expensive (I actually got it for free with the stamps they give out for every $10 spent during a grocery store promotion). But the point is, despite its low cost it caught my attention in a way my other, “better” knives never have. And as I chopped, observing more closely while appreciating the heft and balance of it, I realized that the credit belonged to the knife’s design.

I invite you to take a moment to appreciate a tool you rely upon every day. As you’re poised to put it to use, reflect upon how difficult, or at least more challenging, that job might be without it.

One has to honor the brainpower that has gone into designing the art supplies, instruments, utensils, gadgets, apps, etc. that make our everyday tasks easier and more efficient. For example, a pair of scissors is an object of wonder when you consider the combination of purpose with ergonomics. It’s a mighty amount of creativity that can design an object that not only meets a specific use, yet which is also beautiful, independent of its function.

The next logical line of thinking was what worthy subjects tools make as I keep chipping away at learning to draw/paint, which in turn reminded me of Jim Dine’s prints of tools from the 70’s, published in this monograph, one of the first art books I paid for with my own money.

To explore this idea further, check out Design Milk, a website that centers on all aspects of design. This quick article (mostly photos) on abstracted kitchen tools is a good prompt for thinking more about about the marriage of design with use. (And as a side note, its column “Friday Five” interviews contemporary designers about their top five inspirations — definitely worth a peek).

So look around your space and notice which tools make a difference in your creative practice, whatever it may be. And then join me in a collective nod of gratitude and admiration for the designers who have made it their life’s work to dream up the things we take for granted, but which make such a difference, practically and aesthetically, in our day-to-day.

Elizabeth Fram

Eye of the Needle

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