This past week I have begun to work on my “master plan” for the new year, welcoming the chance to look back over all that was accomplished in 2014, while taking time to re-evaluate and reorganize for the year ahead.

I even took a couple of hours to clean up the studio a bit. Organized chaos is probably a more accurate description.

I am making some tweaks here and there to my work schedule in my never-ending quest to become more efficient and productive, and to find ways to make room to read more, to draw more, and to take advantage of seeing more of the wide-ranging art that will be on exhibit in 2015. I’ve been giving it a bit of a test-run this week and I think I’m on the right track.

One of my goals is to re-prioritize and to bring more balance to the way I divide my work-day between art practice, volunteer commitments and household chores. I’m sure many of you can relate, and if you have any hints to share, I’m all ears.

Meanwhile, it’s good to take stock of what worked this past year as it comes to a close. By way of celebration, I’d like to share with you (and raise my glass to) a few of the resources that have made a real difference to me. Hopefully one or two of them will resonate with you as well.

• Smartest blog: Brain Pickings  Maria Popova’s “subjective lens on what matters in the world and why”.
• Best blog on Work Habits: Study Hacks – Computer scientist Cal Newport shares his stellar and very inspiring ideas re: focusing on work.
• Most helpful Newsletter: The Useletter – Amy Lynn Andrews’ “hand-curated email for bloggers, authors, freelancers, online business owners and those who want to work from home”.
• Best Art-related Book read this year: Living and Sustaining a Creative Life by Sharon Louden
• Really enjoyable “Non-art” Book: The Art of Eating In by Cathy Erway — If you love to cook, as I do, try this book about “the joy of getting back in the kitchen and turning something seemingly ordinary into something completely extraordinary”
• And finally, the all-time Best Time-saver: Unroll.Me  Take back control of your email…I can’t even begin to tell you how helpful this is to me! A huge thank you to my son for telling me about it!

Wishing you a productive and happy new year.
& thanks so much for reading…

View from my studio window                                                                                    Sunset, December 31, 2014