It is exactly two weeks to the last day of 2014. To me, this year just flew by. While two weeks does not seem like a lot of time, especially with all the busy holiday activities, you can still take positive actions to end your year right and get a head start on 2015. Here are seven tips that I am taking to heart:

1. Don’t wait until Dec. 31 to check your financials. Do you need to follow up on any late invoices if you want the income to be in 2014? Do you need to defer the income until 2015? Do you need to make any expenditures by year end? What tax consequences should you be aware of? A quick call or email to your accountant could make a difference.
2. If you do not have a giving plan in place, consider starting one before the end of the year. Yes, you will get a tax deduction, and yes, it will make you feel good. You can find numerous local charities in your own backyard or look online for some that work with creative arts. I have supported both groups that help women get back on track locally and also microloan foundations that target the funds to help women make a living from crafts. Two to look at here are www.finca.org and www.kiva.org. Even $25 makes a difference.
3. Look back over the year to see what your successes were. I think as entrepreneurs we often do not take the time to celebrate what we have accomplished. We are always onto the next big thing. Go back and list what your accomplishments were. I bet you can come up with 100 if you try. Let me know how many you find.
4. As you looked over your successes, did you see places for growth? Spend some time over the next two weeks getting clear on what is possible for you. Consider who you will need for support, whether that is private coaching or your own personal networking group.
5. Have you started planning for next year? Have you purchased your calendar or created one that works for you? Have you entered dates for big events and those appointments with yourself? That way you can start the year on the right track. You will see where you need to fill in to build your business.
6. Have you thought about what Your Big Why is? What is the reason you get up each day and work in and on your creative arts business. If you are unclear, set aside some time over the holidays to consider it. That will make a difference as you begin the New Year.
7. And, since my topic is clean-up, I plan to spend some time tossing what is not needed in my studio, so I start on a fresh note in January.

What are you doing to be sure you end the year on a positive note? Leave a comment below, or go over to our Facebook page and share.

Sew and Play
Farah D. Wolfe
Martingale; $26.99

Will your holidays include little ones? Is one of your goals getting them interested in sewing? You’ll find several ways to engage them in Sew and Play by Farah Wolfe. An occupational therapist, Farah shares 11 games that will get your kids playing with fabrics and build physical, cognitive and social skills. The games are varied and you can get kids to help you pick out the fabrics or sew, if they are old enough. For example, Foot Frenzy will look familiar to fans of the Twister game. Kids could select fabrics and help cut the feet. You’ll come up with lots of ideas to engage your young ones, whether it’s playing the games or participating in its construction.

Look for this book at your favorite quilt or book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.

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WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?

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Morna McEver is the founder and CEO of the International Association of Creative Arts Professionals where creative arts entrepreneurs craft business success. Her weekly e-zine offers tips, techniques and inspiration to help you craft business success from your creative arts passion. You can sign up for a FREE subscription at http://www.creativeartsprofessional.com.

This past week I had met with a group of dynamic, creative women in our Creative Passion to Profit Mastermind. For all of us, me included, we talked about focus and business growth. I think clarity is the key. Once we have clarity we are able to move forward; otherwise we are mired in all the “what ifs” and lots of fuzzy thinking. Have you ever been there?

What do you need clarity on? When I work with some clients, that is our first step. Clarity is really the foundation of success both in your business and your personal life. You cannot market on an authentic level if you are not clear.

You need to be clear on the direction you are going. What is your end goal? If you don’t know where you are going, how will you know when you get there?

You need to be clear on who your client is. We can’t be everything to all people, though I do know people who try. In one class I taught, I had a student who wanted to turn every quilter into an appliqué artist. While that was an admirable goal, her time would have been exhausted trying to accomplish this. She would have been more effective targeting beginning quilters to get them started.

You need to be clear on the financial realities of your business. Where does your income come from? What are your expenses? How much do you need to earn to provide support for yourself?

Those are just a few of the many areas that require clarity. I am sure you can find other areas where you are searching for clarity. It could be something big, like what my coaches call your “Big Why,” or it could be something smaller, like the name of your new pattern.

It is easy to figure out what you need to be clear on – you hear the muddled voices. How do you find clarity? Here are a few approaches to tune into the right little voice inside so you can listen.

• Create a vision board. The easy approach is to go through magazines and find things that resonate with you. It could be colors, words, pictures of places you want to visit, quilts you want to make or techniques you want to learn. Glue them onto a piece of poster board and leave it in a place where you will see it. I find that just searching for the items to put on my vision board helps me get clearer.

1. Keep a journal. Note your day’s activities, how you felt about what happened, any insights you might have. You might even ask a question and brainstorm on ideas or let the answer just come to you. Go back and read your earlier entries. The more you journal about something, the clearer it becomes.

1. Be grateful. If you are grateful every day, you can start to replace confusion with clarity. I keep a gratitude journal.

1. Spend time alone in nature. You may feel most at peace in a certain type of setting. For me it’s the water. So when I need to gain clarity, I will often sit by the water. On our retreat this week, we are in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains by the Potomac River. It is a great setting for walking and reflecting. Clarity often comes just “being,” and this environment lets me “be.”

1. Let go of the question. Sometimes by no longer putting your attention on something the answer will just come to you.

Here is a quote on clarity from Scottish writer Richard Holloway that I like:

Simplicity, clarity, singleness: These are the attributes that give our lives power
and vividness and joy as they are also the marks of great art.

How do you find clarity? I would love to hear your thoughts below or on our Facebook page.

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WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?

Please do! Just use it in its entirety and be sure to include the blurb below:

Morna McEver is the founder and CEO of the International Association of Creative Arts Professionals where creative arts entrepreneurs craft business success. Her weekly e-zine offers tips, techniques and inspiration to help you craft business success from your creative arts passion. You can sign up for a FREE subscription at http://www.creativeartsprofessional.com.

The BeColourful Quilt Collection
Jacqueline de Jonge
AQS: $28.95

Jacqueline de Jonge is an award winning quilter from Delft, in the Netherlands, and her work is known for its vibrant colors. This over-sized book features 54 of Jacqueline’s most striking designs, each shown full size with additional close up detail images. While the quilts are based on traditional designs, they each have a contemporary twist. I found the book inspiring and a feast for the eyes.

Look for this book at your favorite quilt or book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.

CARLSTADT, N.J., Dec. 4, 2014 – Pantone, an X-Rite company and the global color authority, today announced PANTONE^® 18-1438 Marsala, a naturally robust and earthy wine red, as the Color of the Year for 2015.

“While PANTONE 18-3224 Radiant Orchid, the captivating 2014 color of the year, encouraged creativity and innovation, Marsala enriches our mind, body and soul, exuding confidence and stability,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®.

“Much like the fortified wine that gives Marsala its name, this tasteful hue embodies the satisfying richness of a fulfilling meal, while its grounding red-brown roots emanate a sophisticated, natural earthiness. This hearty, yet stylish tone is universally appealing and translates easily to fashion, beauty, industrial design, home furnishings and interiors.”

Marsala for Fashion
Marsala was a hit on the Spring 2015 runways with fashion designers featured in the PANTONE Fashion Color Report Spring 2015; Daniel Silverstain, Hervé Léger by Max Azria and Dennis Basso incorporated the hue into their collections. The impactful, full-bodied qualities of Marsala make for an elegant statement color when the color is used on its own or as a compelling accent when paired with many other colors.

With the ever-growing popularity of floral prints and striping, variations of this hue will undoubtedly carry into men’s and women’s clothing throughout next year. Marsala is also a popular choice for jewelry and fashion accessories, including handbags, hats, footwear and the burgeoning market of wearable technology.

This highly varietal shade combines dramatically with neutrals, including warmer taupes and grays. Because of its burnished undertones, sultry Marsala is highly compatible with amber, umber and golden yellows, greens in both turquoise and teal, and blues in the more vibrant range.

Marsala for Beauty
An incredibly versatile color for beauty, Marsala is an appealing and sophisticated shade that’s flattering against many skin tones.

Marsala pairs exquisitely with monochromatic mixes of peachy pinks, and sparkles against antiqued gold metallics, offering an assortment of lipstick and blush options. Marsala illuminates a range of smoky-neutral color combinations, making it a captivating eye shadow color that can be worn from morning until night. Add an overlay of bronze for a dramatic look that suits any eye color, or use Marsala as a go-to finishing touch on nails.

Marsala for Interiors
Complex and full-bodied without overpowering, Marsala provides a unifying element for interior spaces. Add elegance to any room by incorporating this rich and welcoming hue in accent pieces, accessories and paint. Marsala’s plush characteristics are enhanced when the color is applied to textured surfaces, making it an ideal choice for rugs and upholstered living room furniture.

Nurturing and fulfilling, Marsala is a natural fit for the kitchen and dining room – making it ideal for tabletop, small appliances and linens throughout the home. The hue will be especially prominent in striping and floral patterns found in printed placemats, dinnerware, bedding and throws.

Marsala for Graphic Design
A rich contrasting color, Marsala is ideal for use in graphic design and packaging. Eye-catching, but not overwhelming or bright, consumers are immediately drawn to the hue, making it an alluring shade at point-of-purchase. As packaging becomes increasingly more artistic, Marsala will be a natural fit for both high- and low-tech materials, including on-shelf periodicals as well as printed assets, like calendars and stationery.

Cross-Referencing to Other PANTONE Libraries
PANTONE 18-1438 Marsala can also be cross-referenced to all other PANTONE Libraries, including PANTONE PLUS for graphic design. For cross-referencing information, see www.pantone.com/ColoroftheYear.

About the PANTONE Color of the Year
The Color of the Year selection requires careful consideration and, to arrive at the selection, Pantone combs the world looking for color influences. This can include the fashion and entertainment industries – including films that are in production, the world of art, popular travel destinations and other socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from technology, the availability of new textures and effects that impact color, and even upcoming sports events that capture worldwide attention.

For 15 years, Pantone’s Color of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, including fashion, home and industrial design, as well as product packaging and graphic design. Past colors include:

• PANTONE 18-3224 Radiant Orchid (2014)
• PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald (2013)
• PANTONE 17-1463 Tangerine Tango (2012)
• PANTONE 18-2120 Honeysuckle (2011)
• PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise (2010)
• PANTONE 14-0848 Mimosa (2009)
• PANTONE 18-3943 Blue Iris (2008)
• PANTONE 19-1557 Chili Pepper (2007)
• PANTONE 13-1106 Sand Dollar (2006)
• PANTONE 15-5217 Blue Turquoise (2005)
• PANTONE 17-1456 Tigerlily (2004)
• PANTONE 14-4811 Aqua Sky (2003)
• PANTONE 19-1664 True Red (2002)
• PANTONE 17-2031 Fuchsia Rose (2001)
• PANTONE 15-4020 Cerulean (2000)

About Pantone and the Pantone Color Institute Pantone LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of X-Rite, Incorporated, is the global color authority and provider of professional color standards for the design industries. Pantone products have encouraged colorful exploration and expressions of creativity from inspiration to implementation for more than 50 years. Through the Pantone Color Institute, Pantone continues to chart future color direction and study how color influences human thought processes, emotions and physical reactions. Pantone furthers its commitment to providing professionals with a greater understanding of color and to help them utilize color more effectively. Always a source for color inspiration, Pantone also offers designer-inspired products and services for consumers. More information is available at www.pantone.com. For the latest news, trends, information and conversations, connect with Pantone on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and the Pantone Blog.

About X-RiteX-Rite, Incorporated, is the global leader in color science and technology. The company, which now includes color industry leader Pantone, develops, manufactures, markets and supports innovative color solutions through measurement systems, software, color standards and services. X-Rite’s expertise in inspiring, selecting, measuring, formulating, communicating and matching color helps users get color right the first time and every time, which translates to better quality and reduced costs. X-Rite serves a range of industries, including printing, packaging, photography, graphic design, video, automotive, paints, plastics, textiles, dental and medical. For further information, please visit www.xrite.com

What do you think of the selection? I love it for its brown undertones to the red.

We have less than 30 days left in 2014. Have you taken stock of where you are? You actually do have time to make a difference in how your year turns out. First, go back and look at your numbers. What did you offer that gave you the best return? Perhaps it was a new pattern, perhaps it was a special you ran on longarm quilting, perhaps it was a class you ran online. Considering that, what can you do to bring in cash this month?

We have just had our share of Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, so maybe you are “sales’d” out. How about offering that new pattern at a slightly increased price with a pattern that you are not as successful moving? If you do online teaching, perhaps you can offer pre-registration this month to bring in cash. And, if you are a longarmer, how about a discount on a second quilt if someone drops it off this month to be quilted? Of course, it likely won’t get quilted until January, but the topper has a commitment and you have some cash. I’m sure you have some other ideas.

As to looking ahead, have you been thinking about 2015 and how it will be different from 2014? Not everyone has started this process, so you aren’t alone if you haven’t. Here are some tips I use.

1. Decide that next year will be different from last. Sounds easy, right? It’s about setting an intention and knowing why you are doing this. You need to connect with your “big why,” so that you goals will have meaning. It also keeps you moving each day.

1. Schedule time to dream and then a time to strategize as a result. You need to look at the bigger picture and the only way to do that is to allow yourself the time. Get our your calendar and block that time off. Give yourself permission! Be the one who designs your own life!

1. Consider what will happen as a result of your dreams becoming a reality. How will this be personally significant to you? We all have vast potential that hasn’t been tapped and now is the time to go for it.

I love this quote from Tony Robbins, motivational speaker:

“If you want to succeed in your life, remember this phrase. The past does not equal the future. Because you failed yesterday; or all day today; or a moment ago; or for the last six months;
the last 16 years; or the last fifty years of life, doesn’t mean anything … All that matters is: What are you going to do right now.”

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WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?

Please do! Just use it in its entirety and be sure to include the blurb below:

Morna McEver is the founder and CEO of the International Association of Creative Arts Professionals where creative arts entrepreneurs craft business success. Her weekly e-zine offers tips, techniques and inspiration to help you craft business success from your creative arts passion. You can sign up for a FREE subscription at http://www.creativeartsprofessional.com.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving here in the United States. Since it is a holiday, we are not sending out our regular e-zine this week.

This is one of my favorite holidays, and not just because it could be termed our National Day of Eating! I am excited to be headed to Chicago where my husband and I will celebrate with three of my sisters, a brother-in-law and five nieces and nephews. I am looking forward to sharing family favorites — food and stories — at the dinner table.

Since Thanksgiving is often a time for reflection, I did want to take this opportunity to let you know how sincerely grateful I am for everyone who reads this e-zine, takes time to comment on our blog, has joined the International Association of Creative Arts Professionals, follows me and comments on Facebook and other forms of social media, has taken our classes, attended or is planning to attend our annual Creative Arts Business Summit or works with me on a private or group basis. I am truly honored that you have allowed me to contribute in some small way to your business growth. It is so rewarding for me that I can make a difference. Thank you!

If you are celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow, I hope your day is filled with traditions and gratitude, as mine will be. I have had a gratitude practice for years now, writing down three to five gratitude items each day.

As I have done in the past, I wanted to share a couple of my favorite quotes about gratitude:

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy;
they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”

Marcel Proust

“Feeling grateful or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually
attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life.”

Christiane Northrup

What are you grateful for this year? Please share it below or on ICAP’s Facebook Fan page.

Necktie Quilts
Christine Copenhaver
C&T Publishing; $24.95

Those of us who have been quilting for some time remember when necktie quilts were popular. With the arrival of Necktie Quilts Revisited by Christine Copenhaver, we may see more. Christine set out to write the book for three reasons: to share her technique of stabilizing the necktie material with fusible interfacing; to provide practical information on sewing with neckties; and to offer fresh ideas for quilts made from neckties. Her discussion on the nuances and how to use necktie patterns was fun to read, particularly the significance of the colors. The book includes instruction for 17 projects and a gallery of additional quilts. I know I have a stash of ties in the back of a closet, so a necktie quilt may be in my future.

Look for this book at your favorite quilt or book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.

Several weeks back I had a conversation with a colleague about her distress over a poor review of her book on Amazon. “But I want everyone to love the book,” she said, really meaning, “I want everyone to love me.” She believed that if someone did not like the book, they did not like her.

I think we can all fall into that trap, wanting to be liked. I can remember exactly when I decided I didn’t care if everyone liked me. I was working in the offices of an ad agency, and one of the men in the office told me he didn’t like me. Well, how could that be? I am truly likable. Then I thought about it and realized that I did not really like him. He had poor work habits, always sloughing his work onto someone else, and I generally did not like being around him. Why did I think I cared anyhow?

It is just not possible to avoid criticism. And, hey, it does hurt sometimes.

So how do you handle it? Here are some my thoughts.

1. Only one opinion really matters, and that is yours. If you choose to take personal responsibility for yourself, then you will be open to criticism. You just have to accept that it happens, and as one of my friends says, “Get on your own horse and live your life.”

1. With that said, I will look at the criticism and look at the critic. Do I know this person? Do I respect this person? Only then is it time to ask if there is some validity to their criticism and whether it is constructive.

1. Try some journaling. Why is the criticism so hurtful to you? Does it bring up past hurts that you have not dealt with. Does it start you on a negative spiral? Why? Understanding how the criticism impacts you can help you in the future.

1. Protect yourself from the criticism. I said that your opinion is the one that matters, so do not open yourself up to naysayers. If you are a book author, do not look at your reveiws on Amazon. If you get negative emails, have someone else handle your emails. Your job is to keep yourself in a positive, growing place so you can focus on what is important — and those negative reviews definitely are not!

1. Remember the criticism is not about you. It is about them. It doesn’t make it not hurt, though it is nice to have the reminder.

Finally, remember the words of Zig Ziglar,

“Don’t be distracted by criticism. Remember, the only taste of success some people have is when they take a bite out of you.”

Hop, Skip, Jump: 75 Ways to Playfully Manifest a Meaningful Life
Marney Makridakis
New World Library; $16.95

Have you ever considered the impact play has in what you bring about in your life? Creativity expert Marney Makridakis explains that manifesting ultimately comes down to momentum, and play connects us to the power of momentum, without even realizing it. Her goal in writing this book is to give us tools to use at the intersection between play and productivity to manifest whatever we desire. She starts out with a quirky quiz so we can learn if we are hoppers, skippers or jumpers. That lets you know if you are more comfortable connecting with your vision and plans to see that your dreams are on solid ground; trying lots of different things and creating momentum as a result; or quickly taking action and moving things to completion, sometimes without thinking things through. Once you have got your core comfort level determined, she gives you 75 ready-to-use tools to push through the blocks in your way. And, you can just open the book to any tool and use it then; no need to start at the beginning of the book and work your way through. Here are just a few: Creating your imaginary board of directors and holding an imaginary meeting; creating your own permission slips; using Internet oracles to answer project questions; turning your doubts into dares. I also loved her quick fun facts and AcroWhims (ACTION = Answering Calls to Initiate Opportunities Now) and Manifestagrams (Manifest= “Amen” fits) at the end of the chapters. This book is downright fun and will get your creative, productive juices running.

Look for this book at your favorite quilt or book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.