Motivation Monday

With everything going on lately and trying to prepare my Etsy shop (Leatherwood Designs) for the up coming holidays (yes, I've already started thinking about the holidays - crazy!), I have been wondering - what are my goals, what am I trying to accomplish? So, I embarked on a mission to do some soul searching and realistic goal setting.

Goal setting can be incredibly motivating. The process of setting goals helps you choose where you want to go in life. By knowing precisely what you want to achieve, goals can keep you focused on a purpose, and help you spot the distractions that would otherwise lure you from your path. By setting clearly defined goals, you can measure your success and boost your confidence as you recognize your ability to achieve your goals.

Tips for creating goals -

1. Write it Down - The simple act of writing your goals down on paper will bring them one step closer to reality. Writing a goal down will make it more substantial and significant.

2. Identify Obstacles – Create a list of obstacles and limitations, analyze them and develop a strategy to overcome them! Treat these obstacles like roadblocks and map out a strategy to get around them.

3. Set a Deadline – Establish a reasonable time frame to accomplishment the goal and plan for unexpected delays. (This prevents disappointment and discouragement through missing the deadline.)

4. Measure Success - Doing so will help to keep you motivated to achieve your goals as you see real achievements taking place.

5. Be Persistent! – Never, never, never give up.

So, I'm off to put my goals down on paper!

Motivation Monday

Collect Favorite Quotations -
A good quotation can be a powerful thing! When you come across a quotation that motivates you to achieve your goals, don't let it pass you by! Write it down, save it on your computer, or do whatever works for you to keep a collection of motivational quotations close at hand.

“First, Think.
Second, Believe.
Third, Dream.
And Finally, Dare.”
-Walt Disney

Motivation Monday

Take A Short Break: Have you ever had one of “THOSE days” when nothing seems to go right? I had one this weekend. The little one was napping and I had a brief snippet of time to craft. But when I sat down to create nothing went right, in fact, everything seemed to go wrong! I was tired and frustrated. Instead of forcing myself to create I took a break to walk at the local nature center - to escape, to think, to relax, to breathe. A short break can allow me to return to my projects with renewed energy and enthusiasm. The walk provided not only reprieve, but inspiration.

Motivation Monday - Start With the Basics

“Inspiration is for amateurs; the rest of us just show up and get to work. If you wait around for the clouds to part and a bolt of lightning to strike you in the brain, you are not going to make an awful lot of work.” CHUCK CLOSE – painter; photographer; printmaker

As a part-time entrepreneurial crafter, I occasionally I find myself simply lacking the motivation or inspiration to create. When faced with this situation during my designated crafting time, I head off to the studio and start working on something anyway. I might start by organizing supplies, then doing piece work that doesn’t require much inspiration (like sawing blanks or drilling holes) concentrating on the rhythm of the work. These tasks all have a great impact on the end result of the final piece, but don’t require a great deal of inspiration. I begin by working on these mechanical tasks and gradually find a rhythm and flow of ideas and inspiration.

Motivation Monday

As a part-time entrepreneurial crafter, I have ideas of items that I want to fabricate, but occasionally I find myself simply lacking the motivation to create. Why? What is wrong with me? Nothing. This is a problem many people face, regardless of their career status. So, how do you get on track to be inspired and motivated to create? This is a question I’ll be exploring on Mondays.

Set aside a positive space. Carve out a space for your craft; even if it is a shelf in the corner of the dining room. Clear the clutter and organize tools and supplies. It is frustrating to stop working on a project to look for a tool or supply that “should be around here SOMEWHERE!” Once your space is free of clutter, set a creative tone by displaying things that are inspirational/motivational to YOU. If possible paint your craft space a color you love. Get a bulletin board and hang up pictures, postcards, pages from magazines, fabrics, decorative papers, whatever is beautiful to you.


Finish or get rid of old unfinished projects. Nothing can kill motivation faster than seeing unfinished work lying around. Finish these projects, disassemble them or otherwise get rid of them.


Do you have any motivational ideas? Please leave a comment.