Full Speed Ahead

Thank you all so much for the positivity and support on yesterday’s post. It still feels a little weird to have let go of something that I spent so much time on.. Going to bed last night without having to pick my daily favorites and shop of the day for the exhibition site was bizarre. I’ll get used to it though. Really looking forward to what this year will bring.

And on that note, I thought it would be good to share four words for 2014. They’re not necessarily goals as much as they are things that I’m thinking about/ focused on this year, professionally anyway. Side note: Choosing words for the new year is a lot less intimidating than creating uber specific goals, for those that haven’t jumped on that resolutions bandwagon yet. Just sayin’.

Here are my words for the year…

1. Styling. One of most positive things to come out of 2013 for me, professionally, was the realization that I really, REALLY enjoy styling. After creating nearly 100 DIYs last year, for this blog and the other sites I write for (and styling every single one of those DIYs) AND working on a handful of home makeover stories for inclusion in an upcoming book, I’ve learned a lot.

I want to get more serious this year about prop styling. And treat it as a job in itself, not just something I do to make my DIY projects look good. So I’ll be taking on freelance clients this year, for styling jobs and alike. Want to work together? Shoot me an email ( brittni@papernstitch.com ) and we can talk about it.

I’ll still be doing plenty of DIYs this year by the way – those aren’t going anywhere.

2. Workshops. Even though I’m a total introvert, I like meeting new people and teaching in some form or another is on my list for 2014. Remember I was a high school teacher way back when? Me either. That was so long ago.

And alongside workshops, I plan to host some events this year. Two of which, are already on the books so I’m off to a good start. 1) The Glimmer, Shimmer, and Shake party at Alt later this month, that I’m co-hosting 2) And a special event (that’s still kind of top secret) which involves Palm Springs. FYI: If you have any suggestions for workshops/events you’d be interesting in attended (topics or location wise), I’m listening.

3. Travel. I have three trips planned between now and April, and hope to keep adding to that list as the year goes on. Every time I travel some place new, or somewhere I haven’t been in a while, I get a burst of energy and inspiration. Breaking out of my normal routine and environment every so often really does wonders for my creativity. Do you find that to be true for you?

4. Me. So this probably sounds like a weird one, but I’m promise I’m not a self-centered freak. I just want to make things more personal around here. Sharing more of myself, getting in front of the camera a little more often, doing a better job of showing what I’m up to on Instagram, etc.

So those are my words. For now at least.

And because I shared my words with you, I was hoping that you would want to share a few words with me. What words (or word) are you focused on for 2014?