We're having a case of the mondays around here today

She might look cute

But she is crafty. Part of our yard is enclosed with metal chain-link fence and this dog has decided she is going to check the stability of every inch of the fence. She's worked out that she can poke her nose at the bottom edge of the fence and push through between the ground and the flexing fence links. Our yard slopes away from our home and in the years since the fence has been installed the earth has begun to slip away from under it.

She's weaseled through the fence in five spots to date, including two new ones yesterday and today. And the only reason I knew she had escaped is because Henry was barking the spazziest barks I've ever heard. (Henry doesn't join her because he isn't inclined to squeezing through small spaces as he once got stuck in our front gate and has never tried to even put his head through a slightly open door since then.) I ran out to check on him and there on the other side of the fence was Lola chasing squirrels through the neighbor's yucca. Thomas walked down, put her on a leash and brought her home. She doesn't run away, it's almost like she thinks she's just hanging out in a part of the yard that Henry can't get to. She must look over at him and say, "See that squirrel? I'm gonna go catch it without you!"

Freshen up

Does this economy have you down? Are there less emails flowing through your inbox these days? Is the winter weather giving you cabin fever? Do you, as a freelancer feel like you're ready to hang yourself?

Sometimes working from home as a graphic designer can be the most rewarding job imaginable but other times it can be lonely and a little depressing. There aren't other coworkers pushing you along. It's just you, all day every day and sometimes that just isn't enough to keep you motivated.

I'm the same, of course. But Jaden over at Freelance Switch has some great tips on how to keep you, the freelancer, chugging along. Things like, "Don’t let the naysayers weigh you down," and, "Eat healthy." She also wisely advises you to watch less television and have more sex, both will get your brain working again.

Good luck and get back on the wagon!

Studio: Reborn

I am embarrassed to reveal this image but this is what my studio looked like 3 weeks ago. It had become a dumping ground for all miscellaneous home stuff. I regularly referred to it as "The Shit Pit." It sounds like a harsh name but it's really satisfying to say, try it some time.

Studio: before - aka The Shit Pit.

Phew. That's over. My mother-in-law came to visit last week and first on the agenda was to clean this room. See that sofa thing with all the boxes piled on top? That pulls out making the guest bed. That means I not only had to clear off the bed but also make space on the floor.

Enter Giant Trashcan. I filled an entire curb-side trashcan with paper waste. Everything from magazines to paper scraps, used wrapping paper to stickers got stuffed into the can. With all that paper cleared away it gave me space to start organizing the yarn, paint and design supplies that previously littered my desk and cubbies. I rearranged nearly everything in the room and systematically put it back in more useful locations grouping similar items.

Studio: after - The Happiest Room in the House

I organized all my design supplies like pencil sharpeners, erasers and x-acto blades in a vintage green bowl that can be easily brought to my desk when I need to use it. I also have an inspiration bookshelf with a series of art and design books.

I had been struggling to get my yarn and knitting supplies organized but I finally have it all arranged with straight needles in a basket, notions all together in one place and a couple of cubbies filled some of my favorite yarns.

Lastly, I made a special corner with my easel.

It feels really great to have my office simplified. It had been such a disaster I didn't even set foot in the room for days at a time. I really love having everything organized and easy to access it helps me get inspired to do great work.

Have you simplified or organized any overwhelming project recently?

Every little bit helps

I'm still on my kick of learning new stuff. As I said before, I didn't do much design work for about three years and I spent the better half of my first year of freelancing just trying to get comfortable with the Adobe applications again. With my confidence back up, my brain has time to design again. I've found my mind wandering on to bigger and better designs while I'm still layout out my first idea. I know that was supposed to be happening all along, for all the clients I've had, but it just wasn't. I was too focused on the how-to to let my mind create. Now in my spare time I've been watching tutorials online and I also subscribed to Layers Magazine.

Layers touts itself as "the how-to magazine for all things Adobe." It has tons of articles and tutorials about every Adobe product. InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat, DreamWeaver, it's all in there. Their website also has a bunch of video that combine two or three applications in one lesson.

I also picked up a couple issues of Photoshop User. It teaches me to love this big beast of an app again.

Do you have any resources you like? Share with me.