Manifesto –  a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives or views of its issuer.

(source)

“The Articles of Merriment.”

a declaration by me, Danielle.

a genuinely self deprecating photo of me. But if you look closely, there is lots of subtle symbolism. 

I believe that all colors have the potential to be beautiful. When paired or grouped properly, colors that we might disregard as boring or dull can shimmer, shine, glow, effervesce or otherwise gleam their beauty. Colors work together to push and pull their neighbors’ highs, lows, brights and dulls. Even within one shade of a color – there are other colors, if you really look closely, working together to bring you that one shade. Colors do not stand alone.

Attention to detail is important to me- very important- and there is a fine line between “handmade” and “messy.” I want to maintain the handmade feel of my work – because it is – but I also want it to be manicured and well made. I’ve been paying more attention to the underside (aka back) or things, and the parts that maybe you don’t see unless you go looking for it.

Small victories shouldn’t be taken for granted. I like to think that big things are just little things standing on each other’s shoulders. You have to get to points 1, 2 and 3 before you can get to point 19. I was once asked, “if you had more time…” it’s not about having the time, it’s about doing things at the right time. Could I be doing more? Probably, but I need to do what I am doing now, and do it well, and then move on to the next thing. It’s important not to rush through things, but it’s also important to not be lazy. I don’t want to give myself too much cushion. Again, fine line.

Karma: What goes around comes around.

I take advice from the people who are on a level I want to be on. Sometimes that means business related level and sometimes that means state of mind, attitude or some other such thing. The person who I want business advice from might not be the person whose morals I value… but it might be

Bad experiences are only bad if you didn’t get anything out of it. Sit all day at a show, don’t sell a thing? Bad. Concocted new game plan for next show – okay, worth it. Milk it.

Being shy never got anyone any place. I think Madonna said it best – you can’t get what you want unless you ask for it. Additionally, I like to embrace my oddities. I’m not that odd, but I’ve done some downright silly things, and thought some silly things… hey, whatever.

I have to be my own biggest fan – because I am the only one who is around all the time. I am the only one who is gunna deal with me and my dumb insecurities while I lay awake doubting myself at 4 am. (Don’t get me wrong – of course if stress level reaches code dark orange or red, I’m on the phone with mom.) Also because the little voice inside my head is my own, even when it’s mean and intimidating, it’s mine and I have to deal with that.

I say yes often but I say no when I really can’t, really don’t want to, or really don’t know how to. For the first year of Merriment, I made it a point to say yes to just about everything. This turned out to be a wonderful thing for me.

Teach class at Etsy labs? Sure!

Wanna come to this meeting? Of course I do!

Can I put this on my blog? Absolutely.

I have to stay aware of the amount of things I say yes to – because I still have to feed, dress, bathe and rest myself. And I want my customers to only get the best stuff from me. Which leads me to my next point…

I do creative work only when I feel like it. If I force it – it turns out ugly and I just wasted my time. There have been times I make something that I don’t love, but that I like – and I’ll list it anyway – and someone else loves it. There have also been times I listed something I really didn’t feel confident in – and I think people can tell-  because that stuff is the stuff that doesn’t sell right away or at all. You know of these things… I’m sure you do. No more. From now on, it it doesn’t feel right, it’s out.

I figure I may as well lose sleep, eat mexican food 7 meals in a row and work my tail feather off now… while I’m young… or, like, whatever…

I like to lend a hand to the little guy – I’m not much bigger.

Sarcasm is key to understanding the things I write here on my bloggity blog. But for the most part, today I am being serious. You know, like, as serious as I know how to be, like, or like… you know.

I like to stick to what I know, but I also like to go out on a limb. I also like to remember that I only got to where I am because of all the other stuff that’s happened to me. Shitty teachers, really awesome teachers, Girl Scout Troops, Smithtown, my parents… the music video for I Want It That Way… you get the idea.

Sometimes I let myself get upset about stuff. And sometimes I don’t. Both of those are important.

Criticism? That’s cool… just be polite about it. Disrespect is unappreciated by pretty much everyone.

Ultimately, I get to decide what happens to Merriweather Council, but I’ve got a core group of people I like to conference with first. Sometimes it takes me a while to decide on stuff… like, whatever.

I like to tap into my inner Gaga occasionally… you know, when it’s appropriate, and sometimes when it’s not, and always just a little bit. Kinda like right now… if you know what I’m talking about, thumbs up. What do I mean by this, this Gaga tapping – that girl knows what’s up. Do i think we should all start wearing raw meat? No, not really… in fact, I definitely don’t. But do I think we should all accept each other and ourselves for what we are/ what we were born with? Yeah, I definitely do. Do I think that if you’re brave enough to do something different that you should? Absolutely. Do I admire originality? HECK. YES. Which leads me to my next point…

I strive to be original. I think everyone should. I won’t address plagiarism and copycatness in my manifesto. But I will say: that shit sucks. Take a queue from someone you admire, but don’t take their whole bushel of apples…. or cantaloupe or whatever fruit you like best.

Merriweather Council is important to me – super important – and I want it to be bigger and better every year – but I don’t want it to be more important that the other important things. I want all the important stuff to work together, not against each other, but for each other. Like, together. Like, that’s what I said. Like…

I have to be myself because I’m a shitty actress, I can’t lie to save my life and I just don’t know how to be anything else, so I’ll do me, you do you, and we can all live happily ever after. Sometimes being me includes stressing out, crying, dancing like a weirdo, thinking my hair looks dumb, snorting while I laugh,  seeing a therapist or being bitchy, not all of it is always pretty or wise or great but that’s who I am  … *shurg* (Like I said, I embrace…)

I believe I will update this from time to time and that this is just a first draft. It’s okay to revise even your own opinions.

I believe that what happens in diapers should stay in diapers.