Happy Anniversary To Me!

I cannot believe that 2 years ago I quit my job to become a full-time artist! It seems like just yesterday that I took the leap of faith to make a hand-made life for myself.

In that time, I've written 198 blog posts, sent 3,648 tweets, finally joined Facebook, set up a YouTube channel and a Pinterest account, updated this blog and my website, vended at 14 art shows (including one burlesque show!), and sold 253 items in my Etsy Shop! Oh... and I've made a lot of art!

I created more than 120 pieces of one-of-a-kind jewelry, 125 Knock-Down Dolls, 50 Carnival-style Assemblages, played around with freaks at the circus side show, and even started a brand new line of folk art style rag dolls! I sold my art in over a dozen retail stores, got 9 pieces of art into juried gallery shows (even won an award!), and created lots of individual pieces of all shapes and sizes.

I distracted myself with refinishing furniture, giving birth to twins (dolls, of course), going to lots and lots of flea markets, yard sales and antique shows, as well as taking workshops from several very talented mixed media artists that I admire. Oh... and my other paying job... freelance graphic design!

I even partnered with my mom to launch Creativity By-the-Sea — a seashore art retreat right here in my home town — which attracted more than 75 attendees and plenty of high praise! It was such a great success that we're doing it again next April!

But it hasn't been a piece of cake, either. There have been lots of "almosts" too. A very unique copywriting job that fell through. An opportunity for online teaching that didn't work out, retail stores that never sold a thing, a licensing opportunity that I was turned down for, and dozens of other tiny losses. Add to that a stagnant economy and I have to say that these hand-made times are tough. In fact... I'm probably going to have to get a job (so, ummmm... let me know if you hear of anything!).

Being your own company means you do everything.... leaving little time for laundry, dishes, or vacuuming. Making money means spending money... also very scary, as your outcomes are never guaranteed. Working hard means lots of days exhausted and spent. But doing something you love certainly helps. Now to just find a way to keep doing it!

Despite the difficulties, I am amazed at what I've been able to accomplish in such a short amount of time. I learned a lot about myself... about selling in the real world and a social media world... about what works and what doesn't... and I've changed directions as many times as I have categories of art that I love!

So, I'm still learning and changing and growing.... and trying to be very gentle with myself. Because... that's what we should do when we follow our dreams.

6 Months Already! Happy Anniversary To Me!

Wow! I cannot believe that 6 months ago I took a leap of faith from the absolute into the unknown when I left my full-time job as Art Director for Ranger Ink and decided to pursue my own personal art career. So, how the heck is it going?

Well... let's see... 462 tweets tweeted, 23 blog posts written, 4 retail stores carrying my art, 2 craft shows done, 1 Etsy Shop open for business, YouTube channel created, Facebook Page up and "liked", blog look revamped, website updated and expanded... I'm probably forgetting something! And that's just the business stuff!

I've gotten a chance to play... a little. But now that I have a good foundation with the business agenda completed and in the works... I am finally free to play a lot. So now comes the fun part. I'm both excited and nervous! Excited to sit down and be free to let my creativity take its own course... and still nervous about how I'm going to make this really pay off. But right now... I cannot wait to "get to work" every day, I am so very happy with myself and my choices,  and I have plenty of creative ideas to fuel the passion...

Photo credit: By the way, this very sweet good luck sign was made by my BFF Jackie McLaughlin, using lots of Ranger's Stickles and Liquid Pearls! Thanks, girl!

A Big Giant Change!

Smart women make changes. I consider myself to be pretty smart. So I made a change...

I quit my job!

Yes, that's right... I quit my full time job to follow my heart and my lifelong dreams of making my creativity work for me. I can't think of anything more exciting than waking up every day to create the pieces of art that have been swirling around in my head! And so now I'm going to do it. I promise to keep you up-to-date on my progress. And if I really can pull this off... I promise to share with you how I made it work!

So what do you want from me?

Now that I'll be creating art to make a living, I'll need to know what it is that you lovely viewers want from me. Would you want some of my found object jewelry? How about mixed-media collages? Would you like to see 3-dimensional assemblages? Maybe more dolls... I do love to make dolls! Or maybe you want me to teach? If so... what would you like to learn from me? What do you want to know about my work? My art? A technique? Step-by-step instructions? A method of inspiration? Peruse my blog and check out my website and leave me a comment here.

And thank you all for being here with me. It is greatly appreciated.