Starving Artist Ink.

i finally got business cards printed.
i’m not super crazy about how they turned out… but whatever. it’s the first time i’ve ever had any. though, looking at that picture- i think i want to take a picture of my paint tin and write my name/business info on that- and print THAT as an artists card. ooooh! maybe next time.  maybe as postcard size!
which means that now i really really need to get my act together and photograph originals, and list some prints i have on the shelf, collecting dust.
which means, i need to order my shipping supplies and get organized so i feel more.. ready. to open the doors to my etsy again.

either way, i’ve managed to cross at least one more thing off of my ‘23 things to do before 24‘ list. la la laa

last week i completed one of my goals from my 23 before 24 list. no. 3. no soda for a month.

it’s a really sad, pathetic thing to have on the list. i shouldn’t have to write that down to do it, but i did. i needed to. i have no self control when it comes to cravings… i have no self discipline when it comes to following through. especially when i live in a house with another person- who has the biggest sweet tooth known to mankind.

not drinking coke for a month, big whoop. but i made the intention to not do it, and i followed through. even when i watched him pour a tall, cold, fizzing, bubbling, burn in your throat- glass of coke with dinner.. and there i was, with either a bottle of water, or cold milk.

steven kept asking me why i was doing it, what was the point?

what was the point?

because i have no self discipline. because i decided this is something i want to do. because it’s good for me… because i give in so easily to cravings.

i have to tell you though, after the month- i had a small glass with dinner. and after that, i had another one the next day. (what the hell, erin?!) it’s got to go. no.3 coincides with no.4 ‘zip up my pre-pregnancy jeans comfortably.’  (i still wear them. but i shouldn’t. squeezing myself into my favourite pair of jeans. squishy delicious mama muffin top.)

are you good with sticking to your guns? how do you turn off that little voice in the back of your head telling you that oooone little sip, or bite, or whatever won’t hurt. ?

oops.

i told you i would share with you today.

and i was going to. but then i got scared…

so i figured i’d wait, and then i read through my post from yesterday and realised that er.. i said i would. sooo here is what i have been working on lately

some photo girls*!

the idea had been brewing for a while, deb had discussed it with me… but i kept waiting for the inspiration. sketching things out and i just couldn’t see it. i was going for flowy and delicate- until she mentioned ‘charlie‘ as a friend to the camera girl- and then the fire was lit!

some girls were inspired by some of my friends, and other girls just are.

so why was i scared to share?

oh because i’m silly.

because this journey is crazy.

because i’m dramatic delicate and irrational fragile.

i started thinking of opening my etsy shop about a year ago. it took a few months of persuasion from my lovely, sweet, patient, reassuring friends.

it’s a funny thing though, and i wrote about it before i opened the shop- how i was more scared of success than i was of failure.

well, because failure is just easier, isn’t it? it’s lazy and comfortable and there is nothing scary about it. (unless you are investing tons of money in it.. which.. if you are investing money you don’t have- don’t.)

and success is… well. AMAZING… it’s overwhelming and silly and makes me all shy.

success to me at first was selling something to one person outside of my family/friend circle.

and then success became the stories that i got back from the people who bought my pieces. knowing where it was hanging in their home. knowing who it was for. knowing their plans for it, the gifts that came to them with it… that is a powerful success…(don’t be shy. tell your photographers and artists. they love it.)

and now, success is finding myself through this process… looking around at where this has brought me in such a short amount of time. the people that i have worked with. the friends that i have made. the things that i have learned. trying to find a balance between business and creator. (my ‘balance’ is just finding really amazing, patient friends who believe in me… and help me sort out my thinking out loud.freak outs. and are better at managing business… they are sweet sweet gifts and often come with their own muse. la la laa)

–

so enough about that.

i know that you have had an idea that you have wanted to try. it might be a bit risky. you might have had your heart set on it for weeks and months or even years. or you might have just thought of it now while you pretended to read my mumbling.

and i want to tell you….

do it.

have an idea.  write it down. get a notebook and think it all out.

gather your support. your friends that will push you on, and also friends/partners that will help ground you when you start getting frazzled and scared.

set some goals.

figure out what success means to you.

stay humble about it. always.

and find confidence in yourself. it will come… and it will go. and this is why your support is such an important part. oy vey.. the amount of pep talks i have to have sometimes. it’s quite embarrassing. but that’s okay! because i get to be that for them too.

don’t take it too seriously. but do. that makes a lot of sense… don’t take it too seriously as in- don’t expect tons of things to happen quickly, don’t expect to get it right at first, don’t expect to be perfect.

but do take it seriously- treat your dreams as possibilities. nourish them, love them, and help them grow.

do it. this is your sign.

*photo girls are currently not available in my etsy shop. i am hoping to have them in soon, however- i cannot garuntee them to be in time for christmas. you have a pretty smile though. i like it.