~ ..~ .. * * A World To Explore ** .. ~.. ~

A Great Addition to the Gift Basket

2007-12-06T21:36:00.000-06:00

In an earlier blog I mentioned purchasing seasonal cards from charities. You might also want to consider giving someone you love the gift of a charitable donation in their name! Here are two more groups to consider-

http://www.africare.org/index.html

and

http://www.oxfamamerica.org/

Gifting For Your Pocket And The Planet!

2007-11-29T12:02:00.001-06:00

Approximately one week and a few days late, here’s the first basic “how to” on saving and do-it-yourself with gifting. What can I say; life has been a little bit hectic these past two weeks with some unexpected deadlines and plans for new adventures. Still, I promised you some homemade gift ideas for the season, and here they are (well some of them anyway).

First things first, if you are not the crafty make it yourself type but want to give a very personalized gift look to your skill sets and those of your friends. It’s simple, if you are an excellent organizer why not give your hopelessly trashy friend a coupon for three days of your time to clear and organize the mess. Know someone with young children and no social life? Offer a coupon for a few nights of your babysitting service. Look carefully at the needs of those closest to you and see if you can find any matches, there are bound to be a few. If there is absolutely nothing you can do check with your friends and see what services they can offer- have a friend who’s certified in massage therapy and an athlete for a sibling? Why not support local industry, strengthen a friendship and treat your sibling by purchasing massage time from your friend for said sibling? There are so many ways to mix and match and it’s a great way to strengthen community bonds and exercise your creativity! If you feel the gift is incomplete pair your coupons with small local craft items and try to get them in bulk so that you save a little money. You can make endless creative combinations- scented massage oil with your massage coupon, an organizer with your organizing services, a ceramic bowl to go with your interior decorating assistance. Crafters may be willing to customize items for you making an added personal touch. Your local craft fairs are great places to meet and get to know your crafters.

Failing that, gift baskets are wonderful ways to offer variety and save on spending. In fact the gift “basket” need not even be a basket. You could recycle a number of household items for a creative new spin. Here’s a short list of items that might prove suitable-

An old cake, cookie or caramel popcorn tins: redecorate the exterior with pieces of old newspaper torn and painted or colorful strips torn from old magazines and glazed with lacquer, or simply paint with enamel. Quick fix your interior with colored tissue paper (preferably from that stack you recycled from last years gifts)

An old cardboard box: Use a craft knife to cut intricate patterns paint then lacquer.

Papier-mâché bowls made from old newspapers.

In upcoming weeks I will try to give instruction or provide images for some of these. Right now lets look at ideas for stuffing our containers. Working with a theme is probably easiest and it makes for a cohesive package. This way the recipient feels less like a product tester and more like an appreciated friend who warranted some thought on your part. Themes that are good for almost any adult- “Pamper Yourself”, “ Get Organized”, “My country Kitchen” but your options are endless- “The Pet Basket” for the animal owner, “Kinky” for the more adventurous etc. In your baskets you can combine small store bought or hand crafted items to go along with your homemade project. Purchasing these small items in bulk will also save you a buck or two. (Remember to check out Co-op America and Etsy.com to support environmentally and socially conscious consumerism).

Lets get down to it!

I’ll start with “My Country Kitchen”- sweet or savory

Contents (sweet)- Home made- oatmeal raisin cookies, honey pickled pears, home-made granola cereal and a bottle of home made virgin Mojito.

Up The Ante- by saving used food jars especially the fancier containers from gourmet foods. Sterilize and reuse for preserves.

Today’s recipe- Honey Pickled Pears-

You will need-

12 firm unblemished pears- (peeled, quartered and cored)

2 cups honey

1 cup apple cider vinegar

(1 cinnamon stick snapped in half

7 whole cloves

10 allspice berries) or

1 tea/spice bag filled with- ¼ teaspoon of allspice, ¼ teaspoon of ground clove, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon)

a small piece of fresh ginger

1. Place honey, vinegar and spices into a saucepan and bring to a boil.

2. Add Pears a third at a time until translucent.

3. Remove the pears and set aside to drain.

4. Place pears in sterilized jar and submerge with syrup. Seal and store in a dark cupboard or pantry for 3-4 weeks before using.

A Little X-mas Sanity For You And The Planet

2007-11-07T17:54:00.000-06:00

It’s that time of year again folks! If you’re an optimist or a child at heart you’re probably eagerly awaiting this years seasonal adventures. You look forward to relatives coming to visit and using your intuitive and observational powers to correctly guess the perfect gift for loved ones. You probably have years of saved up favorite x-mas recipes plus a few new ones your dying to try. You love the festivities the season brings carols, lights, anything to remind you of the time of year, anything to satisfy your sweet and sentimental side.

Those who identify more with their inner cynic will describe you as blissfully naïve, ignorant and syrupy! If you’re the cynic you brace yourself each year for the great disruption that visiting relatives will have on your carefully regulated schedule (or lack thereof). You hope and hope that “friends” with whom you have finally placed distance will not reenter your life suddenly under guise of seasonal tidings and with the will to “reconnect”. You think of Santa as a sketchy character, the type that might befit the profile of voyeur, intruder or pedophile; yet you note with some disdain that he only visits the homes of the middle and upper classes! X-mas for you denotes the perpetuation of lies, the shameless celebration of consumerism and excess doing damage to your delicate sensibilities and giving rise to your latent environmental tilt. The cynical Christian laments at how the point of it all has been lost; while avid historians and intellectuals will note that this was a pagan holiday to begin with and actually had more to do with the planets than the spiritual salvation of man! Whatever your take or level of understanding, love it, hate it, it don’t celebrate it or fall somewhere in between there’s no escaping it; I can almost guarantee that. For those of you who recognize some of the serious and less pleasant side effects that the season brings but still love it and want to celebrate with a clear conscious, I’ve decided to compile a list of tips, projects, ideas that might help you to have a smooth, festive, economical and environmentally and socially responsible season!

Already November, less than six weeks to go and here are some things you might want to consider-

- Let’s face it, even if you’re in love with it the season can be over whelming! Your first priority is to stay (or get) organized. To help with this, keep one notebook or section of your digital planner specifically for all things related to this season. Here you can make your card and gift list, jot down your event ideas, plan you menu and make your shopping list. If you’re really smart, you’ll organize your notebook into sections so that everything is easy to find! If you like to do things with flare check out these etsy sellers for great stationary options- www.spiderbite.etsy.com www.beetlelady.etsy.com, www.darjeelingpaper.etsy.com

- January or February would have been the ideal starting point for this one, but if your like me and only started thinking about this year’s celebrations when you heard jingle bells on a radio advert and wondered to yourself hours later why in the hell you had x-mas songs in your head then you’ll just have to suck it up and start now for next year. Every pay check but aside a designated amount for December. This way, instead of the pain you usually feel mid January when you realize suddenly that you’ve spent your children’s college fund on plastic toys and sweeties, you can breathe a sigh of relief and wonder what other glorious things you could do for yourself in a year of saving!

- What you can do if you’re a late seasonal bloomer like me, is plan your gifts, meals etc. set your budget and start collecting coupons like crazy and searching for good deals! Now I’m no expert on these things but I have found a few good places to find deals- For good deals on gifts check - http://www.indieshopping.com/giftguide-hol07.php http://www.boutiquesdirect.com/ also look into giving the gift of dance, a great way to keep fit and pick up a new skill- www.afrisalsa.com offers discounts if you buy a package on lessons, more good news is that the organization also does allot of HIV/AIDS outreach work. So if you live in the Atlanta area and would like to give several gifts in one this might be the way to go.

For good deals on healthy food choices and groceries- http://www.organiccoupons.org/offlinecoupons.php

If you life in Atlanta, GA or any of it’s neighboring cities and care about the quality of food you put in your body then you need to checkout http://www.trulylivingwell.com/ A Natural Urban farm specializing in organic, seasonal produce in the Atlanta area. They provide tours and will allow you to sample some of your favorite fresh herbs and trust me there is no comparison. Live in the New York area then the Park Slope Food Coop- http://foodcoop.com/ is a no-brainer with the best prices on healthy organic and gourmet foods and the best selection.

- Planning on sending cards or gifts to folk in far away places? Well, now is the time to do so! Actually October would have been ideal but you definitely want to get those items out before the December rush makes it impossible for them to get there on time. Save money and the planet by using old newspapers to pad your packages. (See today’s tips for more).

- Support your local and regional crafters. When it comes to gift cards here are a few etsy options (outside of Ladybug Baje)- www.quiltedjeans.etsy.com www.ArtOfAndrewDaniel.etsy.com www.ScrapaholicsInk.etsy.com www.pipinghotpapers.etsy.com Another good idea and keeping in the spirit of things, is to support a charity of choice by purchasing their seasonal cards or stocking stuffers from companies which support fair trade. UNICEF is an old favorite http://www.unicefusa.org/site/c.duLRI8O0H/b.26012/k.E7AB/Honorary_and_Memorial_Gifts__Donate__US_Fund_for_UNICEF.htm http://www.cardsthatgive.org/

http://www.cardsforcauses.com/?gclid=CNCD75HOy48CFSasGgodiwhw-Q http://www.gaiam.com/retail/3/treasures

- This season you want to be nice not naughty and one of the best ways to be good to your conscious and to others is to stay away from products made under sweat shop conditions or products whose production is harmful to the environment. Unfortunately most of your large discount stores have been found guilty it is in fact their inhumane practices that allow for their cheap prices. Would you still feel good about a bargain if you knew that adults and children where were working 12 and 18-hour days for less than a livable wage and under conditions that often pose serious health risks? If you are big enough to see past international and ethnic boarders towards humanity and past indulgent excess to environmentalism and responsible shopping, you will definitely want to investigate responsible businesses. Coop America- http://www.coopamerica.org/ (click on the tag marked Green Business) is a great place to start your research. Also support your local artisans and check in with green certification agencies for a comprehensive list of their approved businesses and the guidelines they use if you’re really serious. In addition you can look for businesses and crafters who reclaim or recycle, this list of etsy crafters offer some great pro environment choices for the season. www.rosasharndesigns.etsy.com www.ikcdesign.etsy.com www.ASecondChance.etsy.com www.pophearts.etsy.com

- One sure fire way of making sure that your gift comes from the heart and doesn’t break anyone else’s in the process, is to make your goodies yourself. You can do anything from arts projects to home made preserves. (Check with me on Fridays for simple project ideas that you can do over the weekend!)

- As far as your tree is concerned, this year you might save yourself some money and bother if before the rush you simply invested in a potted tree. Provided you enjoy plants and have the space you could save your self some bother for quite a few years. Norfolk pines seem to be the order of the day in that department. Here’s a link with a few tips on how to keep your alive and happy should you go that route- http://www.thegardenhelper.com/norfolk.html

TODAY’S TIP

SEASONAL TIP FOR MAMA EARTH-

This year save a little money on your packaging. Instead of paying for bubble wrap use wads of old newspaper instead. Newspaper not only offers excellent padding but also provides great insulation for your gifts and treats. Those bundles of old papers are also great as you begin to get the house together for guests- nothing like a little vinegar and a wad of newspaper to give your mirrors and windows new shine. If you plan on making your own gifts, options are endless with a little papier-mâché (made from none other than your old news!). Finally if you’re a gardener of any merit use your black and white pages for your compost heap or your worm bin. If none of these uses appeal to you then haul all your old news papers off to the nearest recycling center.

SELFISH- concerned primarily with one's own interests, concerned chiefly with oneself

2007-09-19T13:47:00.000-06:00

This year’s heat wave was horrendous! Walking out of ones house felt like the last stop before the dinner table. Somehow, in the mist of this I found myself volunteering at a local urban farm. Well to tell the truth I found myself there right before the heat wave hit and plan to return in the very near future ;) On one of these days, while we rested briefly from harvest to eat a light snack and socialize (this time with people instead of the plants). One of my colleagues after a moment of solemn contemplation remarked, “You’ve really got to be selfish to make allot of money”! I remember thinking to myself, “If I’m gonna keep coming out here I’ve got to get myself a hat!”

Shortly after this, I became seriously involved in starting my own business! It has thus far been a journey of great insight and believe me it’s just getting started. Many things have been revealed to me, things like I need to improve my time management skills, I need to work on my correspondence skills, I could stand to update my blog on a more consistent basis and apparently I’m still learning that it is ok to tell people no!

As conflicts between the time I needed and the commitments I made to others started to collide I began to revisit my colleague’s statement. “You’ve really got to be selfish to make allot of money”. In fact it began to play in my head like a kooky flashback from an R rated B movie, “You’ve really got to be selfish to make allot of money”, “You’ve really got to be selfish to make allot of money, money, money, money”! I remember saying to myself, “You should have really invested in that hat!” and then wondering seriously about what truth lay in that statement. Questions started to pop up, questions about why I was letting my venture suffer doing things for others that I should have been doing for myself? Questions about why I always sign up for things to make life easier for others and end up making it more complicated for myself? Did I really need to increase my selfishness quota? (I cringed at the thought of becoming any more selfish). The internal dialogue brought me back to my childhood and author Chinua Achebe and his question of the individual vs the collective. It is a concept that the Nigerian author often addressed in his writings and lectures. It is he who suggested that the decline of the African Nation was expedited when Africans started to accept Western concepts of individualism. Or, as my esteemed friend might be inclined to suggest-“ selfishness.” But I soon realized that this line of thought could take me in several directions; theorizing about old world values vs. new, ideas about displaced cultures stuck in and thereby limited by fantastic ideals about a home a past that no longer exists, the inherent flaws of Western culture. I opted against this; because really I was simply trying to process and address my response to the statement, not write a dissertation about the psychology of colonializtion (relevant though it may be). I was disturbed by the relationship my friend had to the idea of making money and I wasn’t sure that it was true. Then I realized that I was making the same mistake he was. I was attaching judgment to the words instead of simply considering the statement. This word selfish has been judged and deemed negative. We often call people selfish in response to their having done something, or being someone we don’t like or approve of. While there may be nothing wrong with this per se, we tend to exasperate our selves when we start to classify actions which serve our interests as selfish without removing the negative judgment from the word. What if we did removed that perception, how would you feel about your choices then? The statement in question might then read more like, “In order to make money you really have to make sacrifices”. Now everyone is breathing a sigh of relief because a sacrifice sounds like the road to martyrdom. Could you sacrifice your need to watch your favorite show, or to get eight hours of sleep? What about your need to baby-sit your friend’s children, or your feelings of obligation to help her move? What about your relationship with your family? Selfish is a form of sacrifice you give up something of value for something else deemed more valuable. It is something we all do all day long. It is about making choices and when these choices appear to lean constantly to our benefit, we get labeled as selfish, largely by those who are vying against us for our time and/or attention. At this point the issue becomes about perception and balance.

The first is responsible for the amount of time that many people spend in contemplation over issues that for them are really "no brainers"! Things like should I help my disorganized pack-rat friend move (when I know she hasn’t packed a thing and has absolutely no concept of time), or should I enjoy the long weekend and catch a few ZZs. Most likely that friend and everyone to whom they relate the story will think of you as selfish if you choose to relax instead of help. What if you work as a computer engineer 10hr days little time to spend with the family not enough rest. On top of that, you write programs for very specialized machinery that helps doctors operate on the human heart and have little to no margin for error since you over see the project. The weekends are the only time you have to catch up with the family and on much needed sleep so that you can perform at your best! Now our perception shifts perhaps for some of you the moving friend has become the selfish individual. The point is that the idea of selfishness as a judgment is largely arbitrary. We are judged and oft times judge with little insight and on top of that everyone judges with a different value system. At the time of need, the thing of value shifts; rest vs. aiding someone, saving your favorite entertainer or saving your child, donating to charity or taking care of a creature comfort. We have in my opinion no obligation to please others or to yield to their perceived hierarchy of appropriate sacrifices. I do however believe that attempting to keep balance is important, because no matter which side you’re on if the scales tip too far in either direction well… The goal of balance I think allows us to embrace selfishness without loosing ourselves in it. And who doesn’t need to be selfish sometimes? So after reevaluation I find it unfortunate that my friend sees selfish as a negative thing and therefore associates wealth only with those that he deems as less than acceptable. I do however agree with him you do have to be selfish to make allot of money! Not all the time but certainly where it counts! If that concern with my own interests will get me where I want to go than I say hooray for selfishness, we all need more of it! And if we’re selfish enough then we can really keep the balance by being selfless in a way that it really counts- without any sense of resentment and without any holding back because we already know that our own interests have been served. We can then rest assured that both sides of the equation have been address and that both the individual and the collective are taken care of.

Wobble Don't Fall

2007-08-08T07:56:00.000-06:00

Zen Master Unmon once said, “If you walk, just walk, if you sit, just sit but whatever you do, don’t wobble.”

Having started, the challenge has now become finding and keeping a rhythm that makes sense. I had a great spell of productivity followed by a series of mini disasters all surrounding the process of fixing the dyes. (All things that never occurred previously.) This spell following that gratifying period of pushing work out has been painfully unproductive. A period during which I have been feeling more like a rookie fire fighter than an artist, as I strove to solve the sudden mystery of the steam setter, worked to find a competent dry-cleaner and tried to figure out what materials I would need for my next bout of action. All of this has been trying, but truly the most challenging thing is not wobbling! It’s not the artistic inactivity in and of itself that’s the problem because that space is being filled by other necessary actions which will ultimately aid the artistic outcome. It is more about accepting my new role as full time artist and crafts person, small business owner and master of my own time 100 % all of the time. Perhaps it’s a life time of societal fears about what kind of people artists are expected to be, what kind of money we are expected to make, how much or little we are valued. Even, whether or not we still get to wear the title if we are not producing! Whatever it is, I find myself highly irritated when I hear the traitor responding in my voice when asked what it is I do. The traitor dances with words, fudges meanings, down plays my actions and leaves everyone including myself with the overall feeling that maybe, just maybe, I have no idea what I’m doing-wobble. Like I said it’s not a question of action, or following the logical or intuitive steps to make this glorious idea a more solid reality. As far as my actions, I am doing what I should and holding fast. Mentally I’ve caught myself in a wobble or two. How do we cure the wobble? I think the answer is so blatantly obvious that often we just can’t get it, that is, until we do!

Today after over 5 attempts I think I’ve finally found my cleaners. More good news they are a short bike ride away from my house pleasant, professional, friendly (but lets not get too excited. I get my silk back on Friday). The good news continues, as I was leaving the store, one of the ladies, with genuine interest asked me where my store was located. I didn’t wobble! Yeeehah!

Lets Get It Started!

2007-07-16T08:13:00.000-06:00

The issue has always been and to a certain extent continues to be about commencement. “How do I get started”? What should I start with first? “Well let me just do (or buy) this thing and then I’ll be ready to start” I’m sure by now you realize it’s all a trick, a ruse; your ego limiting you with some distant fear of failure, success or some predefine idea of what you are or can and cannot be. It’s a bit baffling when we think about it, this response we generate to our work and our lives, especially when we consider that in almost every case once we get started we realize 1. That the task was not as challenging as it seemed 2. Our reservations about it were unfounded. And often we get the bonus realization no.3., that great sense of accomplishment or even enjoyment while executing the task. So why do we sit around chastising ourselves, wondering about an outcome that we will ultimately direct? Why do we end up completing every other task we ever talked ourselves out of except for the one at hand? Perhaps the fear comes from the very fact that we will dictate the out come of the task whether it’s completing an artwork, or arranging that awkward family discussion. Our intent, will and demeanor while handling these situations will often yield in direct response an outcome, a mirror of our energies and efforts, a map of our boundlessness or self imposed limitations. The bad news is, that our lack of action will still produce a map and the results will look like regret. Our mirror will reflect- low self-esteem, laziness, halfhearted will, and abandonment of self. But that’s just if our tendency towards avoidance continually wins out. If the issue is just starting then the solution becomes much easier. I remember a story from my days in college, (really I’m not that old). A wonderful friend with an amazing spirit was sitting with me after our drawing class. We talked for a while and then I remarked,

“You know how sometimes you have an image in your head but you’re afraid when you draw it its not going to come out how you see it”?

I was getting at a nagging fear I sometimes had, I suppose about not living up to my own high expectations. This fear would often lead me to constantly think about the work I wanted to produce and make me start planning and preparing for it. I waited for his response.

“No” he said quietly

“If you have an image in your head then you just draw it. It’s in your head”.

I suppose if I did not respect his spirit so much I might have scoffed at the idea, over analyzed it and come up with intellectual flaws in his statement. But that was the whole point, it wasn’t an argument it wasn’t a point it was a statement (and in a way a fact). The key was there was no fighting, no ifs ands or buts, no “when I” or “if I”. It just simply was. And so I went to my dorm that night and proceeded to “just draw” an image that had been nagging me for at least a year. It was everything I wanted it to be and its lesson was invaluable. So this week as I have finally mustered up the will to start updating my blog on a regular basis, lets focus on getting started! We don’t have to think about the end of the journey or the desired outcome. There will be no judging of the work we produce or the journeys we embark on. This is just the beginning and there will be several more!

Here are a few books that you may want to check out! Ultimately though, the solution is simple and you've heard it before- don’t fight with yourself about it, just make a decision and do it!

-Don't Shoot the Dog!: The New Art of Teaching and Training –Karen Pryor

-The Power of Your Subconscious Mind - Joseph Murphy

-The Four Agreements: A Toltec Wisdom Book- Don Miguel Ruiz

-The Courage to Create- Rollo May

Also check out my progress with starting my online business. I have uploaded a few images of some of the pieces I started work on (and now have to finish.). Some of these will be available at my online store at the beginning of next week.

Fish Scarf

Head-Tie

To good beginnings, exciting middles and wonderful endings!

First Designs! Trinity

2007-05-17T19:44:00.001-06:00

Starting July 14th, please visit www.LadybugBaje.com to make your online orders . Please keep in mind that these are handmade so minor imperfections are considered part of the charm! Not all of these card s are available immediately. Please inquire. Card name followed by card ID then info. These cards are 5"x 6 7/8 " and come with envelopes measuring 5 1/4 "x 7 1/4" .

Please e-mail ladybugbaje@gmail.com with any questions.

1. Trinity Stained Glass- TSG Art Marker and acetate (recycled) $5.00

2. Trinity Stained Glass- TSG Art Marker and acetate (with light to show effect)

3.Trinity - TV1 Art Marker $4.50

First Designs! Mother And Child

2007-05-17T19:39:00.000-06:00

Starting July 14th, please visit www.LadybugBaje.com to make your online orders. Please keep in mind that these are handmade so minor imperfections are considered part of the charm! Not all of these card s are available immediately. Please inquire. Card name followed by card ID then info. These cards are 5"x 6 7/8 " and come with envelopes measuring 5 1/4 "x 7 1/4" .

Please e-mail ladybugbaje@gmail.com with any questions. All cards in this series $4.50

1. Mother And Child- MACo watercolour and acrylic.

2. Mother And Child- MACV1 Art marker and acrylic.

First Designs! Nationhood

2007-05-17T19:21:00.000-06:00

Starting July 14th, please visit www.LadybugBaje.com to make your online orders. Please keep in mind that these are handmade so minor imperfections are considered part of the charm! Not all of these card s are available immediately. Please inquire. Card name followed by card ID then info. These cards are 5"x 6 7/8 " and come with envelopes measuring 5 1/4 "x 7 1/4" .

Please e-mail ladybugbaje@gmail.com with any questions. All cards in this series $4.90

1. Nationhood- NH0 pen and ink, lead pencil and conté.

2. Nationhood- NH0 No two cards are exactly the same as seen here!

3. Nationhood Red and Black- NH0V1 acrylic, watercolour and conté.

First Designs! Heart In Hands

2007-05-17T18:38:00.000-06:00

Starting July 14th, please visit www.LadybugBaje.com to make your online orders. Please keep in mind that these are handmade so minor imperfections are considered part of the charm! Not all of these card s are available immediately. Please inquire. Card name followed by card ID then info. These cards are 5"x 6 7/8 " and come with envelopes measuring 5 1/4 "x 7 1/4" .

Please e-mail ladybugbaje@gmail.com with any questions.
All cards in this series $4.90

1. Heart In Hands- HIHo silkscreen and watercolor.

2. Heart In Hands- HIHoa silkscreen watercolour and acrylic.

3. Heart In Hands- HIHv1 silkscreen watercolour and art marker.

How It All Began... Well some of it Anyway

2007-05-17T18:32:00.000-06:00

I’m not sure exactly what has lead me to this point. Well, I do but it’s a rather long drawn out process and I’ve learnt from my husband that not everyone is interested in ones long drawn out stories explaining those processes. In fact most people are never interested, (that I learnt from various other people!).

At any rate, here I am embarking on not my first but certainly my most committed attempt to support myself devoid of any crazy, incompetent or otherwise scary bosses. In fact in the words of “curly top” “F*#$% the bosses”

Instead, its just me, doing the things I love most, searching for some happiness and hoping to bring a little joy into the lives of others...

… in exchange for money of course (smile)

Really it started with three not so happy events 1. an unhappy, chaotic and life consuming job (I’m being nice) 2. the passing of two special people 3. my inability to function in my personal life due to not so joyous event number 1.

In an effort to share my feelings with loved ones (see point 2) long after the appropriate time, I decided to make them a card, and write the words. That way instead of it being a generic sentiment that 10,000 other people had, it would be a personal message from me.

I should take a few steps back. Joyless event number 1. would have prevented me from dealing with not so happy event number 2. But directly or indirectly I took care of that problem. So, with endless amounts of free time, I thought to myself-

I’ve worked for enough crazy people now to get the message!
I have several marketable skills!
These cards I’ve made don’t look too bad…

Well, I’m hoping that the rest is history.

Check out the post entitled “First Designs” to see the designs I’ve made so far…

~ ..~ .. * ~~* A World To Explore *~~* .. ~.. ~