Keep on keeping on

It's been awhile. 
I've been very busy. 

Project in the works.

Making art, gardening, reading, and working. So much working. It's been hard to keep up with everything these days.

 There's just so much to talk about that I don't know where to begin. So, I will begin with today.

Today has been so so. Cleaning, running, post office, and working on a new watercolor. I'm finding that this new style that I've been working on isn't so well received in the Etsy world, but I like it, so I'm going to keep doing it. 

Work in progress

Etsy is a whole new ball game that I haven't figured out. Sales are few and far between. I don't know if it's because I've been spending less time on the internet, or if it's the the site itself. Does anyone shop there anymore? I know that in order to get traffic you have to constantly be promoting yourself. You have to constantly update your shop. You have to be active on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and blogging. I have not been doing any of these things. 

Lovely clouds this afternoon

I'm kind of over these things right now. I'm kind of over constantly tweeting about my items. I feel like I'm yelling at people to come look at my goods for sale. "Hey! You! Over there! Look at this thing I made!" 

That's what I feel like I've been yelling for three years. Every day. 

I want to stop. I don't like yelling at people to look at my things. I supposed they have the option to click on the link, but I still feel like it's not doing anyone any good.

Chloe! I need to figure out what to do with the rest of this yard...

So, what am I to do? I don't know. Maybe I just need a break. a very long break. Maybe I'll feel like yelling at people some more about my work later. Maybe I won't. Maybe I'll give up self promoting, stay quiet, make art, and see what happens...

Nasturium coming back from last year!

Until I figure it out, I'm going to keep gardening, riding my bike, and making art that I like. I do need to write more and I do need to list more things in my online shop. So those will be my goals.

    

Thinking

Okay.
I have been doing lots of thinking the last two weeks or so about my Etsy shop, and my art work.
I've come to several conclusions in the past week or so.

My first conclusion is that I love making art and I love selling art. Nothing makes me happier. Really. Knowing that people love my work so much, that they would part with their money just to own it, makes me so happy. I never in my life ever thought I would be where I'm at today with my work.

That being said, I want to continue my Etsy shop, and I want to continue making work, but I think I am seriously going to start limiting my reproduction prints. I like them, and I think they are a great way to bulk up your shop with items, but I'm afraid they are taking away from the original works of art that I have in the shop.

I want to carry prints in my shop, because I feel like they are a great way for people to afford art, but I think I am going to limit my prints to limited editions. So after this batch of prints is all sold, I most likely won't be carrying them in my shop. I might carry a small handful, and of course if there is a special request for one I will most certainly make one, but for the most part, I won't sell them like I do now.

My second conclusion is that I am not 100% happy with the work that I've been making. It looks nice, and I feel l like I do good work, but sometimes it doesn't feel like me. Sometimes I feel like I am making things that other people like, and that thought really doesn't sit well with me at all. I feel like that idea has really been showing through in my work as well....so I'm am going to try to get as far away from that idea as I can.

So there it is. Those are the thoughts that have been floating through my head the last couple for weeks.

anyway, it is a beautiful day here in Portland and I'm itching to sit on my front stoop with a David Sedaris book and a beer :)

Hope everyone is well.

Three Ships

I've been thinking so much about relationships lately.

There have been a series of events in my life, that I would rather not talk about on my blog, but have a lot to do with relationships. Friendships, loveships, and familyships.

I am thoroughly confused by all three ships.

I thought I had everything figured out and I was wrong. I thought I knew what those things meant but those things have changed so much for me in the two years, I don't know anymore.

I don't really know where I'm going with this. I guess I just wanted to get this off my chest, in a round about kind of way. In a Idon'twanttorevealtoomuchofmypersonallifekindofway.

I don't know what the future holds for any of these ship but I'm looking forward to it. Future relationships, future friendships, and maybe future familyships.

I don't think I'll ever have it figured out. Ever. But, I'm really hoping to at least find some peace with all of them.