Art Therapy...My Visit To The Shrink

Okay, if you're like me, you probably wold be thinking, is she really going to admit she visits a shrink! Well yea! Why not? In to days society, it's actually the norm, or expected. Think about it...with all the ups and downs that we're force fed by the media, the over saturation of technology, and lets not forget, if we have our other job. We are just burnt out.

So here's the deal, my husband is disabled, from falling 30 feet at his previous job. We're still dealing with the insurance companies and workers compensation issues, so this case is still ruling my life. That being said, trust me the short story of it, I go with him to visit his doc.

His doc is an artist too, he tells me that in times of deep economic depression and recessions, the two most top selling items are condoms and jewelry. Why you ask? He's responds was, "People need a means to forget about the crap that's going on around them, so they spend on little things to pamper themselves, and well you know the deal with the condoms.(Stress release, connection, hummm you know what I mean.)I woun't get into that one. But you figure it out for yourself.

Any ways, it seems he's right, I did a little research and it's so true. Women will spend a few bucks on red lipstick and affordable jewelry, to make themselves feel beautiful, loved and a sense of control. It's the psyche we're talking about here. So for those of you who have shops out there, rethink your strategy. May be create a category with a hip title like Recession specials, Pamper Me Specials, etc. you get the point.

Well thought I would share a bit of my therapy session with you. As for my hubby, he's doing better.

PK

Head Trips...The Curse or Blessing of The Gemini Mind

Okay, let me just spit it out, I'm a Gemini, anyone who lives with one, or is one them selves will totally get this post. For you all who's never experienced the true meaning of what that means, trust me when I say, it's called duality at it's highest level, with a touch of chaos, mixed with frustration and super over load of ADHD. We're what astrologers call the multitaskers of the universe, that's in the positive, or our worst enemy.

Running business for us Gemini's can be wonderful if we don't get in our heads that we gotta do everything, oh yea, all at once. One minute we're on one tangent, the next we got a bright idea and we're off in our own head doing that too. Some times it's a curse, other times it works wonders. The question is, how do we figure out how to use our skills with out fighting with our selves?

Worst yet, being the artist type, just puts it off the charts. That brings me to my dilemma.

How do we make what we love to do, and yet still create for the masses that have the money to buy what we make? It's a catch 22. Simply put, anything creative can and is an addiction. For me any way. So I have to some how balance bringing in an income to support my addiction, and yet still feel I'm being true to myself. (The manic Creative addicted man woman.) I'm always trying to figure how not to sell myself out to the mundane trends, that seem to sell, and every one on etsy is doing. I just feel my stomach get all knotted when I think of just producing. But I still have to support my shop, overhead, you know the drill. (Plus those of you who know etsy, will understand that when something new comes out, everyone starts to do it, like wild fire, than it's saturates the market, and everything looks so common.) That's so not like me.

I feel I'm beating myself over the head everyday, just to find a niche that suites my needs, and most of all makes me happy. If you feel my pain, let me know. Any advice, I'd take it too.

Thanks for the ear.
Pk

Camera Tricks...Making Shooting For Your Shop Easier

It's all about the angle, that's what I figured out all by myself. Wow! Novel concept. I've had two cameras, one broke after I stated to get use to using it and figuring out how it really worked. (Trust me that was a real bummer.)



My second is great, I'm learning not to be afraid or intimidated of taking photos, or how I think they should turn out. The trick I've found is to take as many pics as possible of the same item, in as many ways as possible. Once I'm done, I use a photo imaging program to help clean up the imperfections. I only keep the one's that really appeals to me, and keep in mind if I'm using them to post on etsy or other sites, I try to keep one that appeals to the site as well.

The main thing is the more you take and play with your camera, the more you'll get the hang of it. I know it's time consuming as well. What works for me is I love to plan a time that I have nothing else to do, no ones around, put on some really good music, set up the shot with papers, dishes, whatever works for you (props) and just go for it. Have fun, don't make it a job. and trust me it will all turn out okay.

Oh Yea, don't listen to all these site admins that expect you to only follow their perspectives in order to get chosen for their front pages. It's all a bunch of you know what. Do what you like. After all it's about the love of what you do, rather than trying to please the team. Oh and don't forget it's about appealing and catching your next buyer. Yes, that's right, it's all about 3 seconds of attraction. So go to it. and jump off the edge, the lens is your friend.

Precious Moments...A night out with my son Tony

Life is funny some times, we try to accomplish so much in such a short amount of time, that most of the time, it never gets done any way. But tonight I had the most fabulous time, I've ever had in such a long time.

My son Tony, asked me to go to Borders with him. As usual, I thought here we go anther errand to run. But not this time. We actually sat and talked shop, cars, grease monkeying around boys stuff, and it was great. I found out more about what he loves to do in that half hour, than all the times I constantly nag him about what's going on in his life. We laughed so much that I was simply in aw at how much he'd grown up.

We mothers like to believe we are aware of all the things our children do, like school, frenz, interests. Like I said we think we know. But half of the time we are just so concerned about keeping them safe, feed, under shelter these days, that we forget we did really raise good kids. It's in these very special moments that that little angle we cherished growing up has grown in to a wonderfully handsome intelligent young man. And you know what, I'm proud of him.

They may not turn out the we want them too. But they turn out the way God did, and you know what that's right okay with me.

So here's to you Tony, Mom loves you and very proud you're my boy.