What a difference a Year can make

This is my studio a few days ago, in the early morning hours, finishing up a batch of ornaments for the upcoming Holiday season. 

 When I paint, I do a lot of thinking.   Sometimes it's about the new design I may be working on.   If it's a custom order, I often think about the recipient and the memories that will be associated with the Artwork I am creating.  

 This particular morning, I was painting  multiples, so I choose to do it production work style.    So I was painting away and I found myself going back to where I was this time last year.  (The following photos show the step by step process to the completion of this design.) 

 2012 was a strange mixture of personal struggles and blessings going on.  My little Art Business was growing, doing quite well, but I was barely keeping up and couldn't really enjoy what was happening

  What a difference a year can make!  2013 has brought some much need changes for me.

 My life is full instead of out of control busy

Self care is critical.

 I pay attention better when I feel overwhelm taking over and actually pause and regroup.   I am learning acceptance to the reality of what is possible in any 24 hr. period.  

  My life is a work in progress, not perfection these days.  

 I've learned how to reach out and connect in a way I was unable to in my past, which has meant that I'm learning how to ask for help and taking the hands that are offered.

                                               
                                                2013 Snowmen Holding Hands Ornament

https://www.etsy.com/listing/161825309/christmas-ornament-snowmen-holding-hands?ref=shop_home_active

The gifts of stepping out of my comfort zone

I have a very exciting and rewarding custom order that I am working on.  It's also nerve wracking because it is taking me way out of my comfort zone. It's been awhile since I've done that.  And it's time.  It's the only way I am every going to grow my little Art Business.  It's not like I haven't ever created complex detailed  Custom Art, I have.   

Custom Set of four pieces of sea glass (harvested off the coast of Maine) that I painted and wire wrapped back in December 2008.  These are real houses and buildings on surfaces 2" and smaller.  Super cool project.

Back in 2008, I had not opened up my online shop on Etsy.com yet, that was just dream.  But after completing these sea glass pieces, I wanted it real bad.  So I pushed myself and opened www.bethscraftroom.etsy.com  on March 30, 2009 and had my first sale a few weeks later on April 8th, 2009.   

Fast forward almost five years later, a lot has happened in my life and through it all, my business has been growing.  The custom orders are varied and satisfying.   I am making the most wonderful connections with my creativity.  

Day 1  August 6, 2013

This particular order is for a local repeat customer.  Pinch me, I have repeat customers!   The photos are from my customer's childhood home in northern Maine.  The slate is also from that area of Maine.  I chose this piece of slate to "practice on" my technique.  The actual larger piece of slate that my customer wants painted is waiting back in my studio while a get my courage up to begin the one of a kind surface.    

Day 2   August 7, 2013

I am full of hope.  Every time I step out of my comfort zone, I grow and discover more courage I dared not believe I had.   I have found my Faith that I thought I had lost.   I am at a wonderful turning point in my life and it feels good.  

Day 3  August 8, 2013

When I look at these photos, it's hard to believe that it was my hand that held the paint brush.  I am humbled at the gifts that have been given to me.     

Day 4  August 9, 2013

custom orders rock!

The personal connections made with my customers are a gift to me.  

 That is why I love creating custom Artwork.   I completed this just before Christmas.

These buoys are one of three custom wedding orders that I am currently working on...

And that is it  for now, for this very tired Maine woman who generally rises very early to get her painting time in.

Blizzard 2013

 What a day!  This was about 8:30am this morning, from inside my home.  We're guessing we ended up with over two feet of snow today and boy did the wind blow!  I thought surely we would loose power.

But we were fortunate, we did not, so I was able to spend some quality time in my studio for a good part of the day, waiting and waiting for the storm to subside.

Finally, late in the afternoon, with the wind still blowing, I decided it was time to spend some quality time with our shovel...

I am going to be soooo sore in the morning...