25.05.2012 (In which Social Media kicks my ass…)

I am old.  I resist change.

I didn’t realize that either of these applied to me.  At least not much.  That is until these past few days.

I’ve told you that I’m working on a new project.  The unveiling is very close…I have a few things I’m still working on, and then I will hit it with guns blazing, hopefully bedazzling you more than a 70′s pair of sparkly Jorache jeans. (Don’t get it? Google it...I told you, I’m old.)

During the onset of this, I have been researching.  And then researching some more.  All those in the know (and there seem to be literally thousands…how exactly did there get to be SO many experts?) say that I must, above all else, (long before my project was even a twinkle in my eye actually) have a web presence.

Okay, I’ve got one of those.  

Really? That was easy!

I have friends on Facebook.  I’m sort of on Linkedin.  I have a Twitter account.  I have a website.  

(I’m not going to tell you that until about a week ago…sans Facebook, where I keep up with all my friends…I never touched them, not even so much as even track of my user information.)  

Oh, I guess I just did.  Maybe I don’t have much of a web persona…but I’m on there, right?

Anyway.  I’ve spent the last couple of weeks lamenting…(actually, if you ask those in my little world, they would probably say it was outright wallowing in self pity, but don’t listen to them, they like to make me look bad) the fact that I have to do all this worthless, time consuming media crap, when I could be spending those hours making the best darn widget thingy I’ve ever made.  (Why, the nerve of people’s expectations!)

Except then, a few days ago, I began thinking of all those commercials that used to stick in my head as a kid.   And how I would never even know that Frosted Flakes had a new, improved and even more sugary taste if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes…right between the coyote flinging a boulder…….and then getting squished by said boulder soon after.

And how I don’t see those anymore.  Ever.  Because I don’t watch television.  And I don’t listen to the radio for that matter.  (I know, I’m actually admitting that in public.  So sue me.)  And I also realized that the only way I find out about things is to go look them up…and I look them up on the web.  

And why would I think anyone else would be any different.

Meh!

So I’ve started.  Please, in the name of all things good and pure, if you’re reading this, and I’m not a friend/connection/favorite/follower/whatever in your league of friends,  (If you know where that came from -100 points!!) will you, pretty, pretty please consider adding me?  

Because if you don’t, then I will obviously fail.  

If I fail, I will only lament more, and make everyone’s life miserable.  That’s not good for anyone, you know that already though, right?

I’m actually sitting here, covered in dirt and sweat (because I got this idea for this post while working in the garden) thinking about how much I really don’t want to do social marketing, that I really just want to make friends with new people, and maybe in the process, show them that I’m kind of a good artist too…

Is that even possible in this day and age?  

Do I have to wear sparkly jeans to make it work?

xo

(Next: I talk about the joys of DM’s on twitter.  Yay!)

 

5.9.2012

Okay, take 421.

I’m working on stuff…again.  I’ll have some interesting news, I think in the next few weeks.  I’ve just updated my twitter and linkedin.  If you got stuff from me, forgive me if it’s been 20 years since we talked, just consider that they went through my email and I thought it couldn’t hurt to let it ask you to hang out with me.

I’m still on facebook.  I still have my website.  I still have my shops, but there is nothing in them at the moment.  I’m working on that though.  I still don’t probably spend enough time online.  I’ll work on that too.

There is a new blog in the works, though a wrench just got tossed in last night.  I’m going to make it live as soon as I figure that little bit out.  I’ll share when it happens.

I’d still love to talk to you guys, even though I’m hardly here.

My online world kept me sane for a lot of years.  Now that my life has changed and everything isn’t quite as tenuous as it used to be, I tend to focus more on what’s in front of me.  I’m working on that balance.

Anyway, here’s a shot.  It’s my life these days…quiet backroads in a sea of slight confusion.  But now, it’s good confusion, and I think, for now, that suits me just fine.

backroads…

(My pro account expired on Flickr, which means a whole lot of my images here aren’t showing up.  I’ll fix that as soon as I’m a little more organized.  I’m not uploading much right now, so I don’t need it.  That’s all changing…because change is the word of the year…and that’s a very good thing!)

xo

3.27.2012

And so it begins…

I opened the shop.  For whatever it’s worth.  It has a long, long way to go, but that’s why you start, right?

My son turns 16 is a few days.  16.  That seems impossible.  And I know everyone says that, but it does.  Time is insane in it’s diligence to move along.

Anyway, here’s a new piece.  There will be lots in the store in the next few weeks…I’m going slow because that will give me just a bit more exposure.

I’d love to hear what you think!

xoxo!!

XO...obviously. :p

Come Visit Sometime?  Strange Fascination on Etsy…

 

2.2.2012

A thought for the day…

And some work in progress…

Wishing you all an amazing weekend…
Hopefully I’ll get a store open this weekend. I’ll let you know if that happens…

xo

2.28.2012

This is why I’m not a blogger. Or at least not a successful blogger. I forget all about it.

Life takes precedence I guess.

I’m going to be opening one of my stores again very soon. Nothing will be the same because there isn’t any of the old stuff left. It’ll be a new adventure.

At least that’s what I keep telling myself.

Anyway, this is part of some new work.
Happy Tuesday everyone!
xo

Hand lettering…

I missed yesterday. So much for every day. I just completely forgot.

Besides photography I am in love with typography and hand lettering. There is something so beautiful about the written word…it’s style alone can tell a story.

I’m working on some things to offer while I’m building a new photo portfolio. This is something from today…

There’s an app…

Testing the WordPress app for my iPhone…
Not sure at all how it will look…

Taken this morning…a quiet snow on a chilly February morning…

Figuring it out…

After dark, 2.18.2012

Sometimes I think life is a big cosmic joke.  One of those sitcom things that has a laugh track, except sometimes the track is off and you don’t really know when to laugh.

In the past year or so…more like year and a half now…I have changed every single thing in my life.

Well, everything except my trusty Ford Windstar, which will become my sons in a few months, but I digress.

That change, in which I brought my son, and grabbed a whole new family along the way, has made me both introspective and just a tiny bit crazy.

These changes included selling my home, which meant I moved.  In that move I moved my computer, and my back up for my computer.  Which held every piece of work I used to sell in my stores.  It also held my security.

At this point I’m reminded of a time when the amazing and wonderful Barry Smith helped me move. It was back when we were both still in our early 20′s.  He filled his little Honda with boxes and boxes of my things and dutifully dragged it all to my new home.

In his back seat sat a floppy disc.  (Remember, this was a lonnnng time ago, and computers were still kinda -read very- new, so floppies were all you really had to hold your stuff.)  At some point he realized it sat there amid all my junk.  His eyes got huge and he asked me if anything had bent it, or been set on it…or if we had blown on it the wrong way.  (Because it was a floppy dammit…don’t you understand??!!)

I didn’t think we had.  But it seems something had done just that.  And with that moment, he lost a semesters worth of work for college.  Everything.  Gone.  Right before finals.

It was awesome.  (ugh)

Fast forward to today.  Or a few months ago actually.  I’m moving.  Carrying all my cargo from one place to another…when at some point, my hard drives and my back ups all had something set on them…or somebody blew on them the wrong way…and everything went away.  Gone.  (To which, sometime not so very long ago Barry asked…Didn’t you back that stuff up??!!!)  I had…just not the right way, obviously.

Anyway. It’s gone.

And now I’m charged with the task of figuring out how to start again.  From scratch.  With the world at my fingertips.  Anything goes.  I know there’s some talent in there.  I know I can create just about anything I set my mind to.  I know if I put my heart into it, it will be awesome.   But, that said, the task of figuring it all out is amazingly daunting!

Old car, summer 2011

Recently, I told my son, who is almost 16 and trying to figure out what to do with his life, to just make yourself do one thing every day…even if it’s just exploring something you never thought you were interested in…and stick to it, no matter what.  It dawned on me that I should follow my own damned advice once in awhile and figure this out.

I’m going to work on it.  Every day.  Something.  What have I got to lose at this point.

So.  I’m going to try to write about it.  The journey…the figuring it out part.  And if I do it right, maybe I’ll be back on track instead of flopping around like a gasping fish.

Why not.

xo

New worlds…

Today's quote is from the movie 'Dream for an Insomniac'. I haven't found a source other than that...if you do, let me know?

It’s the new year!  Already.

Seriously, how did that happen?

I can’t remember if I told you that Half Board is gone.  Wendy got tired of waiting around and doing all the work.  (Just kidding…sort of.) I seriously took a full leave of absence, and she, in all  her awesomeness kept things going for quite a long time.  Being as I’m still not sure if I’m really going to do all this, I totally get it.

That said, I miss it.  (whatever.)

So it’s 2012.  The holidays were nice, though I’m always glad to see them go.  Life is still a bit chaotic.  I haven’t figured all this merging of families thing yet.  Is there a pill I can take or something?

It’s surreal really to sell your home, pack your stuff and have really no place to put it.  Or to try to situate yourself in a home that’s long been established.  I just can’t make sense of it.  It’s nearly the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

That said, I’d never go back.

So. Anyway.  Like everyone else in the free world, I’m inspired to make life better in the new year.  A healthier, happier me…sending all that into the world.

Last year I became healthier than I ever have in my life.  I work out fairly regularly, I eat better than 95% of the people around me.  (I’m in Indiana, that’s not really saying much, truthfully…but you get the point.) and the better I feel, or the more I see my body change, the more I want it.

I might keep you guys up to date with that.  But I’d like to talk about a healthy mind too.  A core that radiates and shines…a life well experienced. (Not that I’m a prime example…but the journey is half the fun…)

I still think I’d love to do this.  I’m not sure I’ll ever be cut out to do it every day.  But who knows…when things calm down and there is some organization…I may just surprise you.

I am still doing art.  I will post that.  Right now, since I am printerless, I’m just playing with typography.  I love it…the way words look floating on the background.  I could do that all day…So you’ll see some.  I may even do some hand lettering…which I love as well.  I just don’t have the space right now.

We’ll see.  I just wanted to wish you an amazing year.  And I want to send you love.  Because we all need some of that.

xoxox!

Lessons…

truth...

In the past year…truth be told really, in the past few months, I’ve learned that there is so much truth in choosing what you look toward…as in either choosing to look at all the horrible shit going on in the world, in your life, in your head…or choosing to see all the amazing gifts you’re given on a daily basis…that will make your life either desperate or beautiful.

I knew this before.  I lived this before.  But in strife comes clarity.  I have a whole lot of new found clarity.

I have a lot to say I think.  Not today.  Maybe not tomorrow.  But I’m collecting my thoughts.  If you care to stop by, that would be wonderful.

xo