Au Naturale

Find her and others and my Etsy shop: Etsy.com/shop/naturallyfreeart

I'm back on the blogging bandwagon! In the last few months things have been hectic, but good, and of course I want to share and catch you up on the journey!

Since last I have posted, here are the things that have happened:

• A New Etsy Page: Naturally Free Art | etsy.com/shop/naturallyfreeart Yes! I have started a new Etsy page that is geared towards celebrating natural hair. I've been natural now for going on a good eight years and the journey was sometimes super daunting. I wanted to create images that let the natural women of the world and those that love them that they are beautiful just how they were created. Everyone could use a little reminder now and then of just how precious they are, and I thought what better way than to create images that cater to that!
• Commissioned Pieces: I have been blessed to have a few people that wanted and needed some décor for their home, and of course I was happy to oblige!
• YouTube: Now this one hasn't happened as of yet, but I am working diligently to make it happen. I have dedicated a notebook to planning out ideas and have talked to some folks that can help me get it off the ground in terms of editing. It should be fun and will be in line with this art journey that I am on!

Well folks, that is about it for this evening! It's not super fancy, but I did want to give you a quick update on what was happening. Keep your eyes open for what is to come. I will indeed be posting more frequently!

Corner of Gratitude:
Life
Pearls of Wisdom:
"We don't go 'natural', we return. 'Natural' is where it began."
~Unknown


Your Thoughts:
What's new with you? Please do share!

Until next time...

The Need For An Artistic Community

(work done by and amazing fellow artist and IG friend Kelly. Check out her blog over at kellysartjournaling.blogspot.com)

I'm crafting this post from my bed. Not only am I crafting this message from my bed, I'm using the speech to type method. I just don't have the energy.

It's early in the morning, and yesterday was that kind of day. You know... pensive, sullen, dreary...just plain ole' blah. It's been the type of day where I've had to make myself show up. One of those days that I have talked about in previous posts where I think I deserve a down day because of a day or two of previous hard work. 

I really need to work on what to call days like this. The days where my purpose/passion seem to be more arduous than my love for my craft. The days that are less unproductive than others.The days that my head isn't quite in the game or perhaps so deep in the game, I'm debilitated. The days that I doubt where I'm going on this journey as an artist. 

I really need a name for it. No really! A name would give me something to call out and explain (way better than trying to explain a feeling). I would put a list here, but the reality is...I can't think of anything quite clever enough to even warrant a name. 

I am starting to realize that my sense of blah may be coming from the need to live, breath and eat in an artistic community. I read an article last night that a friend posted on Twitter weeks ago called, "Why Your Friends Shape Your Happiness, Creativity, and Career" over at fastcompany.com. The article was interesting and re-affirmed what I've been thinking and writing about a lot.  My favorite quote from the article (and there were many fabulous ones), "When you are in the business of creating new products, ideas, or technologies, " he says, "you need to be close to other people who are in your field." ~Enrico Moretti. 

It seems so simple! We pull from others so that we ourselves can produce greater works. That's part of learning right! That's why we study the greats, have mentors and shadow others. All so that we can ultimately impact our creativity and productivity in new ways! 

I've started to make moves, and am determined to see those moves manifest by this time next year!

So despite how I felt today, I managed to get somethings done. I have been so crazy busy with creating, life and writing curriculum's for this upcoming month (which I will talk about in posts to come) that I haven't updated my Etsy shop as planned.

This weekend I took the time to do some product photography and will update the shop later this morning with a few more items. There is definitely more to come. I actually am on schedule to put things in the shop at least once a week from here on out. My old schedule of stocking the shop almost everyday was a joke. I mean, who was I kidding?

I have come up with a few new jewelry ideas and that will be reflective of the new stock. I do hope that you all enjoy the pieces! Take a gander http://www.etsy.com/shop/exo31art

Well I suppose that is it for now. Yesterday may haven been a bust (or half a bust), but tomorrow proves to be a brand new day bubbling with new opportunities!

Your Thoughts:

Do you have a name for your "blah" days? What are some specific things that you do to come out of the rut?

Until next post...

Etsy Countdown

Hey good folks!

Tomorrow is the day! Yes...the day I open my Etsy shop I am ex.cited, but knowing that there is so much work to be done so that this go round things will be a success.

Today was spent getting my listings together. It is more tedious than I remember in the past, but again...it's okay. I must do what I need to do!

So tomorrow will come too quickly I am sure, and I will probably feel like I am not ready enough, but who ever cared about what feelings had to say? Not me! If I did, I would never get anything accomplished!

Your Thoughts:
Have your feelings ever talked you out of doing something great...something you knew you were destined to do?

Until next time...

Etsy Countdown & A Healthy Me

A girl is exhausted. I should have capitalized exhausted because it's beyond what I can explain right now!

It's been a long and productive week. I've completed almost all of the things that were on my to-do list. What a feeling that is...sheer joy! I can hardly contain myself!

And in my exhausted, yet long and productive, but fun week, I didn't get to blogging the way that I should have. So instead of a 5 day countdown to my Etsy shop opening, I must simply do 3!

So I've started working towards a healthier me. Since I've been working in the massage therapy business, I am like the average 44 million Americans who don't have health insurance.   So what is a person that is working themselves to a healthier individual without insurance to do? You've got it...do some research!

Obamacare is happening soon. I don't want to get into the politics of things (I'm really not that chick), but the way I see it we have 2 choices; we can get insurance and pay or opt not to get insurance and pay a penalty. Since I may have to pay either way, I might as well see doctors and get the checkups that I haven't been able to get lately.

Here 's what I did...I started with some government assistance. I was almost sure that I would qualify for some help since my wages fluctuate so much.You would have to check with your state the programs that are available to you. I live in the good ole' garden state, and our program here is called NJ Family Care.

I called the number (check out the imbedded link) and had a quick 20 minute interview and that's it. It was really easy and I will find out within 45 days what type of coverage I will be offered!

That's one thing I can check off of my list of things to do....a very important one! The truth is...my purpose can't be carried out if I unhealthy in body, mind or spirit.  So here's to working on getting things in order!

Your Thoughts:
What things have you been dreading taking care of that will allow for a healthier you?

Until next time...

Coming Soon!

COMING SOON!!!

Slouch hats

 Beanie caps

Items for babies too!

(BTW: Love this little guy!)

I'm sleepy beyond belief, but I have made my list for the day and I am almost to the home stretch to receive my reward.

Part of today's to-do list included connecting with you all (posting), and getting some items ready for the winter rush of scarf and hat orders that have started to come in. In addition to all of that, I have started to prepare to open another Etsy shop.

A few years ago I decided that I was going to use Etsy as a platform to sell my wearable art. I did what I thought was appropriate at that time.

I was young in business. I was in the incubation stage. I was still in the womb. I was just starting out. And just starting out meant that I didn't always know the proper way to market myself or my products. Let's be honest, I knew much about nothing more than I wanted to create and share those creations (and sell) to the world.

And years later...in this season, I am revisiting Etsy!

My Etsy shop is not open as of yet. It will be launching on Tuesday, NOVEMBER 5th, which also happens to be Election Day! Since this is another big step for me, I may just do another countdown. This go round it would only be a 5 day countdown.

I look forward to this new start on Etsy. I will be posting things here as well as on my Exo31 Art blog site.

Your Thoughts:
Have you decided to revisit a business venture lately? If so, what was it, and what will you do differently this time?

Until next post...