Let's call it a draw.

This journal page and I are not playing nice-nice.  I'm letting it go for now.  Time to turn the page (ehem, get back to work on my new non-art business for the rest of the day) and move on.

I've been doing regular show and tell updates over at my facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/#!/ShellyMasseyArt).  Hope to see you there!

Oh, Blog.

Blog has become a 4-letter word in my brain, I think.  I couldn't load photos for a long time, but today I finally found a workaround.  Poor little (sometimes really annoying) blog.

So, what's new?  My friend Sheila (of Kate's Closet ---she has a lot of things on a hugely discounted sale through tomorrow, by the way) and I set up a craft booth in Mariemont in early December.  It was so much more fun to do a show with a friend.  We both did pretty well, so that was happy too.

Our daughters made little canvases to sell too.  Completely adorable, and they sold well!  The girls were happy to get their dollars.

 We went to Kansas for Christmas.  What was planned to be a six day trip or so ended up being about an eleven day trip.  We had a great time with Grandma and Grandpa, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

 And I'm a little late with this, but this is the only thing I've doodled lately.

 

How about you?  What's new??

Finding My Happy Place (Again)

I've been feeling a little all over the place lately. A little bit like a bird trying to fly in three directions at once.  Or maybe straight into a window.  Repeatedly.  Which completely makes sense given that I'm trying to kick start a multi-faceted business that currently has three website builds in progress, business paperwork to keep up with, and a fairly large-scale software application in design.  Plus the family that needs groceries and hugs and all that good stuff.

Sure, I'm writing twenty-two lists to try to manage it all and get a little more grounded.  And buying a couple more filing cabinets.  But this morning I tried something completely non-job related to spend some of my creative energy.  Painting, of course.

I'm feeling a little bit more pulled together now.  We'll see if I can get some of the stuff on the lists done now.  Hope you all have a great weekend!

Life around here...

Hi there... I've missed you!  How are you doing?

 

Things have been a little all over the place around here (as usual).  I've been making journal books and ornaments.  It makes me happy to see them all lined up!

And I've been working a little on my basement disaster.  Here's a before and after (Ok, not that much change, but I did beat back the piles a little.  I'm hoping to put my craft tables down here.

 I did manage to carve out a play area for Harper too.

Oh my goodness, I got Harper's school photos back today.  That fake smile-for-the-camera smile cracks me up.

And I've been working on a logo and website for my first customer!  So far, so good... hopefully it will be up and running this week or early next week!

And finally, I've worked on my website too.  It's a little slow going, but I can see where I'm headed with it now at least.  I'll let you know when it's posted and what in the world I am doing!

Halloween Preview + Autumn

We have had a fun autumn so far.  We've kept busy, and alternately we've kept warm and cool.  Yesterday was short sleeves weather; today is scarves, umbrellas, and jackets.

 

May I introduce you to Willy Wonka?  Grandma made this awesome coat and vest for Harper's costume. We'll add a cane, ribbon bow, and a treat bag that looks like a Wonka chocolate bar.  And maybe even parents dressed up like giant Oompa Loompas.

We were just in the nick of time with Halloween because a new obsession is rapidly moving in.

And here's some Halloween decor gone crazy.  I have a photo of Doug wearing one too, but I think I'd get in trouble for posting that.

 We went on a hayrack ride with friends.  Really fun!!!

 The guys all hunted the perfect pumpkins with the kids.

 Harper and Daddy did some accounting.

 Harper had breakfast with friends.

 And Harper created a site map for her future website creation.

 Happy Autumn!

Forty

Me at 40 years old with my craft-aster table.

If you had asked me when I was twenty what I thought I would feel like when I was forty, my answer would have something really insightful like, "Old."

Turns out, I would have been wrong.  It's a lot better than "old".  Today is my fortieth birthday, so I thought I'd write a little post about how I'm feeling today.

At forty, I feel...

• Old(er), but it's a good feeling.  I know myself a lot better now.
• More confident.  I still don't have my confidence issues conquered, but they stay in the background more than they used to.
• Like I finally know what my "style" is. It involves a lot of grey and black horizontal stripes in case you were wondering.
• Prettier.  I'm pretty sure this has something to do with the more confident thing above.
• More grateful.
• More creative.
• Loved by a wonderful circle of supportive family and friends.
• Lucky. So very lucky.

Taking the leap

Ok, ok... I left you hanging.  I'm sure you're all out there on pins and needles waiting for me to post again, right?? :)

We made some plans and decisions around here, and it's finally time to tell.

1. I quit my business analyst job.  My last day is Friday!

2. I am starting a new business called Trendline Design.  More details on that soon, but essentially I'll be offering a blend of all my skills (software analysis/design, graphic design, website work) under one business umbrella.  I made a logo and everything. :)  Product offerings and website are next on the list right after I'm done with my current job.

The hope is that working for myself will give me more flexibility to be more present for my family.  YAY!

3. I am working with others to start a children's museum.  We have a lot of work ahead of us, but we think this area could really use some local children's activities.  We're working on our business plan, website, and there's even a logo too.

And in other news...
If you're a facebook friend, you may already have read this, but for the rest of you... We got the results of Harper's CT scan for her ear.  There wasn't anything apparent on the scan like some kind of abnormality, so that was a relief.  What that means is that the cochlear nerve in her right ear probably has some kind of problem with the connection, but there isn't anything they can do about that (at least not with the current medical options).  The good news is that she may benefit from a regular amplification hearing aid, so we are going to look into options for that.