Wind of Change

It's been so long since I've written in my blog I don't know where to start. I've titled this post Wind of Change largely because so much has happened since my last post in April, so many changes, that indeed it seemed an appropriate title. I also happen to love the song "Wind of Change" by the Scorpions. You may listen to this song by following this link and watching the video: http://beemp3.com/download.php?file=164717&song=Wind+Of+Change

Learning With Lynda

In January, 2009 I was conducting a strategic job search. Even after getting my resume on Monster.com, Michigan Talent Bank and Careerbuilder, I wasn't receiving a lot of attention. But I remembered many years ago there was a company called MacTemps, which is now called Acquent.

Several years ago, I was contacted by Mariam McCarthy from Acquent about a position I had applied for. It had been a while since I've spoken to her but I decided to contact her again in my quest for a productive job search. Although she wasn't able to connect me to any jobs at that time, she did provide me with a powerful resource.

Mariam recommended http://www.lynda.com. I hadn't heard of lynda.com, and asked her to tell me about it. She said it was a website where you can choose from a large library of tutorial videos to watch an unlimited amount of times at your own rate, for only $25 a month. I checked it out and soon signed up for membership and have not regretted it.

Lynda.com allows you to choose whichever course you are interested in, watch only the videos you want to watch (or watch them all) and stop/start at any time. If you watch an entire course, you receive a certificate that you can download and print or e-mail to a prospective employer.

Lynda.com offered a variety of courses; Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Flash, Microsoft Word, Excel, Corel Draw, AutoCad, Joomla, HTML, CSS, Digital Photograpy, ASP, PHP, Database, Content Management systems, even blogging! As of this writing, they have 40,000 videos and are adding more every week. That's over 3425 hours of continuous training!

Although a large percentage of the courses are related to both graphic and web design, there are courses offered in photography and business, such as Microsoft Word for those who need to brush up on their skills. If you are an experienced designer, you can upgrade your skills while continuing your education.

Last night I watched the video on how Lynda Weinman got started and was fascinated by it.She and her husband Bruce, share many of the same philosophies as me, so I felt a sort of kindred spirit, a parallel universe, as I love art, design and photography as well as learning new things. I have learned a lot and have been able to apply what I've learned immediately in my websites. I love that I can study as much or as little as I want, anytime I want.

I highly recommend http://www.lynda.com to anyone who is passionate about learning without leaving the house!

Rene Bellis

p.s. Since completing several courses from lynda.com, I have been getting more phone calls from prospective employers. Coincidence? Maybe. Good fortune? Definitely!

Mid-Winter Blues

Every year at this time of year, with the tease of a sunny day I dream of spring. Friday and Saturday were beautiful, sunny days here in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. Friday's temperature reached 40 degrees. It was just a great day to be outdoors and let the sun shine on your face. But it's only temporary as another snow system is moving in tomorrow. Winter is far from over but the promise of spring makes it easier to ride of the rest of the cold stuff.

Beating the winter blues is much easier when you have hobbies. They are a great distraction from the bad weather, not to mention an outlet for creativity. Although lately, I haven't been in much of a mood for my hobbies. Could just be I'm in a rut.

It's hard for me to believe that this is the third week in February already. It seems like last week we were toasting in the New Year. Before we know it, it'll be St. Patrick's day, Easter and YES! Memorial weekend, which marks our annual first camping trip of the season to our favorite campground, Petoskey KOA. Nothing beats the winter blues better than dreaming of our favorite camping spot.

For me, January, February and March are the toughest months of the year. I suffer from "S.A.D." (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and need the sunlight to feel good. Even on a cold day, the sun will perk me up. But I really look forward to the sunny spring sunshine. I love the fresh, clean spring air and the birds chirping in the bud-filled trees. It sounds corny, but it's true. Spring is the season of rebirth and with it, anything is possible.

Craft Shows Fun & Profit

We did two craft shows in two weeks. Our mosaics were very well received. We have a decent amount of stock considering we only just started making mosaics a couple of months ago. In addition to our etsy store, http://www.mosaicillusions.etsy.com, we decided to try a couple of craft shows. Our first one was at Chippewa Valley High School on Saturday, November 14th, then this past weekend we participated in the De La Salle Holiday show. Both were very well-organized events. Since we are new to the craft show venue, we're still learning which products not only get the most attention, but which ones actually sold. No sense in making more products that people never even took a second glance at.

We have decided to pursue the mosaics and sell out the stock of our birdhouses, offering them at a huge discount. At the craft shows we are offering a "buy one, get one half off," or "buy two, get one free!" People love sales, especially around the holidays, so by offering these discounts, we expect we'll move our stock quickly. Of course, we'll keep up our etsy store as well: http://www.serenitybirdhouses.etsy.com and sell them until they're gone.

While one can certainly make money at a craft show, if you factor in the hours, the average crafter doesn't make a lot of money. Only a person who has hobbies and does crafts understands this. You simply can't factor in the time you spend and charge an hourly rate or you'd price yourself right out of the market. The biggest common denominator that all crafters share is this: We love what we do. And if we can make a few dollars doing what we love, all the better.

Crafters range from the part-time once a year show participant to the full time artist/crafter. There are different aspects of crafting for fun or crafting for a business. The main difference is if you're doing it for a business, you must treat it as such; keep good records, seek the best prices for supplies, stocking your inventory, invest in tables, tents, displays, etc. It's also important to pace yourself with how much you spend on supplies and materials. If you've ever stepped foot into an artist supply store, Joann's, Michael's, Ben Franklin, or the like, you understand what I'm talking about.

Here are a few pointers to consider if you'd like to try your hand at a craft show:

• Attend the craft shows you'd like to be a part of and take a look at what kinds of vendors there are, then pay attention to what people gravitate toward.
• If one particular booth is always full, chances are either the prices are low, the products are unusual (something that's not common for a show), they have A LOT of stuff (as people are naturally drawn to displays that seem to overflow with stock) or something else catches their eye.
• Once you determine which shows interest you, send in your application and get going! Make lists of what you need to make, purchase and bring, long before the day of the show arrives. Be prepared as you never know what you wish you'd have brought, but don't go crazy either.
  
• Make sure you know where to park and if someone will help you unload. Having some sort of wheeled cart is a good idea if you have heavy items. Don't lose the paperwork you are given when you register as it contains valuable information. (Many craft shows offer free donuts and coffee to their vendors!)

The day of the show has finally arrived. You're set up and ready for business. The doors are open and people are slowly drifting in to check out the show. While sipping that hot coffee and quickly munching on that free donut, you smile at your potential customers, tell them of your specials and patiently wait for your first sale. They walk by your display with barely a glance, while your neighbor has already made five sales. Don't lose heart! Lots of people "cruise" through an entire craft show, making a mental note of the vendor they will purchase from, then come back to buy later in the show.

If you are selling a larger item, offer to carry it to their car. Folks generally don't like to load themselves down while shopping. Packaging is also important. Make sure you have plenty of strong, yet attractive bags for your items (properly sized) with a business card in each one. You want to encourage repeat sales as well as maintain a professional appearance.

Suddenly, one person seems extremely interested in an item and asks a lot of questions. You explain the process, their eyes light up, they ask more questions and before you know it, they grab it, hand you the money. Congratulations! You've just made your first sale! You feel validated, victorious and a bit shocked that someone paid money for something you've created!

The craft show environment is unpredictable. You may do exceedingly well at one, and not so great at the next one. Don't take it personally or feel rejected if people walk by and don't stop to take a closer look. Not everyone likes every craft and not everyone makes a purchase. Some just like to browse, but if you have a chance to engage them in conversation and hand them a card, you never know. They may call you and buy that special item after all.

In conclusion, craft shows aren't for everyone. They are a lot of work, they take a great deal of time, demand an attention to detail, but they are can also be a lot of fun. You learn a lot at each show, meet great new people, and if you make more than you've spent, consider yourself a success because not only have you loved making your art or craft, you've sold it to someone who wanted it enough to pay for it.

Gazing Ball You Can't Stop Looking At

This is my second gazing ball! I used an old bowling ball which I found at a garage sale and gave it a new identity. This ball will be posted on my new etsy store, Mosaic Illusions.
My first gazing ball was my son's old bowling ball. What a great way to keep them out of a landfill and instead, have them fill your yard with color and light!

We have more projects in the works. I've just finished a quilt block trivet, which is ready for grout. A pencil holder and a candle holder is complete. Three sleighs will be created in a Christmas design. Five mirrors and of course, at least 7 more bowling balls that will find their place in our store as well.

But it doesn't stop there. We are going to be making tables, picture frames, mirrors, serving trays and coasters. Jim and I are both excited about making these fun and useable projects. Stay tuned!

An Old Bowling Ball Gets A New Life

No matter where I put this 16 lb. bowling ball, it rolled around and around until one day I decided it just had to go. This was the remaining bowling ball my son left behind when he moved out last year. The others ended up being sold for a pittance at a garage sale. But how does one get rid of a perfectly good bowling ball without feeling guilty about it? As the trend for "going green" continues to emerge, as it should, I am conscious of doing my part to keep things like old bowling balls out of landfills. There just had to be a way to turn this ball into something useful and I was determined to find it.

I've been a stained glass artist for many years. Being a lover of any glass art, I'd always been interested in mosaics and had been wanting to learn that craft, so one afternoon at my glass supply shop, I had purchased a book on mosaics. The book had ideas I'd never thought of; and inside was the solution I'd been searching for...using an old bowling ball as a work of mosaic art.

The gazing ball in the photo, once my son's old bowling ball, has been given a new identity as it graces the front of our home, nestled between the bushes next to the front porch. The birds love it, in fact, one of them perched on top of it today. I had always heard that birds are attracted to shiny objects, and this supports that theory.

Ironically, now both my husband and I are searching rummage and garage sales for old bowling balls. (Now I wish I'd kept the ones my son left behind!) Yesterday we hit a half dozen yard and garage sales and collected 6 more bowling balls. We filled the holes, and the balls are now ready to be transformed. I can hardly wait to start the next one! I'm thinking all mirrors. The birds will adore it and it will sparkle like a sun in its own solar system, bringing light and beauty to its surroundings instead of adding to the overflowing landfills.

Stay tuned as we breathe new life into the six new balls...

Have a Little Faith

This little flower is appropriately symbolic for my life as an entrepreneur. After leaving a "secure" job over a year ago, I struggled for months with back pain, depression, chronic fatigue and insecurity; with my life, with my future, and with myself.

Making the decision to leave my job was tough. I knew that once I walked out the door I'd never go back and would finally have the freedom to choose the direction my life would go. But to where?

Initially, after leaving my job, I had gotten a catchy business name to become a professional organizer, only to realize that physically it would not be possible. Of course, I could have hired people, but I'd have had to charge a lot more than this current market would allow, so I dropped that idea.

After two back surgeries, I'm limited, physically, in what I can do. This includes sitting, even for a half hour at a time, without some kind of back pain. The inability to sit limits my ability to work in and out of the office. It was one of the main reasons I chose to leave my desk job of 21 years. Like I said, it was tough, but the best decision for me.

As a rule, I tend to look too far into the future, which causes me unnecessary worry and grief over events that have not, or may not, happen. It's important to "plan" ahead, but don't look too far ahead because inevitably the future will change your plans. I've always cringed at the common interview question "Where do you want to be in five years?" I mean, really, how does anyone know what the near future, let alone distant future, will bring?

Logically, of course, I know why an interviewer asks that question. They want to see if you know how to plan, have goals. However, on a gut level, I've always felt that question is not only irrelevant, but unfair, as today's job market is anything but stable. Chances are the person who interviews you for a job won't be there next month. Five years? Give me a break.

I've tried many things in my life, some have failed miserably and others have been highly successful only to eventually fall through the cracks, opposite of the flower which inspired this blog. My most successful endeavors in life were ones in which I have been creative. Therefore, in order to be successful in my life, my career of choice must involve creativity.

My passions have always been writing and photography. Having the internet at my disposal to write until my heart's content in too many blog sources to count, as well as being able to post a million photos if I so choose, certainly fulfills both of my needs.

The esoteric creativity of combined writing and photography is awesome, but not without flaws. Creativity by its nature doesn't necessarily guarantee monetary success. In order to make a living, we have to sell a product, whether it is our creativity in a neat package, or a physical product we use to enrich our lives. It's difficult to work at something and sell it too and hiring someone to sell for you isn't always an option if you have no money to pay them.

That's where faith comes in. Faith is the invisible bridge that holds us up when we feel like falling down. Faith is what carries us through when our world seems to crumble around us; people let us down, prices continue to rise, incomes plummet, more people lose their jobs. It's easy to lose faith in what you once believed in.

Sometimes life boils down to faith. Faith that we CAN and will survive, no matter what life throws at us. Faith that we CAN make our dreams a reality and recover what we've lost. After all, if faith is gone, what's left?

Priceless Moments

My love of photography began with my first camera, a Bell & Howell instamatic, which I received as a graduation gift in 1972. Over the years, I've owned many cameras; instant point-and-shoot, 35mm, even disposable. I've always been told I have "a good eye" for taking photos. Well, no doubt as I absolutely love photography. You could say it's one of my many artistic obsessions.

My experience with digital photography began six years ago when I bought my first digital camera, an Olympus with 4 megapixels. My digital photographic skills have grown, blossomed, you could say, and I soon realized that my skills had outgrown the Olympus's features. It was time to look for a new camera.

After researching, I decided on a 10 megapixel Canon which has the bells and whistles my Olympus could only dream about (sorry Olympus!) I'm continuously amazed at the many features my new camera has. Within minutes I'm able to post an entire afternoon's worth of photos online to share with family and friends. Amazing. Powerful. Fun!

Living in the 21st century, we've come to expect and demand things that give us pleasure while saving us time and money. If you love photography and gadgetry as much as I do, chances are you also love the ease at which a digital camera freezes the moment and shows it to you, immediately! Magical, exciting, powerful, the digital camera allows us to use photography at its full potential; and not sacrificing the integrity of the craft, but enhancing it.

Being a parent of two children and two grandchildren, I value, more than ever, capturing the special moments of their lives. Photographs immortalize the moment. When we give someone a photograph, we give them a legacy that would otherwise be lost. Digital photography makes it faster, easier than ever before to capture and share those important moments.

Life in the 21st century seems to move at warp speed. Everyone is so busy they hardly remember what they ate for dinner yesterday. Too much activity, too little time. Therefore, it's vital we take time and share those special moments. Likely we won't get a second chance. Time is continuous; it carries on long after we're gone. Our lives are finite. Memories fade.

Photos allow us to capture the moment, and share those moments we hold closest in our hearts.

And that is truly priceless.