This week I took a break from my paying job for the purpose of focusing on my personal life, a big part of which is this painting gig I'm trying to get off the ground.  It has been so refreshing to spend hours (yes, hours!) doing something I love and that energizes a different part of my brain and soul.  

What did I do this week?

• I'm becoming more and more familiar with the website design and building
• I've got a great idea in my mind for my logo - it's just been difficult to accurately transform that idea onto paper.  I KNOW - ironic, right?!  I'm almost there though
• I've a great idea for a special little thank you gift that goes into each purchase (I'm totally stoked about this!)
• I'm reviewing paper samples for my holiday gift card prints
• I'm digging deeper into my purpose

Soon, I'll quit fussing with the website, and plan the official launch, which will be shared via Instagram, because, oh yeah - I'm learning the fascinating features of the power of Instagram as well.  So when you see some odd pictures of me they may, or may not, be intentional.  Stay healthy. XO

Author Mandy Hale wrote that line above.  I actually didn't know that it was really something written until I googled it.  I just thought it was a saying that people said.  Turns out it's actually a quote.  Look what we learned today. 

I'm getting ready to share my website and shop with a broader audience, and yeah, I'm a little nervous.
I've tested it as much as I can, I've released it to a friendly audience for testing and feedback.  
I can tweak it til I'm dead and that won't be very fun. 

I remember that it's necessary to just to 1% better than I did yesterday.  So, the goal today is to edit the descriptions to include the shape of the paintings, and make the images smaller to speed up the site (so that when I put one million more inventory items you'll be able to access them quickly).  It seems like good 1% to address today.   XO

As a project manager in "real" life, I work by plan.  By a structure.  By dates, deadlines, readiness, resources and surprise findings.
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It is a required necessity during my technical days to find ways to be efficient, to do things in parallel. To write an email, listen actively to a conference call, IM with some team members while texting with others; all while thinking of the next meeting or next item on the to-do list. It's required because some "to-do" must be "to-done" in order; and when they can't (not *if*, but *when*) I must be able to flex focus to something else so people aren't sitting idle, and the customer isn't confused about progress. 

I had an epiphany of sorts when it comes to my "art" life.  There are processes which have to be done in an order - i.e, obtain the domain name, THEN learn how to use the tool to design, THEN upload product information, THEN set up payment connections.  None of these can be done in parallel with writing a blog (such as this), or painting a picture.  It's a beautiful experience to decide what to do next, and know that it can be changed quickly as I control this little space of the world. 

I'm new at this, and there are so many things I want to share.  Glitches and misspellings will be found (I hate typos!), links to the site may not work smoothly at first.  Social media postings may be sporadic.  

With all that, I hope you'll join me on my journey.  I'd love to have your company.  XO

Bit by bit ... or rather as Anne Lamott tells us "bird by bird"