Earth Day Update

Are you doing anything fun for Earth Day?

I am. Sort of.

You remember this post don't you, from way back, where I laid out some wishes and un-wishes regarding potential money-making schemes? And you had so many good ideas and a ton of words of encouragement? You remember. Ya, that was a while ago now.

[Me and my beloved TP rolls, 21 Apr 2011]

So I'm celebrating Earth Day by filling YOU in on the things I've been doing to try to make money from the bloggin' and the craftin'. Yay, party. Note the use of the word "try". I haven't made any actual real honest-to-goodness cash yet. But that's not stopping this little engine. NO.

And, yes, I'm still terrified by it all... Nevertheless, here are the baby-steps I've taken towards that sly and elusive goal: money.

• First, I've submitted a few article ideas to magazines. I've done that a few times now with mixed results. I've experienced both rejection and acceptance. I expected the rejection. Part of growing and learning and all. It's okay. I know of rejection. I can take it. But I'm super-happy to report that one of my ideas has been accepted! Yip yipee! Which encourages me to just keep trying. Oh, and I will definitely let you know when the article comes out. But that'll take some time.

• Second, I am writing and self-publishing a crafty ebook... It's true. Bet you're wondering how that's going eh? Um...well...slow as snails to be perfectly honest. But it IS going. And I actually manage to burst forth with little squeals of delight at times. Eep! My hope is that the book will be done by October. That's m' goal.

• Third, I'm creating some designs for sale. I have a few in the works. I'll be selling them from here (most likely).

So that's that... What say you? Thoughts?

I'm definitely still learning to balance all these various projects. And the blog. And my family of course. Thank you so much for your patience while I learn to negotiate my way through it all.

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Finally, I just want to let you know that my family and I will be going overseas for the next 10 days. I've NEVER been overseas! It's kinda of a big deal. I am a teensy bit excited... So I'll be taking a bloggy break and spending these next 10 days with my little family. It'll be a real, gadget-free-vacation. Is that even possible?

Well you have a quiet, low-impact Earth Day, won't you? I think I'm gonna go recycle some junk mail or something... Have a wonderful Easter! And I'll be back here on Monday, the 2nd of May 2011, refreshed and ready to go. Until then, you take good care of yourself, OK?

P.S. Thank you so much to everyone who voted for me on Babble Blogs 2011 by the way. You are just the sweetest!

Changes Afoot

Today I am nervous and a little excited. Yes, it's a day of jumbled feelings, a moment of fear coupled with a lot o' happy. I feel like I'm at a turning point and I'm glad you're here because I want to talk with you about this.

So here's the thing. I'm just going to put it out there straight as an arrow, okay?

I would like to turn my love of blogging and creating into an income. The financial goal: make enough to pay for my crafting supplies. Big dreams.

(Me at 3 years old in the pretty, and very very dirty, beige dress. With my family.)

Here's some backstory. For the past 7 months, I have been jobless. In June 2010, I left a position I'd held for many years. It was a lucrative job with lovely co-workers, but I was very unhappy with the work. That's an understatement. I was miserable. One evening my husband looked me straight in the eye and said firmly: "Michele, you have to quit your job. It's not worth it." Obviously, my husband lived and shared my unhappiness everyday. So I gave my notice, and after the allotted weeks, I left. At the time, I decided it would be best for me to lay low for a while. I wasn't ready to look for work. I needed time to think things through. I needed to figure out what it is I wanted to do "with my life". So that's what I've been doing. Figuring. I've spent the last 7 months figuring.

(Me, 9 years old)

I knew when I started this blog, that it would be good for me. Having a place to collect my thoughts, a place to post and organize my projects, that could only be a good thing. I didn't realize what a significant impact it would have on me. It has really helped to motivate me and focus my energy. Through the blog I've flexed and stretched my creative muscle. I've gained some insights into who I am and what I need to do to be happy. I have also come to realize that the blog isn't just mine. True, I am the main contributor, and sure, it's named after me. But, were it not for you, this little experiment would be long over. The show-and-tell aspect of the blog, the sharing, the teaching, the receiving of feedback, that cannot be underplayed in my case. It is very important to me that you are here and participating.

Other conclusions that I've come to in the past little while include the likes of these:

• I am multi-craftural. I like to bounce from one type of crafting to another. It keeps me interested and challenged.
• I relish design and invention. I get a kick out of the whole process of coming up with new ideas using a range of materials.
• I love to recycle. Obvious.
• I don't want to open an Etsy shop. I couldn't create 100 flamingoes or 17 plastic wreaths or a dozen toilet roll ornaments. I don't have the stamina nor the mental focus.
• I don't want to fill my blog with advertisements.

(Me, 19 years old)

Having said that, I am ready to kick it up a notch. I am ready to once again make a contribution to my family's income. If I could pay for my supplies through the blog, then my husband wouldn't have to, and that would be so great, I think. But am I being realistic? Is this goal within the realm of possibilities?

And that's where you come in. I'd like to enlist your help. May I get your most blunt and honest answers and advice? I'm very serious about this: I want you to be as frank and forthright as possible. Here are my questions:

1. Where do you think I should go from here? In other words, if you were me, what would be your next step?
2. Why do you visit this blog?
3. If I started selling tutorials or patterns, would you buy them?
4. If I installed a tip jar on my sidebar, would you contribute?

You may wish to comment anonymously this time. To do that, go to the "Comment As" drop down menu below the "Post A Comment" box and select "Anonymous". That way you can let me have it honest-to-goodness.

(Me, now)

If you have any other comments or suggestions, I am ALL ears. I value your opinion, and I am so grateful for your help. I truly look forward to reading what you have to say.

Thanks so much and have a lovely lovely day! ♥