The End Of The Rainbow

Yay! I'm so excited this morning!  This past week, I've had some up and down moments.  I have been actively working at starting a computer graphics business.   I love learning to work on the illustrations, but then I get a bit frustrated when it comes to the marketing.  Let's just say I do not have a talent for reading and understanding contracts.   It is very important to find a good venue for selling my designs and for me to find the right target market to suit me.  There are times when I think too broadly and want my designs to appeal to everyone, but this leaves me with no direction or motivation.  Art is not about selling, it is about expressing yourself.   I have realized this week that if my artwork does not appeal to me first, then I won't be motivated to create.  So, why am I so excited? I started forming my business plan.  This forced me to consider what my goals really were.   While struggling with that, I discovered a target market that appeals to me!   Trust me, that's exciting because I will now be able to focus all my attention on ideas I like.  The focus of my designs will be of homesteading, nature, and healthy living.

This past week I started an online portfolio for my photography.  I love getting to share my photos with you.  Please see them and leave comments on ones you like.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildlivingarts/

 

A few days ago, I make another trek up the hill behind our house.  I was happy during the last hike to find an open area with lots of blueberry bushes, and raspberry plants, and a tree that I think is a hazelnut (but I can't be sure until the snow melts away and the leaves spring to life again).   This time I was anxious to get all the way to the top near the bluffs and have a good look around.  Everything was so beautiful in the crisp morning air.  See the rainbow  that overlooks our place down below?  I know I'm in the right place for me.  In the other photo, the foreground is a hill covered with thornless raspberries.  That's where you'll find me come berry picking season.



 

Christmas is Coming!

This past couple weeks have been a wonderful time of settling in to routine a bit more, and also a road trip to Dawson Creek for a few errands.  My plan for the first month or two had been to just relax and just ease myself in to life in this new place.  Everything is so very different here than what I had previously known.  This week I felt an urge to get started working on my artwork and ease myself to the task of starting a home based business.  There is much to do and plan.  Setting a schedule for my day has a few more bugs to be worked out, though I think I will never accomplish everything in a day that I would like to.

The drive around the loop to Dawson Creek (Home> Chetwynd > Dawson Creek> Fort St John> Hudson's Hope> Home) was gorgeous, and a long, long drive.  Along the way I felt a renewed love of the area with the crisp pure air and a hope for the plans and dreams my husband and I have made for our future.  It was great to just get out for a day while accomplishing a few tasks for myself and Tom.

Christmas will be here soon!  I am so excited to be able to celebrate Christmas with Tom.  Our first Christmas together will always be special.  There's no doubt we can expect to have a white Christmas.  I've never lived where the snow stayed for more than a few days.  It has been quite a bit colder here, but I have still been getting out for walks down a trail or two.  I will need to get a warmer coat soon.

The photo above is the view from the hills up behind our house.  There, I found the motherload of blueberry bushes and raspberry plants.  I can't wait until they are all set with ripe fruit.  My mouth is already watering with the thought of berry smoothies, berry pies, jams, and berry sauces to cover everything.  This morning I made crepes for breakfast and dreamed of the berry syrup I would use on them.  For now, though, I was quite pleased with the sweet smooth maple syrup sent up from my Mother-in-law in Wisconsin. Delicious!