9.22.2011

You're Invited ...

My Etsy Shop! [And Libby still, of course.]

Back in 2007, I had little ones.
My oldest had just started Kindergarten. My youngest I still toted around in an infant carrier. My middle had just gotten potty trained officially. We had just moved from Corpus Christi, TX to Kansas City, MO. My husband had just started a new job. I already had my own site ... but was introduced to Etsy. Etsy had traffic - unlike my own site. Etsy made it easy to have an online "shop" - unlike my own site. I gave it a try, opening up my own shop 4 years ago today. It was NOT a smashing success at first ... but it was a leap of faith. It was making myself more "public" ... since, let's admit it, my own site only was visited by my family & friends. It was as off the beaten path as you could get.
And this ... is what 4 years later looks like. Big kids. Everyone is potty trained [most of the time]. No infant seats - just booster seats. Libby is in Pre-Kindergarten! In 4 years I've gone from people asking me "Where do you find the time?"to ... [now that I have 3 kids in school 5 days a week] "What do you do with all your time?" My oh my things have changed.

4 years has also given me time to grown into my own skin. I have fine tuned what I want to do. I've had some trial & errors. Have had some amazing opportunities including two custom 3 foot x 3 foot quote canvases.  I've sold note cards & have added prints. I've had 188 sales to date. My shop has raised $1,781 that I didn't keep. $1,011 went to the Foundation for Inclusive Religious Education [F.I.R.E.] & this past April $770 was given to the Resource Center at our children's school, funding a Language Program. I've learned how to share our Autism journey with others because I learned that ignorance is not bliss. I realized that painting messages that create a moment of hope, strength or compassion for somebody are what I can do to make the world a kinder more loving place for my kids to grow up in ... especially the one for whom the world isn't always easy. But to be honest, seeing that the world isn't easy for him probably hurts the rest of us more than it does him. He's not always aware, but we are & it can be heart breaking. Our family having Autism has given me a purpose & a direction. It has sort of become my mission - to replace 1 hurtful moment with a happier one. Even when it's not Autism Awareness Month.

Life is about constant change - with the hope of improvement. That pretty much sums up the past 4 years. :)

So, now that my obligatory 4 year wrap up is done ... it's time to get on with the party. :)

First of all, no one has touched the cake. Please help yourself to a piece of the Strawberry Layer Cake. I made it from scratch. Even the cream [so no, it is not fat free]. :)
And what would a party be without a GAME? A no fun one, that's what! So the game is ... go to my shop. If you were to win either a 4x4, 5x5 or a 5x7 canvas ... which one would you choose? Then leave a comment below & let me know. If I draw your name ... you'll win it [unless it's sold in which case you can pick another?]. This game is only for the 4x4, 5x5 & 5x7 canvases ... One entry per person. Contest ends Monday 9/26 at midnight.
And since there will only be 1 winner ... I have a treat for everyone else. A coupon code to be used in my Etsy shop - to get 15% off any item/s in the store! Coupon code [4YEARSALE] is good now, but expires after Friday, 9/30 ... that way if you don't win the give-away & you had your heart set on something, you have a few days that you can still get it with your party discount. :)
THANK YOU for being my biggest fans! :) PARTY ON!

15 comments:

Sara said...

It is so hard for me to choose because I love them all! But if forced I would choose the Elizabeth Barrett Browning one about the blue being larger than the cloud. (Wow...my summarizing of that quote is so eloquent).

http://www.etsy.com/listing/81621132/ralph-waldo-emerson-quote-5x5-canvas

Congrats on 4 years!! I have two of your prints here in my office and they brighten my day!

laura said...

i would pick the 5 x 7 Helen Keller quote! i have a quote canvas from you already and LOVE it! happy 4 years!

Jaclyn Morgan said...

The Mother Theresa quote"peace begins with a smile"

Leah Warren said...

Be silly. Be honest. Be kind.

Dana said...

Happy 4th Etsy Birthday!!! Way to go girl..so many accomplishments!! Your look has changed so much over the last 4 years, you really found your niche!! I love them all but I'm finding that I really love the Seneca Quote!!

Karah said...

i like the ralph quote "you're nothing short of my everything!" :)
congrats on four years!!

Janette said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, cREaTebyRET!!! If I had to choose just ONE thing, it would be the Jonathan Swift 5X5 - what a great reminder to live each day to the fullest. :) (And, it is green -my fave color!)

Sara Nelson said...

I love the Elizabeth Barrett Browning quote - I have loved the idea of you my whole life. It really fits my daughter - I loved her long before she got here! :)

Cindy said...

Happy 4th!! Tough choice...the quotes you've chosen are so powerful! But the one that's really speaking to my heart today is Jonathan Swift's "May you live all the days of your life." BEAUTIFUL!

Lindsay - Pen and Paint said...

Happy day! You have taught me so much, inspired me so much and have become a dear friend.

I ADORE the new doily designs as you know :) and the Mother Teresa quote has been my favorite but I just saw the "wine" one and we are big wine fans around these parts, so you know that one too

K & S Dalbey said...

If I had a choose another AWESOME print it would be the 4x4 canvas of the Mother Teresa Quote, "Peace begins with a smile". Happy 4 years and thank you for your artistic inspiration!

Mandy said...

Happy 4 years! Congrats on not only sharing your art, but making a huge difference in doing so in so many ways! I love all of your work. I am thinking the Christopher Reeve one about choosing hope would be my choice.

Anonymous said...

"If you cannot fight, and you cannot flee, flow" is so fitting for me. Have it, love it, and each day it reminds my neurotic self to just breathe! - Angela Looper Jackson

Leslye Lewis said...

Congrats on your 4 yrs! I like Be Silly, Be honest, Be Kind!

Anonymous said...

My favorite quote is the "Be Silly" quote BUT for this contest I'm going to choose "May you live...your life." I really like this one too and plan to eventually (when I decorate the girls' rooms) buy the "Be Silly" quote on a larger canvas. Happy 4 years!

Jen Unruh