Lengthy post of ramblings...

(Photo Credit: Beth Retro)

So I'm sitting here in the middle of my fifth month of unemployment. I've gotten some promising news and am interviewing this week for a position I want insanely bad. I feel like it was a job description I'd write for myself. Except I would have added horse care...haha. I'm crossing my fingers so hard it hurts. More explanation on it after the interview.

Anyways, so I'm sitting here with my coffee looking over my neglected Etsy shop-I haven't been too into it the past couple months, ah depression-and took a look at my total sales. 758. That's right. Holy crap, I say! It's a funny thing, when someone buys something you put all your love and creativity in. I still feel just as happy when I sell something now as I did that first sale back in 2006. So...Thank you to all my buyers! I've said it before, but I need to say it again.

Without my Etsy sales, I would be up Shit Creek as some say. During my layoff, I've saved every dime from my sales, hoping when I got a job I could use it for some debt or my car payments. However, my dear ol' student loans are due this month because the forbearance is over (thought I'd be employed now) and that's where all that money is headed. That, and some bills also.

I did use some of my Etsy money to buy things for myself as well, how could I not? Like flowers for the yard, clothes (on clearance), books to read, treats for Cherry, some home decor to spruce up the place, etc.

To make a long story a bit longer, thanks again to all those who support the arts, the indie designers, the starving artists, and the local businesses. :)

Here's to hoping I'll be employed for my next post.

-M

How to make Lemonade.

On Friday, January 28th, I was laid off. I knew I was getting laid off. I was job hunting in the weeks leading to my final days. Thinking. Crying. I let stress fill up my life and felt like a failure as a designer. This was my first real job starting my career and it came to an abrupt end. It didn't break my heart to leave, but it made me feel worthless.
A friend of mine at work, who was also laid off as a designer, told me about a short, inspirational film called "Lemonade". After spending a couple days at my parents farm to clear my head, I came back home and watched it. It sends a great message and I urge anyone who needs some creative inspiration or has been kicked to the curb to watch it.


I still don't know whether to be excited or to keep slipping into depression and anger, but between talking to my family, my husband, and watching this little movie, I hope I can start seeing the sunlight again. Which is incredibly hard to do in February.