the possibilities are endless or following my own advice

Greetings and Salutations!

This is my very first attempt at blogging. I'm at a crossroads in my life right now and instead of just doing my usual endless list making I am instead going to try blogging. So ummm... where to begin? hmmmm....

I guess I should share some preliminary information about myself. I'm a Detroiter. I share a home with my Beloved Klingon(love of my life) and our fierce young kitty Selina. I'm an Artist in various mediums;tattoo, quilting, painting, letterpress printer, fiber arts, monster maker, creator of assorted dolls and creatures, maker. I am an avid gardener and love all things creative and will try just about anything! My usual response when I see something on Pinterest is to say "oh I can make that"! and merriment then ensues :-) I love to wrangle my family and friends into my latest experiment. I've built from scratch a whole wall closet in our bedroom as well as the interior of my art studio, multiple shelves, tattoo tables, desks, bookcases, work tables,etc. and none of them have fallen down yet! although there may be a slight gangster lean in one or two :-) I am a homemaker and last year had to end a longtime career with our police department as a Telecommunications Operator( telephone crime reporting unit) due to serious health issues.

I am self taught in everything and will shamelessly head to home depot with a sketch of what I am trying to build and preliminary lists of ingredients for whatever project I am cooking up at the time.
I have a talented and beautiful daughter who along with her soulmate and husband are full time artists who inspire me with their fearlessness and hustle. They have been out of town for the past 7 weeks doing an artist in residency at the recording studio & compound of a Grammy award winning recording artist who commissioned them to create wonderful murals, art installations, paintings, merchandising, etc.

While they have been away, Madre(lil old me) has been minding their store which is located in a wonderful local artists market. I have been keeping myself busy between customers by working on my own sewing projects. The other merchants & artists have been great! Giving me lots of positive feedback and support. I was feeling uncertain about my work and was frustrated by the necessity to use a sewing machine for more aspects of construction due to my health issues~diabetic neuropathy in my hands, graves disease, etc. Adjusting to the changes has been hard since the way I worked in the past of sewing everything by hand is no longer possible. Now when I make a doll or stuffed critter I use the machine for piecing and do all the finish and detail work by hand. So I think it's the best of both worlds. The machine sewing provides greater durability and handwork gives the unique and custom aspects which I love so much.

While working on my personal sewing projects I began to be approached by customers requesting to buy my creations and to place custom orders for my art! To which I replied, "Hell Yes"!!!! wooohooooo!!!! my little creations started going to new homes and it's such a positive affirmation :-)

So this is where I'm at right now.... I applied for a shop of my own in the artists market and they (to my great shock!) approved me to join them as soon as there is an available opening. The market owner says that they keep a very short (4-5) waiting list of talented and creative artists and that I am in that que now. When I read his email I burst into happy tears :-) I felt like Sally Field when she won an award and cried out from the podium "you like me, you really like me!"
My focus now is on sewing and creating an inventory of dolls and monsters so that when I get the call to move forward,when opportunity knocks! I will be ready :-) The call could come at any time, in as little as a month or as long as a year. Just depends on the availability and turnaround of current vendors. I don't have any control over that part of the process so I'm controlling the part I can.
 It's so critical to do your due diligence when awaiting your dream life, so that you can be prepared to walk through that opening door.

I have ordered new business cards,reopened my Etsy shop, began posting on my businesses F
acebook page and am sketching out ideas for shop displays and decoration.
I'll be posting and sharing pictures of my progress and hope that you all will join me for what is sure to be a bumpy ride!