Depoe Bay Oregon Sunset

Hi Friends and Fans!

After a few months of soul searching and heart changes, I have decided to make Simply the Best Creations back to what it used to be—a HOBBY! (like it used to be before 2009). At least for now—which means it could change later!

For the last three years I have worked myself to the bone on making Simply the Best Creations work as a entrepreneurial  career, but for the last 5 months or so I’ve been feeling the need to make some changes creatively speaking, and on focusing my attentions else where for the moment.

No matter what the experts tell you, the economy DOES have an impact on your sales. You have to work triply harder MORE SO than what you did a few years ago. I got an eye opener working at the holiday boutique in Upland this last December. The owner of this boutique enlightened me. He informed me that in the last 30 years of running holiday boutiques all over Southern California, the sales have dwindled down to about a third of what they used to be….and all the advertising and marketing was NOT the problem. People are just watching their money more. He has the facts to back that statement up. It’s called accounting.

But it isn’t just about the economy. You see, it’s not that I didn’t try or that I did or did not do anything I should or shouldn’t of done. Sometimes life just tells you to go another direction (part of it me knowing that living a more simple life is better for me too). I no longer feel as passionate about painting for a LIVING where marketing and being on the computer took up most of my time. Rather I feel as if I need to go back to doing it for fun, and not because I need to meet a deadline or to do a special order for someone.

When painting was JUST a hobby, sometimes I went a few months without working on any projects at all. I would work on OTHER hobbies and interests, as painting was not the only thing I was passionate about. In the last few months, I’ve been feeling a tug on my heart. I would  just paint and ignore other creative projects I liked to do as well, especially personal projects such as scrap booking my photos and being more physically active in my life. So, I am making the big switch over again so I can pursue that part of me once again!

I have enjoyed this creative  journey very much though! I have learned so much AND I have not given up the “entrepreneur” in me just yet either! I am keeping the door open for future opportunities.

I will still continue to paint and share my projects on this website and on my Facebook profile! Maybe I’ll even make jewelry, create greeting cards or make some embellishments for scrap booking. Anything. It doesn’t really matter. One of the reasons I named this business SIMPLY THE BEST CREATIONS was to be able to create anything I wanted without it just being dedicated to doing ONE type of art or craft!

I will continue to occasionally sell stuff on this website AND on my ETSY shop. I may even continue to paint ornaments for Christmas … but I will do this leisurely, and just paint when I feel like it! We shall see what life brings!

Thank you for being part of my creative journey!

Tomorrow, Part 2 of 3, my tentative painting plan (as a hobby) for 2012.