Let me just begin by saying I love everything I do and share and that I cannot believe I am even writing these words….I truly gave it my all.
Change is inevitable, and making changes in my business is hard, a business I created, enjoyed and loved with my heart and hands. Maybe it’s just me wanting to hold onto ‘things’ that I wish could be the same, maybe it’s just hard letting go.
But, just maybe there something even more exciting waiting for me if I just let go of a few ‘things’ that I wish would stay the same.
This is not ‘out of business‘, this is just change.
A Few Changes
To Zoom Classes
Zoom classes became my bread and butter, along with publications and pattern sales. It afforded me an income to earn a living and be able to call it ‘a business’. Sadly and unfortunately class participation averages went from 60, to 40, to 30, to 2 participants each month over the past 2 years. Change was happening before I cared to admit it….I needed to make the change that was right in front of me.
Our Zoom Gathering Schedule will remain until February 2025 (here). My hopes are that you will fill a seat and enjoy a Gathering or Two until they are no longer offered.….with much sadness I might add.
I am grateful, appreciate and thankful for the friendships we have made over the years and for the continued support.
For Now, but maybe not forever, one day we will all play together again.
Our Keepsake Journal
The Keepsake Journals have been the most rewarding, most joyful part of my Artful Journey ~ and although I will continue to create the designs and the written patterns ~ there will not be a Zoom Gathering Scheduled, or a FaceBook Group to share.
And each Keepsake Journal page will roll out ‘as created‘ and not necessarily on a monthly basis as previously done. I will continue to share each new design and pattern thru this website (here).
for now, but maybe not forever.
The Keepsake Journals are forever in my heart, and so grateful for this Journey with you, the ‘Keepsakers’.
We’re still Keepsaking!
And to Our Instructional Pattern
It’s all I know. I design, take notes, type it up, photograph it and share it. It is my passion, living and enjoyment.
Back in the day it was easy to create a design and offer it to a publisher, create a book, offer a pattern, and create a class. Not so long ago it was ‘a given’ to sell at least 50 to 100 patterns for each release …..unfortunately over the past 2 years I have sold no more than 2 a month, yes 2. There are a lot of factors to this ~ lack of interest, slowing industry, slow economy, destash group resales, social media agorithms, not paying enough to the search engines ~ and maybe even out of site, out of mind.
For now ~ I will continue to offer new instructional patterns for all the Keepsake Journals and a few others with no set release schedule (and of course the ol’ favorites are still available) ~ we have alot of sketches and ideas. We’ll take it one day at a time,
The Blog, Daily Dose (here) , Gallery (here) and Website (here) will still remain ‘as is‘ for your enjoyment. The Blog may change just a tad ~ blogging when the time is right vs on a set schedule.
It brings me great joy to create and share with you.
To Social Media
I’ve been making changes to my Social Media presence for a while now and I can honestly say I feel ‘better’ as a person and as a business person without the constant 24/7. Life is being lived.
I have checked in from time to time even outside of my ‘Facebook Friday’ rule ~ but each time it left me feeling empty and sad, I just wanted it to be the ol’ Facebook that kept us engaged, sharing and together. So as far as changes ~ I just may even be less present. It goes without saying ~ I miss the ol way, the ol connections.
My artful time is better spent creating than trying to make the reach, trying to make Social Media do what I want it to do.
This is not goodbye, or not forever, but for now ~ it is simply just a few changes. Maybe these changes are not what I would have chosen for my business, and things will look very different than I would have planned. But what I do know is that good things are ahead, it’s in the Promise, and in my Faith. These changes may just be making room for more (and different) growth for this little business built on Creativity.
Thank you for each follow, each purchase, each class seat filled, each comment, each message, each phone call, each gift, each subscriber, each newsletter subscription, each note and for all the encouragement along this Artful Journey. It is everthing.
For Now, but not Forver. Keep Following, we’re still here, we just look a little different.
~*~
Follow Our ‘Daily Dose’ of Inspiration (here). Daily.
