Thank you

Thank you all for your very important insights and advice in response to yesterday’s post. I feel you all are truly inspired in what you wrote.

I love blogging and being a blogger. I consider it a personal indulgence that's relaxing and fun. But my other hat I wear a great deal of the time is that of being a business owner and the CEO of Rosehaven Cottage Inc. With that comes the business responsibilities that are a lot less fun than blogging. Sometimes, I really need fresh perspectives and insights into what I face in running my business. Although I hesitated posting my business stuff on the blog, there was a part of me down deep inside that knew if I published what I'd been analyzing and thinking through for a couple of months now, that there would be someone out there that would have very helpful and important perspectives to add to my own. And I got far more than I ever could have wished for!

Thank you!

I won't go into too much detail because this blog isn't the place where I discuss business, however, I will say that I am in the process of formulating my business plan forward based on all of your advice, insights and suggestions as well as the ones that have come to me as I've read your words of encouragement and counsel. In one of my own handmade journals (of course), I’m journaling the insights. A huge necessity in running a creative business is a clear and cohesive picture of the path forward and I'm seeing that coming into focus.

Hubby and I are also discussing marketing workflow scenarios as far as what isn't working right now and is simply a waste of my time and energy. There's a pervading marketing practice out there in the land of online artisans that espouses utilizing every social networking tool available to market one's creations. But what I've found is that it doesn't really do much except irritate one's friends; market to those who are trying to sell stuff and not buy; and give poachers a heads-up on what ideas and concepts they can steal from you. My count was up to 7+ venues that I had to update for every single new piece I released! Yikes! That practice is going bye-bye.

And as many of you reminded me, what brings me real joy is sharing my creations with others. Making sales just happens to be a necessary evil that is part of sharing. So, I'm re-evaluating how I can safely offer my creations for free (as well as for sale).

One way is for me to tell you all that you are free to download the photo above and use it as a desktop on your computer. Here's how to do that if you don't already know:

• Click on the image above to bring up the full-size 11x14 image.
• Once the full-size image is up on your screen, right-click anywhere on the image.
  
• Select "Save image as..." from the pop-up menu that will appear.
  
• Save the image wherever you want on your computer with whatever name you wish.
  
• If you're on a PC, right click on your current desktop and choose "Properties". Click on the "Desktop" tab. Then click on "Browse" to find the file you just saved on your computer. Select it and you're done.
• If you're on a Mac, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, and then click Desktop & Screen Saver. Open the Desktop pane of Desktop & Screen Saver preferences. Click Desktop. Choose a folder from the list on the left; then click the image you just downloaded.
  
• Voile! You've got a new desktop!

Thank you all again! You are wonderful!