May Flowers

I’ve been a busy bee since the last time I wrote. I attended two farmers markets in my local town, one on 5/24 and the other just this past afternoon. Both were successful, and I’ve enjoyed getting to know my community better.

Speaking of the community, I’ve been getting my art into local stores. C and A Designs in Waseca, Minnesota, carries some of my watercolor work, and the owner of the Waseca Floral Shop has kindly agreed to sell my hand-painted greeting cards. Furthermore, my art prints will soon be available for purchase in the Waseca Art Center’s gift shop.

I’m excited about these new opportunities. I’ve put a lot of work into my business, and I love watching it grow from a small seed into a blooming flower. Still, I worry sometimes that I may be taking on too much. I'm not a small business. I'm not a micro business. I'm just me. I'm a one-woman production trying desperately to support my family with nothing but a brush and some grit because I can't work a traditional job when I have two disabled kiddos who depend on me.

I won’t be any good for my kids if I burn out, though, so I need to find ways to cut back. I need to allow myself to take breaks. I’ve decided, going forward, that I won't be doing anything art or business-related on Sundays. I will not attend markets. I will not paint. I will not package orders. I will not do any of the other 1,000 small tasks that keep my business running. I will also not be on social media. That will be the most difficult rule to follow, but I need ONE DAY a week where I disengage from all this and focus on other things.

As my daughter likes to say, "It's good for me!"

Until next time,

Sandia