To New Ventures

So this weekend. I started an Etsy shop. Weird right? I tried to write out a little intro and just sidle up to that little slice of information so coolly and casually, but after several nights of little sleep it would appear that my smoothness is no longer intact. So there it is: I started a shop, and you can visit it by clicking right here.

 

For the past couple of years I’ve become much more interested in design and photography. I always say that it’s Nate’s fault; before I met him I had no interest in artistic things. I knew nothing about using a camera, paid zero attention to light, and just plain didn’t care about WHY pretty things are pretty.

 

And then this amazing man waltzed into my life and changed everything, including the way that I actually look at the actual world around me. Actually. 🙂

 

Through that introduction and the way that my career has blossomed I’ve realized that I love beautiful things, and want to be surrounded by beauty as often as possible. As Elsie de Wolfe said, “I am going to make everything around me beautiful. That will be my life.”

 

Here’s the thing right now: life is crazy. We are in a constant state of adjusting to two children. I’m in a big fat limbo of feeding/playing/sleeping schedules, trying to spend time with friends, cherishing time with my husband, cooking, exercising, working, and trying to figure out if there’s time in the week to shower. Yes, really on that last one – I have to literally schedule out time to consider personal hygiene.

 

When it came time for me to consider blogging, speaking, and other career moves I knew that it was time to start considering a pursuit of more photography and more design. I also knew that it would behoove me to turn those passions into income sooner rather than later. I’m not one who believes in “signs” all that often, but God kept putting people and articles and podcasts in my way that all pointed to the same thing: JUST START. So I did!

 

I started the shop with some of our favorite photographs from our trips over the years as high-resolution downloads that are perfect for printing any way you choose. My goal is to learn more about design and use that knowledge to create really great products – digital downloads and other products alike. I think the biggest thing is that this is super scary. It doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with food blogging, which is the niche I’ve carved for myself over the past 5+ years. It’s a new venture, one that I’m simply following on faith alone. But I’ve started. And for that I’m just so excited!

 

What’s something that scares you? And how have you overcome that fear? I’m all about inspiration!