I have started with the tote bags I have been painting, and so far I like the results. I am reading up on this, and plan to branch out into silk scarves, t-shirts, probably anything I can dye on. I am using alcohol based inks which seem to work very well. I love fabric and am really enjoying working with fabric as a surface to paint on.

Pecoglyph Friends symbol on hand dyed canvas tote

I am also in a new group, Pro-crafters Co-op of Metro Denver. What a great group of people! And, so enthusiastic and energetic. Wow! We are planning our first show, Mother’s Day Gift Fair on May 1. You can follow us on our blog: http://procrafters.blogspot.com. We are also on Twitter and Facebook. There are going to be a lot of exciting things coming from us, so keep watching our feeds. Besides our own fair on May 1, we will be attending many local ones throughout the year as a group, and I will keep you posted on all of those.

Kokopelli on canvas hand dyed with blues, greens and purples

I have been busy getting new items to sell on Etsy and for the upcoming fair. I used the new technique on a few of them and hope you like them as much as I do. I am a big fan of tote bags, being a “bag” lady from way back. I have always carried all those things I needed for work and could not get in my purse. You know, lunch, spare shoes, books, maybe some hand work, umbrella, gloves, hat, etc. You get the picture. We all do it. These bags are so much fun for carrying those things. They also will work great for the beach or poolside.

Flamingo on black canvas tote bag

Don’t you love this flamingo bag!!  I am not usually a big flamingo person, but this one is just so much fun.  This is done with regular acrylic fabric paints, so I am sticking with my old reliable too.

Day lilies on red canvas

I like the combination of red and yellow.  I have used it in my house for decor.  Therefore, this bag was just a natural choice for me.  Day lilies are beautiful flowers and the yellow ones so cheerful.  Put the yellow on red and what an eyepopping tote.  Well, at least I think so.

I haven’t been this focused on my painting in quite some time.  I am very energized and excited about what I am doing.  All I do is think painting.  What I can paint on what, the colors, the technique.  It is so much fun!!!  Good thing I am feeling this way since I need to get so much done.  I find so many things a rude interruption to my creating.

Keep watching, I will be posting more goodies over the next few weeks.  Take care and God bless you all.

This was taken in Steamboat Springs, and I am ready for Spring.

I have been asked to donate 16 of my painted tote bags to a women’s retreat here in Colorado. I get a discount to the retreat and will be able to have a table to sell some of my other products. I think this is a great chance for me to get my name out there, and get some exposure for my work. I met with the woman who is organizing it and we finalized how she wants the bags to be done, and they are going to be FUN and funky. I am so excited to be doing them.

Friday night the procrafters networking group I have joined met for the second time. We are looking into becoming a co-op in order to enter some of the local high-end shows as a group. This helps not only with the cost, but set up, and staffing, as well as having more inventory in the booth. None of us have enough inventory for the really expensive shows.

We are also going to hold a show of our own just before Mother’s Day. We are looking at having all kinds of exciting things available, as well as our own exciting merchandise to sell. This is going to be awesome! I will keep everyone posted on this, as this is going to be an awesome event.

I am really going to be a painting fool in the next two months, but this is what I love. I am so motivated and inspired right now.

One of my pieces was chosen to be in a Treasury on Etsy. I always find this exciting, and I feel very flattered.

This is the item listed in the Etsy Treasury

I sold a birdfeeder on Etsy this week. This is always exciting news as I haven’t sold a lot of items. I feel very good at the direction I have decided to take, focusing more on the bags, the birdhouses and feeders, as well as some of the signs and plagues. This is what I love to do, and I think you ought to do what you love to do.

I had to work at one of the facilities for three days this week. I was there half days and then home for my regular work. It so hard for me to have to get dressed up and drive to work now. I have gotten very spoiled, very fast, working at home.

Well, I guess that covers it for now.  I am so excited about all this, and must get to work painting.

Going to leave you with some happy pictures.

Cheryl

Steamboat, so ready for color in my world again.

Clark's Nutcracker in Rocky Mtn NP, I took this pic and plan on painting one of these guys soon.

]]> http://peaksandvalleys.wordpress.com/2010/02/28/exciting-things-are-happening/feed/ 0 peaksandvalleys Steamboat Springs 117 Etsy 262 Steamboat Springs 150 RMNP birds 019 http://peaksandvalleys.wordpress.com/2010/02/17/working-from-home/ http://peaksandvalleys.wordpress.com/2010/02/17/working-from-home/#comments Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:16:13 +0000 peaksandvalleys http://peaksandvalleys.wordpress.com/?p=24 ]]> I have been so productive and was able to get a lot of painting done.  Yesterday I took pictures of my new products so I can get them in my Etsy shop.

Welcome Spring Sign

I love working t home!  There are times when I am waiting or work to come in (be uploaded), and I can do things at home.  Before when I was at the office waiting for the work, I would read, play Solitaire, surf the net (all with my boss’s knowledge).  Now I can actually do things around the house.  Yesterday when I had to a very long wait, I did a load of clothes (bags to paint actually), and took photos of my new work.  I even had time to get some of them resized for Etsy.  How cool is that?  This wait time used to be wasted time, now I get things done.  I love it!

When I first started working from home the beginning of this year, I was so content to stay home all the time, because I love my home.  Now I find that by the third day staying in, I am ready to out and I pretty much bolt out the door as soon as I can.  I love especially being here at home when it snows.  No more yucky streets to navigate to get to the office.

Spring tote bag

Since I am home during the day, I find I am more willing to go to things in the evenings.  I used to come home and not want to leave the house again.  I have become a member of a Procrafters Network Group that meets once a month at the JoAnns where I teach.  I teach classes at JoAnns, and I am going to add to my curriculem.

I have been invited to join the English as a Second Language group at my church.  We are looking at me working with the kids, teaching painting or in what ever function would work for me.  We have a group teaching English to new immigrants to the country and to refugees we sponsor.  I also teach Sunday School and attend church services.

On the weekends I spend time with my daughter, son-in-law, and two granddaughters.  Every other Saturday I take the youngest one to her dance class, then we hang out together.  If she is available, we include her older sister too.  I love that time with the girls.

All these activities are important for keeping one socializing.  When we work outside the home in an office, a big part of our socializing is done at the office.  Now that I don’t have that, I feel more like doing these other activities and they keep me from becoming a hermit.  Yes, I do have my husband at home, but I need to visit with women occasionally.

Funky birdhouse

I am saving money on gas.  I find I only gas up about once a month now.  I am saving lots of money on clothes.  All I need are jeans and T-shirts.  Working at home would probably not work for everyone.  You have to be disciplined, and enjoy your own company during the day.  If you are one that enjoy all the politics and socializing offered in an office, and the noise of an office, working at home would not work for you.

What I have done as far as discipline is to stick to my routine.  I get up at the same time I did when going to the office.  I eat breakfast and have my coffee while watching the news.  I then get ready for work, which means showering and changing into my jeans and T-shirt.  I think it is important not to lounge around in my pajamas.  I have never been one to do that unless I am ill anyway, but sure didn’t want to get it started now.  I do keep my slippers or flipflops on, however, I have always hated shoes, even tennis shoes.  This way I don’t begin anything that might side track me and put the work off until in the evening, or even the next day.  This routine has worked very well for me.

Since my husband is still out of work and at home all day, when I am ready to begin working I say to him, “I am going to work now.”  He tells me to have a nice day, and he knows that I am not to be interrupted.  When I am done, I let him know by telling him, “I home now.”  This works for us.

Working from home, I love it!!!

PS  The pictures spread throughout this blog have nothing to do with working from home, but are the photos I took yesterday of my new stock for Etsy.  To see more go to my shop at: blossomsbirdsbeads@etsy.com

Thanks, until next time,

Cheryl

Mountain scene inspirational plague

First, my blog name, this is so difficult to come up with.  The first one I tried was already taken, and this was after laboring over the name and consulting with family.  So, back to the drawing board when it was not available.  It was amazing how quickly we agreed on the new one, Peaks and Valleys. Then I was ecstatic when it was available.

Peaks and Valleys speaks to me for many reasons.  I live in Colorado, so there are peaks and valleys in my world, literally.  My life has peaks and valleys, in work, play, my faith, family and just plain old day to day.  Fortunately, I am lucky and feel I have a lot more peaks than I do valleys.  So that gives some background on the name and most likely the content.

Now a brief introduction to me.  I am Cheryl, a native of Colorado, I was born in Southern Colorado.  I moved to the Denver metro area 21 years ago. I am a Christian and my faith in the Lord is number one in my life, family and friends are next.  I am married to a wonderful man, who is a transplant from Virginia. We love the outdoors, and spend a great deal of time exploring what Colorado has to offer.  I have two grown children, a son and a daughter.  I am the grandmother of seven: 4 boys and 3 girls.  The two oldest boys recently made me a great-grandmother, they both now have sons of their own, born only a few months apart.

I work full time and get to do some traveling with my job.  I recently was able to set up a home office, and now work full time from home.  A dream come true, as I love being home.

For relaxation, I paint on anything.  I can shut out a lot of the world when I am on a project.  I have an Etsy shop, Blossoms, Birds and Beads, and also sell at local craft shows.  I have to have an outlet for the painting. I also read, have become a bird watcher, love history and visiting historical sites, antiguing, flea markets, and making jewelry.

I am a certified One Stroke instructor and teach classes at a local JoAnn’s.  I really enjoy getting to know my students.  Recently, I have branched out and teach other painting courses offered at JoAnn’s.  I am trying new things with my painting as well.  It is an exciting time with my art right now.  Probably there will be much more information on this topic in the future.

Nature is very important to me too.  I enjoy the nature in my own backyard, in the walks I take in the Open Space close to us, and a great deal of our travel is planned with nature in mind. We go to places just to see wildlife, see glorious scenery, and be outdoors.  We have even taken a week long vacation for the express purpose of birding.  I know you will hear more on this topic, and I hope to have pics for you to enjoy.

Wildflowers at Vega State Park June 2009

Wildflower Closeup Vega State Park June 2009

Aspens on the Uncompaghre Plateau June 2009

I know you will hear more about my family too, and my life.  I hope this is the beginning of an exciting and fun journey.

Happy Valentine’s Day

Valentine Roses from my husband