sigh.

So this is the last week that my show is up at Mitchell's Coffee house. I wish I could just leave it up there forever. It has been such a good experience. I am forever grateful to Michelle and Mitch for letting me show there. I love you guys!

I feel like I'm forever in a learning process with this job. This week I'm working on numerous smaller projects; massage therapy & dermatology logos, benefit dinner items, posters, church stuff and getting ready for a fine arts show at Arts on the Park. I don't know if I'm getting better at being less stressed or if it's just been less hectic the past two weeks. 

This year and last have been a roller coaster of trying to find myself. I feel like those wooden kids toys - that I'm a shape and I've been trying the hole that I fit in. Some days I think I've found it and then others I feel like I'm trying to put a square in a circular hole. I guess that's what life is. All of us are always on a search, trying things, events, jobs and people on until we find a fit. Until we just "know" that it's right. Until we can just let out the breath that we didn't even know we were holding in and sigh. 

User Groups, Conferences and Business Workshops

Today was a long day of meetings. I started out at a business meeting with the Small Business Development Center in the workings of "How to start a small business." I've technically had a small business for years but since mine has been changing and now it's my whole income, I wanted to make sure that I'm filing everything I need to file and paying everything I need to pay so Uncle Sam doesn't come after me. I listened to a lot of stuff I already knew but did find out a few important tips. It was worth going. Plus I learned that their center will provide free business counseling anytime I need it. Nice! (They are located on the USF/PCC campus for anyone interested). 

After that I went to the tax collectors office to add two classifications to my tax receipt, the Sales Tax office downtown to apply for collecting sales tax (who's ever heard of APPLYING to collect sales tax? sheesh) and then to the bank to open a small business checking account. I feel so official.

Then it was to Tampa to an InDesign User Group meeting from 6-9pm. I learned some great techniques for Illustrator and a couple for InDesign. I'm pretty excited that I can freshen up and learn some new things all for free. There's another meeting next month with a guy from Amsterdam coming in. I'm pretty sure I'll be going to that meeting as well. Can't pass up free meetings... plus you get a copy of Photoshop magazine (sometimes Layers too) and chances to win things like Illustrator CS4, stock templates, t-shirts, etc. I just wish it was closer to Lakeland. (or in Lakeland for that matter). 

Right now I'm debating on whether to sign up for the photoshop conference in Tampa. I really want to go but it's $99. It would be worth it if it's all new info, but if I already know a lot of what the guy is going to talk about I'd be pretty bummed about spending the money and spending a whole day. I was hoping to get a discount through the class I went to tonight but no such luck. Hmmm...

Dreams Realized

So this Friday was my reception at Mitchell's Coffee House & Arts on the Park! It has always been a small dream of mine to show at Mitchells and a recent hope to have a piece of art at the Arts on the Park Gallery. What a lucky gal to have both dreams realized on the same night! I have to say a HUGE thank you to everyone that came out to support me & to Michelle & Mitch that own Mitchells. Seriously, you are all amazing. I'm so blessed. 

Here are some pics of the Faces & Places Show at Mitchells. 

If you missed the reception, no worries, it's going to be up until the end of February. Go check it out and grab a cup of coffee, tea, lunch or one of Mitch's famous desserts. Yum...

this friday!

I'm doing a show at Mitchell's for the whole month of February called Faces & Places. There will be a reception this Friday night (which is also downtown's First Friday event) from 6-9pm. Please see the attached poster! If you're in town this Friday I'd love for you to come out, see the show & enjoy free music downtown. I will also have a piece of art in the Arts on the Park Gallery opening this Friday as well. Tell your friends and be downtown with the cool kids this Friday night! 

February Events

Feb 13 - March 19 | Stan Gregory

FSC Melvin Gallery, FREE

Feb 20 | View & Review

PMOA, 6-8pm, $15 Artists, $5 Audience  688-5423

Feb 27-28 | Receiving dates for AOP Fine Arts Show

AOP, Show March 6-25, $30 members

Feb 28 | The Gala

PMOA, 6pm-12am, $350/person, Black Tie

March 7-8 | Bartow Bloomin' Arts Festival

March 21-22 | Winter Haven Art Festival

March 28-29 | Lake Wales Art Festival

I found a great website www.artsqueeze.com that has lots of resources for things going on in the Tampa Bay area. Check it out!