Sending Out Happy Thoughts

I've had better days.

The funny thing is, when I'm by myself, I feel like I can handle Justin being away. I really do try to look on the positive side, and think about all the new experiences he'll have, and all the time I have to devote to creative things while he's away. I treat myself a bit... yes, two banana splits at 4 o'clock might have been a bit too much of a treat, but I also forgive myself! I write, I play music, I give Bella lots of attention. We're doing okay.

The hard part, it seems, is being around others. I don't really understand how that works. I was so looking forward to dinner with friends tonight, but I came out of the evening feeling so much more isolated. The whole time, I wanted to excuse myself and shake off the negativity that was settling in, but I didn't; I stayed and ate and talked, thinking that's what people are supposed to do when their spouse is away, that's what's supposed to cheer people up.

Well, apparently, it's not what cheers me up, and so I'm spending a bit of time this evening reconnecting with the positive energy I've got all by myself.

I'm writing a few little cards to send to friends, family and a few new Unraveller friends who I think might appreciate a bit of happiness in their post boxes. There's nothing like sending some happy thoughts out into the Universe to make me feel a bit better about a could-have-been-better day.

Hope your Monday's been a bit easier! xx

Happy Valentine's Day!

Starting today, and running for the next year, I'm going to take at least one photo every day. My Mum suggested this little project, and is setting up a Flickr group some time soon to show all the photos we all take. Exciting!

I got a little nervous today about being able to take a good enough photo, so took a whole load!

Justin's method of keeping the shed closed!

The shed roof

Justin and Bella on our Valentine's walkies

A sweet little flag we saw on the walk

Our Valentine's cards... Justin put a pack of 1994 basketball trading

cards in with my Valentine's card,

which gave me a good laugh!

Apparently, I got some good ones, and he put them in collector's cases for me!

We're barbequeing for lunch, and then off to the cinema... what fun!

Hope you're having a lovely, love-filled day, too!

New Cards!

So, I finally showed my Mum my etsy shop for the first time yesterday! She's always very good at giving advice on my art, and so I wanted it to look pretty nice before she saw it. And she really liked everything... so much so, in fact, that I made a keep-it-in-the-family sale! But what really helped was her asking the question no one wants to be asked:

"What's going to make people buy this?"

The fact that it's pretty? Hopefully! But I started thinking about more useful applications... and thought that I'd design a few greetings cards, and see how that went.

So far, I've got two designs, both featuring my little Betsy: Thank You, and Happy Birthday.

You can find them here, in my etsy shop (RedRedCompletelyRed).

Hopefully, these will soon be jetting around the world with nice messages inside them!