This is going to be a very tough post for me and I’m not quite sure the tone it will take on as I type. I was just reading through some topics posted on the etsy forums about graphic design. More specifically these posts:

• What does a professional graphic designer mean to you?

• Are you correctly pricing your graphic design?

First of all, everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I have no problem with that, as long as I will be entitled to mine.   I know that I am most likely inviting a ton of criticism to my own designs and that is fine with me.  I’m a big girl, have been for a long time, and I can take it.

When reading the first thread it seems that most people’s opinion of what makes a professional graphic designer is their education.   Most said a  formal education in the field is key.  I disagree.  Then again, I do not refer to myself as a “professional” so maybe I took offense too early.  I do, however, call myself a graphic designer.   I design graphics every day.  I’ve never had an unhappy client.  I successfully sell my designs.  I pay my bills with the money I make doing what I love.  So, I’m happy with what I do.

Would I love to go to school and broaden my abilities?  Absolutely! Can I? Not at this time.  I’ve never had the opportunity to further my education.  Mostly because of choices (good or bad) that I have made in my life.  I became a mother at age 16.  Circumstances then did not allow for me to seek higher education.   I had to prioritize and still stick with my decision – my child first.  Since then I’ve gone through a very bad marriage and had two more children.  Again – education was put on the back burner and my children came first.  I’m not asking for pity, and I don’t want sympathy.  These were all my decisions and I still stand by them.  No regrets.

I decided that I would do what was best for myself and my children during those times.  They needed their mom, and they needed her working and bringing home money.  That meant no time for school.  So, I did what I could and started to slowly teach myself how to do things.  All of my computer skills, all of my business know how, all of my graphic design abilities – all self taught over a period of 6 years.

I know my limitations and never pretend to know more than I do.  If I am asked to do something I am uncomfortable with I make sure that I recommend someone else who can help with the client’s needs in a better way than  I could.  That is my responsibility as a business owner.

(Get to your point Ang – I know, I know) I think my point is this.  Don’t pass judgment so quickly.  Some people have natural talent oozing from their pores.  Others have to find that talent and tweak it.  While still others will spend endless hours in a classroom trying to find that talent or skill and never will.  I chose to stay positive and do MY best with what I had.  I will continue to do just that.

I am proud of my work.  I am proud of the family I am raising.  I am proud of the services I offer.  I am proud of my small business. I am proud to say that as a graphic designer I am able to help provide for my family while also being able to be available to them night and day.  I am proud of myself!

Read my “Who is Angela?” page – you may understand just a bit more.

My AC went out again.  Guess what else?  The repair company is not open on weekends! What luck!!!

It’s a GREAT day so far (even though I am soooo sleepy I can’t keep from yawning every two minutes!)

I woke up this morning feeling great and decided that maybe I’d sleep a while longer, it was after all only 5:30 am so I drifted back off until my phone rang.  It was my dear mother in law and I lied when she asked if she had woke me.  I love talking to her.  I think it’s a great bonding experience for us and she is just so sweet and sentimental that it always lifts me up.  We talked for two and half hours!  Of course, about the baby, about Russell, the kids, and just about everything under the sun.  I love her!

My air conditioning is working!  I am thrilled about that! Hooray for air and breathing and comfort!  It was a quick fix and I’m afraid it may only be temporary so I still want them to investigate it further.  My phone battery is completely dead though so I have to wait a little while to call the repair company back.

I bought the kids a fun water sprinkler to play with and I’m looking forward to setting it up for them.  I’ll most likely do that after lunch.  But here is the most exciting news of all!  I’m featured on someone’s blog for the first time EVER!  It may sound like small potatoes to you but I am THRILLED!  3LilMonkeys just sent me a convo via etsy to let me know she featured me today.  She had some oh so sweet things to say too!  Check it out! http://my3lilmonkeys.blogspot.com/2008/06/armorgan-spotlights-on-you.html

Thank you!

The repairman still has not come. We are in day three of no air conditioning for the main part of our home. And we are STUCK here just waiting. I’m afraid to even run errands for fear of missing them when/if they show up. If it were up to me I would have already called another company, but I rent, and alas, it is not up to me.

I’ve been keeping myself busy making etsy banners and business card templates. That’s about all I’m selling in my shop right now. A little funny thing- now that I am allowed to sell web ads and such in my shop – I am getting zero requests for them. Hmmm?

Oh I must share this! This sounds like such an amazing thing since the price of groceries is outrageous! My cousin posted a bulletin on MySpace yesterday that lead me to Angel Food Ministries. ( http://angelfoodministries.com ) She and her family have been participating in this for quite a while. It is for everyone – there are no applications or income limits or anything like that (though they do accept food stamps)

Basically you just type in your zip code to find a host near you then call them up and order. The entire available menu is posted on the website. I left a message at a local church today inquiring and am just waiting on a phone call. If you have any experiences with Angel Food Ministries, please let me know about it! Maybe you can get your church or organization involved in this! From their site…

Our food is “restaurant grade” meats, frozen vegetables, fruits, dairy products, etc. which we acquire through our involvement with only the best producers/vendors of high quality, “name brand” foods. Never “seconds” or “day old” type products are involved.

I’ve let my blog just slip on by.  Again.  So much has been going on lately that I’ve found it hard to make time to even write a small passage.  Excuses, excuses…

Today I am 10 weeks pregnant and all seems to be going well.  My “baby bump” is expanding and I promise pictures soon!  I’m a tad anxious to compare my 6 week picture to a more recent one.   ( I haven’t even uploaded my 6 week photo yet – shhh!)  I don’t seem to be getting nauseous as often lately which is a very good thing, but I am increasingly tired.  A nap mid day always feels great!

It is incredibly hot outside lately! And guess who’s air conditioner broke? You got it.  Mine!  Today will be day two that I have been waiting on the repair man to come by.  I just got off the phone with the company and they tell me they still can not guarantee someone out today. Hooray! Thankfully we do have a window unit AC in our basement.   Last night the kids slept here in my office on our guest bed and Russell and I blew up an air mattress and put that in the main part of the  basement.  It was a much better alternative to sleeping upstairs where I swear the temperature is higher than outside.   The really bad thing is that we have to wait around all day with no real guarantee of when someone will come.  I just wish I could take the kids to my in-laws and stay in their pool all day!  And cooking?  Ha – I’m crazy but not stupid!

Last night the Lewis & Clark Circus was here in Farmville. They had left free admission tickets for children all over town so we decided to go check it out. It’s not often something exciting comes to our little town. Apparently this is one of the last tent shows left in America today. We were a bit skeptical as we pulled up and saw the tent at the fairgrounds.

This is the view from our bleacher seats of the one ring performance area.  The only circus I had ever been to was the Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Three Ring Circus, so, obviously this was a bit different than what I had always seen at the Norfolk Scope.

Zoe and Russell’s silly faces before things got started.

Bradley’s “I’m way too cool for this” face.

Jarod who would have rather been at home watching American Gladiators.  Why do my kids never believe me when I tell them they will have fun?

So with everyone’s “bored” faces on, here comes the cotton candy vendor.  That sure perked them up! Sugar for everyone!  Woohooooo!

How quickly their faces changed!

I got the impression that most of the acts were preformed by a family.  We saw acrobatics, clown skits, balancing acts, horses, a camel, preforming goats, (yes, goats) a fire eater, a magician and more.  I think our favorites were Jose-Jose the clown, and the ringmaster/magician/fire-eater’s “human volcano” act…

This was a very lucky shot of the “Human Volcano”

And finally, here is Jose-Jose, everyone’s favorite mischievous clown!

Everyone had a good time and the boys didn’t want to leave.  I’ll be looking forward to this old fashioned type circus again next year!

]]> http://angelamorgan.wordpress.com/2008/05/13/i-took-my-sideshow-to-the-circus/feed/ 5 angelalala or ang http://angelamorgan.wordpress.com/2008/05/10/thing-are-gonna-change/ http://angelamorgan.wordpress.com/2008/05/10/thing-are-gonna-change/#comments Sat, 10 May 2008 14:11:27 +0000 angelamorgan http://angelamorgan.wordpress.com/?p=89 ]]>

So, just in case it didn’t click with you from my last post, I am pregnant! It is very exciting news and we are extremely happy about it. You could throw in a mix of feelings and emotions, nervous, scared, anxious, shocked, etc, but overall happiness beats them all.

Things are great so far. No morning sickness yet, which is always a good thing. Friends and family are excited and happy for us. There’s actually only one person who had something negative to say and that would be my ex husband, oh well, pooey on him! The kids are all really excited and Zoe is telling anyone who will listen that Mommy has a baby in her tummy. As far as we know I am about 4 weeks along and am due January 7, 2009. It’s going to be long summer!

For those of you who don’t know, this will be my fourth, and Russell’s first. This baby will also be the first grandchild on Russell’s side of the family, how exciting!

I can hardly believe how much I accomplished today! By 8 am this morning the boys were off to school and I was on my 2nd or 3rd cup of coffee.  I started my rounds on the internet at usual.  Check my email, look at my site stats, check my blog, the weather, etc.  I then began my design work.  I had an order from kbotello on etsy. She sent a custom request needing a few graphics for her amateur photography.  I started with  a few color suggestions and a photo that she wanted to be incorporated into her designs.  I came up with this banner which she absolutely loves!

I actually emailed her several proofs but this was the design she liked the best.  Oddly enough it was my first design.  I’ve been doing that a lot lately – getting exactly what my client wants on the first go round.  It’s a great feeling!

After that I did some chores around the house and washed, dried, and folded some laundry.  I knew that we had plans to go fishing and the boys had an early release today from school so I wanted to get as much done as possible.  Russell didn’t work today so we went to go buy me a new fishing pole because mine broke last year.  We did our shopping and then Russell dropped Zoe and myself off at home and ran to the bank.  We wanted to get the grass cut before we left for the lake so I decided I would do that too.  

It took a little while, and Russell was quite surprised, but I got the front lawn nearly half cut before he got back from the bank.  The boys came home, we finished up the yard and off we went!

As always, Zoe caught the first fish.  And I do mean always.  She is only three years old and always catches something before the rest of us! Turned out the rest of us had no luck at all.  Guess they just aren’t biting yet.  The high point of the evening is when Jarod, my youngest son, spotted a black snake.  A HUGE black snake.  Russell ran over and grabbed the thing by the tail (do snakes have tails?), anyway, he grabbed it and dragged it backwards up onto the grass.  The thing coiled and spun around.  I ran across the clearing yelling at the kids to get back and threatening Russell within an inch of his life if he got it near me.  I’m cool with snakes, so long as they aren’t upset – in their natural habitat, slithering by – yeah, that’s okay, but not one that is being bothered and having a hissy fit because of it.  I was so terrified that Russell would tease me with it that I didn’t even think to grab my camera, which was hanging around my neck, and I missed a great photo opportunity.  Go me! That snake was a good five feet long. *Shiver*

We fished a bit longer with no luck, but that’s just fine because it was gorgeous outside.  We all started getting tired and hungry so we came home to grill some chicken. Russell cooked chicken skewers on the grill and I fixed carrots, sauteed squash & zucchini, and rice for sides. Everything was great.  We had several “happy plates”.

Now everyone is settled in and the kids are watching TV like they do on most Friday nights.  They’re especially tired from everything today so vegging out is completely okay with me tonight.  Russell is in the bedroom snoring.  He looks as if he just plopped on the bed to rest and fell asleep.  I tried to wake him a little while ago but he is out like a light.  I’ve taken advantage of the quiet time to start on another banner design.  After sending this proof to my client I will need to make a few changes to the dots but other than that it is pretty complete.  mimsylafree of etsy wanted a shop banner for her new shop “muffintops”.  She asked for a muffin to be incorporated into the design.  I sat down, drew out  a muffin and then this is what came of it…

Don’t forget to leave a comment for your chance to win a free business card design! Have a great weekend!

I am soooo sick of the rain already!  I know, I know.  April showers bring May flowers – blah blah blah.  April showers bring Angela the blahs!  I’ve always been like this. I appreciate the moisture and I appreciate that the rain is making everything beautiful and green again but I need a break from it!

My poor boys have only been able to play one soccer game all season, and that was only one of them. My oldest has yet to play a game. Every time they get scheduled, they get cancelled, then rescheduled and recancelled.  It’s ridiculous.  My grass needs to be cut.  It is much longer than I like it to be, but I can’t do it, because it won’t stop that annoying drizzle long enough for anything to dry up.  I particularly do not like that misty drizzle rain that just lasts all day long.

I need this week to get better and QUICK!  As if the rain weren’t enough to kill any chance of a happy-go-lucky mood, something is going on with the plumbing in the basement causing the washing machine to back up into the utility sink, which then overflows and floods the laundry room.  Super fantastic! My plumber friend is supposed to come over today if he can fit it into his schedule.  I’m waiting on a call from his wife now.  But wait, there’s more!  

Russell has been out of town since Saturday morning, for work and pleasure.  It was a friend’s birthday and his boss had some work for him to do in the same area.  Not a big deal except I knew that I would be out of sight and out of mind.  I even brought up this fear to him before he left.  He assured me I was being silly and that he would call/text me while away.  Did he? NO!  Apparently he was so wrapped in his friends that I wasn’t a  priority.  What a way to make a girl feel special, ya know? Needless to say I am VERY unhappy with my guy right now. I don’t even know when he’s coming back.  

I need some serious sunshine!

Ang

This week has been Spring break for my kids.   Their dad took them down to Virginia Beach on Saturday evening to spend some time with their grandparents.  They were to come back on Thursday.  Instead of using the time to relax, goof off, be lazy, or get some etsy work done, I decided I would suprise them with room makeovers. (insert sound of screaching brakes here) I know, crazy!

Sunday evening Russell and I picked out paint for the boys room and got started.  What a process it turned into!  My ideas for their room came from a set of twin quilts I have that belonged to my great-grandparents.   They are mostly blue with tropical fish on them, so and underwater theme sounded very cool!

Here are a few before pictures…

We painted the walls a nice blue and then decided to add some texture to it. For the texture I bought some blue paint a few shades darker than the base coat and mixed it with water.  Then I cut up and old pair of corduroy pants and ragged the walls.  The effect turned out to be just what I wanted…

 Then my ex called.  He had gotten his dates mixed up and the kids would be back a day early.  I started to panick!  Thank God for Russell, he always keeps me calm in these situations.  He helped me with everything, even after working all day, he would come home, eat and then jump right into a project with me.  Love that man. 

Check back tomorrow for the boys’ complete underwater room and all the crafty things I did to make it that way!