Glad to Be Back

But a lot changed after graduation. My family moved from California to Maine and back. I worked and sort of went to college. Other things happened, like a bad relationship that kind of screwed me over emotionally, and a mission trip to Haiti that changed my perspective on the world. 

Then I met a guy, a good one this time, and got married and moved again to North Carolina, where he is stationed with the Army. I worked some more and tried to make friends. We went through a deployment and a death in the family. I was diagnosed with depression. 

I lost touch with a lot of people trying to keep up with my new life, and kinda put my art on the back burner too. I did, however, build a moderately successful jewelry business on Etsy, which I had a lot more time for when I "quit my day job." But my friends here don't understand my creative side. Even on most social media it's hard to find artists who actually talk to each other.

I've had to realize the importance of my art in my life - if nothing else, it helps keep me sane - and even if it's not always realistic to keep in touch with everyone I know, I really miss being part of a creative community. I forgot I had that here, or anywhere. 

Why the new account? Well, I wanted to chance my name without a subscription, because I'm cheap like that. But I also feel that I've changed a lot, as an artist and as a person, and starting over seemed easier than picking up where I left off.

So anyway, I'm looking forward to being a part of such an interesting, supportive community again, and I hope to reconnect with any old friends who might still remember me, and/or make some new ones.