Author Archives: melissa

13 Lessons I Learned from my Candle Business: What I would Do Differently If I Started a Craft Business Today

Published on October 2, 2013 by

Have you ever had a great idea that was sure to help you find vocational bliss, money and a way to avoid college?   I tried to do this by starting a candle making company when I was in college.

Today I'll share what I would different if I was starting ...

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Be Careful How You Measure Growth

Published on October 1, 2013 by

Be careful about how you measure growth.

The quiet message came to me at 4:30 this morning as I awoke, almost fully, from sleep. The thoughts I was trying to grasp yesterday came quickly now.

Money  is not always the marker of whether or not we are growing- as artists, ...

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Die Empty

Published on September 26, 2013 by

Todd Henry releases his new book "Die Empty" today.  It is a powerful book about spending your life with the intention of dying empty- all spent because you've given all your energy, talent, resources into the work and the people who mean the most to you.

His first book "The ...

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Becoming an Artpreneur Part 1: Traditional Art Shows, Building a List Grandma’s Way and thoughts on Why People Buy Art

Published on September 25, 2013 by

This is the first in a new series "what is an artpreneur?".  Today I look at  traditional ways of selling art that many artists still practice today, postcard marketing and thoughts on why people loved my Grandfather's watercolors.

It was 5:30 when we pulled into the dark street. The shops ...

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How to Think and Feel Your Way to Winning

Published on September 23, 2013 by

I've been listening to podcasts, reading studies discussing the way our thoughts and feelings affect our ability to live well and win.

We can direct the outcomes of our lives by changing the way we think and how we feel.

Think better.  Feel better.  Think like a winner.  Feel like ...

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How to Create a Beautiful Website for Under $131.00

Published on September 18, 2013 by

I hear two reasons why people procrastinate on building a website:  cost and time.

But did you know can build a beautiful website and blog for less than $131.00?

And, if you get to the bottom of this post (it's a long one) I'll show you how to build the ...

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Do What You Can With What You Have

Published on September 16, 2013 by

Do you have days where you get confirmation on something on your mind- isn't that the coolest?

I'm sharing my personal confirmation with you!  This isn't the blog post I was going to post but I think somebody else needs to here this.

This morning I was thinking about a ...

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What Unexpected Twists, An Audio Book and a Road Trip Have In Common

Published on September 13, 2013 by

Sometimes life throws an unexpected twist.  Plans change.  Circumstances affect decisions.  Seasons shift suddenly.

My own season shifted as I moved, not to Nashville as I expected, but back to California.  I drove through Nashville, saw Music City Hall (it's beautiful and big), past the gorgeous rolling hills, through the ...

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An Honest Confession about the Journey to Becoming an Artist

Published on September 10, 2013 by

The last year has been full of ups and downs and everything in between.

I started the Launch Your Creative Life blog and website to journey my own path from novice to full time artist.

It's not been pretty and I haven't made it.

The journey is just that- a ...

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Monday Motivation: Pushed on by Inconvenience

Published on September 10, 2013 by

Most of the time I would like to be brighter than I can be.  Some Mondays the best motivator I can bring is "do the work because it's the daily work that counts."

Like today.  The opportunity to do the work (painting) came in the disguise of an inconvenience.

As ...

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