Tag: Regina Creates

My Artisan Studio Upgrade:The Truth About the Dreaded Behind-the-Scenes.

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Digital art of an artisan studio desk with bead embroidery, shipping labels, and a calendar circled for an April 8th birthday. Not my actual Artisan Studio.
Digital art of an artisan studio desk with bead embroidery, shipping labels, and a calendar circled for an April 8th birthday. Not my actual Artisan Studio.
The Image above was generated using Gemini -AI, and is not an actual depiction of my Artisan Studio. Yes, my paints and paper are side eyeing me, currently.

A little confession…

Okay, I have to be honest right from the jump. The image you see above? That is not actually me sitting at my desk, nor is it my actual artisan studio. That image was created by Gemini, because I was feeling a bit cheeky and wanted to visually capture the absolute juxtaposition that is my life right now.

My paints and paper are currently giving me the side-eye from across the room, and I am sure I’ll never hear the end of it. (I promise, my dear brushes, I will paint as soon as I get the time!)

But while that image is a digital fabrication, the feeling it captures is 100% authentic. Welcome to my current season: a complex, sometimes frustrating, but ultimately exciting mix of admin, SEO overhauls, and much-needed workspace upgrades. And may I just say that I loathe having to wait on the mail?

Chasing the 10/10 Artisan Studio Experience

Recently, I decided it was time for an audit. I’ve done some deep analysis on the Regina Creates Shopify section and my blog, and I even had an outside expert take a look for a “fresh eyes” perspective.

The result? I got a really good score—an 8 out of 10 points. That’s not bad, not bad at all.

But “not bad” isn’t where I want to live. I, and everyone who visits my shop, deserve a 10 out of 10 experience. I want my shop to be as polished and powerful as the pieces I create.

Which means the “Dreaded Behind the Scenes” work has officially begun:

The Birthday Hustle: It looks like I’ll be deep in this work for my 56th birthday on April 8th! I’m aiming to start the major photo-and-upload process around April 6th.

The Visual Overhaul: My product photos aren’t hitting the mark just yet. I’ve invested about $60 in professional display items and backdrops. My goal is to make my photos look as high-end as they feel in person, without relying on “going AI” with the final shots.

The SEO Deep Dive: My listings are written well already, but they are missing a few small, critical tweaks. Both my blog and my Shopify store are getting a full overhaul with optimized SEO.

Leveling Up the Art

While I’m fighting the digital algorithms, I’m also waiting for the actual physical upgrades. I have two international packages on the way that I am incredibly excited about. One supplier is sending my first sets of genuine gold-filled findings, and another is sending a collection of wonderful gemstone cabochons. I cannot wait to get these new treasures onto my bead mat.

My art displays are also getting their own upgrade, which is another project currently in the works.

The Learning Curve on the admin side of my Artisan Studio (And the Catch-22)

I am currently deep in the “dreaded learning curve” of understanding the different animals that are Shopify and eBay. They aren’t just platforms; they are different audiences looking for different things. Learning how to reach the right viewer in the right place is a major part of this process.

And that brings me to the one major stumbling block I am facing in my Artisan Studio Shop…

With everything still being so new, I have zero reviews and testimonials yet. I know this “social proof” is critical for building trust, but until I get the right people to the right place to make that first purchase, it’s a total Catch-22. Unlike some artists, I don’t have a circle of friends or family who can step in, buy a piece, and leave a “seeded” review. For me, that strategy is a fat zero.

My Question for You

So I have to ask: How do you handle that “zero review” hump? If you’re a shopper, what makes you take a chance on a new artist before the reviews start rolling in?

For the next two weeks, my life will likely continue to look a lot like that humorous AI photo—at least mentally. I am limiting myself to a max of four to six hours of admin a day so I can still spend time on production. Creating beautiful things is my reward, and I definitely need that creation time to get me through the admin!

If you have any insights for me, please leave them in the comments section.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting with me today.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my mailing list.

Have a wonderful rest of your day.

Artisan Regina L.

Categories: Artisan & Business - BTS

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AI and this Artisan – Why I love and hate it.

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A Gemini generated image showing a human woman holding up a hand made Necklace, and a confused AI babbling on about blankets

As an Artisan, Crafter of handmade OOAK creations, and a Businesswoman, I have a true love/hate relationship regarding AI. From a business aspect, I can see it as a semi-useful tool, as long as you don’t depend on it 100%. From the Artisan aspect, I loathe it.

AI as a business assistance tool.

Depending on your business and how you use AI, it can be a beneficial business tool. Of course, you have to train it towards your specific brand and business first. Not to mention that you actually have to monitor the output. Without monitoring the output, you’ll end up with somewhere around a 60% accuracy and 100% confusion.

It can be useful for marketing a service where image accuracy is not the primary goal. It’s great for proofreading texts. If you need help with creating a time management plan or brainstorming a campaign, it comes in very handy. Prompt / one-click creation of graphics, video reels, and, for some people, even content posts. If the human touch is inconsequential to you and your product, you have a good tool.

I know plenty of people who have AI build their websites for them. There are a million and one uses for AI these days, and some of them certainly make the workflow easier. Saving time is the main goal, and while the research help from these tools is often celebrated, it has its limits.


AI is a blight for human-created artisan work!

When I say human-created artisan work, I mean actual handson creation, not prompt creation. Artificial Intelligence can do fun work with art, but it is copying it from somewhere. Since AI requires data to work, it uses the images it finds in its database and works with them.

I used a prompt-generated graphic as my feature image this time, and asked Gemini to create it for me. The prompt I gave it was:  I want you to create an image for me of a human and an AI both being at odds and confused.

This prompt came after a “discussion” about my frustration with AI marketing done by someone else, in which I was included, and the program claimed that I was selling Sherpa blankets and crochet blankets in my shop. There isn’t a single blanket in my shop (yet), and I don’t see that being added any time soon. Where it got Sherpa blankets from, which is very specific, is anyone’s guess. It simply hallucinated the idea that blankets would be available in my store.

For those among us who create handmade items of any kind, the AI-generated product images that so many want to use set false expectations. Considering most people can no longer distinguish between machine-generated and human-made, it makes earning a living even harder.

AI is driving prices down!

Writing is an art form as well. For an author who still sits down and writes their own content, scripts, and full-length stories for publication and sale, it is equally disheartening. An ever-increasing number of books are now being generated. This is driving prices down and making it almost impossible for someone to sell their books at a fair price point.

Many services once provided purely by human creativity have suffered along the way.

A Gemini generated image showing a human woman holding up a hand made Necklace, and a confused AI babbling on about blankets
Gemini AI-generated image – prompted work – showing confusion

60% accuracy and 100% confusion!

Considering that so many people believe what they read on the internet without actually checking facts, that 60% inaccuracy rate can lead to 100% confusion.

Imagine building your brand or empire around faulty information! You are basically building your business on quicksand.

Your product information lacks soul and oftentimes is misleading. When used in a newsletter, a simple mistake like claiming I sell blankets in my store, while completely leaving out the products I actually do sell, draws the wrong traffic. Not something you want to happen.

Losing your skills because of too much ease!

Everyone always assumes that technology will be available forever. Artificial Intelligence is heralded as the way of the future, and very well might be. Though it is already starting to be outdated in some ways. What are you going to do when it crashes? Or if laws against certain aspects of its use are passed?

When you have depended solely on learning to produce something by giving a prompt and pushing a button alone, you have never learned the actual base skills required to do the actual production. Too much ease and instant gratification lead to the loss of foundational skills.

Here is my takeaway:

Use AI as a tool when necessary, but don’t use it as a replacement for your actual craft.

As a writer, I use Gemini from time to time as a proofreader for spelling and grammar. Even though I have spoken English exclusively for the last 30+ years now, it is not my native language. I still write with an accent at times. Since spellcheck is at best unreliable, using Gemini or even Chat GPT as a proofreading tool is beneficial for someone like me.

I won’t use it to write my content for me. It is important for me that you see the soul and, yes, even flaws in my writing. My opinions, my insights, shared with you. The human connection that a machine cannot replicate, since it doesn’t experience the complexity of human emotions.

I use it to help me with SEO in the Metafield of my listings so Google can pick it up and index it properly. It’s not my strong point – YET. Once I master it, I won’t need it for that particular aspect any longer.

I won’t use it for marketing or for photo editing. I use Ribbet as my photo editing tool. It won’t be perfect, but it will be as accurate as I can make it.


Basically, when it comes to my business, I prefer the human touch. The handmade soul. I use it as a tool in minor aspects, while keeping the reins firmly in my busy little hands.

What are your opinions on this topic?

I would love to hear from you in the comment section.

AS always, thanks for stopping by and spending some time with me on my blog! Don’t forget to sign up for my once-a-month mailing list!

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead!

Artisan Regina L

Categories: Artisan & Business - BTS

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Branding: What’s in a name?

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Regina Creates beading mat with several different colored delica beads, a project in progress, a business card, and a hand-written note.

Branding is difficult for anyone. For me, it required a reboot early on. I started with “Oma’s Corner” as my brand name, but I changed it. From Oma’s Corner to Regina creates. Luckily, within the first 3 months, I realized I’d made a mistake with my branding.

My original branding:
Oma’s corner – Why it didn’t work!

The brand name, Oma’s Corner, originated from one aspect of myself. I am an Oma (Grandmother in German). I create all of my products in my bedroom. My little creative sanctuary, if you will.

The problem started when I realized how it is often perceived. “Oh, how quaint, Grandmother is being kept busy, and selling some of her hobby crafts.” Is the thought that comes to mind when reading it.

The idea that anything listed inside a shop called “Oma’s corner” would be nostalgic but outdated. Many of the younger generations see the elderly as someone who has lost touch with what is trending, original, unique, and fun. The word grandmother gives the idea that this person is an old person. At 55, I am older and hopefully mature, but I am not “old” yet.

Branding is not just about the products!

When it comes to branding, it is not “just” about the products. For an Artisan, like myself, it’s the Artist himself or herself as well.

My heart and soul go into everything I create. So when you buy something from my shop, you receive my intentions, my positive energy, and my blessings as well. You become part of my journey, just as much as I become part of yours.

It’s the human factor that is very much part of my personal brand. So my branding has to reflect that. It can’t be passive or latent in the phrasing, but instead needs to signal activity.

A beading station, with some finished beaded keychains, and several different beads. Showcasing some of my work in progress is part of my branding as well. It leans into authenticity.
Work in progress, and a couple of finished beaded keychains.

My Brand Name Regina Creates:

Where “Oma’s corner” seemed to signal something that feels contained and signals something that belongs in a different time, “Regina Creates” is active.

Regina Creates is a signal of activity. It’s expansive, evolves, and isn’t afraid to be driven by creativity. It fits everywhere.

I was asked: “So what is it you actually do?” My short answer was: “I create!”
And there it was. My new brand. Using what it is I do as part of my branding.

I create constantly, and in many ways I have done that all of my life. I am more than just one aspect of myself. In each of my aspects, be they personal or professional one thing remains the same:

Regina CREATES!

How did you come up with your brand name?

I showed you mine, now I would like to know how you came up with your brand name. What does it stand for?

Thank you for stopping by! If you enjoy my posts, make sure to remember to sign up for my once-a-month newsletter! If you would like to help support my Artisan Business, I invite you to visit my shop and purchase one of my hand-made products!

Until next time! Have a wonderful rest of your week!

Regina L.

Categories: The Artisans Journey (BTS)

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My crochet Elf hat – Product and story

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Hand-crochet Elf hat by Regina from Regina Creates. Available for sale. One-of-a-kind creation. Model face blocked out for privacy. This is the side view of the hat worn by the Model. Earth tones. Variant stitches give this hat a unique texture. Beads add to this hat's charm.

Blessed Sunday, everyone! Today, I would love to introduce you to one of my favorite items in my “living out loud” collection – my crochet Elf hat. This crochet Elf hat – which I consider part of a fantasy wear category- took me over 30 hours to crochet. Done in what I call “freestyle crocheting”.

A crochet elf hat, perfect for fantasy wear, shown on a model with the face blocked out from the front view. It features a permanently closed attached neck warmer adorned with a crochet flower. Made in earthy tones using various yarn blends, with most of the material being acrylic yarn.

The crochet Elf hat was done in freestyle crochet!

Freestyle crochet is what I call using different stitches in the same product without utilizing a pattern. I am letting the yarn guide my hands. Often enough, I have to trust the process. I may have one idea in mind, but it turns into something different. Something better. Unique. An artistic expression in yarn.

The story behind the crochet Elf hat!

With me, everything starts with a story. The crochet Elf hat is no different. I actually started out just crocheting a regular ole hat. You know, something like a beanie or a bucket hat maybe. As I ran the yarn through my hands and had my first few rows of stitches, a thought struck me.

The colors of the different yarns I was using reminded me of a forest. That made me think of a young lady I had met at an interfaith church and sanctuary. She identifies herself as a “wildling” or “otherkin”. Of course, she is a lot more specific about it than I am, but that is her story to tell. The next thought that struck me was that she’d love those earth-tone colors. I asked myself the following question: “If I were to create a hat for her, what would it look like?”

It would need symbols on it. The crochet elf hat had to have a point on it, but less streamlined. Oh, it needed beads as decoration. Magical beings love beads and shiny things…

And then it happened!

Enter my fictional Elf who demanded the crochet elf hat!

As I was ruminating about all of those questions, I suddenly “heard” a cough from the shadows. As a storyteller, I am used to characters suddenly appearing in my mind and demanding my attention. It was time to tune in.

Me: Who are you?
Elf: A customer.
Me: Oh, really? Mind stepping out of the shadows?
Elf: Not at all…. Enter the fictional elf.
Me: Oh wow, you are an Elf I believe, or a Fairy maybe?
Elf huffing at me: Don’t insult me. Of course, I am an elf. Now, we can talk about what I want.

Me: Certainly. How may I be of s… (stops not falling into that trap). What are you seeking?
Elf: Points to his or her, hard to tell with that one, bare head.
Me: I am sorry, I suck at cutting Elven hair. (smirks. I do love to mess with my fictional characters.)
Elf: Rolls eyes at me. (Cheeky bugger.) A hat! A crochet Elf hat! You have yarn and beads.
Me: Yes, lots of both. What do you want the hat to look like?

I will spare you the rest of this very long conversation, but you get the mental picture. My imagination had taken flight, and my hands had no choice but to follow directions.

Commissioned by my imagination!

Be it a cheeky Elf, as is the case with the crochet elf hat, or any number of other handmade products, I call this commissioned by my imagination. That’s when my original idea gets vetoed in lieu of something one of my fictional characters requests. Well, depending on the character, sometimes those requests sound a lot more like demands. Those fantastical beings sure keep me on my toes. Bless them. I actually really enjoy that process, because it takes me out of my mundane comfort zone.

Model’s privacy.

Before I show you a few more images and give you the direct link to where you can purchase this one-of-a-kind crochet Elf hat (only one available), let me answer that question.

This young lady has a private life and a family of her own. She is not a professional model. I am posting pictures of her modeling the crochet elf hat to show you what it looks like when worn. The images might look strange this way, but it does three things:

  • It protects her privacy, and to me, that is very important. I am a safety-first type of woman.
  • It focuses you subconsciously on the crochet elf hat. It puts the artistry and craftsmanship as the focal point, rather than worrying about the model. It’s the handmade hat that is for sale, not the person!
  • Real product / human creation. We live in a world of AI taking over so many parts of the internet that knowing when something has been created by human hands becomes hard. No AI program would “deface” a model in such a blocky and truly basic way. It’s just jarring enough to make the viewer stop and wonder…. “What is going on here?”

Ready for some more images and the direct link to buy?

With the background story shared, it’s time for some more images!
I have the same ones up on the listing. A couple of them are “in progress pics”. At the end of the Images I’ll offer you the direct link to the product. Please remember there is only one available. With a limited edition fantasy wear hat like this, you can’t afford to hesitate.

Hand-crochet Elf hat by Regina from Regina Creates. Available for sale. One-of-a-kind creation. Model face blocked out for privacy. This is the side view of the hat worn by the Model. Earth tones. Variant stitches give this hat a unique texture. Beads add to this hat's charm.
Hand-crochet Elf hat by Regina from Regina Creates. Available for sale. One-of-a-kind creation. Model face blocked out for privacy.
Crochet Elf Hat by Regina from Regina Creates back view. Fantasy wear hat in earth tones.
Closeup pic of tail on the crochet elf hat by Regina from Regina creates.
In progress pic for crochet elf hat by regina from Regina creates

You can purchase this one-of-a-kind crochet hat here: Click here to go directly to the product listing.

I ship within the USA only. Advantage Shipping and Handling are included in the $80 price tag.

As always, thank you for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed this product introduction post. As I mentioned so often, when you buy one of my handmade creations, it’s more than just a product. It’s a story, a piece of my heart, and something with soulful intention.

Don’t forget to sign up for my mailing list, please.

Sending you much love and light.

Regina


Categories: Products and Backgrounds

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Selling my products inside of a Shopify creative hub

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I list all of my products for sale inside https://owlhourcreativestudio.com - a creative hub - shopify store.

I think everyone knows what Shopify is. Thousands of sellers use the Shopify platform to offer their products and services securely for both sellers and buyers.
What you rarely see is a Shopify creative hub, and at first sight, it can feel a bit confusing. I chose to list and sell my handmade products on the Shopify Creative Hub Owl Hour Creative Studio.

What is this Shopify Creative Hub I am referring to?

https://owlhourcreativestudio.com, it is where digital services and mastery meet creative minds and busy hands. As Noctedea explains in her post “Welcome to the Hub,” there are three distinct levels to explore.

My storefront is located in the Market section, aka The Artisan Lobby. I am the original feature artist and maker of Owl Hour Creative Studio, but not the only one there. At the moment, two other creative souls offer their delightful and highly creative products in their own storefront sections alongside me.

Think of The Artisan Lobby as a form of online mall or e-commerce mall with various individual Artists and Makers having their own sections (storefronts). I call it the online version of going for a treasure hunt.

Why I chose Owl Hour Creative Studio Shopify Creative Hub.

Each of us has full control over our individual sections. For any artisan or maker, autonomy is very important. At the same time, we can benefit the whole by sharing traffic-driving efforts.

I cannot speak for my fellow creatives, but for me, being able to focus on creating rather than building a Shopify store is important. This Shopify Creative Hub offered that to me. Noctedea, or as we call her, the Digital Dreamweaver, in her capacity as Website Builder, created a beautiful and very original place for us to offer our wares. Her knowledge of business solutions (another aspect of the services she offers) helps to give us peace of mind.

Family-owned, female-owned, veteran-owned aren’t just buzz words here. That is exactly what this Shopify Creative Hub is.

Noctedea is the chosen name of my daughter, and I have been part of the brainstorming sessions in the Owl Hours of the day. Aside from our blood relationship to each other, each of our artists is part of her chosen family.

Noctedea is an Airforce Veteran with deployments under her belt. Polar 1 Arts is a battle buddy of hers and a fellow Veteran. Noctedea is an RN as well, and that is where her connection to Color Theory Arts comes in. The lady behind Color Theory Arts is a fellow RN. As you can see, those, too, are family bonds of a different variety.

Our digital dreamweaver didn’t just want to build something for herself alone, but create a space in which others could succeed and thrive. She works tirelessly on evolving the nurturing ground in which our creative souls can flourish and expand.

It takes a Village!

I know you have heard that phrase before, and when it comes to building a future and a business, it’s a gold standard truth.

There are so many behind-the-scenes aspects of selling anything online that most buyers are not even aware of. In this Shopify Creative Hub some of them are shared organically. As we individually promote our products and services, it brings traffic to the whole.

Individual insights and strengths can be shared as well. We are different enough in what we offer that we are not in competition with one another. We come from different generations, backgrounds, and experiences. Different levels of being comfortable with being visible on the social media platforms. One shared goal, make Owl Hour Creative Studio a trusted place for consumers to visit and reach for our services and products.

Transparency builds trust!

Our special little Shopify Creative Hub is less than 6 months old as I write this. Noctedea and I both agreed to keep things as transparent and honest as possible while protecting our privacy. Which translates to no fake hype. No claiming of hundreds of satisfied clients. No purchases of fake testimonials. No unethical shortcuts of any kind.

I have already told you about building my dream on sweat equity. You can read the behind-the-scenes story of the turtle pendant I hand-beaded in the Owl scrolls, which is still available for sale.

Hand-beaded Turtle themed pendant for sale by Artisan Regina L. A perfect gift idea for those who love a wearable art accessory with a story and soul

Transparency builds trust, and we, as a Shopify Creative Hub collective, recognize the importance of that.

It’s slow going, and yes, it can frustrate and even depress me at times, but it is worth it.

Neither my handmade and original arts for sale business nor the Owl Hour Creative Studio will be built on digital quicksand. We are actively building a solid foundation, one thread, one bead, one brush stroke, and one line of code at a time.

We are doing it for us individually and as the Shopify Creative Hub, as well as for our visitors, supporters, and buyers.

When you visit me/us, it should be a good experience for you. Afterall you deserve no less, and we selfishly want you to return over and over again.

Well, my dears, I’ve taken enough of your precious time now. Plus I have some SEO work to get done now on my product listings.

Don’t forget to sign up for my once a month Newsletter. And why not visit our creative hub and my collection to go on a treasure hunt.

Until next time. Have a wonderful weekend!

Regina

Categories: Products and Backgrounds

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An artistic expression of what my depression looks like

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Artistic expression of what depression feels like to Regina L of Reginacreates.com

When you think of depression and think of the art that usually depicts depression, it rarely looks like this. Most of the time, you see voids, gray, and black colors only. It is fair to say that artistic expression is very individualized. We don’t see or experience things the same way.

Living with bouts of depression:

I have been struggling against depression ever since I was a child. It’s not always there, and fortunately, as I grew older, depression isn’t a daily issue anymore. It comes in cycles, sometimes stronger, sometimes barely there.

Since I struggled with suicidal thoughts and even a lot of attempts in my young years (until I was in my early 20’s), I am hyper-aware of the signs when it begins to creep up. Depression has a very distinct energy signature to me. I have learned to distinguish between being sad, anxious, feeling heavy and hopeless, and depression.

For me, knowing those differences is very important. It means I know when to become alert immediately before it sets in, and to take the risk of spiraling out of control. Once that inner alarm begins to ping, I need to take immediate action.

Artistic expression of what depression feels like to Regina L of Reginacreates.com

The artistic expression of what my depression feels like to me:

I still see and feel colors, but now they are crowded. The oppression and heaviness inside of me starts to not only bleed into the hope and determination that is very much a part of my “normal” personality, but becomes crowded. You can see it clearly by the different grays moving into the bright colors, slowly taking over.

In the very corner, you see the mask I present to the outside world. Fragmented, bold colors. It almost gives a stained-glass effect. To the outside world, I appear strong. Still presenting as bold, determined, and powerful. In reality, I’m cracking open on the inside. The light inside of me is fighting to stay strong. In many ways, this is my battle mask. Rich colors, which are part of my creative soul, but ragged. There is a distinct friction in it.

The soft colors represent life to me. Hope. A future. Beauty. If you look at it closely, you can see that I am being kept separate from it. I can still see it; it’s not gone yet, but there is a chasm that won’t allow me to reach it.

Fighting my depression!

Allowing it to take root is NOT an option. If it does, it could spiral too far, and then I have some serious problems. So the moment I recognize it as depression, I take action. (ME recognizes it, not anyone else assumes I am.) So here is a list of how I combat my depression:

  • Get whatever is bothering me that triggered it off my chest. Suffering in silence only makes it worse. So I either talk to someone I trust and I know loves me. Write it down – venting. Or draw it out of my system. Literal art.
  • Acknowledge what is going on, and realize that this is not who I am or what my mind is telling me is going to happen, or happening. I am actively breaking the negative loop inside of my mind.
  • Making a pro and con list. I have trained my mind to think logically and to be able to analyze the information that is presented. Making the list forces my brain to compartmentalize. It forces my brain to not only focus on the negative, but the positive as well. Hope lies in the positive.
  • Get up and move. It doesn’t matter if I can only go to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee. Go take a hot shower. Dance like nobody is watching. Go and cuddle the cats in the household. This small physical action forces me to switch my thoughts from “being in my head”, to functioning outside of it.
  • Listen or watch something funny, fantasy, or hope-inspiring. Again, getting out of my head.
  • Make a list of all the things I have 100% overcome and survived. Better yet, turned something negative into a positive in the long run.
  • Take myself out of my reality at that moment. This is where my storyteller brain comes in really handy. Something in my current situation has triggered the depression. So I create a fantasy version of myself via my writing that already overcome this situation, or isn’t in a situation where it has to face this. (Fun fact – I often go and visit the unseely court in my mind during those times, where my handmade items are treasured. My art is celebrated. There are no falsehoods. Scams are punishable by extreme measures. I have a good companion in my life, and our relationship is mutually supportive and respectful.) Even though I know this is not real, it allows my nervous system to regulate itself.

When depression knocks on your door…

I have lost several friends over the years to depression. They no longer found the strength to keep fighting the enemy inside. There are so many people who have no idea when someone suffers from depression, since many of us have become experts at masking it.

Just as scary is the misdiagnosis by others. The constant, oh you are just depressed statements. Why? Because when someone assumes that when someone is “just” sad, or is lost in thought, or perhaps is trying to find a way to honor their own boundaries, that it is being depressed again, then when real depression hits, it is invisible to them.

When depression knocks on your door, please don’t suffer in silence. Reach out to someone. I am fortunate enough to have learned how to handle mine without medications, but not everyone is so fortunate. If you need medical help, go find a reputable doctor and ask for help.

Don’t reach for alcohol or “recreational drugs”. I know that is unpopular to say, but it won’t help you. I might only dull it for a minute, but in the end, you are only compounding the problem.

You MATTER!

Most of all, don’t give up on yourself. Don’t listen to those nasty lies your brain is trying to tell you. If you are around negative people, get away from them. When someone is already depressed, being around people who are negative, angry, and miserable themselves, it will only magnify it inside of you.

You need a shift in your mindset, and that requires learning what works for you. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Try Art, or writing, or music, or walking, or anything that pushes you to put focus on something other than being stuck inside your mind.

And most of all, please remember this: you are valuable and important. You may not know it, but you being alive matters.

How do you overcome depression when it hits you? Do you have any artistic expression that allows you to shift your outlook, just long enough to find hope again? I would love to hear about it in the comments section.

Until next time, I wish you love and light. If you are enjoying my posts, don’t forget to join my mailing list.

Regina L.



Categories: Mental health self-awareness

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Art that tells a story Beyond the Brush: My Journey with Mixed Media Storytelling

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A mystical watercolor painting by Regina features a serene face in profile against a vibrant purple background. The artwork includes a central lamp-like vessel adorned with colorful hearts and flowing metallic gold-toned accents

Among many things, I am a Storyteller at heart. Everything that I create has a story behind it. Regardless if it is a piece of hand-crafted jewelry, a crochet product, or, as in this case, mixed media art. To me, the story behind the art, regardless of the method you use, is what gives it the soul.

Mixed Media Storytelling:

In the case of my art, this mixed media storytelling usually starts with something I just can’t get out of my head. It takes me over, so to speak. Regardless of which of my mediums I reach for, or what I had planned to create, the thoughts and stories in my mind will express themselves on canvas or art paper.

I use a visual rather than verbal expression to share the story that is forming. Since I mix my media frequently, it becomes part of my mixed media storytelling.

Floating Love" – Original Abstract Watercolor & Gold Metallic Mini Art - signed by Artist Regina Lenhard / Regina Creates

Floating Love—this original abstract watercolor and gold metallic mini-art (signed by me and available for sale here)—is the first of four pieces exploring the many layers of love and relationships

To me, this particular art piece represents the fluidity of love. The different relationships we hold can display themselves in different types of love. Some can feel free and fluid, while other types can feel structured and almost rigid in their form.

The same is the case with the love we extend to those around us. I have bordered each with a gold tone, so show that no matter which type of love we experience, it is precious indeed. I chose soft pink to evoke the tenderness of a heart engaged in love.

The watercolor wash of gray and mint green (background) represents the way many of us feel about the mundane everyday life. It is love that brings color and shapes with it.

The best part of mixed media storytelling to me:

The best part of mixed media storytelling, or anytype of artform storytelling, is that it transcends the spoken word. We can speak completely different languages, but via the visual aspects of art, we can communicate. The soul of the work, the story, translates into every language with ease.

Art is meant to be felt.

Just like traditional or verbal storytelling, art and the story, or the thought it conveys, is not dead. Art is meant to be felt by both the Artist and the Viewer. It is alive and is supposed to touch something in your soul.

It is also interpretive. I gave you the symbolic meaning and the story I was telling you from my point of view. You, however, may see a completely different story unfold. If it evokes a feeling or a visceral response in you, then I, as the artist, have achieved my goal.

My painting has achieved its purpose. Mixed media storytelling is a method of delivering an interconnection between the artist and the beholder.

When I can’t find the words to express my feelings…

Sometimes putting your feelings into words can feel taunting. About 20 years ago, I realized that I could let my art do the talking for me. Back then, the wrong phrase or word could end up causing an already difficult situation to get worse. Still, getting what I felt deep inside needed to be expressed for my mental health.

I gathered my various art supplies and began letting those feelings flow from my hands to the canvas. My chest felt lighter. It was healing to me. That is when I began my journey with mixed media storytelling.


Beyond the brush:

If you go and visit my store, you’ll notice that I not only tell stories with art, but it carries into my hand-made jewelry, and even some of my crochet treasures as well. I put my heart and my soul into everything I create. That is the part of me that is the storyteller and spiritual healer.

As always, thank you for stopping by and reading my posts. I appreciate you! Don’t forget to sign up for my mailing list. (see sidebar). If you feel led to do so, feel free to share it with your friends or on social media.

Until next time. May you be blessed!

Regina L.

Categories: The Artisans Journey (BTS)

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Building my handmade business with sweat equity!

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Mermaid Vibes beaded necklace in-progress, working all hours of the day.

When you start building your dream, in my case, my handmade business, you’ll have to put a lot of time and money into it. The less money you have available, the more time you need to spend on all aspects of it.

Financial investment vs. Sweat Equity.

Starting a new business, even a handmade products business like my own, isn’t cheap. You are looking at startup costs, which add up really quickly.

For me personally, that looked like:

  • Materials to create with. You need the right type of canvas or artist-quality stock alongside paints, markers, graphic pens etc. Beads of different types, quality, and the right types of thread, findings, etc. For crochet, it’s hooks, different yarns, and needles.
  • A place to sell your products. In my case, I sell my products through a creative hub in the form of a Shopify Store created and managed by Noctedea at http://owlhourcreativestudio.com in the Market section. Noctedea handles my billing and taxes through her business license and receives a commission from each of my sales. Once I add my books to the mix, it will go through Lulu and/or Amazon.
  • No matter how great your products or services are, they have to be found. So now you are looking at URL’s, hosting (I found a great price here).
  • Next comes marketing. Business Cards. Ads if you can afford it, and more…

The more money you have accessible to pay for different things that will automate some of the business and marketing ends of things for you, the more you can focus purely on production. What do you do when money is not available? That is when you have to put sweat equity into it.

Sweat equity essentially means time and work. You have to get your hands dirty doing all of the jobs that are time-consuming, often tedious, and take away from your production time.

The equation is that the less budget you have, the more sweat equity you have to put in.

I am building my handmade and art business on 98% sweat equity.

Have you ever heard the term “shoestring budget”? In my case, I don’t even have that available. There is no funding for things like marketing services, Seo experts, paid advertisement, and the like.

Over a few years, I have built up my material stashes. I bought yarn, beads, thread, paints, etc. whenever I could afford to, and put it away for when the time came for me to stepup and build my dream. Sometimes I was given broken jewelry, so I could repurpose the beads from it. I traded some creative work for beads, findings, and buttons. I literally became a dragon, building her hoard of pretty things to work with.

As you can see, I planned. This dream of mine has been with me for a long time, as you may have read in my last post. Putting sweat equity and planning into this endeavor started long before I made my first Facebook post on my Facebook Page.

I work roughly 12 to 16 hours a day, seven days a week, between focused production, social media posts, and adding products to my section “Regina Creates” at the creative hub. Researching marketing that I can do without financial output. Oh, and let’s not forget my new favorite pastime of frustrating scam artists who love to target new or small businesses. (Sorry, dears, I don’t have time to waste on being bamboozled.)

“Regina, have you ever heard about AI?”

The great AI debacle.

AI can be a useful tool in some aspects. Proofreading, for example. Tracking productivity. Some use it for digital creations. There are thousands of ways you can use one of the many AI programs that constantly spring up. I think that AI has its uses, and it has been part of technology a lot longer than most realize. Here is the rub so…

I have tried to use AI editing for product photography to clean it up. I hated it because it changed the image into something other than what it was. To me, that was false advertising, and I won’t stand for it.

Part of the charm of art, and handmade items are those small irregularities that sneak in. That minor imperfection, which often is an artisan’s signature. If you want 100% uniformity – 100% of the time, you are looking for soulless machine-produced items.

AI marketing, AI influencers, I looked into that too. Considered it to ease my behind-the-scenes workload. Opening up my time for what fuels my passion. The production end of things. I couldn’t do it. Not only was it fake, and people already have a hard time distinguishing real from fake, but it lost my spark.

Which do you operate on?

If you are a fellow small business owner, creating your living via your art or handmade items, what do you operate on? Is it sweat equity and pure tenaciousness? Do you have the financial backup to invest?

I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

Feeling supportive?

Don’t forget to sign up for my mailing list. Check out my handmade treasures at “Regina Creates” inside the Owl Hour Creative Studio Marketplace. Click here to check it out.

Thanks for stopping by! Until next time…

Regina

Categories: The Artisans Journey (BTS)

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