Hi all. I sincerely hope your 2019 is going well.
If you remember, I didn't have the best last year, and made a vow to make the new year a better experience for me with the power I have to change it as much as I can. I can say this, so far I feel like I'm trying to move a mountain but it's made of sand.
One thing I realize is that I am utterly, overwhelmingly invisible. What I mean by that is people see me, my work, my contributions, and they enjoy them, but there is rarely an inclination to share that enjoyment with others.
It's something I've noticed for years, especially on this page and on my illustration page. Getting people to tell other people about the work of mine they enjoy is a herculean feat. I felt that really badly when I was doing my web comic, Vintageville. I'd get private messages about how they loved it, loved the drawing and stories but when I said thanks so much, can you share it, nothing.
I mean this is the one time in my life where "exposure" of my work is really needed LOL
I'm at a standstill professionally right now. I may be at the brink of legal action with something, and I have just abandoned another project for my sanity. Neither situation I want to be in or want to have it go the way it's going, but I'm hurting, mentally and financially from other's use and abuse of me professionally.
So I've made some decisions.
First, I want to start to solely work on my own content and just filter out the need to work for someone else. It's a struggling vine, I know, but I'm gonna lose my mind with stomach pains and crying every night if I don't do this.
That's where you all come in.
I implore you, urge you, beg you, share my content. If you made something from one of my current NVL patterns, make a post about it or rate it on a board somewhere. If I've made a garment for you, recommend me to a friend. Promoting myself can only go so far, honestly. I can only have so many social media sites, so many web pages, and so many blogs. There is only so much one person in a 500sq/ft apartment can do while chasing rent and scraping enough money together so the electricity does not get cut off.
Thanks all and have an amazing weekend!
Here is a picture of Virginia in a costume I made for her!
***Self Promotion***
Facebook
Websites
Instas!
Virginia_belles_wardrobe More pics of Virginia costumes!
Twitter
Etsy
I'll do what I can--I think you have a unique talent and voice.--All the best, V
ReplyDeleteYou are my hero! :D
DeleteHi New Vintage Lady! I haven't been here for a looooong time. Blogging and most of my sewing and artistic pursuits seem to have fallen by the wayside in the last several years as I've been struggling to start a freelance business. It is a constant ordeal. I take the advice of one expert and spend months on a training or marketing endeavor, only to have someone else tell me it's useless and I should try this other thing. And in the meantime I have absolutely no responses to all my networking and outreach, and no income. My point being, I feel your pain. For right now, my solution is to keep reminding myself of why I went freelance in the first place, spend time with people who are supportive of me, and try to keep my spirits up. I hope you have a big break in the near future and in the meantime I wish you all the exposure and visibility you can stand!
ReplyDeleteI'm following all your accounts now - LOVE your artwork!
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Aw! I REALLY needed to read this today. Thank you!
DeleteHi Shelly!
ReplyDeleteI keep sharing your work as much as I can, and I love seeing your progress!