Alternique

A Journey into OBSESSION

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 19:27:37 GMT

Well, this is it....my obsession, my creation, my hobby, my life.

My business "AlterniqueTM" and its new logo.

It started out so innocently and simple. Don't let that fool you! That's how ALL obsessions start. Ask anyone who shares my profession: Artist Obsessed.

I've run a website and sold on eBay for a few years to support my habit. Simple and straightforward, right? WRONG! Dabbling in things you love will always result in growth............ professionally, creatively, spiritually, and so on.

So I got to a point where I started "just poking around" a bit. Doing innocent searches on the Internet. You know, art supplies for my art, unique goodies to share online at my website, pieces of art from other like minded artists and then POW! I found art groups. That was the turning point for me. Sharing ideas, suggestions, techniques, networking, "hooking up" or "linking up" (as needed in cyberspace), making friends. Dangerous stuff. No more living in my own private art world.

I started picking up little HTML tidbits to make things "prettier". Now what artist can resist making things prettier or at least our own interpretation of what is "pretty". Ok, pay attention.... did you miss that? HTML found its way into my private, comfy little art world. Now I'm doomed. 'Cause now I've got new friends and groups; and am starting to see their cool websites, group threads, blogs, well you know.

I've always had a ~~love~~/~~hate~~ hate/hate relationship with my website. It's hosting service was old, complicated, definitely NOT user-friendly, out-dated, and HTML challenged. For those of you just sticking the tip of your toes into the HTML pond, it's basically the computer language, or code, that makes all things"Internet" look cool and do cool things. BEWARE!! It is incredibly addicting and will bite you on your hiney. And there is no turning back.

Are you seeing this? This evolving.... this growing, learning, monster of discovery. Somewhere at the beginning of this journey I found a new website hosting service. It is SO COOL! If you don't know HTML, they have these great "website kits" that you just plug into the places they tell you to and voila! You have a great user friendly website with integrated shopping cart and wonderful customer service. And if you know even a small amount of HTML you can just play all day tweaking your website until it is your best creation ever!

But I digress. This is where YOU come into the picture. I don't even remember how I got here writing to you. I was building my new website one day, then before you know it I'm here. How did I get here? I honestly don't know. I think it was when I was creating "My Favorite Links" page in my website. I caught the link fever. That MUST be it! Then I was on Photobucket, Etsy, Cafe Press, My Space, Indiepublic, Squidoo, Blogger, Google Pages, my different art groups and favorite places to shop for art goodies, Flickr, You Tube, Yahoo Groups......oh my!

So as you can see, my obsession is full-blown. I don't sleep and I've gained weight living on Cheetos in front of my computer. It isn't for everyone, but this type of obsession does have its place. I'm a Self-Representing Artist. Which means I create my own art, sell my own art and promote myself. So.....I'm getting out there. And I'm having fun. The timing was right for me, too. Due to a family emergency, my studio is temporarily being used for other purposes right now. All my art stuff is in boxes in storage and it is d-r-i-v-i-n-g me out of my mind!!!!!!!!! Did I emphasize that enough? Seriously, if I don't get elbow deep in some paint, glue, cool papers and vintage found objects SOON, I will go insane. Period.

So this Internet linking, blogging, group interacting, HTMLing, website designing is my only creative outlet for now. But, you know what? As much as I hate / love my computer, it is really pretty cool.

Your friend in art,
Debra

P.S.
You thought I forgot didn't you? Here is the link to the new website hosting service and website builder I am using. Please use the link below, or tell them "Alternique" sent you. I love them so much I am in their affiliate program and will get credit if you do. And don't forget, I'm a starving artist (aside from the Cheetos) so I could use it!

Why I Can't Sleep...!

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 05:31:13 GMT

Hmmmmmmm......... that's a big, ~~boring~~ sleep-inducing story.

But to sum it up, my greatest observations about insomnia over the past couple of years are:
#1 It seems to affect all artists. I didn't know this before becoming active on the Internet and inner-twining my life with other creative types. I thought I was the only odd bird that was either still in her studio at 3am OR was sneaking out of bed to go to her studio at 3am.

#2 My insomnia has evolved into a very sophisticated creature over the years. Used to, I just had a "bad night" or "tossed and turned". From there it has grown into a full-blown life of its own with its own separate categories.

*   I lie awake and worry. Oh yes, I'm a worrier. About our finances (starving artist, don't 'cha know), about the environment (since I was 8 and read an article about our disappearing forests), about the fact that I'm not asleep and should be, about mold, about taxes, about protecting wildlife on our property, and am I going to have a heart attack now that I'm over 40 (history of heart disease in my family).
OR
*   I am in one of my intense creative modes and my mind is spinning with so many ideas I can't keep up. This is why I now keep a notebook by my bed, in my car, by the couch and in my studio at all times. There have been times when I grab a notebook and write, draw, whatever for 2 days almost nonstop until everything in my brain is now on paper. My husband and I now jokingly refer to this as me "downloading".
OR
*   I ALWAYS read in bed before going to sleep. I have to be very careful what I read or it gets my mind going full speed. 90% of my reading is "How To", "DIY" or "Instructional" on topics related to art or nature. 9% of my reading includes the cool art magazines and nature magazines I subscribe to. However, much of this falls into the "How To" category because they give me so many ideas. The remaining 1% is fiction. Fiction makes me restless and for some reason I feel like I'm wasting my time when I read fiction.  That is truly a shame and a loss on my part, but it's true. I save this 1% for bedtime reading to help me sleep, because the others just get those wheels turning too fast.
OR
*   Last, but not least, I've not slept for 3-4 days for more than a couple of hours each night and finally pass out from exhaustion on the couch and take a nap during the day. Well of course, this screws up my sleep for that night and the maddening cycle starts all over again!

I currently average 3-4 hours of sleep a night (on a good night). But I take comfort in knowing all around the world, fellow creatives are grabbing a favorite beverage, putting on their ratty comfortable robe and padding off to their studio in their bunny slippers. (Ya bunch of freaks!)

What's goin' on here?

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 02:40:38 GMT

Hello and welcome to a peak at my brain.......
(I can't be held responsible.)

This is not a very active journal right now because I have 3 others I am going to merge together so everyone only has to visit one place...........it's INSANE how many blogs and journals are popping up everywhere! I mean, REALLY! I've got insomnia like most other artistic types; but you would have to stay awake for a week just to read everyone's deep dark secrets if we blogged & journaled every place available! Everyone has their very favorite places to visit, so I am here in case this is your favorite! Besides, I like the layout and friendly people here at Live Journal.

In fact, maybe instead of merging them into one, I'll just copy and paste my entries into each journal so they are the same no matter where you visit. That way you only have to go to one place for updates, and no matter which site or blog you choose it will be the same ramblings! Because what I have to say is just so profound, I'm sure I have a HUGE following... :~)