Deer Mountain Wood Art

Yep! I'm finally making the 'big bucks!'

As you know, I run a few ads here with ProjectWonderful and Entrecard - I try to keep them at a minimum as I don't want to inundate you with ads, but a girl's gotta try to make a buck when she can!! =D
So when I checked on pending ads in my ProjectWonderful cue I was surprised to see that I am not losing money anymore on my ads!

Officially, at 7am this morning, Project Wonderful stated that "At this exact moment, you're bidding at $0.17 per day, and bids on your ad boxes are earning at $0.19 per day"! Yay!! (Is that really how you spell that??lol)
So, I guess you could say that I've finally 'arrived' at the status of 'money-making bloggers'!! Suhwheet! =D
Thanks to all of my lovely advertisers and you, my wonderful readers, who click on them and cause advertisers to believe I'm worth running an ad on! =D Thank you! Thank you! [bowing and blowing kisses - end of Blogger Award speech]

hummm, Entrecard is also a fun way to discover new blogs with good reads - I highly recommend it for that reason - it's not going to make me a fortune, but at least it's pretty much free(unless you want to buy EC credits?), and it gets you plenty of views :)
Most are what they call 'drop and run' viewers, but if you have engaging content, they can't help but stop for awhile! I find more great things to read and learn about while 'dropping' my Entrecards - it's pretty awesome :0)

Okay, I have a ton of serious stuff to tell you this morning -

• there's an update on Mary; they had her sitting up yesterday!!! WOW! I can't believe it - isn't the good Lord awesome!!?! I know it's all the prayers that were sent for them - THANK YOU!!
  

• Roger's been getting steady work! Thank Goodness - I'm at risk right now of losing my home unless we can raise the $762 due for taxes :( Been a rough few months! So with him working and my work, we probably will scrape by, like usual! lol
  

• I'm going to be getting serious about DeerMountain - licensing and all - finally after 5+ years!lol I have a lot to tell you about 'getting serious' with your home-based business! I will be dedicating an entire post just to that subject within the next couple of days, be sure to check it out - it will have lots of information that you will really find invaluable! I promise!!
  

• We traded an old van Roger fixed up(one of those Conversion type vans - the big ones that were so popular with dating in my generation!lol) for the remaining payments on my car - so it's free and clear!! Yippee!! That should help a lot! :0)
  

• Work is going well - finally getting time to get everything done! That's a big task; trying to balance family, work, and me-time!! whew!
  

• I was asked to join a local gallery yesterday but it's $30/month and that's a risk I can't afford right now - I mean, what if nothing sells?!? How does one have enough faith in their work to take a chance like that?
  

• And finally, if you're disabled and you're considering 'going legit' on your work/art then you need to contact me right away! I have some information you need - seriously!! You wouldn't believe how many disabled folks are running their own businesses from home! Or how many artists you know who are in this category!! It's mind blowing! So you really do need to get in touch with me - now!!!! if you fit this description! :0) Click here to go to my Etsy shop and then click on the top where it says 'conversations' - I will get back to you asap with the info you need... I really believe you'll be glad you did!! =D
  

On the home front, Ryan's coming home this weekend :0) So you know I'll be silly happy! lol Even though he will make me do more deep cleaning! I need to and it feels great too :0)

Okay, that's just not fair!!lol During the small amount of time I've been typing this to you my ProjectWonderful ads changed their money-earning ratio and I'm no longer Queen of the Net!!!?? I even had to add a question mark at the end of my title!!!
Here's what it says now, "At this exact moment, you're bidding at $0.17 per day, and bids on your ad boxes are earning at $0.11 per day" - dang, that's a bummer!! lol
Oh well, goes to show the fickleness of marketing, eh?! I think that since it's finally went to a 'profit status' it will again more easily now, so I'm not worried - or should I be?lol

Thanks for "stopping by the shop!"
Freida

Well the girl accepted his words, to my utter surprise he came home that night with a muttered, "everything's fine, why?" Maybe I don't know the heart, like I thought I knew the heart?!?lol I'm glad though - she makes him so happy, and what mother wouldn't want her boy to be happy?
It's been a while since I've written - my toes are so cold from sitting here at the computer for the last 3 hours that I don't know if it's worth trying to write a decent blog post right now or not! lol
The length of time has been well-spent though, trying to catch up on all of the EFA things I needed to do but haven't had the chance to yet; I wrote in about the Treasury I curated - though it's not getting much in the way of views. It was planned a long time ago and though I started to change my mind on the theme, but I didn't. So "Birds of a Feather" it is - when it expires I will put a screen shot up - I think I'll plan another for a little further in the future.
In regards to the folks that seem to have a treasury up all of the time I used to think, "Dang, they must think they've got the corner on believing they have such great taste that we all just want to see what they pick..." but I know better now, it's ADDICTING darn it! and I know my taste is not to everyone's liking, but I've been exposed to so many talents that I would've never known about had I not done a few of these, and besides promoting my fellow EFA members, I just want to share what I've found! =D
Also, I'm in another Treasury and it's a really beautifully rendered collection - it's soon to expire so I will post the screen shot that includes the current listing, but after today it will not be clickable... enjoy! I'm hoping it make front page as it's 3rd from the top in activity, so who knows!?!
I'm also working on my new website - the old deermountainwoodart.com has been moved to a new domain host as well as a new website host, so it's been keeping me a little busy - new systems are so hard to learn as I grow older!lol and I have been trying to finish the Intarsia book, but my contributors have not gotten in all of their items, so we're kind of 'on hold' - doesn't look like a Aug 31st publishing date anymore :( but it really doesn't matter as long as we get it done before September is over!
I went to the little yardsale/art sale at the firestation this last weekend and it was just a mess - but I did manage to get to know a little about a couple that wants quite a bit of pieces done, so all was not lost. I did go home early as it just didn't look like much was going to happen. But I didn't expect much, just wanted my neighbors to know that I am still here and still working the wood. They were duely impressed I think?lol =D
So, in the title I wrote "Orders and Order" - I will sum that up here;
"Orders" - have a few orders from this last couple of weeks that I'm working on:

• Dolphin Helmet - for Kay
• Bronco's Helmet - for Kay
• Keepsake Pet Portrait Box - for Leanne
• Dragon Treasure Box - for eBay buyer, Greg
• City Scape - for lady at firestation
• Timberwolf on Burl - for guy at firestation
• "Art Block" - Wolves, number 3, using a painting done by a fellow Etsian
• and finally, a 'game cock' Intarsia piece for Nathan

So I've gotten busy, but I need to get these orders out before the Xmas orders get really started!

"Order" - working on getting my life, websites, blogs, and home in order. Through the summer, things have gotten quite out of control - my wood is everywhere as well as 'pieces in progress', so I'm trying to spend a share of my time getting my life, in general, in order.
I'll also be catching up my personal blog, "Three boys and a dog", and writing all of my 'personal' things there instead of letting them sneak over to here and vice' versa! So if you are interested at all, click on the link and prepare to be astounded by the chaos that is my real life! lol
Well, that's it for now - I was planning on getting busy at 9am but I see it's crept to 9:18 and I really have to get going! It's been so much more fruitful with the boys in school. I miss them, but it's so quiet right now that I would be remiss to not get a lot done while they're gone!!
Thanks for stopping by the shop! I always hope you enjoy, even just a little, my ramblings :0) and will come back often!
Freida

So much has been going on and I've been quite remiss in not keeping my poor blog up-to-date! But I'll give it a try to update ya'll on what's up here at Deer Mountain the best I can :0)

First of all, I've been working on this huge Elk (designed by Kathy Wise) for the Elk Foundation Dinner and Auction the 16th and that's kept me pretty busy! I'm really excited to get to donate such an item to the Elk Foundation as they are a great organization that helps preserve health and habitat for the elk and other wildlife. The elk are so beautiful and I feel the impact that we have on them with our ever increasing encroachment on their feeding and breeding grounds! If you're in the area contact

Mid-Arkansas Valley Big Game Banquet Erik Brekke 719-275-9401

08/16/08

for details and tickets!

I've also been trying out new items on Etsy to see if I can get business to pick up - doesn't seem to be happening which has me in the doldrums a bit since this is the only income I can provide for my boys.
My oldest told me a few days ago, "Mom, you make beautiful things. I really love what you do, but you're going to have to give it up and call it a 'hobby' because you'll never make anything doing this!" That was a real downer!
Maybe he's right, but it's hard to just "give it up" to a hobby status because being totally disabled doesn't give you much options and I love what I do soooo much! But, love and passion do not pay bills!! :0(
Sometimes I wonder what I'm doing, and then I get an email like this one; "Don't think Ron or I ever gave you feedback on the intarsia birthday/ Christmas gift - Diane was moved to tears. Seeing her favorite Schnauzer so beautifully re-created was moving for her and we were so thrilled that we were able to give her something she does not have - always a challenge...." and I think 'yeah, I'm doing the right thing for my life'.
It just feels strange to try to be in a place like Etsy where it's predominately college-aged people who create an entirely different style of 'art' than I. It's always been very clear that I don't quite fit in and that my work isn't totally valued there as it is in person. I'm in a quandary as to what to do with the online storefront...

Anyway, on a happier note - my DH and I just celebrated our 10th anniversary and will be attending a concert with Sammy Kershaw in Cripple Creek on the 17th - I've never been to any concert(I had a ticket to see Journey in Contra Costa when I was 20, but didn't get to go) and this is going to be so much fun! I'm really looking forward to spending some quality time with Roger - he's been trying so hard to make up for what I'm not taking in and it's really telling on him that this has been a difficult year to say the least! He deserves so much, but he gets me - yay! lol

So I will close for now - consider yourself truly updated; at least until tomorrow!! :0)

Thanks for "stopping by the shop!"
Freida