Stories with Passion: Rosie Explains Autism

Rosie is an incredibly passionate young lady. She aspires to be a famous actress, has a wild imagination, and remembers hundreds of facts. Oh, and she has autism, but Rosie is the first to tell you that it doesn't hold her back.

"Although it can be a problem, I wouldn't swap my autism for anything. It makes me who I am."

These stories are told from the perspective of children touched by autism – not experts, or parents, or doctors – kids. And kids are honest, unapologetic and amazing.

via upworthy

Read more Stories with Passion – spirited tales of people, animals, art, business and nature that make your heart burst with happiness.

Studio Play Sessions #3: The sad mundane life of clay Honey Badger

Even after losing a leg, you think clay honey badger cares? Inspired by the original honey badger.

Studio Play Sessions is just me, being weird and playing around with new materials.

Coming Soon: Fear Confessions 2.0

In the meantime, catch up on the 15 courageous guest bloggers that have already shared their Fear Confessions.

Stories with Passion: Up Close with a Polar Bear

This image won the Natural History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year award in 2011.

Would you believe me if I told you this wasn't captured by a professional photographer? It was taken by a dentist. I swear! Joe Bunni is passionate about photography and spends his cash on wildlife photography expeditions.

Doesn't this make you want to jump out of your chair and start making things happen?

Read more Stories with Passion – spirited tales of people, animals, art, business and nature that make your heart burst with happiness. Have a wonderful weekend!

Free printable: Farmers Market Guide

Are you ready for this month's free printable? May is one of my favorite months because the farmers market starts and that means strawberry/rhubarb pie. Top it with vanilla ice cream and "you'll have what she's having" ... if you know what I mean.

I designed this farmers market guide to include tips, online resources and a list of what's in season in spring, summer, fall, winter and year-round. I'm keeping it on my fridge to reference all year long.

This free printable is only available to my newsletter subscribers. Sign up to receive this printable & watch for a new one each month.

Crapshow

I wasn't going to share this story with anyone, but I believe it's just as important to talk about our failures as it is our successes.

I'll just say it. My craft show experience was an epic fail. I lugged 300 journals and 4 handpainted chalkboard globes to the show – and sold one journal. To a friend. Who came to support me. (Thanks Laura!)

I approached the design of my craft table like I would an installation piece. Every detail was thoughtfully planned out, all the way down to my inventory sheets. Everything needed to be playful, user-friendly, inviting and colorful – and the final product hit the mark. 

As far as attracting customers, I enlisted Ryan to unleash his type-A, great-with-people personality (I tend go all introverty in crowds like a nervous turtle). By the end of the day, even his enthusiastic smile had twisted into a I'm-trying-not-to-look-defeated-and-am-still-attempting-to-put-on-a-cheery-face way. 

I was feeling delusional around hour 2. I imagined myself leaping onto the table and giving my loudest Xena Warrior Princess cry while flinging torn journals into the air.

Problem: my main product has a very niche market. It's for girls, ages 8-12 that go on cross-country road trips with their families. I shouldn't say it was an epic failure, because most people were very nice and I continually heard things like, "That's such a great idea!" or "That's so cute!" The highest compliment someone can give my work is that it's conceptually great, even if it's not the right fit for them.

Am I glad I did it? Yes. Would I do it again? No.

Result: A fire has been lit under my butt, and we've come up with new approaches for marketing these. Not like a sleezy, used car salesman. Oh, by the way. My table was right next to one of those guys, and he kept trying to talk to me about social media schmoozing. Cherry. On. Top.

What's your biggest epic fail? Personal or business stories are welcome. Let's commiserate!

Stories with Passion: Naki'o

It feels like a good day to share my new blog series, Stories With Passion, where I'll be sharing stories about people, animals, art, music, videos and anything else that makes me smile.

Meet Naki'o, the first dog to have four prosthetic legs. His story will give you happy-heart tingles. And if that isn't enough, scroll down to watch a video of him playing.

Do you have a story about passion that you'd like to share? Post a link in the comments. Read more Stories with Passion and have a happy weekend!

Quit-versary

My quit-versary was in March, and (being so preoccupied with to-do lists) it came and went without much notice.

I have to laugh at myself because that's one of the reasons I quit. Agency work is mostly reactive and after a while that really sucks the magic out of you. Even for me, who strangely thrives on the task of plowing through a mountain of work, agency life chipped away at me. Rock. by. rock.

Downton Abbey reminded me of the purpose behind "the week end." Working folks need a break. But even weekends demand catching up on hot projects when you're chained to a salary.

I sat for a few hours today and prepped journals for my show. It gave me time to think. I've been feeling restless, like I haven't accomplished enough with my business. The problem is, I have been so focused on moving on to my next task that I haven't allowed myself to celebrate the many accomplishments along the way:

• I made the decision to leave my job and start my own business.

• I followed through.
• I wrote a mission statement.

• I conceived, designed, illustrated, produced and launched a product.

• I invested in my business.

• I filmed and edited a short video.

• I hired a lawyer and CPA to help make my business legit.

• I designed and launched an online shop.

• I started this blog.

• I committed to publishing a monthly newsletter with a free printable.

• I reached out to others to share their fears through a special blog series.

• I launched Paper Fort Creative to take on design and illustration work.

• I became a student again.

• I wrote for an online publication.

• I made new friends and started collaborating on projects.

And now I'm selling products at my first craft show. I didn't think they'd approve my application, since I've never been involved in one, but it worked.

Reflecting on my journey, and all that I've accomplished in a year, has me reaching for a tequila sunrise to celebrate life, business and the future. Cheers to that!

How do you celebrate your accomplishments? Or are you plowing through your to-do list so quickly (like me) that you've forgotten to enjoy the journey?