Meet Emily Painter - Article from The Clutch

I was beyond excited when The Clutch approached me to write an article about what I do.  

If you follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, etc., you know that I have a lot on my plate when it comes to creating!  I'm a photographer, graphic designer, Etsy shop owner, jewelry designer, crocheter, painter, blogger, and all around craft lover.  When I started writing the article about Painter Designs and who I am, my feelings and emotions about all of the things that happened in the last year, really started coming to the surface.  So, I went with it!  

Here's the finished product on The Clutch!

12.9.16 Friday Favorites - Greenville, SC Inspired

For this week's Friday Favorites, I've decided to choose a few people and companies in the Greenville area, who have really stood out to me lately.  I feel like the Upstate of South Carolina has so many wonderfully talented people!  There's no way that I could share all of my favorites in one post.  So, I'll definitely be writing more Greenville and South Carolina Friday Favorites soon!

As always, here's my list of things that have caught my eye and made me swoon throughout this week.  

1. Emilie @emsnails__

I am always amazed at what this girl can do with nails!  Each image that Emilie shares is honestly like a piece of art that you carry around on your hands for weeks!  With over 5k followers on Instagram, she's an inspiration to nail artists and salons throughout the United States!  Amazing work, Emilie!

 

2. Pen and Basil

I've been following Kristin Brooks with Pen and Basil for a while and it inspires me to want to do calligraphy. (Even though I have a hard enough time writing anything in cursive!)  Her work is so beautiful and I love what she has been creating for the Christmas season!  She also made the most adorable gift tags for the holidays.  I absolutely love this watercolor, Joy to the World, wreath print!

3. Goose Feathers Boutique

Last month, I visited Goose Feathers Boutique in Travelers Rest for the first time.  There are so many adorable dresses and home goods throughout the store!  They're always getting new stock in too, so you never know what you might find!  Go check out Goose Feathers and make sure to pet her sweet dog, Amos!  Plus, be sure to pick up one of my brush stroke paintings, which are featured in the store!  :)

4.  Clayton Tile

Clayton Tile on Woodruff Road in Greenville, has such an awesome selection of any kind of tile you could ever think of and they always share the most dreamy tiles on their Instagram page!  If you're thinking of adding tile to your home, definitely check them out!  Last year, we added a subway tile backsplash to our kitchen and we got our tile from Clayton Tile.  They were wonderful and so helpful.  I love following their page for tile inspiration!

5. The Adorned Fox

I am so amazed at what people can do with wood burning art!  I had no idea how gorgeous this art form could be, until the last couple of months!  Tabathia with the Adorned Fox has taken girl boss to a whole new level!  She's rocking out all different kinds of hand lettering and wood burn art. She has all sorts of t-shirts and goodies on her Etsy shop as well.  Way to go Tabathia!

6.  Liquid Catering

I think the idea of Liquid Catering is so awesome!  We had them provide beer and wine at our wedding reception in 2014 and they were amazing!  It's also awesome that they put drink inspirations on their Instagram page!  Yay for cocktail recipes and yay for Liquid Catering of Greenville!  

My Experience with Working for Myself

When you talk to most people and you tell them that you work for yourself, their first reactions are usually:

"Wow!  That's so cool!  It must be so easy!"
"You can just do whatever you want to, when you want to!"
"That must be such a piece of cake."
"I bet you get so much free time!"
"It would be so nice to work for yourself.  Then, you can just be so free!"
"I could get so much housework done if I was just sitting at home everyday!"

The truth is, this hasn't been easy.

Honestly, it was easier working a full time job that I knew that I had to go to Monday - Friday 8:30 - 5:30.  I could (at least attempt to) leave it all there when I left!

It was easier knowing that I had a pay check every week.
It was wonderful having a steady paycheck and not worrying about buying groceries or that cute trendy top.
It was fun going to lunch with coworkers and having more of a "social" life.
It was kinda nice not being at home all the time to see how badly you need to do laundry, mop, cook, etc., on top of trying to run a business out of your home.
It was great to be able to turn your cell phone off and know that you could just "Worry about it at work on Monday."
It was great not having to be "on" 24/7.
There have been sleepless nights and lots of stress.

Now, I'm not at all trying to complain!  I promise!

When I lost my job this April, I was devastated.

I loved my job and I loved what I did.  But, I decided to fall back on what I have always enjoyed doing.  I had a wonderful and supportive family and husband to push me into trying things out on my own.   At first, business seemed decent.  I had a few photo shoots, graphic design gigs, was selling some of my art and jewelry, and had a gallery showing at a local salon.  However, the next couple of months were difficult.  I was spending a lot of time posting online and sharing things to get my name out there.  I was creating things and they weren't selling.  I was spending money on items to make jewelry and then not selling anything to make the money back.  I felt like I was spinning my wheels and getting no where.

I know that when you run your own business, it comes and goes in waves, but friends it is not easy!  It's not easy financially and it's not easy on your self esteem.  You go through a whole feeling of "What is my self worth?"  There has been so much stress and anxiety towards pushing my business, that there have been days that I've had to take a step back and remember that making money and being successful in business is not what life is all about.  This doesn't make me who I am.

I've had to make myself take breaks and take a step back from my work.

Here's what has been working for me to balance everything.

Every morning when I get up, that's my coffee and social media time.  It gives me a chance to wake up and catch up on what's going on in the world.

I've started using a social media calendar in Excel, that helps me gather items and topics and make a set schedule of when to post.

I also started a new, once a week blog post called Friday Favorites.   I take notes while I'm looking through the Internet and also while I'm out and about and that helps me make a faves list for my Friday Favorites.

Every evening, I have to make myself put down my phone and stop liking, following, commenting, etc.  It can easily become an addiction!  Take time for yourself to unwind at the end of the day.   Read a book, the Bible, drink some tea and try to tune out the outside world.



To all of my other photographer, artist, blogger, entrepreneur, girl bosses out there, keep your head up!  We will get through this!  Just remember to make time for yourself and don't get too wrapped up in it all!  We have to remember to keep this fun!  We get one life to live.  Let's not waste it on stress!