Really needing to sort out my colorful web/life…
February 16th, 2008 by 
Charm & Grace
It has been nearly a year since I started the Charm & Grace website. And while my blog has seen quite a bit of traffic over the months, the main website has not been profitable. It tends to have a good bit of traffic, but it hasn’t been as financially successful as I need for it to be. I put Google ads there hoping to generate enough revenue to pay for the hosting and justify my time in writing and design on the site. I am now in the process of reevaluating that concept. I lean toward revamping and refining the site, so that in the future it won’t take quite so much time to update the articles. There are so many things going on right now, I just haven’t had the time (and believe me it takes gobs of time) to do a winter 2008 issue of Charm & Grace. I hope to have a spring issue, albeit pared down and reconfigured, out sometime in March.
Having said that, today was a day to experiment with my new paint brushes and watercolors. After a fun day of playing with paint, I am glad to sit down to the computer and share with you what I’ve been up to. (No I have not made any progress on the comment spamming, although I have spent quite a bit of time trying. I will let you know when I get a solution. Special thanks to Karla and Bebe for your great suggestions.) Anyway, since I am now back to doing fine art, I will also be looking for a way to coordinate my creative pursuits with my web design. This is all such a wonderful opportunity to learn new things and new ways of incorporating all my artistic endeavors, and I really am excited about what the future holds.
Color is an amazing thing, and for me, being able to play and experiment is just such a blessing. And it’s something I haven’t afforded myself the luxury of doing in quite some time.
On a side note… a few days ago I was looking for a container to hold and sort my brushes, when I had a wonderful inspiration. I had purchased this lovely tulip vase last summer and haven’t used it very often as a vase. When I saw it I knew that it would be the perfect (and very aesthetically pleasing) brush holder. I love the way the brushes look held so gracefully by the creamy white vase. Blessings and hugs…
Posted in Charm & Grace Site, blogging, artwork, web design, organization | 
February 17th, 2008 at 8:07 am
Hi Christi,
Thanks for coming by to see me yesterday. I’ve been trying to track down the azalea’s name, but there are so many varieties.
I checked around the clay pot, but I didn’t seem to put a tag or mark it anywhere as to a name. I’m not sure it even had a tag when I bought it ~ I may have just snatched it up on color alone when it was blooming at the nursery!! The closest one I could come up with was Blaauw’s Pink, but some pictures I looked up were similar and some were not. I guess he’s an orphan!
I did see some of those gorgeous Encores to which you were referring. Those are luscious plants!!
Loved looking at your paintings ~ you are so talented! Especially fond of the big red rose!!
Hugs,
Bebe
February 17th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Such beautiful artwork! You are so talented!
Blessings,
Melissa
February 17th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Hey Christi… I had no idea how talented you were until I first saw the house etchings you did for Christmas… Love the watercolrs too…. nice and bright… color is a good thing..
HUGS
JO
February 20th, 2008 at 12:17 am
**Shhhh!**
You are invited to a SURPRISE BLOGGY BIRTHDAY PARTY for kari tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb 20.
She is turning 40!!!
Stop by the party on Wednesday to mingle a bit, say hi to the birthday girl, enjoy a bite of cake, and check out the party favor giveaway!
blessings,
kijsa
February 20th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Hi Christi
What beautiful flower paintings! You are very talented! Thank you so much for your lovely message on my blog!
Best Wishes
Clare
February 22nd, 2008 at 12:01 pm
…just wanted to stop by and say thank you…thank you…thank you…for all your sweet wishes on my birthday!
Have a wonderful day…
smiles, kari (& kijsa)
February 22nd, 2008 at 3:48 pm
First visit here, I need to explore and visit the website. Your artwork is truly lovely.
February 24th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Your water colors are very sweet. It’s just these sorts of pieces that I like to tack up on my office wall, lovely reminders about keeping the bliss…
February 29th, 2008 at 3:37 am
I’m so happy to hear that you may be updating your Charm and Grace sight! I was thrilled to find the Autumn one and kept checking for an update. I understand the time and cost factor…maybe you could just incorporate it all here at your blog? You do such an inspiring job at celebrating the seasons–I’d hate to see it go!
Thanks for the work you did on the Autumn issue though, it was so beautiful.
ButtonWillow Cottage