I've been working on holiday cards today. It's always kind of weird to be thinking Christmas when it's 88 degrees outside, but it has to be done. Buyers are already thinking of placing their holiday orders and I really want to be on top of it this year.

This one reminds me of last November when Nate and couple of our friends went downtown to watch the tree lighting ceremony. 

I have never been to the tree lighting ceremony before. Almost 20 years of living here, and I have never been. I've always really wanted to go but I usually had to work, or the weather was terrible. 

We went last year because we didn't have to work and the weather was chilly, but really nice. It was a great experience. Being there with friends, surrounded by thousands of people all crowded around a huge tree in out pretty city.

I'm hoping to go again this year, if the weather is nice and Nate doesn't have to work. 

Years ago in September of 2010 I got an Etsy Conversation from a lady who was interested in a custom illustration.

Her partner was launching a new app and she wanted to give them an illustration of the app icon. That new app was Instagram. 

At the time, I had no idea what Instagram was or how it worked. I didn't even have a smart phone. I was still operating one of those very uncool phones with the pull out keyboard. It was turquoise and white and didn't even take pictures. 

Now, when I hear someone mention Instagram in a song, in a movie, or on a television show, I remember that Etsy Conversation and think back to it. I think back to this little illustration and how I really had no idea just how huge it would become. I doubt the client I was working with really had any idea either.

A few years later Instagram changed their logo slightly to a brown camera vs the white camera. I felt a little twinge of sadness when this happened, thinking back to the little illustration that I had made. But I understand things and logos and apps are always going to be changing. 

But, last week, when Instagram completely changed their logo design, I felt a larger twinge of sadness thinking back to that original design. The new logo is fine, it's just such a large step away from the original.

It's still really fun thinking back on that original Etsy Conversation and thinking to myself how I was in on something so big before it got so big. 

I'm thinking of discontinuing selling original illustrations in my shop and just focusing on greetings cards and prints. I would still be making originals, I just won't be listing them for sale in my Etsy shop. I think that it would help streamline my store. Of course, I would still have the originals on hand in case someone was interested in purchasing it.

When I started selling on Etsy, almost 9 years ago (!!!) I only sold originals. They sold really well for me! My buyers kept asking about prints so I slowly started making and selling them in my shop. Now I mostly sell prints of my originals and I rarely sell the real deal.

I think that by limiting the amount of originals I have for sale will help streamline my shop and make it a little more cohesive. By streamlining my items I'm hoping that it will be helpful for people shopping in my store. Less distraction, less items to sort through, less questions they may have. All good things!