ArtLyfe

It's been a long time since I have sat down and wrote, blog or anything (as you well know, since my blogs have lately been few and far between).

I've had some excitement in my life, and a lot of boring.

Married life has turned out to be normal. It's just as it is, and I often find myself wondering if it actually happened - or being amazed that it did. I guess I imagine that after such a monumental occasion - that life would change. And it doesn't - well until I have to sign my new name.

I have slowly started changing my name over - starting with Facebook, Twitter, my online profiles, then moving onto paintings and eventually legal identification. Signing DPuff is getting easier and practically habit now.

Speaking of paintings, I have had an interesting 2 weeks. Canada Day weekend was lovely. I sold two paintings, got a commission for another and had a meeting with a local coffee shop owner. This coffee shop is one I spent most of my time skipping school to. I went there and dreamed of what my life would entail when I would be where I am now. Who knew I could dream of having my art hanging there. He took a look at my portfolio and told me to keep in touch, that we could possibly look at having my art displayed for fall. This. Fall. 2011. My artwork. In a public coffee house. displayed. with proper lighting. for sale. with my name under it in cute little templates.  Oh. My. God.

I also agreed to do the Fairfield Market. This is a local market, first year running being held on June 23, 2011 at the Chilliwack Lions Hall on Hope River Road.  I am super excited. It's a small venue type deal to start me off. I even ordered business cards today, for this. I have my portfolio made, but need to add more pages to it. I have a couple more paintings to add onto it.. but yeah. I have to start making name plate thingers for underneath with the prices clearly put up. I am going to try and see if I can get that big canvas my aunt, cousin and I did. She mentioned selling it so I may just use it as a backdrop and see if it sells.

I guess I need to do a custom price list, if anyone wants to Order.

I also finished my painting for the Trees for Life Exhibition. I am going to send it off to Scotland hopefully by the end of the week - I hope it reaches there in time. What do you think? In the picture it is still wet...

Mom also told me that I can already start keeping my receipts for a business. That because I am doing business under it - on Facebook and Etsy, that I can legally have that as a business. I'm going to ask my tax lady to be sure, but mom says that I could get an HST number, but I don't have to. I don't have to register the name unless I want to. Again, I will talk to someone about that and see.  Which means that it can also pay for part of our rent since I have "studio space". I'll keep you updated on how that goes for me.

We are also looking at moving now. We are hoping for September - but haven't found anything yet, nor have we given our notice. We are looking for something in Langley or close to. Andrew and I, both commuting to Langley at different times is just to much. It costs Andrew close to $1000 just for his car! yikes!

So moving closer to Langley, art moving forward, married life just living... yep that's it.

Still trying to save for the honeymoon - but catching up on bills right now is getting in the way. I really hope we can pull it together in time.

It's almost here!

5 days till I am Mrs. Puff. 5. FREAKING. DAYS.

I've gotten asked a lot if I am nervous. Nope.

Andrew and I are so casual when we say it too. "Are you getting nervous?" "Nope." maybe add in a shrug for good measure.

I feel sort of bad. Like we should be grinning ear to ear, twitching with the expectations that married life should have. But we don't. We know what married life holds, the same as it holds for us now.

The thing is it feels right. It feels normal. This is like waking up in the morning and going pee. It's just the order of things. We knew it was coming, and despite all we've had to work through, we know it's going to stick.

I overheard my mom talking to my opa about our upcoming nuptials. The one sided conversation went along the lines of how it's me and Andrew forever. We're marrying once, and only once.

Now all of this is not to say I'm not excited for our big day. Oh am I ever! I am excited to wear my dress and walk down the isle, and cry tears of joy and see the same in Andrew's face, in my family's faces. I'm excited to party and have all of that. But I am also excited to just get on with life as Mrs. Puff.

I do, expect the nerves to come out of my dreams (cause at 3 am that is where they are hiding) and eventually show up in me as the date gets closer.... but so far so good.

Count down begins

The wedding countdown has begun (ok it was already on, but now its serious!) 11 days until the big day. Until I leave my days of childhood fun before (pfft) and become a women (pfft, again) or at least become Mrs. Puff.

With such a fun new last name will I end up evolving to what that name evokes? Randall is such a stiff name. I think of Randall's I think of ramrod straight backs, yes sir's and no elbow's on the table. I think of Puff I think of camping and playing in the wild, and yes cream puff's - but I've had a mean sugar tooth lately.

Will I become more fun as my new name becomes a part of me. And man will it be weird to change it!

We decided that I would fully change my name, not hyphenate it. Andrew has been a bit wishy washy about what he wants - but I decided that hyphenating my name, in this case, was kind of like a prenup. I can see situations where it would be necessary - usually one's where your career is in your name. This isn't the case for me, though I think I will keep my maiden name for my Art... once I've done enough research on what painters are out there (I know as an author, there is already a few Deirdre Randalls out there).  Back to what I was saying - hyphenating my name, in this situation, would be like a prenup in the way that it seems like I'm already preparing for divorce. I, myself, am so on the fence about the marriage that I have my name as a back up? I don't want a divorce - I want to work on the problems and fight through our problems and the happy ever after... so I'm going to be Deirdre Dawne Puff. Man it feels weird.


I'll get used to it though.


I've been asked if I'm getting jitters, or nervous lately. Nope. The only nerves I have are for the amount of money that has to go out in the next 10 days. We also have to buy ALL the alcohol (well what MOH doesn't bring back from Hawaii). It feels like there is so much to do... and that I'm forgetting things- though I don't think I am.

Well don't plan on hearing from me as I go into the universe of Wedding, there may be some updates - but you may not see me until I come back as Mrs. Puff!

*squee*