So, hi!
It’s been a while, hasn’t it?
I feel this need to re-introduce myself, it’s been that long!
Hi, my name is Amy!
Here’s the thing.
I’m not new to the blogging world. Far from it, honestly. I started blogging around 2002-2003 (I was definitely in high school) and used this site called UpSaid. I stayed on it for a couple of years until they started charging actual money to use the site. At that point, I downloaded my content (because I definitely wanted to go back and read the musings of my 16 year old self) and went over to LiveJournal. While all the cool kids started blogs on Xanga, I decided that I preferred the customization and feel of LiveJournal. I met a number of amazing people (some of who I’m still friends with and meet on a regular basis) on LiveJournal and stayed until they were sold to Russia. After that, I peaced out and transferred everything to DreamWidth.
A few years later, I started a more “professional” blog called Detour From the Oz (Kansas… Wizard of Oz - yeah, that connection). It was a lifestyle blog filled with my amateur photography (I learned about these things called photography challenges at this time), the musings of my daily life, traveling and other minutia that I thought others might find interesting. But then, at some point in year two, I got it into my head that I clearly don’t know enough about… much of anything to really run a successful lifestyle blog. Don’t you just hate that little voice? I know I do! I also wasn’t traveling as much and didn’t have much to talk about after a certain point. I again saved my posts and moved on.
In 2017, I started hand lettering and sharing it on Instagram. Let me be the first to tell you that I actually started the Instagram account in 2016 but never shared anything with ANYONE until 2017. It also wasn’t until later in that year that I actually started sharing it with my actual real life family and friends. Once again believing for the longest time that no one would really care about what I was doing so… why share it?
Anxiety is a bitch.
At some point, I mentally said ‘screw it’ and shared it with my Facebook. I was honestly surprised by how many cared and really liked what I posted. These days, when I go back to look at it, I cringe. Anyone else have that feeling?
After I started getting PAID to do the things I loved to do, I knew I needed to start thinking about a website (and a blog, naturally). I knew I needed a place that I would be able to share the work that I’m proud of and could one day show to clients. So, there I was in 2018, posting about how hard it was to brand yourself (and it’s still hard sometimes when you’re constantly changing your mind) and forever learning… and then I fell off the map for a while. I still posted on IG but I left my website to do its thing, notably collecting metaphorical dust.
This is all to say that it was easier to blog back in those early days. I blogged about my (very) juvenile outlook on life, TV shows I was completely obsessed with, movies that I simply LOVED, Harry Potter and read far too much fan fiction. Look, I’m just being straight with you. There was a lot of fan fiction (both read and written by yours truly) and there still is. And while I still obsess over TV shows, movies and fandom, I didn’t feel this was the right place for that (and truthfully, it isn’t).
So, now… here we are.
I’ve been working from home for a little over two months now. The first month of it, I truly felt uninspired to do much of anything other than read, play Final Fantasy XIV, Animal Crossing New Horizons or World of Warcraft (look, I love my video games).
By early May, the dam broke.
I’m not sure what did it but I knew that I had to do something. I finally felt inspired to write, to work on my Herbology Series, and to pursue the things that I’ve always wanted to pursue. I took a road trip up through the Flint Hills with Mom and realized several things.
Most importantly, I felt closed in with Purplescape Hand Lettering & Design, and in order to share with you everything that I eventually want to share, I knew I needed to expand.
Therefore… Purplescape Hand Lettering & Design is now Purplescape Creative Studio.
Embarrassingly enough (but on brand), I didn’t have a clear concept in mind for Purplescape Design. I simply knew I wanted to share with you my growth but there was nothing clear cut about what to post about, what to share… other than my lettering.
With Purplescape Creative Studio, I actually have an idea! And let me tell you, it’s a game-changer to have that roadmap!
So what is it? It is my goal to add a dash of magic into your everyday life. If it makes you smile or makes you feel something, then I’ve done my job. Hand lettering and design will still be the main focus (along with future tutorials) but I plan to branch out and include my travel photography and writing (original fiction) as well.
I should have said at the beginning that I’m a bit long-winded (to the utmost frustration of anyone who knew me as a kid) and that I have this need to share with you the ENTIRE story from start to finish (with a few detours).
I can’t wait to share with you my new branding and branding mood board in the next post but until then, I hope you and your family are staying safe and healthy.
♡ Amy