The rules to a Bohemian lifestyle are...

I wanted to talk about the rules of embracing a more bohemian lifestyle in your everyday but then I realized the Rules are, there are no Rules to having a boho existence!  So my new mantra is: Be Free, Be Bohemian ...

Be Free, Be Bohemian.

Bo|he|mi|an -

1. 1. 

   a native or inhabitant of Bohemia.
2. 
   
3. 
   
4. 2. 

   a person who has informal and unconventional social habits, especially an artist or writer.

   "the young bohemians with their art galleries and bars" (Google search bar definition).

   
   
5. 
   
   
   
   I am not a native of Bohemia, but I can tell you I have been there and it is an amazingly beautiful area. I clearly fit the second definition, right down to go to art galleries and eating sushi.
6. 
   
7. In that theme, for the summer, I will be sharing more DIY projects to Boho your own environments! And if you are looking for more Boho inspired accessories please join me in my shop, Scrappy Carp Living... I promise macrame, long flowy scarves and tote bags to carry all your goods home from your local farmers market. 

Cheers, Megan

1. 
   

Why I will no Longer work for Free

Why I will no longer work for free...  What I am talking about is giving my intellectual property away for free under the guise of 'exposure'. As creatives we hear it all the time. The emails I get almost always start off  with "We Love your photo of X it really captures what we want to say in our Magazine/Publication X, we would love to feature/print it..." We'll give you full credit. Take for example an excerpt of a recent email sent to me from the people of Pensacola Home and Garden

I've had interest from several publishers for this particular photo, it was for a Sriracha Devilled Eggs recipe (on my old blog) that highlighted a SilkScreen print I made in response to being homesick.

 

To be honest a I sent a rather curt No, 

Another time I had a large food and wine event ask me to donate handmade hand printed canvas bags (like these ones, but with kitchen utensils on them) to their event as swag bags for their participants. It was huge, they charged the general public $$ to hob nob with celebrity chefs, they had seminars, cooking demonstrations, sellers, buyers etc. I replied with a 'that sounds fantastic however I can not give you the bags for free, I broke down what it would cost to make them time, supplies etc, I did not ask for the full retail cost but a fee that would help cover the start up costs'.  I never got a response... not even a thank you for taking the time to respond.

Here is the thing, every time a creative, artists, crafter, designer etc gives their work away for free and I am not talking about donations for good causes, we are devaluing our work saying that it is not worth the same as 'working artists paid commissions'. My time is worth X, materials cost X, I spent 4yrs and my own money on my Art University degree. I may have children and can not afford to work on my career full time but the time and talent I  do give is 101%. 

I hope to rejoin the workforce as an artist one day and be paid for my creative intellectual property, but as a working artist why would anyone pay me for work that I once gave away for free? Am I not undermining  the future me and current working artists? Why would professional companies pay working artists when there is legion of free labour just looking for a little bit of exposure? 

So that is why I will no longer work for free... 

I have had a lot more brazen requests for free work, images, time etc, this woman was just the straw that broke the camels back...