About Me

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Freelance Graphic Designer

Friday 10 January 2020

Have a HaPpY, HaPpY.....


Happy New Year to all; 
may we have happiness and less division in our world.


Saturday 21 December 2019

We're Smack Dab in the Middle of the Holidays: and it's RAINING!

But that's ok....my Oma would say.

It's been a little dark and dreary in Vancouver of late and it reminds us that these months are for hibernating a bit as the bears do. 
I actually have found that the cozy twinkle lights we use this time of year has inspired me to be more creative. I've done some of my best designs lately!
When one walks out the home door these days the craziness starts! It's a traffic battle out there and if we all chilled a bit, it wouldn't be so bad. I find I cycle and walk everywhere despite the rain, just to not get into the stress that comes when you're behind the wheel. 

This time of year I'm drawn to many things including color, light, warmth, quiet, solitude, gentle movement, good books, and wholesome food. Appreciating all these things helps me through the long dark days of winter. And much like life, setting an intention to celebrate this seasonal journey instead of merely riding it out until its over, is high on my list of priorities.
So I'm done.

Done my shopping, work designing, gift making, home decorating, blah, blah, blah...
Now I'm dancing the stress away in some random Vancouver bar. 
Come say hi. I'm the old bird doing the funky chicken at the back of the room playing the imaginary bongos. 

with lots of love,




Friday 13 September 2019

What's it really like to freelance for a living?

 ðŸ¤”


I am a full-time freelancer. A hired gun. A mercenary of the creative bent.
Cool people give me money, I create stuff for them.
For the most part, I wake up when I want, work on projects I care about, and very rarely wear real pants (typing this in a pair of pjs my daughter gave me for my birthday).
I sometimes make good money.
I sometimes don't.
I didn’t graduate University. 
I’m not particularly talented (better than some; not as good as maybe others).
But…
As a freelancer I may take on the same tasks as those working within a company. 
I have to  be self-motivated, and wear many hats (promoter, accountant, agent, art director, and more) in order to keep my business moving in the right direction.
I love contracts, working at coffee shops, and wearing funky clothes.
But as a mom, I can work around my family life most times.

Freelance? 
You betcha!
Here's to seeing and finding the beauty, the hope and joy in the right now of our work lives.
And for goodness sake, let's have some fun while we’re at it! 





Wednesday 23 May 2018

Spring is my absolute favorite time of the year.

Fall is a close second! 

The trees, flowers, grass, shrubs, birds, bees, and life is just in full bloom and it all smells so gorgeous.  I mean you walk down the streets and so many lovely scents hit you in the nose! There are so many ah-ha moments and I just can't stop smiling.

It's also a tough time to be inside working some days, right?! 
And what the heck do I wear? Rifling through the closet trying to find stuff is a challenge.  Where did I put that powder blue shirt? I thought I had more leggings? Where's my ankle bracelet? Sigh....but we all get through and re-stock for the summer weather. I still have to do that. Would probably make my days easier.

I've fallen behind in my social media endeavours. I'm revamping how I work with my Jibe Designs brand, and work for others has come first. It's slowing down which allows me space to step back and observe. I'm finding it all good.



When we walk to the edge of all the light we have and take the step into the darkness of the unknown, we must believe that one of two things will happen….There will be something solid for us to stand on or we will be taught to fly.”
. ~ Patrick Overton ðŸŒ¿


Namaste.

Monday 26 February 2018

What's in that food?

I spent a day at the CHFA trade show in Vancouver on Sunday and WOW! I love this health food show.  It's not open to the public, just retailers and it's bursting with everything Vegan, Gluten Free non GMO, Fermented, sprouted etc etc etc......
I'm on a "no-sugar" kick which I probably will stay on for the rest of my life.  Sugar is the enemy.  So is corn. I know it's crazy but what we eat is so very important and I'm all in to doing everything I can to eat a healthy balanced diet.  I say balanced because CHOCOLATE is still a part of it!! (Trying to find a low sugar chocolate that tastes good is a challenge but they're out there.)
I've learned so much by talking with so many of the committed people who care about good food.  And there are so many of them!  Everyone's got a story! I'm so excited that the organic, health food industry has so much to offer and tastes so very yummy! Seriously I find there is absolutely no need to kill an animal or even eat an egg. 
I've enjoyed a vegetable and fruit diet for the last month and I can't believe the energy I have. I'm blessed to have a sister who's a nutritionist and a huge door opener to an industry that's absolutely bang-on to TRUTH. Well, our truth anyway.
Be well my friends. Life is beautiful.
Namaste

Saturday 3 February 2018

Google and Me

It's been a whole lotta years since I started Jibe Designs and today, I finally received approval for  Google's business page search and I'm pretty excited!
Crazy that I do this for other business's but yet I keep saying I'll get around to mine......but it's finally done.

Let's see if it makes a difference.
Have a great day!
Namaste!



Friday 12 January 2018

What? January already?

Hey 2018. 

I see you. 


You're here and,
ready or not, we are making the choice to embrace you for the time and opportunities you hold; knowing that every day, every moment is new and full of possibility, resolutions or not.

Funny how truly the beginning of every year is an opportunity to start anew.  Make changes.  Reflect.  That's all lovely but does it really work?  I have the best intentions to change it up a bit but truly it's really difficult to do that.  Does anybody else feel this way?

Of course you do.  
But onward we go.  Time ticks away.  Days turn into years and there you are. Still pretty much the same!

So what's new in my design world? Last year was truly a little challenging for me with jibe designs as my sister had died of Cancer and I found it a struggle to be creative.  I fell into a muck and only regularly came out to dance.  But having mucked about long enough I'm now ready to keep doing design work!  It's what I truly love and can get into.  The design concepts this year are more about togetherness, openess, stories and putting it all out there! Honesty as Oprah says is totally the bomb.  Let's be truthful.  The energy that goes with that is real, it's dramatic and people-drawing.

I'm looking forward to February actually! The Vancouver rains will be less, we're out of the January pressures and it's the month of LOVE! I'm preparing my website, petsitting my lovely friend's dogs and cats and uplifting my spirits with dreams of the sky being the limit to my wants!

Let's see how it all goes down.
Be kind to each other.

Namaste
Petra