Here Is My Nomination Submission Story For Martha Stewart's "Doer of the Week"

I would really like to get recognized on Martha Stewart's "Dreamers Into Doers" website. I hope you will keep your fingers crossed for me. Here is the personal story that I submitted...

" One thing I have FINALLY learned about life is to just "go for it!" The worst that can happen is that someone tells you, "no," in which case, you just go to the next person. I started out getting a teaching degree, but there were no jobs. I went back to school and got a graphic design degree. Things were slow there, and I was always looking for work.

Then I switched over to designing home dec. projects for national magazines. (This is where the "just do it" idea kicked in.) For about 9 years I designed projects in folk art painting, poly clay, general crafts, and sewing. I freaked when I saw my designs on the covers of magazines. "Was that really me?" It didn't seem real! Then in 2003 (actually, I think it was 2005!) I was astounded when I won the first prize award for my 7 foot long digitized suede mural. It was a "by invitation only" contest. I was shocked that I had been offered the chance to participate, let alone win the top prize. I had never even sewn on suede before...and it was a huge challenge! My winning design was featured on HGTV's Carol Duvall Show...another shocker.

I recently opened a shop on etsy. The internet has been life changing for me. I can now sell my digital downloads directly to customers all over the world! I feel so blessed. All of the struggles and disappointments of the past are now being replaced with a strong sense of purpose and a big leap in confidence in my abilities as a designer.

My new dream is to license my paper doll designs so they can be offered as die cuts, so that crafters can punch out the parts and assemble the dolls quickly. You can see the digital download versions that I am selling now at http://www.rhondasoriginals.etsy.com   Thank you, Rhonda!"

If you scroll down the left sidebar here, you can see some of my magazine covers and part of the digitized mural/pillow I am referring to.