Tag: design

Not much new on the horizon

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Photo: Mia
Daily writing prompt
What skills or lessons have you learned recently?

Recently, I haven’t learned new things. Only repeat old skills and lessons. So not much new on the horizon. Oh, except that there is no Pullquote block on WordPress anymore, so the quote gives me nightmares. The font is too big, and you can’t change the size. It just looks terrible on the post.

Now, when I think about what I’ve learned recently. I’ve learned that no matter what I do, I can’t seem to find graphic design clients. My savings are soon gone, and no money is coming in (except welfare). If I sold my flat, I could get money. But I can’t afford to hire a cleaner or moving people. Being unemployed blows. I only get bills, bills, bills.

Another thing I’ve learned, but it isn’t recent. It doesn’t matter what I post on Facebook, not even my relatives, no one reacts. But I post anyway just for myself. It’s nice to look back at the memories. People’s lives are so busy that they have no time to care about what I do. If I weren’t used to being alone, I would probably be depressed and distressed. Luckily, that’s only Facebook, and who takes that seriously?

There are always new things to learn. For example, you’re never ready to be creative because you can always get better and realise something you haven’t before. I’ve used Canva for 10 years, but I’m still learning. It gets updates, and new things come up. Then you learn the latest tools. The same goes for any app you use.

Learning new things is fun, and it makes life worth living. Especially if it’s something you love doing. It’s good for the brain to stay active.

Money goes out but nothing comes in

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Photo by Mikhail Nilov on Pexels.com

What bothers you and why?

Daily Writing Prompt

Bills, bills, bills, that’s all I get. Money goes out, but nothing comes in. That’s what bothers me at the moment. I thought not having enough money would only be a momentary problem. I can’t live on my savings forever. I thought some passive income from digital products would be a good idea. But no one wants to buy. I have one that someone else created, and the newest is a motivational postcard that I made myself. They are in Finnish, so maybe that’s the reason why people won’t buy. Or perhaps they’re not good enough that people want to print them or use them in some other way. It reminds me of the graphic design teacher who said a poster I did was one she wouldn’t put up on her wall. That makes me doubt that I’m not good enough to be a graphic designer. That it’s all in my head.

Selling digital products isn’t easy because there are so many. But some people make it look so easy. It is easy if you use AI for photos and videos. But they look so fake. I follow faceless marketing accounts on Instagram, and it’s becoming a little annoying that they rely heavily on AI as if it’s the only way to sell their products. It bothers me that people keep selling digital products, where they sell courses on how to sell digital products. So now everybody can make them without graphic design skills? AI should be a tool and not something you use to sell products. It can help you with writing, but you should still use your head. I’ve used both Gemini and ChatGPT to check spelling and grammar in my fan fiction. I also use them to find ideas and gather information. And also for chatting, because no one else gives me insight on things. AI should help and not do everything for you.

It would be nice to have some money to go on a cruise (it’s too hot on land), but I have to save money for the hotel I’m staying at in August when I see Bryan Adams in concert. However, I receive no income, and that bothers me the most. Money goes out, but nothing comes in. The only valuable thing I have to sell is my flat, but I need more money now. Hopefully, this will only be a momentary problem and not a long-lasting battle.

One year ago today death showed its face again

Mia5 Comments
grave stone and candle
©Mia Salminen 2025

Today, it’s been a year since my Dad passed away. It was February 8, 2024, and about 11 o’clock when they called from the hospital to tell me he was no more. A year goes fast. I still have things to do, like going through his clothes. But life has moved on, and I have had other things on my mind. Sometimes, I wish he was here, but maybe it was for the best. You never know when death will show its face. It was good that some things were done before he died.

My Dad was a goldsmith who owned a business for 30 years. He continued even after he retired. It was one of his ways of doing something. He was a very good drawer, and he designed the jewellery he made. He made white golden diamond and zircon rings, pendants and earrings. He had a sales rep from whom he got orders from. But then the sales prep died, so Dad began to think about quitting the business. He decided to stop, and at the end of 2023, he sold the business premises. Ultimately, it was good it happened because fewer problems existed for me.

One of his last works was this ring (and a few earrings that were the same set). As the daughter of a goldsmith, I had access to jewellery without having to buy them. I have a lot of different kinds of jewellery, including yellow and white gold rings and pendants. If he tried new designs, I got to try them, so I might have pieces no one else has. It won’t get me rich if I sell them. No one else, for that matter. I haven’t used them for years because I’ve had rashes on my hands. I wore a necklace that my Dad made once last Christmas. For special occasions, I can wear them. Maybe I could begin to wear rings again every day as I did before.

golden ring on finger
©Mia Salminen 2024

No one is perfect, and my dad wasn’t either, but he was still my father, and I’m grateful for that. We didn’t agree on some things, but we got along great mostly. I hoped to have him around a little longer, but we spent a lot of quality time together, and that’s what matters.