I've been fortunate not to really have experienced any rejections or roadblocks except for in my own mind. Whether it is my inherent introvertedness or a lack of self-confidence, either way it has kept me from "putting my art out there".  Maybe that is why one particular quote from the 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women means so much to me. Gail McMeekin wrote "putting yourself out there and sharing your work qualifies as an act of courage and tests your fortitude." In the past I have mostly put myself out there through swaps, gifts, and donations to my sons'

Since I've been taking my time acknowledging myself as an artist, I haven't had many opportunities to form partnerships or alliances in that capacity. The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women specifically defines partnerships as a business arrangement which shares profits and risk and alliances as a close association with a common objective. I do believe that it was my alliance with my friend Melynda that made me realize that I needed to take my art to a level beyond just scrapbooking and card making. What began as a working relationship (I met her when she hired me as a design team