I did it!

If you are reading this, you are a part of me realizing a dream that I didn't even know I was capable of. At 41 years old, as a mother of a teenager, a dog and cat owner, a young widow, a home owner, trauma and mental health survivor/advocate, an educated professional, I decided to add two more pins to the hat I wear: artist and entrepreneur.

I'm not sure I actually decided it, or it just 'flowed' out of me. See, almost 12 years ago my life took a turn that I was never sure I would survive... my husband's melanoma diagnosis was finally forcing us to face the fact that we were not going to have forever together. In fact we got 11 years, 6 of those married together and we were blessed with the knowledge of our beautiful daughter 2 months after his cancer diagnosis. We got 18 months together as a family, but eventually I was on my own with a toddler, grieving the loss of my best friend, and faced with a life time of trying to figure out how I would provide and care for me and my daughter. It was daunting and dark times for quite awhile.

I was fortunate enough to have already finished my B.A. in Psychology and Criminology, and was working at a lovely Child Development Centre, who are not only family centered for the families they work with, but also the families that work for them! I was supported to no end, but I also pushed myself when the time came to pursue my ambitions, and I still continue working there to this day. I have worked hard, I have been supported just as hard, I have learned as much as I have taught, and the one thing I knew after several years of still struggling with grief, exhaustion, and my mental health, was that I needed to take care of me and find myself again.

That took form through: therapy, journaling, dating, spending time with friends, adventures, spending time with family, relocating and redecorating, professional development, gardening, and so much more. But the thing that has grounded me the most, aside from music and meditation, is being in nature and photographing. Over the years I have always been artsy and found an activity of the moment to enjoy creating, but since childhood there are three that have always held me; writing, cross stitching and photography. My cross stitches I still haven't decided to part ways with yet; they are almost like a childhood blankie, as if the hours of stitching are a part of me. If you ever see a cross stitch on my site, know that it was loved dearly and I felt called to let it be loved by someone else. And writing... well it is still on my vision board to be a published author so watch out for that one day!

Photography though, that has captured my creativity since I was a child. My late husband bought me my first DSLR camera with our tax return one year and I was so excited! It was in my hands all the time. I spent hours self-teaching photo editting and making photo art for family. After he passed, I didn't touch that camera for years. I mean, I did use my phone camera to document my child's life, and I have A LOT of those pictures, but it wasn't until the pandemic that I really started picking up my DSLR regularly and feeling creative again. Surely I took it here and there on big vacations and such, but just the simple days like walking through the woods and taking pictures of flowers until I got the right lighting and a bee landed in the right place and I got the shot of the day... I forgot what that felt like.

Now I have upgraded from a crop sensor to a full frame camera and it is in my hands all the time again! It is my mindfulness practice, it is my flow state, it is my passion, it is my ambition. It is my self-care from being a single working parent, and it is my way of role modelling to my daughter what hard work and focusing on your passions can do. I am self-teaching myself all the new parts to photography, that over a decade of hiding from one of the most 'me' parts of me missed. I decided it might be fun to see what I could do if I tried to make it more than just a hobby and self-care practice; hence Flowscape Photography & Creations was born.

So I invite you to come on this journey with me, look at my photos and products, even if just to enjoy them and hopefully smile knowing that the taking, building, and sharing of them helped heal a broken heart. If a product or photo calls to you and you would like to purchase, I will be filled with joy knowing a piece of me touched a piece of you and my art will live elsewhere in the world. I aim to bring more peace, love, and healing into this world, in the work I do with families, and through my art.

As I just get started I am sure I will encounter bumps, so please be patient with me if you are a purchaser and there are any hiccups with ordering or shipping, I will do everything possible to make it a great experience. I also would love to connect with any purchasers if they are willing, if you want to share how your art looks in it's new space or what you created with a download. Tag me on Instagram @flowscape_pc or email me at jctrombley1820@gmail.com with a picture and story.

Thank you for being you - Jeanette Trombley