In 1988 I graduated from art school in England with a sizeable debt. I moved back to Canada and started my business in Quebec as a printmaker the following year. I supported myself mainly by doing craft shows in eastern Canada and the USA.

It took 8 years to get out of debt and in that time I learnt quite a lot about business which was good as I had no idea how to run a business when I graduated from art school. This is one of the trickiest parts of being an artist, figuring out how to market your ideas and work.

Jump ahead 30 plus years and I now live in Gibsons, BC. My gaggle of elves and I produce tea towels, tote bags, and coasters for online and wholesale orders. It is a good little business and I am generally OK to work with as long as I have had enough tea, a good dog run and a swim that morning. You might want to talk to the other elves and find out if that's true.