big beautiful smiley faces

I've been trying to figure out how to say this out loud here for a few weeks.

Most of you already know that I decided to close kR paper kits last month {you can read our announcement newsletter here}. It took a few months of some serious discussions with my husband {and right-hand-man} to come to this conclusion. I'm not gonna sugar-coat it and say it was easy.

hell no!

It was hard. A very, very, very hard decision. But, our discussions about my desires, my dreams and my goals, along with quite a few buckets of tears at times because saying goodbye to a good friend {kR} is never easy, really made me see that i was filling up my time with the wrong focus and ignoring my real life, soul-honoring, happy-to-be-me priorities.

this might not be easy to understand, unless you are me.

and... that is a-o-k with me.

because in the end, when i hit send on that email, i felt a *HUGE* sigh of relief wash over me.

running kR was hard. time consuming. fun. complicated. stressful. rewarding. and it was eating up every single ounce of my creativity.

kR was also the third successful online business i've dreamed about, opened, run, sourced, advertised, built and moved on from since i was 26.

i'm an entrepreneur.

i like to work for myself.

what i have loved over the last few weeks, since that email, is the numerous emails from friends and members sharing their thanks for the beautiful kits I created and a their sadness because i decided to close.

thank you.

i wish i could contain in those 8 letters just how much it means to me that you wrote. Just how much it has meant that you shared a few more los, that you are sad. because there will always be a little piece of my heart with kR inscribed on it that feels sad too.

and i have to also admit that, because i'm a constant sucker for negativity {in her many guises, oh how i love to let her taunt me}, i've let the few negative emails and comments i've received hit me like a sucker punch to the gut too.

i'm ok with letting myself feel that part too.

but then, after i had a good cry. i printed them out, drew big beautiful smiley faces on them and burnt them to a crisp over my little's bathroom toilet and watched them get sucked down the drain when i flushed.

happy friday!
xo

Comments

[Beth Perry]

hahaha that's f@cking awesome! I love it!!!!!
screw the debbie downers! you have so much ahead of you. I can only IMAGINE what more I am going to see and learn from you!

[Natalie E]

I just have to let you know that even though I wasn't a subscriber to KR (although, ironically I had just made up my mind to sign up!) I have followed along for a little while now because I totally loved your 'brand', the designers you had, the products you used, the inspiration you bought, the wonderful creative art you made - it was all just so beautiful. But I do understand why you've closed down, and I truly hope you find the next big adventure waiting for your special touch, because I'm sure none of those things are really going to stop, it will just be in a different outlet :-)

Oh, and I loved that you burnt all the negative comments!! Good for you!

[Rachel R]

Hi Kerry,
I've been a huge fan of yours for quite some time now and have admired you KR store on etsy. I wish you nothing but happiness in your future endeavors! I'm sure whatever you do will be a huge success!
Rachel

[Amber Zimmerman]

Haha! What a great solution to such a crappy thing. I was so sad to see that KR was closing too, I loved your kits and loved getting to know you girls through the online chats the night of the reveals. I understand though, the need to get your priorities straight, and I can't imagine how time consuming it must have been to run a kit club. . .especially as well as you did! I look forward to seeing what else your creative soul puts out there though! :)
xo

[karen]

love you sweet girl. you're magnificent :)

[Virginia]

That is awesomeness. :) SO happy for you. I love admiring all of your endeavors, but there truly isn't a better one than the one you've chosen to pursue 100%. ((hugs))

[naddie]

oh kl, how could they do that? you opened the store and you have every right to close whenever you want ):

*hugs*

I'm glad that you're not gonna let them get to you though. yay for smiley faces ^^

[Helen]

you go girl!

[rachel carlson]

HUGE.warm.hugs. onward! love you.

[Leah C]

I have to say, I too will miss kR. But, if you don't follow your heart & do what's best for you...who will?! And I just love how you handled those rotten emails! Am I just being naive thinking: "how could anyone do that" by being hateful towards you over something so personal?!
Just had to let you know that you and kR were --and are-- so appreciated:) Hugs to you...
P.S. Will you still be doing your digital designs over at 2Peas?

[Leah C]

Ok, ok...obviously, I didn't read your newsletter first! See you at 2Peas:)

[Marie]

I'm so sad not only kr has stopped but that ppl sent u negative emails. You are amazing. Everything you do is amazing and I am so stoked to have worked with you. You are wicked awesome and am happy to call you my friend.

[Nicole]

you are a most amazing, beautiful woman, kl! i am so sad that people sent hate mail to you. serously?!!?! anyway, i love the way you handled it...eloquently, as usual. ;) :) as a subber, i'm sad to see kr go away, but as a friend, i couldn't be any more happy for you! what a beautiful, joyful peace you have in your heart and soul! thank you for sharing yourself with us! and i can't wait to see what the future brings for you, precious friend! :)

[Shay]

As a subscriber and fan of Kenner Road of course I was saddened by the news, but being able to just imagine the time, effort, thought, imagination and work that went into each every kit I understand that you would want to change directions. I do want to thank you for all the wonderful kits, inspiration and joy you shared in the time I was priviledged to be part of Kenner Road. It has been sensational! I am glad you chose to burn up those negative emails because in the end they do only themselves a disservice. I think you were brave and wise to follow your heart. I know whatever creative outlet you choose will be delightful to behold and I plan on following your progress.

[Amy]

Kerry - I'm so impressed with how you handles that negativity - you go girl!
I will miss Kenner Road - the kits, the project ideas, the chats on reveal nights and I'm grateful I found you and KR for the few months that I did. I'm happy for you that you will be pursuing your dreams and look forward to following your creativity on that path. Thanks for sharing your creativity with us. Best wishes and Good Luck!

[Elisabeth Costa]

I have to admit that although I was not a KR subscriber I enjoyed your kits and the talent that you and your team shared. Love your style (both as an artist and a person:) It's not always easy to make decisions for change but I commend you for trusting for YOU what is right. Enjoy your new road in the journey that is your life!!

[Denise Morrison]

holy shit I almost spit my coffee out all over the screen!! Ha ha, that was good.

[Michelle Clement]

Dude! I'm so glad you burnt that negativity all up and kept the upper hand on it. :) Best. Ever.

[cristina]

ok...that is hilarious!!! good for you girl...listen to your heart and go where it tells you to. xoxo