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Apr 10, 2017
New in the Shop: Etching and Collage Prints
Here are a few fun new prints that are available in my shop: Seed Puffs, Paper Crane Collage, Pink and Purple Paper Crane and Art Nouveau Peacock Feather. Prints are shown here in the walnut frame. A variety of sizes and frame options are available.
Mar 28, 2017
New in the Shop: Mixed Media Mosiac Prints
Hi there! Here are some prints from a long-term work in progress. You can read more about the project here. Prints are available here.
Mar 15, 2017
A Few All Time Favorites: Movies, Books, Music
Without a doubt, my all time favorite movie has to be Santa Sangre, a surrealist horror. This description from Rotten Tomatoes sums it up perfectly "Those unfamiliar with Alejandro Jodorowsky's style may find it overwhelming, but Santa Sangre is a provocative psychedelic journey featuring the director's signature touches of violence, vulgarity, and an oddly personal moral center."I love this movie, but I don't know very much about the director so I looked up Alejandro Jodorowsky and was surprised/saddened to see that he only made 2 other movies and a failed attempt to make a movie of Dune - which would have been amazing. He also writes sci-fi comic books. Perhaps most interestingly, "he has also written books and regularly lectures on his own spiritual system, which he calls "psychomagic" and "psychoshamanism" and which borrows from his interests in alchemy, the tarot, Zen Buddhism and shamanism." Cool.
Oh, this book! I remember the first time I read Cloud Atlas, I was completely blown away. I was like "What...you can do that?" It's a fascinating series of nested and interralated stories that spans generations, beginning in 1850 and the central story is set in post-apocalyptic Hawaii. I'm reading it for the second time right now and loving it all over again. I'm getting near the end and I find myself slowing down, so it won't too soon.
This band, fell off my radar until recently when I wrote blog post about a long lost project that I'm resurrection. I saw Acid Mothers Temple play a couple of times back in San Francisco. They're amazing live! I guess I'd describe their music as psychedelic Japanese noise rock? Anyways, it's great and when I looked them up for my blog post, I made the happy discovery that they'll be playing in Bellingham May 9th at The Shakedown. I'm there!
Mar 6, 2017
Resources for Artists #1
Hey there friends, I wanted to share a recap of some of the awesome resources that I've discovered recently. Enjoy!WritingDon't miss this interview with writing coach Kate K. McCarthy. We talk about callings, creative process and what to do when you hit a wall. Kate also shares some great advice for non-writers who want to find their voice. A couple of weeks ago I stated Janelle Hardy's memoir class: Personal Mythmaking. The writing prompts are fantastic and the words are flowing effortlessly. Janelle offers all kinds of workshops about creative process and getting unstuck.SystemsI've been thinking a lot about systems for work and life lately. The book Work Clean is about using the The French culinary concept "mise en place" which means "putting in place" and applying it to work outside of the kitchen. I finally started using Asana, a free online project management program. This post by Leo Babauta of zen habits does a great job of outlining how systems can bring simplicity and ease into the everyday. BusinessSarah Von Bargen from the lifestyle blog Yes and Yes offers free mini website reviews. I sent her my url and she responded right away with 3 super easy, actionable things I could do right away to improve my online presence. Another awesome freebie is Caitlin L. Horton's Free 30 Day Focused Brand Challenge.What resources have you discovered that have made your life easier? Please share in the comments!
Feb 22, 2017
Art Nouveau Revisited
The inspiration for this collection of prints comes from the sinuous forms of the Art Nouveau movement and the subtle, sophisticated patterns in traditional Japanese textiles. A connecting thread between these two seemingly very different design movements is the use of highly stylized paisleys, which I've happily incorporated into this collection. The dream home in which I imagine this decor being used is a modest, Mid-Century Modern home with a beautiful Japanese style pocket garden. The color scheme includes muted shades of pink, lavender, yellow, orange and green.The items available include: bedding, pillows, wall art, tote bags, mugs and more. To see the whole collection, please visit my Society6 shop:)
Feb 7, 2017
Meet Kate K. McCarthy
Today I'd like introduce you to my friend Kate K. McCarthy! Kate is a writing coach, visionary and total sweetheart. Personally, I can't wait for her summer writing retreat. Anyone else need a little creative R&R? Read on!Tell me about your business and how you help creatives.I am a copy makeover artist and mentor for soulful entrepreneurs. I’ve been called a voice doula and a fairy godmother for your words, but, really, I consider it my mission to hear your heart and help you hear it better, too. I do that through my copy polishing packages, one-on-one mentorships, online workshops, and in-person retreats.On a practical level, I help my clients to craft messaging – copy, content, and connection – that feels and sounds like them, communicates the depth of their experience and value, and sings – straight to the heart of their dreamiest clients. On a deeper level, I help them hone in on the heartbeat of their business and the mission and magic that pulses through everything they do. That means brushing away the self-doubt and “should’s” that so often creep into our businesses and confidently stepping into how they want to show up in the world.I know that a while back you had a totally different business. How did you know you needed to change? Was it hard to switch gears?Truthfully, letting go of my previous business was one of the most aligned and natural decisions I’ve ever made. I remember the moment like it was yesterday. I had launched the beta registration for a mini-course for my health coaching business. I had created the materials and edited up the sales copy. When I went to push the button to launch, all I could think was… I hope that no one signs up. That’s not want you want to feel in your business.It took a couple of months, but I closed up shop and haven’t looked back.Have you found your calling?I think that I’ve definitely found a piece of it. My business continues to shift and evolve as I learn more about myself and what really lights me up. I’m finally at a place where things are flowing and fulfilling, even on the days that really challenge me. I love that I’ve built a business that satisfies on different levels. The writer in me loves that I get to hone my craft, both in my own business and through my copy polishing packages. I get to stay connected and harness my natural gifts – as well as my experience – through my mentorships, and I get to create really beautiful and transformative online and in-person experiences through my workshops and retreats.I have no doubt that it will continue to shift and expand, but I’m deeply in love with where I am now.What is the vision you have for your business 5 years from now?Oh my goodness, that’s a tough one! My vision for my business is to be one that ebbs and flows with my creative spirit. I want to solidify my reputation as a wholehearted leader in my field and continue to seek out experiences that allow me to grow and expand.I love everything that I’m doing now, and I would love for those to just deepen and clarify over time.What is your creative process like? What steps do you always take?My creative process ebbs and flows. It’s nourished by fresh air and time spent outside, and I’ve found that – while there are some months that I create and write non-stop, there are also months where nothing new shows up. I used to feel a lot of shame around those slow-periods. Now, I’m recognizing that they’re a part of the process.Practically speaking, I have spaces that inspire creativity for me. My breakfast nook. A favorite coffee shop. This little cabin that’s perched over Skagit Bay. I like to sit, feet on the floor, and light a candle. My creativity shows up most often in my writing, and I like to start with a story in mind. One that’s true, real, and current. From there, I feel into where the story is taking me.I’m currently practicing how to sit in the muck that sometimes shows up. I have found that I have a habit of shining things up, always trying to find the silver lining, and sometimes, it’s just powerful to not have an answer and allow myself to just feel my feelings.Do you have any creative prompts, tricks or rituals to use when you're in a slump?My favorite ritual is a long walk. Something about combination of the rhythm of my feet on the pavement with the fresh air feels meditative and invigorating for my spirit. I also have found that coffee with a good friend or a conversation with a business soul sister will stir up some creative fire in me. Other than that, I’ve found that even writing, “I don’t know what to write…” allows me to free myself from that block and move forward. What advice do you have for visual creatives who struggle to find their voice in writing?Well, first of all, know that many of us literary creatives would give our left arm to be able to do what you do. Your work speaks when words can’t, and that’s so powerful.If you struggle with finding your voice through writing, I would encourage you to simply practice. Find writing prompts that inspire you and write regularly. You’ll find that your writing practice will deepen, your words will become truer, and your voice will reveal itself. Writing doesn’t have to look one way. Poetry. Prose. Love letters. Stories. Just like with visual creatives, writing looks different for each of us.If you’re writing for a business, I’ve found that it can be helpful to actually work backwards. Start with video or a voice memo, speaking to your ideal client using your actual voice. Then, transcribe it, word for word. You’ll begin to hone in on the words that you instinctively use and reveal how you most naturally communicate.Awesome, thank you so much Kate! To learn more about Kate K McCarthy, please visit her website or you can connect with her on Facebook.
Feb 1, 2017
Rolling With the Punches Like a Boss
This post was originally published on the Being Boss blog on September 7th, 2016.Life has a way of throwing some wicked curve balls. Things can be going great—the family is happy, business is growing, the home is cozy. Life is good. And then BAM. The ax falls.This happened to me about a year and a half ago when my little boy was diagnosed with Craniosynostosis. The seam in his skull that runs from ear to ear had fused prematurely and his brain didn’t have enough room to grow. He would need a major reconstructive surgery.During my postpartum period, I had a hard time adjusting to life as a new mom. I kept piling my plate higher with projects and clients, driving myself and my husband totally batty in the process. I knew that I would have to handle this new situation differently. I needed to clear my plate and unplug.Coping With Difficult EmotionsThe four months leading up to the operation were fraught with fear and worry. Within a few days of getting the bad news, I went about putting my business on hold. I set my Etsy shop to vacation mode and created autoresponders for incoming email. I had a couple of client projects on my plate that I was able to wrap up. As a side gig, I work as an editorial assistant for a wedding blog, so I contacted my colleagues to let them know I would be offline for at least a month.Of course, everyone’s situation is unique and putting business completely on hold may not be an option. It’s a good idea to delegate wherever possible and minimize any stressful or emotionally charged interactions. For me, I was feeling pretty lackluster about wedding invitations and emotionally drained by the customer service aspect of the work, so hitting the pause button felt right.My son’s operation went very smoothly, and we were lucky to catch the problem in time. However, the recovery period was incredibly challenging. The experience was emotionally traumatic for my son, and he ended up regressing developmentally quite a bit. (If your child or the child of a loved one is facing synostosis repair, please don’t let this scare you. Developmental regression is rare, and full recovery generally happens relatively quickly.)In the weeks just after we came home, he was on heavy pain medication. He and I spent all day every day lying on the couch together. This was a strange time for me. All kinds of funk started to bubble up from the depths of my psyche. So I went on a little bit of a self-help bender.These are the gems that I found most helpful:
When Things Fall Apart
Radical Acceptance
Heart of Forgiveness
Start Where You Are
The Miracle of Mindfulness
The Power of Now
As great as all that introspection is, it can get a bit heavy. Mixing things up with some fiction is a good way to lighten up. Here are a couple recent favorites:
The Bone Clocks (or seriously, anything by David Mitchell, the man is amazing!)
The Goldfinch
The Importance of Self-CareBeing a caregiver is very demanding. Practicing good self-care is a must! For me, this started at a pretty rudimentary level: self-talk. With no distractions around, I became painfully aware of how negative my self-talk was: from my life-long struggle with a crummy self-image, to the sinking feeling that the timeline of my life was not shaping up as I planned, to the guilt I felt about having unwittingly passed along a heavy genetic burden to my sweet little boy. Up until now, an undercurrent of self-abasement was kind of an unquestioned given in my thinking. Being able to take a step back and acknowledge that was a big deal all by itself and over time by practicing mindfulness, I’ve been able to keep that tendency in check.Resources I found most helpful for self-care:
This ecourse offered by Vital Medicine that changed the way I think about my health.
The Vitality Map by Dr. Zucker
Superfood Kitchen cookbook
These journaling and writing prompts
Woman’s Comfort Book
Overcome The Anxiety Of Not Being Productive EnoughTaking a leave of absence from business has been hard, but I had to do it. Prior to my son’s operation, my business focus was primarily custom wedding invitations. Talk about a tough customer! I knew I couldn’t deal with client work during my son’s recovery, but I still wanted to feel like I was making progress and being productive. I took some fun ecourses for textile design, stationery business, Illustrator for print production, and a paper/book arts class.During this time I read Firestarter Sessions and Desire Map. The timing was perfect! I was completely uninspired to get back to custom wedding invitations. These two books helped me to reconsider my goals and as a result, I decided to revise my business model. I found licensing opportunities for my stationery and textile designs (Society6, Zazzle, Spoonflower) and decided to focus my energy on fine art, especially book arts.Find SupportMy family is lucky in that we can get by on my husband’s income, but I know this isn’t the case for everyone and the loss of income can be devastating. But there are some crowdfunding platforms to help raise money for emergencies:
Generosity
Give Foward
Go Fund Me
Women Arts
Gottlieb Foundation
Craft Emergency Relief Fund
After about a month of being completely offline, I returned to my side gig in a limited capacity. Minimizing social media interactions and focusing more on behind-the-scenes stuff helped to stave off overwhelm. For bosses who are unable to put their business on hold, the best advice I can offer is to delegate and automate as much as possible. I found the care packages from Cranio Care Bears to be extremely supportive during this time. And for the early days after surgery or childbirth, a meal tree can be a life-saver.The Silver LiningIt’s been about a year and a half since my son’s surgery and in some ways, he’s still recovering, but the worst is behind us. He’ll be in preschool four days a week this fall and I’ll be getting back to work. This experience put a lot of things into perspective for me. I know with every fiber of my being that my sweet family is everything to me and putting my creative ambitions on hold for a while is not that big of a deal. I managed to face and befriend some of my own personal demons. I also have a much clearer vision of what I want to focus on creatively. I’ll be licensing out my design work so I can focus on fine art. I have a ton of ideas for fine art projects and I can’t wait to get in the studio! As luck would have it, I just happened to discover the Being Boss Clubhouse and have found it to be incredibly supportive.If you’re struggling with a hardship, my heart goes out to you and I hope that what I’ve shared here can be of some help.
Jan 24, 2017
My Word of the Year: Nurture
For the past couple of years, I've been choosing a 'word of the year' as I reflect on the year that just passed and get ready for the year ahead. My family and I had some big challenges over the past few years and things are finally starting to settle down. It's so satisfying to just stop and enjoy each other's company. This is going to be a year of nurturing. I started off by focusing on my physical health, which I haven't paid much attention to in a while. I'm on day 24 of my first Whole30 now and feeling great! Whole30 is a 30 day elimination diet, that focuses of nutrient dense whole foods. The diet eliminates grains, sugar, legumes, additives and alcohol. It turns out I love eating this way! I have a ton of energy, I went down two belt notches and it's helped me to evaluate some bad habits. Perhaps best of all is that the care and attention that I've brought to my relationship with food has had a domino effect into other areas of my life. I feel more patient, organized and focused. Yay!!All this got me thinking about systems. Fun, right?! Actually it kind of is. I hate a messy workspace, whether it's the kitchen or the office. The French culinary phrase "mise en place" which means "putting in place" has inspired me to take a minimalist and ergonomic approach to work. Everything in it's place, single tasking. For business systems, I started using Asana, a free online project management program. The book Work Clean has been on my reading list for a while; it's about mise on place as it relates to work and life. When it comes to systems for life, I start to get a little overwhelmed. This post by Leo Babauta of zen habits does a great job of outlining how systems can bring simplicity and ease into the everyday. Another area of my life that I really want to nurture this year is creativity. I have some projects planned that will be all about fun, experimentation and collaboration. (Sneak peaks to come!) I'm not going to be worrying about trends or what Pantone's color of the year is. I will be exploring new processes and techniques. Next month I'm going to sign up for this ecourse: Personal Mythmaking. I'm super excited about this course! I think the course material will tie in really well with a big, crazy art project I'm working on now. (You can take a peek at that project here.)I've taken a few of Janelle Hardy's online workshops and have loved each one. Her classes have become a sanctuary for me.I've learned the hard way that if I don't take care of myself, being around me (or being me, for that matter) isn't much fun. I feel snippy, grumpy, frumpy and totally put upon. Fuck that! I get the sense that life is challenging me to be my best. If that means saying no to some opportunities I don't have time for or eliminating some energy draining habits, fine by me. I'm thinking less mindless Netflix watching in the evenings, more snuggling, giggling and conversation. At the end of the day, that's what it's really all about.
Jan 17, 2017
Dreamy Home Decor in Shades of Blue
Textile design has been a passion of mine for a long time. I studied textile design in college, worked in textile restoration and exhibited my designs in a NY trade show a few years ago. Recently, I started sharing my designs on Society6, a print-on-demand website. I love the variety of products that they offer: home decor, stationery, tech cases and clothing. Everything is manufactured domestically and the quality is excellent. This collection, Arabesque, was inspired by Eastern architecture and textile motifs. I kept the color palette simple, shades of peacock blue. The focus of this collection is the interplay of intricate design elements. You can see the whole collection here.
The dreamy wall art is a reproduction of a monoprint. I love monoprint techniques and the enormous variety of textures that can be created. It's also very process driven and experimentation is a big part of the process, which I find incredibly fun! This print is available in a variety of sizes, framed and unframed. Check it out here.
Thanks for looking! Let me know what you think of this collection in the comments:)
Jan 9, 2017
Odd Duck Press is Back!
Where to begin? A lot has happened. I've been on the down-low for about a year and a half due to some pretty intense family stuff, which forced me to slow down and take stock of a lot of things. I've re-launched Odd Duck Press with focus on fine art and home decor. Since I'm just getting back to work after a really long break, I thought I'd share some of the resources that helped me get back into the groove.Finding Balance and ConnectionBeing a solo business owner, mama and wife is tough; feeling pulled in a hundred directions at once. By practicing mindfulness, I've been able to spend more time in the moment rather than obsessing over all of the things not getting done, which has really improved my quality of life.As a loner (and kind of a contrarian) by nature, the notion of finding a professional network that I really click with always struck me as pretty far-fetched. I was wrong! Just a few months before my re-launch, I discovered the Being Boss Clubhouse and it's been a huge help. Having a network of like-minded, super knowledgeable, wildly creative go-getters is indispensable. Reconnecting With the Joy of the Creative ProcessShifting my focus to fine art and surface design has been a real game changer. A couple of books that helped to inspire that shift were Big Magic and The Desire Map. I'm picking up where I left off on a big project that's been waiting patiently for about a decade. Yikes! How does that kind of thing even happen? It's a bit surreal. Here's a peek at the work in progress. The final piece will be 50 8"x8" panels.
How do you find balance and connection in your busy life? Are you working on any projects that light you up? I'd love to hear; please share in the comments:)