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Happy to share these little babes in my Etsy Shop! Sometimes you just gotta let go and get let God + some outside help happen. I loved teaming up with Sticker Mule to make my first batch of pins!
Snag a set at a discount for a limited time!
(If you're looking for a resource to help make some things happen, I recommend Sticker Mule. Here's a link for some monies off your first purchase.)
Last night I dreamed about taking down the curtain rods and patching up the holes in our bedroom. Like really daydreamed intensely about it. I visualized each step. How fun it would be to unscrew and lay in some spackle. I was most excited for the sanding part. Where everything comes out looking so smooth....
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I think the most exhausting thing about packing up is making all the decisions. It's an endless series of questions.
Is this item loved/used/new/happy enough to be packed in a box and hauled across town? Is this item part of a set? Do I just put it in this box or hold out until I find its family? Will I need this sometime in two weeks? What if I need this for work? AH!
I am hitting that mid packing worry-fest.
It's a lot and it's overwhelming and I've way over-googled tips on what to do about it. Ha. (This was the best article!) And this has been packing music of choice.
On top of everything #emotional, the house we are moving from is the house I grew up in. I'm excited for the new house, but also a little part of me is sad to let this one go. So much has happened here. My brother and sister and I playing with Beanie Babies and climbing trees and skinning our knees in the driveway. Planting a garden with mom and sitting on the back deck with my dad. There's a lot of history here. Each room is it's own archaeological dig. Dusty is handling my nostalgia really well. Sweet man!
Change is tough and exciting.
Change is actually one of the things that brings me joy. It's why I love design. And why I like to make art. It's why I'm always wanting to start new businesses. I love transformation and possibility and potential. So trying to reframe this big change as just that - a new layer on the canvas.
Got any tips or tricks for moving?
We are packing up our house in preparation for our move in June. (Finger's crossed - still super nervous something will come up. The housing market is crazy here!) First we're going through everything room by room semi-KonMarie method. With that stage mostly done, we're starting to put "nonessential" items in boxes. Rolling up posters and packing up our gallery wall. Books, movies and etc. are next. I'm a little sad to see my books go - even if it's just for a few weeks. They are my best buddies!
There are a few books in particular that I love for lettering and will miss. I still reference them all the time. Two Dusty bought me for Christmas three years ago and one I pre ordered. It should be here any day!
Modern Calligraphy
by Molly Suber Thorpe
I still reference this book all the time for basics on calligraphy. There's a large section with several different styles for each letter - so helpful. This book has been great for learning the foundations of calligraphy. This book teaches you how to hold your nib holder and angle your writing. All good information you can put to work with brush pens!
Creative Lettering and Beyond
by Gabri Joy Kirkendall, Laura Lavender, Julie Manwaring, and Shauna Lynn Panczyszyn
This book is so fun!! I love seeing the different styles. This book taught me the most on layout and different lettering tricks and techniques. This book seems to have the most well-rounded overview of lettering. I bring it with me to lettering classes and students always find some additional goodness in there.
The Art of Lettering
by Stefan Kunz
Beyond excited for this book to arrive! I have been keeping up with Stefan on Instagram, so when I saw he had a book coming out, I went to preorder it right away. I know it's going to be great.
What books do you love for your creative practice? I feel like there is so many good ones out there. I could never read enough!!
Keeping it real since 1998.
Summer! I can barely wait. I mean - I should be better at waiting for summer. Most of summer in Georgia is near sweltering. Despite the incoming, face-melting heat, there are a few things I'm really looking forward to this summer!
Plywood Presents
This is my birthday treat each year. It's an awesome conference of change makers and inspiring people. This was the very first "community" I became a part of as an adult. It's hard to find your people when you are out of school. I was lucky to find them through my first job, and even got my boss to pay for my ticket that first year. #goodboss. I think this year would be my fourth year (?) and Dusty is coming too for the first time! It should be a really fun. I like the opportunity to get out of the office and think. Check it out here. :)
Six Flags Season Passes
We sprang for these last year after having my first successful roller coaster experience. Our passes also include White Water, which for some is not a selling point - but for me it was! I hope to take more days here and there for fun like this over the summer.
Woodstock's Bluegrass Concert Series
This is one of our all time favorite things to do in the summer. Our awesome little city puts on a bluegrass concert each month. It's the perfect opportunity to pack a cooler and picnic in the park. My dad always joins Dusty and I and it's one of our favorite things ever. Get more info here. Let us know if you're going!!
Getting Product Ready for Fall Markets and Launches
This has been sitting on my list for a while. I have so many product ideas and I want to make all of them happen. It's tough to carve out time for this, but I'm planning on it this summer. I will be dedicating some time to think it over. I have so many things "in the works." It's time to order samples and work on production! So fun! Do you know of any markets I should be a part of this fall? :)
Ride My Bike Around Town
I love to ride my bike and I recently found that ^ picture to prove I've been riding bikes in overalls since at least 1998. Good times! Our city has a trail system called Green Prints and it's the perfect shady place to ride bikes and take a stroll. Can't wait!!!
You know what I love about Saturdays? Making breakfast in our cast iron skillet. Catching on on TV. Reading while Dusty plays video games and our pup, Murphy, splits his snuggle time between us.
Saturdays are also for markets and pop up shops! On March 11th, I’ll be bringing in all new woodblock circles to Madewell at Perimiter! (Cards and magnets too! Maybe even a sweet surprise!) You’ll be able to shop my pop up from 3-6 pm.
Customers will also receive 20% off their Madewell purchase of $125 or more between 3 and 6 pm. All the more reason to come out and hang with us! Plus, it’s about to be shortalls season, friend!
Hey friends! Party alert!
Today I hung up a new series of paintings at the Decatur Arts Alliance!
This series of work is about finding flow and freedom within yourself and your daily routine. (It's more introspective than my usual woodblock circles.) I have been thinking on a series like this for almost three months, so when DAA reached out about a show, I jumped at the chance. Each painting is made up of layers and layers of circles and accented with line work inspired by the twists and turns hand spun wool from a dear friend. The paintings are accented with copper foil, a metal that changes and only gets more interesting and beautiful with age.
Here's where the party comes in. We're hosting an opening reception this Friday February 3rd from 6-8 PM at the Decatur Arts Alliance gallery. There will be wine, snacks and good people. There might be a giant wall of paper circles that would make the best selfie background ever. You'll just have to come out and see.
Would love to see you there! Here's the details:
Hugs!
Mads
What's your opinion on New Year's Resolutions? Make them? Don't make them? I need the reminder to be easy. Enjoy!
I missed a deadline today.
I spent the last month making a series of paintings from a place of joy and freedom. I gave myself permission to work on it when I felt like I could produce the best results. This isn’t really an option with a lot of my work. My design and wholesale clients have schedules, and waiting around for my desire to work isn’t really on the timeline. Hehe. I wanted to approach this series of paintings differently. It was an experiment.
While I wait to hear back from the gallery on an alternate install day, I'm thinking on the idea of hustle and flow.
Recently, I listened to this podcast on why we may not have to work as hard as we think. Jess Lively does an awesome job connecting quantum mechanics principles to the spiritual side of life. The coolest bit from the podcast:
Frequency outweighs intensity.
I'm traditionally an intensity person. I want to work harder than anyone else and achieve all the things. All the things. However, when I've leaned into flow, and frequency, and my daily practice - I see small gems and beautiful lasting results. When I think of the times I've leaned into pure intensity, I see good results too. And I also see struggle, sadness and paths I'm no longer following.
While working on this series of paintings, I spent a lot of time smiling. My design projects seemed to flow. I felt better in backbends and heart openers in yoga classes. I found myself taking the time to dress well instead of throwing on my usual leggings + tee. I felt more connected and energized. This could be a coincidence, but my gut tells me there is something to this idea of frequency over intensity. I think I'll continue testing it out!
What do you think? Does this resonate with you?
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