Has anyone asked you lately....

So heeeey! How are you?

No for real, like in a sincere way, like really, how are you amidst the world being on fire and social media going tits up and  ai showing up everywhere being a fucking nightmare smeared all over everything like poop on a shoe, and everything else being random, way too expensive, fucked up, going to hell in a handbasket, and weird and annoying and whatever…? *

I know nobody has asked me, so I’m asking.

I want to know what you might find good out there.

Little things, big things, personal or not personal.

What brings light to your life, a little zip of lightning in your gut, a sprinkle of glitter across your path, a little glimmer or gleam thru the night?

What’s your favourite little weirdo thing that you love and find joy in when other things, and people, can suck it?

*I know things are tough sometimes. It seems right now it’s extra tough with everything going on out there. And sometimes tough things are unavoidable and never-ending and it all sucks. I’m not here to discredit or downplay anyone’s experiences, only to share love and maybe a giggle to help get thru it all.  <3 

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On Instagram, I participated in a little illustration challenge that’s all about talking about the ai junk that’s happening and the big backlash that’s happening there & on socials.

I still believe that artists (and all creatives, and all humans for that matter) who make and create using their hands, hearts, brains, imagination, spirit, and love, will win.

People who are all googoo-eyed over ai will get sick of the ugly, shitty, weird images and come back to us.

We as artists now have to protect our work from ai image scrapers that are now stealing our work, on top of the usual image thieves who steal our stuff & make cheap shitty products to sell on cheap shitty websites, and make it impossible to shut them down. FFS.

I don’t know quite what my plan is yet, as posting new work is necessary for people to see it in order for me to get new work. It’s kind of a dilemma...

At any rate, my break from Facebook has really driven home that it’s not a happy place. Socials are brutal.

Yes I like catching up with friends (that is if I can find them amid the slew of ai garbage & ads, groups, pages, and whatnot I’m not a member of), and I do enjoy the groups I am in, my local neighbourhood group, gardening groups, and art groups.

But the rest of it is just visual diarrhea imho (feel free to borrow that phrase!) and nobody likes diarrhea.

Anyway. I could go on but this will get long and nobody wants that. So! Back to my original topic.

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One thing I love is the rainbow-making crystal danglies I made for my studio window and when the sun comes thru that window around 9 am and makes rainbow sparkles all over the wall. I always say out loud “Rainbows!”

And my dogs lie down & get rainbows all over them as they bask in the sunbeams, eyes blinking slowly closed like they don’t want to miss anything but can’t help to drift off to snoozaroo town.

Anyway, shameless plug, I had previously bought all the stuff to make some for me and of course just had to buy a big box of the crystals (oooh sparkly things!) & had a bunch left so I’m making a few more to sell. I’ll be adding them to my shop in the next few days or so. Of course today when I wanted to take a photo to show you all their rainbow-y goodness, it’s grey & raining outside, lol. But I’ll share a pic on my shop listing once I get one so you can see what they do in the sunshine!

I also love how every morning our funny little doggo Stella loves to help me do whatever I’m doing, she helps me do yoga (kisses!) and knows when I say “Let’s go check the babies!” It means we’re going outside to water the garden & check how everyone is coming along, (what, don’t you call your plants your babies too?)- and she comes and helps and wanders around the yard doing her own little check, & always manages to find piles of tasty bunny turds from the resident wild rabbits that pass thru, ugh. “What, mama, nothing’s in my mouth, I swear!”
And our old-timer Charlie does random barks and wanders around then plunks himself down somewhere to sleep til I’m done.

So tell me, what do you love & find joy in? Leave a comment & I’ll pick one person before next week to get a lil’ free surprise in the mail. Just for fun!

(Not affiliated with Substack or anything else, just me! Winner must supply name & mailing address, open to all).

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In art news, 

I do a LOT of artwork, and it goes off to my agent to hopefully be licensed, and get out there in the world. Today in fact, I just got assigned some more fun things to create, of course, I can’t share any of it yet! The joys of being a licensed artist lol.

I’m actually working on lots of things that I can’t share until they are out there- tapping my foot waiting on some big ones that I am itching to share but can’t just yet  (tho yesterday I saw proofs of the packaging & it’s so good!) & collabs with like-minded clients which are sweary, hilarious and fun, and can’t be shared just yet either…!

So in the middle of all of it, I have been working on some new things for my shop, which is also going to get a revamp in the process (makes my head spin just thinking about that, ouf).

I have a thing for brooches. Sparkly, funny, sweary, cute, brooches got my number.

And recently watching The Great British Sewing Bee- gosh I love that show & it makes me want to get back into sewing!- and one of the contestants had this cute necklace with a cartoony pendant that looked like her. I instantly wanted to make one for myself as a brooch. So of course ran to the art supply store to get stuff to make some. I’m prototyping them right now, here’s a peek…. all handmade & hand-painted, yup even the teeny lettering.

Sweary of course, because right?

I’m still figuring them out & I’m sure they’ll evolve but I’m digging them so far & will make a few for sale soon. I’m just working on the protective finishes or them which apparently isn’t as simple as I thought it would be. I tried a few things but they were not good enough, so I’m waiting for some resin to arrive today to do some more tests before taking them further. Fingers crossed it works as I see it in my head so these ladies can get out & about into the world!

Anyway.

I suppose I’ve rambled enough-is this post way too random?- my brain is on overdrive atm, with all this extra time, (from being off Facebook), I’ve got now lol. I honestly think I might not go back, especially with all the ai training shit they’ve announced. Or at least I will change what I do on there in a big way, to protect my art from ai prompters and protect my time & my brain from it all.

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One last note, read this book, Another Word For Love, by Carvell Wallace. 

I saw it posted on a friend’s socials and didn’t really know anything about it or the author, (who is now my favourite author btw) but trusted her opinion, bought it, and oh man. It is sheer beauty. His words are gorgeous. I hugged it when I was done. I can’t stop thinking about it.  I think you’ll love it too.  

More news soon, and here’s this week’s Friday Funny! Ba dom bomp!

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Want to work together? I’m always up for a fun project! Check out some of my current work here to see if we’re a good fit, and drop me a note & we can chat!

Looking for my sweary (and non) fabric? Find me on Spoonflower here!

And if you like my art n’ stuff, feel most welcome to Buy me a Coffee! With much good arty karma coming your way in return! Every bit helps to support me & my little family and is very appreciated! xo