I’d love your opinion!! Left or right? Shiny or matte? They are both great quality and thickness is nearly the same. #art #prints #painting

I think the sky is done. The water still needs work.

I’ve got accepted to sell at an art festival in December 🥳 Yay!! I’ve got so much work to do!! ✨ I’m so stoked for 2026. I feel like things are really starting to flow.

Yesterday we had some inspections on our electrical and hvac systems. We replaced our bottom system this year (as is broke and was running on emergency heat all winter) and it was about $7,000. Our top unit is just as old and we are praying it holds out for us this winter. The quote we got

Size comparison of the two paintings I’m currently working on. Going slow since I keep getting hurt and sick. I can’t wait to finish this large one. I really missed the smaller size, so I’m back to that. So much more fitting for me.

IT IS DONE! #TwinMade #GrannySquare #GiantGrannySquare #Crochet

My laptop has had issues with running Adobe programs for a while… lots of BSOD. Turns out it’s probably my graphics card. So, the laptop works fine for basic things and will be used by the kids for their schoolwork. I just can’t use it for my workflow. 😞 In other news: laptops are expensive 😮‍💨

My kids keep asking questions and making comments about my show in Jan since I’m packing. “Will you be famous after this?” “You’ll sell so many of these Mommy! We’re gonna be rich!” Probably not kiddos, but I love how they keep putting good vibes out into the universe for me. 💕

This one finally got some varnish today. 🥳

Tagging all my work for the show in Jan. Everything is everywhere and half of the works aren’t framed yet. But the other half is show ready. So, I’m packing those up this week. 33 pieces doesn’t feel like a lot until you have to frame, wire, pack them. 😵‍💫

Hurt my wrist and have not been able to paint much. But I did manage to finish editing this photo. The painting photographs weird since the canvas has rounded edges. I edited out some of the annoying glare spots and made a version of this with a border for prints. Hoping those mat better now.

I’ve been tinkering today. I made an acrylic panel box to cover the music movement. Then covered that with a velvet that I decided to embroider (which I think looks cute despite the lumpiness). Waiting on the 1/8” wood for the roof and an LED kit to hide in the top…(may or may not work out)

Pretty happy with how it’s coming along.

Paint paint paint

Currently fighting through depression. I know this doesn’t look like much but I cut and primed a few papers. I’ve been putting this off… but I finally did step 1.

I’m making a plan to create more regularly (and revamp sales) before the end of the year, since we aren’t living in crisis mode… as much. In 2023 I made so much art and was figuring out my direction. But we moved in 2024 and JES broke our house which made making art nearly impossible

Checking through things and realize the frames got a bit scratched with all the moving. ☹️ I’ll have to find a way to repair it. Thankfully the paintings are alright.

Back to this one. I’ve got to finish it this over the next month so I can varnish it in time. I worked on it a while and hate it less today.

Frazzled into decision paralysis. I have lots of choices. I have some time. I have some energy. And I remain here at the gate refusing to take a step in any direction. Honestly… maybe I just need a good nap… for like a month.

I’ve been working hard on the bathroom for a couple of months. I’m proud of how the flooring and wainscoting came out. We’re still installing everything but I’m really happy and I wanted to share this since it’s been what I’ve spent all my time on recently… instead of making art for you to buy

Finally doing all the things. Varnished a few small paintings and started building the barn themed music box. I’m still figuring out the roof.

Autism is genetic. Correlation does not equate to causation. I’m tired of idiots having platforms to spread idiocy.

Cleaning the palette and getting ready for some more painting. I actually ended up cleaning my entire space today and setting it up better. Moving my large easel out and I think I’m just sticking with smaller works for now :)

Went to an art festival in town yesterday and it was lovely to talk to other artists in person. We had great conversations about materials, sewing, painting, judging, our academic training, and current work. They inspired me to create more and get a space there next year. Really lovely people. 🥰

Kinda spiraling. I missed my therapist Friday because I had a fever. I called to reschedule and they still haven’t called me back. Idk what the feeling is that keeps me from calling them again… but anyways I have temp replaced her with a printed infographic about serotonin and dopamine.

I bought a box of small veneer cuts to start learning marquetry. I’m so thrilled about this! The goal is to tie this skill and some painting together for the music boxes. (If you’re good at identifying wood species, let’s be friends! 😄 I’d love to hear some guesses on these.) #wood #marquetry

From the sunflower festival at Beaver Dam Sunflower Farm today in VA. Loved this place so much! 🌻

This feels like forever ago. It was my first finished music box and it was super fun to work on. I can’t wait to make more and improve my woodworking techniques, learn marquetry, and find creative ways to tie in painting. This was made with two premade boxes that I carved, painted, and put together.

I hate when I have an idea for a project that I’m really excited about and I have to restrain myself from starting it because I have too many other things going on. It’s worse today because I’m sick and can’t work on anything.

I prefer painting on canvas as I find framing them simpler than works on paper. However, I have a few paintings on paper that I need to frame. I love a good mat, but standard mats cover too much… so I’m considering framing it without a mat (mounting it flat) or custom cutting a mat that will work.

Finally at my favorite part!! 🥰

It’s weird feeling like I outgrew my childhood suicidal ideations… Like I’m going along most days like a completely stable human… And then I just sink and I realize I haven’t outgrown anything. I’ve just gotten really good at keeping my mind and to-do list overcrowded… like a bus… and I can only

A quick doodle today. I tried to do something without a reference, but I was stumped (by my aphantasia). I had to double check some whale proportions. My 9yo said I should stick to drawing what I can see in front of me. She’s a punk, but she’s right 😅 #art #doodle

I’ve been letting the bathroom reno suck up so much of my time. So, I decided that I need to make some art related thing for an hour each day and cram that creative time back into my schedule. Today I drew one of the neighbor’s cats, the trouble maker who poops in my garden. He’s cute though.

Plants are growing very big despite being abandoned (backstory: I was attempting to start growing food. But the neighbor’s cat pooped in my garden and I have major sensory issues. So, I stopped and figure these would just die.) Maybe I should keep at it.

The proof of my book arrived! There are a few spreads, plus the cover, that I’m editing. Then, I can get it reprinted. Here’s one spread that I love! The colors changed a bit but still come across well, so this one isn’t changing. 🥳 💜

Gotta add novice knitter to my bio! I finished a scarf and it was so fun. I’m obsessed! My 9yo asked me if I’m going to try a pixelated design next. 😅 probably not next, but hopefully eventually my painting style will merge with this new skill.

I learned how to knit last week and learned how to purl the other day. I had to get some chunkier yarn for my novice self, so I’m having an easier time now. I still don’t think I’m doing the edges right, but I don’t have any dropped stitches or pokes through the yarn this time. Progress! 😆

Installed the grout today. I did not like that process at all. Very much a sensory nightmare for me. 😖 Treating myself to chocolate and knitting before bed.

It feels like it’s been ages since I’ve been able to paint anything. The bathroom renovation and my broken desk lamp have brought my creative endeavors to a temporary halt. I’ll be happier when normalcy returns. Thankfully, I’ve got ideas lined up and ready to go! Resharing some older art for now.

I’m so happy with how it turned out!! 18 hours for my first ever tile job. I’m so tired and sore today, but I’ve got that accomplishment high 🤪

💚💛🤎 The Natural Bridge in Virginia was so neat to see. So much moss everywhere… I loved every bit of it. We also met a very chill snake that was resting on the wall alongside the trail.

My husband and kids got me some knitting things for my birthday. I’m so excited to learn a whole new skill. I’ve started over like 20 times so far… it’s going great. 😂

I finished my book and ordered it 😄 It was 27 spreads. I focused on keeping a consistent styling throughout and learning more about illustration along the way. There were moments when I wanted to stop and give up because - I’m not an illustrator - other people make better books But I’m

After I’m done with the bathroom. I’m going to fix up a cute spot in the basement for all my creative things. Wood working on one side. Building walls to keep out the dust from my painting and sewing area. Then I’ll make my own cute furniture. Dreaming way too big for my dwindling account 🤪

Looking really good so far

Living out my childhood HGTV dreams. 🪟🥰 Paint stripping, sanding, glazing, poly and paint, then reinstall… hoping I don’t break any glass in the process. I don’t know how long it’ll take but I’m thrilled to see how they’ll look when I’m all done.

Removed the bottom sash successfully. The top half is out of balance and was painted shut, so it’s been a pain… but I finally was able to wiggle is down a little. Getting it out is still going to be a pain. But I love old windows… so restoring this is like a dream come true.

I’m pretty much done with my first book. It’s an animal themed alphabet book. I’m printing one for my kiddos, but not selling it to the public. It was a good challenge for me to refine my illustration skills and I’ve decided that I’d like to practice more. It’s been fun ☺️

Was motivated to do a little bit of painting while I take a break from renovating… then I remembered that my desk light is broken. 😞 I guess I’ll work on my digital illustrations instead.