Happenings, and a Sale!

So, I've been busy. These last few weeks have been crazy busy, and I'm incredibly lucky for it. You guys all know, I'm giving this whole work from home thing a go. The beginning of this month has been great! Shipping lots of paintings, prints and doing commissions. I've loved every minute of it. In fact I've got another huge box to ship tomorrow.

I was even able to get the printer I've been DYING to get! And, I'm in love. Here is a little bit about my new printer.  First of all, his name is Harry Potter. He's an HP printer, and I say, "Yer a printer Harry." every time I see him. I'm not even a huge Harry Potter fan! But I sure do love my new printer! That test print they did resembles my face upon seeing my printer for the first time!

This printer was specially made for me! Well, re-made that is...  It was a bit pricey, but I'm thinking it will be 100% worth it.
It's a continuous ink printer. There are little jugs on the side of it that constantly feed Harry Potter the Printing Wizard ink. It shouldn't run out of ink for a while... and it's soooo fun to watch. The print quality is fabulous too.

And of course, if you get an artist a new printer, they will need a new shelf to put it on.

If you get a new shelf to put it on, you will need to repaint the knobs, then decide you need totally new ones, which still don't do it justice so you will probably need to repaint the knew knobs too.



And if you get an artist a new shelf with newly painted knobs, you will need to get a new lamp, rug, baskets and containers, and while you are at it, just redecorate the studio!

And if you redecorate the studio, you might as well go to Ikea for other little elements needed in the newly decorated shop. And at Ikea, you might as well take a nap when you are lost in the maze. 

Don't forget to top the entire ordeal off by shopping for shipping supplies and being allowed to cut your own bubble wrap. And being so excited about it you dance down the aisles in a merry fashion. 

Okay, let's take this down a notch... 

Cause this hasn't been all fun and games and dancing with a bubble wrap flag.

I've been under a ridiculous amount of stress too! 

I received an email from my publisher, I'm now able to start the sequel to Cinderskella! 

(pssst go buy it!)

While this is great news, it's also super, mega, mind blowingly stressful. 

My dead line is in like a month... and I have 80 illustrations due! 

I jaw dropped when I saw that email.

Good thing I don't have a day job eh?

So, what this means is a lot of late nights for me. 

(It's 7:10 am as I type this. I have yet to sleep tonight!)

It also means no more custom paintings until after April. 

I'm so sorry about this, I currently have a waiting list you are welcome to hop on! 

Hat turn around time is about a week as well..

And new paintings and the Tarot Deck is on hold until after April.

Good thing time goes by fast when you are having fun??

The wrist brace was introduced after only 5 of 80 illustrations... eeek! 

I spoke with the publisher about the crazy amount of work that needs to get done in such little time, as last year for the first book I had only 40 or so illustrations to do in 6 months. He offered to cut the illustrations in half... but I couldn't do it.

I would much rather work my butt off and be proud of the work I do, rather than chicken out and only do half the work. So, if I ever "complain" about this, it's not really complaining, because to be honest, I love stress, and I love the way it fuels me. I was just explaining to Sterling how I need that stress in my life. I need deadlines, and a good amount of a challenge. It's how I thrive...


I'm very excited for this stressful busy time in my life. I'm excited about the new printer too! I've been wanting it for a very long time.. and I'm Very excited.  So I've decided to have a sale all week! This sale is in the art shop only this time.. since I don't have 3 hours to spend on hats right now. I can't wait for you guys to see the quality of these prints! Plus I'll try to include some special goodies in the packages this week too.
Enter the code THANKU35 for 35% off everything in the art shop. I still have some sale paintings up, so you can take an additional 35% off those paintings that are marked down. The sale lasts all week!

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Entertained

So I had planned on a nice relaxing weekend. I was planning on working on orders, getting some paintings done, decorating for Christmas, and making some gifts for Christmas. How much of that actually happened? Not much.

First of all, that video Sterling made of us preparing Thanksgiving is done and awesome! Check it out. It is a 2 minute time lapse of 4,600 photos of us working on Thanksgiving. It's pretty awesome.






So, what exactly got in the way of my relaxing weekend?

This beauty.
I'm not one for liking electronics, or TV's or entertainment centers.. but this is something to be proud of.

Okay, so what happened was this.. 

Driving home, on my way to get work done, I saw this. 

Backstory: I have been wanting a larger entertainment center, with the option of putting up a curtain or a door to hide the TV. That way, the TV won't be the center of attention. Anyways, driving home, I saw this huge ... thing... We are pretty sure it is a headboard, and a shelf. But, put together, it looks like an awesome entertainment center. With room for a door or curtain! I have been looking at thrift stores, but I didn't see any for under 50.00, and 50.00 is way too much to spend on any furniture if you ask me. But, this one, a few blocks from my house was FREE. 

I can't really say we "snagged" this. 

It probably weighs about 400 pounds. I'm not even kidding. 

But, we risked life and limb for it.

Don't worry, we only had to drive a few blocks. 

Sterling's dad came and helped us move it, and carry it. 

We got it back to my house, and moved it into the back yard. 

We spent 6.00 on black spray paint, and christmas lights, which were also painted black. 

We ran into a tiny problem with the TV being to short, but we found a mini little shelf at Ikea for 8.99, that we sprayed black to match.

The next struggle was getting it in the house. It was in two pieces, so we could try to move it one at a time. But this day, it was just me and Sterling. And I'm pretty weak. We finally got it into the front yard... but I was exhausted after moving it 50 feet. We still had the front porch steps, then lifting it the larger piece onto the other piece when we got both into the house... 

I think me climbing on top, curling into the fetal position and refusing to go any further was a hint to the next door neighbor, who came over and helped Sterling move it in for me. 

He told me I could just supervise. I'll also bring him cookies. 

The entire house had to be rearranged because of this thing! I would like to put up a curtain or some cupboard doors to hide the TV, but, those pretty twinkly lights kind of draw attention to the TV, exactly opposite of what I wanted... But, it looks cool. I'll figure it out eventually.

Because of the rearranging, I ended up with a whole new studio!

It looks the same, but this one is in it's own room, with lots more space. I'm pretty excited. Because now I'm a bit behind on orders! But, today is also Cyber Monday, and the last day of my sale!

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All Things Lovely

Have you guys heard of All Things Lovely? It's a wonderful website that offers great daily deals! I was given the chance to scope out some places I have fallen in love with, and have them featured on All Things Lovely!  And now, you guys get the chance to get them at a discounted price through All Things Lovely.  I'm honored to be part of the Blogger Series they have going! Go check out the great deals! 

Yesterday I shared a great jacket from Romwe with you, but I'm not sure if you noticed the earrings I was wearing! I love earrings, but with my ears stretched out half an inch I have to be careful of the earrings I wear, and how much they weigh. These dainty little earrings are the perfect weight. The great thing about these, is you can get them in your birthstone. Read more about The Dream Catcher Earrings here, and learn about the great shop!

I've always loved plants. Obviously... These three lil guys look great in my Temple Room.

These little plants are so fun and unique. They hang from your ceiling, and look like little sea creature. Air plants are so interesting. They don't need a lot of light, or water. Just a spritz of water every now and then. I have mine hanging in my temple room, with all of my other plants. That room is so full of oxygen and beauty, seriously. Come over. It's a beauty.

I need to go in there and take some better photos. 

Be sure to visit All Thing Lovely before this week is up to get some of these special offers and great deals!

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