Taking a Break

Starting on December 1st, after I close down the shop for the holidays, I will be taking a break. Not just a break for the holidays, but a break from social media. I will be deleting all my social media apps from my phone. That also means I won't be sending out a newsletter or updating this blog.

I'm doing this not only to enjoy a stress free holiday with my family, but to regroup and hopefully find my creative mojo again. This month marks 3 years of creating and selling online. 3 years of non stop designing, making, styling, photographing, writing, listing, promoting, pitching, and shipping...on top of normal life stuff + raising an almost 3 year old.

I just want to be in the moment without my phone as an extension of my hand, worrying about responding to all the beeps + tweets, and to get back into making art just to make art. I want to be inspired again.

Here's how I plan to spend some of my time during this break:

• Writing + Sketching: ideas, business plans + working on my children's book.
• Baking + Cooking: trying some new recipes.
• Scrapbooking: or at least printing photos and putting them in an album.
• Find a part time job: I may or may not be looking for a job in the new year to help out with the finances around here. 
• Pre Home Schooling: Amelia loves to learn and we like to "play" school. Spending more time each day helping her learn new things is on the top of my list everyday!

I just want to thank everyone for supporting my work, and I hope to come back in the new year inspired with a fresh new line of products + art.

Happy Holidays!

Print Sale!

I don't do sales very often, but sometimes it's fun to do them for fun holidays!

Now through November 1st, you can get 25% off all prints with the code HALLOWEEN!

I have limited quantities of all of my prints, and I will not be getting any re-prints of these designs.

I even found a few prints of some older designs that haven't been available for a while. You can see all the available prints here.

Harry Potter Fabric

 I've had several requests for the custom Harry Potter fabric that Violet's Buds used to make the bows. After a very heartfelt plea on Etsy yesterday, it is now available to purchase through Spoonflower.

I can't wait to see all of your creations with this magical fabric! Feel free to tag me in photos, email them to me, or use the #hqshop tag on IG so I can share them!

Photo by Violet's Buds

I'm hoping to add more designs soon!

Stay cute! xo

Harry Potter Bow Giveaway!

I'm so excited about this collaboration with Melanie of Violet's Buds! She is such a fun creative to work with and I can't wait for our next project.

Today I'm giving away one of the limited edition bows she created out of my custom Harry Potter fabric.

Photo by: Violet's Buds

We are considering doing some ties for guys and possibly making some Doctor Who bows next. Let me know what you think and good luck! xo



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enamel Pin Obsession

The prompt for #DoMoreInOctober Project is something I'm loving. I'm currently obsessing over enamel pins. For a while I was obsessed with just buying brooches, but recently I've been buying unique pins.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Enamel Kitty Pin by AshleyG

 Introvert Pin from Culture Flock Clothing

And every pin from Tuesday Bassen


I'm currently looking for a company that I can work with the turn some of my artwork into enamel pins. Let me know if you've worked with a rad company!

What are you loving right now?

5 Fandom Friday: My Apocalypse Dream Team

This week's topic is perfect for October. I also love supernatural/Sci-Fi shows, so choosing 5 is hard.

My Apocalypse Dream Team

1. Buffy

Of course Buffy would be my number 1 choice! It's just another Tuesday for her.

2. Sam + Dean Winchester

Sam + Dean are apocalypse veterans. Also, cute brothers + a nice car = definite dream team.

3. Dumbledore's Army

I think having some magic on your side during an apocalypse would be useful. Having a whole army of witches + wizards on your side seems like an even better idea.

4. Stargate Atlantis Team

I would add the original Stargate SG-1 team too. They fight aliens and save the world, I think they can handle an apocalypse. Also, they have space ships.

5. The Doctor

A Doctor or 2 might come in handy during the apocalypse....

Who is on your Apocalypse Dream Team?

5 Fandom Friday: 5 Favorite Pumpkin Treats

It's been a while and I have a good 40 minutes before it's not Friday, but I really loved this weeks theme. I love fall! It's my absolute favorite season, and everything that comes with it. (Seriously, I just ordered glitter rain boots). Every year I can't wait to grab pumpkin everything! Here are my 5 favorite pumpkin treats:

1.

Truthfully, I've been hating on yogurt. I ate so much while I was pregnant, just looking at it makes me gag. So the only reason I grabbed this at Target was because it had a cute pumpkin and Sherri from Eisley said it was good....and guess what?! IT'S AMAZING! (My Fitness Pal app likes to tell me it has a lot of fat, but it's yummy fat...)

2.

If you can't get out to Starbucks everyday, then you might enjoy making your own pumpkin beverages at home like me. I will share my secret Iced Dirty Pumpkin Chai Latte Recipe (because it's so easy).

I follow the recipe on the Celestial Seasonings Dirty Chai Tea box for an iced latte (I get mine at Target, but Amazon sells it too), I add 1/4 cup of this awesome pumpkin spice chai concentrate, and 1/4 cup of Silk Cashew Milk (I used to do my normal creamer to make it sweet, but I'm working on my fitness.), pour over ice, and add cute straw. Ta Da!

I drink this everyday around 1, so join me! xo

3.

Of course, If I leave my house (rarely >_<), I like to hit up Starbucks to try their fall menu. I also enjoy their pumpkin bread. Tomorrow I'm going just so I can get one of these cute fall cups, because I'm that girl.

4.

I like to make my seasonal trip to World Market to get my pumpkin ciders + this amazing pumpkin spice pancake mix. I like to turn mine into Hello Kitty shaped waffles. This year I'm dunking those cute waffles into the pumpkin butter I got from our local apple orchard. I will die happy.

5.

I love to make chocolate chip pumpkin muffins using this pumpkin bread kit. I just add mini chocolate chips + a cap full of vanilla extract, then bake into cute liners and viola! They taste like they're not from a box. Another one of my secret recipes revealed :).

What are your favorite pumpkin treats? Thinking back I should've added Woodchuck Autumn + Pumpkin Ciders, they're awesome too! xo

Harry Potter Bows

 

This collaboration has been in the works for a while. I finally got the pattern for the fabric right, and Melanie from Violet's Buds worked her magic to create these adorable bows.

Melanie's adorable daughter V cosplayed as Hermione Granger for a fun photoshoot! Grab your own piece of platform 9 3/4 from famous wand maker Scott Gipson of Gipson Wands.

There are only a limited quantity, so grab one here or here!

Who is your favorite Harry Potter character? Mine is Luna with Neville a close second! xo

Apples, Art, and Teamwork!

Sometimes it seems I disappear from this space, but I'm just out living life + raising a cute kiddo. Lately we've been up to our usual shenanigans and adding a few new memories. Last weekend we drove out to the apple orchard and picked apples (one of the few foods Amelia will eat).

Amelia had a great time (even though she got sick in the car on the way >_<), and we've been enjoying those amazing organic apples all week. Something to add to the to do list, learn to bake an apple pie!

Amelia takes after me, and is quite the artist. We spend most of our days painting + coloring. It's been a bit cooler so we've been drawing outside. She's learned her alphabet by sight already, along with numbers 1-10, and her shapes. She's super smart, so we have to keep extra busy or the destructive toddler monster comes out.

When I'm not entertaining + teaching my kiddo, I try to fit in some work. For those of you wondering I only work an hour or 2 a day (and normally not in one go). Most of my work is done after Amelia has gone to bed (on a good day).

Thankfully, I work with some rad people. Melanie of Violet's Buds does my product photography (she took the photo above with one of her amazing hoop art pieces), and we are currently collaborating on a fun project.

If you visit my Etsy shop + look at my about page, you'll notice I added her as member of my team. She deserves all the recognition for all the hard work she does behind the scenes and I'm super thankful for her support!!

Who are you thankful for? Any fun plans for the weekend? I'm going to the eye doctor >_<!

Unicorns

I have been asked for more unicorns, and I always try as hard as I can to respond to your feedback. It may take me a year or so, but I try.

I have been wanting to make more cards for occasions, so I started with a "You Are Magical!" The design itself is really simple, but I love it. I also made a card featuring the Unicorn Magic pattern. The cards have been ordered and are on their way! Follow me on Instagram (helloquirky) or Twitter (hello_quirky) to be the 1st to know when they arrive. I will only have limited quantities.

EDIT: They are here!!!

Unicorn Magic Card

Unicorn Magic Phone Case

Of course you can find fun + useful items featuring the Unicorn Magic pattern in my Society 6 shop!

Unicorn Magic Mug

I also created some fun mini planner sized stickers that you find in my shop or Etsy shop!

Do you love unicorns? What is your unicorn name?

Geek Girl Brunch

Last Saturday was the first official Geek Girl Brunch here in Lubbock. If you're not familiar with GGB, their mission is to create a safe environment where identifying geek girls can be themselves to give voice, network, create friendships, inspire each other and hang out!

I was super excited that a chapter was started here where I would be able to meet local geeky ladies! Our theme was space, and I made some fun Doctor Who stickers for the occasion, along with buying a cute Doctor Who themed dress from Her Universe (because I needed another excuse to buy something cute online.).

Here I am after the brunch at Culture Clothing. Thought I'd snap a picture of my cute dress in the fitting room!

The brunch was held at Stella's, a really cute cafe that served the most amazing waffles!

 I'm hungry just looking at them! They had a butterscotch sauce with white + dark chocolate. Amazing! Of course I had coffee, even though I was tempted to get something with alcohol.

There were some cute prizes + swag, made by some of the lovely members! Like the fun geeky space stickers made by Sam (you can find her shop here).

These cute key chains were made by Cassie. 

Lisa won this cute hair piece by Alex! Super cute!

I was super fun and I can't wait for the next one! Is there a Geek Girl Brunch chapter in your city? What theme would you pick for your brunch? I think a Studio Ghibli theme would be super cute!

Doctor Who

I know several Whovians, although I don't think I can claim to be one since I haven't watched the entire Doctor Who series yet. I have watched enough (not in any particular order) to know I like the show and need to sit down and binge watch it on Netflix.

My favorite Doctors are 10 + 11 (I can't choose), and of course I really like Amelia Pond (our daughter may or may not be named Amelia from watching bits of this season during pregnancy). I like to skip all the scary episodes, and since my husband has watched it all he gives me the heads up (so I haven't watched any angel episodes).

You can thank my husband + Geek Girl Brunch Lubbock for lighting a fire under me to get this set done! They turned out super cute!

Stickers can be found here or here!

Drawing the Dalek + Sonic Screw Driver was a huge challenge for me since they're kinda of technical, but it was a good reason to watch the show late at night. I wanted to stick to my style of quirky cute, so obviously I didn't want them to look super realistic.

Phone case

You can also find some rad Doctor Who products in my Society6 shop! I plan to buy this case for my husband (but don't tell him!).

Here are a few more favorites:

Tee (unisex + womens)

 Mug

  Laptop Sleeves

I'm hoping to get some fabric made soon for bows + hopefully some other fun products!

Who is your favorite Doctor?

Floral Whimsy

I've been working on several new product designs. Each of these new designs are limited edition right now, with only 2 brooches of each available.

Floral Whimsy is the first in this line to be released!

Recently I've taken to studying flowers and trying to draw/paint them in my style. I've always had a hard time drawing flowers because I felt like they all end up looking the same. I made a Pinterest board to help give me some floral inspiration.

I also created a repeating pattern (which is seen on her shirt) that you can purchase on products in my Society6 shop.

Phone case

Tote bag

You can also snag mugs, throw pillows, and clocks in this pattern! These will make a great gift, if you are already thinking about Christmas like me!

I want to thank everyone for your support + patience as I work on releasing these new designs and working on more products (hoping to have notebooks soon!). Stay tuned for another new design release soon! xo

Meet The Artist

I was tagged on IG for #MeetTheArtist by Pocket Sized Observer. I have been wanting to do this for a while and had actually been working on a self portrait.

I've been working most of this summer on portraits in general, because it's something I want to start offering for commissions in my shop. It's one of the top things I get asked for, besides logos.

As I sketched everyday until my hand felt like it was going to fall off, I noticed my style has changed a bit and I'm really liking it. I am always amazed to see how my work has evolved over the years.

 (click photo to enlarge!)

I am actually getting my hair done today! So I'm not sure if it will look exactly like this, but this is the overall look me and my hairstylist talked about. I'll post a picture on Instagram later today of my new hair!

I actually had a hard time coming up with dislikes. I'm sure I dislike plenty of things, but I had to dig deep for most of these so they may seem silly. And yes I really do not like chocolate cake (or ice cream or milk), but I will eat all your brownies. Weird, I know.

You can also find some of my favorite things on iphone cases, mugs, totes + tees in my Society6 shop!

What are some of your likes/dislikes? Have you ever made a self portrait? If so, I'd love to see it! Leave a link in the comments!