Christmas Wishlist

My husband and I don't really get each other gifts besides the occasional record + Lush bath bomb, but I still like the make a Christmas/Birthday Wishlist. This year my wishlist is full of things I would love to have, but for some reason are super pricey...

1. Apple Watch. I currently have a Fitbit, but I feel like I would like all the features of an Apple Watch...plus they're shiny.

2. iPad Pro + Pencil. I want to start learning how to do more digital art. All of the illustrations I've seen with people using the Ipad have been amazing!

3. Chanel No 5 L'eau Perfume. I am a perfume snob. Buying expensive perfume used to be my go to retail therapy, but since having a kid I haven't bought any. I'm also out of perfume and this one smells so good!

4. Classic Toms in black. My feet really like being comfy + cozy. Currently I can't wear more than some Toms or Minnetonka moccasins because I have a pesky broken toe problem. Black is my new go to color for everything.

5. Bee & The Fox Sweatshirt. I've had this Mama Bird sweatshirt on my list for a while...it's now a tank top too.

6. Kanken Backpack in pink. I've seen these all over Instagram and they seem pretty handy. With a kid carrying a backpack makes life a little easier.

Of course I have a mile long list of books on my Amazon wishlist....

What's on your Christmas wishlist? Do you have a holiday birthday? Mine is December 31st...

Happy Thanksgiving + Shipping Update

Thank you to everyone who helped my celebrate 4 years! I know my shop is almost sold out, but there are a few cute goodies left. I just wanted to give you lovelies a heads up that I will be out of town with limited cell phone service/internet November 21-27. Any orders placed during this time will be processed when I get home and shipped out on Tuesday, November 29th!

Thank you all for your patience + I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! xo

4 Years + a Flash Sale

I got a reminder from Timehop that today was my 4th year as a small business owner! I can't believe it's been that long! I know this year I haven't done as much with my shop, but I have plans to change that coming into the new year.

I just want to thank everyone for your support over the years, it means a lot to me! All the emails + comments I get from you guys keeps me going. xo

As a thank you, I am having a one day flash sale! Now through Thursday, November 17th, you can save 40% with the code 4YEARS.

I know my shop isn't super stocked, but if there is anything you want to get of my past collections, now is the time. This current collection won't be back after they're sold. I am currently working on new products for 2017.

Again, thank you so much for liking my art and following along with me! xo

PS Make sure to sign up for my newsletter to know about any future sales! xo

New Sketchbook + the Dreaded First Page

I'm always on the hunt for the perfect sketchbook. I have a bad habit of ripping out the pages, mostly because I'm left handed and it's just easier to draw without the bind getting in the way. Although I guess I could draw in the book backwards, kinda like you read manga...

I've used many different brands + types of paper, but I always seem to come back to Moleskine. Recently I thought I needed a big ass sketchbook, but turned out it just wasn't working for me and was a bit overwhelming. I had a Ladies Sketch Club meeting on Friday and hoped the Moleskine I ordered on Amazon would be here in time, but it wasn't. I had a few pages in an old square Moleskine that I was able to use.

I love to put stickers on my sketchbooks. I also love supporting other artists. This sticker is from @beebooties on IG or here's her Etsy shop. I love Eleven from Stranger Things, and out of all the fanart I saw this was my favorite.

The Moleskine has a cover page which has a little section to put your name and offer a reward if your sketchbook is lost and found. My reward for anyone who finds mine is a cup of coffee... I put this post-it doodle on that page in case the good Samaritan needed a visual of what I looked like. >_<

Normally, I skip this first page of every sketchbook. If I do talk myself into drawing on it, I usually end up ripping it out. That's just how it works for me. I think with the cover page, it made it seem less scary and I drew on the first page!

It was just some cute doodles of things I like to think of as my cozy kit. I don't love it, but I don't hate it and I'm trying to make an effort not to rip out pages (even for drawing purposes). The ink pen I'm using (Paper Mate Flair M) doesn't bleed through, but I don't like drawing on the back side unless I have to. I had an idea to make little post-it note drawings to stick on the back sides of the pages I draw on.

Here is today's...I decided to cut my own bangs and well it was a disaster as predicted by anyone who knows me. I was going for kinda short betty bangs and ended up with crazy short wonky baby bangs...good thing I wear a lot of hats.

I am planning to use this sketchbook as sort of a visual diary. I love seeing inside other people's sketchbooks/visual diaries/travel journals and thought it would be fun to do my own! Another reason NOT to tear out my pages.

Am I the only one smelling + touching all the paper when trying to pick out a sketchbook?  Let me know what your favorite sketchbook is! Do you draw on the first page or skip it?

Geeky Ornaments

Am I the only one already watching Hallmark Christmas movies and buying all the holiday stuff from Bath & Body Works? A couple years ago I painted up some Harry Potter ornaments on some wood slices and they were a huge hit with you cuties. This year while spring cleaning I found some small wooden hearts and thought they would make cute geeky ornaments.

The first round included a kawaii Harry Potter, the 10th + 11th Doctors from Doctor Who. Thank you to everyone who bought one of these cuties to make their holidays geekier. Right now I'm working on another set that will be listed today with one of my favorite HP characters, Luna Lovegood!

Thank you to the cuties who suggested Luna! I love finding other people who love her as much as I do. I'm not sure if I'll try and order more hearts and make more ornaments, but thank you to everyone for the positive feedback!

I can't wait to share with you all the new ideas I'm working on for next year!

What character would you love to see on an ornament?

November Goals

Today it finally feels a bit like fall! It's kinda rainy and not 80! I love fall weather, but it's still felt like summer here in Texas.

A few of the goals that I made for myself this month, I've already accomplished. Like re-opening my Etsy shop and sending out a newsletter.

More November Goals include:

1. Portrait Practice. This is something always on my list. I get asked to do portraits a lot, but I'm terrified I'll be awful at it. Hopefully practicing on friends + family first will help boost my confidence a bit.

2. New fabric design. I haven't worked on a new fabric design in months. I have plans to make a kawaii chibi Supernatural pattern to go with my other fandom designs.

3. Make a pie. I've never made a pie, and this year I wanted to make a pumpkin pie. I found a simple recipe that requires no baking today. Hoping to test it out soon!

What are your goals for November? Even though my shop is open right now, I plan to enjoy this season. I love watching the Thanksgiving Day parade and decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving.

Studio Clean Out, Bundle Deals + the Future

I've been cleaning my "studio", which is really an extra bedroom in my house, because we've been painting the walls. I found a stash of cards + fabric and decided to do some bundle deals instead of just hoarding all this cute stuff. Next thing I know, I'm updating and motivated to work on new things.

If you are subscribed to my newsletter, you'll know I opened my shop yesterday. I sold out of my card bundle deals in a few hours! I was blown away by the response to reopening the shop, and it gave me all the feels.

I don't have  many products available right now, but you can find a few of my older favorite prints in the shop, a set of holiday postcards, a few single cards + fabric bundles.

Let's talk about fabric bundles! You may be wondering why? When I design fabric for Spoonflower, in order to make a pattern available for purchase I have to buy a sample. I prefer to buy a fat quarter to make sure the repeat pattern doesn't have any mistakes. But after that, they sit in my supply closet which seems like a waste. I've bundled them at a discount, because we all know how expensive fabric can be!

You may be wondering what's next for Hello Quirky? Truthfully, I'm still wondering that myself. I don't tend to keep my shop open long after Thanksgiving with the craziness of the holidays. I'm hoping to have some new stuff in the new year, but I will try to communicate all the fun things as they happen.

I'm currently working on a few paintings and our family Christmas card, which if I like it and can figure out the logistics of it, would like to do simple custom portraits in my style. It is one of the most requested things from you guys.

For the most part, I'm just trying to enjoy making art and doing it on my own terms. I read this great article on the Sticker Mule blog with Jeff from Ugmonk about running business/making art on his on terms and progressing slowly. His method and ideals really resonated with me. I am hoping that by ignoring all the "advice" out there, I will stop getting so burnt out.

What helps you avoid burn out? What products would you like to see in the future from Hello Quirky?