Wrecking Ball

So far 2020 has been coming at me like a wrecking ball. Things have been crazy busy, stressful and just plain frustrating this last month. Anyone else having a kind of crummy start to the new year? I'm really hoping things will get better because I will not be able to keep up with everything being thrown at me.

This last month I have been working a lot, both at my job and on the business. No matter how much I sleep I'm still tired and exhausted. Troubles throughout keep me stressed and on my toes. I'm just trying to keep my head above water at this point. I've been trying to focus on my business as that's the only thing I have control of and can make better. I've been looking for events to apply to and coming up with new work for said events. I've also got some designs that I would like to have made into t-shirts and tote bags but, funding is the big issue. I've been trying to decide the best option for things like shirts and bags but it's a real tough decision. I can't afford to order in bulk but if I order just one and people can pre-order that would work. However, then people have to wait to receive their item and then there is the hassle of delivery and shipping. Plus, ordering one at a time is expensive on it's own. Ugh....decisions, decisions. I'm trying to find more ways to get my name out there and draw more people in but that's no easy task either. It's a lot of running around and going places.

Anyway, sorry to be all gloomy and sad. As I said, it's been rough. Now onto happier news. :) As of February 1st the Kickstarter campaign to have my coloring book printed was fully funded! I am so excited to get started! All of the artwork is created I just have to finish setting it up for printing and send it to my chosen printer. During the course of the campaign I did manage to find a printer that met my needs. The pages of the coloring book will be made of a thicker paper so you can use pens, pencils and even markers for coloring.

I also had my first event of the new year on February 1st. It was super exciting. The day before the event they did a small news story advertising the event and showing off some of the items vendors would be selling. Of course I went and dropped off a few of my items for them to use. In the end they showed off my awesome Wiscowsin mug a little bit. I know it's not much, but to me it was so amazing to see one of my items on television. I never thought in a million years that I would see any of my work on television. The day of the event was even better. I don't know what it was about this event; if it was the music, the vendors or the customers. In the end this event was one of the best ones I've been to. It was so much fun and I met so many cool people, both vendors and customers. I can't wait for my next event. As far as my business goes I am going to give it everything I've got and make this MY year.

In addition to all of that I've also gotten a few awesome pieces put together over the month. They seriously look really cool. Like this one with the octopus and cat. I love it! 

Or this one of the koala. I made this one because of all the bush fires going on in Australia. It makes me so sad that so many animals are dying and losing their homes. The damage the fires are causing is not only harmful to Australia but to the entire world and I wish there was something I could do. So, my koala drawing is for sale for $400. I will also have prints of it made for $20 a piece and 50% of the proceeds of both the original and the prints will go towards the nonprofit organization Wildlife Victoria.

I also made a cute new card design.

Oh, and did I mention the mini paintings? Yea, I created two new ones. Purple is my absolute favorite color so of course I had to do some purple floral paintings. When I was little I loved the color purple so much I wanted to paint our front door purple. Okay, maybe some things haven't changed, I still want a purple door. :)

Lastly, I finished up some new bookmarks too. The cat is my favorite one, obviously. :) I hope all is well with everyone reading this.