Illustration Class

I started taking a book illustration class, as part of my "30 before 31" goals, but also because I just LOVE taking classes, and if it's about a topic that I already adore - even better!

So far I'm loving the class. I've wanted to be a children's book illustrator since I was in kindergarten, but somewhere along the way I forgot about it. This class makes me feel like I jumped in a time machine and zoomed back to my childhood years... we get to spend all class talking about our favorite children's books (oh, the memories!) and how to incorporate color, character and layout into a brilliant 32-page masterpiece, and of course we get fun drawing assignments each week.

My instructor is an illustrator herself, and it's fascinating hearing the "inside scoop" on what it takes to make a manuscript, send it to publishers, work with an agent, etc.

I was initially a bit intimidated to take this class, since I was afraid I would be waaaaaay out of the league of most professional artists/designers these days. And truth be told, my class consists of six female students who are each extremely talented in their own way. But I don't feel as out of touch as I thought I would. In fact, I usually end the class feeling incredibly inspired, and I rush right home and spend hours with my colored pencils and pens, enjoying each moment spent in my art-world. I guess my kindergarten self really did know all along what my true calling was!

So the class has become my favorite part of my week, and I really wish it lasted longer than eight weeks. Hopefully even when it's finished I will find time to keep creating! (And to keep reading children's books... they're just as magical as an adult as they were as a child, I've found. And my favorites are still the ones I remember best from when I was young.)

Here are a few of my sketches from the first few weeks (more to come, I'm sure):

30 by 31

Once upon a time in 2014, I turned 30.

It felt like it would never happen. In fact, I thought for sure I would be in my 20s forever (I know a lot of people who turn 29 every year) but believe it or not, I hit a new decade.

It feels kind of strange; most birthdays lately swim by without notice, but this one feels different. As if my biological clock is suddenly ticking and I am struck by the notion that I'm supposed to have my life figured out. Little by little I'm realizing that I may never truly have my life "figured out." And that's okay. To be honest, I would rather live adventure to adventure my whole life than work a 9-5 job for fifty years. I don't want to wait until I retire to go exploring - I would rather reach it thinking, "damn, what a good life!"

So far I think I'm doing pretty well. I've done a lot of cool things in my life, which now includes the Pacific Crest Trail, something that is on a LOT of people's bucket list. Check! And now I'm growing up and getting married and it's all an adventure in some way or another.

To keep things fun and interesting, I'm trying something inspired by Wit and Whistle. Each year she makes an annual "bucket list" of things she wants to do before the following year. It's a list as long as you are old, and you have one year to complete these things, big and small. I'm a little behind (since my birthday was in March) but then again, I've already started on a few of these. It was surprisingly hard to think of 30 things! (I didn't want to make them all "huge" accomplishments, but sometimes it's the little things that are the most difficult, after all.)

So without further ado... here it is:

30 by 31:

1. Get married
2. Take a class on a topic that fascinates me - done!
3. Expand the product selection in my shop - done!
4. Create an easy house-cleaning schedule
5. Designate one "technology free" day each month
6. Actually print some of my photos... and fill my wall frames with them - done!
7. Finish the last 80 miles of the PCT - done!
8. Write 6 gratitude letters - 1/6
9. Practice French more frequently - done!
10. Host a party/ game night/ dinner - done! Bi-weekly now!
11. Try 6 new restaurants - 6/6
- Podnah's
- Tabor Tavern
- Screendoor
- Russell Street BBQ
- Southland Whiskey Kitchen
- Pok Pok
(As you can tell, Tanner likes BBQ, so that's where we ended up going, more often than not. My personal favorite was Screendoor. Amaaaazing.)
12. Travel somewhere new - done! Hell's Canyon/ Idaho - a new state for me!
13. Learn Adobe Illustrator - done! I took a class. :)
14. Volunteer somewhere
15. Learn a new hobby/ instrument
16. Do yoga once a week - done! We joined a fancy gym.
17. Make the ultimate playlist (of songs Tanner and I both like)
18. Create a complete emergency kit - in progress!
19. Stick with a workout routine! - done!
20. Apply to a craft show - done! But not accepted. I'll keep trying...
21. Buy a plant. Keep it alive.
22. Organize my pantry once and for all - done!
23. Get a job I adore. If I don't adore it, find something else. - done!
24. Do at least 6 new hikes - done! 
25. Find new dinner meals that Tanner and I will BOTH eat - done! We took a cooking class!
26. Return all phone calls and emails within a day
27. Write a letter to an old friend
28. Do Trail Magic on the PCT this summer
29. Create 5 new DIY projects
30. Go on a true date night once a month

What are your goals this year?

New Stamps!

I decided not too long ago that I wanted to make the packaging on my orders more fun and handmade. A postage stamp and an address label alone didn't quite cut it for me... the envelope was definitely missing that "special something." I know I love receiving a package in the mail that has been lovingly created by someone, right down to the twine ribbon and colorful washi tape, so why not create that in my own packages, too?

I decided that what they needed was a little "stamp pizzaz" and immediately went on the hunt for the perfect rubber stamp designs. Unfortunately, after days of hunting, I couldn't find exactly what I was looking for. I was discouraged, and on the point of settling with a design I didn't love, when suddenly I was struck by a moment of insightful creativity: I could design my own!

This idea should have struck me much sooner, of course, since I can draw... but I never considered turning one of my own designs into a rubber stamp. But why not? The idea was intriguing.

So I scribbled up some designs, giggled to myself, and uploaded them to an online stamp manufacturer, who created and delivered them to my house only a few days after placing the order. Magic!

And what do you know? They turned out great!

I love them, and I think they give my packages a little extra "something." That's what buying homemade is all about, amIright?

So pardon me while I go a little stamp crazy... and ignore the ink stains on my fingers, please. :)

Mother's Day Cards!

Can you believe it's May already?! Like, what happened to the first half of the year? Seriously.

With May comes Mother's Day, and this year it falls on Sunday, May 10. Which means it is.... less than two weeks away. And you should buy a card. Hint hint.

I added a few new Mother's Day cards to the shop and all the oldies from last year are still there. The new cards primarily focus on new moms, since this - apparently - is the year of babies. (At least among people I know.) Then again, maybe if you're in your 30s you should just assume that every one one your friends on Facebook is procreating and posting daily pictures of their offspring.

I also updated a version of my "long voicemail" card, as seen below. Last year it had a black iPhone on it and looked rather dark and dated, and I didn't really like it. The new white iPhone version seems to be doing well. It gained some recognition on Buzzfeed last week and has been the most popular one in the shop lately. I got slammed over the weekend and fortunately had Tanner at my beck and call to help me package orders. Yay for tolerant fiancees. ;)

Happy May, everyone!