365 Days of Animals!

So! I'm doing a 365 project this year, yes I am. This is my way of kicking my own butt into drawing more and drawing different things.  Running your own business is super-awesome, but it's deceiving in that you don't get to be as creative as it might look like. There is a whole lot of other stuff involved, like production work (oh my gosh, I print, cut, fold, package so much, it's not even funny), financial/paperwork, marketing/social media, and other miscellaneous. That stuff takes up so much time that most times I find myself really struggling to find time to just be creative.

My solution is to force myself each day to take some time, whether it just be five minutes or a whole hour, to just draw for fun. I don't want this to be a stressful project at all, so my only rule is that I have to draw an animal each day. It can just be a quick, simple pencil sketch, a more detailed pen/ink, or maybe I go a little further and color it in for a more finished looking piece. Heck maybe I'll even break out the actual paints and get back into painting more! I want to keep it open to experiment and have fun.

Why did I choose to only draw animals? Obviously I am a big animal fan and they have inspired me and given me lots of smiles for-like-ever, but I wanted to branch out from the usual bears, foxes, cats, and hedgehogs that I tend to draw and challenge myself with some variety. Also, I find it super-fascinating learning fun facts of animals that I am not that familiar with. So I guess it's a research project of sorts too. I've been out of college for over 10 years now, so I have to make my own homework so that I'm always learning, right?

I made a spreadsheet with a list of 365 different animals (this was actually really hard to make this list! It took forever and ever!) I guess I will just start and go somewhat alphabetical (I think this project would make a really really cool "Encyclopedia of Illustrated Animals" of sorts when I finish, yeah??? *cough* If any publishers out there think so too... *cough*)

Have you ever done a 365 project before? Any tips? I'm pretty excited about this!

xoxo,
Michelle

Hello 2013!

Hello 2013! This past year was pretty rad in its own right, but I'm optimistic that this shiny new year before us will bring the awesome like nobody's business.  I'm thinking this will be the year of big changes. I have lots of plans for my business in the coming year, getting rid of the old and bringing in the new.  I'm starting a 365 project that I am hell-bent on sticking to (stay tuned!) I'm getting married to my best friend this year (May 4th, whaaaaat?!) Maybe this will be the year that we finally move out of  NYC (Brooklyn, I love you so very much, it's not you, it's me.)

Here's to adventures and many moments bursting with fun!
xoxo,
Michelle

p.s. I am starting a 365 project for realsies, stay tuned soon for another post!

The Cloisters!

Violent and sad, but most religious art is. Also, this is a tapestry! A crazy-huge-wall-sized tapestry! 

Here come some forgotten photos! Nik and I went up to the Cloisters way back in October (?!!), and had a nice walk around Fort Tryon park and in the Cloisters museum.  It's right up my alley with medieval art from the 9th-16th century Europe. I have a large fascination with religious and medieval art and basically anything with gold leaf on it makes my heart flutter. The Met is my favorite museum in NYC by far, but I hadn't made it up to their Cloisters branch yet. Plus, I timed it right, so we would be there when the leaves were changing. Leaf-peeping! It's so pretty there! Set in the scenic Fort Tryon park, along the Hudson River, it's a great day trip away from the city. I sounded like a guide-book just now. 

Terrible photo, but they keep the lights low to conserve all the tapestries.
Another wall-sized tapestry, and probably what the museum is most known for. Absolutely love them. Poor 'lil unicorn dude...

Cool braids.

Teeny little handwritten/illustrated books! These were only like 3-4 inches wide.

This looks totally typical until you note the weird thing he is stabbing...

Pretty courtyard

The outside!

View of the George Washington Bridge 

Fort Tryon Park

The arch!

Scenic overlook

Magnificent arch!

Shipping Deadlines & the Holiday Handmade Cavalcade!

Just wanted to make a quick note about shipping deadlines if you're looking to get something for a gift and receive it before Christmas:

Within the US: December 17th (sneaking up!)

International: December 5th (which is super-soon!)

I've spent this week working on a mural for an upcoming craft show coming up this weekend. Super-psyched about it! It's also my last show of the year, so I'm hoping to go out with a bang. It's put on by my local Etsy NY team, comprised of artists, designers, and crafters who all live in the greater NYC area and all have Etsy shops. It's a great group and I always have a good time working with them. I designed the flyer this year too! If you're in Brooklyn on Saturday or Sunday, do stop by and give me a high-five. :)

http://handmadecavalcade.com/

xo,

Michelle

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving friends! Here's to family and friends and cute and fuzzy kitties!

xoxo,
Michelle

It's time for my Annual Holiday Sale!

It's that time again! Every year I offer up a coupon code to kick off the holiday season in my shop and as a mega-thank you to everyone for your support all year long. Seriously, thank you! I opened up my shop almost FIVE YEARS ago (!!!), and I have come so far and learned so much and I couldn't have done it without you. 

So this Thursday-Sunday (11/22-11/25),

if you enter coupon code

MEGAFUN25

at checkout,  you will receive 25% off of your order! 

Offer is valid starting Thursday, November 22nd until Sunday, November 25th (midnight EST)

Thank you for all of your support! It means the world to me...

xoxo,

Michelle

Renegade Brooklyn Holiday Show!

I'm so psyched for the very first HOLIDAY Renegade craft show, here in Brooklyn, this coming weekend! Renegade is always a good time, and I'm really glad they are doing a holiday show here this year, since it's hard for me to swing a trip to Chicago for the fair there, this close to the holidays. If you are in the NYC area this weekend, I would love to meet you! Swing by Saturday or Sunday from 11-6pm!

xo,
Michelle

Holiday Cards!

Holy crap! Thanksgiving is next week here! And with that, the holiday season starts, whether we like it or not. I try not to think about xmas or the new year until at LEAST after Thanksgiving, but I know lots of people that are early-birds, so I've been rolling out all the holiday stuff in my shop. I have six new holiday cards this year, and I have to say that I'm pretty pleased with them. I have a few options to purchase bulk cards in the shop also, if you are sending them out to multiple friends/family.

Okay, let's get this Monday started!

p.s. I will be having a special sale on Thanksgiving, so make sure you are signed up for my mailing list so you are in the know!