Mai Autumn

monday, as usual

busy busy day here in the studio! i finally got around to putting together a filing system for the location of all my works that are now in private collections. it's getting to be a lot! i've read and heard from so many sources that i should be keeping track of things like this. i don't like to think about the day i'll be old or not here at all, but it's necessary if this is going to be my life's work. no one else is going to keep track! 

besides all of that, lots of orders to pack. lots of organizing to do. mondays are always something! 

i hope tomorrow i can get down to rearranging my studio so it's got a better work flow. right now it seems like it's a little disjointed.

i can't even believe it's already february! i was expecting january to be much slower and somewhat different than december, but it feels like i still haven't really slowed down as much as i thought i would. although, the warm weather could get here a little faster, if i have any say in it. i'm definitely not opposed to skipping over the snowy mix we're supposed to get this week. is it march yet? :)

 

not alone

today i found this solemn post by lisa, from tree & kimball. it basically sums up the same thing i feel on my worst days. i really hope that lisa has found her way by now, because i wouldn't want to wish this feeling on even my worst enemy, but it felt like such a relief to know that i'm not alone. i worry. a lot. it's a bit difficult structuring your whole day so that you don't feel like you've wasted it, or taking a step back and seeing what you're capable of, or what you've accomplished, or what you will accomplish, all at the same time.

everyone tells me that by the time you hit your 30s that this existential questioning subsides, so, i'm just gonna let it happen for now and do what i can to balance and relax a little. here's hoping that works out :)

go check out lisa's amazing jewelry over in her shop

 

wee update

i've decided to forego the original rules i've inflicted upon myself for the art every day project. i can't do it. it's not me. if you know me in real life, then you know that i rarely show up for anything on time, i don't really follow rules (laws, yes.. rules.. no) and i've basically been marching to the beat of my own drum since i was about 14. something about the idea of having to make art every day is too much. and it's hindering my process more than i thought it would.

alright, so, i'm still going to give myself the concept of 365 works of art, but just not one every day. i should be making that much art any way. it's kind of my job. i'm just not saying it's going to happen every day now. it could. but knowing that it doesn't have to lets me be a little more flexible about it.

so this post isn't all about me, here's some pretty new earrings for you to check out over on fey handmade! :)

more snow

so, this is what i woke up to this morning:

i do not want more snow, sleet or wintry mix. i do kind of keep telling myself though, that this chilly precipitation is inspiring me to create some tropical work. i need tropical. let's hope today's work results in an imaginary vacation,( similar to the one i made up over on fey handmade's blog last week :)

 

ambitious

having packed up all the orders, i'm now trying to will myself to stop coming up with oodles of new ideas and things to do with my wee little biz. it's 4:30. it's monday. save it for tomorrow, christine. i will say this: there are a whole lotta new developments on the mai autumn front. and amongst all these new developments, i'm procrastinating doing my art for the day. i've been slacking a bit with this project. it's really difficult to keep at it. i'm such a perfectionist and i can't just whip something up in 15 minutes. i'm gonna try to get at it today. maybe it'll get easier once february gets here.

in other news, my perty jewelry boxes showed up today! all new jewelry orders will go out inside one of these safe, eco-friendly little sweeties. :)

i totally love the way they fit my jewelry cards perfectly! very luxurious and kind of exotic presentation, the box makes. (that last necklace isn't in the shop yet, but it will be shortly!)

alright, i'm off to at least attempting to make some art. wish me luck!

lull

just a photo of my boo today.

i needed a day of nothing. it was nice to just be. 

:)

and then there were four

i finally finished this series of four small paintings for a little project i'm working on. it's a secret though, so i'll just share the neat-o mock up of the pieces "in a room" -

the originals are all available or you can also purchase them as a less expensive set of four 5"x5" prints in the shop. if you're into the frames, they are going to be available over on fey handmade soon. 

i keep thinking it's friday and have too much pop music happening in my studio. it's a little hilarious :)

hope you're all enjoying yourselves out there too :)

new new new

UPDATE: this necklace needs to go back to the drawing board for a bit while i make sure that the color doesn't fade. i'm determined to make this work! updates here when/if my plans are successful.

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i am so psyched about all the new jewelry that i made today! this mossy necklace has to be my favorite, and i am definitely keeping one for myself! oh so much fun!

that is real moss! it took some experimentation, but i finally got the moss to stay put and still look like moss (well, it's a little glossy now, but it certainly still has mossy characteristics!) 

you can check out this necklace and some of the other pretties i created today over in the shop. i'll be posting some more soon!

productivity

i am so excited! today was my first shipping day with the new table! mondays have always been crazy shipping days and for the past... um..... two months? it's been a nightmare trying to make space to pack up all the orders. and today, i am so thrilled to say that i felt productive, organized, successful and just downright great! it is so nice to have everything in order :) 

 
i think i've wanted a studio/work table of my own since i was really little. something about having an endless amount of space to create has always excited me :) ah, livin' the dream! :)

no direction

i just love weekends. i don't feel obligated to work on any specific thing and i give myself total creative freedom. yes, i know i should actually not do work, but creative work is so much fun! it doesn't feel like i'm working at all :)

i'm just tinkering around with some of my boyfriend's old photos. he has agreed to let me sell prints of them over in the shop too! i'm very excited about the way this one turned out. so calming and lovely.