I completed the Picture Book Idea Month challenge! Thanks so much to Tara for inventing it and hosting such inspiring and helpful posts!
Did anybody else do a writing challenge in November? I have my eye on NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) for next year...
So I thought I'd do an update on our Buy Nothing New Project.
We've definitely saved a bunch of money mostly by watching costs on our road trips, and by cutting out unnecessary purchase, aka "impulse buys" in general.
We visit G's folks, almost two hours away, pretty frequently. Besides gas, we almost always buy snacks at the gas station. And/or stop at 5 Guys for burgers. By making snacks and bringing water with us we save $20 to $30+ round trip. So far, homemade tortilla chips, and kale chips are our go-to nibbles.
Cheats:
The most interesting part of this project has been how much it's made me pause when I reach to buy something. Do I really need that XYZ? Many times the answer is no, and so I put it back. I'm surprised how often this happens. I didn't think of myself as an impulse buyer before.
It's also made me consider what I can make, or repurpose, instead of purchase. Though for us, that can be a fine line. Sometimes it's actually cheaper and smarter to buy said item, than to make it from scratch. --The two of us can get a bit carried away with our craft projects. But still, I'm definitely more on the lookout for items that can be repurposed.
It's also interesting how many things we're getting rid of. Not buying stuff we don't need, + purging stuff we own and don't need, seem to be closely tied to each other.
Things we've edited:
One thing I've found helpful, at least for now in this beginning stage, is to stick to your "rules" even if monetarily it might not be that big of deal. Case in point: We've been cutting costs on our movie/tv watching. Redbox ($1 rentals,) the library, Hulu, and Netflix streaming are allowed. Going to movie theaters, or renting online from iTunes or Amazon, is not. The other day we wanted to watch 50/50 (which, by the way, I think is my favorite movie of 2011. Go see it if you haven't.) I forgot to pick it up from Redbox (--the library didn't have it.) We almost rented it through Amazon for $3, but decided not to. We ended up watching it the next night.
Now, $2 is not such a big deal-- especially compared to actually going out to the movies (an easy $20+ for both of us.) But waiting the extra night, helped reinforce our new habits of planning ahead. $3 once in a while isn't a big deal, but $3 every other night is ridiculous when there are cheaper options available. I think this is probably "new habits 101" right?
Anyone have some money-saving tips that work for you? Please share- I'd love to hear!
In lieu of G's shifting work status we've decided to tamp down on our finances at least until the end of February. And after having dinner with some inspirational friends, and then having some similar conversations with other friends about consumerism in general, I'm motivated to make this "official." So let's call it the "Buy Nothing New" project! (Alternatively, G suggested, "No Thrills; Just Bills and Pills." ha.)
This means
A friend was telling me recently about how almost everything she reads online is about buying something. Pretty, stylish, somethings. But still--acquiring more things. I didn't realize, until she mentioned it, how similar my online reading was as well. Which, as a visual person who is genuinely interested in what others are making and excited about, is natural. But I've realized that underneath the creative swell, is a push to buy the next cool whatever. So I'm hoping this project will free me from that a bit. Maybe it will enable me to look at things and appreciate them, but let go of actually owning them.
Clearly many of these steps will take some planning ahead. Often we pay extra for convenience, rather than real necessity-- ie road trip snacks, etc. But I think we can handle a bit of extra thinking for a month and a half. I assume an added benefit will be cutting down on our trash output-- convenient things are often short-lived purchases that also always seem to be packaged intensely, don't they? (More on "no trash living" here.)
We'll let you know how it goes! And feel free to join us, if you're feeling so inclined.
Some children's illustration news I thought people might be interested in!
-Have you gotten your copy of the December Zero2illo Zine yet? It's all about children's illustrators and I'm in it! They kindly picked my site for a review and I'm so grateful. 2012 is the year my site will get a proper overhaul and it's invaluable to get some outside perspective on what's working and what needs changing. Thank you so much you guys!
-I just signed up for illustration consulting with...Holli Conger!! I'm so excited!! Last year, I was complaining to G (and friends) about missing a "boss". Which, I know, sounds insane, but it can be exhausting to juggle so many roles. Sometimes you wish for someone to provide some guidance and nudges to keep you on the right track. Perhaps not a "boss", but a mentor. Anyways, thank you Universe! I've been a huge fan and reader of her blog for years. So I'm really looking forward to working my tail off with her!
-Did I ever mention that I found a local children's writer and illustrator crit group? (Again, thank you Universe.) We've had a couple sessions and it's pretty great. If you're in the Providence area, we're looking to add serious kid lit writers and artists. Please get in touch if you're interested.
-Heads up: Registration for The New England SCBWI conference in April is coming up! Register here on January 23rd. I've never been to this one, but I hear it's been fabulous in the past.
-Are you doing the Kidlitart #PBDummy Challenge this year? It's a 25-week-long online group challenge to create and submit a picture book dummy. It starts January 9, 2012 and ends July 1, 2012. After reading the inspiring post post by Greg Matusic --who I met in person at the Falling Leaves conference-- I decided to jump in!
I did pretty well on goals for last month. I forget that I always add a bunch throughout the month, (plus other things, like um rowing in The Head of the Charles--gah!) so keeping it simple in the beginning is the way to go.
By the way, I'm happy to report that spots are now going fast for portraits! If you'd like to give one for the holidays, please get in touch!
October Goals:
I've been doing a lot better with promoting/marketing. Between postcards, signing up for Picturebook.com and Uppercase's Work/Life promo book, and doing the contest with LMNOP, I've been really putting myself out there. I always struggle with this, so I'm proud of myself. So far working with LMNOP has been super fun, so I'm planning to do more blog partner events/give-aways. Still need to work on the cold calling.
November Goals:
Yes. Keeping it simple. I think the above, plus work and all the portrait-creating will keep me busy! Not to mention Thanksgiving and a trip to Vermont before hand to meet our new God-Baby!!
Phew. November, you are not messing around!
Hmm I haven't posted goals here in a while. Not because I haven't been doing them, more that the lists seem to be continually in flux and I've been adjusting weekly. However, I kind of miss having one big list to look at, so here is October-- if a little late:
Above is a sketch I have--at least for now-- given up on coloring. Man, it was a mess. I like that kid though.
So I'm trying to become a jogger.
(Everytime I talk about jogging, I can't help but think of Anchorman when Ron Burgandy says,
"Veronica and I are trying this new fad called uh, jogging. I believe it's jogging-- or yogging. It might be a soft j. I'm not sure, but apparently you just run for an extended period of time. It's supposed to be wild."
I love that movie.)
One of my dearest friends has become a bonafide runner, and I'm trying to get it together enough to do a 5K race with her in September. 5k should be no big deal, right? I am in reasonably good shape, after all. But so far I just feel pathetic, as it feels like someone is stabbing me in the hips and sooner, rather than later, I'm just limping along. (I think this is because of my bowed legs.)
However I've got some new stretches, and a whole 5K plan, and G to cheer me on. (He's totally joined The Jogging Craze.)
Any tips? I mean, besides wearing outfits like the ones above?
Ooh July was so much fun! We actually took the time this year to do a bunch of summery things, which I'm really happy about. BBQs, and the beach, outdoor concerts, and mini road trips, ice cream stands, pool jumping, sangria drinking, drive-in movies (Above: those are my feet propped up in the car. heh.)... It sounds silly, but its like we forget to do these things sometimes. I don't know-- its not just about being busy. Hmm, two introverts huddled around computers all day...I'm sorry to say, its more in our nature to turn the ac up and hunker down. So I'm glad we got out. I'm glad I have more freckles than I've had in years!
First a couple of fun announcements:
My little shop, Other Such Things is now open!
& I'm now offering custom portraits! Please get in touch if you're interested! Drawing people is my favorite thing ever, so I'm especially excited about this! I'd also be thrilled to draw your furry friends as well...
And onto the July Goals list. I did pretty well-- especially considering all that "getting out". hah.
So I didn't do so badly. I think my goals shifted a bit. Hmm August is going to be busy! Here are some things to get me started-- I'll know I'll be adding to it.
How is everyone else in the Meetup doing?
Yikes, less than a week left in July! Hmm I still have a few more items to get to on my goal lists... But I did open a Twitter account and I have a new Facebook fan page! Please stop by and say hello...
Let's check in with my July Goals:
As I mentioned above, my little shop, Other Such Things is now open! I'll be adding more work to it as the days go by. However if you see anything on my portfolio site that you'd like as a print, just let me know! Almost all the work over there can be sold as prints as well.
Aaaand one more thing, the prints I did for Ripple are still available for sale in my shop as well. ALL the proceeds go to help the animal victims of the Deep Water Horizon Gulf Oil Spill.
Hello Meetup friends! I'm back.
June was a busy month for me. I got my PikaPackage goodies made and sent out, and I started the Flourish business class. I'm currently working on getting my online shop, Other Such Things, up and running. It will be filled with prints of my work and crafty goodies (like that sneak peek above of a mobile!) I'm pretty excited about it. I'm planning on the opening coinciding with the release of the PikaPackages, which should be pretty soon.
Anyways, here are my goals for this month. Yes, a lot of them are repeat-ers, so please bear with me fellow goal makers.
Man, can I just say I'm looking at this list and feel exhausted? Ergh. Frustrating, as a lot of it was supposed to be done in April. What is it with these warmer months? Everything seems to move slower...Geez.
And a couple new ones to add:
9. Brainstorm for the PikaPackage project. I've spent some time on this and coming up with ideas has been super fun.
10. Participate in my high school's alumni art show. Aw..Its tonight!
But in fun news, I'm posting my goal wrap-up early because G and I are off on a proper, just-us, vacation! See you in June...
Oh dear, where did April go? It seems I was busy with other things, as usually I'm better at crossing items off my list... However, one big thing checked off was getting a first draft of my book dummy done. I got some feedback from my crit group, so that was really great!
Unfortunately, (well for this list,) May is going to be crazy. Birthdays, traveling, house hunting... So I don't think I'm going to add anything to the list. Just keep working on the above, and polishing up my dummy. I do have ideas for targeting new illustration clients, as well as some site changes, but I think between my current work and all the above, I'll be busy enough.
How is everyone else doing?
Did everyone have a good weekend? I went for the first row of the season on Saturday morning. Something about being on the water that early, its so still, and the colors keep changing...so, so good.
And then I could barely walk the next morning. But somehow I managed to drag myself out to get coffee and hang out in the park with G and my brother. And then we were off to Easter dinner at my parents. Dogs, family, friends, yummy food: very fun.
March was an exciting month for me, but April, you already seem to be working super hard to top it.
Goal-wise I feel like I need to up my promotions/marketing game. I read a really inspiring article by Holli Conger when she was just starting out, and it seems to be just the push I need to keep moving forward.
Can't wait to see how everyone else is doing!
Here's how I did on my March goals for The Meetup.
How did everyone else do?
In other exciting news, the rain has stopped!! and the sun is peeking out! Hooray! Unfortunately, most of RI is underwater. But hopefully this means things will start to dry out.
PS. I think I'm going to use those drawings as part of a promotional piece to send out...
On this sunny Saturday afternoon, I'm inside, trying to make myself clean off my desk. I thought listening to some music would help. But then I got distracted: [vimeo http://vimeo.com/9387462]
We have blue skies and sunny weather here! So, so nice. And I'm finally back on track (--Hi everybody!--) with March Goals for The Meetup:
How is everyone else doing?
I've decided that 2010's theme is Discipline, with a capitol D. My dad said, "With discipline follows wisdom." So it appears I'm on track to have wisdom be the theme of 2011. Hah.
Apparently, my idea of discipline involves developing some routines and sticking to them. I've been feeling a little... untethered (Is that a word?) lately. So I've come up with a few plans to get various parts of my life back on track. --Including a list of 6 month goals, which I'm happy with so far.
However, I've recently been harshly reminded that life is fleeting.
So routines aside, I'd like to marvel at the little things in 2010. To honor life by being more aware of all we've been given. To pause and take the time to appreciate each day, each breath. To not take the small bumps in the road so seriously. To read more books. Go on more walks. Listen to more music. Learn some new-to-me cooking techniques. Laugh, laugh, laugh. To hold close the people (and animals) in my life, and enjoy the quiet times, while we have them. To take care in the new year.
Oh dear, this post is a couple days late. The group over at Modish Biz Tips all posted on Monday. Ah well. So it goes. But I'm here! Just busy, like everyone else.
1. Finish and mail out holiday mailer. I got the cards today, and they look great! I'm cranking up hulu tonight to stamp and address for a couple hours to get these suckers out there.
2. Get everything ready for the workshop. Done! And the workshop was pretty amazing. I think it deserves its own post. Another thing I meant to do already.
3. Set up a time to organize and clean up my studio every day. Um. Still working on this one. I'm having trouble motivating myself at the end of the day. It's just the last thing I want to deal with it. But there's never a time I want to deal with it. I think I'll have to resort to self-bribery...
4. Continue looking for a wholesale account for Magnetic Kids.
5. Contact publishers with new work. Nope. But I have some new leads after the workshop.
6. After the workshop, make a plan of action based on what I learned there. I need to work on this one some more though.
7. Sign up for the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators Conference in New York. I'm torn. I asked a lot of people what they thought of this conference and from I gleaned, it doesn't sound like a good place to make connections. I'm thinking about waiting until the New England one.
8. Participate in illustration online communities more. Hello Pikaland! Hello Illustration Mundo!
9. Organize and make special holiday gifts for clients. They aren't quite done yet. Or organized.
10. Make a list of things to do during our week in Vermont! Alas I made the list, but the trip with Mr G was canceled. Don't be too sad for us though. We made it up there for Thanksgiving.
Sooo. Yikes. December already. Here we go...
1. Mail out holiday mailer.
2. Organize special client holiday gifts.
3. Make and send them.
4. Make a list of publishers and potential new clients in the children's market.
5. Bribe myself to clean my office.
6. Collect my thoughts from the workshop.
7. Make time for making fun holiday things and gifts!
That'll do it for this month. It's crazy enough already, don't you think? Is anyone else excited to look back at all your goals you made through out the year?
A huge thank you to the wonderful Jena for creating Modish Biz Tips and this meetup. I'm sorry it's ending, but am so excited for you! Jena, you summed it up perfectly:
...here's to not being afraid to try things, to experimenting and being brave in your ideas, and to not being satisfied until you truly find the place you're meant to be.
Here, here.
One of my goals for this month is to do some studio/office organizing. And happily it seems I am not alone! A bunch of people have mentioned on their blogs or goal lists similar desires for a more sparkly work space. Here are some of the posts I've been looking at for both inspiration and commiseration. hah.
• Over at Mint, Ellie and her friend Margot, from Pitch, have begun a series about starting to work from home. I've been working at home for years, but am sorry to say I still find myself falling into the "why-bother-getting-dressed?" and "my-house-is-a-perpetual-mess" pitfalls that often accompany having a home office. So it's always good to hear other's comparable stories and tips for coping. Find their Howdy Do It posts every Monday at Mint and Pitch.
• When starting to organize my office, I found this post from Uniform Studio chock full of helpful bits.
• If you need some inspiration look no further than Lovely Design's studio tours-- old and new! Not only does every item seem to have its place, but the colors! Really gorgeous.
• There's also the Modish Flickr Pool-- Handmade Spaces. Always fun to troll through...
In related news, both my site and blog got a bit of dusting off these last couple of days. See the newly organized sidebar to the left! The portfolio and the homepage menu have been updated, and I decided to add in some pencil sketches from upcoming projects. (Remember the image above from it's pencil sketch posted a bit ago?) Let me know what you think of the new work.
My physical workspace may still be a bit of a mess, but now my digital (er, virtual?) one isn't!
Here's how I did on my October Goals:
1. Fall mailer. ERgh. I worked on one for weeks, before deciding it just wasn't right. So I've decided to just make a holiday/winter one and send it out late November.
2. Make list of items to bring to the book workshop.
3. Three new kid illustrations for site.
4. Update site– add in new work, do new homepage. Adding in the new work today!
5. Make list of children’s publishers to contact.
6. Get a wholesale account for Magnetic Kids. Still working on it.
7. Work on organizing my office/studio.
And now for November!
1. Finish and mail out holiday mailer.
2. Get everything ready for the workshop. This is a big one, and it all has to happen this week. Yikes.
3. Set up a time to organize and clean up my studio every day. I think if I do this on a daily basis the clutter will be more manageable. Seems like a good habit to get into.
4. Continue looking for a wholesale account for Magnetic Kids.
5. Contact publishers with new work.
6. After the workshop, make a plan of action based on what I learned there. Hopefully I'll make some good connections!
7. Sign up for the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators Conference in New York.
8. Participate in illustration online communities more. I realized the other day that the great majority of the blogs I read have to do with cooking, fashion, or crafting. They are super pretty and fun to look at, but I'm not taking advantage of the whole illustration community out there.
9. Organize and make special holiday gifts for clients.
10. Make a list of things to do during our week in Vermont!