This has been one of my most relaxing holiday seasons in years. I've had more time to bake cookies, shop cute downtown stores, and make a few handmade gifts. That's the good news! The bad news is that the reason I've had so much extra time is that my Etsy sales have been down a little this season. It's not catastrophic by any means (I'm still pretty busy!), but it is a good reminder for me to diversify the places I sell my work. Ideally, I'd like to add a few brick-and-mortar shops who sell my work next year. That would allow me to sell a little more, but still keep a little breathing room in my day-to-day schedule.
On My Work (Art) Table
My tablet I bought four years ago bit the dust in late November, so I bought a replacement. When you set up your new device, there's always few options for generic screen backgrounds, but I prefer to make my own. I've made maybe a dozen so far! It's really relaxing to design abstract pieces since there is no wrong or right way to do them. I wrote a little about my process a couple of weeks ago in case you want to try making your own.
I also took a class at my local library on tile art using Sharpie markers and alcohol inks on large white tiles, as well as decoupage with pretty scrapbooking papers. (You can find instructions for the ink tiles on the Sharpie website.) It was quite fun to do even if I wasn't completely satisfied with any of my finished pieces.
In the Kitchen
I hope you're feeling well! Since I know several people who've been under the weather recently, I thought I'd share that I discovered chunky applesauce in jars at the grocery store. Applesauce is one of those foods that seems to always show up on the "what to eat when you don't feel like eating" lists, but I've always felt pretty meh about it. I don't know why (is it just the texture?) but the chunky applesauce tastes so much better than the regular kind.
In late November, I made the Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal from Real Simple magazine. I had mixed feelings about it. It did smell wonderful while baking if you love the traditional fall scents of pumpkin, ginger, and nutmeg. It was a filling breakfast, but I didn't absolutely love the texture. It wasn't quite a bread or a bowl or oatmeal, but something in between. A really heavy, dense bread, maybe. I followed the recipe fairly closely, though I did substitute pecans for the walnuts and a combination of almond milk and Greek yogurt for the whole milk.
What I'm Reading
I read a few celebrity memoirs each year and recently finished Making It So by the actor Patrick Stewart, who is probably best know for his work on Star Trek. The book leans heavily into his work and less on his personal life. I found it reassuring to know that he did hesitate (and try a few other things) before deciding to pursue an acting career. He could've been a journalist--imagine that!
On My Library Hold List
Speaking of celebrity memoirs, there's one more on my list: Being Henry: The Fonz . . . and beyond by Henry Winkler. I have fond memories of seeing the bronze statue of Henry Winkler in Milwaukee years ago when I attended the Bead & Button Show.
What I'm Watching
It's the 20th anniversary of the Christmas movie Elf, so I finally watched it for the first time! It was cute and I can see how it's become a holiday favorite. For me, the delight was in seeing various stars pop up throughout. I had no idea so many well-know actors were in that movie!
Poker Face is finally available on DVD, so I borrowed a copy from the library. (You might remember back in February 2023 that I watched the first episode.) I enjoyed this show which was billed as a new take on the old TV show Columbo in which the main character solves a crime in every episode. Some scenes were too dark or tense for my taste, but I really liked the heroine, a former casino worker, who was so quirky and engaging. Linda Holmes at NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour wrote a review if you want to know more about the show.
Art I Admired
I've enjoyed the first few episodes of the new Art Musings podcast. I know I'm not their target audience, as they are trying to focus on their local area of Oxford. But I enjoy hearing the two female artist hosts interview other artists to learn about different aspects of the artist life. Topics so far have included working when you have young children, building a community, and writing your artist description. That last episode gave me some new ways to think about how to write about the art I make.
Made Me Laugh
I thought this Venn Diagram cartoon by Matt Shirley (via Instagram) about the intersection between bank robbers, moms taking off your sweater, DJs, and preachers was very clever.
New in the Shop
I'm making some 2024 yarn shop calendars on a nice heavy cardstock. They will measure 11 x 8.5 inches, suitable for placing on a bulletin board or refrigerator. They will come unframed, but would fit in a standard document frame (ones used for framing diplomas or certificates).
The design is based on the tea towel I made earlier this year (pictured here), but I have added some additional details (like clouds!) to better fill out the space. They'll be ready for sale before the end of the year. I've added a limited number to my Etsy shop.
See you next year!