four leaf clover
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! ☘️
Right now I’m busy getting ready for my first art fair since 2018! I’m going to be at the Grounds for Sculpture Spring Art Market this coming weekend. I’m excited but also so nervous and honestly kind of scared. I’m trying to mentally prepare myself to handle it well if it’s a bust — I’m reminding myself that I created 18 brand new paintings for the show, I designed my first booth setup in almost 10 years, I invested in myself and my art, and I am so happy with everything I’ve made. None of that changes even if everything I take to the show comes back home with me. But I’m still not looking forward to the ~emotions~ I’ll inevitably feel if it’s a failure. I take everything so hard and feel things so strongly (even with some help from lexapro lol) and sometimes it’s just a lot.
It feels like such a gamble to do my first show in 8 years at a time when the economy is recession-curious and online interest in my wares seems to be at an all-time low. But at the end of the day there is nothing in this world that I enjoy more than making things and no amount of discouragement is ever going to stop me from trying to make a living by selling those things that I made. It’s been getting harder and harder but I’m honestly kind of proud of myself for continuing to try. One of the reasons I am so glad that I blogged regularly for so much of my life is because I can go back and read posts similar to this and know that I made it through every rough patch in my career, every setback, and every flirtation with quitting.
But today, tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday I am living in the moment and enjoying the whirlwind of preparations. I made a sticker display entirely out of recycled cardboard last night (I’m planning to post some photos when it’s all done, I still have to paint it!) and I made a banner out of a thrifted bed sheet and felt. I’m trying to make my display as frugally as possible and I’m so happy with how handmade and cute it’s all looking, especially with my new art pieces hanging up!!
If you’re in my area (Hamilton, NJ) I hope you’ll stop by - if not I will definitely be posting photos of my display on instagram, and all of the pieces that don’t sell at the show will be up on my website afterwards! 💕
Flower tie (worn as a belt) - xoelle
Brooch - Vintage