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A Very Productive & Artful Summer: Here’s Why

Crafty Chica Collage Bag

It’s been a very productive and artful summer here in Crafty Chica land! I have about five different projects going on at the same time, and I love all of them. But stress crawls in the picture as well, especially with all that is going on in the world these days. I’m working hard to incorporate positivity in all I do, it helps me stay grounded in what matters most, and helps calm my nerves. Anyway, I thought I’d pop in and share some updates with all of you! Ok, let’s go!

Ok, let’s go!

My new Sizzix collection is out, here’s a quick overview!

This Wednesday at 6 pm PT, join me on my Crafty Chica Facebook page for a LIVE overview of the line and different projects to make! Here’s where you can see all the products – I have everything from dies, cling stamps and even a paper pad! They all feature my original illustrations and drawings, I’m really proud because it was a very long process to pull it all together. I’m super grateful to Crystal Domi for taking my illustrations and laying them out as gorgeous sheets of scrapbook paper! Here is an affiliate link to see the whole line at Scrapbook.com. They are sold out of the paper, but it should be back in stock very soon!

And Sizzix already has a variety of projects featuring the line!

YouTube video


La Crafty Noche at Changing Hands Bookstore

This is an experiment I started last year here in Phoenix. I really wanted to get a monthly craft night rolling and the crew at Changing Hands welcomed me! We had our second session last week where we made picture bracelets!

I’ll be doing more of these, so stay tuned! We max the class out at 45 people, and the night sells out fast!


A physical Phoenix art space!

I’m joining forces with a colleague to launch a local art/retail/workshop space in Central Phoenix! This is all I can say right now, but I’ll give more details as soon as our doors open (September!). Eeeek!!! So excited. This has been a longtime dream of mine, when I finally put the plan into action the opportunity presented itself!  I took it as a sign that I needed to act on it! This is the space how it looks now, next week we move in and plan to give it a makeover! Stay tuned for the whole story of how it all came together!


Making new friends!

I’ve been traveling a lot this summer and making all kinds of new friends. What I like to do is bring my ceramic rings that I make and when someone compliments me about one, I give it to them and we strike up a conversation. Boom! New friend! This is a ring I gave to Taty of Cool Moms Cool Tips!

 


Taking breaks to relax

In between all of this, I have to find a way to chill and think through everything. The best I know how is to make stuff. I’ll put on Netflix or an audio book and leave my phone in the other room so I won’t be interrupted. From painting to sewing to making new linocuts, it feels great to unwind in a creative way!

NOTE: Here is a link to buy this print from this painting!


Almost done with my 3rd novel!

This book is happening! I’ve been writing a chapter a night and have only five to go. Almost there – I can see the finish line! It’s only taken me, what SIX YEARS to complete due to a lot of issues of self-doubt, time, excuses, all that. This project has put a large dent in my mental space, spirit and energy bank. I’ve put many opportunities on hold because of this project. Writing a novel is not easy, I’m still amazed I was able to write two already. I’ve outlined this book so many times, I had so many stops and starts. At many points, I felt like giving up and just being happy with the two novels I published. But you know what? This story and its characters haunted me day and night. I couldn’t shake them.

Writing a novel is not easy, I’m still amazed I was able to write two already. I’ve outlined this story so many times, I had so many stops and starts. At many points, I felt like giving up and just being happy with the two novels I did publish. But you know what? This story and its characters haunted me day and night. I couldn’t shake them.

The turning point? I accidentally landed up in a writing workshop by bestselling author Michael A. Stackpole at Phoenix Comicon. He said something that changed the course:

“Your first draft is like digging a hole. Just get the words out, don’t stop. And know that every time you go back to edit before you finish, it’s like putting the dirt back in the hole. Just dig the hole!”

I swear, I busted out in tears. I know better. I tell people all the time, “Just write the first draft, it’s your hunk of clay, Sculpt later.” But I think out of fear, or I don’t know what, I didn’t take my own advice. Hearing it come from him inspired me. I haven’t stopped since.

Here are all my chapters so far! Once I finish the last chapter, I’ll connect them all and edit. Editing is easy for me, it’s all about trimming and tightening which is my favorite part of the writing process. Digging the hole is the most labor intensive. It will make or break a novelist!

Well, that’s a snippet of what’s happening over here! There are a lot of other things, but I’ll share them as they happen. I just wanted to check in and say hi. I hope all of you are having a fabulous summer. I’m working on developing new content, so if you have any ideas or tutorials you want me to share, leave a comment!

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