5-0-0

Okay, this might get wordy...

I hit 500 sales on Etsy the other day.
(Well, now I'm up to 504)
When I sold my first item back in December 2007-literally right after listing it, I got soooooo excited that someone wanted to pay their hard earned money for something I MADE. Over 500 sales later and I still feel that way. The people who have bought my work helped me believe I could one day reach the dream of living off art (and quit my day job, for that matter)...they helped me pay bills, put gas into my car, and buy Christmas presents-which I wouldn't have been able to afford otherwise.
Because of money being so tight now for me, I've literally got no extra money each month after paying bills, loan debt, and my car payment. My Etsy sales have helped me save a little money for emergencies, put money back into my artwork, buy supplies when I need it, and be able to afford to go shopping with my best friend.
Sometimes there are bad months, slow months...or craft shows that don't do well...
Then, there are the weeks where my shop explodes in sales and give me hope again.
Thank you to all the nice people who bought my artwork, who blogged about my artwork, or who simply complemented it.

Thank YOU. Here's to another 500 sales. :)

Shop of the Day! Art Sale Ahead too!

Yes, I'm Shop of the Day over at the Papernstitch Blog. Yay! Good way to start my Friday. Check it out if ya got a second. :)

This weekend I plan on doing more printing in preparing for the CCAD art sale on Dec. 4th (see little promo below). I'm gonna try and sell a lot more than I have in the past. I'd also like to whip up some notecard designs to sell. Maybe some other new goodies too.

Besides that, I might be cutting all my hair off tonight after work. I need a change. Then it's time for beer and relaxing til Monday.

Time to think about the New Year...

Something I've been meaning to do the past oh, three years is make a calendar to sell in my shop. I made one a couple years ago for my parents, but it never made it to my online shelves.
After working on it off and on for the past month or so, I've completed my 2011 Calendar. I'm very excited, I love it. I don't do anything besides prints often, so this is a nice little change for me. It's in the shop!Also, these times, they are a changin'. So I am really thinking of the New Year and what I really want to accomplish. One being moving out of our duplex (especially since the neighbors we love are moving next year). And there's some other things as well that will inevitably be coming my way shortly after the new year begins. It's a situation that came as a shock to me, but also something all too common in this economy. I hope to turn it around and make it better.
Well, I can't elaborate on that just yet, though.

Alright, good weeks to all, I hope.

Happy Halloween and Fridays to all!

I don't have any new work to post yet. I have some sketches done but I have yet to get motivated enough to go scan them in and work on them... bleh, I blame the sudden change in weather here in Ohio.

But anyways, I had a print featured in a cute little blog today, Imagination in Flight, my 'We're Happy Here in the Woods' camping print. :)

Have a terrifically awesome halloween, all.

You can also find my art here...

I have a established a little shop over at Paper n' Stitch. I was a part of it when they first opened it's 'doors' a while ago, but have re-established in hopes it will help sales for the Christmas season. It's a great little site and the owner, Brittni, is wonderful to work with. If you're looking for something to do and don't want to be 'overwhelmed' by Etsy, I highly suggest taking a look.
O'Reilly Ink Illustration at papernstitch.com

I don't have anything new to post, so here's something that made me smile.

Another consecutive post, woot.

I filled up another sketchbook, so before putting her into the pile of other old sketchbooks, here's some randomness from in between her pages.






Also, new print. This blue bike. I made another version too with type, but it's not listed for sale...so if there's interest, I'll put it up. The top one is in the shop.


Time to watch a rerun of Glee. G'night.

I must admit....

I'm feeling very down lately. I've been sick over a week and haven't been able to get on Ruby (my bike, my new love) and go riding. It really clears my head and helps me sort life out and get inspired. I think that's a lot of whey I feel so low. Sigh. Being boxed up on the couch while I hack and cough and pop Mucinex DM does not do well for my creative side.
I am trying to market my art more and get my name out, but it's really hard in a world full of so many talented illustrators and crafters. But it's the dream, to live off that talent have that I paid soooo much money to fine tune in school. Oh, I have a major case of the Mondays.
Sorry for the personal bit, I just need to get that out there to the people.