Category Archives: self-care

Progress, bundles & tea towels 🍳

block printing, Growth & Development, My Thoughts, self-care

Hi friend,

I turned my calendar page to July and felt so seen 😭

Sigh.

You may be having a similar struggle as I am… Facing big problems and holding hard emotions without clear answers or timelines.

There is so much urgency. So many fires to put out, and they seem to be spreading despite your effort.

It’s overwhelming and exhausting.

I totally hear you.

I’m so with you.

That’s why this month’s calendar message resonated with me so deeply.

You’re doing the best you can with what you have💜

What we’re facing today are a direct result of unjust systems that have been created and maintained over hundreds of years.

Let’s be honest that most of the problems will not be solved over night. Or even a year. Maybe not even in my lifetime.

Here is the thing.

We’re not aiming for perfection.

Progress is what matters.

Our individual progress may be small. But we, you and I, have to continue our best effort for as long as it takes.

So by the time we leave the earth, our world is closer to the vision we’re working towards.

Are you with me?

With that being said, I want to share the progress on my anti-racism work since my last email in case you’re looking for some ideas for yourself👇🏼:

★ Updated my Day 1 email for the “100 Brighter Days” email series to incorporate my intention – my messages are applicable not only for our challenges with COVID, but also in our anti-racism work.

★ Updated my to state my anti-racism values more clearly.

★ Watched – If you haven’t watched it yet, I highly recommend it! It’s free and you’ll get so many helpful ideas to make your biz or workplace more anti-racist.

★ Set up monthly donations to , , and . Now a portion of your purchase on my website is supporting these non-profits advocating for the marginalized communities.

★ Continue to learn/reflect/take small actions through with Nicole Cardoza.

★ Checking in with suppliers/manufacturers re: their anti-racism values. Replacing the ones who support systemic racism (ULINE 👎🏼) with new partners who are doing the work.

Many of these items turned out to be more time-consuming than I expected, so it’s slow going. There will be on-going follow-ups and adjustments as I learn more.

I’ll be happy to share my learning and progress in my future emails and would love to hear what you’re working on, too.

Now – some shop updates for you 💌

I created several cards and gift bundles for a virtual popup in May, and it was a lot of fun 🥰 so I’ll be bringing them to my webshop!

You can now shop 13 Card & Gift Bundles.

Another exciting news…

I’ll be making more block printed tea towels in the next couple of weeks.

Just in time for summer cooking 🌞

I haven’t block printed on fabrics for a while, so I’m looking forward to the meditative process of print making.

Take care of yourself and keep doing the work 🙌🏼

xo

When you can’t find your happy place…

My Thoughts, self-care

I wasn’t planning to start my post this way.

But my heart is feeling heavy this morning.

There is so much loss and suffering in this world.

No matter how blue the sky is and the sun is shining brightly,

I can’t always find my happy place.

I’m giving myself space to grieve and just be.

That’s the kindest thing you can do for yourself sometimes.

Sigh.

I’m also feeling grateful this morning.

I got a beautiful thank you card in the mail from a friend this morning, and she wrote a heartwarming message that lifted my spirits.

An incredibly touching email came in from one of my fans yesterday letting me know how much joy my daily email has brought to her grandma who has just passed away.

I shared how I was feeling during the Board meeting last night and woke up to several reassuring messages from my team in my inbox.

They’re all helping.

Slowly. But surely.

When I feel disconneted from the world and feel like I have a piece missing, I turn to art.

It may not solve all the world’s problems overnight, but I believe in the power of art.

It heals.

It brings us together.

It helps me express my love for humanity in a way that I can’t in words.

Maybe it was meant to be that I scheduled to launch for preorder last week.

I originally created  with Pride month celebration in mind 🏳️‍🌈

Due to the pandemic, many of the Pride events are cancelled or going virtual.

So I wanted to create a way to celebrate it with your loved ones from afar.

I believe all suffering begins with us not embracing ourselves fully and lovingly.

Including our shiny and messy parts.

We just want to be loved and be happy.

Be seen and heard.

For who we are.

That’s all.

I’ll keep creating as long as it makes my heart happy.

It’s my way of saying “I love you.”

To myself and to the world.

Thank you for being the reason why I do what I do.

xo

Thank you past me for thinking of future me 🔮

self-care

Hey friend,

I’ve been sick this week 😷 Sad.

So rather than creating a whole new post (I was gonna share my recap about the NY show), I want to re-post from that got a lot of positive reactions this week.

(be sure to zoom in on the caption👇🏼)

and here is the front of the postcard 😍

When I sent it, I thought it was super cheesy and kinda embarrassing, but it was really delightful to get it 💕

Good job, past me, for thinking of future me!!

Don’t be shy about showing yourself love 🥰 You deserve it and will appreciate it.

Take good care, my friend.

xo

Your holiday self-care reminder

Mini Sabbaticlas, self-care

Winter holiday season is by far the busiest for me.

I’ve been non-stop with holiday shows (including two back-to-back out-of-town shows) and order fulfillment for the last month, I’m feeling pretty run down 😵

I’ll be on my mini sabbatical this week and am gonna try to prioritize self-care as much as I can.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and need to take care of yourself this busy holiday season, know that you have my permission 😘

xo

SOLD OUT 🙌🏼

New Products, self-care, Shop

That’s right, friend!

First run of my is officially SOLD OUT ✨🙏🏼

Thank you for your support!!!

When I created the calendar, I knew I’d made something awesome, but I didn’t quite expect this much demand 😅 Oops.

And, if you’ve purchased it and LOVE it, please keep your reviews coming! They warm my heart so much…😭

(Go to and scroll down to “Write a review” section and tell me how much you love it!)

Truth be told, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to print more calendars 🤷🏻‍♀️

I thought, it would be a nice clean end. I made calendars. They’re all gone. The end.

Now I can move on and focus on promoting other holiday things. I wouldn’t have to deal with pesky inventory issues. What if I have a bunch of leftovers after the holiday season?

While it would’ve been an easier option for me to say “no more”, I also knew I would be doing a disservice if I didn’t restock them.

I mean, listen to this.

Really. Seriously. YOU are the BEST.

So, good news, I’ve ordered more calendars and they’re back-order now!

I’ll bring them to while supplies last, and your back-ordered calendars will ship on November 15th.

Enjoy 🥰

xo

ps. Hot tip: 15% off promo code is good through today, Sunday, November 3rd. Subscribe to my VIP email list and grab your code now! It’s in your welcome email.

Help me out?

New Products, self-care, Shop,

I’m back from my mini sabbatical week.

Sadly, I caught a tiny cold last weekend 🤧 so I’ve been taking it easy this week.

Even though getting sick is a bummer, I have something that’s keeping me pretty happy…

That’s your positive comments and reviews on my 2020 Self-Care is not Selfish Calendar!

Here is a happy message I got on Facebook:

This one on Instagram:

   

(Just a little context 👆🏼- she shared an image of the calendar on her Insta Story, and I accidentally responded with a sad face emoji 😢😆)

And these thoughtful reviews on my website, of course…

😭

My Love Language is words of affirmation, so I soak up all the love from your kind words. THANK YOU 🙏🏼 You made my day.

If you’ve gotten your calendars and love them, will you take a minute to leave a positive review?

Your review not only makes me extremely happy 😜 it lets other customers know that my products are legit.

All you need to do is go to the product page on my website, scroll down to find the “Write a review” 👇🏼 button and tell me why you love your calendar/what you’re going to do with it.

It doesn’t need to be an epic novel, either – just imagine you’re texting me to say you love the calendar. That’ll do😉

(Of course if you were not happy with anything you purchased from me – write me first and let me take care of you, ok?)

Are you a procrastinator?? Well, let me get you in on a behind the scenes realness.

I have 30 calendars left right now.

That’s not very many… 🙄

If you haven’t treated yourself lately, make it “treat-yo-self” day today!

You’re allowed ❤️

xo

ps. Subscribe to my email and get an exclusive promo code! Offer is good through Sun. 11/3.

Back from the printer 🥰

self-care, Shop

Just a reminder, my 2020 Self-Care is not Selfish calendar is available for preorder now, and I’m overwhelmed by the support I’ve gotten so far 🥰

If you already placed your preorder, THANK YOU!

Your ship date is October 15th, and I can’t wait for you to see it in person.

I’ve got all the calendar pages from the printer now, and they look absolutely stunning. Better than I’d imagined if that’s even possible 😻

And the gold wire binder clip looks perfect, too!

Swoon…❤️

I’m currently running a 20% off promo (yup 20!) for my email subscribers.

If you haven’t already, sign up for my email and get the code in your welcome message!

Have an awesome day, my friend 💝

xo

2020 Self-Care is not Selfish calendar is available for PREORDER now!

self-care,

Hey friend,

My 2020 “Self-care is not selfish” monthly wall calendar is in production and available for PREORDER now!

Ship date is Tue. 10/15 or shortly thereafter.

Here are the deets:

– includes 12 full-color nature-inspired illustrations with hand-lettered messages that encourage self-care and self-acceptance

– measures apprx. 5.5″ (14cm) w x 8.5″ (20.60 cm) h x 1/5″ (5mm) d

– printed on heavy card stock

– gold wire binder clip keeps all the calendar pages together at the top and serves for easy hanging

– perfect for small space : your office, studio, bedroom

– great holiday gift for co-workers, teachers, clients, friends, family, and social workers/therapists (or anyone in helping profession)

– packaged in 100% compostable clear bag 🌿

– after each month, you can cut the dates off and enjoy the art on your wall or send as post card

I’m very excited for the calendar and can’t wait to hang it in my new studio!

How about you? 👀

Place your preorder here!

Have a self-care-fillled week 💝

xo

ps. are you on my VIP email list yet? sign up because you get an exclusive promo code for your preorder! watch out for your welcome email 😽

2020 Self-care calendar sneak preview!

My Thoughts, self-care

I meant to design a monthly calendar last year, but I had too high of an expectation for myself, ran out of time, so it didn’t happen 😑 sad.

However, I’m happy to tell you that it’s coming back for 2020!

My 2020 calendar will be all about self-care, self-acceptance, and confidence.

It’s a strange timing though that I’m working on this calendar now because things have been a bit chaotic in my life lately.

Don’t worry, no divorce or illness, thank goodness 😬 But, I’ve got a new studio space that I’m setting up (unexpected but exciting. more on that later), and a couple of other non-biz-related things have kept me feeling a bit ungrounded and scattered.

(As I write this email, I realized the core issue is my routine has been disturbed by these unexpected events. As much as I’d like to go with the flow and be spontaneous, I need routine for my well-being. Check.)

Needless to say, it’s taken longer to finish the calendar…😀 but I still aim to get them out to you sometime in October ✨

Here is the sneak preview!

So pretty, no?? 😻

I don’t know if you knew this, but I craft these encouraging messages for myself, first and foremost.

And they resonate with me so much more when I’m in a more uncertain space.

As I put together these designs, I remind myself to breathe, acknowledge that I’m in that space, and be present as much as possible.

Nothing lasts forever, and I’ve come out ok through 100% of the past difficult situations (and don’t remember most of them 🤷🏻‍♀️), so this, I shall survive also.

I’m trying to be gentle with myself and give myself permission to be “meh” in a meantime.

If you’re also feeling “meh,” it’s OK. Take care of yourself, my friend ❤️

xo