A Rambling Post About Staying Hopeful Through Difficult Times ~

It has been way too long since I've visited my blog.

I didn't mean to wait so long, but life has a way of throwing curve balls.

We are at the end of the 9th week with no income.
When my husband was laid off, we knew finding a new job would be a nerve-wracking, and possibly lengthy, process.

We were right.

This is a scary time, not knowing what the future holds.
Although, we really never know what the future holds, do we?

So, while we are trying to get though this as gracefully as possible...
it is beginning to take it's toll, mentally and financially.

I force myself to see beyond the daily fear of the possible losses that can come from this unexpected lay-off.

The sunset's fiery glow through my studio window ~ 

Hours and hours of art projects to keep my mind clear. 

Children's book illustrations are always an escape ~ 

Drawing

Salting

Painting.

You can purchase this original in my Etsy Shop.

Entitled:  "Love is Blind."

Sometimes just savoring the view from my desk.
Colors
Gifts
Oddities
Music

More drawing.

Trees.  
What is it about drawing trees?
I've loved drawing trees since I was a little girl ~ 

Add another tree ~ 

Slowly but surely working on the Tylwyth Teg (Welsh Faeries) illustrations ~

And...sometimes, I even need to take a break from art.
Just passing the time.

Clearing my mind.

A good book ~

 Organizing my collection of Children's books ~

I recently found my old "Liddle Kiddles" book.
It was one of my very favorite books.

During that period in my life, I dreamed that my name was Vicki.
Unfortunately, I wrote Vicki right on the front of my treasured Liddle Kiddle book ~

I finally filled up each empty pane in the vintage window in my studio ~ 

Sometimes I just watch the puppies sleep in the warm winter sun ~

....and sometimes, I watch the wildflower seedlings ~

Growing every single day ~

These are difficult days.
Filled with fear and what-ifs.
But I am finding hope.
Hanging on to it.
Keeping it alive.
Nurturing it with art 
and
books
and
puppies
and
the hope of new growth.

With no payroll check and only unemployment, we are, of course, scrambling to make ends meet.

I am having a storewide 20% off sale in my Etsy Shop.
Simply use coupon code HELPINGHAND when checking out.

I am really relying on my art as a means to help pay the mortgage and other bills.

So, if you see something you like, now would be a great time to purchase!

I am also offering the same discount in my Zibbet Shop.  No need for a coupon code at Zibbet.  The prices are already marked down for you.  Isn't that cool?  I love that....no coupon code.

And....one more thing.
I chose to post about this at the very end of this ridiculously long blog post.

I wanted it to be at the end, assuming that most people would stop reading by the time they got to this part.

Simply and purely out of absolute embarrassment.

But, I just wanted to let you know that a friend started a GoFundMe
account for my family.

It is a very reputable crowdfunding company.
It's helped thousands of people get through financial tragedies.
GoFundMe also helps business start-ups as well.

Anyway, our job loss predicament fits the GoFundMe guidelines for donations.

We are hoping to raise $5,000.00, which would be enough to pay 3 mortgage payments and some groceries. 

That was the suggested amount.

We are at just about 25% of our goal, so not yet enough to make a mortgage payment.

Anyway, if you would like to donate, simply click HERE.

Or...you might just rather buy some art.

Or...you might rather not do either one.

Which is totally fine!

This is such an embarrassing thing to do...
To ask for money.

But, these crowdfunding companies are doing great things for people that are in temporary hard times, like my family.

I've found that desperation can lead you to uncomfortable places in life.
You ask for things you normally wouldn't.
You find yourself scrambling in ways that you never thought you would.

Life can become a living nightmare....
that is, if you lose hope.

Which, so far, I haven't.
And for that, I feel blessed.

Until Next Time:

Kim

Gerushia's New World

A Finished Book Cover and Random Goodness ~

Hello There!

I have been so busy lately.

Busy working on a book cover...

and I'm finally finished!

I am so excited to show you.

I still have 20 illustrations to finish for the book by February, but the cover is officially done.

This book was created from the Welsh excerpts of "The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries."

It is an old text that hasn't been published since early in the 1900s.

My publisher, "A Raven Above Press", is publishing the text for the first time in many years and I am doing 20 illustrations plus the cover!

The idea for the cover came from an 1879 illustration ~ 

  

A re-imagining of this old illustration in my own style ~ 

If you look closely, you will see some of the same characters represented in my new piece. (Click on the photo above to see a larger version).

"Tylwyth Teg" are Welsh Faeries.

Let me tell you, they can be trouble!

Not always, but they certainly can be little buggers.

The book will most likely debut at the 2014 St. David's Day Festival in March.

It takes place at the beautiful Barnsdall Art Park in Hollywood.

So...this book is certainly keeping me busy.

I have several more pieces with deadlines as well.  There are no words to describe how grateful I am for the work I do.

I am glad to have busy hands and a busy heart.

In between creating and researching....there is life.

Real, good life.

Birthday tables ~ 

Green tomatoes soon to be fried ~

Red tomatoes soon to be sliced ~ 

and Johnny Appleseed Skies ~ 

My friend, Shell, came by for a visit ~

and sketched out the basic idea for my new tattoo ~ 

It's sort of a "life" tattoo, I guess.

It represents 5 things that have always been important in my life ...

My family

 (all the flowers are my families birth flowers)

Art

Gardening

Music

and Welsh Mythology.

The yellow daffodils actually represent both my love of Welsh things AND my birthday.  

Shell did an amazing job capturing just what I wanted.

Here's the tattoo after the first session ~ 

I realized after talking to Shell that I forgot to ask her to add a pair of Victorian scissors to represent my collage work.

Fortunately, my tattoo artist, Dan Smith from Captured Tattoo, was able to introduce the scissors .

My arm is super swollen here after an almost 4 hour session.

I still have two more sessions to go.  One more for shading and the third to add all the color.

I have to share this rather unflattering photo with you.

When I get a tattoo, I tend to drift off.  I actually start falling asleep.  As you can see here, I'm starting to slump and, evidentally, Dan thinks it's funny ~ 

My arm is looking gorgeous right now.

The swelling is gone and the lines are amazingly dynamic.

Life is good!

Simple things make me so happy.

Fresh flowers in the studio ~ 

Stocks?  Stocks at summer's end?  Go figure! I couldn't believe it when I saw these springtime favorites at the grocery.

My studio smells like a warm spring day ~ 

Book covers, dinner from the garden and birthdays.  Pretty tattoos, fresh flowers, and Johnny Appleseed skies.

Random goodness.

Busy hands and a busy heart.

Until Next Time:

Kim

Gerushia's New World

This and That...Simple Everydays ~

Hello There  ~

So nice to be back to my blog today.

I've been extra busy planning my art schedule lately.

With 20 illustrations and a book cover due before August AND a commission piece AND a watercolor due and framed by May 18th, my mind has been in the studio.

Unfortunately, my inspiration has taken a vacation ~ 

This is precisely what my watercolor looks like right now.

But, no worries.  I know I'll get it done before deadline.  Something will spark my inspiration eventually.

I've had my nose in this book for a couple of weeks now ~ 

"Talking Pictures" by Ransom Riggs.  

I had the opportunity to chat with Mr. Riggs at a recent author event called "Spring Into The Future" in San Diego.  My daughter was the designated book blogger for the event so I went along to help with her equipment.  Mr. Riggs and I both share a love for vintage photos and discovered that we both purchase from some of the same Southern California photo vendors.  Who knew?

So...I've been picking this book up on and off everyday when I probably should be painting!  

I've been spending time outside too.  Hoping to find something that makes my spirit cry to get back to the studio.  

I found this instead ~

But alas ~ I am not inspired by grasshoppers.  

And, look how pretty...

I discovered this "Tylwyth Teg" daylily while researching Tylwyth Teg (Welsh Faeries) for the book I'm illustrating.  Isn't it pretty?  

I've been picking a few boysenberries as they are ripening so early this year ~ 

It won't be long until summer pie is on the menu ~ 

Warm weather has helped my roses to bloom.

Which makes me very happy ~ 

Ohhh, and my puppies got a hold of a 123 year old, mint condition photo of mine.  Before I could get it from them, they did this... 

Which doesn't make me happy ~ 

But, I still love them!  :-)

I am hoping to find my way, artfully, very soon, because everyday that passes is one day less before my deadlines.  Eeekkk....

Until then, I am staying hopeful and appreciating the perfect blue of a springtime sky ~ 

OH..and you guys, if you love Mexican Rice, head over to my friend, Vanessa Valencia's blog.  She's sharing an amazing recipe for Mexican Rice...and get this, you make it in the microwave.  I made it this weekend and it's amazing.  

Hope you have a fantastic week and are finding your inspiration, if only little by little.  

Until Next Time:

Kim

Gerushia's New World