There’s a new girl in town, ME! It’s only me in cartoon form displayed beautifully in the pinks and oranges with splattered yellows along the way. Just the way it should be. She’s a beauty, isn’t she? I always imagine myself snoozing or drinking wine or tea or coffee in an intimate outdoor landscape I get to call my own. Of course, Phoebe is always somewhere near, as she takes pride in being the chosen and only child of mine. Sometimes I think I should live in a shoebox in order to save all my finances to purchase such a property, and other times I want to just fly to Mexico City and call it a day. 

This banner was mentally in the making for over a year, and in the physical making for about 2 months before posting it a month ago. I found allie, virtually known as @designsbyalllie on Instagram, randomly while browsing the gram, and her graphic designs immediately caught my eye. After a few weeks of eyeing her work, I reached out for an inquiry, and voila, the banner was thoughtfully crafted. Now I’m typically not a picky person when it comes to art, I enjoy the messiness in less thought out brush strokes. However, after hiring someone who didn’t charge much, was not professional in their communication and getting work that resembled that, I realized how important it is to spend money in professionalism, than in a quick, less thought out graphic design when there is heavy intention behind it. The intention being my blog, which to me, is just as big as a living space/room. It’s my virtual little corner after all. 

So working with allie definitely was a breath of fresh air. I recommend her for your illustration endeavors, her work ethic was clean and professional and the process she used to build out the thoughts in her mind into art was painless. I’ve got a lot of ideas up there (mind) but little skilled intention to carry any of it out, leaving me feeling overwhelmed with the inability to bring my ideas to life. I almost think I should take courses for every artistic craft and style but let’s be honest, with artists like allie out there why would I add another stressor to my life? I’ve got enough of those already. 

These past few months have been low on the writing front. Although it’s not a great way to start a new year, at least that’s what I told myself in January, this past month’s (February) overwhelmingly busyness has said fuck it, I do what I can and don’t stress about what I cannot. And that’s what I leave you all with today. 

Work with what’s in front of you, and be fully present in that process. Yes, tomorrow is coming and I do think it’s important to plan for it as best you can. But with that in mind, working with what you got, and not allowing the stress of what you don’t bulldoze over the present is the only way to fully embrace the beauty of you.

Here’s to a new month on the blog. May this one be a slower one, a more thoughtfully curated one and most importantly, a happy one for us all. 

Warmly,

Natalie