ArtsyGenie @artsygenie - Tumblr Blog

sniffles

Two weeks, going on three. The sniffles won't stop and the coughing is slowly subsiding, but damn. This flu or cold is sure lasting a long time. Mind you, this was part two of whatever it was I caught. I had started getting sick before break and then got sick again two weeks after getting over whatever it was. It's brutal. I just want to be able to breathe normally and not have nasal drip or phlegm.

The last few weeks have been freezing in California so my electric blanket and lots of blankets on top of that have been my savior. I'm over it. Then we got the winds and today it was summer. Bipolar weather has got me irritated.

I've been feeling relatively productive albeit being sick. Jotted down some notes in my planner to figure out what I should be doing. I have a lot of things I need to take care of. In the mean time, reading has come to a stand still after break ended. Still trying to read here and there, but it's hard to. I ordered a bunch of silicone stamps and some acrylic bases for my illustrate your week journal. At least that gives me some creativity to release. It's soothing to journal and very satisfying. Out of all the journaling options I've done, this has been by far my favorite.

I definitely need to declutter also, but again, not having enough time is very detrimental to the things that I do want to do. Funny how that works out that way. There's just not enough time in the day to do anything. Too bad an earth day is 24 hours. It would be nice if it were longer perhaps. Anyhoo, just wanted to pop in and give a little update. Etsy has been a standstill with no orders. Very sad. I'm hoping to revamp it completely this year, if not next year. With with? Dunno. I'm hoping to get my creativity going again. Perhaps jewelry is not what is good for me. Good thing I kept my store name broad.

Happy New Year

Already a new year once again. Last year went by in a blur especially the last couple months. I'm glad to put 2025 in the books. It wasn't a good year and hopefully it's just upwards from here.

Every year, I feel like I'm in the same mindset where in the deep recesses of my mind, I want to purge everything. You know, like how you would put everything in your SIMs house in an inventory and start fresh. Rebuild. All that. If only it were that simple. But in reality all that costs money lol. There's definitely a few things that need to be replaced stat in my house, but it will need to wait.

The last week of December and the first week of January have been a wet one. I've been enjoying watching the rain fall from my bedroom window as I type this. I've also been super sick this last month. Part 1 of a cold or the beginnings of a flu I got over and then got part 2 at the tail end. So I've been nursing a cough and lots of congestion. Soups and teas were in my diet. I am finally starting to feel better, but we'll see how far that goes.

I'm not setting too many goals or any goals at all for this new year. I'm going in quietly not to disturb anything and going in with self-care in mind because clearly I have not been on top of that in a long time. The burnout is still there, but I need to prioritize my health and well being this year. I do have lots of creative goals in mind which I hope to have time or make time to do. I also have a 12 book reading goal as last year's 25 books for 2025 didn't go well. I only read 4 books lol. So, starting small and if I do reach 26, huzzah. I'm hoping my new kindle will help me achieve this goal. I've already read 3 books so far (two cause the first one I read at the tail end of 2025) and I am half way through another book.

While on this topic, the other thing that bothers me is that I get this mini burst of energy of motivation at the beginning of the month and then it's like, hey where did you go? I like this feeling of being productive and knowing what I want to do next, but then it just fizzles. Hopefully I can maintain this energy throughout the year. My Etsy shop didn't really do much this month which is sad, but I'm wondering if I want to take down some listings and start fresh or just leave it. It's a negative on my part because Etsy keeps taking money from my listings every month or so so I need to figure this out fast. I want to add more listings, but I may need to take some out. I think a re-vamp of a business model is going to be needed.

Anyways, I always seem to come on here to just write something beautiful and just end up writing what my brain is thinking like I'm just brainstorming. Oh well. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and a happy New Year. May this year bring joy, peace, and prosperity to all.

Weather Changes

The weather is finally changing as well as my sleep cycle since the ending of daylight savings. Usually falling back isn't such a problem for me, but the insomnia is real and it is awful.

It's finally feeling like fall and transition to winter. We've got two storms coming that will be around for a few weeks. Rain definitely soothes my soul and although sometimes when it lasts for too long it becomes too much, but I think because I'm in this weird mood or funk it will be nice. I don't necessarily like it when it rains while I am at work because I cannot enjoy it to the fullest extent. I'm happy that it's my day off and it's raining, but not to the extent of how much I wish it was raining haha.

As I was driving the other day before the rain arrived, I was stopped at a stop light and was looking around. The world becomes dull and dreary in the fall with certain trees in my area. It's just.... brown and dead. However when it rains, the brown and dead becomes alive once more and it's fascinating. Water can change a lot of things.

As I sit here trying to work or not work, the rain is pitter pattering down. It's not coming down very hard and the sun keeps competing with the clouds to break through. There's a light breeze and the pine needles on the oak tree in front of my window are trying so hard to hold onto the precious droplets of the rain. They look like little crystal beads twinkling in the light. The rain has decorated them to look festive.

I've gotten a head start on my Christmas cards this year. They're relatively simple and cute. I just wanted to get a head start on them since I have no time. It's still one of my joys and I'm glad that I have time to actually do them. I always try to do something different each year. I should probably make note of what I did each year somewhere. I'll do that after I am done with this post. I've been a firm believer that Christmas music should not be played until after thanksgiving, but now I kind of get it. I'm slowly bringing out all the holiday stuff like candles. I just lit my Fir and Firewood candle and it smells lovely. I've been a big grinch this year and I just need a win. So this is the little things I supplement each day with.

If you've made it this far in my little blurb for today, I hope you have a wonderful day. :)

3am thoughts

It has yet again been a while. I've come to learn that I'm a terrible blogger and I guess that's ok. I come on here whenever I can remember to.

I finally finished Inktober for the first time in YEARS. Which ironically is funny because this year was the one time when I have had the least amount of time. It's been a stressful year to say the least and I just want and need things to go back to normal. I'm beginning to become very burnt out.

I woke up from some work nightmares the other day and ended up being wide awake at 3am. It was a weird experience because it hadn't been quite like other times I've woken up. For living in a place that usually has a lot of ambient noise, it was deathly quiet and eerie. No noises. No ticking of the clock, planes, sounds of cars idling by, or crickets. Just pure silence. Nothingness. I stayed a wake for a good hour or so afterwards until I fell asleep uneasily into another work dream.

Just trying to be here enjoying the little things. It's hard when people you love and work with are no longer there to talk to or vent to. The vibes are different and I don't like it, but it's just another adaptation as humans. We move on. We live. The world turns and waits for no one.

Wednesday Fun Day

I have failed yet again to be posting on here consistently, but sometimes life takes the reins and you just go with the flow of just being too busy.

Finally on a break from work and my coworker wanted to take me to Disneyland for a staycation. She's so thoughtful and the absolute best. It has been years YEARS since I've been to Disneyland. The last time I went was to go to California Adventure with one of my friends for Lunar New Year. I wonder when that was... give me a second.

*Looks through photos then gets sidetracks and doom scrolls on Instagram*

It was 2018 so 7 years ago. I guess not that long ago. lol. It feels like its been longer than that. Anyways, I ended up driving to her house and then she drove us there. The new security checkpoints definitely feel like you're about to go abroad on a trip somewhere. The tram ride is always the first "ride" you go on when you're at Disneyland. It was a smooth one and trying to get into the theme park was a bit of a wait. We happened to just choose the line that was the shortest, but all the problems were there lol. We finally get in and bee line it towards adventure land. We went on Indiana Jones which only took about 15 minutes rather than their "40 minute" wait time. After we had to get a churro so we got some and then hopped into the line. This one also went by a lot quicker than expected.

It was funny because I had asked my coworker if she ever ran into anyone she knew or her students and she said no. Then she spotted two of our students in line for haunted and we made a point to not look in their direction to get noticed lol. We ended up passing them at one point in Toon Town as well, but thankfully went unnoticed.

We covered a lot of ground and ate some yummy snacks and foods. Coming back as an adult definitely hit differently and a lot of the rides I used to enjoy caused me some serious car sickness and that was not fun. I think going on the Star Wars Smuggler's ride did us in for the rest of the day. It was like a simulation ride but also you had to press buttons and things and it was just stupid lol. I did not like it at all and Tiffany did not either. We did go on the other Star Wars ride Rise of the Resistance and that was one of my favorites. It had "trackless" cars which made it feel like we were just moving freely and then there was a drop near the end that felt like tower of terror which was so much fun! I'd go that one multiple times if the wait wasn't so long.

There was another one in toon town that was similar and that was so fun. Space Mountain was the last one we went on for the night before we left, and that one also hit different which was so sad. I've always loved that ride and it made me feel so queasy afterwards. We were in the very back and I am not sure if that is why it felt so much faster but it felt like we were going to fly of the rails. lol.

It was also so sad that now that we are older we get tired more easily and I wanted to sleep around 7PM. What in the Disney blasphemy! Thankfully there is a STARBUCKS inside the park now so I got a coffee to try to wake up. That was the other thing. It was so cold all day! They had the AC blasting in almost all the rides and we were just not feeling it lol.

Overall, it was a very fun day. Definitely had some food items I wanted to try, but didn't get a chance to. Maybe I'll go back again another time. :)

Etsy shop 3 year anniversary sale!

If you follow me on here, you're in luck. I have not announced this on my Instagram yet, but my shop (with my usual exclusions of digital items, stickers, and clearance) will be 30% off with no code needed. I can't believe it's already been 3 years.

Thank you for all those who supported my business throughout the years whether it was purchasing something from me, liking my posts, favoriting my listings, or even sharing my posts. You guys are the true winners and I am so grateful for that. Thank you. <3

#etsy #etsy sale announcemnt #etsyseller #artsygeniecreations #gemstone jewelry #custom jewelry #art #stickers

New Etsy shop listing!

Hello everyone. If you follow me on my Instagram, you would have seen that there is a new digital download listing available for purchase! I have been keen on trying to offer a custom print for a while, however I do not have the capacity to print them myself and ship out a physical item, so for the time being, I have added it to my Etsy shop as a digital download item. :)

You can customize your pet portrait and I can sketch it out or do a bold line doodle. I am so excited to see all your pets! Everything is hand drawn. I have yet to sell one yet, but I hope people like it. Go check out my listing if you can!

Please read through entire description before purchasing! Thank you! A fun sketch or bold doodle style of your pet's face with or without ba

#etsyseller #etsy #custompetportrait #artsygeniecreations

Summertime Sadness

Art is a funny thing and being an "artist" is too. Currently I'm in a big mental block that it's even inhibiting my ability to be creative. Every now and then I get a little burst of something, but when I go to draw it out it just doesn't translate to paper or ipad.

It's been a bit of a frustrating summer this year. I feel like summers never really pan out the way I plan them to be, but this summer has probably taken the cake. Having a lot going on in my personal life in terms of health and other things, there's just a lot going on and slightly overwhelming. My mind shuts down so then my body shuts down and doesn't want to do what I want it to do. It's been quite the anxiety and panic attack inducing kind of summer this season. I'm excited to have work start back up again, but I think it's high time that I have started looking for other job opportunities that provide financial security.

If I could I would do art all day everyday. However, my skills are limited and not having confidence in my work and my abilities is another conflict. I'm currently trying to figure out what else to draw and sell on my Etsy shop. I only have one digital doodle available for purchase on there, but I feel like I could do better. Also, having out of date software and tech has been a bit annoying as well, but I cannot afford to upgrade at this time so my foiled leather jewelry and personalized pet key chains have been put on an indefinite hold.

In the words of Taylor Swift, "I have this thing where I get older but just never wiser/Midnights become my afternoons/When my depression works the graveyard shift/ All of the people I've ghosted stand there in the room." Am I depressed? I don't know. I don't think it's crippling and I think I'm just sad and unmotivated? But that's where I currently stand. I've been listening to Taylor's TTPD album on repeat so maybe that's making me feel worse lol. This particular album took some time getting used to and it's grown on me. Now I love it, but I digress.

So here's a shameless plug: If you're interested, please just visit my Etsy shop (artsygeniecreations.etsy.com) and just look around. You don't even need to buy anything, but if you do that's also fantastic and would make my day. Or even just share my link to get word out. Things are rough and any little thing will help. Thank you. <3

It's just been hard getting back into things, but I'm hoping it will get better from here on out. Clearly it's not been my zodiac year, but I will do what I can to upright myself and get out of this hole I've dug myself into. Thanks for reading my little late night rant if you've gotten this far. Here's to more motivation and creativity.

Hello Summer

I have fallen off the bandwagon again in trying to keep up with this blog, as well as some of my other blogs on here too haha. I clearly have bit off more than I can chew. Thankfully it is summer and I will try to be more diligent in updating this.

Life has proven to have become very hectic as of late and I have had no motivation to do much. I have been trying to do some art and things, but creativity has been at an all time low and even prompts could not entice me to do much.

This summer has not really been summering the way I wanted it to. So hoping to post more here, but we shall see. :) Hope you all have a wonderful day.

2023 Reading Challenge Win

Happy new year! I cannot believe that it is 2024 already. Where has 2023 gone? I know I failed at a lot of different resolutions that I was ultimately planning on doing in 2023 so I guess 2024 is going to be the year I actually do what I am planning to do.

Last year, however, I did plan to read 10 books by the end of 2023 because clearly, I've never read 10 books in a year (how dreadful). Well, that changed drastically last year after I finally joined a virtual book club. This particular book club is different than any other book club in the sense that not everyone reads the same book. I know, strange, but this is fantastic for a person like me who does not like to be tied to reading one book for an entire month. I find this group refreshing as you get to hear about other books everyone else is reading plus other genres and in December, you pick the book you thought was great and do a white elephant exchange. I seriously love it.

Anyways, I ended up reading 22 books last year and I was so proud of that. The shortest book read was Galatea by Madeline Miller at 20 pages and the longest was Resistance Women at 640 pages. I've enjoyed reading most of them and would like to share my list with you guys.

Lore Olympus volume 3 by Rachel Smythe (webtoon)

Lore Olympus volume 4 by Rachel Smythe (webtoon)

Resistance Women by Jennifer Chiaverini

Lore by Alexandra Bracken

Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi

A Better Man by Louise Penny

Permission to Feel - Marc Brackett Ph.D

Under the Whispering Door - TJ Klune

The House on the Cerulean Sea - TJ Klune

Galatea - Madeline Miller

The Hazel Wood - Melissa Albert

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid

Refugee - Alan Gratz

Salt to the Sea - Ruta Sepetys

Restart - Gordon Korman

Magic Steeped in Poison (book 1) - Judy Lin

A Venom Dark and Sweet (book 2) - Judy Lin

It Ends With Us - Colleen Hoover (don't recommend. Trigger warning)

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow - Gabrielle Zevin

Bear Town - Fredrik Backman

Us Against You - Fredrik Backman

Finding Cinderella - Colleen Hoover (this one is better)

I read a variety of different books and they're all very unique to their own. I particularly did not enjoy Colleen Hoover's books, just because a lot of her stories it seems have trigger warnings that other authors disclose in their synopsis sections, yet she did not. My coworker was the one who recommended it to me, but reading it just prompted major red flags of relationships that would normally be bad, but in her book It Ends With Us (romance novel), almost glorifies them/justifies what is going on, but as a woman I believe it's very degrading and terrible to justify a male character's actions, when clearly they need some professional help and having this poor female character just being strung along and then throwing in a love triangle and then having the male counterparts fighting.. I don't know. It was a very messed up story. It started out cute, but then as you read it just got worse and worse. In all honesty, I just tried to finish it for the sake of finishing the book. I did want to give the benefit of the doubt to the author and tried a different story and that was better. I don't think I'd actively search for her books to read in the future though.

My reading goal this year is to get through 24 books for 2024. So far I am reading The Winners by Fredrik Backman. I've really fallen in love with this author's writings since I read A Man Called Ove. His characters have a lot of depth to them and he does write about heavy and tragic things, but his storytelling is spectacular.

If you have any books that just blew you a way, please leave them in the comments section so I can add to my TBR list. :) I hope you all have an amazing year and hopefully I can stay on track here as well haha.

Cheers.

#artsygenie #reading #tbr #booklist #whatareyoureading #new year 2024

As promised, here's probably the last biggest sales event for my Etsy shop for the year.

Get all your holiday shopping done. November 24th - 27th midnight. Four days only. Everything in my shop is 40% off, no code necessary. Sale excludes clearance items, digital art, and stickers. Clear out my shop so I can add more new items for you!

Mark those calendars!

*Please note that custom pet key chains do take 5-7 days to hand make, so please plan accordingly.

#artsygeniecreations #etsy #shop small #handmade #gemstone jewelry #jewelry #digital art #stickers #etsy shop #holiday shopping

Shop Update

Good evening all! Hope you all are having a wonderful week! I just wanted to pop on here and discuss some upcoming changes to my Etsy Shop.

Currently, I have about 180 listings that you can choose from to purchase certain items. Since I am but just one person, I have gone and decided that I will continue to make my jewelry and such, however, I will not have multiple available. I will do "one of a kind" type jewelry or limited edition jewelry. I'm finding that it is very hard to compete with others since the niche that I am in is very very big. Going forward, I will make 2-3 of the same pieces. If it sold out, you can message me to request another and if I have the materials, I will be more than happy to make more. Again, this also depends on the popularity of the said items.

There are a lot of items on there that haven't sold in a very long time. My foiled leather earrings and key chains have not gotten much love over the years, so I will potentially slowly fade out the ones that are not popular.

Etsy is unfortunately an expensive platform for me and I'm losing more than gaining so I need to adjust a little bit. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. I would love to buy more inventory and supplies to make some fun things, but at this time I think I am on a mini hiatus to make new products.

On a brighter note, if you'd like to purchase anything on my Etsy shop for the upcoming holidays and you've gotten this far in reading this post, use code TUMBLRGENIE for 15% off your order! Here's a link to my shop:

https://artsygeniecreations.etsy.com

Thank you all for your support!

#shop update #etsy #artsygeniecreations #support small business #shop small

Jumped on that Taylor Swift bandwagon and decided to draw my version of her 1989 album art. I'm obsessed with Clean and some of her other songs on this album. I really like how it turned out. I may make this as a digital print on my Etsy shop in December. Still thinking about it. :)

#doodles #illustration #artsygeniecreations #procreate #art #taylor swift #artsygenie #doodle #1989 #swiftie #style

Numbers 28-31 Inktober doodles this year. I did three additional ones for "sparkle" because I couldn't decide between some suggestions. I also did 2 for the last day, because I can't forget Calcifer!