It’s wild to think it’s been nearly a month since I launched my art website.
The support has been overwhelmingly positive. When artists say it’s hard to put your work out there because you’re sharing a piece of your soul and don’t know how it will be received- they’re not lying. It feels good to finally share my artwork with the world. While I’m not quite ready to share it with family or post it on Facebook, I’m slowly becoming more comfortable putting my creative work out there.
Speaking of which…
The mug orders have gone far beyond what I expected. Expanding from Artsie, the space where I previously showcased my art, has allowed me to offer not just my print club (a monthly snail mail art experience), but also print-on-demand merchandise, something people have been asking for for a long time.
It’s interesting though. The number of times people have said, “I would buy this,” only to never follow through… I’ve lost count. And yet, I’ve been surprised in the best way by orders I never expected. New names. New collectors. It makes me wonder how they found my art, and I love that sense of quiet and unexpected discovery.
And then… there’s the mail system.
If everything arrived on time and in perfect condition, we’d probably assume we were living in a parallel universe. One of my favourite pieces which was carefully packaged and sent with so much intention to a couple of my favourite people arrived slightly damaged. Disappointing for both myself and the collector, of course, but I remind myself that it could have been worse. I’ve heard stories from artists whose work was completely destroyed in transit, which is truly heartbreaking. Regardless, it was upsetting causing my physical upset for over 2 days. I still cringe when I think about it. But it's a lesson. There is always a first. I've been selling arwork and shipping for over 5 years and this is the first time this has happened. Thankfully, my collectors are incredibly understanding. Even with the most thoughtful packaging, shipping artwork always carries a bit of unpredictability.
In other news, I’ve been building my mail club: The Joyful Portal - a monthly art subscription designed to bring creativity, beauty, and a little magic into your mailbox.
I’ve gathered everything needed to make it extra special: curated artwork, quality paper, envelopes, stamps, embossers, and all the small details that turn a simple letter into an experience. While the number of subscribers isn’t quite where I expected it to be yet unfortunately, I’m learning that growing something meaningful takes time.
Maybe it’s the price. Maybe people don’t realize it exists yet. Maybe they’re more drawn to physical merchandise like mugs and prints. Whatever the reason, I trust it will grow naturally as more people discover it's awesomeness. And for those who have already joined, thank you. I’m genuinely excited to create and send something beautiful your way.
Lately, I’ve also been gathering the courage to step into YouTube doing both videos and live streams. It feels intimidating stepping into a space filled with so many talented, established creators. I feel like a beginner… because I am.
But I remind myself that every artist starts somewhere. And if I start now, I’ll be Tubetastic in no time (yes, I’m keeping that word).
If you’ve been following along quietly, supporting from afar, or just discovered my work, thank you. Truly. Your presence here means more than you know.
And if you feel drawn to it, you’re always welcome to explore the shop, join The Joyful Portal, or simply continue along for the journey as it unfolds. ✨
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