HALLOWEEN MONTH!

Does anyone else call October Halloween month? Just me?

I'm sure by now you will know that I love Halloween. I love the excuse to dress up, (not that I need an excuse) and all the parties and the fact that it is Autumn and the trees are dropping their leaves and everything is so pretty. October is also my boyfriend's birthday month, and this year he turns 40, so it's a pretty big deal!

We like to have an early Halloween party to combine with his birthday celebrations, and this year we are going to have a pirate themed one. Since our house is already full of pirate/skull decor, there is not too much we have to do, but I have been looking up traditional recipes for grog. I am keeping my costume a secret, but I have been having fun decorating my accessories, and I still need to practice my makeup. I will share photos after the event. There may even be a makeup tutorial video.

AND, to celebrate Halloween, and to help you get started on your Christmas shopping early, EVERYTHING in my Etsy shop will be 20% off for the whole month of October, 2018. No coupon code needed, just stop by. Don't forget, I am open to commissions, so if you have something in mind that I don't have in my shop, let me know and we can work something out.

Welcome Autumn!

Those of you that know me will know that Autumn has always been my favourite season. I just adore the crisp weather, the beautiful colours, and the chance to wear boots, coats and hats again!
Since I have lived in Virginia, I have really started to miss the season back home. It can be beautiful here, but summer lasts so long, that often you don't see the leaves fall until late November, or even December. It can still be swelteringly hot very late in the year, which does not go well with my love of warm clothes. It is strange to see pumpkin-spice EVERYTHING, everywhere, when it is still above 30C. I guess I really just miss home and the change of seasons there. It is what I grew up with, what I am used to, and no matter how long I've been away, I can't seem to get used to this climate!

 Anyway, in celebration of the official Equinox and arrival of my favourite season, (regardless of how it feels outside) I am sharing this coupon code for my Etsy shop, OriginalSinArt. Use code AUTUMNEQUINOX2018 to get 20% off your order, from 22nd – 26th September 2018, EST. (No minimum sale needed, but does not apply to Taxes or Shipping Costs.)

Well, I'm back...

Hello everyone, I am back! Well, I've been back over a week, but I'm not sure if I've come to terms with it yet. I wish I was still in Ireland! 

We had such an incredible holiday, and saw and did so much, that coming back to America, and work, has been difficult for me. The trip only reaffirmed my dream of living there one day, and owning a little shop/gallery in Donegal. Now I am thinking of all the things that have to happen to make that dream come true!

I have been busy catching up with work-work after our trip, but I have a couple of exciting things in the works that I will share with you soon. Watch this space! 

Here are a few Ireland selfie pics just to give you a hint of what we got up to, (if you want to see ALL the 1700 photos I took, please find me on Facebook!) I get that the cropped images show more of my face than anything else, sorry!

Locations, clockwise from top left: Cliff of Moher, Dunluce Castle, Ballyliffin Golf Club, Guinness Storehouse, Poulnabrone Dolmen, Inis Cealtra, Mussenden Temple.

Ireland is calling...

Hi everyone, I just wanted to let you all know that I am off to Ireland, and won't be back until the end of the month. I have not been back to my soul-country for eight years, so you can imagine how excited I am! And I have not had a proper holiday from work, (i.e, NO access to work accounts, social media, emails or anything) for almost six years, so this time I am going to take full advantage of the remote locations that we will be staying, and I will unplug and RELAX!
The photo below was taken at Ballyliffin, Donegal, which is where my mum's side of the family is from. My great grandparents had a little cottage on the beach, and all the generations of the family since then have grown up visiting it and loving it. I spent every summer holiday of my childhood and teenage years there, and although I was born and raised in England, I think of Donegal as my home. I have so many happy memories of the shore, and it spoiled me for other beaches. This beach has it all; Soft sand, pebbles, rocks, rock pools, cliffs, surf, sand dunes, and even a castle! These days if I visit a beach that is just sand, I find it very boring, I am sorry to say.
We will be spending a week at Ballyliffin, where I am looking forward to walks along the shore and over the rocks, good meals and proper pints in cozy pubs, and stories by the fireplace in the evenings. The second week we will be in county Clare and exploring a lot of places I have never been to before, like the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, etc, and the last day will be in Dublin. I have been to Dublin multiple times, but not for a long time, and not since I was old enough to enjoy the night life and explore the city, so I'm looking forward to that too.
So, wish me good weather, (I don't care if it's cold, I just don't want it to rain all day, every day) and I wish you all a fabulous summer. I will be in touch with more photos after I get back!

COMIC CON ANNOUNCEMENT!

I am going to be vending my Steampunk jewelry and art at the upcoming Gloucester County Public Library Comic Con next Saturday! Woo hoo!
This FREE event will be held at the main library, 6920 Main Street, Gloucester, VA, 23061, from 10:00 to 14:00 on Saturday 11th August, 2018. For more information, head HERE.
There will be workshops, multiple sellers of awesome original products, activities, contests, and prizes. All ages are welcome, and of course, costumes are strongly encouraged. I have a fun costume all ready to go, but you'll have to come and see me if you want to know what it is!
Last year there were over 3000 people joining in the fun, so they expect great things this year. I am so excited to be a part of this, and honoured to have been selected as a vendor.
After this event, I only have one day to get ready before we leave for Ireland, so I have lots to do this week for the Comic Con and our trip, but it will be worth it! Now I'm off to create some new mini mixed media collages to bring with me to the Comic Con.

Photo Shoot by Gray Accord

Have I ever told you that my boyfriend, Brian, is an extremely talented photographer? Well, he is! You can find him on Instagram, HERE.
These days, he mostly takes pictures of our houses in the real estate family business, but every now and then he does something a little more arty. This weekend was one of those times, and he set up a dreamy library scene as a backdrop, with me posing in front. I've added a few of my favourite images below.

Now, I still have a great fear of having my picture taken, (that's a long story, better told in person) but I am trying to get over it. I struggle with self loathing and depression, and seeing myself in photos is not conducive to a happy state of mind for me. I know a lot of us struggle with comparing ourselves to the "perfect" images that we see in the media these days. I know that is not a healthy way to live. That does not mean that we don't still struggle. 

I am learning to love myself a little more each day. I am still fighting the demons that speak with the voices of my bullies and bad relationships. So, you may notice that I take a few selfies, and post them on my social media pages. I am trying to be kinder to myself. And braver. These are my way of telling those haters that I'm still here, I'm still standing, and that they did not win!

My Shop!

Happy Sunday everyone! I’m still recovering from my long day yesterday, but I really had so much fun at the Gallopond Gallop event. Here’s a peek at my tent. It was very windy (as you can see from the billowing tablecloths!) so I had to tie everything down extra-secure, and I had to rethink my entire display. Sadly, I was not able to display my collages and paintings well, so they were in crates to one side. Luckily, nothing else flew TOO far away, and I was able to retrieve the things that did!

I got to meet some amazing people, including more talented artists, musicians, and dancers. AND, I may have some more exciting news to share with you all soon, but I'll keep quiet on that score until I know for certain!