Life of Art SitRep #303 Black Friday

This week, among other things, I am thankful for Google Translate which has been enabling me to answer product questions from a foreign language speaker. I'm growing fond of Swedish.

I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving if it's something you celebrate. If not, I wish you good food and company.

Stop by my shop, Rocklawn Arts, to check out the big Black Friday sale:

Up to 65% OFF with code: ZAZBLKFRIDAY
Finally I have something more tangible to share with you. I created two new complementary patterns this week:

Mint Green Polka Dots on Maroon Christmas Pattern:

Mint Green Polka Dots on Maroon Feliz Navidad Card by RocklawnArts
Find more note cards online at zazzle.com

Sophisticated Christmas Polka Dots – Medium Postage Stamp by RocklawnArts
Look at Mint green polka dots maroon Stamps online at Zazzle.com

Christmas Gift Checklist Polka Dot Pocket Journal by RocklawnArts
Look at more journals at Zazzle

Mint Green Polka Dots on Maroon Christmas Paper Wrapping Paper by RocklawnArts
Shop for Mint green polka dots maroon Wrapping Paper online at Zazzle.com

Christmas Polka Dots Large Print Playing Cards by RocklawnArts
Find more Mint green polka dots maroon Playing Cards at Zazzle

and Textured Maroon Polka Dots on Mint Green:

Textured Maroon Polka Dots on Mint Green Wine Box by RocklawnArts
Browse Hostess Wine Gift Box

Dark Red Polka Dots on Mint Green Ribbon Satin Ribbon by RocklawnArts
View more Textured polka dots Ribbon

Outlined Dark Red Polka Dots on Pale Green Square Sticker by RocklawnArts
Find other Outlined dark red polka dots Stickers at zazzle.com

Textured Maroon Polka Dots on Mint Green Gift Wrap by RocklawnArts
View other Maroon polka dots mint green Wrapping Paper

Rocklawn Arts blogged New Textured Maroon Polka Dots on Mint Green pattern and New Mint Green Polka Dots on Maroon Christmas Pattern.

Finished updating descriptions, titles, and tags for Adobe Passageway.

Updated links and LOA.

How was your week?


10 years ago on TTaT (and 10 years before that): 10 Years Ago: Old Age and Permanent Ways

Thanksgiving Haiku VII

Table leaves are in
Tasty smells waft through the house
Be thankful and eat.

Eleven cars parked
next door for Thanksgiving. My
neighbors are social.
Feel free to share your own Thanksgiving haiku in the comments!

Thanksgiving haiku highlights of years past:

Thanksgiving haiku: Back to the Past (Original post includes the #TBT appropriate image described.)
Teenagers lined up
for a Thanksgiving portrait
many years ago.
Thanksgiving haiku: Back to the Future
DVR'ing the
parade for the first time.
No host banter-- yea!
The return of Thanksgiving haiku
Happy Thanksgiving!
Balloons in Macy's parade
are my favorite

Tofurkey haiku
Vegetarians:
tofurkey substitute, so
many side dishes!

2nd Annual Thanksgiving Haikuathon
What's up with mincemeat
pie? No meat? I might like it
if not for its name.

Thanksgiving haiku
Dad is shoveling
while Mom is throwing snowballs
up at my window.

Click through to see more haiku in the past posts and in their comments.

Happy Thanksgiving!


10 years ago on TTaT: More haiku- it is addictive

Whole Body Barefoot: Transitioning Well to Minimal Footwear

81. Whole Body Barefoot: Transitioning Well to Minimal Footwear by Katy Bowman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I've read a couple of her other books (Move Your DNA and Every Woman's Guide to Foot Pain Relief), but I like the simplicity and clarity of this one best.

All the exercises and alignment photos throughout the book are included again at the end so you don't have to flip through to find stuff. Also included is a reference list of minimal footwear options for women, men, and children.

The photos could be better, but I suspect improving the print quality would greatly increase the price of the book. It's a reasonable trade-off.


10 years ago on TTaT: Thanksgiving haiku

Life of Art SitRep #302 Tallyho!

This week may not look like much, but I feel good about getting back to creating. I started working on a new pattern, testing out various elements. Hopefully that will be up soon.

Also created a Distinctive iPhone 6/6S Cases collection:

Distinctive iPhone 6/6S Cases
by Claire E. Skinner

Rocklawn Arts blogged New Distinctive iPhone 6/6S Cases Collection.

Updated descriptions, titles, and tags for Rainbow Fabrics, Adobe Corridor, started on Adobe Passageway. Also did some more basic passes on several others.

How was your week?


10 years ago on TTaT: It wasn't in there

Doctor Who: The Forgotten

80. Doctor Who: The Forgotten by Tony Lee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The art's not my taste but I really enjoyed this stand alone story featuring the 10th Doctor (David Tennant's). The dialogue feels true to all of the characters that appear.


10 years ago on TTaT: It's pouring

The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less

79. The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book delves into the psychological and emotional effects of having more and more options to choose from. I was familiar with the basic premise but this dug deeper into it, even relating it to the significant increase in depression over the years.

I might've given it a four but I'd already read about most of the studies he referenced in other books. While those books were more about how the brain works or decision making, this one focuses on the effects of the process we use to choose.

He argues that the plethora of options we have ultimately makes us less satisfied with our decisions.

The final chapter proposes suggestions for limiting your choices and ways to feel better about the ones you make.

Well worth a read.


10 years ago on TTaT: sleep-tussle? and Tidbit

Life of Art SitRep #301 Promotion

Last week I wrote, "Oh the lists I need to make. Or add to. And then accomplish. Which sadly don't directly translate to a life of art but will ultimately facilitate it. I hope."

When I linked to it on Twitter, I had an epiphany. I needed one big list rather than lots of little ones on scraps of paper.

So I made one big list grouped in sections and started checking steps off. Very nearly done.

On the art front this week, most of what I did was promote my Veterans Day Sale: here on TTaT, on my Rocklawn Arts blog, and on Twitter.

I set some items in my shop to direct only.

Shot 9 photos.

Updated descriptions and tags for Abstract Photo Fabrics and Christmas Fabrics.

How was your week?


10 years ago on TTaT: All you have to do to sell it is commit

Save Big during the Rocklawn Arts Veterans Day Sale

If you've ever been interested in buying something from my shop Rocklawn Arts or are new to it, now is a great time to take advantage of the large Veterans Day sale going on:

60% off Cards, Calendars, and Canvas Prints
45% off Coasters, Ornaments, Lamps, Mugs, and Clocks
35% off Fleece Blankets, Kitchen Towels, Binders, and Throw Pillows
20% off everything else including Cases, T-shirts, Serving Trays, and Wallets

Use code: ZVETDAYSALES

Offer is valid through November 11, 2015 at 11:59PM PT.

Get 1 year of unlimited free standard shipping by signing up for Zazzle Black when you check out. This offer is only available for a limited time, so make use of it while you can.

Here's a link to all of my designs and photographs which you can sort by product type under the Department dropdown menu.

And here are some curated collections:

Cool Custom Calendars
by Claire E. Skinner

Winter Holiday Cards, Stamps, Labels, and Seals
by Claire E. Skinner

Red and Green Geometric Pattern Christmas Cards
by Claire E. Skinner

Stylish iPhone 6/6s Plus Wood Cases
by Claire E. Skinner

Vegan Leather iPad Air 2 Cases
by Claire E. Skinner

Thank you for your interest. I hope you enjoy the sale!


10 years ago on TTaT: tip of the week

Life of Art SitRep #300 Rearranged

Oh the lists I need to make. Or add to. And then accomplish. Which sadly don't directly translate to a life of art but will ultimately facilitate it. I hope.

Which is to say I've been a bit sidetracked again this week. Hopefully it'll all be sorted next week. Which sounds like it might miraculously take care of itself but alas depends upon me determining what must be done and then doing it. Solopreneur, yay! ;)

This week, I...

Created Vegan Leather iPad Air 2 Cases collection:

Vegan Leather iPad Air 2 Cases
by Claire E. Skinner

Revised an address label:

Light Blue And Black Meander return address labels by RocklawnArts
Find more Light blue Labels at Zazzle

Added monograms to some more Geometric Christmas Wreath products:

Geometric Christmas Wreath on Sage with Monogram Bicycle Playing Cards by RocklawnArts
Check out more Holiday Playing Cards at Zazzle

Modern Christmas Wreath with Monogram Ornament by RocklawnArts
See other Geometric christmas wreath Ornament

Geometric Christmas Wreath Magnet with Monogram by RocklawnArts
Design custom round magnets on zazzle.

Geometric Christmas Wreath with Monogram Mug by RocklawnArts
Browse Geometric christmas wreath Mugs

Rearranged my store Rocklawn Arts for the holiday season and changed the featured collection to calendar magnets:

Handy 2016 Calendar Magnets
by Claire E. Skinner

Revised descriptions and tags for a bunch of return address labels and culled some.

Updated LOA for end of month.

How was your week?


10 years ago on TTaT: prequel to the sequel?