31 December 2018

Life of Art 2018 Roundup

Happy New Year, awesome readers! I hope your 2019 is happy, healthy, and full of splendid adventures.

For the past 463 Fridays, I've been tracking my efforts to create a life of art for myself. Here's a look at some of what I accomplished in 2018.

I created many new designs for my shop including graduation and birthday invitations and party supplies, gingham check patterns with monograms, photograph templates, holiday designs, and political designs.

Since I started overhauling my store's organization moving from having each design in one folder to separating them into categories like home decor, cases, and celebrations, it's harder to track the overall design count.

I can tell you that I added 1193 new products to my shop in 2018.

Here are a few designs from the beginning of the year before I shifted my organizational approach:
Resolve to RESIST40 and Fabulous Party Supplies and GiftsAre You Wearing Green? ShamrockIrish Lass, Green Shamrock

Irish Lad, Green ShamrockSt. Patrick's Day Green ShamrockEaster Egg Hunt Basket PhotoGun Control Now

Vintage Easter Bunny IllustrationColorful Easter Eggs in Grass PhotoHand Drawn Fancy Easter Eggs Adult ColoringMamá Número Uno

Happy Mother's Day Custom PhotoRegister to Vote

I created a wide variety of new collections you can see here. For example,

See all of the Collections at Rocklawn Arts together and click on any you would like to see more of.

I added over 24 New Product Types:
Invitations

Guest Books

Trucker Hats

Embroidered Hats

Luggage Tags

Leggings

Post-it Notes

Stockings

Paper Napkins

Edible treats

Banners

Tumblers

Acrylic Photo Blocks

Business Cards

Business Card Holders

Hand fans

golf towels

banners

tapestries

yard signs

rubber stamps

golf ball

lip balm

yoga mats

(Forgive me for not having time to link to all of them. If there's something that strikes your fancy, leave a comment and I'll be happy to provide a direct link for you.)

See all the latest products I've created here.

Also check out Rocklawn Arts on Pinterest.

The more fun life of art experiences in 2018 were the exhibits, museums, and gardens I toured. Tallying them up, they amount to 9 days spread through the year, down from 16 the previous year due to an injury of a family member. Though few, they did my soul good all the same. I hope to ramp up that number in 2019.

I spent a lot of time watching business webinars, working through a course, and getting some feedback to level up in 2018. My attention was largely divided in 2018, but I look forward to implementing what I've learned in 2019.

In 2019, I created over 1312 photographs and 41 videos (that I deemed worth keeping). Alas I have not gotten much better about sharing them. I'm disinclined to post any of them before they are copyright registered which builds in a lengthy delay by which time my mind is on other things. I need a more systematic approach.

How was your year? What would you like to do more of in 2019?


13 years ago on TTaT: Books - 2005
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28 December 2018

Life of Art SitRep #463 A Rarity

Actually did something rare this week: took a couple days completely off and dialed back on working the rest. It's been nice and sorely needed. One of my goals for 2019 is to build more rest time regularly into my schedule.

Shot 56 photographs, 13 videos. Culled 15 photos and 41 from a shoot last week and rated the rest.

Created 3 new plaid throw pillows:

Click to add your own text or to delete it.

Watched 4 webinars on business and goal setting related things.

Read "How to fix edges in Photoshop for perfect cutouts."

Tried some variations on plaid. Simple invert doesn't work to brighten BG colors.

Pinned to boards at Rocklawn Arts on Pinterest.

How was your week?


8 years ago on TTaT: 57. Bridgman's Book of 100 Hands
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24 December 2018

The Little Drummer Boy did NOT get me this year AKA I Won!

It seems crazy, but I've been playing The Little Drummer Boy Challenge since 2011.

The rules from the site:
It’s very easy: So long as you don’t hear “The Little Drummer Boy,” you’re a contender. As soon as you hear it on the radio, on TV, in a store, wherever, you’re out.

The game begins the day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) at 12:01 am and continues until midnight, Dec. 23. If you haven’t been puh-rum-pum-pum-pummed, you win. For this year, anyway.
The first four years I won which made me cocky, then I lost 3 years in a row. It was wearing on me.

This year the gap between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve was epically long, and I didn't even think it was worth trying. But then I'd made it through the first week of December without hearing The Boy, so I committed to avoiding the song.

I survived shopping at various stores with carols playing by being as fast as possible. I lucked out when I spent an hour walking through a winter lights display that not only had Christmas songs playing but medleys! That was like three times the song exposure.

Anyway, I made it all the way through, huzzah! I may hang up my spurs after this one though. Quit while I'm ahead as it were.

Happy Holidays!


13 years ago on TTaT: Santa tracker
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22 December 2018

Batwoman, Vol. 1: The Many Arms of Death

Batwoman, Vol. 1: The Many Arms of Death59. Batwoman, Vol. 1: The Many Arms of Death by Marguerite Bennett

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A cool look into Kate Kane's backstory and a bit of Batwoman's origin story.

It's nonlinear jumping from present to a few years prior. The last issue was odd in that it jumped ahead about 20 years and started an entirely new story even though there are more things to resolve with the previous arc.


10 years ago on TTaT: It's going to be a long week.
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21 December 2018

Life of Art SitRep #462 Checks and Plaids

Actually got out and shot some this week. Shot 97 photographs at a winter lights display. Culled 6, rated rest. Also shot 254 photographs and 7 videos at a museum I've yet to look through.

Created a variety of items with buffalo check and plaid patterns with a few others mixed in.

Custom Monogram Tote Bags:

Also created a variety of iPhone cases, some with custom names:

Also some home decor:

Wrapping paper:


A new purple cover photo template calendar:

Golf gloves are back in stock so I created a logo version so you'll be branded when you network on the golf course:

See all the latest products I've created here.

Pinned to boards at Rocklawn Arts on Pinterest.

How was your week?


10 years ago on TTaT: Or theist, if you prefer; Last minute wrapping tips
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14 December 2018

Life of Art SitRep #461 Calendars, Cases, Candles, Cards

In addition to a variety of calendars, iPhone cases, LED candles, and New Year's cards, I also created some stickers, a shot glass, glass tumbler, and tote bag.

Created some new photo template wall calendars. Click to add your own photos and name.

See the rest in this collection:

Created two 2019 Calendar 2 Custom Photos Happy New Year Holiday Cards:

Created some new iPhone cases and wallet cases:

See all the latest products I've created here.

Added some new add your own logo items:

See the rest here:

Created a Chic Monogram Blue White Buffalo Check Geometric Tote Bag:

Added a couple 2019 Calendar Company Name Desktop Plaques:

Last but not least, I was happy to see that LED flameless candles are back in stock so I made a few:

Pinned to boards at Rocklawn Arts on Pinterest. Created Christmas Holiday Decoration Inspiration and Christmas Party Ideas boards.

Made monthly backups. Have you backed up lately?


10 years ago on TTaT: Night disturbances
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