Funny story, long ago I redesigned my Live Journal (back when Live Journal was a thing) with a McDonalds theme. At the time there was also a guy who was infamous for trashing other people’s work on his own blog to their own horror.
Well, my McDonalds blog was certainly featured front and center. However, I was honored. Most of the things I post online are in sarcasm anyway, if you know me, so the press was simply appreciated.
I realized today that I haven’t updated here with any of my newer products so this post is a shameless spill of pins and tees.
Also, side note, would anyone like it if I made and posted original phone wallpapers like the old days?
It’s been quite a long while that I’ve been on this journey of self acceptance. Long ago there was an anonymous submission area on my blog and I got the sweetest message from a reader who said, “I wish you would be yourself and embrace it instead of hiding behind _____.”
I did hide. I hid behind my mom as a child, I hid behind Ben (my first love) as a teen/young adult, and I even hid behind Audrey Kitching and some other friends I did design for (I wasn’t as codependent with them) online and played with offline. I gave Audrey my illustrations and original artwork, I sent her inspirations daily, I blogged for her, I designed for her. We were close then, but I was always in the shadows. She would sometimes copy other designs from other artists and I didn’t want to promote any of my work because I was afraid if I took credit for my Tokyolux cats, designs, and pop art that it would be assumed I was taking credit for ALL of the copies as well.
Let’s get to know each other again.
That often happens to people who were traumatized in their youth. I was happy to create amazing things that everyone loved as long as I got to be in the background and no one really knew me.
When going through divorce or trauma itโs easy to do whatever you can to forget your memories and the pain. Embarrassingly enough, I imploded and โacted a fool.โ I even pushed a lot of those friends in that community away back then. I met them all one last time at a Sanrio VIP party right near the end of my shadow self life. I was tired of being in the box I allowed myself to be placed in and I just freaked out and ran away.
I closed my store and I stopped updating my website. I fell off the online world to hide from it and isolated myself.
Now I’m 35 and I feel like I’ve been starting all over the last few years. I started traveling again and participating in shows in LA and NYC again (prior to the CORONAVIRUS of course). I started reconnecting with my old friends again. Like actually connecting. As myself.
I also started, 3 years ago, doing work for myself and I’m learning how to be comfortable promoting ME and MY WORK. IT’S HARD. It’s hard everyday. I often slink away and still struggle with quieting myself because I’m afraid. I’m afraid of what you will think of me or what you will say if I’m not who you expect or want me to be…
… but I’m done with that! I’m pushing myself harder each day to be MYSELF for ME. Not anyone else. I’m set on not becoming anything for anyone else. Except of course a loving mom who encourages her daughters to be powerful and NEVER stifle theirselves for ANYONE.
Thanks for coming along. I hope you brought snacks. xx
I haven’t released this anywhere else yet! The new Deericorn pendant at long last!!!
So I’ve been sketching so much more since I began living with the man of my dreams and realizing life can be comforting in transition, fear, sadness, happiness, ecstasy, extreme business, security, and overwhelming tasks lists. Sometimes those sketches are finally turned into illustrations by yours truly and other times they are filed, colored by the kiddies or lost and tossed. This one made it through to the other side. I was feeling very dark when I sketched this but also very excited about the future, thus she is split into two. Even more curious I died my hair half and half following this drawing. The dark vs cute seems to be a constant theme in my brain.
I’ve also updated my SHOP a bit and fallen in love with some old and new friends also using storenvy.
I’ve also got my digital life getting back on track with the welcome of a new computer to the office, my new lovely laptop (little MacBook Pro) which was a gift from Mistereducated. It is so happy to both work with me and snuggle in my still-in-the-plastic Lamb case that was gifted to me years ago. Such a princess of a laptop. She runs runs runs and keeps my eyes happy with a screen that is so decadent and color rich like a Japanese candy store. AH! I was so behind.
Also many more blog goodies are coming along.. I was forced by slight-OCD to organize my Gmail via Imap in Mac’s Mail app (if you need any help with this I have ultimate tips as I ripped quite a few hairs out in frustration). I had (no joke) a bit over 100,000 mails that needed to be organized into folders so I could have an empty inbox and get on track. I was living like a computer file hoarder. Mister even got me an external hard drive because like a hoarder I put off organizing my files and deleting un-needed files for so long and now every file I’ve ever cherished (except for that time in the 90s when my old PC crashed and lost all my files) is organized and neat on the hard drive. Such a relief! Everything is smooth sailing on candy seas. So alas, I have not forgotten about or misplaced your emails! After my crazy roller coaster ride and life restart I am still getting important items in order but I am now pretty much on top of a cotton candy cloud ready to welcome you for chats, cats and tea. I never forgot about you, I was only lost in the forest for awhile.
Also — I got a pink 3ds for a bit of fun in the meantime and mainly for Animal Crossing because it has always been my favorite game next to Maniac Mansion. If you’d like to be friends just leave your friend code. Mine is: 0662 4261 5265
Why hello! Here’s some photos of me being a dork and messing around with the hookah. I love lemonade flavored shisha! Yum! It inspires me to set up mini-photoshoots filled with nonsense.
A lot of things are changing… Things at Miseducated and personal things. They’re all exciting changes though, don’t worry. In a few months I’ll have more news for you; right now everything’s really cloudy.
Keep writing/drawing is the best advice I’ve ever recieved. That’s a lot of what I’ve been doing. Working and writing and playing with Colette. She’s so hilarious and she keeps me on my feet. Actually she makes it quite hard to focus on work most of the time. I have to get better at delegating time!
Today we had our first finger painting session. How exciting! Colette figured out right away how to put your finger in the paint and then to put it on the paper. She must have had a lot of fun because it wasn’t very long after this that she decided to take a nap. You would think I’d get a lot of work done while she’s asleep but it always just makes me so bored that I want to take a nap with her. Haha!
Do you have any questions that you don’t feel like asking on formspring? Just email us or reply to this post. I’m always happy to help in any way that I can. We’ve also finally been catching up on emails so if you’ve already sent one you’ll soon be getting a reply!
Today we did our photoshoot and it went very well. I must say I feel bad for Jamie getting stuck with me as a model, though. In every single photo I’m leering from the sun and have my chin in the double position. Ahh! How embarrassing! I’ll be sure to show you her shoot when she uploads it.
We’re already planning a new one and I can’t wait. This was so much fun.
If you’re looking for where to buy the goodies in these shots head on over to Sugar Junkie and our shop.
Hair and Makeup: Pajamie Stylist: Amber Renรฉe Photographer: Amber Renรฉe Accessories: Sugar Junkie and Miseducated Clothing: Miseducated
It seems with my leave of absence (pregnancy, new motherhood and loads of work) a lot of the chatters here at the blog from earlier days are quieting down. We discuss that everyone has given up on any chance of an update or response so they’re no longer coming back to check.. well whatever the reason, I’m officially off of maternity leave! I always leave little updates on twitter assuming you get them but why assume? I figured I’d update (on a weekend day!) just to let you know how I feel about the situation.
Our visitor stats ARE back up and we’re glad. I’m happy many more of you are finding our colorful home and reading our splendidly girly articles. I speak for everyone involved when I say we LOVE it.
Hopefully with new content we’ll also be hearing from our other wonderful contributors, huh? You’ll see very soon!
Also — please nominate your favorite artist and handmakers for future features. Who deserves some praise from our whimsical neck of the wonderland woods? It’s one of my new favorite things, featuring artists. There are so many amazing artists out there I cannot wait to tell you about!
Deericorns live in a land in the clouds, protected by starlight.
Adoptable ‘cyber’ pets.. what are those? The largest agencies took a delight in hightening the imagination and fantasy. They spoke of their pets and the history surrounding them, carfully woven together to produce a cute, pixelated web dream escapeland.
So what do you do with these little images? You add them to your website generally, sometimes even devoting whole pages and areas specifically to them. That’s what we did then. I suppose now you add them to your blog’s sidebar or somewhere on your online profile?
Sometimes adoptables are limited, only one of each kritter to be adopted. When you adopt the website may give you a silly certificate to place with it and a link back from their website — if they’re a big artist, this can even bring similar funloving visitors.
My favorite adoption agency was Starluck’s Sweetwater Valley. The combination of Erika’s art, imagination, fantasy tales and passion for creating fantasy worlds created a very sweet and fun site to explore. I remember I was always so excited when there were new areas updated with new images inside — pixel art was a bigger deal then. haha.
I believe it’s common to trade or sell adoptables now on Gaia, artists create adorable pixelated creatures and goodies for others to buy and place on their signatures. Starluck even created a few! ๐
HERE’S YOUR VERY OWN MISEDUCATED ADOPTABLE to shoddily place somewhere on your little web presence for both protection from webasaurs and to proudly display your support for pointlessly cute things. If you appreciate the love for cute things (no matter what your age!) show it, always. Also remember that these were inspired by one of my favorite artists Ayumi Uyama.
How to Adopt
1. Upload the image to your server.
2. Link it here.
3. Enjoy Deericorn protection.
Dainty Deericorns
Spread whimsy and the love of Miseducated with your own Deericorn! pink: love & friendship purple: status & power blue: happiness
Adopted
Because you know there are other dorky artists like me, right? These adoptions are simply one of the cutest, most magical and most nonsensical ways to express yourself online. <3
