![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Free this week!
Sep. 19th, 2023 07:43 amThe most ridiculous book "I wasn't writing," The Flamingo's Fated Mate is free this week! Cupcakes, puns, a touch of mystery, and sizzling-sweet romance!
EMG Sketch Fest Art Card Print Sale!
Nov. 27th, 2020 07:49 am
Collectible mini-prints! These 2.5 x 3.5 inch prints are archival quality on heavy, acid-free paper, and this is the only time some of these will be available...
Support your favorite artists and Sketch Fest!
FIVE INCHES OF SNOW! I'll try to take some photos when it's a little brighter out.
Piano lesson accomplished.
Laundry is folded and put away.
Just a note that if you're looking for cards, I have some available:
Not very many of the Christmas Kitties are left (They say Wishing you Magic and Merriment this Holiday Season inside). I have about 40 in stock. $3.50 apiece, 10 (mix and match!) for $20, $5 flat shipping fee in the US for any order size. (Inquire for other countries) The Christmas Kitties are big 5 x 7 inch cards, the flowers are 5.5 x 5.5 inches (blank interior), envelopes included.
Piano lesson accomplished.
Laundry is folded and put away.
Just a note that if you're looking for cards, I have some available:
Not very many of the Christmas Kitties are left (They say Wishing you Magic and Merriment this Holiday Season inside). I have about 40 in stock. $3.50 apiece, 10 (mix and match!) for $20, $5 flat shipping fee in the US for any order size. (Inquire for other countries) The Christmas Kitties are big 5 x 7 inch cards, the flowers are 5.5 x 5.5 inches (blank interior), envelopes included.
Crawling back to health
Sep. 13th, 2018 10:30 amThis flu kicked my butt.
But I kick back, and my ears are mostly equalizing again, the coughs aren't enough to keep me up, and my energy is gradually returning.
TheGirl Nest Tiger Next Door is only $0.99 for a few more days - the price will be going up this weekend, so grab it now!
I'm also pleased to announce that Two Mates for the Dragon includes my short story THE NEIGHBORS MIGHT TALK, written as Elva Birch. This is a charity anthology, with benefits going to OutRight Action International. It is MMF, aka a threesome, and it contains explicit content, just so there are no surprises.
I've gotten VERY little writing done this month so far, but I still have ambitions to finish Dandelion Spring before October. Cross fingers for me. It's at 14k now, and I anticipate adding about 20k.
Still not much to report for art, but I've done a little sketching, and have some ideas. This is better than where I was a month ago!
But I kick back, and my ears are mostly equalizing again, the coughs aren't enough to keep me up, and my energy is gradually returning.
The
I'm also pleased to announce that Two Mates for the Dragon includes my short story THE NEIGHBORS MIGHT TALK, written as Elva Birch. This is a charity anthology, with benefits going to OutRight Action International. It is MMF, aka a threesome, and it contains explicit content, just so there are no surprises.
I've gotten VERY little writing done this month so far, but I still have ambitions to finish Dandelion Spring before October. Cross fingers for me. It's at 14k now, and I anticipate adding about 20k.
Still not much to report for art, but I've done a little sketching, and have some ideas. This is better than where I was a month ago!
Mondaily, with nose on grindstone
Aug. 28th, 2017 10:26 amOperation Grow-Out-The-Bangs continues. I am less hateful of it than I have been, and the bangs are long enough now to pull back in a comb. I am going to continue the experiment until it tucks back behind my ears, and to help me get there, I'd like to treat myself to pretty combs. Anyone have suggestions of shiny, possibly geeky hair combs on Etsy or similar?
Kindergarten continues to be awesome. Guppy loves it, and I love having a piece of my life back. I love her dearly, but her desire for constant interaction conflicts with my desire to get stuff done.
My fourth not-a-book has launched! This week will be promotion efforts (some are done, some just need go-buttons pushed, some need minor edits, some need ground-up design). I also have a short story that needs revisions for an anthology. My goal is to have those done by Thursday - it will require a little writing, as the editors requested a little more background to work with, and a better resolution. Can do! I also have Patreon rewards to roll out.
I have about three ideas for the spicy story, and expect that to go quickly, the rest of the rewards basically just need sent. I've also made my first goal with Patreon and will be livestreaming some sketching tomorrow (Tuesday!) morning, about 9:30 Alaska time. This will happen at my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/EllenMillionArtistrix/
(This is, btw, a really opportune time to sign up as a $5+ patron, as I will be sending the physical rewards this month, even if you are a new supporter, or international.)
Lunch and trash and orders need to happen now, so off I go.
Kindergarten continues to be awesome. Guppy loves it, and I love having a piece of my life back. I love her dearly, but her desire for constant interaction conflicts with my desire to get stuff done.
My fourth not-a-book has launched! This week will be promotion efforts (some are done, some just need go-buttons pushed, some need minor edits, some need ground-up design). I also have a short story that needs revisions for an anthology. My goal is to have those done by Thursday - it will require a little writing, as the editors requested a little more background to work with, and a better resolution. Can do! I also have Patreon rewards to roll out.
I have about three ideas for the spicy story, and expect that to go quickly, the rest of the rewards basically just need sent. I've also made my first goal with Patreon and will be livestreaming some sketching tomorrow (Tuesday!) morning, about 9:30 Alaska time. This will happen at my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/EllenMillionArtistrix/
(This is, btw, a really opportune time to sign up as a $5+ patron, as I will be sending the physical rewards this month, even if you are a new supporter, or international.)
Lunch and trash and orders need to happen now, so off I go.
Sale at Amazon!
Jul. 7th, 2017 08:36 amAddicted to Amazon prime? Just hate paying shipping?
I am liquidating my Amazon Fulfillment stock!
Use the links below to get the last few books I have available there at the same price as the webpage, but pay no shipping with Amazon Prime (or by purchasing enough to qualify for free shipping). Disclosure: these are affiliate links. You can also view everything at my seller page.
Wild Teas of Alaska (10 left)
Garden Sprites (3 left) SOLD OUT
Christmas Sprites (3 left) SOLD OUT
Splendid and Scaled (4 left) (4 reserved!)
Fishtank Fantasies (5 left) 3 LEFT
Feathered Fantastic (7 left) 6 LEFT
Equine Enchantment (4 left) (4 reserved!)
Fairies and Friends (2 left) 1 LEFT
An Alphabestiary of Clockwork Devices (7 left)
Fantastrix (2 left) 1 LEFT
Wildflowers of Alaska (4 left) 3 LEFT
Dotminatrix (5 left) 4 LEFT
The Collected Faeries of Victoria Griffin (2 left)
Fishpond Fantasies (5 left) 4 LEFT
I will still have coloring books available on Amazon after these are sold, but they will be shipped directly from me. And they will not be this cheap - I'm taking a hit on these to save myself having to pay to remove or destroy them before storage fees hit. Mitzi's books will continue to be available through Amazon Prime, as they continue to do well enough to be worth it.
Also, I would very, very much appreciate your reviews and comments at Amazon! Even mediocre but honest reviews will help legitimize a product, and that really matters for a small business like mine. (And of course, if you share your raves, that's even better...) You can leave a review if you purchased through a Kickstarter or through my webpage, as well. If you have a PDF copy, you can also review that, just specify what format you have and how you got it.
Thanks!
I am liquidating my Amazon Fulfillment stock!
Use the links below to get the last few books I have available there at the same price as the webpage, but pay no shipping with Amazon Prime (or by purchasing enough to qualify for free shipping). Disclosure: these are affiliate links. You can also view everything at my seller page.
Wild Teas of Alaska (10 left)
Splendid and Scaled (4 left) (4 reserved!)
Fishtank Fantasies (5 left) 3 LEFT
Feathered Fantastic (7 left) 6 LEFT
Equine Enchantment (4 left) (4 reserved!)
Fairies and Friends (2 left) 1 LEFT
An Alphabestiary of Clockwork Devices (7 left)
Fantastrix (2 left) 1 LEFT
Wildflowers of Alaska (4 left) 3 LEFT
Dotminatrix (5 left) 4 LEFT
The Collected Faeries of Victoria Griffin (2 left)
Fishpond Fantasies (5 left) 4 LEFT
I will still have coloring books available on Amazon after these are sold, but they will be shipped directly from me. And they will not be this cheap - I'm taking a hit on these to save myself having to pay to remove or destroy them before storage fees hit. Mitzi's books will continue to be available through Amazon Prime, as they continue to do well enough to be worth it.
Also, I would very, very much appreciate your reviews and comments at Amazon! Even mediocre but honest reviews will help legitimize a product, and that really matters for a small business like mine. (And of course, if you share your raves, that's even better...) You can leave a review if you purchased through a Kickstarter or through my webpage, as well. If you have a PDF copy, you can also review that, just specify what format you have and how you got it.
Thanks!
Who stole June? Seriously, wasn't it JUST here?
We worked on the woodshed this weekend, and got it braced and all the purlins on. The only things left are roofing and siding. (We also found out that someone stole a bunch of stuff from my yurt, which was less wonderful. :/)
The three of us also braved the fourth of July madness at Pioneer Park (Alaskaland!), and that was a very mixed bag. We went to hear the 1812 Overture, which is Guppy's very favorite song, and the band was not bad. While they were playing Sousa, there was a bald eagle cruising around overhead, which was pretty epic. We had ice cream cones first, and then of course, Guppy did not want to sit still, and later there were tears because we went hunting for a balloon after they had given them all away. It was a billion degrees and there were so many people it made my skin itch.
Lots of art things to share over the next week or two! So many! Let's start with the all-#junicorn round-up:
(Photo updated to show sold cards, and also the four that were on my scanner bed still...)
Many originals are still available, plus bookmarks, magnets, and signed prints! For a larger look at each image, and pricing, the landing page is here: http://ellenmillion.dreamwidth.org/1604777.html Just let me know what you'd like via email or PM, and I'll send you an invoice which you can pay by Paypal or credit card. I'd also take a check, if you want to mail one.
We worked on the woodshed this weekend, and got it braced and all the purlins on. The only things left are roofing and siding. (We also found out that someone stole a bunch of stuff from my yurt, which was less wonderful. :/)
The three of us also braved the fourth of July madness at Pioneer Park (Alaskaland!), and that was a very mixed bag. We went to hear the 1812 Overture, which is Guppy's very favorite song, and the band was not bad. While they were playing Sousa, there was a bald eagle cruising around overhead, which was pretty epic. We had ice cream cones first, and then of course, Guppy did not want to sit still, and later there were tears because we went hunting for a balloon after they had given them all away. It was a billion degrees and there were so many people it made my skin itch.
Lots of art things to share over the next week or two! So many! Let's start with the all-#junicorn round-up:
(Photo updated to show sold cards, and also the four that were on my scanner bed still...)
Many originals are still available, plus bookmarks, magnets, and signed prints! For a larger look at each image, and pricing, the landing page is here: http://ellenmillion.dreamwidth.org/1604777.html Just let me know what you'd like via email or PM, and I'll send you an invoice which you can pay by Paypal or credit card. I'd also take a check, if you want to mail one.
Fridaily with Christmas looming...
Dec. 23rd, 2016 06:37 pmChristmas is galloping down on us! I still have unwrapped presents, and half the things I planned to do this week are not done (and probably won't be), but I am still feeling... good. I don't know if it's the extra 39 seconds of sunlight since solstice, the walk that Guppy and I took out in the woods, that I'm shaking off the last vestiges of this cold, that I put the last careful lines on a lengthy commission, or it's just that I'm finally feeling Christmas spirit, but today is a lovely, snowy day and I'm full of cheer and goodwill.
*throws tinsel everywhere*
I also got a new offering up at Etsy - a collection of mermaid designs, which is a steal at $10 for 10 designs: https://www.etsy.com/listing/487447436/mermaid-coloring-pages-for-adults-10
Friday night before Christmas Eve is a ridiculous time to release anything, from a strictly commercial standpoint, but it's the time I had.
Now I'm going to make some delicious dinner and throw more logs on the fire.
Cheers to all!
*throws tinsel everywhere*
I also got a new offering up at Etsy - a collection of mermaid designs, which is a steal at $10 for 10 designs: https://www.etsy.com/listing/487447436/mermaid-coloring-pages-for-adults-10
Friday night before Christmas Eve is a ridiculous time to release anything, from a strictly commercial standpoint, but it's the time I had.
Now I'm going to make some delicious dinner and throw more logs on the fire.
Cheers to all!
Thursdaily dragging...
Dec. 15th, 2016 12:18 pmI'm very sorry for delays in communication this week. My Monday ick turned out not to just be woodsmoke, and blossomed into a miserable cold on Tuesday. I felt considerably better on Wednesday, though I sounded quite rough. When I got up this morning, I had pain in my ears, so I took a sudafed that knocked me for a serious loop - I keep taking my temperature because I've had hot and cold sweats, dizziness, and brutal exhaustion that I didn't have before taking the sudafed. On the plus side, my sinuses are dry and my ears stopped hurting. I'm not entirely sure it was worth it. I've been just crawling through my morning chores, not helped by the fact that poor Guppy has caught it, too.
At any rate, I'm feeling behind on things and I'm quite dismayed that we're 9 days off from Christmas. What?!
If you, like me, are scrambling for last minute gifts, I've got a way to give a whole lot of people a great thing in one fell swoop: a Gift Certificate to EMG. You'll make my day, you'll support an independent artist (or several!), and you'll make the recipient's day, by giving an art gift without having to wonder if they have wall space for that print, or if they have that coloring book, or if they need a character portrait for their RPG campaign. It's even a great gift for an artist, as it also includes the EMG-Zine anthologies, stuffed full of business and technical advice for artists and writers.
/holiday shill
Now I'm going to go feed us some lunch and wash some dishes.
At any rate, I'm feeling behind on things and I'm quite dismayed that we're 9 days off from Christmas. What?!
If you, like me, are scrambling for last minute gifts, I've got a way to give a whole lot of people a great thing in one fell swoop: a Gift Certificate to EMG. You'll make my day, you'll support an independent artist (or several!), and you'll make the recipient's day, by giving an art gift without having to wonder if they have wall space for that print, or if they have that coloring book, or if they need a character portrait for their RPG campaign. It's even a great gift for an artist, as it also includes the EMG-Zine anthologies, stuffed full of business and technical advice for artists and writers.
/holiday shill
Now I'm going to go feed us some lunch and wash some dishes.
Tuesdaily with twenty-five below zero.
Nov. 29th, 2016 04:09 pmAs the subject says, it's chilly today. I've kept the home fires burning (quite literally), and we've had a crafty day inside. I got my inbox beaten back by several hundred emails, Guppy has been playing with her "Letter C bag" (a Literacy bag that the preschool sends home with us full of games and books), and I've been working on commissions. I have my last sketch laid out for the first segment of a big project, I finished a big chunk of a full page thing, and I got the rough sketch of a logo.
I also got a new collection of Christmas Dragons up at Etsy for download - make Christmas cards or crafts, or just color them for fun: https://www.etsy.com/listing/480961034/digital-holiday-dragon-coloring
The ACEO print sale at Sketch Fest has ended! I will be printing prints this week and sending them off to their new homes.
And in milestones, I programmed a page (a fairly complex one, no less) without testing it once during the writing, and it worked flawlessly the first time. That NEVER EVER EVER happens. I'm not sure what to make of it. A sign of the end times??
I also got a new collection of Christmas Dragons up at Etsy for download - make Christmas cards or crafts, or just color them for fun: https://www.etsy.com/listing/480961034/digital-holiday-dragon-coloring
The ACEO print sale at Sketch Fest has ended! I will be printing prints this week and sending them off to their new homes.
And in milestones, I programmed a page (a fairly complex one, no less) without testing it once during the writing, and it worked flawlessly the first time. That NEVER EVER EVER happens. I'm not sure what to make of it. A sign of the end times??
Thursdaily
Oct. 20th, 2016 08:53 pmToday, we got SNOW.
It was a stay at home day, which was nice because everyone always forgets how to drive the first day of snow, and Guppy wasn't feeling very good, but had a quiet day to recover. We had a crackling fire and I did some laundry and we made a Halloween wreatch from a craft kit. We watched Incredibles, and I snuck in an episode of the Flash while she was napping. I did a lot of artwork that I feel tremendously good about today, and wrote a hard email that I feel was appreciated and also programmed a fab new toy to play with at Portrait Adoption:
http://portraitadoption.com/novelgenerator.php
The idea occurred to me a few days ago, while I was noodling around with things, and it turned out to be relatively simple to write up. I would still like to make a button to share it on social media, and possibly also save your results, but I'm not quite sure how to make that happen. I have a few ideas I could poke at if it's something people decide they want.
THere's also a new sampler page up at EMG, for the Wild Teas of Alaska: http://www.ellenmilliongraphics.com/coloringbook.php?id=75
Guppy was feeling enough better at the end of the day to walk up the driveway with me. She was all smiles and glee until I wanted to take her photo, of course.
Looking ahead! I have a few things on the calendar to share with you!
October 30 I will be at Sipping Streams from 1-4 for a fabulous coloring party! Tea, finger food (OMG, so good), a face-painter, free pages, and a chance to use my own high end coloring tools. Don't miss it!
Nov 5-6 I will be at the UWA holiday bazaar, sharing a table with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
laylalawlor. I will have painted ornaments and any coloring books that I personally am in.
Nov 11-12 I will be at PopCon at UAF. As time allows, I will be doing on-the-spot commissions of ornaments and sketches.
Nov 18-20 is Sketch Fest #81!
I'm also ruminating something fun and Sketch Fest related for Black Friday...
It was a stay at home day, which was nice because everyone always forgets how to drive the first day of snow, and Guppy wasn't feeling very good, but had a quiet day to recover. We had a crackling fire and I did some laundry and we made a Halloween wreatch from a craft kit. We watched Incredibles, and I snuck in an episode of the Flash while she was napping. I did a lot of artwork that I feel tremendously good about today, and wrote a hard email that I feel was appreciated and also programmed a fab new toy to play with at Portrait Adoption:
http://portraitadoption.com/novelgenerator.php
The idea occurred to me a few days ago, while I was noodling around with things, and it turned out to be relatively simple to write up. I would still like to make a button to share it on social media, and possibly also save your results, but I'm not quite sure how to make that happen. I have a few ideas I could poke at if it's something people decide they want.
THere's also a new sampler page up at EMG, for the Wild Teas of Alaska: http://www.ellenmilliongraphics.com/coloringbook.php?id=75
Guppy was feeling enough better at the end of the day to walk up the driveway with me. She was all smiles and glee until I wanted to take her photo, of course.
Looking ahead! I have a few things on the calendar to share with you!
October 30 I will be at Sipping Streams from 1-4 for a fabulous coloring party! Tea, finger food (OMG, so good), a face-painter, free pages, and a chance to use my own high end coloring tools. Don't miss it!
Nov 5-6 I will be at the UWA holiday bazaar, sharing a table with
laylalawlor. I will have painted ornaments and any coloring books that I personally am in. Nov 11-12 I will be at PopCon at UAF. As time allows, I will be doing on-the-spot commissions of ornaments and sketches.
Nov 18-20 is Sketch Fest #81!
I'm also ruminating something fun and Sketch Fest related for Black Friday...
Asking a favor!
Aug. 9th, 2016 09:12 amI always feel sort of weird asking, but it would mean a huge amount to me if any of you who own my coloring books - pdf or print versions - would review them on Amazon. All the new ones are sitting there with zero reviews, and even the new covers of Fantastrix and Dotminatrix have only one apiece. Reviews MATTER for Amazon sales, and I'm trying to get all my ducks in order for the upcoming holiday season. Be honest about your source, if you aren't a verified buyer (ie: I got a PDF copy through the Kickstarter, or I bought directly from her site, or this was a gift) and do not review if you are one of the artists in it, but even less-than-five-star reviews give a product legitimacy and I will be wildly grateful. My stuff at Amazon
In related things, I have only ONE copy of Steam Dreaming remaining (but Amazon has three!), and less than ten of Scheherazade's Shimmy, and less than five of Apples and Roses.
In related things, I have only ONE copy of Steam Dreaming remaining (but Amazon has three!), and less than ten of Scheherazade's Shimmy, and less than five of Apples and Roses.
New artwork to download at Etsy!
Jul. 25th, 2016 01:26 pmI actually have several new pieces up at Etsy as individual downloads since I last updated here, including Bearing Gifts, Christmas Kitties and Junicorn 1, which was much requested...
Original available at my page: http://ellenmillion.com/artpageview.php?id=321
Original available at my page: http://ellenmillion.com/artpageview.php?id=321
Locals! Come see me on Friday, October 2, at Woven Sylver, upstairs in the Coop Plaza mall! I will be selling art and coloring books between 5-8!
Yesterday was preschool, and despite being still a little under the weather, it was a good one. I finalized the sketch I was working on and got it about 25% inked at the tea shop. I also approached another store about carrying my books - they were enthusiastic, but have to apply to corporate for approval. Cross fingers for me! This could be awesome! Guppy reported a fun day, too. When I picked her up, she was very happily sorting green tomatoes off of frozen vines. I am going to have to figure out how to make green tomato salsa or something else delicious.
She has also figured out how to master tools and climb up on the counter...
The cold is definitely abating, in both of us, but we're going to take an easy day today with lots of TV anyway. Tomorrow is a field trip for her, and it might be wet and cold!
Now, though, we're going to bake something. I haven't decided if it will be muffins or cookies...
Yesterday was preschool, and despite being still a little under the weather, it was a good one. I finalized the sketch I was working on and got it about 25% inked at the tea shop. I also approached another store about carrying my books - they were enthusiastic, but have to apply to corporate for approval. Cross fingers for me! This could be awesome! Guppy reported a fun day, too. When I picked her up, she was very happily sorting green tomatoes off of frozen vines. I am going to have to figure out how to make green tomato salsa or something else delicious.
She has also figured out how to master tools and climb up on the counter...
The cold is definitely abating, in both of us, but we're going to take an easy day today with lots of TV anyway. Tomorrow is a field trip for her, and it might be wet and cold!
Now, though, we're going to bake something. I haven't decided if it will be muffins or cookies...
Guppy was negotiating her way through mealtime the other night. (Two more bites and I get a cherry! Five more bites! Three bites! Big bites!)
"She could be a lawyer when she grows up," I told Jake and my Mom.
"I'm going to be Rapunzel!"
Okay, then!
...
I went on a two-day painting retreat at the Hot Springs this weekend, as part of a class through the Summer Fine Arts Festival.
I LOVED it. I took the van, all by myself, and camped out by a babbling creek and had a perfectly lovely time. Watercolor painting - real watercolor painting, not my previously attempted color-in-the-lines work - is so utterly, completely backwards from the way I'm used to thinking and composing. I am not terribly happy with anything I did (and nothing got finished), but I think I learned a LOT, and I had a great time and met wonderful people and made new friends and got 3 lovely soaks in the hot pool in. I liked it enough to pick up a few more supplies, and will be attempting to finish the pieces I started.
I came back Saturday evening in time to go out to dinner with Mom and Becca and Jake, and took Mom to the airport early Sunday morning. I will miss her!
...
I have started laundry and cleaned up the house, and started straightening my office. (Chaos! It has been utter CHAOS!) 612 words writting on DB this morning, and about ready to work on the Sea Monster sponsorships. I'm still waiting for a few more print selections!
I got the reprints of Fishpond Fantasies on Thursday before I left, and I already miss having Mom around so I can just up and leave, all by myself, to get running around done when it's most convenient to me, not hinged on when someone else is sleeping or eating.
I also (finally!) got my new display rack. It's gorgeous, if somewhat bigger than I thought it would be. I will have it for my First Friday signing, which is COMING UP! August 7th, from 5-8, I will be at Alaskan Raven in the Coop plaza with my coloring books (and maybe some art!). Come see me! (I realize that it's opening day of the fair, so my expectations of attendance are not high...)
Off to do things now while my childcare lasts!
"She could be a lawyer when she grows up," I told Jake and my Mom.
"I'm going to be Rapunzel!"
Okay, then!
...
I went on a two-day painting retreat at the Hot Springs this weekend, as part of a class through the Summer Fine Arts Festival.
I LOVED it. I took the van, all by myself, and camped out by a babbling creek and had a perfectly lovely time. Watercolor painting - real watercolor painting, not my previously attempted color-in-the-lines work - is so utterly, completely backwards from the way I'm used to thinking and composing. I am not terribly happy with anything I did (and nothing got finished), but I think I learned a LOT, and I had a great time and met wonderful people and made new friends and got 3 lovely soaks in the hot pool in. I liked it enough to pick up a few more supplies, and will be attempting to finish the pieces I started.
I came back Saturday evening in time to go out to dinner with Mom and Becca and Jake, and took Mom to the airport early Sunday morning. I will miss her!
...
I have started laundry and cleaned up the house, and started straightening my office. (Chaos! It has been utter CHAOS!) 612 words writting on DB this morning, and about ready to work on the Sea Monster sponsorships. I'm still waiting for a few more print selections!
I got the reprints of Fishpond Fantasies on Thursday before I left, and I already miss having Mom around so I can just up and leave, all by myself, to get running around done when it's most convenient to me, not hinged on when someone else is sleeping or eating.
I also (finally!) got my new display rack. It's gorgeous, if somewhat bigger than I thought it would be. I will have it for my First Friday signing, which is COMING UP! August 7th, from 5-8, I will be at Alaskan Raven in the Coop plaza with my coloring books (and maybe some art!). Come see me! (I realize that it's opening day of the fair, so my expectations of attendance are not high...)
Off to do things now while my childcare lasts!
Thursdaily with tiny fists of rage
May. 7th, 2015 09:12 amOrders and shipping fun - printing prints, addressing postcards, looking up zipcodes, printing labels. A nice rush of Portrait Adoption adoptions over the last week, and I also have to a replace an order from last October that got lost in the Australian customs. *shakes tiny fist in rage*
Do likes on Facebook matter? Short answer: yes. I got an order this week that was directly due to someone liking something that linked to my coloring book page. Likes matter WAY more than Facebook's retarded boosting scam. *shakes tiny fist in rage*
Sea Monster month continues! I am more than halfway to professionally printing these books, which I would really, REALLY like to get to. We're also just $18 from getting an extra two pieces finished: http://ellenmillion.livejournal.com/1515101.html
You know you need more sea monsters in your life. :) PDFs start at just $2!
(You can like this post over here: https://www.facebook.com/EllenMillionArtistrix Just sayin'.)
I have to wake up Guppy now - she had a very late, very stubborn night last night. I'm hoping today goes more smoothly. *shakes tiny fist in rage*
Here's the sketch I'm working on today:
Do likes on Facebook matter? Short answer: yes. I got an order this week that was directly due to someone liking something that linked to my coloring book page. Likes matter WAY more than Facebook's retarded boosting scam. *shakes tiny fist in rage*
Sea Monster month continues! I am more than halfway to professionally printing these books, which I would really, REALLY like to get to. We're also just $18 from getting an extra two pieces finished: http://ellenmillion.livejournal.com/1515101.html
You know you need more sea monsters in your life. :) PDFs start at just $2!
(You can like this post over here: https://www.facebook.com/EllenMillionArtistrix Just sayin'.)
I have to wake up Guppy now - she had a very late, very stubborn night last night. I'm hoping today goes more smoothly. *shakes tiny fist in rage*
Here's the sketch I'm working on today:
Our sled may be a little bit large!
Where there are not rocks, there is ice. Lots of very slick ice. We started to walk up the driveway this morning, but Guppy could not stay on her feet, even holding my hand, so I got the sled for her. (I had Yaktraks, of course.) We sledded back down together until I was afraid for our lives and steered us into a snowbank so I could walk us the rest of the way.
It's colder, today, and windy, so we didn't play outside for very long. I did get to introduce her to the fun of breaking the ice on top of puddles. She didn't particularly like it.
Poking more at advertising things, and looking for review blogs and magazines (so stupidly expensive! Would it be worth it?), managing artist submissions and the like. Got some mailing list updates made. I'm debating between just releasing new books as I have them (I DO have the capital, if barely), versus running a Kickstarter. The spirit of Kickstarter is to get a business started... but the reality is that it is an excellent advertising platform, and I'd get a lot more immediate sales that way.
Working on edits for my space opera story - some of them are easy, some of them are flaily. I'm not great at padding, which makes me (I fear) commercially unviable. I re-started the art I was balking at yesterday in a new media and now it's going well. Need to work further on that today, and also start a commission that I've been dawdling on. Still haven't made a game plan for Sea Monster month, but the husband is making strong coloring book noises at me and that does sound like the most fun to me.
Mph. Art now. Thinking later.
Where there are not rocks, there is ice. Lots of very slick ice. We started to walk up the driveway this morning, but Guppy could not stay on her feet, even holding my hand, so I got the sled for her. (I had Yaktraks, of course.) We sledded back down together until I was afraid for our lives and steered us into a snowbank so I could walk us the rest of the way.
It's colder, today, and windy, so we didn't play outside for very long. I did get to introduce her to the fun of breaking the ice on top of puddles. She didn't particularly like it.
Poking more at advertising things, and looking for review blogs and magazines (so stupidly expensive! Would it be worth it?), managing artist submissions and the like. Got some mailing list updates made. I'm debating between just releasing new books as I have them (I DO have the capital, if barely), versus running a Kickstarter. The spirit of Kickstarter is to get a business started... but the reality is that it is an excellent advertising platform, and I'd get a lot more immediate sales that way.
Working on edits for my space opera story - some of them are easy, some of them are flaily. I'm not great at padding, which makes me (I fear) commercially unviable. I re-started the art I was balking at yesterday in a new media and now it's going well. Need to work further on that today, and also start a commission that I've been dawdling on. Still haven't made a game plan for Sea Monster month, but the husband is making strong coloring book noises at me and that does sound like the most fun to me.
Mph. Art now. Thinking later.
Fridaily progress...
Mar. 27th, 2015 04:08 pmHere's the final version of the postcard I was working on, I think:
( 800 pixels wide )
Guppy and I went for a walk this morning - the snow is getting soft and will turn into slush not long from now. Mornings will be easier walking for a little while, while things are still frozen from the night. I dread the days we can't go out at all.
Groceries and post office after that, and Guppy was not exactly cooperative at the grocery store. She turned to make sure I was watching her run away from me AS I was telling her not to run away from me, and then couldn't understand why I put her in the cart. (Other shoppers got a kick out of me running after her, though...) Loud wails of 'I wanna listen to you!' as she kicked me did not thaw my icy heart. Her nap was short, and she was up early, but I still managed to get my NEW new phone set up. Mostly. I'll probably remember other apps to reinstall as I go to use them and don't have them.
Here's a photo of artist-Guppy:
And one from yesterday (or Wednesday?), sleeping on a Squid...
( 800 pixels wide )
Guppy and I went for a walk this morning - the snow is getting soft and will turn into slush not long from now. Mornings will be easier walking for a little while, while things are still frozen from the night. I dread the days we can't go out at all.
Groceries and post office after that, and Guppy was not exactly cooperative at the grocery store. She turned to make sure I was watching her run away from me AS I was telling her not to run away from me, and then couldn't understand why I put her in the cart. (Other shoppers got a kick out of me running after her, though...) Loud wails of 'I wanna listen to you!' as she kicked me did not thaw my icy heart. Her nap was short, and she was up early, but I still managed to get my NEW new phone set up. Mostly. I'll probably remember other apps to reinstall as I go to use them and don't have them.
Here's a photo of artist-Guppy:
And one from yesterday (or Wednesday?), sleeping on a Squid...
Advertising Musings...
Mar. 26th, 2015 11:41 amI'm looking at ordering some new postcards. My current stock is badly dated, including with an expired domain. (That I'm still sort of kicking myself over on several fronts, but that's a whole 'nother story.)
And I have dilemmas. Whole PILES of dilemmas. Like, do I continue to plug Fantastic Portfolios? It's still technically an EMG project, but I don't actually run it anymore, and it's lagging seriously behind right now. And EMG-Zine - there are 7 YEARS of fantastic archives there, and three print anthologies that I'd eventually like to sell out of. But the space on an advertising postcard is some seriously valuable real estate. What about Commission-Control? Do I put that on to make myself get this project geared up or is that a stupid amount of extra pressure. I really DO want to get this project released this year - sooner than later, even (I have some GREAT ideas for it, actually...), but putting it on business cards makes it pretty real.
I'm intending to do something similar to my landing page:
Naturally, I'll be updating all the link addresses and text, making things more readable at the smaller scale, changing the aspect ratio a bit, updating the coloring book covers to things that are actually available, using more active portrait artist examples, etc.
I could also redesign the whole bloody thing, but let's not get crazy...
ETA: Here's what I've got so far...
( somewhat big! )
And I have dilemmas. Whole PILES of dilemmas. Like, do I continue to plug Fantastic Portfolios? It's still technically an EMG project, but I don't actually run it anymore, and it's lagging seriously behind right now. And EMG-Zine - there are 7 YEARS of fantastic archives there, and three print anthologies that I'd eventually like to sell out of. But the space on an advertising postcard is some seriously valuable real estate. What about Commission-Control? Do I put that on to make myself get this project geared up or is that a stupid amount of extra pressure. I really DO want to get this project released this year - sooner than later, even (I have some GREAT ideas for it, actually...), but putting it on business cards makes it pretty real.
I'm intending to do something similar to my landing page:
Naturally, I'll be updating all the link addresses and text, making things more readable at the smaller scale, changing the aspect ratio a bit, updating the coloring book covers to things that are actually available, using more active portrait artist examples, etc.
I could also redesign the whole bloody thing, but let's not get crazy...
ETA: Here's what I've got so far...
( somewhat big! )
Character portraits for Patreon patrons!
Mar. 6th, 2015 01:38 pm
I've been having a lot of fun doing these quick little portraits for Torn World, and decided to make that next month's Patreon perk. Any patron, at any level, can request a portrait of their character or alter-ego. Just send me a brief description, and I'll make you a portrait in this style and complexity (ie: small, and not very complicated). You'll get a chance to see the pencil sketch and make minor requests at that stage, but it won't be as interactive as my usual commission standards. This can be yours for as little as $1! Check out my Patreon page, and consider signing up to support my work! https://www.patreon.com/ellenmillion
