Craft Fair Recap & Exploring New Ways of Creating ✩ Postcard 01

Hello Lovely.

Happy Equinox! I hope all is well with you.

Historically, this Equinox hasn’t been the happiest time for me. Today marks the anniversary of multiple losses—both significant points in my growth journey. I find it very interesting that loss is often the catalyst for change in my life. I mean, in general, it is, right? But it just seems more so for me. I find that I experience my best growth spurts after times of significant loss. It’s like after a while, I’m motivated to do something about my grief, all while experiencing another level of it, you know?

Anyway, I really hope you are well! I’ve been doing really well since the last time I shared an update. I did something recently that wasn’t on my bingo card this year, even though I think it should have been! I participated in an arts and crafts fair—Arts in the Park, in Highland Park, NJ. I was convinced by a woman I met at a different craft fair, and well, with the help of my boyfriend, we made it happen. I had a small table where I displayed my journals and had journals, stickers, ephemera packs, and tags for sale.

I absolutely loved my setup! It was definitely very on-brand for me, and the aesthetic of it helped to showcase my work. I didn’t make a ton of sales, but just enough to pay back what I spent on signing up for the spot, with a little extra. However, I did hand out a heap of business cards, and really, the entire point of it was to get more exposure to my work. And it was fun! I did get to meet a few lovely artists and some fellow journalers! And while I was exhausted by the end of it, it was a good day.

The whole thing got me thinking about how and why we do the things we do—or don’t do them—and how we just have to try. Like, there is some wisdom in the catchphrase Just do it. All we really need to do to accomplish anything is to just do it. Just start. You don’t need to know exactly what you’re doing, and it doesn’t have to be good. A first draft is the best draft because you actually got something done. And hey, it may come out better than you expected.

I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I signed up to be a part of that craft fair. I had no idea how much product to make and have on hand. Gosh, I even forgot to take out cash from my bank so that I could make change! But I did it and it’s done. And I know some things to do differently if I were to participate in another fair.

I’ve been thinking a lot about my art and my creativity, and how I want to make more time for it. I think since moving away from freelance/contract work and beginning a 9-to-5, I’ve lost my flow. I’ve been trying very hard to find it again, but in a similar capacity to what I had before. And it’s just dawned on me now that maybe that too needs to be different. I think I need to intentionally set out more time for my creativity. I have to be more disciplined. And, I think I just need to try new things, even if I have no idea what I’m doing. Because there clearly isn’t any wrong way to be creative.

xxx Tiffany

After a lot of curious customers at my craft fair table asked about the decoupage packs I was selling, I felt like I needed to create a little tutorial video on how you can quickly—and simply—use your decorative napkins or tissue paper to create beautiful journal spreads. I hope this inspires you to play in your journals. Enjoy.