projects, side projects & twitter.....

well hello. 

i am back, as promised, for a post with more words. :D 

thank you so much for your kind words about my shop tour photos (below). 

oh my...where to begin.... 

 

Italy. 

If you live in (or near) Italy and would like to take a class with me in about a month, click here for more info. I am super excited to take this trip. It's been over a year since I left the US and I am really looking forward to seeing new places & making new friends. It will be fun! Plus, my favorite boy is coming along.... can't wait! 

Here are a few sneak peeks of the classes I am teaching. 

Felt Friends:

10 things I love about you: 

Creative Embellishments: 

(promise to share more peeks as the event draws near!)

Personal-ish.

This is a long story, but I will try to make it short.... 

Opening the RVA store/website has been a dream for me. It's easily the biggest project I've ever taken on and I am incredibly thankful and excited to take my work in that direction. I adore Red Velvet and it's something I can see myself doing and evolving long term. 

That said, this past month I've had some emotional ups and downs that I could only compare (and this is a very far stretch, I know) to someone who has just had a new baby. I love what I am doing more than anything but there have been moments when I've felt like I was losing my own identity a bit. 

I'll explain more.... For the past six months I've done almost nothing that was unrelated to RVA. My friends here know that I haven't been going out, working on personal projects or even really sleeping. I don't regret it because starting a new business requires insane personal sacrifice and this is what I really want to do with my life right now. I just think that one day (soon after the store opened) it all started catching up with me. I started feeling really burnt out and I started missing the people & things that I hadn't made time for. 

Long story short, I decided that it was time to make some simple changes in my daily life. More sleep, daily time for personal hobbies and a new side project. These changes have been such a blessing to me in the past few weeks and I feel like some creative parts of me are coming to life again. I feel really really happy and more inspired than I have in a long time. Sleep, vintage shopping, hanging out with my mom and a new little project have made a really positive change in my life! 

 

A couple things I've been doing for fun..... 

Etsy

Closing my etsy shop was something that I felt immediately sad about. I felt like I "should"...obviously because we have a new lovely site (it will be back up next week, i can't wait!). But, there is just something about etsy that I really love. When I started my shop, I was designing Love, Elsie full time and it was just for fun. So, I decided to reopen my my etsy shop as a side project and make it "just for fun" again!

I am reopening my shop as a home for small, occasional collections of original art. These collections are a place for me to experiment with new styles, concepts and ideas. My first set is called 'Chamomile". The paintings are more delicate and detailed. They have some embroidered and vintage elements as well as Swarovski crystals...just some things i haven't tried before. It's been a lot of fun to work on and I am so excited to share them with you... 

:) thanks for sharing that with me.

and just for fun... my most lucky thrift shop purchase of the week: 

oh..... and i finally got twitter.

if you wanna follow my randomness... feel free. :D 

yes, i really am making a dollhouse. more about that later! 

i'm off to work for the night. LOVElove, elsie

Comments

[Mary-Beth]

i'm so glad you're starting to feel better, and just know it's TOTALLY normal to have those feelings, and so healthy that you recognized them, and are doing things for YOU.:) Congrats on your adorable side projects, and hope you have so much fun with it!

[Queen of Bristol]

Oh those new paintings are so gorgeous!
I was wondering how you could do all those things you did. But I think it was well worth it - your store is a little paradise

[Angela]

Those new paintings are amazing. You are such and inspiration to so many! Do you sell your embroidery patterns in the online shop?

[Danielle]

I am so glad you are taking time for you! And I'm so glad you reopened your Etsy shop! You are such an inspiration!

[Toshi]

I love your new paintings! Wish I could afford them. Good to hear that you're making time for yourself and getting some rest. After all, you worked so hard for RVA that you deserve a little R&R.

[Eeffie]

Glad to hear you're taking more time for yourself! This whole new 'shop' adventure must cost you lots and lots of energy.

Your paintings seem to get nicer evrey time i see them! Oh, and i received my unicorn kit today along with some vinyl stickers and that cute tote bag i orderded last week! Looooove it all! It's awesome!

[Brianna]

I'm so glad that your Etsy is up and running again. Your new paintings are fantastic.

[jari]

love your post... so good to feel alive again! yay!
italy!?! yay!!! nice vacation for you and your boy! :D
can't wait to go check out your etsy shop again... xo!

[Raquel]

Hey Elsie,
I'm an aussie living and working in London at the moment, and are making the venture over to Italy for PACS!! I am so excited and will be doing all your 3 classes with you, was so good to see some sneak peeks! Can't wait to see some more, see you in March! xox

[Alex Mason]

Great post!! xx

[ali]

Elsie--Can you tell me the store hours for the vintage store across the street? I am coming in town on Sunday and would love to visit your place and the vintage store. Thanks!

[Brittany]

Oooh the Josie painting was my favorite, but I am too late (already sold). Do you have prints for this one? I'm assuming no since you said the shop would house original pieces only, but it's worth asking. ;o)

[Shanie]

Elsie...I understand completely and it is super important to take care of you. Enjoy that sleep...it can heal all kinds of things. Loves...Shanie ;)

[elsie flannigan]

ali,
the vintage shops are all closed sunday & monday!

brittany,
i will be putting prints in the RVA shop.... the site is going back up next week. i can't wait!

[PaMi]

Hi Elsiee! im from mexico and my english is not very good but i want to tell u that you are the best, im a your fan! love you art! congratulations! and i hope success for you store!

[Tandsm]

I can only imagine how crazy this must have been for you. I'm glad you are finding rest and life-giving things to enjoy amidst all the excitement! What you're doing is so insipiring to so many people, and even though we've never met, you have impacted me and been and no doubt will continue to be an inspiration to me.....so thanks :)

[waysideviolet]

Yay! Welcome back to Etsy ♥♥

[Kimi]

hi elsie,

i just wanted to say that you have always been so inspiring and it is heartwarming when you share your personal life with all of us. because i realize you are human too and that ever person needs to put themselves first sometimes or else life seems repetitive and like work. life is suppose to be fun and enjoyable and i think people lose that when they have careers (even ones they love doing).

i wish nothing but the best in all you do and congrats on all you have accomplished so far. your passion and drive inspire a lot of us!
xoxo Kimi

[That Girl]

I REALLY like yer stuff,
It's a total inspiration!!!
:D

[AK]

ahhh those paintings are ADORABLE! love them!