Quirky Digitals

Tag: creativity

  • Depression and anxiety through the pandemic

    It’s been a while….it’s been a while since I’ve had motivation. I know this year has been trying and difficult as heck for everyone. As someone who suffers from clinical depression, severe anxiety, among other things I’ve unfortunately let it get the best of me.

    One of the reasons I even started this blog was to encourage others to find ways to cope with mental illness through creativity. And it’s embarrassing for me to say I’m not coping very well at all.

    It’s so hard being unable to do what we used to do without batting an eye. The masks I simply cannot wear, from PTSD through being almost suffocated, plus asthma along with the anxiety it’s just not something I can tolerate. I’m sure I’m not alone in this struggle. So, I stay out of places, I order groceries and household essentials to be picked up curbside. And utilize drive thru fast food on occasion. I haven’t been out to eat with the family since March. I’m sure I’m not the only person feeling out of touch with humanity.

    How are you dealing with this difficult time? It’s something I never thought would happen and I’m sure a lot of others didn’t either.

    I went from feeling confident again to feeling so incompetent. My newly remodeled craftroom/office is a disaster. Unopened, new supplies that should bring joy and excitement are sitting in piles. It’s a sad situation.

    And then I think of those who have lost loved ones, and the elderly in nursing homes who are unable to see family. I’m an empath so I feel that in my heart and soul.

    What I’m hoping by getting all of this out, unfiltered, and raw, is to boost myself into coming out of this depression. It’s been a year and a half since I hit rock bottom, I really don’t want to get back there again.

    If you, too, are suffering and feeling alone, isolated, and depressed please don’t hesitate to reach out. I truly believe getting it out to someone who can listen and cares helps.

    Much love, prayers and healing thoughts for you and those you love. Blessings and take care!

    PS I do have projects coming up, new printables, new items for my Etsy shop, and hopefully, a review and video of the new Cricut Foil Transfer Kit will be up very soon.

  • The 10 Best Lettering Artists on Instagram!

    Hellooooo everyone!

    I pray all is well in your lives. It’s a hard time for sure. It’s important to keep busy during this tumultuous time. It’s amazing how creating and learning can help. Keeping the mind occupied and active is so therapeutic!

    What ya been up to? I’ve been keeping busy on Creative Bug and Skillshare. Both are amazing places to learn new crafts and hone ones you are already familiar with. With Creative Bug if you use my link you can get 2 months of free access to tons of creative classes, what better way to spend our time on lockdown?! Also there’s Skillshare and while I’m not an official affiliate you can receive 2 free months through my link. I’ve been learning more about creative lettering in Procreate and creating digital planners.

    The 10 Best Lettering Artists on Instagram:

    (in my opinion lol) There are many, many others just as talented and I’m finding more all the time! I love to look on YouTube, the videos make it look so much easier than I find it to be. It was super hard to only pick 10. The more I look around the more I find and love! Check them out, you won’t be sorry!

    In no certain order:

    • I Am Gia Graham She’s a designer, Skillshare instructor, letterer, and illustrator. Her lettering skills are amazing and the fact she’s willing to help others learn is so cool!
    • Dawn Nicole, one of the first creative lettering artists I discovered when I got my iPad and downloaded Procreate. Dawn is great at sharing her talents and makes amazing Procreate brushes. Her videos are fantastic and she makes lettering practice sheets to share.
    • Holly Pixels Holly is not only a fantastic lettering artist, she also designs digital planners, stickers, and so much more. She has a great YouTube channel!
    • Lisa Bardot of Bardot Brush! I discovered her while partaking of a week of Procreate lessons at Design Cuts. Lisa is soooo talented and just a joy to watch. She’s very informative and her Procreate brushes are so good.
    • Lisa Funk of Hand Lettered Design. Lisa has a great talent, and she’s very inspirational. Her Instagram feed is soooo uplifting and beautiful!
    • Karin Newport of ipadlettering. She has tutorials, reviews, and so much more. I love her style.
    • Letters Of Me I just love her style. She has great sense of color and what a beautiful Instagram board!
    • Jillian & Jordan of loveleighloops . Jillian and Jordan are twins, and share amazing talents. I got to watch them at the Design Cuts week of free tutorials and I’m so glad I did. Check out their Instagram, you will be so happy you did!
    • Liz Kohler Brown, I’ve taken several of her courses on Skillshare. She is an artist whose illustrations I admire and her lettering skills are phenomenal! She also happens to teach how to make digital planners and such which is fast becoming a hobby of mine. I hope to have my first digital sticker book done in the next week!
    • Hannah Grace Cohen I stumbled upon her Instagram feed and was an immediate fan. Not only is she extremely talented but her IG feed is so freakin’ pretty!

    Show Me Your Favorite Lettering Artists!

    I’m always looking for inspiration. There are so many talented artists out there. I’ve barely touched the surface.

    I’d also love to see any projects you do while on ‘lockdown’. Comment here with a link.

    Here’s one I did this morning using Procreate on my iPad with my trusty Apple Pencil and some really cool drop shadow brushes for Procreate by My Fancy Design Shop on Etsy. The spatters were made with the spraypaint brushes that come with Procreate. My little creation is not even close to the great art by the professional lettering artists but I have fun playing!

    Take care dear people.

    xoxo~Dawn

  • The Best Bullet Journal I've Found..

    Hello to my fellow Creative Quirks!

    I recently wrote a post about dealing with ‘Creative Depression’, not to make light of being depressed, it’s just something I call myself (Creatively Depressed). I’m happy to say I’m not feeling too depressed since I started my new blog. The journal I’m featuring here is Scribbles That Matter. It’s perfect for journaling and mood tracking.

    In the aforementioned post I wrote about things I do to help my symptoms. One is journaling, I listed some items I use to express my thoughts. One of my favorites is this Scribbles That Matter Bullet Journal, I have it in pink and I ordered a new one to share with y’all.

    **this is not a promoted post this review contains my honest thoughts on this product, although if you use my links to purchase one of your own I may receive a small commission from Amazon**

    I have this exact one as my personal journal but decided to order a new one so that I can share with y’all some spreads and such as I fill it up in 2020. (please forgive my poor photography, I’m using my iPhone and can’t find my tripod for it)

    Check out this wonderful cover! I love it, it’s faux leather and has wonderful embossed icons. It’s so nice! Scribbles That Matter embossed cover

    I really appreciate the nice touches, the pen holder is very secure with a rivet on the back cover. The pages are nice and thick, plus there’s a pen test page near the back cover so that you can check to bleed through! It’s a nice dotted journal which I love, it makes it so easy to add a bulleted list.

    If you use this journal or order one I would absolutely love to see your spreads. I love doodles, lettering, and all the fun stuff we can do with pens and markers.

    If you aren’t into journaling perhaps you know someone who is, I bet you or they would love to find this under the tree this Christmas (or anytime)! I highly recommend the Scribbles That Matter Bullet Journal, it comes in several covers and includes a nice cardboard sleeve to store it.

    xoxo~Dawn

Quirky Digitals