I. I did a live workshop yesterday for Pull, Paint, Pen with Kiala Givehand and even though I went into it with some trepidation (because I was in a lot of pain and people make me cry at the drop of a hat these days), it was *fabulous*. I taught a lesson on engaging with the Queens in Tarot to call up parts of self that we might need more of in the moment, or that we might want to acknowledge and celebrate. I lectured on it for a while off the cuff – completely unscripted – and, miraculously, I made it make sense, it was of value to the students, and we had a beautiful two hours together.
I also taught lip up girls, which I love teaching because it guarantees that even if you ‘can’t draw’, you *can* get beautiful, interesting faces in your art journals. At the end of the class, everyone showed me their work and I ‘read’ their lip up girls for what might have been coming through them as they created them. THAT was SUPER FUN and reminded me that I am *really really* good at what I do.
II. Next year, I’m doing a Year of Mary exclusively on Patreon, which will feature twelve paintings using the ‘lip up’ technique inspired by the poetry of Mary Oliver. This is a quiet offering – not going to do a lot of promo for it – but it will be available at the $10 level. Once the year is through, it will be released as a standalone, self-guided offering. I’m *really* exciteda about it because, I don’t know about you, but I could use a year of savouring Mary’s words and resting in the crook of her comforting arms. Starts January 15th.
III. A friend just messaged me to ask how I’m doing, and I was honest and said “I’m struggling”, and then this popped up in my timeline, so you know. Algorhythms or magicks. Whichever. 
Mid-conquer *is* a struggle, but this still works for me because it promises an end in sight. It is a reminder that I won’t struggle forever. At least not with this particular configuration of things.
IV. My lovely friend, Jessica, dragged me by the hair over to TikTok and I am now obsessed. Where Facebook feels like a field of land mines, TikTok is so fucking wholesome. I’m over here.
I posted my first video last night and then almost immediately deleted it, because I realized that I can’t take any kind of exposure right now (says the woman who is blogging her life). Kindness & unkindness both slay me. So, I’ll be over there as a consumer of all the goodness until such time as I feel braver. Follow me, though so I can find you!
V. My shoulder is healing (as I knew it would). Yesterday, along with getting the live class done (and editing the video for it after), I did a half load of dishes (cut my finger in the process, but whatever), bagged up all the empties, and cleared off all the surfaces. I also worked on the cover of my Effydori, which is what I’ll be using for all my classes next year. Today, I plan to film for New Moon in Sagitarrius. I think I want to do a fantasy horse because they make me happy.
VI. I need shenanigans. GIVE ME SHENANIGANS. Also sex. Also someone who loves me unconditionally and will not abandon me when I am in the trenches.
VII. Jarcuterie. When we can all gather again, I’m going to have a party, and I’m going to make these. 
VIII. My Spotify playlist for 2020 is so good. SO GOOD.
IX. The Life Book 2021 Free Taster Session is going into a seven day replay, so if you’re looking for something fun to do this weekend GET IN THERE.
X. I got a new pen organizer and it is making me ridiculously happy.
It’s the little things.
I totally get how happy your pen organizer makes you. I made one recently and I get a huge feeling of satisfaction every time I use it. Sometimes it’s the little things that have the most impact. BTW I am so excited for BOD to start. I watched all the Boot Camp info yesterday!
Yay for Boot Camp! Did you make a journal?
Joining your Patrwon is the best thing I’ve done for myself in a long ass time. You’re the shizzzzzzz.❤ I can’t fucking wait for Book of Mary!! That sounds absofuckinglutely fabulous…. Thank you for, thank you, for being you🤘
What a lovely testimonial. <3 I can't wait to do a year of Mary!!
wow, my spelling was atrocious. Was super sick on Friday, which is clear, I think. Yikes…..
Hi Effy for some reason I missed seeing your question. I haven’t made it yet. I’m dithering around trying to figure out if I want to work in a journal or use loose sheets and bind them later. My workspace is kind of small so I have more freedom to move a single sheet around. I also don’t like working on both sides of a page… I don’t want to think that my work is so precious that it should be framed and displayed but a small voice says “what it someone likes it and wants to put it on their wall?”. Blech. So I’ll probably make a journal but also continue to use single pages too. I have a really full year coming up with BoD, Life Book and the year of Mary. I’m so excited for all the new things I will be learning and making.
You are damn good at what you do, also, damn good at showing and teaching other’s… aspiration, inspiration, determination and all that.
My grandchildren love tictok, they are the ones who showed me. These 2 are always making videos and posting. It’s hilarious to watch them. Trinity will be 8 in a few days, Oliver 7 in the spring.
She’s fierce he’s shy, they balance one another perfectly.
Yesterday Trin had to do something with her other mom, so when the other mom came over, Oliver asks me, Nana, why does Treetree have 2 moms and I have a dad and mom?
So, I explained it to him, he loves his parents, but man it’s cool having 2 moms. LOLOL, I love childrens love and acceptance. This past summer Treetree asked why Oli was so light and she was dark, so we had the conversation about ethniticity and mixed people… again, total love and acceptance. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could be more like children.
I’m glad your shoulder is better and you found Tictoc, it’s kinda like a fun place to be without pressure. I’m not dealing great with pressure and rejection, yup, can’t hang with it.
You’re slaying your dragons princess. Great job.
Thank you, my darling. <3
I appreciate you Effy, all you ins and outs. Your soul is precious.
So much good in this post, thank you for sharing. I am over-the-moon excited about your upcoming offering “a year of Mary”… and I just subscribed at the $10 level… so meant to be!!!
I’m so excited!!!! <3
I am so excited about A Year of Mary. Have been keeping an eye out for info since you first hinted at this class. I love your art and your brave sharing. I can’t imagine doing a year of art without some Effy included. See you on Patreon soon.
WOO HOO!!!! I’ll see you there. <3
TikTok is my therapy these days. I don’t post. I just enjoy. Lesbian tiktok is FIRE. ahem.
Also, I FUCKING LOVE YOU.
The whole LGBTAQ TikTok is *amazing* but the lesbians are FIRE. *Fans self*. Also Indigenous TikTok. Also I FUCKING LOVE YOU MORE.
I’m going to join BOD today. Then I’ll have a good reason to make myself a binder. And I’m going to try and join that Mary Oliver class next year because I realllllly want to. My husband is absolutely weird about paying something monthly. Hopefully we will be in a much better place as far as my country and the virus. Love you my sweet!! <3
I love you, too. <3
Pen Organizer is gorgeous. You know the movie Ratatouille? There is an organic Ratatouille musical going on in TikTok, with musical theater professionals and regular people writing songs, doing choreography, etc. Good for the soul.
OMG THAT SOUNDS AMAZING.
My pen organizer is too small, made of a box and toilet paper tubes…lol… I need one about twice the size of yours for pens, colored pencils, brushes and other things that I stuff in with the pens and so on… maybe a bigger box and more toilet paper tubes? lol…There are way too many social media outlets to keep up with all of them… I waste too much time online as it is! And it says I’m posting here as “earthstone hollow”, which is my wordpress name…it’s Karen from WV… and that’s my farm name!
Earth Stone Hollow is a *BEAUTIFUL* name for a farm. Makes me want to come and visit (and maybe move in).