An Important Artsy Update

Hello, dear friends.
   How have you been? I hope you've had a fantastic week, that you were able to compliment someone, that you were able to laugh at something. Please remember to keep going, and find that thread of hope that's always intertwined in the big picture.
   I feel like I haven't written a nice, deep blog post in awhile, and that makes me rather sad. I really, really want to do that, and I'm going to do it soon. But today I have some very important artsy updates, as you may have gleaned from the title.
   So. Let's not beat around the bush. In the past week or so, two people have approached me about illustrating cover art for their books. The first one is a friend of mine who is self-publishing her book and is having me do the cover and the frontispiece. The second is the author that had the illustrating contest for her books that I ended up being a part of. But instead of doing illustrations inside, I'm doing the lineart for. The. Cover.
   I honestly can't believe this is happening? I'm very excited, super freaked out and slightly overwhelmed. Because I'm also starting school again this Monday, and I'm trying to get started on Christmas presents, and also run an Etsy shop, not to mention that I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING. I've never done anything close to this!

   But the only way to learn is to start, I guess. And that's what I'm doing. Starting.
   So yeah. I've been busy. Well not really yet, but I'm about to get that way. It's like that calm before the storm feeling, you know? I kind of just want to jump into it and tackle everything as fast as I can, as perfectly as humanly possible, because that's how I like to do things. I'm just trying to prepare myself at the moment, 'cause I know it's coming soon.
   So yeah. This all happened, like, right after I started the 30 day drawing challenge. I'm going to try and complete that, and still post videos on Youtube and everything else I'm doing at the moment. I kind of missed/adjusted the last two days in the challenge, because a.) I had no idea what to draw for day 11, and I'm doing this and sharing some concepts for the picture for my friend's book for day 12, along with filming a video tonight. I'm going to try and get back on track tomorrow.
   And that's it. That's all I have to say for now. Sorry for my lack of quality content as of late. I am going to have a real blog post very, very soon, I promise. Forgive me! I will be back soon, dear readers. Thank you for taking the time to make your way through this post and for sticking with this mess of a blog. I love you all dearly. <3

MR

Liebster Tag!!

Hello again, my frens!!

So, the wonderful Abbie from Chronicles in Bloom tagged me in this Liebster tag thingy. She has a great blog, you should totally go check it out! This tag looks like a lot of fun though, so let's hop to it. :)

First, the rules:

1. Link back to the person who tagged you
2. Answer the eleven questions
3. Tag eleven bloggers and let them know you've done so
4. Ask your tagged bloggers eleven questions

I think it's already been established that I do not follow enough blogs, so I will be breaking the eleven people rule. But yeah, whatever, let's do this thing.

1. Is there any story as to who you were given your name? 
You know, not that I know of? I'm pretty sure that my parents just liked it, so they went with it. I do know that if I had a sister they would have named her Molly, so there would have been a Maggie and a Molly which would have been pretty cute. :D

2. Or you a night owl or early bird?
Absolutely, 110% night owl. I would be nocturnal if it was socially acceptable. But, I also feel like I could enjoy the morning? I really like the concept of getting a cup of coffee and watching the sunrise and listening to the birds tweet and feeling like you're the only one watching the world wake up. But I hate waking up early, and I just love nighttime so much... I don't  think I could give that up.

3. What is your favorite breakfast? 
TBH, I'm not too big on the whole breakfast thing. I usually just skip breakfast and go straight to lunch. That's usually because I sleep in too late and miss breakfast, but that's beside the point. I do, however, enjoy some warm, freshly made waffles. Like, when they're soft, but have just enough crispy-crunch to them, when you have the perfect ration of butter to syrup. Maybe there's a bit of fruit topping. You've got your orange juice and some coffee to drink... Mmm, yes, that is a level of perfection that puts me in a good mood just thinking about.

4. How would you describe your style? 
This question could be taken in a few ways, so I am going to answer all of them. My style in general, like, how I roll, what I do, who I am... That could only be described as weird, extremely eccentric and very socially awkward. Art style could be described the same way, though I'd like to think it has a little more of a classic feel. And honestly, my clothing style is the same as my art style. And yes, I am aware that was probably the most confusing answer you've ever seen, I'm so sorry.

5. What is your dream occupation? 
I really want to work in illustration. I'd love to do freelance, children's book illustrations, storyboarding. One or all of them would be great. :) I'm actually working toward that goal, so we'll see how it turn out, haha.

6. 3 favorite boy names?
David Arthur, Joshua, and Nathaniel. (If I have a boy, he will be named David Arthur, there is no arguing, it will be so)

7. 3 favorite girl names? 
This is a bit harder for me for some reason. But I'm going to say, Annette, Gwen, and... I don't know? Jenna, maybe? I like Jenna, I think Jenna is good.

8. Where would you like to travel? 
Okay, listen up because this is going to happen one of these days if I can make it. I want to go to Ireland, Scotland and England. When I get out of school, I'd say when I'm about 21, I want to go to all three of these places. I want to just live there for a few years, explore every nook and cranny and become seeped in the culture. I want to take it in and live and breathe it for as long as I possibly can. I'd like to go there for a couple weeks beforehand to get a taste, but I'm not going to bore you all with my in-depth travel plans, haha

9. Favorite part of your daily routine? 
Gooooooooood Mythical Morning!
No, haha, I'm just kidding, though I do love that show.
IDK, honestly. It's probably coffee? Coffee makes me happy. :)

10. What song gives you the most feels and why? 
I LITERALLY CANNOT ANSWER THIS, THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY OH MY GOSH!!!! 'The Last Goodbye' gives me a lot of feels, though I wouldn't say it gives me the most feels.

11. If you could learn to do one (creative) thing perfectly, what would it be? 
I honestly think it would be art. There's something that I enjoy about learning to write, and I can feel the same with art, but... It's so much harder to learn for some reason? I'd love to be able to just translate what's in my head right onto paper through art like that.

Boom, all the questions have been answered! Now I will be tagging...

Bronze the Sling: http://squigglyrambler.blogspot.com/

Chloe Womble: http://afangirlsfantasy.blogspot.com/

Mikaylea O'Brien: https://cometotheinkwell.wordpress.com/

And that's it because, as has already been established, I'm a loser who doesn't follow enough blogs. Also, if any of you have done this tag before, please ignore this and forgive me. I have a terrible memory, so I've probably forgotten if you have, I'm so sorry.

The questions are...

1. How does the rain make you feel?
2. What's the song that never fails to make you feel better?
3. What's your aesthetic? 
4. Is there anything that scares and entrances you at the same time? 
5. What's your favorite book of the Bible and why? 
6. What's your favorite fruit smell?
7. Which animal is the cutest? 
8. What do you want your bedroom to look like in ten years? 
9. What's the strangest sentimental thing you own? 
10. If you could change one thing about your physical self, would you, and what would it be?
11. Does the prospect of spending one night alone in the woods scare or excite you?

And that's it. If any of these questions don't make sense, please let me know and I will do my best to explain what I was trying to say. If I didn't tag you and you still want to do this, PLEASE DO SO AND LEAVE ME A COMMENT TELLING ME YOU DID BECAUSE I WANT TO HEAR YOUR ANSWERS.

That's it for now! I want to write up a blog post about everything that has been going on in my life recently, 'cause I have some exciting things going on. By the way, my artist alley table went great! If you'd like to know more about it, I have a vlog-type video on my channel. Be forewarned, it is very, very cringey because vlogging is hard.

I'll see you soon, my frens.
MR

Thought Process: Pieces

I think it's so funny.
   There are things that a person keeps to themselves. Some parts of them that are so deeply ingrained into them, some parts that define who they are, some parts that are so deeply personal. Parts that hurt, parts that are dark, parts that reveal too much of themselves. Parts that you feel like you can't share with another soul because then they would know every piece of you, what makes you you. Parts that you don't even fully understand yourself.
   But sometimes, you have to do something with these pieces. And since you can't share them, you write them down, You journal, you keep a diary, whatever you want to call it. It feels good to get them out there, to get them off of you and onto something else. You've shared them without actually sharing them.
  That's the part that's so funny to me. We can't share these pieces, because then someone would know us, who we actually are beneath whatever it is we present to people. Instead of sharing them with someone we trust, we put them in a place where anyone could pick it up and read it. Why is the latter okay, and not the former?
   Maybe that's it, though. Maybe there's something more okay with someone knowing, then having to explain it to someone. But maybe you just need to put the pieces somewhere, and the best you can do is write it down and hope that no one finds it. Maybe. I don't know.
   I just think it's funny.

This is short, and dramatic, and a little strange, but it's been on my mind. Sorry if it's confusing. 
MR

I Have an Artist Alley Table????

Hello, my dearest readers. :)
   How are you? I know I ask you that all the time, but I truly want to know. I hope you're doing well and that you've taken some time to enjoy life a little bit.
   As for me, I've been busy. Very. Busy.
   I've been catching up on my Mabel sweater orders, I've been playing piano, I've been trying to prepare my mind for another year of school. But this last week has been completely bonkers. Why? Well, if you've read the title or saw my little announcement on Pinterest, then you'll know...
   I HAVE AN ARTIST ALLEY TABLE AT A LITTLE LOCAL CONVENTION!!!!!
   And I have been preparing maniacally ever since I found out last Monday.
   Like, I've had to order prints. I've decided to stick with just 4x6 prints this time around, since all the other sizes are a bit too expensive and I'm running a little low on cash, hahaaaa.
   I've been making homemade stickers. Which took a bit of figuring out at first, but now they're loads of fun.
   I've been trying to finish this final Mabel sweater. Which I succeeded in doing tonight, haHA!
   I've been buying and making things for my table. Like a tablecloth, signs, stands, boxes for prints and stickers, all that stuff.
   I've been  printing business cards. Which took FOREVER, but I'm done with them, thank goodness.
   I've been frantically drawing and painting in an attempt to have more originals and prints to sell.
   I'VE BEEN INSANELY BUSY.
   AND I ONLY HAVE ONE WEEK TO FINISH GETTING READY.
   SO I AM ALSO GOING A LITTLE INSANE.
   Not to mention that I am suuuuuuppppper nervous about the whole thing, and hoping that I can make a bit of money, at least enough to pay for what I've put into this.
   But I've also been suuuuper excited. BECAUSE I AM GOING TO HAVE AN ARTIST ALLEY TABLE, WHICH IS LIKE SO COOL. Granted, the con is itty bitty teeny tiny, but this is such a great opportunity, and I'm hoping to meet some other artists, and gaaaah, it's gonna be so much fun!
   So yes. This isn't much of a post, but I just wanted to let you all know about what's been going on in my life. And if it wasn't for this, then there wouldn't have been a post at all. So there's that too.
   I'm hoping to make a vlog kind of thing going over how I prepared for the whole thing and how it went and all that, so keep an eye open on my youtube for that sometime next week. And whatever doesn't sell at con (which us probably going to be most of the things, ahha :') ), I will have up on my Etsy for a discounted rate, so keep your eyes open for thaaaaat...
   And yeah. That's it. That's all I have to say. I have to go and cut out stickers and edit a video and package a sweater and paint and draw another picture. So goodbye, my frens, and I'll see you on the flipside!

MR