Friends, I’m so excited to announce my Etsy Shop, Gold & Graphite Goods, is live! I’ve said every year I’d love to have a shop and yet every year I just said there wasn’t enough time. I learned this year that I’ll never find spare time, I had to make time. I gave up many things (mostly sleep) to borrow time to make this happen. Before I say anything else, I just want to say thank you. Thank you so much for your encouragement and support. Thank you to those of you who have ordered custom commissioned prints for the past few years. Thank you for putting up with me saying “hopefully” and “eventually” year after year. Thank you to my incredible husband for telling me every day that I can do this and helping to make it happen. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. Truly overwhelmed.

Now, for some details. I only decided around Halloween that this Christmas was the one I’d finally do it…which I do not recommend! Do NOT give yourself one month to create prints and open a shop, friends. Just don’t. But God is so gracious! So gentle and such a loving Father. There is grace for each season-even in seasons of painting til midnight and editing the paper background out from behind a wreath for far too many hours. There is grace for pursuing your dreams and there is also grace in the years that the answer is “not yet.”

I decided to just offer a few things as I dip my toes into these new waters. I’ve never had an Etsy shop before so please bear with me as I navigate through this! I only realized yesterday that this is different than before. I’ve been creating custom illustrations for people for the last 7 years. It felt like instead of email correspondence and checks it would all just be organized in one place. Simple! But now I know this is a whole new business. A new baby that needs my care and attention. I don’t know if I would have started the shop if I had the proper perspective, but I’m so glad I did. There is grace here.

Without further adieu, go on! Explore! I hope you enjoy the Christmas collection and I cant wait to unveil some new goodies in the New Year! Thank you again for your support and love. You are the absolute best and I’m just really thankful for you today.