A silk scarf! Like the old vintage-style travel scarves! It just went to the printer this morning. Exciting!

It's been way too long since I've drawn anything. 

I have a damaged disk in my neck that has been acting up to the point of The Big Surgery Conversation, and I haven't really been able to use my left arm for the last couple of weeks. The good news is that it seems to be healing. Come on, baby!

That, plus a freelance agency job, have been wreaking havoc on my body, mind, and time.

But here's a sketch I did last night, not as a note to the world (although I often want to just yell this from the window of my car, especially since I live in LA), but more as a message to my ego. 

Relax, ego. Get over yourself. You're not that important. 

I think life is probably a lot easier, and more pleasant, when I keep this in mind.

 

Hi guys,

Did you know I have a Facebook page?

Right now, only 89 people like it. And I think most of them are my friends. Or my family. 

It would make me really happy if you liked it too.

On the same note, I just joined Twitter. Yeah, yeah. Late adopter. I know. I'm @emilymadeit. Let's follow each other! I swear I'm only a tiny bit annoying.

 

This is pretty much the biggest understatement ever, but Joan of Arc was such a badass.

When I was in maybe 4th grade, I did an oral report about her life in which I also dressed up in a Joan of Arc costume (I remember this outfit being ridiculousy detailed, with lots of silver, and a sword. Thanks, Mom.) and I've had an affinity for her ever since.

This is a pretty timely quote for me, personally. I'm putting it on the wall above my desk. If you want to do the same, or you want to remind someone that they, too, are a badass, you can get one in my etsy shop. Available in 5x7, 8x10, and 11x14 sizes.

 

 

Think of that one friend you have with amazing taste. Now imagine her sending you a present every month. How could that be anything but awesome?

Umba Box is a really cool new subscription service (think wine-of-the-month club) that combines the best of independent, handmade products with the fun and surprise of a monthly gift box delivered to your door, for just $26 a month.

I'm super excited to be working with them to create and illustrate their visual identity, starting with their new logo:

 

Featured in this month's box: these very cute leather and canvas clutches from Velle Purse.

I've been working in advertising for close to a decade as an art director, writer and creative director, so it goes without saying that I love helping to build brands -- including yours! If you'd like to talk about what I might be able to do for your company, drop me a line at emilyjanemcdowell@gmail.com and say hi!

 

I'm excited to announce that I'm going to be a regular guest blogger for Studio M Interior Design.

They interviewed me for my first post. Read it here and let me know if I come off like a crazy person.

Like so many of us, I have the tendency to get upset if someone doesn't like me -- even if I don't like THEM. (What's up with that?)

But I'm working on it, with the help of this print (and the wisdom of Winston Churchill).

Want one? Go get it in my etsy shop.

 

There are a lot of people in my life who deserve this print. Actually, it's a decent reminder to ourselves, too.

It's available in my etsy shop as an 8x10 and 11x14.

This weekend, we did a lot of experimenting. And generally, experimenting usually results in a few moments of "Hey, that's cool!" and a whole lot of moments of "Whoa, that's hideous. OH MY GOD DON'T LOOK AT IT I'M A FRAUD."

When this happens, my tendency is to give up, put the offending piece aside, and start something new. But one of the great things about making art is that if you don't like something, you get to paint over it, glue something on top of it, or cut it up and reuse it. You can just keep going until you get to the other side of what you didn't like.

I started calling this "pushing through the ugly," which Sarajo gently corrected to "pushing through the chaos," since ugly isn't necessarily bad. This is true, but after some thought, I like "push through the ugly" -- whatever "ugly" means to you. Life calls for it fairly often, too, so it's a good skill to have.