Little Bits of Charm | No. 6

Happy September!!

Gosh, how did we get here so fast?

My Little Bits of Charm and Lately in the Studio posts were basically nonexistent this past month. Sorry about that. I decided to take a break the first week of August, and then one week turned into two, then three, and here we are.

Over here, I’m starting to gear up for what always seems to be the busiest stretch of the year. I’m not entirely sure what these next few months will look like, but I’m hoping that getting a bit of a head start and making some sort of plan will help. That’s the hope anyway. Ha!

September is already looking pretty full, with plans most weekends and lots of fun things to look forward to. I assume that means the month is going to fly by, so it’s time to lock in! Of course, I’ll do my best to take you along with me through these updates and my weekly email newsletter. 

Before we get into that, let’s recap some of the things that have been happening over the past month. 

Garden Update

The garden is still chugging along. This is the time of year when I start to tire a bit of the daily watering, weeding, maintenance, etc., but I’m still very much enjoying everything that’s blooming. Anyone else get to that point? 

I think I’m going to slowly start emptying out spent potted plants so I can do little bits along the way. This way it doesn’t feel like such a big project at the end of the season. It’s definitely not a project I look forward to, so I’m hoping this will help. 

That being said, I’ve gotten plenty of dahlias this year and have already made dozens of arrangements, even though some of the plants seem to have struggled a bit. Several have developed curled leaves, a few never flowered at all, and others have only given me two or three blooms. But I’ve learned that sometimes that’s just how gardening goes. Thankfully, I’ve been on this rollercoaster ride for a few years now, so I’m used to it. Lol.

I did take a little time-lapse of myself putting together some arrangements, so I’ll share that below if you’d like to watch. I’ve been able to make arrangements like this about once a week, which has been wonderful. For this one, I used dahlias, of course, along with hydrangeas, zinnias, and some burgundy-colored foliage (sorry that I don’t know the name of it).

Art Challenge and New Art for Sale

Some artist friends of mine talked me into doing the Strada Easel Challenge, which started Tuesday, September 1. I’m not always the biggest fan of these kinds of challenges, but doing it alongside some friends should make it a lot more fun. Plus, hopefully by the end of the month I’ll have 30 new paintings! That’s the goal, at least.

I’ll be posting my daily paintings on Instagram at @inspiredbycharm, and I’ll share them over on my Substack feed too if you’re following along there. The challenge has already started, so be sure to check it out. 

And if things go according to plan, I should have some new paintings for sale by the end. Yay! Speaking of which, I recently added 14 new paintings to my art shop. Some have already sold, but there’s still a great selection available if you’re interested. I also have a few paintings currently on sale, so be sure to take a peek if you’re looking for a deal. 

New Substack Articles

• What I Learned Making Artist Trading Cards (ATCs)
• 12 Creative Art Exercises You Can Do in 20 Minutes
• How to Put Less Pressure on Your Art Practice

Some New Books

Marian Parsons, aka Miss Mustard Seed, has a new book out. The book is called Move Slow and Make Things. I haven’t read it yet, but from what I can tell, it’s all about stepping away from the constant pressure to be productive and making more room for creativity in everyday life. Marian talks about slowing down, making things with your hands, noticing beauty in ordinary moments, and creating, all for enjoyment rather than because you need to accomplish something. She also gets into perfectionism, creative insecurity, and finding more confidence in your own ideas, which obviously feels very relevant to me. Ha! It sounds like a really thoughtful reminder that creativity doesn’t have to be rushed or even particularly productive to be worthwhile.

Speaking of books, I’m trying to be a bit better about reading instead of scrolling on my phone. I’ve tried this before and failed, but we’re giving it another go. Ha!

I’m currently reading We Burned So Bright by TJ Klune before bed. It’s my nightstand book, and it is helping me replace scrolling with reading. I think this is a much better way to end the day. I’m working on finishing Theo of Golden by Allen Levi on Audible, with The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett next in the queue. Very ambitious, I know! I’ve heard great things about all these books, so we’ll see how things go. 

Fall is Upon Us

Like it or not. Ready or not. Signs of fall are all around us. Pumpkin spice is back, I already have a few leaves turning, the days are getting shorter, and all the other little signs are starting to show up. Coincidentally, it’s also 90 degrees outside, and we have a heat warning. Ha!

All that to say, I’ve started sharing some fall content here and through my mailing list. I hope you don’t mind. If you’re not ready for it yet, you can just tuck it away for later.

I’m also going to be working on a few new fall recipes this coming week. I’m not sure I’ll be doing much fall decorating myself this year, but we’ll see how things go. Never say never!

That’s a Wrap

And even though it’s been a few weeks, I think that’s about all I have for you this time. You’d think after a month I’d have loads and loads of news, but I guess my life just isn’t that interesting. Which, honestly, I’m not complaining about.

I hope all is well in your world. I’ll be back next week with a Lately in the Studio art update, and I’ll definitely have lots to talk about there.

Until then!