Why I do what I do.
Plus *NEW* Pins & a recap of Chicago Stationery Fest!
Chicago Stationery Fest: The Reset I Needed
Thank you to the other queer folks who just thanked me for my art or just told me they loved my designs.
Thank you to those who told me that they loved the name ‘Tiny Werewolves’ - I’ve recently struggled with thinking that the name didn’t name sense as a Stationery brand but this is the second time in a month that people I didn’t know (in-person) have told me otherwise without actually knowing you were.
Thank you to the repeat customers who first purchased from me back in 2023, at the Paper & Pencil Stationery Store Pop-Up when I first started doing in-person events who tracked me down at Chicago Stationery Fest.
Thank you to every person who turned around & immediately had their eyes light up and said “that’s my vibe” when looking at the wall of my colorful stickers.
Thank you to the librarians, school nurses & health care workers, and other folks who work directly with queer youth who thanked me for having items making it easy for them to be safely identifiable.
Thank you to the parents who traveled from Oklahoma, that have the child with the best friend who is trans, you didn’t have to tell me how worried you are about that other kid - we know it’s bad down there. Thank you for standing with your friends and for deciding that the representation of trans and queer children was more important that sitting on the sidelines.
… plus many more and I’m sure ones I’m forgetting in the blur of those two days.
I loved hearing all of your stories even if only for a few moments of each day.
Chicago Stationery Fest was definitely chaotic at times, but it was super successful for me. I really hope they do it again, and while where were some snags, I feel like they could be ironed out now that the organizers know there is a MAJOR interest in the event here. It was year one and we all went into it having no clue, I basically sold out of almost every sticker day one, came home, stayed up until 2am and made more inventory for day two (I was lucky I had that option). There were several people who walked by day two and did a glance back and were like “there’s new things’ and I replied “I had to restock for today” lol…
The Chicago Stationery Fest was what I needed to re-ignite something that I had been missing for a while and that’s hearing and seeing people say how much my art means to them individually. Obviously being an online store I don’t see that everyday.
Why do I make the art that I do?
I’ve been a real ✨funk✨ for a while - Parker and I have had many conversations recently that can basically be summed up to:
“I hate that it feels like people only care about my art when things (politically) are bad” aka my sales SUCKED in 2024 which made it really hard to want to make new designs because nothing was selling. Like why make something new when no one was going to buy it anyway?
And I hate that. I hate that I equate my art with sales but that’s the reality of being a working artist I suppose.
Don’t get me wrong, selling your own *shit* is hard regardless, but I doubt that the vendors selling inspirational quote stickers or pop culture stickers or “dog mom”/”dog dad” stickers or just cute animal stickers get the same dirty looks (or complete lack of eye contact which is *JUST* as telling) I’ve got at some of the other (not CSF) events I’ve done. Where I sell in-person isn’t just a taste level thing (like a “to each their own” situation) - where I go and what I bring could be a safety concern.
People always ask me when I do events/show why I make queer-themed art/political art and my answer is always roughly the same: for me it’s not “queer” or “political” it’s just my life. It’s my day-to-day.
And if making this helps someone, some parent… some child get through the day I’m cool with it being labeled however it needs to be to reach those people. At the end of the day I saw a need for aesthetic designs that fit the causes I wanted to support and that just didn’t exist, so I made happen. My line doesn’t just represent queer people during June or on the “holidays” or the remembrance days because it’s also my life.
Fun Stuff: New Pins - Acrylic & Wood
I had ordered these prior to the Chicago Stationery Fest, and I always forget how much extra work it is to get things photographed and then put online, and there are SO MANY new styles!
Thank you for being thee. Thank you for showing how a small business can bring as much joy into the stationery world as a big business can. Thank you for creating what you create. I am glad that I was able to shop in person again at your booth as I did on Stationery Day in front of Paper and Pencil. I like how you mention how you create your art to just create it. that's how I feel about my art. I know my style or stickers are not everyone's cups of tea. As long it brings me joy is all those makers. - Kat
I’m an inconsistent substacker, but I have been a consistent sticker club member and have always been quite delighted by whatever I got! I’m glad you’re still out there doing art! It’s the bravest life!