The 100 day project - starts Jan. 31 - 100 days of landscapes

Posted by Beth Cyr Kroh on

I've been thinking about the 100 day project since I found out just the other day it moved from starting in Apr to Jan. 31st! I panicked a bit as I wasn't sure the timing was great, but I love doing it and loved hearing from friends that are thinking about it. Picking a project really gets my creative juices going and I love talking about potential projects with other people.

For me, doing the thing every day for 100 days is important. Skipping a day or two is not a big deal, but my goal is to do a thing every day. (Other people may have a different goal and taking 120 days to do 100 days of a project may work better for them)

I have a few rules when choosing a project:

*Flexible! Too rigid and there will be too many days it can't get done and then I'll get behind and since doing the thing every day is what is most important to me, I need to be flexible. It also needs to be something I can do at home and not just the studio.
*Broad topic - Allows for growth (which really is ultimately my goal!)
*Defined minimum - easiest thing I'll count
*Special hashtag - mostly for fun. I like to use a unique hashtag that hasn't been used.

-This year I've picked 100 days of landscapes - any landscape, any medium (drawing, painting, printmaking, jewelry, pottery, photography or anything else)

-My minium will be a tiny sketch or a photograph I took that day.

-Other guidelines: Can be for sale or not. They may include custom pieces. I'll count starting a landscape, working on a landscape or finishing a landscape. It won't need to be started and finished on the same day because that just doesn't work with some of my processes. But in general I do want to either start, or finish, one each day but that is a flexible goal. If I finish 2 in one day, I may count one the next day but only a few times! haha!

-Posting is kind of the hardest part. I'll post to stories most days (maybe not weekends) and make a highlight. I have a feeling I'll be posting these to my feed a lot and may do away with my IG feed pattern I've had for years... 😬

-What to do for a hashtag? Suggestions? BCyrKrohLandscapes? 100scapesofland?


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Important holiday shipping info

Posted by Beth Cyr Kroh on

As I’m sure many of you know, there are massive shipping delays for a lot of people and not just USPS. 

There never really have been guarantees with shipping but even less so now. Even if I ship by a certain date, there is a chance that your package will not arrive when you would like it to.  First class packages are definitely being delayed the most, but priority packages are also taking quite a bit longer. 

I would say this a good opportunity to release attachment to a specific outcome! Do presents REALLY need to be there by a certain date? You can always print out a photo or make a cute drawing and wrap that. Get creative! Because if you’re shopping online this year, you’re probably going to have packages that are delayed. 

I tend to be more conservative in my estimates, but I would not plan on any first class mail being delivered in under 7-10 days depending on location. For priority I would plan for a week. 

For hope of delivery by Dec 25th - anything after Dec 14 should be shipped Priority. Anything after the 17th - Express. I’m not sure anything shipped after the 21st would arrive in time unless you live in WA.

It’s a bummer for many small online business that the service we rely on the most is utterly overwhelmed. I tend to have lovely understanding customers, but a lot of customers blame the seller as if we have any control over what happens once the package has left our hands. Anyway, that’s my long winded shipping announcement. My advice, don’t care when something is actually received. Hope for the best, but expect delays.

Sending lots of love this holiday season. 

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Gift From The Universe 2020 edition

Posted by Beth Cyr Kroh on

Anonymously gift a piece of art to a loved one! Choose the design, enter their address and I ship directly to them, no charge to you (limit of 1 free print per customer - shipping is free only in the US)

This year's Gift From The Universe project is a little different. Instead of a mystery piece of artwork, there are two design options, or there is an option for me to choose for you (because I know making a choice is sometimes difficult). All prints are 5 x 7, frame not included.

Each print will include the message card shown in the last photo. It says:

A Gift From The Universe - You have been anonymously gifted this artwork so that when you see it you will be reminded that you are loved beyond words.

  • Choose your design, or I can choose for you
  • Free option - 1 per customer
  • Pay option - choose as many as you want, add to cart separately 
  • Include recipient name and address as I will be shipping directly to them

If ordering more than 1, please make sure to include addresses for each of the recipients. Two (or more) could be sent to the same person with 1 being free and others paid - please clarify in the note to seller box if either of these apply to your order. Thanks!

 

Orders will be shipped within 1 week of ordering, tracking info will be sent to the email provided. The return address says Gift from the Universe and is my PO Box.

Free options will be available through Giving Tuesday, Dec. 1, or while supplies last. There will be a minimum of 100 free prints available and potentially more if more donations are received.

Did you know you can make any item purchased in my shop a Gift From The Universe? Simply add this listing to any order. 

Want to help sponsor the project and just make a donation? That would be lovely and can be done through this listing.

 

Each print is hand signed by the artist. The gold metallic is added by hand after printing.

They are printed on archival, acid free paper- 100% cotton, cold press natural (no whiteners) - it matches the paper I use for most of my original drawings. And cotton is a more sustainable, eco friendly alternative to wood pulp.

Printed in my studio with an Epson SureColor p800 with UltraChrome HD ink

Need ideas of who to send one to - here are some specific examples from last year:

  • Estranged family member
  • An overworked healthcare worker
  • Child's teacher
  • Single mom doing it all
  • Friend going through a divorce or a just a rough time
  • Teenager struggling with depression
  • Someone who just needs to know they're loved

Background Story:

Background story of the Gift From The Universe project: It started last year when I wanted to do something other than a Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale. Gift giving can be filled with so many mixed emotions. At the core, I believe giving a gift is a way to show love, but it can be overshadowed by obligation, guilt and expectation. There is so much pressure to buy things around the holidays, and sadly the message is often that bigger and more expensive means more love. If you've ever been the recipient of an expensive, thoughtless gift, you know that is not the case. Or maybe you've been on the other side when someone expects you to get them something and you just buy something random even when you can't afford it (This was me for many years). Participating in this project is a way to give love without the concern for cost, without the need for recognition or reciprocation. It is a free art print sent directly to the recipient and includes the note shown above.

With everything that has happened this year, it feels more important than ever to send a big dose of love out in to the world. So many of us are feeling alone and battling anxieties and depression, feeling locked up in our homes and minds. It can be easy to feel like no one cares. We all need reminders from time to time that we are loved and that we matter. And not just by another human, but by something much greater. The recipient won't know who sent it, even the return address just says A Gift From the Universe.

FAQ

Is it really free? Yes! I donate the prints and my time, sponsors have covered the shipping cost.

Can I send more than one? Yes, but my ask is that each customer only sends 1 free one - you can pay for as many as you'd like.

I don't know the address of the recipient, will you just mail it to me? Part of the project is that it is anonymously sent directly to the recipient. So for the free one, it needs to be mailed to someone else.

Can I send it to someone that I live with? Yes! Just make sure the recipient's name/name with the shipping address, is different than the your name/buyer's name.

 

 

 

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Inktober 2020 - Starts today!

Posted by Beth Cyr Kroh on

I'm excited for the upcoming inktober drawing series. It starts today! Sign up for my newsletter to get the daily updates. 

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Equinox Special - Space and Time buy one get one offer + new meteorite pieces

Posted by Beth Cyr Kroh on

Happy New Moon time! In celebration of the Autumnal Equinox, I'm having a special on my Space and Time series starting today. I've expanded my offerings and now have 11x14 available as well as 4 new designs listed. I'm really excited about the new larger size and feel like 11x14 is just right. I especially love it in a collage mixed with the smaller sizes.

Sale details: Buy any 8x10 or larger and get a 5x7 for free. Mix and match any designs in the Space and Time series. Use code Equinox2020 - add an 8x10, 8.5x11 or 11x14 to your cart with a 5x7 and the 5x7 will show up as free once the code is added. Buy a few for yourself and have a few gifts ready to give for the holidays. I know it seems far away, but with the way this year has been, it's going to be here before you know it.

Sale ends Sept 22nd (midnight PST) - Equinox + Libra season!


Astral Collection
- The meteorites have been calling again and I'm excited to be adding to the astral collection. I have quite a few ideas for new offerings for the holidays - including pre-orders of pendants and custom sized rings. Here is one of the newest pieces that is ready to ship. It's so magical. I'll be adding new ready to ship meteorite pieces consistently over the next couple of months.

 

Side notes:

* I'm still working on getting ring prices raised to meet the drastic increase in metal cost. It's a tedious affair and is taking me a long time to get them all updated. I just like for people to know that if they're looking at something, the price might be changing (or has recently been changed)

* I have a list of things I'm working on for holiday time. If there is something in particular you're thinking you would like, please let me know.

Lots of love and big virtual hugs,

Beth

 

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