ELECTRIC SUN CREATIVES
by sarah perez
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Can’t believe it. 29 pieces went up for the shop update yesterday and 3 are left. I feel the love and I’m grateful! T H A N K Y O U. It’s always interesting seeing what pieces go first. I love watching it unfold — “oh! That one was snatched first! Cool.” I get such a kick out of it. I love them all —I wouldn’t put them out into the world if that weren’t so— but there are ones, like the above, that feel like magic because they came together so sweetly.
I need a little more time to prepare for this big shop update. Was planning on today, but I need a smidge more time! It’s going to be a big one. Mailing list friends, expect an email Thursday. 😘
The first day of the Still We Rise auction is tomorrow! It will run from December 11th - 18th, featuring hundreds of makers, artists, brands and shops offering their amazing items and experiences to raise awareness and money for the crisis at the border. 100% of every dollar benefits @fams2gether and @circleofhealth to help with their critical work on the ground to keep families together and fight for those who need us most. This mobile will be up for auction. Thank you for the work of @_stillwerise in bringing us all together— to stand up for treating each human as dearly-loved and worthy of dignity. Artwork: @rajovilla
Cracked hands, full heart. L E S S O N S L E A R N E D : Running your own creative business in this Instagram age can look as if making for a living is always sexy, always fulfilling, and done with ease. And a good chunk of the time it is. I think makers and creative business owners wouldn’t be doing what they do, if it weren’t rewarding and so sweet to use your brain & hands to birth something into the world. But, what I want to highlight is that my creative business isn’t without grit, determination and a bit of sacrifice (worthy-sacrifice). In order to finish a large order this week, there were two days that I didn’t sleep for a whole 24 hours. I saw the sun rise twice, as I was sanding or coating or piecing the work together. There was work to be done, with a lack of time, and if I didn’t do it, it simply wouldn’t get done. —Hard work and determination are how things get done. It’s not a magical recipe. You just gotta do the work ...what I’ve found is that doing it with minimal complaining & loads of gratitude is key. Working on it. My prayer this week: “Thank you for these hands and this heart.” —Now, let’s sleep.
The online S H O P U P D A T E will be this Wednesday, the 12th. Pieces will ship in time to be gifts for the holidays. My mailing list will get first dibs!
This guy right here — I couldn’t and wouldn’t want to do this whole thing without him — this life thing, creativity thing, business thing. All of it. We always look forward to @westcoastcraft — creating the booth, seeing old friends, meeting new ones and just being in the same room as all of the creative goodness that WCC contains. So grateful. Photo: @jackipotorke
W E S T C O A S T C R A F T What a beautiful first day! Almost half way sold out of what I brought! We have an hour left to go today & will be back again tomorrow — 10 to 6 I adore ya, @westcoastcraft.
new new new — in zee shop! When I took my shop break and focused on reconfiguring things, I knew I wanted to create margin to playfully create again. With the made-to-order, on-demand model previously I hardly picked up driftwood or had time to think of new work. I love working in this new way, with limited shop releases and more one-of-a-kind pieces.
Remember that time I accidentally deleted this account & was showered with such kindness in response? Yeah, I’m still drinking from that well of sweet water. still.so.grateful.
Balance & motion. I can’t get enough of this stuff!
I have two wonderful opportunities for you to see what I do in person this upcoming season — @westcoastcraft on Nov 17 + 18th in SF & a showing at the warehouse of my pal @alibiinteriors on Dec 1st, with a whole host of rad makers in Aptos (near Santa Cruz!) h o p e t o m e e t y o u !
Hi friends — Been mia, trying to be super present in my daily life + I’m working on something N E W. Working in a new medium, doing something I’ve never done before, is hard stuff. There’s a definite learning curve and all my people know that this is how I typically operate: try to find the quickest, most effective way to get from point A to point Z. But with this, I feel stuck at point T, U & V. I see that big picture (point Z! That finished product!) & I want it! I keep telling myself: “patience, dear one” as I get more tools in my tool belt. I’m trying to take cues from my husband (who’s launching his shop soon— @bikemonk). He is a detail person, who allows himself the space to carefully and methodically go through all the steps in order to master the thing he wants to do. It’s hard, but I’m trying. Can you relate?
The shop is live again and everything feels exciting & hopeful. Here’s to health and sustainability in how I do things going forward. 🥂
Pt. 2 of my previous post — My goal in this new season of making is to operate less like a machine — constantly pumping out editions of designs was heading me towards burnout. I was grateful for the work and to create with my hands, but my fingers were tired. So tired. This will be a slightly slower, more beautiful season. And I have time to work with driftwood! Hooray! Deets for the shop re-launch in the last post.
This past weekend @bikemonk and I, along with some pals of ours, set out on a 64 mile round trip backpacking expedition to find Mt. Goddard (my maiden name). It’s the same trip my Dad, Uncle and Papa set out on years ago. As some of you know, my dad took his life 9 years ago. He was one of my biggest supporters & cheerleaders. He was warm, loving, creative and adventurous — all the things I strive to be. This Mt. Goddard trip was in memory of him and my Papa, but also because I crave the outdoors, like he did. The trip was balm to my soul. So grateful for these gems for helping it to be the sweetest time: @bikemonk @jackipotorke @myshuttermouth @yr_turn and @oldmanwerthers. It’s pertinent that we would take this trip this past weekend, one weekend before the Out Of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk and during September, which is suicide prevention month. This weekend my family and I will be walking in Sacramento, to honor my dad and to recognize the struggle. The walk serves to raise awareness and funds that allow the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to invest in new research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss. This walk symbolizes hope to me. That we’re talking about it and we’re doing something about it— whatever we can. I haven’t had the wherewithal to talk about this in preparation for the walk (grief is weird like that), but now’s the time. If you would like to join me monetarily, the link for my team is in my profile. If you’re in Sacramento and want to join, see you at the Capital on Saturday. Registration starts at 9 am & the walk is from 10-12:30 pm Love you friends ❤️ Photos by the amazing: @jackipotorke
Attention sweet people! The shop is currently CLOSED, as I catch up on orders and switch things up. This whole 3 week turnaround time is not cutting it — not only is it a bummer for you, but it hasn’t been enough time for me. I’m constantly behind these days. My pal @younginthemountains has been the raddest example recently of what it looks like to take hold of your creativity and business by switching things up, so I’m following her lead by making this whole thing run smoother, with less stress and more joy. I’ll be announcing what it all looks like soon. Shop reopening — TBD As always, grateful for you!