I’m not even half way through looking through Charlotte sales right now as I’m typing this sentence & I’ve found some good stuff! The main event: dollhouses! Look at my finds &…

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August 20, 2026 will hopefully provide some answers for me. I’ve been dealing with some unusual discomforts & pains since getting my gallbladder removed in November 2024, & it’s time to finally (hopefully) figure out what the issues are. Isn’t it wild to know that something is off in your body, but the tests & medical professionals say “you’re good!”? It’s kind of a crazy feeling to be honest. On top of other work things, life things, relationship things, mother things, 2026 has kind of kicked my butt. It’s also opened me up to exploring what’s next for Iris + Marie. I have ideas & some things are in the works that I won’t share now or for a while maybe. I’ve just been thinking a lot about scaling back & what that might look like. There’s some other areas of my work that I want to explore more & see what comes of it.

I’m not allowed to work today, but maybe I’ll draw a little? I’m just looking forward to finally eating a full meal again!

Please enjoy what I was working on last year – a floral painting that became an invitation & a lampshade that sits in a restaurant in NYC (The Corner Store to be exact). This exact lampshade isn’t in the restaurant, but 3 similar ones are. This one was my example for the restaurant group to approve.

I guess I took some photos to share on insta of my recent spreads. They’re pretty good!! My favorite spreads are the mini motifs, blue & orange & hummingbirds. I remember going back to the mini vignettes page day after day, perfecting the concepts & meticulously jotting down my color palette for each. It felt like a true study, which I don’t normally do & certainly don’t make the time for now.

I wish I could remember the type of paint I used for the hummingbirds. I’m assuming acrylic gouache, but it’s such a unique color palette for me. One of my most favorite items on the spread is the way I wrote in the date. It’s clever in my opinion & I love the floral. Some of the bird perspectives are really nice, particularly the bottom right with the florals. I need to try that again.

I also really enjoyed filling a page & I’m impressed with my color palette choices. Today I feel like I get stuck in a set palette that I know works & is made up of colors I love, but maybe it’s time for me to branch out a little.

Look at this little girl in the studio! This contraption is what we called her “office.” She went to work everyday but didn’t bring any money home.

Josie was so squishy & silly at this age. Miss this!

Hope you enjoyed this tiny blast from the past. It’s wild how quickly things go by that just seemed like the other day.

TAKEAWAYS:

I’d love to pick hummingbirds back up & paint another swan motif. I was talking with a friend the other day about this – it seems like I get into creating one motif or idea, then don’t pick it up again because I’ve already done it. Anyone else one & done with their work?

I’m not the best when it comes to keeping up with personal projects, not gonna lie to you. I’m currently learning how to do this myself, so why not learn along with me?

The good thing is, I have picked up a personal project again that I’m very excited about! I’m so excited about it that I wish I could push work aside & work on it alone! The project you ask? A painted paper mache / cardboard village.

The project was supposed to be for my daughter & I started it either when I was pregnant or right after she was born, I can’t remember exactly. The goal was to make a mobile for her & then let her play with them when she grows up. I’ve decided that the village is for me now & will be for her when she’s older & won’t crush them.

I love putz houses & have a small collection that I set out on our mantle at Christmas. I got the idea for the mobile for my love of vintage putz houses & decided I wanted to make my own. When I first started painting them, I would sit on my couch after putting our girl to bed & would paint straight from the tube. Anything to get my hands moving & paint flowing. I was determined to continue creating for myself even if it was for a tiny amount of time. Well, that notion has been lost over the past year or so. It’s hard to keep creating at the end of the day when my whole day was filled with creating for clients. 2026 had kind of kicked my butt as far as client work goes, & finding the time just for me has been tough while also raising a toddler.

All this to say, I’m feeling a spark come back. I’m feeling the drive to pick up these putz houses again, which is fantastic! I also think it’s because I have a small lull in my client work which is allowing me the time to create for funzies. Also, my tarot card reader told me to slow down so that’s what I’m trying to do.

Hope you enjoy a look at my house progress! Please share any ideas, feedback, etc. so I can add more magic to my little village. & also share what your personal project is right now, or what you want it to be. Are you also struggling creatively? I see you if so!

Next on my personal project list: finish painting my front door. Photos to come!

SUPPLY LIST:

Putz Houses

1. Amazon

2. Walmart

3. Factory Direct Craft

Acrylic Gouache - Holbein

Gesso - Golden Acrylic Gesso

Brushes

1. The Pigeon Letters

2. ProArte, Emma Block

3. Princeton Heritage

Palette

1. Enamel Butcher Tray

2. Ceramic Palette