Not Quite Ready, But Showing Up Anyway

Starting Again (With Cocoa, Kindness, and a Sketchbook)

Hi friends,

I was ordering up the Costco-sized pack of tissues and reflecting on the last month and a bit. This has been a period of grief, sickness, and life throwing lemons like it’s trying out for the majors. I lost my stepdad recently, and between that and the family getting really sick, all the momentum I had going into spring just - well - ground to a halt.

But I’m still here. And I’m starting again - one more time with feeling.

With Comic Expo just a few weeks away, I’m not where I thought I’d be, at all, and I am reminding myself that people come to my booth for more than stickers (which is fortunate because I have no new stickers). Progress can be stumbling sometimes, but small steps forward are still steps.

This week, I’m making a hot cup of cocoa, dusting off my sketchbook, and sketching something, anything, just to find the spark again. Maybe a little robot, maybe a weird plant, or maybe just a scribble. That’s enough.

If you’re also feeling behind, overwhelmed, or sad, this is your online mom giving you permission to go at your own pace. We’ll get there. And we’ll bring the magic with us.

Thanks for being here while I regroup. More soon, hopefully with more art and more color.

~ Kathleen 

p.s. I’ve quietly opened up paid subscriptions in this space. If you’d like to support my art and get a few behind-the-scenes peeks, early previews, and tiny extras along the way, I’d be so grateful. No pressure, just a cozy little corner for those who want a bit more.