More good things!

I have some exciting news to announce.

Not only was I a recipient of a BC Arts Council grant – which means I have the ability to create more awesome things, but my local MLA (Member of the legislative assembly) Rick Glumac spoke about me at the British Columbia Legislature in Victoria.

Here’s the video!

I am so grateful that my hard work was acknowledged and that he spoke up about the puzzle piece, awareness vs acceptance and used my correct pronouns.

I also wanted to announce that not only was I an independent consultant for York Universities Mental Health Literacy for Autism, but I am so pleased to show you that they chose to use my “Love Grows” image on the cover as you can see here.

If you like this design, I actually sell pins, patches and stickers with it in my etsy store!

I’ve also contributed to a few “Nothing with out us” segments on CBC’s “on the coast with Gloria Macarenko”, and i’m incredibly thankful that I have been given this opportunity.

I’ve been keeping myself as busy as possible and I will have many new items that i’ll be releasing soon and I even got my first dose of the covid-19 vaccine. I’ve been working on keeping myself hydrated and my mind in a more positive state. It’s a challenge though and I can’t wait until my family, friends and roommates are fully vaccinated.

@retr0philiac

Hopefully this makes more sense

♬ original sound – Margaux – retrophiliac

I really can’t wait to share more good things with you.

Thank you so much for supporting me and reading.

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My Enamel Pins

I am so proud to announce my newest pin design “Smiling Sun”, I can’t believe i’m up to five designs so far. This has always been a huge dream of mine and even though I haven’t sold a single sun pin yet, I feel like i’m trying to remain positive and set myself up for future successes.

I am hoping that, once Covid is a thing of a past (will that even happen?) that I will be able to participate in small festivals in Vancouver. I really think that these pins would be a huge hit.

There are many plans for the future, such as cute cat pins that I can create for charitable purposes. I have applied for some grants so fingers crossed I can get some more funding.

It also seems like the interest in my original art has completely dwindled and that the things that are selling well for me are my Neurodiversity Pride collection, my LGBTQ2+ collection, my Childfree enamel pins & my Autism identity enamel pins.

I try to remind myself that even though the interest in my merchandise and offerings has changed, that i’m still able to create whatever I want and bring more acceptance towards the Autistic community.

Here I am, wearing my Smiling Sun pin and I have themed my entire outfit based on the colours of the pins.

If you want to support me, please check out www.etsy.com/shop/retrophiliac and please share it with your friends. I thrive on word of mouth!

I’ve got those self-isolation blues!

A new piece of art – “Bright Skies”

As usual – I have been slacking when it comes to writing and updating this blog. That’s a little unbecoming and not up to the high standards I reluctantly uphold for myself.

It’s been hard and my energy has been fluctuating. There are days where I am apt to clean and tidy up my surroundings and then there are days that are spend entirely in bed, sometimes accompanied by cookies.

I’m on a constant rotation of just a few things. Netflix, napping, eating, art and a minute amount of self care. I’m trying to focus more on that because I know how important it is for my mental health.

Some tasks are more difficult than others, including running Made by Autistics Community on facebook – a task that is emotionally draining at the best of times – it puts me right in the forefront of having to maintain some order and good reading comprehension. I’m not great at the comprehension aspect and I find that keeping objects orderly versus people is already something I obsess over. Throw emotions in to the mix and I sink, real fast. I make mistakes, we all do – but there’s one thing we can choose to NOT do – and that’s call people names. I had enough of this in my past (hurled towards me with a cold blast of anger, no less) and I don’t need to be triggered.

I’m thankful I have people I can speak to who have been supportive of me because I can only take so much criticism in one day. I burn out faster than i’d like. It’s been hard not having any physical affection or the inability to see my friends and hang out in close quarters. I realize that we’re trying to do our best as a whole to stop the spread of a really horrible virus and some of the things we can do are:

1. Wash Your Hands
2. Maintain Your Distance
3. Be Nice

Three rules that could make a big difference. Hope you are staying healthy and happy!

PS. I also started a petition to make it mandatory to have ALL cosmetics be tamper-proof sealed. Could you sign it?

Raising Funds & Selling Art!

Hi Everyone, I don’t ever mean to neglect my blog but i’ve had a lot going on. I had to have a heart rate monitor on for 24 hours, so that made me feel like I couldn’t get anything done. I also did a commission for a lady of her cat in a cup, so that felt exceptionally special to do.

I’ve been moody, as usual and I was considering a neurodiverse job placement agency which now seems to have undertones of being a bit scammy, as well as being involved in receiving funding from a local Autism organization that I have spoken out in the past.

So, obviously I need income – and so many people keep telling me to list my Cats in a Cup artwork on Etsy. Etsy, overall, hasn’t been to kind to me. In the long span of having it, i’ve only made 2 sales.

I listed this piece of art here: https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/710064441/calico-cat-in-a-tea-cup-original-art-by?ref=shop_home_active_1&frs=1

and I realize that yes, it’s 150 dollars. But you must understand why:

1. The Etsy fees
2. The Paypal fees
3. Shipping + handling, this includes the cost for packaging the item + the shipping
4. Donating a portion of the proceeds
5. The cost of supplies
6. My labour

As an Artist, it’s really hard to make a sale. It’s really hard to find places to actually sell my art and as i’ve said in the past, rejection is really exhausting.

So, if you see this piece of art and might like it, or know someone who does, please share my etsy link with them! Thanks so much.

Etsy! Podcast! Radio Interview!

So excited to share some great things. I actually accomplished some tasks that were on my list.

Links are here:

Etsy

Soundcloud

Radio Interview

Interested in supporting me?

Are you interested in buying art? Do you know someone who is?

Please share! Price reflected in image is for shipping within the USA through USPS.

If you’re local to Vancouver/Surrey/Langley I have some lower priced options and I will meet up with you. Payment would be in Canadian dollars.

September 1st: New art!

-Margaux

My experience at Langley Arts Alive as an Autistic Artist

I want to start out this post by thanking Langley’s own Randy Caine, founder of Hempyz for sponsoring me by giving me the opportunity to have a booth to showcase my art and my even bigger message about being Autistic.

I got dropped off at around 8:05 and got some great help setting up the tent, table and chairs (thanks to Randy again) and then I began setting my art up . Truth be told, I have little experience (other then those two times I set up outside Arts off Main) but I focused and got myself motivated.

Nothing was priced yet. I grabbed some spiky-oval type fluorescent paper cut outs I had got from Dollarama and used some washi (rice paper tape) that was fairly low tack and folded little circles that I affixed to the corner of some of my pieces. Depending on how the art was set up, my placement varied. I had purchased them ages ago and was pleased to actually use something I bought! (Artists and crafters know this can be a rare occurrence!!)

I honestly don’t know why i’m holding my wrist in this shot, I think it was my nerves getting the best of me.

I reorganized my table several times. I did sell a few small items, magnets being the most popular. I’m not sure if i’ll want to do this kind of thing again for a few reasons but if I do I would focus more on small 5.00 items like the magnets–a proven seller. They seem to be a way to get people to display my art in the easiest way possible, displayed on their fridge!

I felt lucky to have started the conversation about Autism by having my banner up and my information signs.

If anything my sign on the left would stop people as they were walking by. I feel like I met some incredible individuals by really putting myself out there. Some of the connections I made were absolutely invaluable. Of course, with all that positivity I did hear some ones’ negative comments to their spouse while walking by, but I had to try to breathe and relax.

Another highlight was meeting my Autistic inspiration Amythest Schaber. They are responsible for making informative and insightful videos and blog posts that help educate those who are neurotypical and even those on the spectrum. I believe everyone would benefit from spending time watching the videos.

Cats were the most popular, I SHOULD HAVE FIGURED! I’m not the only Cat-obsessed weird individual out there, I suppose.

Nothing will stop me from making Art. I will NEVER stop being Autistic.

-Margaux

Another SALE!

I really want to thank my sweet buyer in Britain for purchasing my piece of Art! It really makes me feel so nice that there are people out there who enjoy the pieces my soul creates. I have been told recently that my Art made someone “sick” and I have also been told in the past that someone couldn’t talk to me or associate themselves with me because they didn’t like my art work. It’s hard but I have to focus on the positives!

I recently completed this “nameless” piece of art but it is depicting some trees, a river and a haphazard sunset or sunrise. I’m never too sure about it!

I still have some art for sale: http://retrophiliac.bigcartel.com

Happy accepting requests and commissions.

Thank you for reading and I hope you have a chance to check out some of my recent posts and connect with me on the social media links on the right hand side.

Love,

Margaux

What I wish I was doing right now….

MAKING ART! I don’t have time. I need to sleep soon. I start work at 6:30AM!

I’m selling some of my pieces! I hope you check out Retrophiliac.bigcartel.com

Thank you,

Margaux