My Enamel Pins

Posted on March 4, 2021 by M

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!

Life would be so much easier…

Posted on August 18, 2019 by M

..If I didn’t wear my heart on my sleeve.

It’s so hard for me to read people, I know — i’ve written about this in the past, but it’s the truth.

I am vocal about being Autistic because my inability to connect with people is rooted in my neurodiversity. Now, i’m not saying it’s a bad thing (but it definitely can be).

I am still figuring out where my place is in the world and how I can integrate myself more seamlessly in to the environment around me and it’s not going well.

I don’t understand intent from others. I have been taken advantage of or put in situations that I believe will have a favourable outcome, but they don’t. It’s generally the other party who is interested and I go along with what is happening. I meet someone, spend time with them and then afterwards feel incredibly remorseful during my reflection of what just happened.

A lot of the time it can simply be the energy that I sense from others, i’ve been told before I am a “sensitive” and I don’t know the validity of that label, however what I do know is that I tend to repeat scenerios in my head. The more I seem to do this, the worse I feel. It’s the anxiety (once again) propelling me to a very dark place I didn’t want to go.

I have been getting back in to the dating pool and it has been incredibly draining for me. I don’t think i’m going to continue. I put my heart and soul in to everything I do and it tends to make me feel objectified. I am so eager to get to know people and learn their quirks, but I can’t say that it’s been easy trying to find people who understand me. They see me for one thing and that’s it. Also, identifying as non-binary puts a whole other wrench in to that situation because I am viewed as strictly female.

So, I deleted the dating apps and i’m done with that. I am not going to put myself through that hurt anymore. It’s time I focus on myself, my art, my writing, my advocacy work and OBVIOUSLY cats (because, hello, life is incomplete without them!)

Life always throws something my way, I feel like i’m always trying to decipher a code that I can’t crack.

Be kind; for I am fragile.

Couples Photos with Sydney!

Posted on April 4, 2018 by M

My Boyfriend Justin and I were fortunate enough to win a couples photoshoot from Sydney of Sydney’s Snaps Photography. I was enamoured by her work and was very excited! We decided on Gastown in Vancouver, BC for the location. Gastown has great significance in our romantic relationship: it’s where we met just over 6 years ago.

Sydney was able to capture the best of us. She gave us great direction and knew all the best locations! It was a truly great experience and something I won’t soon forget. I would hope you take the chance to check out Sydney’s other work and her facebook page.

-Margaux

Socially Inept.

Posted on December 30, 2017 by M

There are plenty of us who are able to express ourselves and plenty who can not. I always hope when I share my stories that I am able to speak from deep within. It’s incredibly humbling when I receive messages of support.

To know that there are people out there who find what I say relatable and comforting is wonderful.

With everything that has been going on in the Autistic community, primarily those who have chosen to speak for us/at us without being Autistic, I feel that much more compelled to share the experiences that have shaped me.

I feel fragile and lonely at times. I wear my heart on my sleeve and I am still growing, changing and evolving. I realize that the sentiment “be kind” can be so much more. Hold the door open, say hi to someone! Maybe even practice random acts of kindness? The simplest acknowledgement can really brighten a human’s day.

Love,

Margaux

To 2018 & beyond!

Posted on November 30, 2017 by M

I feel so incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to have had 11 brands share their products with me to review.

I have always had lofty goals with having a platform to express myself and connect with likeminded individuals.

Things i’ve accomplished this year:

Focused on my blog
Ran two contests
Got a new job
Got a second cat

Things I plan to accomplish next year:

Gain press passes to events
Review films
Work with more brands/companies
Establish a media creation program for those who are differently abled
Network with those who can empower me and support my journey

I’m honestly so excited. I can’t wait to see what surprises are in store for me and for all of you. If you have any ideas or suggestions, i’m all ‘ears’, or shall I say ‘eyes’?

David Cassidy

Posted on November 24, 2017 by M

David Cassidy was more to me than just a star of days gone by. He was handsome, charisma and talent rolled in to one. His album “Rock Me Baby” was the soundtrack to my teenage years. I would spin that record over and over again. It never got old or stale. The sense of warmth I got from his music can only be described as hair-raising, goosebump-inducing auditory pleasure.

I like to remember him as the young adult he once was and will be remembered for. His beautiful voice, his ability to transcend generations and his captivating spirit and passion was the ticket to his success.

From what i’ve read, he wanted to be a serious actor and earn the much coveted trophies and accolades to go with it. His career turned out to be much different.

Perhaps he harboured resentment.

I’m certain the amount of people who can truly say that their lives were enhanced by his visual and auditory contributions, well, they’re probably much more then I can fathom.

I’m writing this at 5:02 in the morning. I was awake in my bed and started “writing” this out in my head and I couldn’t take it anymore. It was eating away at me since his passing. I’ve been doing my own mourning. I didn’t write much about it before today. Those who know me, know how much of an impact he’s made on my life.

When I started really trying to propel my art further in to the world, I would always mention him as an inspiration. I don’t think those who interviewed me could grasp the idea that an actor, a singer, a personality like his, could inspire visual art.

I feel as though when I listen to his music and watch his shows that I am interpreting the vibes I get and, in turn, getting it all on canvas. Art is art. Art can truly make other art happen if you let it, and boy, did I ever. I was on a roll for years and his music was a constant source of happiness for me.

I know he battled his demons and i’m not here to glorify his addiction or even the way he treated himself and his family. I’m most certainly not. I can say I have ideas of what it’s like to be hurt by others and it’s a very horrible feeling… but I can admire those who leave something good in the world and have some kind of legacy. It’s humbling to know that his family came together in his final moments and that there was closure.

I’ll always remember him fondly.