A Good Witch in California

Throughout my twenties, I have ping ponged around the Southwest, Texas and California. I’m a Texan, as most of you know by now, but in the past ten years I have lived in four states, three countries and six different cities. I suppose that a part of being in your twenties is to explore, and that I have.

Two places that I keep coming back to are Austin, TX (my literal hometown) and Santa Cruz, CA (my spiritual hometown). Both of these places have a lot of history for me throughout my life. While Austin is truly a fun place to live, I have traded the hot summers for sandy beaches and redwood forests.

Moving to California always has a cost though. And I mean COST: it is not easy to be a freelance artist and pay rent when you live in paradise. Especially being in proximity to the bay area, the cost of living here in Santa Cruz is some of the highest in the nation. I have had to make some sacrifices in order to be here.

For the past eight months, I have taken a break from accepting commissions through Good Witch Quilts. It has been so weird not making quilts for the time being, but I had to go through the natural transition period when moving to a new place. I have found other employment here (the dreaded day job…) and I have even started teaching quilt making to students at the local community college (more to come on this topic soon!!)

As an artist and craftsperson, it often seems like there isn’t enough of one of three things: time, space and money. The time to be creative is essential, the space to make your art is required and the money to support yourself along the way is needed in order to be successful. Without these things, it can feel like constantly swimming upstream with no advancement.

Finally, I am feeling like I have enough of the three essential elements to open up commissions again and feel like I am honoring my role as the quilt making Good Witch. While more part time than before, I am excited to see what projects await me for the rest of the year.

So, I’m back in business! Just eight months later and 2,000 miles away.