The Garden of Enchanted Creatures

Hello to all my patient backers—Your patience has been a blessing during this lengthy journey to complete our project.

The artwork is on track to be completed by the end of Winter (early March).

When I embarked on the Garden of Enchanted Creatures Tarot deck, I intended to devote myself entirely to its creation. However, life threw a few curveballs, and I found myself needing to secure a steady income to manage my financial obligations. In November, the harsh reality hit that I couldn't cover my mortgage or the payments on a high-interest loan I had taken out to buy back my creative freedom from my previous publisher. After many heartfelt discussions and quite a few tears, I made the tough decision to sell my home in Seattle—the home I hoped would be my safety net for retirement, given I am an artist who lives project to project, and I don't have a 401k.

In December, my kiddo and I packed up and moved to a rental house on San Juan Island. My child was willing to uproot their life in the middle of their first year of high school—only if the new place was worth it, meaning in the woods or by the water and significantly less than my Seattle mortgage. My real estate agent advised against listing the house in December, suggesting we wait until the end of January, as it's one of the best times to sell in Seattle. My house goes on the market next week!

I'm sharing all of this with you because my priority is to focus on creating, and I will do what it takes to finish this deck and get back into the place of stability I had before buying the house. Selling the house is a step towards relieving financial pressures and dedicating more time to the artwork for this deck and my kiddo!

Since moving to this enchanted island, surrounded by foxes, deer, owls, and ravens, and with a desk overlooking the Salish Sea, I've found true inspiration. (I am still in shock that we live here, and it is so much less than living in Seattle). Our home is nestled against a mossy forest that feels nothing short of magical. Here, ideas flow, and I can visualize the cards before they are created. This peace and inspiration come from being in a place of beauty and less stress, not from the pressure to produce.

Below are some new cards I've completed here on the island. With the tranquility I've found, I expect to complete the artwork by the end of this Winter.

Thank you for your understanding and unwavering support. 

It means more than words can express.

MJ