Creative Updates from the Art Room

The last week or so has been filled with a little bit of everything — art, organizing, brainstorming, filming, journaling, and really just trying to build a creative life one small step at a time.

One of my favorite things recently has been working on my traveling journal flip-through video. Which I uploaded to YouTube today. After months of passing journals from artist to artist, my journal finally made its way back home. Sitting down and slowly turning those pages felt like opening a tiny time capsule filled with creativity, memories, textures, and stories from other artists. Every page was so different, and it reminded me why I love collage and mixed media so much in the first place. There’s something really special about seeing how many ways paper, paint, and imagination can come together.

I’ve also been spending a lot of time thinking about the future of Darlyssa Designs and how I want everything to connect together — YouTube videos, handmade journals, collage projects, art kits, workshops, and eventually some new things I’ve been quietly planning behind the scenes. I’m trying to build things slowly and intentionally this time instead of rushing through ideas before they’re fully ready.

Over on YouTube, I’ve continued working on Master Board Mondays, turning old or unfinished backgrounds into completely new projects. That process has kind of mirrored real life lately. Sometimes things don’t turn out the way we imagined at first, but with a few new layers, a little patience, and a willingness to keep going, something beautiful still appears underneath it all.

I’ve also been enjoying more storytelling in my videos lately. I feel a little more comfortable being myself and talking as I create. I’m finding that my favorite moments happen naturally while I’m creating — talking about family, life changes, organizing my art room, creative struggles, old memories, the bipolar South Florida days, and the everyday moments happening around the art itself. I think that’s where the heart of all of this really lives.

Behind the scenes, I’ve been organizing ideas for future journals, printable collections, handmade projects, and some cozy creative experiences I hope to share soon. I’m not quite ready to reveal everything yet, but I will say I’m very excited about the direction things are heading.

More than anything, I’m learning that building a creative business isn’t just about making art. It’s about building systems, routines, habits, courage, consistency, and finding ways to create a life that feels meaningful while bringing others along for the journey.

So if you’ve been following along lately — thank you. Whether you watch the videos, leave comments, visit the website, or simply stop by quietly now and then, I appreciate you more than you know.

There’s a lot more coming soon.

— Christine
Darlyssa Designs