A picture book about neurodiversity and sensory processing.
Surprise! 🥳
I am soooooooooo excited I am to be launching preorders for How it Feels to Me: a picture book about neurodiversity and sensory processing.
I’ve teamed up with Gracie Klumpp, an autistic artist, who is one of my favorite illustrators of ALL TIME!
Here is a peek at some of the concept art:
This is just the beginning so if you want to help the project come to life hop over to Indiegogo to pledge or preorder.
If you do plan to pledge please do so early. The first 24 hours are the most critical for crowdfunding campaigns and help us reach outside our personal networks.
We are also recruiting a hype team to help us spread the word. The best way to make an impact is to tell one friend who you think would love this book.
If you want to help us out click here for blurbs and images you are free to share. 💫
To protect our energy levels we are running this campaign for one week. My launch last year was two weeks and keeping that launch energy for 14 days was too much for me. (Most of you pledged the first or last day anyway so I figure what’s the point?!) 😂
That means you’re going to hear from me 2-3 time this week. It’s a book launch thing and I promise I won’t make a habit of it.
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Other bits and bobs I’d like to recommend this week.
Read
Relating deeply to ‘s archetype of the “good student” in this piece.
Check out these free art education videos from . This program is focused on social emotional learning through art is are open to schools and home educators!
And lastly…
I’m not sure a trailer had ever made me tear up before. This film is loosely based on Steven Spielberg’s life and I seem to be relating pretty deeply to his mama.
Listen
I’ve learned this week that you can purchase the soundtrack for Cozy Grove (the game I mentioned earlier this month). 🎧🥰
This music + my noise cancelling headphones = just what I needed during launch week.
This section is ann inspiration to browse and close the tabs I keep open on Safari. I am always dangerously close to the 500 tab limit. Hopefully these creative breadcrumbs offer some inspiration.
The Superb Fairy Wren is definitely magic. I discovered this bird through a sweet little video on Instagram by someone I’ve forgotten. (Do pipe up in comments if it was you!) Photo via Flickr
That’s it for now.
Thanks for all your support, always. 🥰
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I’ve had an epiphany about how I want to show up here inspired by my friend Gracie Klumpp. We’ve been exchanging voice notes about autism and neurodivergence and she suggested they would be a great podcast.
This episode is a bit of an introduction, but I hope to show up here with the same types of conversations I have with my neurodivergent friends.
I want to embrace questions and have nuanced conversations. Neurodivergence is different for everyone so perfect answers don’t really exist.
Let’s explore neurodivergent space time together.
Neurodivergent Space Time is a listener-supported podcast. To support transcription services and join the community consider becoming a paid subscriber.
Has a story to tell (would love old clothes, ties, tablecloths, pillow covers, furnishings, etc.) but living in your stash as a beloved fabric waiting to be used is also a story.
Preference to jewel tones, but may use other colors if the textures are amazing
Bonus points for vintage, but I’m also interested in raiding your sewing stash if you have something that fits!
I’m open to trading something from my hoard or I can reimburse you for shipping costs!
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A peek into my creative process and an update on my collection, “This is my Brain on Motherhood.”
I’m still recovering from my first book festival so I haven’t been making art in the studio this week. Unless you count the fun Davy and I had with these new thrifted pop beads.
Levar Burton speaking about his love for speculative fiction and Star Trek on Don’t Ask Tig,
“I believe that the storytelling that we do… is very probably the most powerful tool ever invented in the history of civilization for creating change on a societal level.”
Hopefully these creative breadcrumbs offer some inspiration.
For Readers
Built in bookshelves have been a bit of a theme for me this week.
First I learned from that Harrison Ford build Joan Didion’s bookcases. Then I saw these bookshelves on Instagram.
The takeaway? I need to learn how to build my own bookshelves. Maybe carpentry will be my big project in 2024.
For Parents
“Flamingos – both male and female – can lose their pink pigments outside of breeding season. That’s because the breeding is so intensive and so much of their food is used for their chicks. During this time their white colour basically means ‘Please leave me alone. I’m a little bit exhausted from breeding – I’ll join in the dancing later.’”
I love supporting Renaissance Souls and neurodivergent folks who are discovering their own unique ways of working. Here are all the ways you can work with me.
Here on Substack! I love connecting in comments. Or become a paying subscriber and unlock bonus content including quarterly Q&A’s.
Last week I rebranded my podcast as Neurodivergent Spacetime. I know it seems like I’m doing a lot sometimes, but this is just the way my brain works. I’ve finally realized I have to channel this energy into something or it will spin off into anxious loops.
If your natural speed is different than mine please don’t think it’s “wrong.” We all have to work in the ways that are best for us. 🥰
Cheers,
Down the Rabbit Hole is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
I’m attempting a bit of writing today while Davy “types” on his new keyboard and iPad app. Last week I attended NWA Book Fest… my first appearance as an author. Indeed my first gathering of any kind since COVID times. I wanted to take some time to share about that experience.
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Luckily I was so busy the week before I didn’t have any time to be nervous. I practiced my reading a time or two, installed the Square Up app to take credit card payments, and put my books in a box.
There was a little bit of scheduling confusion and the event was running early so I was rushed right onto stage within minutes of showing up. (Not ideal for an autistic. I’m not gonna lie.)
I also expected to be introduced and had only prepared for a reading. Somehow I managed to introduce myself and my book without rehearsal. I think its down to how often I have talked about my book online. Maybe it does get easier with practice. I wouldn’t say I’m captivating, but I did it.
Right after my reading I had a group of blogger friends show up to hear me. They just missed me because of the schedule kerfuffle, but we took a photo anyway.
Then I did a short signing and sold 4 books. 🥳
(Shout out to my friend Lori Lynn who served as my “emotional support extrovert” and helped me make small talk at my signing table.)
It was really nice to see people respond to my book in real time. One woman immediately connected my book to The Artist’s Way which completely made my day. So thankful to everyone who dropped by to take a look.
Some lessons I learned and will be adding to my self publishing course:
Print a QR code to purchase the ebook. (My hardcover is a deluxe edition and more people might have purchased the digital bundle for $20.)
Print my Venmo code. (Spelling it out did not seem to work.)
Have something to hold business cards / stickers so they don’t blow away.
Probably bring a book holder as well. The books kept tumbling off the table and one or two may be damaged. (Hit reply if you’d like to buy a damaged book for $10 off.)
Here is actual footage of me after the event. 😂
(That’s Odo from Star Trek Deep Space Nine.) It took a lot out of me.
I realized that this simple brief appearance pushed me to the edge of my capacity and I definitely should NOT sign up for longer events any time soon. (After two hours I felt the way I normally do after a whole convention. ) I believe this is due to…
More sensory overload on a daily basis from parenting.
Diminished social capacity due to socializing with my toddler 24/7. (I’m just going to call him toddler till he turns 4, ok?)
Not going to any events for 3-4 years during early motherhood / COVID times. I feel out of practice at masking and also no desire to return to that level of social performance.
Not only am I “re-entering” the world after COVID lockdowns, but I’m also learning how I want to show up as an autistic human. What does it mean to attend events without pressuring myself to mask (performing excitement, facial expressions, small talk, etc.)?
Even so I was pretty wiped out afterwards. Here is how I reset the next day:
Time alone in the studio. I laid on the daybed and watched Netflix for an hour and then made a collage.
Time with Davy in the backyard.
A long walk with a podcast.
Reading in the bath.
Playing Cozy Grove with Davy. (More on that below.)
I’m still pretty tired, but I feel more or less human again. If I hadn’t been able to take that time I would have stayed in a perpetually burned out / shut down kind of state.
I still struggle with taking time for myself as a parent, but when I do I am reminded of how powerful and restorative it can be.
Other bits and bobs I’d like to recommend this week.
Play
First off, I have rediscovered Cozy Grove. I played this a couple of years ago on my phone, but we just purchased it for the Nintendo Switch and I have been playing with Davy.
It’s a really cute and relaxing game.
You’re a scout marooned on an island haunted by (cute) bear ghosts. You run around the island finding things for them and helping them restore their memories. You can also fish and bake and craft and garden. The music and artistic style sets such an atmosphere. Have a peek.
I’ve heard it’s kind of like Animal Crossing, but in my opinion is cuter and more fun. (I tried Animal Crossing after finishing this game the first time and didn’t connect with it.)
If you’re a casual gamer and just looking for a way to relax would really recommend Cozy Grove. 🥰
I’ve invented this section as inspiration to browse and close the tabs I keep open on Safari. I am always dangerously close to the 500 tab limit. Hopefully these creative breadcrumbs offer some inspiration.
Illustration
I absolutely love this 1970’s edition of The Sword in the Stone illustrated by Alan Lee. Merlin’s cottage has always been evocative for me and this is just how I’ve imagined it.
I made this discovery while looking for images of my teacher muses to post to @teachlikeafrizzle. A few weeks later I bought a copy from ABE Books so I really don’t need this tab open anymore.
Word Nerd
Etaoin shrdlu was used as a “red flag by typesetters to show an error in text, but sometimes it was overlooked and made it into print.” It is the approximate order of frequency of the 12 most commonly used letters in the English language.” via The Dusty Wheel
Wait, this is real?
This tab was open because I saw this butterfly on Instagram and didn’t believe it was real. Fact check!
Well that was effective! Maybe I’ll do this again. What do you think?
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Thanks for reading!
I’d love to hear what you connected with and have a chat in comments.
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Hello everyone,
I’m still taking it slow recovering from the picture book campaign, but I wanted to share this podcast interview I recorded with Kiki from Heiter Magazine way back in March. It already feels like a lifetime ago.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to How it Feels to Me. I’ll be sharing more about the crowdfunding process soon and of course, sharing peeks into the creative process as the book comes to life. If you missed the campaign you can still preorder a limited edition hardcover here. Paperback preorders will come further down the line.
and I are taking some time to recharge after spending so much social energy on the campaign so I have a treat for you today. This is a podcast chat I had back in March with Kiki from Heiter Magazine.
I’ll be attending my very first book festival as a self published author this Saturday! I’ll be doing a reading and signing at NWA Book Fest and would love to see you there! It feels surreal and I’m not sure I quite believe it’s real yet.
Find all the festival information here. (Catch me on the main stage at 2:30pm).
A peek into my creative process and current works in progress.
This week I’ve had more “reaching” energy than “rooting.”
I recorded a podcast episode with Kiki from Heiter Magazine. (Coming your way in April.) Podcast interviews take a lot of energy so I am experimenting with quarterly guests this year. In the past I’ve tried weekly or monthly and that has been too much. This is part of my seasonal planning approach and slowing down to find my own pace.
I’m also undertaking a just-for-fun puppet alteration project for a Wheel of Time parody contest. I haven’t done any crafting or fan art in a really long time so this has been fun.
Also Davy is fascinated.
Maybe I’ll share a peek at that next week.
Other bits and bobs I’d like to recommend…
Watch
“I used to think that art had to begreat to be worthwhile. Now, I only think it has to be to be worthwhile.” John Green. Maybe Art Only Needs to Be. Feb 21, 2023.
Me too, John, me too.
Listen
The On Being podcast is BACK and I am loving it! These two episodes were amazing.
“The real practice of the artist is a way of being in the world.”
“It’s hard for me to finish projects because I always see the possibilities of what else we could try and I want to try everything…”
“What I came to realize is that there is a time for this open play. And it’s in those first two parts of the process, the seed phase… and experimenting.”
“By working with sensitive artists, we resonate together in that we’re feeling things that not everybody else is feeling.”
“There is no connection between the amount of time invested and how good something is.”
“The sustainable part of the practice is: start with things that are easy to do.”
Read
talks about the goal of making more money by doing less. This is an an effort to balance her health which is something I am navigating as well.
“Time spent is not the measure of worth or of value.”
I love supporting Renaissance Souls and neurodivergent folks who are discovering their own unique ways of working.
I have a growing waiting list for 1:1 sessions. If you’d like a chance to work with me as a creative coach hit reply and I’ll add you to that list. Right now I only have capacity for one session a month so spaces are limited. The wait list will be notified if a spot opens up.
Meanwhile you are welcome to jump into the Creative Ecosystem Companionship for group coaching. Join for $35 for support in making your creative process work for you.
That’s all for this week, but I’d love to know what you’re up to.
I’m playing with the structure a bit here. Trying out categories rather than themed emails. I’m also bringing back some old themes long time supporters may recognize.
A peek into my creative process and an update on my collection, “This is my Brain on Motherhood.”
This week I’m sharing a sneak peek at a 360 VR piece I made in December. I’m still working out how to share this on Instagram.
Click through below to watch on YouTube. Then you can move your phone to look all around. Tap the cog to select HD or it will load super blurry. 🫣
Click above to watch the process timelapse.
This piece was inspired by a piece of writing by Hayley Dunlop of which reminded me of doing this as a child. It was purely creative play at the time. I later revisited this process in directing class when I was asked to “completely transform the space.”
Hayley’s writing connected this memory to neurodivergent thought patterns which immediately made me want to create this with Davy.
Working alongside him added all sorts of layers – both layers of meaning – and literal pools of knots (which were never part of my previous efforts.) 😂
I also admired these shadows.
Other bits and bobs I’d like to recommend this week.
Katherine May’s podcast How We Live Now with Priya Parker – This is a chat about gathering well and drawing the lines we need around different social events and communities. I couldn’t have listened to this as a better time as I had been struggling with the Code of Conduct for my membership program and this gave me all the confidence to go with my gut. I’ve also ordered Priya’s book (affiliate link) which happens to have a gorgeous watercolor cover.
We’ve subscribed to the newspaper for the first time ever and I loved this article about artist Thaddeus Mosley.
A post shared by Sarah Shotts, Autistic Artist (@sarahdshotts)
Waiting for a quiet moment to enjoy this studio tour…
Broadway scenic designer Eugene Lee passed away this week. His work includes sets for Wicked, Sweeney Todd, and SNL (among many others!) I love his work and enjoyed this retrospective by the New York Times.
I had the pleasure of seeing Lee’s set for Wicked twice. It honestly fascinated me as much as any of the music or performance. You can see a behind the scenes peek at the process here:
My apologies if you are not able to access the articles by New York Times. I will always try to include an alternate source (like these videos) when linking to content that may be paywalled. Even if you can’t access the same articles I read I hope you can chase this rabbits down another trail. 🐇
I love supporting Renaissance Souls and neurodivergent folks who are discovering their own unique ways of working.
My focus for the year is kindling creative community.
I have two brand new membership programs which are $35 a month for a limited time. If you’re curious about either one of these hit reply and I’m happy to answer any questions.
Neurodivergent Spacetime now includes a monthly Art Club. Peer to peer therapeutic art sessions making art and meaning together. This week we will be foil embossing while reflecting on sensory experiences.
Subscribe to both with the Golden Ticket and get access to any other virtual offerings I launch this year.
Ok, that’s all for this week. I’d love to hear what you’ve been making or inspired by in comments below. ✨
I’ve been a photographer for as long as I can remember. Even as a kid I was drawn to photographing trees and birds and cowboy boots lined up beside the swimming pool. But somehow I had never tried a long term photo-a-day project.
That is until proposed a year long creative collaboration. We would exchange photos of our every day life each day for one year.
Down the Rabbit Hole is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
We started the project without a name, but very quickly found magic in the mundanity. Little moments of synchronicity between the Northwest of Arkansas and the Northeast of England.
I also noticed how well this form of connection suited my neurodivergence. The structured project soon became a container for friendship to grow. Life and art bled into each other.
Soon after we started the project my family traveled out of state for my son’s autism evaluation. And it felt like Claire was right there beside me – even an ocean away. We began to chat about the beauty and the hard things of motherhood, neurodivergence, and creativity.
The project also sharpened my artist eye. To the beauty around me. The magic in the mess. Over in the Companionship we call this creative oxygen.
It’s also become a self regulation tool. Pausing to compose a photo was just what I needed when things broke or the milk spilled (again) or the room had become a complete mess.
We talked about this a bit when I interviewed Claire on the podcast.
We’re in the final days of exchanging photos now and I can’t believe this project is coming to and end. Right now I’m working out logistics for how to curate and exhibit this work. (I’ll keep you updated.)
If you want more magic you should definitely follow Claire’s Substack. She writes about creativity, slow living, and work life balance. She recently posted her reflection of this project here:
Today I’ve recorded a chat about taking up space and my goal to submit to 100 creative opportunities – for fine art and writing.
I’ve created a little printable to share with you. I’ve made it the perfect size for those little gold star stickers. The idea is that we celebrate the effort of the submission. And that we try to disentangle the expectations and pressure on each individual opportunity and instead look at the effort as a whole.
How do you feel about the balance of rooting and reaching? Are you in a place of reaching out and connecting or regenerating and focusing on your work?
Goodies for you!
If you ever use on of my printables I’d love to know! Tag me on Instagram @sarahdshotts.
Cheers,
P.S. In a stunning turn of events 2 out of 3 of my submissions were accepted TODAY! While this doesn’t really fit within the narrative I was crafting about “slow and steady” it does show the power of putting your energy toward something. I’m feeling incredibly validated as one of these events is for my book and the other for my art. I’ll share more about these opportunities later on.
The price will possibly go up in the future. Join now to lock in the price.
FAQ
Do I have to be an artist?
No. But you probably are one.
I believe humans are all intrinsically creative. We are constantly expressing ourselves to others with words, actions, and imagery. When you do this with intention you are making art. If you’re ready to explore your creativity this is the place for you.
Will you tell me what to make?
No. This membership does not include art prompts, but is here to support whatever creative projects you are called to.
What is art?
Coming with the big questions now. 😂
My definition of art includes every creative pursuit including, but not limited to:
Traditional Handcrafts (sewing, embroidery, wood carving, etc.)
It is important to me that this is an egalitarian creative space. I hold no hierarchy between “fine art” and other forms of creative expression. If you’re making something it’s art.
What if I live in the Southern Hemisphere?
None of the prompts are specific to physical seasons such as spring, summer, autumn, or winter. This structure is suitable to both Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
I’d like to participate, but I can’t due to finances.
I have limited spots available for trade. Feel free to reach out to me directly over email or Instagram DM if you have questions about this.
