Monthly Charlie’s Playground: October 2025
Between art fair prep, color separation chaos, and an emotional Peachtober exit, October was wild—but full of good lessons.
October is already over! Whether it’s your first time reading and you don’t know where to start, or you’ve been too busy to check in every day, here are this month’s Charlie’s Playground highlights.
🌟 Top 3 Illustrations of the Month
I joined the Peachtober illustration challenge until the 19th—and here are my top picks from that batch!
🎪 My Favorite Post of the Month
"Our First Art Fair: So Fun I Want to Do It Again!" (October 26)
On October 25, I participated in an art fair for the very first time!
Originally, the plan was to join as a support sidekick on half a table for my husband’s work—but then, a miracle happened the day before: we got a full table! Which meant I got to display my own work not just as a bonus, but as one of two full-fledged artists! What a game-changer!
💭 Most Memorable Phrase I Wrote
“I think it’s time to reassess my priorities.” — October 20
That phrase came up during my October 20th blog post.
At the time, I was trying to push forward everything at once—Peachtober, Osusowake Club illustrations, and a custom message card project for a friend. But during my usual morning journaling, an anxious voice inside whispered:
“If I keep this up, none of the projects will turn out well.”
So I took a deep breath and decided to rethink my priorities. And I’m so glad I did! Now, I’m making designs I’m proud of, feeling calm, and enjoying the process again. Big hugs to past-me for knowing when to pause.
✏️ Author’s Note
October turned into full-on production mode.
I kicked off the month with Peachtober, thinking it’d be manageable alongside Osusowake Club prep… but then reality hit. Some unexpected print issues sent me into emergency Risograph re-education mode, and a surprise message card commission from a friend kept me hopping.
At one point it got overwhelming, but pausing to reassess what truly mattered helped me re-center.
More than posting every day, I realized what really counts is taking the time to thoughtfully design and deliver work I’m proud of—especially for the people who genuinely love my illustrations. That’s what will build my career long-term.
The final printing happens tomorrow, so fingers crossed!
I've fixed the weak spots and feel like I’m finally about to birth something I’m truly happy with.
In November, I’ll be sending out the Osusowake packages… and maybe even taking a tiny break to soak in some Chicago holiday cheer. 🎄☃️