TheCottageFairy

“For me, as for all children, the world could have come to seem a scary place to live. But I felt secure with my parents, and they let me know we were safely together whenever I showed concern about accounts of alarming events in the world. There was something else my mother did that I’ve always remembered: ‘Always look for the helpers,’ she’d tell me. ‘There’s always someone who is trying to help.’” - Fred Rogers (quoting H. James)

I usually like to keep the world beyond arms reach on this channel, and I plan to do that, but I did want to make one exception today to speak to those who are experiencing challenging times. Indeed, so many people in my life are full of fear with what is happening in my country right now. My Hispanic mother now needs to go everywhere with a passport to avoid getting questioned, my friends are terrified of being left without a job, local families that rely on public services are suddenly out of options. Older people at the grocery store have told me that I should speak to my baby in ‘American’ instead of sharing my Spanish language with him, which has been heartbreaking for him to witness at just 10 months old. It’s a scary and uncertain time for so many. I wanted to reach out to you with an open heart and send all my love ❤️

If you have felt overwhelmed lately, I encourage you to practice mindfulness. Sometimes that is all I can do when big emotions overtake me, to welcome my mind and soul to just be: to take away for a while the burden of scrolling, of absorbing endless information, of racing thoughts...
It’s a practice and not always easy to do, but in my own experience as a sensitive soul, it’s crucial to survive in a messy world.

I have a little fairy in my life who is growing stronger each day, and shows me that there is goodness and love and wonder around every corner, and that I need to be brave enough to seek it out even when it’s easier to lose hope and despair. I don’t want to choose the easy way, I want to be a ‘helper’ who continues to fight for a better world ❤️ until the very end.

Keep shining your light ✨

P.S. A few announcements since I’ve been away ⬇️
🍄For all those kind souls who have been messaging me on my Etsy shop: while I unfortunately am not able to sell physical artwork at this time, I do have some ebooks for download available that I hope will be enjoyed and bring some moments of peace. It was the best I could do for the time being - I continue to be active on Patreon and hope to come back to YouTube someday🥰
www.etsy.com/shop/TheCottageFairyArt
www.patreon.com/c/bythecottagefairy

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3

3 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 9,987

TheCottageFairy

Though I am not active here at this time, I wanted to pop in momentarily to just send some kindness out into the world (as there is a lot of turmoil in my country at this time). In my videos I’ve always tried to practice loving kindness despite my own flaws and shortcomings - this has always been my message, one that transcends all belief systems. So… I am sending out a big hug to everyone today ❤️ to quote a sweet movie (The Hobbit): “It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”

I am so proud of all the efforts of my local community to protect wild lands despite so many who continue to harm it.
I am so proud of my neighbors who have chosen to spread good cheer to everyone, including those who are different from them.
I am proud of all the small acts of loving kindness people do each day. I am proud of being Puerto Rican and hope each and every one of you can take a moment to value your unique personal history and who you are. My wonderful family has raised me with one motto: let love alone speak, and you will make the world a better place just by being in it ❤️

Sometimes I walk through my forests and am sad that we do not value our trees and the beauty of our world more… that we are not able to be more kind to one another. But there are many who are doing good, we must have the eyes to see it. Take care all you lovely souls ❤️

As aforementioned to anyone wondering about my absence, I am active on patreon and have finally created the audiobook of my new story The Woods and Wisp. It has been a cozy and loving space that I am enjoying during this intense first year of motherhood. I will see you again someday in the future.

5 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 15,437

TheCottageFairy

Hello everyone! So, I am struggling to run this channel and keep up my little Etsy shop while being a new mama. So, at long last - I am clearing out my Etsy shop and permanently downsizing for the foreseeable future. I am running a sale that is available to US and International patrons ❤️ this is due to the fact that I am retiring the majority of my art pieces and will not be bringing them back to my shop (with a few exceptions). I hope to re-open at a future date with a drastically smaller selection, including an audiobook I’m working on of my children’s book: The Woods and Wisp ☺️. I am bittersweet about this decision, but I hope it will make way for new things and guide me in finding a better balance with motherhood and work. I have appreciated all your encouragement of my artistic passions, while I currently am not able to paint very much, I hope downsizing will give me a little bit more time to do so. Thank you for your kindness and understanding as I muddle my way through through this new chapter 🌸 I’ve shared some videos on Patreon talking about this shift in my life and I plan to make a video on YouTube updating you on what daily life and routines looks like now, hopefully to encourage and comfort all of those going through big changes as well. So much to adjust, but worth it 🌿 sending you all love and light, thank you for being here. It means the world 🥰

My Etsy shop clear-out sale: www.etsy.com/shop/TheCottageFairyArt

7 months ago | [YT] | 7,749

TheCottageFairy

I come alive in the spring! I wanted to say a huge thank you for all the outpouring of love and kind words that have come my way lately, I’ve been reading so many incredible messages that have encouraged and helped me manage my fears as I move into an unknown chapter of life! 🥰 I’ve been trying to reply to them all but I also wanted to just say thank you as I may not be able to catch up in time. The jitters have hit me and husband as we make final preparations. We did a little QnA together a while ago that I finally got to editing so it will be posted soon on YouTube 🥰

1 year ago | [YT] | 8,380

TheCottageFairy

My Etsy shop is closing until further notice at the end of the month 🌸 I didn’t think I’d cry (I’m probably a bit overly emotional right now haha) it’s a very good but hard decision ❤️ I’ve had my shop open for years and closing it until further notice is a lot to take in, I hope to re-open it after baby and I are more settled into our new lives together, but I’m not sure when that will be, or if that will be. We shall see how life goes, and try to not make plans 🥰 I’m trying hard to embrace the fact that planning ahead too much without knowing the future can backfire, so I’m trying to be like the wind and water, and flow as the days move by 🙏 accepting what they bring. Thank you all so much for allowing me to paint and create art for three years!
www.etsy.com/shop/TheCottageFairyArt

1 year ago | [YT] | 8,504

TheCottageFairy

I thought it would be good to take just a couple photos as keepsakes for our family album. We are in the last two months now, and I’m very uncomfortable to be honest haha! I’ve had some people online share some friendly concerns as to the fact that my belly is not very big 😂 I think it’s easy to not realize when you see me in a video, but I’m actually a rather tall lady, about 6ft when I wear my hiking shoes. Sometimes when I’ve meet subscribers in person I’ve been a bit worried I’ll intimidate them by towering over them haha (pretty sure I’ve startled some people when I’ve come upon them unexpectedly). When there’s a long torso to grow into, there’s not always a need to grow outward haha! Rest assured, doctor’s appointments have revealed baby is healthy and active.

I’ve re-opened my Etsy shop. I am not able to stay open for too much longer as I need to close once I get near the due date, but I’m enjoying these last several weeks of packaging orders! Thank you so much for your interest in my art ❤️ - I have a new video coming up this week that I’m excited to share, as spring is officially here! Yay!

Etsy ‘Whimsical Watercolor Art’: thecottagefairyart.etsy.com/
Patreon ‘Foundations of Simple Living Series’: patreon.com/bythecottagefairy

Skip the Carousel

1 2

1 year ago | [YT] | 10,925

TheCottageFairy

For those interested I will be starting a series of discussion videos about simple and slow living over on my Patreon! I’ve been having a blast filming them. If it goes as well as I am hoping perhaps I will do a condensed version for YouTube someday! In the meantime, it will be a fun series where I will also feel a bit more comfortable doing livestreams with a smaller group. I’ve been taking ideas for topics to cover in these videos and so far I have requests to discuss: curating your home space, using slowness as a positive mental health tool, simple living and mindful consumerism and spending, intention setting, cultivating a peaceful interior dialogue, wardrobe and home decor, etc. I am not an expert by any means so these videos will be a jumping off point for livestreams and discussions so that we can all share our insights and perspectives 🥰 I am hoping to learn a lot from all of you! Anyway, I appreciate all of you who have given me a chance to have a patreon and continue making videos on my channel, there is never an obligation to be there but for the few who may be intrigued, you are always welcome to try it out ❤️ www.patreon.com/bythecottagefairy?utm_campaign=cre…

EDIT: I noticed that several are under the impression I no longer upload to youtube, I have been uploading regularly and just made a video five days ago and have another on the way, perhaps you missed them - I’m not sure. I’m enjoying trying new things, but I am also present here on youtube. This little series is a way for me to balance my workload with pregnancy and motherhood as I’m not able to be quite as productive as before and scale mountains with my camera like I once did, I’m sure I’ll be doing more of that in the future 😅. I’m a solo operation here and do not have employees, so I need to try to be a little flexible with my routine as parent life sets in. Thank you so much for all the feedback and kindness.

Thank you again! Wishing you the best and sending much love and light.

1 year ago (edited) | [YT] | 6,363

TheCottageFairy

Hello everyone! Thank you for the lovely response on my recent QnA video, I always get a little nervous speaking openly and honestly while answering questions and the warm feedback was very encouraging 🥰 I am nearing the third trimester and slowing down more by the day, catching my breath a lot too haha… while my videos might not be quite as often, they will be from heart, and so I will see you with a new video in about a week or so.

Firstly, thank you in advance to all who are attending the Patreon livestream this Sunday, I hope it goes well! I will be doing a little craft project during it - or at least, I will be attempting to do so… no matter what I’m sure it’ll be interesting 😅

In addition, for those participating, a reminder that I will be adding this bookmark to all Etsy orders using the code COZYBOOKMARK. It will be this week only as I don’t want to run out! I recently re-discovered my old collection of childhood books by Tomi de Paola and made a little homage to his art with this bookmark, something simple but sweet 🌿

Thank you again, much love and light 🍄

www.etsy.com/shop/TheCottageFairyArt
www.patreon.com/bythecottagefairy

Skip the Carousel

1 2

1 year ago | [YT] | 4,864

TheCottageFairy

I just wanted to announce a fun little project I’ve been working on, it’s a Patreon where I will post daily audio recordings for inspiration, journaling, meditation, or anything else you’d like to use it for ❤️ hopefully as a way to encourage each other to slow down a bit in 2024!
🍄 patreon.com/bythecottagefairy

I also plan to record my short stories in audiobook format! I will be posting The Winter Fairy and The Fox and the Fairy Child in quality audio in January (with music and ambient sounds).

In addition, I will be making little updates on a variety of topics depending on what interests you! I recently made a little video announcing that we finally learned the gender of our baby, and while I don’t like to post very much about parenthood here, as a new mom that was just too exciting not to share 😊 I appreciate your understanding I may briefly mention it now and then. We are also looking for name suggestions!

Anyway, I wanted to dedicate some time to trying out something new as pregnancy symptoms are still slowing me down a bit. I appreciate your feedback! 🥰 While there is never any obligation whatsoever, thank you to all who have made it possible for me to keep creating stories and art and supporting my growing family along the way.

I will be posting a new video in a couple hours, just a simple winter video sharing what I’ve been up to, I hope you enjoy it!

1 year ago | [YT] | 6,321

TheCottageFairy

Hello lovely people - I’ll be honest, these last couple weeks have been tricky. Between appointments, morning sickness, fatigue, and everything else that comes with the first trimester, I’m having to re-adjust my expectations again and again. I’m realizing I’m simply not able to work at the same pace as I did before. Now, I could spend this time frustrated and fighting how I feel… or practice acceptance and gratitude that this era will lead to great things despite its challenges (can you tell I’m giving myself talk-therapy lol 😂 - anything I can do to hold on).

I hope to have a short video up early next week, and will be active over on my Etsy shop fulfilling orders and reading your lovely messages. Currently I’m adding my Cozy Cottage Bookmark to all orders that use the code EXTRAGIFT for 10% off. Doing my best to stay open for the holiday season, and sorry in advance if that is not quite possible!

Thank you for your support and kindness during this time! I will see you soon ❤️ so much love.

Skip the Carousel

1 2

1 year ago | [YT] | 10,158