Glue Babies March 2025 in Review
wherein I panic shop for art supplies and have a piece in the Bite Me! show
Hello all and goodbye March! I never acknowledged the one year anniversary of the Glue Baby Gazette, so if you have been reading from the beginning or just subscribed last month: thank you. If there is anything in particular you’d like to see me write about please leave a suggestion in the comments; I’m always looking for ideas.
Thoughts on March
March was my second month of taking days off and the anxiety over not working enough was really getting to me. However, I also realized that my burnout was much better. For me, burn out manifests as a sort of paralysis wherein I sit in my studio but I am unable to accomplish almost anything. I’ll be there for hours, and, at the end of the day, I have mostly just been thinking or staring into space. I still struggle with that sometimes, but what really got me this month was panic shopping.
Everything with tariffs going on right now is both stressful and boring, so I don’t blame you if you’re not up on it. But one part being under-reported is the removal of the de minimis exemption, which exempts small packages under $800 in value from tariffs and thus inspection and subsequent fees. The de minimis went away quite suddenly in February only to return a week later with a promised roll back again in early April, which meant that I spent March panic buying supplies and miniatures that I normally get overseas.
The good thing is that I’m set with Tiny Terra supplies for months now. All I can hope for is that I can keep getting the supplies I need to make my Tiny Terra since it’s not like I can pop down to Joanne’s Michael’s for the vast majority of what I use. We will find out soon enough though.
At the very end of the month, Trash Panda had their Bite Me! show at Strangecat Toys (which I love) and I was invited to customize three of their Cake Bite figures. I really struggled with these at first, but then I dug deep into my toy customizing roots and made these pieces which I’m super happy with. I went out to the show as well and it always means a lot to hang out with everyone and see all the other customs in person. All the Glue Baby pieces found a home, but I am hoping to customize more designer toys before the year is out. You can see all the other pieces in the show here.
I also finished the commission piece up top and was honored that a long-time collector gave me some very minimal guidelines (teal, purple, and butterflies) and let me make whatever I wanted. I appreciate every commission, but I think the reason I like this one so much is because it’s both something I wouldn’t have made on my own, but also a piece that feels very me.
March Lovely Things
Here are some lovely things from March that I hope will give you a smile …
An incredibly cute throw blanket from Amy Hastings Textiles that I need.
This Alice in Wonderland cat tattoo by Yoon is too gorgeous! (They mostly do cat tattoos and they’re all amazing.)
This ceramic snake sculpture by Malene Hartmann Rasmussen is blowing my mind. I am continually in awe of all ceramic artists.
Which brings me to these little ceramic critters by Fox Luu which are perfection.
I want one of these Animal Crossing: New Leaf inspired tables so badly (no, they’re not selling them, and yes, I am devastated to hear that, too). Alice Lee has been making a lot of incredible wood working projects lately and I can’t wait to see what she makes next.
“The Garden” by Portia Munson is incredible. “Seductive and repulsive, this installation provides a critical context for showcasing the range of products marketed as ‘female’ and analyzing the limitations of gender-normative social structures.” I have no idea how I’d do it, but this makes me want to make a room.
Cats bees by Marisol Muro!
If you’re looking for a slightly longer watch, may I suggest this mini video essay on Chikorita. I love this Pokémon and was over the moon when it was announced way back when. Now that it’s a starter again, I guess people are mad? Well, they’re wrong. Chikorita is cute and amazing.
April 2025 Lock Screen and Wallpaper
I wanted a grassy, spring theme for this month’s lock screen and wallpaper so I used this piece from the March Tiny Terra collection. These are also posted to my IG where I have a monthly Story highlight that I regularly update, and Patreon where paid subscribers get a bonus wallpaper set each month.
Thank you for reading the March 2025 recap and I will see you again in a few weeks for a tour of Tiny Terra Series 23.