do what you can with what you have.
November 14, 2025
Firstly, I’ve wanted to share a bit more about this project for awhile because there is some kind of back story to where and why the idea came from that I think might be interesting. I don’t know if I expected the first bunch of copies to sell so rapidly [raising $420 after $295 in printing costs for @7thgenrising] hence why I printed a conservative 25 first.
I printed another small run and there are still some from the second print run at Alt Haus, Lucky Bastard Distillers, and Nefelibata in Saskatoon so if you’re from here and this intrigues you or it seems like a good gift for someone you know, you know where to go.
Now I’ll get into it.
The entire idea and process started a little over a year ago. I had a bunch of what I’ll call “stim drawings” or “stim doodles” I did throughout the end of summer and fall 2024 just as a passive, for-me art activity. It was pretty meditative and I soon became addicted to… drawing lines.
Then last December, after being laid off for the third time in five years, I had an idea to make a colouring book out of the drawings to sell because maybe the meditative part would translate to colouring and non-artists could see what I mean when I say art is a form of therapy. [Plus, I needed a way to make money, of course].
I made the first book in January of this year from those initial drawings and after a a lot of edits (I redrew them all digitally at least twice) and prototypes, it was good [enough]. I knew I could do it better though… so I did that for the spring/summer. The process for the second one was a lot more efficient and actually enjoyable and I sold a handful at some summer markets with positive feedback.
Naturally, this meant I should make a third and a couple situations brought me to the idea of the community collaborative book:
1. Still without a job, it was at this point in the year when I was getting tired of working in total isolation.
I’ve been a designer for 15 years and for most of those years, my design projects were FOR someone, WITH other people, and usually had some sort of specs and confinements. I’m a designer by nature and work better with rules—a concept, guidelines, a plan, a theme, you get it. Without any of that I have too many ideas and can get overwhelmed as my creative mind truly never quits [it’s the creative AuDHD curse]. Plus, as much as this might surprise people’s perceptions about autistic people, we don’t ALWAYS want to be alone and we like connection just like anyone and there is absolutely such thing as too much alone time even for me.
So, I wanted to do something that might actually get me out of this isolation station and maybe give me the confidence again to meet people… but I’ve learned that doing a lot of art and design events where there’s socializing involved takes more of a toll on me than it does an allistic person. The act of creating with people [whether in private/online or as a group in person] has always been less draining than just generic socializing over drinks.
2. Selfishly, I wanted a newer design project for my website that was for someone, wasn’t totally self-inflicted, and showed a little more of my creative direction and organizing / planning skills.
This is not talked about much, but I know that people can be quite prejudice looking at portfolios when hiring designers. It seems like they care less about how the designer thinks and care more about results and what’s most ‘eye catching’ or ‘aesthetic.’ Design has become too marketing focused and not as a communicative, functional tool to make things… better. It’s nobody’s fault, but this is where I’ve noticed the design industry and hiring headed. People don’t have time to be curious and dig deeper—they just want to see results. A lot of designers who have aesthetic portfolios with picture perfect mock ups for brands that are trending, making them look like amazing designers. The thing is, they might be a great designer when their ideal client within your interest falls in their lap, but when the project isn’t your favourite, are you as great?
So, I wanted to make a project I could say I did from idea to end, handled the sales, and worked with other people on.
3. I wanted to make something that would have a real, tangible benefit for people other than myself.
I’ve always said “do what you can with what you have” in terms of charity, aid, donations. I think I learned this from the band Hanson during the walk era in 2007 when I felt like I was contributing to something good just by walking one mile barefoot before some shows and buying a pair of TOMS shoes, let alone eventually making a banner for some of the walks i went on. It wasn’t a lot, but it was something and it was something I could do.
Right now, I really don’t have a lot of money to give, I’m a minimalist and am always decluttering so I don’t have much to donate when I see people asking for specific things, and I don’t always have the social battery to volunteer places in person.
I can make books, especially this style of book, pretty well.
And so the idea for a not-for-profit book to help the community with the community helping me make it was born.
I chose to print it locally [Mr Print in Saskatoon] for a few reasons: quick turn around without shipping times, proof availability, easy back and forth communication to get things right, and, of course, supporting local businesses [especially businesses like printers who are likely being overrun by online printing companies].
I’m certain there’s tons of printers online with tons more paper samples available but some things are worth sacrificing for certain projects when supporting local makes sense (like a lighter paper weight but paper that felt good to write or colour on). And in this case, I just adapted the design consciously to not double side the illustration pages.
Overall, was it the most perfect project ever?
Of course, not. Most things can always be better [my motto]. But I made it work with what I had, it made a lil difference, it did get me out of my isolation station / gave me a little confidence to not be a recluse, and I might just keep the series going (even with a broken finger).
—M
