New Path, New Store, New Products

✨ Big news! I just opened a brand-new Etsy store, and my very first product is out in the world—a 2026 art calendar featuring 12 of my collage paintings. 🎉

But before I show you the calendar, I want to share the story behind this new beginning—because it’s been a journey of change, challenges, and finding peace.

In a previous post, I wrote about the new direction on my artist's journey which I called "From Clay to Canvas". The road has been a bit hectic because I faced another mayor challenge: I had to move to a place closer to my people and to the places I need in order to build a more sustainable creative business.

Finding the right place was not easy. In Puerto Rico, the real estate market has changed a lot since COVID, and the rise of Airbnbs has pushed rents and property prices higher. The closer you get to San Juan, the more expensive it is. I used to have a property, but I sold during the pandemic at a very low price.:( Looking back, I feel I was misled by realtors, and the reasons for selling were not the right ones. After the pandemic, I began to resent that decision, and it was very difficult emotionally to let it go, but finally I did. I now see that as a mayor accomplishment, and I feel free.

The moving process was harder than expected. For two months I lived with my belongings spread across three different places (including my car!). Now, though, I am finally settled, close to everything I need and at peace.

Some important things changed, like living farther to my younger son and family and the beach, which I could go by walking!. But I have new opportunities and still I can go to beaches like Piñones, El Escambrón and Isla Verde, which are minutes away driving. Many others are only 30 minutes to 2 hours away, which is perfect for me.

The physical move took a toll on my body and mind. I felt exhausted, my body ached, and I feared I was very sick. In truth, I had simply pushed myself too hard and neglected my health. Habits like eating well, sleeping, exercising, drinking water, and taking vitamins all slipped away before and during the move. On top of that, I was grieving: four loved ones with health issues passed away, including my older brother, a very painful loss.

To make sure nothing serious was wrong, I visited two doctors. Thankfully the lab results were very good. I started physical therapy for my back and neck, and what I truly needed was rest, self-care, and healing. My doctor also noted I may have depression from the many stressors of the past two years. Especially, the last six months, had been weighing me down.

Looking back, I realize I don’t need to feel sad about selling the house, losing routines, or missing beach walks. Truthfully, I wasn’t doing those things anymore because I had lost motivation while being so isolated. Now, I know I’m exactly where I need to be. These experiences helped me grow and make choices to build a better life—one where I can live, not just survive.

I also tried stepping away from ceramics, at least the wholesale side. But I realized I still need it to sustain myself while transitioning into new creative work. The important thing was to find a stable home first, then move little by little toward what I want to do. For the first time, my ceramic studio is not at home—and I’m happier this way! I now work at House of Dirt Studio, a beautiful, organized, and inspiring space nearby. I feel more productive there than I ever was working from home.

Now for the big news:

The first Print-on-Demand product in my new Etsy store, ElizabethClaireArt, is a Large 2026 Calendar featuring 12 images of my collage paintings!

At first, I designed it with the months inside the artwork, but after seeing the sample, I realized it would be more special to leave the artwork clean so customers could frame the images. I adjusted everything, and voilà! The calendar is now live in the store, available in English or Spanish versions.

I’m so proud of how it turned out and love how Gelato handles production and shipping. The only downside is that shipping to Puerto Rico is too expensive, which makes the price too high for local buyers. I plan to talk to Gelato about this—since Puerto Rico is part of the U.S. and they already have six locations there, I hope they can offer USPS shipping instead of FedEx.

In the meantime, I won’t leave Puerto Rico out! I’ve created a way for local customers to order directly from me.

✨ Customers from USA, Canada, United Kingdom and the European Union can buy any of them through ETSY in the links below:

2026 A Whimsical Year

2026 Un Año Mágico

UPDATE: ✨Customers from Puerto Rico will be.notified when the calandar will be available to buy

Wishing you all the best!

Hopefully, I’ll be more present now that I’m in a better place. 💜

— Elizabeth Claire