They're coming!

Postcards to help benefit our local, no-kill shelter have been ordered!!!

For a while I have been trying to think of something I can create where I can donate a portion of the proceeds to our local shelter. Something that relates specifically to the shelter. This is the shelter where we adopted Bessie Mu, so I thought postcards featuring our little furball would be perfect!!!

The set will be all three cards posted above.

I can't wait until they get here!!!

And thanks to everyone who offered input on which photos to use.

I think they will be grand!

...And now I am off to go play around and practice my screen printing skills...

xo

The contents of today

Most of the earlier part of today was rainy. It POURED earlier so I took Posey outside under the covering and let her just watch the rain fall like a waterfall... She cooed and cooed and was totally blissed out. And when it wasn't pouring, the world was swallowed up in a fog.

It was that type of fog that makes the world feel like a dream.

I like to quietly work in such conditions.

I worked in the studio on a couple screens for a the shirts I got to screen print on. I took a break to go visit the shelter where we decided to bring kitty since she desperately wanted to be a more indoor kitty and we just couldn't accommodate. I went to make sure she was settling ok and happy. It seems she is and should be up for adoption soon.

She will make someone feel very loved!

Then, all of a sudden, it was beautiful out...

BEEEEAUTIFUL!!!!

I took advantage.

I worked out in the garden, which I had been longing to do since it has been raining so much and I haven't really been able to do much lately. I love gardening, such great therapy!

Then I worked some more on the screens. They have to be done in stages, you know.

Step 1. Drawing fluid...

Let it dry.

Step 2. Screen filler...

Let it dry.

Step 3. Rinse off drawing fluid...

Let it dry...

And so on.

This is an experiment. I am hoping to offer some shirts with my designs on them. Hopefully I will be able to offer them soon! I also would like to create some postcards to offer where a portion of the proceeds go to the shelter. See this post for the photos I am considering using. Feel free to comment on which ones you like best, I am thinking of doing 3 or 4. And I am eagerly awaiting the delivery of the Little Owl totes that I had a friend print up for me (the design was too intricate for my skill level at the moment).

So that was my day,

And tomorrow we are hoping to go see The Big 'Ol Dirty Bucket play.

They are a super fun funk band.

Let's hope it all works out!

The newest...

HERE & HERE.

And don't forget to check out the rest HERE!

I need your opinion... Help me decide!!!

So, I was thinking about making a few post cards featuring Bessie Mu.

I want to offer something specific where I donate a portion of the proceeds to out amazing, local, no-kill shelter where we got her...

So I have a couple questions for you all:

1. Is this something any of you wonderful folks would be interested in supporting?

2. The photos below are all in the running and since I am extremely indecisive, I would love to hear from you which 3-4 you like best...

We are so lucky we found her.

Even though we were going to look for a new mattress and instead came home with this cute puppy,

I/we couldn't be happier!

If you are thinking of getting a dog, please consider adopting!

There are so many wonderful pups that need a home and are waiting for your love!!!

**********

Thanks, in advance, for taking the time to help me decide on this.

xo

Maine

I know you have heard me mention that we want to move to Maine.

We have taken a few trips up to visit, look for where we want to be and start meeting people and to establish relationships with shops that might want to carry my work...

This past weekend was all of the above.

I think we have decided we want to be close to the Brunswick area.

Preferably more towards Richmond or Bowdoinham. We are looking for some land.

A place where we can have a small farm for ourselves,

with space to work and play,

and to be inspired by.

But mostly space.

This weekend was a bit crazy, with appointments to meet with a couple of shops in the area.

Not everything went according to plan, but in the end I have some of my work in The Mix located on Maine St. in downtown Brunswick!

We also went to a Solstice party at my sister's boyfriend's sister's farm (I know, there was no simpler way of saying that since it was our first time meeting her) and met a bunch of wonderful people with kindred spirits.

I feel so at home every time we visit Maine.

And every person we meet convinces me that it is the place for us to be.

Are any of you from Maine?

Where abouts?

Do you just love it?

*****

Now I can't stop daydreaming about swimming in the river and going home to acres of tall grass and gardens with chickens and dogs running around...

Le sigh.

Soon enough.

*****

P.S. I want to thank everyone who has supported Little Owl Arts. Your support helps us get even closer to our goal, to our life in Maine. You are all just marvelous!!

NEW

A few new pairs of simple earrings in the shop.

HERE & HERE

Farmers' Market

A few random photos from the market on Monday:

All the children love Bessie Mu

(although she can be a bit skeptical of them)

and when I turned around at one point, this is what I saw...

Surrounded!

This little girl had the sweetest outfit on.

I love how patiently and serenely she waited while her mom was shopping at Farmer Dave's booth!

Such a sweet moment!

Lastly, I am so excited to have come home with not only fruit and vegetables, but also herbs.

Included in those herbs (which are all in pots, not cut) was thyme this amazing passiflora!!!

I already have a passiflora that I started from a cutting and have had for years, but I am always to bring home another of these beautiful and elaborate plants.

How beautiful!!!

I love this plant and it has wonderful medicinal properties.

It is a nervine and mild sedative, so it is helpful with insomnia and anxiety.

The entire above ground parts of the plant can be used and taken in many different forms such as tea, tincture and capsules, but I prefer the tea.

It is also great mixed with other herbs such as Lemonbalm, chamomile, or valerian...

Just so you know.

Do you use herbs at all?

Do you have a favorite?

Doggers and Totes

Yesterday was a good day. I took the puppies to my favorite beach in town in the morning where Mu had 4 goldens to play with (they guy said he actually had 6, all rescues, but only 4 were with him visiting his friend. 6!!!), it was beautiful out!

In the last photo, you can't see it (obviously), but Mu was wagging her tail all around just because I walked over to her. Priceless... Boy, do I love my doggers, they are so stinkin' cute!

______________

Later I went on a mission to collect supplies to try out this tutorial. It was pretty easy. I have been wanting to do some screen printing for a while now and am thinking I will be incorporating it into my business more...

This was the result of the first tote.

I need to work on even ink application (the sprouts on the top and the bottom corner are not fully clear), but otherwise I would say it was a success!

~Red Clover Tote~

So, that's what has been up with me...

How 'bout you?

What'cha been doing???

A Wee Wet Adventure

It has been raining for days

and although we have had some sunny patches in between,

the general feel of June, right now, is raw and wet.

And thanks to all this wetness, I think I have inadvertently started a mushroom farm in the garden, they are sprouting up everywhere in droves!!!

So I decided to embrace the wetness.

I took the pups out for a much needed little adventure this morning.

It is no longer raining (for the moment at least), but it sure is soggy!

It was quiet and peaceful, and everything looks lush and happy...

Now I am going to start getting things together and ready to pack in the car for the art fair I am doing tomorrow, maybe I will work on a couple new things as well...

What do you like to do on a rainy day?

Labels

Hand sewing my new homemade labels into the new hand-dyed indigo scarves

and getting ready for the Beverly Farmers' Market tomorrow afternoon.

What are you up this fine evening?

Adventures wild harvesting red clover

The other day I decided to collect some red clover blossom (and a little yarrow & rosa rugosa) that grows in the pasture leading to one of the beautiful, little, private beaches in the area.

It was Mu's first experience with tall grass and let me tell you, she was quite the ham hopping to a fro' through the field! Purely comical!!!

Veda was also enjoying the grass by having many grand rolls and snarfing out loud. Then it was on to the beach for a little cool down.

I am thankful for the beautiful day, I a thankful for the beautiful environment around me, I am thankful for the plants I harvested and I am thankful for some pretty stinkin' cute pupparoos!

...

A few places I am visiting today

and soaking up the beauty being shared.

HERE.

HERE.

HERE.