A smattering of happenings...

I thought I would share a smattering of things going on in the studio. You know, aside from the gigantic mess that has accumulated...

After lighting a hand bundled wildflower smudge stick, sent to me as a gift from a friend across the country, I set my intentions and get to work. I have had a couple fairs in the last few weeks and am in a local holiday pop-up shop through Christmas Eve, so I have been working on making things to put in there. I have new earrings, necklaces, leggings, and organic tote bags to be added to the shop!


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p.s. I am so grateful for all of you!
So I am having a sale through tomorrow!

Equinox

It is fall!

Happy Equinox!!!

That means new designs, new styles and new colors!

Enjoy balmy days in a new organic cotton lunar tee.

Or snuggle away the cool nights in a slouchy sweatshirt featuring a mason jar full of freshly harvested garlic!

And lastly, you can always have that perfect fall layer with the fern heart loose long sleeve.

All the most comfortable pieces, I swear!

(I am living in these right now!!!)

Headed for the shop in the next few days.

Evolve

On one of my many hikes out to a favorite swimming spot. After winding our way through a maze of paths laden with roots and rocks. Past a corridor of boulders left eons ago from glacial shift and melt. Where humans now hook themselves into harnesses and ropes, looking for hand holds, foot holds (whatever holds) in hopes to conquer the climb up each rock face. I think I have found my new "office space".

Hiking is, most often, meditation.

In between throwing the ball ahead for Mu and Margi to chase after and retrieve and looking back to make sure Veda is still trailing behind (she has slowed a bit at almost 13, but still keeps up like a champ!), my mind settles into the pace. My eyes look down at the soft, rooty earth laid out in front of me, there is an owl feather! Then they shift up, look at how the sun streams through branches in the pine grove... I can hear the highway in the distance. It is hard to believe anyone could cut through such a beautiful place to lay pavement and have vehicles whiz around. Instead I pretend I hear waves.

Then my mind drifts. Nature always has been and always will be my muse.
I think about the history of my creative endeavors. I think about all the things I love to do, to create, and all the things I would love to learn. I think about where I started, how I started and how my work has evolved.
Evolution is human nature.
It seems evolution is an art form.

And then I thought about how I do what I do (a question I actually get asked often). And I wonder: "Is this success? What DO I consider success?" (A difficult question to answer, for me at least)

I am so grateful to all of the people who have encouraged me over the years. All the people who have supported me,especially those who are friends and family and demanded to compensate me for my work, even though I would endlessly try to give it to them for free.

In thinking about my past work and where I am now, what I am creating and how I have evolved, I am thinking about what it means when we support handmade. Each time you buy an item from an artist you aren't just giving them some of your hard earned cash, you are telling them 3 things.

1. That you appreciate (value) and encourage their work.

2. That you believe in them.

3. That you anticipate the future of their creativity and seeing what their work evolves into.

This may not seem obvious, but it is true.
I couldn't have done it without all the wonderful people who have helped me evolve.
So, thank you.
I appreciate you, too.
I also look forward to seeing where my creativity leads me. This is my natural path.
And to me that is success.

How do you define success?


p.s. The hoodie above will be in the shop soon!!!

Harvest: Food is your Medicine.

With the unending anticipation of moving (and not an exact date... yet.), my garden space has been set free a bit. I have done very little planting and most of what grows are perennial or re-seeded from last year. Except the garlic. That I made sure to plant last fall.

There are always a few staple plants I make sure to plant. I tend to be more of an herbal gardener, I encourage herbs and flowers (many of which are considered weeds) to grow and to use both in and as food or medicine. Among the verdure springing forth from the earth are staples, such as sage, thyme and basil, as well as lavender, lemonbalm, calendula, anise hyssp, chamomile, and echinacea. Plus a few wild volunteers, like the St. John's wort, mugwort, evening primrose... But aside from these plants whose delicate leaves and flowers I harvest, I always try to plant garlic. Even if it is just a few cloves to have a few homegrown bulbs.

It was difficult a few years ago when I moved in winter and had to leave my whole garden, many of the plants I had for over 10 years and had moved with me from a handful of different locations. I had a relationship with these plants, I tended them and harvested them year to year and they provided me with sustenance and healing. But then there are times to let go. It is good to start fresh and to develop relationships with plants who grow wild.

So now these few plants growing out in the yard are extra special.
So the other day I noticed it was time for the garlic to be dug up. There is nothing like harvesting your own food, with the intention of well being and nourishment. And as I slowly moved through the little spaces where plants weren't growing to harvest the garlic bulbs, I thought about what I would use it for. Of course some will be used as food, added to pizzas, sauces, stir fry, etc.. But some will be made into remedies and added to honey for fighting off colds and flus in the colder months.

The garden is such a wonderful sanctuary. A place of calm and peace. Regeneration.

Do you have a garden space?
What things do you grow?

Owls & Boats at the Beach

The Little Owl sloucy sweatshirt... HERE

New! Dusk on the Water organic cotton/recycled polyester hoodie soon to be HERE

...And you can always find more of Little Owl HERE!

SALE!!!

Did I mention that I have put the hoodies on sale?

I did.

If you are interested, head on over to the sale section of my shop for more details and ordering.

(There are a few other baubles in there as well)

FYI: There are only 1 left in some of the sizes...

Sale will run through the end of the month, so only a few days left!

p.s. These are UNISEX hoodies, so even though my hunky guy is modeling, they are perfectly fit for women as well. Just make sure to take a look at the sizing chart!

Atelier

My workspace is a disaster right now and I have been procrastinating the inevitable like a pro...

Not only does it need general tidying up, but it needs reorganization and maybe even some rearranging.

I have discovered that I am really good at out-growing space.

Let's call it a gift, shall we?

Anyway, I have been driving myself nuts and am thinking of doing a total studio overhaul...

I seem to be lacking the motivation at present, however.

I know one of these days though inspiration will strike and by the end of the day (or maybe week) it will be like a whole new room!

Organization is a difficult and ongoing task in a studio or workspace and just when I think the shelf or tote, or another shelf that I add will make all the difference, I realize that I just need more...

And don't even get me started on table space!

*Sigh.*

Do you have a work space? How do you keep it organized?

I like to say that I have "organized chaos". In reality it is just piles of stuff (papers mostly... Paper is an infuriating part of becoming an adult I have found, they just keep coming in the mail and everything you do requires more. 30 is paper-ridden, I have found, and I say enough!). I do so many different things, work in different mediums, and don't plan of changing that- only adding more when inspired- that it is hard to have the required space or to be creative enough to make it all work and be conveniently accessible.

I love working. I love learning. I always want these to go hand in hand.

So space...

...Oy vey!

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Aside from above rant, this past week was my 30th Birthday.

What a strange week it has been. I can't really explain it, but has just been strange.

Last night my mom threw me a surprise party, which was so sweet and fantastic!

I had no idea and was so confused and overwhelmed, it was pure magic!

(Thanks Mom!)

I am trying to take this time and age and really think about what I want, where I want things to go and use it to manifest. Manifest what I want, where I want to be, who I want to be around... I feel like I am a bit late on this, but then again I tend to feel a bit like a late bloomer with things in general anyway.

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