2020

Goodbye 2019, Hello 2020.

2019 (in no particular order):

* Created art for Itzhak, a picture book dummy with my sister, illustrated an article for Taproot Magazine and worked on assorted other projects that I’m looking forward to sharing about later in the year.

* Traveled to Portland for a signing, Squam Lake to teach, a library for storytime and Prince Edward Island for a book event.

* Made a day trip to quite possibly the most peaceful spot I’ve ever visited in Maine.

* Visited the Museum of Russian Icons.

* Sewed and knit and sewed some more.

* Tended a garden, read 27 books and started studying Polish.

Misses? No 5K this year after a minor injury made me reevaluate if I really liked running (narrator: “she didn’t”). And no summer beach day, but plenty of trips during the off season to the seaside are fun, too. In short, it was a good year, full of wonderful people, work I loved and a slower pace of life. I’ve come to the realization that I’m no longer cut out for marathon work weeks, pulling all nighters and countless weekends (especially after a certain, gulp, milestone birthday). Acknowledging that reality has made life a whole lot nicer, even if I still sometimes secretly wish that I could subsist on two hours of sleep.

So for 2020?

I’ve just started working on illustrations for a new book, I’m planning to create a calendar for next year, there might be a trip or two out of town as work permits and I’m knitting a new sweater. My goal is to read ten books this year. It’s less than last year, but Little Dorritt and Fatal Shore are both on my to read list and are going to take awhile. I want to start playing piano again more regularly. And that’s that. Slow and steady. Away we go.

Making and Marking

There’s snow on the ground, a biting wind whistling outside my window and the sun disappeared around 4:00, so it must really, truly be December.

So since November?

• Open Studios was fun and it was wonderful connecting with so many delightful visitors! I didn’t get many photos, but I did snap one of my table above. Every once in awhile, I scan Craigslist for commercial rentals, with daydreams of a shop in mind. It’s most definitely not in the cards at the moment, but someday/someway I’d love to open a brick and mortar storefront.

• I’m about 2/3 way through The Saboteur: The Aristocrat Who Became France’s Most Daring Anti-Nazi Commando, by Paul Kix. Parachuting! Car chases! Disguises! Explosives! A page-turner for sure, made all the more mind-boggling when you realize Robert de La Rochefoucauld was inflicting mayhem on the Nazis at the ripe old age of 20.

• I knit this shawl earlier in the fall and it’s a terrific pattern. I’m itching to knit a second (especially with January on the horizon).

Stitch and Sip

I finally finished this piece and if it were possible, would very much like to live inside this painting. The bathroom the floor above me flooded and I’ve just spent the past hour doing battle with a printer, so needless to say, time to sit, stitch and sip coffee looks pretty grand at the moment. Thank goodness for the weekend! I’ve also added this illustration to Society6, so there’s prints available over there now.

Randomly:

* I watched The Bookshop recently and loved it. It’s a quiet film, beautifully shot, with a wonderful, twist ending.

*If you’re local, I’ll be participating in the 5th Annual Woodman Artisan Craft Faire over the holidays. It’s a terrific show and Elena from Pine Tree Pop-Up does a wonderful job curating.

Plaid Ponderings

A little sketch from earlier this week, indulging in some 90’s flannel nostalgia.

And Happy All Hallows’ Eve!

Little Bay

Something I painted recently, while daydreaming about Newfoundland. I’m slowly adding original artwork to my shop (including this cliff climbing adventurer).

And if you’re looking for something to do next month, I’ll be participating in the Artists of Salmon Falls Open Studio, November 23 and 24. I’ll be there all day Saturday and again from noon ‘till closing on Sunday. I’ll have prints, fabric, original embroideries, books and more. If you’re in the area, drop by!

Autumnal Blooms

Some messing around last week with ink, paints and a healthy coating of Photoshop over the whole thing. Monday was the Autumnal Equinox and now I’m ready to wear sweaters, paint ghostly blooms and drink ALL THE PUMPKIN SPICE THINGS!

Aside from being overly excited about gourd-flavored beverages, I’m knitting this sweater, want to bake these Halloween cookies and am eagerly awaiting the new season of “The Durrells in Corfu.”

Common Threads

Slowly, the seasons are shifting. I realized a few weeks back it wasn’t light past 8:00 at night any longer. And cardigans have gradually become needed in the early morning and late night. But since it’s still technically summer for a few more days, I’m relishing the last bits of the season.

I’m working on book sketches right now and I’m finishing up an illustration to have available as a print. And Open Studios will be in November, so I’ve already started planning goods to have available. Aside from that, I’ve been working on pacing myself this summer, getting done what has to get done and then stepping away from my drafting table (hence far less posting here). It’s definitely been a huge help in dealing with burnout and now that autumn is here, I’m feeling far more inspired.

*I finished sewing Butterick B5982 (there’s more pictures on Instagram). It’s my third time sewing this pattern and I love it: it comes together quickly, offers a couple different variations and fits perfectly. For fabric, I used a print from Eloise’s Garden, in rayon. Although I’ve been sewing since high school, I’ve never worked with rayon before. If you’re a rayon newbie too, the tips over on Megan Nielsen’s blog are so helpful.

* I’m working on this Alabama Chanin skirt pattern, embellishing it with a stencil I designed. I’m loving the slow, measured pace that hand sewing encourages and sitting out on the porch with this and a beverage is a pretty terrific past time.

* Assorted other late summer things? My Spanish Flag vine is blooming and it was well-worth the effort. The pumpkins, unfortunately, not so much (still grinding my teeth over that). Maigret mysteries continue keeping me up far too late. And I’m going apple picking this week, which means one thing: pie. And speaking of apples, if you’re in or around southern Maine, Giles in Alfred is my go to orchard for apples. It’s a beautiful spot and the nearby bakery an added bonus.