shanna murray

the before

thinking a lot about potential these days. a lot about ideas. there's a space between idea and creation where all the energy lies, a quiet rumble. the idea hits and your mind races with how to bring a thought into being. energy flows from heart and head out of the fingertips and onto paper. i love this part of the process. touching fabrics, looking at colors, dreaming out the details.

i was in new york this weekend at the bubble show. so many inspiring designers! a favorite was wovenplay, so beautiful it was love at first site! and such sweet women behind all the amazing creations.

i also spoke with the creative force that is binth. suzanna couldn't have been any more lovely to talk with. i have one of their prints, so amazing in person. i am coveting quite a few things from their shop. i got a sneak peek at some great new pillows and a memory game they've created. so great! i can't wait for them to become available!

i'll be launching my summer line tomorrow. it's a little collection of oceany things i hope you'll love! i've kept it on the small side in order to free up time for fall's big launch, which i'm over the moon about!

also, tomorrow we'll be announcing all of the vendors over at second storie! what a great group we have!

happy tuesday, friends!
shanna

such great heights

do you know the feeling, when you stop to think of all the good bits in your life, the beautiful people, exciting events, and the evolution of it all, and you find yourself smack dab in the middle of the moment you fall in love with your life? i do. i am in that moment now.

so many wonderful things to mention, so much going on it's hard to find time to post.

second storie} indie market has found a great new home!
we've extended the deadline due to all the confusion over our venue switch, more info here.

i'm slowly but surely fine-tuning the vision for my line. i really feel like i am tapping into the truth about what i'm trying to say. can't wait to show you my summer line, august 1st! the once a month launches did prove to be a bit much for my schedule, whew that was tough going! with so much to do between wholesale and etsy launches and second storie i had no time to just live, let alone post. no good. i'll be switching to seasonal launches from now on. i'm thrilled about this. i've felt a little bit like goldilocks, trying to find just the right fit! keeping it simple is key. i'm getting closer, which feels so great!

i met some online craftwonderland friends in real life last week, what amazing gals! we had such a great time, can't wait for more adventures!

more to share soon!

here's to the good life, friends!
shanna

p.s. i'm falling in love with my c, all over again too!

simplify

what craziness one single week can bring!
i've finally reprogramed my blog, and detailed my sewing machine. life is slowly approaching some semblance of normalcy. i couldn't help but realize this week that some adjustments are needed. my schedule is packed so tightly, one single mishap throws all else off course. not a very thoughtful way to be living.

i've made some decisions that will affect my shop, this blog and other things. more on that friday. and the second storie post that was promised last week will be up tomorrow.

for those of you who have written asking when my new items will be up, thank you so much for your patience. it's so nice to know i am missed when i am absent!

thanks, too, for the birthday wishes. our canoeing adventure was rained out, but rescheduled for a sunny day soon. instead of cake i requested s'mores at the last minute! they were delightful, and shared with friends around a lovely fire.

photo was taking during a photo shoot sunday in preparation for the second storie website coming soon!

till friday,
xo shanna

rings of fire

There is a great deal of unmapped country within us. -George Eliot

i have been thinking about inner oceans, and unmapped country a lot lately and missing that first traveler on the map of my heart, my mother. tomorrow is my birthday, perhaps that is why i cannot quit the vision of her carrying me the days before july 4th, 1973.

also stirring are images of the colors of the seventies swirling through my earliest birthday celebrations. memories always tinged with bursts of yellow and orange. maybe the memory of these colors actually comes from the warm heat and glow that surrounds my heart when i think of her, and the deep impression she's left on my life.

i am so excited about all that year 34 holds for me! wherever this year takes me, i know she'll be with me, held fast to the map of my heart.

i've postponed launching my july line until this friday, i need a few more days to tie up loose ends. and i need a nice long break to eat cake and go canoeing with ollie and c!

only 3 more days left to snap something from june} pretty little.

hope the sky just bursts with glorious fireworks for you all tomorrow! i love fireworks!
cheers!

p.s. look for a post over at second storie tonight!