shanna murray

Finally, the day has come! News!

If you haven't already read (and saw the beautiful pictures) over at Design Sponge, I'd like to introduce to you Hygge & West!

Hygge is a Danish word that means warmth and comfort. I think it's a perfect theme to base a shop around! I was asked, along with some terribly terrific designers to design and produce exclusive products for their new online shop that embody the spirit of hygge. It was a tremendous honor to be asked by Aimee and Christiana to design a line for them, I am still at a loss for words! 

My exclusive line with Hygge & West is just now wrapping up production, and will be available in the coming weeks before the holidays! For now, I have listed some wool bearfriends as well as the mobile you see above. And until then, there are so many other amazing things to discover, go take a peek!

More snow is on it's way to our town, I can't wait!

Have a cozy day!

s

looking foward to 2009

a little round up of my favorites!

yes, mav's calendar did not disappoint. i love that she's coupled her photography and illustration together. the result is a sort of tribute to all the beautiful imagery mav's shared with us throughout 2008.

decoylab's calendar was a nice surprise. i love the idea of receiving a new postcard each month throughout the year. i can imagine using the blank space to write important lists for the month and tucking it in my sketchbook, really sweet.

i received sandra juto's lovely pocket calendar in the post over a month ago, it's hanging on my inspiration line, waiting to be tucked in my wallet on january 1st! 

my dear friend rachael's calendar collaboratation with tara hogan is full of whimsy and delightful patterns. it's also beautiful to touch. rachael's printing is always so rich with deep impression in the cotton paper.

i'm really drawn to egg press' calendar this year. the organic illustrations are so soothing to me. and the simple layout is quite nice.

mareike auer's calendar is quirky and charming. her illustrations have such a great sense of humor and tenderness about them. a great one to look at on days when i'm taking myself too seriously.

a striking  calendar by pikku . i saw this months ago at the stationery show and instantly fell in love. the gorgeous screen printed wood background can be used again in 2010 if you order a re-fill calendar. brilliant.

and the lovely seventy and sunny calendar. such a warm and bright concept. each month's illustrations are based on the treasured bits of nature gathered on collection walks in 2008.

whew! that's a lot of calendars. there are many to choose from this year, but i love that. i think handmade calendars are a perfect coupling of function and beauty, and what better than a beautiful purchase full of inspiration that lasts all year long!

wishing you an inspired wednesday!

s

everything is covered in a blanket of white. 

our first snow of the season! i hadn't realized just how much i was wishing for snow. a great start to the day! time to pack up and head to the studio, but first i need to find my mittens!

i hope your day is a cozy one!

s

Good morning, dear ones!

It's a happy day around craftwonderland! lot's of exciting things happening! First things first, Betsy and I are so happy to share with you our little collection of holiday wares over at Hello Handmade! We had so much fun putting this little bunch of festive bits together, perfect for celebrating the season simply, but sweetly! Our collection includes two gift tag designs, one in silver and one in candy cane red, a holiday flat card printed in silver with an ash grey envelope, and a simply lovely way to wrap that special package up in a hurry, but still with care! Head on over to the paperie and take a peek!

There are also new hangers listed, for those of you who have been waiting!

Next up: a couple of lovely launches: Heather, and Maria have new wares in their shops! Oh! Before I forget, Stephanie will be listing some gorgeous new holiday work tomorrow. I can't wait!!

Also going on: the new Poppytalk Handmade holiday and gift-themed marketplace begins today. Betsy and I are sharing a table.Oh how i wish it was in person!

And as for that big news?! Still can't spill the beans completely...so I'll give you a hint: There's a brand new shop opening up, I can't say where just yet, but I will tell you that it's all about the good life, and being cozy! Sounds great doesn't it? I can't wait to fill you in! Soon! Soon!

I hope the start of your week is just spilling over with possibility!

Cheers!

s

good morning, and happy friday to you!

i was up earlier than usual this morning, working on a 65 foot holiday garland that needed to be completed in under two hours. aack! it's for a holiday preview party tonight at nook! i am going to try my best to take some photos, there are a few special things in the store right now that i'd love to share.

i was thinking i'd list my top five favorite calendars this morning, but i just know that mav's will make the list, so i'm holding off 'till next week.

instead i want to share an excerpt from a poem by maya angelou, called inaugural poem. it was written for bill clinton in 1993, but i have been thinking of it often these past two weeks. and appreciating how much more relevant it seems today. have a listen, you should.

have a wonderful day, friends.

s

The horizon leans forward,
Offering you space to place new steps of change.
Here, on the pulse of this fine day
You may have the courage
To look up and out upon me,
The rock, the river, the tree, your country.
No less to Midas than the mendicant.
No less to you now than the mastodon then

Here on the pulse of this new day
You may have the grace to look up and out
And into your sister's eyes, into
Your brother's face, your country
And say simply
Very simply
With hope

Good morning.

nope. no big news yet.

i do have word that i'll be telling you something on monday, though! monday will be a busy day! mav will have her final shop update (so sad!), heather will be listing some goodies, and betsy and i will be listing our holiday wares...did i miss anyone?

i have some little news today. betsy and i have added some new hangers to the shop. this time we've included them in the calendar and let it snow print listings. remember, you can contact us if you've already purchased a calendar or print and have missed out on the hangers...we'll do our best to send a hanger your way!

in this photo are bits of my studio mate jim's work. he has started a blog and has an etsy shop in the works. he's crazy talented. i'll be sure to let you know when he officially opens his shop!

more printing for me today, off i go!

it's almost friday!

s

p.s. the uber talented martha of uniform studio will be updating her shop at 1PM cst today!

good morning!

sorry to leave you in suspense yesterday! i know that i said on friday there would be big news on monday, but the big news has been ever so slightly postponed. as soon as i receive word that it's okay to share, you'll be the first to hear...probably tomorrow!

so, i've been busy packing up the calendars and prints to mail off to you as quickly as i can. we had hoped to get last week's orders out by this past friday, but that proved impossible! i am happy to say that the first orders went out last night, and most all of the others from last week that were promised for a friday ship date will go out today. we are catching up, which feels great. thanks for your patience!

for those of you that have asked, more hangers will be listed tomorrow. this time they will be listed with the calendars and prints, so as to be sure that those who want one for a calendar or print have a better chance. for those of you that have already ordered a calendar or print and would still like a hanger, please convo me and i'll do my very best to accommodate! 

one more bit of shop news: we'll be filling the shop with holiday goodies this monday, the 17th! we also have something special planned for the first of december!

sorry to bore you with tedious details this morning! i'll leave you with some bits of goodness from shari and anne-solange, they've been on my mind lately.

'till tomorrow!

s

a late evening post today. good evening, friends.

warm light streamed in the giant studio window today, on the fourth floor of the old shoe factory. i was alone, which felt comfortable and right. printing went smoothly, which is not always the case. a good day.

i have been lately experiencing a forgotten sensation. happiness down to the bone. hope with giant, strong, and guided wings. love, to the core. and peace. the dark cloud that has been my constant companion for the last almost three years has been folded up tightly, and tucked in a box labeled past.

i am forward faced. which feels comfortable. and right.

sweet dreams,

s

p.s. big news on monday!!

seize the day.

i am a puddle of emotion. 

but as soon as i find my feet, it's time to roll up my sleeves and find something to do. there's no time to rest on laurels, it's time to get to work. what will you do?

here's to hope, and to change.

s

on gratitude

good morning, friends. thank you.

yesterday was a big day.

i'm not sure how the words will come for this post, i am speechless, and possibly in shock. somehow i want to find the words to convey just how much your support for our new little paperie means to both of us. all of the encouraging emails, posts, and sales have left us feeling so wrapped up in encouragement. which is a pretty great feeling when you put your heart into something. thank you, for helping to make our opening day feel like home and fireworks. we are ever so grateful.

today is a big day, too. 

today i can cast my vote for hope. for a sense of community. for progress. for vision. for belief in a candidate, a new feeling. for this i feel a gratitude so big and wide. i am inspired, and called to action like never before. and if he wins i know what it will feel like. like home. and fireworks.

a fitting feeling for celebrating what would have been  my mother's 62 birthday. i know she would have felt raised up and full of hope, too. happy birthday, mom.

go vote!

s