shanna murray

in tribute

 

 

 

 

 

It probably comes as no shock to you that for our valentine this year we chose to pay tribute to Jane Austen and the art of letter folding in the regency style! Betsy and I had so much fun with this project, and we are beyond thrilled to share it with you today! 

I will share much more about this project, and my collaborative endeavors with Betsy in my friday post. For now, head over to Hello Handmade for further details about our Regency Valentines with Swallows, if you please. 

One last bit of news - in addition to what Betsy and I are doing individually to help send aid to Haiti, we will also donate 10% of each valentine sale to the American Red Cross relief for Haiti. 

With love, Shanna

hold that thought...

Well, today crept up and surprised me! I'm not ready! This has been one of those all-out-crazy, deadline laden, up 'till 3 and 4am weeks and it's just not going to happen, friends. While I am happy about all that's going on at the eye of the storm, I don't have an ounce of thoughtful, Friday post writing in me. I suppose I should have thought about what my week looked like before my enthusiastic proclamation on Tuesday. Duh. Shall we meet again here next week? 

Hoping your weekend is perfectly lazy, if you like that sort of thing... xxoo S

p.s. Just wanted to quickly mention that one of the things i've been working on is the Hello Handmade valentine! We'll be listing them on Monday and they're pretty darn sweet, if I do say so myself!

 

good change

With the start of the new year I've been giving my daily routine a lot of thought. It's not so much that I'm thinking of balance, as I worked on balance a bunch throughout 2009. So, rather than try to force more balance into my daily routine I think I'm going to make it a priority this year to aim for a certain quality to my days, and weeks. 

It seems with every year that passes I seek to give more thoughtfully, live more fully, learn more intently, try with more bravery, laugh more heartily, love more deeply - I could go on. I suppose this is the natural order of things, to want to make more of our short time here on earth as we grow older. The common thread here is obvious and it's a concept as old as the stars, but one I want to remind myself of. The frequency with which I do or give these things is less important than the way they are done or given. And though I think we all know this to be true, it is an entirely other matter to set this concept into practice on a regular basis. To me, acknowledging this concept feels important, and I want to be deliberate about it in 2010.

To this aim, part of what I've been craving are more solid chunks of time away from the computer and more thoughtful, present time writing posts and saying hello to friends when I'm on the computer. I still need to flesh my daily and weekly plans out a bit, but one thing I've decided on for certain.

I'm going to give posting once a week a try this year. I have been wanting to write more substantial, thoughtful, creative posts - and it's just not possible to do this daily or every other day, with all that I have on my plate. I've been blogging for almost five years now, and I think what I'm hoping to gain from this space (and my connection to all of you) has grown. I love the idea of spending the week thinking about a post, taking pictures, etc. and then closing the week by sharing it all with you. I'm excited, and reinvigorated just thinking about how different my days and weeks are going to feel because of this change...I just hope you won't forget about me during the week. :)

'Till Friday, friends... S

p.s. A huge nod to the wonderful Stephanie and Mav of 3191 for their brilliant example of inspiring, thoughtful, weekly posting!

no shoes - just socks!

When I was small there was this book I had, that my mother would read to me. It was full of the most unique illustrations and was about a small king who could not sleep, so the town tried to put a stop to anything that made noise. I only remember pieces of the story, but the pictures are as vibrant as ever in my mind. It went something like this..."no blocks, no rocks, no ticking clocks, no shoes - just socks!" In the end, all he really needed was a lullaby, and I really loved that. Do you know the story? I think I'll go rustle in my box of childhood books a little later today and see if it's there. I hope it is. Do you have any favorites from when you were young?

Happy monday! S

7 days in

I find this morning a good time to sit quietly and make lists. It stopped snowing sometime in the middle of the night after seven straight days of snow - every day of the new year, until today. It seems a fitting point to stop, breathe, and collect all the little brightly burning bits and harness them into action. 

I'm feeling eager to put some pieces in motion, and also a little scared. But I know that will pass. As I set to work, I know it's only a matter of moments before that next burst and flutter of magic. And maybe by then it will be snowing again.

S

p.s. Thanks for all the brightness you've left here this week, friends. I feel so cheered and encouraged!

sparks

I feel like somehow I've tapped into myself, my heart, or something this week. I feel totally electric -  but in a slow burn sort of way, you know? I can't stop thinking about the calendar, and how powerful it really is. I often hear people say that dates are meaningless, and maybe they truly are for some, but I'm sort of taken aback this time around by how a fresh start, a turn of the calendar page can spark a flood of ideas that converge in all the right places. It really makes me shake my head, and I think I could go on and on about this for some time - but I'm sure that would bore you to bits! Anyhow, I've got a serious amount of planning to do.

Do you ever find yourself in this state, where life is just blowing you away, where you're just enchanted by the whole crazy mess that is your life? I hope you do. What a great feeling. 

Love, S

good to see you

 

I wish I was picking someone up from the airport today. It's such a good feeling to say hello after so long, or for the first time. I've met some of my favorite people through this blog and community, some that have come to visit, some that live right in town, and some that I've gone to see or have plans to see. There's something terrifically amazing about the connection across miles and miles to someone so kindred, so in the know about what makes you tick. It's magical. 

Most the time that magic makes this world feel small and huge all at the same time, in the most inspiring of ways. But sometimes it just makes you miss someone, or long to have tea with your flickr friends. Once in a while I daydream about a giant reunion of everyone coming together for some kind of retreat. And sometimes I think it might even be possible. Do you?

Love, S

three cheers for the new year!

Well, it's official. The break is over. I've had a long, satisfying break and a few days of sweeping off the cobwebs on my to-do list and am happy to report back this morning to regular life. To celebrate the new year, and being organized, re-energized and all that, Julia and I have a little January desktop calendar to share with you! We had such a great time collaborating on our first one, we decided to do it again! As before, we coupled Julia's gorgeous photography with my illustration/hand lettering. We hope it will bring you cheer in the month ahead as you set foot into the bright, shiny new year! 

Just click on the image to go to a wider view, then click again if necessary. Right click and copy or drag the image to your desktop and proceed as usual.

Cheers! 

I'm working on a little surprise for tomorrow, settling in after brunch with friends. I got home and changed into a fresh pair of my grandpa pajamas. I've been drawing a little, thinking a little, tossing a ball for Ollie a little and feeling perfect contentment. I am so happy about a decision I made a few weeks back, happy that this choice afforded me the morning I've had so far. What are you up to this Sunday morning? 

 

geronimo!

Ten years ago I was about to leave my old life behind in search of a heart that could sing. What a decade it has been. My heart is more full than my 26 year old self could have even imagined possible. Thank you friends, for being such a wonderful part of what makes my heart happy. 

With all the promise that comes with a new year and a new decade, I've let my hopes reach out past the farthest star. MMX is going to be an amazing year. I'm ready, and I'm feeling brave - even braver than I felt ten years ago. Only this year I don't have to leave anything behind, it's all right here for the taking (or more true this time around - for the giving).

May all this year holds for you leave you smiling at its end - Happy New Year to you!

Love, Shanna                                                                                                                                   p.s. you can find me posting over at Habit this month, what a great way to ring in the new year!