shanna murray

Hello there, and happy Thursday!

I've been enjoying a much slower pace this week, taking time to read a little, visit with friends, work on my website - it feels great. The year got off to a much more frantic pace than I had wished and so I sort of feel like the year is finally starting. I no longer feel like a walking list, more like walking potential. 

The little show I was in last weekend was very sweet. It was so nice to sit and chat throughout the day with Vicki, and our collaboration brought forth lots of sweet comments from visitors to our table. It was a happy day. I also introduced a test version of a new line I'll be introducing this spring, it was great to get some lovely feedback. I can't wait to share this line with you next month! 

There were four sweet vases left after the show, I've just listed them in my shop! 

Type to you soon! Shanna

love and happiness

This week is full of valentine painting, spool wrapping, embroidering, list making, errand running, snowy walking, visiting, photographing, lustre painting, laughing, vacation planning, ladies brunch attending, movie watching, new line developing, and brand new craft show vending! I am happy, sleepy, busy, inspired and in love with my life (and this new collaboration!).

The photos above are of a brand new collaboration with a very dear friend of mine, Vicki Hartman. She's made these gorgeous vase forms for me to add my illustrations and lettering to. I am so happily grateful for the chance to work with a medium totally foreign to me, it's been an inspiring project. We're both quite smitten with this collection and with working creatively together!

If you live in or around Rochester, you can find this small collection at the Hearts and Crafts sale hosted by Java's this Sunday, 11-5. I hope you'll stop by and say hello! I'll post any vases left after the sale in my etsy shop at the beginning of the week!

Happy Wednesday to you! Shanna 

dear february

 

Well, hello there! Here I am again on a Monday rather than a Friday. It turns out these Friday posts I've been wanting to do are not finding there way on my to-do list, there's just not enough room on the paper even to right it down! I was silly not to think of how long my list already was. Lot's of great little projects are brewing that I'm looking forward to sharing with you over the next couple weeks. 

So here's what I've decided - I'm going to continue to post as I always have, a few times a week when I have something I'd like to share. I'll be working on the new once a week posts I've been dreaming of throughout the month and begin sharing them in March! Also in March, I'll begin posting one other weekly post that will be full of news and new happenings. Phew! Now that that's all worked out, on to the fun stuff!

February is here, already! Time for a new desktop calendar! It makes me happy to work on these with Julia. I really appreciate the little goal we have each month of doing something for fun together and to then share the results with you! Above you'll find one version of our February collaboration.

There are actually two versions, both available here (a new archive!). And if you don't need a calendar for your desktop, but would like a little something to spruce it up for the new month, please feel free to use one of the larger versions of the February photos/illustrations that you see above. I only ask that you use them only for desktop purposes and do not reproduce them in any way, for any other use.

I really love February. I'm not a big fan of the 14th necessarily, but there are several very significant anniversaries for me throughout this month, and I do find myself thinking so much of matters of the heart during this time. One very special February memory is meeting C in 2004. Such a sweet memory to think of during these last cold days of winter.

I hope your February is off to a cozy start! xoxo, S

p.s. Hello Handmade will be having a valentine giveaway over at Poppytalk a little later today, check back there for details!! Also, we'll only be offering our regency valentines for a few more days this week, so if you've been thinking of what you'd like us to write but haven't yet purchased one - don't delay! You can always send us your message a day or two after your purchase, if you need to.