shanna murray

for Japan with love

Hello there, friends!

I'm happy to share with you a small but special collection of decals created to raise funds to help Japan. All proceeds from sales of these decals will go to ShelterBox. When I first began to think of ways I could help beyond my own donation, I came up with the idea that it would be so great to be able to send a little thank you to each person I knew of that donated something to one of the great organizations on the ground in Japan.

Obviously this is a logistically impossible undertaking...so I thought I could donate the proceeds from sales of these special decals, the ones I would have sent as thanks,  instead. I hope you'll click over to my shop and take a peek + help spread the word! Thanks in advance, friends. 

Love, S 

p.s. The beautiful quote used in these decals is from Mother Teresa.

hearts + hands for Japan

Good morning, dear friends. 

Like you, my heart has been heavy for Japan. I don't have words, really. We're all processing this devastation in our own way. I'm still pretty speechless and heartbroken. Helping in a productive way, collectively, is a great salve for this sort of heartbreak, I think. Don't you?

There are some wonderful projects brewing out there to help gather up aid for our friends in Japan. They are very much in need of all the help that can be offered. I was happy to get an email from Lynn of Satsuma Press, asking if I might  donate something to a raffle she has set up to help, it's called Hearts + Hands, a raffle for Japan.  In just 48 hours more than 60 artists agreed to contribute work to the cause, and the list is still growing.

100% of proceeds from the Hearts + Hands raffle will go to aid for Japan, specifically Save the Children and Shelter Box. Each raffle ticket is $10, and gives you a chance to win a donated piece of art from one of the makers in the sidebar (a wonderful lineup). More details are forthcoming on the site, including posts about each piece that will be raffled. I hope you'll head over and show your support. Not that any of us need it, but the opportunity to receive something handmade as a thank you for contributing is a generous and beautiful incentive. I'll share more details about what I plan be contribute to Hearts + Hands very soon.

I'll be contributing on my own as well. I've just about wrapped up work on a special decal design that I'll be listing in my shop at the end of the week. 100% of sales for this design will go to aid for Japan. Essentially, this means I'm giving a decal to each lovely person who decides to contribute a bit of aid to Japan through my shop. Details about the organization I've chosen to give to will be given at the end of the week when I post and list the decal. I hope you'll check back in with me then and spread the word.

In the mean time, some truly amazing work has been donated for an online auction taking place March 24th-27th, Handmade for Japan. I hope you'll pay these lovely folks a visit. I'm looking forward to placing bids on some beautiful work. It makes me smile to see so many great makers lending a hand through what comes from their heart. 

Hoping you're well and safe, S

sparks

Thought I'd share a bit of what's inspiring me lately...at the top of the list is a favorite new-to-me book, In House by Mitchell Owens (text) and Derry Moore (photography). I discovered it at the book store a while ago and poured over every page. I decided against bringing it home with me, having already burned through my budget for books for the quarter. But, after a week of not being able to get it out of my head, I just had to go back for it. I am really glad I listened to myself and ignored my budget, as the images from In House have proved to be the most significant source of inspiration for my spring line.

The rooms in this book are over-the-top ornate, lavishly embellished, lush with color - all of the things I am not in my decorating taste and somehow, a perfect jumping off place for me. I found this richness seeping into my drawings and ideas for the spring collection - a sort of pared down, rustic, simpler take on gilded garlands, sweeping boughs, and ornate frames. Beautifully photographed, the images transport and transfix. Just what my sleepy, winter time imagination needed. Certainly worth the investment!

Also inspiring me is the gorgeously photographed new line from Talbots. Stunning. Victoria of SF Girl by Bay alerted me to their new look with this post. Would have been the last place in town I'd stop for a new top or dress, but now I feel compelled to see some of the pieces in person. I'm loving their new take on classic, and the rich colors, too. I'm curious if, when removed from perfect styling and the stunning Julianne Moore, their new line will have the same fresh energy. Will report back. 

Lastly, these images from Brian Ferry are beautiful. I keep coming back to them. So good. Where are you finding inspiration lately? I'd love to hear!

Hope something makes your heart sing today, friends. xo, S

some news + a last chance sale!

Hello there, friends! A little news...

In preparing new work for next month I've been weeding out some designs that don't quite fit any longer, so I thought I'd have a little sale - a last chance sale! If you head over to my shop, you'll find some things have been reduced to 30% off the regular price - just look for the items with a little pink sale banner. These decals will no longer be available after April 14th, so if you've had your heart set on one of them be sure to scoop it up at a great price!

I also wanted to let you know that some of the sizing and pricing will change for the decals that carry over from last years' collection. Some decals will soon have a larger or smaller version available, and some will completely change in size to better fit with the entire collection. I'm really excited about these changes, and I think you will be too! In addition, to account for lessons that could only be learned after a year of selling the decals, I'll be raising some of the decal prices ever so slightly, but no more than is necessary. 

Apologies for a somewhat sleepy post, but I wanted to let you know of the coming changes ahead of time, in case you've been planning on a particular decal. Wouldn't want you to miss out! 

Enjoy the day! xo, S

fresh starts

Happy first of March, friends! I'm all smiles at the thought of green grass and daffodils this morning. I know it will be some time before green really makes an appearance here in the northeast, but it feels good just to be nearer to that day. Something about the turning of a calendar page that bolsters up hope and promise, especially when spring is promised for this month. I can't wait!

Lots is promised for spring around here. I'll be launching my new line on April 14th, nearly a year to the day I first launched the decals, which feels right and sort of astonishing. I'm rendered speechless when I think of all that's happened since this time last year, and am full of gratitude for all of it. And for you.

I'll have more news on Wednesday (and a sale!!) of what's promised here for spring, but for now I leave you with this month's collaborative desktop calendar. Hooray! This month I collaborated with the super talented, and mighty lucky Jordan Ferney of Oh Happy Day! who just moved to Paris with her sweet family for a year of adventure.

Jordan inspires me in small ways and big. I love her knack for fun, affordable ways to dress up her home, and parties, too! And her big move has me thinking, why couldn't I do that? Can you imagine, spring in Paris in a great new apartment? So inspiring. Thanks for convincing me such things are possible, Jordan, and for joining me this month! Hope you love our calendar, friends. There are both laptop and mega screen versions HERE. 

Happy new month to you! xo, S