shanna murray

first day of fall, in the year MMIX

As Mayor of Fall, I open the season and declare Fall officially upon us! Let us celebrate the triumphant return of the most glorious season of all seasons! We welcome you Fall, in all of your colorful splendor. 

We welcome your crisp days, pumpkin pies, blue skies with puffy clouds, fresh packages of notebook paper (college ruled, please), and your concord grapes. It has been far too long since argyle socks, glorious gourds of all shapes and sizes, plaids, maple candies, sweaters with elbow patches and best of all, leaf crunching under foot! Fall, may you be a happy one, and may you last longer than any Fall that's come before (just wanted to see if Martha was paying attention). 

To mark the occasion The Vice Mayor and I would like to share with you that we will have gifts for one and all, a week from today - after everyone has had just enough time to wrap themselves up in the season and appreciate its best season status. 

Hoorah, Hooray!!

Shanna

p.s. do you have a favorite fall thing?

happy little bits of news

Well...here it is! Just a little peek at the result of the time Betsy and I spent together last month! We are both brimming over with excitement to show these to you! But we're going to wait just a tad longer as we pull together a few more bits of the collection for our shop. It feels a little early to be ushering in winter wares, and 2010 calendars, doesn't it? It isn't even fall yet. We have just been so giddy we couldn't help but share a little peek!

Speaking of fall, seeing as Hannah (a.k.a. Mayor of Summer) has declared me Mayor of Fall and I have appointed a Vice Mayor, it's only fitting that the Vice and I usher in the best season of all in grand style! We have a little something up our sleeves. We may not roll out our surprise on the official first day of fall which is eek! only a couple days away, but it will be soon. That's how we roll in our season, we go with the flow.

And, if you missed it over the weekend, I've launched a little end of summer sale in my shop! Be sure to read this weekend's post for a secret sentence which, if repeated at the appropriate moment could wind up making a little present land in your mailbox. 

Happy week in which fall begins!!

The last days.

To me, the last days of summer are the best ones. There is something I can't explain about this time of year, something that just feels so right, particularly since moving back east. The air feels like home, the light is pure magic, and the days are bookmarked by a new, welcomed crispness. 

I may be in the minority, but by the time they roll around I find I am comforted by the shorter days and by the darkness each morning. There seems to be in our house this time of year an exaggerated air of reverence for everyday rituals. My morning tea tastes better. Cat Stevens plays on the radio and sounds just right -better than he sounds in June. And I say hello to my socks again! The little things that make my life mine make it more so as fall rolls in. 

To mark the occasion, for the last days of September I am having a little sale in my studio shop! There are markdowns on all of my spring/summer prints, and free domestic shipping too! 

And just for you, my dear blog readers, I will tuck in a tiny surprise with each complete order! Just type in "Hello, socks!" in the notes section of your order, and a wee summer water color will make its way to you!

Happy Weekend!

lucky

One of our favorite spots to be each day, Ollie and me. The water has turned crisp, but we're still walking in it and soaking up the days we can before it turns too cold, and stings our ankles. I consider it good luck when a train crosses over this big tunnel, there are tracks up there, believe it or not. And I feel brave, and a little bit like a kid again when we walk through while the train goes rumbling by overhead. Sometimes I make a wish. Sometimes I just feel like I'm already living my wish. 

Sorry for such a sentimental post, the nostalgia is just sort of lingering. Or perhaps some would say loitering. What can I say, fall's almost here. 

already feeling a little nostalgic...

...for summer. A few more shots from a very rewarding project I worked on this summer. This season has been a tight one • pocketbook wise and time wise • but in every other aspect my life has been flowing over. So many good things to be grateful for. Partly, I'm sure, the tight pocketbook helped me focus on life's important bits. When I list the best bits to myself I feel rich. The richest I've ever felt. Amen to that.

Happy last bits of summer to you friends, hope you're feeling rich too. xxoo 

{O}

As fall approaches I've been thinking and dreaming of the gorgeous moon gate my sweetheart C built last year. It's an incredible space that always leaves me feeling inspired and full of appreciation for the amazing gift C is to this world - or at least to me. There's just something about how the leaves fall in this space that takes my breath away. 

He's starting an amazing new project this week, and I'm so very excited for him! We'll be welcoming some wonderful and talented friends to Rochester over the next couple months as they filter in to join C in helping to create a beautiful space for some very lucky students. I can't wait to share photos of his project with you as it takes shape! 

Happy weekend to you, dear ones.

Shanna

back to business

Ironed and to be cut. To be ironed. Cut with seam ironed.  Sewn and ready for printing.

This is the little line up that occupied much of the two weeks that Betsy and I were together. So. Many. Towels. These seemingly innocuous bits of fabric brought us to delirious fits of laughter bordering on crazy on more than one occasion. But in the end we made it through, happily discovering that we coped with the stress in much the same way. There's much more to share about our adventures in the coming days, but for now I'll just say that Betsy is magic, and the dearest most wonderful partner I could have ever dreamed up. No, better than I could have dreamed, really.  

A little over a month away from this space feels more like an entire season. It felt really right to step away for a bit, but now I'm eager to be in touch with all of you again! I missed you!

Happy day!

Shanna

p.s. We announced our vendors for the 2009 Second Storie Indie Market this morning, exciting stuff!

into the woods

A little out take from a job I'm working on...I've been spending a lot of time at the creek, which makes me happy. It's forecasted to rain today through Sunday, which also makes me happy - a good time to get back in the studio. And maybe take a nap or two, I've been sort of running on next to empty for a few days straight now...must do something about that. Watercolors might do the trick.

I need some new tunes, what's been in heavy rotation for you this summer?

Hugs all around,

Shanna

right around the corner

From a little field trip to Palmyra last week with friends. This summer I'm not going on any major vacations, so it has been fun to see things I've never seen just down the road...

Next up, free Neko Case in Buffalo! And the Maira Kalman exhibit at the Memorial Art Gallery!  I do love me some Maira Kalman! What fun things have you been exploring locally lately? 

'Till soon...                                                                                                                                            

a gift

One of my favorite parts of summer this year: my intern Courtney. She has made work 100% more manageable since entering my life. I have a pretty unwieldy to-do list this season, but because of Courtney I can go to sleep at a reasonable hour, go for peaceful walks with Ollie at the creek, and make good food. You know, have a somewhat "normal" life. I don't know what I'm going to do when fall arrives...

I've had so much to share with you all lately, but haven't been making the time to take many pictures. I guess I've just been focusing on living, not the recording of it. Part of that has to do with the fact that C and I have been having some pretty major discussions lately. And there's really no way to whip out a camera in the middle of a good talk and snap a pic of a very photo shy guy. 

But I'm back, eager to record all of summer's doings again, including that studio peek I promised!

Happy new week!

Shanna