Mai Autumn

and the livin' is easy

i've been out and about enjoying this lovely summer we've been having here. i've also welcomed oh so many new flowers in my garden! it's a surprise seeing what pops up every day, since most of the plants in my yard were here when i moved in. you'll also see a great shot of a sculpture i traded a print for a while back. UK based, Glyn Walton is the artist behind this perfect teeny world that now sits near my studio window. ah, how i love the light in the summertime :)

i also took a trip up to the renegade craft fair in brooklyn this weekend! that was oh so much fun and i'm so glad i got to meet some of the fantastic artists and designers that i've only known through the interwebs for so, so long!

in terms of work, the series i mentioned in my last post is swimming along (still keeping it hush hush though until i have at least a handful of things to share!) and i'll be rolling out some new stationery this week, featuring some of my most popular titles. each set is going to come with richly colored jewel-tone envelopes. the peonies i happened to stumble upon at the grocery store were just the right accompaniment for the photoshoot...

hope you're out there enjoying the season! :)

p.s. - i almost forgot! my etsy shop reached 2000 sales yesterday! i can't even believe it!! i am so thrilled to have all your wonderful support and love! a HUGE thank you to all my customers! :D the whole shop is 15% off to celebrate!

how does your garden grow?

my whole world has been full of blossoms these days! my photo a day habit has me snapping oh so many lovely floral shots all over the place - plus some other inspiring scenes that only spring can provide :)

my birthday weekend was spent in beautiful vermont for my brother's graduation, so of course i had to get a few pictures of the gorgeous scenery there, as well.

i just live for this time of year! and now, i'm off to paint to my heart's content with all the windows open :) hopefully i'll have some things to share with you later!

 

(p.s. - these photos were all taken with instagram! follow me at maiautumn)

gettin' dirty in the name of produce

today, i'm off to plant my garden. i have some mini plants from the local nursery, and i'm preparing a makeshift green house for the seeds i'm sowing. hopefully this will lead to lots of gorgeous veggies for the season - and some delicious meals!

via groundwork

i just love summer cooking because of all the fresh produce available. last year, we participated in a CSA program (community supported agriculture), and it was always so, so fun to get that box of veggies in the middle of the night. sort of like santa for grown ups (foodie grown ups, of course!)

via how sweet it is - strawberry mango basil salsa (yes, please!)

this year, i am determined to make it over to the local farmers market up on the boardwalk in asbury, run by food for thought by the sea, since we decided it might be better to buy our own as we go along this summer. (one can only eat so much cabbage!)(sorry, i had to say it lol)

via food for thought by the sea

if i have my info correct, the farmer's market takes place at first and ocean avenues in asbury park, nj, every thursday, from mid june through september, from 10am-1pm. for more info, visit food for thought by the sea or this post on local harvest.

how does your garden grow?

yesterday was the official groundbreaking for the plot of land that will become my garden! i haven't been able to garden since i was a kid - so far, my adult life has kept me in apartments - and i can't even put into words how excited i am because of this! my parents were kind enough to lend me some of their yard for my cultivation this year.

(prints in the shop)

it was so great to get dirty, spot plenty of earth worms (promising!) and feel the warm sun on my shoulders. here is a snapshot of the little perimeter I edged out...

i know it doesn't seem like much, but that was a lot of work! a girl's gotta get used to manual labor again :) apartment living is kind of cushy! i've got my seeds all ready to go, so here's hoping today's work is a bit easier on the back/hands/feet and i can actually start planting!

i'll be sure to post lots of updates as i go along! and you can also follow me if you're on folia.

happy planting out there!