I know I’ve already posted a bunch on this journal, but I really like it!  And I just took some more pictures of the cover and some inside pages and wanted to share.  For more info or to purchase for $12, visit my etsy shop.

Cheers,

Rachel

Rachel loves cute dishes so it was no surprise when I saw this whale mug from CircaCeramics in her Etsy favorites.  CircaCeramics has a bunch of made to order cups, bowls and other ceramic items, each one cuter than the last.

-jon

Since moving into our house and finally having a yard, I’ve been so happy to be able to start growing our own herbs.   I planted Saffron a couple weeks ago in pots on our front steps and the first one just bloomed.  I am so excited that I had to take some photos to share!  Saffron is suprisingly easy to grow in the northwest and blooms in the Fall.  Other interesting saffron facts I’ve learned:

* Saffron is a type of crocus, but it is a very specific type.  Don’t go harvesting your neighbors crocuses in the Spring or you may feel ill.

* The reason it is so expensive is you can only harvest three little strands per flower.  Commercially it takes 75,000 bulbs to harvest one pound.  Crazy.

* I bought 25 bulbs from White Flower nursery and they say that should be a good amount for a year for one family.

* The bulbs multiply so next year we should have some to share!

* You have to grab those little strands the day the flower opens to get the best flavor – they start deteriorating right away.

Now I need to start looking at some tasty recipes that use Saffron…  Yum.

Rachel

Happy Halloween from our little sheep!

Andrea from Tilde emailed me last week to tell me that my paintings made it into the backdrop of a photo in the Oregonian.  Andrea designed this awesome lampshade using paint chip samples.  It is so cute!  Follow the link here on instructions on making your own paint chip shade.

Happy weekend to you,

Rachel

Click! Design that Fits

As of this month, I have two new shops stocking my paintings in Seattle!  It is very exciting as I’ve been looking for places that would be a good fit after Urchin closed last year.  Click! in West Seattle has lots and lots of my map paintings (and even some of my oils) right now.  I’ll be up on Nov. 21st for a reception in their shop.  Stop in if you are in the area – I would love to meet you!  This is such a great shop that features a great collection of items from Northwest designers – you will love everything!

Camelion Design

I also have map paintings available at Camelion Design on Ballard.  Another great shop in Seattle with darling home furnishings!  I have a smaller selection available here, but will be having more pieces in December as I’ll be their artist of the month.  Check it out!

Rachel made a super cute little skirt for Adelaide the other day – green corduroy with a vintage ribbon at the bottom.  We haven’t sewn anything since we moved in, but somehow Rachel can still whip out the machine and put something together in a flash.  Well, it seemed like a flash.

-jon

I’ve run into Suki a couple of times at Collage and had to show you her artwork!  I love this piece titled Barnstorming- it especially seems fitting for this time of year.   Check it all her other artwork in her etsy shop and visit her website to see pictures of her really awesome studio.

Cheers,

Rachel

The box of my journals, Here to There, just arrived from Sasquatch Books!  It’s so exciting to have them in my hands!  I have the journal available through my shop for $12 with free shipping through the end of December and you should start seeing it book retailers.  I am so happy with the way it turned out and hope all who use it will like it too!   The cover turned out great – it picks up all the texture and vibrant colors of my original paintings and wraps around to the spine and back (where a single bird perches).  The inside is mostly lined with little colorful images bordering the margins.  The folks at Sasquatch were great to work with, this has really been a dream come true.

Cheers,

Rachel

We went to Sauvie Island Farms yesterday to pick pumpkins with our friends Amy and Alvah.  It was so fun to see the kids try and collect pumpkins, sit on pumpkins, eat pumpkins.  It was a perfect afternoon and we brought some home to carve later this week.  I am going to try and make Adelaide a halloween costume this weekend – she is going to be a little sheep.  I’m not sure what Jon and I will be yet, hopefully something we can create from common things.  Any favorite costumes out there?  I love this time of year – so much color, so many leaves.

Happy Fall to you,

Rachel