I'm super pleased that I got my act together enough to create 4 different Christmas card designs for the holidays! This has never happened before, as I usually don't start thinking about Christmas cards until around December 10th. I haven't been great at promoting my greeting cards outside of the eastern Upper Peninsula, so that is one of my goals for the new year --- a little expansion! But for now, greeting cards can be purchased through me via e-mail, occasionally at the Les Cheneaux Farmers & Artisans Market on Sundays, and the Old Shell Gallery and Applecore General Store, both in Cedarville, MI. Also, very cool thing --- they're printed locally in the EUP on 100% Post-Consumer Recycled Paper, and the envelopes are recycled too! 

I am absolute garbage at keeping a blog. As I write this, I am surrounded by piles of paper on my work table, my email inbox is full of starred messages that I still have to write replies to (apologies everyone!), my brain is full of ideas for future projects, my to-do list is full of projects that I'm desperately trying (and failing) to get done in a timely manner. Things are good. 

Major things that have been happening: Lauren Stein and I have just released our first line of paper products together! Square notecards that feature 8 of our favorite recipes from Fresh Made Simple (our cookbook that was published by Storey Publishing in October of 2015). Also postcards of the same recipes and some cute little notepads to write grocery lists on.  All are printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper, we're very proud to say! They can be purchased at www.laurenkstein.com , or from yours truly at the Les Cheneaux Farmers and Artisans Market, which is every Sunday from 10-2 at the Hessel School House in Hessel, MI. Or at Old Shell Gallery in Cedarville, MI, but that's not open yet. Which brings me to the next big thing ---- 

Old Shell Gallery! It's opening soon! Memorial Day weekend, I believe, on that Friday... I think it's the 26th? A crew, including myself, has been hard at work giving the walls a fresh coat of paint. A funky coat of paint, you'll have to come in and check it out. (Thanks Pinterest and the people who post on it, for having so many brilliant ideas!). Some pretty cool events are going to happen, stay tuned to the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/oldshellgallery/?ref=br_rs

Superior Coast Winery of Karl's Cuisine, in Sault Ste Marie, MI, has been hard at work printing new labels for their delicious wines (current fave: Not Your Zinfandel), which feature my artwork! Actually, everything in the restaurant features my artwork, Karl's Cuisine is composed of some of the nicest and kindest people in the universe, and I'm so grateful to be able to work with them. It was such a blast working on these, and much harder than I thought. Really pleased with the results. Photos of the labels actually on the bottles coming soon... If you're ever in the Soo, you must go there and have a bite! The Elliot sandwich is incredible and named (and created by, I think???) after one of my great friends. www.karlscuisine.com

My work is being featured at Lucky Bean Coffee House on Mackinac Island, MI, which I am SO EXCITED ABOUT! Great coffee, great atmosphere, etc. www.luckybeancoffeehouse.com. Definitely if you are on the island you must go, it's so hip and fresh and delicious, also they have stickers designed by Erica Lang of Woosah Outfitters, who is brilliant. www.spreadingthewoosah.com

Besides all this, doing normal human things like going to music shows, hiking with friends/fam, screenshotting things from Instagram that I think are funny and showing them to my boyfriend who doesn't think they are quite as funny.... Yep! Things like that! 

I am so pleased to be a part of Women Who Draw, an open directory of female* illustrators. There is so much talent on this page that I continually go back to it and swoon over everyone's portfolios. Some current favorites:

Brooke Pelczynski - brookepelczynski.org
​Elsa Klever - www.elsaklever.de
Prima Sebastian - www.priyasebastian.net/illustrations/
​Caitlin Herrschaft - caitlinherrschaft.wixsite.com/caitlinherrschaft/portfolio
Rebecca Green - myblankpaper.com

I found Marina Terauds' work on Pinterest and am in love --- very mysterious and magical, incredible colors, beautifully drawn....Big love. Also the titles! 'Girl Who Knitted Her Dreams'??? BRILLIANT. www.marinaterauds.com/