While I am still working on the dream of offering my pattern sheets, I can share some of my favorite sheets and some of my patterns via my new pillow collection.
Bedding Links:
⁃ https://www.garnethill.com/siesta-patterned-organic-cotton-percale-fitted-sheet/557662?offers_sku=543495&SourceCode=K23W52B1&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ACQ+PLA+Home&utm_content=ACQ+PLA+PercaleSheets&gclid=Cj0KCQiAjbagBhD3ARIsANRrqEsHuhidYyv8g-t8w6wKSEP_lohw4ZGg201pcGiSiejzstqbdwP8XbgaAqHQEALw_wcB
⁃ https://www.serenaandlily.com/hyannis-linen-sheet-set/m13434.html?color=Grove&searchCategory=Sheets#page7scroll12096=&gclid=Cj0KCQiAjbagBhD3ARIsANRrqEst85tlZbdsHiQK4CaiVfX_TNvsz-IYZFLs9g8rAcH1QXn9VzhcBBsaAhUEEALw_wcB&start=1
⁃ https://www.anthropologie.com/anthroliving/shop/house-of-hackney-organic-sateen-sheet-set?color=095&size=Pillowcase&inventoryCountry=US&countryCode=US&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_source=Google&utm_campaign=US%20-%20Shopping%20-%20PMAX%20-%20Home%20-%20G%26E%20-%20Bedding%2FBath&utm_content=&utm_term=&creative=&device=c&matchtype=&network=x&utm_kxconfid=vx6rd81ts&gclid=Cj0KCQiAjbagBhD3ARIsANRrqEsR7ZoTRBJcWWdAXDdzqMRRU3-a9OTp5523OAWZE9AWIMFAPj_5UUoaAr0QEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&type=STANDARD&quantity=1
Autumnal
It was until this season of spook and doom did I start enjoying the creepiness of the season. I have always been sensitive to spooky things letting my imagination get the better. While certain topics are still off the table, I enjoy books about witches, folklore, and ghosts. The books on witches are thematically about the history of women feeling powerless and how often resorted to what was around them to get by. The herbalist, the healer and mother all seen as dangerous for just wanting to keep their loved ones alive or presenting new ways of thinking. Heaven forbid a women has a mind of her own. These issues haven’t gone away. Women are fighting to have autonomy of their bodies still. Cis men still make more money and hold positions of power. By this very idea, I am witch too. I strive to be seen, help others and open to new ways of thinking. Here are a list of books I have been enjoying and where the main character a woman is making waves in the best way possible.
The Last Days of Magic, Mark Tompkins- https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/25e1ae5e-d1b5-4f59-a5e4-1be13d291c36
Gods of Jade and Shadow, Silva Moreno Garcia- https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/287115be-a673-482b-a33d-e1ab9002b1cf
A Far Wilder Magic, Allison Saft- https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/5de8e546-016f-4e63-a89f-5bbceff58808
Small Favors, Erin A. Craig- https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/4a867641-d62d-4d39-8e0d-eeab7ada3a50
The Nature of Witches, Rachel Griffin- https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/21748e55-70ea-470b-bf3f-5aa9d8974c42
Belladonna, Adalyn Grace- https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/33811271-4684-488e-83a1-757ae5c77dce
Thankful!!
I experienced such an incredible outpouring of love with my last post. Many of you expressed feeling the same way when it comes to depression. One of you described the collectiveness of depression as, "We're part of a great parade of downcast souls, Sarah!" I agree with that description wholeheartedly. So many of you reached out immediately, and I appreciated your messages so thank you for those.
One thing I find that helps my depression is having flowers in my home. It doesn't solve things in the long term but helps calm the beast at the moment. I am sure many of you know how inexpensive the flowers at Trader Joe's are. My favorite florals are the Peonies in the spring, Hydrangeas in the summer, and Tulips in the fall (well, I am enjoying them this fall). It might be small, but the pop of color and having something alive adds warmth to my apartment. I can't seem to keep a plant alive to save my life, but a vase of flowers as a short-lived relationship is perfect.
I will leave this poem here for you today,
Tulips For You by Theodora (Theo) Onken
It was a dance for two
Call it a Floral Ballet afar
A vertible blossoming pas de deux
Beautiful as ‘Les Tulips’ By Renoir
Oh, the colurs were so vibrant
A dance of pastel stroked measures
A French trifled daliance of lovers
A bountiful safe of artistic treasures
Enjoy,
Sarah
Depression, it is very real
Many of you know that I suffer from depression. I should also note that I am not great at expressing my thoughts in a written form. I apologize for all the grammatical errors and bad punctuation. It might have something to do with having been homeschooled, attended a co-op school in Romania, going to 2 public schools, and finally, a pre-boarding school that pointed out a learning disability rather than my test anxiety. However, back to the topic of my depression. It comes in waves but can cause me to spiral into days of not feeling like doing anything and lying around in bed. After being diagnosed with pre-diabetes, I have felt even more overwhelmed. I am grateful to friends that have encouraged me to seek therapy and have shown support through their words and actions. I have been seeing a therapist for two weeks and have found it to be very helpful. While it takes work to get better, It’s what I am striving for daily. I find making art, baking with my niece, and listening to audiobooks a way to bring joy into my life. I just finished listening to “The Henna Artist” by Alka Joshi. The book was on Reese Witherspoon’s book club HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB list. The journey of the main character reminded me of my own creative journey. Lakshmi Shastri is a henna artist in Jaipur when it was not common for women to have their own business. She befriends the wealthy, but an unexpected visitor changes everything and upturns her life. She loses her so-called friendships with the wealthy woman, and like in any good dramatic book, the rumor mill is swiftly churning out lies. She loses all of her clients except a few. This is one of those moments where how one responds to a shitty situation makes all the difference. When the path in my took a sudden turn, I felt angry, sad, and deeply depressed. It felt like it was all happening at once, losing several jobs around my field of study, struggling to be financially well, and losing friendships. I allowed negative thoughts to live within me instead of seeing the bigger picture for my life. I am still pursuing my passion and am always excited to share with my readers what is up next. I recently had a photo shoot of my pillows and made business cards made. I hope to have a follow-up newsletter shortly with images of my new pillows (you would love my sewer Mary, she has the best smile). While the future is unknown, I have to trust that God knows. I appreciate each and every one of you!
God Bless,
Sarah
"The Creative Process"
My hope is by having these blog posts, not only can I share my art, some thoughts on design and the design process, but also to share videos, inspirational quotes and things I am loving today.
Here is a video I have found useful when thinking about the creative process in my own work. If you are a listener of This American Life, then you’ll love this video.
Envious Position...
“Art has that incredibly envious position of not having to do anything. It can just be. It doesn’t have to function in any form. But I think every pice of design does.” - Stefan Sagmeister, 2009
How it began and how it continues...
"Design is intelligence made visible."
- Alina Wheeler, author
What I love about this quote is design starts out as a thought. An idea that can become a sketch, a note, or a cord. The first step often comes easily to me, the shapes and the mark making, but the following steps are about refining an idea. Thinking about the color and what that color means. With my patterns, scale is also significant; I often think about where this pattern will end up and how it will be perceived. I would not say that my designs are intelligent. Still, the process took getting a master's degree, continually educating myself on design, and being inspired by my surroundings.