Meet this week’s maker: Debra Robinson is a Thai Massage Therapist, health consultant, writer, and more. She has extensive experience in assisting people in their healing on physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual levels. I am one of those people. I can confidently say I would not be where I am today without her. I met her after tragedies and difficulties in my family caused so much stress that at age 24, I was stuck in a bent position from severe back pain. She had me walking normally after one session. One day, we were talking and she said, “You are depressed.” I laughed and said that this is the best I had ever felt. She told me to quit smiling and I did and burst into tears. She gently said, “You don’t know what its like to feel good yet. Use this magnesium gel twice day all over like lotion with no questions asked. We’ll talk about it in a few months after you build your levels up.” She had helped me enough that I knew to listen. After a few months, I was sleeping much better, had much less anxiety and the heaviness that I had been accustomed to feeling was lifting. Also, my 10-year battle with trying not to smoke cigarettes was gone. That was 15 years ago. I have used it almost every day since. I still don’t smoke and when I have anxiety, it’s for a reason instead of a lingering, underlying presence that I try to live around. We lose magnesium through stress: physical, emotional, spiritual, environmental, etc. Because our soil has been stripped, we don’t get enough in our diet anymore. I wanted to include Debra’s magnesium gel because it is one of the tools that has helped me. With this time of year and the holidays, I know people struggle even more with anxiety, depression, etc. We also become more aware of arthritis and other pains that we tend to overlook in warmer months. Magnesium gel helps with all of this and more! Check out her website for more information: magnesiumshoppe.com —- The Magnesium Shoppe is part of the Intentional Maker Gift Box “For Restoration” collection. They include magnesium gel, a leather journal, tea and a leather bookmark. All the gift boxes are at reimaginedonline.com

If you didn’t get a chance to come by @thegreenerylex last Saturday, here are some of the fun new items that we introduced. There are coasters, refillable leather notebooks, and ornaments. They are all branded with The Greenery’s leaf logo and are currently available in their gift shop area. This is definitely a coffee shop that you will want to check out. They have delicious coffee and a beautiful ambiance. Plus, they have plenty of outlets available so it’s a good place to work and keep everything charged up. Big thank you to Erin for having me join them last Saturday! It was such a joy-filled day. I appreciated getting to meet new people as well as have a few regulars surprise me by showing up. Thank you all!!

One week from today!!! ✨️ Join us for the Feral Folk Holiday Market - Sunday, Dec 1st at West Sixth Brewery in Lexington ✨️ SO excited to share this sweet event I’ll be at next Sunday! With support from the Kentucky Herbalism Alliance and @kyheartwood, the vision for Feral Folk is to nourish land-based makers and the land itself. We’ve got an awesome lineup of vendors. Join us for brunch, local crafts, and magical vibes ✨️ You’ll find a wide selection of truly handcrafted goods, all made of nature or heavily inspired by nature... funky jewelry, ceramic homegoods, naturally dyed clothes, nature inspired prints and graphic tees, leather goods, quilts, farm fresh herbal goods, dried florals and jams, wooden kitchenware and decor, natural body products, and lots more! Follow @kyferalfolk to stay up to date on market happenings! Makers: @_seed_disputanta_ @wildasteria @feralfibers_ @restorationacreskentucky @fibersoftheforest @amongtheoaksfarm @sylvatica_forestfarm @material.drifter @holler_home @backwoodsfarmgoods @seoul.and.soil @lepetitfeu @house_of_figs_studio @januarymoore @foxandhenfarm @alleycatpottery @seth_gover @reimaginedbyluna @kyheartwood

I’m at @thegreenerylex today for the Holiday Kickoff! I really excited to spend the day in this magical, cozy coffee shop with Erin and her fabulous baristas. I’ll be here until 3pm today (Saturday). It’s also National Espresso Day so come grab a hot beverage and enjoy a little shopping. The Greenery is located in @thegrovelex across from the Farmer’s Market on Main St. next to the parking garage (easy parking).

I will have these cute mini book ornaments and more at the Holiday Kickoff tomorrow! I will be at @thegreenerylex from 8:30-3pm on Saturday. I’ll have journals, sketchbooks, some bags, and a few more surprises made especially for @thegreenerylex. They are located inside @thegrovelex, which is on Main St…diagonal from the farmer’s market. It will also be National Espresso Day so you can celebrate by warming up with a delicious hot beverage. See you tomorrow, Lexington!

Small vertical bags first snow!! I’m getting ready for upcoming events and shows and enjoying this beautiful but fleeting first snowfall of the season. Upcoming: November 23 @thegreenerylex Holiday Kickoff Lexington, KY December 1 @kyferalfolk Holiday Market Lexington, KY December 6-8 @colswinterfair Columbus, OH December 14 @lexingtonartleague Holiday Market Lexington, KY You can find more details at reimaginedonline.com/festivals

Every piece you purchase online comes festively packaged! I have a few different holiday designs to use, but am enjoying these new old school lights.

“I never met a color I didn’t like.” -Chihuly “What I need most of all is color, always, always.” -Monet I’m excited to be reintroducing the Intentional Maker Gift Boxes. This is one of my personal favorite ways to give gifts. I love offering a small, thoughtful collection that can inspire and enliven the recipient. It’s even better when they are all handmade pieces. I’ve collaborated with several other artists to bring you these one-of-a-kind, curated gifts. Meet this week’s maker: Madison of @monasartsupply. Madison lives in Lexington, KY and has a myriad of experiences in art, nature, and eco-friendly practices. Her business ties all of those together as she gathers materials from her surroundings and creates products with environmental stewardship and ethical production in mind. As she puts it, “when you feel good about the materials you use, it elevates the experience of making art.” She is creating the watercolor sets. She makes highly pigmented watercolors from 100% natural mineral and plant pigments. The watercolor paints are in bioplastic pans with magnets that hold them in place. She even offers refills if you’d like to reuse them. —— @monasartsupply is part of the Intentional Maker Gift Box “For Eco-friendly Watercoloring” collection. The watercolor box includes handmade watercolors, a handbound watercolor sketchbook with handmade paper, a soy candle, a paint brush, and a leather bookmark. All gift boxes are at reimaginedonline.com.

New journals and sketchbooks at @coffeetimes! This is one of the longest standing coffee shops in Lexington. They have a cozy sitting area, lots of fun gift options, and even roast their own coffee, which you can purchase for home use. Fun fact: I use to work at @coffeetimes in college and even when I moved away, I worked a few Christmas seasons with them. When I started my business, @coffeetimes was one of my first wholesalers and a big part of that early education. Talk about full circle!

Do you remember the story I told about a custom padfolio I made 10 years ago that survived being run over by cars and trucks on a busy road in Louisville? This is its new companion piece. The one that was run over is still intact and functional, but it was time to freshen things up with a new color. This piece is a replica of the original design and will fit a specific planner and pad of paper, and has multiple pockets and a pen holder. The other really cool component is the closure. It’s an original, handmade piece by @kellipopejewelry. This padfolio is ready for planning and daily use!

Have you checked out @thegreenerylex in Lexington, KY yet? They are part of @thegrovelex on Main St. and are quite the magical place with the cozy lighting and plants growing everywhere. You can now find my journals and sketchbooks there along with some other handcrafted items. We have some future collaborations in the works so stay tuned!

It’s time for the Intentional Maker Gift Boxes! For those unfamiliar with them, these gift boxes are filled with work that is handmade by multiple artists. The gift boxes are only available online. I will not have them for sell at any art shows, but you can let me know if you want to pick one up at an art show. Be sure to message me in advance if you want to do that. Meet this week’s maker: Kris Busch of Functional Ceramics. Kris lives in Bloomington, IN and has been working with clay since she was a teenager. She studied it in college and is a full-time potter. She said that two things really inspire her in regards to creating mugs. One is the joy in the customer’s face when they tell her how much they enjoy using her mug or they describe what they like about it. The other is striving to make the shape function well and feel good in the hand. In her words, “My goal is to enhance the celebration of daily life and enrich its simple joys.” Her work is beautiful as well as perfect for everyday use. In high school, I began the ritual of a hot beverage in a special mug before journaling. There is something about taking the time to make tea and holding that warm mug that helps me take a breath and slow down before I start emptying my thoughts on the page. Those signals matter: a cup of tea, a lit candle. It’s a concrete reminder to slow down even for a few mins to catch up with and be with myself. May these inspire you to do the same. —- Functional Ceramics is part of the Intentional Maker Gift Box “For Contemplation” collection. They include a one-of-a-kind mug, handbound leather journal, handcrafted herbal tea, candle and a leather coaster. All the gift boxes are at reimaginedonline.com.

Come join me at @completelykentucky for Candlelight Weekend tonight! We’ll be here till 8 or so. I’m here on “ugly” Christmas sweater night and am ready to show off some extra books and bags. I’ve been selling with @completelykentucky for over a decade and it’s really fun to be part of this event. You can find my work here anytime you are in the area!

This is from another order from my collaboration with @visitlex. @visitlex is a great source for local happenings, good restaurants, places to shop and more. Definitely check with them if you are traveling here from out of town! We made a couple of custom stamps to set these pieces apart and show that they are only available through them. You’ll see the infamous “blue” horse on the front and the inscription on the back acknowledging our working together. If you have a logo or special stamp that you want made for a collection, let me know. This type of option is great especially for stores and galleries who want pieces that are made specifically for them.

I am happy to announce my upcoming holiday show schedule! I will have a full set-up at @colswinterfair and am looking forward to seeing all my Columbus people. I also have several smaller local shows and pop-ups over the next month or so. If you are hoping to see something specific at these events, let me know so I can include it when possible. I do have some work available at reimaginedonline.com for those who can’t make it to the events. If you don’t see what you want online, message me. I tend to have more inventory than I have time to list online and can send you photos of what’s available. Let me know if you have any questions. December 1 @kyferalfolk Lexington, KY December 6-8 @colswinterfair Columbus, OH December 14 @lexingtonartleague Holiday Market Lexington, KY You can find more details at reimaginedonline.com/festivals

I showed up in style to see Aly yesterday! Her gallery, @thecollective513 , in Cincinnati, OH is pretty magical. It’s literally like walking into an art show. That’s how she met many of the 200 artists she represents, including me. She also offers her fabulous slow fashion @kreativemindzbiz . I added more sizes and colors of journals and sketchbooks to her current collection. If you are in the area (or passing through), definitely plan on stopping by. There are so many incredible pieces and a variety of price points. You will not want to leave empty handed!

These are two wholesale orders that I recently completed. Now available at @kenton.maysville in Maysville, KY and @bellamoxiecompany in Medina, OH respectively. Full list of my retailers on my website if you are wanting to see if there is one near you.

This fall has been a whirlwind so far. I’ve had 8 art shows in 12 weeks and have been in a different state at an art show for four consecutive weeks. Thank you to everyone who came out for them! I’m solidifying my holiday show schedule and will post it soon. Meanwhile, I’m working diligently on some wholesale orders and starting on custom orders. I will also begin building up inventory for the holidays and will be adding more Intentional Maker Gift Boxes online in a couple of weeks. Show and online updates coming soon! *photo from the @thekyguild fall market of a lovely lady showing off her incredibly soft red leather crossbody bag. I heard from her a couple days later and she said she loves her new purse.

Many of you have either met Steve of Steve’s Wood Crafters at an art show or heard about him from the Intentional Maker Gift Boxes that I offer (he is our wooden pen maker). I’ve watched his craft and business grow over the past few years and am excited to be included in his holiday storefront. He will have a wide variety of beautifully made, functional wood crafts as well as a selection of my leather journals and notebooks. If you are in the Louisville area, be sure to check him out. The Grand Opening is this weekend and he will be open weekends through Christmas. He is located at North Village Market: 6301 Moonseed St. #4 Prospect, KY 40059. His hours are Fri 3-7, Sat 11-6, and Sun 12-4. **both journals pictured are part of the “Intentional Maker Gift Box: For the Mindful Writer” and can be found on my website.

Reclaiming Our Legacy- the legacy of our hands. What I saw and heard over and over this past weekend was hope with drive. @thekyguild underwent a big transition a couple of years ago and has slowly been rebuilding. Every person who showed up this past weekend was voting with their feet. I talked with previous board members who said they were not able to move the guild forward during their term, but after this weekend, there was hope in their eyes, too. Thank you to the many people who have poured into the Guild over the years and sustained it enough to get it to this point. Members of the guild, guest artists and members of the community have been watching it come back to life. The fall market was the fruit of everyone’s concentrated efforts. We are reclaiming our good legacy once more.