Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.  -George Eliot 

I've had a gypsy line of journals for awhile now.  These gypsy journals come in various colors and patchwork layouts with fun stones and beads to accent them.  I've combined this idea with my hand-stitched words.   Here are some examples of the latest.  

I am thoroughly enjoying this change in weather.  The reprieve from the heat has been great.  With all this cool fall air comes a flurry of fall festivals.  I started off the season with the Midway Fall Festival this past weekend.  This is a quaint, historic little town with alot of character.  This train track ran right along the back of the booths and kids played up and down it all day.  It seemed as if everyone were enjoying the brisk air and sunshine.  Thanks to all who came out and stopped in!

"Dancing is not rising to your feet painlessly like a whirl of dust blown about by the wind.  Dancing is when you rise above both worlds, tearing your heart to pieces and giving up your soul."  -Rumi

This custom journal was created for a special woman whose twin brother passed five years ago.  She is a dancer and said she feels close to him when she dances.  This book is for memories, daily reflections, and letters to him.  She knew she wanted a dancer on the front as well as a fedora, a tulip leaf, and their names.  As I began making it, I had the sense that her brother wanted her to know that she isn't alone.  I felt like I needed to show them both dancing, to show that he does still dance with her.  What is interesting about this design that you may not know from looking is that both dancers are from the same cloth--just different sides of it.  This also feel significant given that they were twins.  The female dancer adorns a fedora and the back of the journal has a tulip leaf with their names hand-stitched on it. This 10x7 journal has acid-free, recycled pages inside so the writings inside will not yellow over time.  I am honored to have been asked to create this.

I felt giddy this whole past weekend and kept saying to myself, "Oh my gosh-I'm at Woodland Art Fair!”  I remember walking it when I was little and being mesmerized by all the colors, texture, and creativity.  At that time, I had no idea that I would one day participate.  Everything about it was fabulous...well, besides my voice going away on Sunday.  Otherwise, the weather was ideal, the Lexington Art League did an amazing job, and I got to see familiar, new, and friendly faces.  I deeply appreciate all the support and kind words that everyone gave.  One young woman said, “I don't usually journal, but I would if I had something this lovely."  Yes!  Another young woman is having me make a custom journal for her dear friend whose twin brother passed five years ago.  I am all too familiar with this sort of experience.   She continued to say that her friend feels him close when she dances.  Her friend was there with quite tears falling.  It was one of those beautiful connecting moments where they then began telling me all the things that represent him and their relationship so I can be sure to include it on the journal.  It was so good getting to meet and talk with them.  So many beautiful moments filled the weekend.  Truly, thank you all for filling up my booth and taking some time to share yourselves with me. 

Yes, that title was taken from a Lykke Li song. Speaking of dancing songs, check out Iron and Wine's Boy with a Coin if you haven't done so already.  So beautiful.  I spent this past weekend selling at a dance workshop.  The people that were there wore the most inspiring colors and flowy materials.  Since I knew this workshop was coming up, I created a couple new lines of journals geared towards dancers.  These dance journals are designed to inspire and encourage dancers.  You can use them for taking notes at class, for reflecting on what arises in you as you dance, or for prayers that you may find yourself dancing.  They are covered in fun colors and added embellishments, including braids and bells.  These are not yet available online, but please let me know if you are interested in one.

All my journals have different bits of love and intentionality.  All are unique.  However, some in particular echo inside me long after they’ve been sold.  This one has been coming to mind a lot lately:

A fabulously energetic lady (from Atlanta if I recall correctly) bought it at the Berea Craft Festival a few weeks ago.  Most folks come into my booth and linger and take time really enjoying the essence of it all, making careful decisions about what book they want.  Not this lady.  She marched right in, took a glance around, and picked this one up, saying she wanted it.  “It speaks to me…you made it for me,” she told me.  I love that.  I love that it spoke to her and is what she needed at that particular point in her journey.  Sometimes folks tell me that they don’t have good (significant, poetic, etc) enough words to write in beautiful books.  I try to help them alter their perspective a bit:  the books are not meant to be intimidating; they are meant to be an invitation.  The lady in Berea was a poignant reminder of this for me.  These books are an invitation to write, to reflect, to sketch, to grieve, to celebrate, to wonder, to dream, to create, to grow, to inspire and on and on.  I make them in hopes that they will beckon and remind you that you are worth noting and reflecting on— the joys, the sorrows, the lessons, the seemingly mundane, all of it. 

Last Saturday was blazing hot!  Thankfully, I was nestled in the shade at Barefoot Works Yoga Studio, participating in the fundraiser for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  The folks that came out were so pleasant and enjoyable that it was impossible to not have a good time.  One woman told me that seeing my books made her think of this quote:

"There is no use trying, said Alice; one can't believe impossible things. I dare say you haven't had much practice, said the Queen. When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."      -Lewis Carroll

Between the colorful hula hoops, henna, and beautiful smiles, I think we all found each other mutually inspiring.  Its kind of hard not to believe in impossible things with so many out-of-the-box thinkers coming together for a Saturday morning/afternoon.  

Thanks to Sharon of Barefoot Works for having us out, to Red Lotus Henna for the awesome arm artwork, and to Fran for being a great booth buddy/friend!  Cheers to us all!

(thanks to Sharon and Fran for the photos!)

Here is a peek at a custom-made wallet that is on its way to Chicago...

This bi-fold was created from black reclaimed leather. The wallet is thin and will fit nicely into a back pocket. It has deep yellow and teal blue circles stitched onto it. There is a sleeve for cash, two pockets for credit cards, and a window pocket for your license. 

 

I did my first art show in Chicago this past weekend.  I now officially know that not only am I capable of doing it, but that I also enjoy being there.  Because it was a combined art and music festival, the show times were different from what I typically experience.  This one opened at noon and went until dusk.  It did give me a bit of time in the mornings to wander the streets and enjoy some of the city, particularly Sunday morning since I didn't have to worry about setting up.  While Sunday was a serious scorcher weather-wise, it was an overall good first show in the city. 

What involves an owl, a zipper, and multiple pockets...

A custom-made sketchbook case for Studio Spectre!

I travelled to the woods of Berea, KY this past weekend.  They were absolutely enchanting with tall trees surrounding the paths that were lined with incredible artists.  While it rained a bit on Friday (only a slight deterrence to serious art shoppers), we had sunny skies and intense heat the rest of the weekend.  The trees were great about providing shade here and there.  We all just sweated alot and enjoyed each other regardless.  It was fun to see familiar faces and meet new folks as well as get to know some other artists. 

The lovely people who organized the event had all the vendors out for some soupbeans, cornbread, and good ole music.  The musicians organized themselves and played fiercely while the rest of us embraced the down time and watched Josie do a bit of fire hula hoop dancing.  (For those of you who know me, you know this was a particular highlight).  Yes, I tried the hula hoop.  No, I did not try the fire. 

 I am most thankful for the interactions this past weekend.  It was fabulous being back in Berea for a bit.

"The Lexington Rescue Mission has reinvented a section of its thrift store at 720 Bryan Avenue to serve residents of the North Limestone community. In addition to providing a place for local artists to sell and display their work, The Bazaar and The Gathering Place at The Bazaar offer a free, creative space where members of this resurging neighborhood can come together...

Artist Melissa Oesch, owner of ReImagined by Luna, crafts journals from recycled material including old book covers and re-claimed leather. Oesch said members of the artistic community, who often experience difficulties supporting themselves while developing their craft, sympathize with the Mission’s efforts to fight poverty. She hopes her booth presence at The Bazaar will extend her passion for journaling to members of the North Limestone community."

Check out the full article here.  Thanks to Elizabeth Troutman for the write-up!

Oh, fun!  One of my journals made it into the Weekender and get a brief mention in regards to The Bazaar's grand opening tomorrow.  Read more here.

My studio just got a bit of a make-over, which includes a brand new addition.   *drumroll*  Please meet Juki-the industrial sewing machine.  She is here to help with all my thick material needs.  I bought her in Indianapolis and drove her in pieces back to KY.  By half miracle and half sheer will power, I managed to get her upstairs to my studio.  If you've never carried the head of an industrial sewing machine before, let me tell you:  this. was. a. feat.  And, I've worked on a farm before.  So, I know heavy lifting when I see it.  This was VERY heavy lifting. I'm happy to say that she is now all put back together and buzzing along quite nicely.  

People for Urban Progress (PUP) invited me to their studio to participate in July's First Friday.  It was a fabulous evening.  Thanks to all who came out! 

 A quick, mid-week break was the perfect antidote for the busyness of this festival season.

Have old photos that you want to do something creative with?  One lady had me take her old family photos and turn them into several sketchbooks/photo albums for her.

 

As an English major and avid book lover, I have an affinity for old books.  One of the first types of journals I began making were out of used book covers.  Here's what I found out that made me even more adamant about re-using old book covers:  all book covers get thrown away!  That's right, only the inside of books can be recycled.  The insides getting recycled is the best case scenario (and even in this case think of all the lovely, awesome book covers that are getting tossed).  If you take your old books to a recycling center that cannot afford a book cutter (ie cannot pay someone to cut out the insides so those can be recycled), the whole book gets thrown away.  Bam.  Just like that, tons of books are finding themselves in landfills.  And have you ever peeked into the dumpster of a bookstore used or otherwise?  It's quite unbelievable all the books that are in them.  I find book covers many places, often with the pages still at least somewhat in them.  I look for books that are stacked in corners and overlooked or that are literally about to be thrown away.  They come from individuals, garage sales, antique stores, outlets, etc.  Its rare that I use books that I think should still be being read.  This mostly happens when the books are falling apart.  Thus, the books I generally have are a bit obscure with varying fun titles and/or fabulous covers.  I recycled their insides and...voila!  A super cool, unique journal or sketchbook.

lots of books easily fill up the back of jessica's mini!

 

voila!