Bourbon Barrel Pens? Yep! I have recently collaborated with Steve Flinchum of Shadoway Studio to be able to offer hand-crafted wooden pens with my journals. Steve is from Elkhorn, KY, a member of KY Crafted, and makes his pens from KY woods and Bourbon barrels. The pen pictured was created from a white oak bourbon barrel. I currently have a limited supply so let me know if you want one. I also have pens out of black walnut and wild cherry.

A couple months ago, I received an email from a previous customer who had seen this custom marriage book.  The customer was about to celebrate his first wedding anniversary and wanted to get a custom-made book as a surprise for his wife.  His plan was to copy their vows into the front pages and then write notes, thoughts, and such to each other as they choose. The cover itself was inspired by their wedding and symbols that are meaningful to them.  Their wedding colors were black, red, and white.  He asked that I include Beethoven's famous quote "Ever mine, ever thine, ever ours" on it.  He also requested that the Irish Claddagh be used in some manner (he proposed with a Claddagh ring and has an Irish heritage).  Below is the collaboration of his ideas and my translation.  The leathers are in their wedding colors with the quote on the back, and the Claddagh is part of the closure.  When I presented it to him, he was so excited with the outcome and sharing it with his wife.

I'm so excited to announce that I am now a part of the KY Crafted Program, which is a branch of the Ky Arts Council.  Kentucky Crafted is known for supporting and providing opporutnity for KY artist.  It is quite a process to get juried into it, and I am celebrated it fully!

 These planners are a great size for your bag, purse, or large pocket and will help remembering all those daily details be more fun! They are refillable and come with a 2013 planner that has BOTH a weekly and monthly view. The covers are created from repurposed or US leathers, have a pen holder inside, and close securely with a snap. The planner and pen are included.  They are 6.25 x 3.25 inches and are $45.  You can purchase them here.  If you would like a custom one or one in a larger size, please email me at reimaginedbyluna@gmail.com.

This past weekend at the Madison Chautauqua Festival of Art® - Madison, IN was gorgeous! Thanks to all the people who came out! I loved hearing all the stories from repeat customers of how these journals had been used and who all they were given to.

Also, I had a write-up in Round About's Madison Chautauqua guide. To read it, go to http://roundabout.bz/. Click on "Madison Chautauqua" on the left and then click on "Eco-friendly Artist". Thanks to Stevie Moore of Studiospectre for adding his two cents :)

Business Lexington recently pubnlished an article about ReImagined by Luna.  It's a nice overview of the business and my perspective on why I do what I do and why I work with repurposed materials:

“I’ve kept a journal since I was six or seven. It’s been an ebb and flow of how often and how much I write, but I’ve always had one,” Oesch said. “When I first started thinking of bookmaking as a business, I thought I could do it part-time through the winter and farm the rest of the time. I quickly learned that any small business is full-time — and overtime — and chose to pursue bookmaking after doing a year of farming.”

“When you recycle something, you take it and break it down and then re-create something out of it, like paper for example. When you repurpose, you go ahead and take a material and reuse it. You don’t have to take it and break it down to make something else,” Oesch said. “I think it is also helpful to use recycled materials because it stimulates other people’s creativity. If I repurpose something you might otherwise throw away, you might not be as likely to toss it next time around.”

All these jungle animals are doing a variety of actions while only showing a part of themselves. Can you guess what they are and what they are doing? These hand-crafted books were created in collaboration with a friend, Jason Thompson. He had the original idea and sketched the design, and I translated it to leather and fabrics to create this lively bunch. It was a true joint effort! These are great for a child's first journal or sketchbook as well as fabulous for any fun-loving adult. We can do these in other colors or create them as a photo album if you are interested in a custom order. Please let me know if you have any questions!

I got in late last night from a one day art festival in Columbus, OH.  I'm taking a quick breath before heading to another art show this coming weekend in Louisville, KY.  Each show has its quirks and perks and never ceases to be filled with quality people.  It's those small nuances and meeting new folks and seeing regular customers again that make it fun.  Here is a quick tour from this past month...

Starting in Evanston, IL at the Lakeshore Arts Festival:

This is how I pass time while driving.

View from my booth.  I was excited to be so close to Lake Michigan for the weekend!

Woodland Arts Festival here in Lexington, KY:

I use to go to this arts show when I was little and was enchanted with all the art and artists.  It's really fun to be one of the artists exhibiting now.  I also love that it is in my hometown.  I seriously saw people that I haven't seen in years...including (but not limited to) two of my babysitters from over twenty-five years ago.

Some of my friends who belly danced with Mecca. 

Most of these Woodland photos are courtesy of my friend, Jason Souders.

Art in Speed Park in Sellersburg, IN:

This is a such a sweet show with high quality artists.  It's nice that it was on the heels of Woodland because it is small enough to give the artists a chance to chat and catch our breath while still "working".  Work is relative anyway, right?  The more I tell myself that I am "playing", the more fun I have "working". 

Upper Arlington in Columbus, OH:

This one day show was on Labor Day, and speculations kept saying to beware of rain and potentially getting washed out.  Somehow, we were by-passed.  It drizzled a bit at one point, but it was overcast and dry.  It was my first time at this show, and I definitely enjoyed it. 

New designs that premiered in Columbus!  More on these later...

This is custom Marriage Book! The couple who ordered it from me used it to write their vows in and read from during the ceremony. They plan on writing letters to each other on their anniversary each year; hence, the August 16th on the front. It also has a tree, the moon phase from their wedding day, their favorite constellations (with the big dipper on the front), and a stone closure from the place where they hiked on their first date. The collaboration and intention that put it together was as beautiful as the finished product!

"Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls." -Jeremiah 6:15

This handmade, leather journal has a compass stitched to the cover.  The cover is from scrap leather and the inside pages are 100% recycled, archival, and blank.  This was commissioned as a thank you gift.  It is intended to be used as a travel journal and as a haven for the recipient's thoughts and reflections.

Refillable Coffee Bag Books are now an option!  This new design has similar features as the original coffee bag books: repurposed burlap coffee bags, hand-crafted wooden buttons, and handbound recycled, brown paper.  However, when you fill this one up, you can purchase another handbound journal to refill it with from me.  The cover and initial refill are $48.  Each additional refill is $25.  They will be premiering this weekend at the Lakeshore Arts Festival in Evanston, IL (just north of Chicago).  In the meantime, if you would like one, just let me know!

Here is a small, refillable notebook version of the larger "Deeply Rooted" journal.  It was custom made for a customer to give as a birthday gift to her sister.  When she requested all the elements of the large journal on this small size, I wasn't sure how it would work.  We were both excited that this small size could still contain many of the details, including the wooden button closure. 

Whether you are taking dance lessons, practicing yoga, participating in a fitness routine, or just wanting to get more intentional about your life, this journal is for you. It is a gently guided outline to give you space to set weekly goals, intentions, dreams as well as space for each day of the week to reflect on your frustrations, accomplishments, and happenings. It has 18 weeks inside of it and each one begins with a new quote.  Each of these journals will be accompanied by a handout to explain the layout of the pages as well as give some ideas for the reflections parts.  As far as the cover design, I have several of these already created with my sassy, dancer girl and goddess figure.  I can add this insert to a custom journal of your choosing.  If you are interested, contact me here.   There are several currently available for purchase here.  You can see some more pictures of the fabulous ladies here. 

Here is a peek at the inside pages:

Here are the current dancers and ladies...

The handout that will come with each journal...

“There is enough for everyone's need but not enough for everyone's greed.” — Mahatma Gandhi

At a recent art festival, I saw a tattoo that I simply could not ignore.  It was on a woman's upper arm in huge letters:  enough.  It could not be missed.  It was so captivating.  My first thought was the above Gandhi quote.  My second was a story that I heard while working at an eating disorder facility.  One of the things we dealt with were the women comparing themselves to other women.  One counselor gave the following illustration:  Say you're on an elevator.  You are feeling pretty good about yourself  Maybe you are even feeling pretty.  And then, the elevator stops at a floor on the way to your destination and another woman steps in.  You think to yourself that she is beautiful.  Immediately, any self-confidence is gone and you're convinced that you are ugly...as if there is not enough beauty in the world for both of you to be beautiful. 

We do this with many things: money, success, creativity, etc.  I did this subconsciously with art.  Growing up, my brother was considered "the artist".  He was an incredible painter...so amazing, in fact, that I didn't even really bother trying.  It was as if I thought that if I also painted, it would be some kind of competition.  I stuck to reading and writing...as if there wasn't enough room for both of us to be artists.  I still dealt with this insecurity in college when a friend handed me a children's book and paints and told me to make an altered book.  I began to realize that it was insecurity and a fear of not being good enough. 

Many of us do this subconscious or conscious comparison.  But, I've learned that there is enough for us all.  There is enough money, enough beauty, enough creativity, enough ability, enough success, enough dreams, enough bravery for all of us.  

Have you all seen the new Hardcore Sketchbook? As I was making this, it seemed to just name itself.  I get many requests for larger and thicker books.  I found myself thinking while I was creating it that it was a hardcore sketchbook.  It's big and thick and perfect for serious artists and writers...PLUS, it has a built in pencil/pen holder.  The paper is 100% recycled, thick, textured, and archival.  They are now available online here!

In preparation for the Berea Craft Festival, I joined Tara Bellando at WKYT.  It was on July 4th for a short interview about the festival.  I said it there, and I'll say it again...Indian Fort Theater is one of my favorite venues.  It is such a beautiful wooded area and feels enchanting with all the high quality artists that participate in this festival.  Some of my favorite artists are there, and it really feels like we are all a family getting back together. 

This year, the weather vacilated between clear skies and sunny to torrential downpours.  It went back and forth every day throughout the show.  One of my booth neighbors luckily had a shovel so I was able to dig a trench and divert the rivers that wanted to pass through my booth.  I felt like a little kid playing in the mud.  We also have had such a drought that we needed the rain.  During one of the rain storms, Josie (of Mayapple Creations) and I grabbed hula hoops and danced around in it.  Sometimes, it helps to just go ahead and embrace the inevitable. 

Oh, I also finally got a new chair and am so excited that I simply must show you.

Another artist, Steve, gave my a labyrinth that he made.  He had seen my labyrinth logo at a gallery show we did together and was inspired to do the design.  I love that he shared it with me!

"I come here to find myself because it's so easy to get lost in the world."  -John Burroughs

 The labyrinth is a unique tool/symbol that was handed to me when I needed something to hang on to.  It had been a tumultuous few years.  I was trying to escape it all and get as far away from everything I knew as I could manage.  This meant attending a school in central Florida that was a simulated 3rd world village.  Its purpose was to train people for the practical aspects of living in a third world environment.  I personally wanted to learn more sustainable life skills and put myself in a completely different situation.  Ironically, just as I was trying to escape it all, I discovered the labyrinth, which is designed to help people find their way.  As part of the school, we each had to choose a semester project.  I wanted to study spiritual disciplines.  My advisor asked if I knew anything about labyrinths, which I did not at the time.  As I began to research, I felt more and more connected to them.  I learned how to draw the Cretan labyrinth, which is said to be the first labyrinth design.  It is also the most simplistic, which was part of the attraction.  I found myself drawing it over and over.  My class notes from this school have multiple labyrinths in the margins. I read everything I could get my hands on about it (we did have access to a library after the first several weeks).  I also ended up building one out of pvc pipes and rope.  The labyrinth is typically created so that you can comfortably walk the path.  It has been used throughout the centuries as a walking prayer.  It is different than a maze.  A maze is created to get you lost with multiple turns and obstacles.  The maze is a puzzle to figure out.  On the other hand, a labyrinth is designed to help you find your way.  It is one path in and one path out.  You won't get lost...just keep putting one foot in front of the other.  Because you won't get lost, you can walk without thinking or worrying.  You can just walk , knowing that your path is already laid out before you.  So, you walk the path to the center, spend time there in prayer or meditation, and then follow the same path back out.  Walking towards the center represents spending time with yourself in reflection.  Spending time in the center is literally meant to be centering before walking back out, symbolizing re-connecting with those around you.  It is a spiral that strikes a balance of spending time on your inner self and then connecting with your community.  I love that reminder, that ebb and flow.  Some also see the labyrinth as an ancient feminine symbol due to all its curves and circular aspects.  Some go so far as to see it as the divine womb.  Because of the point in my journey when I discovered it, it became my healing symbol.  I had been feeling stuck.  I was neither able to engage myself or others in any real sort of way.  For me, the labyrinth became a reminder to keep moving forward on my journey, to quit being afraid of getting lost, to just keep walking.  It also helped me to remember to center and to connect with myself and others, knowing that there is a balance of doing both.  To this day, I have an affinity for labyrinths and the notion of a prayer that involves movement and moving forward on our path.  The word "reimagine" entered shortly after I began to feel the affects of having discovered the labyrinth, which is why it felt appropriate that the labyrinth should be a logo for me having "reimagined" my life. 

"Whatever else you do,
listen to your Deepest Self.
Love Her, and
Be true to Her,
Speak Her truth,
Always."
-Sue Monk Kidd

It was around Fall 2006 when I first connected myself with the name "Luna".  I was working at an eating disorder facility and was also in counseling.  One of the things I realized was how disconnected I was from my feelings.  I was told to get in touch with my "inner child".  My counselor was essentially asking me to become more honest about my growing up years and how it affected my younger self.  She encouraged my to name this part of myself.  I began to think of this more as my inner self or true self.  I felt like the "real" me was actually able to express myself freely, feel empowered, and know that I was incredibly capable of living life fully.  I had played a funny game with myself over the years that involved trying to decide what I would name myself if I had been given the option.  What name did I wish was mine...  I could never decide on one.  Nothing quite fit.  It happened one afternoon at the eating disorder facility when I was taking a break on the back porch.  One of my co-workers was telling me about a little girl whose name was Bella Luna.  It was like a light came on....Luna!  I would have named myself Luna.  I began secretly referring to myself as Luna.  I knew I was naming the part of me that was everything I did not yet know how to be:  self-accepting, empowered, confident, honest even when I didn't like what that meant.  It then progressed to my dear friend and I exchanging letters and each of us signing them with our self-given names.  As time went on, I began to identify more and more with "Luna" and who she represented to me.  I was becoming more and more the kind of woman I had always wanted to be.  I also began to "wake up" to a deep connection to the moon.  I learned how the moon is a strong symbol of femininity and how connected woman are even to the changing phases of the moon, especially when a woman is aware of this connection.

The meaning of "Luna" to me continues to evolve and expand.  I frequently get asked "Who is Luna?"  My simple answer is that Luna is a nickname.  And it is.  It's a self-given nickname to remind me to continue on the path of becoming my true self.

I'm in Lexington's Southsider Magazine!!

"For Melissa Oesch, the notion of reinvention is incredibly inspiring. Oesch takes discarded materials such as leather, fabric and old hardback books and “upcycles” them, creating journals, sketchbooks, datebooks and iPad cases..."

"Pilgrims are poets who create by taking a journey."
–Richard Niebuhr

I find that when I travel, I tend to take a new journal specifically for reflections and sketches pertinent to that adventure.  Journeys are such a change of pace that they can reveal parts of us to ourselves that we are too busy to pay attention to when we are in our regular routine.  It's nice to have something to captures these moments.  Also, because I use archival paper, you can add photos or mementos that you may collect along the way.  I recently had a customer tell me about a “smash book”.  It’s similar in concept to a scrapbook.  The difference is rather than waiting until you get back home to neatly organize and layout your ticket stubs, maps, photos, etc., you put things in your book as you collect them.  Her idea makes so much sense for those of us who have the best of intentions to scrapbook, but really just need to do things in the moment.  It is sometimes all too easy for all the memorabilia to end up in a shoe box that is lucky to even have a label with the date on it. 

My travel journals are now available in small, medium, and large.  They have 192 archival pages (includes both sides) and come with a pen and pen holder closure.  You can decide which size is best for you, depending on what size bag you tend to carry, whether you need more room for sketches or not, etc. 

Happy travels to all of you on journeys of all kinds this year!