I just got in under the wire to donate a few prints to the Craft Hope for Haiti Etsy Shop, and the listing is up now. There are 4 copies of my print “The Question is Irrelevant, Love is the Answer” available, $12 each. I will ship them anywhere in the world — so get shopping!

There is a lot of other great stuff in the shop, all donated by hand-makers of all kinds. All proceeds will go to Doctors Without Borders in Haiti. You can learn more about what Craft Hope is doing on their website. I also have to hand it to the organizers, all working crafty moms! They are doing great things, and I hope they can keep up the good work!

**update 1/21: All four of my prints sold in one day! So exciting! And so humbling to know I can help in this little way. There is still lots and lots of great handmade stuff to buy in the Craft Hope shop, even including some sewing and knitting patterns, so head on over!**

There was a really nice article about BerkshireMade in our local Berkshire Eagle newspaper yesterday. If you missed it in print (in the Berkshires Week insert) you can read it here. {The link will only work for a few days, though, before it’s archived, so head on over and read-it-up now!}

We had a nice time as a group at Pittsfield’s Third Thursday last night. There was some really awesome music being played down the street, which made for lovely ambiance. I was also able to pick up my completed order from Pasko Frame & Gift, a custom frame for a “Bound on Earth” print (photos soon) from the incomperable Lizzy House, my printmaking and pattern design teacher at Squam Art Workshops. Sarah and I each snatched one up from her buzzing table at last June’s Art Fair at Squam. I’m so glad to have it ready to hang up! {I’m also a little sad, because the Sept. session of Squam is in full swing this week and I’m not there. I’m really not sure what I was thinking, not signing up? I’m sure everyone’s having a magical time, though, and I wish them all lots of happy campfires and loon calls!}

This weekend I had the pleasure of visiting Lowell, MA and The Lowell Summer Music Seriesl. What a sweet town! I had never been there before and heard lots of horror stories about an aging mill town, but to my surprise it’s really coming back to life nicely. There are lots and lots of historic mill buildings, but many of them (all?) are now turned into live/work spaces, art spaces, galleries and even a museum or two! And of course it didn’t hurt that we were there to see the little folksinger (no, really, she’s tiny!) Ani Difranco.

The Summer Music series is held at Boarding House Park in downtown, and it’s really lovely. A terraced grass and granite seating area and a big stage flanked with archways covered with lush vines. Really nice. We dined alfresco on Heidi’s three bean salad, roasted garlic scapes, fresh peas, and some other snacky stuff. A lovely night. aaannnd her second encore ended just as the rain started to drizzle down on us! perfect timing!

Then we were off to The SoWa Open Market in the morning. I sold some cards and prints and enjoyed the sunshine. It actually got a little hot and felt like summer for most of the day!

That’s me! Manning my booth all professional-like. (sporting my Liz Elayne “Begin” necklace)

And here’s my intrepid helper, Heidi, peeking out from behind the crafty goodness! What would I do without my amazing friends who continually step up and help a girl out? You are all so wonderful! I think she had fun, too, so that helps.

We had the pleasure of being back-to-back with Heather Toupin of heatherjeany, too! One of the most fun neighbors, and also a super talented artist and Gocco-er! Check out her fantastic stationery, custom invites and prints, as well as baby onesies in her Etsy Shop and in her Flickr. You can also follow her on Twitter! How could I resist bringing home one of these prints? (thanks, Heather! True dat.)

New prints are up in my Etsy shop, a series of four prints from original watercolors of hand-illustrated type and sweet little birdies:

Available as 8″x10″ high-quality archival giclee prints (slightly smaller than the original paintings in these photos) for $15 each in my Etsy shop. Each print will only be available in a limited edition of 50; contact me for info on the originals.

I’m hoping to include at least one of these originals in the “Vision of Squam” art show at Artstream Gallery in Rochester, NH in September, along with one of my birdies on a branch. This series was no doubt inspired by my trip to Squam Art Workshops in September, if you remember all the soul searching that it spurred in me and other attendees. [btw there's still room to join me (and my pal Sarah G.!) at the June session -- register now!]

I think these prints would make lovely gifties for a speical friend, or maybe even your sweet mama? Mother’s day is right around the corner, May 10! I’d be happy to expidite shipping to you if you need it for Mother’s Day, just let me know in the “notes to seller” section upon checkout.

As inspired by the previously mentioned Michael Pollen and Michael Bittman, and perhaps a bit of spring fever, I have just finished a new series of paintings, entitled “Eat More Veg!” — I’m hoping this will help remind all of us of this simple idea?

Five veggie-themed prints from original watercolors are available in my shop now, as well as the title print, “Eat More Veg.” Enjoy!

Yay! New stuff! The needle felted acorns above are available in my Etsy shop (www.lauriecoyledesigns.etsy.com) — I’m happy to take custom color orders.

I hesitated a little bit to post this stuff this week, beacause I’m leaving late tomorrow night on a trip to Arizona for a week. I’m hoping anyone who orders this week will be understanding if I don’t ship their stuff out until next week — I’ll be able to ship on Thursday Nov. 13th. I’m a little overwhelmed with the idea of being gone for a week, and I will certainly need to do some homework while I’m gone, but of course I’m also super excited to see my far-flung family members and have a sunny vacation in a warm place — looks like it’ll be in the high 70s and low 80s while we’re there, which is perfect for me and maybe even warm enough for some swimming (unheated pool? eek!)!

Thank You gocco cards availble here and here.

Prints from my goatie watercolors, available here and here.

Holiday Peace gocco cards, set of 8 available here.

Good Fortune gocco cards, set of 8 available here.

I’m also happily taking orders for custom holiday cards — either digital illustrations, hand illustrations or silkscreened — your choice! E-mail me for more info and prices — maylaurie@gmail.com.

And last, but not least, the 2009 calendar — chock full of hand-drawn illustrations with a theme loosely based on your kitchen and food, including things like delicious treats, pretty potted herbs, a kitchen-aid mixer and a set of cooking utensils.

This is where I’ve been all week. Hoping to get it cleaned up next week before I take off for a week in Arizona, visiting my Grandparents, my aunt and my cousin who had a baby recently!

To Do list before the trip:

• Sell much Crafty Goodness at the Richmond School Craft Fair tomorrow! (Nov 1, 10am to 3pm)

• Do much homework to hopefully be able to slack off while on “vacation”

•Clean up studio

•VOTE

• Help start a Berkshire Etsy Street Team — We’re meeting Tuesday at 4pm, at the Elm Street (Pittsfield) Juice and Java; all interested in being involved are welcome!

Here’s a peek at my makeshift craft fair setup in the kitchen:

These little stuffed budgies are now named after characters from “The Office” and some old friends — they make me smile! “Hello, I’m Jim and I like Tuna Sandwiches.” “Hello, I’m Andy and I love flannel shirts.”

And, lastly… it’s Halloween! Not one of my favorite holidays, and we just hung out and handed out candy (I tried a tactic of buying candy I don’t like, and I have to say I only tried one piece so I think it worked… ) and HappyDog wore her first ever semi-outfit, and I think she looks adorably festive. We actually got this bandana to keep her safe from bow hunters out in the state forest we walk in by our house, but I think it might have to become a regular fashion statement — isn’t she the cutest?

“You are a dork. I can’t believe you’re making me wear this.”

Happy Halloween! Hopefully I’ll see you tomorrow if you’re around the Berkshires!

New cards n’ prints up in the shop:
Good Time Chickadee Gocco Screenprintsthese didn’t turn out exactly as I’d imagined them, but I’ve decided that I still like them and they are cute, and perhaps someone wants to take them home? I still love the message and I will probably be printing more with that sometime soon.

I am currently taking inspiration from and loving this print from keep calm:

New cards n’ prints up in the shop:
Good Time Chickadee Gocco Screenprintsthese didn’t turn out exactly as I’d imagined them, but I’ve decided that I still like them and they are cute, and perhaps someone wants to take them home? I still love the message and I will probably be printing more with that sometime soon.

I am currently taking inspiration from and loving this print from keep calm: