From now through January 1, 2010 I’m offering FREE shipping on everything (everything! well, excluding custom orders) in my Etsy shop. I’ve also put my 2010 Birdie calendar on sale for HALF PRICE. It’s only $10 now, was $20.

Wicked good!

In honor of our first real snow this weekend, and just in time for sending out to your holiday card list, I’m giving away two separate sets of 8 holiday cards!

To enter just leave a comment with your favorite holiday song or album, or your favorite tasty holiday treat. Extra brownie points for a link to the song/album or recipe! Leave your comment by midnight EST Wednesday December 9. I’ll choose the winners (by random number generator thingy) on Thursday and contact you for your address to send them out asap!

I’m giving away one set of each of these designs (two chances to win!):

Bike with Wreath

&

Peace Stars

These are A2 size cards (4-1/4″x5-1/2″), hand-screenprinted here in my little hillside studio, blank inside, packaged up with envelopes for your sending pleasure.

good luck!

(That’s almost 4 months, for those of you who prefer your dates in monthly form.)

I may have started this pregnancy journey with a bit of a belly, but not quite like this! I have also been losing weight (?), but the belly continues to grow, so… it’s a baby bump for sure. The little one is supposedly the size of a navel orange these days, but of course quickly growing. At times I feel so amazed and overwhelmed by the miraculousness of it all, and at others it feels so normal already, so much a part of my life and my every day. {And of course a part of the grand scheme of the world and one of the most natural things that can happen.} I love it! (what I don’t love is the constant I-need-to-lie-down-right-NOW tiredness, ridiculous hunger followed by three bites of food and total fullness, and the most recent development of gagging reflexes kicking in during things like brushing my teeth. Yeah, those aren’t so fun.)

I’m still having some trouble mustering the energy to do much lately besides growing a human, but I’m trying! I did a little bit of sewing yesterday and it was really nice. I am also going to do some goccoing of holiday cards soon. If you are interested in a custom holiday card design, please contact me ASAP, as my holiday-making schedule is filling up fast! See the Events page for a complete list of where I’ll be selling the crafty goods in person, and you can also now find the 2010 Birdie Calendar and some cards in the Twist pop-up store in Thornes Marketplace in Northampton, MA! Yippee!

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.)

Tis the season….

to be sending holiday cards out late!

If you’re anything like me, you find yourself too busy to get around to sending out holiday cards. But you want to send them out. You like sending them out. And you have vowed that one of these years you’ll streamline your address book and GET IT TOGETHER, will you?

hah.

So if you also don’t quite have those cards in hand yet, may I suggest some smashing new Bike cards?

This design was commissioned by my dear friend Ms. Sarah G.(couldn’t ask for a better muse!), these cards are perfect for a simple happy holiday wish. They are lovingly silk-screened (three passes thru the ol’ Gocco!) and blank inside for your handwritten or perhaps stamped greeting. I’d even be happy to add a stamped greeting for you, and this year I have “Merry Christmas” or “Peace on Earth” (and could probably get my hands on something else if the mood strikes you).

They’re available on white or blue cards with matching bright red envelopes. Single cards are $3 and sets of 4 are a steal at $10.

Ride on.

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!

There’s nothing like a deadline to get me to work on into the night! And a newly (almost) organized studio doesn’t hurt, either. I don’t want to show the design just yet, because it’s a gift for a friend, but will soon. It was a fun one to come up with, though. Cuteness abounds!

I will show off the backs of the cards drying atop my new library table/desk, though. Note the swanky new ikea bookcases and paper chandelier. love!

made it to the Berkshire Crafts Fair this morning and fell in love:

Dish by Kristin Sherlaw. silkscreened slip onto porcelain. I’m told i ‘have to use it’ but i’m not sure i’ll be able to bring my self to. i might just continue to sit here and look at it. because i love it THAT much. first really nice thing for myself that i’ve really picked out. and it’s really nice (was lower price because it has a tiny flaw, but since i couldn’t find it till i got it home, that doesn’t bother me one bit. not one bit!)

i guess i should admit my dish obsession now and get it over with. who knew?