Apple Picking Season

One of my favorite fall pursuits is walking through an apple orchard on a grey day when the golden dry grass underfoot is wet with the early morning's gentle rain, inhaling this sweet hay scent mixed with the slightly fermented, sharp cider smell of fallen apples. This lovely photo by Jude McConkey captures it so perfectly!

You can browse more of McConkey's amazing pieces here.

Bird Paintings by Betsy McLellan Studio

I stumbled across these colorful bird paintings by Betsy McLellan on Etsy earlier today. The vivid colors and bold brushstrokes are a great way to make the walls of often-neutral living rooms and bedrooms catch your eye. I think this cardinal one is my favorite - I love seeing their bright feathers contrast with newly-fallen snow in the winter.

She also paints chickadees, like this adorable little black-capped pair on a branch of bright red berries.

Have you ever seen a titmouse like this one here? They look a lot like cardinals, just with different colors. They're one of my favorite species to watch out for at the bird feeder.

There used to be a cat in our backyard when I was younger that was always after the blue jays. I remember one summer I kept finding bright blue and black striped feathers one or two at a time for weeks. Luckily, I think the blue jays we had (like this one painted here) always got away unscathed otherwise.

Here's another lovely chickadee print, this time with a lovely blue background to complement their black and white faces.

Betsy McLellan has a lot more paintings and prints available featuring more birds, other animals, and landscapes. See more of her work here.

New Fall/Autumn Printables in the Shop!

We're still unpacking and getting settled into the new place. What is it about the last few boxes of random bits and pieces? It seems like it's always hard to find places (or storage) for the remaining items once I'm 95% unpacked. Does that happen to anyone else?

But I'm still here, and still trying to blog when I can! I thought I'd update you on some new pieces I've added to the shop for fall/autumn. The first reads "I Love Autumn", with the "o" replaced by a maple leaf. The words are in orange on a antique paper-looking background.

This piece is also available in red, for anyone who thinks cherry red fall leaves are the prettiest. I can't decide if I love bright orange or bright red ones the best myself.

Can you tell I like maple leaves? They always seem to be the brightest, loveliest colored leaves out of all the tress. And they come in so many varieties and shapes! So I couldn't resist creating a printable set of two maples, one in scarlet and one in golden orange.

Last, I created an "I Love October" digital print with pumpkins replacing the o's in "October". In Massachusetts, that's when we get peak foliage. It's also the best time of the year for picking apples at local orchards and visiting farmers' markets.

I hope you like the new printables! You can see more of the digital prints available in my store - HeritageCurrentCo - here.

Dreamy Flower Photos by Grain and Silk

These dreamy flower lomography photos from Grain and Silk remind me of photos you see in magazines, with their soft colors and hazy light.

They'd be great hung singly in a pale blue bathroom, or together as a pair on a neutral-colored wall. The soft pinks in the roses at the beginning of this post and in the mountain laurel blossoms shown above complement each other perfectly. They're called Ophelia's Flowers II and Ophelia's Flowers I.

As much as I love the two blooms above, I think this photo - titled House of Green VII - is my favorite. I love how the very geometric lines of the greenhouse contrast with the rounded, irregular leaves and foliage. The greens really pop against the pale sky. I want a greenhouse of my own someday, even if it's just a tiny one in the backyard, so in the meantime I'd settle for a beautiful pic of one like this!

See more photos from Grain and Silk here.

Just a quick note on posting - I know posts have been a bit sparse this month, but we're moving! I should be able to post more frequently in another week or two, depending on when we get internet set up again. I've also been really busy adding prints to the shop in time for fall and winter. Check them out here if you'd like!

Happy Fourth of July!

Here's wishing a Happy Fourth of July to all of you in America! I hope you have a day/weekend filled with red white and blue, fireworks, barbecues, rocket popsicles, and parades.

I'll confess: I don't really decorate for Independence Day. It's one of my favorite holidays, but I always want to do something different than little flags and bunting everywhere. I love both of those things, but I'm always looking for something that's more classic Americana and that could be displayed year-round.

Some of these items might just do the trick! I like the vintage charm and classic look of these wooden pallet star signs by RusticDesigns1. They'd look great on top of a mantel, over a couch, or even hanging on a porch by the door. I just can't decide if I'd want one color, or all three. Tough decision! You could easily DIY your own version as well. Just take a square or rectangle piece of wood (or strips of wood nailed together), varnish or stain it with your choice of color, then stencil a star in the middle with red, blue, or white acrylic paint. Let dry, and hang!

I've been obsessed with barn stars like these vintage iron ones by Becaruns for ages. If you walk around the older parts of Boston, you can see original ones from the colonial days still attached to the sides of old brick buildings in the city. They remind me of our patriotic and historic past.

July 4th wouldn't be complete without some stars and stripes! This flag by PassedBy is a vintage one, featuring only 48 stars (from before Alaska and Hawaii joined the union). It's discolored a bit with age, but I think that only adds to its loveliness.

I'd like to take a minute to thank all those who have served in the military, risking their lives to protect our country, and to remember family members and ancestors who have served but who are no longer with us.

Again, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday! 

Paper Collage Flower and Fruit Prints by Deborah Alysoun Art

I stumbled across these paper collage prints of flowers and fruits by Deborah Alysoun Art the other day, and immediately fell in love with them. I love the bright colors, subtle changes in tones and hues, and textures in these prints. 

This first one features a juicy ripe peach still on the branch. The fuzzy skin goes from yellow to orange to pink. It looks like the real thing!

She also has a cherry version. They're one of my favorite summer fruits. I think everyone has a childhood memory of staining their fingers (and their shirts) with juicy cherries on a hot July day.

This bluebell print really captures the flower's delicate petals and color variations. We always had these growing wild in the garden, and you'd see blue and purple versions on the same stalk. They looked like they'd been painted with watercolors, just like in this print!

Trilliums are little-known flowers that seem to be very popular in the flower catalogs this year. They'll grow in full shade, and they go from snowy white when they first bloom to pink tones like you see here once they've been flowering for awhile. I always love watching for the color change in them in my mother's garden.

Pansies are definitely one of the most popular spring flowers. You see these in almost every front yard, in all colors and sizes. Deborah really captured the little details of their "faces" and "beards" with her careful little cuts.

See more of Deborah Alysoun Art's beautiful prints and other pieces here!

Blog Under Construction and a Shop Update

So you might have noticed that this blog has a new name. Heritage Current Co. is the new name (well, old, but renamed) of my Etsy shop, so I've changed my blog's to coordinate.

I'll still be posting, you just are going to see the header probably change again to fancy it up a bit, blog colors change, some other layout changes, as well as new images for my Twitter, etc.!

Also, HeritageCurrentCo. now has printables! Get your prints asap by downloading them and printing them yourself, or taking them to a local shop. You can print them on any variety of paper, or have them printed on canvas, metal, or bamboo!

Early Summer Favorites

Here are some of my early summer Etsy favorites, inspired by starry summer nights and the smell of saltwater waves at the beach!

This whale hanging etched with a ship image from Edies Lab reminds me of old scrimshaw carvings. It'd be perfect over a mantel or sofa.

This linocut by Mag Print depicts West Mabou Beach on Cape Breton in Nova Scotia. I've never been to Nova Scotia (although I plan on going some day!), so I'll have to live vicariously through this lovely, beachy scene instead.

This is one of my all-time favorite books! You can't go wrong with anything by Robert McCloskey, even if you don't have Maine roots like I do. He's equally well-known for his books Blueberries for Sal and Make Way for Ducklings (the former is another favorite of mine!). This book is filled with amazing sketches depicting the wildlife around the sea in Maine, and the lives of these two little girls shown here. You can find it used from BookBW here, or new from any bookseller.

Here's another lovely linocut, called "Evening Trees", by Perla Anne. It reminds me of being a little kid in the summertime, laying on my back in the grass and staring up at the stars in the night sky through the branches of the maple trees around our yard. Simple yet magical!

Finally, some handmade Maine wild blueberry goat milk soap from Meadowfly Farm! You can read their story on their website, and I think you'll really be touched by how they raise their goats. This isn't a mass-farming operation, it's small and personal!

What are you liking from Etsy and beyond these days for summer?

Fall and Thanksgiving Tidbits

I thought I'd show you some fall and seasonal things I've been pinning on my Pinterest page! Just click on the pins to go to the page. First up is a brand-new print from my store - "Two Wise Old Owls"! It's listed in red, but I can also custom color it. You can find it and other brand-new prints here.

Next is this lovely brown paper table runner from Pottery Barn Kids. It looks perfect for keeping little ones occupied while Thanksgiving dinner is being made! You could even have them color or paint it in the morning and then use it for the Thanksgiving table later. That way, they'll feel like they've contributed to the meal and holiday as well!

These free printable veggie prints from Just Something I Made would make great Thanksgiving invites or place cards. You could leave them black and white or overlay them with vibrant colors. They'd make a great, fresh addition to the table.

Last is this paper tutorial from Better Homes and Gardens. While they turned these into flowers, I think they'd make great Tom Turkey tails instead. Then you could just add a big pom pom for the body, a smaller one for the head, a red yarn or felt wattle, and either googly eyes or painted-on ones. You could then scatter them down the middle of the table, or put one at every table setting. Simple and seasonal!

Please follow me on Pinterest if you like what you see : ) . I post lots of DIY ideas and I always love to see what my readers are pinning as well!

Hug Each Other Prints by Henry James Paper Goods

How wonderful are these "Hug Each Other" prints by Henry James Paper Goods on Etsy? I love the sweet sentiments and bright colors, and they would fit perfectly in either a boy's or girl's room.

The only problem is that I can't decide whether I like the bears or the koalas best!

See more from Henry James Paper Goods here.

Fall Clutches

When fall rolls around, you can often find me wandering the back lanes with a camera in my hand, photographing every bright blaze of autumn branches. I can never get enough of the flaming orange, red, and golden colors on the trees!

I like a classic, old-fashioned film camera for these shots, but lugging around a heavy camera and lenses as well as a heavy purse can strain my shoulders. Clutches are the perfect solution - you can use the strap (if they have one) or easily add your own, or you can just tuck it into a pocket while you're shooting.

Here are some of my favorite clutches from Etsy, found in the shops of Davie and Chiyo, Babbs Boutique, SolaWu, and Ao3Designs.

What's your favorite type of purse for autumn? Do you like to switch to tweed and houndstooth, or darker colors? I'd love to know!

Lasting Spring Flowers

What a clever way to display and preserve flowers! Anastasiya of Good Things on Etsy encases the delicate, dried beauties in resin and transforms them into wearable pieces of art. I think the setaria (top) is my favorite - it's so feathery and delicate, and really pops against the blue background! The Queen Anne's lace heart and forget me not pieces, however, are wonderful as well.

See more of Good Things' jewelry here!

Free Shipping!

My Cyber Monday deal has ended, but you can still get free domestic shipping (and discounted international shipping) in my store through the end of this week.

I'll also be adding new items in the coming weeks, just in time for the holidays! Click here to visit the shop.

Wise Little Owls

What is it about Columbus Day weekend that makes it feel like it's officially autumn? Unfortunately, it seems that a massive amount of around-the-house projects and huge to-do lists also come with the onset of the season. So that's why I'm a bit behind on blogging!

I think I need a wise little brass owl like the ones above to sit on my desk and inspire me to put my nose to the grindstone and plow through all my projects. (And get shop updates done in time for the holidays - I've got lots of brand-new items planned!)

(Owls via Olive Vintage, 26 Olive Street, Dear Industry, and We Think We Can.)

Quaint Quails

Don't you just love quails, with their adorable little plumes hanging over their foreheads?

Though it's always nice to hear the blue jays squawking and sparrows chirping outside my window, I do wish the neighborhood had a covey of quails running around, if only to see the baby ones follow their mother in a perfectly straight line!

(From top to bottom: Gambel's Quail by Cactus Huggers, Solid Bronze Quail Necklace by Woodland Belle, Quails Red Dishes by Villarreal Ceramics, and Quail Letterpress Card by Joie Letterpress.)

Christina Hendricks - on Etsy!

When I saw this photo on Etsy's front page yesterday, I was amazed by how much the model resembled the lovely Christina Hendricks, who plays Joan Holloway on the popular AMC' series Mad Men. Turns out, it *is* the famously flame-haired actress!



Christina knows the owner of Blackbird Design House, and modeled these handmade Shibori-style scarves for her friend's shop.



She's a lucky shop-owner, isn't she? See more of Blackbird Design House's handmade creations here!