One cold morning this week I woke up remembering the hour or so drive
and I enjoy between our house and the Pacific Ocean. There's a portion of the drive that's through the forest and suddenly there's a small building with a driveway and a sign that says COFFEE!Yes, amazingly, there in the middle of the woods, on the way to the coast, you can get a good cuppa. As I lay in bed, still half asleep, I remembered that underneath the conversation, while getting a to-go coffee order, I became aware of the deep silence of the forest embracing us. This small stand also sold colorful seasonal fruits and flowers which we admired while the coffee barista clattered cups and poured our coffees.
After that delightful memory I drew this rabbit during breakfast.
After I shared my green rabbit drawing a newsletter or so ago several of you (including the amazing
😲) asked me to make a green rabbit into coffee mugs and a greeting card … so I did! First, ICYMI, here is the original green rabbit newsletter:Comfort me with rabbits
I see similarities between writing and painting. Like a fiction writer does as a fine artist, I think about characters, settings, actions, dialogues and tone. For example rabbits are one of my “stock characters” that I reach for to signify comfort, coziness and caring.
In order to do the 15oz mug design I needed an additional image so another morning I continued my coffee plus rabbit in the forest thought and drew this…
After some graphic design hocus pocus here's the mug I'm calling the Flowers Coffee Hugs mug. (click here to access)
And I did the Some bunny is glad to know you folded greeting card. (click here to access)
And here's more progress (continuing from this newsletter) on my little handmade paper accordion book in which I'm drawing crows and trees.
Why do I make “old fashioned” things like cards, cups, books - and draw with a fountain pen in the mornings? Because they calm, soothe and connect my hand, mind and heart together better than anything else before starting a busy hectic day! My friend at
describes so very well 15 “old fashioned things” to do that are fun and, in my opinion, creatively stimulating.
Here's a sketchbook page I did the morning after reading the More Tortoise newsletter edition mentioned above …
I hope you get to do some things this weekend just for the joy of doing them!
I love reading about your forest coffee shop on the way to the Pacific, and now I want to find it! Thanks for bringing so much love and whimsy to my mornings!
I love your rabbits, they are very sweet 🤍