From our Corner | August Musings
A life + studio update,
August—and summer as a whole—has been suddenly slipping away. The morning light is slower now, creeping through the window glass, and my body keeps asking for more sleep, a little more rest, a little more downtime. Even while I’m still very much in the thick of things—juggling a purple, blue, green, and orange color-coded calendar with three or four overlapping jobs—I’ve been trying to lean into slowness where I can.
The other night, while watching a friend’s two-year-old, our main task was to circle the house again and again, searching for the two orange tabby cats. Along the way we pulled a few neglected weeds from the garden bed and driveway. It reminded me how good it feels to quiet the busy brain and step outside the constant push to be productive. Just a few laps with a child, chasing after cats, pulling a weed or two—simple, grounding moments.
August also brought my final big art market of the summer. And whew—it felt good to pack the car one last time and wind my way home to Salmon. Art markets are such a gift: a chance to meet customers, hear their joy in the pieces I make, and connect with fellow makers. They’re also long, exhausting days of standing, sitting, wandering, and sneaking another snack as an act of distraction. But as I wrapped up my fourth large market of the season, I realized my inventory has been steadily finding new homes. I’m in awe of the support for this little business and reminded again that this craft is a marathon, not a sprint: slow, steady growth, daily improvements, and always seeking that balance between business and pleasure.
The next few months will be filled with studio time as I prepare for the holiday season (yes, it’s coming!). Building inventory. Finalizing new designs. But also, I’m reminding myself to step away often—walk the property, chase a cat or two, pull a handful of weeds after the late summer rains.
Book suggestion: Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr. It absolutely stopped me in my tracks.
Finding more time to read, always,
Sarah + Kinshop
