October 2024 | Adapt

Playlist : Symmetry - SYML | Hell or High Water - Passenger | The Summer Isles (Sunrise) - Roo Panes | Only Time - Aaron Espe

Favorites : Katahdin w/ friends | Red Maple Leaves | Beanies | Mills Riverside Park, Jericho | Rings of Power S2

Life :

Wholesale: If you are interested in carrying any of my products in your shop, feel free to contact me! I am actively looking for wholesale partners (especially in New England)!

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September 2024 | Fall

Playlist : Linkin Park | Pointillism - Laurent Dury | Jack Johnson

Favorites : Pepper the Cat | Wedding dances | Pumpkin Bread | Ocean Air

Life :

Wow, this may be the busiest summer I’ve had in a long time. So many weekends filled with traveling, adventures, meeting new people, exploring more of New England and out west, the list goes on. I’m thankful for Eric and friends, and basically everyone I’ve crossed paths with in the last six months—especially Pepper the cat. As summer comes to an end and autumn approaches, I’m reminded by how much I love this season (along with the rest of the world)—the cooler air, the sweaters, the pumpkin that’s somehow put into everything. I may be bias because my birthday happens to fall on the first day of October, but it truely is one of the best days of the year. :)

Within the back and forth of daily routine and weekend commitments, I’ve still managed to find time for myself and proud of how I’ve been able to really push for that prioritization. And it allows me to enjoy the fun moments more.

I’ve had a bit of a haitus creativity-wise, but as autumn rolls in and it starts to get a bit chillier, I start to embrace the cozy and dive into new ideas, drawings, products, and see what happens. I just have to save up for that new iPad still and transfer over my files. That sounds like a perfect winter project with a warm latte. Life is good.

Updates: Autumn shop update is LIVE!

Luna Moth Earrings w/ 22K Gold Plating

Ptarmigan Enamel Pin

Cow Enamel Pin

Wholesale: If you are interested in carrying any of my products in your shop, feel free to contact me! I am actively looking for wholesale partners (especially in New England)!

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August 2024 | Active

Playlist : Last Woman on Earth - Paris Paloma | Chacahua - Aukai | A Forest Melody - Tellsonic

Favorites : NH Audubon | Mount Lafayette | Hogwarts Legacy

Life :

Updates: Fall release is September 15th! I have a few new goodies to share with you all, as well as later towards the end of the year for the holidays. It’s been a busy busy summer trying to finalize designs to roll out for the rest of the year, but happy to say it’s all in production!

Wholesale: If you are interested in carrying any of my products in your shop, feel free to contact me! I am actively looking for wholesale partners (especially in New England)!

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July 2024 | Thrill

Playlist : Castanias - Kermesse | Open This Wall - Berlioz | What I Was - Deyaz

Favorites : Surfing | B&J Oatmilk Ice Cream | It Takes Two | 1000 Stone Farm Tomatoes

Life :

I surfed for the first time in my life this month, and it feels like a void within myself has been filled a little.

I didn’t know I needed it.

As soon as cold splashes were repeatedly smashing into my face, it actually awakened a part of myself I’ve shelved for a while. I’ve led a very adventurous lifestyle in the past—thrilling, exhilarating, and many times unpredictable. I let some of that go to pursue a more stable lifestyle to better suit my present day self, but the urge to adventure, try new things, explore, will always be something I hold within myself. I may write on this more in-depth at a later date, but for now I’m keeping it short.

Updates: TROUT PINS! They are the newest additions and I am in love. I’ve begun to tackle the fall/holiday drawings, which always seems so strange to be doing in July, but sooner the better! I’d love to have the remainder of pins/earrings I’ve planned out into the world by October. Next month I have a surprise pin coming that feels VERY close to home. :)

Wholesale: If you are interested in carrying any of my products in your shop, feel free to contact me! I am actively looking for wholesale partners (especially in New England)!

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June 2024 | Embrace

Playlist : Jawbreaker - Henry Morris | Synthwave - Lofi Girl | Xavier Rudd

Favorites : Sun showers | City Market Salads | LOTR Binge | Paddle boarding

Life :

Summer is HERE! This is the first weekend in a while that I felt like I've been able to pause and rest my body and mind. The warm weather makes me want to do everything outside all the time so I'm not missing out, which of course isn't super sustainable.

I’ve been paying attention to my physical body and how it responds to different moments in time within the last few months. I never noticed my body’s defense response in certain situations, my chest usually closed in, making it harder to breathe. This realization has allowed for more correction within myself in real time when I'd habitually want to be closed off. The more I practice on opening up physically, the easier it'll be to embrace moments around me.

A concept for comfort

Not merely a truth of the design

I long for a rhythm of embracing fully

To get lost in the present of time

Sometimes it can be very difficult to acknowledge my own successes. Having Prairi Lu Studio for about 5 years now feels incredible to me, and I'm learning to embrace the successful moments instead of feeling embarrassed or shy. Seems like such a silly thing to want to shelter, but I really don't like being in the spotlight!

Updates: Some new summer pins are in the works, with rainbow and brook trout coming next month! Also luna moth earrings are available only at Frog Hollow Gallery in VT currently, but will be hitting the online shops soon. ;)

Wholesale: If you are interested in carrying any of my products in your shop, feel free to contact me! I am actively looking for wholesale partners (especially in New England)! :)

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May 2024 | Play

Playlist : HMHAS - Billie | Artifacts - Will Evens |

Favorites : Maine | Sunset Bike Rides | Sniffing Lilacs | Sweet Potato Salads

Wholesale: If you are interested in carrying any of my products in your shop, feel free to contact me! I am actively looking for wholesale partners (especially in New England)! :)

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April 2024 | Circles

Playlist : Henry Morris - Sweet/low | Ezra Glatt - Stardust | Local Natives - Alpharetta

Favorites : Antique Shops | The Moon & Sun | Flowering Trees | Cat Snuggles

Life :

April really started with one of the most spectacular sights I have ever witnessed. Living in the town of Burlington, Vermont, there was constant chatter about the solar eclipse for many months prior. I don’t think most of us in the town knew what to expect crowd-wise, but also what being the presence of a monumental, celestial event would even feel like.

Even weeks later, I still can’t quite grasp what I saw. I know that it made me feel overwhelmed with wonder, curiosity about existence itself, but also simply happy. Those three minutes I looked at the totality, I couldn’t help but smile. Quick gazes at the folks around me also letting out huge gasps, grins, cheering—all of it. It felt remarkable to witness the positivity radiating out of people for that afternoon. I wish I could find more to say, I still think about the diamond ring around the moon every day since.

Coming down from the solar eclipse has landed me in a state of excitement for warmth, spring, flowers, COLOR. Seeing the green come up in my tiny garden bed gives me a nice reminder of what’s on the way. I think pictures best describe the vibe of April so far. The oat milk lattes are taking over my life and I’m all about it.

Wholesale: If you are interested in carrying any of my products in your shop, feel free to contact me! I am actively looking for wholesale partners (especially in New England)! :)

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March 2024 | Water

Playlist : Deeper Well Album - Kacey Musgraves | Miles Away - Peter Bradley Adams

Favorites : Sand Dollars | Night Beach Walks | Morning Birds | Indian Brook Reservoir

Life :

I made it through winter. I’ll try not to get too ahead of myself, but the longer days and warmer weather is really putting a smile on my face.

I’ve been catching myself staring at water—a lot. My spring trip to the Florida coast had me mesmerized and thrown into a completely tranquil state. Each day was filled with watching the waves come and go, or feeling my kayak rock back and forth as manatees swam underneath me. Water is the representation of basically everything—powerful, serene, destructive, necessary, lively, abundant, fragile—I could go on and on. It’s the one thing on the planet that truly connects us all, which is probably why staring into it’s vastness grounds my being. There’s nothing like looking up at Orion’s Belt over a mysteriously, pitch-black body of water. Ominous, but so comforting at the same time.

Jumping over the ocean waves let my true inner child come out. It reminds me of the many spring breaks driving down from Illinois to visit various family members, including my Grandma Bliss. She peacefully passed away in Illinois the night I flew into Tampa. Florida will always remind me of her, as there are too many memories to count. I will say she was a pro at floating on top of the ocean waves—we still don’t understand how she was so buoyant!

Aside from Florida, I’ve spent most of my free time at Indian Brook, which is a lovely reservoir close by. It’s nice getting away from Lake Champlain for a bit, and enjoy a place a little more quaint. I love leaning over the little bridges and watching the streams flow underneath. The ducks playing in the water overrides any traffic or human noise. It’s extremely wonderful.

Updates:

Speaking of ducks, my female mallard duck pin sample has arrived and it’s stunning. That, along with two other pins, will be dropping in April. Finally new pins! I know, it’s been a hot minute!

Wholesale: If you’re reading this and are interested in carrying any of my products in your shop, feel free to contact me! I am actively looking for wholesale partners (especially in New England)! :)

February 2024 | Silence

Playlist : Half Awake - Porcelain Raft | Sit in the Sun - Forty Feet Tall | Fields - Junip

Favorites : Synchronicities | Night Drives | Sunlight | Creaky Trees

Life :

February is my least favorite month of the year; it always has been—it always will be. The dreariness looms over me day after day; I can tell that my body craves any ounce of sunlight that peaks through. There’s so much I love about winter—the silence, the snow (if we get any), XC skiing, warming up with tea after a cold walk—but some days I wish spring would hurry up already. It’s an interesting balance to say the least—can’t wait for winter to get here, and definitely can’t wait for it to end! The Libra in me tries to find balance among everything, it’s only natural.

I’ve been prioritizing spending time outside before the sun goes down, and actively trying to embrace and recognize this time of the year as just part of the natural cycle of seasons. I’m able to stand amongst all of the leafless trees and let the silence fill me with solitude. I love hearing absolutely nothing. My mind becomes instantly clearer, and what a lovely feeling that is! We forget how much sound enters our eardrums each day that we become desensitized to the background noise. Luckily I’m surrounded by a few good spots to really remove myself from it all. I’m not sure what I would do if I wasn’t able to access places like this.

Lately I’ve been noticing interesting synchronicities pertaining to moments of deep thought, and then seeing numerological sequencings involving 1’s. The number 1, or 11, have entered my life repeatedly as signs for a fairly long time, at least within the last ten years or so (and not the “it’s 11:11 make a wish!” signs hah). Humans naturally love to find patterns in things, so there is a level of heightened awareness to these numbers for me. But I’m never actively looking, and it usually happens when I’m in a meditative state, or searching for clarity within my life. The universe speaks in numbers! To anyone reading this, feel free to email and share any synchronicity stories you have, it’s fascinating to hear other folk’s experiences!

Updates:

Wholesale: If you’re reading this and are interested in carrying any of my products in your shop, feel free to contact me! I am actively looking for wholesale partners (especially in New England)! :)

January 2024 | Present

Playlist : Within and Without - Washed Out | Say Goodbye - Summer Heart | I’ll Keep Coming - Low Roar

Favorites : Dog Kisses | Green Noise | True Detective S4 | Belly Laughs

Life :

I could gather the energy to write out all of my reflections from 2023 and how I’ll be improving myself for this new year, but it just felt like a lot. I will say however that there is one intention I have set for myself this year that overrides everything else—feeling present within myself.

Even within these first two weeks of the year, I have consciously made the effort to push away the anxious daydreams about the future and fully immerse myself in the “now”. To my surprise, I’ve already had moments where I have felt genuine happiness while practicing this (with the help of friends of course). Just allowing myself to feel what ever it is , and not letting guilt get in the way—it brings a type of emotional freedom that unfortunately I haven’t felt in some time.

I *think* this is what it’s like when you actively choose yourself everyday—new to me!

Updates: You guys…I have so many new pins coming. More than I’ve ever had coming out at once I think. I’m also planning to do some major wholesaling this year and have been accumulating stock to prepare. I’m really proud of the shops that I’m part of currently and I hope to expand my art as far as I can take it!

If you’re reading this and are interested in carrying any of my products in your shop, feel free to contact me! I am actively looking for wholesale partners (especially in New England)! :)

December 2023 | Movement

Playlist : Where The Rocks Are - Maia Friedman | Sugar For The Pill - Slowdive | Sounds Like Help - Austin Basham

Favorites : First Snows | Caffeine for weekends | Daydreaming | New Creative Mediums

Life :

I don’t think I’ve been this excited to end a year more than 2023—though now that I think of it 2017 is way up there. Both can be equivalent.

The second half of this year diverged off my so called “plan”, that I now look back on and find ridiculous that I even created a plan. Movements through time are always changing. And while it can be helpful to manifest and set forth intention for new endeavors and growth, sometimes moving through experiences with no plan can be just as beneficial. I’ve tried to practice allowing myself to follow the movements of time and let the constrictions and pressures go—it can be totally refreshing to just see what happens! It’s one of the many lessons I learned on the Appalachian Trail. My brother and I of course had the plan to hike to Katahdin, but it was 2020— and we had paper maps. Each day we were essentially wingin’ it.

Sometimes I wish I could plop back into that experience, only worrying about 1:

Do I have enough food?

And 2:

Where is my brother?

The latter anxiety usual resolving itself after seeing him roll into camp after dark.

We had very different hiking styles.

Anyway—the more I think about movement, especially this time of year, the more I recognize how important it is to feel movement within my body mentally but also physically. I’ve set a priority for myself this winter to spend my time moving my body as much as I can, and will probably take up climbing again at the local climbing gym. It’ll probably help my stay sane through this Vermont winter.

Updates:

Hummingbird pins are now available, along with the forget me not earrings! These are 22K gold plated, and have 14K gold filled hooks. These are great for folks with sensitivity to metals and love little, dainty earrings like myself!

Here’s another reminder for the holidays for the rest of this year:

• Please shop local if possible! This helps stimulate the local economy and supports small artists like myself!

• Orders may take longer to ship due to high volume of packages this year. If your order is time-sensitive, please select priority shipping to make sure it gets to you on time. I make sure those orders get out as soon as possible.

• Although I cannot guarantee delivery dates, ordering by December 15th gives about a full week to be delivered by December 25th. Ordering after this date means there is a higher probability that your order will arrive after December 25th.

• As always, if there are any issues with your order, please contact me ASAP. :)

November 2023 | Connection

Playlist : Winter’s Eve - Kishi Bashi | Mistakes - Gregory Alan Isakov | What Is Yet - Blind Pilot

Favorites : Wool Sweaters | Attack on Titan Final Finale | Roasted Root Veggies w/ Rosemary

Life :

How is it already November? Watching folks start to roll out the holiday decor has thrown me for a bit of a loop.

Upon reflecting on my initial thoughts for creating a harbor seal, there’s been a specific moment in time that has stayed with me involving these whimsical creatures. It involves Alaska, a kayak, and one of the most still evenings I’ve witnessed.

During my first journey to Alaska in 2018, I had the privilege of spending my evenings floating through the inside passage, with the Chilkat Range illuminating a rosy hue in the distance. Dragging my kayak down to the shore, stepping in and getting settled, and then eagerly scooting my butt forward to launch the boat into the water—I never took these evenings for granted. The ocean would reflect the alpenglow off the range as the cruise ships would fade off into the distance. The only ripples in the water were coming from my gentle paddling, taking in some of the most extraordinary scenery I’ve encountered to this day.

On one particular evening, I remember paddling calmly along the shore towards smugglers cove. I gave one big push with my paddle and let myself glide, looking over my right shoulder at the shore. When I went to put my paddle in, I looked to my left to find a Harbor Seal’s head out of the water, locking eyes with mine, and looking straight into my soul about five feet away from my boat. I could tell we both felt incredibly awkward and a bit stunned. It felt like neither of us could look away out of shock. There was an interesting moment of connection— two intelligent mammals bridging a gap between worlds for a short moment.

I slowly let my boat continue to gently pass on top of the water. After a few moments, the harbor seal abruptly submerged it’s head, barely creating any sign of movement. It was incredible to ponder the rest of my paddle about a world right underneath my boat that I will likely never experience. There were probably numerous seals swimming freely underneath me the whole time—I would never know.

Updates :

Now that Harbor Seals have landed in the shop, the last to arrive are now the hummingbird earrings that I am hoping will be here soon for you all—I know they are going to be really lovely.

Here’s a bit of holiday notes to remember while shopping this year:

• Please shop local if possible! This helps stimulate the local economy and supports small artists like myself!

• Orders may take longer to ship due to high volume of packages this year. If your order is time-sensitive, please select priority shipping to make sure it gets to you on time. I make sure those orders get out as soon as possible.

• Although I cannot guarantee delivery dates, ordering by December 15th gives about a full week to be delivered by December 25th. Ordering after this date means there is a higher probability that your order will arrive after December 25th.

• As always, if there are any issues with your order, please contact me ASAP. :)

October 2023 | Routine

Playlist : Holbox - Aukai | After All - Alex G | Days of Oblivion - Metric

Favorites : Ginger Tea | Good Company | A Crisp Fall Breeze

Life : The transition from summer into autumn somehow always feels immediate. We all know colder weather is approaching, but until it hits we all keep enjoying the minimal clothing and the comfortable sun illuminating our skin. Then in an instant I'm dragging down my winter clothes bin from storage, trying to rummage through my plethora of hats and fingerless mitts. It's the yearly routine, and I quite enjoy it. If I could wear a beanie everyday, I just might.

While settling into this more stable life for myself, I've incorporated new routines into my schedule that I've noticed make a positive impact on my overall well-being. Activities that I either dreaded or avoided out of fear, I now try to embrace and take my time with--learning to be comfortable with the uncomfortable. Do I stick to these routines religiously? Hell no. If there's one thing I've learned about myself over the years, it's that putting restriction and pressure onto myself never ends up well. I allow myself to have days where I break the cycle and forgo the practice. I try to find what feels good in the moment. Do I watch a ton of Yoga with Adriene and somewhat stole her tag line just now? Maybe.

There's a song out there by Alex G called "After All" that I honestly never gave attention to what the lyrics were. They're a bit muffled at the chorus and built into a melody that is surely beautiful, and that's what I've mainly focused on whenever I would hear it come on. On my way to work this week the melody played in my head and I decided to play it on my short drive; I'm not sure what prompted the urge to know what the lyrics were in that moment, but the words have surely stuck with me since. A hauntingly beautiful song --perfect because it's technically spooky season.

Updates : I'm thrilled to finally *finally* have earrings out in the world after months of debating if this was a direction I wanted to go in. Now that I have them in my ears as I'm typing this, it feels wildly silly that I hadn't done this sooner. I hope you all love them out there--hummingbird earrings are up next, and they will be available for the holidays!

August/September 2023 | Clear

Playlist : Who Would You Be For Me - Metric | Darkening Hour - Darlingside | Slope - Phoria

Favorites : Lilly Lake, WI | Only Murders in the Building S3 | My Forest Preserve

Life Updates : It wasn't exactly the plan to publish August's post in September, but here we are. August threw me for a loop. I think there were too many conflicting emotions flowing through my body in such a short period; it can still be hard to grab the reigns and feel in control at times. Every day I use my inner dialogue to point out that the "unknown" parts of this life allow for freedom, and to take each day as it comes. My mind hasn't felt this clear in a long time. Noticing these changes in the way I think about myself only makes me grateful in the progress I've made over the last few years.

There's power in finding freedom to be as you are, or in the choices you decide. At different stages in life we have all felt these outside "forces" constraining our actions, thoughts and sometimes relationships. But only if we let it in. Taking my daily sunset walks along Lake Champlain have kept me from feeling trapped within my own thoughts. When I stare out towards the Adirondacks, the only conclusion that comes to mind is, "How does this place seem to get the most perfect sunset time and time again."

I've had to say a hard goodbye this month, and I am thankful that traveling to Illinois from Vermont is an easy enough flight to hop on.

Life is always moving forward. Cherish every moment.

Pin Updates :

Harbor seals should be available for October! I also have jewelry (finally) coming for the holidays. I figured now is the time to start branching out into different products. I have had so many requests over the few years to make jewelry (necklaces, bracelet charms, earrings, etc.) that I realized I had no idea what I was waiting for.

With that being said, coming in October are not one, but TWO pairs of earrings--featuring my hummingbirds and forget-me-nots. :)

Till next time~

-Shannon

July 2023 | Peace

Playlist : Gold Rush - Taylor Swift | Everybody's Got to Learn - First Aid Kit | Yeti - Paris Paloma

Favorites : Bloom Gallery of Montreal | Summer Rain | Pika Meeps

Pin Updates :

White Moths are now available! I drew these in the summer of 2020 after I got home from the Appalachian Trail, and finally decided to make them come to life! I'm happy to add another little insect to the Prairi Lu collection, even if moths freak me out a little. :)

-Shannon

June 2023 | Release

Playlist : Karma - T Swift | That's it.

Favorites : Air purifier | Sunset bike rides | Summer planning | My plants

I remember daydreaming about the warm summer months while Vermont was in its deep freeze phase. Now that it's finally June, I still throw on a sweater to go for a walk when it's about 75 degrees, but I just like to feel cozy.

To continue the tradition of last year I've planted two herb plants named Mintred and Basila (high five to whomever understands the reference), and I also decided to get a philodendron plant for my office (I have no green thumb by the way). It's been nice having some life around the apartment, and also have tiger lilies by my stoop that will probably start popping up within the next month. This really is the best time of the year here in Vermont; the summer vibrancy is hard to beat.

I leave for Washington State in a few days to visit Jamie and to take a nice, much needed vacation and release some built up stress in the form of the outdoors! I've been to Washington quite a few times, the first being an internship at a wildlife rehabilitation center (it was a house though). It was awesome and full of amazing individuals that all shared the same passions. Working with the barn owls in particular gave me some of the coolest memories, and I knew when I started making wildlife pins that I would eventually make a barn owl inspired by my summer there.

Another time I drove down the west coast coming back from Alaska. I was lucky enough to make a day stop at Mt Rainer NP and holy crap it's magnificent, but I know I have to go back to experience more. For this trip Jamie and I will be checking out North Cascades NP, a park neither of us have been too, and will be super fun to explore together. My relatives who have visited the park multiple times suggested the Heather-Maple Pass Loop as a trail we don't want to pass up. This park would mark #35 out of 63 for my National Park quest. Over halfway complete, but of course I've left the hardest ones for last (literally all of Alaska). It's a life-long adventure, I got time. :)

Pin Updates :

Sometimes things don't go quite according to plan, but that's ok!

I have a tiger lilies, white spotted moths and harbor seals currently in production, and I'm currently drawing up some different owl species, including the barn owl, for fall. Any timeline I make for myself usually gets thrown all out of order, you can't pick and choose your creative moments!

Shipping announcement :

Since I will be in Washington from 6/6 thru 6/13. All orders placed after 6/4 will ship on 6/14. I will not be able to ship any immediate priority orders. Sorry for any inconvenience!

Now I'm off to go find some big trees and banana slugs!

-Shannon

May 2023 | Balance

Playlist : Ends & Begins - Labrinth | Caroline - Arlo Parks | Meteora 20th Anniversary Edition

Favorites : Yellow Daffodils | Patagonia Running Vest | Waking up to birdies | Yellowjackets

My hope for May is to draw as much as I can, and not be worried if it’ll be liked by others. I’ve had to create a balance between what my heart is drawn to (pun intended) and what will be profitable, and it can be challenging to know what the best decision is. For my cardinal pins, I originally started with the female. They’ve been my favorite bird for a long time; I love the sandy-colored feathers with maroon accents and that they remind me of home. But as soon as I decided to make the male version, she got overshadowed a bit. I knew it was going to happen and I love the male too, but the female is where my heart is.

I gravitate to the word “balance” partially because I’m a libra, but also how we are all constantly searching for the “perfect” equation to equal out different aspects of our lives. Recently I’ve been faced with a few life changes—some familiar, some challenging—and I’ve spent an immense amount of energy looking to decipher the code on how to hold the weight of it all, while simultaneously taking care of myself. Everyday I remind myself that I can only control my actions, and I actually don’t have to find the secret code. I think balance encompasses letting myself feel, taking my time, messing up occasionally lol, and telling myself it’s ok that I don’t have everything together right now.

—

This month’s pin drop is a color variation of a popular pin that actually was suppose to be released two years ago, and I’ve been putting it off until now. Warm colors are difficult to translate into enamel—yellows, oranges, and reds can vary slightly. I think I’ve finally found an orange color that works!

And speaking of drawing what I love and female birds, last week I dabbled in creating another waterfowl pin so my loon wouldn’t be so lonely lol. There’s something about female mallard ducks that I just find stunning. The gold and lavender together makes me happy. Another bird that reminds me of home. :)

-Shannon

April 2023 | Hope

Playlist : LDR - Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd | Little Soul YT | Charlie Cunningham - Starlings
Favorites : #12 at Pho Hong VT | Vermont sunrises | Rainy weather | Only Murders in the Building Season 2

Whenever I rummage through thoughts of prairie animals for new pin ideas, I start envisioning bison casually grazing across open fields with endless room to roam. The first time I saw a bison in the wild was in South Dakota driving through Badlands National Park. Their huffs and snorts during dusk in the distance was wild to hear—a pretty eerie thing when you’re unprotected in the middle of a field. They’re full of fascinating features, it’s almost understandable why people want to get so close to them, and eventually chased or thrown in the air by their horns (most of us have seen this from Yellowstone). They seem approachable due to their subdue temper, until you get too close. Everyone likes their space, even animals. We should probably give it to them.

American Bison are one of the most iconic animals of North America, yet they were almost completely wiped out fairly recently (relative to earth’s entire history of course). They were incredibly close to extinction, because of our over-consuming nature, and that honestly makes me feel ashamed to be a human sometimes. Luckily, conservationists and indigenous communities miraculously brought them back. Now, there are almost 21,000 bison protected in wildlife refuges across North America and almost half a million in privately owned herds. I remember coming across wood bison of the Aishihik Herd in the Yukon and seeing newly born calves resting in the grass everywhere. It was pretty remarkable to see how far they’ve come, and just made me feel hopeful about other current declining species
—
Spring has been officially here for about a week, and honestly this warmer weather is making me feel optimistic that I’ll start to see some flowers. Here in Vermont, the winters feel like they drag on for an exceptionally long time, to the point where I start to forget what it’s like to not wear a coat. Even though this time of year tends to be muddy and kind of gross, I definitely yearn for rain instead of snow.
I’m in the process of deciding how to release pins for the remainder of the year. My intention was to release a pin once a month, though I’m not sure if that is realistic for me—either once a month or bigger seasonal releases. I guess we’ll see how quickly I can get drawing!
—
Bison pins are now available, and I am super proud of them. I told myself I can’t call my business Prairi Lu Studio without having a bison! I hope you all love them as much as I do.

-Shannon

March 2023 | Consistency

Playlist : Vivii - Tragic | Avatar II Soundtrack | Dora Jar - Bump

Favorites : Scout Coffee cardamom buns | Winter sunsets | Andes Gifts | Only Murders in the Building

Well folks, this is the first of my monthly updates, fun stories, my favorite things at the moment, and whatever else I feel like writing! I’m sitting at my favorite coffee shop (shout out to Scout) gazing out the window with a big pup on the other side being a big goof in the snow. Lately life has felt—consistent.

It’s hard to believe that exactly four years ago, I was at some random job trying to get by when I casually scribbled the first Prairi Lu pin — fireweed. I had never heard of fireweed until my time spent in southeast Alaska. That summer was a transformative year; I felt like I was writing a new book on my life, and shelving the previous work. I was ready for a break from stability, and I said yes to almost every experience thrown at me.

The moment I first came across fireweed I was on a road trip from Skagway to Haines, Alaska. Normally a 40-minute ferry ride is the quickest way to get to this laid-back fishing town. But after hearing from locals about how beautiful the six-hour drive on the Haines Hwy was (up through the Yukon and back down), how could I pass that up? About half way through the drive I remember looking out the window and immediately thinking, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen this shade of green before.”

The short window of warmth during the summer months displayed the most vibrant of colors—towering stalks of fireweed against the rolling meadows. The contrast was breath-taking. The stalks spread out like a blanket over a land that had once been subject to forest fires. They are some of the first signs of life after such destruction. The Takshanuk Mountains gave an incredible backdrop. Folks weren’t kidding when they said this was one of the most amazing drives they had ever been on.

For me, fireweed embodies the power of resilience. Even in a landscape that undergoes continuous change, they appear every year, harmonious with their environment.

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I’ve managed to create somewhat of a schedule for the next 6-8 months of what I think is possible to accomplish with Prairi Lu this year. Every free weekend I’ve had so far has been dedicated to brainstorming and drawing up ideas I’ve had for so long. I’m excited to put the thoughts down on paper (or tablet, really) and letting what come to mind appear like magic. Watch for monthly pin drops starting in April!

-Shannon