Hello, Subscriber First Name,

Before I share anything else with you today, I want to convey my gratitude to each of you who answered the survey I sent with my last note. I was blown away by the response and am still working my way through your answers to my questions. It’s given me a lot to think about and I hope to be able to use your thoughts as I continue to improve these emails.

Just to clarify, the giveaway I mentioned as a thank-you is open to anyone, all over the world. The only thing I won’t be able to include in an international package of goodies is seeds collected from my garden.

I will choose the giveaway winner soon, though do want to give a little something to each of you. How about 10% off all purchases from my website and Etsy through the end of the month? Use coupon: SURVEYTHANKS And for those of you more interested in learning, I’ve opened up 20 free spots in my Autumn Sketchbook class. Claim your spot here.

I’ll be sending seeds from my garden (purple poppies, bachelor buttons and calendula) with every order I ship to the US as long as supplies last.

If you haven’t yet filled out a survey and would like to, please follow this link. I’d love to hear from you!

I’m not sure how it happened, but September is here. My garden is a wild tangle and although some flowers are long finished, many of my favorites are still blooming abundantly, providing me with ample inspiration for my art.

Even so I’m starting to feel the pressure of knowing I won’t be able to capture it all before the season is finished.

I’ve really been struggling with what’s been going on in my country right now. Being outside, connecting with nature and eating from my garden all help me regain a sense of calm and of hope during these ever more challenging days.

What have you been doing lately to help you recharge and reset?

Some inspiration:

• A number of you who responded to my survey were hesitant to call yourself artists, even though you were making art and/or creating in other ways. I totally get where you’re coming from and remember feeling that way myself for a long time. This post from Tara Lever looks at some common myths about what makes a person a “real” artist. Do they sound familiar?

• In a recent newsletter from Rob Walker, author of The Art of Noticing, he celebrates the Joy of Making Nothing. Playing for the sake of play itself is one of the things I love about working in sketchbooks and I think we could all benefit from doing more things that don’t have a specific result in mind.

• Along similar lines, in this note Ruby Josephine shares her thoughts about dancing without any external reasons and without worrying about the results. In doing so she’s been able to process her feelings about life right now as a healing, full-body experience.

• On my blog a couple weeks ago I mentioned wanting to raise butterflies inside next year. On a recent trip to the library I found the book Raising Butterflies in the Garden. It’s filled with photos of butterflies (plus a few moths), their eggs, their developing caterpillars and detailed information about which plants the caterpillars and their butterflies need for food. It’s the most helpful butterfly book I’ve found.

• For a while I’ve been getting Edith Zimmerman’s Drawing Links newsletter. It’s thoughtful musings in the form of hand drawn comics and related lists of inspiring links. This recent edition tells the story of her trip to a fiber farm.

• I love the idea of fresh starts. The turn of the calendar, the change of the season, each gives us a chance to start fresh. This post from Modern Daily Knitting suggests giving your self-care practices an overhaul. Just the reminder I need for myself right now.

• Helena Woods writes a compelling argument for sharing more of our messiness with the world.

Many of you have shared blogs, websites, newsletters and magazines that inspire you. I’m working on a master list of these and when I’m finished I’ll share it with everyone. Have a resource you don’t want left out? Let me know about it and I’ll add it to the list.

Reader Blogs

A number of you mentioned that you write blogs. I fantasize about a return to blogging and the beautiful community that it could foster. If you write a blog and would like to be featured, just hit reply and send me a link!

• One of the longest followers of my blog and subscribers to these email notes is Karen. She’s been blogging at Sew and Sow Life since 2009! We connected through our blogs almost 10 years ago.

• Celia Wilson shares her art, including her handmade books, on her blog.

• Nel Jansen shares her watercolor paintings on her blog Nel’s Everyday Painting.

• Emily writes The Emi Times, a lifestyle blog with a regular “10 Things that Made Me Happy This Week” feature.

I was also surprised by how many of you read my blog! I write there every Friday. Don’t be shy! I welcome (and respond to) comments, so I hope you’ll say hi next time you visit.

That’s all for today.

Take care, my friend. Stay safe. Stay well.

Until next time, wishing you joy.

p.s. 2021 calendars are coming! I was hoping to have them back from the printer by now, but it shouldn’t be too much longer. If you’d like me to notify you when they’re in stock just reply to this email and let me know. Otherwise, look for them in my beginning of October note.

Hi, I'm Anne Butera, the artist behind My Giant Strawberry. 

Thank you for inviting me to your inbox!

I'm completely self-taught and my experiences have fueled my passion not only for watercolor, but also for encouraging others to embrace their creativity and discover their joy. (Read more about my journey here).

You can purchase my art including original paintings, fine art prints, fabric (yes, the top I’m wearing is made out of my fabric!) and other product designs on my website and elsewhere on the web.

Looking to learn how to paint or find creative inspiration? I teach online. Come join me in class.

In addition to teaching, I love sharing inspiration on my blog. If you want to stay connected, I hope you'll join me there. And if you're on Instagram, let's connect there, too.

With gratitude.
--A

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