Costal Correspondence
November Adventures & Shopping Small
We pack up again,
coastal winds calling to us,
maps made out of tides.
Somehow it feels as though November only just opened its eyes. One moment I was leaving Utah. Where the ground had just begun to freeze, where snow was dusting the mountains like delicate sifted sugar, and the next, I was stepping into the warm, golden light of a 78-degree Los Angeles afternoon.
My body and internal clock are still trying to negotiate that sudden, almost violent shift; my bones insist it’s winter, yet outside it felt like summer. And then, just as quickly as we arrived in L.A., we were off again, the weather changing with every new stop. These last two weeks have been spent slowly crawling up the Oregon coast, each stop having its own mood & weather.
We’ve been on the move from art market to art market since October, slowly making our way along the coast. Most days have been spent wandering beaches, climbing over craggy rocky shores, wading into the cold Pacific water, watching seals and otters bob in the waves, breathing in that sharp, spicy scent of misty forest air. We have seen elk, deer, coyote, foxes, many birds and even a mountain lion.
I’ve been gathering small treasures, peering into tide pools and wet hollow logs, searching for the little plants and creatures that make the world feel enchanted. At this point, my knees are bruised and my hands scraped by rocks and barnacles; every jacket pocket is brimming with shells, bones, driftwood, stones, and sand. My cattle dog seems to permanently smell like wet dog and rotting seaweed at this point.
Cattle dog now smells,
Like kelp tangled with wet sand,
coastlines in his fur.
We have been seeking out little seaside towns, the kinds that are filled with fishermen and marinas, piles of netting and crab traps stacked high. They always smell a little bit like low tide. Places like this remind me of my childhood home in ways that tug at me softly. The hours stretch differently here, especially when spent on a dock tending to a crab trap.
Many hours were spent crabbing, we were truly blessed by the sea. Last year we caught 6, this year we may or may not have caught over 20lbs of Dungeness crabs (and some rock crabs) we caught so many that we decided to freeze them and overnight shipped them back to Utah. We plan on giving many of them to our friends.
In about a week’s time, I’ll be back home, tucked into my studio, wrapped in its familiar cozy quiet, where I can finally sit down and sift through everything this past month has held. It feels as though I’ve been on the road for ages, gathering moments faster than I can name them. So much has unfolded since we left, far more than I can touch on here, but soon I’ll have the time to let it all settle.
Incase you were wondering where to shop for your loved ones this holiday season, supporting a small business or artist is always a great option
✷ Remember Small Businesses This Season ✷
This holiday season, please keep in mind all the small businesses and artists you love. Behind every post, product, and package is a real person pouring their heart into their craft and doing their best to chase a dream. This year has been especially challenging for many of us, and every bit of support truly counts more than ever.
✷ Every Purchase Matters ✷
When you support a small business, It’s not just a transaction; it’s a meaningful reminder that our work is valued. Your support helps pay bills, buy supplies, puts food on the table, and sustains creativity during a time when staying afloat is harder than ever. Big-box stores and mega corporations won’t notice your purchase… but small businesses absolutely do. Every sale is felt deeply and appreciated fully.
✷ Sustainability & Intentional Making ✷
Many of us create with intention! choosing eco-friendly or sustainable materials when possible, reducing waste, and making pieces designed to last a lifetime. When you shop small, you’re often supporting makers who care about their environmental footprint and who pour love, quality, and purpose into every item. Your purchase isn’t just buying something new… it’s investing in something meaningful and made to last.
✷ Choose Local, Support Community ✷
This season, consider choosing local over big-box stores. When you support local makers, artisans, and small shops, your money stays in the community! helping families, supporting local jobs, and keeping creativity thriving right where you live. Shopping small isn’t just a purchase; it’s an investment in your neighbors, your town, and your community.
✷ Support Doesn’t Always Mean Spending ✷
If you can’t make a purchase right now that’s truly okay, there is so many ways to support a small business that costs nothing! Liking a post, leaving a comment, sharing our work or telling friends about us. These small gestures have a huge impact and help us feel seen, supported and connected. Together we can lift one another up and strengthen our communities.
✸ Shop Update Info ✸
Somehow the holidays are already rushing toward us, which means it’s time for my last shop update of the year! On ✸ November 23rd at 5pm PST ✸ which also happens to be my birthday (yippie!) all of my print restocks, plus a few re-releases of old favorites, will be going live.
Since it’s my birthday, I’m throwing in a little celebration gift: 10% off your entire purchase with the code PARTY at checkout. This code will only be active on November 23rd after 5pm and will expire at midnight, so don’t miss it.
THANK YOU for all the support y’all have shown me this year. It’s been a really tough one to be an artist and a small business owner, and I truly couldn’t keep doing any of this without you.
-Holls