may margin scribbles ☀️

notes on craft club, mahjong, art, and inspiration

Hello and welcome to Margin Scribbles, my monthly newsletter where I share updates on mahjong, art, events, inspiration, and life in Destin, Florida. I’m so glad you’re here!

For the 100 (!!!) new people that have subscribed since my last newsletter, a little about me…

I grew up with an artist mom who incorporated creativity and art into our daily lives. She is incredibly talented (go check out her work!), but seeing how she struggled to make ends meet as a single mom of four, I never even considered art as a potential career. Instead, I majored in Finance and worked for an entrepreneur when I graduated from college (an experience I absolutely loved!).

After having kids, I fell back in love with art while drawing and doing craft projects with my children. I’d post things I made on Instagram and, incredibly, people would reach out asking me to create things for them too - what a dream!

I specialize now in illustration and graphic design (think stationery, invitations, drawings for posters, publications, menus, and merch). But, I’ve never met a craft I didn’t like, so also love painting, animation, junk journaling, paper mache, collage, linocut, and teaching. All that to say… expect this newsletter to be a little all over the place!

Mahjong Updates

I know this is why most of y’all are here!! My Emerald Coast tile sets and mats are currently in production and should ship to me in the next few weeks. Shipping is by boat, so it’s super slow, but I’m hoping to have everything here and assembled around end of May/early June.

This last month I’ve spent a lot of time designing and ordering all the little things that go along with a new product - inserts, packaging (custom ribbon and tissue paper omg) and brainstorming some new things too!

When everything arrives, we will be hosting an open play launch party in Destin so local folks (or visitors who need an excuse for a beach trip!) will be able to buy their sets in person. After that, sets and mats will be available for purchase online. Stay tuned for launch party info coming soon. And if you plan to buy online, you are in the right place - I will send updates and link to buy to email subscribers first :)

Upcoming Events

Lots of fun stuff going on in May! My friend Morgan hosts Mahjong Mondays at the Henderson here in Destin and I always bring my sample sets to play on, so if you want to see my Emerald Coast tile sets in person, we’d love to see you! Check out her newsletter here for sign up links for her events.

Digital Graffiti, my favorite art festival ever, is this month in Alys Beach. My son Harry and I BOTH have animations in the festival this year, which will be projected on the beautiful white walls the community is known for. I had so much fun at this last year and am looking forward to another wonderful weekend in Alys!

What I’ve Been Making Lately

I took another figure drawing class with Lindsay Tobias this month and really enjoyed it. Drawing people is so hard, but I keep trying.

I finally took my watercolors to the beach on a day without kids - something I’ve wanted to do for a long long time.

Every year for a certain friend’s birthday, I make her a daisy for her wall. It’ll be so fun to look back on these in a decade or two!

One of my favorite projects is the Envision Dance recital T-shirt! This year for the dance company’s second recital, the theme is 80s with a design based on old MTV logos. I can’t wait to see all the kids around town rocking their shirts!

I made myself a new notepad - do we like this design? Should I put it up online?

Finally, I made a game of letting me create images for you rather than you using ChatGPT - see this post for details. I enjoyed drawing a few of the prompts (including the cute Frenchie pictured above!) and look forward to working my way through more in the coming weeks. <3

What I’ve Been Loving Lately

I’ve probably mentioned both of these before, but still my favorite art supplies to keep in my purse: the handbook journal co. sketchbook (smallest size is perfect) and my neopastels ii, which are like the smoothest most saturated crayons. They come in a lovely red tin case that is ideal for a purse.

These Lulie Wallace fish print beach towels are lovely! The material is like nothing I’ve ever seen in a beach towels - more like a soft blanket but thin and foldable like a Turkish towel. And her prints are just beautiful!

If you live in a humid area (hello to all my friends across the South!), I discovered this month the amika rising star spray and I’ve been really happy with it. You just spray it on your roots when you’re finished with your hair and it adds a boost without any crispiness.

~*secret giveaway time*~

Comment below with a recommendation from your life - a favorite thing you’ve been using or reading or eating or listening to. I love hearing what other people love!! I’ll pick someone randomly at the end of the month to win a snail mail surprise!

An Assignment for y’all (or your kids!)

This month, we made up a game called “Sketchy Scavenger Hunt.” I made it up for my kids, but played it with them and we all had fun! So don’t feel silly going out and playing on your own - this is NOT kid exclusive!!

Grab a sketchbook or paper and a couple of things to draw with (maybe a pen you love or 3-5 crayons, whatever). Walk around your yard or a nearby park and try to find and draw things that match the “clues.” You can use our list of clues below, or take turns coming up with clues of your own.

• A flower that is fully open

• A flower bud that hasn’t opened yet

• The biggest leaf you can find

• The tiniest leaf you can find

• A leaf with holes or bug bites

• A stick shaped like a letter

• A rock with an interesting shape

• A pinecone or seed pod

• A feather

• A bird’s nest

• An ant carrying something

• A butterfly or bee visiting a flower

• A spider web

• A mushroom

• A patch of moss

• Tree bark with interesting texture

• Roots sticking out of the ground

• A cloud shaped like something

• A shadow made by a tree or plant

• Something growing where it “shouldn’t” (like in a crack)

• A bug with wings

• A snail or slug trail

• A bird on a fence or branch

• A tool that’s been left outside

• A watering can or hose

• A pot with a plant in it

• A vegetable growing in the garden

• Something that reminds you of someone

• A funny-shaped weed

• Something that makes you think of a dragon

• Something that came from water

Let me know if you play!! Hope to see some of y’all this month at Mahjong or Digital Graffiti! Have a great May <3