It's my favorite time of the year.  The anticipation of summer is upon us, and I am full of excitement as I dream of my favorite things to do in the salt outdoors.  Instinctively, I begin thinking about the gear I will need to be equipped for hunting and gathering.  Here are my essentials:

1. Korringal Bondi Fedora $23.99
2. Patagonia Women's Reversible Mamala Top $55 and Telu Bottom $45
3. Chaco ZX/2® Yampa Sandal
4. Cabela’s Women’s Guidewear® Long-Sleeve Shirt $49.99
5. Patagonia Women's Baggies™ Shorts - 5" $49.99
6. Margaret Turner Designs Sarong

Happy Hunting and Gathering!
Margaret

New Design: Octopus

What is it about Octopus's that we all love.  I think it's because they are amazing animals.  This may sound silly, but isn't it amazing that they actually exist?  I recently watched Oceans, a Disney documentary, and the Blanket Octopus was briefly mentioned.  That's a different story, but if you want to see something else in the octopus family that really exists check out the blanket octopus.

Now for my post.

My Momma called this morning and wanted to order a baby blanket for a baby girl.  And, she asked if I would try and make an octopus design.  I love an artistic challenge, even when I am screaming at my paintbrush or computer in the design process.  

I first sketched the little critter.
 

Octopus Sketch

 

Then, painted it pink, for obvious reasons.

Pink Octopus

And, designed in Photoshop this design.

Octopus Design for baby blanket

If Momma approves, I think we'll give the blanket and framed watercolor as a gift.  

And, the octopus project in a nutshell, or collage rather.

I hope you are all doing something outside today.  It's gorgeous!

Cheers,
Margaret

 

My Motivation for Cleaning Shells - Simon Pearce

Most of the time I love cleaning the shells that I find.  What makes it difficult right now?  The fact that winter won't seem to leave.  It's cold outside, and that takes away from the joy a little bit. 

Cleaning the loot

Most of the sea urchins I found were ripped from their homes.  And, they all took a beating.  Some cracked in half as I started the cleaning process.  Every time a sea urchin or sand dollar is broken, my heart breaks a little bit.

Battered, still intact, (and still gorgeous) Sea Urchin

These sand dollars are the ones I found in Kiawah.  They were also ripped from their beds by the severe current and new moon, so they needed a lot of sun bathing to get to their pristine whiteness. 

Sun Bathing Sand Dollars

So, you wonder, where my motivation for this labor intensive task came from?  This insanely awesome Simon Pearce Lamp that was a wedding gift from one of my favorite people.  You can see why.  And who would put lemons in a lamp when you have shells? 

Nantucket Lamp by Simon Pearce

I can't wait to get these babies all cleaned up for their new home.  The lamp can't wait either.  I think I'm the most impatient of all the inanimate objects I just gave feelings to.  :)

Cheers!
Margaret

I'm dreaming of Sea Fans

Two days ago I posted some pictures of the sea urchins I found at Cape Fear Point on Bald Head Island.  At the end of the post, I snuck in a picture of a sea fan I also found.  I was dumbfounded when I found the beauty.  Many of the "fans" or what looks like a sea fan, are actually made up of a spongy material.  And as this material drys out, it turns brown, and it stinks.  It stinks almost permanently.

Spongy Sea Fan (no idea what it's actual name is).

 
I like the smell of low tide, but I think I am the only person.

Bald Head Island Sea Fan Loot

When I found this sea fan, I was overjoyed, because it is not the same specimen.  The fan part is firm, and keeps it's color.  I have dreams of putting it in a shadow box and looking at it everyday.  Since I don't feel like motivating to go by a shadow box today, I instead decided to make a design with it in mind. 

Sea Fan Design

What do you think?  Not only would this be great fabric for a scarf, but also perfect bathroom wallpaper.

If you find yourself wanting this design in any capacity, please contact me and we can order it, and even customize if you wish.  Email me at margaretturnerdesigns@gmail.com, and as always check out my other designs at margaretturnerdesigns.com.

Cheers!
Margaret

2014 - What treasures will this year bring?

Happy New Year fellow hunters and gatherers.  You may have wondered where I have been these past two months.  Most of you know that I started my own design company a couple years ago.  (Has it really been that long - yes, it has.  I think I started I guess thinking about 2 years ago in January).  And, currently, I am the only employee which includes but is not limited to the following tasks:

• Creative Director (my favorite one which is why I put it first)
• CEO (whatever that means)
• Founder (company still isn't incorporated, but my accountant doesn't seem to be worried, so neither am I)
• Marketing Director
• Social Media Director
• Sewing Slave (I don't pay myself for sewing even though I spend most of time doing it)
• Sweatshop Employee
• Cutter
• Sewer (ha! That can't be how you spell that)
• Shipping Director
• Customer Service Director (this doesn't mean that I am always kind, especially to banks)
• Tech Director
• Website Director
• E-Commerce Director

Okay, I am going to stop there.  I'm not trying to complain, just thought it may explain why I haven't been on the beach in 2 months.  The weather also has something to do with that.  I hate cold weather.  I'm cold in 80 degree weather.  But, the weather in addition to all the cutting and sewing, kept me indoors.

Here is just a sample of the fabric I worked on this season:

They are beautiful.

Mary Lee (Great White Shark) Blanket Fabric

Starfish Cotton Voile Scarf

Crab Cotton Voile Fabric

Packing up an order for delivery.

Old Fabric Swatches

Horsehoe Crab Fabric

New stamps that arrived two days after Christmas.

Folding scarves to ship to Texas.

Packing up for delivery.

Custom blanket for sweet friend in Raleigh.

My favorite recipient of a scarf this season.  Sorry, Mimi wins every time!

Isn't my Mimi the cutest thing you've ever seen?  I gave her the Scotch Bonnet Silk Scarf for Christmas, which is North Carolina's State Shell.  She loved it.  Not as much as I love her because that's impossible.  :)

It was a very successful season.  But, I will not be a one woman sweat shop ever again.  Help is on the way, along with very exciting things this year.  I'm getting married in March, and before that I am going shelling on Captiva Island with some of my best friends.  Yes, that what a hunter and gatherer does for her bachelorette; she plans a shelling trip.  I can't wait to share the treasures we find!

I hope you all have the Happiest Year ever filled with many blessings!

Cheers!
Margaret

Casually Chic featuring the Horseshoe Crab Scarf

I feel like I am always able to find something to pair my scarves with, but Polyvore gives me the opportunity to think of new ways.  I love this outfit featuring the Horseshoe Crab Scarf.  If I can picture myself wearing this outfit does it mean it really happened?  That is, without having to buy it all.

Cheers,
Margaret

Hunt - more hobbies; Gather - Watercolors!

Like I need something else to do.  In addition to designing and sewing scarves, my new love is painting.  Who knew I was an artist.  Growing up, I guess I thought of myself as an athlete since I couldn't sit still.  As I got older and starting working in (gag) Corporate America, and I wondered why I was unhappy (I can't believe I used the word gag).  So, I studied acting, even went and got an MBA.  Which was hysterical - me trying to fit into this competitive mock corporate structure.  I loved it, don't get me wrong, but I did not fit in.  And, I wondered why.  I think I know now.  Because I am an entrepreneur and an artist, and I am so outside the box, that I'm in a sphere.  The strange thing is, is that I can pretend very well that I am normal - I am an actress after all.  I am not normal though.  Corporate America is not for me.  And, that's okay.  I'm okay with the fact that I barely painted a room in a house that I call my office/studio, and that I live a block from the beach.  I actually have a bathing suit on right now (with a cute cover up mind you).  So, I think I'm okay with being an artist.  I posted some of my work on Facebook, and I now have sold 8 of them.  People are commissioning me to paint more.  Is that right, can I actually say that?  There is no way I am a commissioned artist.  Wait, why can I not be okay with that?  Who knows, something to think about more when I am shelling perhaps.

Anyway, (told you I wasn't normal), here are some new watercolors I recently painted; all but the Spanish Mackerel with the pink background have been sold.  They are $30 each.  Email me if you are interested in any of them, or customize.  I can paint it, email you a picture, and if you like it, it's sold!

Spanish Mackerel Original

Penguin Original

Blue Crab Original

Red Drum Original

Spanish Mackerel Original

Email me at margaretturnerdesigns@gmail.com if you would like your very own original custom watercolor.  And, have a great day!

Cheers!
Margaret

Octopus Watercolor

I have a friend who mentioned she would love to see an Octopus watercolor after seeing the ones I posted yesterday.  So, I got to work.  And, here is the finished product:

The past couple days have been spent sketching and painting.  They have been lovely days.

Cheers,
Margaret

Watercolors - Shells

I have been working on some watercolors recently.  My muses have been what have always inspired me - the shells that I hunt and gather.  I even did a watercolor of the marsh around Masonboro Island, which is one of my favorite places to hunt and gather.  Here's a peak of some of my favorites.

Bald Head Island Artisan Show - I sold 4 watercolors!

Junonia - framed with beach sand matte.

Masonboro Marsh

Sand Dollar

Sea Horse

Horseshoe Crab and Sea Urchin

I am working on more, and will post them as I finish.

Cheers,
Margaret

Margaret Turner Designs - Watercolors

Being around other artists is inspiring and creative.  This past weekend at the F8 Artist Show, Barbara Jamison ( Barbara Jamison Fine Art) was kind enough to help me come to terms with the fact that I can actually sketch and paint.  Apparently, those of us artists who are good at math, are supposed to be good at watercolor.  Barbara brought some of her supplies and coached me through the process while giving me great pointers on watercolor technique throughout the weekend.

I decided to stay within my scope, and paint my shells.  My first was the speckled crab.  Since it's flat and only two colors, I reasoned that it would most definitely be the simplest.  I forgot about all the specks, so I just did some here and there.

Crab watercolor on crab scarf.

Not only does it look decent, I have to tell you - I love it!  So, I did a couple more.  On top of that, it also happened to be my Mimi's birthday and my brother's birthday so I had unique gifts for both of them.  My brother loves to hunt (crab), and I learned my love for shelling from my grandmother, so she got the sea urchin watercolor:

Sea urchin watercolor.

Horseshoe crab watercolor may need some help.

I will post more watercolors when I finish them my website (Margaret Turner Designs Watercolors) so please check there for updates.

Cheers!

Margaret

Figure 8 Island Art and Shopping Splash

This past weekend I had the pleasure of participating in an artists show on Figure Eight Island, NC.  It is almost comforting to spend time around other artists.  And, lets be honest - who doesn't like to work on an island?  There was inspiration everywhere.  It was the second annual Splash Show on Figure Eight Island, and for the artists around my table and I, it was a successful one.

Great table real estate for my scarves and designs.

Tags for scarves inspired by Bald Head Island Ferry tags.

Great weekend to shop, and capture storm photographs.

I also learned how to watercolor; I'll devote a complete post to that tomorrow.  I posted some new pictures on my website, including the watercolors.  Check them out (Scarf Shots, Shell Shots, Margaret's Watercolors)!

I was so impressed with the show and the artists and vendors, I thought I would also introduce you to a few (that is, if you don't already know them).

B. Bear Jamison - Fine Art

Barbara Jamison's art is incredible.  Inspired by the coast, you can imagine why I love everything she does.  I am mildly obsessed with the following marsh painting - doesn't it make you want to go hunting and gathering? You can view more of her art on Fine Art America here.

Marsh at Boat Ramp by Barbara Jamison

Gabrielle Jewelry

Gabrielle Jewelry (website here) was also in attendance.  Gabe Bratton is an artist from Raleigh, NC and I was equally impressed with her artistic jewelry as well as her process:

"Her pieces combine historical fashion with contemporary style. One of her specialties is the lost wax casting process, where she integrates traditional clothing adornments into modern pieces of jewelry, preserving the original design by replacing it with metal. To maintain the detail and intricacy of the material, the fibers are dipped in wax, manipulated and lastly re-contextualized into metal to solidify the detail. The transfer of materials completely changes the fabrics weight and feel. The delicately patterned layers become transformed revoking the fragility, while retaining the soft romantic pretense of the original form. The vulnerability of the lace is lost, but the intricacy of the design is captured and formalized into an elegant, one of a kind piece. Gabe also works with semiprecious stones in a variety of colors, styles and designs. Her pieces are unique, delicate and the perfect blend of masculine and feminine concepts."

Gabrielle Jewelry Floral Cuff

Please do yourself a favor and check out her site.

The Type Writer

Whitney Simms has beautiful handwriting.  I guess she would have to if she is in the calligraphy business.    

Isn't that the truth!

She has different calligraphy styles you can view along with a complete portfolio here.

Kenzania

Kenzania, an American woman run business, was conceived by Margie Springer after a misson trip to Tanzania.  The name is a mix of Kenya and Tanzania where the line is produced.  It is sold exclusively online (here) and through boutique shows.

"Kenzania is devoted to helping provide employment opportunities for sewers and craftsmen in Kenya and Tanzania. A portion of our proceeds will be returned to these communities. We are an American, woman-owned apparel and accessory company. Our products are sewn in “cottage” industries in either Kenya or Tanzania and constructed with Kitenge and Khanga fabric traditionally worn by women in East Africa.  Your purchase from Kenzania will help to change and improve lives in East Africa!"

Zanzibar Tote

Moyo Bath Robe