The Farmer's Collection | June 2020
I’m not sure how many of you may be doing this same thing, but this entire covid 19 situation has given me lots of time to reflect on the past, the future, and the present. I’ve also had time to find creativity within new avenues which in turn has caused me to also reflect on why and how I do certain things. I’m specifically talking about work ethic and why I am both drawn to and fueled by my work. I mean, I’ve had no trouble keeping busy during this time with designing, gardening, and painting a chicken coop.
Many times over the last couple of months, I’ve felt like this part of me that can’t stop doing is a fault- a negative part of my personality. But then I remember what my childhood was like. For example, just the other night, I drove down to my parents to grab a few bags of produce to find both my mom and dad still working. Day and night they work. Growing up on a farm and working it from a young age built an inner rhythm of drive and focus that I can’t seem to break. I acknowledge that rest is good and working 24/7 is not healthy, but I was raised with a high standard of rolling up your sleeves and working diligently, steadily, for whatever it was you wanted in life.
With a newfound love for illustrating and using a creative part of my brain I haven’t tapped into before, I’m having to consider what it is that specifically brings me joy and why. There have been many moments of wanting to draw and illustrate, but I blank and can’t think of a single thing to draw or where to even start. I’m left staring at an iPad screen with an electronic pencil in my hand and nothing but blank thoughts. It wasn’t until one day after weeding my garden (which I now enjoy- thanks covid) that I recalled weeding acres and acres of produce as a kid (which I did not enjoy). The memory struck me once I realized how I’ve changed in ways as simple as an attitude towards weed-picking and suddenly it occurred to me what it is I find so inspiring- nature, farming, growth, and learning. The things I struggled through learning on the farm as a kid are things that I deeply value and respect now. The hard work, the steady outpouring of effort and never giving up, diligently pulling weeds one-by-one to protect a crop are all things that I find inspiring. So, I decided to sit and illustrate the simplicity of those things that bring out joy in me.
Farm work as a kid was very difficult but as an adult, I’ve had the opportunity to reflect and recognize how grateful I am for each and every experience I had as a child. Admittedly saying all of the experiences were not easy or enjoyable, but they made me into who I am today.
In this time of reflection, I decided that our next launch will be “The Farmer’s Collection.” It is a bundle of new illustrations I’ve drawn as well as a favorite design, Support Your Local Farmer. This Collection is an attempt to bring gratitude to my past, appreciation for where our food comes from, and the joy each of these memories brings to me.
The Farmer’s Collection will launch on June 1, 2020. Here is a glimpse of our mood board which is compiled of images from our farm which has inspired the new line of tees and tanks we will be launching soon.
My parent’s farm is called Morath Orchard. It is a working farm that produces more than 30 varieties of vegetables along with peaches, apples, and blackberries. During the summers, it was very common for us to pick, wash, and box over 80,000 pounds of squash per summer. Long hot days working while always being surrounded by the family were no joke. Set your alarms for Monday, June 1st at 8 pm - I hope you love this collection as much as I’ve enjoyed designing it.
