Posts by Melissa Washburn
New Kickstarter Project
If you know me or follow me on social media at all, you know that I LOVE birds. I’ve been a birder for over 10 years, and am lucky enough to live near one of the busiest spring migration routes in North America, along Lake Michigan. I’ve also been a professional illustrator for over a decade, and…
Read MoreTen Days in Spain
We finally successfully pulled off our trip to Spain in August, visiting Madrid, Sevilla, and Barcelona during our 9 days there.
Read MoreNew Cotton Throw Designs
The “Moon Moth” cotton throw blanket I designed last year was such a success that I have decided to add a couple of new designs to my offerings. I now have Moth and Blossoms and Pink Dynastid Beetle designs available for preorder. These blankets are made of recycled cotton fiber in North Carolina by a…
Read MoreUpcoming Classes and Events
I’m really excited to start the new year with some fun things already on the calendar. Starting on March 7, I will be teaching a weekly linocut printmaking class at the Chesterton Art Center. More details and registration can be found HERE. Stay tuned for a Saturday fabric printing workshop in April as well. We’re…
Read MoreRethinking Social Media
It’s been rough out there on social media lately. Those of us who aren’t adept at video are seeing our visibility and reach plummet. Many artists are very dismayed at what used to be a visual medium essentially giving us the boot. I, like many others, have started to focus on a well-curated monthly newsletter,…
Read MoreInktober 2022
Everyone’s favorite drawing challenge is nearly upon us, and I will again be joining some other fantastic author/illustrators to share our Inktober sketches throughout the month! I really hope to play around and create for more than just a couple of prompts, but if nothing else I’ll be posting something inky on Instagram on October…
Read MoreSome Bad News and Some Good News
First, the Bad News You may have heard that the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) was added to the IUCN list of endangered species in July. Despite the status of this beautiful creature as an emblem of all things Environmental, we’re not doing enough. In July, I promised to share some information and resources on how…
Read MoreNew Cotton Throw Design
I had such a wonderful experience earlier this year working with Fiber Art Weavers on the moon moth throw blanket that I decided to design another. This 62×62″ recycled cotton throw features barn swallows and a golden sunflower. You can preorder the sunflowers and swallows design now in my shop, with an expected ship time of early…
Read MoreIndiana Dunes Birding Festival
A recent bright spot for me in this utterly depressing spring was the IDBF. Did you know that an estimated 8 million birds that flew overhead during just the first 3 days of the festival on their annual migratory journeys? The Lake Michigan shoreline is a major funnel for birds making their journeys every spring…
Read MoreInternational Raven and Crow Day
April 27 is International Raven and Crow Day. There is so much rich myth and folklore from all over the world about these birds, members of the family Corvidae. Who knew? Candace Savage’s brilliant book Bird Brains explores some of the current science on these clever birds; it’s a fascinating read if you’d like to…
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