It’s almost the end of September and I’m sharing another newsletter.

Kids are back in school, and the highlight of this month has been my morning walks with the dog.

It’s been unusually quiet and sunny September, so unlike Seattle, and I’ve enjoyed every chilly morning, with the rising sun shining on spider webs covered in dew, light fog drifting through shady dips along the forest path, birds waking up with their songs and a lot of wildlife encounters.

But I’m also looking forward to the rainy days ahead, with their cozy pattering sounds, warm sweaters and autumn tea brews.

Yesterday I finished my last client’s picture book! That means I have a little time before the next project to focus on Yens and Spinny. Guess what? I’m making a book! It’s all just thoughts and ideas for now, but it may be about how Yens first met Spinny..

Also my other client just published a book I’ve recently illustrated, it was quite a challenge for me, but it was my favorite theme and I got to play with light in a ways I love, and I’m really happy with how it turned out!

I’m still trying to sketch from life every day (and sometimes it works 😅), and my favorite memories are from sketching at the horse farm. My goal for the next month is Aquarium!

Oh, and another exciting bit of news - Yens and Spinny short movie is finally coming to YouTube! Save the date - October 1! I’m happy to say the movie received some awards, and I even got to go to Houston International Film Festival to receive one in person!

🍂 This Month’s Stories

🫖 The Great Teacup Incident
Spinny gets into one of his mischievous moods, and what begins as an innocent tea moment quickly turns into a small disaster. Luckily, Yens is patient as ever, and the teacup survives (mostly).
Read here

🎶 Autumn Melody
Yens spends a golden afternoon under the trees, whittling a hollow stick that seems to hum with the season’s change. Spinny, of course, has his own ideas for how to join in the music.
Read here

I was working hard to finish the new Yens and Spinny wall calendar, and it’s going to be amazing! My favorite picture is October, that’s how the perfect Fall feels to me :)

This year I’m also offering desk calendars for the first time! They are filled with watercolor illustrations, that was my dream for several years and now I have enough pictures for the whole year! Also I designed a single-page calendar - I think it just looks cool :) I might add it as a freebie during the holiday season. The calendars are coming to the shop on Friday September 26.

The biggest shop highlight is Yens the plushie! He turned out very soft and huggable, check him out if you haven’t yet! I know that international shipping is crazy expensive :( I’m trying to make it easier for Yens and Spinny fans from other parts of the world, I’ve added free shipping for orders over $45, and I’m planning special bundles, like a calendar + Yens (holiday edition, keep an eye for it!), a little bit cheaper. There are also plenty of sales coming up!

• Mushrooms have started popping up near the compost heap. Spinny has declared one his official chair.

• The evenings grow cooler now. Yens has taken to bringing out an extra blanket. Spinny prefers the kettle lid.

• The apples behind the tool shed are ready at last. Yens has already filled two baskets. Spinny did help, mostly by rolling one apple under the porch and declaring it his.

• A soft mist has been curling along the garden path each morning. Yens watches it with his tea, while Spinny tries to chase it.

• The moon has been brighter these nights. Yens enjoys the glow. Spinny thinks it’s following him.

"Every year, the bright Scandinavian summer nights fade away without anyone’s noticing. One evening in August you have an errand outdoors, and all of a sudden it’s pitch-black. It is still summer, but the summer is no longer alive.”

The Summer Book by Tove Jansson

Just a couple of pictures of amazing autumn colors.

This week Yens found a blanket of dew on the garden bench. Spinny refused to sit until it dried, but Yens said it looked like silver. Wherever this month finds you, I hope you catch a glimmer of something ordinary made beautiful.

Thank you for reading. I’m so glad to share those little moments with you.

With warmth,

Nina

(And also Yens, and Spinny, who is in the kettle again)