There is a pile on my desktop, well, actually more on my screen. We are in the digital age after all. The reason why there was so much silence (oh so deceptive) was because we are buried deep in so many projects and as often in fall - the deadlines approach wearing a black cloak, holding the hour glass in one hand and the c in the other.

So there is a little sneak peak now on what is right now on my desk. Various calendars for 2011 are in the making, Alice in Wonderland (have you seen the new art yet?), Guardian (more on that one later), calendars with new commissioned artwork for Shakti Gawain and Judith Orloff. On top of that it is time for new greeting cards. And rumors about a new book on tutorials and more Alice does not want to stay "just" a calendar only... she may want to lead us out for new adventures... stay tuned.

Tis official. The 2010 Pixiekin calendar is here and available!

Once again, we've teamed up with Paulina Cassidy to create a scrumptious feast of pixies, fairies and critters from the quirky land of Pixiekin.

Silas and I created the design, and from cover to cover the result, if I do say so myself, is fetching. And I'm not just whistlin' Dixie. The Pixiekin calendar remains one of the best-selling fairy calendars on the market. Why? Cuz it's NUMS!

Where else can you find this much delicious imagery for under 15.00? That's less than the cost of a print and you get FIFTEEN of them! And speaking of incredible buys, we also created the Guardian, Knock at the Door, and Living out Loud calendars. 

Buy now to stuff your Christmas stockings!!

 SHARE THE INSPIRATION AND WIN A 2010 LIVING OUT LOUD CALENDAR!

We're giving away twenty five brightly woven Living Out Loud calendars this fall, and you could end up with one (or more!) of them. But before you read on, ask yourself one question: Are you fierce? Because only the fiercest of creatures can hang with polka-dotted flamingos in striped stockings, dancing elephants and peacock-feathered women. Only fierce creatures flaunt their fabulous selves, empowered with possibility, fierce with reality!

Are you one of us? Then by all means, read on!

How it works:

Post a link to the Message From The Muse (MessagefromtheMuse.com) on your facebook page and/or your own blog/website. When complete, post a comment to this blog post, showing your link(s). (This is how we will get your name to put into our Hatter's hat!)

All names will go into our Mad Hatter hat - modeled here by Silas.

Contest runs September 6 to October 31. Winners announced November 1.

We are giving away 25 calendars, so your chances of winning are wonderfully good!

Calendars ship November 10th*

You can enter as many times as you'd like, as long as your link to MFTM is posted on different sites. (not multiple times on the same site). If your name is pulled more than once, you will win more calendars!

Not on Facebook? Not a problem! Post a link to Message from the Muse on your blog or website and leave a comment under this post showing where you have linked.

More Chances to win! Write an article/review of Message from the Muse of 200 words or more and you'll be entered twice for every article you post on a different website! When you write an article, just post that article to this post and we'll put your name in the hat twice for every article!

Please note: The impetus behind the contest is INSPIRATION! We wish to share the juicy living and luscious writing found on MFTM and grow our community!

*Calendars are free, winners pay postage of 5.00 within continental USA. International winners pay USPS flat rate air shipping.

You've asked for it, we've done it!  We now have a "Guardian" gallery! In addition to our 2010 Guardian calendar, we've added twelve more images (these to be seen on next years 2011 calendar) and soon prints will follow. So many of you have asked for a book of this film and while we'd love to produce it, the publishers we've talked to are very conservative with their bucks right now (and who could blame them?). We're still hoping that your enthusiastic support will lead to a book deal, so if you love this project as much as we do, drop a line of encouragement and support on our...

brand...

new...

Guardian Facebook page! Oh yes, here is where you can show your love and pass the word along to friends, romans and countrymen. Not on facebook? No problem! We've also created a section on our forum where you can leave your comments and show your support. This kind of show-and-tell enthusiasm could lead to a published book, so don't hold back! Tell your friends! It's such a beautiful, romantic product. In my humble opinion, the world needs more beauty like this, honoring the place of transition and the gorgeous, triumphant human spirit!

Our Guardian gallery is located here, and you can order your 2010 Guardian calendar here. While supplies last!

I'm sure you've noticed the many changes taking place at Duirwaigh. It's no secret. We want to live in color. Live loud. Live joyously. And we're encouraging you to do the same. In fact, when we get around happy people, there's no telling what we might do. Aimee, our duir-friend and fellow delight conspirator, was so excited about one of our projects she squealed "but how are we gonna contain the joy?" And I said "We're not." So just look for our exploding selves on sidewalks, in the airports, on the highways and byways of life.

So the latest? In this joy revival? It's our LIVING OUT LOUD 2010 calendar. Silas and I have a new line of art, built to inspire joy, and Amber Lotus has chosen 13 of their fave images to celebrate 2010.  Delight your sense of wonder and awe! Bite off just a bit more than you can chew! For you are empowered with possibility and FIERCE with reality!

 ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THE TOO GOOD AND TRUE TRIBE? If so, check your email on July  27th for a special offer on all calendars!

 Not a member yet? Join by clicking in the right column on 'register'.