| THE EPISTOLARIAN |
Salish Sea
While I wait for Ireland, I'm immersing myself in summer here in Seattle, and exploring the surrounding nature of the Salish sea, the breathtakingly intricate network of coastal waterways, stretching between the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia.
Did you know that all of my sealing waxes are loving poured by hand here in the Salish Sea?
I matched the exact Pantone of this color to the perfect gray on a cloudy day when the sea and the sky are the same color. Though gray, it feels warm and embracing.
My son, William, combing the beach for sand dollars. If he had a dollar for every sand dollar he found, he would have $10.50.
Open to You
One of the core tenets of Kathryn Hastings has always been hospitality. I cherish the idea of opening my home to others, even if it's just figuratively. I love making myself and others feel completely at home in a new place.
I painted this seal, incorporating tiny figures to evoke the warmth and comfort of home. Even the geese are welcome to stay as long as they’d like.
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In case you missed it...
I have a few of these gorgeous collector’s seals remaining, inspired by the mesmerizing world of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” This seal not only celebrates the ethereal spirit Ariel but also pays homage to a unique 19th-century cameo that captured my imagination.
At the core of this exquisite seal lies the fusion of Ariel, the spirit of air and intuition, with the enigmatic symbol of the bat, representing the subconscious and its mastery over the nocturnal mysteries. This blend beautifully embodies the journey through uncertainty, guided by the steady light of our inner wisdom.
This collector’s seal is a testament to the unyielding power of inner strength and the enchanting allure of personal magic. It stands as a powerful reminder that in the midst of darkness, we are never lost; our intuition is a luminescent beacon, ready to lead the way.
Inspiration from an Antique Cameo
The journey to creating this seal began with an enchanting cameo featuring Ariel on a bat, discovered on Sian Harlowe Antiques’ Instagram. Fascinated by the idea, I reached out to Sian Harlowe, who was enthusiastic about the project. Although the original cameo depicted more elaborate features, I chose to simplify the design, focusing on the unique blend of Ariel and the bat, inspired by Ariel’s own words in “The Tempest”:
Where the bee sucks, there suck I:
In a cowslip’s bell I lie;
There I couch when owls do cry.
On the bat’s back I do fly
After summer merrily.
This verse encapsulates the essence of Ariel’s spirit—joyful, free, and in harmony with nature, making it the perfect inspiration for this seal.
With love,