summering alaska + shop update + fall equinox seasonal offerings

i have returned + i'm feeling oh so inspired.  summer has been a whirlwind and i welcome fall.  we decided to go to alaska for a whole month, mainly because time is going by so fast (a month felt like two weeks use to,  by the way) and fire season here in montana seems inevitable.  i brought all of my wares, and if you purchased something from me in either wrangell or ketchikan i would like to say thank you, i wouldnt be able to do this without all of you.  for those of you that dont know i grew up in wrangell alaska, so being there was like coming home.  my first home.  i was a part of the community market, one of my favorites all year.  another goal of mine was to pick a lot of berries to take home, and that happened!!! i brought home probably about 4 or 5 gallons (frozen in a fish box) here is a little photo gallery of wrangell, the motherland...

we hiked, and picked berries.  kayaked and played in the stormy ocean.  another highlight was finding and foraging chicken of the woods, one of my favorite fungi of the forest.  we ate it often, and i also dehydrated quite a bit to bring home. to be in this temperate rainforest amongst the spruce + cedar trees (some of which are more than 700 years old) damp decaying forest floor, red elder berries, and ravens was absolutely glorious.  not to mention, my people, i saw many many people i love on this trip too. 

partway through the trip, my mom lori, myself, and daughter josie went to ketchikan.  my stepmother kathy lives there, so we went.  i also peddled my wares at the blueberry festival, that too was a lot of fun.  we all had the greatest time, just the four of us.  here is the ketchikan photo gallery 

i have been wanting to move in the direction of my own dyeing, with plant dyes.  this is a process, and not something picked up overnight. kathy is also very interested in plant based dyes and eco printing.  we did a little of that while i was there.  so much to do, and learn.  i am very inspired to see where simply josephine goes with this.  new things coming, its in the works.

i think that sums up the alaska part of this post, i am happy to share this part of my life with you. if you have any questions, leave a comment, and we can go from there.

the fall equinox seasonal offerings box is up and listed.  i tried something new (seasonal offerings), and i think its here to stay for a while.  i have been creating these boxes, available right before the solstices and equinoxs. four times a year i offer a box of my remedies and handmade creations. at the holidays i'm going to offer a yearly subscription to the offerings.  so be on the lookout, it will also be a smoking deal. for yourself, or you can tell a loved one, hey this is what i want.  here is a sneak peak into the fall equinox box.

elderberry elixir

echinacea tincture

cedar smudge

wilds of summer sachet

magical conifer balm

juniper berry tallow soap

lemongrass cornmeal soap

handwritten zine, explaining every item and how i use it

the shop is open.....visit simplyjosephine.com to see the latest happening and shop my remedies and wares. thanks for being a part of this, i wish you a happy happy fall. namaste  dacia