Butternut Squash/Butterscotch Sun.

I'd been hearing Maria Schoettler's name for months before we finally met this past summer. She's a much-cherished friend of several of my closest pals here in New York (and a fellow UCSC alum, though we can't remember ever having met while studying there).

Maria lives in Oakland now, but came to stay at our Brooklyn apartment for several days in August. She was just as delightful as my friends had described, and, as a bonus, I discovered that she's an incredible artist to boot. Highlights from her website include a 2014 calendar celebrating seasonal fruits and veg,

a lush, leafy homage to herbs,

a series of striking painted portraits,

and "Joni Mitchell's Milk & Honey," which just might be my favorite (available for purchase here).

See more at Maria's website here (which includes a lovely selection of textiles and her online shop), and have a beautiful Wednesday.