In with the new! Today not only brings the start of a new year, but a new decade as well – a time to welcome all the wonder and possibility newness can bring. Like the rest of the world, I’ve been spending the requisite time over the last few weeks to evaluate and set goals and hanker for changes where they need to be. In the coming days, I know I’ll get to all the conclusions that have surfaced from that process. But, for now, I’m content to dream and revel in the glow of a new starting point. (whoop! whoop!)
I’m holding on to the last few days of Christmas vacation with my crew before we get back into routines next week, but I wanted to plant the flag for 2020 with a printable calendar download. I’ve updated the format for the calendars this year to accommodate space for a 5×7″ mini print. Each month, I’ll include a bit of art you can cut down and frame or hang – something to make you smile long after the month is over.
Let’s do this, 2020!
h.
I’ve been wandering through my photo archives lately, and it’s like a stroll through back roads and small towns and memories made. We’ve made quite a hobby of road-tripping over the years, and my kids have been pretty good sports with all the random stops to capture the views. I’ve been trying to archive and organize and make connections between all the places and wanders we’ve experienced, with the hope of sharing them here on The Frog Kisser.
This week, I’ve been looking at some images from Clarksdale, Mississippi. We last visited this crossroads of Delta arteries on a hot (HOT) summer day, and I’m revisiting the sun-baked glimpses of a small town steeped in art and dust and most of all, the blues. I’ve already shared about our visit to Delta Blues Museum and the iconic Ground Zero Blues Club, but most of our adventures also include at least a little dawdling over downtown streets and the search for whatever street art we can find. So, today’s archive is a glimpse of painted Clarksdale.
Read More →Happy Halloween! Around here, we tend to merge our excitement for fall together with Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations that celebrate this long-awaited time of year. Cooler days, rustling leaves, bluer skies, pumpkins, and the smell of warm spices… the changing season settles in to our hearts and to our home. Even though our favorite activities for Halloween are changing, we never seem to outgrow the comfort that comes from pulling out our decorations, remembering favorite things, and creating a cozier feel in our rooms. On this day of spooks, I thought I’d share a glimpse of our Halloween in the house, and with it, a glimpse of my heart in yet another season of change.
Read More →Well, fall has officially arrived, and although the weather isn’t cooperating yet (at least in Mississippi), October has captured my attention — if only in wishful thinking. We may be sweating outside still, but around the Pond, my crew and I are undeterred in our excitement for all things autumn. This month is always like a new year, of sorts, for me, because it’s my birthday month — and 2019 is a momentous one! In keeping with our wishful thinking about fall, I’m sharing the art above as a free print. Just click it to download. I’ve also included a variation of it in my October calendar download. Plus, I’m giving you a peek at my newest print in the shop — an Autumn Field Guide!
Read More →Hello & welcome! I’m Haley Montgomery, and I’m the designer and owner of Small Pond Graphics. I sometimes fancy myself a frog kisser— a documentarian coaxing poignant moments from unexpected places. This blog has evolved from those moments.
The small Pond FIELD GUIDE is part diary, part sketchbook, and part wish list – an archive of ordinary wonders. For years, this space has housed my stories – creative ideas, vintage inspiration, our forays into curious places, and the simple artifacts of quiet of conscious living. Through watercolor, photography, and illustrated tales, these pages uncover the blessing of ordinary days and the wonder found in authentic places and pursuits.
I invite you to open the boxes.
Peek into the drawers.
Rustle through the pages.
I’m honored to have you here.
© Haley Montgomery for Small Pond Graphics.
All rights reserved.
Sharing of photos and images from this site is acceptable, provided that proper crediting links are included. No downloadable content may be distributed without written permission. All art is a gift forward. Please support designers, creators and makers everywhere by respecting copyright ownership of creative property.
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