Dear Swift Waters Board,
Thank you for considering me to join the cooperative. I would be very excited to become part of the community, contribute my time, and share my artwork which is inspired by Scottish and Celtic culture and nature, and my interests in nature-based spirituality.
Below are photos and descriptions of the pieces I currently have ready for sale, and I have lots of ideas for the future both for smaller, giftable things like coasters, dish towels, gift cards, and t-shirts as well as larger wall art pieces, like the stag at the bottom of the page which is currently in progress.
I make art under the name of the nonprofit I set up after the 2024 election—Rebel Heifer— which is a registered 501(c)(3) charity. I did that because I wanted to make a commitment to using my art to raise awareness about issues I care about, particularly protecting women, children, marginalized groups, and the natural world. As part of that, I have committed to donating at least 20% of every sale to charities doing grassroots work here in the U.S. to address those issues. I believe also that local sales should be used to support local charities, so any sales through local channels will result in donations to local charities like WAIM, and the Neighbor Fund, chosen based on their relevance to particular pieces, and current needs, which I would make clear on the displays.
Thank you again for your consideration,
Best wishes
Sarah
Cat and Bird/Ball tote bags - $18 to $30
Handprinted linocut block printed 100% cotton
I currently make two kinds of tote bags, both of which are 100% cotton and block printed by hand but which have different features.
The standard tote bag shown here with the Cat and Bird design is handmade from 100% duck cotton and costs $18.
The second bag, Pounce Pending, is $30. It’s made from more durable cotton canvas, has a full zipper and an interior zippered pocket, and the yarn ball is hand embroidered.
I love the idea of block printed animals interacting with elements on the bag, so again I anticipate variations on this theme in the near future!
Cat and Bird - $45
Framed, handprinted linocut block print on paper, 18 x 12”
The Cat and Bird design is also available as handprinted and framed wall art. It’s pictured here in a 16 x 20” frame but I will be be printing it at 18 x 12” for sale.
The World is Full of Magic Things - $65
Limited edition, hand embellished giclee prints, 11 x 14” (16 x 20” with frame)
I originally created this as a digital illustration based on a Yeats quote that I love and decided to create a limited edition print run, of which there will only ever be 25. Each print is on archival paper and is hand embellished with genuine silver leaf which is then sealed to prevent tarnishing. Click on the images to expand them to see the silver gleam a little better!
The prints themselves are 11 x 14” and are sold in a matted 16 x 20” frame.
Set of 4 Moon Phase Coasters - $15
Solid walnut and maple, backer with cork, 4 x 4”
These coasters are made from solid walnut and maple, and show the four main phases of the moon: new, waxing, full, and waning. They are hand cut on a scroll saw, finished with three coats of polycrylic to resist water, and backed with cork.
I have plans for more coaster designs, such as including gilding between the moon segments and around the edge, and for sets featuring different animals like foxes.
Tree of Life - $225
Solid wood intarsia, various species, 12 x 12”
Intarsia is a technique used in woodworking (and knitting!) that involves fitting different colors or pieces together to form a single, unified image or pattern—like a mosaic or stained glass made of wood.
Intarsia involves cutting, shaping, and fitting together individual pieces of wood to create a detailed picture with depth and dimension. I use many species of wood in each piece, each chosen for its natural color and grain, which I cut out by hand using a Pegas scroll saw, contour with a Marathon rotary tool (like a Dremel), sand and finish with varnish or lacquer, then finally glue onto a backing board and frame.
The Tree of Life piece is 12 x 12”, mounted on hard maple, and set in a handmade, solid walnut frame. I have been making these individually for people, incorporating initials into the heart in the roots for special occasions, and this specific example is a commission that includes various exotic species. However, I’ve now designed a standard version to sell that uses primarily domestic species—walnut, maple, cherry, poplar and oak— with the exception of the apples, which are blood wood.
The Tree of Life pictured here was just awarded the People’s Choice Award in the 2025 Mansfield Juried Art Show (which my Catriona won last year!)
Athena Rising - $175
Framed watercolor, ink, and gold leaf on canvas panel, 16 x 20”
Athena Rising was originally a digital drawing and with this painting I really wanted to challenge myself with new media and techniques and bring it into the physical world. The design is inspired by the goddess Athena, who is often associated with owls, and who symbolizes wisdom, justice, and protection. With this particular design I wanted to raise awareness about the need for commonsense gun restrictions to prevent child gun deaths and school shootings, so 50% of the purchase price of this painting will be donated to Sandy Hook Promise, a charity devoted to preventing school shootings like the one that claimed the lives of 20 first grade children and six educators in 2012, and so many more since.
This piece is also currently being displayed in the 2025 Mansfield Juried Art Show.
Large scale intarsia red stag - in progress, 24 x 36”
I’m currently working (slowly) on this large scale intarsia rendering of a red stag, the species of deer that is native to Scotland. It has almost 200 pieces and is made from a long list of wood species including blood wood, mahogany, black limba, tiger wood, poplar, rosewood and lots of others, and I might use glass for the sky but I’m not totally sure yet!
When it is finished it will be priced quite high (around $1000 I think) due to the cost of materials and the time and skill required to make it, but there is still a little more cutting to go and a lot of texturing and shaping before I get to that point. I just thought you might like to see what else I’m working on :)
You can also see some of other things I have made in the past in the gallery, and find some information about my process here.