The Fox & Thistle Liminal - Harvest Moon - September 21, 2025

Fifth Issue
Drops with each New Moon
published in concert with our Fortnight Calendar
WWW.FOXANDTHISTLE.STUDIO

Look Out For:

Ripe apples, late pears, persimmons,
pawpaws, cranberries, ripening pumpkins, gourds,
squash, turnips, sweet potatoes, fennel, rosemary, mums,
goldenrod fading, asters, maple tips aflame, browning oak
leaves, monarchs on the move, woolly bear caterpillars, crows
gathering, owls calling earlier, field crickets, garden spiders
at their largest, deer in rut, chipmunks busy, wood smoke
rising, chilly nights, brisk mornings, & the bright
crackle of turning leaves!

Look Up For:

The Harvest Moon cycle begins September 21,
to carry us across the threshold of the equinox. On
September 21, day and night stand in balance, and
shadow stretches faster with each passing day.
On October 6, the full Harvest Moon rises as a
Supermoon, glowing larger and brighter in the early
evening sky. Through early October, the Draconid
Meteors flicker after dusk, and by mid-month Orion
climbs higher in the east, a herald of colder nights and
coming year.

The Harvest Moon Cycle

New Moon: 9/21
1st Quarter: 9/29
Full Moon: 10/06
3rd Quarter: 10/13
Next: Hunter Moon: 10/21

The Fox & Thistle Liminal

A Monthly Creative Almanac Weaving Together Art, Expression, and Reflections

Inside This Issue:

Tossing Shade on the Wall • Arabic Calligraphy • Chinese Cosmology • A Wine Journey
Down the Rhine • The Spirits of Leisure • Self-Discovery Through Masquerade •
Mirror Games • Pumpkin & Spice • The Untold Parable of the Buddha with a Lame Foot

Earlier this month, we did a Q&A with Sarah Swartz over at THE PAPER NERD about our
Fortnight Calendar and Offhand Cards. It prompted a few stories about our inspiration
and process, and we’re thrilled with how it turned out. See her article for the full story
and while you’re there, check out a few nerdy delights in stationery and design trends.

Read the article >>> thepapernerd.com/reimagining-the-calendar/

Scrabble & Shade — Because Sometimes Things Need to be Spelled Out

Relationships suck. Getting in. Staying in. Getting out. Sometimes we catch a glimpse of light & realize the grass is greener on the other side. How does one give fair warning to long term partners and potential suitors alike? How to scare off the weak, alert the faint of heart, and confound the feeble-minded... all at once?

SCRABBLE & SHADE is a collection of framed words that say what others only think. Each piece delivers honesty with style, if with perhaps a little shadow— after all, the brighter the light, the darker the shade.

$85 Each
Free Shipping

Each work is crafted in a reclaimed frame, chosen for its character, and helping to create a sustainable, one-of-a-kind artwork. There are slight variations in size, but each is approximately 9”x7”.

To see the full collection go to: foxandthistle.studio/pages/scrabble-and-shade

Hothouse Flowers

Recent Highlights from our Vintage Bazaar

foxandthistle.studio/pages/vintagegoods

Vintage Framed Arabic Calligraphy Print: The Lord's Prayer

$65 Free Shipping

This framed 11”x11” print features the Lord’s Prayer in Arabic calligraphy, titled "Al-Salat Al-Rabbaniyah" at the bottom right, with "Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim" (The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful) at the center, encircled by the full text from Matthew 6:9-13.

foxandthistle.studio/products/the-lords-prayer-in-arabic

Red-Clay Relief Wall Art: Tortoise & Serpent Motif

$90 Free Shipping

This hand-carved 7”x7” terracotta tile depicts the timeless pairing of tortoise and serpent. In Chinese cosmology, this image is known as the Black Tortoise of the North (Xuanwu)—one of the four Symbols guarding the heavens. Unlike the singular guardians of the other cardinal directions—  dragon, bird, and tiger, the Black Tortoise is shown as a tortoise entwined with a snake, representing endurance, longevity, and protection.

foxandthistle.studio/products/red-clay-relief-tortoise-serpent

Angelo Tsakiris Greek Ceramic Tile Art – Lady with Dove

$85 Free Shipping

Holding a dove symbolizes peace, gentleness, and hope. It also suggest the fragility of innocence and the responsibility of protecting something pure.

Angelo Tsakiris (1934-2006) was a Greek ceramist and painter trained at the Doxiadis School. His 40-year career produced iconic tiles drawing from ancient myths, often in classical styles with intricate details.

foxandthistle.studio/products/red-clay-relief-tortoise-serpent

Vintage German Weinreise Glasses – Gold-Rimmed, 3 fl oz

$45 Free Shipping

Embark on a charming wine journey through Germany with this set of tasting glasses by Ruhrglas. Each holds about 3 fl oz (90 mL), slightly larger than a shot glass. They features delicate white frosted illustrations of iconic towns, castles, and UNESCO World Heritage site views from Germany’s Rhine and Nahe regions, edged with a subtle gold rim. Slight differences in height give each piece a little character while maintaining a cohesive set.

foxandthistle.studio/products/vintage-german-weinreise-glasses

Bourbon Barrel Stave Hammock

$425 – Delivery available around Hampton Roads, VA

Built from 26 reclaimed white oak bourbon barrel staves, this hammock is threaded with steel cable and spaced with irrigation hose, then sanded and sealed. About 3’ wide and needing at least 14’ of hanging space between posts, it’s incredibly sturdy—and remarkably comfortable.

Once destined to age the spirits of whiskey, the staves now support the spirit of leisure, blending history, charm, and function. Whether stretched out under open sky or tucked in shade, it embodies the sustainable, upcycled spirit Fox & Thistle Studio takes pride in.

foxandthistle.studio/products/bourbon-barrel-hammock

Coming October 1st >>> Illustrated Masquerade Masks

$55 Each
Free Shipping

Individually hand-drawn and inked by Fox & Thistle Studio, these paper masks offer a
nuanced exploration of persona and disguise. Across the ages, cultures have come and gone believing that wearing a mask could reveal hidden aspects of the self.

Sometimes the face we show the world isn’t the one we see in the mirror... and it isn’t always by choice.

Double Chin

By Richard W. Saunders

i know not what i look like,
when i’m looking in.
it’s always the other side of me
that’s staring back again.

when i’m working out a lot
and trying to get thin,
i’m beginning from the fat place
to work my way back in.

no matter how much weight i lose
beneath my roll-y chin,
i can only see the jiggle,
staring back again.

then one day it hits me,
and i realize with a grin,
the plumpness is all over now;
i’m back to trim again!

for i am slim and i am spry,
my old clothes fit again.
they slip right on, i’m looking good,
as if it’s always been.

then i begin my wobble,
having pizza, cake, and gin,
but i’m blind and unaware,
the tide has turned again.

eating more and running less,
more and more i binge.
putting on my socks is tough,
i’m out of breath again.

and in denial i smile and strut,
a big guy on the mend.
always the other side of me
—that’s looking back again.

We invite minstrels & musicians to freely weave our verses into melodies—and to please share if they do.

Find this and other original poems at: foxandthistle.studio/pages/verses

Kettle & Crumb

Simple, seasonal recipes — tried & true, from Fox & Thistle’s kitchen.

Preparations to Bid Adieu to Late Summer & Welcome in Early Autumn

Hot Pepper Vinegar

Prep 5 min
Serve Throughout the Year

Infused with lively hot peppers, this vinegar brings heat—and a little oomph, oomph, pa-do! A spirited staple for anyone who believes a touch of spice makes everything right.

a 6 ounce lidded bottle • fresh cayenne (or tabasco) peppers • white vinegar

Wash peppers and slip in as many as you can fit into the bottle. Fill with white vinegar.

Store in a cool, dry place. (Ready in about 3 months. Top off with vinegar as it is used.
Store best in the fridge while not in use.)

Delicious on cooked kale, cabbage, or collards. Livens any dish up that calls for a little vinegar.

These make terrific gifts for the Holidays!

Pumpkin Muffins

Prep 20 min
Cook 20-25 min
Makes About 30 Muffins

Pumpkin, spice, and everything nice — moist, aromatic, and golden-delicious.

1 (14 oz) can of raw pumpkin • 3 ½ c. all purpose flour • 3 c. sugar • 4 eggs • 1/2 c. oil • 1/2 c. applesauce • 2 tsp. cinnamon • 2 tsp. baking soda • 1 tsp. salt

Combine all ingredients and pour into greased muffin pan. Bake at 350 degrees until
toothpick inserted comes out clean. (1/2 tsp. of allspice or nutmeg is a delicious addition!)

1 hour for 3 loaf pans or 1 hour and 15 min for a bundt pan

Fox & Thistle Studio now has a dedicated page for customer reviews.

Most of our reviews are 5 STARS ★★★★★
We do our best to keep customers happy, however...
sometimes things don’t go as well as we’d like:

“Unfortunately this item was so badly packed that it was broken
(Foot broken off) prior to delivery.” – Shelly ★★

WHAT WERE WE TO DO?

The customer received a full refund, a hearty apology, and simple
instructions on how to fix their free woodcarving. In the words of
the Buddha: “It is better to travel well than to arrive.”

To see more of our reviews go to: foxandthistle.studio/pages/customer-reviews

Sign up to receive this newsletter, The Liminal, to your email inbox on the NEW MOON of each month.

Go to www.foxandthistle.studio to stay tuned!

WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK! Is there a part of The Liminal that resonated with you? Or perhaps that missed

the mark? Do you have a suggestion for a new section? As we embark on this creative journey, we are constantly tweaking, rearranging, adding, and refining our content. We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Fox & Thistle Studio seamlessly blends curiosity, creativity, and sustainability. Rooted in the idea that simplicity speaks volumes, our essence is embodied in the paradoxical, insightful, and endlessly playful nature of finding and creating.

The Fox & Thistle Liminal – is a PRODUCTION OF griefNgravy PRESS

contact@foxandthistle.studio

THE LIMINAL - Harvest Moon Cycle - Sept 21, 2025