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THE ISLAND OCTOPUS BLOG

May News

5/2/2025

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Our only event this month is Fort Myers Art Walk  - view all upcoming events on our Local Events page.

During May, we will be working on some summer art projects and a drawing challenge!

On Patreon this month, we will be discussing one of our book projects, our current art projects, and releasing a new glitter sticker design.

Photo above: seahorse and conch shells 
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April News

4/4/2025

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Our event this month include a Sip and Shop at Coastal Dayz Brewery, the Sanibel Community House Arts & Crafts Fair, and a painting event at Sanibel Library - view the list on our Local Events page.

During April, we will be brainstorming some upcoming art projects and releasing the Cat Coloring Book!

On Patreon this month, we will be discussing one of our book projects, our current art projects, and releasing a new sticker design.

Photo above: a painted leaf plant on Sanibel.
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March News

3/10/2025

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Our event this month include the Sanibel Shell Festival, a Zine Fest, and the Sanibel Community House Arts & Crafts Fair - view the list on our Local Events page.

During March, we will be wrapping up a new coloring book project and creating some springtime art.

On Patreon this month, we will be discussing one of our book projects, our current art projects, and releasing a new sticker designs.

Photo above: a recent photo of a shell flower display at the Sanibel Shell Festival this past weekend.
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February News

2/2/2025

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Heron on Sanibel Island
Our event this month include Art Walk, the Sanibel Community House Arts & Crafts Fair, and a drawing event at Sanibel Library - view the list on our Local Events page.

During February, we will be continuing several art projects featuring shells and cephalopods, and wrapping up a new coloring book project.

On Patreon this month, we will be discussing one of our book projects, our current art projects, and releasing 2 new sticker designs.

Photo above: a recent photo from Sanibel Island
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Shell Feature: Apple Murex

1/31/2025

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Apple Murex Shells
Apple murex shells are large sea snails found in Florida. They feature lacy vertical stripes and ridges and one large round opening. This is a fairly common find on Southwest Florida beaches, and often when I find one, I find many of them. The apple murex is one of 6 murex species found here.
Scientific name of the Apple Murex: Phyllonotus pomum
Coloring: brown and white stripes, sometimes featuring pink, orange, purple and reddish-brown hues.
Size: up to about 5 inches
​Apple murex live in coral reefs, mangroves, shell beds, rock and sand. They are carnivorous gastropods, drilling holes in bivalves.


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January News

1/5/2025

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Our event this month includes the Sanibel Community House Arts & Crafts Fair - view the list on our Local Events page.

During January, we will be discussing our artwork plans for the upcoming year as well as creating some new art for the Shell Festival in March. 

On Patreon this month, we will be discussing one of our book projects, our current art projects, and releasing a new sticker design.

Photo above: a recent illustration by Melissa
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Shell Feature: Florida Horse Conch

11/30/2024

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Florida horse conch shells
The Florida horse conch, also know as the giant horse conch, is the largest snail in the United States. They are the state shell of Florida. Horse conchs contain a large opening which has been used as a drinking vessel and for holding other liquids in the past. They are known for their pronounced spiral tips and are popular with shell hunters and collectors alike. Due to the juveniles bright colors, they are easier to spot amongst other shells as they roll in with the tide. These shells can be found around the beaches of Sanibel and other local barrier islands.
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Scientific name of the Florida Horse Conch: Triplofusus giganteus
Coloring: adults range from off white, tan to dark brown while juveniles may be vivid colors ranging from yellow, golden and bright orange.
Size: up to about 24 inches long. The juveniles in the photo are under one inch in length.
Florida horse conchs are found along the coasts of the North Carolina down to the Yucatán in the Gulf of Mexico.
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November News

11/7/2024

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Our events this month include the a card painting class at the Sanibel Library and the Sanibel Community House Arts & Crafts Fair - view the list on our Local Events page.

During November we will be sharing holiday-themed illustrations and gift ideas on social media. Several new holiday card designs are now available in the shop! View the New Arrivals.

On Patreon this month, we will be releasing some digital coloring pages from our upcoming coloring books, and a new sticker design.

Photo above: a spoonbill in flight.
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October News

10/5/2024

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Our events this month include the First Friday Art Walk in downtown Fort Myers, Fall Festival at Edison Ford Winter Estates, and the Sanibel Community House Arts & Crafts Fair - view the list on our Local Events page.

During October we will be sharing illustrations for the Drawtober art challenge. Follow our Instagram page to see! Melissa is also working on some cephalopod illustrations that will be shared later in the year. Our new holiday card designs are now available in the shop as a presale until October 18th. View the New Arrivals.

On Patreon this month, we will be releasing some digital coloring pages from our upcoming coloring books, and a new sticker design.

Photo above: tiny frog on Sanibel.
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September News

9/3/2024

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Our events this month include the First Friday Art Walk in downtown Fort Myers, and a painting event at the Sanibel Library - view the list on our Local Events page.

During the summer months we have been focussing on creating new artwork for Halloween, the winter holidays, and some fun cephalopods! We look forward to sharing a variety of new items during the upcoming season. Some hand-painted Halloween ornaments are now available in the shop!

On Patreon this month, we will be releasing some digital coloring pages from our upcoming coloring books. We will also be releasing two new sticker designs.

Photo above:  a rather large shell we recently found on Sanibel.
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