 Check out our July events, both in-store and throughout Fort Myers! This Friday we will be hosting local photographer Bob Mayes in the shop, and we will also be at the Estero Farmers Market at Miromar Outlets.
Follow our journey on Patreon! On our page this month, we will be sharing a crab coloring page, in-progress artwork and incense, and a Halloween and Christmas Card art preview.
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 The Summer Solstice is the day with the longest period of sunlight. In the northern hemisphere the Summer Solstice usually falls on June 20, 21, or 22. In 2022, it is on June 21. Continue reading for some fun ways to celebrate this time of year! Check out our Pinterest board for other related recipes and tutorials. Crafts & activities:
Decorations and accents:
Food to make and enjoy:
Scents:
 Summer Solstice incense recipe:
Ingredients:
Directions: Grind all dry ingredients with zested lemon peel in a mortar and pestle. Add a small amount of honey and mix. Dammar and other citrus or spices may be used as replacements if desired. Smolder on top of a hot hookah charcoal. Feel free to experiment and use different ingredients as necessary. Any white or golden copal or dammar will do. Benzoin is for the sweet notes, which you can also get from vanilla. Cinnamon or clove can be used in place of allspice. And your favorite citrus peel can be used in place of lemon. The sandalwood is not necessary, but having some powdered wood helps with the consistency of the mix.  THE ISLAND OCTOPUS TO HOST MEET A MERMAID EVENT
Where: The Island Octopus at Bell Tower Shops, 13499 S. Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33907. The Island Octopus is located in suite 107, next to Ice Spot and near Dave and Busters. When: Saturday June 18, 1-3PM EST Details: Meet Mermaid Maggie at this free event for families. Mermaid Maggie will be teaching us about the animals that make sea shells, singing, and providing eco-friendly glitter tattoos. She will also be talking about some of the jewelry she makes from Sanibel seashells. In addition, a mermaid-themed coloring page table will be set up for children. Families are invited to stop by and meet Mermaid Maggie, take a photo, and learn more about our ocean. This is a free event. About The Island Octopus: The Island Octopus was created by husband-wife team Matt and Melissa Gindling. Our store in Bell Tower (Fort Myers, Florida) features Matt & Melissa's aquatic and beachy artwork, shirts, tote bags, prints, cards & postcards, coloring books, and other beach gifts. You can also find a selection of artwork by a few other local SW Florida artists. While you are visiting, strike a pose and take a selfie by our Fort Myers art wall, and pick out one of our free coloring pages. Learn more at IslandOctopus.com. About Mermaid Maggie: Mermaid Maggie brings smiles and magic to people of all ages while advocating for ocean conservation and an eco-friendly future. She hosts birthday parties and other events, inspiring people of all ages through interactive songs, storytelling, and games. Learn more at EnchantedPartyTime.com.  We have lots of new arrivals in the shop this month, including the Dog Bakery series, Fort Myers manatee mug, several new illustrations, Neptunian Frankincense and Sea-Kissed Myrrh! Check out all the new arrivals here.
We have a lot of events planned for June, both in-store and throughout Fort Myers and Sanibel! Check out all of the events here. Follow our journey on Patreon! On our page this month, we will be sharing a sunflower coloring page, in-progress artwork, and a sea turtle digital download.  Join The Island Octopus for our Can't Wait for Summer Party! This event will take place in our store at 13499 S Cleveland Ave, Suite 107, Fort Myers, FL, as well as online in our Facebook group! Guests can sign up for our email newsletter for a reminder and a virtual goody bag!
In-store activities will include: goody bag for first 24 guests, refreshments, a summer selfie contest, coupon, and shopping! Virtual activities will include games, contests, and activities, coupons, as well as some freebies! The virtual components of this event can be viewed on our email newsletter, on our website, and in our Facebook group! Learn more about this event here!  We have lots of new arrivals in the shop this month, including Island Nag Champa Incense and Fragrance, cards, and magnets! Check out all the new arrivals here.
We have a lot of events planned for May, both in-store and throughout Fort Myers! We are also planning a "Can't Wait for Summer Party" for the end of May, which will have a virtual component. Check out all of the events here. Follow our journey on Patreon! On our page this month, we will be sharing a seashell coloring page, in-progress artwork, and early access to some new products! Photo above: A shorebird on Sanibel Island.  Our new shop is now open in Fort Myers! Learn more about the location, and check out the news article about our opening here.
We are still working on photographing and adding some of our new products to the online store. This week, our can coolers will be added, as well as some more cards. We also hope to release a new incense and perfume blend this month! Check out all the new arrivals here. Melissa's next art show will be Saturday April 9, from 9AM-2PM at the Sanibel Community House! Join us for a variety of original art, shell and other crafts, jewelry, baked goods, cards, and more at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957. Melissa will have a selection of her original artwork, prints, and cards available. Follow our journey on Patreon! On our page this month, we will be sharing a bird-themed coloring page, photos of the storefront, some studio shots, as well as a discussion of The Island Octopus Press and incense commissions. Photo above: Mermaid's Dawn postcard by Matthew Gindling  The Island Octopus is excited to release a new Animals of Sanibel Coloring Book this week! Consisting of 34 fun animal illustrations, this book features some of the critters you might find while visiting Sanibel Island, Florida. The coloring book is now available in our online shop, and will also be available in our Bell Tower (Fort Myers, FL) retail space at our grand opening on March 11! The Animals of Sanibel Coloring Book was illustrated by Melissa Rohr Gindling, and features many of the iconic animals found on Sanibel, including the brown pelican, manatee, marsh rabbit, roseate spoonbill, gopher tortoise, Sanibel Island rice rat, junonia snail, and more. This is Melissa's 12th coloring book release. Learn more about The Island Octopus, or join our newsletter!   We're super excited to announce our grand opening at Bell Tower will be this Friday, March 11! Learn more about the grand opening festivities on our event page. And if you can't make it in person, sign up for our newsletter for a special offer later this week!
We will be releasing lots of new products in our retail store this week, including the Animals of Sanibel Coloring Book, new t-shirt and tank designs, cards, can coolers, stickers, prints, postcards, and original artwork! We will also be adding these products to the online store (although it may take us a little extra time as we focus on our grand opening). Take a peek at the event page for lots of other fun local events coming up this month! Our next art show will be Sunday March 20, from 9AM-2PM at the Sanibel Community House! Join us for a variety of original art, shell and other crafts, jewelry, baked goods, cards, and more at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957. Melissa will have a selection of her original artwork, prints, and cards available! Follow our journey on Patreon! On our page this month, we will be sharing a gnome coloring page, behind-the-scenes photos of our retail space, a digital download, and more.  Find them in our shop here : The Island Octopus Incensarium Mermaid’s Dawn was originally created under the banner of Ethereal Aroma’s Incense Company in 2018. While there was only one edition of this particular blend, it became one of the most popular and well received. When Melissa and I decided to create a new LLC and house our artistic endeavors under one roof, there were a handful of blends I wished to carry over and brand as standard house blends. Mermaid’s Dawn was one of these, and the upcoming Island Nag Champa (which is a combining of Nag Champa Mediations and Hawaiian Nag Champa) is another. More names will be announced when the time is right.
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© 2023 THE ISLAND OCTOPUS™, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. TERMS & PRIVACY.
DESIGNED IN FORT MYERS, FLORIDA
© 2023 THE ISLAND OCTOPUS™, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. TERMS & PRIVACY.
DESIGNED IN FORT MYERS, FLORIDA