Our November image for The Dolphin Studio Calendar was created by Jamie! Jamie is seventeen years old and is a senior in high school. The design depicts one of her favorite foods…ramen!
For a few years now, Jamie has had a fascination with all things Japanese. She became very interested, almost obsessed, with reading Manga, or Japanese comics, from an early age. I was not aware of this book genre until Jamie brought me to her favorite bookstore where there are multiple aisles of Manga books. Through her exposure to Manga, Jamie grew a love of Anime, spending countless hours drawing her own Anime characters. As her interest in Manga and Anime blossomed, so did her love of Japanese culture and ramen! She has been preparing ramen for years now and has some special ingredients that she adds to her basic ramen recipe, one of which is hot sauce!
Let’s look at how ramen became such a “go-to” food for so many of us around the world. Ramen got its start in the 1800s in China, the birthplace of all things ramen, but then expanded to Japan as Chinese immigrants travelled there in the late 19th century. Although ramen became greatly enjoyed in both China and Japan soon after its introduction, it took a while for the ramen craze to hit America. In fact, it wasn’t until the early 1970s when a few food companies developed a ramen that was in a disposable cup that the food became more common, nor until 1976 that the first ramen restaurant opened in the United States in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo. And while Americans got a taste of ramen in the ‘70s, it really wasn’t until the early 2000s that the ramen boom in the United States began in earnest. Fast forward to today, and it’s now a fixture in American food culture.
So now you know a brief history of how ramen became a staple food for so many of us around the world!
TikTok Ramen Recipe
How to Make TikTok Ramen
TikTok Ramen Ingredients
Instant ramen – choose your favorite brand of instant ramen. The flavor doesn’t matter because you’re not going to use the seasoning packet. Our favorite noodles are Nong Shim Shin Ramyun, due to how thick they are.
Enjoy!
Sofia
Here they are! November 2024's screensavers ~ err WALLPAPER using our monthly Dolphin Studio calendar images to pretty-up your phone, desktop computer, laptop and/or tablet.
Hope you like them, download them and use them on all your devices...
There are two versions available:
The image accompanying this blog post (showing above) features our 2024 Dolphin Studio Calendar current month's image and last month's image BUT the image showing as NEXT month's image is from a few years back. You might have noticed that we don't feature upcoming calendar images in our marketing so that YOU, our beloved calendar customer/collector, are able to carry-out a popular monthly image reveal ritual...
If that sounds pretty awesome to you ~ keeping upcoming Dolphin Studio Calendar monthly images a surprise, best to stick to the vertical version of our monthly screensaver as the horizontal, 3-month-at-a-glance option includes NEXT month's Dolphin Studio Calendar image - for realz.
If you need help setting up your wallpaper or screensaver, here is a tutorial for iPhone users, here is a tutorial for Android users, and here is a tutorial for macbook users.
Happy October everyone! This month’s image was originally created by Primm in 1992. The image depicts the mighty oak tree with leaves and acorns adorning the circular “O” for the first letter of the month. While preparing to write this blog post, I had to do some research about the mighty oak. I was surprised to find out that the oak tree is one that has appeared in many cultures, religions and mythologies all around the world. Almost every faith has a version of the Tree of Life, from Christianity to Buddhism, Islam and more. The Tree of Life is prominent and symbolically meaningful in the Celtic tradition as well.
It is likely for these reasons that Primm chose the oak tree as this month’s image. As many of you know, Ireland is in our blood. John, myself, and my two sisters, Crispina and Felicitas, were all born in Ireland. As I read further about oaks in Celtic mythology, I found out that there are many ideologies that go along with the mighty oak. It was believed that the trees served a spiritual purpose and were the portal or gateway between this world and the next. Some believed that if one fell asleep under an oak tree that one might wake up in another world. I think that sounds like an adventure if there ever was one!
Oak trees aside, this month has a very special day at the end…Halloween! Did you know? Halloween originated in Ireland over 2000 years ago. For Irish pagans, the festival was originally called 'Samhain' (pronounced: sow-in), meaning 'end of summer'. During Samhain, the Celts wore costumes to disguise themselves and light bonfires as protection from evil spirits or fairies. So when you are out having some Halloween high-jinx, think about what it would have been like 2000 years ago.
And there’s your daily dose of trivia! Happy Oaktober to you all and of course a very Happy Halloween!
Be Well ~ Sofia
Whoa! Thank you to all our 2025 calendar customers.
We are excited to report that sales are literally off the charts, toppling our previous records and continuing to climb.
The Dolphin Studio family appreciates our your (our customers') support - it really is a blessing to share our family tradition with you.
Part of our family tradition is the option to pick up orders at our family homestead where The Dolphin Studio was born and where Sofia and her family live at 11 Main Street in Stockbridge, MA in the US.
In the years since John and Primm invited shoppers in to pick up their orders and have a cup of coffee, The Dolphin Studio has grown exponentially.
(YAY!)
Our pick-up location is the busy home where Sofia, Pat, Lily and Jamie live with their menagerie of pets. This 'non-shop' environment is surprising to new customers who sometimes find themselves wandering around the kitchen wondering if they are in the right place!
While it is fun for the family to greet those who show up to retrieve their orders when they’re home, it has become a little unwieldy, completely consuming the family mudroom.
Soooo.
We have scheduled the following days for 'pick-up in Stockbridge' orders.
Mark your calendars (ha!) and join the festivities at 11 Main Street in Stockbridge MA. where we will have your order packed and ready for pick-up.
Seasonal refeshments, good cheer and great company guaranteed! AND You can be first to see the newest Dolphin Studio products available to add to your order.
Additionally, Crispina will be set up with her latest upcycled textile home goods and clothing for sale too.
If you have marked your Dolphin Studio order 'pick-up in Stockbridge' at checkout and are unable pick up on the days we have scheduled, please let us know so we can invoice you for shipping and pop your order in the mail.
Each month we create FREE screensavers ~ err WALLPAPER using our monthly calendar images to pretty-up your phone, desktop computer, laptop and/or tablet.
There are two versions available - suitable for all of your electronic devices...
The image shown above features our 2024 Dolphin Studio Calendar current month's image, last month's image BUT the image showing as NEXT month's image is from a few years back.
If you want to keep your upcoming Dolphin Studio Calendar monthly image a surprise, best to stick to the vertical version of our monthly screensaver as the horizontal, 3-month at a glance option includes NEXT month's Dolphin Studio Calendar image.
If you need help setting up your wallpaper or screensaver, here is a tutorial for iPhone users, here is a tutorial for Android users, and here is a tutorial for macbook users.
Our first fundraiser for the Ben Paley Scholarship was AWESOME! Thank you to everyone who supported the effort by purchasing our Limited Edition Golden Cover 2025 Calendar. With your help we are able to donate $8976 to the fund!
AND
Direct donations during the month of August added $1150 to that so in total, you guys help add $10,126 to Ben’s Scholarship fund. This is INCREDIBLE! We are so grateful and excited to build the fund.
Now, part of the fun in the FUNdraiser was the fact that each Limited Edition Golden Cover 2025 Calendar purchased put the purchaser’s name ‘in the hat’ to win additional calendars for gifting. Three customers where chosen randomly on Sunday September 1, 2024.
Our first place winner is Eileen Prime in Manville Rhode Island - she won three calendars - Go Eileen!
Second place winner is Lynne Herndon of Wilmington North Carolina who gets 2 additional 2025 Dolphin Studio Calendars for her winnings.
Third Place goes to John Squarok who divides his time between Fort Lauderdale Florida and Cape Cod Massachusetts. John won an additional 2025 calendar.
It turns out that Eileen and I (Crispina here) met at Maine Fiber College back in 2018. That serendipitous meeting led us to realize many commonalities and have kept us connected since.
Lynne was so excited to share that her good friend Peg participated in my Snow Farm Potholder Rug retreat during which our winners were selected.
John is a new Dolphin Studio customer. Welcome to The Dolphin Studio Calendar family - John. We hope you become one of our clan of long term Dolphin Studio Calendar peeps who are customers/ friends/supporters.
This whole endeavor was super fun for us. - Really meaningful to have your help building Ben’s legacy. You can read more about him in this recent blog post.
AND
Keep your eyes peeled for what promises to be an annual fundraiser to support the Ben Paley Scholarship coming in July 2025 ~ Together we can build the scholarship to pay full tuition for a music student in our region with exemplary skill and financial need - in perpetuity.
AND, as Ben would say, Treat yourself lovingly.
When September comes here in the Berkshires, it is a time of transitions for many folks. School starts. Weather changes. There is a chill in the air, and daylight starts to dwindle. For those of us who want to stay healthy, we look for natural remedies to these transitions.
The image for September was originally designed by our sister, Felicitas, in 2004. As many of you know, Felicitas was diagnosed with MS in 1985 while living in California and attending UC Berkeley. Felicitas moved back to the Berkshires many years ago - due to the progression of her disease - and has been residing in a local nursing home for the past 19 years. While this may sound devastating, Felicitas is living her life in an establishment where the CNA’s and RN’s are used to having clients living in there for only a few years at the most. As a result of her prolonged stay, Felicitas has formed some very nice bonds with the staff, and many truly love her... AND when you ask her, Felicitas will tell you she is having the BEST year of her life!
The September print on the right is the one we printed for 2024 and the one on the left is from 2004!
When looking through past calendars to pick the vintage print to recreate for Felicitas, we found one of our favorites: the lemon and ginger print. I love the simplicity of this image, and know that both ginger and lemon are boosters for our immune system, in addition to many other health benefits! One especially palatable way to combine the two superfoods is in the form of a tea, which, in addition to boosting immunity, includes other benefits like: weight loss, heart health, pain relief, liver health, nasal decongestion, and indigestion relief. The list goes on and on!
Here is a simple recipe to follow to make some of this delicious tea:
Soothing Lemon Ginger Tea
Ingredients for 2 servings
4 cups water
1 lemon
1 pc of ginger, 2-3 inches
2 teaspoons honey or preferred sweetener
Preparation
3. Steep for 5-10 minutes
4. Strain and pour tea into mug
5. Add honey, stir and serve
6. Enjoy!
https://tasty.co/recipe/soothing-lemon-ginger-tea
When looking at the current calendar image, our dedicated fans who may have received a 2004 calendar might notice a slight change in the image. We added a lemon!
Here’s to staying healthy and strong in September and beyond!
Felicitas was all smiles when I last stopped in for a visit!
The Dolphin Studio is a family business - if you have been around a while, you probably already know that.
-
You might even have known Ben Paley, my son (Crispna here) and John and Primm’s eldest grandchild.
August has arrived with the wonderful blackberry image designed by our late father/ founder of The Dolphin Studio John ffrench is featured as this month's Dolphin Studio Calendar image.
The original print was part of the 1981 calendar. When we combed through past calendars searching for the perfect image to re-print, the blackberries jumped out at us. The design in 1981 was made on a pinky red paper and printed in blue and yellow (shown below). After this unusually hot July here in the Berkshires, I am sure that the blackberry harvest will be plentiful this August.
1981 vs. 2023
I have some blackberry fun facts for you…did you know that ~ Blackberries have the highest antioxidant content per serving of any food?
Did you know that the Blackberry, is in fact, not a berry but a fruit with each section being its own fruit?
Did you know that the Blackberry represents abundance and prosperity as they are plentiful and bountiful when in season?
And last but not least, Blackberries are a symbol of resilience and strength as they are known for their ability to grow and thrive in harsh conditions.
After all this information I thought you might like to make some Small Batch Blackberry jam! Here is a recipe for you to try out! Let us know how your jam comes out!
Small Batch Blackberry Jam
INGREDIENTS
1lb blackberry (around 3 cups)
1 1⁄4cups sugar
The Year of the Dragon
The Dolphin Studio Calendar image for July 2024 was drawn back in 1999 or maybe 2000 by Ben, my son and John and Primm’s eldest grandchild.
Ben was such a momentous focus of my life that it is hard for me to imagine that anyone out there could possibly not know that he died. July has been especially hard for me for what will be 5 years on the 30th..
Benjamin Lucas Paley died on July 30th 2019 having lived his life with restrictive Cardiomyopathy. He was added to the Heart/Lung transplant list the day before he died.
The other day I was hanging out with my friend who knew that my sweet boy Ben had died but didn’t know him and asked what had happened to him. It was a pleasure to tell his story The intensity of heartbreak that comes with watching the suffering and struggle of a person you love more than life itself, never dissipates.
Ouuh
That heartbreak makes me know that his leaving this realm allows him well-deserved relaxed comfort. I guess because of his precarious health, we were super close. I went to every Dr.’s appt with him and might have been the only person who knew that the most common symptom of his heart condition was sudden death. We had deep conversations and took in a lot of music together. Finally got him to a Dead show at Fenway in 2018.
Ben was funny as hell, politically vehement, determined and motivated. He graduated from Berklee School of Music and was a notable guitarist and bandleader in Boston, MA. playing regularly with The Silver Bullet Band. The Lost Collective, and Starship to Pluto were his most notable musical endeavors - I spent many an evening attending shows dancing my face off…
Since 2020 we have hosted a scholarship fund in Ben’s name and annually award a highschool senior from our region who plans to study music, leaning toward applicants navigating physical illness.
Later this month The Dolphin Studio will be kicking off a fundraiser to support the Ben Paley Scholarship. My dream is to build the fund to a place where it supports a 4-year music-focused education for someone with determined motivation and without financial means - in perpetuity.
Ben was way into dragons, and swords, and martial arts as a kid. I think he drew this picture when he was 8 or 9 and I think he was just about that age in the middle picture above. You can see the mischief on his face - which was ummm - Ben’s nature…
On the left is the image of me and Ben at The Bookstore in Lenox - Summer 2018. I keep this picture as a screensaver on my phone - so I can see him everyday.
Over here in our little woodland studio we have kicked off the 2024 summer season with a couple additions to our Print Team.
Today I’d like to introduce you to the first summer printer to rejoin our team this season, Malina Jackson.
We welcome Malina back for her second summer printing with The Dolphin Studio. She is a quick and eager learner. The knowledge and experience she gained in the last 12 months both in the studio with us, and at her first year in college where she dove into silkscreen printing in a different setting is a great asset to have in the mix this summer.
Malina is a dab hand at all tech related aspects of our process. She is helping
bring us up to date sharing her extensive knowledge of the platforms we use to get our drawings from paper to silkscreen.
She is an adventurer - loves to travel and loves kids, dogs, musicals and learning. We first met Malina when she came to the studio as an intern with the Horizons program at Miss Hall’s School in Pittsfield Ma.
Malina has just finished her first year at Tufts University where she is working on a degree in fine art, leaning toward book-making… which involves print-making - no surprise there!
As you can see, Malina is a great fit around here for so many reasons. Welcome back to the Dolphin Studio print shop family Malina. We are so glad to have you with us this summer.
(Top image shows Malina working on our November 2025 transparency. Bottom image is Malina, Lily and Kerry sporting our new uniforms!)
