Artist: Alyssa Ruggieri

 Alyssa Ruggieri a Cape Cod-based artist behind ALR Designs, a watercolor studio inspired by coastal beauty, wildflowers, and whimsical sea life. A lifelong creative raised in Barnstable, she creates original paintings, prints, cards, and hand-painted accessories that blend serenity, joy, and whimsical charm. Best known for her soft watercolor landscapes, cheerful sea creatures, and signature hydrangea pieces, Alyssa’s work celebrates the natural beauty of Cape Cod and the world around her. She aims to spark joy and connection through every piece.

Harold & the Mermaid Garden

The tail of Harold and the mermaid garden. A piece created in acrylic to capture the whimsical charm of life on the coast.

Off the coast of Chatham lives Harold, a thoughtful whale in a fisherman’s sweater he found in a lobster trap. He hums sea shanties through his spout and keeps watch over the harbor as he searches for treasures left behind from visitors.

On the other side of the sea, hidden just below the waves, blooms the Mermaid Garden — a dreamy underwater sanctuary filled with periwinkle hydrangeas, seaweed blossoms, enchanted lighthouses and blooms that grow the size of ..a whale.

Together, they tell a whimsical tale of Cape Cod’s quiet magic — where sea creatures wear sweaters, and gardens bloom beneath the tide.