carving

starting with a carving and ending up as cards

The sticks and stones project

Well, I'm not sure if my other project (lily aimes) wasn't working, or it just morphed into this... So for now-- my inspiration is sticks and stones and here is what I've done so far (and some pics of stones too!)

summary....

HI everyone- just a summary of what is and has been going on -cousin's wedding next weekend- yeah for Allison! -NY stationery show preparations- so many ideas I just am taking so much more than I was planning- giving myself more work! -my mom had her cancer move to her hip (from breast cancer 13 years ago)- so any well wishes/prayers/loving thoughts that can be sent her way is greatly appreciated! -with my mom in pain it means Eli (best friend) is (hopefully) going to the NY show to help me for a couple of days...thank you, EL!! -oh yeah, then my wonderful rep in CA needed any new holiday cards because she had some accounts requesting holiday (holiday!) ordering- so of course I came up with a bunch of winter/xmas cards in a matter of days. -now six hundred dollars of wholesale orders supposed to go out on tuesday and I have barely started them.... WHEW!!!! Here are a couple of pics of new cards and my booth- I set up the whole thing in my studio so I will be somewhat organized! Is anyone out there going to be at the show? Wanna meet up? email me! back to work----take care everyone!! xox

My busy weekend

I did a ton of printing and sewing this weekend! Also did more to get my booth ready for The National Stationery Show. I decided to organize my booth by seasons- as that's how I think of the art as I make it- of course lots of things cross over- but if a pommegranate is ripe in the winter time shoudn't it be under the winter category- of course! I printed in greys this weekend- I learned that it's easiest to print by color, I know, it seems obvious, but I didn't always do it that way. OH and check out the first button I ever "made" - Probably most people know about the little blank buttons you buy at the yardage shop, then cover with your own fabric- but this was my first time. I really think it's cute- I used the center of one of my sunflower fabric prints so it looks polkadotted- It's very exciting- you should try it! I am drawn to cups lately- and so I seem to see them everywhere- check out these cups from artist Anji Allen and also the great coffee cup from A Little Hut. I took a picture envisioning my cup fabric as an apron, and I made ONE coaster- since it wasn't real "work" I couldn't take the time to make more.... I am a very difficult boss!! You can look on my flickr page for more pics! Better get back to work befor I get fired!

Life on a Farm

Well I do live on a farm, but these recent blockprints are not MY farm! I don't actually plan on having a rooster- I just want chickens and the coveted fresh eggs. And our barn? well it's beautiful, but just a little leaning at the moment. These latest blockprints are possibly for some upcoming fabric, or perhaps some stuffed sachet/tags....or I don't know, what do you think? I have drawings for another barn and a silo. So I thought barns with a Giant rooster all in red would be so cute. Oh-- the cups are going through the same process of figuring out what they want to be when they grow up.

New Work

I have been working on some new silkscreen patterns based on my blockprints and drawings- I am really happy with the ferns and the mushrooms- I think I'll print the mushrooms in grey too- still working on perfecting my silkscreening skills.... I've also been coming up with new card designs- really inspired by the little hoot owls- I like that you can use a card like that for almost any occasion!

valentine's day!!

As you all know... my birthday is the day after valentine's day, which is why I think I've always loved valentine's day as a holiday. It's like a two day holiday for love and me, or love OF me!! I'm not one of those unfortunate people who have their birthdays near Christmas and end up getting "joint" presents- one present. For me growing up, I had heart-themed parties: heart-shaped cakes and red plates and pink and red hearted napkins- what could be better for a little girl? And now- well maybe it hasn't changed much- just the quality of chocolate has gotten better!! The saddest birthday in my adult life was one where I took the day off of work (as I usually do), but no one else did, so I spent the day by myself. But to make things happy for me I decorated the whole house in cut out paper hearts and crepe paper streamers!! It turned out happy after all. So Happy Valentine's Everybody-and Happy My Birthday to you too!!!

Varied Thrush

So what am I doing up so late (9:00!!) well, finally finishing my artwork for Art From the Heart- an auction I donate to every year. It's for the Sonoma State University Gallery, where I went to college, so it's a good cause AND I get a free t-shirt (or rather Rick does). So here below you see it finished. A blockprint colored with watercolor and some stencil and printmaking ink too. on a 5"x5" ampersand clayboard deep cradle panel. What do you think? ( I always do something with a bird and a heart). Call the gallery if you want to bid for it! And the other is the second in my slowly-developing new card series (you may remember the pinecone?). I think it's pretty cute. But kind of sad, as it's a tribute to a lovely bird one of the cats got. Makes me just sick and so sorry. (it really does not happen too often, but when it does....) so this is it's tribute it will live on in the art world. and now, GOOD NIGHT!!!

cards going out

though I think rabbits are for any day- I think this order is for easter-yes I said easter! hard to believe, but just shows how early wholesale orders go out!