wsps does it again

as you may (or may not) recall this time last year i got a very exciting gig working with the World's Smallest Postal Service (WSPS) for the Valentines Day rush. I was honored to be asked back this year and even more filled with joy when I saw the latest creation from Leafcutter Designs (artist extraordinaire Lea Redmond).

there is still time to order!! so if you are in the market for a unique, completely adorable, handmade original, artistic, and FUN gift for your valentine- may I suggest you get on it?

thanks for being so creative and sharing it with the world Lea!

happy one year anniversary blog

Has it really been a whole year since I dove into this blog?!?! I am still amazed that it's February, let alone 2010, let alone a year with this blog! So of course I am reflecting on what I have accomplished since then as I began writing about art and my post graduation procrastination. I admit that tons of wonderful creations have happened, although not in the ways that I expected-life never really works that way. Expectations never pan out the way the mind's eye envisions it.

But despite not having a new series to sit back and revel in (sarcasm), I am proud of is that I managed to make make make. That little sewing machine of mine enabled me to work in a small space and kept me connected to my creative process. Thanks little guy!

Of course I am also proud to have created a business with the hubby and craft shows with the ladies...events that led me to feeling inspired and stressed out, but oh so satisfied, because the alternative would waste my flavor. (the alternative being a job that leaves me uninspired)

With all that has transpired I am thankful, yet still hopeful that I will get back to painting. I have had some great ideas, none of which flourished past my sketchbook or my mind, such as the photos I was thinking of making and many others. The next phase is to do, because as my friend Lea said, " art is not a noun-it's a verb". That should not be too difficult with another craft show on the horizon;) deadlines make us move I tell you!

I am so sincerely grateful to have a great network of friends and family that support me and keep me inspired and that is enough because I am happy. this year has been productive and challenging and I could never do it alone. i have come to realize that community is life and art is living. wishing you all creative days-xo

happy new year

i'm back from a super sweet visit to my old home, Michigan. it's always a trip to go back to something that is so familiar, yet so different-especially compared to my life these days. in the past it was hard to go home. too many bitter sweet memories and ghosts waiting for me i suppose. as time has past and wounds have healed i am so happy to say that this visit was amazing and i have so much to be thankful for as we enter the new year.

like being welcomed and taken in so warmly by old friends (who are family really)...

and sunsets in the snow!

and meeting super cute additions to the family!

i am so lucky to have such a great family. it was so nice to hug my mom, talk to my aunt, giggle with my sister and see how my nieces have grown, becoming such lovely women, getting to know sweet baby Arlo, playing with miss Myla like we never missed a beat, staying up way too late with Jodi, talk talk talking away, waking to innovative/delicious pancakes by Matt, and driving driving driving everyday with my sweet husband.

and now it's back to my new home which i also have so much to be thankful for. with a new business to tend to and a craft show on the horizon, i can see the progress of last year in my present and future. i can feel it in my heart as i think back at how many challenges turned into nice surprises and how many hard days work turned into beautiful experiences or things i made with my own two hands. looking back, i know i can handle whatever life brings me and that it is up to me to shift perspectives and make better decisions when things get too heavy.

i think what is so interesting about this time of year is we get to reflect and daydream of the future in the same breath. and then there are resolutions...which give us permission to take care of ourselves. but this is something that we should always do. so my resolution is not make any resolutions and continue to take care of myself as i learned to do much better in recent years.

happy new year everyone!

may 2010 bring us all some major shifts in surprising and wonderful ways!

x

merry christmas!

hope it's a good one!

all i want for christmas....

can i just say that one of the most difficult things about not having any extra money-especially this time of year-is when i see things like this, or any number of books like the one pictured above, and have no way of making them mine, but want want want to buy them!

it's so frustrating because i love handmade things, especially big chunky rings with cuteness, class and style...and as for books, (especially about art!) i am a sucker...plus i love to support other artists...unfortunately most of these things are just too pricey for me these days. i am such a whiner because truthfully i know life is better without "stuff", but some stuff makes life a little sweeter. *ugh* the paradox of it all!

i have however come up with a way to curb my appetite for "thingness" and wanting. i will be sticking to the smaller lovely world of zines, which I can actually afford once in a while. I just got Gracia and Louise's zine=Postcards from...A Key to Make Your Own World Visible, which will be pure eye candy mixed with thoughtfulness....and the newest issue (full color might I add) of Mixed Tape which is just a darn good read. These come from Australian artists/publishers and are the best way I can think of helping other artists at the moment.

Another art related want is a subscription to the Compound Gallery's Art in a Box. It's super cool-every month you get a box with some art and you have no idea what is in store! i just love this concept. it's an interesting exercise in art, community, and subjectivity. i mean honestly, i really would not know what to do with a bunch of art with my small dwellings, but the thought of getting one really amazing piece in there somewhere is tantalizing. sort of like cracker-jack toys when i was a kid...you may get something mildly entertaining, totally lame, or just plain cool. either way you win because you get to play with your inner critic.

well, that's enough of that. i am going to get to finishing up some handmade Christmas gifts with all of the lovely repurposed fabric i have collected over the year. thanks everyone who donated-it will probably be coming back to you in the form of something awesome. (hopefully)

One more week!!!

x

handmade christmas/etsy post

I am excited to tell you all about the handmade goodies I am making for presents, but for fear that readers are recipiants, I will show the only thing I know I can...fishing lures!!!

Philip and I worked on these yesterday for my buddy Matt and brother in law's gifts:

a very special thanks to Dickson for giving us lure fever and a quick demo. He wrote and illustrated a book on lures and flies called Every Angler's Guide to Lures and Flies. It's super witty and fun, much the same as he is.

In addition to all things Christmasy, I managed to post a bunch of new gear on etsy! it's all of the leftovers from the holiday sale, but new projects nonetheless. I am obsessed with the cross stitch pins. so obsessed that i am hoping to save up for this really nice button maker so they can drop in price and time to make. (and become circles!! )

Hope you are all getting in to the holiday spirit! I know I finally am. Between putting up the tree and going to a Christmas folk/sing-a-long/performance thingy, it would be hard not to. Impossible even. 11 more days!

x

catching up to christmas?

how (dare i ask) is it only 2 more weeks until christmas?!?!?!
i know i was just in an obsessive mode between work and work, but honestly, i think i am about one whole month behind schedule! yikes....*sigh*

in hind sight i did have a ton of fun in between all the chaos.
here are some highlights:

-halloween: we went to the city with chase and dennis to see a live sound effect/percussionists and an organist perform to 'Nosferatau'! Philip and I went as ghouls. at one point we were in the lobby hanging out waiting for our friends and had random people ask to take our photo. that was odd considering i saw 20 or so men dressed a lot like Philip...i highly recommend a night at the symphony on halloween-a great crowd indeed.

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-thanksgiving weekend we went to the zoo!! the oakland zoo to be precise. going to the zoo always has the paradox of so fun, yet so sad. i myself enjoyed the petting zoo in the kids area. meet my new friend balthazar the pigmy goat. i wish i could have stolen him! too cute.

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well that's the highlights. now i am just coming down off the high of the craft show trying to get into the joy of christmas. we managed to get the tree and ornaments out of storage today. next will be the trimming of the tree, cards, gifts, etc etc.
this year is a 99% handmade christmas. every year i aim for ALL handmade gifts to give and always end up at about half made, half bought. this year only one gift was actually purchased. amazing i tell you. i only have 5 more to make and i am DONE.
and for my next trick? trying not to gain any weight....

happy holiday bliss!
x