Back in February, during Thing-a-Day, I designed a bow tie ring made from fabric. I’ve finally come back to those and created some specifically for my shop. They are now available here in a variety of colors and sizes. If you see one you like, but not in your size, just send me a message and I’ll create a custom listing for you.
I had the idea to make some chevron patterned button sets the other day. I don’t know if it is just me (because I’ve always been so obsessed with black and white patterns, especially stripes) but the chevron pattern seems to be hot and popping up everywhere.
I designed the gray background pattern on the computer, printed it out and then used my fine illustration pen to fill it in. I love how the hand drawn line work gives it an additional texture and more of an organic feeling, than if it had been solid, crisp lines.
These 1″ buttons are now available in my Etsy shop, as either pinback badges, or magnets.
For Day 19 Thing-a-Day I finally padded my brown and black notepads. I’m not sure if I said it when I posted the full stationery sets in this same style, but the bunting is made from craft paper that I drew patterns on with a sharpie and an illustration pen. The bright and cheerful sets were just made from decorative papers in my stash.
They are now available in my Etsy shop.
I’m so excited to announce that I have finally finished my second issue of Grass & Stars. It’s still a mini zine, but not as small as the first teensie issue.
I’m thrilled with the final outcome. It has articles and artwork, as well as a comic and interview with a stranger. I’ll tell you, those last two parts are what kept me from getting this issue out much sooner. The comic is the third comic I’ve ever done and all of them have been part of a series called “How to…” The “interview a stranger” article is also supposed to be an on going article in Grass & Stars. I had the idea originally when I first wanted to make a zine, way back in high school. It’s something I know would definitely push me past my comfort zone because I’m not the type of person to talk to strangers, let alone ask them if I could interview them, take their picture AND publish it. It scared me so much, that I basically chickened out for the first issue and just interviewed myself, lol. When I finally did the interview for this new issue, the person was so sweet and kind. It was a great first interview and I’m sure they will get easier for me from now on out.
The zine is 16 pages long and has a limited edition run of 26 numbered books. The cover is a hand colored relief print. After 26 the originals are gone, further issues will be open-ended reproductions, so get one while they are available.
Oh, and I can cross this off my 2010 to-do list and this makes me very, very happy :D
The new zine is available in my Etsy shop now, and if you never picked up the first issue, that can be found there as well.
Inspired by Rosa’s most recent post “On My Desk”, I’m posting some recent camera phone pics from my own work table in my studio.
Here’s a little sneak peek at Grass & Stars No. 2
And some paper spiral stratum pendants.
And I’ve been cutting out bajillions of envelopes in the last few days, for my repurposed envelope and stationery sets.
I had an order for one of these button sets earlier this week, so I decided to make a whole bunch more. I got through them a lot because I personally wear them on everything, give them to friends and occasionally give one as an extra here or there in Etsy orders.
In the last week Matt and I have been doing some rearranging. We moved our “living room” which was previously in the finished basement, up to the actual living room area. The office, which was previously in the “living room” is now in the finished basement. Matt’s brother and sister-in-law were so kind to give us their 61″ HDTV and there was no way we were carrying that down the stairs, so instead we just did a switch-a-roo. The reason they gave us their amazing HDTV was because they decided to upgrade to a 3D-HDTV! and it is amazing! I’ve never been too keen for 3D movies, but they had us watch a 3D Imax movie about the bottom of the ocean and it was the first time ever where I felt like things were actually coming out of the screen at me.
Then this weekend we carved pumpkins with our friends Tom and Nikki. It’s something we do every year. I only have Matt and my pumpkins pictured here because the full group shot is on my other camera and I left that in my best friend’s car. My pumpkin is on the left. Usually I always carve the same pumpkin ever year, but this year I was inspired by this link from Martha Stewart via The Dainty Squid.
Last week this painting arrived in the mail. It was actually a painting I made and sent out for a top secret project. I loved the finished product so much, and I was so afraid that it would end up getting lost or tossed and just unappreciated, so I was thrilled to have it back in my possession. It’s based on a collage that I shared earlier this year.
And lastly, today I made this Etsy treasury.
Please click on over and view it. I love all the pieces I featured and think they deserve some attention :)
I just added this new painting to my Etsy shop, AND I listed it for a mere $30 because I really hope that it finds a loving home soon. Scoop it up while you can.
I made this piece in the same style as the larger piece (No. 4) for my sister. I really liked that piece so much that I had to make another to put in my shop. This piece is smaller, but much bolder in color and has a red edge all around it.
Here is a progress picture, mostly because I loved the color palette.The piece uses my favorite color combinations, red and green, without being Christmasy. I love the energy that these complementary colors create.
The piece is a petite 3.875″ x 4.875″ and if you click on the link to the shop listing, you can see it in size relation to a pencil.
I have 3 brand new items to share with you. One is the painting above that I shared progress shots. I added a touch of shadowing, gave it a matte varnish and then signed it and now it’s in my Etsy shop. It’s on a really nice deep canvas, and would make a great piece to hang on a wall, or even just stand on a table or desk. It’s the 6th piece in this series of canvas paintings. Earlier today I decided to create a flickr set where I put all of my grass themed artwork and creations. You can see it here.
I also added these two (orange and bunting) little treasure boxes. I think I shared the one on the left way back in August, when I started working on it during the “august challenge”, but now it is complete. Both boxes have images on the lid which were then sealed with a high gloss resin finish. The inside has felt to protect the treasures you would keep in it, and the bottom has another piece of felt to protect any furniture you might set this on. They would be perfect for keeping small precious items inside, but I think, would also work wonderfully as a gift box.
Illustration by Julie Bereciartu
Tonight Matt and I watched the first episode of Mad Men. I know, we’re a little behind the times. It was probably during the first or second season and I had no idea what the show was about. I caught part of an episode and it made me so uncomfortable. It wasn’t until later that I found out that was what the show was all about - a commentary on how things have changed since then (the show takes place in the early 60s). Knowing this now, the first episode makes it very clear, and it was actually hilarious. I just remembered these illustrations that I saw from my flickr contact Juliabe, where she did drew the ladies of Mad Men in her “moleskine girls” style. I love this piece.
Bad news: the big possible project I mentioned in the last post is most likely 100% off!
Good news: I’m so relieved that it is. Believe me when I say - this project falling through turns out to be a good-good thing. I thank the heavens above that we can emerge unscathed. Hopefully I will be able to share more later.
Other good things:
This awesome shirt from Jessalinb on Etsy, via modishblog. Although, I’d want it in a men’s style shirt. I hate how women’s Ts always mean the sleeves have to be so short.
These adorable hand drawn hearts on knees tights, via craft. It’s actually a tutorial. Once again, if they were mine, I’d probably make the hearts red.
And last, but far from least, you can never lose with artwork from Amanda Kavanagh. Her landscapes always take my breath away. Mark my words: One day I will own an original of hers.
Congratulations to Shelly of Green Chic for winning the stationery and print giveaway over on Bicoastally! And great thanks to Claire for offering the giveaway. I’m so glad to have crossed paths with her and her wonderful, inspiring blog. She has out-done herself, time and time again, in support of my Etsy shop. Hugs ((Claire))
It’s been a whirlwind month. I can’t believe it’s almost over. I have so many things on my to-do list and I’d like to post some of them here to share with you:
-I bought fabric to make a halloween costume this year. It’s a HUGE project and we’ll see if I actually get it done. I’m horrible about costumes and usually wait till 6 p.m. on halloween to start constructing something. And while that has worked in the past, that will not work this year.
-I have so many things to list to my etsy shop. Including, more paper pendents, my yoyo zipper pouches, and hopefully, if all goes well, a poster (yay!) I’m pretty sure I have other things to list as well, but I’m drawing a blank right now.
-I really, really, really want to finish my second zine. The two things that are holding me back are the comic and the “interview a stranger”. I know both of these things are a challenge and that is why I HAVE to do them. The comic, because I feel a lot of pressure that it has to be PERFECT, and live up to the previous two. AND the interview, because I’m pretty shy, and introducing myself to a stranger, and also asking them if I can interview them and publish that interview is a terrifying thing.
-For my birthday my sister bought me a complete letterpress set. So, I’ve been doing some research on letterpress plates. This has been a dream of mine since I was in high school. My grandma used to have a subscription to Victoria Magazine and she would give me her old issues. I remember reading and saving an article in Victoria about a woman who started her own niche business of designing and printing invitations and cards on letterpress. At the time I was taking all sorts of graphic arts classes and really just obsessed with everything PRINT. At the same time letterpress was seen as an absolutely obsolete method. That got me even more excited because I always want to learn all the old obsolete ways of everything. Since then, wonderfully, letterpress has made a big comeback and now I finally have my own chance to design and create my own work.
-It’s also been a long while since I produced and contributed for Artomat and have been itching to begin a new series. ONLY, if one series (50 pieces) wasn’t a large enough undertaking, I actually have plans for 3 different series. One would be my mini canvas paintings, one would hopefully incorporate the above mentioned letterpress and the last would be another printmaking series, but in a different method.
-I also need to complete this painting of a dinosaur that I’m painting on my nephew’s wall. He’s inspired by the apatosaurus, aka the brontosaurus. He’s part Jurassic Park, part Land Before Time, part stuffed animal my brother had as a child, and part roadside attraction :)
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