Oh My Cavalier

Originals

2012-01-27T13:12:00.000-08:00

I put a few more small originals in my store today, including this one.
You can find the others Here, Here, Here, and Here.

Happenings

2012-01-23T17:54:00.000-08:00

A drawing of mine used in the January issue of "Piauí", a monthly magazine from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

Also, I decided to put this little drawing up for sale in my store! I'm actually going to try to put a few more in my store over the next week, I'll let you know when they're there!

Buy it here.

Snow Night

2012-01-18T20:36:00.000-08:00

The other night it snowed more than I've ever seen in Portland! Of course it turned to rain by morning and disappeared, but it was magical while it lasted. Aradan and I just sat by the fire, with some wine, working on our Excel sheets. Exciting aren't we? But really it was a perfect evening in, cozy and productive. The snow made it so bright, we took these pictures at around 11pm but it was bright as day.

Back To Work etc.

2012-01-12T08:57:00.000-08:00

You can spy my print of "Sky Pack" in this December issue of the Danish magazine BoligLiv. I think this is in a gift guide for children? It's a really nice magazine, I wish I could read it!

I've been back in Portland for a few days and I'm hard at work trying to get organized, working on commissions, and working for some shows I have coming up. One of my main goals for this year though is to not get stressed out over little things, to worry less, and to enjoy my work (which is something I totally forgot to do most of last year), while still being productive. My thought is the happier I am the more productive I'll be, these tiny daffodils are helping with that.

Green Things

2012-01-03T12:48:00.000-08:00

Starting almost immediately after the New Year I begin to get obsessed with the thought of spring and the need to see green things. This is when I unwisely buy too many house plants (I already have too many) & start planning what veggies I'll grow this year. Luckily while visiting my family in extremely cold/snowy/gray Michigan I also have the option of visiting the botanical garden conservatory, so that's what we did yesterday:

Ahh, it felt so nice to recharge for a bit in the green, steamy atmosphere. Afterwards we went out for delicious hot noodles:

I'm going to go ahead and think of Jan. 2nd as the real start of my new year since I was feeling so unwell on Jan. 1st and yesterday was so enjoyable!

I'm still out of town/on vacation until Monday but I do have a piece in this show that's opening in Portland on January 5th at Compound Gallery, so if you're in town you may want to check it out!

New Year

2012-01-01T12:07:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to pop in and wish you a very Happy New Year!
(These photos are from a trip to Greenfield Village on a trip home last summer, I love that place)

2011 Booklist

2011-12-29T17:24:00.000-08:00

It's that time again! Time to excitedly tally up the books I've read this year, to mull over favorites, and think back to what was happening in my life around the time I was reading each book. (I can remember years better when I can look back and see what I was reading at a specific time.)

I have to say that this year my list is...not that impressive. A lot of things happened this year that were stressful and when I'm stressed I don't read very fast. I also did a lot of re-reading of books that I've read before, which I almost never do! I guess I've always felt sort of guilty doing that when I think about all the great books I haven't read yet. But this year it was so nice reading the new Murakami novel that I had to go back and read a few of his older books again, and it felt good. Sometimes you just have to read the books you're craving.
My favorites this year were Just Kids, The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #1, Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead, State of Wonder, 1Q84, The Marriage Plot, and especially The Tiger's Wife.
What are some books you read this year?

Just Kids by Patti Smith
Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff
Swamplandia! by Karen Russell
Don't Tell the Grown-Ups: The Subversive Power of Children's Literature by Alison Lurie
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #1: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #2: The Hidden Gallery by Maryrose Wood
Mr. Palomar by Italo Calvino
Black Hearts in Battersea by Joan Aiken
The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman
Villette by Charlotte Brontë (I don't know if this was a favorite but it's definitely one I keep thinking about)
The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht
Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead by Barbara Comyns
My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me compiled by Kate Bernheimer
Oblomov by Ivan Goncharov (another I wouldn't call a "favorite" but one I can't get out of my head)
The White Castle by Orhan Pamuk
The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan
The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan
The Twelve Chairs & The Golden Calf by Ilya Ilf & Yevgeni Petrov
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Freedom by Jonathan Franzen
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien (Re-read. First read when I was 13 and I liked it to much better this time)
Wildwood by Colin Meloy
The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami (Re-read. First read in 2009)
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami (Re-read. First read in 2009)
The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Woolgathering by Patti Smith
The Art Of Fielding by Chad Harbach (Currently reading)

Eve

2011-12-24T14:01:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Currently I'm in Michigan relaxing with family but before I left Aradan and I did our gift exchange and I was a very lucky lady this year because I am now in possession of a tiny original drawing by Evan B. Harris!! It's framed in a specimen case which is (completely accidentally) appropriate because Aradan has given me butterfly collections for my last two birthdays. Also pictured my new Classy brass pencil case.

Stay tuned for my end of the year book list!

Pictures from Last Spring

2011-12-16T15:39:00.000-08:00

I found some pictures from last spring on my old camera. I like my new apartment, but I sure do miss my old view of Mt. Tabor. It was one of my favorite things to look out at the mountain a hundred times a day to see what the weather was like over there.

That snow fall was maybe back in March? It's almost time for snow again! Or rather, I'm about to head to the land of snow ie Michigan to spend time with my family for the Holidays. I can't wait!

Delicious savory pie I got in Seattle.

Springtime.

Hothouse oranges.

Oh Comely Interview

2011-12-13T18:25:00.000-08:00

You can find an interview with me in the latest issue of the UK magazine Oh Comely. My copy just came in the mail and it's beautiful!

Portland Bazaar Report

2011-12-12T18:41:00.000-08:00

I had a great time as the Bazaar this past weekend! Tons of people, great vendors, good music, & delicious Pine State biscuits all weekend. Huge thank you to everyone who came by and said hello, it was wonderful chatting with you.

As you can see it was very busy. We were lucky enough to be neighbors with Woodblock Chocolate, they were so nice and their chocolate is amazing!

One Handspun Day

2011-12-07T11:10:00.000-08:00

I'm so happy I can finally share this project with you! One Handspun Day is a new website that offers several collections of unique and beautiful wedding paper goods, designed by artists, for you to download and print yourself for your own handspun wedding.

I was excited to be asked if I would design a collection, I love designing wedding invitation (I've done several). It's a fun challenge for me to bring to life someone else's ideas for their dream wedding invite but I've also been wanting to try designing a collection using my own inspiration, so of course I jumped at this chance! Actually, as usually happens when I can do pretty much anything I want I got overwhelmed with choices and ideas and ended up designing three collections (maybe someday I can show you the one I called "Black Forest Formal")! We decided to just go with one of the collections for now but I think it's one that is the most coherent, cheerful, and appealing, and I hope you think so too!
You can buy the entire collection of Love Is A Flutter or just individual paper goods as you need them on the One Handspun Day website.

(Thanks to Christy for the lovely photos)

Pony

2011-12-04T21:48:00.000-08:00

I'm still busy getting ready for the Bazaar next weekend etc. I'm going to have a few small originals for sale including several of these tiny legged horses.

Besides working on that I've been running a lot and it feels great. I started running last spring but took a long break over the summer while it was hot. Now that it's cool again though it's so wonderful to get rid of stress by running so hard that I just cant be bothered to care about anything besides my aching lungs! Believe me that doesn't take very long right now, but hard as it is little by little I can run farther. Lately it's been foggy in the mornings and the leaves are still coming down from the trees, it's just magical running though white mist with golden leaves falling on me. Also, the bonus is that I can eat all the holiday baked goods I want, no guilt!

Swallowtails

2011-11-27T13:58:00.000-08:00

Still inspired by butterflies lately. I'm not really sure why, it might simply be that they are fun to draw.

It's dark and rainy today, a perfect day for staying inside and being cozy. I'm just watching Terry Jones history specials and working on getting things ready for the bazaar.

Green Things

2011-11-23T13:19:00.001-08:00

Looking though the photos I've taken the past few weeks I noticed they've either been of plants or food. Here are a few:

Window of a tailor's shop downtown.

Chrysanthemums

Watercress & cream cheese on a bagel Mmmmm.

Adorable plant friends gave to me for my birthday last month.

My Green Things Pinboard

This is lovely music by Sea Oleena
---

Have you ever made herb butter? For some reason I never did until a few months ago, it's so easy and delicious!

You just gather a handful of various herbs and finely chop. ( I also made honey butter)

Mix the herbs into slightly soft butter. Then roll the butter into a log or ball, wrap in parchment, and chill in the fridge. Enjoy on fresh bread rolls etc.

Honey labels

2011-11-21T11:26:00.000-08:00

Just for fun I made some labels for honey jars. probably no one would ever actually want to use the first one but it's my favorite. They also need a little more work to actually be Finished, but I've sort of lost interest for now. Too much to do!

Portland Bazaar

2011-11-17T12:07:00.000-08:00

There I just was thinking I wish there was a really nice holiday sale like Little Winter Market happening this year, when one came along! I'm excited to be able to tell you that I'll be participating in The Portland Bazaar December 10th & 11th!

To be honest, as well as being excited I'm also more than a little intimidated by the list of other vendors (Carson Ellis is going to be there signing books for heaven's sake!). I keep thinking "wait, did they mean to invite me?" I have no idea how I'm going to set up my display! Should I have originals there? I foresee some breathing into a paper bag in my future, but ultimately I know it will be fine.

(Read a little more about it on Design Sponge.)

Two favorite things

2011-11-16T10:28:00.001-08:00

Reading and eating toast go so well together.

(Thank you for all your kind comments on my last post!)

Spec Cover

2011-11-10T11:40:00.000-08:00

I set myself the assignment of doing a book cover for one of my beloved childhood books (still a favorite book actually). I would be in heaven if someone actually asked me to illustrate The Wolves of Willoughby Chase! It has everything I like, including a Victorian setting complete with an evil governess, a dickensian orphanage, secret passages, a winsome boy who lives with a flock of geese, clever disguises, and of course, wolves.

November Wind

2011-11-09T09:31:00.001-08:00

I'm sure I posted this last year but it's just so perfect for November I wanted to posted it again: Yuri Norstein's segment from a film called Winter Days.

Finished Embroidery

2011-11-06T10:51:00.000-08:00

I finished the pillow I've been working on this past week. Such a sense of accomplishment!

Neighborhood cat looking for trouble.

Menagerie Book!

2011-11-04T12:02:00.000-07:00

I got my copies of Menagerie a couple days ago and I am beyond thrilled! It's so amazing to see something I worked so hard on printed in a book. The most amazing thing to me is seeing all the text written in the back; the acknowledgments, bios, and even the copyright small print. I couldn't hold a pen for a week after I got done writing all that out but I knew it was going to be worth it, and I was right it looks great!

You can buy a copy of your very own (and I hope you do) on Amazon, Barnes & Noble etc.

Last Days of October

2011-11-03T12:32:00.000-07:00

It was my birthday last week, I spent it at the coast with Aradan. We got one sunny day and one blustery day, it was perfect. I lived in Maine for 5 years and I really miss being by the ocean and the foggy autumn evenings with salt tang in the air sometimes.

A few gifts: three books I'm very excited about, and the perfect little antique hatchet.

A Few Shop Updates

2011-11-01T11:41:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it's November 1st already? I sure can't! However I have been thinking ahead so I've got my holiday Postcards all set to go. They come in a set of ten neatly packaged in a box. You can by a set here.

Also, I've repackaged my "Woodsman" tags so they come individually in packages of 6 in the same style, wolf, bear, and goose.

Collaboration with Paloma's Nest

2011-10-25T17:56:00.000-07:00

I'm so thrilled I can finally unveil my collaboration with Paloma's Nest! It's been months in the making and coordinating and I'm really pleased with the results. Each Bowl has been stamped with one of my constellation illustrations and the rim is painted with 18k gold leaf that shines beautifully. They're small and delicate and just adorable!
You can buy one of your very own in my shop right now!

I've been using mine for sorting necklaces and things, ever helpful. (necklace from Windowsill)

Weekend Deers

2011-10-21T13:30:00.000-07:00

I just dropped this deer off at Noun where it is now for sale in a lovely oval frame.

I've spent this whole week trying to finish other things, mostly holiday prep, so I would have time to draw without being distracted/feeling guilty. I think I'm finally there so I plan to spend this weekend doing nothing but sketching & drawing!.

Originals for sale

2011-10-20T13:21:00.000-07:00

I've just added some older original drawings to my store, including the drawing above (this is just a detail, the original is quite large). You can find them all in the original's section of my store.

More Projects

2011-10-19T13:20:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of the finished coasters. Now I don't have to worry as much about ruining my nice tables! Although since I spill something at least once every day nothing is really safe...
The embroidery is something I started maybe two years ago? I always think that I'll work on it "when I have more time" ha! Really I know that I will never have more time, if I actually want to do something I have to make time to do that thing and only that thing. Hopefully I can make some time to work on this soon, I really would like to finish it.

Projects

2011-10-12T19:47:00.000-07:00

I'm having fun working on some linen coasters.

My micro greens are ready, I need to harvest them.

The leaves are changing!

Weekending

2011-10-09T23:26:00.000-07:00

I had a little cleaning and organizing frenzy this weekend, and I feel great! I cleaned up my balcony, which has been kind of haphazard since I moved in, and got my plants ready for winter. I also found a beautiful antique table for next to nothing, and finally have a couch, so things are feeling very comfortable. (My only wish is that I could paint the walls white, alas renters can't have everything they want sigh). It was generally my favorite type of weekend, the kind where I don't work or feel guilty about not working, ha! And actually I did work a little bit.
Oh also, I finally watched Jane Eyre this weekend! it was lovely.

Light in the Woods

2011-10-07T15:49:00.001-07:00

Fall Reads

2011-10-05T12:17:00.000-07:00

I went a little crazy at the Japanese book store the other day & bought a bunch of cute fashiony books/magazines. The pictures mostly speak for themselves (perfect cool-weather outfits!) but I really wish I could read the directions on how to make that umbrella cover. These books are not helping my recent linen obsession, not at all, I want all my clothes to be made out of linen now!

I'm also excited about this gardening book, I think it's about how to grow micogreens at home in whatever containers you can find? It's inspired me to plant some fall crops of chard and radishes to harvest as shoots.

Babes in the Wood

2011-10-03T20:22:00.000-07:00

Finally drawing again!
I've done a piece before inspired by this haunting traditional tune, but I like how this one turned out better.

Rainy Day Notepad

2011-09-30T12:04:00.000-07:00

I did this illustration for a little note pad and I really love how it turned out. They're now in my shop should you want one as well, they're perfect for jotting shopping lists, To Do lists and other things you don't want to forget.

Apples

2011-09-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you but this time of year stresses me out with all good produce that fades so fast! I feel like I have to enjoy it as much as possible! I have been baking & cooking like crazy. (Every year I say I'm going to can, but that never seems to happen, maybe next year). There really is nothing like a good fall apple though, they are so satisfying on bright Autumn days, like today. Over the weekend I went to hood river and split a huuuge box of apples with a friend, so I have a lot to work with! Yesterday I made apple crisp and this apple cake, which turned out amazing.

I'm slowly getting back into work, or what I think of as my real work, i.e. drawing, and it feels really, really good. I've had something of a dry spell, there was just too much going on this summer and it's been hard to focus. I need long stretches of doing nothing at all in order to get in the right frame of mind and to feel inspired. That might sound strange to some people, but that's how I work!
(I left a letter off 'hooray', oh well)

Violin

2011-09-16T15:29:00.000-07:00

My Great Grandfather on my mothers side made this violin. My mom recently pulled it out of storage so it needs some fixing up and repairs. I had no idea it even existed until a few weeks ago! I'm extremely excited about this, I've always wished I played the violin and also for some reason I feel like it gives me free reign to do many more drawings involving violins. It's in my blood!

The amazing thing though is we discovered that the tag inside says he made it on October 28th, 1928 which is my birthday! (54 years later)

Home Pieces Pt.2

2011-09-11T08:14:00.000-07:00

Home Pieces Pt.1

2011-09-07T15:02:00.000-07:00

I'm spending a few weeks at my parents house in Michigan. It was wonderfully hot and humid when I first got here but now it's cool and rainy, it feels like fall and I am in a fall mood now! It's very cozy and relaxing to be at home for a while. My family has a wonderful garden and this year they grew an heirloom type of tomato called "Peche", because it's got a velvety peach fuzz texture on the outside and is sweet and yellow, I just love it!

Kitchen Goodness

2011-08-30T13:39:00.000-07:00

Rainy Rain

2011-08-29T13:00:00.000-07:00

It seems appropriate to post these today since we're having the first rainy day we've had in a while. Both of these drawings are part of the Enormous Tiny Art Show number 10, at Nahcotta Gallery gallery in NH. The Show opens at the gallery on September 1st but you can buy my work online already, right here.

I've been searching for my dream umbrella for a while without much luck. I want to find one with pale checks or or gingham, or even a blue plaid, but there doesn't seem to be such a thing available, and ones that come even close are hundreds of dollars (come on. So for now I'll just have to draw them...

Important Announcement: A Change to Prints

2011-08-24T09:59:00.000-07:00

I think the stars have finally aligned and I'm ready to announce that I'm making some changes to how I sell prints:

I've decided to no longer offer limited editions and instead to have open editions. I've been feeling pretty trapped and overwhelmed by trying to keep track of all these different print runs for a while, it just takes up too much of my time. With open editions I feel like I will be able to streamline my shipping and have more time for actual art-making. Also, this means that popular editions will never sell out and I will no longer have to tell sad people that I'm out of a print.

Changing from limited to unlimited could be kind of fraught after doing it this way for so long, but I also think that most people who are buying prints from me are buying them because they like my artwork, not because they're super concerned about having a limited edition print.

Another reason for this change actually was because it was starting to bother me that my originals and my prints looked almost exactly alike, I think it sort of devalues my original drawings. So, these new prints will still be high quality reproductions but they are going to look totally different from the old ones. I got a brand new fancy professional quality photo printer that makes beautiful archival giclee prints. Instead of the old yellowy rag paper (that I had to cut down to size by hand) these new prints will be on white Somerset Enhanced Velvet paper that makes the colors really sharp and vibrant.

Some more good news for you is because they're no longer going to be limited edition I'm able to lower the price of the new prints to $26 each rather than $30.

I really hope you understand this decision & no one is upset! And should you still want to buy one of the old style prints they will be available until Friday.

Butterfly Frenzy

2011-08-22T14:07:00.000-07:00

This drawing is a few months old but I don't think I ever posted it here.

Outside

2011-08-20T09:57:00.000-07:00

Aradan and I did a quick overnight camping trip by the Clackamas river a few days ago. We hadn't been to the area but were pleasantly surprised. The river is incredibly clear and blue, there were plenty of nice campsites and it's only an hour from Portland! I foresee a few more trips before summer is over...

Cricket

2011-08-16T22:09:00.000-07:00

A little sketch I did a few weeks ago before the move.
I had to get back into work-mode yesterday and I’m not going to lie, it was rough. Not that I’ve been taking it easy the last few weeks what with all the moving and setting up an entirely new home & work space, but being able to draw means getting into a completely different frame of mind. I’m feeling much more acclimated today though and I'm ready to get things started.

Beauty & Function

2011-08-12T14:00:00.000-07:00

A housewarming gift to myself, a beautiful handmade teak ladle from Brookfarm General Store.
Happy Weekend!

...

(Also, my store is officially back open today!)

More Menagerie Pages!

2011-08-10T10:38:00.000-07:00

Today I can show you a couple more pages from Menagerie, the book of gorgeous animal portraits by Sharon Montrose that I did some illustration and lettering for. This sneak peek includes the BIRDS header I did, one of my favorite in the book. In case you missed my other posts on it the book is being released November 1st, but you can pre-order right now at Amazon. Also, Design Work Life did a nice post on it a few days ago that includes all the pages released so far.

Return and New Apartment!

2011-08-08T22:40:00.000-07:00

Hello! Here are a few little shots of my new apartment (not pictured: giant pile of boxes and bubble wrap). I've been spending the past few days since I returned from the mountains setting up and trying to get my bearings. Things are a little chaotic but currently I'm sitting on the floor (because I have no chairs) drinking sake with gold in it and watching Mad Men with Aradan, so life feels pretty good right now.
( I wish I had some pictures to share of my stay near Mt. Baker but sadly I left without my camera battery charger and a dead battery. C'est la vie!)

Urban Bonsai

2011-07-27T11:52:00.000-07:00

I picked up this beautiful little book at the Portland Japanese Garden's Urban Bonsai exhibit last month. Both my boyfriend and the cashier at the gift shop made fun of me for buying a book I can't actually read, but really, You don't need to be able to read it to enjoy the beautiful photos and design. I love the step by step photos and watching the tiny landscapes come together.

Couple

2011-07-21T13:41:00.000-07:00

I started this drawing last year and just pulled it out and finished it the other day.

Unrelated to that, this is a beautiful animation for a music video.

Bubble from Elliot Dear on Vimeo.

Things I've Seen Recently

2011-07-19T10:37:00.000-07:00

A fiendly neighbor cat

Yellow thistle

This is the window we put together for the Swamp Feelings show, I'm pretty proud of it actually.

A breakfast.

Blue things.

Changing Plans!

2011-07-17T20:17:00.000-07:00

It turns out there was a tremendous hail storm in Denver, which damaged a bunch of planes, so my connecting flight to my parents was canceled! I decided to take a refund & travel later this summer after I move and things are less crazy. I'm sad not to be going home but I am relieved that I'll be able to get ready for the move the rest of the month. Anyway, this means that shipping in my store will continue as usual.

Also thanks so much for your supportive comments about the move!

Several Announcements

2011-07-15T10:48:00.000-07:00

After almost a year of looking I'm moving apartments! I feel both happy and extremely sick. I've lived in the same place with the same roommates since I moved to Portland three years ago, so it is a big change. I'll be living by myself, in a new part of town! It feels like the right time for something new though, and I think it will be a positive change.

Because of this however, and because I'll be doing some traveling between now and moving things are going to be pretty crazy around here. ~~I'm leaving my shops open but any orders placed after today will not go into the mail until August 1st.~~ Change of plans! I'm traveling later so shipping will continue uninterrupted!<

Wish me luck!

Checker Lilly

2011-07-14T17:55:00.000-07:00

The remaining pieces from "Swamp Feelings" are now available to buy online, right here!

The Borrower Arrietty

2011-07-13T11:08:00.000-07:00

I'm crazy about this movie right now, it's just fantastic and the animation is gorgeous. (I'm sorry this trailer is sort of weird but it's the only one with subtitles). It's loosely based on one of my all time favorite books The Borrowers by Mary Norton, and even though details of the plot are pretty different it's definitely the best film adaptation. On a side note, I'd love to do some illustrations for that book someday...

P.s. you can actually watch the whole movie here.

Wedding Invitation Commission

2011-07-12T11:20:00.000-07:00

I'm happy I can finally share this wedding invite I did a few months back. The couple loves trains and wanted themselves represented as some sort of animals, but not foxes, which is sort of my default animal. We settled on rabbits and I think they turned out very nice, but not too sweet. As well as the drawing for the front I also hand lettered the text for the back. They handled the printing and got the image put on a tote as well. They were kind enough to send me one of those as well as some authentic mango pickle from India, where they were working last year. So nice!

Shop Update! Pt. 2

2011-07-11T12:21:00.000-07:00

The second part of todays store update, and the most exciting for me, is this 2012 Calendar! I've been wanting to do a calendar for a while but never did because...? Maybe it just seemed to daunting. Well I finally decided to just go for it and did this one over a couple of weeks. I decided it would make the most sense to do a "year at a glance" style, that is also the kind of calendar I prefer so I can check dates quickly. I had them professionally printed locally, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out!

Shop Update! Pt. 1

2011-07-11T10:18:00.000-07:00

Part one of today's store update is new brooches, Hooray! And new this time I also made some necklaces to use up various supplies I had. I know I said I wasn't going to be making brooches anymore buuuut I had all these supplies still and didn't want to just let them go to waste. Also a big problem I was having with the epoxy before (and the reason I said I was done making them) is that it is light hardening & there just hasn't been any direct sunlight since about last August! I ruined so many in the last few months it was just making me crazy. However I think I mostly fixed some of the problems, it's still finicky and drives me a bit crazy, but it works much better in this sunny weather. I made a bunch that I'm going to put in the store now, and another batch I'll add a around the holidays.
Please click here to see all the brooches & necklaces.

Some inspiration

2011-07-07T11:54:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd share a few images from A Nursery Companion by Iona & Peter Opie, a compendium of early 19th c. nursery rhymes, alphabets, and a few illustrated grammar lessons. I found it by chance a few years ago and I look at it all the time when I need some inspiration, the illustrations are so odd & completely charming.

Summer is Here!

2011-07-05T23:54:00.000-07:00

Summer just arrived about three days ago here in Portland and we are all so glad. I spent the weekend reading in the park, having hot dogs and cocktails on a friends balcony, and generally trying to not worry about anything.

This last week I've been busy bringing a few projects to their close, which is satisfying, and dealing with a few minor disasters, which have been discouraging (mainly printer related).

Also I wanted to let you know that the piece above is for sale in my store!

Another page...

2011-06-30T11:21:00.000-07:00

Sharon let me see another page of Menagerie (her book of photographs that I did illustrations and hand lettering for) I can't wait to hold it in my hands when it comes out in November!
(Go here to see my previous post about the book)

Postage

2011-06-24T11:47:00.000-07:00

When I was little I used to be really into stamp collecting*. That past-time has faded away but I still love stamps as objects, they really are little works of art. They can be so colorful and funny, and interesting, and even perplexing. Of course my favorite are the older gummed ones, I hate the new sticky kind. When I was last at my family home I grabbed an envelope full to sort though, they ended up being from Czechoslovakia, these are a handful of the best ones.

*To the point where I started a Stamp Collecting Club with some girls from my Girl Scout troupe, which looking back makes me wish I was as cool now as I was then.

Faire du jardinage

2011-06-22T15:06:00.000-07:00

A few shots of my little rooftop garden, which is looking better than ever this year.

Upcoming Show in Portland!

2011-06-20T10:22:00.000-07:00

My friends and I have a show opening at Ponlyclub in downtown Portland July 7th! This has apparently been the second wettest spring in recorded history here, so I guess we've all been feeling a bit swampy.

This and That

2011-06-16T11:39:00.000-07:00

A few things from the past weeks: grasses, from our stay at the coast last week. I also found the tray of my dreams for moving tea things from the kitchen to my room in just one trip. My mom bought the Portland Stairs book to try some walks while she was here. We did one in the Northeast part of the city, which was tons of fun! There are so many secret public staircases I never new about, some I pass in my car every day. Sadly I didn't take my camera along on the walk, so I'll have to do it again. Pictured next to the book are my new summer shoes. And lastly some reading material; I'm lucky enough to know someone who works in a great book store and is willing to trade art for books, it works out beautifully. I've already made my way though all of these except Oblomov, which I'm half way though.

I'm trying to get back to work today, it feels good but I can tell it's going to be hard getting into a routine again.

Cermaics

2011-06-13T23:02:00.000-07:00

Some pieces I picked up recently. I may have a small collection going...

Garden Visit pt. 2

2011-06-11T18:14:00.000-07:00

My mom has been in town for a week and we've been in a frenzy of garden visiting, antiquing, and of course eating at all my favorite places. I'll return soon with lots to share!

Garden Visit pt. 1

2011-06-07T09:18:00.000-07:00

The Portland Japanese Garden is one of the most visited places in the city, but on gloomy weekdays it can still be very tranquil. They're having a nice exhibit now: Urban Green: Small Trees for Small Spaces

Pond

2011-06-01T15:02:00.000-07:00

Some new pieces for an upcoming show.
I guess I really shouldn't be showing new work before the show opens, but oh well...Honestly the real thing looks so much better, and is much much larger.

It might not seem like it from this post but I've been feeling seriously unmotivated lately. It's actually been quite terrible. It's not a creative slump exactly, because I"m happy with my recent work, I think it's more that I'm ready for a change. It suddenly occurred to me a little while ago (like a lightning bolt) that I don't want to be doing the same thing I'm doing right now in five years. I'm not sure what direction I want to go, and I'm not quite sure how to take the first steps, all I know is I need to feel like I have a more of a direction and something I'm working towards.

Luster

2011-05-27T23:14:00.000-07:00

I think I found the worlds most beautiful bowl! I've always loved lusterware, when I saw this piece in a shop the other day I couldn't stop thinking about it. The flowers and the delicate color are just perfect, perfect, perfect!

Wahkeena Falls

2011-05-25T22:14:00.000-07:00

Last week we finally had some breaks in the rain clouds so some friends and I took a splendid waterfall hike in the gorge, from Wahkeena Falls to Multnomah falls. It was a wonderful day, but it did involve a lot of climbing so my legs paid for it afterward. I'm hoping for a lot more hikes this summer though so I decided to finally give in and got some real hiking boots today!

ALSO: I just added a TON of recent originals to my store, some of them it breaks my heart a little to part with, but I must, so please take a look.

Progress

2011-05-17T11:42:00.000-07:00

News and such

2011-05-10T12:49:00.000-07:00

These drawings are both for sale at Noun here in Portland.

Also I wanted to let you know that I will be participating in a pop-up shop taking place in a couple weeks, hosted by Satsuma Press, Etsy and West Elm.

If you would like rsvp you can do that right here, but you don't have to.

Kingfisher Feathers

2011-05-04T20:43:00.001-07:00

A new piece for an upcoming show. Kind of a new direction.
I hope it's obvious that it shows a normal sized person with a very large bird and large flowers, not a small person (kidding, I know that's not obvious at all! Oh well!)

Thanks so much for all your kind & excited comments about the Frankie interview!

Frankie Magazin Interview

2011-05-02T14:26:00.000-07:00

I've been anxiously awaiting my copy of Frankie for a while and it came today! I'm very happy to finally be able to post about it. It's been out for a little while and I've actually been getting emails for a few weeks from people who saw my work in it, but things like this don't really feel real until their actually in my hands.

Cards, Stamps, Envelopes

2011-04-29T12:45:00.000-07:00

Ever since I got my new camera I've been slowly trying to replace the photos of things in my store with better photos. The latest things to get some sprucing up were my cards, I did some simple styling with old stamps and hand lettered envelopes, which I always think looks like a nicer context than just a white background. (I also had fun creating the envelopes with names from characters in books and made-up addresses)

Semaphore Foxes

2011-04-25T10:56:00.000-07:00

It's been a rough couple of days work-wise. I feel like I'm fighting with myself all the time. I need to try to be easier on myself and not think about things too hard, just keep trying to do what I want and not worry too much about what I think other people expect.

Ceramic Pen

2011-04-18T18:09:00.000-07:00

I've actually been in Michigan for the past week but before I left I did a few experiments with these blue and gold porcelain draw-able pens. I'm pretty pleased with them! Especially the gold touches. I'm thinking about eventually offering a few one of a kind pieces in my shop...

Also, the pieces from my show at Assemble Gallery are now available to buy online!

Blossoms vol. II

2011-04-14T19:28:00.000-07:00

The Tulip and fruit trees are in full glorious blossom right now. I love this time of year!

Seattle

2011-04-12T17:11:00.000-07:00

Aradan and I went up to Seattle last Friday for my opening at Assemble and did some things like visit the aquarium, amazing public library, and market. It was actually sunny for the first time in a while and it was so nice to just walk around in the sunshine for a day! Since I am a big fan of savory pastries one of the highlights we came across was Piroshky, Piroshky, a Russian bakery with delicious hand pies which we ate in a sunny park. Nom nom.

Should you be interested the work from my show will be available on the Assemble gallery website, as soon as I send them some pictures!

Blossoms

2011-04-06T12:18:00.001-07:00

I thought this sample of tea I got from the Banff Tea Co. looked so pretty, it's full of flowers.

A Few Things

2011-04-04T15:42:00.000-07:00

My Show at Assemble Shop is coming up this Friday, if you live in the Seattle area I hope you can join me at the opening!
Friday April 8th, 6-9pm
7406 Greenwood Ave N. Seattle WA

A friend sent me a bunch of old frames she's collected, including three of these little round butterfly ones. I decided to make a very limited edition of three wolf prints for them, which you can now find in my store

Necklaces for Art Star

2011-03-28T15:16:00.000-07:00

I'm Super excited to finally be able to share this! Art Star was kind enough to approach me about teaming up to make some necklaces to sell exclusively with them. This is especially great as I recently decided that I may not be making brooches anymore because of time and material problems, and since they did all the production for these I didn't have to fight with epoxy like I was with the brooches! Anyway, I'm pleased with what they've come up with and I hope you are too! If you'd like to buy a necklace please visit the Art Star website, or visit their store in Philadelphia.

Lemon Season

2011-03-27T12:56:00.000-07:00

A friend and I preserved lemons this week. It's almost an annual thing for us!

Snow Geese

2011-03-25T12:28:00.000-07:00

Another new piece for my upcoming show "Good For What Ails You" at Assemble Gallery in Seattle. It runs April 8th, 2011 - May 11th, 2011, with an opening on April 8th!
It will be nice to have a reason to head up to Seattle, to drop off work and then for the opening. I haven't been there since I moved to the Pacific Northwest (just driven though), I really am a home-body.

After this show I wont have any solo shows for a while, so I'll finally have time to dive back into a few other projects, with some luckily very patient people, that have been put on hold for a while. I'm also excited about finally having more time to think, sketch, and do nothing, which are all important to my creative process.

The Library

2011-03-21T18:47:00.000-07:00

The Library from Sergey Stefanovich on Vimeo.

A journey through Duncan Fallowell's library which has spilled over into every available space and become an art installation in its own right.

A friend shared this with me. I find it very comforting, and I like what he says about real vs. electronic books.

Collector

2011-03-17T12:13:00.000-07:00

Finally, a peek a new work for a show I have coming up next month. More on that soon. It seems like forever since I've posted a new drawing! That's because I've been working on so many commissions, hopefully I'll be able to show off more of those soon as well.

Snowdrops

2011-03-14T11:13:00.000-07:00

I was going to try to write something about feeling inspiration, and lack there of, but all the things I have to do today keep crowding into my head and are making it impossible for me to think coherently. So, instead give a listen to the latest episode of Radiolab which has a segment on this exact topic!

Bits of Inspiration

2011-03-10T21:38:00.000-08:00

A couple of things that have been inspiring the drawings for an upcoming show.

Menagerie!

2011-03-07T11:50:00.000-08:00

As you may have already seen me mention these past few months (and especially this last month) I've been working on my biggest job ever: hand lettering and some illustrations for a new book of Sharon Montrose's beautiful animal photographs. The experience was extremely positive and pushed my comfort zone, which is almost always good for my work in general. This is the cover, with the title etc lettered by me. So far this is all I can show you of the book, but I will be sure to share some of the inside when I'm able. It's set to come out November 22, 2011, I can't wait to see it!

Mechanical Animals in Sweet Paul Magazine

2011-03-03T14:24:00.000-08:00

Love how my Mechanical Animals are used in this Sweet Paul Magazine feature. To see more flip though Sweet Paul mag online.

Crisp and New

2011-03-02T11:23:00.000-08:00

Meet my new camera! I've been unhappy with the quality of my photos for a while, there was always a blurriness, weird color glare, and whatnot. I had this fear though of spending a bunch of money on a camera that may be too complicated for me to use, but I've become fed up enough to get past that. It's high time I started taking the pictures I actually want to take! And you know these days you can get cameras that are beginner friendly and still take amazing photos. I settled on the Nikon D3100 and so far it's love.

(Speaking of beautiful photos, that second picture is a page from my latest cookbook acquisition Miss Dahl's Voluptuous Delights by Sophie Dahl. I can't wait to make everything in it!)

Snow Crystals

2011-02-16T21:39:00.000-08:00

We are well and truly into the darkest month now and I'm feeling it. (I know I'm not the only one ether). It's that time of year when I don't feel inspired by anything, the things I usually love don't interest me, and motivation pretty much disappears. I feel dissatisfied with all my clothes, etc.
Luckily I know this feeling will go away with the first for-real spring day and something unexpected will stir up inspiration again, I just have to be patient....

(I can't wait to be able to show you some inside pages of what I've been working on lately, hopefully soon!

In the mean time I've added two new prints to my store!)

Stumptown Show

2011-02-08T12:39:00.000-08:00

I mentioned a few posts ago about having a show at a Stumptown coffee shop here in Portland. Well the show is up now and I hope that if you live in the area you will stop by and check it out!
It's up until the end of the month at 3356 SE Belmont St.

Reading Material

2011-02-08T11:00:00.000-08:00

I've been at a loss for what to read lately, I just couldn't get into anything for some reason, but then I walked into the bookstore this weekend and there was a brand new novel by one of my favorite writers! Problem solved! Well sort of, I hardly seem to have time for reading lately, just a few minutes in the morning. I don't mind, things I'm working on lately are pretty exciting and a lot of fun.

To see a peek of one of the things that's been keeping me busy go to Sharon Montrose's blog. More to come on this you can be sure:)

Lately

2011-02-03T14:59:00.000-08:00

I found this book at the library's book sale last year, I love the vivid color of those strawberries.

-I've put a few prints in my store on sale over this weekend. I want to make some room for new prints so after this weekend the sale prints won't be available anymore!
-I've just got a Pinterest. . I was skeptical at first because do I really need another thing? But I like it quite a bit, it's much handier than Tumblr for organizing inspiring images for specific projects.
-I like that I can now explore art museums I've never been to (even if I'd rather be there in person.)
-This is fun site where artists share recipes via drawings

My Tools

2011-02-02T10:14:00.000-08:00

These are the tools I use ever day.

Gettaway

2011-02-01T11:08:00.000-08:00

Aradan & I took a quick trip to the coast last week. It was warm and there was some sun, we drank champagne on the beach, went hiking though huge trees, got delicious baked goods, it was bliss. I definitely have the winter blahs right now and any change of routine feels wonderful.

ETA9

2011-01-25T09:56:00.000-08:00

I just sent these pieces off to Nahcotta Gallery in NH for their 9th Enormous Tiny Art Show. If you can't make it in person they are available to buy on their website.

More Gift Cards

2011-01-24T11:48:00.000-08:00

I've just added four new sets of gift cards to my store AND to my shop. These have been so much fun to design, it's hard to not go crazy and order more and more stamps. Hopefully they do well, for now it's just these 5 sets.

Lady Slipper

2011-01-20T16:08:00.000-08:00

I couldn't help buying one of these beautiful orchids the other day, I'm ready for spring!