Enough With the Cards...

I had so many duds last time I printed these cards on sheet music I did it over and came out with a lot of good ones... these will end up around town and in the etsy shop. OK, I promise this is the last post about Christmas cards for this year!!

Long Weekend...

woodblock on linen pillow

Christmas stars in our portal windows

The mini-tree my son builds his train tracks around.

Ahh, we've been having a great holiday around here, mostly hanging around the house and slowly pulling out the Christmas decorations. (my son has been asking since early Nov!) It began to snow while I was setting the food out on the Thanksgiving table... the timing was great and it seemed just like a scene out of an old movie. This is the first snow and despite good intentions, we don't have our snow tires on the cars yet. I delivered the 'Bone Alphabet' pillow and some other artwork to a local gallery and was slipping at a lot of stop signs, eek! While at the gallery - I heard most of my needle-felted circus Xmas ornaments sold yesterday morning, hurrah! :)

PS - I'll post Georgia O'Keeffe's bread instructions very soon...

Georgia's Bread

This is an official first 'food post!' I'm not much of a cook, but I love to bake. This bread is so easy and delicious. I thought I'd share it in this eating and making merry season... and it's slightly art-related since it's from the kitchen of Georgia O'Keeffe. I will be happy to post the instructions if anyone wants them... I usually only use 2 cups of wheat flour and the rest, white. My mom gave me this book for my birthday... found on the Georgia O'Keefe Museum store website. It is full of stories and recipes from Georgia's cook/kitchen helper she employed in her later years. I highly recommend it! A wonderful, Happy Thanksgiving to all!

PS I'm about to add a few more Christmas cards and tag art calendars to my etsy shop tonight!

Some Calendars...

Ready for the calendars to be stuck on!

I made some tag art calendars today... it was sort of an all day project, done in windows of time. But... why am I mentioning that (?)- it's the way I usually work! I'm going to offer these in my shop (well some of 'em) at a special, lower price than I do locally. (only because the store has to make their commission!)

Anyway, they are really fun. I've been making them since I moved to Spokane - at that time, I made them for friends and family to put in Christmas cards. It's sort of a yearly ritual for me to get out special papers and silk ribbons I've been hoarding and buying on trips here and there - and finally using them!

The last of the Christmas Cards...

Finally started feeling better today and finished printing up the Christmas cards after a trip to the art store for more paper. It's Murphy's law... the paper I've been using (Canson colorline) is being discontinued, arg. Anyway, when the time came to print... I used a bit of the paper I bought and then thought these would look great on sheet music or old book paper. There are some in the etsy shop now and the rest will go to a great book shop downtown and possibly a gallery.

Feet in Front of the Fire

Our family's cold/flu has come full circle. I've got it and now the baby has it (well, she's 2). This was taken just a while ago... baby fell asleep in my arms, I'm knitting and my son's playing trains. We've got NPR's 'Golden Oldies' show on (don't know what the real name is, but it's big band, old-time singing and jazz from the 20's-40's). One can do just about anything in front of the fire and let the rest of the world melt away. Hopefully, I'll have something to share with you by the end of the weekend... have a good one.

Some New Items...

I added a few new items in my etsy shop today... a few clay ornaments and tag art calendars for 2009! I really don't enjoy adding new items to the shop - it's time consuming. But, I have a really bad cold/flu (from my kids, I believe) so I had plenty of time to sit around in a fog and wait for the computer.

Night Printing

shadow print

The 'duds'

Last night I finally got to a point where it was time to print, yay! The ink didn't start flying til after 10pm... and there was a fly in the ointment. My little boy is a night owl and came down a few times to help me turn the wheel during the printing process. When my back was turned... he messed with the pressure adjustments and suddenly, the wood was sliding away from the paper... etc. Lucky for him it was later, after he'd gone to bed that I'd realized what happened!

Anyway, after that problem passed... I finally ended the night around 1am. Lots o' cards were printed (I plan on putting them in assortment packs) and 2 of the new 'shadow' works were printed on colored paper in colored inks. More on that project in the coming days!

New Ornaments!

These Christmas ornaments are made of Laguna Air-Dry clay. They are a bit fragile but turned out quite nicely, I'm really happy with them! Next time, I may try using ink before I stamp them instead of just paint. They're being stored in a pizza box - my son's idea... and a very good one indeed! Some of these will be going to a gallery (The Tinman Artworks if you're in Spokane, WA) show of artist's ornaments... some to a show in early December and a few for the etsy shop.

To Be Carved...

Candelabra - 'shadow drawing'

I've been painting a lot lately and have not had a chance to carve the other woodblocks in the shadow series. But, a few days ago, I got a call from an old friend who used to have an art show at her house twice a year... but she stopped last year much to all our dismay! Now, she has moved, settled and has decided to have a Christmas show! ('When the gods want to punish you, they answer your prayers' - Isak Dinsen)

Anyway I'm really going to try to have these done and printed in about 3 weeks time - allowing 1 week for drying. I hate to be in a show and not have something brand new! Wish me luck my thumbs don't go numb :)

Tag, I'm It

Here's a needle felted purse I'll be adding to my etsy shop soon. I added a few new things over there today... including 2 ink drawings on paper with gouache. They're kind of my 'babies...' but we'll see if they sell!

OK... I've been tagged by the talented Katherine at http://www.katherineq.blogspot.com/!

Rules of tag...

1. Link to person who tagged you.

2. Mention the rules

3. Tell 6 quirky but boring, unspectacular details about yourself

4. Tag 6 other bloggers by linking to them

5. Go to each person's blog and leave a comment that lets them know they've been tagged

Here goes...

1. I love the smell of the post office... and gasoline!

2. I have dyslexia and also have a terrible sense of direction.

3. I have very long fingers.

4. I'm a Francophile and obsess (quite often) about what it would be like to live in the south of France.

5. My idea of a great afternoon is quietly cruising the poetry section of a book shop.

6. I hate macaroni and cheese and unloading the dishwasher.

And now... TAG! You're it!!

http://www.pajarritolindo.blogspot.com/

http://www.reverieart.blogspot.com/

www.jeane-artit.blogspot.com

www.verylittlebird.blogspot.com

http://www.elizabethfloydstudio.blogspot.com/

http://www.marthamillerart.blogspot.com/

A New Light (and Shadow)

The drawing

The woodcut

I was goofing off, drawing and sipping tea (a very familiar scenario in this house!) and noticed some fabulous shadows happening on my paper... so I traced them right on the paper. I'm sure I'm not the first person to ever do this, but It's still a very exciting discovery for me. Can you guess what it is??

Fresh Prints

Hooray for printing days! deciding I was at a stopping point, I needed to print in order to see what direction to take these carvings. My son helped me turn the wheel on the press and watched as I pulled the paper from the matrix. He was thrilled to see the process- (of course these little moments warm my heart!)
So next, I'll clean them up a bit, finish and print them again in bright colors on colored paper... aahhhh, progress. :)

Christmas Card Plans

A preliminary crayon rubbing

These are some of the woodblocks I've been carving for Xmas cards. I've never really done holiday cards before -except for collage cards. It's hard not to be too sentimental, predictable etc. Amazing how some things that seem like they'll be simple end up being more complicated than you'd planned. Ultimately, I wanted to make something fresh and different! I'm planning on some bright colors come printing time... fun! These will land in my etsy shop and and a few local shops.

ps - today's the last day of the fiber art sale in my Etsy shop... take a look!

I got a wild hair yesterday and decided to make something with the air-dry clay. Of course this person is not finished and maybe not even 'a keeper' but I'm going to experiment on him! I plan on painting him and trying out different media and finishing 'varnishes' (in other words - to seal it somehow.) It was so much fun doodling around with the clay. I think I have 'art ADD' lately... not sure why. But, I need to re-gain focus to complete the Christmas stuff on my list. It may have been a bad idea to buy that clay because it's got me laying awake thinking about what I could do with it!

More Needle Felted Christmas Ornaments

I'm finally accepting the award , Brilliante Weblog Premio, 2008 given to me (a few months ago) by painter, Paula Villanova...(http://www.meandmypaintings.blogspot.com/) Thank you so much, Paula! Your paintings are an inspiration to me.

So, now I get to choose my favorite blogs and pass on the awards to them... it was hard to decide! Here are some lovely blogs that feed me constant inspiration, you all deserve this award so celebrate it!!! (and don't worry if it takes you some time to accept the award!)

Beth - http://www.tangledskystudio.blogspot.com/

Mary Ann - http://www.maryannwakeley.blogspot.com/

Martha - http://www.marthamillerart.blogspot.com/

Jennifer - http://www.jenniferlommers.blogspot.com/

Celia- http://www.purplepoddedpeas.blogspot.com/

Kristin - http://www.moontea.blogspot.com/

Julia - http://www.miss-frugality.blogspot.com/

Here are the 'rules' of acceptance...

1. Put logo on blog

2. Add link to person who awarded you

3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs

4. Add links to those blogs on you blog

5. Leave messages for you nominees on their blogs

6. Participation is voluntary, of course!

7. Have fun...honoring the bloggers who inspire you regularly

Laguna Air-Dry Clay

I had to share this fabulous find... kiln-free clay! It is a high quality, smooth clay that is very easy to work with. (it feels like regular clay that I've used in the past) . It's leather hard in 24 hours and 'all dry' after several days depending on temperature, humidity and thickness. I bought it at the local art supply store.

Mostly I was thinking of Christmas ornaments and stamping my smaller woodblocks into it for mini-wall art. If you love to work with clay but don't have a kiln or access to one... this is a great alternative! You can paint it with acrylics and who knows what else. I'm preparing to experiment. It is not waterproof, though and you have to use a commercial water sealant for that - so, decorative use only. (no, I don't work for Laguna... I just tend to get overly excited about the possibilities of newly discovered medias!)

More Circus Ornaments

The Big Top... looks more like Red Square! Will be doing more.

Here are some wool felt ornaments in various stages. I don't think any of them are officially done. Some still need stuffing, embellishments and ribbon for hanging. It's hard for me to stop adding stuff, so I'm trying really hard to 'hold back' a bit. Some will not make the final cut! Next, the tiger... he's going to be a challenge. Stay tuned!

Leaves are Falling...

Here's a post script to last week's Autumn Walk. In only a week's time the leaves have really fallen - it's unusual for our town. By now, the fall clean-up is done with just a little more to rake in November. These were taken this afternoon on a 'stroller ride' with my little girl...just trying to walk off that Halloween candy!