Spring Cleaning for Fall

As part of my ongoing project to organize my studio space, I've slowly been putting up shelves, painting and making a place for everything. I've been collecting cans over the last few weeks to make pen and paintbrush holders, and as of this morning, finally had enough to hold everything.

I used tin cans in different sizes (canned peaches from the farmers market, coffee and olives, among other things) and covered them in my favorite batik paper available here.

A little double sided tape and five minutes later, and there you have it. A set of mighty-fine paintbrush holders.

On how to spend $500

Today hasn't been my most productive day ever. Let's call it "research," but I spent the better part of the morning drooling over the plates at Anthropologie. Now all I need is an adorable cabin in the woods to decorate with whimsical yet pricey ceramics.

Looks like it's time for another visit to the ceramics painting studio to finish painting the pitcher I enthusiastically started three months ago.

Christmas Cards are Underway!

There's a chill in the air, I'm snacking on candy corn, and the Christmas cards designs are underway! I'm starting with some stylized holly, and next in line is a magnified snowflake. There won't be any over the top Christmas designs: no Santas or Nativity Scenes, but I think you'll like them.

An Inspiration Day

It's pouring in DC today and it feels like monsoon season in Hong Kong here. It reminds me of the huge vines that would grow in our driveway, the five foot webs that spiders would weave between the guardrails and the tree branches, and the sound of the drains that turned into rushing rivers in minutes. I am holed up in the apartment with a cup of jasmine tea, a stack of papers to be organized, and a pile of art supplies begging to be used.

Thinking about the strange monsoon season plants in Hong Kong reminds me of the succulents I saw at the Oregon Gardens in Salem this summer: planted on roofs, in teacups, and an entire room used as a planter.

So today is a day for inspiration. A time to work on all those fun projects I wouldn't have time for if I were to brave the elements and go outside. A time to look through old photos, pull supplies out of dusty boxes, and make something beautiful that wouldn't fit into a normal schedule.

First Farmers Market

This Sunday was my first time as a vendor at the Baltimore Farmers Market, probably the biggest farmers market I've ever been to. While it wasn't my best market ever, I have a new-found respect for farmers market vendors who wake up pre-dawn for markets that open at 7am. We drove around deserted Baltimore at 5:30 am looking for the market, ignoring street signs that said "No turn on red after 7am." It was very strange to be setting up in the dark, and by the time the market was over at noon, I was exhausted and it felt like dinner time. So to all those farmers who do it every week: wow.

 

Hot off the presses

On Thursday night I headed over to Pyramid Atlantic for the Block Printing Happy Hour to print my newly finished linoleum carving. I spent approximately eight hours straight on Thursday finishing the piece I was working on at Arts on Foot, and ten minutes before I had to get in the car I finally finished the last cut. My hand felt like it was on fire, but my favorite part about linoleum printing is the period between finishing the carving and printing, after you have invested so much time but are still waiting to see the results.

Even during the printing process it is still a work in progress, as you carve out a little more here and there, fix little mistakes, and adjust the pressure of the press to get it just right.

I printed fabric for three journals, six tea towels and several packs of cards, but there is definitely more to come from this block! Here are some pictures of the process, from sketches to final product:

 

Linoleum carving creates piles and piles of little linoleum scraps. Someone asked me at a market if I did anything with them, but right now they just go in the trash. Any ideas? 

So there it is! The much anticipated (mostly by me) new print. Now its back to the sketchbook for the next design!

Around the Studio

With the Baltimore Farmer's Market this Sunday, the World Maker Faire in Queens the weekend after that and more wholesale orders coming in, things have been very busy around the studio lately. The to-do list seems never ending, and it feels like the days are getting shorter. But, it feels great. I am getting so much accomplished, even though every time I do one thing it reminds me of two more things to follow up with.

Today I have been working on replenishing my inventory after a very successful weekend to make sure I have enough to actually sell at the upcoming markets. Since the Maker Faire is a two-day event, I need to double the amount of inventory I brought last weekend. It's a challenge, but I'm loving it.

Here are some of the things I have been working on today: