Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Baby Advent

I had a productive day in the art room today!  Here are some works in progress of the two designs I'm working on for baby advent calendars.  They are of course generally based off my Christmas calendar design, but with fewer pockets and using some different ideas to set the two designs apart.  I xeroxed and increased the size of the dictionary page with the definition for baby in the pink one, so that it uses only that part of the dictionary page rather than the whole thing.



In each pocket will be a prompts for an activity for the expectant parents to do that week (something to make their preparations more meaningful than just busy) or blank papers for writing one's own message on (whatever option the client desires).

Also today: the pant legs for 3 display legs for bike bands in shops, the completion of two aprons a friend commissioned from me (similar to the one in this post),  a nose sewn on to a cute stuffed cat doll, and the conception of my card swap card design.  It was a great day.  I wish I wasn't tired, so that I could carry on in the zone.  But I can truly only go so long.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Commissions & Card Swap!

4 Wonky Squares aprons, 30 bike bands, a set of post-Valentine's Day cards, even a new advent calendar design!  These are the things people have been requesting from me lately.  I have to say, it is flattering and fun to have such fans.  :)


Here is a collage that I made that my sister commissioned from me for Christmas.  (Please note that it is her photo, with her most excellent camera and her photographer's eye... I wish all the photos of what I make could be this high quality! Click on the image if you want to see it closer-up, and you can link to her blog here.)



She requested that I make a collage integrating the words of a poem she loves by John Keats.  I intended to give it to her in a shadow-box frame, but we never had the time to make that project happen.  But at some point, it will look even more elegant than it already does.


Announcing this year's 6 Degrees of HLM International Card Swap!  Please email me (see email address at right or leave a comment below) if you'd like to participate this year.  The lowdown:



  • You'll make 10 cards.  They can be blank, themed, big, small, professional-looking, your first try, whatever you'd like to do.  All I ask is that you do your best, have fun, and let me know you're joining us.
  • You'll send them all to me in April with envelopes, postmarked no later than April 16th (or we can rendezvous in person if you're in Fort Collins).  I got a couple of comments last year that this deadline is right at tax time.  I considered changing the time of year that we do this, but it is really the best time of year for me.  I hope you can still make it work.  Get going on it now!  There is a lot of time between now and then. 
  • If you'd like, you can attend a work party at my studio to work on your cards and enjoy some yummy snacks and the company of other card makers in the swap, Saturday afternoon, April 7th.
  • I'll send you back 10 cards that other people in the swap made, sometime in May.



It is so fun and inspiring, and you will love what you get in return.  The only cost to you is the amount you spend on your supplies and the postage it takes to get your cards to/from Colorado.


I would love to have you join us!  If you'd like to be inspired by what people made last year, click here.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Works In Progress

Last night, my friend Katie said she'd like to see more of my works in progress.  She pointed out that all I show you are finished items, but she likes to see and hear about the process along the way.  So for today, that's what I'm showing: something I've been working on for a long time.

This is what this piece of paper looked like in July 2011 (I had painted it this way at least one year earlier):


Since then, I've made some considerable adjustments. Now this is what it looks like!


I know, a total 180.  Literally, too.  The paper has been turned 180 degrees  and re-painted.  You can see a hint of the orange from the top right corner on view #1 underneath the purple at the bottom left of view #2.  And a tiny amount of bright pink from the lower left corner in #1 survived up near the wing in #2.  If you're able to see the underneath layers in these images (click on the image for better views), you'll see similarities there too.  There are certain underlying things that I still very much want to show!

Hmm... where will I go next with this one?

Please take my poll to the right--I'd like to make this blog more of what you want to see/read.