Party party

party tent and hollyhock shadows, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

A tent went up for the birthday party of my father in law and the weather cooperated perfectly for the event yesterday here in the Muensterland! I love coming to visit our family here, enjoying life in the slower lane, helping my German language along and of course enjoying the yummy foods of the country. The catering service did a beautiful job with the food and Rainer and I made a lot of floral centerpieces for each of the tables with instruction from his mom. Something I have never tried, but had so much fun learning and all the flowers came straight from her garden!
Anyway, if you want to follow along with our travels, just click through to our flickr account. Happy weekending!

Summertime fun

A simple hello from the road. Wifi service on the way to the airport really has been great here to catch up from last week's time at Cape Cod. No posts, just sunny beaches.
We enjoyed a lovely party on Saturday night for my birthday. It was thrown by Mary-Jo who had pulled out all the stops for me ... Photos are of course on my camera at home. No bulky nikon on this trip. I am going for light and easy. The photos should still be forthcoming in normal fashion, just less quality!

And so, we are off now to Madrid and then to Dusseldorf for our time alone and with family. Stopping down to Baden-Baden for some spa time and more importantly a visit with Angela from omondieu! Will post photos at flckr as we go and try and keep up with some nice hot design and art spots from the road. Checking in here with those and highlights from shows at artstream and my own at Kimball Jenkins - Dreaming Seasons.

How are you going to spend the next weeks? I hope it is wonderful wherever you are!

Susan Schwake : : distance

distance, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

The work is as always a composite of places I've seen rendered into a place I have only visited within my head.

another one of my paintings for my upcoming show at Kimball Jenkins Estate
this one is one of three 12x12x1.5 inch canvases in this theme.
sort of a mix of our travels around Provence with an impression of lower Switzerland.

My new machine called Singer

my new machine, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

My old sewing machine broke last week. It finally bit the dust. With my birthday coming up and my daughter's quilt half finished, we found this beauty in perfect working condition complete with a lovely little cabinet available at a house two streets over from ours. Too funny and too good for my mom to pass up for my present. Hooray for birthdays! hooray for real heavy metal sewing machines!

Ana Ventura beautiful new print!

Ana Ventura sent over a new print of hers as seen above. I love ana's work so much. We still have a few pieces of hers in the shop. Hand silkscreened on beautiful heavypaper. An original beauty.
Here is the link to the new one above in her shop too!

Natalie Chanin for Alabama Chanin Vogue Fashion Finalist!

Kudos to Natalie Chanin for being chosen as one of the Vogue Fashion Fund Finalsits!
“The ten finalists we selected are a talented, diverse group, who are building healthy independent businesses in challenging times.” One winner and two runners-up will be announced at a gala on November 16 in New York City.
Whoo hoo!

Detailed look at "Deep South"

1. Natalie Chanin for Alabama Chanin, 2. Natalie Chanin for Alabama Chanin, 3. Natalie Chanin for Alabama Chanin, 4. Natalie Chanin for Alabama Chanin, 5. Natalie Chanin for Alabama Chanin, 6. Natalie Chanin for Alabama Chanin, 7. Lillian Farag, 8. Stephanie Howard, 9. Stephanie Howard, 10. Katie Runnels, 11. Denise Falk, 12. close up Tim Wirth "cannonballs", 13. Katie Runnels, 14. Emily Marie Cox, 15. Emily Marie Cox, 16. Emily Marie Cox

Alabama Chanin

Natalie Chanin is a remarkable woman. Her company Alabama Chanin does what companies should do - and she does it with style. Here is an excerpt from her website:

Alabama Chanin is a lifestyle company that focuses on creating an array of products through focusing on slow design and sustainability.We craft limited-edition products for the individual and the home. Our products are made-by-hand using a combination of new, organic and recycled materials. Each piece is constructed with care by talented artisans who live and work in communities in and around Florence, Alabama. Our products come numbered in one-of-a-kind or limited edition series and signed by the artisan that made it. We dedicate ourselves to producing quality products that become a part of daily life in this generation and beyond. From farmer to fiber to artisan to home, our products are “grown-to-sewn” in USA. 

We are so thrilled to have her pieces here on display and for sale, right here in the shop!

 

My illustrations in ON magazine

my illustrations in ON Magazine, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

I was so happy today when the ON magazine arrived in my mailbox. I had sent a group of tiny watercolors to them for use in this article and set of recipes by Carolyn Dille and wasn't sure how they would use them.
I like what they did and now can exhale. Today must have been the most perfect day of days in the summer here. Big blue skies, dry air and when arriving home poking around the basil patch of my garden I spied a hummingbird at rest on our tomato cages. How did your day go?

About last night ...

last night outside under the solar lamp, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

There is nothing finer in New England than a warm summer night under the stars. That is what Rainer and I enjoyed last night out in our garden. The fireflies were flying high and the stars were bright. It is very quiet where we live and quite dark. This year I bought a couple of solar powered LED lanterns made from a silky fabric mounted on traditional chinese lantern style wire forms. They have the tiniest little LED in them which cast a lovely glow that doesn't interfere with star gazing or firefly enjoyment. What was your weekend like?

Through Katie Runnels work

Through Katie Runnels work, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

Another sneak peek at the show! By Katie Runnels ... Still workin on it, so have to run ... check out more work as it goes up over at our flickr. And a full blast too by the show's curator Grace Bonney over at design*sponge! It's available for sale online in our shop right here!

Haylie Waring Sew Things Up

Haylie Waring Sew Things Up, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

Just another little peek at some of the pieces for the deep south -- check out our flickr to see more beautiful pieces! Busy today getting the work up and arranged! More later!

Upcoming show:: Deep South

meryl truett

tim wirth

denise falk

Here are a few images to get you going today... coming up this Saturday at artstream ... Deep South an exhibition of nine artists curated by Grace Bonney of design*sponge. The work is diverse and absolutely wonderful. It's very exciting to unpack it all!

I'll let the photos do the talking. The exhibition will be online on Saturday for purchase. Here's the line up:
Tim Wirth, Katie Runnels, Meryl Truett, Lillian Farag, Denise Falk, Stephanie Howard, Haylie Waring, Emily Marie Cox and Natalie Chanin for Alabama Chanin!

Opportunities

Opportunity, it's a word full of anxiety, anticipation and questions. It's like a garden in the early springtime, full of seeds and tiny plants just waiting for the right combination of sun, water and fertilizer to help it grow. (shot of our weedbed which we finally are getting around to dry weather now to actually care for!)
I stumbled across this artistic opportunity which could be fun for some of you out there -- "The Untitled Artist Project" The deadline is approaching so click over there now to read more! It could be quite exciting. From the people who brought you Project Runway, comes this wonderful looking opportunity! Go for it I say!
Here is an excerpt from their website:

Magical Elves (Peabody Award-winning Project Runway, Emmy Award-winning Top Chef) and Sarah Jessica Parker (Golden Globe- and Emmy Award-winner) and her production company, Pretty Matches, are teaming up for an hour-long creative competition series among aspiring contemporary artists who will create and compete to conquer the art world!If you’re an emerging or mid-career artist with a unique, powerful voice that demands a bigger stage – well. . . Here. It. Is.

We want contemporary artists. Your medium could be one of many (or several of many) – painting, sculpture, installation, video, photography, mixed-media – we want voices that believe in their art and want the world to know. Attend one of our four regional casting calls around the country and we will consider you for participation in this groundbreaking show.

Glue Prints :: a mini tutorial

Hello all! It's been a fun week at the studio with the printmaking camp in progress. Looking at all the beautiful prints in the gallery has been inspiring to the students as well as thinking up their own ideas!
One of the most free form styles of printmaking - glue prints - something we enjoyed making yesterday. I thought I would share a little mini tutorial with you on this fun process.

First get out the white liquid glue and a piece of cardboard a little or a lot smaller than your paper.

Enjoy the flow of the glue and don't worry about any real details.

Let it dry overnight

In the morning, using a brayer, spread ink over the dried glue

Place your paper on top of the inked glue and cardboard

Rub like mad with your fingertips!

Pull off the paper and admire your work.
Add color or collage pieces if you like

Of course you can do so much more printing with the glue
"plate" ... I will let you think up some on your own - let me know what you come up with!

grafitti :: something special

Can't find any credits to this, but it is a rather lovely image for this morning...

Hello Monday!

north window allegedly summer ...
Hello!  I hope your weekend was as lovely as ours was. We had beautiful weather Friday and Saturday - just right for taking  Chloe to  Camp Bernadette (her last year) and a Saturday night with friends over having dinner in the garden with us. Raining (yet again)here today, but that doesn't dampen my spirits -- it's Rainer's birthday and we are going to have some fun. 

delphinium 6.29 - about two weeks late

Earlier this morning I had to dash out to the garden to cut the blue delphinium which had fallen over with the weight of the rain. Sad to bring them inside, but better than letting the mud and the slugs (one came in on a blossom... oh ew!) get at them!

So, off to the art camps for the morning and on to the festivities later... 

Deep South :: our next show

It's going to be great! A little sneak peek here ...

IPS:: Heather Smith Jones happy ending

Heather-Smith-Jones-happy-ending, 

Oh did you know that you can still pick up some beautiful printmaking based work here at artstream? This is just one of four originals Heather Smith Jones created for our show. Beautifully framed by her husband, it is a jaw dropping piece. Go here to see the other three pieces!

Incredible Print Show :: did you see these?

Anke Weckmann simply rocks!

Stacey Durand has a way with houses...

Megan Bogonovich ... for the motorcycle lover in you ... how about planting some succulents in one of these?

Plenty of prints left to snap up right here in the shop!

love this poster

GO TO THIS, originally uploaded by bienworld.

Ty Williams posted this on his flickr and well, I just love it... don't you?

danny mansmith :: studio sale time!!!

Danny Mansmith is having a sale, so I suggest you scoot on over to check it out! Now!

Some new work of my own

So here is one of the many landscapes from the "Places to go" series for my solo show this summer. It is acrylic and measures 18x24 and is called "after the flash". What a productive weekend here at the ranch. The home studio is almost back and running after nine months of storage and jumble issues in the walkout.  Oh it's good to purge and dust, put away and organize after such a long time. I feel pretty content at the end of this weekend. Oh yeah, ,more of my work for this yet unnamed show  will appear at my flickr set right here. Happy evening to you and you and you. Especially you. 

enjoying the peonies

enjoying the peonies, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

Sometimes you just have to stop and smell the flowers... that is what kind of day today was. Playing in clay, smelling the flowers and being so very glad we are here on the planet. Sometimes it takes someone a little younger to remind you to do this. Lucky me, I have a dreamer in house to remind me to. Her name is Chloe and she just turned 15. Happy birthday dear one.

Apartment Therapy SFO and Cuteable:: Thanks!

Apartment Therapy San Fransisco blogged about our Incredible Print Show today. How wonderful - thank you Susie Nadler! They featured some of my personal favorites (how to choose favorites when I love them all?) It's nice to get the post love from them.

If that were not enough to cheer a drowsy rainy Monday, over at Cuteable they posted about my new little ceramic dishes! It was a yellow day at Cuteable, and the post has lovely items surrounding my little dish too.

Thanks to you all!

DUMBO :: a new shop from Barcelona

Hello Monday! Deborah and Arieh sent me a note this morning about their new shop which was inspired by and born while on vacation in Brooklyn, (hence the name). I love this shirt which I think is perfect for a rainy Monday morning like today! 

our peonies :: the pink one inside

the pink one inside, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

I have a great love in our garden for the peony bushes. Each year I try and plant another one. There is just no way you can have too many peonies. Today I rescued one from the heavy rains and brought it inside to the breakfast table. I thought it made a nice contrast to the bleak rainy day gray outside. Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend... we are! oh it's so showy, here is another shot of it full on...

Save my hand sale:: You Fail

Lovely illustrations and fine art are on sale to fund Kiersten Essenpreis' medical bills. Please help her!
Read more about her here at her blog.

Kristen Swanson:: ceramics

I love these striped vases from Karen Swanson. Each one is different and a group would be such a pleasure on a nice little shelf. With all my flowers blooming right now, I have a lot of vase love. More to come soon! It's a month for vases .... and flowers. yes!

The Shoes of Rochester :: walking tour

some cute little posers at my boot yesterday...
So thrilled to report that our weekend launch of two art community art projects was successful! Beautiful weather helped out I am sure! At 7 a.m. on Saturday the shoes stepped out into their locations around town to pair up with their poems which were installed on Friday. Each artist and most of the poets hung out at their respective shoes around 10 a.m. and answered questions and watched the groups of walkers stroll from location to location guided by the maps which were both in the brochures around town and the maps located alongside the poems.

It was a fun fun time to see so many people enjoying the art.
Later in the day we unveiled the 12 foot long mural which I had worked on with a group of autistic children and their families this past winter. It coincided with our monthly Art Stroll, so that was a fun bonus too!

It was a rich and fulfilling day on Saturday - and now it's just wonderful to sit back and enjoy the ride for the rest of the summer.

More info on the shoes project right here.

Darryl Berger :: It's been six weeks IPS print

Oh yes - this lovely monotype done three different ways by Darryl Berger. Very cool. It also includes a short handwritten story right. on. the. work. Available here. Of course you should also go and take a look at his other work. Brilliant.

The Golden Chair :: a new print by me!

The golden chair by Susan Schwake :: 1/1 gocco

I had been working with some composite gocco images and came up with four different prints - all unique and this one is one of the favs. It comes with the white mat and is now in the shop right here.

Kate's sculpture :: in ceramic

Kate's sculpture, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

Happy Thursday to you all out there -- I wanted to quickly show an example of what my students have been working on for this past season. They were all inspired this past season by Megan Bogonovich's huge ceramic sculptures.
And who isn't?
So we took on the monumental task of creating 14 inch mountains with stoneware clay in our classes. It was fun, hard work and beautiful results.
I will be taking better photographs of these as they are set up in the show. But for now, enjoy this one, click through the photograph to my flickr to see a few more!

The Textile Blog

Beautiful finds from the 1950s at The textile blog: Margret Hildebrand  *swoon* ....

Mary Ink :: cute keys

I love Mary Ink. I have two of their shirts - and now I think I might have to have another ... check it out right here at her Supermarket site.

IPS :: Welcome to June!

Still more art goodness in the affordable category right here at the IPS at artstream. 

How about giving that grad who is off to college soon something to hang on their empty wall? 

Or the newlyweds you know so well?

 

Dad could use something new too in his office...

 Check out the prints and find one for yourself as well!