November 30, 2007
Bloesem's Pink collection
These new Pink Collection necklaces from Blosem are really unique. I think that the above "#3 necklace" could be the perfect winter piece of jewelry - juxtaposed a top of a soft cashmere sweater. The colors combinations Irene has used in this collection are breathtaking. See them all at her etsy shop. "Bloesem's Pink Collection are twenty necklaces... with beads and stones....every necklace has a 'Roze Quartz' stone...it is a limited edition...so every necklace is a unique piece"
November 29, 2007
Let me introduce, Amber Lavalley
Here she is folks, one of the newest artists added to our gallery- Amber Lavalley. I did a quick sneak peek of her work a month ago, but here are her smaller affordable works which we are popping into the shop as you read this. She has a small series of $150 mixed media paintings which are inspired by period style beds. I can't say enough about her work, so why don't you just go take a little gander yourself at them? She is in our January Show, which will focus on her larger works. She is also one of our two INVALUABLE interns without whom I would not have been able to survive the past month. She earned her BFA from Montserrat Collage of Art in 2004 and has worked in Boston for the past two years at a gallery there. We are very excited about her work! We are thrilled to have her help at the gallery - thank you Amber!
Brain Shawl
Regina from Monster Crochet has done it again. I love this woman and the way her mind works. This shawl was crocheted in thread and of her own pattern and design. Is she a brainiac or what?
Too good to miss, Regina's way with fiber is twisted for sure and always unique. I had the pleasure to meet her this past summer at the gallery on her visit to NH - all the way from L.A. She immediately fell in love with Megan Bogonovich's unusual growth dogs (no surprises there!) and I found out that she not only has her way with fiber but an MFA under her belt too.
This woman is a true artist. I guess that it shows here plainly, n'est pas?
Bravo Regina!
November 28, 2007
Tagged
The lovely Cally and Gretchen have tagged me to explain five oddities about moi.
Well, that is simple. SO many to choose from!
First I will explain the photo above. It's a tag. heh.
I have been making holiday tags for my personal HANDMADE gifts and perhaps a few to sell in December at the shop. Let me know if you are interested. They are shiny on the front and the back has room for writing that special note with a pencil or sharpie.
1. I love to stay up late, but also enjoy the early hours of the morning to create and to work.
2. Hence, I love naps.
3. I do not like to shop. at. all. for. anything. ever.
4. I would prefer to have dinner at home cooked by my husband than at 99.9% restaurants. (Pepperland, excluded)
5. I am hair phobic. Let's just say that I don't have a clue which way to turn any kind of curling or straightening iron. I leave it up to my 13 yr. old when things get tough. Perhaps I am just having a bad hair YEAR.
Well, that is more than enough. As it is the holidays I won't spring eternal on tagging others, but would ask you all to leave a comment with one oddity of your own below, if you feel the urge.
Daydream Studios
I found these lovely non-traditional cards over at the etsy shop, daydream studios. I had to show them as they really sparked the non holiday side of the season for me. We shouldn't need a reason to daydream, nor to send snail mail to those we care about, so these would be nice most anytime. Looking further into their studios they also do faux finishes and murals in their local Dallas Ft. Worth area. Click over to see that here at the site.
November 27, 2007
Foxy and Winston
Jane over at foxy and winston dropped me a line today about some new adorable designs for baby and child. Having designed and manufactured, (for almost ten years), a line of children's clothing, I fully appreciate a quality, fun/artistic piece of clothing when I see it. These are IT. Hedgehogs of course are my personal favorite being extra partial to their slug eating qualities... however Jane has some equally sweet squirrels and lovely owls and elephants to satisfy anyone. Take a look, cotton, (some organic!) and printed in their flawless, signature style. Thanks Jane!
New Davis Pottery
Just opened and oh so beautiful - new white on white work from Mary Anne Davis. The big bowl is a knockout and well, just in time for the holidays! In the shop soon as well, it was JUST in the door!
November 26, 2007
You are Invited!
Our invitation to Fragiles just came in the mail today - so beautiful!
Click the photo to read the wonderful company which Megan Bogonovich is exhibiting with. We packed and shipped everything to Miami last week - whew! and looking forward to the exhibition.
If you are in the Miami area the first weekend of December, please visit the exhibition!
Girlhood paperdoll calendar 08
Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a lovely weekend and holiday time... we certainly did along with a well needed rest.
However, I have been busy packaging up the new "Girlhood paperdoll calendar" for 2008. I was inspired this year to create illustrative memories of my own daughter's "girlhood years" adding in some parts of mine. I chose to use pen and ink with watercolor illustrations for the months and left the paper additions to YOU. Yes, a DIY gift for that paper lover in your life. There are enough papers and tracing paper pattern paper to create your own unique outfits for each month. Instructions are included tooThe calendar comes with a ribbon tie, and the packet of papers is attached to the back. They are 8.5x11 inches, but with more room to write in appointments and such. They are $28 and available in the gallery, online in our shop and at my etsy!
November 21, 2007
Without Snow
Red berries in the back garden bush. Grey slatted fence holding shadows. November is here.
Wishing you a wonderful peaceful holiday if you celebrate Thanksgiving, and a lovely Thursday if you don't!
November 20, 2007
Time
Oops! Where did yesterday go? Filled with art meetings, mailings, phone calls, and last minute details it slipped away. A day like yesterday reminds me to remember the details of the important pieces of each day. Like breathing, eating, self appreciation and the love of comfortable shoes. Today we are packing up work for Design Miami.... so I will leave you with these tidbits!
A couple of newsy bits-
Our designer extraordinare, (Rainer!) has updated our shop with a nice winter-y look and fun banner - do take a look if you have a moment. More goodies hopping in today and tomorrow. Everything we sell is handmade and most everything is one of a kind. Did you take the pledge yet? More holiday items to come...
New prints from Sub-Studio going in to the shop today from their "Seeking Light" collection of pen and ink drawings. So affordable and lovely! ($25!)
My personal shop over at etsy is holding a holiday sale with new items going in over the weekend. Yes, the calendar will be unveiled then too! Above is a little sneak peek of the original artwork. New illustration format this year - with a little DIY bonus. stay tuned!
November 16, 2007
Andrea Corson
garland necklace
earrings three
Andrea Corson is a jewelry designer from NYC. Her pieces have been celebrated by Daily Candy, The NYTimes, Bon Appetit, Surface and more. We are thrilled to find her via her sister- in - law, Kelly, who is one of my adult painting students. She had some of Andrea's jewelry on and well, the rest is history. It's going into the shop this weekend - along with a wonderful load of other goodies - handmade gifts for self and others. We are in the middle of an update too, so everything will be all tidy when we are back up! Andrea's pieces will be there as well - earrings and necklaces all so one of a kind and very special. I am totally in love with the Garland 2 necklace pictured above.
Oh! One last, late bit! Jessica is holding a giveaway, but only until tonight - hop over and enter!
Heather Palmer, Livia Coliji and more
nest by Heather Palmer black glass
the elephant and the bird
Thank you all for your kind words and mails yesterday. I am feeling a tad better today!
Lots of updates to the shop are coming... we are updating the entire shop - site so please be patient with us today....
We have had three new boxes come into the gallery this week and as I am feeling a bit better today, I will venture out to open them. Heather Palmer's beautiful glass works have arrived and new tiny art by Livia Coloji from Romania are there waiting for me along with some new jewelry from a NYC artist to be revealed a bit later!
Above is some of Heather's and Livia's work which we just received. Look for it in the shop this weekend.
November 15, 2007
Quiet day
cally creates paper beauty!
Somehow I have come down with a sort of flu and am under the weather. Here is a bit of cheer from dear Angie over at omondieu! (yes she's back!) and dear Cally's lovely work. I updated my shop at etsy a bit too, with two square foot originals from the "girlhood" series I started this summer... but for now I will be going back to the tea pot and books.
new angel rings by omondieu
November 14, 2007
More mapping goodies
If you haven't taken a closer look yet at some of the fine pieces in our Mapping the Way show - well you really should! These little beauties (like the above) are still available at an affordable $40 each! They are so beautiful in person, with tiny messages glowing from within them all.
For something a little larger and much more involved, these pinhole pieces from Heather Smith Jones are so beautiful. Loving each and every one of them on our "blue moon wall."
Sub-Studio also has some prints of the original Seeking Light pen and ink pieces which we are adding to the shop later this week. Email me if you can't wait, we understand... Peek around the shop - ther is a lot of beauty in all the corners!
November 13, 2007
Love Boat by Megan Bogonovich
Well, what will the girl think of next? Megan has had quite a busy year folks, with a successful show last summer with us to becoming a NH State Council fellow, (fellow-tress?) to being chosen for Fragiles at DesignMiami December.
What can't this woman do? We are so pleased to have two new large scale works to show of hers at the gallery within the next month too! Here's the Love Boat, it just landed and what a sea cruise it is!
Some people have commented on the objects in the boat, curious to know what they are... in fact Darryl thought they were teacups rendering them "lost at tea" - now that is MY kind of humor... but I digress.
They are polyps.Some are loose for playing with and rearranging.
This will be going into the shop before the week's end. It just makes me smile!
November 12, 2007
Folktale bird
Some little VERY affordable art in my little etsy shop.
All but this one (which is a bit bigger) are $15. Check em out here.
A huge thanks to Grace at design*sponge for the shout out about our participation in Fragiles down at Design Miami in December. Of course we thank Julian from Die Gestalten Verlag, for creating this marvelous exhibition! Read all about it over at design sponge. More on Megan soon!
November 10, 2007
Sweet!
Thanks to estasketch for putting me on the front page of Etsy today with my little "Gang o Three" ink drawing. So exciting! Thanks to Gretchen for pointing it out to me too! Now back to work...
November 09, 2007
The last leaves of fall
outside our studio window the lone leaves cling to the tree. Snow is predicted to flurry tomorrow. How can that be? The sun still shines brightly though, so it is all bearable. Working hard ... busy busy busy - paperdoll calendars, new cards, and lots of new beautiful items floating in on UPS wings.
Check the shop for some new wonderful things this weekend - yes, I will be putting more goodies into entice you all!
More from the exhibition, new Hadley Hutton to pop into the shop (beautiful beautiful!) and our new glass artist Heather Palmer's work started to arrive late today and NEW Megan Bogonovich work. Lots to tell, but will save it for Monday.
Enjoy your weekend!
November 08, 2007
Poppytalk Handmade
bird in a tree
joy card
I have some things over at Poppytalk Handmade for the holiday season - these gocco original cards for starters. My original drawings were "burned" in from were inspired by fancy Danish embroidery work from vintage pattern books. I tried to show the stitching as true to the forms as possible. Also the image is printed on the backs of the envelopes too for a matching look. There are two patterns available and a few packets left.
My paperdoll calendar will be ready by mid month so keep an eye out here and at poppy's market for that one. It's completely a new format from last year.
November 07, 2007
Redbean Papergoods
Just got the skinny on the new Redbean Holiday line. Love these tags! So lovely - and this year they have a shiny spot varnish highlighting the beautiful designs. Check out more of their new modern designs right here at shopredbean.
November 05, 2007
Five Fast ones by Susan Schwake
After some hounding and a-do, here are my five fast ones. Seems odd to interview oneself, but it's not too "interview-y". The photo is something I took for a blogging friend after completing my other creative love: cooking! (falafel, it's so yummy!)
1. Your name and your business title if you have another name for your work.
Susan Schwake (art esprit)
2. What art do you find really exciting right now?
I am "re-finding" the work of joseph cornell quite interesting at the moment. it seems there are so many people out there making art right now which incorporates his style and ideas from his "boxes" so of course those artists are exciting to me too. Oh I would be amiss if I didn't mention that I can never wait to see what Megan Bogonovich will make next. That is really exciting.
3. What sort of day is a good art day for you?
Good art days are when everything is put aside for the pure pleasure of making art, uninterrupted.
4. Do you like working out of your normal medium? if so what do you play
with?
I like to work with wax, clay and textiles. All of which I struggle with and that makes me think.
5. What are you listening to for music currently?
I love Pandora radio - but am very much into quiet. Listening to music - for me - is an engaging activity. When I do listen I enjoy John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald, David Byrne, David Sylvian and Regina Specktor. .. among a zillion others!
artstream's quicky weekend recap
What a wonder- filled weekend for us at artstream! Our opening of "Mapping the Way" was fun and we met the lovely Sub-Studio duo, Sean and Anna (thanks so MUCH for coming!) We had such a wonderful time preparing and opening the show I can't wait to go to the gallery today and actually "take it all in". Saturday was a blustry, crazy hurricane (was it downgraded finally to tropical storm?) so our Art Aids Art was not well attended. Somehow though we managed to raise $1100 + with those who came out and those who used the internet to buy. Thanks to ALL!
Don't forget the side bar link to my flickr- photos from the show are there - and you can buy the work online, more items going in all through the week! A huge thanks to Poppytalk and Love made visible and cake+pie for their wonderful shouts out on the exhibition
This week we have lots of goodies in store and there is so much around the net today to check out that I will be back later with my fast five (after much email hounding!) and some peeks at neato posts I have found.
November 03, 2007
Art Aids Art
We are in the midst of our Art Aids Art evening AND a hurricane!
If you see anything on these photos which you would like us to send to you please contact me here today or tomorrow and we will work out shipping the pieces to you.
The work is amazing, giftable, and falls under the all important pledged category of BUYING HANDMADE ...
remember, you can make a difference! Sandy from ArtTeaLife posted about this in August and that is how we came to find out about this amazing project.
artstream gallery
Looking across the gallery late in the afternoon yesterday... an hour before the show opened. We had a wonderful night with three of the five artists attending and people strolling in. We were buzzing around so much that there were only a few photos and nothing really wonderful, but I popped them up on flickr for you anyway!
A special hug to Edibeth for making the trip and her lovely daughter and friends attending too. We were also thrilled that Sub-Studio: Sean and Anna drove up from Brooklyn for the evening, it was so nice to meet them and have dinner at Pepperland with them!
Tonight we have our screening of Bigger than Barbie for Art Aids Art and MonkeyBiz beaded artwork sale. Let's hope that the hurricane blows away! Look in the shop for artwork being added daily to the exhibition's category, right here.
See you all monday!
November 02, 2007
Five Fast ones from Heather Smith Jones
I thought it would be fun to ask each of our artists participating in the next exhibit a few quick questions: mini interview style. Over the next few days I will post them. To see more photos of the exhibit pop over to our flickr
1. Your name and your business title if you have another name for your work.
Heather Smith Jones
2. What art do you find really exciting right now?
I like looking at work, and am usually inspired by work in mediums
other than my own, especially printmaking, fiber, and sculptural
clay. I also am interested in artists that combine media or use
traditional methods/materials in a new or personal way.
To name some artists specifically: Tony Fitzpatrick, Marco Maggi, Polly
Apfelbaum, and also painter Squeak Carnwath. My artist friends are also a
source of inspiration to me.
3. What sort of day is a good art day for you?
A good art day is one filled with optimism or new ideas or one where
I am able to work through a problem. The most exciting art day is
when I make discoveries.
4. Do you like working out of your normal medium? if so what do you play
with?
I like to sometimes experiment with other media and have taken
workshops in {other 2-D media such as} printmaking, photography and
surface design in textiles. I have also taken workshops/classes in
jewelry and enameling and really enjoyed those as well.
5. What are you listening to for music currently?
The sounds of tree branches, rustling leaves and birds since it's
still nice enough to have the windows and skylights open. Otherwise
public radio is usually on.
November 01, 2007
Fast Five! from Sub Studio
I thought it would be fun to ask each of our artists participating in the next exhibit a few quick questions: mini interview style. Over the next few days I will post them. To see more photos of the exhibit pop over to our flickr
Fast Five:
1. Your name and your business title if you have another name for your work
Sub-Studio is Anna Corpron and Sean Auyeung.
2. What art do you find really exciting right now?
We are currently inspired by ancient art styles: hieroglyphics,
totem art, botanical illustrations, anatomical drawings, illuminated manuscripts.
3. What sort of day is a good art day for you?
A good art day is being inspired and taking pleasure in the process of making.
4. Do you like working out of your normal medium? if so what do you
play with?
We like to experiment with other media in order to have a mix of hand and vector illustration.
5. What are you listening to at the moment.
We're at this moment listening to Kanye West - Graduation. We 're also loving Regina Spektor, and older favorites Death Cab for Cutie, the Shins and the Go! Team.
Thanks to Anna and Sean - come meet them tomorrow night at artstream!
comecomecome.....Edibeth Farrington
Another lovely monotype from Edibeth in our exhibition, Mapping the Way. Stay tuned for our next mini interview with Sub-Studio!