I love Plum - Etsy shop

One of my student's mother has opened up an etsy shop with some of the cutest clothes for the little ones. Yes, two posts in four days about kids clothes ... once a children's clothing junkie, always a children's clothing junkie! Even though I don't miss designing children's clothing - I still love finding unique pieces to give friends as gifts.
The I Love Plum shop has this dragon appliqué which I just love! Her workmanship is wonderful and this little dragon would be so spiffy on a little boy or girl. So perfect, Pam - great work!

Faith Ringgold Exhibition

Faith Ringgold dolls, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

This past weekend we visited daughter Grace at Keene State. Much to my delight we found that the Thorne-Sagendorf Gallery at the college had a double billing - Faith Ringgold and contemporary Maori and Aboriginal artwork.
I flipped. I have missed at least three times, the chance to see some of her work and Saturday not only did we see her quilts, her masks but also the entire artwork and words to Tar Beach as well as these amazing art dolls. Click through the photo to see some more of her work there.

BKids opens a shop!

photo by Irene Hoofs - Bloesem
So many of my friends are having babies right now it seems, so I was really excited to see the lovely Irene from Bloesem had opened a shop! Her own handiwork is included in the shop with sweet little booties and hats. The clincher for me is the packaging. She has little silk bags made with fabric designed by Malayasian artist Peter Hoe to hold the booties and beanies. Too cute for words and no need for extra wrapping. So beautiful Irene!

Nahcotta ETA 4

The Secret Life of Fruit:: the royal family by Susan Schwake
There is still time to scoop up some lovely tiny art over at Nahcotta's ETA 4. I have a few pieces left right here. Check it out! Deb and Abbie have made a lovely site with the help of the wonderful Christine from Darling Design for their Enormous Tiny Art shows. I am so pleased to be part of Nahcotta's shows.

flossy-p and Style Magazine

image from sarah lyttle - enlarge to view and read the article!
Sarah Lyttle aka flossy-p - sent me this wonderful interview with her which appeared in Style Magazine in her native Australia. She is very shy, quiet and not a big "horn tooter"... so I with her permission, I have gone ahead and shared her loveliness with you all. Isn't she the cutest?
All of her work here at artstream has already inspired so many - do drop by virtually or stop in for a moment in the gallery before the end of the show. It's up till October 30th.

Affirmations - Grace rides again

grace rides again Amy Rice, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

Amy Rice has a way with color. This fall our colors in the studio ring with vibrant Affirmations in hues of turquoise, reds and yellows. People passing by the gallery have stopped, come in and commented on the large zinnia pieces reminding them that their gardens are almost through.
This particular piece from Amy just gives me that joy of being ten again, having the world on a string and wind in my hair. What a wonderful way to fly - on your favorite Schwinn through the garden.

Swampgril is making Whoopie!

One of the best things about living in New England is Whoopie Pies. Yes folks, I know that you think it's all fall foliage, Hotel New Hampshire, and historic cities here, but nay nay. It's the Whoopie Pies which keeps us staying here through the long horrible winters. So you can't visit us? No need - just click over here to Moe's site for a recipe which will literally knock your socks off. Trust me, I know whoopie pies.
psst- while you are over there getting the recipe - make sure you send your wedding greetings to Moe too!

People continue to inspire me ...

Over the past 15 years of teaching art, I have had so many people inspire me while they were students at my classes, workshops and retreats. I have to share with you today one of the most recent pearls which dropped into my inbox this week. Jenica was at Squam Art Workshops in my painting class ... she ended up being in that spot at the end of the class, which wasn't where she wished to be. That place where the painting hasn't had enough time with it's maker, it's in it's "ugh" phase, or to coin a phrase from dear adult student Amy "it's hideous!" stage. We took a few minutes to further critique what she did and didn't like from the painting and after a few suggestions she was able to figure out where to go on from.

Yesterday she sent me the cute photo you see above. She took a plein air class, came up with two paintings she was happy with and found that one of them was going to be included in a traveling exhibition! To say the least, she is happy and I am thrilled she is painting seriously.

Just a little affirmation. We need Affirmations in our life daily. More on some of the special Affirmations in the gallery - later today

Saturday Enrichment Program

I wanted to share a video made during our Saturday Enrichment Program held at artstream this past year for autistic children. It was a wonderful experience for me to teach these children and I thank Sherry Day for capturing the essence of what we did together in this video. Thanks too, to Pat Spiller for having the vision to create such a program and the funders for their generosity.
We are looking forward to having such a program again at artstream.

New Artist: Boyan:sneak peek

At artstream, we are introducing some new artists to our gallery in the coming weeks. The first one I would like to give you a sneek peek from is Boyan. Yesterday he dropped by with the pots we had ordered a month ago and all I can say is WOW. Boyan is from Bulgaria and has married an American, Anna, and works like crazy in his NH studio. His ability to throw a perfect pot is incredible and he also loves to just make things. The pots he has created for us are in white and will be also coming in stock in a delicious shade of yellow a little later on. So here is the peek of Boyan unloading his pots and a close up group shot of the work itself.
This weekend we will be doing the photo shoots of the work and it will be in the gallery and in our online shop. His work starts with miniature bowls at $8.50 - and ranges to bowls ($26-$40) , plates and oooh wait till you see his mugs ($15) Affordable handmade beauty.

Embracing by Flossy-P

Embracing_by Flossy-p, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

A quick post today of one of the beautiful paintings flossy-p sent us. Embracing the moment - the loves in your life and the hopes that things will turn out for the best.
See more of the beauty in the gallery's latest show Affirmations here online at our shop.
Happiness everyone, happiness.

Cronicle Books - very cool goods...

I take a lot of notes. Lots. So when I saw these little journal sets I just flipped.
The Rex Ray Mini Journal Sets that Chronicle Books has released are perfect for me.
I can't get over the perfect size, design and "set"nature of these. Love them!
Another journal lovely from Chronicle which fabulous artist Lisa DeJohn has designed is the nature inspired, Beautiful Day.
Beautiful Day is a Wire-O notebook with her beautiful collage work - nestled into three sections for writing, sketching and mapping and recording. Grid paper folks! Goodness we love our grid paper in this household!

Squam Art Workshops

my printmaking class students, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

Squam Art Workshops is over, but will be felt in our minds and hearts for a long time. I spent four days with some amazing artists/instructors and met some people I have wanted to meet for a few years now.

My classes were filled with enthusiastic wonderful students - all who amazed me with their willingness to jump in with both feet and abandon the fear which so many adults harbor towards the arts. I will admit - I failed miserably at photo journaling this event as I was so immersed in the process of being there! But, if you click through the above photo, you will see my poor attempts at snapping a few shots of different aspects of the time spent at Squam.
There is no way I could recount every aspect of this experience - right here in my home state of New Hampshire - but I can tell you I was overjoyed to meet the likes of Lizzy, Amanda, Melanie, Penelope, Christine, Jen Gray, and Andrea Scher as well as Judy Wise, Mati, Kelly Rae, and all of my students. Speaking of students - one of my printmaking students took some beautiful shots - so hop on over to Andrews blog for more beauty of Squam.
Thank you to Elizabeth for the vision, execution and happiness which she infused into this wonderful experience!

Affirmations tour

front window, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

Happy Monday all! Above is one of the four zinnia panels left in the exhibition at artstreamstudios which opened last Friday. Click through the photo or here to see the entire tour. Everything is almost online for sale, so go peek... a few more pieces will be added this week - so if you see something in Flickr which you wish to purchase-but not in the shop - just email us at info@artstreamstudios.com
Only one more day until Squam Art Workshops - so posting here will be brief this week.
Enjoy!

Affirmations :: opening!

Abigail and company!, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

Here is the one really good shot I got last night at the opening of Affirmations. I was so busy with details, that the camera lay waiting without me on the desk! We had a flurry of sales prior to the opening, and everyone who came in felt UPLIFTED ... which was so very nice.
An actual affirmation of the joy which these four artists prepared. So all in all, a lovely show. The photo above shows Abigail from Theodesigns with her sister and cousin - but her lovely mother hopped out of the shot -- too bad! They are a lovely bunch. Lots of nice support online and from visitors today on the show. Thank you all!
Still wrangling the pre show and post show (oh yes, there is the camera...) photos, but will post them tomorrow or Monday.
Tonight? R and I are off to a fun party which hopefully, we will have some "photo shenanigans" to show.

Orouni's + Natsko = new album!

We have a busy day today with our opening of Affirmations tonight - but still - I just had to share the news which dropped into my box this morning... beautiful art that Natsko Seki made for the new Orouni album. You may be familiar with Natsko's work: her clients include Louis Vuitton, the New York Times, and Elle Decoration. I flipped when Orouni sent me this today as I love Natsko Seki's work. Hear six full tracks on their myspace site and buy the album right here. And gaze at the cheerful cityscapes which Natsko creates!

Affirmations

Affirmations, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.
We are so thrilled announce our our new show opening at artstream, on Friday night - Affirmations
It has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? We hope you will join us from 5-7 p.m. for the opening!
Four of our favorite women artists are exhibiting:
Amy Rice with her amazing new Zinnia works
Penelope Dullaghan --originals - both small works and large
Flossy-P - gorgeous gorgeous, what more can I say? and
Sian Keegan - animal soft sculptures which will melt your heart.

All the work will be online for sale on Friday night starting at 5 p.m.
Check our flickr for each and every piece in it as we add them today!
last dibs on the last exhibition: Pigmentary Portraits - some beautiful originals from Lisa Solomon and Lisa Congdon still in the shop!

Poppytalk! Art Student Guest blogging

Just read this over at Poppytalk's blog and very excited to pass this on to you student readers. Poppytalk is looking for their FIRST art student guest blogger! Yeah, you know who you are! Get on the "stick" and submit to Jan pronto! Yes, you should do so now. Now shoo ... get going... yes, YOU!

Kris Lanzer - artist

detail from an installation at the barn gallery, ogunquit maine
Lovely friend and environmental artist, Kris Lanzer has set up a website. Go check it out here. She has had two beautiful installations at artsream and has her continuous project on Stark Ave in Dover, NH which you should really go ponder if you are in the neighborhood.
Good work Kris!

Amy from Pikaland

sketch

the doggies

"worry"

amy from Pikaland

inspiration board

storage shelf

"work"

"scale"
Somehow, in the midst of a messy desktop, these fabulous photos from Amy of Pikaland were hiding. September is a good month to can, freeze, and tidy up the general state of my garden AND computer. So, for your viewing pleasure, the photos from Amy to go with the interview I did with her last week.
In the words of Homer Simpson ... "doh" (forgive me Amy!)
Happy Labor day everyone!