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After a rough day at the day job, it’s nice ending the day with a small victory – letterpress printing. One more holiday card coming your way! Hopefully, I will finish it tomorrow morning.

from left to right: Jen Skelley, Lizzy Stewart, Wonting, Brid Bird.

As you all know, RISO has decided to discontinue Gocco products. Here in the printmaking world, we are all saddened by this decision. It has made me want to buy more of the lovely prints I see on etsy though. I just got this one, the other day by Lizzy Stewart. When I was in Paris last year, the Sacre Coeur was one of my favorite parts of Paris, so I just had to have this print. Who doesn’t fall in love with anything in Montmartre? It will be one of those days that lives on in my memory forever. >le sigh<

I signed up for tickets to see Obama on election night and I am hoping we get them via email soon. I’m always so used to sitting on the sidelines, it will be great seeing history made in front of me – hoping the polls side with him. (and to think it will happen in lovely Chicago!) Sorry to talk politics, I’ve been restraining myself for months listening to podcasts and hoping for the best.

Before that though, a nice break in NYC. A person like me who constantly has to be working on things likes vacations in NYC more than anything – I love being busy and running around!

adieu.

60s girl on a vintage book page

Did a few of these tonight.

I printed 3 colors on a vintage book page either on Polish, French, Spanish, or Russian pages. They are now in the shop.

Did winter start early this year? Goodness, it was way too cold today.

Talented Ladies

image c/o Kristen Althoff, Postcard Handmade

image c/o Kristen Althoff, Postcard Handmade

I love Postcard Handmade’s jewelry! Even more so because behind the entire operation is my friend (and one of my gallery partners) Kristen. She also has a vintage etsy store called Postcard and if that wasn’t enough, this talented lady teams up with our other partner in crime, Kelly to create some really kick a buttons called Short Torso. I got to see where they go all their creative thinking last night and can’t wait to bust out the pink champagne once we get our project running.

The fourth gal in the operation is my friend Erin, whom I was lucky enough to meet at my job.

image c/o Erin Moes
She does a lot of collage elements, printed, and splattered with spray paint. The four of us making up {fill in the blank} collective.

Framed Prints

Not very often I get to see my prints framed or in people’s homes! My friend Michael and his girlfriend bought prints off of me at an art show during the summer and then the Mademoiselle print for her birthday. It really makes it so worth it – meeting such wonderful people! Thanks, guys!

I love the frames. You can’t go wrong with a round gold frame!

The older I get, the more appealing this seems.

Art Giveaway No. Deux

I was going to wait until November for the next art giveaway -but hey, it’s close enough! Leave a comment below and I will add your name to the mix. I will pick a name on Thursday November 6th – after my NYC trip and election craziness!

2 color letterpress print – printed on a Vandercook Universal 1 on a white cover stock paper.

Holiday Cards

Two new holiday cards are in the Paper Parasol Shop. These two were printed on a Vandercook. It’s nice using polymer. I don’t necessarily enjoy making polymer plates, mostly because my nerves are always on edge. There seems to be too many steps in the process where one can mess up a plate and at $25 bucks a pop, it leaves me constantly worried.

Wow, Sundays leave me so tired and lazy… I’m off to design one more card!

Project Runway!

I don’t watch much television these days, but there is one show I will watch – Project Runway. It’s probably one of the very few reality shows where you actually have to have talent (instead of being fake or catty) to win. And being an artist, it’s the most creative show out there, so naturally I gravitate towards it.

My favorite is Leanne, from Portland. I liked her from the start! (Who doesn’t love a Portland girl!) My friend just sent me her Etsy site! I will probably watch tonight’s show super late – after I get home from the letterpress studio and watch/listen to the debate. Best of luck to all the Project Runway contestants! You know who I will be cheering for! Rah, rah!

1962 was a good year.

5″ X 7″ drawing with gouache on Kraft paper. I drew this lady while watching Man Men .

I’m trying to hang in there – been going to the letterpress studio a lot, very hopeful for the storefront, and trying to draw/paint outside of work. It gets so hard sometimes. Recently, an escape offer has been placed on the table and it’s a tempting proposal. I won’t do anything extreme in the next year, but will keep the proposal in the back of my mind. I don’t like moving in reverse, but if I need to move backwards to move forward, it may be worth it.

{ fill in the blank }

We got the space, so it’s pretty much official now.

Old Book Pages

I’ve been playing around with old book pages and screen printing. Each page is completely unique. I love the subtle whites on yellowed pages. It’s gives it all such a delicate look. It’s interesting how my art changes/evolves. I definitely feel like I am moving in a more delicate direction with the subject matter and look. When Drew and I first started dating, I noticed my pencil work and line work became a lot softer to which a friend remarked, “It must be love!” I think I am going to play with that water color paper that has been sitting in my art studio the past few months and see if I can make anything of that. I like the combination of line work and paint – both working together on a surface.

Have a lovely Oct 13th! (13 being my lucky number)