happy weekend!

Good morning,

I hope you've had a good week. Behind the scenes ours has been, well, interesting and perhaps a bit cranky. However today I feel like putting that aside and celebrating the little moments of goodness that are happening. And one of those is spring break which begins this afternoon! Perhaps I should make a list of all that I want/need to accomplish during the week, which will be a mix of fun {painting in the studio, reading, watching movies, visiting art museums, & basically relaxing} and not-so-fun tasks {taxes, argh!}. But first, since we finished off the biscotti I need to decide on what to bake next. I am feeling the desire to make homemade cinnamon rolls. Mmmmm...

Early next week I'll return with a little shop surprise. And now, I bid you have a joyous weekend. Celebrate the little moments, ok?
H

a few faves + guess what?

Hello to you today,

I thought I'd share a little nine-patch batch of my recent handmade faves. Do you enjoy having handmade items around you as much as I do? I think you do. :)

1 } Painter by The Small Factory
2 } Drip Plate by Cat Merrick
3 } Music boxes by Something's Hiding In Here
4 } Little Rustic Raindrop Bottle by Richard Johnson
5 } Custom Birch Bark Silhouette by Jenny Lee Fowler
6 } Crochet bracelet by Laura Normandin/Wren Handmade
7 } urban village print by Rick Beerhorst/Studio Beerhorst
8 } Large and Small Porcelain Serving Bowls by Isabelle Abramson
9 } old cross stitch of a robin at silocurb

Guess what's happening next week? Yes, it's spring break for some of us around here but I will also be celebrating my shop's one year anniversary on March 20! I really can't believe it and I'm pretty thankful for it too. So I'm planning a little something special for you {like a sale, surprise, or the like}. But if you have anything you'd like to see, let me know. I'm always open to your ideas. Seriously, let me know.

till soon,
H

on pressing & painting

Peeks of new work in process I'm planning for a show. Sizes are 10 x 11 in. and include graphite drawing, watercolor, letterpress and linoleum block printing.

I have been interested in Julie Green's egg tempera paintings since I was a grad student and met her in her home. I'm beginning to revisit her work and let me just say, it's still so powerful yet now in new ways. If you read about her Last Supper project on her site, you'll be blown away. Work like hers reminds me to make important work and try not to get caught up in the rif-raf. Perhaps you know what I mean? Looking at her body of work wakes me up, artistically, and makes me want to drop everything {like _______, blogging, _______, flickr, etc.} to paint, paint, paint. And her materials remind me {which I've been feeling lately anyway} how much I miss grinding my own watercolor and egg tempera paints. I feel the tactility and discipline of that process stirring within me and know I won't be able to ignore returning to it much longer.

I originally was going to share some handmade faves with you today but sharing Julie's work seemed more pressing. But before you go, don't miss these two things}
} Rachel will be having a shop update today around noon cst. Have you seen her photos lately?
} And in case you haven't seen Dialogue @ Design for Mankind. The first episode features three of my favorite people, in addition to Erin herself, of course.

teaspoon full

Good morning,

It rained really hard last night and this morning is so dark and grey that I slept straight through my alarm! It's a good thing it's a studio day. :)

Yesterday after I took this spoon photo {view larger here} I sat down and wrote a poem. I've been uncharacteristically sharing my poems and haikus here lately, that I hesitate to share it. I think I'll just tuck it away in my stack of other notes and sketches.

Instead how 'bout some links? Two young artists' work }
} Photographer : Chloe Aftel, including the landscape set. This one and this one grab me, along with others.
} Artist : Julia Selin found via dear ada
} Our daffodils are beginning to bloom!

Also I finally came to a decision about a charity. I've decided to give 10% of art card profits to our local Humane Society and perhaps will rotate charities quarterly throughout the year {unless I decide to return to the subscriptions}. Just wanted to let you know; you were so helpful with your suggestions!

Have a nice Tuesday. Tomorrow I have some handmade faves to share.
H

soft for monday

1. Untitled, 2. the birds, 3. Untitled, 4. my rag doll

Good morning,

Let's ease into Monday with some soft tones, biscotti, and inspiring artists, shall we?

Sunday afternoon I made chocolate almond biscotti for the first time and really I don't know why I've never made it before. Perhaps the double baking eschewed me but it was really rather fun.

The images above have me thinking about light, white, and softness and I want to explore these nuances on my own this week. Since we began the Noticing Project in January 2008 we've had numerous people tell us how they are noticing moments in their own days and even sharing the idea with their children. We love hearing your stories so please feel free to join us all through the month of March {and be entered into a little drawing}.

} Browsing around the Paulson Press site I found inspiration as I work on new mixed media pieces:
} One of my favorite artists is Squeak Carnwath. This one captures my sentiment exactly.
} Martin Puryear. This piece and this one called "three holes".

} Check out Shari's new project, everyone needs a rock. It's gonna be good; it already is.

Since we're easing into Monday, would you care to join me for some biscotti & coffee?
H