Tuesday in the studio

Last week while finishing a project I incorporated this letterpress boat that I had made from one of my drawings. On this small piece of paper I was using the corner to sharpen pencils and then test printed the boat. Today, while looking at this scrap on my table, the idea surfaced to fill the boat will rocks. From there other ideas stemmed. Sometimes working on a piece that is a byproduct of my working processes unleashes ideas.

A couple bits of news >
Did you know you can get a signed copy of Water Paper Paint through The Lawrence Arts Center? After your purchase let me know at: contact[at]heathersmithjones.com and I'll sign your copy.

Also, Water Paper Paint is being translated into German! Gute Nachrichten!

Sunday

Today: Flourless peanut butter cookies, recipe from Joy the Baker; Jack napping; and a fresh loaf of bread ready to go with tofunoodle soup at dinner.

Funny fact: Our neighbors built an igloo in their backyard from all the snow. Makes me chuckle.

There's a new little button in my sidebar, can you guess which it is? :)

A Wintry Thursday

This morning after shoveling snow for about forty-five minutes I was really glad that I made granola last night. With a cup of hot early grey tea I ate a big bowl of it with vanilla yogurt and dried cranberries and plums on top. It tasted very fulfilling.

Here's something else that looks quite delicious: Tara's "Our Hot Chocolate" recipe.

I am getting backed up on sharing my film with you. These are from December. You can see more here.

Good links

On Saturday I got a roll of film back that I took from January 1 - 9. Working through a roll in a week was an accomplishment for me since I usually nurse the roll, stretching it up to a month. The image above is the first film photo I took on the first day of 2011. It was a sunny morning and the light was blazing through the blue glass. Snap. And so began a bright new year.

New projects arise with each new year and it is interesting to hear fresh perspectives. Here's a few links that I am enjoying and appreciating.

> Lisa will be contributing to Poppytalk; her first column is "Make Believe Collection". Also, Jan is hosting Winter Colours week this week; check out the flickr pool here.

> Martha is the featured guest this month at this joy + ride. She shares scenes from her wintery drive from her home to come see us a week ago. :) Don't miss it!

> Follow along with Shari in her series "winter from the passenger's seat". Plus she and Tara have a new project, "winterness".

> Thank you to my friend Aimee for sharing her thoughts about my book. And the guests at her blog had some pretty nice comments to share as well, which sure makes me feel good.

> I want to thank Jenny Doh for the interview at her blog Crescendoh.

> And oh, I almost forgot, I added photos from the installation and opening reception of the Water Paper Paint show to the Water Paper Paint section on my website.

Lots of good links! If you know of a new project or a recent article you read that you want share, feel free to mention it in the comment post.

snow drawings

Walking home from school this afternoon I noticed the ivy vines (photo, second row left) dangling and etching the snow with their movements. Interesting, I thought. Snow drawings. The rest of the shots are from around our yard.

Yesterday I began my first watercolor not only of the new year but the first in several months, after painting in oil for Artstream. Since I switch from one medium to the next, it always seems momentous when I start up again.

Thank you for all your hip hip hoorays and kindness in my last post. :)