Lesley Evers

I have been meaning to post about my friend Lesley Evers's wonderful new website last week - but, well... you know time just flies!

Lesley has been designing and making clothing for as long as I have known her (which is a long time indeed). She did teach me a couple tips about zippers and using a dress form when we were roommates in NYC. She is a talented artist as well - as I think comes through in her choices of patterns and color combinations for her new line of clothing.


She makes mommy and me styles too ( my little girlie girl loves her dress too.)

I am the proud owner of 3 of her dresses and two skirts. They are so easy to wear - over capri's or jeans, or not. Check it out - she will be so happy you did!

Treehouse Excursion.

Last Friday we took a really fun day trip to the Tyler Arboretum ( just outside Philadelphia). Now that the kids are a bit bigger we are trying to go on more fun excursions as a family. I saw something about the "Totally Terrific Treehouses" exhibition and it peaked my interest. We are in the conceptual phase of a design for a new treehouse at our new property - so I thought this would be fun to see what 17 artists and designers came up with.


I guess I was thinking more of the traditional type of structure- (imagine exploring in the leafy tops of the forest - little Swiss Family Robinson dwellings, etc, etc.). There were a couple of this type - and some others that were very different - but also cool. So here are some photos of a few ( and a some tree shots too). A really nice part of the trip was seeing so many different species of trees. They were really beautiful( and incredibly maintained) - and each had a tag with the name.


A very useful way to explore potential additions to the tree-scape of the new house as well. Really a fun day - and I recommend a couple of hours for young and old :) alike..

Thanks Scoutie Girl!

Well, we are back from a great weekend away. First to see some fun and creative tree houses last Friday ( will post about next) and a couple of days in Avalon, NJ ( great weather and fun friends).

Just a little thanks to Jan at Scoutie Girl for posting about my houses on her very informative blog. I don't know how she "scouts" out all of the great finds each day - but am happy she found me!

Now to the rest of my morning tea!

Printsy Thursday #5

Thanks for checking in again on Printsy Thursday! I just had to make this weeks post - even though it is my B-day - and I have had a full dinner and lots of tasty wine etc, etc.. But it is 10:30 and that is when I start my Thursday post.

I found this week's focus on Etsy, or was it through her blog? In any case, I love the work of Kristin Loganbill. She is a printmaker with two Etsy shops. The first,Moon Tea Artwork, showcases lovely block printed textiles( a true favorite of mine), and her second, Lilyaimes, ( my Printsy focus) "showcases artwork on a monthly theme" - as I am quoting her shop banner.


She has started with Spring - and the focus of rebirth is interesting as she has given new life to what would have ultimately been thrown away . The base for her prints are countertop samples. Each measuring 6" x 9" , a little snippet of the patterns of nature. Lined up next to one another they remind me of a cartooned script , each showing a small scene, part of the big picture.


Thanks Kristin - for letting me show your work!

Welcome to the Neighborhood.

Whew... so glad to have these finished to photo today! I love how they turned out. The "owner" requested bright colors - and I love brights too. Really reminds me of Fiestaware.

Just thought I would post these final pieces to give the full picture of the development of the Charlotte custom house portrait. I don't know what the official name of this one is yet - but will be posting some in my shop next week. Happy to have another member of the house group!

Thanks for looking!

Printsy Interview - Me

Thanks so much to Viza for interviewing me in this week's Printsy Blog post. Check it out here. There is a new interview up each week -so check it out - it's a great way to see how printmakers develop their work.


This is me - printing in the kitchen.

Ok - enough for today!

Charlotte House Progress

Just a little update on the Charlotte House (thank you Drew for being so patient!).


The carving is just about done - and I'm very happy with how it is turning out. It has a different character than the others - a bit more detail and the house is bigger in proportion to the whole image.

I need to cut the bicycle in the yard and take some of the remaining sky away as well. Hope to print a test tonight.

You can see the sketches and photo I have been working from in this post.

Lovely life; much like vegetable soup.

Angelia has tagged me with a little life study.

1. Write the title of your memoir in six words.
2. Post it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who tagged you.
4. Tag five more blogs.

I have titled this post with my "memoir" - and have attached a little montage of the lovely, tasty life I have!
(just a little bit of everything)
Thanks Angelia - for the exercise - it makes me feel very lucky!

I am tagging some of my favorites (and hoping that they might stop by...)

Sam
Jesse
Suzanne
Danielle
Bianca

Thanks for looking!

Printsy Thursday #4.

After a lovely day at the pool with the kiddies – I am happy to sit down and present the 4th in the Printsy Thursday series. (Don’t count weeks – because I have missed a couple due to misc.)

I have been lurking on the Printsy Flickr group to see many wonderful works by the new members of the Printsy Team. I, of course, have added 0 images to the group. Adding my work is just not that interesting to me – I already know MY work. I like to look at all of the OTHERS instead.


So out of this lurking, I am happy to present Loaded Hips Press. Shannon Buck, who heads up the press, had a great website where she describes her process (with a real focus on the hand crafted process – in leu of computers and printers) and shows her great variety work. I highly recommend the tarot reading option as a nice uplift (at least my reading was uplifting – thanks!)


There is a real literary essence in both her writings as well as her artwork. I understand my writing limitations, and after reading Shannon’s blog - yearn for the ability to describe life with the ease as she does. Even on her Etsy site, Shannon elegantly describes each image in a way that opens a window for the viewer into the story behind each work.

Happy Early Birthday To - Me.

OK my big day is not for two weeks (so no songs yet). I was looking at these lovely ceramics by ShoshonaSnow on Etsy- and decided what a great birthday present to get for myself. My hubby said - "perfect" ( I asked because I wanted to make sure he did not have any special gift planned). Shoshona was really great about packing everything so nicely and - right away - (I feel like I just ordered them yesterday )- They came in the mail.

I just had to show them off in these two photos (two of my hand-printed table cloths are under the pieces).



After chatting I found out Shoshona loves lino-block printing too - and her carving of the clay is a way of getting that type of graphic pattern into her work. I was attracted to the graphic nature right away - go figure.

I can't wait to display these in my new house. (The house - unfortunately cannot be packed up and shipped right away like these pieces - and looks like mid July for a move-in date, She says, waiting patiently).

Labor of Love.

I have been diligently working every night - painting - painting. The "Sycamore Road" pattern is taking shape - one small painted house at a time. I had developed the repeat last month - and have been working on the painted technique since. For example - should the windows be painted black (like in my lino-cuts)- or just have a shadow line? I opted for the shadow line. How should the trees be rendered? ( Still working on those).

I have never tried to paint an entire full 56" x 30" before - and especially with such detail. The top photo only shows half of what will be printed on the full width of the fabric ( each house is about 4 inches tall). After this is finished - I am going to change speeds and loosen up a bit by painting my Swirl pattern on a full repeat (finally - as I had the layout completed last December). It will be so liberating. Alas - I am probably looking at about a solid weeks work still to go.

Once the india ink goes onto the prepared acetate - there is no correcting any mistakes. No erasing or painting over - so that is why I am taking my time - and cannot do any experimentation at this point. I have to practice on scraps if I need to come up with a solution.



You can see in the close up - I have put white paper behind the acetate layer to show the final painted version (without the trees and some other planting details added). Other areas have the under layer of sketches in repeat showing through. I used colored pencil to ghost in the sky - to see how the negative space will look in the final print. I still need to create the second positive of the sky ( all painted in black too) - to be made into the second screen.

This pattern will be printed in full width 57" on a beautiful white 100% organic cotton with a sueded finish. It will be a nice weight for both clothing/ crafts as well as home furnishings projects. I have not decided on the color-ways for the houses and for the sky yet- but I have some ideas... I will have a few strike-offs done to determine the final.