.

I really love Tea.

2008-12-02T22:55:00.004-05:00

It's kind of ironic that I started printing tea towels - as drinking tea is one of my favorite past times. This is a misnomer, however, - as I don't really pass time while drinking. Its more like grab a cup of hot tea in one hand balancing purse over arm - other hand filled with keys, lost mitten, hat, school book/paper - late for school - out the door while two kids ( and dog) bump, pull and generally trip me - all the way to the car. Set tea on roof - buckle everyone in. Once in car drive with one hand - other holding tea so it doesn't spill all over the console - drive down our very bumpy steep hill (read: potholes and stray branches) - down the driveway - again bumpy. Ahh at the street - once on pavement - drinking - finally - while driving.

So, I had a tea kettle that worked. However, it didn't whistle - and was always burning me with steam that escaped at the most inopportune moments - and had a loose handle (from continual use). I really needed a new kettle.

This beauty caught my eye and I splurged. The Oxo in orange. We are in the honeymoon phase - no hard water deposits - yet. All is good.

And I think it is really influencing my choice of color too - see these new custom house portrait tea towels - doesn't the color look great?

Now if I was only civilized enough to actually serve with a tea towel...

Thanks Michelle and Indie Fixx.

2008-11-26T11:26:00.003-05:00

Just about to start my (much needed) holiday - but I looked one... last ... time at my favorites and found that Michelle of Cicada Studio - has posted a comprehensive overview of ornaments as a guest blogger on IndiFixx.

I am lucky to have been included - as all of the others are so lovely!

Thanks very much! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone.

(The photo is a shot of some especially nice grocery flowers I picked up this week- just to brighten things up!)

New Kitchen.

2008-11-25T10:55:00.004-05:00

I have not posted many photos of the new house since we have moved in. I really want to post shots - but I have been too busy to take the time to even take any photos. This post is mainly for my mom and sister in Nashville - who have been asking me to show the new kitchen - with the new window. I have one photo - here which shows the new window and the wonderful cabinets below.

I really love it! The ceiling is still '"in work" and the dishwasher panel is not in yet - and the bamboo floors are still in the barn - but it doesn't matter. Cooking here is a pleasure - I feel like I'm outside with the wonderful views.

I have added the old kitchen - taken in the late 50's to show the difference. We have really opened up the back wall - and moved the oven and refrigerator to a wall location - so the window would not be blocked. I will continue to add photos as we continue to progress.

"491 Crestmont Lane"

2008-11-25T10:32:00.003-05:00

This post is especially for Erin - who has been very patient waiting for this lovely portrait to be finished.
I was originally calling this house "The House with the New Baby", as in every photo there was an indication of little one(s). I added the push cart as a reminder to them of these days. Those babies - they get big - and it happens gradually so it seems like nothing has changed. Then you look at those old photos and - wow - you remember.

So in my mind it is still "The House with the New Baby" - but officially the title has changed. I hope they love the set!

"Antique" Ornaments.

2008-11-17T11:14:00.003-05:00

Something new to the shop- and I had to post about it.

I just had so much fun getting these ready for sale. They make me smile for two reasons - the first being that they really reminding me of my grandmother.

When she died I was given her collection of beautiful antique ornaments. Some even from her childhood in Ireland - so I had to immortalize them in these.

And secondly - just because they are a bit tongue in cheek and fun.

I am always afraid of breaking my true glass lovelies - so here they are - unbreakable!!

Well.... don't try.

Enjoy!!

Little Gifts!

2008-11-13T14:31:00.005-05:00

Just wanted to post about my new Christmas items. I will have more as the week progresses - can't get it all done at the same time around here.

Today was a bit rainy to take photos - but I was actually happy with their color etc.

So here's the first of the ornaments - Tractor Set of 2 - all packaged up properly - imagine that!

Come back again I will have a couple more cuties to put up later this week in my shop.

Oh, and I have a new Holiday Tea Towel - I forgot to post about it last week.

Enjoy!

House on the Hill

2008-11-09T23:41:00.003-05:00

I haven't received the "official" title for this pretty house - yet. I've been calling it House on the Hill just as I name all of the houses before I know the true address. My hands have been a little cramped lately - with all of the carving - but I have been so happy with all of the finished pieces. ( the third is in-process and will be printed this week.)

This will be a wonderful surprise present ( as have been most of the Custom Portraits I have done).
So - a view for you of the 2nd homey house for tonight. I hope the bad light does not take away too much. Again - I will photo in better daylight tomorrow.

Thanks so much Ali !!

2153 North Alberta

2008-11-09T23:31:00.004-05:00

I'v been busy lately with some lovely House Portraits! Here is a view of the first of two I'm posing tonight. You know - the photos don't do them justice. The colors don't show well with flash and overhead lights. I should have taken the pictures today - with the sun... but the day just went too fast.

I think I will take some more pics tomorrow before I send them off. I hope they are well received!
Thanks so much Amanda!!

Go Phillies.

2008-11-03T11:47:00.002-05:00

We had an exciting time this past week. The Phillies won - which is a great thing for my hubby. I'm not the most faithful of fans as I didn't grow up in Philadelphia. But I'm very happy for all of the people in my life who feel relieved / elated by the big win.

I had a wonderful gift from Philly last week too. This copy of Philadelphia Home came on Friday - featuring my custom House Print Tea Towels. The lovely editor Emily contacted me after seeing my towels on the front page at Etsy. I feel a little star struck to be on the same page as Ligne Roset - as well as the other fab. local designers.

So here's to Philadelphia - where I met my husband in college, best friends, and have migrated back to after many years.

Go Phillies!

A bit of Printing.

2008-10-08T21:47:00.002-04:00

It has been some time since I have had fun just making new patterns and printing. Sometimes it take just staying up to all hours to do something creative. Here are a few pictures of some new things in the shop.

The first is a TeePee print. I was contacted by Karen in Australia - to see if I could make a TeePee pattern for her mum who has a TeePee of her very own. It was such fun - and she was so pleased! I'm happy too.

I also tried some cloth printing again - but using my tractor instead of silkscreens. It was nice to be able to ombre the color up the cloth. I think I may need to make some cute small clasp purses out of this for Christmas presents.( SHHH - don't tell anyone.)

Oh - and I almost forgot - these super cute camper napkins. I have been using these style napkins for printing for years - they hold up well - and cloth napkins are just so much better the paper - every time.

Thanks for looking! Have a great night.

Thank You Poppytalk.

2008-09-29T09:26:00.002-04:00

Thank you Poppytalk - for brightening my day! I awoke to find this lovely post on the Poppytalk site. If you haven't seen all of the goings on at Poppytalk - check it out here. Not only do they showcase different artists, designers regularly in a blog type format - they have the most fun and eclectic sales showcases too. The showcase up now until Oct 10 is "Mixed Tape". Which is " A compilation of all our favorite things. From papergoods, affordable art, ceramics, softees, housewares, gifts, jewelry, the whole shabam!"

New showcases are up monthly - and are a great way to find a gift for another - or something special for yourself quickly.

I'm so happy the the Camp series has been well received. My husband thought I was a bit nutty to be printing tents and campers on Tea towels - but I guess the world is full of nuts! I'm happy I'm not alone.

Thanks for looking!

667 Melrose.

2008-09-26T11:52:00.002-04:00

What a cutie. Just some shots of the latest house portrait.
I really love the red - and the black with the deep blue sky.

Thanks for looking!

I miss bloggin'.

2008-09-26T10:58:00.008-04:00

I can't say enough how much I enjoy communicating via blogging. It is great - I love all of my "everyday" blogs that I visit. It has been so hard these past few weeks with the new job and the new house and the new schools -( can you believe the amount of paperwork that comes home every week - day? - Oh the school communications should be a whole discussion in itself. I write more checks (all be them small) to my children's schools than I write to my regular expenses!)
I have been completely swamped. So I thought I would put up a few photos of actual fun we have been having a Camp Graeff.

1st - F found a monarch butterfly caterpillar a couple of weeks ago. Into the terrarium he went - with milkweed (favorite food) and some water. He was crawling around for a couple of days - and then it seemed as if he was lost. The kids were quite upset - until we looked in the top of the terrarium (old fish tank) and saw a beautiful bright green chrysalis hanging from the smallest cord from the top. It was a miracle. The children then watched it's progress. 9 days later the skin of the chrysalis was very dark - then turned clear - so you could see the butterfly all tightly wrapped up. He came out of the sack yesterday and began filling his wings with fluid.

At this point we found out that He was a She (you can tell in the photo that her veining is quite large and there are no large black spots on the wings that males have.)

So even though I have been in my little world of "crazy" - the peeps are having fun; growing butterflies, hanging from vines, playing in the new hammock and witnessing rainbows.

It's all good.

House with Twin Peaks.

2008-09-12T11:25:00.004-04:00

Things are crazy here at the "Camp" - but I just wanted to post these final prints of my latest house portrait while I have literally - a minute. I am very happy with how this one turned out. The layout os a bit smaller as I used a 6x9 lino instead of the regular 8 x 10. I also added a little figure to the forground. The owner had sent me some photos - which I have here too . Their little girl was in the original picture - so I couldn't resist putting her in front.

Just for Fun.

2008-09-08T10:17:00.004-04:00

Ok - so I didn't actually get this lovely group into a real Treasury - Rats!

I have tried, sort of, but I seem to calculate the time both the regular Treasury and Treasury West would become available incorrectly(......for days). I had hoped to show off these things and images as a nod to the year(s) my new house was built. Don't all of these look nice together? I will list the Etsy Shops below - so if you do like something you can see it yourself.

Have a great day!

Vintagedame - Plastic divided lunch plates
VintageButterfly94 - Pink Aqua Pottery Carafe 1957
Randomretro - 1957 Dutch Farm Tea Towel
Surrenderdorothy -Green Goddess Vintage Sewing Machiene - 1958and Be Prepared. American Red Cross First Aid Handbook circa 1957
Waltercurlee - 1957 DeSoto Fireflight Photo
Ohsewcharming - 1957 Simplicity Sewing Pattern Vintage 2195 Blouse Size 20 Complete
Mybirdwalks -vintage swimmers
Tigerlux -Bell and Howell Two Twenty 8mm Movie Camera
BBsvintage - Vintage Pattern - Blouse - Size 12 B
3
Jessjamesjake - Rare 1958 Golden Hearts Pyrex
deadbirdfinds- SALE Fifties Vintage Reader

The "true" meaning of Color.

2008-09-05T07:59:00.002-04:00

Colors evoke emotion. We all know that. The site "Cymbolism" let's you see how your color impression of different emotionally loaded words compare to other's votes. Click here for a bit of time wasting, interesting, fun...

OK we're in!

2008-09-03T21:00:00.002-04:00

If anyone is even following things here - thanks so much for actually coming back!! I have been soooo absent from blogland these days - but for good reasons.

We finally moved into Camp Graeff - complete ( or I should say incomplete) with one tub to act as kitchen sink - bathroom sink and well also - tub. We do have a functioning toilet - which I thank God for - as it could have easily been on the "get rid of list" as it is quite stained - the kind that no amount of scrubbing - or soaking with bleach - or vinegar will erase... well too much info.

Our nice new potty and new sinks and new tub, etc. etc are all waiting patiently in their boxes for the big day when they will be opened up and installed. I imagine a perfectly tiled bathroom with plumb walls and perfectly clean sinks - like a magazine. Each with a crispy clean towel hanging on matching chrome towel bars.... ahhh
I have a feeling things will pretty much stay as they are, however, due to many factors - especially the status of the building budget. Isn't that always how it goes? High ideals - then reality sets in.

It doesn't matter though - because This Place Rocks! We have a beautiful view from every angle. The kids run around outside playing in dirt - and in the woods. They don't seem to mind (as much anymore) the multitudes of spiders and other creepy crawlies that share our space.

I love drinking my tea in the morning - watching the deer in meadow - and the sun come up over the hills beyond. It's really like being away - but still here.

Ok - so last week was spent packing furiously - and working in NYC - and dealing with the flu - which decided to land on us the day before the movers came... poor peanut #2. All went well and it's all over - or should I say , the part I was really dreading is over - and now we can just move along - enjoy the first days of 1st grade - and PreK - and meeting new friends. It certainly doesn't hurt that there are about 100 fab take-out places within 10 mins either.

Thanks for listening to my joy. I will be writing about all kinds of crafty things next time....

Printsy Thursday #8.

2008-08-22T08:50:00.011-04:00

Boxes are piling up for the "big move" next Wednesday - and It's not Thursday - but I am excited to post about this week's choice for Printsy Thursday anyway (I'm not changing the name)!!

I found Mariann Johansen-Ellis' Etsy shop a couple of months ago on Etsy and was so inspired by her work. The truly lovely and whimsical images can only make you smile. I feel as if her characters are very much alive and enjoying themselves in their fantasy land.

I have a sister in-law due with a new baby in a couple of weeks and my own little sister is having a baby next spring - so I have been looking for little lovelies that might be welcome additions to their new nurseries. How could you loose with any of these beautiful etchings.

Mariann has a website as well called "Art can be fun" which features her smaller pieces and another site which features her larger paintings and etchings - don't miss them as you will be wowed by her amazing quality and number of pieces. I am attaching a link - here - that shows her etching process from utube. I think for anyone who has not tried to etch - or just wants to know how much work really goes into printmaking in general - it's a perfect tutorial. I certainly learned a lot about how the colors are applied ( which was a bit mysterious to me).

So enjoy and remember "Art can be fun!!"

Camp Graeff.

2008-08-17T12:43:00.004-04:00

In the spirit of our move to the New House, I have produced a series of towels. Camp Graeff is a bit tongue in cheek - as we will be moving into a structure more like a camp site than a true functioning home. I don't mind - and am excited to finally get in. You see, we must be there for the start of school - as we cannot commute from the old house.

So inspiration is born - and I am going to love having these as a memory of this time in our lives. Just like camping - it is a bit of an adventure - and we can't wait!

I think I may post these in my Etsy shop- maybe others enjoy thinking about living in a campsite too!

40 Parker

2008-08-15T12:19:00.002-04:00

Here is a photo of the latest House Portrait.

I really like the more sophisticated color palet.
Hopefully Anne will approve!

Back and Busy.

2008-08-15T09:17:00.006-04:00

Things are getting busy.

My trip to California last week just added a bit of distraction and fun and sadness as my very wonderful uncle died - and we were celebrating his life. I couldn't cry when I was surrounded by my family, as I love to see them and it was a happy reunion of sorts. But when I left on the Bart to go see my best friend in Piedmont - the tears came. I am so sad that he is gone - it is a part of my life that confirmed my kid-ness. And now that things are changing - I feel like I am on the front line of life - as the previous front line is getting thinner.

Ok - enough of that - just had to give the reason for my delinquency and absence to my posting.

All kinds of nice (other) things are happening:

1. With my new house - it looks like camp Graeff will begin in a week or so. We are going in - with a kitchen or not. Will show pics in a couple of days of progress.

2. Started a new consulting job in New York - back in the saddle again. I'm working with some very nice people - doing some fun top secret things. Perhaps I might be able to fill you in later ( I'll need to ask my boss ;)

3. Finished a very pretty House Portrait - "the House with the Red Door" - is now called "40 Parker" - and some pics will be posted next.

4. Received a very nice convo from Flowerpress this morning that we ( a bunch of us on Etsy who hand print tea towels) are featured on a fairly well read blog called My Home Style. Here is the link if you would like to see!

I have been especially delinquent with my Printsy Thursday - I have some favs. I would like to show - but I think many are out for vacation( I have not gotten permission yet) - I may post as soon as I have the OK.

OK - back to work...

Front Page..."Look at these Eggbeaters"

2008-08-03T21:41:00.004-04:00

I am throughly exhausted - again with the paint and cleaning etc. (very boring to all - but still the reality ;)

After arriving home I checked my Etsy ( as usual), ready to see if anything happened at the shop today. Wow - 50 new hearts. So onto the search to find out why.. I use the Heartomatic for a quick review of item hearts - and found that the new post I put up this week was picked by the fabulous CuriosityKilled for this lovely Treasury in the Treasury West.

How great does this collection look together? It's just luscious- and so many of my favorites too - they make me smile!

Also - a great instant gratification for my most recent tea towel creation. I just love this red house and it's so nice to see that others do too!

OK into a hot bath - to try to scrape the paint from my hands, arms, legs, etc.. etc..

Printsy Thursday #7.

2008-07-31T23:41:00.004-04:00

How lovely to be home finally to post about this week's Printsy Thursday artist(s).
I may have paint on my hands and dust in my hair (what a fun day at the new house... will this saga never end? - can we just move in yet...) - yet I digress.

This week's spotlight is on Lapwing Printworks run by the team of Jon and Sarah located in "the east of England". I think they just wrote that for us Yanks on Etsy as on their blog we get the true local - Norwich!

I knew I liked their work right away, especially when I saw how they mix fine art printing ( wonderful camera woodcut above ) and surface pattern ( check out their beautiful wrapping paper). Both artists bring wonderful talent and variety to their collection.

Here is a gem - a woodcut of a north Norfolk sea view - I love to see what environments enspire. They just make you want to visit!

I also love this "Winter Squash" lino - especially when the layers of color are revealed in an additional pic.

Thanks for looking - and don't forget to check out other Printsy artists interviewed on the Printsy blog.

Back In The Swing.

2008-07-30T08:56:00.006-04:00

Well... vacation was great! Full of beach and family and parties. So back home again with some new prints. I have been making some custom house portraits on tea towels this past few days - so wanted to show some shots.

I have listed this custom service in my Etsy shop as well - it is certainly fun. I am always a bit surprised when the block gets printed - how nicely the pattern develops from the repetition.

Front. (There are actually 4 houses across the towel, in two rows - they are behing the fold.)

And this is the back - with the single image.

Oh - and a very big thanks to Decor8 for the callout as a contributer to the "Inspire Me Givaway". Just wish I had been the big bingo winner in that give-away! The packs just look so refreshing and tasty!!

See You Monday.

2008-07-22T06:24:00.002-04:00

Hi Just a quick note to say I am on my way to the beach for a few days... Looking forward to a bit of relaxation time - as my arms ache from painting the ceilings at the new house!

So, have a great week and I'll be back Monday!