Ready for Spring!

I'm finally back from being away for a while and wanted to say a big thank you for still finding your way here despite my absence!  My 'business/craft/art life' is so part of who I am that I find it hard to break away from being at the studio or blogging or being in touch by email on a daily basis.  On the other hand, time with family and friends without any work distraction has been really good for my soul.  I've really enjoyed the time that has been spent with everyone, including my own boys, but am really glad to have things settle back to normal.  I have lots of work to do in the next month in the studio and I'm looking forward to it! (A few Disneyland pics to come soon...)
Speaking of friends- a couple of weeks ago a little gift came in the mail for me from Eva at Sycamore Street Press for doing a couple of guest blogs for her while she was taking a maternity leave- so good of her! I've been a big fan of their letterpress cards and prints and can't wait to find a frame for their Little Green Garden letterpress print that she sent me- isn't it so pretty and lovely?  Even matched the Tulips my mom had brought for me.  And 100% of the proceeds from this print are going to Japan Relief with the American Red Cross!  It's a gift that keeps on giving! (Would be perfect for Mother's Day too!!)

Guest post on Sycamore Street Press

Mountain Beanbags by Little Red Stuga

When a friend has a baby, you want to help out, right?  Eva and Kirk from my favourite letterpress shop had a little baby girl about six weeks ago and various bloggers and friends have been guest blogging on the Sycamore Street Press blog so that they have time to do all the things new parents have to do- feed, change, rock and cuddle their little new babes.  So being inspired by our family heading up to the mountains, I found some lovely things online that would bring the mountains inside! We had such fun, but more on that tomorrow...

Sycamore Street Press in person

I had a lovely lunch with Eva and Kirk from Sycamore Street Press! It was great to meet them in person and lovely to receive their Thank You cards that I had ordered in the mail when I got home today!  What great timing!  

The Christmas Spirit

No snow on the ground but it's a little brisk out there these days!  We are listening to Johnny Cash, making Ginger bread cookies and houses with sheds, writing Christmas wish lists and starting to get very excited!
I had my interview for a great magazine article yesterday, and I'm starting to make the studio ready for the photo-shoot, next week.  I got a little worked up about what to wear for the shoot, whether to pluck my eyebrows or not- you know, silly stuff.
I'm also excited to have lunch with Eva and Kirk from Sycamore Street Press this week! They are in Vancouver to visit friends on their show tour and were kind enough to want to have lunch or tea with me! So nice to meet internet friends for reals!

Recent Finds & Fancies...

If you know me well, you will know that I don't often buy things for myself. For starters, I don't have a lot of time to shop- having 2 active boys is part of that, and we live over the bridge in North Vancouver so the great places to shop take some co-ordination with our shared vehicle. Nevertheless, I did find some new things recently that fit my budget and suited me just fine and I wanted to share them with you!
I more recently needed some new earrings for spring and found these extremely cute, hand-woven beaded earrings by TQB Designs on her etsy shop. I love them and they've been the perfect little accessory for me for spring and into the summer: especially because my glasses are lime-ish green on the inside of my frames!
My recent score happens to be my new desk for my office spot at home! I found this in the alley by our house and walked by it a few times before having the kids come out and haul it home with me. We had this huge long table that both Dean and I shared for an office and I was tired of the eyesore taking up half our living room. We could work side-by-side, but I wanted a more compact option. I'm thinking of painting the bottom part of the desk: the top part is actually melamine. Right now it looks kind of shabby-chic scuffed up with paint chipping here and there- but it's got great lines and great legs!
My other purchase not so recently, but which I'm still looking for a frame for, is this great print from Sycamore Street Press. I really like Eva's designs and the letter-pressing on this one is really lovely. Inspired by Blue & White Dutch Pottery- I just had to get it! She only did 100 prints- I got #93 and I have a feeling they're all gone by now. I've photographed it in a recent 'Sally Ann' find of mine- an old crate that I'm excited to use for displays at Craft fairs this summer.
Well, we've had a busy week over here but I'm looking forward to a glorious, sunny weekend. I'll be gardening, turning on the sprinkler for the boys, doing a little clay work on our porch as the studio's a little stuffy in the summer, and finishing off some applications for the up-coming fall season. I'm sure there will be a couple BBQ's with friends in there to round out our weekend, so it should be a good one!

Lovely pieces from other artists!

This past week I have become the proud owner of some really lovely work from friends! My ABC/123 Poster from Sycamore Street Press arrived last week, and Eva very generously sent me these beautiful spring-time cards along with the Posters! I may have to frame one of the cards when I get to framing the posters, they are so pretty!
Last night I was able to get out to my good friend's Disa and Erin's (& Kelly too) Affordable Art show and bought myself the little silk-screened painting above, which now sits nicely on my mantle beside some other treasures (including my Xenia Taler tile, a gift from Disa!). Lovely!
Hope you have a great weekend, I am currently baking double chocolate chip cookies, am about to throw a home-made pizza in the oven and ready to start mine off right;)

Out and about...

I've met some great people throughout my blog travels of late! It has been really fun to connect with artists from all over, tell them a little about myself and gain an appreciation for what they make and do in return!
The first being Eva from Sycamore Street Press, who asked if I would like to be involved in their artist q & a this week! Check it out right here!
I also submitted a photo to the Smarts & Crafts blog-I love what they have going on there- a little photography assignment every week where they give out a theme and then they post their favourites. Check out my submission under the theme of 'night'!
I had a great little email with Jinsil from Elephant and Chickpea, the one who makes the really great shoes from my post below.
And if you want to swing over to Artsy Dartsy, you'll notice my painting on their front page!
I'm glad you came by my blog- feel free to drop me a line and say 'hi'!

Me? A blogland winner!!

I'm so thrilled! SOOOO thrilled to be the new recipient of an ABC/123 print by the Sycamore Street Press! Did I tell you how excited I am? I don't often win things. And I have never won a hand-pulled georgeous print before in my life! A microwave, yes. I won a microwave when I was 16 - my mom had entered me in a contest just to see if someone from our family could win the microwave she was wanting. And I won it. But a hand-pulled print... sooo beautiful! The choice of which colour combo to choose was tricky, I have to admit! I love the red/water one a lot. But I have 2 boys and the red/water one is a little more feminine. I went for the tangerine/charcoal one above- I will love it for years to come, even as my boys get bigger.
What more can I say- a plug on Eva's blog, a free ABC/123 print- it's a great day! Thank You Eva!