Diversion

I've been longing for a sewing machine for quite some time now, so last week I finally broke down at got a good for beginners Singer sewing machine. I also got a lovely sewing book, with wonderful weekend projects, recipes and even suggestions for music to sew by. I've made a few simple headscarves which turned out fairly nice, and a pair of pajama pants that went slightly awry. I think I'll go back to some smaller, simpler projects before tackling the pants again, as well as a skirt I would like to make.
When I get a little better, I'm going to allow myself to indulge in some Amy Butler patterns and fabric. (I've been wanting to make her gumdrop pillows since I saw them!)
Happy Fourth!

Collection

A good haul from a Sunday outing to Atlantic Beach.

"I Am, I Make, I Believe"

So I kinda stole this idea from brookefuller on Etsy. She's using this idea to promote other Etsy shops on her blog, but I decided to do it just for me, just to get me thinking about what I am, what I make and what I believe in. I tweeked the "make" section, just a bit.

I am: a maker, a student, a lover, a wanna be fighter, a good time, a could have been, an amature ornithologist, a part time printmaker, a helper, and just a person.

I make: rocks, sketches, jewelry, prints, vessels, cards, work, things with string, messes, arrangements of objects.

I believe: in karma, in hard work, in being patient (although it's hard), that everything happens for a reason, in looking and learning, in spirituality, in giving, in making making making, in tasty treats for good pets, in Santa Claus.

So what are you? What do you make? What do you believe in?

Blog Break

Sorry it's been awhile. My blogging and internet usage in general tends to drop off during the summer. I sometimes even go days with out checking my email. I'm leaving for the beach for a week today and decided not to take my computer.

The last few weeks have been light on studio work (except for the week everyone else was at SNAG. I swear I'll post those G-Vegas pin swap pins later.) I've been working on my collaboration piece(s), but they're not worth writing about at this point. One looks like a complete piece of poop and I won't be using it. Other than that, there's not much to write about. A little sketching, a trip home on an airplane (I hadn't flown in years), tidying up the apartment and searching for a particular type of vellum which apparently no one carries. It's not like I'm looking for uber fancy Italian vellum or anything fancy, I just want a pad of Canson vellum. I'm also out of Sunprints paper, so I think an order or two will have to be placed when I get back from the beach next week.

I hope everyone has been to busy enjoying their summer to much miss my more regular blogging!

A Flickr Fav

By Kent Mercurio

Put a few more pics up on flickr.

Looking and Seeing

Here's a sweet little post on looking and seeing written by Eric Carle of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I think everyone over the age of 10 should read this and try it. I know many artists do think this way, but I also think that sometimes some of us need a little reminder.

Finally got some decent images of my work. Working on putting them all on my flickr site

Rock Pins for Mini Swap

The annual SNAG Conference starts tonight, and after I thought long and hard about it, I decided to sit it out this year, mainly due to finances. I'm a little bummed to be missing all the fun, especially the pin swap, (one of my favorite events), but I'm not the only one stuck in Greenville. A few of us have decided to get together tonight at our favorite bar and hold our own little pin swap. This is what I came up with this afternoon and I'm pretty excited about them!

I hope everyone has a great time and the conference and swaps for some great pins tonight. If you're interested in one of these, I'll happily swap by mail.

Check back later to see what my comrades come up with!

Quote of the Week

"My dream is to walk around the world. A smallish backpack, all essentials neatly in place. A camera. A notebook. A traveling paint set. A hat. Good shoes. I don't want to trudge up insane mountains or through war-torn lands, just a nice stroll through hill and dale. But now I walk everywhere in the city. Any city. You see everything you need for a lifetime."
~Maira Kalman