Rubio's

Ok, again- not at all sketchy- but it is FINALLY feeling like spring, practically summer even! And you know what that puts me in the mood for? Fish tacos from Rubio's- I was addicted when I lived in San Diego- I am jonesing bad!

Remember all those cute bright fabrics I posted a while back? Yeah- I need a kick in the pants on that project. Miss Lovely is still without curtains and a bumper for the crib-ola.

Does this happen to any of you? Start, stop & languish, I mean, with projects?

At least the fabrics look pretty on my table!

Happy Mothers Day weekend everyone!

Today was my weekly art task for our church, I have told you before that I volunteered to do cover art for my church's weekly bulletin, so today, I was inspired by "Mother", rather than the normal route I take. (which is read the coming Sunday's scriptures and do something accordingly) I love Native American Storytellers. http://www.collectorsguide.com/fa/fa014.shtml

Tom gave me one for a special day, along with a book about their history, recent - started in the 50's, but the image is just engaging, and resonates with my feelings about motherhood, (I am not one, except to our bunny girl, but know many mothers intimately!) Mother Earth, the universe and God. So I did an illustration that was my interpretation of these potteries.

Isn't she cute and happy?

I also met my girlfriend's and our blog's challenge and painted today. I painted the trillium flower from my wooded hill right up behind my studio, in a watercolor, and e-mailed it to Annie for her to use as the banner. For a 30 minute nature study intensive, I think it turned out pretty good, though (if you must know) I intentionally ignored the stamen and pistol parts!

Have a great weekend all

how 'bout a little help?

i've been goofing around with a little lino cutting, and... well, see how its not going so well? i bought little cutters, the blocks, and some very permanent black ink, which i am too afraid to try. cause its, you know, permanent.

i've been thinning out acrylic & swiping it onto the blocks, and i really like how you can see brush strokes with this 'technique'... but any suggestions for me for getting more even color? and of course i decided it would be really fantastic to try and figure all this out for the mothers day cards i'm making that have to go in the mail tomorrow.

i don't think i've ever done any printing at all in any form in school- am realizing, though, that specifics of classes 10 years ago (egads) are... gone. *sigh*

i love this lino thing- i loved carving when i used to be a furniture girl (though i sure hated carving for a long time). this is bringing back memories of when i used to be cool and listened to soul coughing and the squirrel nut zippers over and over and over in the studio...

Hi, my name is Eva

I´m new here and I consider myself as an amateur amongst you guys... Ahh, a rookie!
But I try to give my very best.

I guess, when you meet someone first time, you will ask - where do you come from? And we answer - from there and there or even from there!
So I`m gonna answer you politely - I come from my parents. And my grandparents. And grandgrandparents.... I have history, I belong to somewhere! My love to create, my preferences, my memories to what I turn back now and then - these all have beginning. I do have roots. Roots, that give me the feel of belonging somewhere. I know, where I begun. There is a source of ME. Geographically, mentally and culturally. It`s comforting to feel that your soul has a home :)
My grandmother has been crafter for all her life. She is 82 years old now and still crocheting and knitting. She used to do lot more - sew, embroider etc, but her eyes are too weak now. And she says that she doesn`t need any new dresses - she has a whole closet full of them! (I have seen it, it`s true! :) ).
The pictures above show details of a plaid, what my grandmother crocheted 2 years ago.When I look at these squares I´m surprised about her great sense of color. I would never come up to put those together, but she did and the result is amazing! Those subtle, soft colors, even boring, but together here, they create harmony.
I like to think that there is something in me from her. A corner of my heart that comes from her, a gift that will last as long as I . . . Thank You!

PS I will show you my geographical home some other time, yes?

fair trade fashion

how cool is this?! fair trade apparel. i think i need a pair of no sweat sneeks.... and probably an organic tee or two. not sketchy, but so worthwile i just have to share!

http://www.nosweatapparel.com/index.html

via carlene.

-annie

annie who?

Ahem, yes, well then. I'm back.

Sorry for the long silence- a bit ridiculous, I know. We were gone for several weeks, came home sick... and Miss Lovely has her first tooth!

Here is a pattern I picked up while on our trip, along with 2 fabrics and Chicken Boy's paws. He isn't feeling so hot (a little surgery is coming up on Monday, poor baby), so he is shadowing me all over the place. Tripping over 95 pounds isn't fun... silly old boy. I love him.

The dress will be whipped up for the wedding season- plan on doing the sleeveless/long length version. Haven't followed a pattern in years, so this oughtta be interesting. Went with a creamy butter but not quite yellow linen- 5 yards is h-e-a-v-y! The numbers are for something for Miss Lovely, don't know what yet. Maybe a smock of some kind? Oh, am hoping that there will be enough linen left over to make a little dress for her too, since she will also be attending nuptials this season. I cannot BELIEVE I am dorking out like this, thinking of making her a dress out of the same fabric as mine to be worn to the same parties. I have grown old and sappy! Next thing you know I'll be insisting on having mother daughter portaits done every year at Olan Mills. (nooooooo!)

Nothing sketchy on my mind today.

Kelli? Anything you would like to chat about? Hmmmmmmmm??? How 'bout that needle sketch? Pretty please put a picture of it up, even if it is unfinished! And what is happening with Book? Did I tell you I got an email from Mr. Oliver Jeffers himself?!?!

Erica- re:sketchbooks, I use 8.5x11 paper and cardstock exclusively now. Can't bring myself to mess up a perfect new sketchbook, and I have too many 1/2 finished books- they make me sick to my stomach with guilt. Instead of binding my pages at the Kink, I just have a bunch of black 3-ring binders that they get 'filed' in. Note that I use the term file veeerry, very loosely.

Nic- I am so jealous of your friend. I wish it was the old days when you & I were taking tea at Burdick's. And you have some packages heading your way, my dear, with prizes inside...

Leslie- Loved seeing your first post- want to see what you've been looking at lately. Tell us about the new digs, too!

Jill?! I see in your new blog on your revamped site that you are off to NY- lucky girl! Please pop in when you have a chance and share the highlights of the stationery show. And hooray that Joy is joining you! I'm a faithful lurker of her blog. Tell her congrats from sketchy :)

Well, Spring must have sprung, this Blog is quiet! My digital camera is in a funk, so not very reliable but I still have my scanner and I HAVE PLANS!

Two days ago I went to coffee at Burdick's with my girl friend. Annie you know Burdick's very well. She is a studying painter and getting very good. She is in a group, 6 women large, and they exhibited their art at the restaurant. The walls were full of their art. I wanted to have coffee there with her and see her pieces and then, inspire each other. Well, she was very good at inspiring me! She has been challenging me to get my easel out of my closet for months. (It is actually Tom's that Igave him for Christmas or something years ago, that he never even set up) So I brought it to the loft in my studio and it is partially set up. The back leg is confusing me...can't quite figure it out.

As we were sharing ideas...You know Annie this is just why you started Sketchy Artists...she said something that shook the cobwebs in my brain to remember something I had previously thought about and pushed aside. I had thought a couple of years ago that I would paint, small pieces of art, postcard to 8"x10" pieces, and sell them on my web site $75.00-$200.00 prices, unframed. Heck I have a web site already set up and a mailing list of over 2000 admirers, and an in-stock page for my fiber art, but why not add an art gallery page where I can create small paintings and mixed media pieces and post them there to sell! So I am going to begin by painting a Trillium growing on my hill. The Pulminaria, Myrtle and Daffodils are blooming, and the tulips are next. So I will take out my water colors and acrylics and paint small "Snap Shots" from my garden. I will scan and post them as I start getting a few.

I have also asked her to ask me to join her doing plein air painting when she goes out.

Wish me luck girls!