daily trappings

A shot from earlier this week. It contains all I had going on that day, a sketchbook of new ideas, BSF notes, new candle “spiced pumpkin” which so puts me in the mood for fall, one of my few remaining pumpkins from the show,  a leaf rose I made while walking back from the post office and a new stamp carving of a pomegranate in red & violet.

Once I started thinking about pomegranates I saw them everywhere, including in this painting that hangs in my kitchen from my college friend Kelly.   She is such a great artist and  just opened this new shop.

feather happy

I’ve been busy bookmaking. Here are the results from my feather print block series – I love pressing my own carved image in the clay. Also quite a few have handmade paper from Nepal on the cover pages.  I need to get my supplies together but I really want to make some more paper this summer, I haven’t done that in quite a while…  All journals are now in the shop, a few more to come.

open house

It was so delightful to host my own open house and little christmas shop this year.  I love people coming to our home and am so thankful for the friends who stopped by to check out my artwork and give  handmade presents.  THANK YOU to all you who came, It was such an encouragement to be supported locally!  I am donating 10% of all my sales to our youth group who are participating in a trip to Nicaragua with World Orphans this year.  Double blessings.

the tangible permanence of a handmade book

I’ve had the privilege of creating a custom guestbook for a place that we love dearly.  A place that is all about guests, stories, and recording God sightings.  It’s a place of change, the kind you want to record to forever remember and pass on to your children.

In an age of computers, facebook status updates, blog posts, and tweets, the moment that it takes to post, fleets just as quickly after read.   This book was made to record and to tangibly hold real memories and experiences recorded in ones own script.  It will go in our founder’s guest house and will serve as a running log, I can’t wait to see the first enteries but even more so the content.   I know from my heart that stories will be written on more than pages but the hearts of our guests and staff.  The weight of the book will reflect the heft of the moments.

This year SpringHill launched their Kids Need Camp campaign.  Today’s children, face more media distractions and spend less time outside or in meaningful spiritual conversation.  I love that SpringHill flips those numbers around for every week a kids spends at camp.  Now that’s something to write about.

knock knock little fairy

With the older kids at daycamp this week, I snuck out with my mom, nut and my nephew for a little urban fairy door hunt in Ann Arbor.  We found quite a few on the list before we stopped for lunch at sweetwater cafe. The kids left little token hearts for each fairy, it was adorable to see them peeking in the windows  and knocking on the doors, “come out, come out little fairies we want to play!”  None came out… I don’t know why? if someone left life-sized swedish fish for me, I would open up in a heartbeat.

In the afternoon, I stopped by Hollanders in kerrytown shops and took a workshop with their summer artists in residence.  I have been wanting to take a class forever now but my schedule has not lined up.  They were making these little flag books in the drop-in class,  I had such a grin from ear to ear just to be in the workshop and working alongside other creative souls again.  Seriously such a grin!  The little purple book in progress is mine, I am thinking about incorporating little fairy doors and leaves – something magical that highlights our trip.  I am thankful for a chance to learn a new skill and check out the many facets of bookmaking.  It’s always good to get out of your comfort zone and stretch your creativity.

This morning I found someone made this little treasury on etsy and included my little journal. I love all the pink, design and herringbone print!

'Throw a Dog a HerringBone' by artpassionsdesign

The Miss Kimmie's ThePaintedShoe $177.00	Chevron Series: "Flamin... flycharlie $14.00	Skiff Pusher - Full Color Pr... SimplySaltyArt $25.00	King Of The Herring Ball Act... eggmanstudios $12.00
Messenger bag for 11" M... mariforssell $115.00	Pink and Gray Flower Headban... ribbonsandflow... $9.99	The Eye - Black Labradorite ... SilverSmack $20.00	Mostly Mauve Beadwoven Cuff ... littlestonedes... $39.00
Pink2Blue's Nathan in Bl... pink2blue $29.00	Cotton Candy a Wee Mouse Cindimh $17.00	Metropolis Handbeaded Neckla... ambrosianbeads $195.00	big bow pillow cover soraam $32.00
slim iPhone case in pink and... YanaK $27.00	Baby Newsboy Hat, Girl 43 to... coffeelady $18.00	knit herringbone ceramic art... katehust $30.00	AMY Big HERRINGBONE Wool Pec... ikabags $129.74

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

rhubarbarian take 2

A while back in May I showed some clay projects I was working on with rhubarb leaves from my garden.  I finally managed to squeeze them into my last glaze kiln load.   I thought you might like to see how they turned out and let you know some of them are available in my etsy shop.  I love the new aqua glaze and how it brings out the texture of the pressed leaf. Shown below are large & small clay journals, The large bowl and matching spoon (which holds 8 cups of strawberries!) and 2 folded wall vases.

My little blog was also showcased today on The Daily Post which features themes and ideas for bloggers who participate in the 2011 post a day and post a week challenge.  It has been a surprising joy for me to blog about the things I love the most.  Thanks wordpress for helping me share my passions for art, faith, family  and ice cream!

intertwined

All year I have had this sense of “hold tight” to all things pure and good, because this is a beautiful season, but change is coming.  Truthfully it has already begun.  I am so blessed in many ways and am continually encouraged by family, friends and a chance to do what I love.  I do not regret loving deeply or the strings intertwined that produce something tangible to hold.

Romans 12:9-13 (The Message)

Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.    Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

I have some great guys in my life which these were made for, my husband and my two little brothers. I made these uniquely for each of them, hope they see the extra love tucked inside.  The one I hold dearly the other two with open hands, I love them all.  I may be dodging around here a bit, perhaps I will have courage soon to share one more story of a dear friend that I am not entirely ready to let go of yet.

show her some love.

new mugs & bookcovers

I opened my first glaze load Tuesday morning, which yielded some of the richest colors!  I am so pleased at so many of the results, I have a hard time picking my favorites, I just love colors and variety.  I will be updating my etsy shop this week, so be checking for first dibs!  The book covers will follow shortly as they take a bit more time to hand craft.