Oiseaux

Bird Studies

Do you remember my call for materials exchange last summer? This week I finally got to some of the goodies sent to me from Canadian artist/photographer Rachael Ashe. Rachael does some amazing things with altered books and sells her beautiful photography, you can see her work here. The package she sent was full of some great stuff, and I had a wonderful time getting back into art making while the baby slept.

These birdies will be heading to Three Graces Gallery in NH once I get them framed up.

Thank you, Rachael, for the materials and the inspiration!

Celebrating Beginnings and Celebrating Endings

Hello friends!

Did you have happy and wonderful holidays, I hope?

We had a fantastic time.. and even though the Christmas things have been put away, I still have red and green in my heart. I secretly want to keep the carols playing. The holidays snuck up so quickly this year, and then it was a blur of presents and flying wrapping paper and they were over.

Perhaps some of that has to do with this little person, who is 3 months old now. He is a prince, and he is now laughing and sleeping through the night.. but my gosh, babies are not for the faint of heart. I've been so focused on being a mommy that I've lost touch with some things. A lot of things. And now my "maternity leave" has ended, and trying to get back into work mode has been very jarring. And so far: impossible.

It's time to turn my table back into an art-making area.. I have artwork to make for one of two shows that I'm in next month. Yikes.

And it's also time to start packing, because we are moving! 

Our new house is darling, and has so much more room, and we are very excited. But I am also very sad at the thought of moving.. I've lived in this house for nine years now; it's the longest I've lived in one place my entire life. So I am trying to be as present as possible this last month we are here. I'm going to really miss the neighborhood and our friends. We've been taking lots of walks and taking things in as much as we can.

And it's funny, I've been thinking about that old adage: Be careful what you wish for. Above my computer right now is a dream board that I made a year ago with the word expansion in the center of it, and surrounding that are images of babies, and big beautiful homes, and my artwork. Expansion was the word I chose for myself last year. And that's what I got, that's what we got as a family.

But sometimes expansion isn't completely comfortable, is it? Here I am celebrating new things starting and old things ending. I want to laugh and cry. 

I haven't thought of a word yet for 2012, have you thought of a word for this year?

*Be very careful!!* :)

New Shop & Three Day Holiday Sale!

I am so excited to announce the opening of my new shop: Oiseaux Noir at Big Cartel. I'll be selling beautiful original works and select open-ended prints... and to celebrate, all my original works are 50% off today, December 8th through Saturday, December 10th!

Is there anyone in your life that would like some art for the holidays? Perhaps you?

Hello New Things

Well, hello there! It's been awhile, hasn't it? Time has been speeding by with a newborn; Callum is now 10 weeks old and is the sweetest, smiley-est baby around. Last night he slept for 8 hours straight, and I am feeling like I could conquer the world.

I've been anxious to get back into art making... most of my free time lately has been filling etsy orders and writing belated thank you notes. But I do have some new things to share:

1. I am an auntie! My sister Carrie gave birth to a beautiful baby boy last week, Andrew Hayden. Callum is going to have a little partner in crime to grow up with! They are two months and two days apart.

2. I have been working on a new shop for my original artwork, which will be open this week. It's been something I've been wanting to do for a long time... I will still have my etsy shop for print sales, but I wanted a more "stand alone" feeling for original works, so I decided on using Big Cartel. To celebrate the opening, I will be hosting a massive sale. More about that later, very excited.

3. My artwork and a short essay is featured in Volume 5 of Stampington & Company's Artists' Cafe, and it even made the cover. It took my daughter pointing out the "pretty butterflies" for me to notice. It's a great issue, full of inspiring art.

And a less newish thing:

 I was interviewed by the talented and lovely Stephanie Levy for her Artists Who Blog series. You can    read the interview here. The timing of this interview was very funny, as I was completely absent from    my blog... if you are a new reader, welcome, and thank you for being here! 

Callum Corby Luna

Callum Corby Luna

Born Monday, September 26th at 1:28 PM

7 pounds, 3 ounces     20 1/2 inches long

 

My heart has never been so full.

 

I am ready...

(And so are Ice Bat and the Moses basket)

Tomorrow afternoon this little one that I've been carrying around for nine months will be in my arms! I have spent the past several weeks organizing, sterilizing, sorting, cleaning, clearing, painting and preparing for our little boy. I can't wait to meet him. And it's funny: even though I've done this before, I feel as giddy and nervous as I did the first time. (Gulp!)

I will be back soon with pictures. Wish me luck!!!

Joie Magazine

The gorgeous fall issue of Joie Magazine is out, and I am proud to be a contributer. Joie is the brainchild of Indie Fixx's Jen Wallace, and this issue is full of great articles, food, fashion, foraging, and some wonderful art. And did I mention that it's free?

See if you can spot my contributions in the form of background patterns.. I had a lot of fun doing these, and they are also available in fabric form over at Spoonflower if you are so interested. (The mushroom patterns are coming soon.) 

I hope you are having a lovely week where you are. We've been hiding inside to escape the heat.. I even had a small raccoon try to come inside last night.. he had the patio door open about two inches when I caught him!

The Feminine Divine

I am very proud to be one of the artists showing at the Doug Adams Gallery in Berkeley, CA. Gendered Images: The Feminine Divine opens up this weekend, with the opening reception on Saturday, September 8th from 5-7 PM. There will be live jazz, and amazing food from local restaurant La Mediterranee. If you are in the area, won't you stop by?

I won't be able to make it (I will be a big pregnant lady on the couch in Los Angeles dreaming of art, jazz, wine and great food) but I will be there in spirit. I hear that the Pacific School of Religion is a gorgeous setting.. I hope that someone gets to go and tells me about it! The show will be up until December 16th. There are also three events in connection with the show: an interfaith faculty discussion, a women's hymn and choir celebration, and a theatrical performance. Please click the postcard below for more information.

September is for Butterflies

I can't believe how long it's been since I've posted! Life has just completely slowed down here.. and I have slowed down with it, with this big baby in my tummy. I am now officially waddling, and big exertions like brushing my teeth or bending over to pick a pencil up off the floor can send me to the nearest chair for five minutes. Amazing!

I haven't been a complete pregnant sloth, I promise.. I have some art shows coming up, and some cool things happening that I look forward to sharing with you.

And I am so happy to see the first bits of fall here, even though we are getting the first real heat of the year. Little yellow leaves have sprinkled our yard, and the first acorns, too. And the butterflies: big, bright yellow ones that float in the trees, quick little dodgy white ones, and pale blue ones that sparkle. 

I have 3 weeks until this new little person arrives, and there is still plenty to do, but I plan to spend as much time as possible outside. And what have you been up to?

I'm a Top 5O Etsy Mom!

I'm so honored to have been chosen as one of Babble.com's Top 50 Etsy Moms! Babble is a very cool, modern parenting site.. if you have a little one in your charge, it's a great resource for ideas, info and help. If you'd like, you can check out my little blurb here.