Hey there, it’s been awhile…

So for the second time in a two month period I’m home sick.  The benefits of being home sick invovle homemade potato leek soup, catching up “Storm Chasers” and “House”, staying in your PJ’s all day and of course updating things for you guys.

I’ve been busy, pretty occupied by a PT job I’ve taken on that’s more like FT.  Lots of trains and commuting and interacting with the public… aka LOTS and LOTS of Bostonians and tourists (hence me being sick).

A recent grad school project has caused me to take on redesigning a logo I think is vastly overdue for an overhaul.  History aside… in the current cultural climate of eco-friendliness this logo is a little disturbing…  the red color of the paint… the world covered in plastic/latex… hmm.  Was a good idea for expansion once, not so much now.

Considering their involvement in the community, new eco-friendly lines and desire to compete with such companies as Benjamin Moore… well I came up with a few sketches.  These are in developement, when complete I’ll post again.Inspiration was from the clean lines of tools often used to spread color into our lives and enrich our living spaces. The tag line instead of “Cover the Earth” would now be “Color your World”… transforming the notion of transforming the actual earth into transforming yourliving room.

More to follow, now I’m gonna hunker down and enjoy a favorite flick: “While you were sleeping”… gotta love Sandra and Bill.   That family is so… my life.

Coming soon!

I’ve been busy busy both in personal life as well as professional…

What has she been working on? you ask?

WELL, I’ve been in the process of illustrating and writing a few childrens books.  Yeah yeah, cliche I know… an illustrator creating a children’s book? seriously? Oooo big surprise.  Well for me it actually is, considering I don’t have any and that my near future doesn’t include starting a family.

I’ll give you a lil taste in the next few days with some scanned illustrations- but for now I’ll simply say each centers around a lil boy named Nathaniel.  He’s adorable, smart, about 5-6yrs old and has a vivid imagination.  His father is a writer, mom an artist and well… that’s it for now.

; )

Coming soon! promise promise!

Hello Folks

I’ve been completely SWAMPED this week- I’ll be posting sporatically till next Monday.  Coming up is the South End Open Market which I’ll be selling at both Saturday and Sunday.  SO this week has be PRODUCTION week… lots of prep.

I’ve also decided in order to keep this thing sane (as well as myself) I’m going to post on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays… and only randomly between then.

Mondays-what I’m up to

Wednesdays- Housewares

Fridays- Featured Artists

Just makes good sense to organize this blog a bit better and get things rolling.  Next week will be the first structured week of posts.  I’ll post promo whatnot on Friday and hope to see new people this weekend at the sale if you’re in the area! (Boston)  Cheers!

Wonderful Designwares Wednesday! Maisonwares

Today I’m featuring the domestic bliss that is: Maisonwares consists of Ryan Marie Samuel and Ben Hill who as you can see in this photo are an adorable team.  I’ve known Ryan going on at least 6 years now, when we met it was still the college years and she was working in a bead shop with my old roomie Annie (who I’ll post on at some point).  She had a great love of graphic design, made amazing collages and was (still is) probably the most fashionable person I know.  A few years ago she came up with the idea for Maisonwares due to her great love of useful and beautiful housewares.  She started doing the craft fair circuit with her handmade aprons, oven mits, switchplate covers and an assortment of other creative and handy items.  She’s participated in the Boston Bazaar Bizarre, Renegade Fair in NYC, Girls Night Out (Boston) and displayed her work in a cafe in Portsmouth as well.  Then came Ben. Ryan wanted to move to California and Ben agreed to help her on the cross country drive there- stopping first in his hometown of Richmond VA.  They tried but (lucky for us) never made it to CA.  Now happy as two peas in a pod they live in a great walk up in Richmond and have taken Maisonwares to new heights.

Ben is quite the salesman, I saw him in action when they participated in the Bazaar Bizarre, this past winter (I was also a vendor) and he could sell a down coat to someone in FL during August. He has what my grandfather used to call the “gift of gab” and can talk to anyone.  Ryan’s background in graphic design and meticulous eye are on display every time they set up shop for a sale- she has a knack of finding trends and colors just as they surface and her taste- well, it goes without saying I’m a fan.

Since settling into VA they’ve expanded the line to include Ryan’s amazing abstract paintings, large and small clothespin photo holders, beautiful corkboards,candles in vintage glassware and teacups, unique catnip toys and beautiful stationary with Ryan’s photography.  They’ve been featured in design blogs like Rare Bird Find and regularly participate in art/craft fairs.  They can often be found around Richmond selling/displaying their work in cafes, coffee shops and restaraunts… always creating and seeking out new ideas.  I can’t wait to see what they come up with next, if their current work is any indication it’ll be a must-have for the home, just like everything else they make!

sorry folks

won’t be posting today- went to the gym and managed to damage myself via one big step and a rather graceful fall… looks like a badly sprained ankle so I’m giving myself the day off…

tune in t’morrow though for…

Wonderful Housewares Wednesday!  I’ll be featuring the marvelous creations of Maisonwares!

I keep forgetting to promote myself… hmm.

So in about a week or so (or two) I’ll be on display for an entire weekend.  With 100 other artists I’ll be camped out in my lil neon blue camp chair with my ice coffee selling my nifty wares and making new friends.

Across the country there are open studios… specified times when artists open up their workspace to reveal the mystery and share what they’ve been up to all season long.  More often in the spring post-hibernation.

Now as I don’t have a fancy flat in the South End, I don’t even live in the city anymore- opening up my studio in the burbs all by my lonesome is rather- well rather pathetic.  Luckily for me the wonderful people that organize SOWA have opened up a large space for those of us not fortunate enough to be located in lil art-meccas thus helping the saddly geographically… challenged.  From 11am-6pm Saturday and Sunday you can find my mirrors, platters, bowls, cards, purses and more on display and for sale! huzzah!  So come one come all and take a peek at what I… and my fellow artists have been squirrel’d away creating.

The world is a freaky place right now- I don’t know bout you but when I’m bummed out I tend to seek out comforts- new jeans, new shoes or a damn good cup of coffee.  Instead of buying more of the same, I think finding something handmade and lovely is far more comforting than another deal at some “big-mart” kinda place.  But then again… I’m obvoiusly biased.

(delayed) Featured Artist Friday: Stitchpixie!

The amazing stitchpixie is none other than Vancouver, BC artist Cyan (Cheryl). She’s been drawing, dancing, writing and taking photos since long before she was even a teen… her passion is evident and she’s lived by some sage advice once given her: “Don’t make your passion your career – it’ll suck the fun out of it.”

Thus she’s a full-time pharmacist, juggling side interests of photography, ballet, lyrical, and jazz dance, all the while crafting and mailing out orders in her free time.  Talk about busy! Just listing that makes me dizzy!  Combing her talents she designs, produces and photographs each accessory herself- no small feat considering the quantity.  However she’s about the designs- not mass production… which is great when you want something unique and well crafted that feels handmade and special.

Her vinyl pouches and wristlets are vegan-friendly with simple modern lines (in 2 or 3 punchy colors) cut with themes in everything from reproduction to nature and city scapes.  The OTHER great thing about Stichpixie is that 10% of proceeds from stitchpixie.com go towards sponsoring a “hope child” through world vision.

“In addition to the clean water, food, health care, education, and spiritual nurture a child through world vision receives, a hope child also benefits from AIDS prevention and counseling as well as care for sick or dying parents. sponsor a child, a hopechild, or a family through world vision today.”-stitchpixie.com

I don’t think it can get better than that- but it does- she also donated a goat to a family in 2006!! which means regular dairy products and added income from offspring sold… one goat can make all the difference in the world to a family.

Stitching together works of whimsical functional fun, stitchpixie is definatly one to watch and on my shopping list!

thanks to stitchpixie- photos ©stitchpixie

sorry folks! Featured Artist Friday will have to be put off till t’morrow!

I’m rather swamped at the moment but will have more time Saturday so stay tuned! -K

Busy busy

This week I’ve been building up stock for an upcoming weekend-long sale.  My process differes depending on mood, location and what other things I have going on (most often I’m sitting cross legged on a futon watching a movie with my work in my lap on a large glass cabinet door/tray).

I’m never quite sure *what* to write about my own work- always cautious about giving away my techniques or ideas for fear they’ll be stolen or copied (which happens), it doesn’t take a genius to figure out HOW my art is made… but I’d rather not have “Michael’s art supply” being emptied so someone can have a crafty fun lil project on the weekend… and leaving me without business.  Don’t get me started- I could rant for quite awhile about how working at-home artists are often seen as ‘hobbyists’… that it’s “too much fun to be a real job”.  Which sometimes it does feel that way- I shouldn’t be enjoying myself so much… but if you love what you do… well, you’re just really lucky.

Mirrors are my speciality (for now) and I’ve developed some great patterns with tree silohettes which you can see HERE.  But lately I’ve been looking into other patterns… seed pods, branches anyting in nature that has a spindly curving shape or modern round edges that look abstract.

many thanks to the photographers of these photos: the scottish rock garden club, ubc botanical garden, and triangle.com (I think)

HouseWares Wednesdays: Deadly Squire

Welcome to HouseWares Wednesdays!

DESIGN SQUIRE

SO for the first edition of HouseWares Wednesdays I’ve chosen to feature a great lil company I came across last week called “Deadly Squire“.  I just LOVE their whimsical/edgy humor, fantastic patterns, handmade feel and great products.  Definatly a must-see, or rather… must-shop.  Husband and Wife team Tim and Anna bring a bit of the exotic to the everyday with their complex and dynamic patterns that are both dizzying and soothing at the same time.  Vibrant colors, entire collections that match and blend well together… this duo has developed a line of products that cross boundaries and design genres.  No matter what your taste (or the taste of the person you’re shopping for) there’s something for everyone.  Without question a couple to keep an eye on.  They put the ‘fun’ back into functional.

To shop directly check out their online SHOP where you can find wonderful items like these in all kinds of patterns: trays, pillows, placemats, napkins, potholders, ties, bags and more!