Great big ol' USA - process

My husband inspired me to do something big with the tin art I've been making so I used the Our Fair States idea and went 48 times bigger - I made a map of the contiguous states. It's about 26" wide and 20" tall on two pieces of wormy chestnut. I started by printing out a map of the states. Then I traced and cut out each state separately. I then cut each state out of my stock of biscuit tins. I got lucky with some (NC and VA for example) and others were chosen simply for color or pattern. I began assembling at Washington state, moved down and across, down to FL and upwards to New England, tacking and cutting and placing as I went. After every state was tacked well into place I filled up a barrel of wine and set myself up for hours of tacking in hundreds of tiny nails (I use 19 gauge, 1/2" nails for anyone that's interested). When that was done I had a hot soak in epsom salts and slept like a baby. And dreamt of putting nails into metal. ("What could that MEAN?") I will have the piece on display TOMORROW at Handmade Arcade along with a batch of new tin pieces for the holidays. I will have some new 2C prints and my wooden panel pieces, as well. AND tasty Peppermint Bark to give away with purchases. If you brave the wintry weather that is predicted please stop by my booth and say hey. Onward.

Making by hand and loving it

Handmade Arcade 2013 is only two days away and my mind is reeling with ideas and things I wish I had more time to keep making. I've got to stop and actually start packing up things and get to that Peppermint Bark I'll be giving away in my booth. Make your plans to visit the show - it's at the Convention Center from 11-7 on Saturday, December 8. And it's FREE so you can spend your money on handmade goods.Here's a sneak peek at some of my new pieces that I'll have. Also look for chalk boards and gift tags, a brand new print perfect for parents with picky eaters, bags and more.Happy Holidays! WORKER BIRD

Handmade pewter loveliness

OK - I am NOT tooting my own horn, here. I don't like to do that and I cringe when other people do it. What I'm talking about here is the loveliness in something - anything - that is so clearly made by hand. Yes, I did some illustrations for Wendell August but their artisans turned them into something really worth putting on your tree. I was happy with the photos I saw in their catalog and online but when I received the samples in the mail this past week, I loved what I saw. You can tell, looking at each ornament, that someone - a real, live person, touched every piece of pewter and softened the rough spots and polished the surfaces. Each piece is stamped on the back and - gasp - the stamps aren't uniform! I love it. I am so thrilled to be a part of this great group of people in Western PA that appreciate the value of the handmade.

Back in the Saddle

After the big push to get TO the National Stationery Show and then get home FROM the show and unpack, decompress, etc, we then hopped a plane to Boston and spent some time exploring much of what New England has to offer. My baby brother tied the knot (I was a groomswoman!) in New Hampshire and then the entire crew went to York, Maine for a day trip to unwind. After that we headed to a college-friend's farm and hung out with her family which includes two horses, six guinea hens, a herd/school/smack/murder of ducks, a dog and a cat. Three days of bird calls, owls at night, fresh air and good sleep = delight. AND I have a huge new crush on the Maine coast.Now we're home and the reality of filling all those awesome orders from the Show is setting in. I also have some projects that I really want to dig into while it's still 2011. We'll see how it all plays out. In the meantime I just got word that one of the projects I worked on a few months back is set to launch imminently. I was hoping to have some behind-the-scenes photos and all sort of good details on said project but life got in the way. I'll have to sit on my hands and wait to see what the company rolls out.Until later.  

Taking the trolley into the city

Happy holidays, all.

The Moment Jars

Merry Christmas to you!Please take a moment in this hectic holiday season to place a memory in a Moment Jar.  I am so honored to have been included in this wonderful collaboration (in its eighth year!) with some of my favorite people on the planet.Have a wonderful holiday with your friends and family.

Handmade Arcade 2009!!!

This is it - tomorrow is the big day. It's time for another Handmade Arcade and I can't wait. Hours and hours of meeting new people and being surrounded by so much handmade awesome. I'll be at the L2 Design Collective booth showcasing our holiday cards and banners, totes and gift tags and whatever else we happen to make today (this morning I've just put the last coat of varnish on these little test print boxes, for instance).Stop on by (and I wouldn't be too too upset if you brought a cup of hot chocolate with you) and say hey.And here's one more little idea - this Christmas when you're thinking of how to spend your money, think handmade.

Must make this happen

I love printing. Screenprinting. Blockprinting. Etching. Potato printing. Whatever. If it involves ink and something to put the ink down with, I love it. I don't do enough of it and I'm hoping (begging, praying, rain-dancing, holding my breath, everything short of reading "THE SECRET!") to make it happen soon. We have a huge basement that's mostly filled with junk but there is ample space for a terrific screenprinting studio. I have 99% of it already done...for real. I can't seem to get the last 1% done but one of the brothers is arriving in less than two weeks and, since he helped build the darkroom, wants to see a return on his investment. In the meantime, I did a little block print for the holidays and then printed it on anything I could find that would accept ink. I put the box on etsy and will use the envelopes for all the gift cards I will give out this year (sorry to ruin the surprise). Merry Christmas, all.