Addicted to Lotta

For regular visitors; you will realize that I've added a new book to my "Great Books" list at right; "Lotta Prints - How to Print With Anything, From Potatoes to Linoleum." It arrived in the mail this morning and I am proud to say that I have already finished it, I am planning a trip to my local craft store for supplies, and it is an instant pick-it-up-everyday resource book. I am so pleased with it. If you are looking for a print-making book using a range of supplies (ranging from cheap try-it-once, like potatoes, to expensive professional supplies like high grade linoleum and inks) - this book is for you. Purchase it at your favorite local book store (or online at Amazon now). Sorry for "plugging it" - but I think you will truly enjoy it!

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Happy Saturday!

Bleached Bugs and Casting Calls

"Torn Wing Dragonfly" by mothtoflame.

Continuing with the bleach theme - yes, the Dragonfly painting above was made using bleach - I just had to put a photograph of this amazing work up here. Personally, I do not know how she does it, but artist Deborah Gwinn's catch phrase says it all: "I'm an artist and a clean freak . . . painting with bleach was a natural progression." (I just love that!) This particular piece is a print, but she also has originals as well as amazing necklaces. I'm coveting this one. (And of course, a link to her blog.)

On another note: I have been reading through everything on Crafting a Green World since I found it yesterday, and I came across this casting call. You must be under the age of 28 to apply - read the full rules here. Imagine having your own DIY show? I know that a ton of you, especially my fellow Etsyians, are up to the challenge! I know that I might try my hand at it!

Good luck!

When Green and Crafting Collide

I was wondering when this day would come...

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I found a great website and I do not know which section to put it in, "Truly Inspring (and Useful) Blogs" or "Green Living Links." (I know, not the end of the world - but I don't want to confuse my readers!) Anyhow, I am so happy to see artists and crafters working to save our planet. If we make the greener decision every chance we get - can you imagine how much better the world will be? I can. And I know it will take a long time to see any change, but in the meantime I have a new website to check out: Crafting a Green World: DIY for Environmentalists.

Bleach Stenciling!

I'm really excited about this. An old friend of mine posted a link to this website on Facebook - it's a tutorial about making bleach stencils....and the great news is that you could do it on nearly any fabric. Check it out! Furthermore, the Resources tab offers some great links as well as font downloads. Definitely worthy of keeping on my blog for the longhaul! Also, I'm up for some spring cleaning today - I need to make this blog more Me and stop doing things for commercial purposes - HERE GOES!

Ciao.

NO WAY!

LOOK WHAT I JUST FOUND!

How could I not realize that there was an Etsy team that loves the show Firefly and the movie Serenity (called Big Damn Crafters)...I am so happy right now! (It's the simple things in life, is it not?)

Oh, and an NYC Ideal Bite today: The Nau Women's Succint Trench Coat. Sustainable, recycleable, waterproof, long - it is my dream come true!

More later - I truly need a shower after that gym spinning session!

Some Light Surfing

So I have been browsing this morning...really just wanted to see some new and inspiring things and as luck would have it - here they are!

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Today I am coveting this WONDERFUL painting entitled "Green with Envy" by Donnadidit. Which of course was found on my addiction, excuse me, Etsy.

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On Flickr, I keep seeing these "double" photos where two photos are set side-by-side and can create quite a stunning gallery feel...well, I found a link to a site that helps you with it today! It is called FD's Flickr Toys.

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Through Team Etsy New Jersey and their wonderful member messages, I found a link to a craft fair called Artists and Fleas. They have an Etsy specific craft fair on May 17th and 18th, but it looks like they have a fair EVERY weekend! Here's the Etsy publication. (Oh, and I almost forgot to mention: the Etsy NJ Street Team featured me yesterday on their blog, which I have to note is extremely colorful and catchy! THANK YOU!)

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I guess I'm a little stuck on photography today, but I also found The Ones We Love this morning. It is an online photo exhibition that features people that the photographer truly cares about. I think they are trying to show you what happens when you photograph those that you love - it comes across in the pictures! I keep clicking on the names to see their photos - I just want to do a photoshoot now!!!

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I do not want to overload on a blog post, so that is just a taste for now. Keep blogging and support handmade! (I will be putting-up some of yesterdays' paintings for sale at my Etsy store in the next few hours!) Enjoy!

Spring is in the Air

I spent the last week visiting family and friends in England and it was just WONDERFUL! My sister-in-law taught me how to knit (garter and pearl), I created some new ACEOs to post on my Etsy site (like the one at left), and I worked on the Thank You Card Nature Set for my blog contest winner. All in all, a very creative trip!

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I will spend the rest of today painting and organizing as I unpack - as well as checking out what else is on the web! If you have something you would like me to research and discuss, please let me know in the comments section. I would love to do some dirty work today!

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Happy blogging!

Congratulations Ablemabel!

Congratulations to Ablemabel - she was the lucky name I pulled from my hat tonight and will be receiving a set of five custom greeting cards handmade by me!

Visit her blog or etsy shop to see what she creates as well!

Thank you to all of you who participated and gave me advice for both my blog and my Etsy site - I will continue to have contests (because who doesn't love to win something?!) so check back often!

Thanks again!
Alex

PS: I also added my first PIF listing tonight! (Please join in on the fun if you haven't already!)

CONTEST ENDS TONIGHT!

My contest ends tonight - so don't forget to comment here or on the post below!

THANKS!

Win a set of Greeting Cards!

Post a comment here by 10pm on Sunday March 16th and you could win a set of five greeting cards with your choice of them and my graphics! Check out my cards here and I will try any design!!! (I'll email you a photo before sending to make sure it is what you want.) It's like getting a custom order for free!!!

Thanks!

Cibo Cibo Cipolle!

Above I have been taking photographs of my progress thus far with my oil onions. I am not thrilled with my painting, but I am planning a few changes that will hopefully make it much better. The first image is the still life that we are painting from (I placed the photo on my 8x10" canvas). The second image is my pencil sketch of the angle I want (I used a view-finder). The third image is the acrylic underpainting (we used complimentary colors). And the last image has the oil values for the pitcher, onions, and partial tablecloth...it needs a lot of work, but I love seeing how a painting progresses! (You should see everyone elses, below!)

<-- Here are their acrylic underpaintings. And here are their oil values. -->

(Click the photo for a larger view. The top shelf has acrylic paintings from other Artsplace classes.)

I just love everyones' work - we all have such different styles! I hope to post a better photo of my own onions tomorrow, in the meantime - get creative!

PAZ Fashion Peace

Ideal Bite - New York City alerted me to these wonderful creations. Believe it or not, this hat is made from canvas recycled from the covers of Brazilian cargo trucks along with a faux leather made from plant matter! (If that's not both green and vegetarian, I don't know what is!) It's beautiful and each one is handmade (which means they aren't exactly cheap - but hey, saving the planet AND looking good is worth it, no?). Check them out!

I start a three-day oil still-life workshop today with Mally DeSomma (she has some STUNNING paintings - I'll post when she has an art show). Trust me, you'll want one of her pieces on your wall. Anyhow, that's what I'll be doing for the next three days, so if I do not get a chance to post - do not fret - I'll be back soon! (And with paintings to sell on Etsy!)

Thanks for reading!

"Portrait of a Cow" by Judith Secco

This photo is by Judith Secco and is available for sale at the Fine Line Art Gallery in Woodbury, CT.

Please click on the title for a link to the gallery.

Freshly Squeezed

I just added these wonderful originals to my Etsy site today and they are all framed and ready to go. They include "Sally Robot" - a series of two, "Frank Snowboarder," and "The Kealia Surfer." I think I will do a whole silhouette and robot series - they are so childlike and fun. I hope you enjoy them!

Stolen Coat

Well, my coat was stolen from the New Britain Museum of American Art last night and I am so bummed.

But, in keeping this blog and my life POSITIVE, I started researching dress forms so that I could make my own (and a life lesson learned: do not check your coat when there isn't someone there to watch it). Etsy to the rescue again! They tell you how to make your very own dress form using things like a t-shirt, duck-tape and polyfil! CHECK IT OUT!

Not to mention - sorry Etsy, I'll always be loyal, I promise - I found another cool website for a place called the Make Workshop! They have classes for crafters like me (and possibly you) in Manhattan and it is DEFINITELY worth a look! So now that I am in a good mood again, I think I'll be off for some crafting and "arting(?)!"

Hopefully my coat mishap was just that; a mistake, and it is returned soon so that I can have my Italian love back! But in the meantime, I'll be adding a list of the most useful websites for crafters (that I visit often), a list of recommended art books, and links to my wishlists for my own use (I can't figure out where to keep them so that I remember them all!) Sorry for any product names (I hate to commercialize), but they are my favorites and hey, I've got to clean my face, too!

Joyous world - thank-you for backfiring me in to my smiling place.

Champagne Chair

I have been feeling quite creative lately and after some champagne I made this little chair! Isn’t it fun?! (Sorry for the dust!)

Zazzle has gotten my creative juices flowing as well with their new products (skinny business “profile” cards) - I just wish that they used more recycled and sustainable blanks...but to be fair, their magnets use recycled paper and they do offer edun-live organic cotton, sustainable t-shirts. Oh! And I will be posting my Flickr photos up for sale on Etsy today...exciting!

My last Beginner Drawing art class at Artsplace is tomorrow and I’m really going to miss my kids. They just cannot believe the art that they can create!

I am also headed to the New Britain Museum of American Art tonight for a show and skiing on Sunday – so it is another jam-packed weekend in the Whatton household.

An old friend messaged me on facebook and it has sparked a long "pen-pal-esque" conversation about traveling in Spain, Israel, and Italy were we have both studied abroad (her at the first two, and myself in Florence) – the intense memories that smells and touch spark both amazes and amuses me. I can remember the cool feel of the marble on my feet in our apartment and the uneven cobblestone in the streets. I mastered ordering gelato from Antonio in Italian and I went to YAB to dance every night. (I admit, I was in the best shape of my life!) Oh the smell of the San Lorenzo Market; leather, bell peppers, prosciutto, sweat – it brings me right back just thinking about it. I wish the dollar wasn’t so pathetic!

Thanks for reading!