Art Sparks – Page 4

s p r o u t

:: new sprout necklace design with ball chain and clasp.:: hand painted and printed with one of my hand carved blocks. :: more in this line coming to the shop at the end of the summer with punchy colors and simple little prints. xo e

treasured

Each Wednesday I post about some sort of treasure I found during the past week. It might be thrifted or found on a walk or whispered in my ear or discovered on a dark shelf in the basement. Something. Anything that makes me feel lucky and thankful. It doesn’t necessarily have to make its way…

4th of July in Brewster, NY

frog pond stone wall with petunias (I think) my foot on Auntie Lynn’s newly painted purple garden seat Uncle Michael’s grapes (1 bunch out of hundreds) a secret garden spot. the buzz around town is that wine is sipped and cheese and olives are nibbled here. blue berries on the bush (we had blueberry…

a sweater (and other things)

Today, during an impromptu thrift shop stop, I found this beautiful sweater. It is the Anthropologie brand Sleeping On Snow and it is called the “Sketchbook Pullover.” I almost keeled over. It is new with tags and I bought it for $5.99. Little Mouse was with me, and she didn’t really get what the fuss…

treasured

mouse times

I spent Sunday night and part of Monday carving mice and printing. bigmouseyeyes xo e

printing

I’ve been busy carving more blocks and printing with lots of new colors. Joining colors together is truly one of my favorite things. Since I treated myself to a set of new inks over the weekend, I’ve been like a kid in a candy shop. I can’t stay away. When my workshops get rolling in…

h o u s e s

I once had a dream about a little neighborhood of houses just like this. The houses were on a river, though, and I was stuck on the opposite side. This was like 14 years ago, but I was keeping a dream journal at the time, so it is forever preserved on paper (at least…

spring printing

These are little hand carved prints on cereal box squares. Printing with bright colors onto small cereal box squares is a nice little activity to do with children. The color pops against the natural, muted color of the box board, and they can use the little squares for game playing and storytelling. These little squares…

nest building :: a tutorial

Here we are, heading into the season of nesting, of new beginnings and rejuvenation. And, while I feel so hopeful and invested in the ground that will soon be bursting with newness and life, I continue to grieve the loss of my grandmother. In the past ten years or so, when spring came around and…

left hand leaves

So, anyway, about left handed drawing (or drawing with your non-dominant hand). I find the process magical and super satisfying because it allows me to draw with intention, and it frees my mind enough so that I am drawing what I see rather than what I think I should be seeing. It ends up…

not indoors

The left handed painting is going to have to wait until next week. We spent almost the entire day outside – at the park, in our yard, in the outdoor produce section at our local market (where they are selling local pussy willow branches and mangoes from Peru). The kids collected birch bark and rediscovered…

A March Day

Mouse paints. Chick shows us the maple tree that her classroom has tapped for sap. A damp, chilly, after school playground romp. And, while the day felt ordinary and regular, it really wasn’t. The tragic loss and devastation in Japan weighs heavy on my mind and in my heart. xo e

notebook

I have a thing for notebooks. I’ve covered plain notebooks with fancy paper and repurposed paper and I’ve collaged on them with felt and bits of fabric. And, just recently, we made a boatload of hand tied storybooks. Notebooks mean that bits of information, bits of the present, are being hand recorded with lines and…

kid rocks!

Here is a little sneak peak at our Valentine making festivities today. Chick made 22 (+ 3 for her three classroom teachers) love rocks, and Mouse made two for both of her teachers (plus a bunch of extras to use for her “rock show”). And by festivities, I mean two peppy kids happily gluing hearts…