tradesies

naturesmyfriend — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 04:12:35 +0000

One of the many benefits of being a printmaker is the opportunity to trade with other printmakers. Because our images are created in limited editions, we can easily swap prints with each other if we feel so inclined. I have the most amazing collection of artwork from my BFA peers because of trades, but most recently struck up an exchange with a fellow printmaker and twitter friend Elise Towle Snow aka Argyle Whale. I was perusing her etsy shop last month and fell hard for two of her quirky, clever and adorable gocco prints pictured above and below. I was lucky enough to have her take interest in one of my animal call silkscreen prints, and so we traded addresses and the rest is history. I love these new art additions in my home and was thrilled to hear Elise adores the print she received as well. If you are interested in doing some trades, let me know! And to collect some more artistic treats, whether you are a printmaker or not, you should check out this awesome call for submissions from one of my favorite non-profit print studios, Alberta Printmakers aka A/P. Every year they do this “postcard” exchange: send in ten 4 x 6 limited edition prints or ten 4 x 6 one of a kind works of art (just no digital reproductions), and have your work included in an awesome exhibition. When it’s over A/P will keep 2 for fundraising or archives while 8 random postcards from other participants will be mailed back to you. Happy trading!

Filed under: Exhibitions, Gocco, Mail Art, Printmaking, Screenprinting Tagged: argyle whale, elise, exchanges, gocco, trades

sick days

naturesmyfriend — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:34:41 +0000

I’m so sorry my dear reader, for I am just not well enough to write you an inspiring and creative post today. The above photo pretty much sums up my life right now… but when the Lord of the Rings trilogy is over and the kleenex boxes are empty I am praying my cold will be finished too. In the meantime stay well, keep warm and hopefully I will be back to my regular self very soon.

Filed under: Photography Tagged: lord of the rings, sick days

she can always make me smile

naturesmyfriend — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:02:36 +0000

I’m super sick with a cold for the first time in forever and feel especially awful because John’s parents are currently visiting us. I am trying to lay low to forget about my aching body and thus have taken to distracting myself with awesomeness like big pots of green tea, fantastic films, long visits with our company and sorting through some beauties from my gorgeous collection of vintage Canadian stamps inspired by one of my favorite ladies. Queen Elizabeth seems to always be able to put a smile on my face, no matter what.

Filed under: Philatelic Tagged: canadian stamps, philatelic, queen elizabeth, the queen, vintage stamps

sketchbook snaps

naturesmyfriend — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 06:41:42 +0000

One of my new year’s resolutions was to pull out my sketchbook more often. I have started to turn over a new leaf and I’d still like to draw in it more often. However it is more than I’ve done in previous years and it has just been great to get doodling, sketching, collaging, collecting and drawing things on a regular basis.

Filed under: Books, Drawing Tagged: drawing, sketchbook

mail art – outgoing

naturesmyfriend — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 07:09:13 +0000

Click to view slideshow.This week’s outgoing mail art featured a plethora of Valentines sent to some of my Canadian pen pals, a package to China for my friend Hannah Peterson, a decorated envelope for Charlotte Saunders (@Dig_A_Pony) in the UK and a typed letter to Jenny Cutnam on the coast.

Filed under: Mail Art Tagged: charlotte saunders, hannah peterson, jenny cutnam, Mail art, valentines

mail art – incoming

naturesmyfriend — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 05:59:13 +0000

Click to view slideshow.I was spoiled this week with the above incoming mail art treats! Sarah Churchill (@scjammycustard) sent a package of favorites, Jessica Mack sent me her last evnvelope from Australia (@brownpaperbunny), the was a lovely valentine from Jaime Madellena (@sendmoremail), Caren Gibb spoiled me with sweet book pages & heartfelt letter, Nick Oostyen & Olivia Delorme (@0_delorme) sent another double dose of goodness, Marcus Jackson (@luckyjackpress)found me owls, moustaches and a bird book, Jillian Hermansen (@jillianailsa) went cat crazy and Mr. Munk from The Monster Factory (@_monsterfactory) wrote me a love letter. Thanks for all of the rad treats my wonderful pen pals!!!

Filed under: Mail Art Tagged: caren gibb, jaime madellena, jessica mack, jillian harmansen, Mail art, marcus jackson, monster factory, mr munk, nick oostyen, olivia delorme, sarah churchill

good advice

naturesmyfriend — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 00:48:55 +0000

I’ve been going through some piles of thrifted books today, altering them and setting aside found paper gems for mail art replies and future projects. I came across this page with some particularly poignant words that any artist or crafter would easily relate to. It’s a definite keeper.

Filed under: Books, DIY, Thrift Shop Tagged: books, make it yourself, thrift store

Tour of the Arts 2012

naturesmyfriend — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:11:56 +0000

Woke up this morning to a wonderful acceptance e-mail:Every year the Columbia Valley Arts Council puts on a fabulous one day art event that features 50 artisans in picturesque settings around Windermere Lake. I have participated in this event twice before and last year was a total success; I can’t wait to do it again! The committee who organizes and runs this event is very professional and responsible- it seems the day always comes and goes by so smoothly thanks to their full year of planning and brainstorming. Now I just have to do some more art making and booth planning!

Filed under: Exhibitions Tagged: acceptance letter, art exhibit, art fair, tour of the arts 2012

one line a day

naturesmyfriend — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:57:07 +0000

From a young age I always enjoyed writing: my grandfather introduced me to poetry in elementary school and writing rhymes came naturally, in junior high and high school, keeping a diary was therapeutic for me, and during post-secondary writing was a natural part of my sketchbook and imagery planning process. Since graduating a couple years ago, my blog has become a place for me to write and chronicle my ideas, however I had been looking for a way to get back into some more personal journaling. In December after the One of a Kind Show, I treated myself at Paper-Ya to this gorgeous volume by Chronicle Books and have been writing in it every day since the New Year began. It is titled “One Line a Day – A Five Year Memory Book.” Also for Christmas, my sister conveniently gifted me the purple and blue bird/feather 7 year pen by sustainable seltzer goods; the perfect writing utensil for the 5 years of journaling ahead of me.The intention of this clever volume is to take the pressure out of daily journaling by only having to write a line or two instead of an entire paragraph or page. There is nothing intimidating about the writing process. This format has helped me to condense my thoughts (somewhat like Twitter’s character limit) so that I am more precise with my wording while chronicling everyday adventures. The gorgeous teal cover protects gold-leafed pages, each with their own date at the top and five separate sections to write in. The journal is organized so that when I am finished (by the end of 2016), every page will hold five separate memories that occurred on that particular date (one from each of the past five years). I’ve enjoyed adding to this book every night, and am excited for even just the second year of writing when I get to compare my new adventures directly with those of 2012. And for some of my later escapades in life (although I am getting ahead of myself) I have been eyeing up this other Chronicle Books volume for when John and I decide to start a family.

Filed under: Inspiration, journal, Journals & Notebooks Tagged: 5 year diary, 5 year journal, 7 year pen, chronicle books, daily journal, journal, one line a day

i remember you: the conclusion

naturesmyfriend — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:19:29 +0000

It has been tons of fun slowly sharing my Art House sketchbook project 2012 creations with you! Today is the day where I’m finally able to show you the glorious rebound cover, share a video of me “reading” my sketchbook and revealing a well-kept secret: I made a zine for the back inside cover which chronicles the inspiring pages from my lost 2011 sketchbook project!!! Above is the 2011 sketchbook “Figuring You Out” which inspired not only the new imagery for my 2012 project, but the new cover treatment as well. So without further ado, I present to you, my 2012 “I remember you” sketchbook finished & rebound: I chose a delicate white cow hide that I’ve had in my leather / book binding bin for a very long time. The color and texture felt like the perfect counterpart to the dyed black rabbit pelt I used the year before for “Figuring You Out.” I love how this new cover brings a certain warmth to the act of holding and viewing my project; a feeling that a cardboard cover just can’t give a reader. I am also hopeful that the white furry spine looks enticing on the bookshelf to gallery-goers who only get to pluck a few sketchbooks, from thousands, to sit down and read. And with that said, I know you won’t be able to physically read and touch my book until the Sketchbook Project World Tour comes to a city near you, so until then I have done the next best thing and filmed a video of me reading it: I am so proud of how my sketchbook turned out!!! Plus making a zine, which chronicles all of the inspirational lost pages, was the perfect conclusion to the book. I have a feeling readers will be pleasantly surprised by it, and perhaps they will go through my project twice, comparing the imagery of both books! I am in the midst of finishing up a zine which chronicles my new 2o12 creations, and I can’t wait to list both sketchbook project zines in this section of my etsy shop. It really has been a blast sharing this very personal and meaningful project with you these past few weeks and I’d love for you to leave your comments and thoughts about it, as they are always welcome and appreciated!

Filed under: Sketchbook Project 2012 Tagged: art house, cover, jessica gowling, sketchbook project 2012, video of sketchbook project 2012, white fur