MICHELLE CAPLAN: Mixed Media Collage Artist

Suzanne

2011-11-28T15:45:00.000-08:00

So very honored to have been asked to create this piece commemorating my clients dear friends life. So touching and so amazing. Thank you Julia!

The Big Issue

2011-11-15T16:09:00.001-08:00

All my Australian friends out there, check out the newest issue of The Big Issue to see my piece "Esther" on page 23! This is an amazing weekly magazine that "exists to help homeless and vulnerably housed people an opportunity to earn a legitimate income." So honored to be in it's pages!

Stinky Flamingo gets a bath!

2011-11-14T19:26:00.001-08:00

The Pea and I hit the Zoo last week to visit some of our favorite animals. We were delighted to catch what we call a stinky 'mingo taking bath. It was pretty funny to watch!

Free Shipping!

2011-11-08T15:14:00.000-08:00

I am offering Free Shipping on all US orders through 11/13 in both my Collage Lab and Michelle Caplan. Just use the code FREESHIP2011 in either one! Great time to stock up on stocking stuffers like fun Paper Packs or Magnets!

Just added a "Retail" page to my website! 11 shops and counting! Are any near you? Go check 'em out!!

New cards!

2011-11-07T18:45:00.000-08:00

This poor, sad neglected blog! I cant believe that previous to this, my last post was 2009! I am sorry to have left it, and cant guarantee I will be around much, but I will try!

Thought I would share my new holiday cards! For those who dont know, a couple of months ago I launched a card line that I am so very proud of.

Most are blank so that you may send your own messages to friends and family. The Birthday and Holiday have sentiments inside.

I hope you like them as much as I do!

2009-07-09T08:31:00.000-07:00

Join me this weekend at the Renegade Craft LA!!!

Over 200 vendors, ReForm School, The Urban Craft Center, and Swap-o-Rama will all be under one roof!

July 11-12, 11am-7pm
California Market Center, Downtown LA
HannahMade and I will be in Booth 149

2009-06-07T21:26:00.000-07:00

My baby brother Nick, who is 18(!!!) is amazing! Here is his Senior Solo. None of us had ever heard him sing. I admire his bravery, and his talent. He is going to make a fabulous addition to the adult world! xoxo Nico!

Patchwork in Santa Ana!!

2009-05-16T20:36:00.000-07:00

Come see me and HannahMade at the Patchwork Show this weekend!! Booth #46

Introducing Lucy!

2009-05-05T12:13:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, the Hub and I decided to finally get to it and adopted a dog. We have been talking about it for about 5 years, and finally found a face too cute to ignore! ;) So, I give you Lucy Robinson! Lucy came from the Hub, and Robinson because at the ripe old age of 8, all the young pups are all over her! (You know who you are, e'hem ZIP!)LOL Part Poodle & part Cocker Spaniel, she is all love!

I have to be sure to RAVE about the shelter that we found Lucy through, Pet Orpahns of Southern California. There are no words to fully explain the dedication and love that the folks at PO shower on their animals. I absolutely recommend that if you are looking for a furry friend, that you start here! A friend of mine volunteers there and does a spot on the Thursday night Fox 11 news at 10, each week highlighting a new pooch. Lucy, then "Irene", was the star of the spot about 5 weeks ago. I was immediately smitten. Her mellowness called to me!

This little pup is the absolute sweetest! She did her first art fair with me last weekend and was so well behaved. She passed out the second we got home!

Ever heard of Mina Loy?? Well, you should!

2009-04-29T14:03:00.000-07:00

Late last year I was contacted by a lovely young lady who is writing her thesis on an artist and poet named Mina Loy. She wanted to commission a piece of Ms. Loy to hang on her wall and keep her inspired through the daunting task! At first I was a little perplexed, and then once I started to learn a bit about Mina Loy, I was intrigued! She was a talented, baudy woman who was surrounded by some of the greatest poets, writers and artists in history. She dreamed of accomplishing things no woman of her time dared! In the end I think this was one of my favorite projects to date! I absolutely loved the experience!

Tara Prescott (my client) and me with the finished piece! Man, I look exhausted in that pic!

Unique LA!

2009-04-29T12:44:00.000-07:00

This weekend, May 2-3, I will be participating in the Spring 2009 Unique LA! My booths# is 5006-5003. I will be accompanied by HannahMade and Henry Road! Also vending at the event are the insane talents of the Frantic Meerkat, and the Mincing Mockingbird!! There will be over 250 vendors, so RUN, dont walk!! Hope to see u there!

Design on a Dime Custom Artwork!

2008-11-18T11:54:00.000-08:00

The episode of Design on a Dime that I filmed finally aired! I just figured out how to upload my segments to YouTube, so for those of you have emailed me because you missed it, here ya go!

If you have questions about having your own commission done, check here for more info!

Where does the time go?????????

2008-10-28T08:15:00.001-07:00

I am so annoyed with myself that blogging has fallen by the wayside! I love it here And I am going to work my butt off to not neglect my poor lonely blog anymore! I know I have said it before, but this time I MEAN IT! :)

So much has been going on. The hub and I decided we were going to re-do the closet in our second bedroom, which led to a major renovation, at least major for us. We found the original Parquet floors under the carpet in the closet, and decided it would be awesome to refinish the whole room, which then meant emptying the entire contents of said room into the rest of the house, (which became an entirely new project for bookshelves in the living room!) We sanded and refinished the Parquet, and the end result was awful. There were ancient stains that wouldn't come up, and after sealing the whole thing turned yellow. No thank you! So then we had to rip that floor out completely (see photo on the left of poor exhausted hub) and put down a new one.

We are thrilled with the end result, but what a long road!! It is now a lovely little guest room for visitors to enjoy!

In addition to home reno, I have been doing back to back art shows. Yes, the economy has been tough, but what can you do? I have had fun at each event, and have so much new work along with a bunch of really cool new images I am excited to get working on now that I have a week off!

Also been working part time at the very swanky and cool Henry Road. Paula is so much fun to work for. I continue to learn the ups and downs of owning your own shop (something I would like very much to do in the future). She has such a great eye for the totally cool, from vintage to new. I am getting better at arranging displays, which makes me feel like I am conquering the world! I am also the stores Fall artist. I have a had a fun few moments of people coming in and recognizing the work and not realizing I am the artist. That has been kind of cool!

My partner in crime, Hannah, continues her planning for a move to Portland, OR. She is super excited to leave LA, which I understand, but I am seriously considering hobbling her to prolong the inevitable. Would that be so wrong???? ;)

So for now, that is my update. I am going to try to be more regular with the posting! There is so much fun coming up. I want to make sure that I share the details!!! TTFN

2008-09-30T21:46:00.000-07:00

You're Invited!

Solo Show at Henry Road!

OPENING RECEPTION
Oct 2nd, 6pm-9pm

3949 Laurelgrove Ave, Studio City, CA 91604
(South of Ventura, 2 blocks west of Laurel Canyon)
818-762-8966

SAVE 15% ON ALL PURCHASES (INCLUDING ARTWORK) MADE OPENING NIGHT!!!

See more pics of the event, click HERE

2008-09-17T07:56:00.000-07:00

Get your own - Open publication

Have you seen the new issue of the fab Design This Design That online zine?? It is chock full of interviews of artists from around the world, 68 to be exact!! I was lucky enough to be selected to participate! You can see my interview on page 124!

Ana & Victoria

2008-09-03T14:16:00.000-07:00

Ana & Victoria, 2008, commissioned piece, 16" x 20"

Handmade kids contest at Etsy!

2008-09-02T18:19:00.000-07:00

In case you have missed it, let me share with you that Etsy has put together a Handmade contest based around all things Kid! My piece, Lola2, has made it into the final 40 art pieces! If you have a chance, head on over and vote, vote, vote!!! You have until Sept 8th to make your picks!

Guest blogger at decor8!

2008-08-12T19:01:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to share that I am todays guest blogger over at decor8. It's a fun article all about some of the Etsy artist we carry in Henry Road! Go check it out!!

Old School!

2008-08-11T10:43:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to be one of the contributing artists to Uppercase Gallery's newest project, Old School! These two above are my pieces for the show. Over 80 artists are participating!! The pieces will be exhibited at the gallery through Sept 30th. The exhibit has also been translated into an awesome book!! It is my first time having being published in a book (excluding cover work of course ;) You can click through this fun little widget to catch a glimpse of the publication. I cant wait to get mine!!!

Get your own - Open publication

Renegade Craft SF!!

2008-07-09T22:15:00.000-07:00

Join me this weekend in booth 127, at the First Annual Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco! See ya there!

SALE July 1!! Are you kidding?

2008-07-01T23:12:00.000-07:00

Where, oh where, is this year going! We are half way through 2008, and what better reason to have a sale? I have loaded up my Shop with tons of new work, ready for the taking! From July 1st-July 6th save 25% on all purchases over $100.00!! Purchase though Etsy and enter the code SUMMER08 in the message to seller box. Please complete the shopping cart process and then wait for a revised invoice that reflects your savings! (Please Note: Discounts can not be given on orders that complete the Paypal process prior to receiving the revised invoice.)

There are lots of brand new pieces that I have been cranking out for the upcoming Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco. I havent added any of them to my Etsy shop yet. They can all be seen here.

Modishshoppe closing!

2008-06-27T11:36:00.000-07:00

I am sad to say that Modishoppe, the fabulous online shop for all the cool handmade and Indie items you would ever need, is closing down as of June 30th. There are lots of really cool items on sale!! Remember, it is never too early to start your holiday shopping! ;)

New Work in the Shop!

2008-06-24T08:43:00.001-07:00

I spent all day yesterday photographing, editing and uploading lots of new work to my Shop! I am now busy preparing lots of new goodies for the upcoming Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco!!! This is going to be my first long distance show, and I cant wait! Plus, Hannah is going to be sharing my booth, so we get to go on an adventure! What better reason to go on a ROAD TRIP?
OK, back to the glue! ;)

Blanket Magazine!

2008-06-17T22:01:00.000-07:00

I was just clearing my desktop and realized I hadn't cracked open my downloaded issue of Blanket Magazine (Issue 9)! As I strolled through, low and behold what did I find on pages 10-11, but this lovely spread featuring my work!
Thank you Blanket for the awesome lay out! The issue was busting at the seams, full of amazing art and great articles! Definitely worth clicking over and checking out!

Henry Road Shop and Opening!

2008-06-10T17:30:00.000-07:00

A lot of my time away from blogland has recently been spent at the fabulous new Henry Road shop in Studio City, CA. Paula Smail, the design phenom behind the Henry Road fabric line (LOVE!), has opened this sweet boutique chock full of unique finds and rockin' gift ideas.

In an attempt to be more social and get the heck out of the house every now an then in a non collage related capacity, I am working at the shop one or two days a week. So far, it has been a blast! I love watching a strong, smart woman make her mark and be brave. Paula astounds me! I am soaking up every bit of knowledge I can!

This Thursday, June 12th, we are having an opening at the shop showcasing the work of Michelle Moode, one of my fave mixed media artists! If you are in the area, you have to come check out her gorgeous work! In addition to the fab art, there is a ton of new merchandise on the floor.

Here is the opening night info:
Date: Thursday June 12
Time: 6-9pm
Address: Henry Road, 3949 Laurelgrove Ave, Studio City, CA 91604
(south of Ventura, two blocks west of Laurel Canyon)
Tel: 818 762 9866

Hope to see you there!

bad blogger!

2008-05-16T09:30:00.000-07:00

I am a bad bad bad bad blogger! All is well here in what I am now referring to as "Gluetown". Since getting home from NY I have been working feverishly to get ready for shows. One was last weekend, and turned out to be a little slow, but lots of fun. Hubby came and lent a helping hand which was nice. I secretly hate hanging the work. I get overwhelmed by the packing materials and stuff everywhere. It just never goes well for me. Hannah normally steps in to save me, but with her not being there Hubby stepped up to the plate with gusto! Filling 2 tents was daunting, but I think it all turned out well! I even won a white ribbon, and "Honorable Mention"! ;)

This weekend is the Affaire in the Gardens Art Show in Beverly Hills. I went to this show a few times as a kid, so it is a little intimidating to be showing there. It's going to be a scorching weekend, so just getting out of the valley will probably be a good thing! (It is generally 15 degrees cooler on the other side of the hill!) I cant wait to have the tent set up, and work hung. Then I can relax and enjoy the experience!

OK, I know this was short but sweet, but I have a ton of bits and pieces to do now for this weekend! Catch you next week with photos!

Quick Helllloooooooooo

2008-04-26T06:09:00.000-07:00

NYC has been a BLAST!! I have had so much fun trekking around the city and catching up with old friends. I have only been here 3 days, but it feels like WEEKS!

I had a chance to hit a few great exhibits. I made it to the MET, which as always, was just mind blowing. There was a Courbet exhibit, a Jeff Koons exhibit, AND a Jasper Johns exhibit going on. Each was so different, and left me very inspired!

There was an incredible Gustav Klimpt show at the Neue Galerie. Klimpt is one of my favorite artists and I loved seeing so many of his sketches. The audio tour was really fascinating.

I also went to the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. There was a great show on all things Rococo, and in the basement gallery they had a small exhibit called Multiple Choice: From Sample to Product which was drool-worthy! The cases were filled with pages of antique fabric samples, and 100 year old sketchbooks from interior designers, with the most amazing handwriting and drawings. You know I anted to glue down everything in the room!

This morning I am grabbing the train to Long Island. I hope y'all have a great weekend and week. I will share more when I return!

2008-04-18T07:17:00.000-07:00

I swear I am still a blogger!!! Dont take my absence as anything more than just my complete and utter overwhelmed-ness. Plus, I am a total dork. There is at least one thing a day where the "OH! I have to blog this!" light bulb goes off, and then I am knee deep in some other project or who knows what! I am getting emails of concern, which are so sweet and I am very touched that anyone has noticed my absence!

The past few weeks have been hectic to say the least! I have been doing shows and getting ready for upcoming ones. On the 22nd I am headed to NY for a 2 week Vay-Cay! I can't tell you how excited I am! There will be four days in the city, and then I will be headed to Long Island where I will become a Godmother (of the fairy variety, of course ;). Then hubby and I are headed out to Sag Harbor for a few days to visit our friends who just welcomed a brand new baby boy (Can't wait to meet ya Spencer!), and to eat cheese at their shop, Cavaniolas Gourmet (one of my favorite places on Earth!!!). Then, back to the in-laws for a few days of niece and nephews, sundaes at Friendlys, and no glue whatsoever! This is the best kind of trip for me. Long enough to make me really be able to relax, and lots of variety to keep it exciting! I haven't been back to NYC in so many years, and I will have four whole days to roam the Met, and the MoMA, and I have even promised myself a trip to the Cloisters.

Once I get back from getting all relaxed and chilled out, I have two really big 2 day art shows (details in the sidebar) back to back which is what I have mainly been focusing on in my radio silence. I need BIG art for these shows, especially as at one, I have to fill 2 canopies. I am looking forward to such big events. Really, these are the first "white tent fine art shows" I have done, and the nerves are kind of exciting.

So there you go! The blog intervention worked!! You can all thank Tyn for taking the time to nag me back into the Blogosphere! ;)

Etsy Studio Interview!

2008-03-19T20:00:00.000-07:00

I was recently interviewed by Francesca of Frucci Designs for an Etsy feature called Open Studio Tours. It was a lot of fun to answer all of the questions and get to share the space!

Read the article here.

Giddy up!

2008-03-18T10:02:00.000-07:00

My friends just built a fabulous house in the Hamptons and I am so excited to have been asked to create a piece for their new walls!!

They got me researching fabulous old equestrian pics, many of which I have fallen in LOVE with!

So here are a few new horsey pieces that were the precursors to this soon to be jumbo piece! They have all been added to my shop!

Fierce!

2008-03-17T11:23:00.000-07:00

I know I am a week late with this video, as I am sure that everyone and their momma has seen it, but whatever! ;) I already miss PR! Every time Amy Poehler makes that BIG SMILE face, I cant help but think of her Kim Jong-Il impression. A cha cha cha!

Speaking of which, did you catch the Vanity Fair which feature the hot Female comediennes on the cover?? Awesome photo spread and article on the darling dames of comedy. I really thought it was interesting to hear about the boundaries they have pushed. It is so easily taken for granted how I, as a woman, have the ability to do as I please without dealing with really any kind of sexual discrimination. Every now and them maybe something very minor, but nothing close to the feeling of having to prove myself solely driven by my sex. Hell, you want to carry a huge stack of oversized canvas to the car for me because you dont think I can manage, be my guest! See, thats not too bad. . . . In all seriousness, it is empowering to read about what these ladies have accomplished. Check it out!

Modishoppe

2008-03-11T23:46:00.000-07:00

Yay! They're up!! Take a looksie!

Samantha Brown at Nahcotta!

2008-03-11T08:24:00.001-07:00

I am happy to admit that I am a cable t.v. junky. I love Bravo (duh!) and the Food Network, National Geographic, the History Channel . . . I could go on and on. While I really do love a good drama, or cant get enough comedy, I really enjoy the shows that take me to far off places and show me people and places either past or present, that I may never get to see for myself. I especially appreciate shows like Samantha Browns travel series because I admire the amount of living out of a suitcase she must do. She has hopped, skipped and jumped all over the globe, always with a big smile and loads of interesting facts! So imagine the smile on my face this morning when, I was catching up with my Google Reader, and saw on the Nahcotta blog that while in Portsmouth, NH filming a new series called "Passports to Great Weekends with Samantha Brown", the Ms. Samantha Brown and her crew had swung by the fabulous Nahcotta Gallery (home of the Enormous Tiny III show).

THEN, imagine my very loud WOW! when I saw this picture of Deb from Nahcotta and Samantha Brown STANDING IN FRONT OF MY WORK! It is just a picture, and who knows if they talked about my work, but how cool is this! It is so random and such a surprise, that I am almost giddy! What a nerd! You can bet that I will be watching for this show to air, and when it does, I will be sure to let you all know!

(All images courtesy of Nahcotta)

Modish Handmade!!!

2008-03-09T10:04:00.000-07:00

I am SO excited to share that 3 of my prints will soon be available exclusively through Modish Handmade! If you aren't familiar with the Modish blog, or the awesome shop, then you are in for a real treat! Jena has created an online boutique that is full of amazing handmade items from designers all over the world. I could definitely do a lot of damage shopping here!!

These two prints, Betty4 above, and Jocelyn below are printed on Hahnemühle Bamboo paper which is made from highly sustainable bamboo. The company even donates a percentage from each pack of paper sold back in to the community to help support growth.

I will be sure to post once the prints are available!

Natalie and Ryan

2008-03-03T14:30:00.001-08:00

Recently finished wedding commission. 14" x 18"

New goodies!

2008-03-02T20:51:00.001-08:00

HannahMade has been a busy gal! She has created lots of new pendants featuring my original artworks! I love them all!!

Busy Bee!

2008-02-28T10:52:00.000-08:00

Tonight I am venturing out to a book signing of Kaz Blechers new book The Art of Wooing which she has self published and is AMAZING! I am really excited to finally get to meet Kaz in person! The event is from 7-9pm at my favorite new place, Fresh Pressed.

Also, tonight from 6:30-10:30pm there is an opening at the NoHo Gallery LA of their Women! show, which includes work from my friend Nicole Waldron. I will be doing my best to swing by there as well!

As far as the weekend, I am getting ready for another Sunday at South Park. Last week was canceled because of rain, so it was nice to get a day off, which was used to veg out and watch about 400 hours of Oscar goodness. I love seeing the dresses. My fave was the one Marion Cotillard was wearing. That was an amazing art piece. Anyway, back to the point! This weekend is the LA Marathon, so downtown is sure to be packed and busy. Hope to see you there!

Workin'

2008-02-28T08:51:00.000-08:00

This week is kicking my butt! I get into these frenzys every now and then when I need new work, and apparently my brain needs it now! All of the ideas that I have been swirling around in my head have to come out. I am not sure why it happens all at once, but the damn has broken, so to speak, and the flood is raging (as you can tell by the growing stack of finished backgrounds above). If I dont plan well enough I can get stuck, so I have to be sure to be ready before actually picking up my brush. Sometimes I wish I had a simple brain that thought from A-B without jumping all over the place, instead of the easily distracted and jumbled blender of a mind that I seem to be blessed with. I swear I am not complaining, just venting a wee bit.

The weather is gorgeous! Here I am trapped at the glue table, and the sun is shining bright. I dragged the hammock up to the house, out of the shade, and set it up so that at lunch I could go outside and close my eyes in the sun and sway in the breeze. By that hour all of the gardeners have finished up (because here they are here at 7 am and gone by 8 all up and down the street like some crazed weed whacking dance) and so all you can really hear are the birds and the occasional car. We live a block away from an elementary school, and every now and then, if you are very still, you can hear the kids at recess. It is really lovely and why I love this time of year. The temps aren't over 90 yet, but I am sure they will be before I know it.

OH! I read this really interesting article I wanted to be sure to share! When you work for yourself and provide a service, such as Graphic Design, you have to be careful with how you accept payment. I never really thought about it much, but am now after reading this article on Freelance Switch.This was my first visit to this site, but I have it bookmarked now for future ref.

Diving Bell

2008-02-22T10:06:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was lucky enough to get to see The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, which has to be the most gorgeous movie I have ever seen. I really had no idea about the storyline, and have not read the book, so I had no idea what I was in for. I didn't know that it would be so moving, or that it would absolutely break my heart. The cinematography was breathtaking and surreal. A great deal of the movie is shot from the main characters perspective, and though I dont want to ruin the experience for anyone, I will say that I feel like I got a pretty insightful glimpse into what it must be like to be in such circumstances. In the end, I have been left with a visual and emotional feast, which I am sure will come out in my work. I think I need the soundtrack!

I also really want to see Persepolis, but it just went out of the theater near me. I frickin' missed it! This one I know I need the soundtrack for! I keep leaving a window open in my Firefox with the site up so that I can hear the music play. Both of these films are up for awards at the Oscars. I will have my fingers crossed for them both!!

Have you seen any movies lately that really left an impression in you?? Please please share with a comment!

Going, Going, Gone

2008-02-21T15:28:00.001-08:00

Did you see how stunning the Eclipse was?! We were driving through Hollywood watching the cars in front, and the moon! It was mesmerizing!

(Image courtesy of orcagirl)

Love!!

2008-02-20T08:05:00.000-08:00

A recent commission, Allie and Kyle, 11x14

Ever been threaded? (and other eye beautification)

2008-02-19T17:23:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was technically my day off since Sunday was spent rocking out at the South Park Flea Market. I have been procrastinating getting my eyes checked for so long, and am proud to say that I can see again. I lost my glasses over 2 years ago, (I know! Dont be mad!) and am so glad not to be squinting as I write this! I am also hoping that this will also be the end of my migraines! Eek! It helped that Hannah also had to get her exam done. The buddy system paid off! We are both much better off now!

It wasn't just a day for glasses! There was all kinds of "maintenance" going on! Hannah and I stopped into the local Threading salon, and the awesome Reetu attacked my way overgrown brows with sewing thread! It was insane! She kicked butt! The whole thing took about 15 minutes, and didn't really hurt (my brows were WAY over grown! I haven't touched them in over a year to try to get them to fill back in!) It sounded like a bug was fluttering against my forehead, like a moth slapping its wings against a light fixture. The pain was on par with waxing, but not as intense. I actually dont think either hurts, but I am told some people really feel it, so that is how I would describe it.

You can see the right one is before, and the left one is after.

Hannah though it would be hilarious to take video, and now the whole thing is on YouTube for all the world to see, if they care! ;)

More South Park this weekend!

2008-02-15T13:05:00.000-08:00

It is forecasted to be another gorgeous 70 degree weekend here so HannahMade and I will once again be at the South Park Flea Market. Come hang and shop! It is going to be LOTS of fun! ;) Hannah and I have a few new art pendants to share, and they will be available for the first time at this event!

I promise to remember to actually put the battery IN the camera this time so there will be lots to share on Monday! Now back to work for me!

Where did Friday come from?

2008-02-14T23:12:00.000-08:00

This week has flown by faster than I can even believe. It feels like maybe Tuesday night, but alas, tomorrow is Friday! This week I was really inspired by my fellow artists. I discovered many new talents that have energized my artistic well, and I really want to share them with you!

Elizabeth over at Haru, has blown my mind with her insanely cool paper wreaths! Can you imagine the work that goes into creating one of these??? They are just simply gorgeous! This one came to my house to stay, and I love it so much! I cant wait to figure out where to hang it!

I dont know how I have never seen Betsy Walton's work before, but I am glad that I have now! I have been drooling over her portfolio and shop all week long! I just keep revisiting her pages and each time I see her work, I see something new. You know that feeling you get when you see something that just speaks to you, and you dont know how to explain why? Well, that is what Betsy's work is doing for me! Her details are imaginative, moving and thoughtful. I would love a room in my home just dedicated to her work alone. What a bright and happy place it would be!

Lastly I have to share the 365 blog of Jen Renninger. Her digital collages are wowing me everyday! We share a few of the same concerns about the varying styles displayed in our one a day work, as if schizophrenia had taken over our paint brushes. It is nice to know I am not alone! I think that Jen has an amazing storytelling ability, and each of her pieces speaks volumes! I love so many of them, picking one favorite is impossible! Lucky us, Jen has prints of her 365 project in her shop!!! (UPDATE! Today I received the prints that I ordered from Jen, and you can't even imagine how insane these are in person! So much more detail to fawn over in person! They are spectacular! THANKS JEN!!)

Also, this was an incredible mail week! Aside from all of the boring supplies that I am so dorkily excited to have all stocked up, I received a few really special deliveries! All of the Valentines that I have received from the Swap are really diverse and fun. It is amazing to see everyones different interpretations, and nice to get a bevy of fun art in the mail! Thank you so much to Tyn for organizing everything, and for all of the participants for making my mailbox a fun place to visit! ;) Cant wait for next year!!

Love Love Love!

2008-02-14T16:46:00.000-08:00

This day has been nuts, but I wanted to quickly wish you a ll a happy day filled with lotsa love and kissing! ;) More tomorrow! I have lots to share!

2008-02-12T08:42:00.000-08:00

I cant adequately express how excited I am to have recently discovered Hahnemuhle Fine Art Papers! Up until now I have been printing my prints on Glossy Epson 5 star photo paper, which is pretty gorgeous in its own right, but not really a true representation of my work. This new paper knocks my socks clean off! The color is lush and deep, and the weight is really lovely. So it is with great pride and joy I am announcing my new prints!!

I am starting off slow with the availability of the prints on this new paper. I have listed Allie, and am making a brand new piece available for the first time! Melora is one of my recent favorites! Printed on this paper, the color is unbelievable!

Also, I have gone through my remaining inventory of the glossy prints. I have listed all of them in a Clearance section in the shop. They are all up there now, so once these are gone, they are gone. If you have a favorite you would like to see offered on the new paper, please leave a comment here!

Glorious day at South Park

2008-02-11T09:07:00.000-08:00

I have to say that I had a blast yesterday at the South Park Flea Market! The weather was, just as this photo implies, GORGEOUS. Just insanely amazing for a February day. With all of the buildings and hustling bustle on the streets surrounding us, I totally felt like I was in NYC in Spring.

After not setting up a booth for almost 2 months I was surprised how smoothly it all went. For me, the stress level was almost nothing, and that is very unusual. I am generally freaking out and get all red in the face with stress and heat. Not yesterday though! Set up went smooth as butta!

The crowd was chock full of really cute dogs who cracked me up. I was surrounded by some of my greatest crafty friends who made the day fly! The only bummer of the day was when I went to pull out my camera, and realized I left the battery in the charger! BUMMER!

Hannah did have hers handy and snapped some great shots so that I could share them here with y'all! Thank goodness one of us wore our smartypants! (We actually prove most days that 2 heads are better than one!)

The whole idea of the South Park Flea Market seems to be getting an extremely warm reception by all of the residents in downtown LA. They are hoping that the weekly market will grow and flourish. While the organizers seem to be starting off the event smaller than it will hopefully one day be (50-60 vendors, with a capacity for easily 200) yesterdays attendance was rawking!

The market had a great mix of vintage clothes, furniture, books, etc. and artisans like me, Shari Enge (pictured above not wasting a second of precious time while at the show!), Tyn Atol and Hannah to name a few. It has the potential to be an incredible weekly event! I think that Hannah and I will be doing this Sunday as well. I will post when I have more details!

(All images courtesy of the one with the brains on Sundays!)

Quick word . . . .

2008-02-09T12:45:00.001-08:00

I hope you are enjoying your weekend! It is unbelievably gorgeous and warm here in LA and we just returned from a walk to the Trader Joes. Time for me to dig out all of my show materials and get ready for tomorrows South Park Flea Market!

In the meantime, I thought I would share this pic of the Nahcotta opening. They just added a bunch to their Flickr. Looks like there was an awesome crowd!!!

OK, now into the garage to battle the icky bugs and get myself organized! Ta ta for now!

My Valentines for the Swap!

2008-02-08T16:04:00.001-08:00

I finally finished all of my Valentines for this years swap. I am so excited by the final results! You will certainly be seeing my doing a bit more like this for Collage Lab!

The envelopes date as far back as the 1930s and are from all over the world! They have traveled near and far, stood the test of time, and are deeply layered. The imperfections are what make them so stellar! Not unlike most romances . . . . .

Have a fantastic weekend!

2008-02-08T09:12:00.000-08:00

This weekend is going to be a gorgeous one here in SoCal! The rain is nowhere in sight and we are looking at temps in the 70s! The sunshine is making me itchy to get out and do a show! I am really excited to say that I will be setting up at the South Park Flea Market, a brand new weekly market held in downtown LA that features vendors with vintage items, and collectibles, both new & used. The market is run by the same team that has managed the Trading Post at Farifax High School, which has been going for years and years! There will be lots of food and live music, plus a fresh cut flower section! Plus, my dear friends Hannah, and Tyn will also be there with their goodies! It is going to be such a lovely day! Wont you join us?

Details:
South Park Flea Market
Open every Sunday 9 am - 4 pm
Corner of 8th & Grand
Downtown Los Angeles
Music • Food • Kid Friendly
Featuring DJ Derrick Wize

$2.00 admission
Students w/ ID, kids under 12 & Seniors Free

Enormous Tiny III opens tonight!!

2008-02-08T08:18:00.000-08:00

Dont forget, if you are lucky enough to be in the area of Portsmouth, New Hampshire to get on over to the Nahcotta Gallery tonight for the grand opening of the Enormous Tiny III show! You shall not be disappointed!

The ladies were awesome enough to send me a pic of my work hung! Love how they have hung it!

(All images courtesy of Nahcotta)

Funky Fresh Fun!

2008-02-07T15:58:00.000-08:00

I haven't had a chance yet to share with you how awesome our evening was last Friday at Fresh Pressed! Holy cow, WHAT A BLAST! Hannah and I each sat and drew our own designs on white paper, which was no small feat, let me tell you! You've seen my work. I might be an artist, but I dont really draw, and when I do, I get scared! I end up with old art school flashbacks, and the terror sets in! So sitting at a table, in public, with designy people all around is not my idea of a no pressure situation. It was of course self imposed pressure, but pressure nonetheless.

Hannah chose to create an awesome Love themed shirt just in time for Valentines!

I decided that I would draw something that I could print on a shirt for myself, and then on a mini one for my niece. She is a giraffe fiend, so that set the tone. I will freely and happily admit to having traced the outline, then changing it a little. The spots are all mine though! LOL

Jonathan is one of the main cheeses over there. He rocked out Hannahs screen for her and gave great pointers.

Michelle was kind enough to help me with my tees. She was awesome to work with! I loved every second of it!

Here is the big girl version. . . .

. . . and this is the one for Emma. She refused to try hers on, claiming at first sight "No, too big!" Wouldn't even touch it! What does she know? Right. . . .

Yeah, it is too big. (How did her little jedi mind know?) She finally tried it on for me last night, and well, its a little large for her, but it's still cute! And lets face it, 2 year olds grow an inch a week, dont they? It will fit in no time! ;)

If you are of the fence about whether or not Fresh Pressed is for you, get off your perch and get on over there! You can go just for fun, or I can see having a great baby shower there where everyone makes an awesome personalized onesie for the baby, (something similar was recently done for Susan Beal!) or a fab birthday with friends and maybe smuggle in some wine. Drunken drawing! Now THAT would be fun!

Surprise Surprise!

2008-02-07T12:10:00.000-08:00

I was greeted this morning by an email from the lovely Aya of Louche Lab letting me know that one of my Collage Lab pieces had been included in an online Israeli article all about Etsy. Apparently YNET is one of the most popular reads over there. I will never cease to be amazed by how far reaching the net is! Aya was kind enough to translate the article on her blog for those of us who cannot read Hebrew! Thank You Aya!!!

Also, thank you to The Post Family blog for this post on 1/31, and to Kelly for her kind words yesterday!

2008-02-06T11:08:00.000-08:00

Have you seen Square America?? If you are anything like me, you will love this site! There are awesome pics to explore, from all eras! What a lovely collection!

(Thank you Jen for the link!)

Nahcotta Update!

2008-02-06T09:35:00.000-08:00

Scratch what I said about there being over 200 pieces in the Enormous Tiny III show! The ladies updated their blog today, and are in the process of hanging over 350 pieces! 350! Can you believe that! Wow! And they're all amazing!

They just added images of work done by Gardner Foss to the Flickr set. I was unfamiliar with his work until now, and I am smitten! Wow! (I cant seem to find a website when I Googled the name. Odd.)

Imagine standing in that room, with all of these talented peoples work. I think I would cry. I really dont think it would be very different than being in the Metropolitan, or MoMA. (And yes, I do occasionally get emotional and weepy at the museum. I just do.) I realllllly want to go to this show! Maybe next time I will plan it out! It is just too amazing to only be viewed on the web!

(All images courtesy of Nahcotta)

Contemplations

2008-02-05T18:12:00.001-08:00

Here I sit at the local Coffee Bean, taking the hubs advice and getting out of the house to brainstorm and gather my thoughts clearly. Away from the piles of paper that often distract me. Away from the temptation to dilly dally by daydreaming about warmer weather and gardening. Away from the clutter that I cant seem to wade my way through. I need a game plan, and a little clarity. I need out from under my self imposed pile of frustration.

I have never really shared much about my little corner of So Cal. I am in the deep Valley, like, you know, way out there. I have friends who refuse to cross the threshold of Mulholland, the landmark that divides what they consider civilization, from the Valley. God forbid! I will admit that growing up on the other side of the hill, I would never have imagined myself living out here, but the Valley is good for me. There is peace, and quite and far less traffic in my immediate area than there would be over the hill. Suburbia is my friend. I spent enough years like a pack mule in NYC and San Francisco with my groceries on my back to know a good thing when I see it. I want to enjoy my patch of land, sit in the garden, and hear the birds rather than the car horns and sirens! Plus, we could afford (although just barely) to buy a home here, which would not have happened in the city. For our intent and purpose, the Valley is a-ok!

So here I am. At the local Coffee Bean, with the occasional 16 year old like Oh My Gawd-ing her way into the store for a sweet blended concoction. At least I am being entertained. There are 2 twenty-something guys sitting at the counter next to me apparently writing a song. One is tapping his foot in time, and the other is singing to the beat. They are cracking me up. I like that at least the other people here are trying to cultivate something creative as well. I can appreciate the struggle.

I am always surprised by how hard it is for me to sit still in public. I have to fight the urge to hurry up and gather my belongings and get home. Get back to work! But really, I am here working. Blogging is a part of my business, and it is hard to concentrate at my desk. . . .

I am not sure where this post has come from. It is kind of just a rambling observation of me sitting here, and yet I feel like I just got something great accomplished. Odd. But now I am ready to go. I hope that I will be able to incorporate a trip to the coffee shop at least once a week, with twice really being my goal. Baby steps.

Enormous Tiny III

2008-02-05T11:17:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to announce that my work will be part of the Enormous Tiny III show at the Nahcotta Gallery!! I cant believe how many amazing artist are in the show, including some I totally admire like Marisa Haedike, Penelope Dullaghan, Rachel Austin, Tara Hogan, and Mati Rose McDonough. I feel like a freshman on the first day of school! This is a very distinguished and accomplished gathering of artists and really, I have to pinch myself that I am included!

If you are in New Hampshire, of the general vicinity, this Friday the 8th, make your way to Nahcotta for the opening! I would love to have been there!~ (110 congress street - portsmouth, nh 03801)

If, like me, you are too far from the show, do not fret! You may peruse the over 200 pieces in the show here.

crafty weekend!

2008-02-01T10:20:00.000-08:00

Even though I am absolutely dumbfounded by the fact that it is Friday, I am SO glad that the weekend is here! Tonight I am headed over to Fresh Pressed, an DIY silk screening shop in LA. I have heard great things about this place, and will be sure to take lots of pictures! I am kind of worried that I will become obsessed with silk screening, but that is the way of a nutso artist like myself! I have wanted to put together t-shirts for a while now, and so I am hoping that I will be able to get excited about this! (Because really, on top of all of the projects I have in line on my desk and in my head, I need another project! Oi!) I took an awesome silk screening class in college, and I did love it. So we shall see. . . .

Sunday I will be joining my Tyn (thats right, she's mine!) for a pre-superbowl flea market jaunt! The PCC is a HUGE antique fair that I recently discovered, and am so very excited by! Last time I found lots of cool vintage items to photograph for an upcoming project, plus lots of ephemera and fabrics! Then it will be off to my sis's for a little Emma time and hot wings! Oh, and I think there is a football game on or something. LOL

Hope your weekend is as fun as mine will be!

LOVE my new pendant!

2008-02-01T08:34:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned earlier this week my dear friend Hannah and I have a tradition of making our holiday and birthday gifts for each other, and because our birthdays are only 4 days apart, it works out pretty well! We take a day and exchange gifts and then do something fun in our own geeky kind of way. (Monday it was sushi and then we went to see Juno, followed by an afternoon of craft plotting.;)

This year, Miss. Hannah has taken on a whole new skill! She is now working with PMC. I havent' really learned much about the process yet, but she sure has peaked my interest! I just about died when I opened my gift to find this pendant in the box! Can you believe how freakin' cool this is!??! I am so honored by the amount of thought and planning that went into this piece!

She chose one of my favorite Collage Lab pieces, the one that I did on my birthday (!), and topped the whole piece off with gorgeous turquoise beads, so that the length of the piece is adjustable! My my my! I am smitten and love everything about this!!!

I have been wearing it with the tassel to the front because I am loving the color and how it all looks together! I know it belongs in the back, but I cant help it! I keep finding myself playing with the beads in traffic, almost absentmindedly.

**No need to be jealous! After may stops on the street, and email inquiries, Hannah has added the Art Pendant to her Esty shop! Any photo or image can be placed in the pendant, or you can have one like mine! They will be made to order, and can be engraved on the back! Mine has a secret message, just for me! ;) We may also do some in the future with my portraits in them! What do you think??

Sia

2008-01-30T17:30:00.000-08:00

Have you hear the new Sia CD Some People Have Real Problems? I just got it and and LOVING IT!!!! Sia has made an album that is great to get lost in and glue to. You will love Playground, Little Black Sandals, and who could resist Death by Chocolate? She does a cover of the Pretenders I Go To Sleep that has such hopeful strings, I just smile every time I hear the little plucks! (make sense?) Academia is just simply brilliant. Love it! Go. Now! Listen!!!

Creature Comforts!

2008-01-29T08:11:00.000-08:00

Holy Moly! I was just reading an awesome valentine tutorial on Creature Comforts when I noticed a familiar picture in the sidebar!

Thank you so much EZ for making Collage Lab your blog of the week! I am tinkled pink!

Birthday Bear!

2008-01-28T19:37:00.001-08:00

I realize that she isnt a toddler, but I couldn't resist knitting this awesome bear for Hannah for her birthday! I was a little freaked out at first. When I finished the first portion, of the body and head, it looked awful! I was SO sad, but kept on going hoping that appendages and a good stuffing would make it all better! The snazzy scarf doesn't hurt! In the end, it all came together, and I am very excited to have finished him in time! Hannah named the bear Mitch, (not sure why, but who's to argue??).

The pattern for this one was out of one of Zoe Mellors nursery knitting books that I got for my birthday from the hubs. I learned a great deal about shaping from this project. I am determined to be more adept with the needles. I am working up the nerve to knit myself a fab sweater. I am just not ready yet for that much time investment, with little experience.

Hannah and I have a tradition of making gifts for each other, and she has plenty of art! Mitch the bear will be happy to keep her company on her adventures. Hannah is planning on moving to Portland later this year. :(

More later on her gift to me. You wont believe your eyes!!

Rain in LA!

2008-01-26T14:58:00.001-08:00

It has been raining in LA for almost a week straight! Considering that last years rainfall totals were less than Death Valley, all of this moisture is much needed! I am mighty impressed with the amounts that have fallen so far! See how full the bird bath is there on the table! Its cup has runneth over!

You would think that with all of the dark skies and torrential downpours that I would be happily knitting in front of the fire. Nope. Not if the hubbs has anything to say about it! Today we begin the mad dash to get all of our taxes bits and pieces collected and entered onto the Excel cheat sheet that is neatly tallied and handed to our tax preparer.

Maybe tomorrow, if the rain persists, I will get to live the dream. Well, my dream at least! ;) Hope you are keeping warm and dry today!

IF: Tales and Legends

2008-01-25T18:51:00.001-08:00

I once heard a tale of a man so smitten and deep in love he balanced his Dear high on his fingertips to keep her all to himself.

See more tales and legends on Illustration Friday.

This piece is also this Fridays piece for Collage Lab.

David Sedaris

2008-01-25T10:02:00.000-08:00

While writing the iTunesU post I came across this! The man is just too funny!

Good Golly Miss. Holly!

2008-01-24T17:06:00.000-08:00

I was contacted about a week or two ago by a write from the Boston Globe asking me a few questions about Holly Becker and this tiny little blog she writes. You may have heard of it . . . it is called decor8! (as if there is any person with an internet connection in the free world who hasn't heard of it! LOL) Well, I was more than happy to sing the praises of my dear cyber-friend who changed my life in 2006 when she introduced me to blogging! Anyway, the piece was published today, and it is a great article!! You can read the article here, and all about Holly's reaction here! Way to go Miss Becker! You deserve every word! ;)

(All images courtesy of decor8)

To begin my 31st year . . .

2008-01-21T07:57:00.000-08:00

OMG. Another year has flown on by and I am in left in its dust, and completely in shock! Someone should seriously study the phenomenon of how slow time goes before the age of, oh lets say 25, and then how it slingshots into hyper-drive from then on! Today I am officially a 30something, and although it is really not a big deal, that number, it seems rather unbelievable. 30 was really amazing, so 31 has got some serious work to do, but I am up for it. I am ready to do whatever it takes to make this one better than the last!

So today, to begin my 31st year, I pledge to myself to kick butt and do the not so comfortable. To challenge myself and keep inspiration levels high and self doubt low. To make sure that I dont settle lazily into my daily solitude and fail to step outside (some days I just forget to move my ass!). It also wouldn't hurt to be more patient and more organized. As you can see, it is going to be a busy year!

(That above pic is of my sister and I in 1977. I am maybe 9 months old??? My ears crack me up! I still bite my lip that way to this day.)

IF: Plain

2008-01-18T13:27:00.001-08:00

My take on todays IF theme plain. Like the butterfly flew from the plain, monotone world, and into color.

I think that my Friday Collage Lab pieces will be the inspired by each weeks IF theme. I kind of like the idea of that additional, once-a-week challenge, to make sure I am not all over the map!

You can be a smarty pants too!

2008-01-18T09:07:00.000-08:00

**Advanced warning: most links in this post will ask to launch the iTunes application)

I saw something not too long ago on one of the news shows that iTunes had begun what they are calling iTunesU. If you haven't been, GO! At your finger tips are podcasts from some of the top schools and universities in the US, including MIT, UC Berkeley, Otis College of Art and Design, and Yale to name a few, PLUS MoMA has a few lectures, and and they are all 100% free! You can subscribe to a class, download the podcasts to your iPod and go to the gym, or just play the right off of iTunes, and not clog up your memory.

Yesterday I listened to a hysterical lecture called The Art of Literary Humor given by author Ian Frazier. I was sitting here gluing, and laughing out loud. (Click here to hear that podcast.) This reminded me of going to see David Sedaris last year at UCLA, which was way too funny! It is wonderful to be able to listen to a contemporary author, especially the funny ones, read their own essays because they paint such wonderful scenes in you mind!

I also listened to a few minutes of a Modern Art History class given by Jeanne Willet which was very cool. She has many lectures offered and covers everything from Impressionism to Dada. I will definitely be listening to those! I am also kind of excited to start listening to some of the podcasts from the Aurora Forum at Stanford.

The Smithsonian has a huge listing of music and dance from all over the world, which includes videos of traditional dances and OMG is it amazing!

Just think, you could actually study at on of these great learning institutions without the insane student loan debt! I really love the internet! I mean, I loved it before, but this is just too cool!

Art Whino opening!!!

2008-01-16T09:18:00.000-08:00

One of my goals for 2008 is to be more active in the gallery scene, and this weekend kicks off my first group gallery show of the year! If you are in the Alexandria, VA area check out Art Whino. I am one of 18 artist in this show being added to their permanent collection! The show looks like it will be pretty awesome! I wish I could be there!

They have a ton gallery pics on their MySpace page.

The opening is from 6-12!

717 N. Saint Asaph St
Alexandria, VA 22314
O 703.462.4135
F 574.830.1651

If you are in the area and make it out, please take some photos and email them to me! I'd love to see!!

SALE ends 1/22/08

2008-01-15T07:31:00.000-08:00

I want to send out a quick reminder that my annual birthday sale will be ending at midnight on the 22nd (PST). Almost all original pieces in my Etsy shop have been marked down 30%!!!

Right now I have lots of pieces that would be perfect for Valentines day!

**BLOGGER BONUS!! For the last week, all of my readers will receive FREE SHIPPING!! All you have to do is type 31Rocks! in the "message to seller" box at checkout, complete the checkout process with Etsy, and then wait for a revised invoice!!

Collage Lab and IF all in one!

2008-01-14T17:51:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to finally be able to announce the beginning of my new blog called Collage Lab! Collage Lab is my attempt at the one-a-day scene, and a chance for me to break out of my self-imposed box! My goal is to explore all kinds of materials and styles and give my brain a little free time away from the portraits. I learned a great deal from this holiday season, and from having signed up for so many shows back to back! I love love love my portrait work, but I worry that if I keep going as damn fast as I am with them, that I will burn myself right out, and I just dont want that to happen. So, voila, preemptive strike, and the birth of Collage Lab.

I was going to try to begin January 1, but that seemed to be too much pressure ;), so now I choose today!

So, as inspired by this weeks Illustration Friday theme stitch, and my new found obsession with flowers (more on that later), I share with you this piece! I hope you like it!

Recent Commission

2008-01-14T17:35:00.001-08:00

Laureen, 8" x 10"

Knitting makes me happy!!

2008-01-10T09:18:00.000-08:00

I have been spending quality knitting time and have gotten some fun gifts completed. I find myself up at midnight trying desperately to complete a section of a pattern, or just trying to make headway on length. The more I knit, the better I understand it. Like anything else I suppose! Practice makes better, not perfect in this case!! I am still learning!! I knit the above cat from a pattern off of Knitty. It was a fun piece, and will be a gift for an upcoming birthday (I wont say more to try not to ruin the surprise!).

I finally finished the snake I started last year for my niece! Her 2nd birthday was a few days ago, and she loved it. I will have to work on the sizing of the mouth to make future versions less lippy! There is a lot of mouth there, and even more hidden! I had to seriously sew into the red and make it about 60% of what it was, and it is still huge! This was inspired by the Zoe Mellor snake pattern in one of her books a friend had, but I like to knit in the round and so decided to make my own. How hard could it be right? Well, that mouth is a perfect example! LOL

I also knit this Monkey (seen here with momma Jamey) for Miss Abby for Christmas. Another learning experience for sure! I also just finished knitting a neck warmer for myself (blocking and then I will show), and am in the middle of a small teddy bear, and a zebra for another little one. I have so many friends who are expecting, and with so many babies on the way, I am making as many knitted gifts as I can! Feed the yarn addiction, while being productive! I like that!

A Few finished Commissions

2008-01-09T07:49:00.000-08:00

Michael and Susan, 9" x 12"
Now that the gifts have been given, I can share some of the commissioned pieces I did over the holidays for clients!

Suss and Al, 16" x 12"
The prevalent theme this year seemed to be parents and love and relationships. I had SO much fun learning about all of the amazing people, and was really touched by all of the love stories!

Carol and Lyle, 18" x 24"
You can see more in my Commissions set on Flickr!

2008! Can you believe it!

2008-01-08T09:04:00.000-08:00

Hello!!!! I am am back after a much needed hiatus, and have so much to share! I feel like it has been eons since I blogged, and while I have been working hard on re-centering myself (not sure if that was accomplished :) It was such a cozy holiday here in our home. The cats certainly had no problem taking full advantage of their giant beds next to the fire! It was a lovely tree this year, and I was sad to take it down.

I also took time out to see some movies, play a few board games, and hang out with friends and family! We did a lot of cooking, including the above Chocolate Hazelnut Cake which was unreal! Of course there has been a little work sprinkled throughout. I have to say that I am glad to see an end to the overwhelming madness of the holidays! I just can't believe that it is already 2008!

January 2nd was the 10 year mark of the day that I left LA and moved to NYC to go to art school. 10 years has gone by in a blink, and they were amazing years! I never thought for one moment that I would ever be living back in LA, and as a full time artist. I envisioned myself in some corporate design job somewhere designing books or product packaging, or who knows. I look back over the time I have spent, and am proud to be here in suburbia, surrounded by glue and paper. I just didn't see it coming! I recently found a book that my sister gave me for Christmas right before I left for NY, and on the inside she wrote "Have fun. You only get to do this part once. . . ", and I realize how true that is! I wish I could go back to my 20 year old self and give her a good shake, and a few pearls of wisdom I have gained along the way. Just tweak my/her mindset a smidge, because I dont think I did too badly up to this point, but I would be more adventurous, alone and young in a place like NYC. Looking back, I would do a few things differently now, but only if those things led me right to where I am today. Can I have it all please? LOL

Poppytalk Handmade Market!

2008-01-07T08:38:00.000-08:00

I am really excited to be taking part in this months Poppytalk Handmade Market!!! This is a really cool cyber-fair, for all of us craft addicts who read about fairs in areas far from us and wish we could attend!

Jan and Earl, of the fab blog Poppytalk, have done a great job in the last couple of months, curating these shows and offering and eclectic and vast range of vendors from all over the world! This months theme is Love Transforms and they have found vendors for all of our Valentines needs, including a perfumery! The "show" runs from January 7th-February 8th. Go check it out!

Happy 2008!

2007-12-31T11:30:00.001-08:00

Just a quick drop in to say that I hope you are all having a fantabulous holiday week!! We have friends in town from SF and are having a ton of fun! Lots of cooking and eating and drinking going on! This is much need time to just be goofy and relax! I will be back on the 7th, up to my old tricks, and sharing some new ones!!

May you have a safe and happy New years!!! Cheers to 2008!

(Amazing illustration done by the super-talented and kind Leigh Wells!!!)

Laughs like no other!

2007-12-20T13:35:00.000-08:00

We should all be so easily amused!

Time, she is flying!

2007-12-19T09:24:00.000-08:00

Hiya! I feel like I say this all of the time, but fret not, I have not abandoned the blog! I have spent the last week completing commissions and trying to get my own holiday shopping done. Just getting out our holiday cards is proving to be a test. I have a small stack left to write and today will be the day! I also have my annual cookie baking spree to undertake, which is fun. This year I am limiting it my famous Chocolate Chip Cookies and I am going to be ok with it! Normally, I also try to make rum balls and festive sugar cookies as well, but time is not on my side! At least the weather is rainy and gray today, so being inside and baking seems appropriate. Maybe I will throw on a little Ella Fitzgerald, her holiday album is my favorite for this year, and bake away!

BTW, have you heard this album before? I cant get enough of it! So sultry and festive. It just makes me happy! I got it on iTunes, but you can get it from that link if you prefer actually getting the CD in your hands. For me iTunes is a total saving grace, as I am generally very impatient to get my music once I find a CD I want. I have to have it NOW, and iTunes makes it just that easy. I am sure there are other services too, but as a Mac girl, it is all just too easy! (I love that I am saying this as if it were a whole new world of MP3s, like we haven't been downloading music for a few years now! I dont often take advantage of the simplicity, and get really excited by it when I do! LOL)

Can you believe how fast time is flying?? I feel like we just got the tree up, and now Christmas is less than a week away! Once I have cleaned up a bit I will snap a shot of the tree next to the fireplace! It really looks awesome without that gross lava rock! Finally, a mantle to hang our stockings from!

OK, I am off to make a mess in the kitchen! Wish me luck! ;) (By the way, how awesome are those pomegranates! Perty festive!)

So in the mood!

2007-12-11T12:27:00.000-08:00

OK, I am finally in the holiday mood! After being inundated with Christmas in every store since August, I was doubtful that I would get over the anger of the holidays being shoved down my throat so early. BUT, and I say "but" with glee, I am now ready to let the Merry Merry in! Tis the season, and I am a tree decorating fool! I have been listening to this cute little animation in the background of my Firefox windows over and over again! Click on over, and belt it out! I dare you not to sing along! So cute!

(Illustration by Joshua Held)

Deadlines!

2007-12-10T17:51:00.001-08:00

How amazing is this photograph? This is a recently finished commission, 16"x20" and I just totally fell in love with the photo. It makes my heart swell! It is just incredible!

The deadline to have have your own commissions in for a Christmas delivery is Wednesday, Dec 12th, and the size is limited to no larger that 11"x14". If you have any questions, please contact me (michelle{@}michellecaplan{.}com) as soon as possible.

Also, the deadline for purchases from my shop to be sent via priority mail is December 18th (within the US). International buyers will have to contact me with detailed location info.

Trunkt!

2007-12-10T06:05:00.000-08:00

Have you ever seen Trunkt?? It is my favorite new place to play on the web! There are lots of rad designers and artists listed on the site, many I had never seen before! I am proud to say that I am now one of them! If you have never been to the site, you have got to go! Happy hunting!!

IF: Little Things

2007-12-07T20:02:00.001-08:00

Conner3, 4" x 4", 2007

Good things come in small, and special, packages! To see more little things visit Illustration Friday!

Cactus Gallery Opening!

2007-12-07T13:13:00.000-08:00

I am capping off this oh-so-hectic season with a fabulous group show at the Cactus Gallery in Eagle Rock, CA! This funky fresh gallery is jam packed with really cool art and insane handmade items. It is all quite a collection to see! There is a big opening party for the Tiny Treasures2 show, which is a cash and carry show running Dec 8th-January 8th, this Saturday night! I will be there with Tyn Atol, and Kari Atol both of whom have pieces in the show as well! Make a day of it, Cool Baby Cool Market in the AM, and then Cactus in the PM! That's my plan!

PS, if you cant make it to the opening, they are open everyday in December, except the 25th, for your shopping pleasure!

My last fair of the year!

2007-12-06T06:22:00.000-08:00

This weekend is the more than fabulous Cool Baby Little Monster Market! Despite a crane falling on our original location ( you heard me right!) the show will go on right across the street at Riad Decor! This show is great for all things mom and baby! You can see a full list of vendors here. Come one, come all!

I am having a HUGE Holiday Blowout Sale!

2007-12-05T08:12:00.000-08:00

I cant believe that it is already December, and that we are well on our way to a new year! Despite the fact that we started seeing holiday gear in the stores in August (yuck!), it seems like the season is flying by at new record speed! If I dont get some lights up soon, I will be just in time to take them down!

2008 is going to bring a lot of changes around here as far as my focus and style is concerned. While I will still be doing commissioned portraits for clients, I will be switching gears and re-inventing my works. I have a sketch book that is over-flowing and I am ready to get busy! I am sure that portraits will be a part of the things to come, but I am going to be branching out, exploring and experimenting! I am going to be starting off the new year with a big surprise. . . . I am not quite ready to reveal the details yet, but I hope that I have peaked your interest!

With all of that said, I am excited to announce that the last pieces of 2007 have been uploaded to my Etsy Shop, and I am having a blowout holiday sale to help clear out and make room for the new goodies!! Most pieces have been marked down u to 30%! SO go get some Holiday shopping done! And remember to buy as much handmade as you can!

Commission Crunch Time!

2007-12-04T06:25:00.000-08:00

This is one of my most recently finished commissioned pieces, done as a gift for this couples 40th wedding anniversary by their children! It was amazing to learn all about their lives and an honor to know their story!

As far as getting a piece done for your family for this Christmas, crunch time is here! I have been getting a lot of inquiry emails about having custom commissions done in time for the holiday, and so here is the info ya'll need! The deadline for ordering is by Dec. 11th, and that is pretty firm due to shipping time needed. Don't hesitate to contact me after that date, as I may be able to work with you in time, but there is no guarantee for a Dec. 25th delivery.

Anyone local should contact me directly as delivery by the 24th wont be a problem if I can drive it over to you! Download my brochure here. (a PDF will be downloaded.)

Domino Art Gallery

2007-12-03T07:56:00.000-08:00

I got an email over the weekend from Holly at decor8 letting me know that one of my prints had been included in the next batch of Domino Magazines Art Gifting: prints gallery! There are 15 different Etsy artists included in the selection, and I have to say that there are some here I hadn't seen before, and LOVE! If you click over, be sure to check out Nina Clough, and Olivia Jeffries! Their works are really cool!

I am, of course, a huge fan of Domino Magazine, and to be included in their online slideshow is really exciting!! The folks over there have such a keen eye for gorgeous design and encourage me to surround myself with inspiration throughout my own home. I really love the features they do on peoples homes. The spaces are always so incredible! I wont lie, to be recommended by them, makes me a little giddy! Thank you so much Domino, and Holly!!!

Eagle Rock Center for the Arts!

2007-11-29T12:34:00.000-08:00

This weekends show is going to be one fun day! Not only is it indoors (yay for warmth!), but it features some of my most favorite people in the local craft community! We are going to have a blast! A few have done this show before and have not stopped talking about how much fun it is, so I am looking forward to my first time being there!

There will be live music starting at 11am with a harp & cello duet, followed by piano at noon, Gypsy Jazz at 1pm, Folk Guitar at 2, Theremin-3pm, Latin Jazz at 4pm, and Acoustical Holiday Rock from 5-6pm. AND every half hour there will be a raffle drawing for prizes donated by each vendor, all guaranteed to be worth a minimum $30! Free loot! Woo Hoo!

Here are the details:
Center for the Arts Eagle Rock
2225 Colorado Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90041
DECEMBER 1 Sat. 11-6pm

This is my second to last show of the holiday season! Next week will be the kid-centric Cool Baby, Cool Market in West LA which is going to be rockin' as well! Details on that one later!

Patio Culture

2007-11-28T08:01:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to share that my work is now available at Patio Culture in Venice, CA! Karla Stevens, the owner of PC, and her fab sister Kimberley, recently contacted me to see if I would be interested in participating in their holiday boutique.

The shop is all about outdoor living and entertaining and generally focuses more on custom orders, but when I saw the space, I understood why they HAD to go retail! The vibe in this little beach house-turned shop is so warm and exciting! There are some amazing textiles, gift items, and artwork to see!

I love these photographs to the right of my work! Fantastic beach scenes and surf shots that do not disappoint! After all, PC is just steps from Venice Beach, so they are all about the CA Beach way of life!

Karla used to be the costume designer for The OC, so you know she has impeccable taste! The Stevens sisters together are a force to be reckoned with! They have selected the newest and hottest designers to fill their shelves! Plus, they are big on bringing in the lesser know artisans, and getting them seen, so you know there is goldmine of goodies there!

Patio Culture is located at 1612 Abbott Kinney, a street in LA famous for its eclectic shops, fabulous interior design studios, and awesome restaurants! It is a great place to spend the afternoon for brunch and holiday shopping! Friday, December 7th, all of the shops will be staying open late for the annual Holiday Street Event! There will be carolers, magic shows, even Santa! And of course, great shopping! I will be posting more about that next week!

1000 Etsy hearts!

2007-11-27T13:14:00.001-08:00

Holy Moly!

New work!

2007-11-26T20:30:00.000-08:00

Heads up! Lots of new work was uploaded to my Etsy shop today! I am especially excited about these 3 super colorful pieces! Love the vibrant hues!

This weekend we successfully raised over $130.00 to sponsor a table for a week at the LA Mission! The left over tote bags have also been added to the shop at the discounted price of $12.00. There is only 1 Lola, and 4 To Vera left, so dont dilly dally! Once they are gone, they are gone! Thank you so much to everyone who generously gave to help raise the funds!

Cool Mom Picks!

2007-11-26T08:10:00.000-08:00

Thank you to the cool ladies over at Cool Mom Picks for featuring my tooth pillows last week! I was so excited to see the article up, and congrats to April Smith for winning the giveaway pillow! (It will be in the mail today!) You can click over and read the full article here.

Handmade for the Holidays!

2007-11-23T21:57:00.001-08:00

Day one was a hit! This fair is jam packed with some truly amazing talent! Cant wait for tomorrow! If you are in the area, you have to come check it out! We are at Fairfax & Melrose, in the high school lot. 11-6 pm! Booth 18, right across form the free gift wrapping table!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-22T11:46:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for loving husbands, hot cocoa on a cold day, laughter, and togetherness.
What are you thankful for?

Funds Raised!

2007-11-21T16:14:00.000-08:00

In my Felt Club recap I totally forgot to mention how much money was raised toward donation to the LA Mission! We successfully collected about $84.00, and because we are so close to being able to sponsor a table for a week (only $130.20!) I decided I will be doing the same thing at the show this weekend! So, if you weren't able to make it to Felt Club, and you want to get involved, there is still time to donate to a worthy cause, and grab a great tote at the same time!

(Thank you so much to everyone around the country who has contacted me about participating! Email me if you would like to donate, and we can make arrangements. Through Saturday only please.)

Handmade for the Holidays!

2007-11-21T05:31:00.000-08:00

This Friday and Saturday is the Homegrown Market This event is going to be HUGE. With over 150 vendors, live music, a live radio broadcast from the site, games, gift bags, and free gift wrapping, it will just be an extraordinary couple of days! Lots of my favorites, like Henry Road, In Craft We Trust, Pookieville, Random Nicole, Funky Frocks, Whodini Handmade, and Jamie Zollars are going to be among the vendors! I know I will be getting a lot of my shopping done! HannahMade and I will be in Booth 18. Come by and say hi!

The organizers have put together a commercial that is running on TV all over LA! Looks like a blast!

Vincent the Magnificent!

2007-11-20T10:20:00.001-08:00

Say hello to our dear friends incredible drum-savant son Vincent. At 3 years old he is kicking drum ass! I love it when he tilts his head and sticks out his little tongue, deep in thought and rhythm! Can you imagine him a few years from now?? Watch out world! Way to go Vincey!

SPC: What I wear, wk3

2007-11-20T08:28:00.000-08:00

This morning it is really chilly in my studio! I sit here bundled up in a scarf, knit for me with love by a dear friend, with 30 cables, for my 30th birthday last January. It was her first completed project, and I think of her every time I wrap it around my neck! Now that she lives in NYC, I miss her soooo much, and hope she reads this and wants to come home! ;)

I am kind of intrigued with how it feels to post such a messy picture. Bed head and a scarf over my pajamas . . . if it weren't for the built in camera in the computer, I wouldn't bother to take the pic, but it is so easy. And in that, there is a lot of honesty. More so than I would normally feel comfortable sharing here in cyberspace. I am, after all, a professional, right? Must present myself as one at all times? No?

Then there is the artist in my who loves the honesty of the moment. Steam rising from my tea cup, sleep in my eyes. Hair in every direction. For all the world to see! Not the ideal, but it is the truth. I am just a girl, in the early hours, trying to read my email, and get a little warmth!

To see what other people are wearing, check out SPC.