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    Artist Trading Cards (ATCs)


    2010 - 07.29

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    Posted in Art, Crafting, Design | No Comments »

    While browsing Blick Art Materials the other day, I meandered to the back of the store where I don’t usually go. Tucked away on the corner end display I found a book on Artist Trading Cards (I’ll try and remember to post the title and author when I have a chance, right now I’m not at home) along with little packs of various types of paper. I started paging through the book and really enjoyed the range of techniques they walked through…but I’m getting ahead of myself… ATCs are small, 2.5 x 3.5″ pieces of art work. The sky is the limit as far as what you can do with them… a very small chunk of sky that is… So far I’ve done three ATCs since I got the book a couple of weeks ago. The size limitation is extremely daunting…and the inspiration in the book is a little intimidating. But the informal nature of the cards has let me lighten up a bit and allow myself to play.

    Lately, just getting me to work on art has been challenging. I have a tendency to over-think art and scare myself out of starting anything because I’m afraid that it will suck… but the cards trick my brain into making the art less about the final product…it’s easier to throw away a little card than it is to repaint a canvas or toss an overworked piece of watercolor paper. I don’t know, here I am over thinking it again. But the point is that I’m really enjoying what ATCs have done for me so far. Once I get used to the size and try out a few more things I might actually start trading them at organized trading events…but for now I’m just having fun building up my collection. I’ve added a new tab for them under Ishkadoodles, soon the gallery will be full of cute little works of art! I think my favorite so far is the Rose…it looks like it might be unfinished, but now I’m afraid of ruining it…see!!! over thinking it…I might go back later and work on it more…but I like it…

    All tied up


    2010 - 06.20

    Posted in Art, Clothing, Crafting, Design | 1 Comment »

    This afternoon, after a delightful breakfast of cinnamon bagels from Panera, Chris and I ran out to Savers in Bloomington and had ourselves an adventure of the thrift store variety. Naturally we got lost in the book section and I picked up two Stephen King books that I can’t wait to read…(after The Dark Tower series of course…just started book 4! go me!) After reminiscing over some VHS tapes (An American Tail: Fievel goes West anyone? <3) and giggling over the board games we looked into the clothing sections… Of all places, I get lost in the ties… At $2 a pop, I allowed myself to get 10 neck ties for the next skirt project… I may have to go back tomorrow before belly dance because I looked at my stores of neckties and I’m running low on interesting ones…and man…did I hit the jackpot at Savers… check them out!!!

    Ties from Savers today

    The next skirt is going to be totally different from the past three skirts that I’ve made…I should hunt down some pictures…one sec…

    Okay, forgive the terrible pictures of me 5 years ago… just look at the skirts…allow them to distract you from the person wearing them…particularly my hair…good god… anyway…

    The Rooster Skirt! so name because of the length in the back kind of looking like a rooster tail. the colors were laid out just right I think. this is my all time favorite skirt that I’ve made.

    This is the first tie skirt that I made back in Senior year of high school. Good times… learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t work and I think I finished it in two days…

    I have one more tie skirt that I don’t seem to have any pictures of at the moment but it’s a knee length one that’s pretty darn cute.

    Can’t wait to finish this one!!! should be fun.

    Long overdue update, Job, Travel and Zoos


    2010 - 04.10

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    Posted in Art, Design, Internship, MCAD, Socializing, Volunteering | No Comments »

    So, as I’m sure you have noticed, I’m not a very consistant blogger. I get so darn caught up in the activities that I’m doing that I forget to write about them…I think I have a lot to talk about…like a lot a lot…Tons of great things have been happening and I can’t remember what I’ve written and what I haven’t.

    I may have mentioned this once before, but in case I haven’t I should say that I found out a few weeks ago that my bosses at the company that I’ve been doing my externship at for the past few months have decided they want to bring me on full time after graduation. At EatonGolden, I’ve been learning more about Information Architecture and Usability for websites. It’s been really exciting being fully immersed in the projects and I’ve had fun getting to work with real clients with truly talented professionals. I was so lucky to have John as a professor at MCAD where he could preview my work ethic and personality. When he knew I was looking for an externship we both felt I would be a good fit for EatonGolden. I love having a job that motivates me to work harder, learn more and improve my skills constantly. Plus everyone there seems to like me…always a plus! My official start date should be sometime early June. I’m still working as an intern until I graduate, but it certainly feels good to know that I won’t have to worry about the whole job hunt thing after school…

    Speaking of graduation…hard to believe it’s almost here…I’ve spent roughly 75% of my life in school…Now it’s time for the “real world”. Luckily the transition will be super smooth since I’ve been working full time for 4 months and not taking classes anyway… but still…weird. Although I’ll never stop learning and pushing myself to try new things, it will feel strange not being in a formal education system anymore… but the lasting impression of student debt will no doubt keep me company for years to come…

    More exciting news…after graduation I’m going to spend 11 days in Guatemala with a group of fellow MCAD students. We will be working with the Miguel Angel Asturias Academy to paint a mural and do some community outreach work with the students. I can’t wait! It will be so nice to get out of the country for a bit and do something good for other people. I was so happy when my bosses at EG encouraged me to take some time off for travel after commencement because that was one of my main concerns about going on the trip. I didn’t want that to be a hinderance to my hiring potential at all. (I seriously can’t count all the ways that I love my job, but the primary thing is the people I work with).

    In other news, went to the MN Zoo, compliments of MCAD this afternoon. Took TONS of pictures, hopefully some of it will inspire art soon. The sea dragons were particularly awesome and beautiful, so was the Amur Leopard (I was amazed to learn that there are only about 30 Amur leopards in the wild!!! holy crap! that’s ridiculous!!! and I thought I was amazed by there being only about 4,000 tigers in the wild…). If you want to see all of the pictures I took, I’ve posted them on facebook and you can see them here and here. But here’s a preview…

    Be expecting more art from me in the future, I just dropped entirely too much money on new art supplies to play with and I can’t wait to test them out more. I have that mural for my friend to make some more progress on, the mannequin is getting lonely, these new zoo photos to play with and I’ve been making feather fascinators like crazy. I should post those soon, they’re super awesome.

    For now, I’m going to wrap this up so I can get ready to go to Balls Cabaret at Midnight. Good times!

    Mannequin Progress and other Adventures


    2010 - 03.07

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    Posted in Art, Design, Socializing | 1 Comment »

    Sorry for the blur...they're just too fast!

    Went to my first Roller Derby last night at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium with Mike. I thought it was crazy awesome and can’t wait for the next bout. The seats might have been less than awesome but we definitely got a birds eye view of the action. Next time it might be nice to have ringside seats to see if any derby girls fall in our laps (but they say that we can’t take them home with us if they do…darn) Knowing very little about Derby before coming I was really excited to figure out the rules and see how it all works. I also didn’t know who to cheer for so I randomly chose the Garda Belts (based on their intro that featured bag pipers) and the Dagger Dolls (based on the fact that some of them were wearing tutus). Sadly they both got trounced by the Atomic Bombshells and the Rockits (respectively) but that’s okay…they played really well… The game was all sold out so I was really glad Mike got tickets earlier this week. Super Win.

    Base coats are pretty much all done!

    Started to paint the Constellations into the torso

    Left (Silver) will be a mechanical arm for the concept of technology, Right (Black) will be splatter painted for the concept of Art

    Just in case you thought I was slacking off on the mannequin I thought I’d update with some pictures so you knew that wasn’t the case. It’s been a little dull because I was determined to get the base coats done on all of the limbs so that I could paint on them simultaneously and make sure things came together alright. Have a little bit of touching up to do but I’m pretty much at the point where things will get interesting! yay!

    In addition to the Mannequin project, I’ve taken on a collaboration project with my graphic designer friend who wanted a series of paintings for his newly painted office. He designed the layout and the subject matter, I’m going to paint it…should be interesting…especially with the crazy tree he decided to throw at me…jerk… Just started griding off the canvases based on the photoshop file he sent me last night and can’t wait to get started! :D Cause you know…I need a new project like I need a hole in my head… oh well…it should keep me out of trouble. :p

    ahh, blank white canvases...time to change that...

    Good times…very good times…

    Day 3 of the Mannequin


    2010 - 02.12

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    Posted in Art, Crafting, Design | No Comments »

    More progress! I’m having way too much fun with her so far…it’s great.

    This evening I’m going with a friend out to Donnie Dirk’s Zombie Den…I love this place, it’s oddly classy, delightfully quirky and very cozy. pretty yummy drinks too… can’t go wrong with Zombies…for real.

    Tomorrow is a day of shopping, painting and relaxing…should be wonderful!

    My Valentine’s Day plans consist of an all day Art day with my dear friend Christine who is going to teach me how to crochet! then later in the evening Debbie and I are going to “According to Coyote” at the Children’s Theater. I have a nice and busy weekend but I’ll be busy doing the things I love with the people I love. Good times!

    Early Images of the Mannequin


    2010 - 02.11

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    Posted in Art, Design | 1 Comment »

    So far just making progress on the torso, I’m having way too much fun with this iridescent paint I got yesterday. I can’t wait to see how this project evolves from the idea I have in my head to actuality.

    I love how I have limbs strewn about my studio, it’s been scaring guests and concerning my family for quite some time…but I’m having fun and that’s all that matters… :D I haven’t named her yet…I’m open to suggestions but it might become more clear after I get more done on her.

    This may or may not become a yearly project, depending on A. How long it takes and B. How in love with the final product I am…although I wouldn’t be opposed to getting more mannequins in the future. They’re really fun canvases and create very exciting opportunities for concepts. I’ll have to keep my eyes open for anymore.

    I’m going to get back to it before the rest of my paint dries…but I wanted to get some photos up so people know what I’m up to… More to come later!

    Paintings…quite a few of them (in various states of completion)


    2010 - 01.30

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    Posted in Art, Crafting, Design, Fire | No Comments »

    Last week I went to the new Blick store in Edina and spent entirely too much on new painting supplies to celebrate my new free time. Since then, I’ve painted every night at least…practically all day when I can. I’m having so much fun experimenting and playing again, I don’t really care if it isn’t good, I’m just enjoying the journey. so here’s a sampling of what I’ve been doing, in various states of completion and goodness… sorry about the crappy light and camera…not much I can do about it. I would say that most of these aren’t done yet. but I was too excited not to post something and share what I’ve been working on. Feedback welcome!

    Almost done!


    2010 - 01.12

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    Posted in Art, Crafting, Design | No Comments »

    So tonight I got the pocket made and attached to the right side of the front panel, cut out the back panel and attached the front to the back. All that’s left is to make the strap for the neck and the ties. Maybe throw a couple of buttons on for decoration and be done with the first one! I’m sure the second one will go faster, and I won’t bore you with process images, but I’ll show you what they both look like when they’re done! Maybe we’ll model them for you too.

    Christmas Stocking Craft Day!


    2009 - 12.22

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    Posted in Art, Crafting, Design | No Comments »

    It’s a tradition in our family to have fun, unique hand-made Christmas stockings. Deb’s and my mom’s are simple felt stockings with fabric painted names and fabric decorations, mine is a green and white checker-board pattern high-heeled boot and the pets each have their own as well, a fish for midnight and a bone for Jett. When I was dating Bryce, he had just gotten back from Iraq so we teamed up with his mother and drafted a pattern for a Christmas stocking from his army boot. Deb created it and it looked amazing, sadly I didn’t take a picture of it before I mailed it to him last week so he would have it in time for Christmas. But it was awesome.

    So this past Friday, I designed a Christmas stocking for Chris, inspired by his favorite book series The Dark Tower by Stephen King. As you can tell by the book cover I posted last week, the main character is pretty much a cowboy, so this Christmas stocking is based on an image of a cowboy boot I found online and distorted a little.

    Here’s the pattern (sorry it’s a pdf)

    Roland’s Boot

    and after working on it all day on Sunday, this is the final product Debbie and I created from scratch.

    It lost some of the detail of the patter obviously (and turned out super tiny…oops!) but I think it turned out great! Somehow I found the perfect button for the spur  and the way I wrote his name ended up looking like fancy lasso work.

    And even his kitties, Inigo and Fezzik will be getting a Christmas Stocking this year!

    We had so much fun working on these! I need to have more craft days, but I always say that and never actually make it happen… I’m not going to doom it by calling it a New Year’s Resolution…