Beehive Bazaar — Winter 2009

I'm selling delightful goodies at the Beehive Bazaar in December. I'll have paper dolls, candy rings, papier mache deer sculptures, and more. Come see me there.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Collage

Here we see the progression of the family tree collage honoring the women of my mother's family, both past and present. My cousin Lindsey initiated a "Ladies Lunch" at which we gathered to hear stories about our female ancestors, share a delicious spread of soup and sandwiches (perfected on the George, of course), and collaborate on an artistic representation of the stories we heard, as well as our own stories. What a delightful day! Hopefully the collage will be able to travel to different homes of sisters in our family over the years. We've left room for more details to be added by those who couldn't attend, or those may become part of our family in the future. Also, there are quite a few details I still need to add to elaborate on the stories of our female ancestors pictured in the collage. I shall post the finished artwork eventually for all to see. I hope to bring the canvas to our Thanksgiving feast to solicit a bit of help in finishing up some of the details. Thanks for all who were there and helped make the Ladies Lunch such a success.

Can you see the resemblance?

I originally did this illustration of M just for fun. Then I altered the illustration to create the banner across the top of this blog. The illustration and the real thing used to be even more alike before a friend chopped off some of M's bangs and other chunks of hair all over.

A greeting card I designed recently

Purple ink (pms 2597) on white Somerset paper.

Baby Jack Jack

Most of you have probably already seen this announcement I designed shortly after Jack's arrival. Baby Jack is 6 months old now.

Beehive Bazaar Dec. 2007 — A tribute to my mom

Last Christmas I made some things to sell at the Beehive Bazaar. Here they are:

Note cards and Buttons

10" tall Gingerbread Cookies
("Ms. Ginger" came solo; a packet of 2 cookies was named "Fred & Ginger")

Painted Reclaimed School Chairs

I must give some credit to my mom. She helped me make and decorate all of the gingerbread cookies. She also deserves partial credit for all of the projects I do. She gave me some of the most important tools I have. She taught me to brainstorm, to think creatively, to commit myself to excellence. I remember watching her tole painting. She had such precision and control in her hand. I remember watching her pipe icing decorations on a stunning wedding cake. Again, the dexterity and discipline she exhibited were impressive. I remember time and time again coming to her with a school assignment and no idea where to start. She never failed to light the way, helping me organize my thoughts, develop ideas, and carry out the project. I certainly didn't feel creative or skilled in my efforts during those years. Moments of clouded brain syndrome still inhibit me on occasion, at which time I push aside the despair of an approaching deadline and an expectant client and try to remember my mother's lessons. You learn from doing, even someone else's doing. So moms out there: do not fear that your child isn't learning anything when you sit down and do their homework with them. As long as you do it with them, and not for them, they will learn more than you thought you had to teach.

'Twas the season

'Twas the season to be jolly, so I wrote and designed a poetic, slightly silly style invite for our Christmas party last year. Here it is. This green has definitely been one of my favorites this last year: c 60 m 5 y 95 k 0.

Party Animals

M had a big birthday party this year (many moons ago by now). The kids assembled tiger cupcakes, finger-painted with pudding, and made purple hyena cub puppets, among other things. I had fun designing the invitations. I think the birthday girl was pleased (and partied-out). Her new princess dress is a delightful purple (pms 2725). Several months later the dress is still a hit.