papersatchel goes global

these two custom planters just found a new home...in canada!   you never know who will find you online! it's always thrilling to work with new friends who have specific requests. unfortunately, she wanted an elephant planter, and my zoo of existing animal planters only housed one sad green elephant that was cracked beyond repair.

don't you know, the week after i completed and sent my guys off to canada, i found the most perfect white elephant. i knew it would house my sister's 'moving to italy' parting gift, so i was ecstatic.

...and for my amazingly talented nephew, i sewed a custom art roll-up to house crayons, colored pencils and water colors for impromptu memory making. perfect for the 8.5 hour flight to rome, or for capturing the light during a leisurely roman adventure.

to my dearest sister (best friend), nephew and brother-in-law, so long. it is bittersweet to wish you bon voyage, but i am so going to visit.

lately.

i know, i know. just because i had a baby, that doesn't mean i need to stop making my own work. well, actually, that's exactly what it meant for the first seven plus months... i mean, i made a BABY.

now that he sleeps (kind of) through the night, i have a few hours, between dinner and snoring, to retreat to my art room and begin again. i just completed a simple banner of pennants for a friend's family photography shoot. Tracy Heyman is usually behind the lens snapping photographs of families-- her family and so many others'. she decided to have another photographer take the reigns for a change and she needed a prop. thank goodness she requested my help; my poor sewing machine must have thought i had left it for dead in the basement ;( . this is what i made:

the back side is comprised of my signature chalkboard painted canvas, and is rewritable. the entire operation was a new take on some of my pennants from renegade last year.

rediscovering some of my collected (hoarded?) fabrics rekindled sleepy (rip van winkle-sleepy) project ideas and has my brain all abuzz. depleting the very last few inches of some of my old favorites inspired me to purchase even more fabric just today at a craft bazaar.

i am not even going to say, "keep checking back for project updates!" because it may just be another 7 months. teething is next.

i had a baby.

N arrived 5 weeks ago at 4:11 in the morning. my life will never be the way it was (and i mean that in a good way).

it's been a while.

i am selling a few sculptures, so i am posting photographs today.

new photographs for new projects.

since i've been transforming my art room into a nursery, i have buried all my little planters and terrariums in the basement. today, i decided to get them out and work on photographs in preparation for etsy and a possible upcoming project.



with less than 2 months to go until our child arrives, i have been feverishly cleaning out my spaces (with invaluable help from my sister!). it's amazing to review the objects i've collected... now i just need to get some work out the door!

bazaar!

two down, one to go. craft extravaganzas, that is! next up is the renegade craft fair, and kohli and i took lots of notes from more experienced booth neighbors while enjoying the art star craft bazaar this past weekend. i have a busy 2 1/2 weeks ahead, so i should not even be posting this. once again, we had a successful weekend show, but we know we need to step it up 7 notches for the next one! take a look at our booth...

upcoming shows!

for the last few months, i have been sewing and sewing (and resourcing vessels and electrical accoutrements) to prepare for my upcoming museum shop installation and show at the DCCA (delaware center for contemporary arts)! the opening is friday april 9th from 5 to 9 pm. my installation and works for sale will remain in the museum shop through may 27th. i would love to see you at the opening!

kicking off my busiest creative season yet, this installation precludes the two craft shows in which i am participating with my dear friend, kohli of k.flick studio--
art star craft bazaar and renegade brooklyn! now back to work!!

empires.

i really enjoyed reading this article about Kate and Andy Spade and their decisions since 1993. they have built an empire, and really live their own 'brand'.
http://nymag.com/fashion/10/spring/63806/

fun fast easy.

i know it's been done a thousand times, but making a garland on a card is so much fun; it's always cute.

that's all for now.

showers, sprinkles and birthdays.

the last few weeks have been riddled with enjoyable evening and weekend occasions, calling for very specific hand made offerings.


first came my friend's birthday dinner. since i assisted with her bakery's decor, i created a shadow box to add to her wall of monkey art.

next was a baby shower that i sadly could not attend. in my place i sent along a gender neutral bird and twig soft sculpture.








my weekend peaked with a lively book club meeting-turned sprinkle for a soon-to-be mom of twins. fun fun fun!

goodness, it's been a while.

i have been pouring over photographs from our wedding and our airstream cross-country journey with a feeling of nostalgia--already!!! i mean, it was all so exciting and spectacular that i want to perpetuate my lingering glow for as long as possible. one way to do that is to continue wedding planning, for other people. maybe i'll get over the wedding withdrawal eventually, but for now i will continue to allow myself to browse my favorite wedding and design blogs under the guise of assisting all the recently engaged ladies around me! all the research each bride does should not be buried in a binder under boxed up wedding trinkets. and so, i feel no shame in paging through the latest issue of martha stewart weddings with the security that my wedding was my absolute favorite party--complete with every detail i imagined, and that the world of new engagees may need one more enthusiastic weddingophile. brides to be, step on up!

inspiration

for the feel of our autumnal wedding.