A Day in the Life...

I forgot to announce. This past week I was featured on A Beautiful Party's blog: A Day in the Life...

Click here to check it out :) 

It was super sweet of Ann to feature me on her site, thank you Ann! It was a unique experience documenting my day. My days aren't super structured, so it was neat to be aware of how I do squeeze creativity into different moments in my day. But I think its great that Ann is sharing different ways that artists fit the creative process into their daily lives. I think we all struggle with juggling our jobs, time with friends & family, running errands, and finding time to make things. Its comforting to confirm that we all face this challenge.

If its important, you find the time.

An Emblem of Luck

Fall is starting to creep in around these parts. As I have said before, I feel a bit mournful when the seasons change. On one hand, I am super excited for the coming Fall: butternut squash soup, carving pumpkins, apple pie, the bright colors against the gray drizzle of a day. But not completely ready to say goodbye to Summer.

I got some new shoes, they're a buttery soft suede in a beautiful coral. I took a walk to the nearby arboretum and found an acorn tree.  I love acorns, so cute, but also considered to be an emblem of luck, prosperity, youthfulness, and power. It also represents spiritual growth.

I've been needing some growth lately. I'm in that spot where I wish I could do my artwork full time, but don't know how to get there. I know that I need to work harder...I fully believe if you keep at something long enough, it will happen for you. But sometimes I lose focus. I get inspired to do one thing, and then the next moment to do another. And sometimes it makes me create things that I actually don't like all that much, and I get frustrated. I need to remember that it is okay to play, that everything doesn't need to be an amazing finished piece. One must just keep at it and not fear it will fail.  I have to trust in that.

Go Renegade

Hooray! Last Sunday I got to go to the Renegade Craft Fair, with my good friends, Bry and Janey. I try to make a point to go to this every single year, and I did not get to go last year.  If you haven't ever gone, I highly recommend it! It is booth after booth of handmade awesomeness, all set downtown in the Wicker Park/Bucktown neighborhood. Crafters, artists, creatives of all types come from near and far. Sometimes when I go, I get so overwhelmed by the visual stimulation (and the huge crowds) but it is super inspirational.  I was pleased to see so many fine artists this year! Every year there seems to be more of a certain type of vendor, and that was definitely jewelry this time around. This fair takes place in several cities, both nationally and internationally now.

Love Nail Tree (i loved this necklace...sadly, it was gone later when I came back to purchase it) 

Tee pees! You're never too old for one of these... 

Nature inspired jewelry and art by Jasmine McCaffrey of Ricochet Waves

My Little Belleville (one of my favs from the whole day, put a face on it & I'm in love!)

The amazing Laura Berger (I am obsessed with her artwork) 

Manny Made by Amanda Barker

Lillstreet Art Center (demo: how to do upholstery;someday I swear I will take a class from them) 

Truly unique lamps from Krystal O'Mara of Remain Designs (from bicycle parts!) 

Lunch at Milk & Honey Cafe 

Next stop, a visit to dreamy Asrai Garden, which is just around the corner from the fair...

My finds for the day: 1. Candle by Elizabeth Suzann 2. Mojo mineral lipstick 3. Face Spoon from My Little Belleville 4. Geranium Patchouli body scrub by Etta+Billie 

I also got amazing Caramel Sea Salt Truffles from Katherine-Anne Confections (that I gobbled down) and an art print from Laura Berger. Here is a list of more of the days favorites I recommend you check out:

Adrienne Vita: Illustrations & Intuitive Readings 

Brooke Weeber: Little Canoe

Sally Harless: Art & Illustration

Son of a Sailor Supply: Jewelry & fabulous man gifts 

The Alchemilla 

It is a secret dream of mine to have a booth at one of the Renegades someday. A girls gotta dream. 

Labor Day

Courtesy of... 

Happy Labor Day! And September... This past weekend was the annual Corn Festival in my town. For many years, the festival was always downtown.  But in recent years, this festival was always out at some far far away airport, and I must admit, I never went to it once.  But this year the festival was moved downtown again I am happy to say! It was nice to see the community out and about, see people I haven't seen in ages, see the small businesses flourishing, gorge myself on carnival food that I know is terrible for me. Our friends band even got to play the festival (R B C T) It was a great time.

Finally got the chance to play around with my new Wacom Bamboo Pen & Touch drawing tablet this past week too! Believe me, as a fine artist, I was apprehensive about purchasing one of these. A fellow artist friend recommended I get one, especially since I have been trying to pick up more freelance work on the side. This is new territory for me, but I am excited to see how I can create new images digitally that still look like my artwork.  I know you're probably thinking (well, duh!) but a lot of my artwork is about the texture of the paper and the slight relief of collage... I like the tactile nature of art making.  However, I must say, I absolutely love this new tablet!  It's so fast, and actually mimics my drawing perfectly. Here are my first attempts:

Woman in Mohair Sweater

Man in Triangle Sweater

Girl in Lace Collar Sweater 

 I'm really enjoying just playing around on it. I don't know why I chose a sweater theme. I suppose Fall is on the horizon so I am dreaming of cozy sweaters. Well, I hope everyone enjoys their Monday off. I love the feeling in the air on holidays, you can almost feel a sense of calm in the air, people are relaxed. I love it.