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. 

Landmark

So...At least once a week I drive into the city for the farm.  And often times I get to pass this guy. He really brightens my drive. I am a big fan of folk art. If I haven't mentioned this before, I will now. I'm really into archaeology. Being an archaeologist was up there on my list of careers when I was little. Particularly anthropology. I love that there was a time when things like this were in demand. Handmade by an artist or local tradesman, made out of quality materials, for a business or where ever. Landmarks on your family's trip driving cross country, outside your favorite ice cream stand you visit in the Summertime, or to draw in customers to a custom furniture store. A cultural snap shot of an era.  Nowadays, for the most part, everything is made out of the cheapest materials possible. Everything looks the same. Strip mall after strip mall.  It's pretty depressing. And I know that none of it will last. It's possible this lot will get purchased and torn down, get turned into something really lame. And where will this guy go? You hope things like this get preserved. I think they do, I think there are still a lot of people out there who know when things are special. I know that he won't last forever either. But as I drive by, I daydream about someone finding him in 600 years and them wondering what life was like way back when.

Sunday

   

  

I had to share. I went to Blumen Gardens today for their third Sunday of the month Art Market.  I haven't been to this place in ages, but this is actually where Jason and I got married. The place is amazing...Its an old graphite factory turned into a garden center.  But not just any garden center, a secret garden type of center.  I love it. My friend Ann Flowers had a booth at the market, whom I am very proud of.  She recently took the plunge of quitting her day job to pursue her creative talents full time. I have always loved her artwork, but you must check out her other stuff: pom poms, neon, and glitter goodness galore! There was live music, free brats & lemonade, and I found these lovely metal tins. I decided to paint on them when I got home.  I'm thinking they would be quite nice hanging on a wall somewhere...its a fern, mint, ranunculus, lavender, and a dahlia.

This evening, the air is super cool. Makes me want to wrap myself in a cozy blanket for days.  Goodnight. 

New Camera!

I haven't written in some time. For many months you may have read that I've been hymning and hawing over purchasing a new camera. A camera camera. Well... I recently became the owner of a brand new, Nikon D3100! I am in love. I am most certainly an amateur photographer, but I am enjoying how a new camera makes you look at things differently.  I am finding myself noticing the light more, or small moments that I can't wait to capture. Now we're just getting know one another (me and the camera that is.) That's pretty much what I've been doing the past couple of weeks. Here are some of my favorite shots of recent...Just bits of my life: home, summertime meals, the farm, visiting with friends, making homemade margaritas, the good stuff.

Some of these photo's are at my friend, Bryanne's house. She's one of the best people I've ever met in this world, I feel blessed I met her at age 12, and she has incredible style. Someday I want to share photo's of her whole house, if she'll let me. Bry and I have been enjoying this margarita recipe this Summer (as you can tell, haha) It tastes delicious and has no sugar at all. I don't know why people would ever buy a mix.

Classic Margaritas
3/4 cup tequila
1/2 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
1/2 cup of triple sec or cointreau 
1 lime sliced (for garnish)
sea salt for your glass rim (optional) 

Enjoy over ice or blended!

Creature Feature

Oh, how I love Summer. I've had some time off the past couple of days and I'm enjoying the Summer slow down.  Everything literally seems to move in a slower motion. I love sitting on my porch swing, watching the neighborhood, breathing in the deep fragrant scent of the linden flower trees blooming, and counting my blessings.

My beautiful nieces were in town from Germany this past week for the Fourth of July. I love and miss those girls to death.  Sophia, the oldest, is the smartest child I've ever met and has the manners of a princess.  Bianca, only three, is a total wild child.  Jason and I joke that she was raised by wolves. She's the one to watch out for when she gets older.  And Aryanna, or Ari as we like to call her, is just six months old. This was the first time we got to meet her.  She was born in January, and neither of us had been able to visit until now. She is the sweetest tempered baby ever.  It breaks my heart that we miss so much of them growing up while they are living over seas.  They are coming back in the Fall, thank goodness.

In the meantime, I have been busy bike riding, barbecuing, swimming, and working on my illustration portfolio. Here are some images for you black cat and baking lovers. Enjoy your July!

A million moments

Hello, hello. I'm so happy to say it is JUNE.  June is one of my favorite months of the year, there is still the essence of Spring, it's typically not sizzling hot yet, everyone around you seems to be in a jolly mood, summer murmuring on everyone's lips. I think Summer gives everyone butterflies in their stomachs, nostalgic for what once was or excitement over plans to be had. I had just been discussing this with a friend, but at one point in your life, probably before you were a teenager, you had your entire summer off. Nearly three blissful months to be free. I have a teacher friend who still enjoys this, every single Summer, after she's buttoned up her classroom, she travels to some far off country every Summer. This month I am nostalgic for our cabin up in Rhinelander, WI that is no longer in the family. My brothers and I would spend all day playing in the woods or boating on Lake Boom. There was a tiny island on the lake that we named Ant Island, that we claimed as our personal land and country, and that my brothers and I visited daily. Someday I want to go back there, to see if my island is still there.  But there have been many great happenings going on in the present this season. It's been a busy couple of weeks.

I got to go to the Na-da Barn Sale (finally!) Some of my friends had booths, Cracker Jax and A Beautiful Party. I was so blown away, this farm is sort of out in the middle of nowhere, yet there were a million people flocking from every direction to visit on this special day. Ann Marie who owns the farm, puts a special touch on every corner of this delightful farm. I highly recommend a visit.

 

I got to go to the closing reception for my works in the Earth to Table show, got to pick and score some  wood from this barn, went to several graduation parties, visited my family's farm in Fithian, IL. My garden is growing well, I absolutely can't wait for my kale and tomatoes to be ready for harvesting. Bike riding, laying in the sun, sitting on my porch swing with a friend and a cool drink. And best of all, Jason and I just celebrated our three year wedding anniversary.  Every day I feel so blessed to have him in my life. I couldn't wish for a better husband.