It's been awhile

Hello Blog land! It has been a long while since I have posted, I deeply apologize for leaving any readers hanging. Life has come at me very quickly and the new job (even though it's been 6 months) is still sending me zingers and keeping me so busy I barely have time to craft. In fact I barely have time for anything but MUAY THAI!

I have added yet another element to my life and that is Muay Thai kick boxing. I'm in love. I don't think very many people associate me with being active with all that crafting, video gaming and cats sitting on my lap but I really was, once upon a time. I suffered some pretty major back injuries about 6-7 years ago from a snowboarding accident and have kept on the side of safety. A good friend told me about the gym he goes to and suggested I try it since I was having problems getting into the habit of working my core and my gym routine was pissing me off only doing laps in the pool due to my weak core and back. I went and it's been amazing. It is some of the hardest training I have done in my life since Taekwando in Korea back in the summer of 1999. Not only has it been great physically but also mentally, everyone at the gym is great. They have a real community going there and lot's of love and support for all the students. I think this is also a huge part of why I have made huge efforts to keep with Muay Thai over everything else.

Community, it's an amazing thing and Columbus is well known for having such a terrific one. This is what made me want to work in my job with a non-profit, because I love the arts community and so many of my friends were a part of it. Muay Thai is the same way, such an amazing community in our gym that many days I stay up to half an hour after class just chatting with people. I recently saw the Nina does C-bus show and parts of it put me near to tears with all the love and seeing so many faces of friends in her show. I feel super fortunate of all the places in the entire world I grew up in a place where outstanding communities are all around me.

Now enough of this sap! Let's get to some updates!
I am no longer going to be having an art studio for two reasons:
1. Junctionview Studios will be closing it's doors for ever (boo)
2. I have spent so little time in the studio due to my job that is it just not fiscally responsible

So I have been moving everything home and it's fine, it works a little better aside from the smell of litter boxes next to me. I am set up in the basement in the far side from my sewing studio. It makes a little better sense to all be together, but the yarn..... dear lord the yarn is another issue.

Although most of my studio is already moved back home I will be a part of AGORA X at Junctionview Studios this coming weekend. There is a fancy Preview party Friday from 6-10 pm and then Saturday is the main event from noon-midnight! If you have never been to one, it is not something to miss. One of my favorite art events all year.

I've also been accepted into my first gallery show since college for my fine art and NOT fashion for once. I am super excited for that and it is a group show with two other ladies I have much respect and love for as well, Megan Coyan and Nicki Strouss. I have a lot of work ahead of me in embroidery and watercolor, but I am excited. Here is a peek of my current work still depicting bruises and how they represent interactions in our lives.

Lastly and on a fashion note I am one of the designers for the Alternative Fashion Mob fashion show in June. Once again a lot of work ahead of me. Coming up immediately is this fantastic Couture Cuisine collaboration with the Explorer's Club. I am going to be represented by dessert!

OH and one more thing! I met Ann Hamilton TWICE this month! I will get more into it in another blog entry but just had to share since it was one of the things on my personal bucket list. 

My vow going forward dear friends is to get a blog entry done once a week. This blog like my life is going to keep developing and changing to reflect my personal growth and exploration of the world.

Cheers!

Insta-post

Welcome to another Instragram photo laden post. I promise it won't be boring. In fact a bit fascinating. If you follow me on twitter, tumblr or perhaps Facebook some of these pictures may seem familiar. I tell people that with Instagram I can now take pictures to fill my void of status updates on Facebook. I'm not big on facebook, I use it mostly to keep in touch but not to do anything of substance with it aside from my Fashion Design page for Torn Angel.

Ahem let's get on with this post shall we?
Below we have two water colors I was tooling around with, not very impressive but exercises into some things I was thinking about. What was I thinking about? Bruises and wounds per usual.

I took the first swirls and played with embroidery on the paper to outline the colors and I like it well enough but I need to dig deeper and be more bold with my coloring. In terms of medium I do really like this mixture and will continue to explore it.

For the second water color I took a cue from some student work that I saw during their portfolio evaluation. It is amazing what the kiddos can teach us even when we are supposed to be their teachers. I think in art it is always a give and take because sometimes the fresh perspective of a student can bring new inspiration to us art vets. In this case it was playing with the already present lines and colors in the water color and highlighting areas by outlining the pattern. It was fun, not so much my style but gives me some ideas to go along with the embroidery work and working with a larger scale painting and thinner threads.

I just had to share this pretty new necklace I got when I worked the Columbus Food Truck and Cart Fest. It was the vendor's first show and her store is called Poor Sparrow. I love the simple aesthetic she uses and her prices are so affordable! I hope that I see her at Independents Day as a Vendor but only the Jury can decide. I'm also wearing my summer staple which has been an Alison Rose Cat Tank.

While I was in Pittsburgh for a Wedding last weekend the Hubby and I finally got to go check out the Mattress Factory Museum. It was full of surprises and amazing experiences. The above photo was in the corner of their parking lot. It looked like a graveyard of weeping angels to me from Dr. Who, such as below.

This was another fascinating room of mirrors black lights and neon circles. The photo really doesn't even come close to capturing the feeling when you are standing alone in this room. Like I said before most of the charm in the Mattress Factory is experiencing the art for yourself and interacting with it.

Lastly I just had to include this picture to show everyone I am not afraid to sparkle, I am just not a fan of glitter. Give me sequins any day of the week and I am happy to wear them. I had a nice little recap of my Craft Wars viewing party by Jackie Mantey of the Columbus Alive right here.  I also did a Guest Post on Nikki McGonigal's Blog on my Candlestick lights from my episode of Craft Wars, right here!

Round 2 FIGHT!

I haven't been doing as well as I had hoped with my watercolor/sketch 365 but I plan to catch up.  I can give you all the excuses I want but it is harder then I thought it would be.  Also a lot of days that I don't sketch or water color it's not that I'm not doing anything artistically at all.  Usually on those days I have put in a good hour or two on hand stitching or knitting something for a larger project.  I am creating everyday just not necessarily in the form that I set out to.

Here is what I accomplished since last time.

 This one still needs more work on it but this is what I got done in one day.

 Loose sketch of something I am knitting in a pile

Yep I suck at Drawing

 Trying to work the skin tones or flushed but I ran out of time and hated the way the eyes came out doe, instead of angry

Neurons

 Some Bone Shading off of a Science Magazine

 ey?

 Playing with Lashes

 Bubbles and Foam

Network of Veins

Water colors and Weekend Re-cap

 This weekend was filled with crafty, relaxation and celebration!

I knitted the most intense purple I have ever met and selected some new colors to add into my hair clips for Craftin Outlaws.  Which as always was a huge success.  I was also a dope and failed to remember to take any pictures while I was walking around.  I did pick up some cute things which I will post possibly tomorrow.  Jessica Miller did get some fantastic photos of booths and their wares.  Below are mine but you can go HERE to see the full set

 I am too short for my own booth, this is me standing.

 Great picture of my Pincushion rings.

 As for celebration it was my Nieces 7th birthday that we celebrated a day early after Craftin Outlaws.  She had a full schedule Sunday so it was nice to have an intimate family dinner with the little one.  We of course ate Korean Good at one of our favorite places Kaya.  I Shared some Dol-sut Bibimbap with Andy and of course we grilled out own Galbi and some other meat I can't recall because I was too busy gobbling what was right in front of me.

Sunday I just took it easy.  Our house guest Grace Dobush left that day after we shared a wonderful brunch at Third and Hollywood around the corner from the house.  With the Husband out hiking with some friends I settled down for a very relaxing day of nail polish, knitting and crying my eyes out to silly Korean Dramas.  The particular one I picked up is called Secret Garden.  I am 4 episodes in and so far the only thing that is happening in a garden are some awkward social status fights and daydreaming.

I picked up this stunning blue nail polish after Grace put a bug in my ear of gorgeous colors and brands when we had intense nail polish discussions Friday night when she came in from Cincinnati

The Base color is OPI's Miss America Line "Swimsuit…Nailed It!" and the top sparkle Coat is OPI Katy Perry's "Last Friday Night". I spent the rest of the time after  my nails dried knitting on a personal project that has been on the back burner for years.  It is this cute lace cardigan out of a variegated aqua blue yarn in a lace pattern.

Finally we come to the end of my first week of  daily water colors and/or sketches.  I did pretty good doing mostly water colors this week and pushing myself.

The first one is of my Cat Sophie when she does her back wiggles on the carpet seeking love and belly rubs (I know a cat especially orange girl that likes belly rubs?  crazy eh?)

Trying some more wet brush techniques doing fish and failing horribly because of the wrong paper.

I was watching some episode of Star Trek the next generation when I did this one.  Not sure what I was going for here.  I guess just some doodling.  I worked a little bit on some blending techniques since I was on the proper paper now.

A fashion sketch of something that has been mulling in my head and some gradient work on the edges.

A light sketch that started out as wanting to be a dragon fly and slowly evolved into being a palm tree with coconuts.  I really enjoyed doing this and letting the colors meld together on their own instead of forcing them.

More random sketching.  I wanted to compose something small so why not some flowers?  I tried a few different techniques here.  Flowers have been on my mind a lot because I want to do a little embroidery stitch sampler for myself using flower motifs.

Last night I nearly forgot that I needed to do something.  I sketched my toy sitting on my stomach before I went to Bed.

Tonight I have a Crafty Ladies Night at my friend Claire's!  I think I will try making these Fabric Boxes I have been eying out of a Japanese Craft Book I have.

The color of a Whale

In preparing a new portfolio for Grad School I wanted to get back into the swing of sketching and also in improving my lack luster 2-d skills. Over lunch with some lady friends we were talking about 365 projects that they were doing or wanted to do. I was thinking to myself that would be interesting to re-hash for myself. Previously I wanted to do it where I would sew something everyday. But that is nearly impossible since I work in spurts or some projects take much longer then just one evening. it was a little funny because while saying 365 my friend Claire was referring to her photography project whilst in my head I was thinking, 365 what? because I've heard of so many different types of projects done on this basis.  After that I had to run some errands at the cursed Joanne Fabrics. 

While getting some supplies and strategically planning out how to use my coupons I was browsing my favorite section of Art Supplies.  I love art supplies, the organization the colors the possibilities.  I have a small collection of sets of gouache, water colors, oil colors, markers, water color markers, etc etc. that are barely touched only for my fear of not using them properly.  I have absolutely no confidence in my 2d capabilities.  I saw in the corner a small pocket box of watercolors.  At $24.99 I thought it too costly for a little endeavor but with my 40% coupon making it approx $14.99 I could dig it.  I decided then and there that I would embark on my own 365 project that would consist mostly of water color.  It will be my exercise to get better and be creative in a new way that I haven't dedicated much time to in the past.  Armed with the pocket paints and some aqua brushes I feel this could be a less imposing way to push myself and take it anywhere with me.

Unpacking the little cakes of water color was kin to unwrapping a gift truffle box.  Each delightful color in their little chunks ready to explode on my paper.

This is my Day 1 painting, it was my cat Sophie doing her back wiggles.  Today is my 3rd day.  I'm going to make a flickr album to compile them and I would like to make a little end of the week post of the pictures from the week.  I'm not looking to make masterpieces here just give myself some exercise.  Water color is one of my favorite 2D mediums to work with.  I feel the most comfortable with it. 

Funny enough last night my friend Beth talked me into going with her to see this Moby Dick thing at the Wexner Center.  Moby Dick is a book I have avoided because I know it holds so much meaning to people and what not.  I just can't comprehend trying to read it (I know I am a horrible and backwards person).  Perhaps I will someday but only because of this.

I didn't realize it at first but then when Beth showed me another link to the event I put it together.  My friend Arnell's brother in law Matt had illustrated a book!  Not just that, but it was an Epic project and so close to the heart of the 365 project that I just picked up myself.  Listening to him speak is kind of funny because I remember when he married my friend's sister, I remember when he was a dude at Laughing Ogre Comics that I used to chat with about how much we missed SHOCC Comix and the things coming out from David Mack and Top Cow.  It was years ago but I remember the way he talked and listening to him give a presentation was a bit surreal.  It was good to hear him be the same person, candid and honest not on a  soapbox being preachy but instead humble and still in awe of this great project and what it has brought into his life.

The hardest to listen to was him talking about how difficult some parts were and how it affected his personal life.  Those are the things that scare me about art and my eventual immersion to Grad School.  I did not get the book yet because the line was just annoyingly long at the event and since I kind of have the personal hookups I don't feel the urge to get it signed right away.  I will be purchasing it very soon.  It was a thick tome and very pretty to flip through.  He will be an inspiration to many other young artists weather he realizes it or not.  He also kept a Blog which can be found here!

Little Houses

Today I want to talk about this strange little obsession I have with little houses and buildings.  No I'm not into Doll houses, those are too large and most of the concern is the interior and decorating it.   I like mine with clean lines and simple.  Today Craftzine presented me with this image in my e.mail today and I just swooned.  My favorite is the full Cardboard one.

This is an installment of my favorite that I pulled from the Artist's website,  Nina Lindgren

This is a better view of another one by Ana Serrano and the close up below.

 

 This is a Plush representation of Paris and NYC I believe that I had been saving in my inspiration folder.  Unfortunately I don't remember the source for the original image.  One day I am going to make my own version of this for my guest room.

This little house ring has been on my Etsy Favorites forever from J Davis Studio.  It is just simple and modern.

 

Like I said before I'm not much for the interiors of doll houses but if I was this would be the perfect thing. Little cardboard furniture from a book on Etsy.  Which is also from Muiji.

I'm not sure what it is or why I am drawn to such architectural shapes. Even when I do my little personal water color projects I always seem to be enthralled with depicting a skyline or building features.  It is never based off a real city just my little imagination.