Summer of Art

A recent trip to New York City and practically a million graduation parties later I finally have time to put up for sale all of the items I've created. What does this mean? Well, June 2011 is going to be plenty busy with me putting in new inventory. Much of it is artwork and some accessories. I love summer. The weather is perfect to break out some supplies and get to doing work outside. I've also been wearing sweats for about 6 months so this 'shorts' concept is quite novel for my paper white legs.

Let's just say I got a head start on the new items. You can see my latest on the right. It's my new ACEO (art trading card), Mu (Nothing)

New Item!: It's a...Bag?

Your eyes don't deceive you. Why yes, it is a bag!

I saw this cotton drawstring bag online. The first thing I thought? I can make this into calligraphy! I bought one, along with bottles of fabric paint to experiment with. Honestly finding the right ratio of fabric paint was harder than the actual calligraphy. You can't make this paint too runny or it'll go through the fabric. But it can't be too thick or it won't apply to the fabric at all. Such a finicky medium. On the positive side you can actually see my brush strokes.

In any case, have some practical art to hold all your stuff!

Saku - Blossom - Japanese Calligraphy on Natural Cotton Drawstring Bag

New Item!: Flower Clips

I just listed a sweet little set of flower clips. The fabric scrap I used was so small but it was too beautiful not to use for something. Much tinkgering and cursing later I made some classic fabric rose buds. Check it out!

Roses Red Shoe Clip Set
Available on Etsy now for $12.

New Item!: Flower Clips

So after much experimenting and talking with the fabric (or myself, depending on the situation) I created a retail version of my shoe clips that I wouldn't mind parting with.

Purple Haze and Golden Waves Shoe Clip Set

Actually yeah I do mind parting with it. I put a lot of work into these little things. But I know that wherever they end up it will be in a good place.

New Item!: Cool - Tsumetai

What I would give for having a nice Olympic sized pool by my house. So hot I'm melting. Actually all this week it's been so cold in the San Francisco Bay Area I had to break out my winter tights already. Thankfully the weather is warming up for the weekend.

I just posted a new ACEO if you wish to purchase a bit of original art. Check it out!

Cool - Tsumetai - Original Tranding Card (ACEO) Sized Art

This also reminds me: It's shopping seasod! Back to school sales are also when clothing stores bring out their fall/winter inventory. Blow outs on lighter, cotton clothes for those last hot days of summer. There are some bargains to be had!

New Item: Heat/Atsui/熱い Art Trading Card ACEO

My house is getting quite a few renovations to say the least. In order to renovate one area all of the stuff inside is, of course, being thrown into my room. This might be why I'm going art cards (ACEO) this month. Small, stately pieces of art that I can make in some very small spaces.

I actually thought of this one in a bar, watching a mixed martial arts event with my boyfriend. There were training clips of one of the fighters sweating it out in the gym of his Las Vegas training grounds. That's where the idea really started. When I leave my day job early enough I can catch the local high school football team in summer training. Just looking at these guys doing windsprints gets me tired. But you wouldn't be doing any of this in hot, humid August unless you had a passion for your sport.

This piece is available for purchase at my Etsy shop.

New Item: Chagami Pack, Now with Pressed Flowers

Here is my latest experiment into utilizing my flower press, 5 Oatmeal Sheets with Pressed Flowers

I know people say don't take pictures during sunset, but I like the warm glow it casts on my paper. This is the first real test of pressed flowers on my paper making.

I may have been a bit overenthusiastic with the drying. As you can see in the picture on the right, the paper pulp couldn't "cling" on to some parts of the flower. On the other hand, the "ghosting: dye effect from the flower petals is pretty sweet.

New Item: A Gingko Leaf

I can't believe I've spent all of my literate life spelling this plant's name wrong.

Anyway, I just listed a new painting, Gingko Leaf. A Chinese symbol of wealth because of the leaf's color and resemblance to ancient Chinese currency. The yellow of the art board I used and the flecks of silver on it really called to me.

New Item: Stationery for your Dad or Grad

I looked at my shop for a moment and realized it was a bit too girly I would say. A major complaint from my guy friends is there aren't enough crafty things for dudes. So here's some stationery I made with my male friends, relatives, and loved ones in mind.

Stationery - Steel Blue Tea Paper Chagami Set for US$10

Running with scissors

I'm working on some new products right now. Can you guess what it is?