Lately

I will skip the parts about how I have been busy and sick (again!) and move right onto what else.

ephemra hoarder turns book binder

First, I used my first Patchwork show as an excuse to try out a bunch of things I have been thinking about for years.  Years!  Though the show ended up being a little slow and the projects are still in-progress, I was happy to have tangible attempts.  For example, I made blank books using train tickets and scraps I carried home from Europe last year but the bindings still need a little work.

datebook detail

I also made a few more datebooks after  letting the covers sit around for a few weeks.  I know, it is way past the first of the year, but these datebooks only have the days of the week listed. Use it now, for 5 weeks, forget about it for a while, pick it up again.  It is the datebook of my dreams, except mine is filled with lists and lists and, once in a while, nothing, when I ride my bike around the city instead,

stacking rings and necklace by april marie hale of tiny  magpie studios

A friend I met at Penland a few years ago offered a trade for a postcard subscription and I was happy to.  Years ago, she traded me a ring for a print.  The ring had a secret message for me on the inside "I love bacon grease," a tribute to our 2 weeks of dish washing together to pay for our classes.  She has an etsy shop--tiny magpie studios, where you can see her recycled jewelry collection.

all vegan, of course, and ready to eat

Every week is busy and every Friday is a rush to work on prints, call my parents, send out the mail and then prepare apertivo for out friends.  It is totally worth it.  By 5:45, everything is ready, our table is covered with food, Andy makes me a drink and I water the garden.  I may create so many things for myself to do but this one is relaxing.  We open the garage door of our room and get to talk with friends and meet our neighbors.
How can I complain?

PS Etsy sale at my shop www.gutwrench.etsy.com new stuff and 15% off selected items now through Monday May 20.

One More Trade

I promised more. This is a lazer-cut metal piece by Kathryn Hunter of Blackbird Letterpress. This piece I received after volunteering in her shop for a few days. Now I work there sometimes, and we are working on a collaboration. I pulled the first proofs tonight--a sixty week date book made with all hand-set type. This it why I got home at midnight. If you happen to be in New Orleans this month, check out her show at LeMieux Gallery on Julia Street. It will be worth it. You can also view other work on her blog, there is a link on the right, under Blackbird Letterpress.
Also pictured are two photos taken across the river by my friend Jason , Christmas Day last year. He lives in Los Angelos now, but the original LA is still in his heart.

Trades part II

Bryan Kring is a designer in Oakland who sent me this 2011 calendar. This is only a partial shot. I send him postcards every month because I really like his work. Good trade!



Sarah Hayman is first year graduate in printmaking at LSU. Her work is layers of organic forms, stencils, pods, textures. She traded me these two images at the print sale last month and promises to trade more if I can let go of the ceramic nests that are still hanging in the sculpture building hallway.