Stone Arch Bridge Drawings

I am thrilled to be asked to illustrate the poster for this summer's Stone Arch Bridge Festival. It takes place Father's Day Weekend every year and attracts thousands of people along the Mississippi River near its namesake. Well, the poster is due by the end of February so going out to take reference shots was challenging. There's deep snow up to Gold Medal Park by the Guthrie to get a shot, more snow down the river road, bitter winds on the bridge itself and the steps down to the river were closed for the season. Hmmm. It took three trips.

So I ended up doing sketches incorporating bridge angles I liked, trying to bring in part of St. Anthony Main, considered the train that once traveled on it back in the days of the flour mills, and also the energy of the river itself. I couldn't get down to the river so I created an alternative view. We illustrators can tweak reality.  I wanted something a little dramatic, majestic and with a flow to it. I made a ton of sketches, refined them, narrowed it down and presented two concepts. They picked one and made one change to remove the train and have people walking, biking and running on the bridge.  So this past week I've been building the layers of my drawing on the computer and trying different color palettes. It's almost done!

Home Sweet Home for My Poppy Rugs

http://www.erehwonretreat.com

My Poppy rugs have a wonderful new home at Erehwon Retreat  in Tampa, Florida. The proprietor, Henry Young, emailed me about his interest for my rugs for his restored bungalow and cottage he rents to guests. He wondered if they would work outside under the covered porch in front of the door.  I mentioned that I was giving mine the 'Minnesota Winter Test' and that it was doing well in the elements. Turns out, Henry had lived in Minneapolis and was involved with The Guthrie Theater. What a nice connection!

I looked at the website and was so happy to see the two homes and read more about Erehwon Retreat and view the pictures, video and see the current Tampa temperature. Well, it looks very inviting for a winter weary Minnesotan.  You must check out the link to see the gardens, too!  The yard features native Florida plants that look spectacular. I love that they use native plants.  It certainly follows many of the Arts & Crafts philosophies.

After receiving my shipment, Henry kindly photographed my rug at the front door. This is just how I imagined my rugs to be used when I designed them. I'm so happy they went to such a wonderful home.

Creating Cross Overs

One of my goals has been to expand my designs to other categories.  This shows how my Dandelion art looks on a card, a print and fabric.  My illustrations have always been first printed on cards.  I create my pencil design, scan it into my Mac and redraw everything in layers and choose color palettes.  I experiment with layout, cropping, colors and then put it into my card format for A2 envelope size. I print them out and get the colors I like before committing them to a printer for the card line.

Then I take the design and create an 8x 10" giclee print on fine art paper.  I love the rich flat ink produced by the professional printer and how it almost resembles a silk screen.  They have a richness that regular digital printers on regular stock can't compete with.  Sometimes the colors do change a little between the two different printers but not a lot.

The next step has been to take the image, create a pattern and submit a digital file of it to Spoonflower for fabric. I'm still learning how big to make the repeat, seeing how colors print differently and on the different fabrics from cotton to linen to upholstery fabric. Can't you picture dandelion deck pillows made from this fabric?

I haven't made a dandelion design rug yet but that would be the next cross over.  It would make a fun summer rug, don't you think?  It's great fun to be a 'surface designer' as the business calls it when you create designs for different products from the same base art.

Rugged Rug?

My rug designs of the Poppy & Pod and Solomon Seal made thru Rug Rats are just beautiful.  The colors turned out wonderful, the quality of the hewn edge and rubber backing and nylon surface are top notch.  When I've shown them at Art Fairs people are drawn to them. Some comments are, 'They're too pretty to walk on.'  I think to myself, so you want an ugly rug in your home? Part of the Arts & Crafts anthem was home products should be useful and beautiful.

The rugs are intended to be used indoors but some people have asked if they can be used outdoors.  So I am putting my Poppy rug to the test to see if it can
handle a Minnesota winter.  I put it in front of our door last month and it has endured snow, sleet, salt and shoveling.  If you live around here, you know that it's been a bad winter, so this will be a great test to see how it does.  I really want to know,too, so I can honestly tell people how rugged the rugs are.  So when Spring arrives, I'll give you an update.  I sell the two rugs in my Etsy shop and locally at The Linden Tree.

Don't Forget to Say Thank You

I know, I sound like your Mother but she was right.  The Holidays are over and it's best to send a prompt note of appreciation for gifts you received.

From the author Margaret Shepherd who wrote. "The Art of the Handwritten Note" comes some advice.  Send a note even if you thanked them in person.  Mention the gift and thank them for the thought behind it. Keep the message short, write the note by hand and be prompt.  You can eliminate part of the panic if you have note cards and stamps on hand.  It's especially important to acknowledge gifts sent from a distance so the person knows it reached you.

I encouraged my son Taylor to write a thank you note for money gifts before he could spend it.  People take the time, trouble and expense to let you know they care about you. Let them know you appreciate it.  So get some cards, stamps and get writing.  And your Mother wants me to tell you to eat more vegetables and floss more, too.  Thank you for your time.

Personalize Your Cards

Maloney Home

I'm sharing a card I illustrated for my good friends, the Maloneys. They have a beautiful stucco home they trim with lights and this Christmas, Mother Nature provided plenty of snow to add to the ambience. I illustrated our home for our Christmas card a few years ago, and was commissioned by our neighbors to do their home for their Christmas cards. Then later that year when their home was destroyed by fire, they did a cheeky card and had me repeat the home illustration but this time it had smoke and flames coming out of their Bungalow windows.
Inside the text read "Merry Crispness."

Christmas card following year

Passolt Christmas card

It's fun to receive personal cards like these and I've been illustrating other cards for sale locally and in my Etsy shop.  Some I leave intentionally blank without a verse so the buyer can write their own heartfelt greeting.  We sent my Ginkgo wreath design that was blank inside and personally wrote a greeting in each one.  I believe a handwritten message is such a gift, especially in this email world. Your handwriting is an extension of who you are and it brings you closer to the person who reads it.  I hope you'll take the time to personalize your cards for your family and friends.

Eucalyptus Fabric Apron

This is going to be a great surprise for my Mom.  I had an apron made for her using my own fabric design called Eucalyptus brown from Spoonflower, digital fabric printer who I send my designs to.  My favorite apronmaker on Etsy "Aprons and More' was up for the challenge of making it for her. I ordered a yard of the linen cotton canvas from Spoonflower and had it shipped to Aprons and More. The fabric was heavier than the fabric Katy is used to working on but my Mom makes pies with the Presbyterian Pie Ladies in Monticello, Iowa and needed something functional yet pretty.  As you can see, it turned out wonderful and has a matching potholder!  Katy put a recipe for 'Apple Delight' in the apron pocket.  Such a nice touch!

 A little about Katy....she has been sewing since she was a teenager.  She graduated college with a degree in Costume Design and grad school with Interior Design.  Five years ago she moved to take care of her Mom who has a rare cancer and is now her full-time caretaker.  Katy said she made a few aprons to sell at a friend's produce shop/cafe before discovering Etsy.  Aprons and More has been on Etsy for almost 2 years now and has racked up over 900 sales. I have ordered at least a couple aprons from her previous to having her do this custom one for me.  She does beautiful work and is a wonderful person.  Please check out her Etsy shop at www.apronsandmore.etsy.com.