Sketchbook Sunday: Musically Hobbits

I am a fan of the Lord of the Rings trilogy,

But I do have to say that some people look

More like hobbits than others. Christofer

Ingle from nevershoutnever and gonzo is

One of those people. Also his onstage barefoot

Habit promotes the theory that he is a hobbit.

Or maybe a hobbit hipster. Or a hobbit hippie

Hipster. The world will never know.

I am just being silly now but it is a funny notion.

Best Wishes.

Finito: Postcard project

Another project bit the dust. After struggling again and again to get this 

series of prints right, I am finally done. This series Is inspired by postcard 

and the joy of getting those Pint-sized little guys in the mail. the print is 

very small, the size of a standard postcard. i had the intention of mailing 

the print as a postcard but I have become Attrached to the prints too much. 

Who knew a tiny series could be so time consuming?

This project is a small edition print. There are five different prints. Each 

print is an edition of ten. There is currently only one edition. To create 

this print, I used a photolithography process to create the prints. Just so

you know, the process is a relative to the traditional Stone Lithography 

process.

For those who are curious, let me explain the basics printmaking process 

for this print. Stone lithography is a printmaking technique where the 

image is drawn or painted upon a flat stone. Not just any stone, these 

stone are straight up expensive (often call a printmaker’s stone).  The 

stone afterward is hit with chemicals that allow ink to stick to the design 

(instead of everywhere). The artist then inks the stone with a roller. After 

running the stone with paper though a press, viola a print is born to the 

world.

Photolithography follows a similar pattern. Photolithography uses a light 

sensitive metal plate that is expose with a light machine to etch the image 

to the plate. After developing and proper plate protection crème, the plate 

is ready to ink and print.

 All the designs were hand drawn and hand letter. I was inspired to try 

hand lettering after seeing so many amazing examples on pinterest. I also 

had a secret desire to prove that my handwriting is nice and legible to myself. 

The words come from silly thoughts, songs from frank Sinatra & nevershoutnever, 

and a little show called the big bang theory.

The prints are standard postcard size. I originally had planned for these prints 

to be mail ready. So people could go, slap a stamp, and mail it without any 

trouble. But after all the difficulty I experienced in creating these prints, I have 

developed a strong attachment to these postcards. I decided to not to mass mail 

them. Instead they have become mini prints. I do not think I can bear to send 

these prints though the mail. I do plan to put some prints up on etsy for sale. 

Maybe eventually create a real postcard version.

 Best wishes. 

The List

I do enjoy a good list especially a list that lasts a year. I decided to

Make one of my own. I have decided to accomplish twenty-two things

Before May 23^rd of the next year. There’s the List:

1. Learn to play a ukele

2. record myself playing a song

3. trip to Canada  

4. trip to boston

5. make a scarf tutorial

6. go to my second real concert

7. draw my bike

8.  Ushli Chicago 2013

9. draw everything in purse

10. no media day

11. make a postcard with an activity on it

12. Make a guide to Omaha

13. two mini thesis

14. clothing project

15. weekend in red cloud

16. donate hair to locks of love

17. create collaborative postcard

18. bike ten miles nonstop

19. make a three tier cake

20. make a bread from scratch

21. finish reading Permaculture handbook

22. learn about mask-making                   

Sketchbook Sunday: Goofy Sketches

There is a fabulous image on Pinterest that says that being

Happy is productive. That is the truth. Goofy sketches and little 

mini Projects are a must in my life. Whenever I begin to feel 

overwhelm or anxious, it is time for  some fun.

 I heard of The plight of poor little Ant Man through Gingerhaze. 

And how he is the only avengers without his own Movie or in the 

Avengers. Ant man is a man of action and will not take this lying

down. So Ant man might be starting a league of his own.

Best Wishes.

Current Project: Chicken Coop Dreams

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It is not a surprise to those that know me: 

Having chickens is a dream of mine.

The story begins when I fell in love with permaculture 

this winter. Permaculture can be a lot of things at once. 

I best describe it as a lifestyle that focuses on good for 

people, good for the community (animals & humans), 

and good for the world. This good can come in though 

growing food where a person lives, rainwater harvesting, 

growing a food forest, animal husbandry, cob building, 

and the list goes on.

One of the ideas is of keeping chickens. Chickens are so 

much more than a fried drumstick or a deviled egg. 

Chicken can be food but they can do so much more. 

Chickens can fertilize, eat unwanted pests, provide eggs. 

and eat up unwanted food waste. 

I also discover that all chickens are not all white

and red or yellow. I know it is kinda obvious but 

I had never thought of it. There lots of different 

types of chickens.

But for now I am nowhere near close to having a 

chicken coop. As I am saving my pennies for my 

big city dreams, these prints of chicken coops will 

have to do. The prints where made out traditional 

linoleum carve out. Each print is a small edition 

of nine. Each print is based of a chicken coops I 

have seen. The people who owned them are very 

lucky.

I am planning to do a few more in the summer. 

This exercise is also helping figure out how I would 

like my chicken coop to look like. I would also 

love to make a print of somebody own real life 

chicken coop, for now that is a far-fetched dream. 

Some of the prints will be available thru etsy for 

purchase.

Best Wishes.

Etsy Shop Update: Surprise Box

 

So in order to fund new projects and a little 

spring cleaning, I have assembled the surprise 

box. There are  nine boxes in total. Each box 

has two headbands handmade by myself. 

These fun quirky Headbands need a good home. 

Stop by my etsy shop to take a look.

Best Wishes

Lost At Sea

I enjoyed reading the fashion blog of the Clothes

Horse. Though the blog I have learned of the 

collarbortive magazine called “Atomy”. Each month, 

a theme is presented. Then artists of all generes turn 

in work based off or inspired by that theme. 

The theme for May is Ocean. Since then I have been

brainstorming what to do for an entry. I have finally 

finished my entry. I hope you like it.

Best Wishes.