a new bag

When you can't tackle a project one way try another. I've had this tote-ish bag sketched out for months. I know how I' want to put it together, the size, how many pockets, etc. and I just haven't gotten around to making it. While I was working last night, I looked up at the shelf above my desk and saw my wooden friend and got the idea of making the bag out of paper. So now I made the bag but I can't put much in it. ;)



Craft has posted the winners of the Tags contest and I'm on the list! See the post here. I can't wait to see my tags in the magazine. Thank you Craft!

I'm also very happy to report that half of the paper illustrations that I posted on my site the other day are now sold. I'm in the middle of making more. If you're subscribed to my newsletter you'll get an email when I post them. Thank you to those of you that have purchased my work. It feels so rewarding!

Thank you to Kim at Desire to Inspire for mentioning my work on her blog. :)

thumbelina

A little girl in a great big forest. That's how I feel right now. Only my forest isn't really full of trees but mountains of things to do. I guess that's a good thing but sometimes I wish there were more hours in the day!

Here is my latest addition to the shop - Thumbelina.



If you click on the image below you can see it a little larger and clearer.



I really like how these are all turning out and I have a lot of fun making them. This weekend I realized that I can't see myself making more than one of each. They just wouldn't feel as special. I initially offered to make them limited editions but now they are going to be one-of-a-kind. Once each is sold... that's it. I do think I'll make more of each character or idea but the composition will be different for each.

One thing I may not have explained about my pieces is that each layer (typically two per piece) is entirely cut out of one sheet of paper. There are no bits and pieces. The only obvious additions that are small and added last are the colored pieces of paper. Other than that they are full sheets placed back to back.

I'm also thinking of making some new block prints to my new collection. My linoleum blocks are calling my name.

This is a little recycling project that I've been working on since last week. It's taking much longer than I expected and other things have pulled me away from it. Hopefully I'll have it completed by the end of this week and I'll be able to show it off.



Have a great day everyone! :)

illustration friday - alphabets

Here is a quick sketch for Illustration Friday. I don't remember exactly how I came up with this. It was one idea leading to the next type of thing. I started thinking about the emotional baggage that each and every one of us carries wherever we go. Wouldn't it be nice if we only had these to take with us?

a-ccomplishment
l-ove
p-ositivity
h-appiness
a-ltruism
b-ravery
e-nergy
t-ruth
s-atisfaction

cut paper illustrations

I didn't mean to disappear for a week. It just kind of happened. I've been really busy. I did manage to create some new pieces for the shop and you can now see them here. I expected to have more work done but it just didn't happen. I will be posting other pieces, that are in progress right now, in the next few days.

As you can see I've been working a lot with white and let me tell you it is not easy to photograph! I will have to figure out a way to make these shots a little better.

These paper cut illustrations are what I see as the natural process of what I've been working on all along. I've been working with the aspect of making something two-dimensional look more 3D with my balsa pieces and then I started the same with paper. I love it. It's challenging because not any illustration works with this. I love playing along the fine line of what works and what doesn't.

I'm in the middle of another busy weekend so I will have to keep this short. I hope that everyone has a wonderful time before we all need to go back to reality and work next week! ;)