New! Finally!

I'm excited to say that this week I'll be uploading some of the new (and some of the updated) designs from the year so far. I'm working on some new dragons, and playing with text more than ever. The two newest monsters on the scene are sing song (below) and lovely dragon (above), both blank cards with text versions soon to be released. In fact, Lovely here has become part of my new logo and card back designs... seeing as how she looks pretty much the way I feel at the finish of every drawing. Sing Song is also a new card experiment: the dragon image cuts off at the left-hand fold and curls around the back of the card. I really need to get some photos of these, considering the new stuff is starting to pile up. Ah! This week I'm under the crunch of an art deadline at work... so if my sister-manager gets any photos, I'll be sure to upload those by week's end.

Speaking of busyness, the two of us just finished our first in-house crafty bake sale. Celeste (my sister) has had phenomenal local success selling her amazing cardamom bread and handmade granola, not to mention online acclaim with the launch of her new Etsy shop 70'sHome. The event was fun, with the possibility of growth in the future.

I want to thank our friends for their support! I expected to do more crafty things like this this summer, and wonder if my work schedule will permit. Hmmm... somehow I must make it work between the two responsibilities- it was so lovely to open our home, gather the bulk of our goods together in one place, and smell all of that incredible cooking day after day!

an example of one of my new card back designs... ooh, color!

Big Projects (and changes)

We've had some significant changes around here since I was last blogging (November?) in EiB, but many things remain the same: I'm still in Portland, still working full time (thankfully), still living with my sister and thus immersed in the growth of her twin boys, and still drawing.

Or, actually, I'm able to draw every now and again, which I can't say was the case last year. :}

Its now 2010 and spring here in Oregon. I'm writing from a rainy day, the boys are napping, the house is calm and breezy, and all around us I see the results of many efforts myself and my sister have been working on in order to prosper through creativity. We've been through some hardships this winter, and neither of us yet feel the periods of grace that come after a lot of hard work.

However, I have been away from Etsy for some, hmm, 3 months, and in that time have focused so much energy on bringing my shop, its appearance, and my products to a higher standard. I work in a downtown card shop and letterpress studio by day, so the influence of working among artists, watching customers react to cards & images including my own, and generally having grown since ouou opened in 2007 have all played a part in the changes I've been busy stringing together while absent from the www scene.


Right now the biggest and best difference in our work and home routine is that Celeste has offered to manage my shop during these crucial spring months. Crucial because in my day job I'm part of a team putting the finishing touches on our store's new website, and I'm not able to devote the hours to my Etsy shop I could when Etsy was my full time, or even part time job. The website will be up in May, and in June I need to take a look at my business and see where its growth is taking me. These months are also crucial because this is the beginning of craft fair season in Portland, and I'm sure much of the US. In order to get ready, compile new artwork for sale, and run my wholesale business, I needed some reinforcement. My heroic sister kindly tipped her hat for the job.

So, that's just my quick return post. :)

knitty.com

For the last two issues, ouou knit themed cards have appeared in knitty.com's "cool stuff" feature. Let me share my thanks with a little story of where my knit-love comes from.

I took up knitting breifly, after leaving the city that was home to me for almost 10 years. Knitting to me lives in the world of my older sister's aesthetic. Fabric, pattern, textile, and the differing properties of fibers, wool, cotton, clothing... this is just next door to the art I know. My world is paper, that's pretty clear to me. I love the world of cloth, fabric, fiber, embroidery, but there is so much to learn! Celeste has an instinct for it, and I stand happily by as the awe-inspired little sister, peeking into the knitted world.

Knitting hasn't lasted as a hobby or skill of mine, but I remember my breif sojurn there with heartfelt sentimentality. The comforts of making something wearable with my own hands, the tick-tick of counting rows, the exciting anticipation of selecting yarn, trying something new at such a turning point in my life. Maybe someday soon I'll try again, I could use that comfort in the wet Oregonian winter we're facing. For right now I'm fine with showing my adoration on paper, and that my little drawings have made other knitters out there smile their knowing smiles.

knitting notes in hand-mixed Gocco ink

all bundled up watercolor kitty

knit journal - otter -

Shop Special for friends new and old

Hello, and thank you to any new viewers that are visiting from Facebook. In the last few days my "fans" have really begun to rise in numbers, thank you thank you to everyone who stops by for a read.

I've been thinking lately about how much I love this time of year. I love the bundled clothing, the umbrellas marching down the streets, I love the mittens, caps, galoshes, red noses, and sloppy entryways that come with the darkness, snow, rain and cold of winter months. You can see this in my drawings; it is by no means coincidence that these kids show up in their woolens, scarves and gripping warm drinks.

I'll admit something, though. The holidays sneak up on me. All of them. I tell you, even though I have a shop, work in retail, and own *several* calendars, I do not have a head for recognizing the signs of an oncoming holiday season. Therefore, nice and early this year, I'm offering a shop special on Holiday cards before Thanksgiving (lest I forget). From now until mid-December, the big sellers from ouou will be available in sets of 20 for significantly reduced prices. Right now these styles are available:

Under the Snow
Tea with Green Dragon
Baby Bells

with a few more coming in the next few days. It may be cold outside, but its warm and snuggly here at ouou. :) Welcome, friends.

Little baby MNJ, 10 months

MNJ wearing his Halloween bear suit, 14 months

While Celeste is out of the house I am "babysitting"... or really Auntie-ing... while the boys are asleep. I thought I would put up a post before sitting down to draw, and I've been here all night. I've had a lot of posts floating around this week after all the excitement of Crafty Wonderland... a whole handful of drafts in the background back here. For tonight, I'd much rather follow my thoughts........ . . . .

Why does this blog keep turning into a discussion on change? Where is my period of "sweet savoring" (I recently read these words and they have stayed with me, a goal I'm looking forward to with certainty)? It must be because, since 2007 and the opening of these adventures in creativity and childcare, that changeable life is the one I've chosen. We've chosen. It must be a part of saying "I will be an artist" or "I will be a parent" (I'm an Aunt, but I'm writing this in regards to both my own, and my sister's, experience) to open yourself up to this Rubik cube feeling on constantly shifting views, circumstances, emotions, abilities, energy.

SL around 10 months, when I stopped taking pictures because my camera broke

SL in October 2009, 14 months old

So what about life now? What is working and what has not worked (and what are we still striving for)?

These sweet boys are honestly in my thoughts 24/7. My nephews have just turned 15 months old, and I can say for sure that they've entered a point where I can't clearly remember what they were like as infants. Isn't that weird!? How *fast* that happens? What is 15 months but a small blink of time, except every time I look back I feel humbled by the incredible enterprise we're undertaking here, together, and in our own individual lives. I feel even more floored when I think of how much is yet to come. These babies remind us, at the best of times, just how full of miraculous possibility life really is.

There is also never, really, any longer a time that goes by when I am not aware that I'm a small business owner. As I've mentioned before, my hours have (blessedly) increased to full time at my place of work, so that finding time and resources for my Etsy work has been the name of the game ever since. I like to feel challenged, and I feel as though I am learning in-step with the changes going on in my job, how to continue to be an Etsy artist.

However, out of the post-Crafty Wonderland experience has come a flood of inspired thought I'm desperate to find a way to make real. And there lies the quandary; working full time and running the shop are possible running parallel to each other, but where does the new work fit into that? This is the next hurdle to leap. Or, maybe it has been for a while. Maybe this need to "find time" to make art, draw, paint is really becoming insistent. I mention it again because that one is still mysterious and elusive.

I think to myself, what if these boys grow up to be artists? What will my story be to them? What if I have children someday, wouldn't I want to teach them that art is a trustworthy, worthwhile endeavor? Wouldn't it be nice to be profitable, healthy, intelligent, and happy in my business of art not just for my own benefit? Isn't that what my parents want for me?

It's interesting, to write those words and think- what if, just maybe, after these 2.5 years of working at this... what if the confidence and the ability to thrive from my own art as a career were right around the corner?

what a wonderland: Crafty Wonderland and lessons learned

Here we are! Crafty Wonderland, Sunday November 8th 2009 and a little booth for ouou. I've got to say, this was my first craft fair since childhood Girl Scouts but it was probably just as fun. The following photo shows where my booth was, the words "table ouou" are actually written over my sister's back... so there you see I took the picture facing away from us, but along one of the 5 isles where people were set up.

There were 40 other vendors, tons of Etsy artists, even some people I recognized from the streets of South East Portland- here I am among my heroes! Does it sound silly? Working a craft fair in this town is like some crazy combination between the first day of opening your very own storefront and playing shop in the dress-up corner.

At first, seeing my 2' X 2' table made me a little nervous. Remember those two suitcases *full* of cards I mentioned? Yeah, it was way too much stuff. Celeste and I scored a second table, and while entertaining my nephews we managed to arrange quite a bit of stock in the 4' space with enough time to spare for a walk around the block to clear my head.

The boys and my sister had to go back home for much of the afternoon, what with naps and being toddlers and all that. There were a lot of older kids there, 3 to 8 year old's who looked pretty comfortable. I would have liked to talk to more sellers about their experiences but I was too shy, maybe at some future shows I'll be able to come out of my shell a bit. My friends arrived after a little over 2 hours, which was great timing to refresh my spirit (and grab a bite to eat!). I couldn't wander far, though, giddy as I was. I just wanted to keep seeing who would turn up next!

It was a busy show, with a great crowd of vendors and customers. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I'm a little sad that Crafty Wonderland is canceling its every 1st Sunday monthly craft fairs in favor of seasonal fairs, but I also feel like I got to be part of something special by attending this one.

Here I am saying "Don't take my picture!". Sadly we didn't get any follow-up shots so this will be the one. :0)

today is Crafty Wonderland!

It is the morning of the big day, Crafty Wonderland's last Sunday marketplace before the big December sale, then no longer until spring. It will be my first craft fair, and I am on the edge of my seat. My sister and I worked late last night putting the finishing touches on cards, prints, ephemera, journals. I'm on my way to pack the car, let's see... two suitcases, a backpack, two babies, a sister, and lots of snacks. Sounds like formula for a great time :D

If you can stop by: Crafty Wonderland is TODAY 11am - 4pm Doug Fir 830 East Burnside, Portland Oregon.

Craft Fairs 1, 2, 3

It is a crisp, clear autumn day here in Oregon and I am enjoying it from indoors, warm with some tea and the messiest darn room you could imagine. Yes, friends, I seem to thrive from the chaos-order-chaos scenario of getting things done, and this little ouou is making a big mess in preparation for her very first craft fair. I have these two days off (my weekend now falls on Wednesday/ Thursday) to sprint to the finish of a million small tasks before we are ship shape for Sunday's show.

Crafty Wonderland is a monthly craft show here in Portland, Oregon that really gets hoppin' as the Christmas season looms. I had the option of either participating in November or December's show. Since this is my first craft fair and I'm on a budget, I decided to test the waters in November and observe how I do. I know some people prepare for these fairs as far in advance as May, so this November scramble I'm going through is certainly the first page of notes in an adventure of craft fair schooling. ;)

Along for the ride, of course, are my sister C (who just recently re-opened her Etsy shop) and my two twin nephews, MNJ and SL (who will be auspiciously celebrating their 15th month birthday Sunday, Crafty Wonderland day).

Since coming back to my blog I haven't yet caught you up on the boys, but those little babies from summertime have grown into little toddler engines this fall. My fast and furious pace is scheduled around the framework of naps, groceries, mealtime, bedtime and all the other unpredictable daily grind of a twin toddler household. The boys and my sporting sister will be accompanying me throughout the day so that we all might glean some tips from Crafty Wonderland this Sunday, so you'll get to see plenty of pictures of the whole family next week.

...and the winner is...

Wilbur Wiggly Arms!

You know I'm a sucker for a name-and-title combo... so although Oliver Octo, Olly, Hugo and

Nomeocto were high up on my list, Mr. Wilbur Wiggly made me guffaw out loud. Lovely, lovely. Rachel M you can shoot me an email or find me through Etsy Convos and I'll be happy to send you a Wilbur of your very own. :)

More soon dear friends, and before I go a heartfelt thanks for all the fun comments. What good sports you are to reach out, that rocks!

since last we met

It seems a bit false to march back into my blog and not note, if even just in passing, what I've been up to. My sister and I have been living here in Portland, Oregon for over a year. November will mark a year and a half. We've seen the economy tank, and our own situation go through significant changes countless times since moving here.

In Oregon, the unemployment rate is one of the highest in the country, but (anyone who has lived here will understand) there is an underlying sense, in Portland especially, that those statistics are a given here. Portland is a city of entrepreneurs, artists, craftsmen, small businesses, all sticking their necks out to make something in this beautiful town. It is remarkable when it works, and terrifying when it fails. I've been looking for success stories here in town just recently, feeling like this is the right place to be to find people willing to share what worked for them.

In terms of my own economy, I needed a break from the feast or famine of living out of an Etsy shop. About three months ago I began inquiring about more hours at my place of work. It has been a big shift going back to full time, I still feel ebbs of gratitude when I reflect (like I'm doing right now) on this change. Followers of my blog will remember I've mostly been working part-time since opening my shop in the fall of 2007. The change affected my shop more while I was seeking those hours than now that I'm working them, believe it or not. In the build-up to 40 hours I was feeling a big financial crunch, my computer kept crashing or freezing, my camera broke, and orders were getting lost in the mail. It was a nightmare.

The good news is that I'm now blogging for the store I work in as well. Having a retail position in a letterpress studio makes the creative heart yearn for access into the printmaking studio, apprenticeship, firsthand knowledge of both fields. At Oblation, I've found my niche instead in creating for the company a blog and the framework for more online strategies than they ever explored. It has been wild, and lots of fun.

I guess that's another reason why I came back to my own blog. What is working with having a shop? What aspects of this do I actually enjoy? Where is the benefit? I could have closed down at any time during the past year and saved myself a lot of hair pulling. I had hoped that trying new things would answer some of these questions for me, and I feel like it has.

I have wanted, and want, my shop to fund and inspire my creative endeavors. That's it; to fund the work, to inspire more. These are pretty fundamental goals for me, but just pinpointing what they are has been a step forward from chaos and distraction.

So, although I'm tempted as always to branch off into a million directions, for right now it finally feels as though my wishes have come true and things are starting to actually work out. My future goals are to find more time to draw; beyond that to continue to try new things, explore this lovely state, and practice some new crafts like sewing. But for right now it is good to be working, and even better to see results from that work.

Bamboo Village Press on Etsy

Look at all those comments! Thank you for the inspiration, I'll be deciding *tomorrow night* what the newest monster in my shop will be named. I really enjoy having giveaways so my gratitude to all of you for participating... and those of you who have not, there is still another day left. :)

Speaking of things I love, my sister has decided to re-open her Etsy shop Bamboo Village Press. Yay! I feel like her timing couldn't be better; its been over a year since my nephews were born, although we're thinking about moving we are still comfortable and familiar with our current set-up, and reconnecting with a community of fellow artists is *always* a good thing. Saunter on over to her shop and check out her fabric, Gocco printed Journals, and delicate papercuts.

Other links behind Bamboo Village Press are here on Flickr and the story behind the fund, here on the Bamboo Village blog.

hello hello (and a giveaway)

Well, I would like to pretend that I hadn't just walked away from my blog for the last 4 months (or so) but... yes, I had. Its funny, since beginning to write in 2007 so many life-changing things have happened, and through all of them I've felt I was able to keep writing. But these last months have been such an effort that I was feeling pretty protective. I'm writing now in hopes that, truly, those times are passed.

Otherwise, yes, all the while I've been printing-printing-printing for the day I returned to this sweet blog home. So let's begin...

Visitors to my Etsy shop will notice some "summer" designs have come and gone, while the "winter" designs (dragons, snowflakes, and scarves I love so much) are returning. I still have ouou's Halloween printed card, too, in the shop until Thanksgiving. I'll be breaking some sets into collections in order to still offer the summery designs, these will be in the Mixed Set section this week.

There is also a new Gocco card in town, one in the spirit of Halloween. I've decided to hand-paint these little monsters (who are martians? or sea creatures? or bogeymen?) for a snappy two-tone effect. The reason they're so late to the shop... what do I name this critter? So, on my first post back after a long absence its high time for a BLOG GIVEAWAY!

Please, help me out on a name for this latest Gocco silkscreen card. Leave your suggestions in comments... (nothing outrageous, please)... I can't wait to read them :D The contest is open until next Wednesday, October 28th 9 p.m. est.

Let my readers be forewarned: the judging process will be *subjective*- the one I like the most will become his title. <3 The winner, of course, will get a free set of these cards or a 2 pack of any card in my shop.

Its good to be back. :)

bah humbug-type sentiments

It has been a while since I consistently blogged, so let's catch up:
My sister and her sons are back on the East coast for their twice-a-year visit with our family there. This means I've had the house to myself (yay!) in order to work hard on my Etsy shop, but it also means I've missed the opportunity to be together with my family (boo!). Little MNJ and SL just turned one year old a couple days ago, a really touching time to be celebrating back east. I'll put up a "one year!" post when they return and we have our party here, but meanwhile I'm glad that they had a fun time eating cupcakes and having their first birthday party celebration.

Around here I've started off the downtime with more drawing than production of new items, although there are introductions to be had. I realized its hard for me to enjoy blogging without photographs~ I'm an illustrator at heart and really rely on visual interpretations to express what I see, think, feel. Posts may be spotty for a while due to my broken camera, but I'll do my best to keep stopping by. :)

I am, it must be said, not having the best summer ever... although many of my friends who are having similar frustrations are encountering much larger challenges than myself. The year after uprooting everything and moving cross-country, I was bound to dig my heels into the ground with some consequences. It is no surprise that my irritations are showing up in my drawings. Anyway, the good news is that I'm able to amuse myself with these little Phooey sketches, and hope they cause you to have a little chuckle through life's inevitable unpleasantness's as well.

DRAT!

*notice* heat

Hot.
The Pacific Northwest is under a heat wave and boy are we all boiling. I woke up early in hopes to find a pocket of the day free of humidity, expecting the slanting light and glinting dew of just-dawn to house a bit of relief. Fat chance.

Throughout the day the temperatures continued to rise. I worked in town today, and all we (or our few customers) talked about was this heat, past heat, or other observations of weather. Being a recent transplant here, comparing notes between East and West coast was the theme of the day. It was all good fun in the cool comfort of air conditioning, but on the way home one must brace for pacing chores and steps with the utmost care.

On the highway, heading home, windows glint under the harsh afternoon sun. The horizon is lined with low, hunkering, bilious clouds. Translucent clouds, ghostly clouds, baby blue and capped in pink clouds, which spell out to my eye the hottest of summer days. These clouds, this traffic, the wavering, thick atmosphere hovering over pavement, all of these spell ocean-bound to me, just the right equation. I grew up in a summer culture, on an East coast peninsula where we all headed to the water for 3 months (at least!) of the year. I feel land-locked in this place, far from the gentle mirror of ponds, the many faces a coast can have.

I get home just around 4. This is the thick of the hottest past of the day (as apposed to the East coast, which begins to cool for rush-hour... or if not its a good indication you're stuck with the sticky heat all night) and I'm grateful for the foresight in shuttering the house before I left for work. It is 87 degrees downstairs, meaning it must be well above 95 upstairs. I take out my Moleskine journals and arrange my Gocco for some printing after eating a light dinner.
* * *

An hour later I'm cleaning up. My hands are covered in black ink, hard to keep this slick stuff where you want it in this heat. I'm sweating now, one tall frosty glass of cold water after another has disappeared by my side; print, move, print, move, sip, print, move. I'm storing excess ink in baby food glass jars these days, and think about my young nephews who are visiting my home town right now. I inspect the prints and schedule the next layer printing in my mental calendar. I may be far from the ocean, but knee-deep in my dreams.

A Long, Long Day

Dear Readers,

Wow... June 26th was the last time I visited my blog!? What on earth has been happening?
Hello and welcome back to you, to me, to this whole adventure we call art-making, child-rearing, settling, working and dreaming. I admit- July sort of unfolded in a fearsome way, and I'm glad its wrapping up with a new month on the horizon. But here we are, so thank you with your patience as I took a holiday from the public record of my life and simply did my best to live it.

The house, the boys, my sister, and the shop are all doing fine. I'm happy to report I've been doing a lot of smaller Gocco projects and widening my freebies, crafty-items, and working on the fixing's for the comeback of Gocco gift packs. I'm sad to report that early last month my camera met a grusome end, making it a little tricky to traverse this Internet communication/ shop running in the same way that I had been. I may be releasing some new products in an effort to fund raise to replace my camera, and will keep the blog, Flickr, and Facebook updated in regards to such goings-on.

Otherwise, my brain is a little fried with this heat wave Portland, Oregon is having (tomorrow 109 degrees!?). My heart, too, is feeling the distance with my twin nephews, who are turning their 1st year old in just 12 days, are on the other side of the country for about a month. Lucky for me there is work to be done- lots of it!- and also a blog to dust off, keeping my sister in the loop of her neighborhood's events while home in Massachusetts. I'll do my best to find some photographs, and make sure some newsworthy, positive, adventurous events happen in the following weeks.

Happy summer, everyone.

Alberta Street

The draw in moving to Portland was not just having my big sis to adventure with, or watching my twin nephews grow and explore their world, but also the promise of an abundant and thriving art community. I have the luck of working for a company that embodies old world artisan spirit and therefore work alongside numerous local artists, but have found this first year in Portland that the way you enter into the community of artists is not just by creating, or through work contacts, but with the support of friends.

local printmaker Emily Riley and our shared table outside at
Last Thursday on Alberta Street yesterday

One such friend is Emily Riley, a truly skilled print maker and painter. She is a member of the Talisman Gallery, a cooperative gallery on Alberta Street in NE, and one of my closest friends in town. I'm pretty familiar (and comfortable) with selling online; much of my business plan is still focused on the Internet as means of communication, networking and expression, but Emily has played a role in encouraging me to show my drawings around town, in person, despite my shyness, hesitations, scheduling conflicts... or all the other road blocks that have manifested since arriving in this arty town.

Yesterday I left the glow of the computer behind to set up shop at my first ever outside booth. Attending Alberta Street's Last Thursday was a complete blast, with the constant river of people flowing by, odd parades making their way down the street, and such pleasant weather after a day of overcast foreboding skies. I was surprised to find people were eager to talk about art, process, and other sellers out that night whom they had enjoyed pouring over. It was great fun.

ink drawing on woodblock print BELONGING
by Emily Riley

I was surprised, also, by just how inspiring spending a night out talking about drawing, printmaking, design and other local artists could be. It was very, very hard arriving home at 11:30 p.m. and not cracking open the sketchbook.

ouou shows off her wares; single cards,
stationary sets, journals and original drawings

I feel as though I'm entering into the weekend with bold exuberance for some fresh new drawing, as well as mindful that I've been posting about a new year with new experiences lately- only to stumble into one such experience! :D Find out more about Emily's art at her website here, or visit her Etsy shop here.

enjoy

I'm not such a fan of the heat or humidity of summer, but I am of everything else about it: nature, food, being outside in the world, sunlight, water, flowers, dresses, travel, cookouts. The local Farmer's Market has opened up just three or four blocks away from our house, so Sunday mornings have taken on a whole new exciting tone. Our friend K is back to making jam, the boys have been to the ocean once already and will doubtless be there countless times when C brings them to visit their grandparents on Cape Cod, and I am craving watermelon like you wouldn't believe. Summer!

We've been trying more vegetarian recipes lately. With the abundance of fresh local produce this time of year and my on-again, off-again work schedule, we've been buying in arm-fulls and trekking home to cook two or three meals all in the span of an afternoon, freezing them, sometimes with fresh bread or scones thrown in for good measure. The boys have been joining us in eating big-people food these days... boy can those kids eat! Any suggestions on whole food recepes you like in the summer?

ooh, fresh fennel's pretty pattern.

Did I forget to mention? There's a SALE going on over at ouou for the 23rd and 24th only! I'm thinking about retiring the original art again until winter, so pop by and check out the sale. Also, I'm heading over to Alberta street tomorrow night, June 25th, for Last Thursday, too. If you are down there after 5 p.m... keep a look out for ouou's table! I'll probably be the lady snacking on some delicious watermelon.

ACEO sale! Down from $13 USD to $8.00

now

I turned 31 last week. It has been a crazy, busy, (at times) frantic two weeks, so I really have to put on the breaks in order to reflect upon that. Officially, the first feet-wetting year in Portland is over, and now is the time to begin turning the gears on new ventures, new visions, to sink in some roots. I'm proud of myself for sticking to it and not moving back east this year, though the issue of work is still an issue on the table every day. It sometimes makes me feel deeply worried and I'm looking to resolve that this summer. Who knew that this would be a part of the unfolding of our grand adventure out west: the trouble in the country, or that up against the temporary ways of living I had become accustomed to I would finally choose to remain in a place and try and work it out regardless. It is time to branch out in my explorations of the west coast, to meet more artists and crafty folk here in town, and to spend my second year making this place my home.

One of my friends at work is often talking with me about yoga, meditation, and subjects of spiritual significance. I look back and see just how much those influences guided me along the way last Spring as we took the leap to change our lives, both myself and my (then) pregnant sister. In the scramble my days often feel like now, the flow and availability of that peace is obscured. I'll try my best to bring them back into my own daily practice this year. Gosh, I'll try to have a daily practice this year. Hopefully my immune system and financial situation, the two places I feel strain most often, will feel more centered the more grounded I become.

But other than goals for the future there are countless incredible, unexpected, miraculous moments from the past year to acknowledge. My nephews have turned me inside-out and head-over-heels to the very core of me, I cannot begin to put words to my love for them. My relationships with my family are changing, growing, beautiful, I am grateful for this new chapter with them, probably the most beloved example of leaving the tumultuous 20's behind. Our friends and my friends at work amaze me time and time again, what would this place or this experience have been without this remarkable community? Mamas and papas and artists and kids! I feel lucky to feel so alive and welcomed around these people I love so, surprised and happy at its variety.

I have high hopes for 31, even if 30 is a tough act to follow. When the going gets rough (June)... I like to break things down into slower, quieter segments of time. Coming home from work on my 31st birthday to a dinner made lovingly by my sister (and it was still hot) and ending the stormy day with a rainbow stretching over the house, the day turned out to be a really very good one. Despite the stresses it feels good to work hard for these basic, extraordinary things. I hope everyone reading has also has a lovely entrance into summertime, and is looking ahead with sweet anticipation at the next steps from here to there.

update: Knitty

Wow, I just hit 300 posts on my blog!
It feels good to sit down to write here tonight. I've been working odd hours at work, and around those work days quite a bit has changed in my own shop in a short period of time. This has been refreshing, as though new life has been breathed into ouou, but it has not left me many hours to work on everything.in.blue and I've missed it.

I had been working on some new Gocco around the knitting designs in prep for Knitty.com's June release... its been published!
Check out ouou Knitting Notes in the "cool stuff" section here!

Puuuuurl Moleskine Notebook printed with Gocco (above), and Bundled Up (below)
back in ouou until C opens Bamboo Village Press back up.

the most recent color versions of Knit Kitty and Otter
(these are sold together in a set of 2) with my own mixed Gocco inks.

There have been so many new listings in the shop, as I said I feel like the experience has been refreshing. My sister C and I are playing around with our swank new home printer and she's helping me sew some new craft items, too, so I feel as though energy is flowing back into the creative process. I've yet to get good photos of my exciting two color Gocco cards, those will be released in the next few days. Also, I promised news about the fate of my first print run of mixed sets, so you can expect I'll be better about blogging this weekend.

Until then, friends, thanks for the comments and I hope everyone is enjoying their June!

many thanks, Mister Fishy

It all started with this fish.
Weeks ago, C and the boys and I went for a long walk and ended up at FuBon, the local Asian market. The day was pretty remarkable, actually... after picking up some groceries we ducked into a sweet restaurant next door, sat down to noodles for the first time with the twins, had a riot watching them try new flavors! But while we were still in the grocery we saw this package and I caught a quick snap. I think its not only the design itself, but the navy and orange really captured me.

you can use some photocopy inks, but to avoid misprinting
I hand draw all my own Gocco screens.

As I said, then I heard from Knitty.com, purchased new Gocco screens, and have been cranking out new prints ever since. But, aside from re-printing Mr. Knit Kitty and Otter, I kept thinking back to that wonderful fish package. How to get that same combination!? Below is an example of one of the fixes, finished after mixing a darker blue than the RGB that Gocco inks come in. Now that I'm mixing my own ink colors, I can't believe how long I lasted last year using colors straight from the tube. I also tried my first two-color that I'll share tomorrow, along with where these little orange beauties are going now that they're all packaged up!

Knitting Notes kitty in navy on orange.