Chris's Bday

Some of Chris's Bday gifts:

Gangs of San Francisco shirt I picked up at Renegade SF... It took me forever to pick one out- every shirt they make is AWESOME. They are all based on historical San Francisco Bay areas and groups.

Snarky Valentines from Owly Shadow Puppets (same peeps I got the Yeti from)! It's a good thing my man has the same sense of humor as me.

Collodian Shoot

Doug & Kathryn have been taking a lot of collodions lately... they had me model for some:


This one's my favorite:

They gave these three to Chris for his birthday. I love playing dress-up, so don't be surprised if there are more to come!

Pretty Paper Dolls

The lovliest paper dolls!
From Wool & Water (Amy Earles):

They are unbelieveably perfect...
But of course, I think everything Ms. Earles does is magic.
I will collect all of them as I can!

Some things.

I got these goodies at Renegade:

From: The Black Apple (see my previous post)

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From Owly Shadow Puppets

Some good stuff.

Pssst... there's some pretty sweet art at Giant Robot SF right now... If you haven't seen/read any Theo Ellsworth, I highly recommend. We made it to the opening (you can see a bit of me at the end of the slideshow [7/20 post]!) and it's all quite lovely.

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We were in SF for the Renegade Craft Fair, which was amazing and fantastic... I could have just moved in and been pretty happy. I'm not usually very comfortable with crowds, but there was too much awesomeness to care. If there's one coming to your town, hop right in.

Why, look who's there!

New Pretty!

I totally forgot to post this, too!

Lovely new pin by Oh My Cavalier!, as modeled by my little fox pal... just when you thought he couldn't get cuter! I was thinking of selling him on Etsy, but I just couldn't part with him, especially since I would have nowhere to store my pin! The gracious Julianna made the pin to order, when I just just had to have the Pet Fox drawing on a simpler pin than she had already for sale... What a sweet piece from a sweet artist.

Oh, loveliness.

So, if you haven't seen Chad's (Mon Petit

Fantome) work, check it, please.

This little book is heaven. Full collection of crying animal

prints, with hand lettered title pages? Yes, please.

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And these are just pretty:

They're those ones with the liquid inside & floaty

glitter... I still need to find a silver one...

I'm a bee!

Well, busy as one, anyway...

I recently did a painting for Gray Construction, which was fun (and challenging- RUSH job):

I love doing commissions! And this house looks like it will be AMAZING.

Now, if only I can get something for myself done...

Hello.

Sorry I've been so absent... I seem to get quite busy for someone who should have too much time on their hands... I promise to post more soon! I've been gardening, knitting, dogsitting, show going, painting, tv catching-up-on, puttering, partying, and so on...

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What I do need to tell you is that you NEED to make this show if you're in the (SF) bay area:

Young Americans
Mills College MFA Exhibition
Mills College Art Museum: May 3 - 31, 2009
KQEDondemand video: Stoked Americans

This is where Chris is going to grad school, but he's not in this show (it's this year's graduates). Anyway, it's seriously the best show in the bay right now, and you only have until the 31st to catch it!

What?

That's how I roll.

Judge Judy

Oil on Canvas, 8x10

Bits & Bobs

Here's what I've been up to lately...

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Trying out for dream jobs...

Sketches and miniature display for a Display Coordiator job at Anthropologie... I didn't get it :( But I can use the display at home for spring!

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Playing with dolls...

In the dollhouse I just finished making! I'll post more/better pics when I get some furniture done. By the by, these dollies still need names. I'm thinking of "Wren" for the Petite Blythe (2nd one)...

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Making crazy posters.

Poster I made for my friend Todd's movie (his design).

Gifty Paintings

Two paintings, same frame:

This one was for my mom (for her birthday)... Pudge is her Pomeranian/Chihuahua (that's right, pom-chi) and is always with her. It's gouache on paper.

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And this one was a commission by Joan, my MIL's best friend, who has a new little nephew! It's oil on canvas.

I'm taken with ovals at the moment... and I love that frame! I may have to go stock up on them at some point. Now I have to get around to painting something for myself...

House•Work

Chris and Kathryn are having a show opening this weekend! The show is really fantastic (I'm not being biased, really!), and anyone in the Sacramento area should try to make it out. If you haven't done Second Saturday, you're really missing out, so this is the perfect time to start! It will be up the whole month, though, if you can't make Saturday.

The show is at the Viewpoint Gallery, which has a nice slideshow of some of the work.

Kathryn Mayo and Chris Fraser: House•Work
March 11 to April 4, 2009

Second Saturday Reception — March 14, 5:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Finally.

Best Friends

16x20 oil on board

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I haven't finished a painting since graduating... until now! Yaaaaaay! I have been so engrossed with new hobbies and burnt out on 2D that I just couldn't get anything done, but now I have a new (well, old and re-gessoed) stack of canvases waiting to break the curse. Although I did start a quilt and make some doll dresses last week while staring at said canvases. Wish me luck.

Black and white and gorgeous all over...

I have obtained two prints somewhat recently that I realized I haven't blogged...

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One from the amazing Elsita (Elsa Mora) that I haven't taken my own pic of, but it's on my wall right now:

I matted it in red with a black frame... I love it so much. Check out all of the tiny little hiding animals! I really want to buy out her entire Etsy store.
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And more recently I got this print from lalalaika (Donna Enticknap):

I contacted her after seeing this image on Flickr & had to have a print... she has more available if you contact her there. It's absolutely beautiful... it even has little hand-touched gold highlights! And check out that little hand-drawn thank you that I got with it! How did she know about my fox obsession?

Fair Trade.

I commissioned this painting:

by Doug & Kathryn's lovely daughter Hailee.

I loooooove foxes, and the painting!

We traded for a custom Totoro hat… she wanted one like this one, but the knitter had unfortunately not taken any notes or anything, so I had to try to figure it out.

I think it turned out pretty well…

These pics of Hailee (& Trixie!) were taken by Doug.

This the most complicated colorwork I’ve done,

mostly because I’m not usually a fan.

But I am a fan of Totoro! And Hailee! So there you go...

It was meant to be.

Lovely gift from Kathryn & Doug:

I knew she had to come to me someday... Or maybe K&D just read the title of this post...

Old School

I made this a few years ago for a class.

It’s a wire armature with handmade felt and needle felted roving for covering.

It’s about 2 1/2 feet tall and has a hollow cavity in the stomach area.

It was inspired by the Venus of Willendorf.

Self Control is Overrated.

I could not live without it:

Monster by Amy Earles (aka Wool & Water)

Check out the sweet postcard it came with and the squeal-worthy ghosty stamp on the shipping envelope...

Things You Should Buy for Me

Aaaah, disposable income, when shall you and I meet? I have a large wishlist of art that I want to live at my house from Etsy... where I could easily dump buckets of cash, if only I had it:

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jacksonswift: Wolves

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berkleyillustration: Everyone Serves A Porpoise

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therunnybunny: Victorian Deer Lady

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belleandboo: Lost and Found, Chance Encounter

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LittleRobot: The Queen and I

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robbridges: The Ursine Dream

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NuitBlanche: Deer Print

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woolandwater: Monster

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misterrob: We Had Everything
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ohmycavalier: Honey
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There are more, of course, but there is only so much one can put in one post, right? I'd love recommendations, too... not that I need to add to my already ridiculous wishlist, but... wait, yes I do.