Dirty Baby Wall Hangings

I know few women in the 20-30-40 something age bracket that didn't grow up loving Dirty Dancing. I've probably seen it 100 times since the age of 4.  This project separated the words from the film. Let them float on their own without context. Some are lighthearted create laughter or quizzical looks...while others hit hard and cut deep no matter the context. This movie, soundtrack and Baby (with her frizzy 80's hair in a 1963 movie) shaped what love was in my little 4 year old heart and obviously still has an effect on me today. I mean c'mon guys, it's Dirty Dancing! How could I not? 

The pieces I created for the Armature grand opening are 12x16 gouache on canvas w/ brass and cotton twine. 

All photography by Tambi Lane. 

A New Studio Home in a Very Unexpected Place ///

It's been a while since I've done this and probably because life has changed so much! 

Where to begin? 

Well, I've moved! I left my beloved Portland for Central Oregon. This transition has been a roller coaster of emotions, but I have to say the highs are so much higher than the lowest lows. I miss my friends, favorite restaurants and the ease of seeing live music any night of the week. There aren't photo booths and strip clubs on every corner, but there are mountain views and snow-dustings everywhere I go. The natural inspiration is like nothing I've ever experienced. New materials and soothing colors pallets are giving me the opportunity to experiment with my creativity. Welcoming new friends have allowed me feel at home in a way I never expected so quickly. 

Through those new friends I've manifested a studio. This happened with way too many "small world" moments and ended with the space you see me in above. Friend's art, along with thrifted items and my own work hang on the old ironworks buildings epic wood panelled walls. My huge classroom sized chalkboard gives me a free-space to do my monthly chalk installments. For 2014, each month is handlettered. 

Initially I am using this space to nurture my chalk art and hand-lettering. Honing my craft and doing projects that are all my own. "This space is all my own," something I have to keep saying to myself, something I've never experienced. It's small, 10x10 cube and my sweet next door studio neighbors are almost within whispering distance...but, it's all mine. A community and individuality all in one fell swoop. 

After jumping out of the warm feathered nest that is Portland, I feel more at home flying on my own than I ever expected.

Portrait by Cat Carty

A Time for Transition - Late Summer

No longer working a 9-5 is magical...spending my time doing freelance work while enjoying these last bits of warm sun and new moments of crisp air. Michigan, Eastern Oregon,  love and friendships. Cherishing this time of rest after a long hard year of 60 hour work weeks. 

Gwen Frostic's inspiring home and letterpress studio in Benzonia, Michigan. 

Chalk pieces for Cat & Colby's big day. 

The time needed to make my house a home, just in time for chilly evenings and snuggles...

and Penny got a little home improvement as well. 

Creating and Living in the Moment

Lately...

New Mexico's Digital Collection /// Navajo Blankets

I came across New Mexico's Digital Collection today and have spent hours pouring over the beautiful historical photographs of their traditional arts & crafts, architecture and landscape. The vintage Navajo blankets are what really caught my attention. I just want to frame these photgraphs and put them on my wall.

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Lately///In Gray Scale

Lately...working (you know the place), playing (do not mix champagne & instagram), drawing (sometimes I feel things and they make art) & shopping (secret store in PDX where I buy naturally felled antlers and turtle shells - not so secret stores where I buyy $25 selvage denim). Life is a pretty neat thing and I'm enjoying it.

Hand Lettered Pennants///

I crafted some cute hand-lettered pennants for a display at SECo yesterday. They're helping show off the dreamy Black Line Stoneware.

Chalkboards///

Finished a new chalkboard for SECo. today.

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29 Ways to Stay Creative

This has been around the block I'm sure...but just wanted to make sure this video takes another lap. Things all of us can utilize more.

   

Today's Chalkboard

Started a new piece at the Schoolhouse Electric Factory and Showroom today in Portland. 

It's always a somewhat meditational experience washing away the old art for something new. Having a craft that is impermanent and very of-the-moment has helped me with getting rid of a lot more than expired chalkboards.

Sometimes planning on paper is necessary by playing around with scale and typography is important. When you're working on something that's so large it's hard to get a grasp for what it will really look like when people see it because you're so close as you're drawing the actual piece.

 Today is left looking like a blue print...

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Images from Schoolhouse Electric and my Instagram. 

Magical People///Polaroid Film

I feel that I am a very lucky girl.  I feel that I have reached a very good point in my life.  A point where I have found some friends that no matter how far or near, they will know my heart and I will know theirs. 

This past week was such a culmination of quality time spent with many of them.  

A few perfect moments were caught by a girl who makes up a nice lil chunk of my heart.

Love these ghostly images.

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All images by Cat.

Wednesday Night Productivity///

Staying in and scanning photos, finishing a painting and planning some magical adventures. Comfy clothes necessary.

Painting Walls

Loved getting to paint the walls with my girls at Alkaline Gallery on First Thursday while Lib's video played.

Line Work///

Every Time I Open My Eyes I'm Cutting Out a Part of Myself to Give to You, a self portrait.

Recognizing more and more at this point in my life that all I really want to do is make things. I lost that for a long time. Last night my tired hands drew...

Thankful///

I'm beginning a few new acts of meditation this month.

First, no alcohol...cleansing and saving are in order.

Second, a log of what I'm thankful for, inspired by my friend Danielle. One entry for every day in November. I've heard of people doing this in various ways - I plan on creating a visual representation with drawings from my sketchbook. 

Today, November 1st, is Dia De Los Muertos.  A latin holiday in which people come together to celebrate their loved ones who have passed away.

Nov. 1st - Dia De Los Muertos

Today I am thankful for those I have loved and lost. 

My grandmother, Mimi, who loved that dogwood tree in front of her house and made sure I can't walk by one without thinking of her. Who would let me do her hair for what seemed like hours on end. Sitting  on the back of the couch I would comb her white hair, filling her head with these silly hair clips she kept in her top drawer, right next to her Original Chapstick in the black tube and mauve lipstick. 

My Grandfather, who's games kept up entertained...he'd pinch our toes and say, "little pea, pineroy, rudiwhistle, mariostle..." then with our big toe, "gobble, gobble, gobble." So silly but it's always the first thing that comes to mind when I think of him, saying these things in his low scratchy voice. Who with that same voice, told me when I was seventeen on one of our weekly visits to his nursing home, "I thought I'd never see you again." He kiss my cheeks -  he thought I was Mimi.

My aunt Nancy who's love of elephants has transcended into all of her nieces. My collection, which started with some of hers that I inherited, is one of my prized possessions.

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Eggpress///Schoolhouse Electric's New Tenant

Loving the photos from Portland's own Work Place. They recently highlighted Egg Press, a local letterpress company who's beautiful studio space is located in the new Schoolhouse Electric factory on 21st and Nicolai.

I had the pleasure of working with Kara and Tess over the summer while developing some of our new products at Schoolhouse and can't say enough good things about them - two uber genuine people overflowing with positive energy, style and design talents. 

Work Place had some nice words as well...

"They recently partnered with Schoolhouse Electric and Adam Arnold (talk about a dream team..) to create some unique and wonderfully Portland-esque slip covers, which will soon be available through Schoolhouse Electric's new retail space." 
- work.place

♥

Our new Schoolhouse Electric showroom opens Nov. 7th and I'll be there to greet you and show you all our new jazz. Come check it.

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Portland Streets

Had a doctors appointment on Tuesday...on my bike ride home I saw this gem hiding in the shadows created by the afternoon sun. I'm a sucker for street art and this piece on the Failing walking bridge in NE Portland took my breath away.

Beautiful.

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