Weekend update:

On Friday, I set up a mini art show during Art Walk at the Citizens Co-op right on Main Street. It was a lot of fun. It didn't rain, people were very nice and social plus $2 imported beers! Some friends showed up which was awwweesome! Zach and Olivia were there hanging out which I loooooved! I sold some prints and an original, Thank you! It was a great start to a long fun weekend. I think I'll do it again!

On Saturday:

We hung out with friends at a BBQ, ate grilled corn (which I loooove), Olivia played in the pool and we sat around conversing about funny things like // how extraordinarily dumb one feels when they meet someone famous. I had an encounter... well we never met... so okay, I was in Nashville, TN visiting my old friends who are in this band // The Ettes // and they are friends with Jack White, hmmm okay. They really wanted to introduce me (or maybe they just wanted hang out with him, either way, I was going for the ride) so we went to his studio down the street from where they live. I'm totally not a musician and I'm really bad at acting like I know anything technical about music. I hardly know lyrics to songs or who plays what instrument in the band - I just love the music. So we walk in and there's all of the White Stripe records and all sorts of albums I haven't even seen from him // cool store area btw. I then started to get really nervous like what am i going to talk to him about... the same old cliches "I love your stuff, I I I love your music, I I I love you!" creepy stuff. So I hear Jack White in the other room talking to someone and my girlfriend looks back there and tells me he looks pretty busy. So I'm like perfect! Let's go, I can't take us just hanging out here for me to go up to the guy and say amazingly stupid stuff. So we leave and laugh and now I just tell people I heard his voice and I saw his studio and that's totally fine with me. So that was my little Jack White story - maybe I'll have something clever to say one day to a celeb that I meet // I think it's just getting them to smile at you or laugh at a joke you say. That would be the ultimate encounter for me but until then I'll stick with being behind the curtains.

Here's more pictures:

Sunday Morning ride:

Then a little swinging action:

Beautiful Florida sunset before all the rain came on Monday - no filter on this photo. 

Buzzing Around

we had a branch from an old tree fall on our porch at 11:00 at night. we were startled but fell right back asleep. (happy we are renters) 

 

took a nice early sunday walk

 houses we like to look at

she loves to stroll

with her tongue out

 stairs and columns

cool old buildings

 Party Mouth!

what I've been working on

 my muse

finishing up

she's very calming to look at

We've been on a great schedule lately. Zach's loving his internship and Olivia is in a new group at school which she loves. I was watching her the other day and she has her first friend! It was so cute to watch. They were playing together on this little mini slide. She kept glancing at the little girl like what should we do next. My heart melted. I love to see her sharing her toys or smiling at other kids. It was worrying me that she kept clinging to us and was a bit fearful to interact. I'm happy to say that it's not the case anymore. She's got friends now and her teachers tell us she's enjoying the interaction with her peers much more and loves to DANCE! Olivia is a tiny little dancer! 

My schedule is wonderful too. I get to paint more and also have time to clean the house as well as take a yoga class. Wow! Six months ago, I would have never thought I'd ever have the time to do anything but care for Olivia. With each milestone, we get better and better with change in general and reaching some of our personal goals in between. Optimism Bias - watch it!  

Busy Bee/Framing - Part 3

Part 3 is the final part of the framing process. Here we will cut the glass, staple in the backing, place backing paper (dust cover) and finish with wiring. It's been a fun little three part series. I hope it gave you some insight into custom framing. We work hard to keep artwork looking as beautiful as possible. The frame is really the last step in presenting/preserving the artwork. So if you choose to do some framing, definitely ask for assistance or go with a friend and trust your instincts with designing. You might just have a "ah-ha" moment... "that's the one, that's the frame!" Happy Framing!!

We start with the matted/mounted print.

Next, we cut the glass.

place glass on top of matted print (inspect the mat for any dust sandwiched in between)

time to place the frame 

now we shoot some staples all around the back side (these staples hold the artwork into the frame)

grab your double sticky tape and tape the edges of the frame

have a piece of backing paper a little larger than the outside dimensions (use razor to cut the excess paper)

the razor gives a nice clean line all around

bump-on's help your piece from swaying on the wall

place them at the bottom two corners

measure a third down from the top and make a mark

twist in the screw eyes on both sides

remember to make a nice loop around the screw eye for stability

and loop around the wire as well for stability

Viola! 

ready to hang

two are ready for hanging!

Busy Bee/Framing - Part 2

We left off in Part 1 with designing each piece. This post is Part 2, mounting the artwork, cutting the mat and building the frame. There are so many layers to a framed piece of work. I think it's important for people to see the process of framing because it's kind of a big task. We do a lot of measuring, cutting, mounting, gluing, nailing, taping, cleaning, and wrapping. I love it! It keeps my hands busy and my mind at work. It's just too bad how expensive it can be but I always ask people how much they spend on a pair of nice prescription glasses (usually about $300 - granted they're usually designer frames). Framing can be as fun as buying a pair of stylish eyeglasses. Art framing is almost better because you usually don't lose the framed pieces as fast as a pair of glasses. It's an investment! You are supporting the artist as well as the small business framing shop.  Do some framing but only with pieces that you absolutely love!!

First we mount the print with archival photo corners. This is a completely reversible process.

This machine is called the Wizard (mat cutter). It's very magical and almost perfect.

First mat is cut and taped (acid-free double sticky tape) down to acid-free foam board. 

Voila! The bottom mat is reverse bevel and top mat is regular bevel. Looks nice!

Second piece is ready for it's frame.

For cutting the moulding, we want to adjust the ruler to our measurements.

 Bevel cut!

We marker the edges so the raw wood doesn't show when glued together.

 Time for wood glue

 Place two ends into the brace and then into the V-nailer. 

All done with mounting, matting and building the frames. Next we will do the fittings (glass, backing and hardware). I will post Part 3 next week! See you soon! Follow this blog if you wanna :)

Geminis - Mary Cassatt

May 22, 1844

"Under the Horse Chestnut Tree" by Mary Cassatt, drypoint and aquatint print, 1898

Mary Cassatt (May 22, 1844 – June 14, 1926) was an American painter and printmaker.

Sun Gemini / Moon Leo / Asc Aquarius

Busy Bee/Framing - Part 1

We got some beautiful prints from Society 6 at work last week. I love them and want them but it's for a display so I'll have to wait. If you are looking for some inexpensive lively art prints check out Society6. They have many categories to choose from as well as artist you can search for like myself! I put some of my prints on there to see if I have better luck selling. I hope so!

Well, I'm posting a series on the process of framing. It's just a step-to-step guide on designing and framing art prints. It's simple and fun! If you have any questions contact me with my new button on the right of my home page. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->>>>

 Isn't it exciting to get things in the mail... I love it!

I lay them out and look at all the details within each one.

 I love the texture on her hat.

 The plum color is gorgeous in this print.

The hints of red around the wings are striking.

 Matting is next!

The orange is wonderful in this piece. The top mat is not quite the right color.

This grey is a better match and I think I'll add the orange at the bottom but only 1/16 of reveal. I'm enjoying the wood grain finish on this frame. It reminds me of drift wood. If I were in the landscape of this picture I can see myself finding wood like this around.

so much to choose from...

The texture on this frame matches the texture of her hat! The Gold brings out the landscape and pops the blue sky out. I placed a fabric liner to make a nice transition from the frame to the image.

 I think I'll frame this right to the image. Make this one simple since it's got a lot going on.

In the same series frames from above. There was a plum colored frame. Perfect!

voila! 

Stay tuned! I will start cutting the mats, mounting the artwork and building the frame for Part two. See you soon.