Monday, December 28, 2009

blog spotlight: Sandra Juto

How was your holiday? Hopefully you got some time to relax in between the ciaos. Well, life has been hectic for my sweetie and I. I don't think we have slept more than two nights in the same bed. It has been exhausting and good visiting with family and friends. I do have a ton of work to do for the Printsource show in January and trying to find the time and motivation to sit in front of a computer and do work is very difficult!

Moving on....keeping with my promise of "Monday's blog spotlight" I am posting another inspiring person. Today is photographer, illustrator and knitter Sandra Juto. What I like about her photography is her simplicity. Her photos are clear and honest, giving me a glimpse into her life in Sweden. She makes me look at color and shapes of ordinary objects in a way I never have before. I find her photos so calming. What do you think?

To see more of Sandra's work click on any of the links below:

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

from me to you.

May your holiday is filled with peace, laughter & good memories.

Monday, December 21, 2009

blog spotlight: Anahata Katkin

Hello! Can you believe this week is Christmas! There is so much going on and my head is spinning with ideas and inspiration. Of course, there is no time to create as we have been spending so much time driving from one house to the next to visit with family and catch up with friends. Fortunately, my jet lag is allowing me a few hours every morning to get some drawing in before everyone gets up. The bad thing-by 8pm I am passed out on the couch.

I have been thinking about resolutions and what lies ahead in 2010. So much has happened in the past year that I can only imagine what the next year will bring. In an attempt to start early with my resolutions....I have decided try to structure my blog a bit better. Monday's will be the day when I spotlight blogs and websites. I spend so much time being inspired by things I find on the Internet that I thought I would share with you some of the interesting people that inspire me.

So, lets get started. I thought it would be great to start with my favorite...Anahata Katkin. What I love about her work is her use of color and collage. Her paintings as well as digital work are interesting with layer built upon layer of handwork and photos.

One of the first things I blogged about was fear and creativity. I posted Anahata's "THE CREATIVE PROCESS: Working with the 5 stages to overcome Creative Resistance". Click HERE to read. She offers workshops that sounds so interesting. Someday I will go. For now I will explore her websites and blogs...
What do you think? Do you like her work? Who is your favorite artist? I am always looking for interesting websites and blogs. Please send me your favorites!

Monday, December 14, 2009

fire and blueberry tea.

Let me begin by apologizing for not being so good about blogging. It has been a tiring, exciting and successful two weeks. 6 Bazaars and I am finally finished! My notebooks were well received and the Christmas cards sold like hotcakes...although I still have a few left. So, thank you for all your suggestions and pats on the back. It is much appreciated and it was very needed!!

Since the shows are over I can finally sit and think about everything else going on in my life...like...I leave for the USA on Thursday! It has been 15 months since we have seen our families. At times it feels like we just saw them yesterday and at other times it feels like years. I am excited and nervous. What will it feel like to be back home...and what will it feel like to leave again. Will my new home in Budapest that I have grown to love so much still feel like home when I return?

I will be home (Ohio) for three weeks and then I head to New York for a week! There is a big print show that I will be attending. I will tell you more about that later.

You can count on no more posts for this week. There is too much packing and getting ready. And on top of it, I am sick. So, for now I am going to enjoy my cup of tea and the great fire I built and start my list of things I need to work on.

Until next week cheers and stay warm!

my awesome fire-I am so proud of myself!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

last of the holiday fairs

The final round of shows are this week...and I am exhausted! I leave for the United States next week and definitely need a day off.

If you are around town and need to buy a last minute stocking stuffer or Christmas card swing by and say hello!

Friday
  • American School Holiday Fair (time: 9:00-13:00)
Sunday
  • WAMP at Godor (time: 10:00-18:00)
FOR SALE: Christmas cards, greeting cards, magnets, notebooks and silk pillows. ( Please note there will be no pillows for sale at WAMP)

landprint

How cool is this!
Click on the photo below to read more!
The aim of the Landprint project is to reproduce subtle patterns and photos by combining various species of plants with programmed robotics.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

this weekends schedule of shows and fairs

It just occurred to me that in the midst of being Santa and working on projects I forgot to update you on the shows this weekend! If you are in Budapest you can find me or my work at any of these events:

Today (Saturday):
  • French School Holiday Fair (time: 10:00-14:00)Look for my work at the Once Upon a Tutu table. And while your there take a look at the cute tutus (great for the holidays!) and their packaging:)
  • British International School Holiday Bazaar (time: 12:30-16:00)
Tomorrow (Sunday)
  • WAMP at Godor (time: 10:00-18:00)
FOR SALE: Christmas cards, greeting cards, magnets, notebooks and silk pillows. ( Please note there will be no pillows for sale at WAMP)

Friday, December 4, 2009

finding the spirit of Christmas in a smile

A short post that has nothing to do about design, art or creativity. All about the gift of a smile.

A great day being spent with my friends from NAWA, dressing up like Santa delivering gifts and singing Christmas carols to Hungarian seniors.

breaking through (my) "bah-humbug"
the cutest ladies sharing the spirit of ChristmasSanta and NAWA friendsThank you NAWA friends for letting me be Santa.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Printa Akadémia

Since the day I arrived in Budapest, I have been researching and asking about what printing capabilities are available..."none" is the answer I receive. The country use to have many printers but with Asia producing products at such a cheap cost, Hungary can not compete.

I would love to create a small production run of fabric-say 50 meters. Small and affordable-this is almost impossible! (FYI: to print fabric with most printers you need to print a minimum of 1000 meters (1093 yards!). I know digital printing is possible but it is still very $expensive$. I am currently selling pillows that were digitally printed on Etsy and the pillows actually cost me more than what I am selling them for! I digress...

I received an email from a friend last week announcing a store opening she heard about. I just stopped by the opening not really knowing what to expect. I knew I found the place when I saw this from down the street.
Printa Akadémia
1075 Budapest, Rumbach Sebestyén utca 1ö.
www.printa.hu

Printa Akadémia is multifunctional ‘concept store’, a combo of a gallery, a workshop academy, a store and a café. They aim to promote print and paper-based art to popularize eco-friendly design.

Their workshops provide an ideal forum for designers and artists to cooperate and share novel ideas in the field of environmentally-friendly, socially-aware art.

Could this be the possible small run production set up I have been looking for? I don't think they can print yards of fabric but maybe they have future plans? maybe I can plant a seed in somone's head:)

When I walked inside to the opening I was so happy to see familiar equipment. I was hoping to talk to someone but it was so crowded! I have a gut feeling that this place is going to do well!

I plan to pop back into the gallery in the new year and hopefully learn more about what they offer. When I do I will let you know what I find out.

4 color print press-great for t-shirts and paper!
I have no idea what this is but I really want to learn!
If you have any information on possible small run printers in Eastern Europe please contact me!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Vienna and the Christmas Markets

We went to Vienna twice in the past two weeks. We stumbled upon a Christmas market the first time. The second time we went with the intention of exploring in much more detail. These photos are when we stumbled upon the market the first time. I think this must have been the first weekend it opened. Look at the amount of people!
You need an ornament? There is no shortage in Vienna!The best part of the Christmas markets...Glühwein