'E&P' Suspends Operations--Good Chance for Return

'E&P' Suspends Operations--Good Chance for Return

An end of an era.

Keep up with the E&P staff and updates on the process of re-opening at their 'exile' blog.
http://eandpinexile.blogspot.com/

making illustrator brushes

http://www.bittbox.com/illustrator/how-to-make-a-custom-illustrator-brush
It all started while making a calendar. Calendars have been a current pet project of mine as this year is wrapping up, I've been hard at work making good use of my graphic skills to make some handmade calendars...
I was trying to come up with some interesting ways to create patterns easily and surfed the web to refresh my ideas.
I found the above how-to tutorial at Bittbox.

I was inspired to create my own art brush in Illustrator and had some pretty good results. The geometric shapes were really cool to work with. When you flip the direction of the brush stroke in the brush options pallet you can get all kinds of neat results!

As I was working on a calendar, I went ahead and combined different shapes to make numbers!
I think I wont use the large numbers for each day in the calendar, but perhaps in the 'art' above each month... We'll see.
More results as the day wears on.



Is it just me or does the image in the black box look like a happy frog?

Top 10 psychology studies of 2009

http://trueslant.com/daviddisalvo/2009/12/28/ten-psychology-studies-from-2009-worth-knowing-about/

Interesting insights if you have the time to read and reflect.

Brilliant Finnish inspired design

http://www.sanna-annukka.com

I love the bold graphic print designs of this artist! I would love to have my kitchen light up with these designs!

Happy Festivus!

It's a Festivus Miracle!
Visit:
http://www.wikihow.com/Celebrate-Festivus
To learn more about this little celebrated, but much adored holiday tradition.

You have disappointed me in the following ways......
(Insert sad detail about yourself here)
I for one would rather have a Festivus feast with good friends, than a dysfunctional dinner with people that don't really know me, and 'prolly don't want to see me again this year either.

HA it's Festivus for the Rest Of Us!
More on the origin of Festivus
http://www.festivusweb.com/

Font-a-licious!

AHHH HAA HAA!
Success! I have created my own font: madmodiste_block
(see stunning example above)
What on earth has the world done all this time without my font! For all the font-e-philes out there: TOO BAD! THIS ONE IS MINE!!!

well, I guess you could click the link below and get your own font....

Create a font from your own handwriting - fontcapture.com

Create a font from your own handwriting - fontcapture.com

Hand-made christmas!

visit:
http://www.rd.com/advice-and-know-how/readers-digest-christmas-tree/article19258.html

To learn how to make these adorable paperback book trees. Use any size book you want, I have TONS of those dime store romance novels hanging around that are not worth re-reading. What a way to recycle! I've seen some instructions online that say to use (2) 30 page sections of a book, then gluing the 2 sides together. Why not just use 60 and stick the ends together?

The paint or glitter is optional.

Imagine if it were a song book? How cool!

All American Christmas!

Scary Santa

This has got to be one of the best scary santa photos I've seen in a while. I love the kids crying face!!! I know they are terrorized little kids, but it just cracks me up. Note how the older sibling is mocking the scared infant. Typical older kid syndrome.
Santa sits there with the look on his face like "WTF did I do to deserve this gig!"

Multimedia message

The spectacular Madeira wine that Jim's sister gave us on her last visit. It was well received by all with hearty thanks and blessings to Sandy. 

Multimedia message

Our good friends John and Maria came over yesterday evening while they were in Indiana visiting for the holidays. We had a spectacular evening with a few good bottles of wine and some from- scratch-made wings! Wishing there were more good nights like that every week.  Jim and I had a great time talking with bright, funny 'mostly grown ups'. :)

So you think you deck your home?

I'd like to see this in Montgomery County.... Sheeesh!

Winter Rose

Now making: A cute little lapel or hat pin design!!! Made from woven plaid Wool and is cozy and fun. Can be embelished with a button or other sparkle in the middle. A few for the shop on the way in a few days!!  

icy roads today

Aack

The dog

Most recently, Daisy the dog destroyed said cowboy hat while we were all distracted in the basement watching Survivor. Thank goodness for shop vacs.  

Bracelet design

A unique bracelet design inspired from my recent trend spotting trip to Indy.
This is a really cool piece that would look funky, edgy and elegant at the same time. I'm going to play around with different pearls and stones for this one. Shown here with graphite colored glass pearls. Priced At $35.

I've been invited to place a modest selection of my work in a local craft shop. All handmade, all local artisans are there. I'm honored really, to have been invited! So, I keep a dozen or so of my nicer pieces on the counter. We'll see how it goes for the holidays.