loam, new preston, ct

I have written before about my ongoing conflict with wholesale orders and the complexity of re-selling and mass producing handmade goods. My doubts are always diminished when I connect with a store owner who is brimming of enthusiasm for her shop, its mission, and the objects that are sold within. Beth Fowler in New Preston, Connecticut is definitely that kind of person.

Beth opened her store Loam just a few weeks ago as an endeavor to pursue her passions for the environment, treasure hunting, decorating, and social responsibility. She wants to make choosing fair trade, small artisans, organic, and recycled or vintage goods as common as buying mass produced. She wants everyone to know the story behind what they buy, and who a purchase is feeding or supporting. She offers an intriguing mix of handmade goods, art, fair trade objects, and vintage treasures. Art shows will be a regular feature and throughout the year she will highlight, contribute, and bring awareness to a variety of charitable causes. I am proud to be included in Beth's new venture. Loam is a destination, so if you are in or near New Preston, Connecticut, please stop by for a visit. Loam, 13 E. Shore Road, New Preston, CT 06777, 860 619 0707.

art show debut

The reception for my show leaves and layers at The Barn Swallow this past weekend was a great success. We had more guests than I could ever imagined. I was encouraged by the interest in my work and it was delightful to see so many new faces. A great thank you to all and everyone! The light in the barn does not work well for photography, so I don't have as many images as I had hoped, but here are a few that illustrates the beautiful set up in the gallery.

I will most likely be a bit scarce in the next week or so, as I am determined to catch up on a pile of projects that has been pushed aside for way too long. I'll return soon and I promise to catch up with everyone else too.

apple pickin' fun

We spent this brilliant fall morning picking apples on Carter's mountain. The whole family joined in – wee ones, grand parents, and some reluctant teenagers too...

thousands of hearts

Early this morning I discovered that my etsy shop now has recevied over 3000 hearts! I am thrilled and flattered that so many visitors have decided to make my little etsy corner a favorite. A big thanks to all of you! The most resent heart came from 13 threads in Edinburgh, Scotland. I am so glad she found me, because I have now discovered her expertly made and stunning dresses, robes, and tops. I have already made several of them favorites of my own.

leaves, leaves, everywhere

Autumn used to be my favorite season. I still love the cool weather, crisp air, and the bright colors, but this time of year is also a source of panic for me. The fresh leaves I use for printing are rapidly dwindling, and I scurry around collecting as many of them as I possibly can. There are bowls and platters with water submerged fronds, leaves and seed pods everywhere in my house. After soaking I pack them up between moist paper towels in zip-lock bags and stack them in the refridgerator. If I am lucky they will stay fresh for another 3 - 4 weeks, extending my precious printing season a while longer. I admit that there is a bit of grumbling from other family members around here, when the plant packages exceed the amount of food in the fridge...

show time

I just returned from hanging my upcoming show at The Barn Swallow. Many long days have been spent in preparation and I still feel rushed, not quite done, and nervous. The show is called leaves and layers, and features art quilts, textile collages, and other wall hangings (some samples shown here). It will be up throughout the month of October and is in my favorite venue – an old barn just west of Charlottesville that is converted into a beautiful store and gallery. There is an artist reception on October 10, from 2 - 4 pm. I hope you will join me if you are in the area. I wish that all of you who live far, far away could share the fun as well...

flower power

Photos courtesy of Bornay © Bornay

Through the beautiful blog world I have discovered two remarkable floral designers. Both of them have their own distinct style, with simplistic design and striking color combinations as a common theme.

Fàtima, and her design company Bornay creates scrumptious arrangements and event concepts in Barcelona, Spain. The images she uses to promote her work, as sampled above, are equally delicious. They make me want to grab her bouquets by the armful and linger in their freshness and earthy scent. Unfortunately that is not possible for most of us, so I suggest following Fàtima's artistic endeavors through her blog.

Denise Fasanello is a floral designer from Brooklyn, New York, who specializes in wedding arrangements with a modern twist, beautifully illustrated below. Simplicity and unusual plant materials signifies her work. I would love to surround myself with her stylish compositions as well... Denise also has a wonderful blog, where she shares samples of her work mixded with her inspirations, finds, and musings.

Thank you Fàtima and Denise for brightening my life from afar...

Photos courtesy of Denise Fasanello © Denise Fasanello

art promotion

I had promised myself not to delve into another heavy topic, but after talking with my friend Monika over at splendid willow recently, I began to reflect on promotion and marketing. Or in my case the lack thereof. I readily admit that self promotion is the hardest part of being an independent artist (and business owner).

To my own ears, I just don't sound sincere when telling someone about my talent, skills, and general goodness. I am a little better at the behind-the-scenes stuff like maintaining an email list, sending out newsletters, and promoting events, but only to a small degree. I still have a hard time imposing my work and wares on other people. It seems like there must be a better, more organized, and less intrusive way of handling promotion through new media. Maybe not.

I am not spying, prying, or looking to steal your creative marketing ideas, but I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject. If you are interested I'll be glad to share more of mine in future posts.

Speaking of self promotion, inleaf now has a page on facebook and I would love for you to become fans. It is not my intention to duplicate the blog over there. Instead I envision the facebook page to be a place where I will feature new work and publicize shows and other events. No pressure to join though – I know that the world is divided about "social networking" and its merits.

remembrance

I recall how blue the sky was that day. No clouds in sight. A pristine and beautiful morning, overshadowed by the disbelief and sorrow that followed. My heart still aches. I grieve for the victims, their families, and friends, but also for how this act of violence altered all of us. How it instilled fear and suspicion. How it reduced our tolerance. How it changed our country.

fall pillows

The weather is getting cooler in my part of the world. I am always looking forward to fall, with its crisp air and beautiful colors. The next few months will be busy in the inleaf studio. I have three big events lined up, starting with a solo show at the Barn Swallow in October. More details will be posted shortly. In the meantime new work is gradually listed in the inleaf shop. The seedpods + seams pillow is now available in natural linen and dark brown, as well as the original sea foam blue. I love the texture of the linen used for this pillow and the way the pin tuck seams mirrors the stems of the seedpods.

A warm thank you to Sandra of Pepperberry & Co who posted a long interview with me today. There is a giveaway as well, so I encourage you to head over for a visit.