Inside the Sketchbook

Today I thought I would share some of the sketches I did while working on the new line of prints, from preliminary drawing to final print. Some designs take several tries to get them right, and some go straight from first sketch to final carving with no revisions. Below are some original sketches and the prints they turned into:

 Half of the watercolor painting that was the basis for the 2013 Calendar

A few sketches that haven't yet made it to print form.

The sketch and final print of this card

The preliminary sketch for this scarf, this card, and these journals

The sketch for this card, these journals, these coasters and this tea towel

A second sketch for this scarf

The first idea for this card

The final drawing for this tea towel and this tote bag

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Painted Ferns

I had a great time seeing everyone from Minted at the Stationery Show, and came back with a lot of new ideas for Christmas designs, which I'll be working on in the next month.

They just launched a line of Art Prints, including my Painted Ferns from this invitation. It's a limited edition print and is available right here.

 

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Carving

Here's a look at a few pieces I've been working on for the new collection that will be coming out this month; I'm launching it at the National Stationery Show in three weeks (Booth 1842 if you are attending!) and will be posting the new items in the shop right after.

It's been crazy to pull together the collection so quickly after getting back from the trip, using all the new ideas I got there, but I'm almost finished with all the designs. Only a few more to go and I'll be ready for the show just in time. I can't wait to share what I came up with based on what we saw in India!

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Back in the Studio

Yesterday was my first day in the studio in over three months, and also the most productive day I have ever had. The reason: no internet. We are living at my parents' house in Vermont for the summer while I get ready for the Stationery Show, so that we can have some time to work and save money before looking for a new place to live. I'm using a spare bedroom as my studio, and while most of the house has internet, this room does not.

I would have days in DC when I would try not to use the internet, but I still had my phone and would occasionally check email or Facebook. There is no cell service here, so I spent the entire day yesterday working with no distractions. It was incredible. In one day, I finished a big order that came in last week, half of the new designs for the Stationery Show, started working on my new business cards, and still had time to go for a walk after lunch.

While we were in India, I made a lot of sketches and took a lot of photos (so many that my hard drive is full and my computer is now going at a snail's pace) but I didn't do any complete designs. So yesterday I went through all those sketches and photos and got my actual designs down on paper.

At this rate, I'll have hundreds of new designs to share in the next month.

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