What’s driving you?

Recently I got to take a few art pieces out of storage, some of which I hadn’t seen in awhile. Seeing it now, old work sitting next to newer pieces, I was struck with a few thoughts… 1. My color palette is consistent, no matter what I do. I love color and use it freely. 2. Patterns, overlapping patterns …

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A Year in Review: 2016

Wow… can you believe it’s almost 2017? It feels like just yesterday I was planning my trip to Morocco… and that was already over 7 months ago! This year has been one of great changes—personally, professionally and artistically. The year started off on one of the highest notes possible—an once-in-a-lifetime 6-week artist residency in Morocco. …

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Things take time!

Instant gratification… Who doesn’t love a little from time to time? I know I do, but things take time. Especially making art. I am often shocked by how long it takes to make things! Then I remember that it’s in the making, the processing, the imagining that the pleasure occurs. Once I remember, I remind …

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In Light… Learning New Techniques

This past weekend, I had the good fortune of meeting and learning from Helen Hiebert in a 2-day workshop aptly titled, “Illuminating Workshop!” The workshop was filled with all my favorite artist friends from San Diego Book Arts. We learned how to make a flexible paper material lined with copper wire, which was then transformed …

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Working with a Local Craftsman

Layachi has been working with leather since he was a child. He started at around 9-years-old. He was probably fetching pelts and tea at that age, his hands too small to hold the tools, but no matter he is a MASTER craftsman now, and an amazingly nice guy. While in Tetouan, Morocco in February-March 2016 …

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The Healing Garden

Encinitas, California is a magical place. It’s filled with wonderful places that help heal and restore. One such place is The Center for Creative Renewal. This oasis was started by art therapist Ellen Speert, and has been offering artists a quiet place to rejuvenate since 1981. Their mission is to “provide an environment of creativity, stimulation and professionalism, …

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A Surreal Experience

Many years ago I learned about Soul Collage and eventually took the training to become a facilitator. I love the process, but I don’t have a calling to teach it. Taking a class however, is loads of fun. A wonderful art therapist, Ellen Speert lives nearby. She created The Center for Creative Renewal. She teaches a process …

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Keep Austin Weird… and Reading

Everything is bigger in Texas… the music, the food… the bookstores. Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to travel to some amazing places, but nowhere is quite like Austin, Texas. Its inability to be contained in a little box, with easy descriptors is emblematic of not only its location in the state, but the …

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Getting “Grungy” with Seth Apter

The San Diego Book Arts (SDBA) recently welcomed back Seth Apter for two two-day workshops in San Diego. I attended the first workshop, “Cover to Cover,” which was held September 16 & 17, 2015. This workshop was about using mixed-media techniques to create a one-of-a-kind, unconventional artist’s book. Using vintage book covers as the base, and making a series of double-sided “pages” filled edge …

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Make Someone Happy!

Making someone happy can be simple. In fact the simpler the better… make the next pot of coffee, bring them toast in bed, pay for lunch or make something from scratch—cookies or art or a cocktail! Do it without expectation. It feels so good. You’ll be wondering why you didn’t do it sooner. Oh and if you …

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The Little Things

It’s the little things that make one’s life interesting and worth living! Depending on the day, joy comes from different events. Snuggling with my dogs, listening to the rain, walking on a beautiful trail, Gelli printing with friends… or laying in bed watching a movie! Sometimes it’s the little things that others do. A sign …

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Spring is in the Air

It is late spring. The birds are busy with babies, the plants are blooming… and the studio is buzzing with renewed energy and big plans. We are developing new products, getting new cards printed, creating a line of several different types of goodies. We have deadlines with shows coming up. We recently changed our work schedules …

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Longing for Connection

I’ve moved around and traveled a bunch, so I have friends, family and connections in many places. I miss these folks! These relationships are filled with memories, rich histories and lots of laughs… I love the variety of gifts each relationship offers. Since everyone is scattered, staying in touch is important (and sometimes difficult). The …

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Just a little thank you

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. – Marcel Proust The other day, we received this thank you note in the mail from a customer. This sweet note made us truly grateful to have customer’s who love the work we create. Thank you …

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Experiment to keep it fresh

According to Pema Chödrön, “To be fully alive, fully human, and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest.” This speaks to me deeply. Learning new techniques, new processes and new materials keeps my creative engine sharp…  constantly thinking up new things to make or how to adapt. I love “LEARNING“. Pictured …

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In the mood… for rain

Click here and listen… while you read this post. The rain always signifies a fresh start to me, a clean slate. The sounds of the rain falling, gushing out the drains, splashing as cars drive by and the constant, steady drone of sleep inducing sound. The color; vibrant, intense, altered pigment of plants in the …

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