Purple Fuzzy Mittens

Now through the first week of January, you can find my prints at Mountain Music Parlor in Reno, NV.  I have lots of framed or matted options for sale!  I will also be adding some offprint buttons this weekend.  Great gifts or stocking stuffers!

First completed print of “Print Camp 3” is ready to be signed and editioned as soon as it is dry.  Titled “Rabbit Redux”, it is from a block that I carved many years ago, but never successfully printed.  It was inspired by the patterns found on Mimbres pottery shards. I expect to have 14 or so that I will add to the shop. The image (without signature) is 4″x6″ with 2″+ paper on all sides. 38$. Let me know if you would like to reserve one.

I carved the 3rd layer of the Beach Baby, but the 2nd level ink is still sticky, so printing will have to wait.  Meanwhile I have started clearing out the large carve-out areas of the Picasso Sheild Bug. The blocks will be (left to right) yellow, red and 2 layers of blue. If I decide to get fancy I might add another block with some sort of frame.

Just completed layer two (of four) of the Beach Baby print.  This will be a tiny print – about 3.75″ x 2.75″, with an edition of about a dozen.

I have just signed up for a booth at the “Magic of Santa Arts & Craft Faire” December 3-4, at the Livestock Events Center in Reno.  This is a big scary step for my little print operation, so I hope you will all come by and see my prints in person.  Having psyched myself up, I am also looking at an event in November.  More on that later.  Go, me!

Even though I have not added any new prints to the gallery lately, I have been busy.  A primary activity has been to improve my workspace with a sturdier (safer) place to carve blocks.  I have also been stockpiling design ideas, and have a record number (for me) of blocks in progress – about a dozen designs queued up for carving.  On the business end of things, I can now take online credit card payment. As a sneak preview, here is a bug block in its early stage.  It’s a very colorful African insect called a Picasso Shield Bug.

I’ve created another batch of pins from bits and pieces of woodcuts.  The autumn leaves are from a large print that I was never satisfied with, so I cut them up. The squid are my fovorite pins yet. They have all been added to my box of pins for sale (except for one squid that I am keeping to wear).

Searched through old photos for new print ideas.  This is a photo I took in an old cemetery in Calgary, Canada in 2010.  I like photographing cemeteries because they remind me a bit of libraries – filled with the weight of many stories of many lifetimes.  This print will be 6″x8″ with 4 layers of grey.

My first show was a mixed experience, but I learned a ton.  The booth looked good (considering it was my first attempt, plus it had to accommodate a hands-on printing demo area) but the location was a bit hidden.  My crew of Jen, Karen and Lily were wonderful, despite it being a long, hot, inky day.  Didn’t sell much, but helped some happy youngsters make their own first prints.