We live near wine country, so it just made sense to give it a shot!

Here are the results of my try at dip dying with wine, to give an ombre effect. I’m going to print on top of these with some wine related stamps I carved today… I like this effect so much so far! Today we tried Cabernet Sauvignon, later this week I want to try Pinot and some Rose.

So yesterday with the help of my first ever investor, my aforementioned love, I moved into my new ‘office/studio, however you like. He really is good to me, while I could have bore the burden of first and last months rent there myself, it really freed me up to do some more fun things with my income in regards to the business, such as my plans to buy as much linoleum as I can this weekend when we hit Blick in Berkeley, as well as some pretty papers to play with.

The new studio space is great for me, it’s not huge, but it’s just the right size and environment for me to get started and get to work! I am already so inspired there, I brought in a few key elements to help me get in the right frame of mind as I set off on this journey, which you will see in the snapshots I brought back.

I brought some vintage art books on calligraphy, one from my Grandaddy, as well as his book on hummingbirds, you never know when you need it! I also brought some ephemera from my start at art school, a couple master copies I did in color and comp, to remind me that even though I thought I couldn’t I did! I also brought some family pictures,  of my grandparents, and my great aunt. They were all 3 wonderful artists, and very inspiring people. My grandaddy did lettering for films, my grandmommy painted and taught others to paint, and my aunt Averill not only had her own fashion lines that sold at the May company, but she also ran a very large construction and architecture firm that is still in business and thriving today. I like to keep them nearby to remind myself of what they accomplished, and what I might do if I just stick with it.

Yesterday I made a small bit of progress, I got a tentative design out for my logo, and I carved a goldfish stamp. I always liked the goldfish scene in Fantasia, so I tried to hark back to that.

Without further ado, here is my new studio, and some of my work!

Nib duck! He holds all my carving nibs, as well as the nibs for my beloved dip pens.

My very own space to work and dream!

My picture shelf, with some of my greatest inspirations.

And last but not least, what I think may become my logo!

I got a new book today, that I am currently devouring as I prepare to launch this business.. I am so filled with gratitude and excitement, I cannot wait to see where this odd duck takes me!

I made 3 cards last night, and I am kicking myself for not getting pictures of all of them, they were my first as a part of this new adventure!

I have been making cards for as long as I can remember, for all kinds of occasions. My favorite to date was a card I made for an art school beau’s birthday, he was turning 33, and was currently obsessed with ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’, so I made him a card that read ‘Close Encounters of the 33rd kind…’ with a drawing of him walking into the ship, led by a little alien with my haircut. It sounds crazy silly typed out, but I remember how funny he thought it was, and how happy I was that he liked it. It’s moments like that that made me realize how important it is for me to make things that people can enjoy, and connect with. People remember my cards years later, and I really cherish that, and want to share that with a larger audience.

Anyway, here are some snapshots of my first batch of cards, and the new studio I will be working out of starting on Monday! But before that, I am going on a lovely weekend getaway with Asher to celebrate our 1 year anniversary, as well as the 1 year countdown to our wedding, yippee!

The first card was a monogrammed sleepy owl, followed by a monogram design with cherry blossoms, and the third was an ink collage of sorts with stars and layers of colored ink.

I’ve admired to facade of this building for the past year, I always wanted to live in it, but I’ll take working in it anyway!

I love love love the art deco lobby! 2nd floor, going up bellboy! (I wish!)

This will be my station, it’s a blank slate now, but come Monday, I’m taking over! I can’t wait to begin work there, I will be sharing space with some truly talented illustrators, painters, and animators!

Along these lines, I got my first vintage letterpress alphabet in the mail today, complete with ligatures and an ampersand! I can’t wait to try them out, I might play with them before I get the most exciting piece of my stationary puzzle… My grandmommy’s printing press! All I can think of is how lucky I am to come from an artistic family, I feel like I have been given a great gift in being able to continue to do the work my grandparents loved to do, combining commercial art, typography, and print making.

Now I have some linoleum to carve, and a classic movie just waiting for me to finish it! In the meantime, here are some pictures of my newest art supply additions!

I chose cyan, red, and gold for my first test prints. I love the bright vintage colors, especially smeared so purposefully in my enameled butcher tray!

My little box of supplies… I have a feeling I’m going to outgrow it fast, but I’m so happy to have a use for the cute red box Mel got me for Christmas!

It is all starting now!