"LISTEN"

These photos have nothing to do with this post,
they just prevent this from being a photoless post.

I love Camilla Engman's blog, but was so upset when I read today's post. I have lusted after her Listen print + always meant to buy it when I had funds in my Paypal account, but never did. I decided to put it on my Xmas wish list, but since it sold out...poop. I left a comment about my disappointment + noticed the person under mine left the same comment, but she also mentioned that she found more prints at Mahar Drygoods. I dashed over to their site + treated myself with some of the $ I've made from recent sales.

Tomorrow night we are going out for Vietnamese food (yum!) with some friends who recently moved back from New York (yay!). THEN...we are going to see Pete Yorn. He's opening up for The Dixie Chicks at a big arena, but we have tickets to the show he's playing at a smaller venue afterwards. The new album is growing on me, but I'm afraid to say that it has not grabbed me like the last two, nevertheless, I'm soooo exited!

Gotta go- Earl + The Office are on.
~Shona

FREAK-A-ZOID

There are only 2 times (in recent memory) that I have acted like a complete freak in a store.

The first time:
A couple years ago I went to into Paper Source, in Pasadena, CA, + was so out-of-my-skin exited that the staff gave me really weird looks (that wall of all their colored paper is enough to make you jump for joy!). When I explained that I had shopped on the website for a couple years + this was my first visit to an actual store they seemed to understand.

I bought a completely washable acrylic "mohair" yarn

The second time happened last night:
I had to buy some yarn for Sunday's Book Babes knitting get-together. I have never knit before + set forth to buy some inexpensive yarn, but something I liked just in case I did a decent job knitting my first scarf. I ended up in a store with a poor yarn selection + a screaming group of Girl Scouts. After pulling out every color I finally selected 2 colors, but then questioned if they actually went together, or if working with 2 colors would be too advanced. (Susan + Sissy, please don't laugh at me!) I finally found the one sales person who could knit + asked her several questions, all prefaced with “I have never knit before so…” I started to see the same look in her eyes as the sales people at Paper Source + felt the need to further explain myself, which made her look more intense. I bought what I had, ran out of the store, consulted with a friend + it looks like I am currently committed to making a light blue + olive green striped scarf.

If I am not too embarrassed I will share my knitting progress with you after Sunday's get together, which will also include a 70th birthday celebration + delicious food!

I don't say it enough, but I truly appreciate the sharing + feedback + "community" created by people who live nowhere near each other. Starting a blog is a strange decision, which, for me, required a lot of thought + in retrospect, I can't believe that I did not want to make the leap. I thank Heather, my coworker, who simplified my thought process by saying, "you should do it, it's fun."

LOVE FOR THE BACK ROAD FLEA MARKET

Formerly elusive vintage coffee table found at a dirt market this weekend for $10.00.

I first discovered the back road flea market on Pearblossom Hwy, just north of Los Angeles, on the way to Las Vegas. We do a lot of back road driving + have little aversion to even the junkyest junk shops + "dirt markets," as we call these flea markets because you usually have to walk in the dirt + everything is covered in a layer of dirt. Sounds fun, eh? That's not the best part, depending on how deep we are on the back road determines if I open my mouth ("you from up north?" is generally the reaction I get) or how fast I move through the stalls. My boy is very good at assimilation, he can have a conversation with anyone + pick up on their vinacular + mannerisms, so I usually let him do the talking.
You might ask why would we stop at such places? This is where the true gems are + most people who are looking for the same things we look for don't usually stop at seemingly scary places like these. Not only have we found some of our greatest treasures, but my boy is a collector of overheard statements (overheard at a local flea market, "if you don't stop hitting your brother you can't watch wrestling.") + places like these are prime collection spots.
Next time you drive by a back road flea market, stop, you might find something REALLY great, or at least get a good quote to tell your friends.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We also looked for hand painted misspelled signs,
but found none this weekend.
I'm sad that this long weekend is coming to an end.
Take care ~Shona

Later in the evening:
this was the way we all felt after our long weekend filled with so much fun.
Poor pup, so worn out.

THE LONG WEEKEND (so far)

Thursday (Thanksgiving for those in the US) started off with a long walk through the woods at the battlefield in our town. We thought no one would be out, but there were many people pre-working off all the food they would eat later in the evening.
We had a non-traditional Thanksgiving, with a good friend, who made amazing Middle Eastern foodle.
On Friday we entertained a friend's twin 7-year-old girls + took them on a "nature walk" (a 3 mile hike). Between the zillions of questions + all their running we decided that if we had children we would not have the energy to go on as many hikes. I wish I had their energy.

SHOW-AND-TELL

Call me a show-off, a braggart, or what you will, but the mailbox has been very good to me recently. Leya @ Curious Bird sent me a surprise package with all of the above goodies inside. I don't know who was more surprised, me or my boy. He still can't believe (in a good way) that people who I have never actually met, but know through blogs + e-mail send such wonderful things out of complete kindness. (Leya, he really loves the pillow). A million thank yous + get well soon. I also received the loveliest handmade postcard from Laura in Finland (through Postcrossing) + one from my pen pal, Edith, in The Netherlands.

I had to share with you the mug Mark (the potter I shared the sunroom with at the studio tour) gave me. Actually, everyone involved got to choose a mug. He is incorporating printing techniques with clay by using a photopolymer substance to get a design texture in the clay. I have been curious about this because I can use it in letterpress + now know that it is accessable at a low cost + is low tech. This could potentially change my production!

On the horizon: putting cards + journals in my Etsy shop (now that they seem to have worked out the major bugs), working on gifts, catching up on letter writing + research for a commission.

OOH, OOH, OOH Tom Waits is on All Things Considered right now.

One day left before a 4-day weekend! Now I have to cut + roast vegetables for tomorrow's Thanksgiving pot-luck at work.
Adios! Shona

CRAFTS ARTISTS STUDIO TOUR

photos of my display

Phew...the crafts shows are all over (the third show is next weekend, but I don't have to attend) + I am relieved, exited + exhausted! It was a wonderful weekend, spent with great people, beyond generous hosts + tons of really good food. I was in a sun room with 2 other artists: Mark, a potter, who is also a professor at the local college + interesting to chat with, + Teresa, a textile marbler, who is a true Southerner, mint julep accent + all (y'all). She is the one who recommended me for the tour + is a hoot to spend time with + a wealth of information, making her living from her craft. I was a bit sorry to see the weekend end (I tend to feel that way as a show winds down) but was invited for next year.

I got a wonderful surprise package on Friday + will share it's contents with you tomorrow. As for now, I am trying to psych myself up for Monday Jiu-Jitsu when I would rather kick back, drink a beer + relax. For now I am cheering a 3 day work week (YAY!). Good Night ~Shona

PREPERATIONS

I spent part of the day gathering last minute things needed for the studio tour. While in downtown Nashville I spotted this wall with some great stencil graffiti images + the Nashville Toy Museum (it's closing was mentioned in this post) is going to be a modern furnishings shop, a-la DWR. Last night I started setting up my displays + no longer feel nervous about this weekend. Looking forward to showing you pictures.

Enjoy your weekend. Shona

STUDIO TOUR

A collection of small stones I gathered in Malibu, CA.

Lots of preperations for the studio tour this weekend. I am feeling pretty good about my stock, but don't feel prepared with the displays + setup. I will be a guest artist in the studio of someone I have never met + don't know the space. Thursday night is setup (the tour is on Saturday + Sunday) which will give me time to gather anything I might need before the actual tour. I look forward to this weekend, but am a bit nervous since it is unfamiliar.

In addition to preparations for the tour, I am going through one of my massive purges. I have made several trips to the thrift store donation drop-off + anticipate one more. Basically I get really tired of looking at some things + I want to get rid of them, but my fervor carries over into file drawers, desk drawers, chests of drawers, every nook + cranny...OUT, OUT, OUT with that which I do not need or use any longer!

If I don't post before the tour I will return with many photos next week!

FROST + FOG

This is what I woke up to this morning, frost + fog. It was so beautiful + I am so happy I chose this weekend to switch out the spring/summer + fall/winter clothes so all my warm wool will be ready for the chilly air.


Boy + dog went backpacking in Kentucky this weekend + left me to work on printing jobs. Practically all weekend revolved around gnome projects: gnomes-gnomes-gnomes-gnomes (sung to the tune of the Spam chant from Monty Python).

On Saturday I went to a Book Babes meeting at Claudia's studio + gave a tutorial on making tunnel books. We have decided to move "The Babes" forward in the realm of available free technology + I am going to be in charge of starting + co-maintaining a blog for the group (Sissy, ya with me on this?). I am already the newsletter writer + honestly, this will be a whole lot easier. Now I have to cue the 45 people on the e-mail list to check the blog for updates, announcements + show + tell. That will be the hurtle, but I am really looking forward to it.

In addition, The Babes are starting a knitting group, nothing formal or structured like the book guild, but hanging out (again, at Claudia's studio) eating + working on whatever. I have never knit before so this may be like most knitting groups, but it's all new to me. The thing that is appealing (besides the possibility of making cool stuff) is that it is portable, unlike my 250 lb press + type drawers.


My dear friend, who surprised me by sending a book the other day, also sent some paper she bought on her last trip to Italy. She went to The Museo della Carta in Amalfi + sent an e-mail with these images from the paper mill. If you work with paper at all I highly recommend purchasing some from this region because it is the most incredible, fine, wonderful feeling, wonderful to work with, wonderful to print on paper I have ever experienced. Sorry Paper Source, you don't even hold a candle to paper from Amalfi.

And I end the same as I do each Monday...

I'm off to Jiu-Jitsu (I am absolutely loving it!)

Have a wondrful evening ~Shona

TO THOSE WHO SEE...

Today I feel incredibly grateful to have found this book in a local thrift store. It is called To Those Who See... by Gwen Frostic + the entire book was hand printed (in 1965) with the most beautiful block prints, fonts + gradation of colors. Some of the papers are velum, others mulberry, but each page is a different paper specimen. I cannot even tell you how much I appreciate the work that went into printing this book because I know about the work that went into printing this book. The book was at the bottom of a bin in a spot where it could easily be overlooked, but I found it + was beyond moved as I turned each page + realized the treasure in my hands.

This page has a velum overlay with the geese printed on the velum
+ the background printed on a backing paper.

This is a beautiful poem about really looking at,
noticing + appreciating the details in nature.

I would love to hear about the greatest treasure you ever found at a thrift shop.

BACK TO WORK

After relaxing for over a week, I have to get back to LALA dex work.

• (L) The glossy mailer for the studio show I am doing next weekend features my Human Fly broadside. I am so exited about this show!
• (R) A stack of recycled blue medical folders to be used for a Christmas Card commission.

I came home to a big box on my porch, inside was this book from my oldest friend in Los Angeles (we've been friends since we were 12 + have stayed in touch for most of that time). It was signed by the author with the message "Come back! Look what you are missing."

Right now we are in need of a new couch. We have DWR taste, but not a DWR budget. This is my next personal challenge: I want to find a GREAT vintage couch at a SUPER affordable price.

WHAT I DID DURING MY LUNCH HOUR

This MEME was posted by Kristyn @ Goodness. It was raining, I had my iPod + lunch at my desk, so I decided to play along. I will say that I only have 1 Johnny Cash CD on my iPod + thankfully my life is much better than this soundtrack plays out.

If your life were a soundtrack, what would the music be?

Here's how it works:
1. open your library (iTunes, media player, iPod)
2. put it on shuffle
3. press play
4. for every question, type the song that's playing
5. new question-- press the next button
6. don't lie and try to pretend you're cool

Opening Credits:
I Walk the Line- Johnny Cash
(wait, is this the soundtrack to someone else's life?)

Waking Up:
Avenues- Whiskytown
(nice tune to wake up to)

First Day At School:
Starlight Diner- Ryan Adams
(career progression from Waking Up)

Falling in Love:
The Perfect Kiss- New Order
(certainly the perfect kiss will be the start to the perfect relationship)

Prom:
Swallowed By the Sea- Coldplay
(played at the “Under the sea” themed prom)

Breaking Up:
I Love You- Sarah McLachlin
(bittersweet, I guess prom did not go so well)

Life's Okay:
Ring of Fire- Johnny Cash
(I went down, down, down/ and the flames got higher. good thing Mental Breakdown is next)

Mental Breakdown:
Take It With Me- Tom Waits
(it was a slow descent, probably involving whisky being tossed on those flames)

Driving:
Kentucky Woman- Neil Diamond
(what-da-ya-know, KY is a bordering state. perhaps I end up in a mental institution there)

Flashback:
Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens- Louis Jordan
(am I still in the institution?)

Getting Back Together:
Tougher Than the Rest- Bruce Springsteen
(ok, fine! I’ll give you another chance)

Wedding:
Two Hearts- Chris Isaak
(perfect! all of you are invited)

Birth of a Child:
High and Dry- Radiohead
(abandonment issues??)

Final Battle:
Wheel of the Broken Voice- Sam Phillips
(fitting given the way this iPod shuffle-mode life has worked out)

Death Scene:
Marie, Marie- The Blasters
(a great rockin' tribute if my name were Marie)

Funeral Song:
Cry, Cry, Cry- Johnny Cash
(fitting title, but lyrics better suited for Breaking Up)

End Credits:
Before They Make Me Run- The Rolling Stones
(After all is said and done/ I did alright, I had my fun/ I gotta walk before they make me run)

CHANGING

If you were looking for LALA dex press you are in the right place, I have decided to make the change to beta Blogger. Actually, I decided to make the change because I was tired of the green template I was using (impulse choice!) + wanted a cleaner look. I also want to create a banner + will have to figure out where to put it in the HTML. Don't be surprised if I come knocking on your door asking for a little help (I'm looking at you, Trudi, but I'll wait until things quiet down).
I'm off to another Jiu-Jitsu class! Shona

REFRESHED

For the past few days I have taken a much needed break after all my work preparing for the Off The Beaten Path show. Tonya, who came by Claudia's, has a wonderful post about her day touring the studios.
On Friday I got to cross the second show off my list. This consisted of a beautiful drive about 100 miles east to deliver my items for the Holiday Festival. I just drop off + pick up, they do the rest + I don't even need to be there for the show!
During the last couple of days I have done regular life things that don't involve book binding or gnomes, like going for walks with my boy + Monk, cooking + not eating as much cereal for dinner. This little break has been nice after focusing on LALA dex work for over a month. We also had somewhat unexpected guests (we knew they were visiting, but did not know when they would arrive) which was a reason to CLEAN.
All of the gnome cards I printed in August are gone + with 2 weeks before the 3rd show I'll get to spend some more time with the little guys.

On tap for tonight is homemade veggie lasagnia + Treehouse of Horror!

Enjoy your night! ~Shona

P.S. I have not taken these shoes off since finding them,
(except when I shower + sleep, Kristin)

OFF THE BEATEN PATH pt.2

First off I offer you images which may help you understand why this studio tour is called Off The Beaten Path. We were # 7 of 11 studios on the tour. The house at the top right is the original farm house which is now on only 6 acres + next to a cow field. It has a lot of charm + character (+ a great story involving spinster sisters who stopped talking to eachother + divided the house in 2), but sometimes is not very practical. The bottom right photo is the barn + Claudia's "dry studio," which was built 2 years ago. An old enclosed garage (not pictured) acts as her "wet studio," where she does all her paper making. Photos cannot convey how wonderful this area is, I told one visitor that coming to her studio feels like a little vacation to me.

Claudia started out in textiles before moving into paper making + has started knitting again. A friend of ours had an abundance of wool from her 4 different colored llamas (Carlito, Isabella, Sorprisa + Lupe) so she gave some to Claudia, who made some homespun yarn + knit a bunch of winter caps. The cap on the right was my gift to myself for all the work I have done for these shows. All 4 llamas were included in each hat which made for wonderful patterns.

This is the inside of the dry studio

On a side note: it's funny because you can spot the husbands who have been dragged around from studio to studio because they initially look bored + become really interested in the machinery involved, like my press + Claudia's hollander.

• (L) The galley window in the back gallery with my prints displayed across a string.
• (R) Some of Claudia's stitched hand made paper pieces. I think they resemble Shaker village maps, but with much more color.

This is not a show I do really well at because most of the visitors tend to be interested in traditional crafts but I come back every year because I love being able to spend the weekend at this wonderful place, with great company + chatting with new people. We are already planning next year's show.

Have a wonderful night
~Shona

ALL HALLOWS' EVE

Last night we took a walk around our neighborhood to see the Halloween decorations. The house on the left was not decorated, but it is the most lavish, beautiful + spooky house on Main St. Some houses had gruesome decorations which intrigued the adults + REALLY scared small children, but we enjoyed the plywood witch + cat silhouette with a beautiful gauze moon backdrop. It was the most wonderful Halloween night with fog in sky + a chill in the air.