GreenSpaceGoods

The Wreck

2011-09-06T19:39:00.000-07:00

It's been almost a month since a driver broadsided us, tossing our car across the highway into the oncoming traffic lane. I'm very thankful that we both walked away from that car. It's difficult to know what to say or how to feel. This ordeal has been painful, frightening and frustrating, and yet I know how lucky we are. I've spent countless hours on the phone with insurance companies, rental car agencies, and car dealerships wishing every moment that this could all go away and I could have my car and my life back exactly as it was. So while it may seem incredibly petty, I was more than a little thrilled when I got a package in the mail from Sasha Bell.

You see, the day of the wreck, I was wearing my favorite pair of earrings (handmade by Sasha) and at some point while we were flipping and rolling, one of them was ripped from my ear. The next day when we were able to visit the car to salvage any belongings that weren't destroyed, I was only able to find one piece of the poor earring. I sent a note to Sasha, explaining what happened and asking how much a repair would cost. I nearly cried when she offered to fix them for free. I know it sounds silly to get emotional over an earring. But it's really about much more than that. An act of kindness is like a glimmer of light in the dark. Despite all that has been taken from us, I feel a little better about the world knowing that there are people like Sasha Bell in it. I currently own three pieces of her jewelry, but I hope to collect many more over the years. If you're looking for something truly special, from a truly special artist and person, please check out Sasha's shop. Each piece is crafted with pride and love that she passes on to her customers. I may not feel completely whole again yet, but one small piece is back in place.
Sasha Bell Jewelry

Unleash the Kraken!!!!

2011-03-01T09:54:00.000-08:00

Hooray! Our ImageKind shop is open, so you can now purchase prints of many of the wonderful eVille illustrations. Please take a moment to check them out. We appreciate all of the support we've received over the last year. There is still a rough road ahead of us. Many startups don't make it very far past launch. We hope we're not in that bucket, but only time will tell. You can see our prints for sale here. The Kraken above is one of my all time favorites. There was the opportunity to make him dark and super scary, but our game requires a certain level of contrast for the images to be seen in thumbnail form. Besides, I eventually decided that a giant pink monster on a lovely summer day was far more humorous. Someday, I'd love to see him made into a plush toy so I could throw it on people while yelling "UNLEASH THE KRAKEN!!!!". It's the little things in life :)

And of course, if you have time, you can check out the game on Facebook.

The Pit of Despair

2011-02-24T11:38:00.000-08:00

Working on eVille has given me a great opportunity to brainstorm fun ideas for various card art. The Pit of Despair kept coming up while we were trying to think of cards that could protect your buildings, but for the longest time, no one could figure out how to make a pit interesting. We weren't trying to recreate the pit from The Princess Bride, which really was a torture chamber. We really wanted it to feel more like a booby trap. The trouble is, everyone thinks of seeing a pit from the top, rather than the bottom. Jason finally came up with a brilliant sketch. I illustrated it, and must admit that it has become one of my favorites. Unfortunately, this type of card is more downplayed inside the game, and so the artwork cannot be appreciated as often as others that are in the spotlight. Hopefully we'll be able to sell prints of some of the card art soon, allowing fans to take their own favorites home. You can see more art (and have some fun too) by checking out eVille on Facebook.

A Little Post Valentine's Day Round Up

2011-02-20T11:14:00.000-08:00

Over the last year, I've been working more in illustration than ever before. I still end up doing lots of User Interface work, because well- it needs to be done, but most of my joy comes from completing an illustration. My current project is eVille, a card and location based Facebook game. Now that the game is live, I hope to share some of the pieces I've contributed to it a little at a time. These are two from our limited edition Valentine pack, The Florist, and Bad Cupid.

It's difficult for me to grasp where exactly I fit in the illustration world. Almost all of the pieces for the game, including the ones above, were originally sketched by Jason English, a extremely talented concept artist. I don't have the right kind of mind for translating an image in my head to paper I suppose, but when it comes to taking the sketch and making it come to life in digital form- that I can do. Both are vector images created in Adobe Photoshop.

You can see these guys in action inside the Facebook game here.

Yackle Snarling?

2010-07-19T20:43:00.000-07:00

We just finished this creepy little piece in our moleskin. While we never know what our ink drawings are going to turn out to be, this one makes me think of Yackle from the Wicked series (except that I believe in the books she was described as toothless). We've been so consumed this year with work that we've spent little time on art, and obviously, on the blog– but that may change soon. If all goes as planned, we may have a small show sometime in the winter that we'll be preparing for over the next few months. More details to come, but you can be sure there will be lots of ink and probably lots more creepiness.

July Brings New Things and Old Ones

2010-07-07T19:26:00.000-07:00

There are some people in your life that you always expect to be there. You've shared experiences that are irreplaceable and at some point formed a bond that has held tight. It's easy to say that I don't care for talking on the phone and that my trips back home are so short that I rarely see anyone who isn't family. It's easy to say it's a two way street. It is not so easy to accept that someone I consider to be a dear old friend just became a daddy for the second time, and I have yet to meet the first child.
When his first daughter was born, I saw a few pictures on Facebook, most of the child alone and one of the family together, but it was all too surreal to take in. I was, of course, very happy for them. Today, I saw a very different picture with the new daddy next to the hospital bed, peering down at his two daughters and it really hit me how much of this person's life I've actually missed. It seems like too many friends have slipped through the cracks. We've all taken different paths, and while I do not regret mine, I do feel a sadness at the loss of all of these shared joys, all of the birthdays and congratulations that have been passed by. I hope they all feel my love somehow, even when it goes unsaid or unseen.

New Adventures for 2010

2010-04-03T07:59:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since my late post. They seem to keep getting further and further apart. The company that I'm now a partner in has been working mostly in stealth mode, which means I haven't been at liberty to show much of my work. Now however, we're getting closer to launch and have started some promotion, so I feel it's time to open up. The name of the game is eVille, a digital card game to be initially released for iPhone, but of course, we hope to carry it to other platforms as well. I'm currently responsible for UI and a good chunk of the illustration work, which I share with two other artists. For SXSW, we released a limited edition Armazilla card concepted by Jason English and illustrated by yours truly which you can see above. A facebook fan page has also been started where I'll be showing sneak peeks of new card art, UI, and game mechanics. Please fan the page if you'd like to stay updated. It should be a pretty fun ride :)

eVille fan page

A Few Words is All it Takes

2009-10-16T11:33:00.000-07:00

It recently came to my attention that I've lived on the north side of Atlanta for nearly 10 years. Oddly enough, it still doesn't feel much like home, but every day, Michael and I drive past the Spruill Art Gallery. It is situated on the corner of Ashford Dunwoody Rd and Meadow, very near our apartment. As long as I can remember, they've rotated out colorful mural installations on the side of a shed beside the gallery, the sight of which brightens the intersection and has always filled me with joy.

Earlier this year, the murals were replaced with the words "Everything will be ok" in black paint on a dingy white background. Initially, I disliked the sign. I felt that whoever painted it had taken all of the color and joy of the murals away and dumped this black and white "blah" in their place. But then… it hasn't exactly been an easy year. Bad days have been followed by worse months, and many are in far dire situations than we. There was a particularly bad day that we passed the sign and I read it- perhaps really understood the words for the first time and had to hold back a few tears. The words do not promise that everything is going to be super-duper awesome tomorrow. They don't sugar coat the situation, or pretend that things aren't bad. They simply state that it will be ok. We will manage. We will get by as we always have and there will be a brighter day than today. Not perfect, but ok. There is a lot of comfort in those words and I deeply appreciate the individual that painted them there. In the months since, they have lifted my spirits on many occasions, and I can only imagine how many others they have touched by their sincerity and truth.

Introducing- Tweetery

2009-10-14T15:08:00.000-07:00

Illustration Friday- Fly

I'm SO excited to finally be able to share this! For the past several months, Michael and I have been trying to figure out the next steps in our lives and during that process, we started building an iPhone application with some of our former co-workers. The result is Tweetery, a gorgeous little Twitter client designed and illustrated by yours truly. It's packed with plenty of the features you'd expect, and perhaps a few you don't- such as the ability to temporarily mute an overzealous tweeter! No more follow Friday madness! Just turn them off for the day! We're really proud of what has been accomplished and there is much more to come. We have a slew of features waiting in the wings to make the Twitter experience a true pleasure. Please help us out by spreading the word or downloading the app yourself! It will be $0.99 this week only!

See it on iTunes.
Check out the app site.

The Four Elizas

2009-07-31T08:47:00.001-07:00

"modify" for IF

Eliza was one of my submissions to The Doodle Off V.3. She was originally drawn in dark blue ink, but this grid of four colors suits her better. I don't normally modify my art this way, but sometimes things just feel right.

It's been a beautiful summer. I never look forward to fall. Fall means winter isn't far behind. We've been slowly cleaning out the apartment, trying to find new homes for things we don't really need. I feel tied down when I'm surrounded by too much clutter. I'm thinking about attempting to organize some box swaps with friends in other states so we can exchange things that the other person may find useful. We've been doing this randomly for the past few years, but never planned. A yard sale is still in order, but how do you do that from an apartment?? It seems strange to me. Some vintage things will likely end up on Etsy. Selections from my letterpress collection will be in that group. Part of me hates to give them up, but I have so many! There is just this itchy feeling in the air telling me it's time for a change.

Flinging Paint

2009-06-21T07:34:00.000-07:00

I've been experimenting lately with combinations of paint and ink. The ink is less apparent in these that I finished yesterday, but I have in my mind something that looks almost like a topographic map overlaid on top of the paint. These are very sketchy, which I like. There is less precision and more intuition than I'm used to. I need a good name for the lips. I was thinking of something silly like "Mustard", but if you have any ideas, shout them out! They will both be listed in the shop shortly :)

The Red Coat Prints!!!!

2009-06-16T12:43:00.000-07:00

Finally! We have finally managed to turn The Red Coat into a beautiful 5x7 print! For a long time, the delicate stippling in the snow seemed impossible to reproduce, but now I've got it worked out! Only $9 in the shop. :).

Possible Wallet Designs

2009-05-26T14:04:00.000-07:00

Finally submitted some wallet designs based on our artwork. If they agree to make them, Leila or Wicked Wasabi could cuddle your cash sometime soon. If you like them, please say so over on the flickr pages below.
Leila.
Wicked Wasabi.

Wood Panel Drawings

2009-05-14T13:29:00.000-07:00

Here are some more of my favorites that I've entered in the doodle off. The first is "The Wood Dweller" and the second is "The Lady and the Dragon". I highly recommend this type of competition. It's very low pressure, but it really has forced me to draw more freely. I haven't gotten this much practice in years. I found these little wood panels in the garage and they're just the right size for carrying to the coffee shop to draw. See more doodle entries at the official Doodle Off blog.

IF- The Monster Parade!

2009-05-12T08:14:00.000-07:00

Just finished this doodle for IF and for The Doodle Off V.3, but my current favorite is just below the monsters. I'm calling it- "The Sail Tail". See more of my doodle entries and those of many others at official Doodle Off blog.

More Doodles

2009-05-04T09:43:00.001-07:00

Are you sensing a trend? Yep. More doodles! This was my favorite of yesterday's doodles. I'm testing out some new pens on different substrates. I don't care for how the ink bleeds into the wood grain. I think I'm going to try another piece on wood with graphite and perhaps some paint. Show the other competitors some love and visit the official Doodle Off blog .

Doodles!

2009-05-03T10:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I think I'm only going to list my favorite doodles of mine from the Doodle Off here. No sense in duplicating everything from the Doodle Off blog! I think the first is some sort of Tiki Ostrich. Visit the official Doodle Off blog to see the more doodles from all of the competitors! So far, I'm good for #1-8 of 150.

Doodles #2-3

2009-05-01T21:57:00.001-07:00

Seems like I'm getting a slow start on the doodle off! #2 is a sort of angler fish and #3- no clue. I love the creepy top portion though. Visit the official Doodle Off blog to see the competition unfold!

The Doodle Off V.3!!!!

2009-04-30T09:49:00.000-07:00

I've entered the Doodle Off V.3 and I'm super excited!! I'll be blogging about it here as it moves forward. The competition officially starts May 1st and you can check out all of the doodle action here. We've started writing our introductory posts. Here is mine:

Nice ta meech ya!
I'm Lani. My official business card title is "Pixel Wrangler" but I'm just an all around crafty gal. My other internet persona is GreenSpaceGoods. Most of my doodling ends up in the Ink Blot Collection, an artistic venture between Michael Ayers and I. This will be some of my first public solo doodlage.

Location:
Atlanta, GA

Strategy:
No clue! I guess finding those lost little bits of time and putting them to good use. Also doodling up large sheets of paper so I can scan or photograph several at once.

What I hope to gain:
Relaxation in my doodling. Most of my doodling is actually what I consider finished art, so I rarely take time for "just for the heck of it" doodling. I worry too much about perfection and need to break that habit.

Peace Out!

A Very Yummy Painting

2009-04-11T13:12:00.000-07:00

Goodness it's been a while! Michael and I have been deathly ill and it turns out that I've perforated my eardrum, so we've been doing more resting than crafting. I did get a little spurt of energy the other day though and started pondering the idea of a series of vintage soda bottle paintings. I'm trying to practice being more relaxed in my art. I've always been a photorealism and rulers girl when it comes to drawing specific objects, so this time I tried to draw and paint everything without fussy measurements and exact perspective. I'm pretty happy with the results. I love Yoo-Hoo and the graphics on the vintage bottles (far before my time) are so pretty. I believe this one is from the 1950's. If you have any suggestions for the next bottle painting, leave them in the comments. Off to take some more meds. Hope everyone is well and having a good weekend :)

Thank You SevenPly

2009-03-22T10:14:00.000-07:00

We both admit to being classic procrastinators, so it's no surprise that we waited to the last minute to figure out what gift to give a certain special girl for her birthday. She's a skateboarding fashionista so after scouring the internet for accessory awesomness, it finally it hit us- a recycled skateboard pocket mirror! There's only one issue- finding one. After contacting several skateboard jewelry artists, we were finally rescued by SevenPly. I can only attempt to put into words how fantastic they are. Not only did they take on the challenge of making us a product they'd never attempted before, but they took it on as a rushed order as well. They kindly and professionally listened to every detail we requested, patiently bent to our every whim and even made multiples for us to choose from. The result is fabulous. I hope that they make many more of these. I wouldn't mind having one for myself! Please check out their shop here. And if you're reading this SevenPly- keep up the good work. You haven't seen the last of us :)

Making Progress

2009-03-12T11:57:00.001-07:00

I've been working on this drawing for a few days now. I think all of the ink work is done, but I'm not sure where I want to go with it from here. I think it would be nice as a water color, but the ink is already down, so I don't want to ruin it with water. I could digitally color it, but I just haven't decided yet. Any opinions out there? She needs a good name too. Leave a comment with your suggestion :)

You May Have to Fight Me for It.

2009-02-25T10:29:00.000-08:00

Have you ever made something that you just don't really want to give up? I'm still debating on this one. Blue and orange are my two favorite colors (this week), so I'm finding it difficult to part with this little number. Besides, who could resist that tiger??? Otherwise, things are well. We woke up this morning to a sweet sight. A mourning dove decided our flower basket would make a good napping spot. I guess it is rather nest-like. We tried not to disturb her, and she stayed puffed up there for quite a while. Happy Wednesday!

Bottle Caps Ready for Spring

2009-02-23T11:01:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited about this color combination! This shade of deep pink is rather hard to find, so we have to tip our hats to the wonderful people who have sent us their bottle caps that made this bracelet possible. With the green and pink looking both funky and fresh, I'm certain that this bracelet would feel at home at a dance club or a Sunday brunch without a problem. What more could a girl ask for? Go check out all of the other angles of it in the shop.

Still a few more to finish, so stay tuned! We hope to have these finished this week.

A Post Valentine's Wish List

2009-02-17T12:01:00.000-08:00

So lately there have been a few items that have been tugging at my heart strings on Etsy and since it's been a while since we've had a good feature, here goes!

Ok. I admit it. I may not celebrate Valentine's day, but when I saw the secret decoder valentine by Crankbunny, I swooned. Words cannot describe how much I admire Crankbunny for her amazing skills.

I never considered myself to be a bag collector, but it certainly is turning out that way! Moop makes sturdy canvas bags that are meant to survive life and make it easier to get through. My love lies with the market bag in provincial blue.

Last but certainly not least is this license plate frame by Randitan. Seriously, it already looks like something that belongs in this house! I adore the rough puzzle quality it has and color combination is perfect.

I so wish I had found these before my birthday. Anyone up for Christmas in March?

Finally!

2009-02-17T11:28:00.000-08:00

We have some prints for sale in the shop! Hopefully we'll have a wider offering soon, but in the meantime, there are a few ink blots and one of my personal favorites– The Green Fairy. In other news, our Amaryllis just bloomed and they are lovely, so we thought we should share :) Have a good week everyone!

Eagerly Awaiting Spring

2009-02-13T13:15:00.000-08:00

A few of the trees in our apartment complex have started to bloom. We've had some unusually warm weather which has actually made it rather pleasant here. Still, I know the cold will return before too long. There is a large tree in our "front yard" that is always stunning in the Spring and is the biggest reason I'll hate to move when the time comes. Its blossoms are rather frilly and pink, which anyone can tell you isn't my style, but for some reason I've become particularly attached to it peeking into our balcony view. Its trunk is slightly twisted and I imagine if it had been fortunate enough to have been planted in a garden rather than an apartment complex, its branches would be perfect for sitting in and enjoying a good book. It's helped this place feel more like a home despite the tiny kitchen and slippery steps. Call me a tree hugger if you like. Sometimes they are just as welcoming as a good friend.

Time is Marching On

2009-02-03T20:04:00.000-08:00

I need to make something– badly. We've everything but shut down the shop since being laid off, and now I just can't seem to create anything. I have some good ideas, but I feel like exerting energy on anything other than the job hunt is not making progress. Then again, more portfolio pieces can't hurt either. I've considered working on some more digital illustration pieces, but I'm not sure what to create. At my last job, most of the illustration work I had the chance to do was around Christmas due to the shear volume of holiday themed products we pitched, so it would be nice to have something that shows what I can create without the use of tinsel and garland. If there are any ideas out there, please toss them my way :)

Hope everyone is having a good week.

New Beginnings

2009-01-22T09:20:00.000-08:00

So it's been a little over two weeks since the our own personal recession began, and although nothing permanent has come along yet, we have a few good leads. In the meantime, I was able to get my new portfolio site up and running. (Thank you Michael) He was good enough to put together the technical bits for mine first, so his is still in progress. Other than some additional pieces I'll be adding to it and a few minor tweaks, I believe it's ready to be shown to potential employers. Feel free to take a look.

Closing a Chapter

2009-01-08T13:33:00.000-08:00

Dearest reader, I know we've always kept our more personal and professional experiences to ourselves, but in light of recent events, we felt the need to share. On Tuesday, our office was closed forever without warning and Michael and I now find ourselves jobless along with all of our beloved former coworkers. Luckily, we're both fairly level headed and decent with saving money (Thanks Dad. I get it from you.), so we'll be alright for a while. We hope that you will keep us in your prayers while we feverishly update our resumes and build the portfolio sites that honestly should have been done years ago. We may be absent from the blog for a while, but if anyone has an opening for a Graphic Designer or an Interactive Flash App Developer, both with experience working with one of the largest social networking platforms - let us know.

Lani Mathis
Graphic Designer

Michael Ayers
Senior Application Developer

contact@greenspacegoods.com

We'll be sure to link to the new portfolio sites when they're finished. Until then- peace out.

Two Painted Pups and a Partridge in a Pear Tree…

2008-12-27T07:22:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post to reveal a project I've been working on. Meet Nemo and Bailey, two sweet pups that belong to Michael's grandmother and mother. I've been in a bit of a painting mood lately, and so this darling pair were made for their Christmas presents. (and they were a big hit!)

I'll admit that I was heavily influenced by Berkley, who is an amazing artist who specializes in clothed animals. I highly recommend you check out his shop here. Keep a lookout for more paintings in the new year. I hope to move more in that direction, incorporating found objects as makeshift canvases (not clothed animals I'm afraid. I'll leave that to Berkley). Let me know what paintings you'd like to see by leaving a comment below. As you can see from the great void on the left, we're taking a break from the shop until Jan. 5th for some much needed r&r.
We hope everyone is having a happy and restful holiday.
Peace out :)

Let It Begin!

2008-12-16T20:31:00.000-08:00

Yes, the title is stolen from the movie Bolt. If you haven't been yet, go see it. Seriously.

Gosh! We've been so swamped with the holiday whirlwind that I haven't written in almost a month! Today I'm sharing some of our seasonal finds that have helped supply us with warmth in our drafty little place, even if it be the proverbial warmth not found spatting from our space heater. Above you'll see our little tree. This adorable addition is actually smartly sculpted rosemary, an apartment (and eco) friendly alternative to both cut and artificial trees. The fresh scent is guaranteed to lift your winter worn spirit perhaps even better than the more traditional spruce and a few snipped sprigs can be added to season or garish your holiday meal.
Of course, if you have ornaments that are too large for a table top tree, we recommend displaying them elsewhere. Ours are hung on a pot rack (which was rescued from a yard sale).

My favorite ornaments this year are our little alphabet block house by ArtByHeather and our bunny rabbit tags (used as ornaments) by BelleAndBoo. If you're looking for something unique and nostalgic, you should definitely check out their shops.

Hopefully we'll be back to blogging soon with some more neat things we've been up to. There are a few crafty gifts that will have to wait until after Christmas for us to show, but stay tuned for our ginger bread house post. We promise that we've assembled something special this year :) Last, but not least, please give a big round of applause to Michael who finally sewed the bells on his stocking (on the left, below). It's been waiting a whole year for them! If we don't squeeze in another post before Christmas, we wish you all warmth, safety, and mental stability as you go forth into this consumerist wonderland and we suggest you repeat three questions in your mind while gift hunting: Do they actually want it? Do they actually need it? Should it actually cost this?
Peace out.

A Trial Run with BioBags

2008-11-20T06:55:00.000-08:00

If you are not familiar with the BioBags, they produce biodegradable bags in various sizes made from corn. It's a great idea in theory. Inside a plastic bag, garbage doesn't have access to the microorganisms needed to break down quickly, not to mention how much plastic those bags are piling into our landfills. Here come BioBags, 100% biodegradable so you can feel good about putting less plastic in the landfill and you know that anything biodegradable in your trash will be turning back into soil much faster. Great right? Well, yes. Unfortunately there are some shortcomings that I think BioBag is going to have to work through before most consumers would consider the switch.

1. They are expensive- VERY expensive. We decided to try them under the condition that we wouldn't put anything large that could be carried separately in them so the box would last longer.

2. Once full, bundling them up to go to take them out is a bit more difficult than we expected. There are no fancy handles to tie together, and no twisty ties in the box. Hmmm.... So we tie and wrestle the bag as best we can down to the trash bin. It isn't exactly an easy or enjoyable experience.

3. Their biggest flaw is also their biggest selling point- being biodegradable. Since we could be considered eco-junkies and we recycle so much of what comes into our apartment, we only take out about one bag of trash every 2-3 weeks. That means that if anything damp gets in that bag (as it did this week) there is a good chance of the entire bottom disintegrating before we're quite ready for it to. The result is a really nasty mess and an expensive wasted bag.

These things considered, we still really like the idea of BioBags. It especially makes sense for those with a yard for a compost pile and a house where trash only has to be put out to the street. In an apartment, it's just very difficult. Without making some changes to meet the competition, I can't see BioBags becoming a real player in the consumer market and I wish they were. A diverse competitive market means better products for everyone and hopefully better products for the planet as companies try to jump on the eco-trend that is currently captivating consumers. Our dream trash bag: Hefty with drawstring+ BioBags.

The Wise Eyed Quail Boat

2008-11-07T06:34:00.000-08:00

Our entry for Illustration Friday "wise".

This is a pretty Ink Blot we started during our Florida trip and recently finished. One of our friends recently noted that she could gauge our stress levels by our ink blots. This one is probably a pretty good example! I think that's a great testament to why artists must create. It's an outlet for all of those trapped thoughts and feelings. We decided for some reason that "Quail Boat" seemed to fit this one. All of a sudden I remembered a children's book I love called The Story of Ping. In the story, Ping the duck lives in the wise eyed boat on the Yangtze river. Therefore, we now have The Wise Eyed Quail Boat. You'll probably see this one in the shop some time over the weekend. We just need to frame it. Oh, and if you have children or just enjoy a good story like I do, check out Ping. It's wonderful.

Ink Blot Illustration: Woolly Dragon

2008-11-01T21:10:00.000-07:00

We have to admit that coming up for a name for this one was really difficult. Is it a dragon? A creepy guy? Some mutant sperm? Finally, it was decided that a woolly mammoth and a Chinese dragon had a complicated love affair and this was the result. (Please don't notify the asylum. We're fine. Really…) I'd like to incorporate more of the 'fur' technique used on his chin in other pieces. I'm liking it. So feel free to come up with your own name for this cheerful specimen and leave it in the comments for us :) And if you fancy him enough, he will be listed for sale in the shop tomorrow.

Oh, and thank you to everyone who voted on our Halloween pumpkins!!!! I am happy to say that my (Lani) Day of the Dead Sugar Skull pumpkin won 46 to 29 (not that I'm gloating or anything :D ) Michael's Franken-Tiki was truly awesome and he's only sulking a little.
Have a good week everyone!

Pumpkin Carving Throw Down!!!

2008-10-29T11:51:00.000-07:00

NEW!- I wrote this in a new post, but I forgot that a lot of you are probably linking directly to this post, soooooo I'll put the message here too- The Day of the Dead pumpkin is mine (Lani) and the Franken-Tiki pumpkin is Michael's. And I am happy to announce that I won! We hope everyone had a happy Halloween. Thanks for voting!!! :)

Hello people!!! To get into the Halloween spirit, Michael and I spent the greater portion of this week working on some special pumpkins and practicing our smack talk. Each of us came up with our secret pumpkin design plans and now we're ready to hear what you think! We won't tell who carved which pumpkin until the votes are in! Please vote between:

Thanks and Happy Halloween!!!!

Remembering What Was ~ Florida Trip

2008-10-22T18:53:00.000-07:00

We just wanted to share some pics from the Florida trip. Gosh they make me want to go back!! Michael and I had a friendly competition going to see who could take the best pictures, so I was being extra artsy with mine this trip. I combined them into one large image, so click on it to open the full sized version in a new window if you'd like. They look too cramped to me inside the blog :)

Party Squids Reinvented!!!!

2008-10-21T06:32:00.000-07:00

We are back! Florida was lovely. The week after vacation is always the hardest. I dearly miss the cool waves washing over my feet, but with all of this warm weather longing, there is still a ray of sunshine in this little head of mine, 'cause we can now reveal the super secret project!!!!!
A long time ago, Michael's little sister saw a drawing of mine called "Party Squids". It was just a silly ink blot I'd made for Michael before we started drawing together. Well, she fell in love with it, so this year when she also fell in love with skateboarding, we decided she should have some party squids of her own. We gave it to her this week, so now the rest of the world can see it too. Get ready to be bombarded with Squids…

The last one is some fancy grip tape cutting that Michael did on the other side. Yeah, I know I may have gotten carried away with the pics, but hey, why not? This is our first skateboard deck and we're pretty happy with the results. Don't worry, this one will be hanging on her wall rather than riding down the road. We have 4 more decks to illustrate, so we'll see what happens :)

Time to Get on the Road

2008-10-10T11:37:00.000-07:00

Well, we're off to Florida for a week in the fine sunshine. All of our coworkers have been threatened with bodily harm should they choose to call us during the trip. The Etsy shop is set to vacation mode, but we'll still be accepting emails. And so we'll leave you for now with this lovely ink blot domino that will be made into a pendant when we return. This one reminds me of a thousand quilts my grandmother made. A bit of lace, squares of fabric savaged from old dresses, and a bit of delicate stitching. Oh, and down below is an awesome pic that Miss Courageous sent us of her wearing her bottle cap bracelet she won in the Bottle Cap Challenge. Congrats again! Have a good week everyone!

Wrapping Up the Bottle Cap Challenge… Literally.

2008-10-07T20:09:00.001-07:00

Whew! The last of the Bottle Cap Challenge thank you packages will be sent out tomorrow! I couldn't resist making some cute little thank you notes special for the event as you can see above. All of the prints of Whole Hearted Half Toned are printed on 100% recycled paper and the cello bags are completely biodegradable and compostable (made from corn). We're also really excited to show the grand prize! Below is the custom bracelet made specially for our 1st place winner. She did an awesome job picking out the caps that adorn it. Thank you to everyone for making this such a fun experience!

A Starry Eyed Soliloquy

2008-10-06T10:31:00.001-07:00

We just finished this rockstar-esque bracelet for one of our coworkers. We liked the idea of the stars so much that we cut enough for two bracelets, the second of which will be listed in the shop in a few days. This is going to be a super busy week because Saturday we leave for Florida!!!! Hooray!!!! I need this break. We'll be gone for a solid week. When we return, we'll be able to reveal the secret project we've been working on. I think this is going to shape up to be an interesting month overall. :)

A Little Birdie Told Me…

2008-10-02T06:21:00.001-07:00

… that it's time to freshen up the shop. It's amazing how time gets away from you. I'm hoping we can update sometime next week with some new items. It seems like we've been distracted with a million other things. In case anyone was wondering, we did find enough gas to get us to my parent's house to paint my mom's kitchen (the gas shortage here in Atlanta has been awful). She loved the color we picked out (called "Drizzle") and the apple painting. I'll be on the hunt this weekend for more plaques to paint. If anyone has any suggestions about what I should paint, leave them here :) I was thinking coffee cups or pears, but I have no idea what people hang in their kitchens.

How 'Bout Them Apples?

2008-09-22T19:33:00.000-07:00

So amidst all of the bottle cap craziness, we're going to my mother's house this weekend to paint her kitchen. Since Michael's family lives in the same city as we do, they often benefit from our free labor. While she tries not to show it, I know my mom wishes we were around to help her too. It's never easy balancing the family, but we do try to keep things as fair as possible. The apples above are a little something I whipped up yesterday afternoon to hang above her stove. They're cute right? I rescued this wooden plaque from Goodwill. It had a respectable, but really outdated painting of an eagle on it. After sanding down the old chipping paint and cleaning up the pretty brass hanger, I thought it could use some color. She doesn't have internet, so I don't worry much about spoiling surprises. I think I may try to find more of these plaques to salvage. Does anyone think there is a market for this sort of thing? They'd be something different in the shop. I've been in a painting mood.

In other news- Bottle Cap Challenge Participants - it looks like our protective cello bags won't be arriving until next week, but your prints will be mailed out as soon as they arrive. Oh yeah, and they're biodegradable too! Thank you for your patience :)

Bottle Cap Challenge Winners!!!!

2008-09-20T06:51:00.000-07:00

We're very happy to announce the winners of the 2008 Bottle Cap Challenge!!! The contest was a great success. We greatly appreciate all of the entries. All of the caps we've received will soon be turned into fabulous bracelets for the shop. We'll be contacting the winners over the next few days about their prizes and everyone's complimentary art prints will be mailed out this week, so sit tight! To see how this all began, click here. So without further ado:

Congrats to Miss Courageous for her winning 1st place entry: "Kona Beer"

Congrats to Hoshitora99 for her winning 2nd place entry: "Waialua Soda Works"

Congrats to Amy Skye McCaskie for her winning 3rd place entry: "Henry Weinhard's Root Beer"

Thank you again!

Recycled Bottle Cap Bracelet: Soda Caps

2008-09-08T06:39:00.000-07:00

We were recently asked to make a bracelet with all soda caps for a teacher who couldn't wear beer caps around her students. Soda caps seem to be the most difficult to find since typically, restaurants don't serve them and consumers just trash them. Throw in the sad fact that most sodas are going with plastic packaging these days, and you'll find yourself in our predicament. I sincerely wish that more people out there would buy glass anyway. It's much more easily recycled and it's made from natural materials. Plastic is plastic. Even if you recycle it, eventually it will end up in a landfill, on the side of the road, or in the ocean. Glass can be recycled over and over again, and aluminum is better still since it takes the least amount of energy to recycle. Of course, we've all heard the theories that aluminum cans are linked to Alzheimer's disease, so we'll stick with glass.

In other news, we've officially decided to extend the Bottle Cap Challenge through Sept. 20th for a few late entries we know are on their way. If you haven't put yours in the mail yet, there is still time!!! Do it today! If you don't know what I'm talking about, check it out here.

Local Favorites: World Domination!!!!!!

2008-09-03T20:20:00.000-07:00

This weekend we had a blast at Dad's Garage Theater in the Little 5 Points area of Atlanta, GA. They were performing their annual World Domination TheaterSports Tournament with impov groups from the US, Canada, and France. We used to go to Dad's Garage quite regularly, but it seems like it's been a while since we've had time. I'm so glad we planned ahead and didn't miss this. If you haven't been to an impov show, please make the effort to go. Dad's Garage is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the arts through plays, impov, and classes. Just watch that potty mouth. Anyone , including the actors and audience members can get a "scum box" by saying a dirty word or lewd suggestion. You have to wear this nasty box on your head while the audience sings, "The scum box! The scum box! It's time to wear the scum box! Everyone knows your a dirty bum, when you wear the box of scum!" Ahhh... world domination...
And what a small world it is indeed. The day after we saw World Domination, Michael happened across a neat story on Digg about a social experiment in which someone left a camera on a city bench with a note asking passersby to please take a picture and leave the camera. The author said he would then claim the camera that evening and see what developed. (hahaha) As Michael looked through the pictures, he realized that he recognized the street corner that they were taken on. It was our very own N. Highland Avenue, which we frequent rather often. The article was one of a series in a quirky online magazine called The Plug. Check out the article here. Further investigation led to the discovery that one of the authors is none other than Rene Dellefont, who had hosted World Domination at Dad's Garage the night before. I am just giddy at the coincidence.

It's Elemental My Dear

2008-09-01T10:12:00.001-07:00

In our efforts to add more color (thank you Racheal), we're experimenting with different ways we can dress up the blots. Round one- splatter paint. While I love the splatters, I'm not crazy about their relationship with the blot. I'd like to try some other things with splatter though. I think next we'll try some different colored ink. We think the spike on the right side looks like a radioactive piece of corn. What do you see?

Here is a clue to one of the secret projects we're working on. It's a present, so we'll have to wait until the recipient has it to show off the whole thing. Look for it sometime in October :)

Thank you to everyone who has entered the Bottle Cap Challenge so far. There is still time to send your bottle caps. Don't hesitate to send us a message if you're afraid your caps won't make it by the 10th. We may be extending the contest for a few late entries. Find out more here.

Chattanooga Getaway

2008-08-27T21:39:00.001-07:00

Last weekend, we decided to get away for a little rest and relaxation, so we drove up to Chattanooga, Tennessee for the weekend. Saturday was pretty hot and maybe just a touch miserable, but we had a lot of fun. If anyone is considering going, here is our breakdown:

Chattanooga Aquarium- Definitely go. It may be a touch smaller than the Atlanta Aquarium, but we find it to be much more enjoyable, even when crowded.

Bluff View Art District- Lovely place to hang out. Be sure to check out River Gallery.

Rembrandt's Coffee House- Awesome place for coffee, desert, and atmosphere, but we'd avoid the sandwiches.

Hunter Museum of American Art- We loved the Hunter Museum, partly for the exhibit that happened to be there, but mainly for the little drawing stations they provide for visitors. There is even a magnetic poetry board in one area where you can compose your own poem and leave it for others to read.

Big River Brewery and Restaurant- Decent food. Decent Prices. Nothing fabulous, but service was very good.

Acropolis- Fantastic Greek Food. The owner is a wonderful gentleman who sits in his reserved booth and regularly makes his rounds to check on his guests and make sure they love their meal, and it would be impossible not to. We love this place so much, we've been known to drive all the way to Chattanooga JUST to eat here.

Courtyard Marriott Hotel- It's a room. Honestly, for the money I would have expected a lot more, but it was downtown, clean, and quiet. Parking is in the neighboring parking deck, so be prepared to carry luggage.

So overall I'd say it was a really nice trip. We need more of these. :) Don't forget that you only have a few more days (through Sept 1st) to mail in your caps for the Bottle Cap Challenge! Find out more here.

How's it Feel to Have Your Art in a Museum?

2008-08-24T21:14:00.000-07:00

It's pretty awesome my friends, pretty awesome. Don't worry, we won't forget the little people, whoever you are… I know by now you're looking for the punch line, so... ok, ok. So maybe we don't have anything of ours hanging in the exhibition hall, but hey- we're not complaining. Anyone can feel like a Rembrandt at the Hunter Museum of Art in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The best part about the place in my opinion is that they don't just encourage viewing art, they encourage experiencing it and creating it. In several areas of the museum there are pencils and paper provided and guests are invited to create some art of their own. You can take your masterpiece with you, or leave it at the museum, where they will put it on display in one of the little lounge areas for others to enjoy. So while we were there this weekend, we left a little something behind. The big teeth in blue up there is named Chomper. I wish the picture was better, but hey- not too bad for a camera phone in so-so lighting. *Sigh* We only hope the museum will appreciate our generous contribution :)
Tomorrow I'll post about the entire trip, so stay tuned!

Don't forget that you only have until Sept 1st to mail in your caps for the Bottle Cap Challenge! Find out more here.

Bird Of Paradise?- An Ink Blot

2008-08-22T20:21:00.000-07:00

This is a little blot we drew a while back. I've always thought it would be nice on a t-shirt. It's also a great example of where our logo came from. If you look toward the bottom you'll see a flower like image. That flower or some variation of its design tends to resurface often in our drawings, so it made sense to use it (cleaned up quite a bit) to represent us. Other reoccurring elements include eyes (or other facial features), scales, wings, and swirls. Although we do name each piece, we like for other people to decide what they see. What can you find?

Don't forget that you only have until Sept 1st to mail in your caps for the Bottle Cap Challenge! Find out more here.

Custom Bottle Cap Bracelet

2008-08-18T21:33:00.001-07:00

Last week we received a custom local order from one of our favorite baristas. He couldn't wait for the end of our friendly competition, so he ordered one instead. It's our first request for all beer caps, which is amusing because we just got a request for all soda caps (which are much harder to find). I love the "g" in that center cap. Typography- what a wonderful thing. Don't forget that you could receive one of these for FREE by participating in our Bottle Cap Challenge. Find out more here.

Local Favorites: Marietta Diner

2008-08-17T07:38:00.000-07:00

Now that I have your attention… :)

It's been said that if you try to do everything, you'll do nothing very well. With nearly 500 delicious items on the menu- all served 24 hours a day, Marietta Diner just might be the exception to that rule. Want a hamburger? Ok. Pancakes? No problem. Chicken cordon bleu? Spaghetti? Waffles? Paella? Pot Roast? Crab Cakes? Roast Turkey? Broiled baby lamb chops? Chicken teriyaki? They've got you covered. Oh, and then there is the Greek. The restaurant happens to be Greek owned, which means if you're in the mood for souvlaki, moussaka, gyro, or spanikopita, you're in for a special treat. We've been going for years, and decided to give them a visit this weekend. Even at 11 o'clock at night, the parking lot is overflowing and yet the wait is only about 3 minutes. If you happen to be in the Atlanta area and are in the mood for just about anything (anything extra special that is :), you must give them a try. Check out their feature on Food Network's Diners, Drive In's and Dives here.

In other news- Don't forget to enter The Bottle Cap Challenge to get a complimentary print and the chance to receive a free bottle cap bracelet or store credit!!! Entries are being accepted through Sept. 1st, so get movin'! (See the post below for more details)

Bottle Cap Challenge! Get a Free Bracelet!

2008-08-10T20:08:00.000-07:00

We're always looking for interesting caps to use in our bottle cap bracelets, and to be honest, it's tough. We have several local restaurants who have saved caps for us, but typically you end up with the same old stuff that everyone carries. So we're turning to all of you for help in our quest and offering the chance to get a little something in return. Here's how you could receive a Free Bottle Cap Bracelet and more:

Be on the hunt for the coolest, most awesome, most unique bottle caps you can find. You can send as many different caps as you'd like, and each one will be judged on the following:
1. Color
2. Design
3. Rarity (Very important. We're looking for things we can't find easily.)

Best Bottle Cap: The individual who submits the most awesome cap will receive a free custom bottle cap bracelet with their choice of caps from our inventory (up to 14 caps depending on desired size).

Second and Third Best Caps: The individuals who submit the second and third best caps will receive $20 credit toward any item in our shop or any custom order.

EVERYONE: In exchange for the caps you send us, each individual who participates will receive one free 5 inch x 7 inch print of Whole Hearted Half Tone, one of our favorite ink blot illustrations as our thank you. See it here.

We'll collect caps between now and September 1st. Then, we'll look through them all and choose the three most spectacular caps which will be announced on September 10th. Edit- We are extending the contest for late entries! Anything that makes it here by Sept. 19th is accepted and the winners will be announced Sept 20th. We keep all of your caps for use in our projects, and you get a print and the chance to receive one of the above items. Please understand, only one print will be sent to each individual who participates no matter how many caps you send. If you are interested in participating, please send the caps to:

Michael Ayers
600 Embassy Row, Suite 450
Atlanta, GA 30328

Be sure to include:
1. your caps
2. a written list of the brand of each cap you include (ex: Silver Barq's Root Beer cap)
3. your name
4. email address (we will ONLY contact you if your cap is in the top 3)
5. your return mailing address (this is where we will send your free gift)

While we will faithfully send out all of your free gifts to the addresses provided, we will not be held responsible for lost packages. Thanks for your time and help. You can help us spread the word by putting this handy dandy badge on your blog (if you'd like).

Badge Embed Code:

-Lani and Michael

Robot With a Heart by Jenn Hayes

2008-08-07T22:18:00.000-07:00

Sigh.... I bought this charming linoleum block print almost a year ago from Jenn Hayes, a very talented artist currently pursuing illustration. I've seen several very nice block prints, but this guy just stole my heart. (no pun intended :) He hangs proudly in our living room on an olive green wall which really makes the red in the heart stand out. Surprisingly, we found a fantastic frame for him a Michael's craft store. He's kind of an odd size, but they had a vertical frame meant for three photos that he felt right at home in. A custom framing job couldn't have been better. Please visit Jenn's shop to see some of her other awesome work here.

Reusable Produce Bags: Part 2

2008-08-04T06:13:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I know we've already covered reusable produce bags, but have you seen these??? While we love the first set we bought a while back, 3 bags soon proved to be too few. Since the seller we bought our first set from was pretty backed up in bag orders, we eventually started browsing around. That's when we happened across Lisa Also. Not only are her bags well priced, but they are large, super sturdy, easy to open and close, and are adorned with incredibly cute salvaged fabric leaves. There has never been a more stylish reason to buy produce. I've gotten several compliments, and you can too :)

Recycled Bottle Cap Bracelet: Hot and Summery

2008-07-30T21:23:00.000-07:00

Mmmm.... orange and green, both warm and lush. We finally finished this bracelet. (See the beads a few posts below). I'd like to get some more done for the shop. I think this is a great combination of caps, some of which we only had one of. I'd like to do a blue and purple themed one, but purple is hard to come by without buying and drinking tons of soda yourself. It's funny how if we do buy a bottled beverage, we always based our selection on the quality of the cap.

FYI- it is now available in our shop:)

Ostriches and Jazz

2008-07-29T06:49:00.000-07:00

I love this ink blot. My favorite part is the swirl of dots in the middle. I've drawn this pattern several times, but this one came out really nice I think. We drew this one at the High Museum of Art during Friday Night Jazz. It kind of helps to work somewhere with lots of distractions. We're less focused on what shape we're going to draw next and so pieces end up coming more naturally. Where do you go to find inspiration?

Have a good week :)

New Bottle Cap Bracelets!

2008-07-21T06:34:00.000-07:00

Here is a peek at some of the beads we just finished, so now they just need to be strung and sewn. Hopefully they will be done soon. While in Ohio, I was able to find a few new soda caps we didn't have. If anyone has any funky caps they'd like to donate, please let us know. We'd love to have them. We're always looking for interesting designs. Pink and purple seem to be the most difficult colors to find. We also take custom orders for bracelets if anyone is interested. The finished product should look something like this:
Have a great week everyone :)

In One Ear and Out the Other: A Crayon Blot

2008-07-20T12:10:00.001-07:00

Here is another crayon blot we saved from our scribbling at Macaroni Grill. We highly recommend these exercises. Since you're just working on what is considered to be "throw away" paper, there is a lot less pressure to be perfect. We just have fun and draw whatever. Of course we don't actually throw them away. To the fascination of the other restaurant guests, we simply tear out our art from the paper table cloth and take it home. A good way to get started is the ask your server for a topic. That gets them involved and makes them less likely to spill tea on your drawing :)

You Belong Among the Wildflowers

2008-07-16T14:37:00.000-07:00

Illustration Friday: "Enough". When I've finally had "enough", this is where I want to end up.

You belong among the wildflowers
You belong in a boat out at sea
Sail away, kill off the hours
You belong somewhere you feel free

When I was 11, my mom decided we were going to Ohio to visit my Aunt and Uncle. You can imagine the amount of enthusiasm I met the journey with at that age, knowing that we'd be spending our vacation in the country with mostly cows for company. What I didn't know at the time was that I'd fall in love with sights, the smells (not the cow smell of course), and the overall feeling of peace there. It's just different. The mountains and the fields are just bigger, greener, and more wonderful. You can feel something in the wind there that speaks to your soul. We went back every year until I went off to college. My fondest memory was sneaking out of the house with my mom and riding around the countryside getting lost and exploring little towns. Among the dime stores, junk shops, yard sales, and everything in between, I think we felt a freedom we didn't feel back home. We didn't have anywhere to be, or anyone to answer to. We just laughed and enjoyed each other's company.

These days, my mom and I don't get to spend much time together. But a few weeks ago, I got to go back to Ohio for the first time in about eight years. She had already driven up from Georgia prior to my arrival and met me at the airport. The trip to my Aunt's house was about three hours long, and I wasn't terribly surprised when she made a "wrong" turn. There's no telling if she did it on purpose or not, but regardless, we had a lot of fun getting lost again. With Tom Petty blasting from the CD player and the dust kicking up behind the car, I think we both got a long overdue adventure. Here's to you mom. I hope to do it again soon :)

You belong among the wildflowers
You belong somewhere close to me
Far away from your trouble and worries
You belong somewhere you feel free

(Illustration Detail- Wildflowers -pencil, digital color by Lani Mathis- Wildflower lyrics by Tom Petty)

Doodling at Macaroni Grill

2008-07-15T11:22:00.001-07:00

This post is for Racheal, who recently asked us why we stick to black and white in our ink blots. The truth is we don't. We typically prefer black and white, but give us a set of crayons, and we'll gladly occupy ourselves for hours. (I guess that makes these Crayon Blots…) The only reason we go to Macaroni Grill is because they cover the table with paper and let us color. And to be perfectly honest, waiters and waitresses that don't set drinks or plates on our drawings get bigger tips :D Oh sure, we've freaked out a few people. We've gotten some strange and dirty looks. But you know what? It takes all kinds to make up this great world, and we're proud to be wacky.

Ink Blot Illustration: Tails

2008-07-13T16:13:00.000-07:00

Tails came to visit us while we were sitting at Starbucks the other night. She prefers spending her days adrift in the ocean flexing her spirals to propel herself. I think she's rather lonely. Cupid's arrow has found her many times, and yet her shyness holds her at bay. Perhaps we can coax her out of her shell. Feel free to leave her some advise :)

WallE Review!

2008-07-11T16:00:00.000-07:00

Get this widget!

If you haven't gone to see WallE yet, get moving!! I have to admit that I wasn't very excited after seeing the previews for this film. (I guess I'm not typically into space/robot movies) But as soon as the lights dimmed and WallE appeared, I was completely captivated for each and every moment. This is probably Pixar's best film to date, taking a lot of risky chances with the film's plot and characters. I also can't help but be thrilled with any animated film that encourages our children to be good to the earth and think about the generations that will follow them. We live in a very here and now society that focuses on buying today, throwing out tomorrow. That is exactly the kind of attitude this movie discourages, and yet it does so in a very lighthearted way. The main themes center around taking responsibility and doing what's right despite what may stand in your way. We've already seen the film twice and it's well worth going again. :)

Ink Blot Illustration: Slink

2008-07-09T22:10:00.000-07:00

Meet Slink, yet another addition to our Ink Blot family. I think Slink is on the hunt for something. He seems incredibly focused on finding it, but I wouldn't want one of those bony fingers tapping on my shoulder. What do you think he's looking for?

Ink Blot Illustration: Wicked Wasabi

2008-07-08T22:00:00.000-07:00

We just finished a few more Ink Blot Illustrations that we'll be putting on the blog this week. To start it off is Wasabi. He is definitely one of the trippiest pieces we've done. He reminds me of some sort of 70's Chinese dragon groove train. And due to the look on his fabulous face, he's our submission to Illustration Friday for "Sour".

In other news, I just got back from a little trip to Marietta, Ohio. I haven't been for many years and it was past time to visit family. It's amazing how much you don't realize you miss a place until you're there again. Now all I can think about is going back. All of that green and all of those rolling hills help me to remember what is really important- what is worth saving and cherishing. I haven't felt that at peace in a long time. I hope everyone else is well and having a fine summer. :)

Sculpture In Motion

2008-06-20T22:10:00.001-07:00

We went to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens last Sunday. This summer they are hosting an exhibit featuring an array of fabulous kinetic sculptures nestled amongst the foliage. Michael and I were particularly excited about this visit. We love kinetic and especially interactive art, so this was right up our alley. While it was very cool and certain pieces were truly breathtaking (see the videos above and below), I felt about 50/50 in the exhibit overall. One of the pieces we had seen online that we were super jazzed about wasn't actually running (the only one that required power), and several of the sculptures that were used indoors weren't very effective since they needed wind to make them move. I don't mean to sound harsh, and I will reiterate that the pieces that were great- were really, really great. It also would have helped if we had gone on a more windy day. That kind of plays an important role in this whole thing, ya know? Check out some more pictures of the exhibit on the Atlanta Botanical web site.
If you haven't been to the gardens and you happen to be in the Atlanta area, we highly recommend a visit no matter what exhibit is currently running. The children's garden is delightful for both the young and the old with drum like boxes to play with and a real honey bee colony to watch. The Tropical Rotunda inside the conservatory is like entering a jungle with roots dangling from the canopy and fronds gently leaning over the pathways. Go on a cool day if possible, but definitely go. It is one of our favorite spots in the city and a really inexpensive way to soak up some inspiring art and natural beauty.

(they begin moving when you make noise, such as clapping)

I'm Just a Pile of Bits and Pieces

2008-06-09T20:17:00.000-07:00

I've collected myself along the way. A scrap of this. A corner of that. I'm all odds and ends. My spirit has been built from a thousand souls that cling to specks of glitter and dust. My heart is made from rubber bands and cracked marbles. So that's where they all went… My head is all stacks of gears and cogs. I exhale tears that splash on the paper and swirl the ink like ballet dancers twirling, twirling. My nose twitches up and down like a mouse when I speak, and my words pitter-patter through the air. I wish that I could play piano. If I could, I'd entertain all of the ghosts and shadows, but especially the spider at the foot of the stairs. I like her, which is unfortunate.

I have a cold today, hence the melodrama…oops, I mean poetry.

Rare Sightings of the Elusive Jackaloptopus!

2008-05-25T14:44:00.000-07:00

Here we present the Jackaloptopus. You cannot possibly imagine what an honor it is to have witnessed this amazing creature in it's natural habitat. A twisted love story between a jack rabbit and an octopus brought science this logic defying animal, and yet it has conquered all odds surviving both on land and at sea. With no camera available at the time, I'm afraid we were only able to scribble this Ink Blot of the creature as it slithered and hopped along the shoreline, nibbling at whatever washed up on the deserted beach. You can see here how only five tentacles protrude from what appears to be a fluffy bunny tail! Unbelievable. It remains unclear if a sustainable population is in existence, but this sighting certainly brings us a renewed hope that these creatures can become more than a genetic whoops.

We watch too much Discovery Channel. Enjoy :)

Trying Not to Live a Disposable Life

2008-05-20T08:37:00.000-07:00

Ok, I admit it- I'm a sucker for coffee. More specifically, I'm a sucker for walking into a place who's employees already have my order started when I walk in, know me by name, and ask me how my mom is doing. In this corner of Atlanta, that place is a Starbucks. Now before you get ready to lynch me, please note that we live in a land of office parks and mini malls and there isn't a home grown coffee shop for miles. When we visit Augusta, our favorite little spot is The New Moon Cafe, which sports fair trade beans that are roasted locally. If you want anything organic or vegan, they probably have it, and they encourage patrons to recycle and use fewer napkins. Here at home however, it isn't that easy, so I've decided to do what I can without giving up my morning stop. I present the cup:

Isn't it gorgeous!?!! And better yet, it was given to me by a friend who never used it. (Thank you Hannah) According the The New York Times, Starbucks uses an estimated 1.5 billion cups annually, a number that I'm ashamed to have contributed to. Previous to aquiring the cup we always took our coffee cups home for recycling- a great way to quantify your environmental and financial guilt. I am now disposable cup free. If we could just get a local roasting, organic, fair trade, shade grown, green as can be shop here in Dunwoody I'd be all set. :)

Happy Earth Day!

2008-04-22T09:21:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again, and while we try to be eco-conscious all year, today is a great day to make a few changes. We've started "greening" our bathroom recently and are still looking for a few earth friendly items (please leave suggestions if you have them). So far, I'm loving the shampoo bars from Lush. They come with no packaging what so ever, are handmade, have no preservatives, and last a long time. My personal favorite is Squeaky Green. Give it a try and you'll never go back to bottled shampoo :)
While we're celebrating, grab this growing tree widget to help spread awareness. Yeah, we know it's an auto advertisement, but hey- a good cause is a good cause. Chevy is partnering with The Nature Conservancy to plant real trees as part of the campaign. When you click the "grab this" button, just click on the myspace icon for the embed code. It will still work.

Reusable Produce Bags Are Awesome

2008-04-16T14:32:00.000-07:00

In the great words of Homestar Runner: Seriously. We recently purchased some of these greener than green bags from ReMarket, an eco-friendly shop on Etsy and they are fantastic. No longer do we have to feel guilty about each individual plastic bag that one piece of produce goes into. I've even tried putting all of my produce into one plastic bag only to have the cashier glare at me and separate them into individual bags at the register. These lovely mesh bags come in 4 sizes- S, M, L, XL and and can be purchased individually or in sets. We recommend getting 2 sets since we always wish we had at least one more. Not only do they make it easy to see what is inside of them, but unlike plastic, they allow the produce to breath rather than trapping moisture inside. One word of caution- I did accidentally put my fingernail through one, so do be careful. I can't stress enough that this was my silliness, not an issue with the bag's structure. They are quite sturdy if you don't hold them with your thumbnail while dropping heavy items into them. Overall- a great product that we will probably be ordering more of soon. Keep your eyes open for more to be in stock. Apparently business has been booming and cleared out a lot of the shop's inventory. Check them out in the ReMarket shop here.

Staying Motivated

2008-04-14T20:09:00.000-07:00

A long time ago, my dad cut out a comic strip for me from Baby Blues. The little girl (Zoe) in the comic was trying to paint. When her father assumed what the painting was of, she went into a tantrum and tore it to shreds. I kept it on my wall throughout college to remind me to try not to be like Zoe. Sometimes you just get frustrated when things don't turn out how you imagined them in your head. Sometimes, it helps to just take a breather for a while and let the frustration settle, and sometimes it's better to push through it lest you never return to the piece. I tend to be the anxious type when it comes to art. I'm constantly afraid of that fatal error- that slip of the wrist. Before you know it, you're sucking in a deep breath as you watch ink smear across the page. I've just been having some trouble getting things finished lately. A piece might get ruined, or we can't find the right size frame, or the right supplies. It's a never ending battle that just leaves me tired and unimaginative. How do you stay motivated? If you have any tips for me and other readers, please leave them in the comments. :)

I guess I've just been in an artsy funk lately. We were so ready for some warm happy weather that we bought a ton of new plants for the balcony. Today, it started sleeting, so they are all camping out in the living room. Hopefully some Spring cleaning will sweep some of the cob webs and clutter out of my head and out of this house and encourage some warmth and cheer.

On the up side, we had a VERY successful day at the antique shops and found two incomplete sets of bone dominoes! We have a deep respect for antiques and people who appreciate them, so we won't break up a complete set. I also found some letterpress type to add to my collection, and some vintage bottle caps. Not too shabby. :) I hope everyone is well. Sorry for my little vent fest. I'll be more bubbly soon, I promise.

Flamengo Kisses: Another Blot

2008-04-10T07:17:00.001-07:00

This is an ink blot that is residing on our wall now. We might give him up someday, but for now, he'll stay. I like all of the movement in this one and the feeling of teetering. I hope everyone is having a good week. We're working on a side project right now, so the shop has been kind of slow. I can't say what the project is because it's a present :). Hopefully we'll have some pictures up next week.
Peace out!

One Hot Blot

2008-03-24T13:46:00.000-07:00

This is one of my current favorites in the shop. One of these days I'll perfect my hotrod flames, but in the meantime, I'm pleased with the way this blot turned out. You can also see it in our shop here. Hopefully, we can get some full sized blots framed and show them off soon. Robo Chicken is on display at Vintage 965 where he is strutting his stuff right up front!

In other news, we just sold these babies:
These were carefully sliced from a salvaged bicycle handle grip. We coated them with some poly to help make them more durable. I think they have a lovely shape. Feel free to leave us a few comments and opinions on them. We're still trying to decide if we want to make more. Peace out people and have a great week!

Jewelry Displays for the Crafty!

2008-03-18T19:10:00.000-07:00

For our last arts and crafts event, we needed to bring some displays. Some will remember our shower caddy display we made a while back. Well, it served us well for earrings for a while, but now with so many to hold, it is a bit difficult to search through. A quick rummage through the garage produced this fine earring display:

It used to be a pretty rockin' spice rack, and it holds several pairs of earrings nicely. I highly recommend it. Don't worry, the shower caddy bin is still around being repurposed for bracelets:

Best of all is this awesome pendant display that Michael made. The pendants are suspended from glass coke bottles that have been firmly secured to a wooden post. Ideally the post would have been reclaimed (grrrr) but we didn't have one handy and we ran out of "junk hunting" time. It was surprisingly easy, inexpensive, and lots of fun for buyers to play with:
So if you need a display, don't head for the store, head for your closet! You probably have most supplies hiding in your own house to make something yourself. :)

Offline Marketing with A Cup of Joe

2008-03-12T21:50:00.000-07:00

We're all trying to find more ways of marketing and it seems like the more time we spend updating this profile or promoting in that forum the less we actually do what we do best- create! So today we have a great tip that has served us well: take your craft mobile. No, I'm not talking about making iPhone cozies with your embroidered logo. (although it's not a bad idea!) I mean get out of the house and craft somewhere public. We regularly try to set up shop in our local coffee house putting together earrings and drawing blots. We usually drum up some interest and always have some cards handy. This week, we met a lovely buyer and are now a few items lighter because of it. Of course not everyone can lug their supplies all over town, but even if you can only take a part of it, like sewing on buttons, or attaching findings- try it! Think of all those musicians playing outdoors with their cases open wouldn't be making a dime sitting at home playing for themselves.

And don't forget to check out some of the new domino Ink Blots! Go ahead- break my heart and buy one. I dare you :)

Introducing A Brighter Blot

2008-03-10T16:33:00.000-07:00

We got back from Augusta last night, so now we can talk about some new things we're working on. The domino bin is running rather low, so we've started thinking about other things we can blot. A few local baristas happily chipped in and started saving up used gift cards for us that would otherwise be tossed in the trash. They make an awesome backdrop for our swirls and eye balls! We'll be slowly putting them out this week, so look for them next to our domino Ink Blots.

As for the Augusta event, we had a blast! Thanks very much to Vintage 965 for having us!

Catch You on the Flip Side

2008-03-06T10:18:00.000-08:00

So we're working on last minute details for our trip to Augusta. Of course, we're never as prepared as we'd like to be, and we never finish as many items as we'd like, but too bad! We'll go and have a great time as we are. The shop will be closed on Friday since all of our items will be going with us. Look for the reopening and some great new listings either Sat. or Sun.

We'll now leave you with our newest Ink Blot friend- "Robo Chicken". Like an overgrown garden that someone forgot to tend, Robo Chicken is a little twisted and warped. He has ropes and pulleys, eyes and teeth, spiders in his brain and fish in his throat. The vines have grown around him or rather become part of him. Our submission for Illustration Friday "garden". Enjoy :)

Adult Swim- Eat your heart out.

Upcycling an Alternative

2008-02-29T15:10:00.000-08:00

Today we'd like to feature some people who are out there making a difference in a consumerist world. Every day we need things, want things, run out of things, replace things, and consume things. The trick is, they don't have to be completely new things. There are some lovely upcycled options that give new life to objects that would otherwise be headed to a landfill near you. So sit back, relax, and take a second look at what trash has to offer:

Need a new notebook? Don't you dare head to the Great Wall of Mart! Turn your eyes over here to Ivy Lane Designs, where all kinds of used boxes have been salvaged for your writing (or drawing) pleasure. They have all sizes and styles from cereal to jello, so go check out their shop here.

Ever watched the luggage carousel spin round with dozens of identical suitcases? Ever had an airport brawl over a bag that turned out not to be yours? Never fear! With these paint chip tags by TagOneOn, you can confidently yell at the top of your lungs "Hey Buddy, that's mine!". See them here.

Nothing is more fun than having a festive cook out. This year, pick up some funky lanterns by Mariposa Avenue. They are all cut by hand from upcycled food cans and powder coated for durability. These will start a great conversation and cast a magical glow at any get together. See more here.

Keep A Weather Eye On the Horizon

2008-02-25T19:16:00.000-08:00

I love drawing facial features as many have noticed from our ink blots. If there are teeth, or eyes, or lips thrown in there, I probably did it. This is another colored pencil drawing that hopefully will converted into a brooch soon. We've run into a few snags on that project, but keep a look out. We'll be sure to post pictures as soon as they are completed.

Also on the horizon:
If you are anywhere near Augusta, GA during first Friday on March 7th, we will be downtown at Vintage 965. They are doing an eco-themed show and we have been invited to go hang out, meet people and make some jewelry. We'd love to meet some fellow etsians, or anyone else for that matter, so drop by and see us if you can. :) We've been gearing up for this event for about a month now, so we aren't listing anything new in our shop until March 9th. In addition, we will be taking most of our items from our shop to the event, so if there is anything you have your eye on, shout at us now! Hope everyone has a great week!

So Long Kanunu... It's Been Real.

2008-02-23T21:02:00.001-08:00

I've found that I'm really really bad about getting attached to certain pieces. (Which could be why we have an entire wall full of Ink Blot illustrations. ) Right after creation, you say to the piece, "you're pretty cool, but I can let you go". And then you list it. And then a few days go by. And then a few months go by. Pretty soon, you're used to seeing that piece like a friendly face. It greets you in the morning and you think, "it's nice having you around, and no one has bought you yet, so maybe you'll just stay". That familiarity has been built and it's comforting. And then the day comes when you log on and a piece is missing from the list! "Yay! Oh wait, not you! Not you who have slowly become my favorite without me realizing it! Surely, there has been a mistake! You can't leave me!!!" But it is no mistake. Kanunu is on his way to Ohio, where I'm sure he will be loved very much.

Don't get me wrong, I love selling items. (Please don't slap me!) I just wish they left sooner, so I would get so attached to them! Goodbye dear friend. You will be missed :'{

Tastes Like Purple…

2008-02-22T14:10:00.000-08:00

I really can't explain why, but Michael has been muttering "tastes like purple" for the past couple of days, so when a treasury opened up- well, it just made sense. Or at least more sense than he is making. Please visit the lovely items here.

Recipe For Disaster

2008-02-19T20:19:00.001-08:00

Step 1. Watch in terror as the bowl glides downward toward the coffee table, hits the edge, turns 45 degrees, and launches at the new white couch.

Step 2. Exhale sharply at the final SPLAT! that even Pollock would be proud of.

Step 3. Run as though you are being chased by gigantic blood sucking fire ants to the bathroom to grab every towel like object. Wet them quickly before beaming back to the wounded furniture.

Step 4. Yell for backup.

Step 5. Ignore carpet, clothing, and any other casualties of soup while you gingerly scrap bean and corn off of the wound site. Clean the wound carefully and completely.

Step 6. Resume breathing.

My blood pressure appears to be back to normal and all I can say is Pottery Barn makes a fantastic couch. I'm very thankful for all of the fabric tests we did before purchasing it. Sorry there aren't pictures, but I was too busy panicking to take any. Even after the disaster, it looks as good as new. *whew*

2 cans of Black Beans (not drained)
1 can whole kernel corn (not drained)
1 diced tomato
1/2 diced onion
2 limes zested and juiced
1 packet of ham bullion (optional)
1 can chicken broth (optional)
1 tbs chili powder
shredded cheese
chopped cilantro

In a pot, heat the black beans, corn, and onion on medium heat until onion is soft. Add broth, ham bullion, and chili powder and mix well. Cook about 10 minutes. Add tomato, lime juice and zest and cook for another 5 minutes. Top with cheese and cilantro. Serve. Don't spill.

A Quick Recap

2008-02-19T08:49:00.000-08:00

This is just a quick recap of our Ink Blot process. Thank you to our reader Jodie for the request :)

Not long after we started dating, Michael was moving into a new apartment. While helping him pack, I opened one of his sketch books and became incredibly confused. I couldn't figure out how he had gotten one of my sketchbooks! I turned several pages before realizing that they weren't my drawings. While I recognized the style and shapes, I didn't recoginize the complete images. It turns out we've been drawing the same types of images since before we even met. So, it just made sense to start drawing them together.

We sit down with a piece of bristol board and one person draws a shape. Then the other person adds a shape. We don't know what we're going to draw, it just slowly emerges on the page. (And it's all in ink from the beginning, so no mistakes, no changes!) I guess you could say that the ink blots represent two intertwining souls. They might not be perfect, but they represent the twisted thoughts of two kindred spirits.

After working on bristol for a long time, we started drawing directly on dominoes and converting them into pendants. This provides a slightly cheaper, but still original drawing for those who don't want to buy a large framed piece. We are currently working on some new fun versions of the blots that will be released in early March, so keep an eye out :)

I'm Seeing Spots

2008-02-17T17:23:00.001-08:00

We finished this little blot in January and I think it got overlooked, so here it is! Stars are back by popular demand and I swear one of Grandma's doilies squeezed in there! The Ink Blot Dominoes are actually doing pretty well. We really need to focus on them some more. We have a big event in March that we are currently throwing all of our creative energy at (more on that later :) so the shop has taken a temporary back seat. But don't worry; we have some great plans that hopefully will be ready for Spring. We'll keep you posted.

Well Lick My Lips and Call Me Luscious!

2008-02-15T18:42:00.000-08:00

Dangerously seductive pulse raising just bitten lusciously red.....lips. Color Theory in colored pencil for illustration friday.

Well, since we just posted the weather wheel, I thought we'd have a circular weekend. This is the first in a series of little colored pencil drawings I'm working on. I plan on turning them into little brooches adorned with little upcycled parts. Each one will be completely unique with an original drawing. No prints will be used.
I've always loved blood red lipstick. It reminds me of the 40's starlets. Mouths aren't bad either. I have a series of mouths in different mediums called "Progression of a Smile". I'll have to dig them up and post a picture one day.

Hope everyone had a nice Valentine's Day :)
*kisses*

Do You Think God has a Weather Wheel?

2008-02-14T23:31:00.000-08:00

This is my submission for Illustration Friday "choose". After the weather we've had this week, I'm convinced that God just spins the dial and goes, "Well that's going to be weird, but ok!". Let's see- Tuesday it's nearly 70 degrees and fine. Wednesday it looks like flurries. Hello???

The illustration is really all about the icons. I'm working on them for another (much more complete) mystery project :) The rest is just a quick layout to display them.

On another note, Michael just finished taking a bunch of pictures, so hopefully we can clue everyone in on some other fun things coming up soon.

We're In the Storque!!!!

2008-02-13T08:11:00.000-08:00

Thank you so much to the guys and gals at the Storque for including our "Etsy Love Story". Please help us celebrate by reading the article here.

Just Being Silly

2008-02-11T20:25:00.000-08:00

Just a couple of kids being goofy on a Monday night. That is our blot wall behind us. It is the home of all of the Ink Blots we've decided to keep. Some of them are just too close to being family. There are empty frames too, for the ones that haven't been "born" yet. They already have a spot waiting patiently.

Ode to Les Misérables

2008-02-08T08:46:00.000-08:00

I'm a big fan of Les Mis. I have several copies of the book, both abridged and unabridged, the earliest from 1947. I love the musical version (don't tease me) and have several copies of it in different arrangements. (Definitely see the musical on stage. It is very smartly done.) This is a digital illustration of Cosette, a character from the story. It is actually a much larger piece, but I've chosen to crop it down to her face. I took some her features from Emile Bayard's famous Cosette portrait, because he was Victor Hugo's favorite illustrator and I imagine that Mr. Hugo probably also saw her this way. I taught a little girl once that I thought looked just like her.

Have a great day :)

Where Does Your Art Explode?

2008-02-01T16:45:00.000-08:00

I've always had a problem with "containing" my creativity. I don't mean "containing" it deep within my soul or heart or brain, or like your mother means it when she says, "Please contain yourself!". No, I mean that when that creative urge strikes, it might strike in the kitchen, the living room floor, the closet- you just never know. It's never a convenient place, or time (like when other people are trying to walk), and it is very likely that that creative urge will die down long before the brilliant idea has been fulfilled. This situation often leads to that artistic explosion living on until the next creative urge strikes, thus creating yet another artistic village of crafting supplies somewhere in the house. Take for example- my desk. As you read this, I am elbow deep in colored pencils. "Why not put them away?" you ask. But I'm not done drawing!!! "Well, finish drawing then." you say.

I will... when I'm ready. And I happen to not be ready.

It's My Party and I'll Buy if I want to.

2008-01-28T13:56:00.000-08:00

Today happens to be my birthday, so I decided that I'm old enough to buy myself a few presents. These days, I'd much rather pick something out myself than be given something that I won't use (no matter how much I appreciate the thought). And since one of my new goodies came from her shop, I think this is a good time to showcase Elizabeth Scott.

I now have two pair of earrings from esdesigns, which is Ms. Scott's Etsy shop. I wear my others, a lovely pair from her petal series, almost daily. I know these don't fit into our usual upcycled featured pieces, but she was actually the second shop I ever purchased from on Etsy and that wondeful experience has stayed with me. I've had quite a few packages from Etsy purchases show up in the mail since then, but none have had quite the same feeling as that one from her. Aside from the beautiful jewelry, the buyer can expect a pretty little green package carefully adorned with a little green bow. No gimicks. No pile of promotions. Just elegant simplicity. I couldn't be happier if it were a blue box from Tiffany's.

A Light in the Darkness

2008-01-26T21:21:00.001-08:00

First of all I'd like to thank Titania Blossoms for taking an interest in my colored pencil work. Despite my nervousness, she recently commissioned a piece to use in her shop. I had a great time drawing this little lady, and she seems quite pleased as she glides over her flowers. Perhaps I should pick up the pencils more often. It's been quite a while. :)

Please visit Titania Blossoms here.

Monty Python and Killer Bunnies

2008-01-25T08:32:00.000-08:00

I'm paying homage to Monty Python, and a great teacher- Mr. Dan Henderson. This is my submission to Illustration Friday.

I had one of the greatest illustration professors anyone could ask for. Dan Henderson is an incredibly inspiring kind man who never made anyone feel pressured to work inside of his box. So one day, he asked us to create an image illustrating a movie title and the feeling of fear. Well, I immediately got the giggles, because the only thing I could picture in my mind was the evil bunny from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Unfortunately, my vision didn't fit within the rules of the assignment. It had to be a movie title. Try as I might, I couldn't get that bunny out of my head, so I ask Mr. Henderson if he would allow it. It took a little pleading, but I think he was mostly glad that I was excited about illustration. Oh, and I also insisted that it had to be done in ballpoint pen. He wasn't thrilled about that either. I still love this bunny. There are always things you would have done differently, but that's all right. He still gives me the giggles.

You can see some of Dan Henderson's work here.

Reclaiming Time: IMOTIME

2008-01-17T08:32:00.000-08:00

When we cleaned out my grandparent's house we found receipts they had saved from everything they had EVER bought. Slips of paper documented their furniture, the building supplies for their house, even their car! (no, they didn't finance) I realized that they weren't people who replaced things often. At one point in time, a person saved up enough money to buy something and then were proud to own it. Today, we are dissatisfied as soon as we leave the check out line. When did things become so expendable? Now we have to have the newest model, the freshest fashion, the trendiest "insert useless object here". Out with the old (or slightly dusty) and in with the new. Rest assured that some of our discarded goodies might have an extended life after all.

IMOTIME is an awesome little shop out of San Diego, California. Their mission seems to be turning just about anything into pretty awesome (and useful) clocks. Anyone who read our review of Roger Wood knows that we're pretty fond of time pieces. My grandfather made clocks himself, so I have a particular appreciation for them. These however, are not your average tick tock. From hard hats to cake covers- IMOTIME isn't afraid to challenge the idea of what a clock should or could be. So the next time you donate an old pair of shoes or a tennis racquet to Goodwill, imagine what it might look like as a clock. It just might become one.

Visit the IMOTIME shop here.

Are You an Ecoist?

2008-01-12T09:14:00.000-08:00

I am! And I'm super excited because my new Ecoist bag finally arrived yesterday! Michael gave me a blue one last year for our anniversary, and I use it every day. This year, he bought a confetti bag for me for Christmas and they accidentally sent the wrong style. He let me open it anyway and said he had already contacted the company about the mix up. They were really sweet and yesterday, I received the correct bag. Ecoist's candy wrapper line is full of colorful bags made out of misprinted labels that they collect from printing houses. This is keeping tons of material out of landfills, making awesome products, and planting trees (they plant a tree for each bag purchased).

They have many other flavors to check out including billboard bags (made from heavy duty movie posters), and soda can tab bags.

Other shops to find recycled bags:
MoJo
PopTopLady
Reiter8

Selling Ink Blots as Prints?

2008-01-08T21:40:00.001-08:00

We often run into a dilema with our Ink Blots. First of all, we currently only sell originals, so all of our time and effort is poured into one possible sale. Secondly, we get way too attached to some of the blots and refuse to let them go. Thirdly... ok, so I don't have a thirdly. We have a poll on our sidebar to judge how much interest there might be in offering the Ink Blot collection as individual prints in the shop. Please help us out by giving your honest opinion. Thanks :)

5 Easy Ways to Go Green in the New Year

2008-01-07T13:59:00.000-08:00

Make a resolution to make a few simple changes and you'll be off to a great green year.

1. Reusable shopping bags
Approximately 5 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide each year. There are so many great options available today that there is no good excuse for using paper or plastic. Remember that recycling is only half the battle. Some great bags are available here:
Ecoist
Going Green
Olive Smart

2. Help your co-workers recycle
If your office doesn't offer recycling, why not put a bin by your cube and take recyclables home? A co-worker might think twice about chunking that soda can if they are faced with an alternative. Most people don't recycle because it isn't convenient for them at the time. (warning: this could turn into a big job!)

3. Turn the light off. It's simple. Just do it.

4. Try using eco-friendly cleaners
There are tons of options out there including the ones your grandmother always told you about: vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and baking soda. If you aren't into mixing up your own, the folks at Low Impact Living have some great options.

5. Clean out your closet
Making a donation of items you don't use or need gives them the opportunity to be used by someone else, which will keep that person from buying a new item, which means fewer items need to be manufactured! Think of it as top level recycling.

Go get started! Check out our sidebar for other sites that will help you go green. And if you have another easy tip for going green, please share it with everyone in the comments :)

The Red Coat: Colored Pencil Drawing

2008-01-05T08:55:00.001-08:00

The Red Coat is my entry for Illustration Friday's "blanket" theme since it is covered in a thick blanket of snow. This one has been framed and is now on display at a little boutique in Augusta, GA. I have a large collection of children's books and am always looking for new ones with amazing illustrations. I've tried once or twice to write one myself, but if I write one, I would of course have to illustrate it. I have a small problem with that. I get bored....way too bored, way too fast. By the time I finish one panel, I'm ready to move on to a different story! That is what happened with this little girl. I was thinking of this layout for the book cover, but the book hasn't been written! Ultimately, that's ok. She was a joy to draw, and hopefully she will brighten someone else's home soon.

Stay warm everyone :)

Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends

2008-01-03T17:16:00.001-08:00

The kids over at cartoon network are really outdoing themselves with some of their new site features. Michael and I are HUGE fans of Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends, probably the smartest and most entertaining cartoon on air today (I love Futurama and Family Guy too, so give me a break.) The series is lead by Mac (a little boy) and Bloo (his imaginary friend), as they run into all sorts of quirky situations and meet an array of imaginary characters. Today I came across the "Gallery of Imagination", where you can build your own imaginary friend. This is a great little piece of flash with a slick and friendly interface.

Give it a try. It is a heck of a lot of fun. We have a great appreciation for impressive flash work, so kudos to the team that built it. I wish they were still putting this much finesse into their dvd menus. Season 1 had a beautifully witty menu with washing machines for navigation items. We felt that every penny spent on it was well worth it. Season 2 has more of a standard menu with whimsical frames around each item, but some of the graphics are terribly aliased, as if someone made a mistake in production. It looks like very low quality compared to the first. And Craig McCracken- (if you ever happen to read this), we don't care what the marketing department says, WE HATE CHEESE. But don't worry, we still love you.

Make your own totally awesome friend here.

Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © Cartoon Network.