ALL THE THINGS

Things are heating up at AWHQ (Argyle Whale headquarters... I can't pretend to be cool enough to acronym myself like everyone will know what I'm talking about).

I recently noticed that aside from going to craft fairs, I don't have much of a local presence for my art. That is just dumb. I should be neighborly and participate in the scene of my surrounding area instead of solely selling and sharing online.

The situation is being remedied. Argyle Whale IRL (that means in real life... people know that one right?) is coming to a gallery or shop near you if you are near me.

Galleries:

Washington Street Art Center- Somerville, MA (ok, this one is over because I had this post in draft mode too long)

Gallery Della Piana- Hamilton Wenham, MA for the animal themed show called The Beauty of the Beast

The Gallery at Porter Mill- Beverly, MA (This one is a pending maybe because it is up to the juror if I get in the show)

Pop up shops:

Concord Handmade- Concord, NH

GOLDMINE- Northampton, MA

Regular shops:

Magpie- Somerville, MA

ARCworks- Peabody, MA

Of course I'm doing a few craft fairs too. I kept the list a little slim because it is my first year as a Bazaar Bizarre organizer and I didn't want to have too many commitments.

Montserrat College of Art Holiday Sale- Beverly, MA on December 2nd

Bazaar Bizarre- Boston, MA on December 4th

Mass Market- Boston, MA on December 11th

I'm also running a handful of workshops at the ARCworks in Peabody!

The photo above is some sketching I'm doing for a secret project with Meagan.

This seems like a lot going on but next year I hope to be doing twice as much. Maybe three times as much. Must hustle.

Magic coffee

Justin and I took a short walk this morning for our first visit to a brand new business that opened in Salem. We were amazed that such a special place is now practically in our backyard! This new cafe is actually the second (fancier) location of our previous favorite cafe, Jaho. This second Jaho now roasts their own coffee beans and brews them in the most spectacular and elegant glass vessel devices I've ever seen. The look is much like a laboratory with a steampunk aesthetic. It's just. so. cool. The slick coffeemaker is not only dazzling but makes THE BEST COFFEE I'VE EVER TASTED! Seriously.

I feel very lucky right now and am having a hard time resisting the urge to go over budget there.

The photo above is of the owner/mad coffee scientist and the photo is credited to CSSpixel.

Bazaar Bizarre creeps closer.

Today was my first day with Jen (Argyle Whale's first ever intern!) and I am extremely thrilled to be working with her. She is so efficient and focused which helps balance my tendency to be a scatterbrained dawdler. We got so much done for Bazaar Bizarre in the hours we spent together that I'm almost relaxed approaching this big event. Almost. I do have plenty of butterflies though.

Ok, I've got to get back to work. I'm not stopping until Sunday at 7:00.

Dear beetle, that is an understatement.

I try not to get into politics on my blog because my opinions are all totally predictable as a young woman living in Massachusetts. But, I can't resist sharing how joyful I am that Barak Obama will be our next president. I don't think I've ever felt more proud of my country. I'm also thrilled about another win I celebrated on election night. Massachusetts has voted to end greyhound racing in 2010! Yeah! I don't know what I am going to do with this overflow of elation.

As a reaction, I finally got around to making mini prints of an old sketch in honor of the refreshing change in our government. It's available in my shop for five dollars.

Harvard Square

Black Ink Inc.

Ashley G and Drew's print at Urban Outfitters

Our bedroom with new frame, lamp and light switch cover (by Trixie and Radar)

Justin and I enjoyed the rare occasion of both of us having the same day off work without any big responsibilities. We decided to head into Harvard Square to do some walking and people watching since the weather was perfect. We stopped into a slick design store called Black ink Inc. which had all kinds of simple pleasures. I had a hard time not buying a neat clear plastic teapot with a built in tea strainer.

We peeked into lots of little stores and the whole time I was trying to hold myself back from going into the looming Urban Outfitters I had to pass multiple times. I've been weakly boycotting Urban Outfitters since I found out about their way of stealing designs from artists like Boston's local t-shirt superhero Johnny Cupcakes. I am ashamed to say that by the end of our trip I gave in to temptation. I couldn't help myself when I remembered hearing that AshleyG (an artist on Etsy) had a print there for sale. When I was in the store I was pleased to see that Kate Sutton was represented as well. I had recently bought a marmot Gocco print from her off Etsy. I left the store with a new lamp and picture frame from the bargain basement.

I was very excited to buy some loose tea at the Tealuxe we spotted later on. I'm actually sipping the royal coconut green tea right now while I type with one hand. The people working there were very friendly and chatty. I think they may have just been lonely because it was Super Bowl Sunday and the place was a ghost town.

After stocking up on tea, we went to eat at Veggie Planet which is a peculiar vegetarian pizza place. They pretty much put whole meals on pizza dough. Justin had a burrito pizza and I played it safe with a bowl of macaroni and cheese with broccoli. It was a damn tasty meal and Justin had the pleasure of chatting with the cook who happened to be in the band Furnace that he'd seen recently. I think the guy was pretty chuffed to be recognized.

We returned home to see that I'd sold two items! That is my favorite way of ending the day.

Sometimes we go to the MSPCA

admiring the horse, originally uploaded by Justin and Elise.

Justin and I still become giddy around farm animals. We love them and often take trips to area farms to admire the grand beasts and give them carrots. This horse stole justin's heart. I fell for a guinea pig named Jean-claude.

The speckled horse in this photo is actually the banner at the top of this blog. I took a detail shot of his hair for it.

Featured Maker: A & J King Artisan Bakers in Salem

Much of my day is spent in this fine establishment working for Andy and Jackie. They are damn good at what they do as you can see. Andy makes most of the breads with help from John and Jereme and Jackie does the pastries with Sarah. I do the selling and displays with Joanne, Mary, Anna, Kayla and Mariel (who is also chief barista). I am embarassed to admit that I often linger around after I'm out of work and even come in on my days off because I like working there so much and have become good friends with everyone.

I have to gush. Andy and Jackie are really the hardest working people I've ever met. They are both talented and care a great deal about what they do. They go out of their way to find ingredients that measure up to their values of buying locally and sustainably and don't take crappy shortcuts in their processes. Everything at the bakery is insanely delicious and aesthetically pleasing too. I am in love with the fougasse which is a ciabatta dough pounded flat, cut to resemble a sand dollar and sprinkled with salt and seeds. Jackie's seasonal tarts are also unbelievable and it's apple season now which is my favorite variety!

They are better at explaining artisan baking and their values than I am so take a look at their new blog!

The last photo is a set of paintings I made for Andy and Jackie on the bakery's one year anniversary. It is of a baguette nosewhal (a narwhal with a baguette nose) and an epilope (a jackalope with epi for antlers). You can see the epi and baguette from the bakery in the photo right above the one of the paintings. I've made a few things inspired by working at the bakery.

"DOMUS"

"Diamond Snakes" handstitched rug in wool

"Mumbling Slugs" machine stitched rug in wool

"Eat Upon Antlers" vintage dishes with painted antlers

"UVULA" handstitched rug in wool

"His & Hers" appliqued and embroidered hand towels


These are a few of the pieces that I made for the DOMUS show that Katy Irving curated. When she asked me to participate, I was overwhelmed because I hadn't been making anything at all. She thought I could pull it together and the domestic theme was pretty inspiring so I made this collection of housewares for the show. It ended up being a very positive experience and I'm thankful that it forced me to make things when I had been slacking.

It was the first time that I let the imagery I'd been using for my Lazer Beanz clothing designs spill onto different surfaces.