Beacon - woodcut book and lantern

As I near the end of my final semester at Smith, I'm proud to share two connected projects, done for different classes. The first is an abstract sculptural piece inspired by a piece of writing I did. The second is a portion of that writing, turned into a single woodcut, double map-fold book.

The lantern:

(apologies for the loud door noise) 

The book:

Notes from the Atelier: January 25th, 2022

     at·el·ier

/ˌadlˈyā/

1: an artist's or designer's studio or workroom

Hello, lovelies! It's been a while! 

I've been busy over at Penny Bun Press's Instagram posting regular updates like these:

Notes from the Atelier -3/12/2021

    at·el·ier

/ˌadlˈyā/

1: an artist's or designer's studio or workroom

While the spring has been coiling up preparing to burst forth, I've been busy in the Penny Bun Press shop! 

February 26th - Upcycled Organization - Myrrhmade Love Where You Are Challenge Day 26!

   

February 26th - Welcome to day 26 of the Myrrhmade Love Where You Are Challenge! 

Come on in and join us!

Announcing Penny Bun Press!

Many of you have already peeked behind the curtain at the magic I've been working on since October.  While there have been a lot of bumps in the road, I'm excited to announce: 

Word of the year: Devotion

While I've read about people who've advocated for picking a "word of the year" for many years, I never felt drawn to pick on for myself.  People would rave about how it helped them to focus their priorities, align their inner compass, and to help them get back up when they fell. 

My life is in constant flux and has been for as long as I can remember - regular moves my entire life (seven states), grand and small adventures, starting a family, my husband's undergrad, grad-school, and military career, and now my own degree. As each of these major changes arises, I reorient, reassess, and move forward.

However, for a couple of weeks, I've been hearing a whisper of inspiration to claim a word for the coming year. While much good has come from this past year, I long for more clarity, direction, and fulfillment. I've been feeling inklings of inspiration for about a week and then last night felt clear that I would choose a word of the year. It is: 

(click through for calligraphy of one of my favorite poems and more!) 

Book Studies Capstone Project for Fall 2020 - Smith College Ada Comstock Scholar

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I am proud to say that I have completed my Book Studies Concentration Capstone project. I was the happy recipient of the Rosenthall Fellowship for Book Studies Capstone projects and am so grateful for all the support I received from my advisor, Barry Moser. 

Notes from the Atelier - 10/7/2020

  at·el·ier

/ˌadlˈyā/

1: an artist's or designer's studio or workroom

With midterms fast approaching, I've been watching and listening to a lot of content. If my hands are busy then my brain is free to soak up whatever is going on. I've been itching to get back into spinning for sometime. In grade school we made drop spindles and learned how to spin, and while I'm certain it's in the garage somewhere, I couldn't find mine. 

At the beginning of the summer I ordered a 4" Hi/lo drop spindle from the Schacht Spindle Company, and some Targhee top. Top is similar to roving but the fibers are lined up, particularly for spinning. 

Apparently the world sold out of drop spindles and a few months later, mine arrived. It took a couple months before I actually had time to give it a go.

Make Crummy Stuff - You have to start where you are.

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This is a picture of me building the steps for my loft. Right at the top, you can see the extra piece I had to add because I miscalculated. Also, the steps totally didn't work. I had to add wider treads on top of this structure to use them easily.

Notes from the Atelier - 8/6/2020

at·el·ier

/ˌadlˈyā/

1: an artist's or designer's studio or workroom

It's been a couple years since I regularly posted my Work In Progress Wednesday (WIP) posts. I miss them. But not on Wednesdays in particular.

So here's my fancy fresh start on those posts. 

 August 6th, 2020 Notes from the Atelier:

 

It's Snailing!

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Phew! My semester is over and summer break has begun. 

Finals are in, final projects have been submitted, and one of my biggest semesters, both courseload and world-event wise, has come to a close.

While making many adjustments to the major plot-twist of the season, I made some cool stuff!

For a final project for one of my classes, I make woodcuts and printed some snails! 

Practicing Calligraphy

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If you follow me on social media, you might have noticed I've been having a lot of fun with calligraphy lately.

Laser Cutting, Letterpress Printing, and Laser Cutting to Letterpress Print

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Another semester at Smith College has come and gone. While there may be some relaxing in January, at the moment we're in full birthday/holiday/new years/new internship swing!

This semester I got to take a typography class with Barry Moser. In my almost 20 year journey as an Undergrad including four different community colleges in two different states, this was by far my favorite class I've ever taken.

Our first printing assignment was to fill an entire galley (the name for the metal tray where you compose your type) with wood type. My co-conspirator Anna and I made this. :)

I also learned that there's a design studio to support students in their endeavors where there's laser cutters, 3D printers, and a vinyl cutter among a lot of materials, tools, and rapid prototyping goodies.

After managing several levels of safetey training, I learned how to use the laser cutter. I played with the computer design program and then made a bunch of Bs. 

In the midst of it all, I made a little felted version of a beloved pet for some dear family friends. It passed the Jake test - our dog was pretty wary until he was able to sniff a little more closely.  

Later, over many of my blessedly long lunch breaks, I played around on the computer and cut out a bunch of earrings. They are the lightest, most comfortable earrings I've ever owned. 

I made some other pretty things out of 1/4" and 1/8' ply too.

Later, back in the press room, I wondered how to print curved text. Online I found someone selling a set of curved furniture (the name of the wood and metal pieces used to lock in the type so it doesn't wobble) for $80. Nope. I can make that. Back to the computer and I designed my own set. As "type high" is 0.9186 inches, I had to print three sets, glue them on top of each other and sand them completely smooth. 

It meant that I could do this.  I'm so thrilled with my projects, my classes, and my newly learned skills. 

I've also been accepted into the Book Studies program as my Concentration for my Studio Arts Major. Before I learned of the program, I was getting frustrated that the courses I thought I had to take were getting in the way of the classes I wanted to take - it turns out that they're all required for the Book Studies Concentration. 

One of the requirements is two 100+ hour internships. As I can only guarantee that I will be able to work hours that are built into my school days, in the week of finals I started a new internship at Big Wheel Press in Easthampton. 

Here's to even more! 

Wishing you all the best for a marvelous New Year! 

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Introduction Jalapeño - A little fun with stop motion

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With the furlough, we've got a bit more time for creative projects around these parts. HandsomeJoe is pouring his time into side projects. 

One day he and the girls made props, backdrops, collected bits and bobs and made a stop motion video out of one of the stories he's invented about a little dragon named Jalapeño. 

Bonne Année! Happy New Year!

Bonne année à vous et à tous les vôtres.

Happy New Year to you and yours!

Yes, Daddy can have a Princess Cake this year too.

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Yes, Daddy can have a Princess Cake this year too.

Last year, we called Daddy's bluff, and made him a Princess Cake.

It was so much fun and so delicious, he wanted one again this year. My guess is that we have the beginning of a tradition on our hands.

WIP Wednesday, March 21st (shh, I know it's Thursday)

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Creating is my passion, my sanity, my sense of being "up to something", my way of contributing a little bit. I always have a few projects going, many left to the side for months or even years before I pick up the best and carry on. Here's some of what I'm working on this week:

WIP Wednesday, October 11th, 2017

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Creating is my passion, my sanity, my sense of being "up to something", my way of contributing a little bit. I always have a few projects going, many left to the side for months or even years before I pick up the best and carry on. Here's some of what I'm working on this week:

WIP Wednesday, October 4th, 2017

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Creating is my passion, my sanity, my sense of being "up to something", my way of contributing a little bit. I always have a few projects going, many left to the side for months or even years before I pick up the best and carry on. Here's some of what I'm working on this week:

9 Years of Marriage - WIP Wednesday, September 20th, 2017

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Creating is my passion, my sanity, my sense of being "up to something", my way of contributing a little bit. I always have a few projects going, many left to the side for months or even years before I pick up the best and carry on. Here's some of what I'm working on this week:

I started this blog six months after I got married, as a way to record the blessings and happy thoughts in my life as my newlywed beloved husband prepared to deploy for a year.

Today we celebrate nine years of being married.

We've been through thick and thin, this HandsomeJoe and I.

Thank you my dearest one for all you bring to this life.

Thank you to all who stood by us then, stand by us now, and for those to come.

What are you working on? What are you excited about attempting? What are you proud to be working on? Take a picture or two and share it with the rest of us by leaving your link or a few words in the comments.

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