Put your Stamp on it

The other day while exploring an antique shop, I found a romantic treasure, vintage stamps, used postcards and envelopes - the stripy kind! They were all sprawled throughout a village of glass ashtrays.

A mountain of vintage stamps from all over the globe, for $4.

I am going to start tucking a few in as gifts with purchase :)

The person who collected all these stamps and envelopes had such a reverence for mail they even used a letter opener (see above), I am sure their letter opener was made of fine smooth silver, heavy in the palm, with a monogrammed handle.

I also found a collection of Postcards sent by a daughter to her mother while traveling through Europe. These Postcards are from her time in Rome, The Netherlands and Berlin. Is it wired that I haven't read them? Perhaps I feel I would be violating their privacy - if you can consider a Postcard private in anyway. Or maybe I haven't read them because I think they will be too boring, after all it is a postcard (to her mother no less) and anyone can read it. All said I must now send a scandalous postcard to someone- I am almost certain it would go unread by anyone but the recipient.

I love this handwriting! Handwriting was once considered an art form. I have never seen a single person from my grandparents generation ( born in the 1930s ) - man or woman, who doesn't have the most impeccable handwriting! I wish nothing would get pushed aside for the sake of the new. I wish we could simply make upgrades while still hording all the beautiful things from the generations prior. But alas, the days are short, and I don't know about you but I was learning "Home Keys" not Calligraphy with school hours. *weep *

Oh yes and...

Speaking of stamps and cards - I got a new both!

A new custom stamp for shipping envelopes!

And new Postcards! Yay!

Oh the Horror

Yesterday I hung many small works for "the Horror Show" at the R.A.T. Gallery in Gardenville, PA. I hope you can make it, it is Saturday night, the eve of Halloween, doors open at 7' o clock

"Dear Edgar" Drawings

"The Veils are Thin"

4" x 6"

"Tell my Heart a Tale"

2.5" x 3"

"The Rat"

2"x 3"

"Short and Sweet"

2.5"x 3"

"Raven's Claw"

4" x 4"

there is also a piece titled "the Raven" I have yet to photograph

"They'll Break your Heart"

"The Sweethearts"

"Sweetheart One"

5"x7"

face detail

"Sweetheart Two"

5"x7"

face detail

Dear Edgar,

I am currently working on a series of small drawings for the Hallween show inspired by the great Mr. Allen Poe. Last night while I was looking for a coffee table book on Moths, for a upcoming project I found this!

Eeeek! So stunning!

Click on images for larger view

I am sure you can see that I am a bit obsessed with etching right now! Learning to etch is my next endeavor, I cannot leave this earth without knowing how to create these alluring textures.

Here is a sneek peek at my latest, I am planning on completing 10 more in the next few days so I have my work cut out.

Annabell Lee

3 1/2" x 3"

"Lenor"

3"x3"

face detail

I will update the others when the series is complete!

Show at the R.A.T. Gallery

I am very excited for an upcoming show, it will be held on the eve of Halloween begining at 7 o'clock called the "Horror Show" at the R.A.T. Gallery in Gardenville, PA . If you are in the area I hope you can make it there will be costumes, music and fun! I am so excited because I recently have gotten frames for: "The Removal" (above) I couldn't believe my luck while frame hunting, I feel all my little pieces found their perfect mate Y

"It's All Right There" I was so excited when I found this frame, it is perfect! I love Italian style frames, there are so heavy and ornate but not in a way that is overpowering.

"She always Does This" This frame is my favorite! I was so stoked when I found it, it reminds me of animal print which is perfect for this little one because despite being a bit messy she is very sexy in her little Barbie suit ;), I think it gives her a refined but playful look.

The Most Beautiful Drawing!

In:

"Old Saratoga Books"

I found:

etching of Charels Follen done by J.C.F.Gutsmuth in 1817

detail

Last Summer John and I were in a used and rare books-store in Saratoga, NY, called "Old Saratoga Books"

I loooove old bookstores, walking though one feels like meandering through the collective unconscious.

Sifting though hundreds of tattered pages, I came across this small etching which evoked what every artist spends his or her life in service to only perhaps achieve. What a complete and humbling drawing. I was so fully engrossed by it's beauty it drew me into total silence (rare) and vulnerability (not rare at all). It is magic to stop time and space, to reach directly into the affections of another. A remote collision of hearts.

This is both my conviction and proclamation of intent.

This is an etching of Charles Follen done by J.C.F.Gutsmuth from Turnbuch für die Söhne Vaterlandes (1817)

Magical Peru

I have just recently returned from one of the most magical adventures of my life! John and I went with a group called Raw Flora to Peru! I feel so blessed to have seen such a breathtaking place and to have been in the company of such radiant beings. I cannot possibly give high enough praise to this guided journey, if you feel a calling from the jungle or what to experience South America in an rich and authentic way, this maybe for you!

Machu Picchu

baby lama in Cusco!!

Here we stayed for several nights by candle light. Nestled in the jungle, there was no hot water or electric, the night sky was so clear the distinction between myself and the stars faded to nothing.

I bought some of these amazing paints, they are made completely from pigments found in nature such as beetle shells, minerals, and cactus flowers. It was so incredible, I have never seen anything like it, I am excited to use them.

The textiles where unbelievably gorgeous, made without the use of any machines. This is a scarf I got in Cusco that I will cherish forever, all of the colors come from natural dye and the fibers are made and woven by hand from the fleece of baby alpaca.

The markets of Peru hold a magical vibration, charged with the beauty of human creation in tandem with unlocking secrets of nature. It seems not a single blade of grass didn't provide at least 5 uses for the Peruvian people.

New Originals for Sale

"Revolt"

8".10"

Oil on Wood

face detail

shoulder detail

"Revolt" is a beacon calling to inner light in a time when force of spirit encounters smothering oppositions so steadily. The French Revolution is a roaring flame that lights the path of those in need of uprising. For me personally I feel this is a time for an inner revolution and a restructuring of values that align with the earth, to harness sustainable energy resources both inner and outer. "Revolt" is now available in my shop

"It's You"

Oil on Masonite in Custom Frame

3.5"x2.3/4" painting

9"x5.5" with frame

This tiny little cheeky is also now available to own here

Emily's new site

Connect, Create, Inspire: Wish Sticks and Farm Dreams: "We put our hopes and dreams into the universe and hope they are well received. As a kid I would blow on dandelion seed heads with all my mig..."

It's You is Completed!

"It's You"

3.5" x 2.3/4" 9" x 5.5" with frame

face detail

hand elaborated frame

Here is another painting for the world, this one is teeeny tiny and was very fun to paint. I talked a little about this painting before in a previous post . I am waiting for the paint and the enamel on the frame to dry and "It's You" will be in my shop.

a Little More Fun, a Lot More Soul

I just spent a few hrs on Revolt and I am very pleased with the progress. I think somewhere along the way I forgot how fun painting is and how joyful it is to just explore and create! I worked today intentionally without any music or talk radio and I found it much easier to sink into the moment. I really like the push pull going on between refinery and grit, I am excited to see what else unfolds as I continue my journey with this piece.

Sneek Peeks

"Revolt" face detail

I always have a few paintings going at once, this helps me not over work a painting but also gives me something to always work on while paint is drying between layers.

Here you can see 4 of the 5 pieces I am working on" Techno Eve" (working title)" I Couldn't Tell if I was Dreaming"," Blackbird Cry" ,"Revolt" and not pictured but also currently being worked on is "It's You"

"I Couldn't tell if I was Dreaming" is coming along Y

New! "Revolt" 10"x 8" on oval wood panel

I just recently started "Revolt" and I am very pleased with how it has turned out so far. I promise I will not start anymore paintings so I can finish this crop, I will soon be filling my shop with new originals and prints! Yay!