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Winter 2008 art print released

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Winter 2008, art print

Winter 2008 art print

Soft browns fall away and turn to ice-blues and snowy scenes. There is a love story, hidden in the leaves.

I’m excited to finally start this tradition of working on one seasonal print per season. It’s been in my head for a while and it feels good to get moving on it. This is the first print in series of seasonal, limited edition prints that I’ll be releasing. Ready? Here’s the mind-blowing part = there will be 4 per year. 

This wintery tale is a 4 color hand printed screenprint, with black, bark brown and icy-blue transparent inks. Blue over prints brown to make a soft grey and the brown leaves are distressed as they fall off the trees. Get it? I thought that you might. Edition of only 85. Size: 16.5w x 22h inches. Available at my website, starting today.

Winter 2008 art print, detail

Winter 2008 art print, detail

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Piñatas are awesome

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Lurking fun from above.

Lurking fun from above.

You know it’s true. A couple of weeks ago when my friend Beth from Hero Design was in town we cruised through the Strip District here in Pittsburgh. It was at the Latino grocery Reyna Foods where I snapped a few photos of the rad bits of colorful paper shaped into the stuff of childhood dreams. Or nightmares. Or both. A few more photos on my Flickr site as well. 

WTF is this?! Awesome.

WTF is this guy?! Awesome.

Piñatas have a long and debated history, are they Italian, Spanish or Mexican in origin? Ultimately who cares right? One fun new fact that I learned today, (thanks Wikipedia!) is that there are traditionally Christmas piñatas which are 7-pointed stars. Beating them and breaking them symbolizes triumph over the Seven Deadly Sins. And then you get to snack. Niiiiicce.

Lil flock of sleeping piñatas pack a mean fun punch.

Lil flock of sleeping piñatas pack a mean fun punch.

And, thanks to the super talented and cool Sara of Girls Can Tell, ROMG check out the Guinness Book of World Records confirmed Largest Piñata before getting destroyed by a wrecking ball (yes!) in my hometown of Philadelphia: 

World's Largest Piñata

World's largest piñata. Behold its HUGENESS.

Piñatas have always held an intense fascination for me. I love the clashing colors and the handmade aspect of them. They can range from highly conceptualized to rudimentary construction, yet all are meant to be ripped, crushed and destroyed. The first time that I saw one as a kid at a party was mildly mind-shattering, as The Winner is The Destroyer. Proof positive that inspiration can be found anywhere.

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What I’m listening to today – Of Montreal live covers

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Of Montreal at Pitchfork, 2007 being all awesome. Of Montreal at Pitchfork, 2007 being all awesome.

I’m not usually much of a cover-song girl, I’ll be honest, but these covers by Of Montreal are super. It’s no surprise right? I’ve done two posters for these guys to date, so you know, it might be obvious that I love them. This collection runs from Led Zepplin to Prince to Boston to Elf Power and more, more more.

Of Montreal is one of the best bands currently alive and playing and breathing. And they play a lot of covers in their live shows. The music blog You Ain’t No Picasso has culled really solid collection of live covers up from these super heroes of rock right now. A slew of them if you will, with 52 hot-assed, booty shaking covers, there’s plenty of pie for everyone. Just click on the site and a convenient player rolls through them all for you. Heaven.

Oooh la la!

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strawberryluna T-shirts, now available in my Etsy shop.

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Friends Are Neato, brown & pink tees

Friends Are Neato, brown & pink womens & mens/unisex tees.

Hey guess what! If you haven’t seen me at a craft show, you very likely haven’t seen my t-shirts for sale. Since most of my tshirt designs are printed in small runs, I usually only take them with me for shows rather than always having them available online. But now, with the craft and poster carny-travel season coming to a close, I put up some t-shirts in my Etsy store.

Elephant & Bird Friends Are Neato, womens & mens/unisex.

Elephant & Bird Friends Are Neato, womens & mens/unisex tees.

 Available in sought after Women’s tee styles by Hyp brand, (an amazingly soft and comfy women’s tee that puts the other to shame) as well as traditional Mens/Unisex cut styles too. Take your pick! And, now that it’s chilly time, hoodies are in the works too.  Got a suggestion or a design that you would love to see on a hoodie? Drop me line. 

Nesting Brown Birdies, womens & mens/unisex tees.

Nesting Brown Birdies, womens & mens/unisex tees.

And if you’re like me, you could always improve your tshirt folding skills, check out this super sonic, faster-than-the-speed-of-sound shirt-folding technique. SHAZAM! 

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Waaaay too cute PuppyCam!

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Oh my GOODNESS. These photos are quick screencaps that I took this afternoon of my new favorite thing ever. Yes, you may already be aware of the PuppyCam. Yes, I have been watching them for well over a week now. Straight.
      

Shiba Inu pups tearing it up  
Shiba Inu pups tearing it up.

These crazy cute puppies are Shiba Inus, an ancient Japanese hunting breed. They are the first litter for a Shiba Inu named Kika, and they will turn just 6 weeks old tomorrow, on November 18th, 2008 and yes, all of the pups are spoken for and not for sale. Each puppy sports a different colored collar and there are (perfectly, adorably) 3 girls and 3 boys. I mean, come on! They are on a live, 24-hour a day, 7 day a week live stream via the immensely popular live stream site UstreamTV which was initially popularized by US soldiers in the Iraq war as way to talk with their loved ones live. 

Puppy Cam cuteness is infinite.

Puppy Cam cuteness is infinite.

The site features live sound as well, so if you are at all like me and leave a small window up at all times, be prepared to hear shrieks, yelps, cries, howls (yes!) and even the voices of the pups’ anonymous owners as they all go about their day. Their sudden freakouts have scared the heck out of me a few times, and I won’t lie. Sometimes they sound like rabid monkeys. But I can’t stay mad at them, daaawwwwwwwww. You can also catch their momma in the pen to let them nurse a few times a day, and often they are wrasslin’ with each other and their myriad of toys. But I tell ya, those little fatties are lazy! They sleep so much and play so hard. Love those lil fuzzies. 

Roly poly cutness

Roly poly cutness

Check it out, they won’t be puppies for long.

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The Year of Readers, I’m doing it.

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strawberryluna's Year of Reading profile at JustGive.org

I love to read, always have and always will. My bookshelves in multiple rooms are overflowing, and that includes my “to read” pile.

Handily enough, I came across The Year of Readers blog and wanted to join forces, as, I won’t lie, I am going to be reading in 2009 anyway. And maybe, just maybe? This will get me reading more and a bit faster. Again, I won’t lie, I’ve been a slow bookworm of late. The Year Of Readers is a sponsorship idea where readers join up and/or get sponsorship from folks for reading books from January 1st 2009 – December 31st 2009. Donations can be made per book read, or as a simple denomination can be donated, your choice!

So! For strawberryluna’s Year Of Reading 2009 my literary charity is the children’s literacy non-profit: Reading Is Fundamental or, as you may remember from childhood, RIF! I will be keeping a journal of my readings and the progress on fund-raising efforts for RIF during all of 2009 on my blog here, so keep up. 

I’ve also chosen the organization JustGive.org to process all donations, as they already work with RIF, so any donation made goes directly to RIF. Easy Peasy!

All donations will be greatly appreciated. Please help promote reading and literacy in kids and sponsor me. Start reading with us today!

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Our one-of-a-kind Custom BUDs on sale NOW!

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Tatsuta-Hime, my custom BUD, the Shinto Goddess of Autumn Tatsuta-Hime, my custom BUD, the Shinto Goddess of Autumn

Hooraaay! Our Custom Blow Up Dolls (aka BUDs) from Hero Design Studio’s the super successful This BUDs For You! show are now on sale. Yes yes! Let me be real real real real REAL real with you: These are truly one-of-a-kind toys.

Frownie Brownie, Craigs custom BUD, makin the batter Boss.

Frownie Brownie, Craig's custom BUD, makin the batter Boss.

First, they are entirely hand customized, from start to finish. We were lucky enough to get 2 completely blank BUD Blanks (show below) from Jamungo, which by the way, are Sold the heck Out. It was great fun getting to flex my painting muscles again on this surprisingly tricky 3-D surface. For a pretty annotated process set of photos, look at my Flickr here.

Blank BUD - now Sold Out

Blank BUD - now Sold Out

Second, I rarely do toy customs! This custom toy, Tatsuta-Hime, the Shinto Goddess of Autumn, is my second one ever, and Frownie is a first for Craig. So, they ain’t coming back around anytime soon. I.E. NEVER. Nope, never ever. So scoot on over and check them out, exclusively available from Hero Design Studio + Boutique both online and/or in person. All custom toys from the show will be up for your viewing pleasure and the remaining toys (going fast!) and for sale until December 23rd, so don’t blow it! Get it? Blow Up Doll?

For more photos like the one below of the opening night totally fun rad awesomeness that I was stoked to drive 4 hours to attend (all weekend, yay!), check out Hero Design’s Flickr set.

This BUDs For You opening night crowd

This BUDs For You opening night crowd

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Thank you Handmade Arcade!

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Handmade Arcade at the Hunt Armory  Handmade Arcade at the Hunt Armory

That thanks goes for the organizers AND the awesome attendees. We had the BEST time all weekend. The Handmade Arcade (with 8,000+ people attending, it’s Pittsburgh’s largest indie/DIY craft show) just seems to get better every year. Everyone that we got to talk with was so nice and open; lots of fun conversations. What can I say? I love to talk shop. And happily, as it turns out, people love to talk craft and art too.

Chatting with a print & design friend

Chatting with a print & design friend

Plus, the new location was the BOMB. No foolin’! Handmade Arcade moved to the Hunt Armory, one of the largest National Guard Armory buildings around. It’s a really cool space with tons of natural light, room for crowds and vendors to breathe and of course, heavy vehicles. Turned out to be a very interesting mix. 

heavy vehicles make way for crafty crafters

heavy vehicles make way for crafty crafters

 

crowds at the Handmade Arcade

People looking at crafts at the Handmade Arcade.

Lots more photos over at Flickr too. Thanks bunches all! See you next year!

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Edinboro University’s “Interlocution” Art & Graphic printmaking show

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Poster by Jay Ryan of The Bird Machine 

 

Poster by Jay Ryan of The Bird Machine

 

“Interlocution: The role of printmaking as a catalyst within graphic design and illustrative aesthetics.”

I am proud to be a part of this show at Edinboro University in Edinboro, Pennsylvania. The Interlocution show opened on November 5th, 2008 and will be up and available to the public until November 25th, 2008 and runs concurrently with the “More Than a Book” show.

“Interlocution” is, in the gallery’s own words: A printmaking, poster, and design show organized by John Lysak and Laurie Godfrey of Egress Press and Research. This show continues the dialogue between Graphic Design, Illustration and Fine Art Printmaking in terms of design, process, and stylistic content.

Print, poster and design work by select artists:

Toulouse Lautrec
Arthur Wesley Dow
Gustave Bauman
Oskar Kokoschka
Takashi Murakami
Bill Fick
Tom Huck
Jenny Schmid
Jay Ryan
Diana Sudyka

and many more…including me! I know, RIGHT?! 

“More Than a Book” is, in the gallery’s own words: A selection of handmade books from the collection of Lafayette College’s Experimental Printmaking Institute. Also Included are books from a cultural exchange EPI initiated with Costa Rica, Mexico City, and the University of Manchester, England. This exhibition redefines our preconceived notions of artist books, with over 60 pieces from selected artists.

If you are in the Western PA area while both of these amazing, international shows are up please do yourself an art favor and check it out.

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Come join us at The Handmade Arcade!

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ha-info

Awww yeah! It’s The Handmade Arcade time again! What is The Handmade Arcade you ask? Silly goose. It’s Pittsburgh’s largest and best independent handmade crafts show. AKA Freaking Awesome. Crafters and artists from all over the country and even a few international peeps will be there selling all handmade, high-quality awesomeness. There are over 85 vendors – check out the list here – participaing in this year’s Handmade Arcade. That’s a ton, right? 

This event is extremely popular and well attended, last year over 7,000 people came to look, shop and be stoked! So don’t be a goofus and miss out, OK? 

We’ll be there! All posters will be $20! Yep, that’s right! That means a savings of $5-$80 on posters. That’s HUGE. We also have several new tshirt designs ready to go home with you that are not yet available on my website, (though check my Etsy store!) new art prints and lots of goodies as well as posters and prints. Please come say hello and introduce yourselves! I promise, we are more shy than you are. Honest Abe we are.

See yinz there!

What: Handmade Arcade, Pittsburgh’s own HUGE indie craft fair. 

Where: The Hunt Armory at 324 Emerson St. in the Shadyside section of Pittsburgh, PA. 

When: Saturday & Sunday November 8th & 9th, 2008 from 11-7pm Sunday and 11-5pm Sunday.

Why: For awesomeness. Psssshht. Don’t be shy, say “Hi” OK?!

hadate

ha-info2

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Congratulations President Elect Obama!

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Thank you for inspiring so many to take part in this election, for bring millions upon millions together, for helping us feel proud and decent about our beloved country and for helping us all to refind our Hope. Si, se puede! Yes, we can!

“While we breathe, we hope.” 

We can’t wait to get to work with you on January, 20, 2009.

Si, se puede!

Si, se puede!

 

President Elect Barack Obama

President Elect Barack Obama

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Spoonflower, just what we’ve been waiting for.

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Thanks to a Twitter mention by smartie artie Meg Hunt, we recently found a great problem solver! Love textiel design, but perhaps don’t have the space, materials and expertise to print your own design? Spoonflower is fix.

For a textile, pattern and design nerd like me, this is straight heaven. Spoonflower, based in an former sock Mill in Mebane, North Carolina in the US, is technically still in it’s Beta stage. However, just this week they made the big move from an invite-only site to a fully public interactive website. Upload patterns & designs, peruse and follow the works of other designers around the world, order custom printed swatches based on your designs, or just read through the extensive blog for ideas, tutorials and tips of the trade.

Basically? Spoonflower is pretty much amazing. Look for my work there soon! Can’t wait to go play. Eeeeeeee.

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“This B.U.D.’s For You!” Custom Toy Show Wrap Up

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Slightly overdue, but still a spectacular event, here is the round-up, wrap-up and review-for-you of theone-of-a-kind, custom toy show that we particpated in just last week in Buffalo, NY. “This B.U.D.’s For You!”, awesomely put together by our good friends at Hero Design Studio. The toys used for this show are B.U.D.s or Blow Up Dolls, sold as blanks for customizing. Totally fun and a true test of skill and problem solving. When’s the last time that you tried painting a 3-D surface for an art show? 

Check out the photos from the show’s opening on October 24th:

 

Mark Hero, myself and the gallery crowd talk toy turkey.

Mark Hero, Beth Hero, myself and the gallery crowd talk toy turkey.

 

Tatsuta-Hime, The Shinto Goddess of Autumn on her rightful pedestal.

My custom B.U.D.: "Tatsuta-Hime, The Shinto Goddess of Autumn" on her rightful pedestal.

Frownie, the King of Desserts.

Seder's custom B.U.D.: "Frownie", the King of Desserts.

 

The blank B.U.D.s on the wall get customized live at the opening reception. Edition of 2.

The blank B.U.D.s on the wall get customized live at the opening reception. Edition of 2.

All of the pieces in this killer show are, custom, one-of-a-kind, hand crafted, painted and styled pieces created just for the This B.U.D’s For You! show. They will all be on display and for sale at Hero Design’s Boutique store in Buffalo, NY through December 24, 2008 and also available via their website. Click here for more info. 

We had a great time making our toys, and an even better time at the opening. Thanks again Hero!

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AIR October Benefit Parrrtaaay!

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AIR. It’s a good thing right? We all need it to breathe. But, like many printmakers regionally (that means in the Pittsburgh area) and internationally (that means, you know, the whole globe) need AIR too.

AIR is the stuff we inhale, but it is also short for Artists Image Resource, the community co-op studio where I print all of my work. AIR is a not-for-profit, large, flexible use working artists studio with gallery spaces, screenprinting, etching, lithography, and letterpress studios and more.

Being not-for-profit means that my home away from home relies on donations and grant based funding to survive, hence the big October Benefit bash!

On SATURDAY OCTOBER 18 — OPEN HOUSE EVENT AIR’s annual fundraising event helps provide support for all of AIR’s programs and projects. This all day, kid-AND-adult friendly event includes hands on printing and art making activities as well as lots of bands, music, performances, food, refreshments and an exhibition and RAFFLE of work by artists and staff.

For a $10.00 entry fee at the door you can come and go all day, explore various printmaking processes and technologies, enjoy food and drink, experience performances, bands and music. For more specific information or call 412 321 8664. AIR is located on Pittsburgh’s historic North Side, at 518 Foreland Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212

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New! Okkervil River poster

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Brand spankin’ new poster for Okkervil River, Crooked Fingers and Black Joe Lewis’ show tonight at Mr. Small’s Theater in Pittsburgh, PA.

Yay! I get to see a show that I did a poster for, rare treat. This poster will be available at the show and then at my website after the show. I will have only 25 copies for sale, so they will go fast!

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