Fall colors

A couple more pics from New York. I just love the colors of these leaves at High Line park in NYC. Can't wait to use them for something in my art--maybe a background for a sign, maybe for a card. Who knows? When were walking through the Met, my husband and I came across the tools in the second photo and both said, "A, T and D" because we had been programmed to look for letters... I thought it was funny, would have been even funnier if they spelled something!

New York letters

While in New York, I was looking for letters....and then I got a call from a St. Louis customer who wanted to order the above name frame for her kids who live in New York City! I normally do my name frames in color, but she requested black & white. So....I made sure that I got New York letters for her order, and decided I may as well try to find the whole alphabet. Drove Don and Alex crazy, I think, but I had fun! So the letters above are from:

G is from a bridge in Central Park;
A is from an exhibit at the Metroplitan Museum of Art;
R is graffiti at a subway stop;
F is a building near the Hudson River;
I is from a railing in Central Park;
E is from a building on Broadway;
L is from an elevator at High Line Park;
D is from a bridge viewed from High Line Park.

The book is bound

The book is bound and already in Alex's hands. I hope he liked it. It is always hard to tell with sons--they don't get excited about much. But I had this leather, and made the covers, took it all to Joanne's studio where she let me use her drill to make the holes. The rest was easy---just a rubber band and a twig--which she provided! Thanks, Joanne!

The trip to NYC was great. And I got tons of new letters. Still have to crop them etc, but hope to post some soon. While there, I got a call from a woman who wants a name frame sent to NYC! So I made sure I had New York letters especially for her order. It was fun, but I think I drove my husband and son crazy....

Ornaments galore

A box of "ornaments" waiting to be finished... These are some of my new designs---I think I like the HOHOHO and WISH the best, but who knows what the customer will like, right? I've taken small wooden tiles and glued them together and spray painted them silver. Then I attach the letters and the "jewels" --thats the fun part. These are waiting for the the hanger--which I finally found an easier way to do. Before, I was, believe it or not, poking a hole with a large safety pin. But doing this many ornaments killed my hand so I finally went to Lowes and found a TINY dremel drill bit and it works like a charm! I'm actually looking forward to drilling those tiny holes for the tiny loops. Then the last step is to add Diamond glaze to the top. I love the way it looks---really finishes them off---but too much of that a one time gets my neck and shoulders! Wow, after explaining all of the steps I feel I should be charging more for these!

Family letter frames

This is a photo of my family sample of letter frames. Using my last name (because it's short!) and displaying it on a stand that I made/found. That was fun...I found this wood at Lowes back in April and it has a track in it that fits the 1/4" foamcore. But then I accidentally got 3/16" foam and they wouldn't stand up! But I figured out that if I nailed straight nails in I could set the letter on the nails which works pretty well and even gives the 1/4" stability.

But then, in September, when I was getting ready to offer them at Art in the Park, I went to Lowes and they didn't have the boards anymore! Luckily, just this past week I found some and bought a few extra just in case. I have them cut to size and then I prime, paint and polyurethane. Lettering on the side is a bit tricky, but I'll figure a way to make it work. I just like how they look in a stand! But I also like that they fit perfectly above a door frame!

If you want to see your name in letter frames, leave a comment and I will post your name here!

Finally spring!

It is finally spring but I feel so behind.... Once again, I have not posted in 2 months! I have a new idea for a way to sell my letters that I have been rolling around in my brain for a few weeks and frankly it is driving me crazy.... And I have so many other volunteer commitments, that I can't see to get around to figuring it out. I have a show next weekend April 4 and 5 ( The Art Fair at Queeny Park--see sidebar) and I would like to have it for that, or at the very least, put a few samples of it on my etsy site.

The idea is what is posted above, putting the "letters" in "frames" that I have scanned...so that the frame and letter are all one piece. But each letter frame would be a separate piece and my problem is how to display them....attach to a ribbon, mount on foamcore and make some kind of track to stand them in, or simply offer them with 3M stickies on the backs. I've also been told to only offer about 4 frame styles, but there are so many cool frames that I find that hard to do. What to do.....

Change happens

Barack Obama said this in his acceptance speech at the DNC and I kinda liked it. It's true....you can't stop change. And we need a little change right now! But I thought it might work well as a small 4 x 10 print using the graffiti letters. I seem to be hooked on them lately. I am getting ready for Art in the Park on the 28th, and am trying to come up with some new things. You just never know though--what will sell and what won't! I really need to take inventory and think about what needs to be done and what things to leave out! Sometimes I think I don't give items a chance, and pull them if they don't sell right away---kind of like network TV!

Meida Works name frame

This is a special order that I got recently for an anniversary celebration of a company in Maryland. It was a rather large piece (12 x 37) and I was worried about shipping it with the glass. I ended up sending it UPS, but after talking to them, I think I can do it myself now! The key, I think, is to shrink wrap it to a piece of cardboard after wrapping it in bubble wrap. It arrived there safely when they sent it, so I hope I can do this in the future. Does anyone else have any tips on shipping?