Gocco!

I got my Print Gocco in the mail yesterday!!!!! I'm so excited. I can't wait to try it out! It will be a while yet as I am working on-site for a client and then I'll be away for a few days; then back on-site for the client again. As soon as I get a free chance I will dig in! It is sitting in the box on the floor next to me...taunting me to come play. tempting....so tempting!
Hopefully in another 2 weeks or so. (sheesh) In the meantime, I've been brainstorming and planning some very fun card designs! I've finally found a favorite design that I'm proud of; so I'm going to try my best with it.
A lot of work and thought goes in before I even get to the print stage; so that's what I've been working on while on the train and during my evenings. It's so fun! My plan is to put the cards up for sale on my etsy shop once they are complete; and of course put them up here on my blog for all to see. good times. *yawn* I'm going to bed!!

Polaroid!

I got my simple Polaroid in the mail on Friday! These are a few of the photos I took...the chandelier was my first ever Polaroid experience. As you see, I even tried 2 self-portraits. I love watching them develop! It's fun not knowing exactly how the photo is going to look. It's going to be fun using this camera to change up the digital "norm" that I'm in. Nice to mix it up once in a while! I'd love to experiment with a Holga camera...but I think I might wait a little while. I can only have so many goals/interests with my art before I become overloaded and would rather take a nap!

Arty excitement!!

I'm so excited! I won a Print Gocco machine auction on ebay. I cannot wait to receive it. Now I can do small print runs by hand for new greeting card designs! I love the quality of how gocco prints come out. So textured and pretty. *sigh* I have a million ideas for cards; so I just have to find that one special one to start working on and setting up. Oh, why can't it be here NOW! :)
And in other arty excitement I am going to start getting into Polaroid photo-taking again. I love the arty look to the photos that can only be done on polaroid. And it is the perfect medium for snapping interesting every day objects and shapes. A unique way of looking at the world and noticing every day beauty. They aren't meant for landscapes or for macro shots (that is saved for the digital camera). But it IS fun for spontaneous self portraits and for taking shots of signs and other cool things that inspire. I'll post them to my flickr site when I get some good ones. Yay again!
As for this weekend; we have the Patriots pre-season game on Saturday night to go to. It will be fun to tailgate and game-watch when it's not 25 degrees outside. Go Pats!

Flight of the Bumblebee

Last weekend we took a drive into Concord to see the downtown shopping area for the first time and to wander around part of Minuteman National Park. We had so much fun! There are so many little boutiques and antique stores all along several blocks. Lots of restaurants too. I loved it. We even found a great wine shop and a cheese store! And it only took 15 minutes to get there so I'm excited to have a new place to shop. The national park was beautiful. It's amazing to think of H.D. Thoreau and Nathaniel Hawthorn walking those same paths. What's more amazing is realizing the most important part of our Nation's history happened there. I took the posted photo trying to do a macro view of the flower and a bee flew in just as I took the shot. It startled me and I yelped! When I took a look to see the shot, I realized I'd inadvertantly gotten the bee in there! Kind of fun, though startling at macro view. Alienlike to say the least. At some point soon I will be posting some of my favorite photos of the excursion to my flickr site. (link is in my right list of web links)

flower sunset straight

flower sunset straight
Originally uploaded by mlcassid.

Summer is going to be over before we know it! This pic will keep summer here online when the first snow of the year falls.

Illustration Friday: Play

Here is Morgan the wonder Corgi at play with a red ball. A quick painting sketch I did today for the topic made with acrylic paint and marker on paper. Starting to explore materials to find out what it is I most enjoy working with. Still not totally sure yet, but it's fun so far. I'm also discovering different painting surfaces which really make all the difference when it comes to different effects you're trying to pull off. I always use the same thing, and I'm finding it's probably not the best material for what I want to be doing. Learn learn learn.

Works in progress

It's Friday! I spend the last 3 days this week working for a client in the city. It was about a zillion degrees outside, so the commuter rail and trains in the city were packed with sweaty people. I'm home today; just picked up my new glasses. They are snazzy and I like them. Here are some things I've been working on. The first is my vintage rubber ducky painting...it's a small 9 x 12 size done in acrylic. I think I'm going to post him for sale soon on my etsy shop. Below that is a project I'm working on. It's a drawing of dogwood branches on wood, and then I'm working on using woodburning tools to etch it in. It's a lot of fun! Plus, the wood was under a dollar at the craft store already pre-cut. so, it's very inexpensive to do! I traced an existing drawing I had and used graphite paper to make the transfer onto the wood. I'm going over that with the woodburner. You can see on the left is the part I haven't burned yet. I think I'll use butchers wax to finish it off. I may sell it on etsy and I may not. I haven't decided yet. I'm kind of attached to it. I guess I could do another one? In other news I've been commissioned to do a painting! I won't go into detail yet, but it will have a classical guitar theme. It will be a fun challenge to research and work on...I might have normally shyed away from something like this. But I know I'm capable of doing it and I finally get to see what I can really do if I put my mind and skills to it. I'm nervous and excited. We shall see how it goes!!!

Illustration Friday Topic: Capture

Here's a quick ink sketch I did. I hate killing bugs (unless it's a spider or a mosquito) so I usually capture them and release them somewhere outside and away from the house. It usually works out ok. :) I just feel guilty killing them. Too many years of watching Disney movies has done this to me.

Embroidery!!

Lately I have been obsessed with embroidered items. They are so pretty, delicate and interesting. I am drawn like moth to the flame to embroidered clothes. *sigh* I've been finding all these sales and incredible deals lately on clothes like this. I got a lined silk sweater covered with embroidery and beading...a 3/4 sleeve 50's-ish style cardigan with little hook closures....I about fainted when I found it. That brings me to the other day when I bought this little green 1/2 sleeve knitted sweater on sale for 50% off. It was the only one left and it was my size. It's not something I would normally pick out to wear, but I was drawn to it. I tried it on and it looked really cool! The colors drew me in...such a nice palette. The colors are inspiring to me. Then I realized it's the embroidery that draws me in as well. I decided to buy it and now I can't stop staring at it. If I could hang it on my inspiration board I would.






Along the same note, I was touring a nearby mall several weeks ago with my friend and business associate Debbie. We were researching interesting displays and other "eye-catching" retail solutions. We wandered into this store...I don't have kids, but I WANTED the clothes in there. They were quite pricey for the age group, but they were so beautiful it almost seemed worth spending that kind of money. Almost. We were mesmerized by the beautiful packaging and hangtags on the clothes. We oohed and ahhed over the retail signs and displays...a graphic designer's dream store. My eyes fell on a little clearance bin...more like a tray of small belts and other odd objects. I pawed through and gasped as I pulled out this GORGEOUS hat. I gave a little yelp to show Deb...the colors in this hat are so beautiful. And the hat is so soft. I could pet it for hours. And, there is this little embroidered bird on the side. *sigh again* I looked at the price and it was $1.99!!! I decided that I had to have it. Again, I don't have kids. But, I figured it was so pretty and was a real inspiration for me. It was a perfect item to pin to my inspiration board in my office. And it was less money than a lot of greeting cards are now! I excitedly brought it up to the register and the associate asked me "When are you due?" with a smile on her face. I felt so embarrassed and sheepish. All because I'm buying a hat for myself that I can't wear. I managed to peep out that "I'm not!" with my own smile. I felt bad for her; she was so upset for saying it. She said most people get so excited about the clothes and they are usually expecting. I said "no, not me. I just excited over the colors and design of things...I'm a graphic designer and I love this store!" She agreed, she loved the designs as well. And to add to the dorky design excitement, she gift wrapped the hat for me so I could have the gift box and all the little details that go along. The tissue paper....AMAZING! The gift boxes....SO CUTE! And the shopping bag....again, so great. Everything was inspired by vintage wallpapers and pretty patterns. She included a ribbon and sticker in the box for me as well. When I have kids, I'm definitely going to shop there! (Probably in the sale area, but it's all good!) Such a great store. The website pales in comparison to the actual shopping experience and all the beautiful tags and signs and props. All this makes being a designer so fun for me. Below are photos of the steps of the "packaging experience" for my little hat. The gift box had little flowers on the lid and a pale green gingham pattern as the bottom of the box. You can click on the images to enlarge...you might be able to make it all out. Even the tissue is a contrasting printed pattern and has scalloped edges. wow.
I adore it all so much. I feel silly getting so excited. But, I can't help it and that's fine by me! I know I'm not alone!

Eyes on me...

Yikes! I finally called my eye doctor today. I've been having problems with "red eyes" and other issues with them every time I wear my contacts. It's been a nightmare this past month. I've never had problems before after 14 years of wearing them. So, I'm now wearing my out-of-date prescription glasses that I hate and can't see all that great through. I just want my eyes to feel better!! Hopefully, it's just a lens fitting issue since I recently switched brands. Anyhow, I have an appointment for a week from now. I ordered new up-to-date eye glasses today; and have to wait until next Tuesday or Wednesday for those. I'll make do; it could be much worse. On the way home, I stopped at the library and read some magazines (much cheaper than constantly buying them!) and checked out a book on Leonardo DaVinci (I love books about him...) and one on the anatomy/drawing of wildlife animals. It's very detailed in terms of different poses and scenarios for every kind of critter. Good for studying! As for DaVinci, I just love his line quality and his drawing style. It just captivates me; his notebooks are amazing. That was one curious man I'll say! I like to get out a magnifying glass and peruse all the little details of his work. Endless fascination for me! And finally, below is a photo I like that I took after the Fourth of July fireworks up at Great Pond in the Belgrade lakes of Maine. It was pitch black outside and this little area was lit by a porch light. The photo, while not totally accurate to what our eyes saw, it reminds me of some sort of children's book illustration. Very luminous. :) It's a favorite of my husband and myself.

Illustration Friday: Clean

I instantly thought of the germs that are on the kitchen counter before I spray it down. Here's a little cross-section of them. I nice reminder of why we clean in the first place.

All is well! Yesterday I worked on-site for a client...it was a very busy day! Lots to do. It was a lot more harried there than I've gotten used to working at home. I felt tired when I got home last night from all the action. So far today I did some client work and sent out invoices. I went shopping at this little boutique...they always have such cute finds! It's rooms and rooms of pretty things...clothes, furniture, art, objects, toys, jewelry...you name it. And the fact that it's a short drive to the center of town doesn't hurt either! Here are some photos I took the other day:

































The grasshopper was hiding in the grass amongst the purple flowers. I spotted him; he didn't seem to mind that I took his photo. We're neighbors after all. Not much else going on; just reading blogs and brainstorming art ideas. I've been coveting these blogs lately: loobylu and heather. Another fun one is Penelope...it's endless with inspiration and fun. Okey doke, I'm off to clean a bit of the kitchen and eat (garlic tortellini with pesto sauce is on tap for the night). Mmmmmmmm....

A Pain in the Butt

As promised, here is our new backyard retreat. We have a little outdoor firepit/stove (perfect for s'mores and roasting marshmallows). Toward the right back by the hose, you can see a bamboo-like structure...that is our outdoor fountain. Water trails from the top "tube" and flows down through each tube. Sounds a little like a small waterfall. The hammock is fun, although I sat out today in my bathing suit ready to ponder my work when this black bug (not sure WHAT it was...) flew at me out of nowhere and flung down into the hammock. I squealed quite loudly and fell off the side of the hammock along with my notebook and pen. Sprawled on the ground, I felt a stinging pain on my right butt-cheek. The damned thing bit me in the behind!! I started to get scared and in a flash I whipped down my suit bottom to check to see if whatever bit me was in there. Thank goodness it wasn't. And thank goodness the neighbors weren't home! Our backyard is pretty private luckily. Not that I cared at that point in my freaked out state. I scared away my little chipmunk friend I'd been watching...I'm sure he was laughing at me from the bushes behind the rocks. Anyway, I'm working INSIDE for right now; as my butt heals. I worked a little more on my painting this morning...baby steps. The front empty part will be very detailed and I'm sure it will take quite a long time to do. So, I've spent a lot of time getting all the background finished up so I can focus my attention to the front. Since it will go in the dining room I really want to do a good job on it and not just rush through like I normally might. (I don't have much patience). Here it is so far.
It's a start at least. I've also decided to post my inspiration board / and one of my desks.

It's got visual treats that I really enjoy looking at lately.

It's got 3-d objects and flat objects on there. I have some fabric items I have yet to hang. And on the desk you can kind of see a rubber ducky painting laying flat that I will put up for sale on my etsy shop at some point soon. I found that I really enjoy painting "non-reality". Landscapes have their place, but I like painting little characters and critters. I'm thinking I will have to expand on that idea as I move forward. I get totally energized and excited when I paint things like that and that's what I'm going for. Well, the rest of the day will be spent getting cleaned up and getting done some client work before Chris gets home from his softball game tonight. Tomorrow I will be working for a client on-site so it will get me out of the house for a bit which is always fun. Hopefully nothing will bite me in the behind there too!

The big follow-through

Ugh. There is so much I want to do! Sometime I don't know how to fit it all in. I overwhelm myself with ideas until I am paralyzed and find myself wasting the day on television instead. I spent all last week working, working, working for a client in the city. It was a long commute and tiring. But I enjoyed the work. I just didn't enjoy getting home so late! Now, this week I don't forsee a whole lot of work. (of course that could change any second now with the ringing of the phone). Feast or famine is my life right now. I'm always either bogged down with so much to do, or light as a feather. I love it. I'm lucky. I'm going with it.
So, I make all these plans for what I want to do with this found time, and I get overwhelmed. I finally have the chance to spend time on all the things I daydreamed about (what I'd rather be doing if I were home) when I had a 8:30-5:00 job before. And I've got NUTHIN'. I realize I just have to decide what my biggest priority and interest is for the day and dive in. (I never WAS a diver...I always sort of hopped in the water butt-first...I have never done a dive before...hmmmmm). So today, I'm going to work on a painting. I started it at the beginning of June and haven't found ample time to touch it since. So, it's got the background filled in and that's it. I want to do a nice job since the intent is to hang it on our dining room wall once complete. So I guess that's my big goal for today...not to finish, but to continue on it. I also have lots of bookeeping and filing to catch up on for my business...and invoices to send out. Never the fun part but necessary if I want to be paid! Oh yeah! My other thought was wanting to fix some photos I took and upload them to my flickr page...see what I mean? I start coming up with plans and a whole host of new ideas swarm like bees around my head. I refuse to give in to my normal pattern of retreating to the couch...I must break that bad habit. I know I will be grateful to myself if I do. I feel like I'm normal. I just need to bite the bullet and see things through. And THAT is what is hard for me to do. I'm a starter, not a finisher. And I need to change it. I WANT to change it. Being creative and accomplishing art depends on some sort of follow-through. I need encouragement...I need strength.
I've got the inspiration, now I need the strength to be confident and FOLLOW-THROUGH.

Ahhh, summer.

I love summer. I've missed it!!! I've been thoroughly enjoying it so far! I'm sitting in our brand new backyard right now. Well, we always had the yard. After we've had the house for over a year, we still didn't have any outdoor items set up. So I haven't gone outside the house much during the day. So, for my birthday (which is this coming Friday! yay!) we picked up a new patio table and chairs (to replace the green plastic) and an umbrella and a hammock with hammock stand, a bird bath, some bird feeders, a fountain, and some large colorful outdoor urns to plant annuals and other things in. It feels like a littlel retreat now. All the items are from end of season clearance sales, so we spent staggering little for it all. I'll be sure to post a picture soon. There's a zillion dragonflies out here. They must have caught on to our gazillion mosquitos. I've noticed that we don't have nearly as many as last year. All thanks to those dragonflies. They are all colors...blue, green, black, speckled, brown, and techni-colors. And huge. These look like little bi-planes. I keep peeking at the bird feeders, but haven't seen any birds yet enjoying the seed. I think they have to discover it's there first. Anyway, we went to the beach in the other part of town the other day; it was fun. It's a big beach on a cute pond. It must be fun living there. We live across from a similar pond, so it's fun to be able to walk or ride the bike over and lay on the sand and swim. I feel like we are finally settling down and making the town our home. Finding the shortcuts, the trails and the roads to get to places more quickly...discovering little shops and other excitements. It's been so fun getting to know the area here. So much to take in! Other than all this, we've been going to fun barbecues. We also visited my parents at a house they rented for 2 weeks up on Great Pond in Maine. We stayed for several days enjoying the lake and the relaxation. Again, I love summer. The smells of the barbecue and the flowers in the air. The fresh cut grass. The smooth warm air on your skin. And the cool breeze in the lazy shade at the pond... I wish it could stay like this all the time, but summer in New England just wouldn't be the same without the fiendish winter that preceeds it. Well, I'm off to get back to work. And reality I suppose.

My new boutique

After much work and fun, I have finally launched my etsy boutique. http://megancreates.etsy.com
I am selling decorative art for children and adults. I also have lines of notecards on there as well. A mix of everything. I had so much fun getting everything ready; now we'll see if I can even sell anything! That's ok, the fun was getting everything created and together. My work will evolve and change as I develop more of a set style. Most of my work is completely customizable and I can work with the recipient to add quantity or make changes or whatever. I also take commissions. If anyone out there has an idea they'd like me to execute in my own little way, contact me and we can work together on it. It's fun to make a unique gift that nobody else has. Just a little small something that can brighten someone's day. I like that idea. Attainable art...not in an expensive gallery and not mass-produced at the mall. Just little hand-made bits lovingly put together and sent off to a new home. Now, off to the "real world" to do my normal graphic design day job which is a whole different kind of fun. Enjoy!!!

New inspiration

Wow. It's been forever, it seems, since I've written! There hasn't been a whole lot to report and I've just been chugging along on my same ol' goals. I've been continuing to work for myself and trying to drum up work. Still going well so far! I'm really excited about it. It's a whole new world. Now that my work life is falling into place I really feel the need to enhance my time with my hobbies and my creativity. When you have a creative career like I do, it's easy to fall into the trap that your job is your creative outlet. It's simply not healthy to think that way, especially when my work is for clients...not for myself. So, I've started an oil painting...it's 30 inches wide x 24 inches high. It's of some tree blossoms I photographed a month ago and as soon as the painting is complete it will go on the wall of our dining room. I've got the background blocked in so far; now I have to begin work on the blooms. I really want to take my time with it. I have such a tendency to work way to fast and impatiently. A bad habit! I've also decided to do some fun, whimsical, decorative art for children and adults and sell them at an online boutique forum I found. www.etsy.com I'm so excited! I've got lots of ideas and now I just have to turn them into works of art. I'm going to sell original paintings, prints, photographs, and note cards. So, on my own time I'm going to work on getting enough items created to sell.I've already got some photos that are ready, but I'd like to get a good variety of other work prepared. As soon as the boutique is posted I will get the link up here and make the announcement. My plan is to have it going within the next 3 weeks. I've always wanted to do this, but never figured out how I could get going. But now I've found the answers I need and am ready to enter the art/craft world as me with my own original ideas to offer. And for the first time, instead of feeling scared or like a procrastinator, I feel excited. I feel hopeful. And I feel motivated. Mainly because I finally figured out the kinds of things I want to do and I finally feel like I have the permission from myself to do so!

The thrill of revenge?

Did you ever have a bully when you were a kid? As a small, shy, and insecure girl I was an easy target. While I was always nice to everyone, lots of kids found it fun to pick on me and call me names. I remember this mean older kid who was a sort of nemises to my older brother....he would follow me home from school with his little minions and say that I was "Cassidy's younger BROTHER" (clever to say that I was a little boy or something despite my wearing a dress.). He would then throw icy snowballs at me as I screamed and ran as fast as my little legs would go. I dreaded that walk home. But one day, as I breathlessly ran through the kitchen door with tears streaming down my face, my brother ran outside and chased that bully away with his own snowballs and several choice swear-words. I felt so proud that my brother defended me that day.
Not all bullies were boys. There was this nasty clique of girls in our school who thought they were the greatest things on earth. Now, I wasn't part of that clique, but I DID have lots of friends. Anyway, she loved to make fun of me and call me names and do whatever she could to assert that she was "cooler" than me. I completely HATED her. She was in my gym class along with all the rest of her coven. I remember she started making fun of me as we stood in line for roll call. I got so mad I actually stood up for myself and started making fun of her back. We went back and forth and then she yelled out the dreaded "Oh YEAH!! Well at LEAST I have FRIENDS!!!!" I stood there, embarrassed and stunned. None of my friends were in the same class as me. I had nobody to defend me. I just stood there humiliated...like there was a huge spotlight on me. I felt like Carrie from the Stephen King novel. I went beyond mad to exceedingly calm and composed. That day, we were playing floor hockey (my favorite). We were both slated to face-off. I remember the teacher dropping the ball on the floor and as we both went to hit it, I "accidentally" missed and smashed her shins with the hockey stick instead. Ooops!! We both ran all over the floor. Normally, I was so good at the game. But I just kept smacking her shins "by accident." She soon caught on and began to yell "she's hitting me on purpose!!!!" I just batted my innocent blue eyes at the teacher and said "no I'm not, I'm really sorry! I don't MEAN to!" I was known for never acting out or getting into trouble. He didn't think that I would do such a thing. But I continued the entire rest of the class making it my vendetta and purpose to make her hurt just like she'd hurt me. She soon began to run away from me and stopped going near me. (heh heh). At the end of class, her shins were all black and blue and had welts on them. The months of her making fun of me were over and she never bothered me directly again. And I never had anything to do with her again. She always remained a snob. And to this day, I know that what I did was wrong. And I don't think I could ever forget the years of her making fun of me. She'd made me so miserable. Violence is never the answer. Because to this day I still get annoyed at the memory of her. I can't help it. And in all honesty, I got thrilling satisfaction by "accidentally" hitting her with that hockey stick. The memory makes me smile. And if nothing else, I've learned to accept that I'm proud of it. And I'm not sorry. :) Sometimes, it feels good to simply not be the bigger person. Sometimes.

Illustration Friday Topic: Speed

Now that it's spring, soon the dragonflies will be out and about. Because our house is surrounded by protected forest and wetlands (and also have a lake across the street), we get lots of dragonflies. From little to huge; they dart around the yard. They're fun to watch! Now if only we could get rid of the nightmare mobs of mosquitos we'd be all set.

Accentuate the Positive.

My gosh! It's been so long since I've last written. I'm sorry I've been M.I.A. It's been hectic getting my new freelance design career underway. I'm happy to report I've been plenty busy and doing really well so far! I couldn't be more thrilled. I feel like a huge burden has been lifted and I'm finally doing what I was meant to do! It's great being able to make my own decisions about how I spend the day. I feel so much more free and happy. I feel like a new person. I just feel relieved and optimistic all the time now. woo!
Today is Saturday, and that means NO WORK. That being said, I slept in late and I just finished a hot chocolate topped off with Fluff. Mmmmm. I love Fluff. I like it as a sandwich with peanut-butter. I like it on crackers for S'mores. And I like it topped on hot chocolate. I know it can't be good for me; but everything in moderation.
Last night we watched "Ghost Whisperer" which comes off as a bit cheesy, but so addictive. I'm fascinated by the premise that we are surrounded by "ghosts" who have unfinished business here and need help before they can "cross over" to wherever they go. There's a part of me that believes parts of this. I know I'll never know for sure. I choose to think my departed loved ones can still come and visit me whenever they want. They provide guidance and comfort when I most need it. And they cheer for me during my successes. They are the angels that guide me through life. It comforts me to believe in that and I think that's ok. As for the TV show; despite its being a bit cheesy, I like it. It's not about doctors or lawyers or police officers. It's refreshing with it's positive messages. And it's not "reality tv" which is more and more annoying with each show (and not real at all). And Jennifer Love Hewitt gets a lot of flack for being who she is. And lots of people don't like her. I don't really have an opinion on her. She seems nice. But what I do like is how her character on her show is so cheerful and helpful and positive. There's so little of that in the world of television that I feel parched and thirsty for it. I need that little ray of light sometimes, you know? True life is filled with enough stress and drama and issues. Sometimes I like to escape to a world where someone is ever-cheerful and helpful...call me crazy, but I like it. Every other show lets me escape to a world of murder, mysteries, court-dramas, and hospital traumas. How is that escaping to a place I WANT to be? So, I try to watch less television and find my own ways to get lost in positive things. And that makes me feel good too.