To Frame or Not to Frame

I've added a new print to the shop. It's called Picnic in Polka Dot Forest.


I'm a little bit unsure about something so I thought I'd poll you, dear readers. Are you more likely to buy art if it's unframed and less expensive or would you prefer the framing be done for you? I'm totally undecided on this. I personally like to buy prints that aren't framed because I have all sorts of frames laying around that I can use. This may just be an excuse to use the poll feature on blogger, by the way. I'm having some trouble getting the poll to show up in this post, so...it's on the sidebar for now.

I found some acorns yesterday in a parking lot and later learned something about myself. I am VERY skilled at matching acorns with tops. I don't mean to brag but it's true. See...


Early Autumn is the best.

Autumn Crafting

Is it getting chilly where you are? It's so cold here today that I broke out the space heater in the craft room. I have a rule that I won't turn the heat on until October 1, but I made an exception for the space heater today.

The house is a disaster right now. We've been rearranging for days. Rearranging around here is a big deal. It almost always involves removing everything from the walls and moving furniture. I find myself wanting to do cleaning and purging more in the fall than the spring. I think I feel the need to get the house ready for the cold months when I just want to be cozy and warm.
Look at this mess:

and this one::

Some rooms are coming together nicely though, see::



Some new Sewing Kits and Pin Cushions are in the shop:




There is a definite fall color scheme happening here. The dining room is getting some of it too. It's been pink and pastel for a few years and now it's getting a nice warm makeover. Browns and oranges are so welcome right now. I think I may go on an acorn hunt this afternoon. I've been wanting to fill bowls with acorns all around the house. Which reminds me that I've got a new etsy shop called Little Acorn Vintage and Thrift. It's been great having a place to sell some of the little treats we've had laying around.
Have a lovely Fall afternoon!

Happy Autumn!

I really didn't mean to be gone for so long. I guess I haven't had much crafting news to report. I've been up to my ears in coasters and that's about it lately. We just completed and delivered a huge order so I have some of my life back, at least for now.

The animal party has made an appearance on yet another medium, kraft and pink wrapping paper. These are in the shop.


I'm so very excited about fall. It's showing up everywhere here in Portland, chilly nights, falling leaves and walnuts all over the ground. It seems like we just harvested a metric shit ton (thanks for the phrase, Tom) of walnuts and here it is time to do it again. I've managed so far to keep up with my late arriving tomatoes, but I feel that they are getting ready to overwhelm. I think I'll be canning soon.

Prints

I spent most of yesterday carving linoleum blocks for some art prints.

This is Snow Bear Takes a Walk::

and this is Feeding Time::

These have both been framed and are in the shop.

I went to IKEA (I know, weird right?) last night hoping to find some nice black frames, but wasn't happy with the selection. Not to worry though, IKEA did have some other items to offer, like a $2 lamp and pretty pink napkins. I ended up finding the frames I wanted at Michael's for a most reasonable price. Simple black frames can be so nice.


I've got approximately one gazillion coasters to make for holiday orders so I'll say goodbye for now, have a great weekend!

Tables, Parties and Winners

I've been eyeing this table at IKEA for awhile now and happened to find one in the As Is department the other day with a considerably lower price tag, so...here it is in all of it's glory, well most of it. It's missing the leaf, though it's so long that I'm not sure it would fit in the dining room with the leaf in. Have I mentioned that I LOVE having an IKEA 10 minutes from home? Well, I do! I'm a little embarrassed to say that I've been there 8 times.

Up next, new chairs. Can't wait for that.

I just finished a rather large party package for a customer and thought this would be the perfect time to get it all photographed so that I can get them some in the shop. Here they are.

They include paper bags, napkins, stickers and invitations, all block printed. These little animals look so adorable in their party hats, don't you think?

The numbers have been chosen, randomly, of course, for the winners of the surprise package! They are 2 and 7! Royaloaker and Ivey Handcrafted, send me your addresses and I'll get your treats packed up. Yay! That was fun, let's do it again soon! I loved reading your lists, it's a great way to learn about you blog readers and how you spend your time.

First Week

Happy First week of September!
This is what I've been up to this week::
::dinner with friends
::working
::back to school shopping with picky teenager
::dinner with friend
::very last minute back to school shopping with ultra picky and now grumpy teenager
::learning to use adobe illustrator
::falling in love with illustrator
::taking teenager to first day of high school
::wondering how I got to be the parent of high school student
::more work
::dinner and game night at a friends house (where I drank too much and learned that I don't really care for games anymore)
::falling out of love with illustrator (temporarily, I'm sure)
::gluing, resin-ing and designing coasters and light switch plates
::taking, filling and delivering orders
::wishing I had time to sew
::trying to adjust to new back to school schedule (not very successfully, why must school start so early?)
::getting excited about autumn
::being thankful that tomorrow is saturday
It's been a busy week
How about you? What have you been up to? Leave me your list of first week of September activities in the comments section and I'll draw a name, for a super awesome, I'm cleaning out my merchandise bins surprise package. Actually, I'll draw two names. Double the fun!

Office Guy

Everyone, meet Office Guy, Office Guy this is everyone.

Now aquaint yourselves while I make cannoli for dessert.