IS•LY | I Still Love you

Ok, I sort of alluded to it last week, but it’s official now. I started a flickr group called ‘I Still Love Handmade’. Fitting, no? I’ve been thinking a lot about starting one; but mostly since the community building session at Alt. I think it might be a little fun for you to do some showing and telling. It may end up being a time suck for just me, because I just love to see what you’ve been up to.

{click on the image above to join the flickr group}

In celebration of the new flickr group, I’m hosting a little competition this month!

Whoever wins the best flickr group photo for the month of February will get all sorts of cool prizes. I haven’t picked out the prizes, but rest assured there will be a hand-bound book, some calligraphy and other goodies in there. You’re going to like it. PROMISE. So please, join my little group and show off what you’ve made! It can be anything! A drawing, a refashioned shirt, the awesome dinner you made last night, you get the idea! Please post a picture or 12, just as long as it’s made by you, photographed by you and very PG.

I really hope you’ll participate. I’ll keep you posted as I figure out what exactly will go to the winner.

This contest ends February 28 at 11:59pm MST. Winners will NOT be chosen randomly. 3 judges (me & two other guest judges) will vote on a winner. Judges’ entries are not considered part of the contest. Multiple entries are encouraged. You must have a flickr account and entries MUST be added to the flickr group pool to be entered. Am I forgetting anything? Sheesh. Comment or email if you have questions.

Good Luck!

Here we all are having a serious moment. Andy (middle) taught the silkscreening classes which I so stupidly missed. He’s really cool.

Being able to participate in Nicole’s Art weekend was so much fun! The last bookbinding class I taught was nearly a year ago, so it was great to get back into sharing the addiction. In two classes we bound nearly 30 books! I was so impressed with how well all everyone did. Sadly I didn’t get a photo of a single one of their books. Oops.

Alma, one of cool art weekend teachers (and one of my dear friends) gave me a super rad flower brooch. She teaches fabulous illustrator classes, designs beautiful repeat patterns and sews these fabulous felt pins (among other things). Check out her etsy shop here. Her husband taught the photoshop & workflow classes (which I heard were great) and their baby. Oh. Their baby taught the how to melt everyone’s heart class. He’s very cute. very.

I had the pleasure to Audit Nicole Hill Gerulat’s Tabletop photography class. I learned all sorts of cool tips and tricks to get better photos. Nicole convinced me that I need to start shooting manual and focusing manual. I learned a lot more about photography that way.

We were in such a dark room for this, but look at how the coke can was lit! Nicole is very impressive with her lighting abilities. She’s also very nice and one of my favorite photographers. You should take her classes.

These photos I took with my lensbaby because my regular zoom lens is an embarrassing piece of j-u-n-k that stopped focusing that afternoon. Now I’m getting a new zoom lens, can’t wait to get it in the mail!

I had a great weekend, it was so packed with creative time I just crashed on Sunday. I’m still trying to catch up on my sleep. It was a pleasure to meet and hang out with everyone at art weekend. I surely hope it’s not my last!

And the journal goes to:

ASHLEY who said:
I want.

I’ve emailed you with all of the details. Thanks for entering, everyone! I’ll be hosting more giveaways soon, so keep posted!

PLEASE NOTE: All IS•LY giveaway winners are given a 24 hour window to claim his/her prize(s) before another winner is chosen. ALL giveaway winners are picked randomly via random.org.

Gajin Fujita

Robert Longo (who inspired THIS cool music video) & Chuck Close

Cornelia Parker

Alexander Calder & Josiah McElheny

Medieval Fashion Exhibit (my personal favorite)

We went to the Phoenix Art Museum last week with some hip new friends, Angela & Clint, who we met through blog “lurking”. Our social life owes a lot to the internet, seriously! We had a great time getting to know each other and I loved seeing new artists and some that I’d only experienced through text books. It truly was remarkable to see a Chuck Close in person. I also let out a huge squeal when I saw Deborah Butterfield’s and Josiah McElheny’s work on display.

IS•LY has a new friend: Weather Girl! I’m very excited about Aimee Sicuro’s work, she has such a playful point of view and uses such vibrant colors. I can’t help but think any of her prints would be a great addition to my future home.

From left: Inside Out and I Miss the Idea of You

I’ve been doing a lot of yoga and I miss San Francisco terribly, so naturally the above two prints are my favorite. You should check out the Weather Girl shop, you’ll likely find something you can’t live without!!

I’ve been nominated for the “Blog You’ve Learned the Most From” and “Best Eye Candy Blog” Blogluxe awards! BUT, it’s up to you to help me!  Here’s what you need to do:

• Go to the Social Luxe website.
• Go to the “Blog You’ve Learned the Most From” and/or “Best Eye Candy Blog” category and click on “Vote” under yours truly, IS•LY.
• You can vote EVERY DAY between now and July 6th, and please do!  Set a phone/or email reminder to help you remember!
• Visit the other categories and vote for other sites that you follow or discover some new sites.

Thank you to everyone who reads this blog. I’m happy that you’re here.