motif mondays | no.7

I guess I should start titling this motif tuesdays, or motif biweekly, since I never seem to get my patterns up on Mondays. Maybe Mondays are just one of those days when you have far to many ambitious projects planned, in addition to school and life and being in the sunshine, and blog posts are just not on that top priority list. So I am giving myself a break but here is a really simple, recent pattern I worked on while our town was covered in ice and and branches of trees were breaking and falling all over our roof; leaving us without power for a few days. It sounds awful but now just three days later it is sunny and seventy degrees and while I'm still catching up with things from our time away (more on our SF trip soon!) I am just happy for the little bits of spring peeking through.

This was probably my most rambling blog post ever, here is a pattern for you. Winter trees.

new site and lots to do

Happy Holidays! I wanted to share that I finally got my site up and live! It is named Heart & Craft Creative and will hopefully be a name I can use for all of my art and design work into the future. It's still in the early stages and has some kinks to be worked out but it is finally out there living on the web. With the year coming to a close and this big task being almost crossed off the list, I am deep in reflection and planning mode. Planning next steps; such as bringing the new brand look across all platforms like here and my shop, and reflecting on what I've done in the last year since quitting my teaching job, taking on more freelance work, and going back to school; but that's another post for another day- maybe in another year like 2014.

Please take a second to pop over to my site and check out some never-before-seen work and projects. Cheers!

Bird Print for sale on Brickyard Buffalo!

Good morning! For the next few days my Bird Print is up for sale on the amazing pop-up shop site Brickyard Buffalo! I love this site, they feature such a great collection of items, and I was so happy to be contacted by them about selling one of my prints. Even more exciting- you can customize your own color of the print! I have a color chart with 30 color options so you will definitely be able to find something to perfectly match your style, mood, or home decor. They're really discounted, only 7.99, and there is a limited amount so hop over to Brickyard Buffalo and check out the sale!

Print Collective

You guys, I have the most exciting news! After almost two years of contributing to this project, Print Collective, is finally here!  Print Collective is a book of Screenprinting tips, projects, and techniques that I was asked to be a part of, along with nine other (such talented) artists from around the world. It hits the market on October 1st and you can order it right here or here. Crazy, right? People keep saying "you've been published," and it sounds ridiculous every time I hear it but it's true! Along with the two projects I contributed to the book, I also sent in tons of images, doodles, and designs that are now part of a CD that comes with the book that you can use to make your own prints. I worked with the nicest people, especially Jenny Doh and Lark Publishing, during this project and I can't wait for it to be out to the public.


Here is a more-detailed description of the publication:

In recent years, printmaking- and screenprinting in particular- has been experiencing a renaissance among crafts, designers, and artists. The popularity of designer printed fabrics, limited edition runs of tees, art prints, and more has fed the interest of crafters.

In Print Collective, each featured printer provides readers with a project of two that teaches a core technique. Examples include overprinting, screenprinting text, painting your prints, creating high contrast prints, using alternative exposure methods (like cyanotype) and more. You can truly choose your own printing adventure; in addition to the technique, each artist provides 15-20 motifs on the enclosed CD.

And a sneak peek of a couple of my pages!

Pattern Play

It's been a long time.  As in months.  But in my defense I have been transitioning jobs, going to school full-time, and doing an internship at a design firm one town over.  It's been great fun, lots of work, but most of all it has been eye-opening.  One of the things I have found myself most interested in working on over this season has been creating and playing with visual patterns.  Sometimes one repeated shape, other times several sketches growing into a larger design.  I can't get enough of playing with proportions, balancing positive and negative space, and manipulating color.  I just wanted to give you a little peek into what I've been up to and in the next weeks hope to share more of the specifics of some projects I've worked on and some of the exciting things that have been happening around the studio and the rest of life here lately.  

finding the light

 

The last month has been spent navigating the waters of this new schedule and new lifestyle of mine.  I've lost track of dates and have been working harder than I ever have before, but somehow enjoying every moment of it.  There is a feeling of calm and freedom that I have never enjoyed before; no matter how busy I am get; and that is priceless. 

Here are a few moments from the couple of last months, shot with my new 50mm lens that seems to discover in the most beautiful light ever.

28 & 2013

Yesterday I turned 28 and officially started the new year.  I was a little behind getting my 2013 started because a lot of big changes have been happening; good, life-affirming types of changes.

This month I quit my job of full-time art teaching to pursue a career in art and design. It's been a change that I have been needing, wanting, craving, working towards, and hoping for for far too long now.  It's taken the mister and I years to get to this place where we feel comfortable and settled and ready to take this big step, I'm so lucky to have his support in my life.  And it wasn't until yesterday that I felt ready to sit down and reflect on the past year and look towards the future ahead of me, because my last day of work was the day before my birthday, hence the new year and birthday joint celebration.

Before I talk about goals and plans to come, let me take a step back.  As 2013 started I was transitioning from being a full-time teacher to a part-time student and part-time freelance designer.  I was working 40+ hours at my job while also going to new classes in graphic design and still working on projects for various clients.  The last few weeks were crazy, a whirlwind of tasks that were so spread out I didn't know where to place my focus or my energy.  While teaching was a wonderful opportunity for me, a job that paid my for school the first time around and an experience that took me from being a child to an adult with a real career, it just never felt like the right fit.  My heart and creative mind were always somewhere else- making, planning, aching.  So with this switch into a new phase of my life I am finally able to slow down and think and gain a little more perspective on what I want out of the future.

My plans in the next month, year, and years to come are not set in stone yet but I know that I will be more fulfilled in doing something I can truly enjoy, the exact thing I was trying to teach my students over the last 6 years!  So now I'll be working on expanding my own design and illustrations, building my etsy shop into what I've long wanted it to be, sharing my work here with you as well as on various client projects, and most importantly, I'll be gaining more knowledge as I put some time, money, and effort into my own education.  I can't tell you how excited I am for all of this and I'll be sure to share the journey here with you.  It feels good to do something good for yourself every once in a while.

xo- kat

instagram photo from my pre-birthday weekend with a dear friend at Wrightsville beach. 

shop update

It's been a while since a proper shop update and I have some new items listed!  There are some new screenprints, garlands, and some super fun new printables.  Some are not as new but have only been in the shop for a month or so, so maybe new to you.  I have some simple new garlands up, but I am planning on phasing out most of the garlands as it seems that Etsy has had an influx of garland makers- you know how it goes when something hits big.  I am going to focus on more artwork and a line of printable invitations for now, both of which I am really excited to work on.  I'm also working on a few other decor items that I can see are starting to trend right now.  So as long as I can stay focused, expect to see some cleaning out and some adding of work to the shop.  I'll continue selling my garlands and work here in town at Design Archives. 

Besides that (because you know I can't do just a handful of things at once) I am still furiously posting over here, pinning here, and becoming addicted to Instagram.  I'm also finishing work up this month on a super secret design project that hopefully I'll be able to share with you by the end of the year.

Also- anyone in need of a super amazingly talented graphic designer?  My husband and I love working on projects together but he's just finished school and is looking for a full time position.  He's funny, cool, will make your work place an awesome environment (and I'm not just saying that- ask anyone who knows him) and he's open for business.  Check out his site and more of his work here.  Feel free to contact me with leads or inquiries for him.  xo

weekend: rockin and shoppin

A busy Saturday meant the last of our markets for 2011 and man was it a big one! We spent the day in Durham, NC at the lovely Motorco Music Building selling our wares for the Rock & Shop Market. The venue was great (they also had vendors in the Trotter Building and Fullsteam Brewery), but the best part was all of the great locals we met and chatted with and getting to spend the evening with some friends in Durham.

After the show we hooked back up with Andy and Nicole from APK Printworks and Un Original Americain and Sarah and Alec of Shed Letterpress. We got to kick it at Sarah's studio, see her Heidelberg in action (amazing!) and then had dinner down the road at Geer St. All in all the day was a huge success and ton of fun and I actually woke up on Sunday relaxed because I realized I could clean and wrap gifts-- finally. Success!MotorCo.Set up.After party.Heidelberg beast.

heart & craft holiday in a box

Friends, I am so excited to share with you the handmade gift I put together for the Handmade Gift Swap hosted by FreshlyPicked and ArdorBlog that I participated in this month. Besides getting wonderfully handmade gifts from five other bloggers, I got to put together and send out my own little creations.

For my handmade gift I put together the "holiday in a box" full of little treats for holiday decorating. I included a small glittery garland for wrapping around gifts, a large garland for decorating your walls or tree, shimmery cake flags for adding some sparkle to desserts, our 'this if for you' gift tags, a set of holiday banner greeting cards, and a golden-painted little deer figurine just for fun. In addition to designing the cards, inserts, packaging, and contents I had SO much fun packing and sending of these little gifts! I hope they brought a smile to someone's face and I can't wait until next year's gift swap!Find my greeting cards, gift tags, garlands, and flags all in my shop.

paper products

Last month I shared with you a digital file of my new business cards designed by the best husband in the world. Well yesterday, inspired by the amazing works over here, I decided to take some proper photos of them in the flesh. Sexy, huh? I love the way they came out, am happy to hand them out to potential clients or contacts, and am trying to decide if I should submit them over there for possible exposure? Can't hurt to try- that is the motto of this year I believe.