new work : new show this weekend

The Air Was Aflutter

Kelcey Loomer 

6" x 6" 

Paper, acrylic, epoxy resin, glue, ink

2012

I have been painting in my studio a lot... It has been painting all day long, computer work and Olympics at night.  It has been fun to share the experience with the kids. I don't know about you, but I have been staying up way too late watching the Olympics. 

I have also made some exciting leaps and bounds personally/artistically the last few weeks which feels good. There have been some major mess ups too (like messing up the finishing coat of a painting I had already spent 30+ hours on. Oops.) We are doing a show in Biltmore Village (Asheville) this coming weekend. It will be all art and no jewelry. I am looking forward to seeing everything I have been working hard on all together in one place!

inspiration :: brita nordgren

 I don't go out much, which is why it was extra special that I had the chance to go to Brita Nordgren's art opening in the River Arts District in Asheville recently.
Brita's paper cut artwork is elaborate, delicate, and interesting.

I especially loved her shadow box type paper cuts and the way they cast shadows on the wall.

 Come check out some of her paper cuts up close on her website www.britanordgren.com!

from the garden

Our potato harvest hasn't been amazing this year, but they sure look pretty nestled in the colander.

gramps & In the studio

David, Alex, & Alex

Alex's dad Alex (aka Gramps) is visiting this week.  He has been taking Lil and her cousins on trips to town and to the pool daily. Seo has been staying home due to an unfortunate case of hand foot and mouth disease. Although he looks terrible all covered in spots, he is recovering from his sickness quite nicely and has been able to enjoy the time he has with his Gramps thoroughly. 

Because everyone is loving on their grandpa I have been able to sneak away to my studio quite a lot this week. It has been lovely. I am working on a few pieces simultaneously, and I like the direction they seem to be heading.  

a small section of a larger painting in progress:

new work

 It truly feels like forever since I have had a chunk of time in my studio painting. It is hard to loosen up after such a long break...

Risk

8" x 10" 

Kelcey Loomer (text by Anais Nin with permission)

paper, acrylic, ink, pen

2012

I have a new painting to show you tomorrow when the light is better for photographing it. I am so excited to share it!
For now I will leave you with this photo since we have been having the most terrific thunderstorms this week.

and more sweet

These two loves-of-my-life astound me daily with their wonderment and enthusiasm.

I have days where I get anxious about the lack of art time in my schedule, but then I always come back to the reminder that my days circle around these two, and I wouldn't want it any other way.  There will be a time when that is not the case, and for now I am trying my best to live in the moment and soak up as much of them as my heart can hold.

Seo picked out Spongebob (I don't think he knows who Spongebob is though) as his face paint at the park the other night. Guesses for what was on his cheek ranged from a pb&jelly sandwich to a paper bag. :)

some more sweet

 Alex took these photos of us picking up some honey at our local honey stand.

A little self-serve farm stand filled with wildwood honey. $15 for a half gallon!

 *Love*

fruit !

After planting fruit trees and bushes a few years ago, we are now harvesting fruit from our land! First we had gooseberries, then mulberries (from a tree that just popped up near our driveway), then lots of sticky mountain berries that eventually fried in the heat wave. 

Now we have figs and blueberries:

Have you ever eaten a fresh fig? It is about the furthest thing from a dried fig. I even heard Lil say about a fig: "It's like ice cream".

big crafty pics

Flowers from our garden in my lap on the way to the show.  Even if we are going to work, leaving the kids with a babysitter feels like a date for me and Alex...

 All set up! We had a great location indoors (which was nice since it was 90 degrees outside!)

We put the larger silver necklaces on clearance to make way for our updated line coming this month!
The 5" x 5" prints mounted on wood were a hit too.

 My craft fair friend Liz (and her husband Stig) from Cozy Blue a few booths down.

Waiting to be loaded back in the truck: our booth all broken down and on the sidewalk. After the show we went out to dinner with my sister and Dave to celebrate the big day. :) 

big crafty prep

prints mounted on oak wood and sealed with resin :: drying in my studio

We are busy getting ready for The Big Crafty tomorrow!

be faithful in small things

Kelcey Loomer 

mixed media and digital medium

2012

Maybe because we jumped on the trampoline before bed (?), or maybe because of the heat (?), Seo didn't fall asleep until past 10 last night. At first I sat quietly downstairs reading and waiting. Then I waited outside in a camping chair drinking a beer. Then Alex tried to cuddle with him. Then, lastly I brought him downstairs when Alex needed to go to sleep.  As he made the slow process of falling asleep on the living room floor, I made this digital collage.
Remember the lonely dogwood blossom I drew this spring? It found a home!
And just when I was thinking he may never fall asleep, he did.

hello

OH! hello neglected blog... hello 1000 emails and 30 flagged emails in my email account to deal with... hello  forgotten book on my nightstand... hello netflix movies we have had sitting there for a month... hello laundry and scary back-of-the-fridge...

I have been off gala-venting at a wedding, and trying to pin down my new necklace line for Seed & Sky, and puddle splashing with the kiddos... One of these days soon I will come back around.
I promise. 

airplanes and other play...

Remember airplanes as a child?
My dear friend Jenny came to visit this past week and she teaches a type of yoga that combines stretching and acrobatics. She taught us all some moves. I love having people in my life who still know how to play and be silly!

making diy wedding favors

I offered to make some little wedding favors for my friends who are getting married this weekend. My mom helped me finish the project today by slipping them in the perfect glassine envelopes. They include a little magnet of the couple and a small quote printed on card stock. Washi tape is wrapped around to keep the envelope closed.

materials & how to: (In case you felt inspired to make some too)

1. small photo. To get this I uploaded my favorite picture of them onto the free photo editing site picmonkey (www.picmonkey.com)  Crop the photo square. go into frames and use rounded edges at 100%.  save. Then I printed this image out as a contact sheet from my computer. (a contact sheet should be 1" in size)
2. clear epoxy sticker. (I found mine here) I used a 1 inch or 25mm clear epoxy sticker. adhere to the small image on the contact sheet. Then I carefully cut the sticker out to a perfect circle. 
3. Metal setting. glue (I used this glue) the epoxy sticker to the 1" / 25mm metal setting. (I bought these) and let dry. 
4. Magnet. Glue a magnet (I used these) to the back of the metal setting with a strong glue like E600 or super-glue. Let dry. 
5. Quote, handmade paper, something personal. 
6. Glassine envelopes. (I got mine here) but I am sure you can find them in the supply section of Etsy. 
7. Washi Tape. I ♥ my washi tape. (I got mine here).  

Super simple & so cute! 

I am looking forward to our day celebrating with them tomorrow!