Button Sweat-Shop Pals

About a month or so ago, I purchased a 1" button maker. It was something Dave & I had been debating for a while & finally decided it needed to be done. He could make buttons... I could make buttons... we could make buttons for other people... etc, etc, etc. So, since it came, I've been having a great time experimenting. There is nothing better to me than seeing a piece of art in a new application. I love figuring out the little details that will make it look perfect. I've told a few friends that I have the button maker & some have requested I make buttons for them. How fun!

My friend Kat Thacker was one of the first that I told. Friday she came over & we had our own "button sweat-shop" session. She was making buttons to pass out at the I-CON (Illustration Conference) which is this week in New York. Kat is a phenomenal illustrator with an incredible eye for detail & we had a great time seeing her buttons come to life. We made over 500 buttons in 6 different designs.

Here are a few pics of the insanity...







Kat is also developing a fabulous line of animated e-cards. You can sign up for her mailing list & see more of her work here link.

MIA & Out-of-Town Guests

Yes, I've been MIA. My brother Chuck & his wife Jen came into town last week & stayed with Dave & I. He moved to Missouri a little over a year ago to join his wife after she finished nursing school. He & I have always been close so I have missed him greatly since his move. He is an incredible artist & is the reason I got into art.

This visit, he came "bearing" gifts (hehe). It was this beautiful bear fetish box he made. Inside was a bear claw in a velvet lined cavity. It's really incredible & absolutely perfect for me (aren't I lucky)! He continually amazes me with his talent & thoughtfulness.

I thought you might like to see my beautiful bear box...






Chuck has finally started his own art blog. You can read more about this box at Tercer Chuck del sol. Go check it out and say hi.

Animal Alphabet Book

After much frustration & delay, Dave's & my Animal Alphabet Book is finally available! YEAY!!! We started this project a few years back when my cousin & his wife were expecting their first child. For the baby shower it was requested that instead of cards we get books for the baby. For no good reason (does there really need to be one?) I said to Dave, "Why don't we make a book instead of buying one?" He enthusiastically agreed and the Animal Alphabet Book was started.

Together we came up with the initial list & refined it choosing some of our favorite animals along with others which we found most interesting. We then dummied up a booklet to figure out the page layout as I was doing a traditional hand sewn binding. Dave then drew the animals & as I painted them he laid out the pages. Once all of the paintings were finished & everything was laid out we took the book to the printer to get color laser prints. After trimming all of the pages to size I was finally able to sew the binding & assemble the book.

That first alphabet book, called "My First Animal Alphabet Book", was probably no more than 3" to 4" square & very expensive to produce. Because of the advancement in technology, only now has it become financially feasible to make it available for sale. The new version is 7.5"x 7.5" with a saddle stitch binding & a new painting has been created for the cover called "Noah's Ark". I have also created a matching bookmark.

Here are a few pics...






The book is available through my Etsy Shop.
Marcyanna's Etsy Shop
If you are local, contact me through Etsy before purchasing & we can arrange for a pick up so you don't have to pay for shipping!

Cards, Cards, Cards...FINALLY in the shop!

My cards are finally done & in the Etsy shop! They feature not only my photographs but also my mandalas. There is even one for my lone tiki(I'll have to remedy that!). The images are printed on an archival matte photo paper which creates beautiful, rich images. Each image is then attached to a 40lb Strathmore watercolor card that has been printed with the graphic frame and artist info on the back. They have turned out lovely & I couldn't be more pleased!

Here is a quick view...





Hope you stop by to take a look!

JUNE SALE!!!

It's my birthday month & I have decided to run a special sale on the prints in my Etsy shop for the entire month!

Here's the deal... Buy any 2 prints in the shop & receive a third one($10 or less) free! The only prints that aren't eligible as freebies are the two animal poster prints (15"x 10" & 30"x 20") but they will each count as a purchase toward a freebie print($10 or less). Make sure you mention this blog post along with the print of your choice in the "notes to seller" area upon checkout.

Here is a sampling of available prints...







Check out my store for the entire inventory of prints available.
Marcyanna's Etsy Shop