pamgarrison

still painting

Hello out there! How goes things? Over here, I've still been lost in a world of painting and learning and painting some more. It's been a fun period of challenge and growth; at times frustrating when my skills don't align with my ideas, but overall, exhilarating to be experiencing the process of creative exploration and development.

One thing I am improving at is finishing and getting some listed, both on my etsy, pamg.etsy.com and some for auction on my pamgarrisonpaintstudio ig account. Here's the most recently auctioned piece:

Just like I have felt before, it feels bittersweet to be sending this one off to it's new home. I'm glad to have them go to good homes, and of course, I need the money to feed my painting supply funds, but I'll miss it too, I spend so much time with each one that it feels a little like a love affair. I wonder how many years I will have to paint, how many paintings I will have to sell, for the attachment to each piece to lesson. I'm betting that those that paint and sell in collections might feel that way about collections as a whole, but not so much each individual one. Or maybe when I understand my own painting process better, each one won't feel like I'll never be able to repeat something similar. Who knows, I'm just rambling on. As I paint and sell, these are just some of the thoughts that go through my head. 

As you can see, flowers still have a very strong pull for me. 

 

 

If you are joining me at the end of September at Donna Downey's studio, we'll be doing some painting over the 3 day class...be forewarned... you might find yourself falling down the same rabbit hole that I find myself in. At least it's a very fun and creative one! xo

painting painting and more painting

 

Hello out there! I'm coming up for air just long enough to put up a post on the blog. What?!? Crazier things have happened, surely, but with my track record this past year, I'm happy to find myself pulled here to share.

This is the current state of my family room floor. And it's been like this for too many days to count.

As you can see in the pictures (and post title) I've been putting in lots of hours painting lately. In this instance, when I say painting I'm referring to acrylic on wood and canvas; both florals and abstracts or a combination of them both.

I'm pretty sure it started on a recent trip to Portland where I got in a lot of painting time; both with Michelle in her awesome studio, and then an intense 12 hour non stop session with Jennifer, (amazing artists both), I felt a creative growth spurt coming on and if there's one thing I love it's new developments in my creative expression. This week I dropped as many things as I possible could and devoted myself to more uninterrupted painting time. And it's paid off. I fully believe that quantity time leads to good quality creative learning. The breakthroughs happen eventually. Just stick with it. Practice without judgement, play, fun, experimenting... all recommended by me! 

I painted a lot of my more usual like these:

and then some new things started coming out like this:

and this:

...which feel and looks different than I'm used to. Like finding a new gear. Fun times.

As per my usual, many, many at once. That way I don't feel forced to stick to any one idea; I feel free to try different things like colors or marks that wouldn't necessarily belong together. 

I'm still painting away but probably need to clean up the family room for the weekend. It's ok, a break, switching it up, is good on occasion too. Maybe I'll paint in my art journal instead, a little cleaner for the family for a bit. ;) 

I've even been on a finishing(!!) roll and have started moving some pieces around my house. 

(That tall skinny flower is a Jennifer Mercede piece. It's so sweet.)

I've started a second instagram account that's focused on paintings and behind the scenes/works in progress. It's where Jennifer and I had our art auction, and I've listed a couple things for sale there just to try out something requiring less clicks than etsy.  It's @pamgarrisonstudioshop if you're interested.  

And, I'll be listing lots of things on my etsy too, that'll help me focus on finishing them all the way through!

Pursuing creativity and putting in enough time for growth...yes please. As always, I appreciate you stopping by here and also as always, I'm here cheering you and your creative time on. I hope if you want some, you get some. Even if you have to steal a little time...trust me, the dishes will wait, I've tested it! 

 

hey, thanks!

 

art print over on my etsy: www.pamg.etsy.com

The internet can be so fun sometimes. I recieved an email from my friend Paige, that the Novogratz had posted a piece of my artwork over on their facebook page yesterday. You can see it by scrolling down here. I watched every single episode of 9byDesign with my daughter, and we ate it up. We've been fans of the Novogratz family and style ever since, so it was very fun to see that, thanks for the head's up Paige! 

 

On their post, someone asked who the artist was, (I assume they found it on someone's tumblr or similar account that doesn't link back to original source like pinterest does) and Wendy Brightbill left a comment with my name and link to my blog. Thank you very much Wendy! (I tried to leave you a comment, but since I only have a facebook business page and not a personal page, I am not able to leave comments on personal pages, can't like them or repost either, or follow ...all I can do is like a business as my business. I rarely have any conversation about Facebook that doesn't include me stating that I am not a fan. I only have one because some readers asked me to, because I guess it is their way of following blogs? Or??? Really, I don't know. I just get frustrated by it 95% of the time. Facebook and I are like oil and water.) Anyway...if I could leave a comment on Wendy's, it would say thank you and also that I'm loving her new card collection...super cute! 

 

I've restocked what I've got left of the prints in my etsy shop. Like I said, the internet can be fun...never know if some of the Novogratz followers might want to see more of my corner of the world-wide-web, right?!? 

And thanks again Paige and Wendy for letting me know/giving me credit...guess I should learn how to add metadata to my photos one of these days...;) 

 

stitch along

Hello again!

Since my last post was about stitching, I thought it the perfect time to blog about more stitching...

Last year I was invited to participate in Stitch Along, a recent crafting book published by Lark Crafts. I received my contributor's copy and think it's a great book for those that want to start stitching, or long for some simple stitching projects. There are 10 other stitching artists, and each stitcher's assignment was to choose an embroidery motif, and then create 3 projects using those stitches. Right away, Jenny, the author, suggested I do "doodles" as my motif...of course, me being a constant doodler in many mediums, I thought it perfect. 

My first being a little stitch primer booklet...getting all those doodles down in stitch format. 

I couldn't resist a little rhyming signature inside ;), it seemed like what you'd see inside little primers of yesteryear. 

The stitch sampler is full of pages of stitches.

I found it fun to reasearch stitches and figure out ways to incorporate more than the standard in my doodle repertoire. Of course circles...love circles. 

and lines...

 hearts...

and stars to name just a few...

all tied up in a neat little bow. 

My second project was a guaze butterfly. I did find it a wee bit challenging to work with that material as background fabric for stitching, but it was the ethereal effect I was going for, so made it work. You know I'm about participating over perfection every single time anyway.

I was able to put my doodle stitches into play, using all of them in a free form pattern. Circles, scallops, hearts, diamonds and more...

The stitch guide is included in the book project, but I also have a couple similar butterflies in my etsy shop for those that aren't wanting to go the home made gauze pattern route...

I have both small and medium sizes and yellow and orange printed patterns. 

My third project was a doodle filled arrow pillow. It might be my favorite because I just love how it looks sitting on a chair in the living room. But it's hard to pick a favorite really...

Oh for the love of metalic thread (tip: use small lengths of thread)

and embroidery...

and arrows...love them all. Hmmm, I should do an arrow on linen pattern for my etsy shop... but of course, there is a pattern in the book, and that way you get 29 other patterns and projects too! 

Feeling ready to get your stitch on? I recommend Stitch Along, it'll get you well on your way! 

Happy Monday out there, hope it's treating you well! 

 

stitching at French General

Hello there! Hope those of you that celebrate Labor Day had a good one! It was a fun filled whirlwind over here. 

My biggest activity this weekend was teaching at French General. I didn't realize that it was Labor Day weekend when scheduling my Happy Day embroidery sample class, and was so happy to find that even though it was a long weekend, there were lots of stitchers still in town. We had a really nice group of friends old and new, and spent our Saturday stitching away. I wish I would remember to take photos, but once I arrive to set up it seems that the hours fly by without a second to spare. Thanks to each and every guest that spent the day with me, celebrating the art and craft of embroidery. I brought my 2 favorite stitch guides and promised I'd put links here. 

Carol gave me the Embroidery Pocket Guide and it is a favorite, especially for when I'm stitching on the go, it's so light and being laminated makes it nice and sturdy. The Embroidery Stitch Bible is a favorite because it is choc full of stitches with easy instructions. 

I moved all my floss into a clear plastic bag that my daughter's new bedding came in. I love being able to see all the pretty colors. I mostly stitch with Cosmo floss or DMC, rarely use Perle. Just because of what I was introduced to as I went along, I have plenty of friends that stitch with only Perle, I just don't have experience with it. Even though I have all the pretty colors above, it didn't stop me from buying more when at French General this weekend. 

It's so fun to choose different color palettes for a piece, and at $1.00 a skein, how could I resist? How different a piece made with the colors above would be than a piece stitched with these colors:

Really, can you blame me? Of course, my shopping didn't stop there, I half wonder if Kaari's invitations to teach aren't partially motivated by my inability to resist her finds, ;) especially when she's just back from France!

But I showed some decent restraint I think...besides the floss...especially if you've been there and have seen all the temptation!

Now to put it all to good use....

 

embroidery class at French General coming up!

Summer is really going by all too quickly! So quickly, that I'm not sure I've even mentioned here that I've got a class coming up at French General in a couple weeks (August 30, to be exact). We'll be using one of my embroidery patterns to stitch on. Specifically, the Happy Day pattern, but I'll bring my others if participants want to swap for another. 

I'm gathering goodies for the kits now, having learned that everything takes longer than I expect it to. 

...and I'm making little strawberry pincushions for each stitcher that cares to join us. Well, these look a little bit like strawarrots, I might have to revisit my design a bit and make them a little less long and a little more plump!

We'll be taking my pattern and embellishing the edges (if desired) with French General scraps and the sewing machine, then we'll use beautiful Cosmo floss to hand stitch on the pattern. The class is for those that have never threaded a needle before (I bought lots of needle threaders to give out too, it's harder for me than it used to be!) to those that are quite comfortable embroidering and just want to be inspired, pick up a new stitch or two, talk design and color choices, all while in the charming surroundings of French General. 

It's a lovely place to spend a sunny Saturday, and we have room for a table more. Everything's provided, you just have to show up. We'd love to see you! Go here for more info. 

 

creative ongoings

What are you up to today? Is it starting to finally resemble spring for those of you that have had endless winters? I hope so. It's a sunny day here with a light breeze which has me itching to go to the garden center and spend time outside. Maybe a little later. For now, I'm doing a little wrap up and clean up on some ongoing creative pursuits around here. 

I've committed to a hem length on the top/dress shown in last post and am getting ready to stitch that down. Pockets next.

Once I finish stitching it I can change my thread color and stitch up the linen number that's cut and waiting. I've decided not to do sleeves, which will cut the time spent working on it in half. 

I spent some time last night re-stocking my etsy shop. Always thankful for the orders that are placed. 

I hope to catch up on my Project Life album, I've fallen behind again and don't like that one bit. Sure does point out to me how fast the weeks fly by.

 

Some general clean up of art supplies is on the list. Paper stacks everywhere. 

 And a little art journaling.

Had a few minutes last night and was so in love with Mary Ann's post, photos, and palette's, that I found myself doodling them in my journal. Hope to wrap everything above up quickly so I can take my journal outside in the sun and play some more. Love Saturdays! 

 

etsy re-stocking & happy mail

Just wanted to let you know that tonight I'll be re-stocking the samplers in my etsy shop, as well as re-opening the stamp section (for a few days). Thankful to all of you that have been patiently waiting for the re-prints! You can find them here. 

While talking shops, thought I'd mention Katherine Jalaty's cute shop. I am crazy for all things letterpress, and am super happy with all I purchased. In case you want more info:

And one more thing you might like...I recently bought this to-do list notepad and love it. You can see it's currently at my feet with a journal and some pens, challenging me to make a new list. It's full of illustrated pages by Mary Kate McDevitt. And while I was finding you the link, I saw this...sure looks tempting! 

I love good mail days, don't you? 

paintings in progress • january '14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Been stealing some time for painting recently, and if feels good. Things feel like they're making a different kind of sense to me.

Time spent wearing one of my painting aprons is good time. (I just sewed one of my samplers and a bunch of fabric scraps over an apron that was covered in paint one day, figure I'll cover it up again with paint eventually.)

I'm currently trying to focus on 3 larger new paintings. Well, they've been works in progress for awhile, so the term "new" is flexible. I'm really enjoying them and feeling things in my painting style and process shift a little. Creative exploration always leads somewhere...sometimes places more pleasing than others ;).

All I know for sure is, the more I paint, the more I want to paint. I still do not have a dedicated painting space set up and that makes me frustrated as well as annoyed with myself. It makes things harder and wastes time. As soon as I finish the art journal e-course, that should be first on the agenda. We'll see.

These are feeling close to finished and it feels exciting. I'm hoping I'll be able to let them go right away, right now I'm feeling too attached. It's always a process. 

I love exploring texture, and color, and form, and line quality, and and and...

It's a fun ride...

and it's Friday...hopefully more painting in store this weekend!

Happy Friday to you out there!!!

 

embroidery love

I love to embroider. Pretty much for as long as I can remember (in off and on phases, of course), I've enjoyed spending time hand stitching. It bums me out that I can't remember how or when I first learned embroidery. It was either from my Mom who embroidered a little, (and needlepointed a lot), or during 7th grade home economics class where I also learned to use a sewing machine. I swear, that home economics (and the typing class) I took as electives in middle school have been two of the best, most used school learned knowledge! Not sure what that says.

Anyway...last night I finally finished up one of my own sampler pattern designs:

Why do I always forget how good finishing feels?!? Going to keep track this year and finish all (whoa there Pam, maybe I should say most?) of the many started projects I've got going.

Here are some close-ups of my first finish of 2014:

My sampler patterns don't currently come as a kit or include stitch instructions. I'm thinking about changing that, as it's been requested as an option. I'll have to see after finishing some other things first. I am going to figure out a way to offer a how to on a popular embroidery project from the past and I'm wanting to drop everything and get started on it. So the way with me, thus I must remind myself how good finishing feels and focus on that first! When it does happen,I think you might want to play along, if you enjoy stitching. It's a good one. See my recent instagrams for a big hint. Do you stitch? If you don't yet but what to, I always suggest a search on google for "embroidery stitch videos" there are tons of free, really good tutorials. Or, Rebecca Ringquist has an excellent beginning stitch class over at Creative Bug. 

Also, even though I've been stitching for years, I still consult these reference books:

Carol sent this one and this one to me after I raved about hers. I love them both. I also keep this one in my embroidery in progress basket for easy consulting. It's spiral binding means it opens up and stays open so you can keep both hands on your stitching. And hey, check it out! I just found this when searching for the other links...Jenny has a new book coming out and I've got three stitching projects that I really love in it. Available for preorder now. That was a fun surprise, I can't wait to see it...I know I'll want to make some of the other contributors' projects already, having been privy to sneak peeks. Well, that should be enough to get you started if you want to, but here's one last reference just in case. Happy stitching!

 

last of this set now on etsy

Over the weekend I was able to wrap up and list the last of this word art series I've been doing. If you have any interest in taking a look, they're over here on my etsy. 

These are pretty much notes to self that I thought others might need to hear (via sight) on occasion. 

Thanks for stopping by, I hope your week is off to a great start. I'm feeling positive about the promise that this one holds. I don't always love Mondays, but I'm learning to appreciate them for their fresh start-ness. I know, that's not a word, but you get the drift. xo

a few new pieces just listed on etsy

I love this word art series. This one might be my new favorite, no wait...

or is it this one?

Who am I kidding? They are like children, each loved for different reasons, I can't pick a favorite. All I know is I love pushing paint around and writing with ink, so it's a nice blend of the two for me. Then there's the love of color...you've heard it all before here. I'm just happy to be offering what I consider affordable original art, and happy that some of you snap them up! I've got a couple non script pieces in the mix this time too. 

If you want to see more, they are listed in my etsy shop now. 

And, if you want to learn how I make these in person, join Jennifer Mercede and I in class this October in Brooklyn!!! 

xo

new original paintings coming soon to etsy

I've been steadily working on a new batch of fresh paintings to list over on my etsy. These are all word art paintings, written on with ink and then sealed with varnish which really makes the colors pop. I'm listing them now, so they should be live by tomorrow for those that want to check them out! 

 

listing some original art on etsy

I've been working on listing some paintings over on my etsy. I'm almost done so they should go live soon. (I wait until they are all listed so that you can see all your choices.) This set is smaller (and therefore, more reasonable priced) vs. the larger, oversized paintings that I often do. Hopefully those of you that have wanted some but didn't have the room on your walls or budget can get some this round.

I'm always making more though, so no worries if small isn't your thing.

Here are some teaser shots :)

I hope they find their way to homes that love them as much as I do! 

{Ed: They're up! www.pamg.etsy.com}

new embroidery sampler patterns on etsy

 

I've got three new embroidery stitch patterns listed in my etsy shop today.

 

Love Lives is the embroidery stitch version of one of my hand illustrated prints. It's been simplified for stitching, but still has all the charm and whimsy of the original illustration. This version is quite large compared to my other samplers (I've got a smaller version of it in the works), but would make an awesome pillow or wall hanging once done. Here's a closeup so you can see the pretty seafoam blue/green color:

The second new pattern is Butterfly. It's quite small in size actually. It'd be great sewn on something else when done, like a tote, or bolster pillow etc. I'm also working on making some of this design that are a bit larger in size. What a cute cluster they'd make.

 

It's printed in a burnt orange color on white cotton.

 

The third new design is Flower Delivery. It's sized in between the other two.

It's printed in the prettiest chartruese color.

Three new patterns for my fellow stitchers out there.

Hmm...which one to stitch first, that's my current decision of the moment. A fun question to ponder :). Happy stitching!

carving stamps and making printables

As these instagrams show, I've been having lots of fun carving stamps lately. I'm pretty sure that I showed you the new clear stamps for sale that were made from either carved stamps, or illustrations, didn't I?

These are all available in my stamp shop now. Many were designed with either art journaling or Project Life in mind, as I plan to take that on come January. Thinking about how I'm going to do Project Life, (because you know I like to try and put my own spin on things), I decided that I wanted some printables from my own stamp designs. Journaling cards that I could download and print to use however I see fit.

So, the next time Sarah came to tutor me in Photoshop and everything else tech, we got right to it. It's so fun, the ideas are endless and I only wish I had more open computer creating time, (and the ability to remember what she teaches me). So far we have made 3 downloadable pdf sheets (printables) from my hand carved stamps:

See, here you can see the stamp (upper right, pink), the inked print from stamp that we scanned in black to the left of it, and the pdf (all the colored versions) that was made from it:

Here are some of the cards cut out of the page inserted into a Project Life protector sheet (think baseball card storage page). Testing them out...

I really can't wait to start using them everywhere, from journaling to notes, and everthing else.

Like this:

Had to try one of my stamps on it, naturally ;).

After two sessions spent working on them (nothing is as easy or fast as I want it to be when it comes to me and computers!),  we paused on the creating new designs part to  make a little shop so you can use them too if you so desire. Look for this link in my sidebar:

It will take you right to the downloadable pdfs. Super simple. 

Next batch will have to include the new number set I carved:

and the big scallop you see here too:

Can't wait for my next tutor time -{what I wouldn't give to hear my son say that about his geometry tutor, I guess as adults we get to be tutored in what really interests us and that makes all the difference}, until then, I imagine I'll be carving away...maybe some holiday designs are in order...

 

new stamps coming soon

Very excited to show you my newest set of clear stamp designs that I'm anxiously expecting any day now. There are three new sets to add to the other 9 that I've had previously. I had such fun thinking of what I would want for journaling, memory keeping etc. when designing them, and can't wait to get to try them out myself.

This is obviously the one where journaling was especially on my mind, with stamps for numbering your journal, starting and finishing dates, etc. so it's the Journal This! set.

I'm kinda crazy about the create daily stamp. That's going to get used a lot around here.

This set is called The Story of Us and has stamps that I thought I'd use for Project Life next year, as I'm planning on participating for the first time to document our daily lives and tell our story.

 

Same with the set called Right Here Right Now:

Can't wait to use the pie chart to show how our time was spent on any given day.

Until the new stamps come, I'm still having good fun playing with the previous sets:

Just like all my other recent technological developments, these stamps wouldn't have come together without Sarah's wise and patient teaching. If you wanted to make some of your own stamps, I'm sure she'd be happy to help you as well. Or better yet, if you are local, she's got a beginning photoshop for artists class this weekend at Studio Crescendoh.

And if you're interested in my stamps, I'll be listing them as soon as they arrive. You can either look on my blog sidebar for a direct link to my stamp shop, or my etsy shop, they'll be in both!

stamp sets are now available!!!

Finally, after long last, the stamps are in my etsy. You can get them here.

Here was an instagram I did when they first came in, I was so excited, I couldn't resist slapping them down on a journal page. the thicker ones are made from stamps that I hand carved, and the thinner ones are from illustrations. I must say, I am finding them quite fun. And look what Mary Ann did with some here. She's such a show off!

They arrived just in time to make their debut at Renegade.

Here they are:

Happy mail, Chevron it up!, and It's a big week are larger and sold both individually and as a set of three sets.

And smaller sets, Today is Awesome, Chevron it up!, Petal pushers,This way forever, Happy Mail, Days of the week, also sold individually and at a discount for all 6.

I hope you like them!!! I look forward to seeing them on art journals, mail packages, scrapbook pages and whatever other creative use you can think of!

life IS good

I know I owe you a recap on the big Renegade Craft Fair experience, but I'm still taking a brief breather before biting off that task!

Here's a new art print the debuted at Renegade that was made from an orginal illustration of mine. It's now in my etsy shop and I've also restocked all the other prints too. Thanks for checking in, Life is indeed Good, right?!?! Right! xo

p.s. for those of you that were asking at Renegade (and here, and IG) the listing for the journaling class in August is up here. Thanks for the interest, I promise it will be a fun, creative weekend!

 

a few originals left from this collection

Thank you so much for all the painting loving over on my etsy. The ones on the left that say coming soon have all been listed and there are a few more left if you are interested! xo