final layers

final layers
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

i had the time and space this week to work on some acrylic paintings. these 3 are done, and 2 more in progress:
left to right:
trio
blood orange strata
garnet and slate strata

hide and seek drawing

hide and seek drawing
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

mandy and Patricia suggested the objects to hide in this drawing!

can you find: a chickadee, a bluejay, seashell, maple whorls, a poinsetta, a cupcake, a mushroom, a rabbit, a bird's nest, a teacup, a maple leaf, an oak leaf, an acorn, animal footprints, a hand of fatima, and.. well anything else?

i am sorry this is a photo not a scan, my scanner is acting up! click on photo and then on all sizes to see larger.

hand crocheted hat

hand crocheted hat
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

i have been crocheting up a storm lately. these hats are so much fun to to - it feels like painting with yarn. this one is primarily wool - mostly merino which is soft on the skin. several of the yarns are hand dyed or painting, so extra special. I've embellished it with a fabric rose and velvet leaves. The fancy yarn at the rim has little puffs that frame the face. I've have more of these available after the holidays.

experimental crochet

experimental crochet
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

this is something i was playing with last night -- while watching the 1994 version of little women and crying. because that's what girls do when they watch little women.

i am, as usual, going for an organic motif, and it will be interesting to see where this takes me. the yarn is some tweed from my yarn hoard. i am not sure what, possibly some rowan or jo sharp.

hat for secret santa exchange

hat for secret santa exchange
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

let's see, this one has some lorna's laces worsted, crystal palace taos, some tweed, rowan i think, Madelinetosh tosh worsted, some dune by trendsetter, some jasper by berroco, a little manos wool, and some novelty yarn i forgot the name of. embellished with fabric flower and velvet leaves.

today was busy! work, i spent most of the day working on a couple of books. i felt like a blob. so i made myself work out when i got home. then i made stuffed cucumbers for our potluck at work tomorrow and finished this hat for our secret santa exchange.

copper tree

copper tree
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

here we have my little copper tree. spent the weekend cleaning, sleeping, crocheting, going to a birthday party, decorating, and eating. it was a good weekend, but i am tired! i think i will go to bed early tonight!

i was going for a look in my decorations.. i wanted it to look like it was decorated by little forest creatures, hence the nests, little birds, acorns, pinecones, etc. so that was the look i was going for, decorated by mice, not "decorated by a creature lacking opposable thumbs".

111506rhino2

111506rhino2
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

i am blogging this picture from 3 years ago because i want to! it's a rhino version of hamlet. i forgot to scan it before i matted and framed it, as you can see. i do <3 rhinos.
it would make a cool t-shirt, too.

hand crocheted hats

hand crocheted hats
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

i just listed 2 of my handmade hats on etsy. it was a good weekend.. more later, i think i need to grab a mouse-nap.

holiday dress

holiday dress
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

scalla from the back (see previous post.)

holiday dress

holiday dress
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

last night jesse took me out for a nice dinner at pasta bella. i thought i would show you this picture because i am wearing the stress i wore to our company holiday party, and a shawl i knit. it was designed by louisa harding and is called scalla. i also crocheted the hat. i am wearing the necklace i made to match the stress, but you can't really see in this photo!

new hat

new hat
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

i finished my new hat. now i want to make a small army of hats. this one has 2 colors of manos del uruguay wool clasica, 2 colors of jo sharp silkroad aran tweed, and a couple mohairs i am not sure about from my collection of yarns. i sewed on velvet leaves and ribbons to give it a little extra something.

lunch break

lunch break
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

crocheting a hat.
the yarn: Manos Wool Clasica in "Prairie", Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed in "Twig" and "Russet" and some mohair from stash.

the ipod skin is by audrey Kawasaki.
i am listening to the wailin' jennys

beaded brooch

beaded brooch
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

in the background to this shot is a gorgeous nuno felted scarf i got at a trunkshow made by a very talented artist, anna katherine curfman, who i used to work with. we worked on art books together, but anna katherine has since gone on to do her gorgeous textiles full time. she is having 2 trunk show this weekend:
On Saturday --Sugar Plum Faire at Bright Water School on Capitol Hill from 11am to 3pm. (1501 10th Ave E)
Puppet show, Candle Dipping, Felt soap making, Enchanted Cookie Forest, food and drink and all sorts of unique handmade gifts.
and
On Sunday--Winter Faire at Seattle Waldorf School in North Seattle from 10 am to 3pm (2728 NE 100th Street)
Kids crafts, a good variety of vendors as well as food and drink.

she has a website and an etsy shop too:
http://www.indigocrane.com/

my copper tree! (last year)

my copper tree!
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

Theresa wanted to see my copper tree! here she is, the sweet little thing. click for more photos. this is LAST year. i need to clean this weekend so i can decorate for this year.

beaded angels

beaded angels
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

i have been making beaded angels the last few days. the one in the middle is probably my favorite so far. the face is from earthenwood studio. the madonna pendant is a little treasure someone gave me one, from a little jar of treasures. i had no idea how i would use it at the time but things have a way of working out, sometimes. the face on the left is from rama, a company which sadly is no more.

nurse log

nurse log
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

it has been a tasty last few days. on thursday jesse and i went to his sister's house for thanksgiving with his parents. i felt quite spoiled because there were 2 of us there who don't eat gluten and there were gluten free rolls, pie, and stuffing! it was excellent.

on friday we had another lovely thanksgiving feast at my parent's house. before hand we went to West Hylebos Wetlands park. I want to go back and see more, and go when there are more birds and animals about. this is a teensy little nurselog! West Hylebos is also the site of 2 historic cabins. one of them was Arthur Denny's real estate office and used to be in downtown Seattle. Those of you from Seattle are probably familiar with the name Arthur Denny, as he was one of the founders of the city.

orange friday

orange friday
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

why not an orange friday? you kind find lots of cool one-of-a-king gifts on etsy, and you'll be supporting independent artists!

happy thanksgiving!

119ac1
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

happy thanksgiving, one and all!

beaded button in action

beaded button in action
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

here is an action shot! my friend kathy knit the cowl and i beaded the button. I seem to be going through my blue period, as I suppose artists are wont to do.

beaded brooch

beaded brooch
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

1.75 x 2.25 inches
beads embroidered on ultrasuede.

today was a good day. even though i had a sore throat and an earache. i finished this brooch and listed it on etsy. at work i cataloged 32 venetian glass bottles, 4 mid century modern lamps, a glass sculpture by a czech artist, and 2 victorian doorstops.

right now i am listening to Dreams of Rio from zbs.rg.

pen and ink drawing

pen and ink drawing
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

about 8 x 10 inches
can you find: 2 owls, 1 hedgehog, and 2 teacups. what else can you find?
(hint, if you click on photo it takes you to flickr, then click all sizes above photo to see originally uploaded size which is easier to see!)

owl pillowcases

owl pillowcases
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

it was a good weekend but went by far to quickly! i am glad next week is a short one. i had a great massage today and then jesse and i had lunch and ran some errands. i got a new dvd player as i seem to have acquired the gift of making them die :( anyhow. then i came home and whipped up these pillow cases for a friend's birthday. she likes owls. ok it took longer than it should have and i had to redo a seam due to sheer lack of right sides together! but the end result is cute. i think i will pay bills and then draw now.

company party at the ruins

company party at the ruins
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

last night was our company holiday party at the ruins. it's a really neat members only club with quirky lush art and decor. the food was good, the music was good, the company was good, and the lemon drops were excellent. i will have to put my dress back on and get jesse to take some pictures, it was pretty and i made a necklace to match it. we had a good time but are both sort of tired today. not hung over, just tired. and this, we agree, is one of the reasons we seldom drink and don't have much. (we each had one and a half lemon drops.) we watched some dvds today and i drew. i could just draw all day every day, i think, and not get tired of it.

beads in blue

beads in blue
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

i mixed up a tasty batch of bead soup in blue the other day and am having some fun with it. so far i've done 2 necklaces, 1 button, and now this brooch in process.

the way i bead is that i find a bunch of beads that i like together, in various sizes, colors, and textures, then i dump them all in a tupperwear sandwich box and go. in some ways it's a pain, if i want to do an area of say, slate blue matte iris beads i have to fish them out, but overall it works for me because it inspires me to be a bit.. well, relaxed. freeform, spontaneous.

i am enjoying this color pallet, blues and greys. i love these ammonite beads, which are actually glass. it does make me happy when i can combine my love of earth sciences and paleontology with my artwork!

also an odd little note about the color grey. well, the english spelling is grey and the american spelling is gray. but i always use
grey for cool greys, it feels cool to me, like wet sand with puget sound in the distance on a stormy day -- such as today! and gray feels warm to me, like a napping kitten. this beadwork is oceany and cool so i shall say it is grey.

pen and ink

pen and ink
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

another one of my little drawings of nothing and everything all at once. i do enjoy doing these. this one is about 5 and 1/2 inches by 4 and 1/4 inches. it is actually a card so if i send it to you please try to act surprised even if you saw it on my blog before. it's better in person.

anyhow. i was down for a few days with a fever, as has been seeming to happen to me every couple weeks. always about the same: fever, fatigue, mild sore throat, and headache. i wish it would stop! it's not even winter yet!

i am feeling better and came to work today and think i should remain well and spend my free time beading and drawing and reading. and drinking some cocoa with jesse, of course.

mermaid necklace

mermaid necklace
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

this necklace is to go with the dress i am wearing to our company holiday party (which is so early this year - this week - before thanksgiving even! it's because so many people are scheduled to travel for work starting the thanksgiving weekend and going right up till christmas. i really wish the schedule was much less busy but it's good to have work so what can you say?)

anyhow, this mermaid is something i had hoarded for years but i think i should start making some wonderful things out of my treasures, don't you? so i made this necklace for starters. the mermaid is from green girl studios!
www.greengirlstudios.com.

beaded button

beaded button
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

i spent a quiet evening listening to music and beading. i wish i had more time to spend in such peaceful activities! i listened to AJ roach, susan tedechi, and christine fellows. i also made a mermaid necklace and another necklace i won't share pictures of yet since it is a christmas present!

ink dreams

ink dreams
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

more drawing. this one is pitt pens on paper. it is about 8.5 x 11 inches. to see the larger size click this photo then select all sizes from the menu above the image.

Nuno Felt

22508felt1
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

my friend Anna Katherine Curfman is having 2 trunk shows this weekend and selling her beautiful Nunofelted scarves and accessories. The scarf I am wearing in this picture is one that I bought from her. Here are the details!

Friday, November 13th from 5pm to 9pm at Skookum on Queen Anne (1690 Queen Anne Ave N., Seattle 206.285.2184)
In addition to Anna Katherine there will be Andrea DeLaRosa-Hildebrandt representing fabulous jewelry from Karazi Design, cp jewelry design, and Cintli.

Sunday, November 15th from 1pm to 5pm at 22201 Makah Road, Woodway, WA 98020 (which is just below Edmunds).
This is a home show of holiday shopping and fundraising for Prosthetics Outreach Foundation. There are three other artists as well:
Eco-friendly hand forged jewelry handmade by Jill Jandreau - Hats, scarves, and bags handmade by Tory Browning and Silpada Jewelry represented by Jodi Griffiths.
Each artist will be donating a portion of their sales to Prosthetics Outreach Foundation.


Anna Katherine's website is :http://indigocrane.com/

and her etsy shops are: http://www.etsy.com/shop/IndigoCrane

and
http://www.etsy.com/shop/indigocranefiber.

raven

raven
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

i drew this a few weeks ago. goodness, i am glad i am not a crow today. i mean in addition to the whole west nile virus thing, it is howling windy out. and rainy, the weather man said 6 goulashes on a scale of 1-10! i am wearing my cute rain boots for sure today. but i'd rather just hole up and draw! perhaps i shall do that tomorrow!

pen and ink

pen and ink
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

well, i turned 39 today and mostly it's been a pretty good day. jesse and i went out to breakfast this morning and i had my beloved gluten-free blueberry pancakes. later we went to the bead store, where i got some beautiful new beads to play with. we also watched some dr. who and i did some much needed cleaning and sorting.

my twin sister asked me if i was having issues about the number 39, and i said not really, just some of the things that come with it. like looking older, changing metabolism, etc. the last few years i really feel i look older, and i am not sure how i feel about that, but i figured if i looked twice as bad at 78 as i do now i'd look great for 78, so maybe i look ok for 39. which should not matter but i wanted to look good for 39 anyway -- even if it doesn't matter.

my mother observed that my art is going well, she keeps up on my blog, and that is true, and that's a good place to be at 39. i wish i could be more deep and philosophical about it but i am a bit depressed at the moment, and worn out. but soon for bed with a good book.

kaffe fasset wall at Island Quilter

kaffe fasset wall at Island Quilter
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

this picture was taken at the new fabric shop on vashon, or at least fairly new, i consider anything new that has not been there at least 20 years... island quilter. this is their kaffe fasset wall. kaffe fasset actually visited them and apparently his partner liked the wall so much he took pictures - and so did i. after asking permission. now i must say this shop would be worth a visit, it's just a short ferry ride from seattle or tacoma. you could have lunch at the monkey tree, vashon hardware, or the red bicycle, all within a few blocks, or coffee at luna. and you should visit both book stores too as long as you are there. i need to go back soon again,

this is island quilter's website:
Island Quilter.

goat and llamas and sheep on my!

goat and llamas and sheep on my!
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

jesse and i had a very nice visit to vashon island, where i grew up yesterday. we drove around, went to the lighthouse at pt. robinson, poked around town a bit, then went over to see our friends phil and kathy - where i was given YARN and jesse was plied with guatamalan rum, had lunch at the vashon hardware, which is now a restaurant. i got cordials at my favorite little shop (the little house) and we went to the amazing new fabric store, island quilter. it was a good visit.

i insisted on stopping and taking a picture of this llama. i miss the farm i grew up on! we had sheep and boarded llamas. they can be quite sweet, except when they are not, and then they are kind of nasty brutes, but still pretty indeed.

pen and ink

pen and ink
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

yesterday, i drew, pretty much all day long, while listening to the bbc production of douglas adams' long dark teatime of the soul and watching the documentary of grey gardens.

fox finds hedgehog

fox finds hedgehog
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

i am home with a headache and sore throat and i am hoping it's one of those 24 hour things. this is a picture i started a couple days ago and finished last night. i wish i could draw things all day.

pen and ink with colored pencil
3 x 4.5 inches

science center arches

science center arches
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

this is the view from the 100 level of the space needle. this is one of three arches that mark the seattle science center. in the distance is puget sound, bainbridge island, and the peninsula.

wildflower

wildflower
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

i took this picture on the way to work. the sun was coming up and catching on the dew. it was a beautiful but cold morning. i am sorry that work was too busy to permit a walk at lunch time. i had a lunch time meeting at the space needle, though, so there were views of downtown and the water. the elevator operator said sometimes people ask if bainbridge island, in the distance, is japan. (no.)

the spinner

030507art1
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

this is to inspire my sister, and my mother. i grew up on a little sheep farm on vashon island. my mother is a spinner and my sister talks about learning. i fully intend to learn to spin sometime, to compliment my knitting! i'll get to it when i retire if i don't manage it sooner. my space is small so i might need a wee peggy wheel!

hedgehog and hiberation

hedgehog
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

it is autumn, and it's really a mixed blessing. i LOVE the colors and the crisp air, and indian summer (which the Northwest has had about 3 days of, mixed in with rain.) But the shorter days do make me blue.It's really too bad because autumn colors are my favorites, and i love apples and pumpkin pie! this little fellow is someone i drew this weekend. he seems autumny to me as well. he, and some of his buddies, are on etsy. mostly i just like to draw and draw and draw. and i would not mind sleeping some too, and knitting, and having snacks. and then sleeping some more. but i do work 40 hours a week and that sort of puts a crimp in my natural inclinations. i have a notion there should be such a thing as a hibernation grant, that one could apply for, it would pay your bills while you slept through winter.

pheasant hiding

pheasant hiding
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

i had a pretty good weekend. jesse and i had breakfast with a friend saturday and enjoyed the sunny autumn weather. that was followed by an evening out for halloween, and a trip to the <3 fabric store <3 today. i spend the afternoon working on my pen and ink drawings. i've been drawing a lot of nature scenes.. some of the smaller ones are on etsy, and more to come in future days. this afternoon i watched grey gardens, which i enjoyed very much.

halloween 2009

halloween 2009
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

halloween was fun, but i am glad it is over and am glad to be into november, a month that i prefer to october, on the whole. yesterday was gorgeous, warm enough to go out with a warm sweater and no coat, and the colors are beautiful, all gold and orange with a few bits of red. i hope today will be nice enough for a walk!

here i am in my belly dancer's outfit, i have zills, the little cymbals, but i was not holding them in this picture. jesse was a jesse'o'lantern.

sonnet sweater

sonnet sweater
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

jesse and i just went out to breakfast, mmm, gluten free pancakes! and then we went to the library, i had some books waiting, and starbucks. i also went to la tienda, a cool boutique in ballard and got my sister's birthday presents! :) and managed not to buy anything for myself but i can't promise i won't go back! they have gorgeous scarves and jewelry and clothing and ceramics and .. i could go on. they also are known for their celebration of the day of the dead, so the place was very festive and one of the clerks was wearing traditional mexican folk dress.

this is a picture jesse took of my new sweater i knit, modified from knitty.com's sonnet, and a hat i crocheted.

pumpkins!

pumpkins!
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

happy halloween!

angel ornaments and literature

angel ornaments
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

this is a peek of what i have been working on this week.. i listed these on etsy. now i wish i had more time for beading and that my right shoulder was a little more cooperative. i think i need to take a beading break now and go read!

i have been reading the Homer Kelly mysteries by Jane Langton, which I like because they include a lot of history of the area where she lives - Concord -- home of the Alcotts, Walden Pond, Thoreau, Emerson, etc. Also it was a pivotal point in the American revolution and the civil war - so just brimming with history. However I am waiting for the library to bring me another one in that series so i will have to find something else to read. Last night I read in one sitting Ebb Tide by James P. Blaylock, wonderfully eerie and whimsical steampunk fiction with a dash of Robert Louis Stevenson thrown in. I'll find something to start on tonight .

holiday ornament

holiday ornament
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

i am working on some angel ornamnents for my etsy shop for the holidays. this is one i made last year. the current batch will each be quite different. the faces will all be different as well. the face shown here is by RAMA, but that company no longer exists, and i will probably save my small hoard of rama faces for gifts. the angel i made last night had a sliver face.

i am also working on some small pen and ink drawings for the shop, which will come matted in a simple black or white matte. good gifts! i will try to have everything pretty reasonably priced.

tiggy

tiggy
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

in england hedgehogs are sometimes called tiggys, hence beatrix potter's heroine mrs. tiggy-winkle. they are also called urchins. this is just a little note from me that i listed 3 little works of art on etsy, this being one, and also a little mouse and some autumn leaves.

sonnet completed

sonnet completed
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

i need to get someone to take a picture of this ON me soon! this is a sweater i just finished knitting.

it is based on Knitty's Sonnet. i have done it in stockingette stitch with a seed stitch boarder and done the sleeves as 3/4 length sleeves. the yarn is Manos del Uruguay Wool Clasica in Olivewood, Prairie, Granite, Moss, and Adobe.

mouse

mouse
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

squeak! this is how i feel right now - like hiding in the leaves. but i am hear to tell you that i listed some things on etsy and i hope i will feel more like unhiding soon. been reading a lot lately and drawing and painting a little and sleeping a lot.

Black and White Inspiration

Black and White Inspiration
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

..and some more inspiration. i think it's time to get out the pen and ink...

hedgehogs are very literary

hedgehog 2
Originally uploaded by megan_n_smith_99

oh goodness, and i thought i had nothing new to show you.. but here is smith the hedgehog! at least, the pattern is named smith. I call this guy Tiggy. he's a gift for a friend. The pattern is by Ysolanda Teague. He's reading The Three Hedgehogs by Javier Saez Castan.