Just a quick drop in to say that I hope you are all having a fantabulous holiday week!! We have friends in town from SF and are having a ton of fun! Lots of cooking and eating and drinking going on! This is much need time to just be goofy and relax! I will be back on the 7th, up to my old tricks, and sharing some new ones!!
May you have a safe and happy New years!!! Cheers to 2008!
Hiya! I feel like I say this all of the time, but fret not, I have not abandoned the blog! I have spent the last week completing commissions and trying to get my own holiday shopping done. Just getting out our holiday cards is proving to be a test. I have a small stack left to write and today will be the day! I also have my annual cookie baking spree to undertake, which is fun. This year I am limiting it my famous Chocolate Chip Cookies and I am going to be ok with it! Normally, I also try to make rum balls and festive sugar cookies as well, but time is not on my side! At least the weather is rainy and gray today, so being inside and baking seems appropriate. Maybe I will throw on a little Ella Fitzgerald, her holiday album is my favorite for this year, and bake away!
BTW, have you heard this album before? I cant get enough of it! So sultry and festive. It just makes me happy! I got it on iTunes, but you can get it from that link if you prefer actually getting the CD in your hands. For me iTunes is a total saving grace, as I am generally very impatient to get my music once I find a CD I want. I have to have it NOW, and iTunes makes it just that easy. I am sure there are other services too, but as a Mac girl, it is all just too easy! (I love that I am saying this as if it were a whole new world of MP3s, like we haven't been downloading music for a few years now! I dont often take advantage of the simplicity, and get really excited by it when I do! LOL)
Can you believe how fast time is flying?? I feel like we just got the tree up, and now Christmas is less than a week away! Once I have cleaned up a bit I will snap a shot of the tree next to the fireplace! It really looks awesome without that gross lava rock! Finally, a mantle to hang our stockings from!
OK, I am off to make a mess in the kitchen! Wish me luck! ;) (By the way, how awesome are those pomegranates! Perty festive!)
OK, I am finally in the holiday mood! After being inundated with Christmas in every store since August, I was doubtful that I would get over the anger of the holidays being shoved down my throat so early. BUT, and I say "but" with glee, I am now ready to let the Merry Merry in! Tis the season, and I am a tree decorating fool! I have been listening to this cute little animation in the background of my Firefox windows over and over again! Click on over, and belt it out! I dare you not to sing along! So cute!
How amazing is this photograph? This is a recently finished commission, 16"x20" and I just totally fell in love with the photo. It makes my heart swell! It is just incredible!
The deadline to have have your own commissions in for a Christmas delivery is Wednesday, Dec 12th, and the size is limited to no larger that 11"x14". If you have any questions, please contact me (michelle{@}michellecaplan{.}com) as soon as possible.
Also, the deadline for purchases from my shop to be sent via priority mail is December 18th (within the US). International buyers will have to contact me with detailed location info.
Conner3, 4" x 4", 2007
Good things come in small, and special, packages! To see more little things visit Illustration Friday!
I am capping off this oh-so-hectic season with a fabulous group show at the Cactus Gallery in Eagle Rock, CA! This funky fresh gallery is jam packed with really cool art and insane handmade items. It is all quite a collection to see! There is a big opening party for the Tiny Treasures2 show, which is a cash and carry show running Dec 8th-January 8th, this Saturday night! I will be there with Tyn Atol, and Kari Atol both of whom have pieces in the show as well! Make a day of it, Cool Baby Cool Market in the AM, and then Cactus in the PM! That's my plan!
PS, if you cant make it to the opening, they are open everyday in December, except the 25th, for your shopping pleasure!
This weekend is the more than fabulous Cool Baby Little Monster Market! Despite a crane falling on our original location ( you heard me right!) the show will go on right across the street at Riad Decor! This show is great for all things mom and baby! You can see a full list of vendors here. Come one, come all!
I cant believe that it is already December, and that we are well on our way to a new year! Despite the fact that we started seeing holiday gear in the stores in August (yuck!), it seems like the season is flying by at new record speed! If I dont get some lights up soon, I will be just in time to take them down!
2008 is going to bring a lot of changes around here as far as my focus and style is concerned. While I will still be doing commissioned portraits for clients, I will be switching gears and re-inventing my works. I have a sketch book that is over-flowing and I am ready to get busy! I am sure that portraits will be a part of the things to come, but I am going to be branching out, exploring and experimenting! I am going to be starting off the new year with a big surprise. . . . I am not quite ready to reveal the details yet, but I hope that I have peaked your interest!
With all of that said, I am excited to announce that the last pieces of 2007 have been uploaded to my Etsy Shop, and I am having a blowout holiday sale to help clear out and make room for the new goodies!! Most pieces have been marked down u to 30%! SO go get some Holiday shopping done! And remember to buy as much handmade as you can!
This is one of my most recently finished commissioned pieces, done as a gift for this couples 40th wedding anniversary by their children! It was amazing to learn all about their lives and an honor to know their story!
As far as getting a piece done for your family for this Christmas, crunch time is here! I have been getting a lot of inquiry emails about having custom commissions done in time for the holiday, and so here is the info ya'll need! The deadline for ordering is by Dec. 11th, and that is pretty firm due to shipping time needed. Don't hesitate to contact me after that date, as I may be able to work with you in time, but there is no guarantee for a Dec. 25th delivery.
Anyone local should contact me directly as delivery by the 24th wont be a problem if I can drive it over to you! Download my brochure here. (a PDF will be downloaded.)
I got an email over the weekend from Holly at decor8 letting me know that one of my prints had been included in the next batch of Domino Magazines Art Gifting: prints gallery! There are 15 different Etsy artists included in the selection, and I have to say that there are some here I hadn't seen before, and LOVE! If you click over, be sure to check out Nina Clough, and Olivia Jeffries! Their works are really cool!
I am, of course, a huge fan of Domino Magazine, and to be included in their online slideshow is really exciting!! The folks over there have such a keen eye for gorgeous design and encourage me to surround myself with inspiration throughout my own home. I really love the features they do on peoples homes. The spaces are always so incredible! I wont lie, to be recommended by them, makes me a little giddy! Thank you so much Domino, and Holly!!!
This weekends show is going to be one fun day! Not only is it indoors (yay for warmth!), but it features some of my most favorite people in the local craft community! We are going to have a blast! A few have done this show before and have not stopped talking about how much fun it is, so I am looking forward to my first time being there!
There will be live music starting at 11am with a harp & cello duet, followed by piano at noon, Gypsy Jazz at 1pm, Folk Guitar at 2, Theremin-3pm, Latin Jazz at 4pm, and Acoustical Holiday Rock from 5-6pm. AND every half hour there will be a raffle drawing for prizes donated by each vendor, all guaranteed to be worth a minimum $30! Free loot! Woo Hoo!
Here are the details:
Center for the Arts Eagle Rock
2225 Colorado Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90041
DECEMBER 1 Sat. 11-6pm
This is my second to last show of the holiday season! Next week will be the kid-centric Cool Baby, Cool Market in West LA which is going to be rockin' as well! Details on that one later!
I am so excited to share that my work is now available at Patio Culture in Venice, CA! Karla Stevens, the owner of PC, and her fab sister Kimberley, recently contacted me to see if I would be interested in participating in their holiday boutique.
The shop is all about outdoor living and entertaining and generally focuses more on custom orders, but when I saw the space, I understood why they HAD to go retail! The vibe in this little beach house-turned shop is so warm and exciting! There are some amazing textiles, gift items, and artwork to see!
I love these photographs to the right of my work! Fantastic beach scenes and surf shots that do not disappoint! After all, PC is just steps from Venice Beach, so they are all about the CA Beach way of life!
Karla used to be the costume designer for The OC, so you know she has impeccable taste! The Stevens sisters together are a force to be reckoned with! They have selected the newest and hottest designers to fill their shelves! Plus, they are big on bringing in the lesser know artisans, and getting them seen, so you know there is goldmine of goodies there!
Patio Culture is located at 1612 Abbott Kinney, a street in LA famous for its eclectic shops, fabulous interior design studios, and awesome restaurants! It is a great place to spend the afternoon for brunch and holiday shopping! Friday, December 7th, all of the shops will be staying open late for the annual Holiday Street Event! There will be carolers, magic shows, even Santa! And of course, great shopping! I will be posting more about that next week!
This weekend we successfully raised over $130.00 to sponsor a table for a week at the LA Mission! The left over tote bags have also been added to the shop at the discounted price of $12.00. There is only 1 Lola, and 4 To Vera left, so dont dilly dally! Once they are gone, they are gone! Thank you so much to everyone who generously gave to help raise the funds!
Thank you to the cool ladies over at Cool Mom Picks for featuring my tooth pillows last week! I was so excited to see the article up, and congrats to April Smith for winning the giveaway pillow! (It will be in the mail today!) You can click over and read the full article here.
Day one was a hit! This fair is jam packed with some truly amazing talent! Cant wait for tomorrow! If you are in the area, you have to come check it out! We are at Fairfax & Melrose, in the high school lot. 11-6 pm! Booth 18, right across form the free gift wrapping table!
Today I am thankful for loving husbands, hot cocoa on a cold day, laughter, and togetherness.
What are you thankful for?
In my Felt Club recap I totally forgot to mention how much money was raised toward donation to the LA Mission! We successfully collected about $84.00, and because we are so close to being able to sponsor a table for a week (only $130.20!) I decided I will be doing the same thing at the show this weekend! So, if you weren't able to make it to Felt Club, and you want to get involved, there is still time to donate to a worthy cause, and grab a great tote at the same time!
(Thank you so much to everyone around the country who has contacted me about participating! Email me if you would like to donate, and we can make arrangements. Through Saturday only please.)
This Friday and Saturday is the Homegrown Market This event is going to be HUGE. With over 150 vendors, live music, a live radio broadcast from the site, games, gift bags, and free gift wrapping, it will just be an extraordinary couple of days! Lots of my favorites, like Henry Road, In Craft We Trust, Pookieville, Random Nicole, Funky Frocks, Whodini Handmade, and Jamie Zollars are going to be among the vendors! I know I will be getting a lot of my shopping done! HannahMade and I will be in Booth 18. Come by and say hi!
The organizers have put together a commercial that is running on TV all over LA! Looks like a blast!
