The New Fad

So, if mushrooms are in, does that mean owls are out?!!?? Who can keep up??!

(via decor8)

Illusration Friday: Run

I was a little stumped by this weeks Illustration Friday theme of Run, and then I started flipping through images that I have been wanting to use, but haven't found the time to sink my brush into. This is one of my favorite images.

It is a very familiar sight to see parents running down the street holding onto the front and back of their childrens bikes, trying to help their kids move beyond training wheels. I love this version from the early 1900's, although I am sure that that tiny little boy isn't going to be soloing on the motorcycle any time soon!

Plus, there is an illustration of 2 kids running from a swarm of bees on the left there, which kind of cracks me up. . . .

(You can see more detail images of this piece here)

Heart me, Baby!

I am of the habit of checking the stats for my sites pretty much everyday. And with Etsy, that means seeing who Hearts you. It is nice to be hearted, becasue then you know someone cares. I like it very much.

And so I have noticed over the past 2 days I have been at 199 hearts! One more and I will have exceeded every expectaion that I ever could have had going into this crazy art endevour! So am I offering a little incentive!

Whoever is the 200th Hearter will get 15% off their next purchase!
Runners up 201 and 202 will get 10% off!
Must be used by midnight Sept 10th.

You can see who hearts me here!

(If you are registering for a new Etsy account, please put MCaplan in the refferal box!)

What is Art?

This is a tricky question with a Pandoras Box full of answers, but none of them is the definitive right one! Art is all subjective. I think that anything you have an emotional reaction to, that you senses gravitate toward, is art.

Why is it that we have a hard time walking away from the things we find on the sidewalk?? Are those found objects considered Art simply because they are then introduced to your space and displayed??? What do you think?


I have started a new group on Flickr called Art In Your Home. It is intended to be a place to share any and all of the items you have displayed in your home, your Art.

The above is a question that I posed to the group. If you would like to comment, or say hi, you may do so here.

If you are on Flickr, join!! I cant wait to see all of the amazing art out there!

SPC: Small Space

I took a month off of participating in the SPC out of pure distraction. So much going on, and preparing for FC, and then our trip. I kind of get this feeling that even though we are a cyber community, it is very evident when someone goes MIA and is distracted by their offline life. It is summer, and so lots of people are traveling and spending more time away from home, then in front of the keyboard. It will be interesting to see how loud the community hum gets once school has begun!

I had my husband take this photo for me this morning. I was trying to think what kind of small space I often find myself in, and I realize that because my studio is right by the front door, I am constantly adjusting the blinds to avoid having to talk to sales people and realtors! These people LOOOOOVE knocking on the door during the day and discussing your property value blah blah blah, because this is what you want to discuss with a total stranger.

It is all a sales pitch, and I would just rather not be distracted. I do not need a new vacuum, and if I did, in 2006, I would go to the store to get one! I wouldn't open the door to the salesman and thank him for his miraculous timing because, hey, I was just about to clean the house (anyone who knows me, stop laughing!) and darn it all, the Dyson just exploded! (knock wood) What decade is this???

So. . . . This is the scene you might see if you were to approach my home unannounced. Me, peeking through the blinds, trying hard not to make the floor creak as I walk ever so carefully to the kitchen so you wont see me at my desk as you look in the windows to get my attention! The nerve!

I almost forgot!

I almost forgot to mention that I am part of the Projekt 30 August Exhibit! This piece, a commission created for Holly Becker over at decor8 is one of the group on display.

There is a nice mix of very interesting work in the group and I am sure you'll enjoy taking the look. Thanks to everyone that voted!!!

(Image courtesy of Holly Becker)