papers and prints by jennifer catsos

things i love: week of 1.16

2012-01-21T16:03:00.005-05:00

* wonderful open kitchen shelves. i have been lusting over houses lately, most likely because i am living in a rental right now, with very little flexibility for interior changes. some day...

* oiled canvas, and everything made out of it (like this bag). i love how its being re-purposed in the fashion world.

* a great bag. i think i just love bags.

* this fantastic dress. Pockets, interesting neckline, deep wine color. yes, please.

new years resolutions:

2012-01-21T15:57:00.002-05:00

1.
spend more time drawing. i have really fallen off the wagon with my arts lately. so i am climbing back on, full time (ok, maybe just part time, realistically).

2.
finally get a hold of fashion. im not talking popular fashion, just my version of it. i need to understand who i am and what my clothes say about me...and be in control of it. any ideas?

thats all. im sticking to 2 resolutions (even though i kind of hate the idea of resolutions). this way, however, i can really focus on them and get out of 2012 with a smile on my face. others things i hope to get done in 2012 (lets not call them resolutions though):
- figure out the next step for my life
- more activity in everyday life!
- say yes to more opportunities and activities
- embrace the 25th year of my life

happy 2012 to everyone. how is it going already?

Where have I been???

2012-01-19T12:20:00.008-05:00

Oh my, its been so long! My sincerest apologies to everyone (anyone?) I am going to get back on track with posting. I have just been so busy with crafting, traveling, teaching, and cats!

Christmas was great- spent 10 days in NYC and Massachusetts visiting the family (with Tom in tow). The holidays were really great- relaxing and lovely.

I have an excess of time right now because I am currently enjoying my 3rd snow day in a row. Oh, Seattle. I dont think I have ever had 3 snow days in a row before, and I am not complaining.

Here are some update-photos from the last 2 MONTHS!

Christmas at our house in Seattle.

Just hanging out with some llamas...

Christmas at the Catsos house.

a great night

2011-11-05T17:36:00.003-04:00

I often get frustrated thinking about the kinds of people who get famous in our contemporary society: those with little to no talent or skill, very little to say, and entertaining only in their lack of those things.

Tom and I went to a Tender Forever show the other night, and I was just struck by how amazing of an artist she is. She has been making music for years, and is a fantastic performer. Check her out:

A New Job!

2011-10-16T13:23:00.002-04:00

After a semi-severe quarter life crisis, I am now a member of Literacy Americorps, and serving an 11 month term in the Seattle area. I quit my job at the bakery, and now I am teaching at an untraditional college-prep program. The program caters to 16-21 year olds who have a number of barriers but want to attend college. We help them get their GEDs, or get from wherever they are to a college level. Working together with case managers, we place them in internships, teach employment classes, help them with math, administer tests, and generally try to help them get on track to attend a 2 or 4 year college. If they complete our program, they get full tuition to Shoreline Community College (we are also located on their campus). It is just an amazing holistic program with a great philosophy. We are able to give these kids a lot of resources and opportunities to help them reach their goals.

I never thought I would be teaching math, but I love every minute of it. Everyday is different, I get to interact with people, and I am given a lot of freedom and responsibility. It is everything I have ever wanted in a job. So this is what I will be doing until July, and hopefully by then I have a better idea of where I want to go from there (maybe grad school for teaching, maybe another program).

I am just absolutely pleased.

My vacation:

2011-10-16T13:12:00.007-04:00

Tom and I took a trip to the Olympic Peninsula and stayed in the National Park. We enjoyed lovely beach walks, hikes in the rainforest, and late breakfasts. Our little log cabin also had a wood stove. It was the perfect way to kick off his start of law school, and my start of a new job (more on that later).

Kerning for the obsessed

2011-10-16T13:10:00.001-04:00

Here is the graphic design nerd in me. This is a fun website where you get to play with kerning (letter spacing). Who would ever think to make a game out of that??

Have a nice weekend everyone!

How Cool:

2011-09-08T12:25:00.009-04:00

The Art of Clean Up, a new book by Swiss artist Ursus Wehrli, features photographs of everyday scenes rearranged into organized rows. It is so clever.

And a video of how one of the photos was made:

(Via Swissmiss, via A Cup of Jo)

i love design...

2011-09-08T12:12:00.005-04:00

Anytime great design or typography makes its way into my everyday life, I just love it!

* Alphabet bags, from Keep Calm. I love me some good type. And a nice bag.

* Kit Hinrichs typography calendar for Pentagram. mmmmm...

* And finally, although a bit less accessible, is a this great post about type (via pentagram). And a great little video about a fun new book (Just My Type: A Book About Fonts, by Simon Garfield). I love books, I love fonts...

999 Fonts in 60 Seconds

Just My Type from Pentagram on Vimeo.

craft time

2011-09-08T12:01:00.004-04:00

Tom and I used this long weekend to have some serious craft time. He had never done any printing before, so I gave him a quick lesson in block printing and we got to work! He was inspired by a book he has with woodcuts, as well as the paper cutting work of Nikki Mcclure.

A Farmers Alphabet, by Mary Azarian- Tom was very inspired by this book full of amazing wood cuts.

The first print of my bookplate for Tom

anniversary!

2011-09-07T15:28:00.004-04:00

Last Saturday Tom and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary by having a lovely brunch and then spending the day at Carkeek Park. Then last night we went to see the Fleet Foxes in concert.

visual fun.

2011-08-24T20:29:00.002-04:00

It has been a long day of interviewing, riding the bus, riding the bus some more, walking, and then walking. Time to decompress with some fun images...

time time time.

2011-08-24T20:16:00.007-04:00

So this past month has been busy as I continue to settle into my new home, and my new city. I am now working at the Grand Central Bakery, and Tom's childhood cats (Fatty and Trim) have moved in with us. The first week of cats was hell, but now we have a cat door and we have adjusted to each other pretty well. I think photos can speak better than me right now, so I will let them do their thing:

Betsy Wheeler's (Tom's mom) artichokes in her garden at the beach house. I have never seen artichokes flower, and I couldn't get enough of these (neither could the bees).

Tom and me on the sailboat off the coast of Lakebay WA, in the Puget Sound.

That lovely cat is Trim Wheeler, playing danish.

Tom and I at his cousins wedding at the Seattle Tennis Club, right on lake Washington.

How long do you think I have to live here before I get tired of that mountain??

Our New Home:

2011-08-04T20:12:00.003-04:00

a digital tour. Tom, the world's most awkward tour guide, will show you around our new home (it's exactly like MTV Cribs). Enjoy!

(And sorry it's sideways...lets blame Tom for that...)

cats cats cats

2011-08-04T20:02:00.002-04:00

Tom and I just moved his cats into the new house with us. They have been living with his parents, but there was an understanding that someday when we had a place of our own, we would inherit them. They cried the whole car ride, and we put them in our office to get used to the house one room at a time. Our plan was to keep them in there for about two days, then slowly open up another room...however, by that evening they were already trying to rip the door off to get out of the office, so we let them into the rest of the house. Since then, they have meowed and cried and stomped around the house. They are primarily outdoor cats, but we are keeping them inside for a few weeks so they get used to their new home. And they are not happy about that. So, in the meantime they are keeping us up all night with their crazy cat antics, and I am beginning to wonder why anyone would want cats...

i have fallen behind...

2011-07-29T17:18:00.003-04:00

Hello blog-followers (are you really out there?) It has been a very hectic month (plus?), hence the no blog posting. Tom (the boyfriend) and I finally found a house, in the lovely Greenwood neighborhood of Seattle. Then we moved in, and promptly started housesitting for some friends in another neighborhood. We still had our old house too...so we were jumping between 3 houses. I also found a job, working at the Grand Central Bakery in the Pioneer Square neighborhood. I made coffee, sandwiches, and sell bread and pastries. It is a great job for the time being, while I try to figure out my art and design future.

We are now finally all moved into our new house, and our new house alone. My work schedule is starting to normal out, and we are finally able to start relaxing. We are installing internet at the house this weekend, and then the blogging onslaught will begin....

In the meantime, here are some photos of our lovely new house (before furniture):

we are athletes

2011-06-27T17:12:00.002-04:00

This Saturday Tom (the boyfriend) and I ran the Seattle Rock & Roll 1/2 Marathon. We came in under our 2:30 time goal, so we are very proud. It was a great course too- we got to run on the interstate, in a tunnel, and along Lake Washington. This event was Tom's Christmas present to me, and we have been training since April...so it was nice to finally run the race.

looking on the bright side...

2011-06-27T17:04:00.003-04:00

I have been searching for a job for over a month now, and it's starting to get very redundant and my hard work has yet to produce any results. I have had a few interviews, but I still don't have a good source of income (I am freelancing right now to tide me over, but I would really love a steady paycheck). I have now broadened my search from just design and art jobs to include retail jobs at outdoors stores. And while filling out tons of automated application really sucks, at least I have gotten great at spelling "customer" (I was having trouble this morning, but now it's a breeze).

Everyone, wish me luck on this job hunt. Its treacherous out here...

we got a house!

2011-06-26T11:57:00.003-04:00

Tom (the boyfriend) and I have been house hunting like crazy lately...and have run into some very bad luck. But last week I viewed an adorable house, and by Friday the landlord had chosen to rent to us! It has hardwood floors, a new kitchen, a new bathroom, a lovely deck and backyard, a washer and dryer, and 2 spacious bedrooms. Finally something is going our way.

I am still looking for a full time job, but in the meantime I am working as a freelance graphic design and doing crafty jobs around the house like crazy. Does anyone need a graphic designer? I am updating my website, which will be online soon for everyone to enjoy...

wasting time...

2011-06-16T20:27:00.004-04:00

the proper way to riot

2011-06-16T15:28:00.004-04:00

With all of the riots currently happening around the world, this post may seem petty. But here is a photo taken after the last game of the Stanley Cup Finals. Vancouver broke out in riots after their hockey team lost the game...but one couple was rioting in their own way.

things i like: week of june 5th

2011-06-10T00:31:00.004-04:00

the jewelry edition.

* atlantis dry goods necklace. pretty much everything on this website is fantastic. vintage necklaces and other jewelry. so great.

* cross cuff bracelet.

* fantastic feather cuff bracelet, from urban outfitters. very affordable. very lovely.

* wintercheck factory, 1907 ring. awesome, simple wedding-style ring.

things i like: week of may 29

2011-06-03T16:01:00.003-04:00

* A wonderful placemat to show you how to correctly set the table, by Donkey Products. And of course its German.

* I love shelves. All types of shelves...especially the ones that cover entire walls and hold all sorts of fun things (like books and dishes...).

project: reupholstering the couch

2011-06-01T22:02:00.006-04:00

It was a big undertaking, but it's finished (well, practically). And it looks great! I got a lot of my tips from this great Mother Earth News article. I sewed the cushions first, which was actually rather fun. I took apart the old cushions to use as patterns, and even reused the zippers. Then Tom and I spent 2 days ripping out staples (thousands of staples!) and taking apart the entire couch. Then this morning I got up and just started cutting fabric and stapling like crazy. And let me tell you, it went together much quicker than it came apart...and it was much easier on the hands.

Before: 20 years old, well loved, and very floral (and stained).

During: what a helpful boyfriend. Pulling staples and taking off the old fabric.

During: the naked couch!

After: lovely charcoal gray with exposed wooden legs!

project: refinishing a dresser

2011-06-01T20:17:00.004-04:00

Tom and I were given this dresser by his parents. For years it functioned as the baby changing table...so its been in his family for a while. When we "inherited" it, it was covered with stickers, had square wooden knobs that had been painted right onto the drawers, and it was a scratched and slightly shiny shade of unfortunate white. So we took the knobs off, scraped off the stickers (and stickers and stickers), sanded it down almost to the wood (to give it an "antique" look), put a coat of polyurethane, and found some lovely new handles for it. And here it is!!

(sorry we didn't take any before photos...but just imagine something horrible)

Seattle...getting used to it.

2011-05-31T19:54:00.003-04:00

I am getting used to Seattle and city living. The other day my bike got stolen off of our front porch. Bummer. But at least the bike thief didn't want my helmet- they politely left it on the porch. Other than that, I am loving it here. Tom and I have been going to fantastic restaurants, farmer's markets, we saw Guys and Dolls, we spent last weekend at a music festival, I have been eating Pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) like crazy, and tackling projects around the house. Tom and I refinished a dresser, and now I am reupholstering our couch. Our lease on this house is up in about a month, and we are getting very excited by the prospect of a new place, all by ourselves (gone are the days of roommates)!! We went to Ikea the other day and daydreamed about our dream home.

And I am still looking for a job. I had a great interview today...so lets all cross our fingers.

Also, Tom is teaching me how to play the guitar now. And he is starting to play the mandolin again. Folk music, here we come.

I will post photos of all this exciting furniture soon. And here are some photos of my current home:

things i like: week of may 15

2011-05-19T14:59:00.004-04:00

I have been so outrageously busy with moving in and settling, and job searching, and cleaning, and getting my bike ready for the road. Whoa, life. I am pretty overwhelmed by the prospect of having a house (im an adult!)...so lately, all of the things I like are home related.

* This headboard. They took an old door and finished it up nicely and turned it into a headboard.

* Platform beds: We are going to be getting a new bedframe soon, and we are considering making our own. I like these...especially with the storage underneath.

the great migration

2011-05-11T18:22:00.000-04:00

Tom (the boyfriend) and I left Massachusetts last Wednesday, and after 4 gueling days of driving, we made it to Seattle, Washington. It was a lovely (but long) trip, and the absolute highlight was Theodore Roosevelt National Park, in North Dakota. I feel like it is a very under-appreciated national park, and therefore deserves more of our attention. It was full of badlands landscapes, buffalo, prairie dogs, wild horses, and it was wonderfully uncrowded. I also especially liked the state of Montana (it was full of great cowboy boots and mustaches). But I learned a lot about our country: mainly that is it expansive, and there is such a thing as an 80 mph speed limit! Our trip was rather uneventful, besides there being a hole in our gas tank (we waited 2 days at home for the replacement gas tank to arrive so we could replace it...but it never came, so we left without it!). We were also leaking oil like mad for a few days, and then it mysteriously stopped. I like to think of it as a continuous oil change, though, and therefore good for the vehicle. And Tom left our gas cap in Pennsylvania. But other than that...

But now that I am in Seattle, I am looking for graphic design work, and getting used to the city. We live in a delightful neighborhood right by a lovely lake and park, and lots of coffee shops (of course, it's Seattle!) and stores. We are also an easy busride to downtown. Which is good news, because we are officially selling our car (who we have affectionately named Rusty Lady. She was amazing at shuttling us across the country!)

Thats about it in news. Oh, and Tom has been accepted to the University of Washington Seattle Law School! Hoorah! This means we will be living in Seattle for at least the next 3 years. I am happy about that.

All packed up and ready to leave!

In Theodore Roosevelt National Park, ND. Lots of buffalo means lots of big poo piles.

I really like buffalo...(and I think this one really liked me...)

A lovely lake and rainbow in Minnesota.

Wandering around Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota.

Excited to be out of the car for a moment!!

Approaching the Rocky Mountains in Montana...

it's really happening...

2011-04-29T10:18:00.003-04:00

My new address:
7603 Latona Ave.
Seattle, WA 98115

looks i like for spring.

2011-04-27T16:05:00.006-04:00

I am not the biggest fan of warm weather (especially when it comes on far too suddenly), but I am trying to get into it this year by finding cute looks for the season.

Lovely retro one piece bathing suit from Anthropology.

I really like this romper from Urban Outfitters. Although I still dont really understand how to wear them...

Cute look from J Crew.

Lovely ankle cropped purple pants and red heels, from Zara.

things i like: week of april 24th

2011-04-27T15:50:00.011-04:00

** The Post Cup- an original take on the traditional postcard- you get to write your own message, which becomes permanent when baked.

**Humunuku on etsy. Lovely cards, tote bags, tags, and other printed items. I especially love the animals and the vintage items.

** The Human Spirograph: this artist, Tony Orrico, makes these outrageous graphite on paper spirograph pieces- all by hand. Mesmerizing...

got to love it: typography

2011-04-27T15:35:00.007-04:00

**Say it in llama! Finally, llamas spelling out my every wish. So cool- a llama font. They say it best on the website, " What is Llama Font? It's a font made of llamas. Use it to write out any message you'd like. It's especially helpful in taking the edge off of bad news. Need to send a harsh message to a loved one? Helvetica is cold. Say it in llama. Need to make a confession? Times New Roman is just rude. Say it in llama."

**You can buy these awesome hand-drawn icons for use in your design, on your website, in your documents, or ALL OF THE ABOVE! Included in this icon set are many cameras, electronic devices, animals, and drawing utensils- all for just $30! How great is this idea? I like to think I would have come up with it in due time...

Thanks again to A Cup of Jo for bringing my attention to this awesomeness.

just in time for easter

2011-04-23T11:02:00.003-04:00

I was reading Design*Sponge when I came upon the most wonderful project: embroidered eggs. So innovative and lovely. They feature great step by step instructions on the website. Its the kind of thing you see and immediately wonder how in the world it is possible, but then realize it is a thoroughly obtainable project.

And more on the egg theme (and also found via Design*Sponge), is this fantastic "urban" chicken coup (and its called the Nog, how perfect). "It looks tiny, but it’s large enough to house two to four hens. The Nogg was created by furniture designer and engineer Matthew Hayward when he realized that his design-savvy friends couldn’t find a chicken coop to satisfy their homesteading needs. Each coop is crafted out of cedar wood because of its fresh scent and naturally antibacterial properties." (Check out the Design*Sponge post for a great overview of the coup and more photos). It is officially on my wish list.

wonderful music video inspiration.

2011-04-20T17:06:00.003-04:00

i just saw this video for the first time and i think it is wonderful.

new work.

2011-04-19T20:28:00.003-04:00

A new pen and ink drawing on primed cotton, stretched over a thick frame. I made this for my friends who just got a new apartment- an apartment-warming gift.

things i like: week of april 17th

2011-04-18T15:38:00.002-04:00

the art of matte stephens

2011-04-18T15:14:00.007-04:00

I just discovered this wonderful artist, Matte Stephens. He has a fantastic whimsical style of painting that is very illustrative (and he draws a lot of animals in human situations, which always excites me). And he has an affinity for naming pieces (my favorite title is: "Alfred was obviously underdressed for his induction into the Adventurers Hall of Fame.")

He has a very enviable career as well: having his artwork featured on the show Modern Family, illustrating a piece for the NPR calendar, and working for clients like Disney, IBM and American Express. Holy.

Adventurer's Club
Limited edition 13x19 print by Matte Stephens.

Working.
Limited edition 8.5x11 print by Matte Stephens.

Family Portrait.
Limited edition 11x14 print by Matte Stephens.

Hamburg, Germany.
Limited edition 11x14 print by Matte Stephens.

Irving ponders the nature of consciousness.
Limited edition 11x14 print by Matte Stephens.

felt hats.

2011-04-18T12:55:00.004-04:00

I love felt hats. I saw tons of them while I was at the Folk School and I have been wanting to make one for a long time, but there is a lack of instruction on the internet. While visiting Vermont yesterday, though, I talked to my friend about one she had recently made (thats the one I am wearing in the photo). I attempted my own today, and while its not quite perfect, it will do. I will post photos of it soon.

unfinished business

2011-04-14T14:57:00.008-04:00

I have started the daunting task of packing my life (the great migration begins May 1st). While packing I have uncovered tons of unfinished drawings, paintings, prints, and multiple unframed (but deserving) pieces. So I just devoted my morning to painting and framing and finishing in general. And let me tell you, it feels darn good.

city visit.

2011-04-14T14:47:00.004-04:00

I just got back from a week in the city, visiting my sister and highschool friends, and eating so much good food. Here is the proof:

Egg white omelet with grilled pears and asparagus, as Alices Tea Cup.

Chocolate chai tea at Alices Tea Cup.

Homemade baked egg dish (so, so good).

Fresh berries, granola and yogurt at Alice's Tea Cup.

aerial shots, taken on the flight from reno to denver.

2011-04-02T21:51:00.004-04:00

I was very lucky to have clear skies and a window seat on my flight from Reno, NV to Denver, CO, so I took the opportunity to take a few photos.

Lake Tahoe ski video

2011-04-01T20:43:00.006-04:00

Here is a video I made from footage of our Lake Tahoe skiing vacation (my first ever video!)

lake tahoe vacation!

2011-04-01T19:22:00.006-04:00

I just got back from a week-long vacation in Lake Tahoe. My dad and I went out to ski for 5 days, and we met up with some friends that used to work out east with us. It was an amazing time- the first two days were snowing like crazy and we got to ski some powder at Heavenly. Then it cleared up and we enjoyed sunny days at Kirkwood and Alpine Meadows. We went back to Heavenly on our last day to experience the whole mountain in the sunshine. I skied some terrifyingly steep bowls, dropped off cornices, and got into some nice chutes and trees. I felt very extreme, until I saw some kids coming down what I had just skied, hah.

Eagle Canyon and the Cirque at Kirkwood, California.

The volcanic rocks at the peak of Kirkwood, California.

The winds are so harsh at Heavenly that all of the trees are twisted.

Mott Canyon, at Heavenly, Nevada.

Heading out of bounds at Heavenly, on the Nevada side.

They are heaving a record snow year- with over 7oo inches already fallen!!

my love of alice neel

2011-03-20T19:18:00.005-04:00

Alice Neel was one of the great American painters of the twentieth century. She was primarily a portrait artist, working with both famous and unknown subjects. She was never fashionable or in tune with the times. But her work still seems so modern today. I love how her lines meet the changes in shades to form shapes. Her illustrative style is fabulous.

things i like: week of 3.20

2011-03-20T19:14:00.001-04:00

Happy spring, everyone. Here are some things that are catching my eye this week:

wonderful etsy shops.

2011-03-20T19:00:00.006-04:00

I browse etsy often, but it has become so full of mediocre retail shops that the gems are getting harder and harder to find. Here are a few that I have found over the past few weeks, that I believe deserve special mention.

*Kittens & Crumpets: original designs and illustrations- I particularly love the bird drawings over the colorful prints.

*Minx Shop: lovely, lovely, lovely clothing. Handmade, luxurious dresses, shirts, tights and accessories for women.

*Wandersketch: vintage and repurposed goods. I love the illustrated mugs!

things i like: week of now.

2011-03-11T12:05:00.007-05:00

All of this free-time (aka unemployment?) has given me plenty of chances to comb the internet and find lots of neat things. And when you find neat things, dont you just want to share them?

* A Dinosaur Birthday Party: I love dinosaurs. I love creative, themed parties. This one is particularly great (although geared toward children, which I think is its one fatal flaw).

* Artist/writer Austin Kleon: he does these great newspaper blackout poems- poetry made by redacting newspaper articles with a permanent marker. It is just the type of creative thinking that I love.

* Bario Neal Jewelry: handcrafted in Philadelphia with reclaimed precious metals, ethically-sourced stones, and low-impact, environmentally conscious practices. I especially love the Alluvial Collection- which is inspired by Harold Fisk's hand-drawn maps documenting the 1944 Geological Investigation of the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (so rad).

radio shows...

2011-03-11T11:48:00.003-05:00

It has been rainy and warm here lately...so the ski area has been closed (this is the 6th day in a row that I haven't gone to work). But what better to do on a rainy day than listen to a podcast?

Now and again I am temporarily obsessed with one thing or another (like recently when I was hell-bent on seeing all of the Oscar nominees for best picture, for example). Lately I have been fixated on 3 radio shows in particular: This American Life, RadioLab, and Wait Wait Don't Tell Me.

Let me begin with This American Life: each episode has a topic (friendship, pen-pals, roadtrips) and features 3-4 stories on that theme. The marvelous host, Ira Glass, interviews people all over the country, telling their ordinary yet fantastic stories. It is kind of like being told the best bedtime story ever...(and it made a brief foray into television, with a number of episodes available on Netflix).

RadioLab really appeals to my nerdy side. They must comb through scientific journals until they find something riveting, and then make it even more riveting through fantastic production quality. It is full of amazing stories, fascinating facts, and the episodes all have great names like "the lonliness of the goalkeeper" and "what does technology want?"

I often daydream about seeing a life show of Wait Wait Dont Tell Me. It is NPRs weekly news quiz show...and yes, it is as great as it sounds.

These podcasts are great for driving, running, sitting around. They are so good I find myself looking for an excuse to go for a long drive...just so I can listen to another episode...

cool hair.

2011-03-07T21:24:00.001-05:00

things i like: the typography edition

2011-03-06T15:54:00.005-05:00

* Futura. Oh, you know, its just a geometric sans-serif typeface designed in 1927 by Paul Renner. Its a favorite of film director Wes Anderson, and my boyfriend Tom Wheeler. Great rounded "o"s.

* Harry. I love the curved lines. The fat weight is my favorite.

* These two typeface-containing images. (Awesome hand-lettering using the skeletal system).

things I like: week of 2.27

2011-02-28T21:52:00.007-05:00

* City map prints: this wonderful artist, Karen O'leary, makes these beautiful city prints. I love it when architecture & design meet craft. They are simple in style but tedious in execution- and they are very awesome.

* Q & A a day journal: I love to journal. And I love to make lists. And answer unimportant questions. This combines all 3 of those interests. "Do you ever stop to wonder how you got where you are? The Q&A a Day Journal shows you what was going through your head each day—for five years of your life. With questions that are sometimes provocative (“On a scale of one to ten, how happy are you?”), occasionally quirky (“What can you smell right now?”), and inevitably interesting (“If you could travel anywhere tomorrow, where would you go?”)."

* Svpply: it seems that everyday I discover another awesome website. This one allows people to create profiles, then catalog items they like. I know it sounds mundane, but imagine being able to peruse the closet of your fashion icons. Thats what it feels like. With links. So good. Here is one of my favorite pages.

* Ellen Kooi photography: she is amazing. With a great website to boot.

new work (& in progress)

2011-02-25T10:54:00.004-05:00

Here are some little projects I have been working on. A business card design, lots of hand lettering, and some illustrations on gessoed canvas.

delicious day off.

2011-02-24T13:17:00.003-05:00

My sister sent me this recipe a few days ago: chocolate souffle cupcakes with mint cream. I got today off from working at the mountain, so I decided to give them a try. They are fantastic! The recipe has some scary baking words, but it was actually very manageable and there are no outrageous ingredients. Yum.

wonderful wallpaper.

2011-02-23T18:30:00.003-05:00

This Design Sponge post got me thinking about wallpaper. Apparently it's back in style. Abigail Edwards produces hand drawn wallpaper designs- which are fabulous. Real Simple magazine has recently done a few articles about new ways to use wallpaper. Not to be outdone, Martha Stewart has compiled photo albums of great new/vintage wallpapers.

i'm big into stripes lately...

2011-02-22T22:06:00.004-05:00

And I don't think I'm the only one.

Pregnant fruits.

2011-02-22T21:54:00.003-05:00

I read this great post on A Cup of Jo about photographer Carolee Beckman. She is pregnant and every week she takes a photo of herself holding a fruit that represents the size of the growing baby. Week 7 was a blueberry. Week 12 was a lime. Week 14: a lemon, week 15: an apple, week 16: avocado. Pretty creatively wonderful idea.

things I like: week of 2.20

2011-02-21T17:55:00.007-05:00

Sewn illustrations: this seller on Etsy does some neat images, hand sewn on canvas.

Messy side ponytails: A Cup of Jo did a great tutorial about how to do it yourself. I love anything that makes messy cool.

The 500 Days of Summer Soundtrack: so good. Great for driving around on a rainy day, or a snowy day, or a sunny day, actually. Regina Spektor, The Smiths, Feist, She & Him. So Nice.

The intro graphics for Going the Distance: a fantastic intro to a mediocre movie. The poster & website design are wonderful as well. Quirky, cute, whimsy.

Typefaces: whats new? I thought this was a clever use of the traditional periodic table.

some cool folks.

2011-02-17T12:10:00.005-05:00

images from various sources, mostly the sartorialist.

the 100 days project

2011-02-16T08:20:00.003-05:00

Michael Beirut teaches a design class at Yale's Graduate School, and every year he gives students the same assignment:

"Beginning Thursday, October 21, 2010, do a design operation that you are capable of repeating every day. Do it every day between today and up to and including Friday, January 28, 2011, the last day of the project, by which time you will have done the operation one hundred times. That afternoon, each student will have up to 15 minutes to present his or her one-hundred part project to the class."

I love the concept. Michael says this project rose out of the idea of balancing creativity and discipline- establishing some sort of creative routine. "The trick is to press on. For each new day (whether it's Day 28, Day 61, even Day 100) brings with it the hope of inspiration."

Click here to read the Design Observer article about this project, including an overview of some past projects.

I have posted my own personal favorite. Ely Kim danced in a different place to a different song everyday for 100 days. The result is strangely mesmerizing.

BOOMBOX from Ely Kim on Vimeo.

things i like: week of 2.13

2011-02-13T18:28:00.005-05:00

* The Curbside Object Status Tag: facilitates the smooth operation of the informal sidewalk gift economy.

* These cool chairs: eames style chairs from the 30s or 40s.

* Heart print.

*Neat bird-lady painting (artist unknown).

happy valentine's day.

2011-02-13T17:17:00.003-05:00

I like Valentine's Day: a holiday that requires creative card-making and cupcake baking. Here are my cupcakes and valentines.

who doesn't love a good valentine?

2011-02-13T16:47:00.012-05:00

Valentine's Day awards another opportunity for craftspeople everywhere to make lovely artisan cards. I love cards, so I guess I like Valentine's Day just fine. I found all of these on Etsy.

I like your beard

I love you more than Helvetica

Ornamental Valentines Day Card

Deerest Heart

I love you sew much

Wild about you

show & tell

2011-02-11T09:33:00.008-05:00

I have been spending a lot of time on my new computer, combing through etsy shops and craft blogs (two of my favorite things). Here are some fantastic things I have found, and would like to share:

* Convoy: "an evergrowing collection of things i like". It is a large mass of fantastic photos from various places (unfortunately no sources are listed). Each page contains about 100 photos, and there are 94 pages (yea, it could really occupy my time).

* Journal De Jours: A great personal blog I really relate to. "My name is Hermine, and I live in a little village nearby Antwerp (Belgium). This blog is about the little things of life I love. It’s about my passion for textile. About my freetime-spending. About my dreams. About my endless wishlists ……."

*This T-shirt: I love animals doing human things and humans doing animal things.

* *Swedesplease: a blog about Swedish indie-pop, rock, electronica, twee? Yes, please. They have great haircuts.

* Wikstenmade: another good fashion blog & clothing line. Nice handmade aesthetic.

lately...

2011-02-10T10:55:00.004-05:00

I love to ski. I love a lot of things, many of them contradictions, but I really love to ski. And teach skiing. I love sharing my passion with other people. This is my 10th season teaching skiing, and this weekend I passed my Professional Ski Instructors of America Level II Teaching Exam. I passed the skiing portion last season, and after lots of training and studying I finally have my Level II silver pin! I know it is obscure and whatnot, but it is very exciting for me (and not simply because of the little pay raise).

Also, I got my new Macbook in the mail yesterday. I have been a PC girl for my whole life, and the changeover has been very exciting. New things are fun.

And I will leave you with this bit of inspiration from J Crews Spring Line:

there go my lunch plans...

2011-02-10T10:39:00.002-05:00

I have been experimenting with gluten free baking for a while now, but I just cant seem to make bread. And then I figured, who can fail when using a bread machine? The answer: me. That is my bread machine smoking profusely. I guess I wont be having that sandwich for lunch.

new work.

2011-02-02T14:10:00.002-05:00

i have been playing around with pen illustrations of men's faces. and gessoing using a pallet knife. and making a big mess of my work space.

lots of snow storms here on the east coast! the skiing has been fantastic. i just finished up a few design jobs i had been working on, and this weekend i am taking my PSIA level II teaching exam. once that is over, i will have copious amounts of time to draw, paint, etc. hopefully.

snow storms and baking.

2011-01-12T16:50:00.002-05:00

We got 24 inches of snow in the past day, and I used this snow day as an opportunity to break out my new kitchen aid mixer and bake. A lot.

the holidays...

2011-01-05T15:58:00.001-05:00

im going to get better at this...

2010-12-08T08:51:00.008-05:00

I have been trying to be a good blogger, but I just find it so difficult. Perhaps the biggest contributor is that fact that is has started snowing here in Massachusetts...and I love snow. When the snow starts to fall, I forget about all of my other responsibilities and could spend the whole day watching it out the window. Or skiing.

But I have been busy with more than watching the precipitation. On Friday I drove up to Vermont to visit my lovely college and all of the wonderful people who are still there. My good friend Nicole was having her senior show, and it was FANTASTIC! (I sure wish I took some photos). We used to share a studio back when I was a senior and she was a sophomore...and I hadnt seen her work since then. But oh my, it was so refined and magnificent. She did small illustrations of nostalgic items on ceramic plates, cups and bowls. Her show was titled "Quaint", and it was perfect.

I was also able to see my old boss- we went to lunch and talked about graphic design. There arent many people out there who get excited about typography and font, so you really need to keep them close once you find them.

Then I got to drink tea with my most wonderful friend, Emily. I also stayed a little later than I had planned to watch her belly dancing performance. Only at Green Mountain College...

And here are some photos to aid in the recollection of the last month...

(I completed my first half marathon with my sister Ashleigh. My boyfriend, Tom, came to visit from Seattle, and we had a wonderful week (we went to MOMA, went camping, etc.). A lovely Thanksgiving with the whole family, and a wonderful brunch with my highschool friends (who are slowly starting to move away) Plus my spider plant garden, and some cards I am working on).

new books!

2010-11-23T14:50:00.002-05:00

I just finished making two books- one about my time at the Folk School, and the other about my Pacific Crest adventure. I designed and had them printed using Blurb, a great company that allows for wonderful creative freedom, and high quality. I have been making these books for years- about different trips and experiences.

a bit of folk

BLOG ENTRIES &...

Book Preview

PACIFIC CREST

BLOG, JOURNAL ENTRI...

Book Preview

my new room!

2010-11-09T19:52:00.004-05:00

I am finally moved back into my bedroom after a lot of spackling, sanding, painting, vacuuming, staining and cleaning. All of my hard work paid off though, and I think it looks great (and now that I'm finished, I have some free time again).

Here are two views of the room- one of my bed and window, and one of my studio space (functional, allbeit small). I wish I had taken some before photos for a better effect...

absense makes the heart grow fonder, right?

2010-11-04T14:51:00.009-04:00

I dont really have a good reason for not having written in so long. I guess I just didnt have much to say. I still dont...but I might as well...

In recent news: I have quit my job as a waitress (I dont like stress), and I am using the new freetime to paint my bedroom, finish up some old art projects, travel, and cross things off my to-do list. I am also training for a half marathon (on November 14th).

Here are some photos from the last month (or 2?)

it's been a while...

2010-09-28T13:20:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone! It has been a long while since I have posted on here- I have been hiking in the west and having quite an adventurous few months. I am back in new england now, however, and saving up my money so I can move to seattle full-time. I've been trying to find the time to draw a little lately, so here are some of my more recent illustrations of Great Barrington, Massachusetts (nothing fancy).

I am working on a printmaking series of birds, so I will post images of those soon. And I have been working on some alphabet pieces with hand lettering...which I will share soon as well.

most likely my last post for a while

2010-05-10T11:56:00.002-04:00

I am heading into a very busy time: this Saturday Tom graduates from Green Mountain College, then we fly out to Seattle on the 19th, and finished planning and packing for our hike. We leave on June 13th, and wont return until November. I will itermitently have access to computers and internet along the trail, but I wont be creating much art to blog about.

During these next six months, please follow my hiking journey on my blog: www.hikefar.blogspot.com

And I will return in November, in full force...with tons of creativity!!

new mono-prints

2010-04-30T09:48:00.005-04:00

i have been so busy lately reading about the Pacific Crest Trail and planning our hike (not to mention doing a whole bunch of web design for various people). So I haven't been able to just sit down and make some art...until yesterday. These are just two monoprints I whipped out in a few minutes- the first is the new barn my parents just built on their land...and the second is, well, a coke can. I apologize for my lack of new work lately (which is going to continue until about Christmas, honestly). I guess I am mostly appologizing to myself though, because I dont think anyone else really follows this. Hah.

doing the city thing.

2010-04-08T10:48:00.002-04:00

I met Tom at the airport on Monday (Tom is the long-lost boyfriend) and since then we have been bouncing between Brooklyn and Manhattan. It has been a very nice vacation from the Berkshires: full of culture, excitement and delicious foods.

We hung Ashleigh's new art piece in her apartment, went to Tom's sister's birthday party, ate at many great restaurants, got tattoos and shoes, and braved the ridiculously hot weather. Today we are going to Candle Cafe, then the MOMA (to see the Tim Burton exhibit), and then we are seeing the Blue Man Group tonight. Ashleigh's boyfriend, Kyle, works with the Blue Men and got us fantastic tickets and oh my, do we owe him big time.

We are heading back to rural world tomorrow, and then heading to even more rural areas (in Vermont). I love vacationing...

art for others

2010-04-04T10:42:00.005-04:00

I made this piece for my boyfriends sister for her birthday.

8" x 10".

Pen illustration on top of mixed media and paint.

A piece Ashleigh, my sister, and I made for her apartment (detailed photo).

26" x 18".

Pen illustration on top of mixed media and paint.

She was really excited about it, and wanted to spend more time holding it across the room to look at rather than actually working on it. But she learned a lot about acrylic medium (it dries clear!)

new work

2010-03-31T09:13:00.006-04:00

great news:

2010-03-25T15:56:00.004-04:00

Totally unrelated to the arts: I just passed my Professional Ski Instructors of America Level 2 Skiing Exam (and written exam). I know it sounds rather obscure, but I trained very hard and ended up passing all 3 of the skiing segments, and getting a surprising 88% on the written exam.

Skiing is responsible for my lack of posting lately. I have actually been very creative in the past few weeks though- I believe it is due to the warm weather coming in. I have been working on a new line of greeting cards featuring little illustrations, watercolors, and phrases. My boyfriend, Tom, and I also vowed to mail each other one thing for each day of March (he is currently living in Seattle, while I am in Massachusetts). As well as keeping us connected, it has forced me to be at least a little creative everyday. And when I sit down to make him a little something, I general continue making little somethings for a few hours. March is almost over though, so I need to continue my creating spree (and Tom is coming to the east coast in a few mere weeks, so I wont have anyone to mail things to anyway).

Now that the snow is melting and the ski season has come to a close, I have hours and hours of free time everyday. I am going to draw everything I see, look at birds, and cook a lot. My line of basket cards were a great hit in Ohio, North Carolina, and Virginia. Right now they are seeing how California likes them (very much, I hope). And I found some great protective sleeves that are made out of plant materials, so they are biodegradable instead of plastic. That made me feel good inside.

home and away

2010-03-25T14:41:00.012-04:00

My dad reflooring the house, a shopping trip, having coffee in town, and a short adventure to New York City.

another great blog.

2010-03-11T19:46:00.006-05:00

My friend Oz sent me a link to this blog today, and I love it (just like he said I would). Her name is Kate Sutton, and she is a fantastic illustrator based out of the UK. Her style is very much like mine, and she is highly successful, which gives me hope. I love her hand lettering and animals. She is on etsy, and also has a blog and website. I highly recommend visiting them all.

Neat design.

2010-03-10T12:32:00.005-05:00

Here is something you may not know about me: I love design. To some, this is a little known fact about Jenna Catsos; while to others, this is common knowledge. But whenever I find some innovative use of design (graphic, industrial, or other) it just makes me so excited. Today, this excitement is prompted by the discovery of Tom Gerhardt, an artist and hardware/software designer based out of NYC. He has come up with some awesome concepts: such as a hybrid thumb-wrestling and tetris game, conductive felt (using natural and steel wool), and many other projects that are hard to sum up in a single statement. For reasons I am still unable to pinpoint, I am entirely drawn to strange design projects that incorporate art and technology and fill a hole in your life you never even realized you had. His stuff just makes you laugh, and then realize that its pretty awesome and you kind of want one...

lost in blog land and web world

2010-03-01T13:16:00.003-05:00

One day a week I have an desk job: I work at the snowsports desk at Catamount. And it is either excruciatingly boring, or terribly busy (but either way it is always quite trying). Today falls into the boring catagory, so I have been delving into and traveling through the world wide web. It is easy to waste hours upon end clicking from link to link on various blogs until you cant really remember where you began. But I discovered some great blogs, sites, people, and work, and not I feel very inspired and just want to get away from this desk and create.

new cards

2010-02-26T18:29:00.007-05:00

These are part of the basket themed card collection I have made to sell at basket conventions and classes through my mother. All of the pieces feature a combination of handmade natural fibers paper, typewritten text, and hand drawn illustrations. They come in small 3x5 folded cards, large 4x6 folded cards, and small 3x5 notecards. All feature a matching envelope.

2010-02-24T12:28:00.008-05:00

I love discovering other artists who are making work similar to mine, but are farther along in their career. It gives me ideas and hope. I recently stumbled upon a company called The Great Lakes while browsing Etsy, and their work is fantastically hip and witty, while incorporating great illustrations and prints. I believe it is primarily one woman, who is based out of Brooklyn. She also has a great blog, that chronicles the happenings in the paper arts/fashion/Brooklyn community. Her cards are also currently being sold through Urban Outfitters, which is quite an accomplishment, if I may say so myself. All in all: The Great Lakes = very cool.

busy days.

2010-02-21T21:05:00.005-05:00

What an exhausting few days. President's week (February vacation for many public schools) is the busiest week for ski areas. We put about 100 kids through our children's program everyday, and it was so tiring. Then our family headed to Maine for my grandma's wake and funeral service on Friday and Saturday, and thankfully I get tomorrow off of work to accomplish some things off of my growing to-do list.

Thats honestly about it lately: skiing 8 hours a day and then too exhausted to do much else. I need to finish a group of cards and pieces centered around basketry by Wednesday to send with my mom to some of her conventions and classes.

And suddenly February is almost over. Wow.

PHOTO: the entire Catsos family (clockwise from top left): Chris, Mom (JoAnn), Dad (Steve), Ashleigh, and myself.

exciting news!

2010-02-13T20:14:00.003-05:00

Last spring, as part of my senior capstone class, I designed a sustainability website for Green Mountain College. I wrote much of the content, but it took them until this past week to completely finish it and publish it. I drew the illustrations, designed the layout, and programmed the site. It's exciting to see my name on the site, and to finally have it all online.

In other news: I have been working 6 days a week teaching skiing, and it is entirely exhausting. This week is Presidents Day, and lots of kids have vacation, so it is crazy busy. By the time I get home all I can do is shower, eat dinner, and climb into bed before I fall asleep. I am also training for my PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America) Level 2 skiing certification. It is a lot of tough work, clinics, and long hours, but I am going to take my exam in March at Mount Snow, and my trainers have said my chances are looking good. Its nice to have something to be working towards, but I have been too exhausted to get much artwork done. My most recent project is a set of cards and pieces featuring basketry to send with my mom to her next convention.

And now I get to watch the Olympics!

Back in the Berkshires, and 23!

2010-01-31T19:16:00.005-05:00

The past week has been very busy- Tom and I tried to fit as much into our last days as possible, I celebrated my 23rd birthday, and then I flew home to Massachusetts. It was the first birthday I have ever experienced where I didnt have to work or go to school, so it was great to just spend a whole day with Tom, doing fun "birthday" activities. Then we wrapped up my Seattle trip with a visit to the Seattle Art Museum, the Aquarium, and another trip to the Pike Place Market.

Its nice to be home, although I do miss Tom and the Pacific Northwest quite a bit. I will be able to work on my cards and artwork now, inbetween 6 days a week teaching skiing at Catamount. I am devoting the next 3 months to making as much money as possible to fund my hiking and art, so we will see how this goes.

photographs:

2010-01-20T14:40:00.008-05:00

Tom and I enjoying Pho (Vietnamese rice noodle soup) on the Ave (look at the size of those soups!).

The sunrise over the Puget Sound (and Mount Rainier in the distance).

Tom: a strict fruitarian.

Tom Wheeler: speed racer (testing out multiple uses for his new trekking poles.)

a group of non-rainy days

2010-01-20T14:17:00.010-05:00

Weather.com is full of lies- the last three days it has told us it was going to rain, and in fact we have had three beautiful days. I am not complaining about good weather though- Tom and I got to go to the Woodland Park Zoo, which was fantastic (although we forgot it was Martin Luther King Day, and had to fight the crowds of children...). My favorites were the gorillas, the tapirs, the owls, and the otters. I liked all of the monkeys, because they were very human-like in their movements, and they were very active (I have a few minutes of video of one gorilla continuously picking his nose and eating it). I also loved all of the different birds. I must admit, however, that the penguins were rather disappointing, and their exhibit was overrun with poorly behaved children. But it was a beautiful, sunny, warm (almost 70 degrees!) day, and it was fantastic.

Yesterday we came out to Lakebay, and we set up our tent in the yard. We slept in it last night, and it was fantastic. You can read more about our tent and "camping" experience on mine and Tom's blog.

a successful Seattle outing

2010-01-14T19:43:00.004-05:00

Tom and I were planning on going to the zoo today, but we woke up to find a rainy Seattle day. So we altered our plans, took the bus to the university district and had lunch at Chaco Canyon (vegan organic cafe), then headed downtown to Pike Place Market. We wandered around and played tourist, then found a great little bakery that had vegan and gluten free cookies, so Tom got a vegan chocolate chip cookie, and I got a gluten free "monster cookie" (it was full of delicious things, and it was monstrous). We hit up a fantastic anarchist book collective, Left Bank Books, and a used-bookstore, Third Place Books. We attempted to walk home from there, but the rain was really falling, so we caught a bus back. But it was a great, successful outing in Seattle, and I am gaining so much city-related knowledge (like how to ride buses, navigate, and order lattes).

Tom and I have big plans for the next few days (the zoo, Seattle art museum, skiing, Wolf Haven wolf sanctuary, park visits) but they all seem to require semi-nice weather. That's a tough thing to find in Seattle in January though, so keep your fingers crossed for our good fortune...

Jenna in Seattle

2010-01-13T22:49:00.006-05:00

Here is Tom and I at Lakebay in front of the Puget Sound (and Mount Rainier in the background), and me heading downtown (you can see the Space Needle).

Lately...

2010-01-12T18:34:00.005-05:00

I am spending the day in Lakebay, Washington, at the Wheeler family's beach house. It looks right out onto the Puget Sound, and on a clear day you can see Mount Rainier. It is simply gorgeous. Today, however, is not a clear day, but that is alright with me. I have been spending my time reading Harry Potter, eating soup, drinking tea, writing, and supporting Thomas in his brush burning (and arm hair burning) adventures. I also went for a run in the state park with Tom's sister Catherine. We got to jump in lots of puddles and brave the rainy day.

The most exciting news as of late is the birth of a new blog. Who wouldnt love to read about Tom and my hiking fun? Actually, right now it is mostly just planning and gear buying, but thats exciting as well. I often wish I had the capability to really pour 100% of my energy into one endeavour, but, alas, that is not me. Rather, I like to attack many things at once. So as well as pursing a career as a fine artist, I will also be hiking 20 miles a day. While these things may sound contradictory, I maintain that doing both simultaneously will make me smile. And thats whats important.

And now it is a new year, as well. I have never placed much imortance in January 1st, but I always like to make resolutions so I can feel a bit more accomplished. This year I resolve:

to have better dental hygene
do pushups and situps everyday (and train like crazy for my hike)
complete the PCT thru-hike
write often
and smile everyday.

I like to make resolutions that are easy to follow through with, so I feel good about myself when I actually accomplish them. So far I am doing great with the pushups, situps, and dental hygene (very important), and I believe I will realize success with my hike as well, when the time comes. Until then, please check out my hiking blog with Thomas, and enjoy the early days of twenty-ten.

I am currently in Seattle...

2010-01-05T12:55:00.002-05:00

...visiting my boyfriend Tom. We have spent a few days touring the city, visiting his beach house, we went to a Seahawks football game, and we went gear shopping for our hike. I have also, unfortunately, had the most extreme sore throat imaginable, so I have just sort of been dragging myself along with minimal sleep. But I am beginning to feel better, and Tom and I are preparing to head to the beach house for a few days. We are going to test out some camping recipes on our camp stove, go for extensive beach walks, and get some good reading done. I haven't done a single print, made a piece of paper, or drawn anything for a few weeks now, but it is very inspirational being in a city. I treated myself to a fantastic planner (as an early birthday gift) that has great little architectural drawings in it. And it allows you to put in the day and date, so I wont waste half of it with 6 months worth of "hiking, hiking, hiking".

Im off to start a batch of Yam and Jam Muffins, with a recipe from my wonderful sister Ashleigh. Of course I need to modify it to be gluten free and vegan, so I just hope they still turn out tastey.

And my 2010 has been great so far, thanks for asking. : )

2009-12-27T18:28:00.003-05:00

Christmas at the Catsos household was fantastic, but over so quickly. I got some giftcards to help me afford gear for my hike, and a new camera that is small and lightweight and great for traveling. Dad really loves his new Ipod, too, which is great. But now I am all packed and ready and heading to Seattle tomorrow. Its an 11 hour trip, but I have books and knitting and podcasts and snacks and I think I will be fine. I am looking forward to a whole month of relaxing and Tom, and touring around the Pacific Northwest. When I return in early February, I am going to devote a lot of time to making some different sets of cards to sell.

I wish everyone a happy and healthy 2010.

we beat the "snow storm"

2009-12-22T12:31:00.002-05:00

Its been a while since I have written, but Mom and I made it safely back up north. We were planning on leaving last Friday morning, but then we heard about the big storm rolling in, so we packed up quickly and headed out on Thursday afternoon, drove 5 hours and spent the night in a hotel in Virginia. We got up early on Friday morning, and drove the remaining 13 hours home, arriving in time for supper (and sitting in quite a bit of traffic on the way...aparently we werent the only ones who wanted to beat the storm). I am certainly glad we left when we did, because the entire south got burried in the storm. I waited patiently for our snow to arrive, but it never really did. We only got about 1/4", but my brother and I went skiing on Sunday nonetheless, and it was a gorgeous day at Catamount.

Since I've been home I have also: gotten a Christmas tree (Chris and I went xmas tree hunting and found a nice little one), decorated the house, wrapped presents, made homemade peanutbutter cups, read a lot about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, done quite a bit of knitting, and unpacked my John C. Campbell life. This is a rough transition period, because I need to put most of my things into storage until I really have a house to live in. At least I can use my parents basement.

Now I am just waiting for Christmas, and then on the 28th I am flying to Seattle to spend January with Tom (the boyfriend). When I get back I am going to be doing some graphic design work, teaching skiing at Catamount, and making lots of art until June, when I will head out west for my extended hiking adventure.

Happy Holidays to everyone!

a productive day!!

2009-12-13T20:39:00.003-05:00

Today was rainy, so I stayed inside and did computer work, and therefore accomplished a whole lot. For one, my website is now online!! It is very basic, but check it out. I also updated my blog (incase you hadnt noticed) so it matches the new webpage, and now features photos of my new work. I also ordered new business cards that feature my new logo, which is very exciting.

In Folk School news: I got the weekend off, so I slept in extensively today, and just got back from dinner at Sandy Websters house. She is an amazing artist who lives in Brasstown, and as well as eating dinner, I also got to look around her studio, which was incredibly inspiring. I start work again tomorrow, and Jessica, Kisha and I will be working 11-4 through Thursday, and I am planning on leaving Friday morning to head back up north.

And then it will be Christmas.

2009-12-11T20:58:00.002-05:00

It was very cold here today. Very cold (and this coming from a northerner...). But its starting to feel a bit more like December. And I just finished watching the Brasstown Ringers holiday concert, which was fantastic and put me in the Christmas spirit.

But today was my last day as a Folk School student (/host). One of the woodturners, John, who I have seen here a few times during my 6th months, made me a beautiful turned ornament. And everyone sang me "Happy Trails" at dinner, which was nice.

I am certainly going to miss the oddities of living on the Folk School campus, however. Like last night I went downstairs to turn off the lights, and it was frigid. There had been a concert, and people tend to do funny things with the thermostats during large group gatherings, but this was something I had never seen before: one thermostat was turned on the airconditioning and set to 51 degrees, while the other was turned onto emergency heat, and set at 81. I think that is the most fantastic waste of energy imaginable.

I am very exhausted from a busy week, and I am going to head to bed early. Tomorrow mom and I are going to the Flea Market and some thrift stores, and tomorrow night Kisha is taking Jessica and I out to dinner. I am working 11-4 next week until Thursday, so I should have lots of free time to get everything I need to done before I leave the Folk School!

The joys of living in an old building...

2009-12-09T21:17:00.002-05:00

Besides being able to hear everything everyone says, last night I learned another joy of living in an old building: leaky ceilings. Having grown up and lived most of my life in a single story, fairly new house, this was something I had never experienced before. But last night, during the heavy rains, a number of leaks revealed themselves around the Keith House, and throughout my room. I learned from watching many cartoons that you put a bucket under a leak, but I didnt have enough buckets, so I put towels under the small ones. All of the drips in my room stopped before I went to bed, but this morning, upon exiting my room, I stepped into a large puddle infront of my door. Water was streaming down my door frame, and apparently continuing right on down into the office. The maintenance men fixed it (something about a pipe or...well, something), and I really hope I dont have to deal with any more leaks or drips or water of any kind before I leave.

As for my stocking: my fingers and hands are killing me from gripping my needles so tight for so long, but I am currently working on the foot, and about to start decreasing for the toe. It is difficult though, because I need to maintain a pattern and decrease simultaneously- something I have never done. So I am stopping here for tonight, and I am going to attack it with fresh eyes in the morning.

I also made some Christmas cards in a workshop today, which was highly enjoyable. This week has been altogether fantastic thus far: sitting and knitting all day is wonderful. And chatting with interesting women. And its only Wednesday!

Jenna's Last Week at the Folk School

2009-12-08T20:15:00.005-05:00

It is my last week of classes at the Folk School. I have said that so many times, but it still just feels like I'm lying. After having been here practically non-stop for 6 months, it is strange to even think about doing something else, and being anywhere but here. And while I am really ready to leave in a way, I also would be perfectly content to keep living here and taking classes. I looked at the catalog for upcoming classes (although I probably shouldn't have) and there are still so many classes I would love to take. I guess that is the way it is though: I could take every class ever, and there would still be classes I would want to take.

But I am spending my last week knitting a Christmas stocking. It doesnt feel much like Christmas, but this is putting me a bit more in the winter spirit. Being from up North, Christmas is synonymous with snow, something I haven't seen much of at the Folk School. But my stocking is coming right along- I am doing some Fair Isle color work, making little trees and snowflakes.

Momma is taking her stained glass this week too, and she has been in the studio non-stop. I went down there tonight to help her foil some of her glass. She is making a huge panel with a rose, and its looking gorgeous.

Today we got a great surprise from Kisha and Karen: a new TV for the senior host apartment! Of course, I am leaving in a week, but its still awesome for that amount of time. They upgraded the programming department TV to a big flatscreen, so we inherited the hand-me-down huge TV with a built in DVD and VHS player. Its pretty fantastic, even though I wont get to enjoy it for too long.

Its been a great week so far (except everyone keeps asking me what im doing when im leaving here, which is always a source of anxiety...) and I cant wait to finish my stocking!