imogen lovely

I have these long breaks from painting..

2012-03-15T16:22:00.000-07:00

...where I don't paint at all. I'll do handwork: stitch, or knit. Which I love. But I feel that my work, my real work, is in the painting.

And so when I go back at it again I always get excited, full of energy and happiness, and want to post pictures of my painting right away, even if it's not done.

So, this is todays bursting-with-happiness unfinished endeavor:

it's rather large, maybe 3 ft. by 5 ft? I couldn't get a good picture because it's just about evening-time here and grayer than grey outside. Been raining so much I'm afraid my chickens are going to float away.

But that's another story.

And, this picture below is of a little note that I saw today that my daughter had taped to her window. I love the sweet message, and that she writes such things for herself.

Wishing you the very best that the world has to offer,

Jennifer

One down, Three to go

2012-03-02T11:52:00.003-08:00

One panel of my Alabama Chanin-inspired beaded rose appliqué skirt is done, three more to go!!

Daily "Exercise"

2012-03-02T09:09:00.001-08:00

My morning routine consists of as much meditation as I can stand (this morning it was about 2 minutes... on a good day I get up to 10), a series of stretchy slow yoga-ish poses that I have concocted, a few sit ups... and then I grab a record off of our shelf and dance my ass off. Here was today's frenzy:

Needle, Bead, Stitch

2012-02-16T12:10:00.000-08:00

making Alabama Chanin-inspired clothing is so soothing to me

"needle, bead, stitch... needle, bead stitch"

is my mantra and

my meditation

Back at the Easel Again

2012-02-15T15:22:00.000-08:00

after two weeks of being sick and knitting and watching old episodes of Friday Night Lights (I know, I know...)

i'm happily back at my easel again.

Three Trees Oil Painting

2012-02-06T14:26:00.000-08:00

Jennifer Finn, Three Trees, oil, 18" x 24", 2012

This week is the week for finishing up paintings. I'm not sure where this one is going but I'll let you know soon. xoxo Jennifer

Sunshine

2012-02-06T12:11:00.000-08:00

the sun has been shining in Portland and we hardly know what to do with ourselves. usually we're darting from here to there to avoid getting rain soaked.

here, at home, we're taking around our neighborhood and then short jaunts to downtown, songs are being made, people and cats are resting in the warm rays through the window

I am

watching the dust particles float into dreams of new paintings.

New Work

2012-02-04T18:03:00.000-08:00

Jennifer Finn, Birds in the Rose Bush, oil, 24 x 36, 2012

New work completed and taken to my neighborhood coffee shop/gallery this weekend. Hurrah! It's for sale at Arthouse, 9401 SE 32nd Avenue, Milwaukie, 97222 (503) 659-0610.
Update 2/5/2012 SOLD

And a trip to the art store to by 4 huge yards of canvas.

I'm working on some pieces for Flora. More, more, more paintings coming soon! Plus some textile work that's taking forever but I'm loving to pieces. I'm a busy, happy lady.

Design Inspiration

2012-02-02T08:30:00.000-08:00

Inspired by some designs I spied on my walk yesterday

Needlework for the Love Banner

2012-01-21T11:02:00.000-08:00

I'm sending this off to Squam today, for their Love Banner. I worked freeform for it all, and it was so much fun to make!
xoxo Jennifer

A Lovely Little Spot

2012-01-18T14:43:00.000-08:00

This is my living room.

There's nothing to fancy about it and sometimes I get down when I am reading through blogs and see other people's living spaces which seem so perfect and clutter-free, etc. etc.

But you know, I was thinking today that it really is a nice living room and such a lovely little spot where I can

sit down and read or visit with others.

and I didn't even fancy it up for this photo one bit.

(see my Enhabiten pillow? It's one of my most favorite things)

Furoshiki

2012-01-17T17:00:00.000-08:00

via

Have you heard of furoshiki? It's a traditional Japanese method of taking one piece of cloth and using it for whatever you might need it for within your day. It can be a scarf, a place setting, a gift wrapping, or a way to take home your groceries. Using origami, there is a ton of different ways to fold it so that it suits your needs.

via

I like the idea of owning one beautiful thing that can help me out in so many ways. So good for the environment, and fits so well with my goal to cut way down on the number of items that I own. Click on the photograph directly above for a great furoshiki tutorial.

A Year of No Spending

2012-01-17T10:35:00.000-08:00

It's almost cliche for a person these days to say that they are going to do a year of no spending. If you google it, a ton of different blog posts come up, each with a different person's story. And yet, I've been finding myself thinking of it over and over lately.

I'm sure most of you readers understand the concept, or have read a bajillion articles and such about it, but basically A Year of No Spending entails not spending money on any extras that you don't need such as going out to the movies or buying clothing or going out to eat, etc. etc. And only spending money on things that you absolutely do need such as food, mortgage payment, etc.

There are so many reasons why I want to do this. First of all, I don't make much money at all as an artist. I've been living off of what my husband makes as a construction worker and that makes me feel not so great. I do all of the housework and such, so things are equitable. But he's an artist too, and our dream is to pay off our house so that he can do music full time and I can work on my art. A Year of No Spending will put us so much closer to this goal.

Also, I have an abundance of things. I want to cut down on this. I don't need so many things.

The hitch is that I have a teenage daughter who 100% hates this plan and my husband isn't too keen on it either. But even if just I don't spend any extra money at all I will save us a lot.

I haven't figured out how buying supplies for work will go, but I'm thinking that for now I have such an abundance of fabrics and paints and whatnot to keep me going for awhile. Perhaps for the whole year. I'm envisioning getting as creative with this as possible and working with what I have will force me to do just that.

So, here it goes. It's on the blog so it's official, right?! =)

Thirties Floral Fabrics

2012-01-17T09:41:00.000-08:00

I found the best book at Powell's yesterday. It's so sweet and full of amazing flora patterns. I've been in love with with florals forever, but that love turned into obsession after seeing Katie Stratton's amazing floral paintings in Kinfolk this month. Have you seen them? Katie blogs about them here. Lovely, no?

Squam

2012-01-09T09:38:00.000-08:00

Today's the opening registration day for Squam and I've got my registration form filled out and ready to go. I'm so excited but also a little nervous. I rarely (okay, never) go anywhere without my husband and daughter. My home is my comfort zone and my family makes me feel safe. And Squam is across the country...in lovely New Hampshire. But, here we go! A new adventure! I can do this!

collage + oil painting

2012-01-07T22:45:00.000-08:00

an old favorite, found and reworked and shared with you.

xoxo jennifer

Quilting

2012-01-06T10:36:00.000-08:00

listening to podcasts and quilting the day away. it's wonderful, I say!!

hair.cut.

2012-01-05T16:36:00.000-08:00

I have the most cowlick-y cowlick of all time, so I can't really do bangs. But oh how I swoon over them. I love bangs. You know Lotta Jansdotter? Her cute haircut with the best bangs ever in her book Handmade Living? Well, that's my dream haircut. And so I always go to my sister (hairdresser supreme) and beg for bangs. And so she cuts it for me and we have to blow dry the hell out of it to get them to stay down. And then I blow dry them down for a few weeks or so, or only on special occasions but then the rest of the month my bangs go DOING!

Anyone else have this problem?

Well, so today I got bangs cut in again. I had to give it another shot. Why not?

sketchbook

2012-01-04T20:55:00.000-08:00

When I was in art school I always had a sketchbook in my hand. For some reason I fell out of the habit of keeping one this past year or so. One of my New Year's Resolutions is to start using them again. Have you seen the book An Illustrated Life? It's great inspiration.

So, maybe I'll share my sketchbook pictures on this blog every once in awhile? xoxo

Springwater Corridor

2012-01-04T08:26:00.000-08:00

This walk is just minutes from my house and is so lovely.

Look at how the light is coming through these leaves (!) :

There are lots of little places to sit and think and draw or paint.

And this is my gentle walking companion. I wonder how many times we've walked this path together hand in hand? Many, many times. I am always talking about art. He is always talking about music. And when our daughter was younger she would join us, running ahead with our dog to the edge of the water. We could walk together like that forever.

These are the things that I'll remember.

She said...

2011-12-29T16:47:00.000-08:00

"Mom, when you see how organized my dresser drawers are, you're going to want to take a picture and blog about it!" And so I am.

Pictured above are "the pajama drawer," "the band t-shirt drawer," and "the sweater drawer."

Happy to Report...

2011-12-29T15:38:00.000-08:00

that just a few minutes into it and I'm feeling like myself again! Hello, you!

I'm letting things dry up a bit, and then I'm going back at it.

That big swishy drip in the middle towards the bottom needs to go.

But does it matter?

A month into this it will all look completely different.

Here we go!

(to get a chocolate chip cookie. And then, paint more more more.)

Miso Soup for Two

2011-12-29T14:32:00.000-08:00

Zoe and I have had the nicest holiday sleeping in and cleaning up and organizing things here and there. On my quest to find more gluten and dairy-free things to eat I have discovered miso soup. It's so warm in our tummies and makes the most perfect winter breakfast or lunch.

In other news, I bought a new paintbrush today. It's been awhile since I've painted. I mean really painted. About a month or so, maybe more. I keep trying to start paintings but none of them are going anywhere. And so now, armed with my new little paintbrush and a big empty canvas, I'm ready to give it a shot again. Because you just have to keep on trying even if everything you create feels disastrous at the moment.

Fingers crossed for me, kay?

This morning, I'm thinking of...

2011-12-23T09:27:00.000-08:00

It's the middle of winter, but this morning I am thinking of summer. Our friend Garth, lead guy for the band Old Light that my husband plays bass in, posted a link to some video recordings from last summer's Pickathon. It's got me dreaming of sunshine. Here's the trailer:

Pickathon Trailer from Live & Breathing on Vimeo.

Pickathon is amazing. It's 3 days packed with live music on stages set in the forest of a local family farm. It was the highlight of my 2011.

If you'd like to see more Old Light, here is an OPB Studio Session recording:

You can see more of the OPB Studio Session recordings of Old Light here.

Old Light is playing with AgesandAges and 1939 Ensemble at the Doug Fir tonight. So, hopefully, if all goes well with my daughter's sleepover arrangements I'll be going. And it will fill me with enough good music to last until next summer's Pickathon.

Oh, Christmas Tree

2011-12-22T09:40:00.000-08:00

I found an old bottle brush tree and mason jar while shopping at antique stores in Sellwood last week. Together, they make a nice little addition to my funky, eclectic holiday fare.

Speaking of Sellwood, have you been to Camp Hollyhock?

homemade sweaters, hats, and embellished wool sweaters. I love it there. If you're in Sellwood, you have to stop by. It's just around the corner from New Seasons on 13th.

A Christmas Painting

2011-12-20T09:02:00.000-08:00

Painted last year during this season... I wanted to put her up on the blog to share.

It's inspired by the birch trees I can see from my studio window and the robins that live in the laurels nearby. When I was little I had very long, messy hair which was hard for me to brush on my own. I would give it a good try, but inevitably my mother would say, "It's like a bird's next under here!" about my tangles underneath. Wanting to take that not so nice memory and transform it into something beautiful, I moved the bird's next to the top of her head like a crown. And look inside! Three robin eggs to hatch in the spring. The robins trust her with their nest and she loves helping the animal world in any way she can.

Portland/Milwaukie-area friends can see this painting in person (and it's for sale!) at Art House Coffee on 32nd Avenue in Milwaukie.

A Nativity Scene

2011-12-19T11:30:00.000-08:00

Needle felted and knitted for our nature table. I hope you enjoyed seeing the pictures, and Merry Christmas!!

xoxo Jennifer

Just Finished Knitting...

2011-12-14T12:57:00.000-08:00

This gorgeous Laura Irwin Snail Twist Headband. I picked up the pattern at the Portland Bazaar last weekend. I needed one of these, because my hair is in the awkward in between phase and I've been looking pretty funny lately. Have to have something to contain my half curly, half straight crazy hair as it grows out.

I think I twisted the snail part wrong, but I like it anyway. xoxo!

Santa Lucia Day

2011-12-13T10:59:00.000-08:00

I used this recipe to make gluten-free, dairy-free, refined-sugar free Santa Lucia buns this morning.

May your day be filled with love, light, community, and good food today!

xoxo, Jennifer

Here we go Again

2011-12-13T09:33:00.000-08:00

A couple of years ago I was tested for gluten and dairy allergy and the test showed intolerance to both gluten and dairy. I gave up both for 6 months or so but then went back to eating it again. It was so hard for me to eat differently than what my family was eating, and my husband and teenage daughter have no interest in being gluten and dairy free.

So, here I am again. Giving it another try. Trying to give up refined sugar too. For the bazillionth time. We'll see how this all goes!

So far, it's been fun. Well, to be fair, I'm only on day 2! But that's breakfast above. Quinoa and homemade applesauce that I canned this fall. What's not to love about that?!

Around my Studio on a Sunday Morning

2011-12-11T10:40:00.001-08:00

Guardian Angels and Such

2011-12-07T08:43:00.001-08:00

I feel... (Ik voel, ik voel, wat jij niet voelt...) from Elsbeth van Noppen on Vimeo.

This short documentary video about two children with special abilities is beautiful and made my eyes tear up.

It made me think of Opal Whiteley. She has a been a favorite person of mine for so long now and I think of her often. If you haven't read her book, you should. She wrote it when she was only a young child and it is full of her adventures with the animals that lived in the forest surrounding her. I used to read some of the stories to my daughter when she was young.

A few years ago I painted an imagined portrait of Opal. Here it is:

Here are some pictures of Opal in real life:

I wish that I could have known her and that we could have been friends.

The two children in the video, and Opal, almost seem more like angels than people. I've been thinking a lot about guardian angels lately. I was told once that I have three guardian angels, but that the one that is with me the most is Simon. I used to paint pictures of him and say little prayers and such to him when I was younger. I haven't thought about him for some time now.

I think I would like to read this book by Steiner:

amazon link

Have you read it? Do you believe in guardian angels?

Window Stars

2011-12-04T10:52:00.001-08:00

Zoë and I had the most wonderful day on Friday, making stars for our front windows

Finding Joy

2011-12-01T08:05:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was one of those days.

I've never talked about this on the blog before. And this is probably one of those subjects that veers into too much information. But I think it will make my heart shine a little brighter to share.

Many of you who know Patrick and I well know that we've been trying to have a baby for eight years now. Eight years. And we've stayed optimistic. So optimistic that we've held off fertility services until this year. And then we decided that it was time and we should get some help. So, we went in and left feeling even more optimistic. It's unexplained, they said. My thyroid was a wee bit too low, but other than that, nothing was wrong.

So, Yes!!!, we thought. Yes!!!! We will be pregnant soon. This is going to happen.

And, so yesterday when I got my period my heart broke into a million pieces. I know it was unreasonable to think that after eight years of trying we could all of the sudden get pregnant. I know. But, deep inside, after years and years of suppressing hope in fear of being let down, I had allowed myself to be hopeful once again.

I cried for all of the eight years worth of times that I had gotten my period and discovered once again that I wasn't pregnant. I felt angry for the fact that I got pregnant so easily once so long ago when I was just barely out of high school and didn't want to be pregnant and the father was someone I had only been dating for a handful of months and yet now when I'm ready and my partner is ready and we have more love together than I ever imagined possible we are unable to get pregnant.

Please know that my daughter is the best thing that ever happened to me. Please know that I love her with all of my heart. You do know, those of you who know me, that Zoe is the light of my life. I am grateful. But I did, just for a moment, feel angry for how unfairly things work out sometimes. The timing of things.

Then I decided to take a minute and imagine all of the feelings that would make me feel wonderful if Patrick and I were to have a baby. A strong sense of family was the most important feeling that came up for me. Joy. The rhythm that comes with having a young one in the house. Building our own traditions. I realized that a lot of these are feelings that I've longed for most of my life and Patrick and Zoe and I have created them together, but not to the extent that I would like. When I had Zoe I was so young and a single mom and I just wasn't able to parent the way I wish I could. But why can't I create those feelings for myself and the family that I have now?

I decided that I can. So, with a heavy heart and a hopeful outlook I went out and collected Advent candles and a wreath. And a silk and some beeswax candles and a star lantern for the nature table that disappeared from our lives as Zoe got older.

I can't tell you how much better I felt after putting the first week of Advent stones and shells in the wooden bowl that Zoe made. I laid down the red silk on the nature table and imagined all of the things I want to make for it as the month goes on. I lit the beeswax candle in the star lantern so that it would be shining when Zoe got home from High School and Patrick got home from work.

And as we lit the wreath candle together and said the Advent verse my heart grew with joy as I realized that all of those things I could ever want... I have them now.

The Baby Surprise Sweater

2011-11-28T15:26:00.001-08:00

I recently finished knitting this lovely Baby Surprise sweater for a sweet little one's Christmas present. Elizabeth Zimmermann is a genius for creating this pattern. I used scrap wool yarn throughout and felted it down a bit because it was too big (pattern using worsted yarn created a toddler-sized sweater, and I'm giving this to a baby under one year old).

This was such a joy to knit and I love how it turned out. It's so thick and cozy, I'm thinking it will keep her warm for the next few winters at least. xoxo

Thanksgiving

2011-11-25T14:38:00.001-08:00

listening to records

playing Apples to Apples

lots of food and wine

and talking

and singing

and my "little one" made 8 pies for us to enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving weekend to each and every one of you!

A Craft Fair

2011-11-18T17:24:00.001-08:00

For you local folks: Tomorrow I'll be selling a bunch of my paintings and hand-made goods at Ardenwald Elementary's Winter Wonderland Bazaar. The address is 8950 SE 36th Avenue in Milwaukie, Oregon. I'll be there from 9 to 3 p.m.

Stop in and say hello!

Us at 15

2011-11-14T19:04:00.001-08:00

My daughter posted these pictures of my husband and I on her Tumblr blog. We were 15, the same age that she is now. They made me smile and I thought I would share it with you...

... she said, "it looks like your hair is cut in some kind of weird mullet." me: "um no, that's called a banana clip." Yes. Banana clip. I wore them everyday.

xoxo

Isn't this beautiful?!

2011-11-05T16:20:00.001-07:00

Siren Nation Fest 2011

2011-11-02T13:24:00.000-07:00

Three Pears, oils, 2011

It's that time of year again! The Siren Nation Fest is happening this week. I'm showing the above painting in the visual arts portion of the show. The opening is tomorrow night at Albina Press on Hawthorne. xoxo

Roasting Chestnuts

2011-10-31T21:08:00.000-07:00

for butternut squash soup. Happy Halloween!

a beautiful mess

2011-10-24T09:41:00.000-07:00

sauerkraut is fermenting
chestnuts and walnuts have been collected
sunflower, tomato and acorn squash seeds are drying
green tomatoes are turning red
cloth is being dyed, printed, and painted
apple core vinegar is brewing
galettes were in the making
wool is being sewn
apple butter and catsup is being canned

I'm trying to enjoy it instead of feeling buried, but messes are everywhere in my kitchen lately.

Found

2011-10-23T05:00:00.000-07:00

rummaging through my studio this morning and I found these life drawings that I did. I enjoyed seeing them and I hope you do too.

Who ever heard of...

2011-10-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

cosmos in late October?

what strange summer and fall seasons we've had this year!

Time to Go Outside

2011-10-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

This morning it felt like I had been in front of the computer for days. I'm creating a website for a political action group that I'm in and it takes time, and research, and..........

and by about 2:00 this afternoon I couldn't take it anymore.

So I went outside and gathered up the rest of the marigolds and sunflowers that were still in the garden

and some tomatoes, too.. and some green bean pods drying for seeds...

and made a nice little sanctuary with them on my piano.

you know, all it took was a few minutes outside and a little arranging

for me to feel like myself again.

The Burlap Dress

2011-10-20T12:32:00.000-07:00

When I was in art school I had the wacky idea of unraveling a burlap sack and freeform crocheting it into a child-sized dress.

Conceptually, I was thinking of carrying the burden of childhood (for those of us who had rough ones) and about how childhood can be uncomfortable.

Visually, the project turned out like this:

As many of you know, I have been a long-time adorer of the artist Liane Tyrell of Enhabiten. So, last week when she mentioned that she would like to barter goods this dress instantly came to mind. I'm not sure why, and I know this sounds kinda cooky and weird, but it's almost as if I made it for her.

So, I sent it off. Here's an Enhabiten blog post about it. Which made me oh so happy since I love her so. And guess what?! I have an Enhabiten pillow or two coming in the mail! Woooooo!!!

Printing on fabric

2011-10-19T10:25:00.000-07:00

with my favorite crafter Emily.

I didn't realize she had oil-based ink and tried to clean it with soap and water and made a big mess.

We made big plans for a crafty fair coming up and drank tea and walked to the creek.

It was 70 degrees and sunny, which is unusual for Portland this time of year.

'Oh lovely day!

If I could go back in time

2011-10-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

I would join the women weavers at Bauhaus.

or, maybe

I would like to be a Native American weaver of baskets and on big looms

I would ask Georgia if I could paint plants with her for a day

ask Emma Kunz

to draw me one of her healing pictures.

What would you do if you could go back in time?

Geometrics

2011-10-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

Gunta Stolzl

Sword and Fern

dazzlinglana on Etsy

birch and bird

A Night to Remember

2011-10-16T15:00:00.000-07:00

photos from Mag-Big's 1-Year Anniversary Party

October 15, 2011

we are like trees

2011-10-16T05:00:00.000-07:00

source

for my friends and family

2011-10-15T15:23:00.000-07:00

For my friends and family who cannot make it to my show at Mag-Big tonight, I wanted to post pictures of the 5 paintings that I am showing so that you can see what I've been working on...

Powell Butte, water and oil-based media, 24 x 24, $275

Apple Orchard, water and oil-based media, 16 x 20, $175

Thistle and Shine, water and oil-based media, 16 x 20, $175

Forest Park, water and oil-based media, 20 x 20, $150

Forest and Light, water and oil-based media, 24 x 36, $250

You can check out my artist statement here. xoxo, jennifer

Seth Neefus

2011-10-15T11:24:00.000-07:00

When she saw my last post about Emma Kunz, my friend December sent me a link to this Portland/NY artist, Seth Neefus, who had similar work. December was wondering if Emma Kunz went to a Waldorf School because Seth Neefus did and their work is similar. So, I looked it up and the crazy thing is that Emma Kunz was already too old to attend Waldorf Schools when they were created, but she was in fact friends with Rudolf Steiner. Wow. My mind is kind of blown by the amazingness of all of this. And over how things can be so linked up and wrapped around each other independent of space and time.

And so I've been looking at this Seth Neefus fellow's website all morning and I have to admit I have a bit of a crush. I mean, look at his work. It is so beautiful that I can hardly take it.

check out Seth Neefus' website here

Featured Artist: Emma Kunz

2011-10-15T10:02:00.000-07:00

source

Pumpkin Patch

2011-10-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

An Artist Statement

2011-10-14T08:29:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share the Artist Statement that I wrote for my show this Saturday at Mag-Big. I also wanted to give a little glimpse of another piece of artwork that will be in the show.

Apple Orchard, oil and water-based media, 16'' x 20''

Artist Statement
Mag-Big 1 Year Anniversary Show

In her poem “An Explanation of Mag-Big, Second Attempt” thepoet Cassie Ridgway captures the essence of Mag-Big with the following lines:

Thepainter, how he cannot stop

withbirds and feathers

plumageplucked from the wing of an osprey.

Heconsiders himself from birds eye view.

It’s as if she’s managed to sum up all of my hopes andfears, obstacles and successes within those lines.

I strive daily for the bird’s eye view, for the ah-hamoment, for the wide and long angle of a clear photographic shot. But more often than not I’m lost in thetrees

and the most that I get is that dust-filled stream of lightfiltering through.

looking up rather than down.

And so, I examine the beauty in those dust-filled particles,

and I take what I can get.

-Jennifer Finn

October 2011

Freeform

2011-10-13T11:44:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking a lot about freeform lately. About just grabbing those needles and going for it without a pattern or even a plan. I like freeform work because it allows me to create as I go. I don't need to follow someone else's advice on how to make a bag or a quilt or a dress, I can just make it up as I go. As long as it holds things in it, keeps me warm, or covers my body, it's okay, right? I've been thinking: why do we feel like there are prescribed ways that things have to be done?

Working like this takes a bit of courage. Especially if you are going to use or attempt to sell the things that you make. To other people, especially those in the mainstream, the item that you made may not look 'correct' and therefore not 'beautiful' to their standards. Here's the thing: if it's beautiful to you, then that's what matters. And seek to hang around with us creative types, because I tell you I swoon over everything that is handmade. I know how much courage and patience and commitment it takes to make something rather than buy it at Target.

Here are a couple of freeform things I made recently. First, is this funky knit bag:

It's already proven to be useful and it was a joy to make. I do need to make a liner for it though because I've had pens and keys and things poking me through the loops.

And, here's the other freeform project I've been working on. I don't want to reveal too much because it's still in the beginning stages and, true to freeform style, who knows what the heck it will turn into. But just know that I've been spending my days doing one tiny hand stitch after another. And then another.

And I've seen an important concept emerging while I've been doing this work, one that I plan to explore this year for my next solo show. It's this: the whole vs. the parts. How do we break that big task down into these small little repeatable parts. What joy do we gain from doing so?

Have you been doing any freeform work lately?

love that girl

2011-10-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

So, my daughter is seriously funny. I mean the type of funny that, perhaps, she will be a comedian one day. In fact, in the 3rd grade she told me this:

"Mom, I am going to be a comedian when I grow up. In fact, I made up my first joke that I'm going to tell when I'm a comedian.." Here's her first joke: "So, in the 3rd grade it was 'dress like what you want to be when you're older day' and I went to school dressed normal. And my teacher said, 'what are you?' and I said, 'a comedian.' and she said, 'very funny.' And that's when I knew I chose the right profession."

hahahaha, that still cracks me up! Now, to be fair, I don't know if she heard that somewhere or if she made it up- although I think she made it up. But still...

And so, here's a note that she left for me this morning. I know it makes no sense. That's why it's freaking hilarious.

"Don't worry about it Mom, I'll still love you if I bomb the PSATs."

xoxo, I love that girl.

Dedicated to Mom and Dad

2011-10-12T09:11:00.000-07:00

In the series How To Explain it to my Parents, abstract artists set about the task of explaining their artwork to their parents. I love this. I know what a struggle it is.

When I went to visit my father in Ohio this summer he took me to an art museum, which was lovely and so thoughtful. However, throughout the abstract portion of the museum he and his girlfriend continually proclaimed such things as, "this isn't art" "I don't understand" and, my personal favorite: "I could make this!! Anyone could make this!!!" It hurt my heart a bit that they had no concept of the importance and meaning in the type of artwork that I do.

And my mother, same story with a different twist: my brother is extremely adept at rendering and she, true to western art standards, thinks of him as a supreme artist. (I do admit, his work is lovely) She has never acknowledged me as an artist, however, due to my disinterest in rendering things in a realistic way.

And my conceptual pieces and social practice endeavors are totally lost on my parents as well.

So, oh well!

But I share this with you so that you too may gain some comfort in it while you create your art. Especially if those who are closest to your heart aren't quite sure what the hell you're up to and why on earth you would even consider such a path.

new fall handwork

2011-10-11T14:29:00.000-07:00

The skies are dark here in Portland and I've been a wimp about going outside in the rain. It always takes me a bit to adjust in the fall. So, it definitely helped for me to get cozy with a cup of tea and create a few things especially for this season.

I wanted a warm fall hat in a nice color and was oh so happy when I found a ball of some wool that my friend Chris gave me last spring tucked away in my yarn stash. I pulled it out and a few hours later I had this:

The perfect color and a great fit since it pulls down nicely over my ears. That shall keep me cozy.

And in other handwork new-ness:

I made these wool bags from Pendleton scraps last week.

the top one works perfectly for library books and such and my husband claimed the blue one to keep his camera and hat and sketchbook in when he's out and about.

Other than that....

The painting studio has been calling to me, but I'm resisting. It's so full of paintings that are waiting to go out into the world and I think I just can't bear to start an entirely new body of work while the old is still in the studio. So, I'm hanging a show on Friday and then I'll be back in there to create. I'm even thinking of re-opening my Etsy store next week. Well, maybe.

A new model

2011-10-10T13:20:00.000-07:00

i'm having an art opening!

2011-10-10T11:00:00.000-07:00

Powell Butte, water and oil-based media, 24" x 24"

with five new abstract landscape paintings. i am showing alongside artists December Carson and Beth Olson.

at Mag-Big

33rd and Hawthorne

Portland, Oregon

Saturday October 15, 2011

6 -9 p.m.

An Edible School Garden

2011-10-10T09:14:00.000-07:00

I'm working hard to manifest an edible garden at the neighborhood elementary school down the street. Whenever I'm feeling overwhelmed by the task of it, I watch this video for inspiration.

Along the same lines, I found profound truth in this New York Times article:

I went back to the land to feed my family

If you live in the Portland area, you might want to check out this:

NW Permaculture Convergence

it's happening this weekend and has many workshops addressing sustainability through education and local production of food.

when I'm at my computer

2011-10-10T09:06:00.000-07:00

this little one is always hanging out in the crook of my arm.

so many things

2011-10-09T19:54:00.000-07:00

...2 gallons worth of beef stock, 12 jars of apple-pear sauce, 12 jars of ketchup, 1 gallon hand-squeezed apple cider (did you know you can make apple cider with just cheesecloth? You can! I always thought you needed a cider press...). Apple cider vinegar is in the making (out of just cores and peels of the apples so that nothing goes to waste). And cucumber pickles came out of the crock, so that cabbage can go in for sauerkraut. Green smoothie for tomorrow's lunch. And Patrick is making 2 loaves of his bread. And now we are ready for bed.... but first let's clean the very messy kitchen.

Off to the Market

2011-10-09T14:38:00.000-07:00

It was a joy and a surprise to see our friend Caleb and the Foghorn Trio folks at the Farmer's Market today

Here's some Foghorn Stringband if you'd like to take a listen. They've been favorites of mine for awhile.

And here's Patrick with 20 lbs of local, organic apples

(on a side note: look at that beard! He's growing it for a ZZtop cover night with his bandmates. I rather like it. It's quite Amish, no? My husband fancies himself as a metal/punk hybrid, so shhh, don't tell him he has country charm)

Now it's time get started on some applesauce! And we're making ketchup too, with the last of our tomatoes. Ah, I love fall days like these with my hubby.

Holly Golightly

2011-10-09T10:33:00.000-07:00

http://official.fm/tracks/230204

i can't get enough of this song lately. and the lyrics are making Patrick laugh. cooking a late breakfast and dancing around to this is making a nice sunday morning.

Something from the garden to bring, And Sunflowers Drying

2011-10-08T15:47:00.000-07:00

We are going to a little dinner party tonight and I wanted to bring something along, so I made some galettes using things from the garden. One is savory, and one is sweet. This has been my go-to meal lately. So easy to make and so beautiful to look at.

and do you see those sunflowers in the back? Here are some pictures up close:

I am enjoying their company in my kitchen and have been fondly remembering my daughter's 4th grade Waldorf homework where she studied the intricate repeating patterns of the sunflowers. I'm somewhat missing the excitement and wonder over the natural world that little ones carry with them constantly, and realizing that that part of her has not been swallowed by the teenage years, it's just deep down and will emerge again like spring itself.

Visiting an Old Favorite

2011-10-08T09:49:00.000-07:00

and sharing it with you. What a beautiful Saturday. After a week of darkness, the sun is shining again in Portland.

Boet

2011-10-07T20:16:00.000-07:00

Have you seen Emily Bixler's work? She makes the most beautiful things.

www.byboet.com

Inspired

2011-10-07T20:02:00.000-07:00

photos from the Seattle Art Museum

An Ohio Kind of Fourth of July

2011-07-09T08:43:00.000-07:00

We have just returned from adventuring in Ohio.

This is what our daytimes looked like:

And our nighttimes:

Today's Garden Adventures

2011-06-23T12:40:00.000-07:00

Zoë with her kitten

chamomile is growing everywhere!

Only the rhubarb is growing much so far, but we are patient

Oh what I would give to be a kid in the summer again!

Tora Bori Alice really wants in the coop to play with the new baby chicks!

Ms. Hattie says hello to Tora

This is Ringo

Mishima, our very old cat, and Ringo in the backyard

You Are the Chosen One

2011-06-12T18:27:00.000-07:00

I am super excited to be participating in Seann McKeel's art show this fall 2011 in downtown Portland on Couch street. You Are the Chosen one is a collaboration of knitted squares and words. Check it out at www.youarethechosenone.com

My 12 x 12 square is a flower lace pattern adapted from the book The Harmony Guide to Knitting Stitches. I used Silky Merino Malabrigo yarn from Make One in Milwaukie, Oregon. Basically, I casted on 69 stitches (it took a few tries to find the right gauge to fit exactly 12 inches) onto size 9 needles, and worked 6 sets of the 12 row lace pattern to make a total of 72 rows.

I can't wait to see the entire mural when it's finished. I'll keep you all posted for the date of the opening.

xoxo
Jennifer

A New Day

2011-06-02T12:01:00.000-07:00

A new painting, titled A New Day

For Sale at Arthouse Antiques on 32nd Avenue in Milwaukie, Oregon.

Oh, Buffalo

2011-05-08T19:43:00.000-07:00

A photo journal of our recent trip to Buffalo. I love that place and am always inspired by the warmth and togetherness of our family that lives there.

New Studio Work

2011-04-11T13:06:00.000-07:00

Blue Ridge oils 2011 18 x 24"

For sale at Arthouse Antiques, 9401 SE 32nd Avenue, Milwaukie, OR 97222

Jaik Faulk

2011-04-04T19:01:00.000-07:00

I happened in on Jaik Faulk's opening at Nationale last Friday, and I can't get the show out of my mind. His painting was just so brave. I'm inspired. I wanted to share some images from his website with y'all.

If you find yourself on East Burnside, check it out. The show will be up for the month of April.

Elizabeth Gilbert on nurturing creativity | Video on TED.com

2011-03-31T11:58:00.000-07:00

Artist friends, this video just might change your life. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend it.

Elizabeth Gilbert on nurturing creativity | Video on TED.com

xoxo jennifer

My Morning Walk

2011-03-29T12:43:00.000-07:00

It can be hard for me not to get depressed this time of year, with all of the clouds and the rain. So, feeling a little wistful for sunshine this morning, I decided to go for a walk with my camera and take pictures of beautiful things.

.. like cherry blossoms and Irish bells and forsythia in a neighbor's yard.

and buttercup, clover and aster along the roadside.

a sweet bird's nest

and sedge along the water

a moss-covered bridge to cross, and a spray-painted one to look at

a steller's jay that was oh-so-patient about my taking his picture

a funny little structure hidden in the woods

and such beauty to be found when you look up close

and see all of the details that nature creates.

Even the decay looks beautiful against the backdrop of clouds

And the water that passes by reminds me to be mindful of the journey.

Sweet Little Sweater Vest

2011-03-17T16:11:00.000-07:00

Crocheting little motifs is already inspiring me! Yesterday I thought, you know what, I'm just going to try and crochet up a little sweater-something. So, without a pattern or any preplanning at all, I just went for it.

And this is the sweet little vest that I created.

I embellished it with all sorts of lovely laciness that I found around my handwork studio...

And tonight I'm going to bring it in to Cassie for sale at Mag-Big.

A "Granny Square" a Day

2011-03-17T12:35:00.000-07:00

I'm learning to crochet! Well, I've known how to do the basics for a long time, but I want to push myself beyond that. I want to make the fancy stuff!

So, I took my favorite go-to crochet book off the shelf: Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs. Starting with Motif #1 (there are 150 of them!), I am going to work my way through the book and make each one.

I completed motif #1 yesterday. It was a bit of a doozy, but I learned new stitches like the popcorn stitch and picot 3. It felt pretty great to work through.

And now I'm off to work on #2!

A Shield for A Good Cause

2011-03-16T12:05:00.000-07:00

My daughter now goes to a art-focused charter school for High School, but during her grade years she attended the Portland Waldorf School. We loved it there. It was nurturing, to say the least, and a home away from home for my little one as she learned about the world small and large. She grew up feeling a deep sense of community and belonging, and is now blossoming into a teenager with an awareness of purpose. I couldn't ask for more.

We would not have been able to attend the Waldorf school if it were not for their generous tuition assistance program. For the second year now PWS is doing a Shield Benefit where they ask artists in the community to decorate a shield that they can auction off to benefit their tuition assistance program, and I am honored to be one of the participating artists.

To learn more about the Portland Waldorf School, click here. To read about the PWS Shield Benefit, click here.

A Portrait is Finished

2011-03-06T18:11:00.000-08:00

This is a portrait that I recently completed. It's in oils on 18 x 24 canvas. I am so happy with how it turned out, although, it was hard to go wrong-- the sitter is the most beautiful girl, wise beyond her years. I hope that this captures a bit of her soul so that her family can treasure it forever.

It's such a wonderful thing, painting portraits of children. I hope that I do many, many more.

Upcycling and Some New Spring Scarves

2011-02-28T19:14:00.000-08:00

My sewing machine has been going nonstop lately and I've been making daily trips to the thrift store for new fabric finds. My mind is on spring florals, lace, checkered patterns, and jersey knits.

Have you been doing any spring sewing lately?

Update: All of the above items are now for sale at Mag-Big. If you live in the Portland area, Mag-Big is on 33rd and Hawthorne and features work by Portland artists. It's my most favorite place to go!

Craft Tutorials

2011-02-25T07:26:00.000-08:00

Emma Kunz

Like crafting? The Long Thread posted links to the top 100 tutorials for 2010, 2009, and 2008. Wow. Click here to check it out.

A Sweater for Sophie's Baby

2011-02-08T17:26:00.000-08:00

It's finished! I posted earlier that I was working on knitting up a sweater for my dear friend Sophie's baby, and here it is. I used the Easy Baby Cardigan pattern from this wonderful book by Joelle Hoverson.

More Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson

This sweater was a joy to knit. I chose Madeline Tosh Merino in Corsage. I was afraid it might be a little too bulky, but it worked out perfectly. I originally bought two skeins to be on the safe side, but only needed one. In fact, look how much yarn I have left!:

I'd say that's enough to knit up a sweet little hat and maybe some little slippers.

Okay, so here's my notes in case any of you decide to knit this up: I'll just say that it took me about twice as long as the book said it would (maybe 12-14 hours total? But I tend to knit slowly in general, and very slowly when doing fancy things like seed stitch and whatnot), so leave yourself some extra time. i.e. you probably don't want to start knitting this the day before a baby shower or something like that. Also, I think the sleeves turned out a little weird. Does it look funny how the arms stick straight out like that? I think the arms just seem a little big and bulky for a newborn sweater. And perhaps, if you know a thing or two about knitting you may want to knit in buttonholes. The pattern says to just push the button through your knitting, but wouldn't it be easier for a mom or dad to put a sweater with buttonholes on a wiggling baby rather than trying to find a good spot within the knitting?

All in all, though, I'm in love with this little sweater and can't wait to give it to Sophie.

So-- now the question is, What to knit up next?! Do you have any baby patterns to recommend?

Four Little Abstracts

2011-02-04T14:18:00.000-08:00

I made these abstracts a couple of months ago but haven't really looked at them much until this week, and I decided that, hey! I kind of like 'em! Especially all grouped together...

I continued the abstraction around the sides:

I think I'll be adding them to my Etsy Shop.

The Love Show

2011-02-04T12:52:00.000-08:00

Hello, friends! I've been busy working all week and haven't had much time for the blog! Mostly what I've been working in is the piece above. It's my piece for The Love Show and I'll be dropping it off at the gallery today. It's a contemporary cross-stitch --- or at least that's what I'm calling it. Originally I was thinking of submitting a painting for the show, and I even worked hard on an abstract one-- but the more I worked on this cross-stitch, the more I knew that it was the right piece. I mean, look at all of that radiating love! I like it a lot, and it has inspired me to make more. <<Thank goodness! because it's pulling me out of this rut I've been in where I've hated anything and everything I've made for the past few months>>!!

All in all, it's been a good week!

Laundry Line Day

2011-01-27T07:42:00.000-08:00

We have had a lot of sunshine in Portland lately. Well, only one wonderful afternoon's worth to be exact, but it hasn't rained here in four days! Do you know how unusual that is for this time of year?! It's got all of us feeling lovely.

Pnut and I spent the entire day yesterday cleaning up our yard. We kind of forewent the Fall cleanup this year that we usually do-- turning and mulching the vegetable garden beds (we have 7 very large ones), cutting back foliage, putting the summer yard furniture away, etc. Pnut's been working out of town for the last year and I've been busy getting my business started and so let's just say that it didn't get done. However, all we needed was one nice day with both of us home and no rain, which was yesterday, and we got all caught up!

We even planned a new project for today: The laundry line. I love our laundry line. It's old and rusty, and wide enough so that five lines of laundry can go across it-- which for us usually equals two or three loads of laundry. I use it a lot; absolutely every day of summer and as frequently as possible in the spring and fall. The problem is that it is currently in the far back corner of our yard- and it's happened a time or two that I hang laundry out only to forget about it and have it all get rained on. I'm also used to precariously stepping over brambles and chicken poop and whatnot to travel all of the way back there, which isn't so fun if you have a very heavy load of wet laundry in your arms.

Well, yesterday Pnut was talking about his bicycle pump track that he's building this summer (he is endlessly talking about this pump track these days) and he pointed out that the position of the laundry line might be dangerous for cyclists. Let's move the laundry line closer to the house, I say! Really? he says. Heck yes! I say! And so that is our mission today. I just checked the weather and it says no rain again for today so we're in the clear as far as that goes-- although in Portland you pretty much just get used to just doing chores in the rain.

It will be a big job- we have to move a 3 x 9 foot garden box and transplant some herbs, not to mention dig up the existing laundry line supports (which are concreted in) and move them. Wish us luck!

The dreamer in me has been browsing through laundry line images, of course. They are just so beautiful with all of that fabric in the wind and the sunshine. Here are some that I particularly loved:

Ann Kroeker

Amy Toensing Photography

Jennie Lee

Re-Nest

Kaylayeahhh

Contemporary Figure Painting

2011-01-25T07:35:00.000-08:00

Marlene Dumas

As an addendum to yesterday's post about Traditional Portrait Painters, today I wanted to post images from Contemporary Portrait painters. Interestingly, I could not find many painters who paint children representationally. I'm not sure why this is. Perhaps commissioning an artist to paint a portrait of your child is a more private affair these days, or perhaps the act of getting a child to sit still for a portrait is so difficult that many artists choose other subjects. Nonetheless, here are some portrait painters that I admire. Much of this information came from the wonderful book Painting People: Figure Painting Today by Charlotte Mullins. I highly recommend it.

Jocelyn Hobbie

Richard Wathen

Jenny Saville

Lucian Freud

Matthew Carletty

Eric Fischl

Elizabeth Peyton

Michael Borremans

John Currin

Traditional Portrait Painting of Children

2011-01-24T07:36:00.000-08:00

As some of you may know, I've started a new adventure lately of painting portraits of children. I've always been mainly an abstract painter, and with that often a completely non-objective abstract painter. And then this past summer and fall I painted images for children-- animals, children running through the forest or playing, images that might come from a child's dreams.

However, last fall a wonderful friend of mine and great supporter of my art asked, "Would you paint a portrait of my daughter?" I love new challenges, so I said yes.

I started on the process just before Christmas, by going to their house and taking photographs. Now I am about halfway done with the portrait. There have been times where I thought I was almost done, only to go in and change something drastically. This has created a lot more work for me, but I'm not going to be satisfied with it unless it looks just the way I want it to. Since this is my first time, I've made a lot of mistakes along the way! It has been the most challenging thing I have attempted so far, but I can feel myself taking risks and growing as an artist.

As you can imagine, I have been scouring the internet and library for portrait paintings of children. I've read and re-read Traditional Oil Painting's chapters on portraits. I've looked at figurative painters that I enjoy, such as Lucien Freud and Andrew Wyeth.

Some of my main concerns have been:

how are the children posed
how much detail is painted in the clothing
how does the artist handle the background
how does the artist work with light

One of the more traditional artists that I've learned a lot from looking at his work is John Singer Sargent. The World of Portrait Painting website, which is somewhat cheesy and outdated yet also full of some good stuff, provided me with info about his and other more traditional portrait painters. Of particular interest was an article by portrait painter Ariane Beigneux in which she goes step-by-step through her process of painting children. A link to the article can be found here.

I will leave you with images of some of Sargent's portraits. They are on my mind today as I contemplate my own project.

Tomorrow I hope to include some information about contemporary portrait painters-- hopefully with a focus on representational paintings of children, although this information seems to be scarce. If you know of any contemporary children portrait painters, please do let me know about their work!

The Oregon Coast

2011-01-23T18:57:00.000-08:00

Pnut and I took off to the coast today, and for the middle of January the weather couldn't have been more lovely. We started at Cannon Beach and walked south as far as we could until we ran out of beach. Here are some photographs from our journey:

I adored these "collections" that the waves made in the sand. They are like little abstract ocean paintings:

Soup Swap

2011-01-23T18:35:00.000-08:00

The lovely and talented Emily from The Handmade Experiment had me over to her house for a soup swap last night and let me tell you, it was the best! Here's how it worked: I made up a huge batch of creamy potato bacon soup and brought six mason jars full of it over to Emily's.

She invited over some more people and they also brought huge amounts of yummy soup. We talked and we ate and ate and ate. There was a huge table of hors d'oeuvres, delicious split pea and ham soup, and Emily's husband, Franz, even provided fresh homemade pretzels straight from the oven! Then before we left, we swapped soups. I came home with curried split pea soup, chili, corn chowder, a black bean soup, and some leftover split pea soup with ham that Franz made. We'll be having soup for dinner all week long, and I can't think of anything better to warm me up in the middle of winter!

Featured Artist: Yokoo

2011-01-21T07:55:00.000-08:00

Yokoo is a handwork artist from Atlanta who designs and crochets clothing accessories. Her Etsy shop is wonderful. It is extremely unique, and since I've been trying to start up my own business selling artwork, I'm intrigued by the story she tells through her photographs as I feel that it is the key to her success.

Here is an Etsy Handmade Portraits video of Yokoo. She has some very inspiring things to say about the creative process.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend full of creativity!

~Jennifer

Favorite Material: Burlap

2011-01-20T10:24:00.000-08:00

I love working with burlap. It has so many historical connotations, especially in association with clothing. It is also extremely versatile.

Here are some artistic uses for burlap that I found online:

Connie DK Lang Sculpture Installation

Vintage Burlap Bags by Ariane Dutzi

Burlap Paintings by Johanna Robinson

Upholstered Burlap Chairs on Apartment Therapy

Burlap Chandelier Pillow from Southern Sister Designs

Have you ever made anything using burlap?

Valériane Leblond

2011-01-19T13:43:00.000-08:00

I came across the Welsh artist Valériane Leblond on Flickr yesterday, and I just can't stop looking at her work. It is so lovely. I'll just post some pictures, and let her images do the talking:

To see more of her work, visit her website.

Contemporary Quilts

2011-01-19T08:26:00.000-08:00

Enhabiten

In general, I'm not a big contemporary quilt fan. The bright colors are often too bright, and the machine-made quilt doesn't feel quite so warm to me. There are some contemporary quilters, though, who's work I adore; or an individual quilt that I run across that takes my breath away. Here are some beautiful images:

Artist Unknown, Circa 2005

Artist Unknown, Circa 1980-2000

On My Mind: Tie Dye

2011-01-18T09:50:00.000-08:00

I'm doing research for a painting, and I have all of these beautiful images on my mind.

Photo Credit:The Petal Press

Photo Credit: The Petal Press

Photo Credit: Front and Company

Featured Artist: Andrea Zittel

2011-01-18T08:56:00.000-08:00

I started my week thinking hard about contemporary fiber artists, and of course one of the first and foremost that came to mind was Andrea Zittel. I first learned about Zittel when I came across her show at the Albright Knox Museum in Buffalo during the Christmas season of 2006. I walked into a room full of wool-felted dresses and my jaw dropped open. Her patterns were rough yet extremely beautiful. To me, her clothing work represented the ability for one person to make high-quality fashion using basic skills and materials. Zittel then came to Portland State University to lecture on her work the following school year. I was an art student at PSU at the time and I could not wait to attend. My husband and I showed up an hour early to secure a seat and it's a good thing we did because by the start of her lecture the room was so crowded that there were people sitting in the aisles. The lecture was, of course, fascinating and ever since I have been a huge fan of her work.

Here are a few images from her website. (Note: Zittel also creates living structures, furniture, performance and videos, and much more, but today I will be focusing on her textile work.) The following images are what Zittel calls her "Single Strand Uniforms".

She also has created Personal Panel Uniforms made out of geometric shapes such as these:

Here is an example of a Six Month Uniform which can be worn for six months as an outer-garment:

Lastly, here are some examples of her work with wool.

I was wondering what Zittel has been up to lately and I found this:

Indigo dyeing. Could she be more wonderful?

Well, the answer is yes, because listen to this. Zittel has a Smockshop, where independent artists create and sell Zittel-inspired smocks. There are hundreds to choose from and they are all great.

Even better: Zittel provides a smock pattern pdf link so that you can make your own.

If you're inspired to create your own smock let me know! Maybe we can get together and set up a little Smockshop of sorts in my kitchen and make some for ourselves.... Now wouldn't that be great?!