Selling my work

Apple study completed during my undergrad for $40!
Peony Study, completed during undergrad for $48!  UPDATE: SOLD to my friend Leigh who I met while canvassing for Obama in Feb'08. 
And a still life completed during my one year at the Certificate program at the Academy. For $48!

All priced to sell! There is much more listed on my site and I will be listing drawings as well!

 There is a link at the top of this blog on the right side for my etsy shop. Once you get to etsy look me up under user name- and type in grayday.

paintings...

I didn't complete a lot of "projects" this week to post on the 'ol blog- I was busy with work and hosting our Friend Nathaniel Wilder- from the great AK who stopped by after the inauguration en route to Bean town.... It was a great week, but I am looking forward to Sunday to get some painting in! In the meantime here are some images I am considering working from.

This first one was taken in New Hampshire this fall on our visit with Zerek and Suzy. We went to the apple orchard where they work.
This one was taken the last time I was in Alaska- in the summer of '07 in Homer. Very Alaskan photo.
The compost pile at the farm/ orchard in New Hampshire.... Stay tuned for some future painting postings!

A hat for Mother

With some down time this weekend- I finally finished the hat for my mother I have been working on since well before Christmas- ie November!
She wanted it to be like the hat I made for Mia (see earlier posts- or under knitting). But then she also wanted the colors to mirror this little throw pillow on our couch- hence the colorful pom pom.
And a side view- yikes I need some sun!

To the shore, to the shore

We Went to the Jersey Shore this weekend for my Birthday. When we got there friday night is was around 10 degrees. We took a chilly walk on Saturday. Here are some pictures from our walk.

Millie had a grand old time running around without a leash on. She chased a lot of little birds, got a mouth full of sand and a few icicles hanging from her chin.
Dried vegetation on the dunes- I brought some home for my large vase.  I have some paintings and drawings planned for this guy.
And of course I brought home a sink full of shells to paint from. Of course I prefer to paint the textural underbelly of the shells...

The boy can knit!

Cameron's first knitting project completed! We all learn differently- I by doing with a side of pure improvisation to get over the hurdles... Cameron learned through trying out all the different stitches -tearing them out and then repeating the process.  So here is his first hat. Its great- really warm and a little stiff- due to the yarn and a bit tall- which gives it this fun vintage ski cap look. And its VERY WARM!

I look forward to this kid's future knitting projects!

A Resolution of sorts

I have this resolution to get my painting up and going again this year. My intention is to work from images of my installations taken last year while in grad school.  I post these images here because I don't have the cash flow to update my website at the moment- and also out of some sense of accountability- if my resolution/goals are more public perhaps I will complete them...
These first two pictures are from an installation called "Underneath" it was a sculpture of this suspended chair I put on top off stilts - constructing a children's world underneath a chair.

These last two images were from my final installation "Scarecrow Bride"... its tricky to explain you'll just have to read my thesis

When Millie was just a pup

I took this video in July or August... she was so tiny! She still is- full grown at 11lbs!

Button and lace set the pace

This entry is part of a little series I have been posting- about how to recycle your unworn clothes, jewelry etc- in order to breath new life into them, to wear them once again. With renewing an article of clothing by adding an embellishment, - you achieve a sense of accomplishment that does not compare to any bargain shopping find. Not only is a crafty idea like this one good for your wallet but it is also good for the environment. You are reusing the article of clothing not to mention the buttons!
This sweater I made almost four years ago. I simply took an unworn cardigan and spent a good chunk of time sewing buttons to it. I used my mother and grandmother's discarded button collections as well as those odd buttons you get as extras when you buy a new garment. I love this cardigan it makes me think of Bert from Mary Poppins- something a chimney sweep would wear- with all the buttons. It jingles now and then.
This sweater I embellished this fall. I inherited about 4 or so cashmere v-neck cardigans from my grandfather's wardrobe.  In order to spice them up and to get away from the boring boxiness that comes with a man's sweater- I have set forth in embellishing them. This is the first completed of the four.
I have learned that I approach embellishing a sweater- in the same way I approach my artwork- I might not always have a finished concept cemented in my mind, but I enjoy the process along the way and even when it appears precarious and that I might be in a jam- I muddle through, knowing that it will all turn out in the end, no matter how unexpected the result. I enjoy what I learn in the process of making- thus my endeavor is not only for a finished product but it also acts as a fact finding mission- where I gather information, learning from my mistakes and successes.

As I mentioned earlier- since this was originally a man's sweater- it is more boxy- so in addition to adding the lace and the occasional button, I folded the sleeves under to a 3/4 length and lightly sewed them in place- this made the sweater more feminine. 

Our First Christmas

We Celebrated our first Christmas together this year! I had to work about 60 hrs a week for the three weeks leading up to Christmas so my intentions of making a tree skirt etc fell to the wayside.... Ah well next year!

I think we started this awesome new tradition of Eggs Benedict on Christmas morning! They were awesome! Here they are before the eggs were placed on top!
Cameron with his new stocking my Mom made for him- in keeping with our family's stocking tradition. I'm so proud of her, she did a great job, especially for not having knitted in so long!
Me in my new Christmas pj's- a tradition from Cameron's side- where we get new pjs christmas eve. Here I am reading the little "to my wifey" card from Cameron.

I will be updating the blog this weekend with more how to recycle your clothing -entries! So Stay tuned.