The Paper Hat book is here.

Yup really truly in my hands as I write this. Paul and I are are so happy with the results. It is beautiful. You can get a sneak peak by going to Craftside Blog and download one of my hat design patterns for free. Goodreads has a contest for the month that you can enter to win one of my books for free.

The rose hat made from coffee filters is one of our favorites.
Thanks Zoe for being our wonderful model!

Little Sammy our ferocious viking

You can wear white with any of these lovelies at Beehive Handmade

My pals over at Beehive Handmade have a new line of jewelry that I crave to wear daily. Beautifully handcrafted pieces inspired by a little Downton Abbey with some mid century thrown in. They are offering a sale this weekend to help get you spiffed up for the season. Shop till you drop here. Type in longweekend and get a 15% mark down. I may just have to own that heart with the "Hell Yes" inscribed on it.

Photos by Paul model is my Hilly.

New Site Launch for Local Pottery

I'm so grateful that I have clients that trust me and actually pay me to make beautiful images and designs for them. When I get to make this beauty with Paul, it's even better. Lisa Howard of Local Pottery is one of those clients. The new Local Pottery website, a collaboration between Paul Clancy, Peter Nassoit and myself, can be seen by going here. The launch coincides with the sale of the year for Local Pottery. An amazing open studio event with handmade gifts you shouldn't miss if you're in the Boston Area. You can go here to get the scoop on hours, etc. Below are the images from the shoot we did just last night for the home page, which changes seasonally. Just the right combination of an outdoor fire, a two hundred year old wrap my friend John Hegnauer gave me, an indigo tea bowl and the last 45 minutes of sunlight that was magic.

Letting You in on a Little Secret

This past weekend, my open studio with South Coast Artists Tour was a wonderful experience. So many old and new friends stopped by. I sold 25 paintings and connected with many artists I greatly respect. One of my favorite moments was when a young woman bought two pieces and with a grin announced they were her first art acquisition. It was nice moments like that, that made it all worthwhile. 

Letting you in on a secret, sometimes I miss the applause and the audience presence from when I was performing in the theater. It's not why we make art but affirmation is a nice back rub after all the heavy lifting. This felt like the visual artist's version of it. I feel more connected to the folks who enjoy my art and this will be a annual event for me. Thanks for all the support!

With Paul's help the barn was transformed into a cozy gallery.
Photo by Paul Clancy

Photo by Paul Clancy

Photo by Paul Clancy

Moonlight White Garden Dreams

One of my favorites, Moonflower.
Just planted some around our little barn door.
Photo courtesy of blogger jonesgarden

My dad, loves to garden and landscape. As a child, I spent many Saturdays planting trees, making terraces, and scavenging for special garden stones with him. He once told me it takes 5 years to make a yard your own. Having 30 years in my last yard, I knew every cup of soil in each bed. Each plant was my choice, give or take a few. This new place has a wonderful wild quality to it. But when I start to weed and yank and plant, it feels like an overwhelming jungle. I have to keep reminding myself to enjoy the planning and dreaming part of the process. I've asked my friend Katherine Tracey at Avant Gardens to help me plan the perfect all white garden that will be beautiful in moonlight. Fragrance is important to me too. While I work on getting my jungled tamed, visiting her exquisite nursery in Dartmouth will get me through. All these plants can be found on her website here. If you are interested in white, pink, blue, yellow or whatever color, there's a search on her site to guide you. Remember they specialize in the rare and uncommon. You won't be finding what they sell at Home Depot.

One of the prettiest gardens I've ever enjoyed.
Paul and I shot it for Avant Gardens last summer.
Photos courtesy of Paul Clancy Photography

Just a few of the white beauties Katherine suggested 
for my dream garden. You can find all of these at Avant Gardens. 
From top left, Helleborus Joseph Leper, Nicotiana, 
Oakleaf Hydrangeas Snowflake, Oxalis White Pillow, 
Echinacea Milkshake,Asteromoea Mongolica, 
Helleborus Niger, and Stewartia

Yay! Book Deal!

I'm so excited to be sharing this great news.
I'm writing a how-to make paper hats book. The hats will be
geared for children made by adults, based on all new designs.
Each hat will be made from recycled material and antique ephemera.
Paul has built a cute little pop-up studio in our tiny barn
and I'm matching up adorable children to my hat designs.
I'll keep you posted on the progress.

Uppercase Magazine No. 17 + ME!

My Uppercase Magazine interview by Lois Sturgeon (of 13Threads Blog) is out! Pretty wonderful to be in print but to be in the edition that covers scented ink printing is a big bonus. The folks at Uppercase offer my friends a great break on the subscription to this amazing publication if you go here and use the code "contributor17". Thanks Mr. Paul Clancy for providing beautiful photos of my face and legs. And Erik Gould for shooting my paintings so beautifully!