Round Robin Exchange - First entry

A group of six friends--most of them members of the Society of Calligraphy--have joined together for a Round Robin altered book exchange.  We each chose a theme--mine is "Fashion Sewing, Hearts and Other Pretties".  We meet over lunch tomorrow to exchange books.  It's been an extremely busy six weeks for me, so I only completed this one page.  I have LOTS of ideas, though, so I'll do more when the book comes back.
   I'm happy with this watercolored sketch. To compliment the "now" dress, I added some funky pointed pen lettering.
   Now,I'm looking forward to working in the next book.  For today, though, I'm getting the house ready for our gathering and baking bread, an old hobby that I'm "dusting" off.

Month of Letters

 

And here's my November 2012 ATC.  A blatant copy of the design from my very first ATC, done in 2005.  I was so busy with holiday tasks, that I seemed to have no new inspiration for this card.

This month's contribution to the January 2013 Art Sparklers ATC exchange.  I'm on a sewing-themed kick, right now.  I suppose I somehow think creating art about it will motivate me to get back to that and, hopefully, I will--eventually.  This was fun, anyway

 

More pen-and-Ink

#15 - Plant material I picked up on a walk in the neighborhood--the seed pod is close enough.  I simplified the pine foliage--this particular bough was much more full, but I didn't have all day to draw it :-).

Pen-and-Ink - fitting it in

 #s 24 & 26 - the shading needs more work, especially on the umbrella sketch.

Pen-and-Ink

In late December, I restarted Brenda Swenson's pen-and-ink 75-day challenge for about the fifth time.  It's hard to keep up with everyday drawing, when there's so much else that needs to be done.  Here are #12 anad #23.  When things are a little less hectic, I'll get out one of Claudia Nice's pen-and-ink instruction books and really learn what I'm doing!

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More tweaking . . .

More tweaking . . . with Online Design & Print Online at Avery.com. As I vary the
design, the free software allows me to print as few as one card. Next month, I start a photoshop class for calligraphers. I used Photoshop, years ago, but a refresher is in order.  It should be a LOT easier doing this with the right software--many more ideas are percolating.

Playing around with more card designs

A friend, Elaine, suggested three pears, which sounded good to me, so here's my first version of the Three Truncated Pears.  Another friend doesn't like them cut off at the bottom.  I do like them running off the edges, rather than the expected full pears, but,  lots more playing ahead!  Maybe I'll overlap, next.

New Business Card - Version One

I wanted a card that better reflected the work I've been up to lately. Since I prefer a very clean look, the most contact information is printed on the back.  I have alternative designs in mind and will play with those another time.  Which of these two do you like best and why?