Look WHO is new in the shop!

Before I get to the new stuff in the shop, I have to tell you - it snowed on Christmas day here!  I don't think that this has ever happened!  While we were without power for most of the day (which means no water for us since we are hooked up to a well), it was such a beautiful day!

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So...back to the WHO is new in the shop.  Let's look at the photos!

  

 It all starts with a sketch.

Design transferred.

Carving begins.

All carved out.

Ready for the ink!

And he's ready!

From sketch to carving to stamp!

 And there he is in the shop - the Great Horned Owl Notebook!

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In addition to this fine little guy, I also carved one of the most interesting North American mammals I have ever seen - the pronghorn.  We lived outside of Amarillo during college and we saw pronghorn quite often.  Most of the time, the herds were off in the distance, grazing among the tall high plains grasses.  But on more than one occasion, we witnessed the amazing sight of watching the herd sprint across the plains.  Wow!  What a sight!  

The sketch. 

I have to add that, as a biology major, I took mammology. One of the things that drove my professor nuts was to call the pronghorn an antelope.  Many people (and nature shows) refer to the pronghorn as the "pronghorn antelope".  While it is related to antelope, pronghorn are a separate species.  

See Dr. Sullivan - I was listening!  :)

Look at this gorgeous guy! Who couldn't love him?

I must admit - I love this carving!

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And here's one more for you, one that I am really excited about - the fox!  Take a look at this handsome fellow!

The sketch.  Look at that distinguished face!

The carving!  What a beauty!

From sketch, to carving to stamp to a color test!

And in the shop - both plain and in color!

What's been going on over here

Hello everyone!

I have been busy working on a new series of carvings for my shop - framed animals!  I already had my framed deer in the shop, but I knew when I carved that one that I had a series on my hands!  Over Thanksgiving break, I drew up some sketches for a sweet little bear and a mischievous little raccoon that I thought would make adorable stamps.  I carved them out within a couple of days of each other, taking a break for a little Thanksgiving get-together at my in-laws.  They turned out pretty darn cute, if I do say so myself!  :)

 Little Bear Cub

 Little Raccoon

And in case you are interested, I snapped some photos of the little bear stamp as I carved it!  :)

I started out by carving the outline and the fine detail of the letters.

After the lettering, I moved on to the snout.

Snout complete!

Then I cleaned up the background and the space behind the letters.

I removed the excesses around the stamp before the first ink test. 

Results of the first ink test: need to clean up a few areas!

Cleaned up the problem areas in the first ink test and ready for a second test. 

 Results of second ink test: just a little more work on the nose!

Cleaned up the nose a little, did the third ink test, and I think it is a done deal!

From drawing to carving to print, I think this little guy is a keeper!

And now, the mess!

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Gray - The New Fall Color

Fall is just two weeks away, can you believe it?  I for one am so very happy to see the temperatures drop. We have had a few weeks of temperatures busting the 100s, but today a cold front moved through and lowered it to the 80s.  Pure bliss!

I am also excited about the new gray Moleskines recently released - GRAY!  It is such a gorgeous color that works really well with my hand carved designs.  What a perfect way to welcome Fall by introducing this new color of Moleskines in my shop!

And guess what!  I also have a new hand carved design inspired by the many multitools we have around our house, in my husband's pocket, and in my purse!  Those little guys come in handy, don't they?  And wouldn't this make the perfect gift for that hard-to-shop-for guy in your life? 

Gray Multitool Moleskine Notebook

 I also have another new design on the gray Moleskine - my soaring owl.  I love how this looks against the gray background. 

Gray Soaring Owl Moleskine Notebook

Here's to a new season! 

O starry night!

My husband and I live out in the country, far from any street lights, in an area where we are more likely to hear goats, horses, coyotes, crickets, and owls than a car.  Occasionally we can hear the sounds of passing train 5 miles away, but those events are rare.

One of the many advantages of living in the middle of nowhere is the ability to see all of the stars in the night sky.  On clear evenings, we can see the sprinkling of the Milky Way stretching out across the sky.  We will often times just lay out on the grass and take it all in, the immensity of it all, the sheer size of the universe.  It is an awing experience to be reminded of how fortunate each and everyone of us are to be here.

And then the mosquitoes roll in and ruin it all.  The universe would be a better place without those bloodsuckers! :)

So, after running away from the mosquitoes, I decided that a worthy addition to my shop would be a little telescope searching the sky.  I hope that you like it! 

From my dining room

 I have been working on adding some new designs to my shop lately...about time!  Trust me, I have been itching to add even more, but life has a way sometimes of making other plans for you. But the important thing is that I am finally back at it, and, oh boy, am I having fun with this!

I carved this latest white-tailed deer as I sat at my dining room table on a gorgeous sunny day.  I have a room devoted to my Etsy shop and other crafty endeavors, but my dining room has wonderful windows that let in loads of sunlight - a perfect spot for carving if you ask me! Listening to Daytrotter (loving The Lumineers!), carving stamps, and letting the Spring sunshine in...what a perfect day!

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Check out the notebooks (lined and blank) and notecards!

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See what I mean by great light?  Of course, in the summer, this little area gets a wee bit warm (this is Texas, after all). But right now while the temperatures are still fairly mild (well, mild for here anyway - it was 91 degrees today and it isn't even April yet), this is the perfect spot for working!  Heck, I am sitting in the dining room now!  :)

Careful - there's a horse in the shop!

Yay!  I have a new design in the shop, the first new design after being under the weather for a little while! And I really, really like this new one.  

Drum roll please...

I think this little fella is cute...and a lot easier to fit in your back pocket than the real thing!

I am so happy to be feeling better so that I can carve again!  Stay tuned for some more designs coming soon!

Me and my little tipi

What do you think of my newest design, a cute little tipi?  

And will you look at that!  Notice that cute little buffalo totem?  I know you did.  

You want one now, right?  

Well...go check out HandyMaiden's shop!