Goin' Up North

We leave today for our annual vacation in northern Minnesota near Ely. Its picturesque landscapes, towering pines, and sky blue waters are a welcome retreat from the everyday craziness of life. It's the perfect place to press RESET and just  r e l a x . . .  

While I'm away check out some favorite things I've found around the www...

Dear Blank

Scratch Maps Would be Fun!

This, That & These are current favorites of mine on Etsy

A Tree House for Adults

Tourists posing with other Tourists.....classic

What is marriage?

Down Memory Lane

Why didn't someone think of this sooner?!

Will someone please buy me these earrings?

:: also ::

I will be doing my first GIVEAWAY 

within the next week or two after we return from our vacation! 

Stay tuned....I don't want you to miss out!!!  :)

See you back here on August 1st!

Print, Package, Post

I just mailed a set of handprinted notecards for my first order since beginning this blog :: exciting!! 

:: FYI ::

Feel free to email me if you're interested in purchasing any of my prints.

s.welch8408 (at) gmail (dot) com

- Almost all of my prints can be made into notecards! -

Inspirational Artists :: Pour

In his "Pour" series, New York artist Holton Rower pours successive layers of paint onto three-dimensional surfaces. The end results are amazing, but it's the process that I think is truly mesmerizing! Don't miss the video below!

Third Thursday :: Bike Night 2011

So much fun last night!

Fresh Ink :: Red Red Wine

While we were in California, Tim and I bought a slightly more pricey bottle of wine than we typically purchase at Hahn Winery. Having safely arrived by FedEx just a few weeks ago, it is tucked away, patiently waiting for us to open it for a special occasion. 
I'm really happy with how this one turned out + it was pretty painless to print too! Hope you're having a good week and keeping cool despite the tropical weather we've been having!! 

:: Don't forget to check out my Etsy shop for more prints ::

Bike Night at the MIA

:: Tonight is Bike Night at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts! ::

 Thursday, July 21, 2011
6 - 9 pm
Museum-wide

Bike Right In to the MIA. Join the group ride that leaves from Gold Medal Park at 5 p.m.

Park It at Freewheel Bike's free bike valet.

Tune Up with quick bike checks from The Hub

Catch a Flick at the Bicycle Film Festival's opening night

Check Out locally bred bikes by the Twin Cities' most exciting frame builders.

Enter Raffles for bikes from Surly and The Hub, Twin Six gear, or Nice Ride swag.

Create Your Own bike accessories with Secrets of the City using recycled bicycle parts.

Rock It to Joey Ryan & The Inks while sipping cocktails in the "Angry Catfish Bike Lounge."

Outside, weather permitting

Free; refreshments for sale

via MIA

Divine Wine

While Tim and I were in California, we spent a day going to wineries and tasting some of Monterey County's divine wines...most notably, Pinot Noir :: my favorite! Here's a quick peak of how that day inspired my next print. I finished carving the block last night but won't be able to print it until tomorrow morning. Come back tomorrow and see the final result!

M e l t i n g

I saw this commercial while watching the news this morning, and about died at how relevant it is with the massive heat wave that is currently affecting so much of the country! Thought I would share...so creative!

Inked

Some of you have asked about mixing inks, so I thought I would do a quick post to hopefully answer your questions!

I individually hand-mix inks for each of my prints. The only time I use ink straight from the tube is when I print in black. By only using primary colors (red, yellow, blue) and neutrals (black, brown, white) I’m able to mix any color I wish to achieve, as well as cut down on total ink dollars. I prefer to use Speedball Oil-Based Block Printing Ink because it’s permanent and waterproof. Some printmakers shy-away from using oil-based ink because they think it’s difficult to clean up and requires chemicals to clean all the tools involved. However, I have found that a little canola oil and a paper towel does the trick pretty nicely, no harsh chemicals needed!

Hope that helps! 

:: Useful Nontoxic Printmaking Website ::

Fresh Ink :: Sip & Perk

Coffee seems to always "pop-up" at significant moments throughout my life. To name a few...I met my husband Tim while working at a little coffee shop in the art building where we went to college, after graduating we moved to Italy and lived above a quaint cafe that we frequented daily, at our wedding the bridesmaid's dresses were espresso and the groomsmen's vests and ties were mocha and latte... (none of these were planned, but were later pointed out by Tim's best man during his speech!) Is there a common theme that weaves its way through your life?

** The ink looks like it's black in these top photos, but it's actually a 

dark chocolate...or espresso (wink wink) **

:: Don't forget to check out my Etsy shop for more prints ::