The Melting Pot

The latest of the "neighborhood prints" just happens to contain all of the neighborhoods in Boston. Available in a 16"x20" unframed matte ($45) or matted in a handsome 16"x 20" black metal gallery frame ($80). These frames have an acrylic face which is lighter than glass and so much easier to ship - I learned that lesson the hard way. It's also available in an 11"x 14" version. Unframed matte ($30) Framed ($55). And if you really want to get crazy, for an additional $10 customize your print by highlighting your favorite spot in the color of your choice. Prices do not reflect taxes and shipping. You can contact me for ordering info at lisa@homegrownartsandcrafts.com

Studio Update & Neighborhood Prints

I've made the move from my shop/studio on St. George Street to my own personal studio conveniently located in my backyard. This has been a very busy two months and promises to be a hectic summer. At the moment I'm still trying to fit 385 sq. feet of work into half that size. I've been busy filling orders for some of my neighborhood prints which make an ideal graduation gift. Guests are always welcome in the studio.

Dorchester - my hometown :)

Duxbury - available in multi colors or solid background, white text

Marshfield - available in solid background with white text

They're also all available in a smaller version, framed or unframed.

Make Way for Sweet Treats!

Hey all! Well it's that time of the year when my lease comes up for renewal and I've chosen to leave my beautiful bright space at 285 St. George Street. My own home studio housed in a small building on my property is getting a facelift and will be my new destination. Having a brick and mortar shop has been awesome but to be honest I do more business through referrals and online than I do through foot traffic. The good news is the awesome little candy shop that's tucked in to the back of my building is going to move up to my space. I'm excited for Sweet Treats and can honestly say I feel good about passing the baton to the wonderful owners of this business as I know they'll treasure the magical little end unit as much as I did! I'll still be working away on my original artwork and prints along with my jewelry work as Boston Baked Beads. My studio  - just like my shop - will be open to visitors and shoppers by appointment and I'm hoping to have my online shopping site up and running by the time I leave on May 1. As always - thanks for your support!

Pillow Talk

I've been so busy getting ready for the Boston Gift Show with Boston Baked Beads that I haven't had a chance to work on this project. I'm excited to see how the alphabet scratchboards the I've been producing will look as throw pillows. Here's a peek at the printed fabric.

Teagan's Tiger

Now, that was the kind of snowstorm I like. Quiet, warm and well lit. We picked up about 8 inches - just enough to cover up all the ugly stuff and to postpone my daughter's cheerleading competition. Oops, a good mother's not supposed to be happy about stuff like that, right? Well, today's the makeup anyway - and I'll cheer extra loud to make up for it. Yesterday was the perfect day to scratch away another letter of the alphabet. T is for Tiger, finally! says my patient little friend Teagan.

Can't forget the hometown mascot!

I'm a workaholic. There's never a time when I'm not working on some project. During my "off hours" I like to do these alphabet scratchboards because they don't take a lot of planning - just some imagination. They're small so they start and finish over a few hours rather than a few days.

J is for Jellyfish!

This Owl's Living in Cali

This one was shipped cross country to San Lorenzo, CA.

Moo

This cold weather seems to be zapping away more than the moisture in my skin. I'm having a tough time keeping the creative wheels spinning this week. Necessary (albeit boring) administrative tasks have been addressed – but that's no fun. Last week in the studio I listened to Tina Fey's Bossy Pants. Hysterical! This week I've been listening to The Makers. It's a non-fiction read on the modern day industrial revolution sweeping the world. ZZZZZZZ That might be the problem right there – I think I'm going to return it to the library and pick up something by Davis Sedaris. In the meantime - the results are in from the DAA's 40th Annual Winter Juried Show jurying process. My tiny scratchboard Doolin Bovine was selected for the show. Yay!

And this...

Don't know if you noticed but this yo-yo bearing young Yak is wearing a tiny pair of cowboy boots. These are the things that bring joy to my day!

And then there was Q

DAA Winter Juried Show

Last night I helped register one of the many categories of artwork submitted to the Duxbury Art Association's Winter Juried Show. By 4pm today, hundreds of artists will have dropped off art to be juried for entry. The works will be selected by a panel of judges during an all day session tomorrow. Although artists are invited to enter several, only one piece per artist can actually be selected for the show. Generally about 100 pieces are hung. During the next three weeks an amazing juggling act is performed at the DAA to insure that the opening of the show at the Duxbury Art Complex on February 9th goes off without a hitch. There are many volunteer opportunities if you want to get involved. It's a lot of fun! For more info contact the DAA at 781-934-2731.

Frost Free

Every year about this time I tend to be scrambling to finish up my entry for the Duxbury Art Association's Winter Juried Show. 2013 is no exception. In my own defense, I do have a finished and framed small scratchboard that's ready to submit. Over this past weekend I finally found an archived image that I had wanted to work from and decided to start working on it for a future show. I'm doing ink on Claybord. This works up much faster than scratchboard - being additive vs. subtractive. Putting ink on a surface rather than scratching the ink from the board. So now - I'm just hours away from finishing- and then there'll be tweaking - however the entry for the DAA's show is due by Friday by 4pm. Think I can make it?

And Now on to the Next Holiday

My oldest daughter stopped in yesterday afternoon and decided she was going to attempt to make HomeGrown Instagram famous. I'm Instagram ignorant so I was happy for the offer. If you're into it - our ID(?) - I don't even know what you call it - is homegrownduxbury. She took a lot of shots and uploaded them. We did get quite a few likes. I am falling so far behind the technology wave it's not funny. Thank goodness for my daughter!

The Positive Energy of Youngin's

If you're ever feeling ambivalent, hesitant or any of the those other "ants" out there – get yourself to a pile of children fast! I was invited to be the artist in residence today at the warm, friendly Furnace Brook Middle School in Marshfield. I was feeling a little "all of the above" over the past few days –not about visiting the kids but just about everything else. It's exciting for the new year to begin but then the questions arise - Where do I put my energies? Where do I start? etc. Kids don't think that way. They just jump in and if it's not fun they get back out. The children today were so receptive and their energy was infectious - just what I needed!

Beautiful Dreamers

Here's to all of your beautiful dreams for 2013 - hope it's a great one.












My drawing, Eleanor's words.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

I'm looking forward to spending the week relaxing with my family. Thanks to all of you for making this such a wonderful year! I have lots of exciting projects I plan on working on in 2013. Can't wait to share them with you. Enjoy your day tomorrow - See you next year!

Awesome Gift Idea #7

Today we find ourselves with just 5 days til Christmas. Hopefully you all have finished up the tasks that come with the season and can now take this last weekend before the holiday to enjoy with friends and family... preferably at a less than hectic pace. Tonight at HomeGrown it's our Guys Shopping Night from 6-9pm. I've had a few men pop in already - driven by gentle hints from their better halves I suspect - to pick up a hand crafted belt buckle and accompanying leather belt. I've got a half dozen left just waiting for the right bearer.

Awesome gift idea #6

Looks like our chances for a white Christmas have been dashed again. It feels more like late October these days rather than winter – which will be here any day now. Celebrate the season with this frosty winter wonderland display of embossed and embellished snowflakes. Here they are displayed as individual pieces is a complementary shadow box frame for $50 each. I also have them displayed together in one frame for $115. Perfect gift for those on your list fortunate to own a ski chalet. Who knows, maybe it will win you that much anticipated invitation for a weekend away!

Awesome Gift Idea #5

Here's another gift idea  - the subway sign art is now available featuring the great towns of Marshfield, Dorchester and Duxbury! (Actually the Dorchester and Marshfield are still at the printer but I'll put one aside for you if you'd like). The large version is available in a beautiful black wooden frame - I also have a few silver for a more contemporary look - measuring 20" x 20" with the live area being 11.5" x 11.5. The cost is $75. The smaller version is available in 2 versions. Matted to fit an 11"x14" frame with the live area measuring about 4.5"square at $25 (matte only - for the do it yourselfers) or the same version is available in a black 11" x 14" frame for $45. If you're interested message me on Facebook or email me at lisa@homegrownartsandcrafts.com - they're being claimed fast! Don't forget that our Guys Only Shopping Night is Thursday, December 20 from 6-9pm. (I hear there's a few ladies planning on shopping too - but don't tell the guys!)