Finished another handwoven scarf!  I really love using my table loom. It's such a great therapy of sorts for me -- when I'm not feeling 100% to work on painting in my studio, I can sit in front of the tv and comfortably weave.

For this scarf, I wove in two threads at a time, mixing the thinner thread to create more depth of color in the stripes.  Experimenting with color blends was so much fun, it was like mixing paint on the palette!

This is the first that I'm listing for sale in my Etsy shop.  Visit the link for more images, info, and close ups of the colors and texture.

detail

Below is a short video tutorial and review of some new yarn supplies that I've acquired...

Winding bulky cotton yarn from http://www.yarntopiatreasures.com/ using the "Medium Hard Maple Yarn Swift Winder Adjustable Skeinwinder" from http://www.etsy.com/shop/theknitstore and the "Knitting yarn ball winder" from http://www.knitpicks.com

Review: The swift was extremely easy to assemble and very fluid. I think I should have purchased the next size up (large) because thinner yarns are falling off of the swift but that's my own fault- I didn't know what would work best. I'm positive I can make some simple adjustments to this one to keep that from happening in the future. Really a great swift and at a really great price.

The yarn winder works really well. I've been choosing to use it hand-held because the clamp is taking me some time to figure out how to use. The instructions that are printed on the box don't explain how the clamp attaches without the clamp being in the way of the crank. Maybe I'm just dense but I can't get it to work without these two parts interfering with one another. Overall, it's a great winder.

Now if I could just find a way to get my loom to warp itself....

"Talked Into It" casein & wax pastel on arches watercolor paper mounted on cradled board 6 x 6", available here

Yesterday was the Etsy Maine Team craft fair in Freeport, ME. It was SO much fun to put more faces to names and meet people like Pam that I've known online for about a year and a half! LOVE when that happens.

The quality of the work at this show far surpassed any other show that I've done. No "granny" items, no $1 store finds or prices, it was quality all the way with fair prices for everything. I was impressed and honored to be a part of it!

I even had some interest in my encaustic classes, which is the best part for me! I love explaining the process to people and seeing their eyes light up and have them ask if they can learn it :)

Anyway- for more Maine Team info look here!

Etsy Buy Handmade etsymaineteam

To celebrate the release of my new oil paint making tutorial-- I'm putting it on sale for a limited time for $2 -- you can't beat that with a stick (unless you are cruel).  

I was surprised to find myself in an Etsy Finds email and Storque article today entitled "Yours And Yours Alone"!  Not only was it nice to get recognition in such a well put together art grouping but I received over 65 shop "hearts", tons of item hearts (including over 53 on this painting), a bunch of sales, and a couple of great emails from people!  It was such a great day!!

The wonderful Etsy Maine Team is having an ACEO team challenge.  The idea was to make an ACEO with a Maine theme that was also recycled/upcycled.  I made these three while at Jes' craft brunch on Sunday.  They are all made on top of recycled cereal and cell phone boxes courtesy of my hubby, and the collaged images are all from Country Living magazines that were in desperate need of being recycled.  Here's the skinny on them:

I will be participating and co-moderating the Etsy Visual Artist Street Team's (VAST) Trunk Show tomorrow night!  Come and take a look and meet new artists with a great range of styles, medium, and prices!

I decided to list a set of 4 natural encaustic medium cakes in my shop as a value pack-- for those that like to buy in bulk!  I always stock up on my art supplies so I'm sure lots of others would, too!

For the Love of the Bee Etsy sale

During the month of February, the Beeswax Team will be donating 5% of proceeds to the "Save the Bees" research group.

The disappearance of bees on a global scale isn’t an issue to put under the carpet. Considering bees pollinate about 1/3 of everything we eat, when bees begin disappearing, we should do more than watch it happen if we want to protect our food sources.

Please come join us and show your love this Valentine's Day in an unconventional way! 

View our team comic to read more info: http://www.beeswaxteam.com/sale.html

I just listed an older painting in my Etsy shop.  It had been on short term loan to a law office and now it's back home, looking for its next life!  Show it some love!

Trees #1
5" x 5" image size, 7" x 7" paper size
Giclee Print

Farm Utopia
9" x 9"
Watercolor, india ink pen, drawing ink, and thread on handmade rag watercolor paper
by Lauren Simone

I made some more encaustic paint samples last night and am loving the enhanced colors.  I wanted to add some more vibrance to them and am so happy with the results! I have some more color lines I'm thinking of making-- how can I find more hours in the day?  I think I've exhausted all the workable hours I can find.  But it feels good to keep busy so on I go!  If I could only figure out how to hand make time.  Hmmmm.