friday

i took a few days off from drawing this week because i had a headache but in the tradition of not being able to do nothing for very long i made a new hat! i like the exposed quills and the bright color of the green!
have a great weekend everybody!

wednesday

just a quick image of a necklace i made last week.
lots of tiny circles on tiny delicate chain. i made all the circles by hand.
i made earrings to match. i can wear it super long, double up twice of three times like in the picture.

monday

nope- it's not still monday but i took the day off yesterday!
it was memorial day after all.

we had a super chill weekend here. we moseyed around the country side and got some projects done.

yesterday we finished the replacement of the rubber lid to my vacuum exposure table. it involved taking it all apart and putting it back together with a new, improved stretchy top made of vinyl- the same stuff wet suits are made of. i still need to replace the weather stripping to get a air tight seal but just replacing the lid means i'm back in business and can expose screens again!
then we went for bbq and then out to the movies to see Angels and Demons. I liked it and it was also fun to spot alll the sights i visited a few months ago!

saturday we went on a short but fun road trip up to ojai! i'd never been and it's always fun to putter about new places. we got to town just as a library book sale was starting so we detoured for that and got some great books! Then we walked about town checking out all the little shops and things. We also stopped in at Bert's Books in downtown Ojai for a great selection and more random book perusal.

After a drive up the valley to enjoy the scenery and wild flowers we went to The Deer Lodge for burgers and some beers. It's a great place to stop in if your in the area- super chill sort of road house / bar. They have a short but decent selection of grub. Sitting in the sun, reading books and listening to the combination of live music and motercycles come and go made for a nice afternoon.

friday

i already posted my drawings for the week in the last post but I'd thought i'd share a few more things. lately i've really appreciated stories of people doing nice things for people- times are really hard for a lot of people and these simple little things go a long way towards people not feeling alone and hopeless.

this morning i was drinking my coffee and watching a few minutes of The Early Show on CBS. They did a segment about this awesome chick Jennifer Francis in Tampa who bought a bus and drives it around to elementary schools and gives out books to kids! I figured they were just gonna say nice things about her (and they did) but then after the on site reporting they cut back to the studio and she was there. They gave her a brand new Ford bus and a slew of new books to give out. She was already super overwhelmed when they then gave her a ton more stuff!!!

--Ford senior designer Chiwei Lee gave Frances a new van she can customize, a Ford Transit Connect. The van features bookshelves, desks, a flat-screen monitor, DVD player, and kid-friendly alphabet carpeting.

-- Connie Falvo, of Transitions Optical, announced Transitions will sponsor a school in Tampa that Jennifer visits regularly, Westshore Elementary. She said they'll give all the students eye exams and eyewear over the next school year in Jennifer's honor.

--Sears spokesman Jim Kiernan also gave Frances a laptop computer and video camera, so she can document her travels as she goes across the country in her present book bus.

-- Amazon.com also awarded Frances with two Kindles for "Bess the Book Bus."

-- Also in honor of Frances, book publishers Penguin, Macmillan, Abrams Books, Candlewick Press, and Simon & Schuster and Scholastic donated copies of their hottest summer books, so each child on the plaza Friday morning could have a new book.

It was a pretty cool story! Check out the links below for more info.

bess the book bus on CBS
bess the book bus website

Also today I learned about this thing on Etsy called "sneak attacks" It's when a bunch of people go to a store on Etsy and all buy stuff within a quick amount of time. Usually it's stores that haven't had a lot of sales or are pretty new to Etsy. It's such a great idea for stores that get buried so quick in all the listings and a great boost for a store that hasn't had any sales. Check out their site for more info- they have some interviews with the stores that have been on the recieving end of a "sneak attack" and how surreal it is. It's such a great idea and such a great way to take advantage of the huge awesome community that is Etsy.

handmade movement

friday

new drawings this week.

sea cucumber

glowing in the sea

he's eating jelly fish! no he's eating peas, no jelly fish!

shacked up stacked up

have a great memorial day weekend everyone!!!

wednesday

oops! forgot to blog yesterday!
i got so busy in the afternoon working on some new drawings that the day slipped away from me.
i just have a quick pic to share of some bracelets i made recently! i wanted small bracelets that would stay on my arm so i made some tiny ones! they don't look tiny but they are only about 2 1/2 inches across.
i love wearing 2-3 of them or all 7!
i posted a pic of them before in progress but now they are all finished and shiny from the tumbler!

monday

update!
i finally updated my etsy shop!!!
miriam dema etsy
please feel free to check out all the awesome new things and re-listing of some old favorites.
i also made a few price adjustments to a few things- if you have any questions just let me know!

-whoop! just sold another print while writing this post just after the update- how exciting when that happens!!!

this weekend i went on a number of awesome field trips around los angeles!

went to the LAHTF tour of The Mayan and The Belasco. Super awesome! It was great to see the nooks and crannies of The Mayan. The Belasco is going to be amazing when they finish remodeling it. It's mid project now and it was super nice of them to let us tromp through to see what it looks like.

The Mayan

After the tour a friend and I walked up to Bottega Louie for brunch. It's still super white and glamorous and the food is still yummy. The two girls next to us ordered this delish chocolate souffle looking thing- gotta get back there to try that!

Sunday was brunch with another two friends visiting- I met them at The Grove and then wandered around shopping- ok, more like oh, how nice...i can't afford that nice but it is pretty there.

After lunch I met up with a girlfriend at the Folk and Craft Art Museum. I'd never been and it was a nice treat! It's super small but we saw a nice exhibit on assemblages and after that we wandered over to LACMA. Usually when I go to LACMA it's to see a special exhibit but this time we just ambled aimlessly checking things out which was super fun.

Later that evening I finished up some bracelets, worked on a necklace and waited for my guy to roll back in town from being away on a gig. All in all, lots of field trips and all of them awesome!

oh! and i gots some new shoes! cutie wedgies and cutie ballet flats at DSW, much cheaper than the grove. yay summer sandals! check out my flickr for more pics of the mayan!

friday

no drawings this week (hopefully i'll get some done this weekend)
but here's a few random projects i've been working on recently

last sunday i made my mum a few new scarfs for mothers day!
i screen printed two different images on super soft stretchy knit.
the gray is soft like pajama fabric and the green is a bit heavier.
both are really easy to wear in the chilly mornings and light enough to layer and not get too warm. of course i made myself some as well. it was super fun, not sure if it's something i want to make professionally but a fun project to keep. i get so annoyed at how perfect customers seem to want anything that's screen printed and wearable. the idea of hand screen printed seems a bit lost on people sometimes.



also, i've been working on some bangles! these are a slightly heavier gauge than anything else i've made and it's fun to learn how that works! i'll tumble them when i'm all done and they'll be shiny and strong!

wednesday

things I love
just thought I'd share some awesome things I like, make my life easier or just put a smile on my face!

my job!- I know right, some of you already know how awesome my job is but lets talk about it again. i work from home for my guy who owns this company SSR Sound and this company Speedy Puppy Internet. I answer the phone all day, work on all the random projects that make a business succeed and chat with my co-worker. I got a co-worker last month and it's been an entertaining adjustment! I love working from home because I live here, right up against the Los Angeles Forest. Our house is surrounded by trees and tons of wildlife. I also work on my artwork from home, I've got a studio in the house and I use the garage shop for all my screen printing uses. It's a great spread we've got and I'm so lucky to live near Los Angeles but not in the thick of things. I swear I get tons done living here!

Speaking of my job and how awesome it is today I ran a few errands between working and meetings. Dr. Appt, quick lunch at Saigon Eden in San Gabriel and that's another thing I love-
Vietnamese Food!!! Gosh is it ever tasty!!!
I had a rice noodle bowl with imperial roll and bbq pork and an iced coffee. I swear I could make that my last meal, it is so delish! I've eaten the same thing at a slew of Vietnamese restaurants across the country and I swear I never get tired of it.

After my quick lunch I stopped in at a hidden gem of a store in Pasadena, the Farrin O'Connor Design Studio. They have a great selection of jewelry supplies, tools and don't get me started on the bead supplies! I order most of my stuff direct from Rio Grande but this place has helped me out more than once when I need something specific. Sometimes it's helpful just to look at something instead of trying to figure out if it's the right thing online. I picked up some tiny gauge wire for jump rings, some chain and a new hammer! They also teach classes so chec kit out if your in the area.

I love that I've gotten more and more familiar with where things are in the Los Angeles area. It's taken a long time since I was so used to having 20 something years of knowing where things are in the Bay Area. One of the things that helps me out a super ton is my new phone! I'm pretty sure I haven't blogged about it yet but last month I got an iphone! and I love it so very much!!! It's so awesome for keeping me on track, finding out new things and an easy way to stay entertained at random moments of downtime. I'm in love with the app store and all the crafty neato things I can do with the phone. I never thought it would be as awesome as it is. I really have to stop myself from whipping it out at every unanswered question mid conversation. OK, who am I kidding I totally ask the phone for answers while things are happening. If you're at all curious if you'll use it as much as you think you will than I totally recommend getting one. 'Course I wouldn't have been able to have it without that awesome thing I mentioned above (my job!) and my awesomest boss evah!

A few more things-

I love the library! I really do, I go there about once a week and walk away with a stack of interesting things to read and peruse. My library isn't the absolutely closest one to me but the hours work best with my schedule and I dig the small town vibe of the La Canada branch.

Today while driving my car on the 210 I spotted a car with a BRC sticker on it and even though it was totally lame of me I craned my neck as I drove by to see if it was anyone I know. Totally cheesy I know but it made me smile to see it and nope- it wasn't anyone I know.

Those are just some random things for today, there's prolly a slew more i could go into!

I'm still want to blog about a screen printing project from this past weekend but I'm waiting for a package to arrive at it's destination before I spoil the surprise. Stay tuned and hopefully I'll get out a shop update this weekend. Etsy has been so slow recently that I haven't felt much pressure but I really should get on that.

monday

i really like blurry car pictures!
Sunday evening the boy and i took off for a little while and drove up one of the local canyons neither of us had been up before. of course i leaned out the window and took blurry moving pictures.

other random things that happened this weekend.

used the lortone tumbler for the first time. it is all super kinds of awesome! i want to make everything shiny now! it's pretty quiet although the sound is quite hypnotic.

i got a quick screen print project accomplished on sunday, i'll blog about it on wednesday prolly.

i'm hoping to start a monthly meet and chat group with other folks i know who make stuff- still trying to figure out if weekend or weekday is best?

oh and little things-went wine tasting, farmers market, out to aroma again, worked, had meetings for work, poked at the jewelry supplies- i like to stay busy.

friday

just a couple of simple pattern drawings today.
i'm still really enyoing that little joint where the lines meet but i suppose i'll have to force myself to branch out and get back to drawing other things.

got a new shipment of toys in the mail this week!!!
super excited, a new neoprene blanket for my light table. now it just needs to be installed and i'm sure that will be something of a project.

also ordered a bit more sterling to make some bangles and a tumbler!!! now everything can be shiny! can't wait to play with it.

wednesday

more friends who make awesome things!

my friends Bethany and Tere Jensen operate their charming and adorable line 42nd and Orange out of a tiny sweet space in down town Encinitas, CA (located just north San Diego). I met Bethany years ago while living at the Dutch Boy Studios in Oakland and both of us have kept in touch as our business's continue grow and shift. We most often run into each other these days when we both happen to be in the same show at the same time but I wish she was closer so I could stop in and visit her at her new(ish) shop all the time!

I was so excited for her when they moved into a space full time late last year! She gets to have people come buy to shop and say hello. She's also been really proactive about new ways to have people come to the store- having fun open houses and even portrait days! Their blog is a great chronicle of all the fun people that stop in and and all the cute new products they are making to sell! Plus+++ sometimes she has cake and pie to share!!! How much better can it get? :)

this past weekend they had people come by to take mother's day photos, which is such a sweet and thoughtful gift!


here's a few things she posted on their blog that they have for sale. they have a line of childrens and kids clothes as well as cool accessories! Also jewelry made by bethany's sister Jessica(fied) is available at the store! I swear this summer i'm gonna get down to see her and say hello!



if your anywhere in the area you should stop by and say hello! she'll hook you up with everywhere else in encinitas you should go to and and prolly where to get the best lunch!

• 1055 so. coast hwy 101 #a-garage encinitas, ca. 92024
• 11-6 mon-sat
• 12-4 sun
• 510.761.1406

monday

i've been rather out of the habit of carrying my camera on the weekend and i kick myself when Mondays roll around and i want to share some of the great stuff from the weekend.

i'll get better i swear and keep things interesting with pictures :)

i got over to unique la on sunday to visit all those awesome folks! i forget how friendly and how many friends i've made selling as they all said hello while we wandered around. there seemed to be a good turn out and my crafty and arty friends are holding their heads above water through these slim economic times. it's a wonder anyone was there to buy at all but they were!

as i wandered around with my friend joanna checking out all the stuff it was such a delight to get to browse and really look at things. i totally dig getting to go to shop at these events instead of selling sometimes.

quite a few folks missed me and wanted to know why i wasn't selling- for those of you that are still curious i had artwalk a few weeks ago and then a busy few weeks with other responsibilities, it just seemed like it might be better to sit this one out. but i did apply to Renegade, so we'll see if i get into that. it's also at the California Market Center (unfortunately one one my least favorite event locals) in July.

We happened to stop at this super sweet boutique space as we were walking out the door at Unique LA, "See Jane"! Joanna and I spotted her charming aprons and quickly snapped up one each. They are super frilly, cute and a wee bit sexy! Thanks "See Jane" she has a shop in Long Beach that I hope to check out next time I'm down there- no website link but here's the yelp page for the address.
See Jane, Long Beach

After Unique LA, we wandered out to Aroma in Studio City and had a delish lunch. Check that out if you can, you can't possibly add any more to the impossibly long lines :)

friday

just a few drawings from this week.

i'm really into the joints where the lines meet up so maybe expect to see more of that.

i've got some new prints in the works but first i've got to fix my light table! I ordered the new blanket for it and that should be here next week. Gonna have to take it all apart and put it back together again but hopefully that will make it better than ever!


if your looking for something to do this weekend go check out UniqueLA in downtown! I'm not selling but a lot of my fellow artists are and they all make fantastic work! Google Unique LA for website with address and info and getting in.

Have a great weekend!