rachel t robertson

tumblr!

2012-01-21T18:12:00.000-08:00

i started a tumblr! it's to showcase things that i really love. check it out and follow me here: http://racheltrobertson.tumblr.com/

new items in my shop

2012-01-21T17:56:00.001-08:00

I added a few items to my Etsy shop today. Four pieces from my show last year at Arkay Workshop are now available in my shop. All the pieces are original mixed media collages with drawing on paper. I used ink, pencil, image transfer and thread for all four.

looking at

2012-01-15T16:23:00.000-08:00

happy happy new year! 2012 is going to be great. here's a few things i have been looking at lately. from the top: a beautiful bowl i picked up at the SF Renegade Craft Fair back in December by Sara Paloma atop some Marimekko fabric from my stash; yet another Nigel Peake book; the amazing shoes i got at Anthropologie that i have yet to wear!

holiday card making

2011-12-15T16:22:00.000-08:00

I spent a little bit of time today adding to this year's holiday card. I am loving shades of orange and lots of circles/dots. Each card is hand drawn and painted and no two are exactly the same. I am making about 55 cards this year. Here's a photo of some of the images that inspired me.

art for SFBC Winterfest

2011-11-27T12:14:00.001-08:00

I donated this piece to the SFBC (San Francisco Bicycle Coalition) Winterfest 2011 Art Auction. It's happening this coming Sunday, December 4 in San Francisco. More info on the event is available here. I am a proud member of the bike coalition and encourage those of you out there that are bicyclists to join up. You get great discounts all over town and, at the same time, help make SF a more bike friendly town!

looking at

2011-11-20T09:44:00.001-08:00

I picked up this new book documenting Jim Denevan's large scale drawing on Lake Baikal in Siberia. (I also got to meet him and had him sign my copy!) It's full of gorgeous photos and includes a film of the project. I was so inspired by a number of things: the sheer beauty of the drawing, the enormous scale of the project, the collaborative nature of it all and the willingness to create something so ephemeral. The film delves a bit into what it all means to the artist as well. Learn more about the project here.

art show at Arkay Workshop

2011-10-09T10:59:00.000-07:00

I put some work up at Arkay Workshop this past week. There are 13 new mixed media pieces that I worked on this summer. Stop by if you have a chance. Shop owner Rachel is the sweetest and has a nice shop there on 24th St in San Francisco's Mission district. There are lots of coffee shops and restaurants in the area including two of my favorites, Dynamo Donuts and ice creamery, Humphry Slocombe.

looking at

2011-08-27T11:50:00.000-07:00

plant on my porch from Flora Grubb

Design Sponge Summer newspaper

drawing/collage in progress

Here's what's in front of me this weekend: Gorgeous plant I got at Flora Grubb early this summer. Unfortunately, I can't recall the name of it, but it certainly likes it's home in a pot on my porch. Can't get enough of the new Design Sponge Summer Newspaper with a feature on Serena Mitnik-Miller. And lastly, detail of a new drawing/collage I am working on. I have a pile of work to make for an upcoming show and I have lots of marks to make. I am trying a few new things which always feels a little strange. For the time being I will grab my pens, pencils, needle and thread and continue on.

looking at

2011-08-13T15:04:00.001-07:00

soy chai in cup from Calistoga Pottery.

plant rescues. awaiting the right container.

Conran's The House Book. so many favorite images.

Here are some things I am looking at this weekend. We got a set of those cups from Calistoga Pottery, one of my favorite places in Napa Valley. I always try to get something from there every time we visit Calistoga. Grab your own copy of Terence Conran's The House Book from the 1970's while you still can. Last time I checked there weren't as many copies available from online book sellers but I have spotted them at a handful of hip boutiques in SF.

art at mini bar in san francisco

2011-08-09T16:41:00.000-07:00

I'm hanging up some of my work at Mini Bar in San Francisco this week as part of the Divisadero Art Walk happening on Thursday, August 11, 6pm - 10pm. Come by and check it out. It should be a fun night with lots of art to see up and down the street. Mini Bar is at 837 Divisadero St.

favorites

2011-06-09T10:41:00.000-07:00

House by Wenche Selmer in 'Norwegian Wood'

Six blooms on my orchid stem

Beautiful image from Nigel Peake's new book 'In the Wild'

I am off work this week and searching for inspiration. Thought I would share a couple images of my recent favorites. I finally acquired 'Norwegian Wood' by Elisabeth Tostrup. It's been out a couple years and features the architecture of Wenche Selmer. Dreaming of that house in the photo above. It makes me swoon a little every time I look at it. I had to throw in a photo of my orchid that finally bloomed again. It is a common type of orchid but still amazes me whenever it blooms. Nigel Peake's book 'In the Wild' is out and in shops all over town. I saw the actual pieces at Needle and Pens this weekend in San Francisco and got inspired. The photo above features one of my favorites from the show and book. I wish I had photos of two other things that are my favorites from this week: the robin that has been visiting daily outside my city window and the plant at my friend's apartment with the round leaves. Maybe I will draw them instead. ;)

summer sweater

2011-05-30T16:33:00.001-07:00

just finished up making this sweater from the new Rowan magazine #49. it's so perfect for summer. this new pattern magazine is full of great warm weather sweater designs that are right on trend. i had a hard time picking just one to make.
also, for those knitters out there, i am now on Ravelry.com (racheltrobertson)

trip to Palm Springs and Joshua Tree

2010-12-18T15:05:00.000-08:00

doorway of our room at Korakia Pensione

just outside our door

the pool

moorten's botanical garden

Twenty-nine Palms Inn near Joshua Tree

hiking in Joshua Tree

we took a little trip to Palm Springs and Joshua Tree this past week. highlights: breakfast every morning on the veranda at Korakia Pensione, swimming, Moorten's Botanical Garden, the Aerial Tramway in Palm Springs up to Mount San Jacinto where we could see the Salton Sea and even Mexico (i think), hiking in Joshua Tree, roaring fires in our fireplace at Twenty-nine Palms Inn, browsing for mid-century modern furniture

by hand

2010-06-14T19:59:00.001-07:00

I just finished installing my work at Hello by Candystore Collective. It's a new boutique and I put up lots of my artwork in the gallery space. It's in San Francisco, on Bush between Fillmore and Steiner. My work will be up until July 20th. Hope you can stop by and check it out.

my work is up on the website!

2010-06-09T17:17:00.001-07:00

My work for the ETA LA 3 show is up on the website. Yay! The opening for the show is in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 12, 7-9pm at The Living Room, 3531 Sunset Blvd. Check it out if you can. I won't be able to make it to the opening but don't let that stop you.

ETA LA 3 show

2010-05-29T18:01:00.001-07:00

I have some brand new work coming up at the ETA (Enormous Tiny Art) LA 3 show in Los Angeles. It will be at the The Living Room from June 12-July 10. The opening is on Saturday, June 12 from 7-9pm. Lots of great art from lots of excellent artists. Hope you can check it out. If you can't make it, all the work will be available on the Enormous Tiny Art website. Above are a few of my pieces that will be for sale.

charms for sale on Etsy

2010-05-09T16:32:00.000-07:00

back side of one set

I added some charms to my Etsy shop this week. They are all one of a kind and I am selling them in pairs at a bargain price! The front of each has a little drawing and the back of each has either a special paper/sunprint or a paper collage.

super art/craft week!

2010-04-17T15:13:00.000-07:00

scarf made from fabric from Sou Sou

knit project. pattern from knitty.com

card set i made from my photos to give to my mom for Mother's Day

super art/craft week is coming to a close. i was off work this week and spent nearly every spare moment making stuff or making plans to make more stuff. up next, work for upcoming ETA LA show and a tunic from a Amy Butler pattern (see my last post!).

spring!

2010-03-28T10:57:00.001-07:00

it's spring and i've been thinking about refreshing my wardrobe. i would love to sew more and have been looking for great patterns. i found a couple Amy Butler patterns that i like and some great fabric at Purlsoho. i've been completely obsessed with the new line at Harvey Faircloth and at Marimekko. and i love this knitted shell i saw on knitty.com.

Etsy shop update

2010-02-06T16:19:00.000-08:00

i updated my Etsy shop!!

I'm Sure - Artist's charms!

2010-01-16T13:32:00.000-08:00

I have a few trinkets in the new show at Blankspace Gallery in Oakland, CA. It's the inaugural show of the SHOP at Blankspace and features charms made by fourteen local and international artist's. The show is curated by friend Courtney Dailey. I only made a limited number of the low priced charms, which are shown below. The show will be up from January 23-March 15.

ETA LA show

2009-12-03T13:02:00.000-08:00

I have work in the upcoming ETA LA show opening this Friday in Los Angeles. The opening is from 8-10pm on December 4 and I will be there for the festivities. If you are in the area please stop by, say hi and look around. There promises to be lots of great art at affordable prices.

ETA 6

2009-08-20T12:37:00.001-07:00

It's been a while since I last posted but wanted to let everyone know that I will be showing new work in the upcoming ETA 6 (Enormous Tiny Art show) at Nahcotta Gallery in Portsmouth, NH. The show runs from September 2 until September 28. The opening reception will be on Friday, September 4. I wish I was able to attend the opening but I will be traveling to Seattle that weekend. There are so many great artists included in this show and it will be amazing. If you can't make it you can always check out the work (and buy it) at their website.

ETA 5

2009-02-02T20:11:00.001-08:00

I am super excited to announce that will be showing some work in the Enormous Tiny Art Show 5 that opens this week at Nahcotta in Portsmouth, NH. I made a few new pieces for the show and there are a ton of amazing artists that will be showing there too so, if you can, stop by the gallery. I won’t be able to make it out for the opening but I will be there in spirit. The opening is Friday, February 6 from 5pm - 8pm. The show runs from February 6 - March 2.
I want to give a big shout-out to fellow artist Leah Giberson who put in a good word for me and basically got me into the show right before they were full up. Thanks Leah!

holiday time

2008-12-14T11:18:00.001-08:00

i have been busy getting ready for the holidays. the tree is finally done, the cards are nearly ready for the mail and most of the gift shopping is complete. after wrapping all the gifts, my next assignment is to prepare my work for an upcoming show (i will make the announcement next month).
hope that you are all enjoying the season and have lots of plans to visit friends and family this month. i wish everyone the best for 2009. it is bound to be an interesting year, full of change and newness.

blog postings!

2008-09-18T17:30:00.001-07:00

I am so excited that Aprile over at notpaper.net posted an interview with me on her amazing blog that's all about collage. Check it out and check out all the other great posts that showcase artists, designers and even technique.
While I am at it, I should mention all the folks who had some really nice posts about me on their blogs over the summer: penguin and fish, creature comforts and dear ada. Thanks so much for the kind words and for showing my work!

nesting emily

2008-08-03T11:02:00.000-07:00

got some beautiful items in trade from Emily this week. her pottery is gorgeous. the vase i got has the most beautiful shade of blue on the interior. i have always wanted to know how to create ceramics. my one attempt at it in High School art class wasn't so great. i like knowing there are folks out there like Emily who make it look easy!

new Etsy shop now open!!!!

2008-07-08T13:13:00.001-07:00

I'm excited to announce the opening of my new Etsy shop ! I have added a few of my collage/drawings and will be adding even more items to the shop in the near future.

inspired

2008-06-08T10:50:00.001-07:00

I haven't posted for a while. Life has been hectic but good. Today is all about inspiration. Recently, I got to see a show in SF of Betsy Walton's art which I had already admired but had never seen in person. It was a nice show at Rare Device and I even got to meet Betsy at the opening. I also recently purchased the wallet design she did for Poketo which is beautiful.

Also, just wanted to alert you to Chris Bettig's print for sale now at Poketo . I picked one up and was glad I did since there are only 50 available!

art opening

2008-02-16T11:25:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos from the show at Ghettogloss in LA from Thursday night. They're not the best pics but you get the idea. If you haven't checked out the show yet, please do! There are still lots of pieces available by all of us (Christopher Bettig, Timothy Reed and me!).

art show in Los Angeles!

2008-02-11T19:03:00.001-08:00

I am a bit late with this announcement, but if you are in LA this week you must come by Ghettogloss Gallery in Silverlake on Thursday night. I am in a show with my friends Christopher Bettig and Timothy Jason Reed and the opening is that night, Valentines Day! Come celebrate with us and check out The Garden of Delight.
Rumor has it that cupcakes and champagne will be served! In addition, I will be coming down from San Francisco just for the event. It promises to be an excellent evening. Hope to see you there!

words

2008-01-19T10:52:00.001-08:00

I have been experimenting with words in my collage/drawings. I remember someone saying in school how 'loaded' words can be in a piece of art and that comment stuck in my head all these years and kept me from trying to work them in. So silly, right? Anyway, here is a small one I am working on this week for the upcoming show.

back in the studio

2008-01-10T18:18:00.001-08:00

I am back working hard in the studio making some new collages for an upcoming show (watch for the announcement soon!). I thought I would share with you one that I have been working on. I used a drawing from my moleskine for this one and incorporated a bit of color.
I am squeezing every bit of time out of my week that I can for creating. My new job allows me to be in my home city (yeah! no more long cross-country work trips!) so I am able to dedicate much more time to my own stuff. It's been a great new change and I really don't think I have even felt the full impact of it yet. I will be busy for the next few weeks making new pieces. Watch for new posts here and on Flickr, as I will document work as I finish it.

happy holidays!

2007-12-23T20:35:00.000-08:00

Just a little post to wish everyone a very happy holidays. I hope that 2007 was a good year for you and that 2008 is full of new, exciting and inspiring adventures.
I will be spending a quiet week listening to my favorite x-mas tunes ("That's What I Want For Christmas" by Nancy Wilson and every song on the 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' soundtrack by Vince Guaraldi Trio), visiting with friends and enjoying a bit of relaxation.
Hope that you all get to spend some time with friends and family!

Here's this year's card! A bit of drawing and a bit of collage.

the process

2007-12-02T11:15:00.000-08:00

My holiday cards have been quite the process this year. I started with one thing, changed it to another, and then went back to the original plan with minor alterations. I think with all the newness in my life right now I had trouble focusing and making a decision.

So now they are all in the works and I am only slightly behind schedule. I am off to Seattle this week for work (the first week of my new job!) but will be bringing them along to attend to in the evenings. I like to have a little project with me when I travel. It's like bringing a piece of home with you.

great outdoors

2007-11-25T19:42:00.001-08:00

We finally got outside today after too many days spent indoors. We visited our old neighborhood out by the ocean and walked around Sutro Baths and Land's End. They are sprucing things up around there, which, I guess, is good to see, though I missed all the overgrown underbrush and maze of trails crisscrossing everywhere. Some parts of the cliff trail are still as wild and dangerous as they ever were with 10ft high fennel and worn footpaths that lead to secret clearings under the trees. All in all, it was a good day.

change is good

2007-11-24T12:35:00.000-08:00

So my last day at my old job came this week and I felt that I had to post a little something. I was there for a very long time and I would not be the person I am today if I hadn’t spent so much of my adult life there. It was hard to say goodbye to the people I really enjoyed working alongside (tears!) but I am excited for my new job and new opportunities. Over the last few years I have seen many of the people that I worked closely with go on to great, new things. And now it’s my turn. These days, since we spend so much of our time working, it’s hard not to think of co-workers as some kind of extended family. You share time, dreams, successes and failures with them. As much as you may want to stay close, it’s often difficult to do. I still see some folks and I wish I could see the rest more frequently than I do. Just know that I think of you often. Here’s just a tiny, tiny fraction of the folks I have met over the years.

almost ready...

2007-11-11T11:39:00.001-08:00

Spent the last couple weeks getting my stuff ready for the little show in LA at The Harmony Gallery. I made lots of new things for the show and it's certainly been hectic. Hectic but really, really satisfying. I attempted to document all the work with my camera and/or scanner. I still need to get a macro lens but I guess that will have to wait for the next round of work. Tomorrow I will ship everything and I am sort of sad to say goodbye to all my creations. They are like little babies that you fuss over and then may never see again. I hope that they all end up in good homes. :)

dream come true!

2007-11-04T13:43:00.000-08:00

So I made it onto design*sponge , which was one of my secret dreams, thanks again to my friend Chris . I didn't even see the post, which went on line Friday, until this morning. When I did I nearly fell off my chair. I love this site and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw my name and my work there. I am truly, truly honored.
Some of the pieces she showed in the posting will be available at the show in LA in a couple weeks (see my last blog post).

Upcoming art show

2007-10-31T19:27:00.001-07:00

I have a show with my good friend Chris Bettig opening in Los Angeles on November 16. It's at The Harmony Gallery, 5911 Franklin Ave, Hollywood, CA 90028. I will be showing some new collages and Chris will be showing some new drawings. I am planning on being there for the opening and spending the weekend in LA. Stop on by, check out the show and say hi!

sweater is now complete

2007-10-16T20:51:00.000-07:00

the sweater i began last month is finished! i invested in some nice yarn, though not as nice as the one specified in the pattern, and used my travel time to make something for myself. the pattern, from Joelle Hoverson's Last-Minute Knitted Gifts, is brilliant. it's all in the round with simple but nice looking increases and decreases. and the neckline, cuffs and hem are all finished in a way i haven't done before: you knit in a hem and separate it from the body of the sweater by a purl row. you just turn the hem under and sew it down and you have a nice purl edge that looks quite professional.

now i will try to set aside the knitting for a while. i will be home for a while and will be attempting to prepare for an art show i will be in early next year.

plates & mugs now available!

2007-10-07T19:09:00.000-07:00

i am so excited to announce that the new plate and mug designs that i did for Urban Outfitters are going to be available very soon! i was able to pick these up in one of the New York City stores and soon they will be in all locations. i don't know yet if they will be available on the website but i will let you know when i find out. both are part of an artist designed series of products and will have my name and website printed on the bottom.
the ceramic dishes and mugs both retail for $14. get them while they last!

new web page

2007-09-16T09:37:00.001-07:00

my friend Chris (http://www.themountainlabel.com/) helped me with this simple web page that is now up and running. right now it just links to my photos on Flickr and this blog but eventually i will make it a real site. i feel like just doing this simple thing was a huge task and i can't imagine the work that lay ahead of me. i am excited and hopeful for the future and grateful for all the feedback and help that i have had.

focus, focus, focus

2007-09-09T09:06:00.000-07:00

My time is limited this month as I am traveling back and forth between San Francisco and New York every weekend for work (by choice!). Traveling is an odd thing. You hurry, hurry, hurry and then you sit and wait and wait and wait. I am fully prepared for the waiting with a big knit project (a simple sweater, watch for posts of it coming soon!) and can completely focus on that while I fly or relax before bed, but I am struggling to focus on other projects that are actually more important. Happily, I was able to squeeze in some work on more collages this weekend and I was able to actually finish and photograph the one shown here (rosemary in white; pencil, ink, thread and mixed media on paper; 7" x 7")
I am off to the airport again shortly and hope to get a wee bit of work done before that. Wish me luck! I will try to post this week while I am in NYC.

peachy illustrations

2007-08-29T19:02:00.000-07:00

I was thinking about book illustrations that I loved as a kid and some of my all time favorites are by illustrator Nancy Ekholm Burkert. She illustrated a number of books I have, The Fir Tree, The Nightingale and the one shown here, James and the Giant Peach. I just love her work and thought I would share it. The seagulls in the center image are just amazing!

magnolia

2007-08-25T20:05:00.000-07:00

here's a drawing/painting i did a while ago but never did much with. i was inspired by some beautiful photographs of magnolia blossoms at the time. have to say that i love the magnolia. we had one in our backyard when i was growing up and it was always magical when it bloomed every spring.

i am now in the process of photographing and documenting all of the work i currently have and this little guy was in the "to photograph" pile. all this cataloging and organizing is challenging for me but it will be worth it in the end. watch for more photos of my new and older work on Flickr!

inspired

2007-08-20T18:47:00.000-07:00

just got the new National Geographic today and saw this photo of shoes from an article on bodies found in the bogs of Europe. amazing photos. the shoes were found with one of the ancient bodies. so incredible.
the article and the image reminded me of a scarf i knit last year that i was photographing today.

knitting temptation

2007-08-19T10:49:00.001-07:00

I’ve been thinking about the temptation of knitting the last few days. I can’t figure out if knitting is an obsession or an addiction or both. I could have a thousand other things to do but I will often pick up the needles and get to work. Admittedly, it’s a healthy obsession/addiction (that fills the void so well when flying, waiting for a movie to start, or watching crappy TV shows), but that doesn’t make it any easier for me to deal with. I currently have so much on my plate (web page design, collages, sewing projects to complete as well as just the basics like grocery shopping, phoning friends and cleaning my abode) but of course, the minute I saw a great new pattern I was somehow able to fit shopping at the knitting store and casting on 144 stitches into my schedule. I often have to give myself knitting time limits so that I don’t neglect every other thing in my life. Judging by the amount of yarn stores, craft websites and magazines, I am guessing that I am not the only one out here that feels like this.
For me I think it’s the immediacy of creating something, the lure of perfect stitches, the feel of the yarn in your fingers and the zone-out factor that are all part of the appeal. And it still does fascinate me that in any given hand-knitted object the creator has touched every inch of yarn and has crafted each individual stitch.
Anyhow, here’s a detail of the dress and little bag that I finished for my friend’s 6 month old baby. The dress is for her 1st birthday. Apparently, I just HAD to finish it even though she won’t fit into it for 6 months. See what I mean?

color!

2007-08-11T16:26:00.000-07:00

here's a work in progress shot of a piece i started the other night. i want to start to integrate more color into my drawings and collages. lately they have been pretty muted with mainly ink or pencil drawing but i don't want to get stuck in a rut.

this piece started out very different but wasn't working so i pasted some new paper over the crap drawing and began again.

gold

2007-08-08T21:36:00.000-07:00

a 6" x 6" collage on paper i just finished. i incorporated a knitted swatch as well as drawing and hand stitching.

new moo cards

2007-08-05T13:49:00.000-07:00

i got my new moo cards last week. it was my first order of them and i might change around the images next time. i wasn't as happy with my crops as i thought i would be but they are fine for now.

new collage

2007-08-04T20:25:00.005-07:00

6"x6" collage on paper with drawing. i am working on a whole series of small pieces with similar elements.

stitches

2007-08-04T20:25:00.002-07:00

I'm working on some new pieces that incorporate multiple layers, different opacities and even some knitting swatches. I'm not quite sure if the knitting is actually working but since I do so much knitting I wanted to see if it would work in with my collage work.

I will try to post more images as I work, though this blogging is a whole new animal. An animal that I have yet to tame.

Let me know what you think. Thanks!