painting a dress

I am working on hand-painting a dress for someone this week. The design will be black on white. It's something that I have never done before and it's really been an interesting project. I will share some process shots and a photo of the finished product once it is complete. 

necklaces on Etsy

I've been busy making these new necklaces and I have posted a few in my Etsy shop. I am working on another necklace/bracelet design as well as a strictly bracelet design. Watch for these in the coming month. I am also hoping to sell a few at a booth at a local San Francisco craft fair this summer. I will post info when it's confirmed.

tumblr!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.