Dog Party

On Sunday we had some friends over for the afternoon and they brought some company for Henry and Lola. Watch Marsha's small dog, Steezy, chase Henry in a bounding game of keep-away.

Studio: Reborn

I am embarrassed to reveal this image but this is what my studio looked like 3 weeks ago. It had become a dumping ground for all miscellaneous home stuff. I regularly referred to it as "The Shit Pit." It sounds like a harsh name but it's really satisfying to say, try it some time.

Studio: before - aka The Shit Pit.

Phew. That's over. My mother-in-law came to visit last week and first on the agenda was to clean this room. See that sofa thing with all the boxes piled on top? That pulls out making the guest bed. That means I not only had to clear off the bed but also make space on the floor.

Enter Giant Trashcan. I filled an entire curb-side trashcan with paper waste. Everything from magazines to paper scraps, used wrapping paper to stickers got stuffed into the can. With all that paper cleared away it gave me space to start organizing the yarn, paint and design supplies that previously littered my desk and cubbies. I rearranged nearly everything in the room and systematically put it back in more useful locations grouping similar items.

Studio: after - The Happiest Room in the House

I organized all my design supplies like pencil sharpeners, erasers and x-acto blades in a vintage green bowl that can be easily brought to my desk when I need to use it. I also have an inspiration bookshelf with a series of art and design books.

I had been struggling to get my yarn and knitting supplies organized but I finally have it all arranged with straight needles in a basket, notions all together in one place and a couple of cubbies filled some of my favorite yarns.

Lastly, I made a special corner with my easel.

It feels really great to have my office simplified. It had been such a disaster I didn't even set foot in the room for days at a time. I really love having everything organized and easy to access it helps me get inspired to do great work.

Have you simplified or organized any overwhelming project recently?

Knitters Unite!

We hit the Winter TNNA show in San Diego this weekend. The National NeedleArts Association hosts its annual trade show in sunny San Diego giving all the frozen knitters a weekend of respite.

My sister, Nancy Queen has a yarn empire consisting of two retail websites, nobleknits.com and designeryarnsale.com, and three published books (The Chicks with Sticks Guide to Knitting,The Chicks with Sticks Guide to Crochetand Crochet for Tots).

We went to do some wholesale shopping and Nancy had a book signing!

We also met the gang from ravelry.com, an awesome online community for knitters and crocheters.

Happy Inauguration Day 2009!

President Obama needs your help decorating the Oval Office, or at least IKEA think so. Restyle, redecorate, add a dog or a few secret service agents to your Oval Office redesign at www.embracechange09.com.

My design incorporates two dogs -- note how Henry is watching under the desk and Lola is watching for trespassers, a typical afternoon -- and an art easel. I would need more stuff on the tables like magazines and stickers, but all in all I'm digging it.

Samples from my portfolio

I sort of stumbled in to the wide world of patent drafting and illustrating. I think I'll stay for a while, I like it over here. I find the patent illustrations fun and cathartic. Every page of every case is different and has to be fit in to very specific parameters set by the Patent and Trademark Office. The USPTO requires that the drawings be only black and white and have reference numbers that correlate with the written text of the patent. If the drawings are not suitable the patent office may reject the entire patent. All those boundaries help keep me in line! (pun intended!)