time for change

Lots of new and exciting things happening around here, which calls for cleaning up and clearing out. Our little house can only handle so many plastic bins. 

sneak peak at light fixture now hanging in the nursery!

So, I'm cleaning out my inventory and retiring some prints. Like this one, one of my all time best sellers, I've got one left:

All my children's illustration prints are marked way down!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PepperedPaper

Everything in my shop has FREE SHIPPING until November. 

(just for you, readers- use the coupon code, FREEPOST)

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PepperedPaper

Or, if you're in Knoxville, come see me at the Farmer's Market tomorrow where you can get the most delicious cake donuts imaginable or some pretty peppers.

We're getting so excited, and a little anxious about everything that I'd like to get done, we're having trouble sleeping, already. So, somedays I feel like Lu:

Don't forget to check out my sale and pass along the info to anyone you know who may be looking for some fun children's art prints, etc.

coupon code - FREEPOST 

shop - http://www.etsy.com/shop/PepperedPaper

Thanks!!!

It's a Bluegrass Banjo!!

      

It's really that simple! My new cut paper banjo is a bluegrass banjo as opposed to an old time banjo, like my original one. The bluegrass banjo (the one on your left) has a steel resonator behind the head, but I can't tell you much more than that. I would love to be able to pick away, but for now Laurence has convinced me I need to learn how to play the mountain dulcimer. I think it must be pretty simple.

Don't you love how these look together? I tried to use some of the same peppered paper for the new one to keep the colors similar. Maybe we'll hang both in the nursery when it's finished. I had one customer from Australia purchase a print of the old time banjo through my Etsy shop. He wrote and told me how excited he was to have it hanging in his baby boy's room, whose name is Banjo! It does have a nice ring to it, don't you think? ;)

Thanks so much to Patti who did some research and won this print in my first giveaway! Hurray! Both banjos are now listed in my Etsy shop.

the great les paul

Honestly, I didn't realize how revered the les paul is until I started doing some research for this commissioned piece. I was so glad to receive this request, as an electric guitar would not have been next on my list of peppered instruments to create. I love the energy and vibrancy of the paper, with it's exciting textures and colors, combined with the clean crisp edges of the guitar's famous shape. It's subtle and loud at the same time, just like the sound of a clean note reverberating through the pick ups. I really don't know much about pick ups either, but, it's electric, don't you think?

Prints are now available in my Etsy shop, where you can see my other peppered instruments too. 

Here are some photos of the original, not the best lighting, but you can see the detail of the cut paper a little better:

Any ideas for my next peppered instrument?

sending out some hugs and kisses

I love an excuse to enjoy some kisses. Happy handmade Valentine's cards are in my etsy shop!

2 for 1 Sale on all my Prints!

Need a fun gift for your schmoopie or sweet pea? Maybe for your little monkies or crazy chicks!? There's something for everyone in my etsy shop! Today's the last day of my 2 for 1 sale!! Let me know if there's something you'd like:)

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PepperedPaper

Wildflower Love

More pretty prints in my etsy shop! All peppered paper prints are 2 for 1 starting today!! This new series of thistle was inspired by my love of wildflowers, and a certain boutonniere:) I used the same technique I used for my instruments with my "peppered" drop sheets. I love the differing results of capturing the organic wildflowers versus the inanimate instruments. The peppered paper brings a liveliness to both, while the flowers seem to be flowing subtly and the instruments vibrating with energy. Maybe that's just the nature of the objects, but I like the way my technique captures both with such expressiveness. More organic and inanimate objects are definitely being peppered up soon!

Strumin' up something pretty

New work from peppered paper! My new collage pieces are made from the best kind of peppered paper- the butcher paper used as drop sheets, which keep my drafting table clean. These papers collected just the right amount of splatters, drips, strokes, and the occasional doodle or note, before being cut with care and glued with precision to create these lively pieces. I love the resulting energy and vibrancy that bring these inanimate objects to life. Look closely to appreciate the detail of the cut paper!

I'm excited to offer high quality prints of my new work, which show the detail and vibrancy of the originals. And... all my prints will be 2 for 1 this weekend, Black Friday through Cyber Monday!! Check out the special deal in my Etsy shop!

Banjo Pickin' Girl

Speaking of getting my monthly fix of live music, last week I had the privilege of attending one of Abigail Washburn's residency shows. That makes two live concerts in one week! These shows are different than a typical live show for a few reasons: they are free, there's usually a pot-luck dinner with the musicians before hand, and they're very casual, like, "let's try out this song we've never played for an audience before" kind of casual. Last week's show happened to be on Abigail's birthday! There was a huge cake, a bottle of champagne passed around with some plastic cups, and some happy flowers set on the corner of the stage. So, since it was her birthday and all, and since I just had these lovely prints made of some of my new work, and since this banjo was partly inspired by her banjo pickin'... well, I know I don't need to justify myself, but I was glad to have an excuse to sneak one of these prints up on the stage next to her flowers! Hope she likes it! And, if you do, I'm working on adding these, along with other new peppered paper prints, to my etsy shop soon! I'll let you know when it's updated.

Abigail's last residency show is tomorrow at the Relix Variety Theater on Central. Pot luck at 7pm, show starts at 8pm.

Funky Safari

Here's a fun birth announcement canvas I recently created. And, you should know by now... I love the colors! Bright and happy and fun! No need for baby blue and pastels for this little fellow! He's already got an adventurous spirit, thanks to his mom's (and/or dad's) taste. I matched the design for his canvas to his bedding, which has lots of fun safari animals in greens and blues. I especially like that this piece will still be appropriate for his room as he grows up. I included a few photos to show my "peppered paper" borders, which I adhere to these canvases, so they're ready to hang as is.

I think a pink and green safari scene could be just as much fun as the blue and green... any adventurous baby girls out there? Here are some more samples of birth announcement canvases I've created, and I've got a few more to post soon. These can be ordered through my etsy shop as well. I'm still coming up with some standard designs for boys and girls, but in the meantime I'd love to hear your ideas.

Happy Birthday Emily!!

A birth announcement canvas for sweet Shep! We finally got to meet our little nephew last weekend, and he's the cutest most cuddly little fellow. He's only two months old and so happy and content, even with big sis loving on him all the time! I matched the colors and theme of the canvas to Shepard's bedding and think the lamb is a fun and fitting image for him. I'm working on finishing up some standard boy and girl birth announcement canvases, which I'll just add the personalized info to- more options will be in my shop soon. I think this lamb is a good one to use. I could even change the blue details to pink and it might work for a girl. What do you think?

Of course big sis gets a personalized canvas too! Sydney just had her first ballet recital with more to come I'm sure. I love having the cutest little niece and nephew to create fun canvases for, and happy birthday to the joyful mom today!

Over the Threshold

Kathryn wanted to give her brother and new sister-in-law a unique (and very thoughtful) wedding present. She commissioned this portrait of their first home together, which showcases all of her brother's landscaping getting the home ready for his new bride! Even though they may soon outgrow their little red brick cottage, I hope this canvas will always bring back fond memories of sweet early years together. I'm still wanting to do a collage of our first home together, the major work in progress. I can visualized what I would love for it to look like one day, but what if we change our mind about the trim color or something? Better wait til the curb appeal is real and not just imagined.

I used my painted paper collage technique for this piece and found some beautiful thin textured paper for the plants. I also used one of our salvaged topographical maps for the background, which I think adds some nice subtle interest in the the sky and grass. More samples of my custom work can be seen in my Etsy shop.

For Baby Isabella's Nursery

One of my best friends from junior high is now a Mommy! That's fifteen years we've been "growing up" together, and I cannot get over her new title. Seems like just yesterday her mom was yelling at us because our shorts were too short, and now she has a little girl of her own! The crazy thing is how normal it all is- the office turned into nursery, the bottles in the kitchen cabinets, the baby gear laying all around, everything just seems to fit like it's always had a place. I guess that's how these things work out, but I just keep wondering how we're going to come up with more space in our kitchen cabinets... one day.

Anyway, I finally got to meet sweet Isabella and give her this canvas to hang in her nursery. I think it will look great on the bright green walls. She's so beautiful and curious, taking everything in all around her! Not even three months, but hopefully she'll like having this when she gets a little older too! I'll be listing these custom canvases in my etsy shop soon... just let me know if you know of any new little ones who would like a Custom Birth Announcement Canvas!

Holiday Show at the Emporium

Some of my work will be at the Emporium's Holiday Extravaganza this weekend. The show will be in the Emporium Center (100 south gay street)... live music, Christmas parade, free lunch with $10 purchase, and hot cocoa and cookies! I'm really looking forward to all the festivities and am so glad to be participating this year with all the other talented artists working in Knoxville. I'm sure it will be a good night for all!!

The show is Friday, December 4th, 11-9pm, and Saturday, December 5th, 10-5pm.

Here is the article that was in the paper this week with one of my illustrations included! You can see more details there. http://www.emilyschoen.blogspot.com/

Custom Portrait for The Florys

Here's one example of a custom family portrait- The Flory children playing in front of their home. I use my painted paper collage technique for my portraits as well as for most of my illustration. More to come about my technique....