evergreen

I love, love, love winter and the holidays in Boston.

I remember my mom once asked me if I felt sad not having a real Christmas tree in my apartment in the city. I don't feel sad not having a tree, and it occurred to me at that moment that it's because when you live in the city, the whole city kind of becomes your Christmas tree. Everything is decorated so beautifully and it's pretty much a given that you can see someone's twinkle lights from your bedroom window. (That was one of my favorite winter things when I was little - sleeping with the shade up so I could see the neighbor's lights).

I hope you're all enjoying the holidays thus far, wherever you are. :)

black and white

I've been having fun painting in black and white lately. There is something I want to do to this piece, but I'm a little attached to how it looks already. I'm taking my time thinking about my options. :)

I have some interesting illustration projects to share in the next couple of weeks. Till then I'll try to post some sketchbook stuff. See you soon! xo

buy one, get one holiday sale!

 

Buy one print or paper doll, get one free in my etsy shop until December 15th! Purchase one and let me know the second you'd like in the Message to Seller box.

I added some new prints from "Novels for Keeping."

Happy holidays!

magpie

a girl named Maggie.

Bazaar Bizarre Boston 2012!

Hi, everyone!

My good friend Rachel Gaudette and I will be tabling at the Bazaar Bizarre this winter!

All the info for the event is above.

Rachel will be selling her beautiful handmade Love Letter jewelry and I'll be selling prints, post cards, ornaments, original drawings, and silk-screened tote bags! Hopefully we'll see you there. :)

Wishing a wonderful Thanksgiving week to all my friends in the US, and a wonderful week to everyone else, as well!

"Can I take out my notebook?"

One of my students has a brown leather folio that contains a writing pad, a stack of Hello Kitty post-its, and a folder to hold loose papers. She takes it out at the end of every day and hides in the corner with it. At first it was something she liked to keep secret, but lately she has been asking me earlier in the day if she can "take out her notebook" and use it at the drawing table. I like that she calls it a notebook, because it's not a notebook in the traditional sense, but it embodies a notebook in the definitive sense: one place where she keeps everything important, everything she writes and draws.

It reminds me of my own "notebook." Over the years, the places where I write and the places where I draw have merged into one blank book that lives in my bag and goes everywhere with me.

So, at the drawing table, I have begun to take out my notebook as well, and together we draw and write things. I make art with the children every day, but doing it in my own personal sketchbook has been a really fun exercise.

 I hope you're all having a beautiful week!

Back soon with more stuff.

xo, Amanda
p.s. - printable directions for the fox puppet in the post below :)

foxgloves

Moveable paper fox puppet with brads - a sample I made for the kids at school.

Many moveable creatures were made that day.

I love the big bear of a dog I got to look at while making this. :)

I hope you're all having a wonderful November!

Happy Veteran's day to all the vets out there. 

xo, Amanda

the orange month

Happy November!

How have you all been? I'm so sorry I've been such a slacker with my blog lately.

After finishing the paintings for my show, I began a more long-term project that's going to occupy most of my art time for a good while. Sadly I can't share anything from this project any time soon, but I will update with sketchbook stuff, photos, and projects done with my students on a more regular basis.

Have a beautiful week!

xo, Amanda