Modish

Amanda Blake

{eloise in poppies}

{sylvia often wandered the forest at night}

{linley and aldrich at night}

All I can say is, "I want more, please."  Oh, and "thank you."

Valero Doval

You remind me of the Portland rain...

Aerofauna!  Getting birdical.  (i tried)

My fill in the blank: writer's hand.  What's yours?

It's going to be a lovely year

{lovely banner by Joetta Maue}

Hello hello!!  Happy new year, everyone!  I hope you all had the most wonderful of holiday seasons! 

Here in Portland we got snowed in, iced over, rained out and flooded, all within a two week period.  Kinda crazy.  Despite the wacky weather, I had a wonderfully refreshing 2 weeks off that felt like months I tell ya, months!  Not because I accomplished much of anything really, but because I didn't, and that was okay.

I also managed to update the digs around here a bit, how'dya like the new look?  (If you're reading this thru a feed-reader, hop on over and check out the new design! :)  I wanted something clean and fresh, happy and pretty, a better showcase to the finds for a hopeful new year.

Before I left on my much needed break, I was feeling burned out and uninspired, wondering if Modish really had a valid place here in blogworld anymore.  I had grand plans of "changing it all", taking it in a "new direction" which was just code for me making it all about me.  But between many email conversations with kind and helpful folks, plus time to renew and re-asses, I feel inspired to write again here, to continue to bring you some of the best handmade goods I can find because I think it is a valuable endeavor.  I think there is still a place for Modish.  This year I'll be working to re-instill the unique voice that it began with over 2000 posts ago.

I also have to make sure I'm pursuing other things that keep me happy so I don't get so burned out again.  I'll be starting a new blog to document my life a little- my personal inspirations, my journey to create the career of my dreams as a writer, to live an authentic life.  That's forthcoming and may at times touch on issues that could be interesting to you, as artists and creators, so expect some linkage in the future.

With new endeavors comes some slight changes here at Modish, like no more big giveaways, no more bulletin board, no more Modish Marketplace.  I need to trim down and shape up (no, not my body, although that could use some work too! :)  I want to make sure I'm keeping your favorite aspects of Modish in place though, so later today (uh, let's make that) tomorrow I'll be asking for your participation in a little survey.  If you're a regular reader, I'd really appreciate your feedback!

For now, expect more of the same handmade goodness and inspiring finds.  I think 2009 is going to be an incredible year, and I'm so glad I have you all to share it with!

<3 jena

Lion for a cause

Oh Labpartners, you had me at gold & pink gocco lion.  I'm a Leo for goodness sake!  But the fact that you're donating 100% of your proceeds from these prints to the Uganda Village Project Scholarship Fund?  Well now, how can I not get it?

Labpartners created this limited edition print to help provide vital school fees to Ugandan children, particularly orphans, so they can attend and graduate from secondary school.  For more information on the cause, visit the UVP Scholarship Fund site.  And, if you're interested in seeing a little glimpse into how fostering the education of these Ugandan children can be so impactful, I highly recommend the movie War Dance.  Absolutely stunning, horribly sad, wonderfully uplifting.  I was wailing like a little baby by the end of it.

Frank Juery

First, some art.







{All available at L'affiche Moderne, by Frank Juery}

And soon, 3 days of giveaways will begin!

I want to go...

...where ever this ship is sailing, on the high purple seas with swirly peacock waves... it's so beautiful, by local Portland artist Sarah Cruse.

Backyard Mushrooms

I've always had a fondness for wild mushrooms, just for curiosity sake.  Whenever I come across some I get so excited, and now living in Oregon, I find new ones popping up in my backyard everyday!  It's amazing the varieties of shapes, sizes and colors that exist within just a couple feet of each other.  This print by Jessica Doyle reminds me of the little cluster of tiny yet statuesque little fungi towers I found recently, so noble looking, pushing up through the bright green moss just to say hello for a brief while...

Find more mushrooms, flowers, trees, fishes and much much more in Jessica's shop- it's overflowing with colorful artwork!

A misty morning

I love these collage drawings by gretchenmist... the muted tones of the landscapes paired with bold orange and yellow suns and birds...just lovely.

I especially love this Ocean Mist piece though, an original, as it reminds me of the rain, the beautiful rain... which it's doing here right now! :)

Wanting Wonting

If bears and emus can get along, can't we all?

New outrageously adorable gocco prints from Wonting...

I've never met you

Shortly, very shortly, the Modish November giveaway will be announced!  And, there's a surprise involved, so be sure to check back in about an hour to see what's up!

In the meantime, here's some eye candy and inspiration for you from Jess Gonacha- a new little zine called "I've never met you" filled with 15 color portraits of people that Jess has never actually met alongside colorful hand-drawn text. 

It's beautiful, the portraits are quirky, but lovely and the text is inspiring...plus, there's a super sweet message inside that you can only see if you snag your own copy!  And at only $10, that's easy to do!  Check it out at Jess Gonacha's shop and spead a little sunshine of your own today.
*psst: You can find a special deal to score a free gocco print from Jess Gonacha over in the art section of the Modish Marketplace!

Election Day!

Today's election day here in the US and this is just a reminder (/urge/plead/pretty please) to get out and vote! 

{Limited edition Vote for Survival screen print on wood by Nikki McClure, available at Buyolympia}

Picture Perfect: Element Clay Studio

Monday Morning Lift Off

Perfect to bring a little cheer to the Monday morning doldrums is this wonderful work by Australian artist Tabitha Emma:

Filled with tea and cupcakes, birdies and bubble-blowing girls, Tabitha's work is sugary sweet without being saccharine with a stunning color palette that is sure to awaken even the sleepiest of foggy morning minds.  I love the way she mixes media, combining original illustrations with colorful papers and even actual tea stains to help lend to the aged feel.  Take a peek at her whole collection of artwork along with some bags, tea cozies and other fun stuff, in the Tabitha Emma etsy shop!

Small Reminders

I love these new collages from Kaching Design- I want one for every room!  Such cute reminders for both little and big kids alike:

Each one is made from hand-cut and stained wood- the hand-drawn illustrations are cut out collage style and varnished onto the oak wood.  Each one is made to order, so if you'd like one made in different colors to match your room, she can do it for you!  Check out all the details, along with other cute goods, at Kaching Design!

It's raining, it's pouring, the blogger is snoring

I'm finding it hard to get into the swing of things this morning, I just can't seem to wake up today.  But it's raining right now, and I'm very happy about that.  As is the pretty little lady in this beautiful gocco print by JulieBe.  Despite all my urges to curl up with some blankies and a good book to let the sound of the rain against the windows soothe me back to sleepy land, I'm off to down some coffee and do some jumping jacks so I can come back here with some vigor!  Zzzzz... oops, I think I just fell asleep for a second.