(Inside A Black Apple)

Two Exciting December Events

I'm really excited to announce these two events I'll be appearing at in the upcoming holiday hustle and bustle (they're both local, so Portland dwellers - please come and visit!)

 

I am really happy to be a part of Portland's indie craft fair extravaganza this year. I'll be both vending and signing copies of my book! Hop over to Crafty Wonderland's official website for more info, other vendors, etc!

- Also -

On the following Monday, I'll have my signing at Powell's! It's going to be a merry little party indeed, with a Q&A, treats...and a little something I'm really excited about - a gift for all in attendence!

 

I've created a limited edition offset print of Holly and Ivan, which you can only get your mitts on in two ways:
- Placing a print order from the shop from December 1 through the 25th (while supplies last, of course, since they're part of a limited run)
OR
- By coming to the Powell's signing on the 13th!

I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was really lovely. Mine was very nice, and I seem to have half-way lost my voice from all the chattering with friends and family! 
Now for a second cup of tea and more catching up from the holiday break.

Happy Tuesday to you!

 

A Winter's Ride Painting

I finally got the scanning and framing finished up, and the original painting of A Winter's Ride is now available in the shop! (Sold now - thanks so very much to the lovely buyer!)
:)

A Winter's Ride      Acrylic on canvas    
11"x14"x1" unframed, 16"x19"x2" framed

I think this mysterious girl and her mysterious white stag might hail from the woods of Russia...but who knows from whence they came?

I'm off for a bit of a computer-break - time for some cranberry sauce and such!

I'm thankful each day that I get to do work that I love, end each day with the dearest fella, and have so many lovely people around me. I am thankful for a thousand other things, too, including the kind, supportive and clever people who visit here.

Thank you for that, and a very happy Thanksgiving to all those who celebrate it!
See you soon!

Holly & Ivan Paper Doll Holiday Cards

Like I said the other day, I couldn't stop with just the official cards for this year ("A Winter's Ride"). Since this is the year my Paper Doll book came out, I thought paper doll Holiday/Christmas cards were in order!

Now in the shop, meet Holly, a festive little lass, and Ivan, her cutie hedgehog sidekick:

I think these cards are a double-treat to send out, because not only will they hold a nice message, they're also a mini-gift! Who wouldn't like to get a little cut-and-play toy in the mail?

Particulars:
-Holly's oufits include Firewood outfit, Pink Cookie Dress, Blue Sailor dress with Candy Cane, Red Winter cape, and a Mistletoe crown. Ivan's include Striped Sweater and Cocoa, Ski sweater and scarf, and a winter cap.
-Clothing is printed on front and back of cards, and the interior is blank for your message!
-The cards measure 5"x7", and are offset printed out-of-house of heavy matte stock.
-Each set includes 10 cards, and 10 matching premium envelopes with a Euro flap (which is longer and beautifully pointed) in a nice deep piney green.

Visit the shop to see more images!
Oh! And I've also added some older holiday card designs we have on hand, so there will be plenty of cards to choose from.

I think today will involve some early Christmas shopping, some soup, and the new Harry Potter. That sounds about like the perfect November evening to me!

Happy Friday!

The 2010 Holiday Cards are Here!

It has become a bit of a tradition for me each year to create a new Christmas/Winter Holiday card. It's really one of my favorite bits of official Black Apple business! And I'm really, really excited to share this year's card, especially because lots of you have been asking about them.

The image for this year is called "A Winter's Ride", and I just added the brand new card sets to the shop!

"A Winter's Ride" depicts a girl with enviable braids and the prettiest capelet. She and her trusty white stag pause in a clearing on their ride through a pine and fir filled forest.

Particulars:
-The cards measure 4.25"x6", and are offset printed out-of-house of heavy matte stock.
-Each set includes 10 cards, and 10 matching premium envelopes in a lovely light spruce green.
-The back of each card has a little wish on it: "Wishing you the loveliest Winter"...that way, your greetings extend well beyond the holidays.

A few more things!
I'll have the original painting of "A Winter's Ride" available soon - I just have to frame it up and photograph it (tricky on these dark Pacific NW November days!)

And I do have more printed goods up my sleeve (I might've gone a little crazy in the card department), and I'll be adding those to the shop really soon. I'll let you know when they're up!

I hope your Wednesday is toasty and cozy.
See you soon!

Apple + Chicken Interview

Ahoy!

Just a quick note to let you know that there's a rambling little interview the sweet Amy did with me about about my new book - it's over at her blog.

Happy Tuesday!

Only Walnut Bread Will Do

I've been making more Bittman Bread, walnut this time.

I couldn't stop thinking about walnut-centric baked goods, and I wanted a bread to go with a hearty Autumn stew. This was just the ticket! And quick to make, because it's not a yeast bread and requires very little prep and forethought.

It was lovely with the soup, and not too shabby the next morning with butter and honey! It reminds me a bit of the nut bread at the sweet local Swedish cafe, Broder.

My goodness, that Bittman. That fella's recipes sure seem to be failproof! In the 3+ years of ownership and weekly consultation of How to Cook Everything, I've yet to encounter a dud.

Recipe after the jump ~ Happy Monday!

Off the Charts

We watch a lot of documentaries in this house (I've been known to say "It's the one genre I am always in the mood for"). It seems like there are new ones popping up every day in the Netflix "Watch-instantly" section, so we both peruse it a lot. There are lots of bad/underwhelming/dud ones on there, but some good ones to.

Like Off the Charts, a short (1 hour) film about the zany and fascinating song-poem business. This odd business model involves a songwriter/poet, who sends their poem to a "music studio" (some more dubious that others), along with a check to finance the creation of their own personal professional recording of their poem set to music.

 

It's one of the best short documentaries we've seen - and though we are mere dabblers in outsider music fandom (shout out to our beloved BJ Snowden) we can't stop talking about the sweet, sincere, and strange things we saw and heard. I think my favorite was a love ballad to Annie Oakley.

There is also a really good This American Life episode from way back about the song-poem phenomenon, focusing on the son of one of the industry's most revered titans. Anyway, the film is free to watch with a Netflix account, and can be rustled up on DVD. The T.A.L. episode is free to listen to as well.

I know it's a bit random, but I wanted to share the goodness!
Happy Thursday to you!

Doll Dioramas in Canadian Windows

I'm afraid the blog might be tuned to the Paper Doll channel for a little bit here! I couldn't resist sharing these snaps that a nice reader emailed to me of the storefront windows at Toronto's The Paper Place:

Thanks, Melissa!!

I couldn't believe that all the windows were filled with Paper Doll Primer pages and dioramas with the scenes, outfits, etc. It makes me so happy to see and hear about other people nerding out about the book.

If anyone else spies the book being used in ways like this, please let me know!

Happy Tuesday & see you soon.

A Bunny Pal

Thanks for all the book-love! You're all so sweet. I hope to host a giveaway of some Paper Doll Primers really soon, so keep an eye out for that.

I found this little pal at the big antique expo last weekend, and he's one of my new favorite things. That ratty little tail is just the tops. I posted about him, along with some other finds, at my oft-sorely-neglected old things blog.

 

I've been working this week on getting everything ready for the 2010 Black Apple Holiday cards (hooray!), as well as another printing project I've been meaning to make for a really long time. I can't wait to share either one with you. Those Holiday cards can't get here from the printer fast enough!

Happy weekend & see you soon!

Paper Doll Day!

Huzzah! Today's the day!

The Paper Doll Primer is now available online and in bookstores.

How am I going to celebrate?
Is cleaning one's studio considered celebratory if one is otherwise going to be choked to death by dust bunnies? What if there's a cupcake or two involved?  

 
I hoped I would have lots of thoughtful things to say on this momentous occasion, but all I really have to say is this:

We set out to make a craft/art/paper book unlike any other, and I think we did.
I do hope you like it!

I'll, of course, post here with all Paper Doll Primer signing events and such.
Happiest of Tuesdays, and Happy Paper Doll Day!

New Prints

Just a tiny note - these two little girlies just became available as prints the shop! They are available singly, and as a print set.