Katie Blair Designs

Custom screenprinted wedding invitations sneak peek

2012-02-08T13:15:00.000-06:00

I'm up to my elbows in printing ink this week, alternating between screenprinting custom wedding invitations and the products for my upcoming new line. I thought I'd take a quick break to show you this little peek at one of the wedding invitation pieces.

To make the bright ink colors for these pieces pop against the dark paper color, I'm using a technique called trapping. First, everything (like the dots above) is printed in white ink. Then I do two more layers of printing, first for yellow, then for orange, adding just a little size to each dot so that none of the white shows through.

Fun, aren't they? Hope you're having a great week!

Weekend in St. Louis

2012-02-06T09:15:00.001-06:00

This weekend, we took a quick trip to St. Louis. It started off with a lovely sunset plane ride (just ahead of a big winter storm that hit Omaha right after we left) and included a beautiful wedding and visits with a bunch of great friends that we haven't seen in far too long.

On Sunday, we also took a quick trip down to Cherokee Street, where a friend has just taken out a lease on a gorgeous building. We got the grand tour, and I'm excited to see what he creates in the space.

I hope you had a great weekend, too! What were you up to?

Finger painting

2012-02-01T15:12:00.001-06:00

A little peek at my color tests for the new line I'm working on. Aren't they cheerful?

Sunday afternoon in the cathedral

2012-01-30T10:33:00.000-06:00

This weekend, the beautiful cathedral near us held its annual flower show. We headed over Sunday afternoon to check out the floral displays, but, to be perfectly honest, I was even more interested in the stained glass windows and architectural details. Here are a few of the photos I was able to snap during our tour:

Breathtaking, aren't they? There's nothing that stops me in my tracks quite like stained glass windows. Someday, I'd love to own one of those gorgeous old homes with pretty stained glass touches.

Stamp prices go up today

2012-01-23T09:25:00.000-06:00

Today marks a small increase in postage prices for those of you who live in the U.S. (the price of a first-class stamp, for one, will increase from $.44 to $.45). And although postage price changes can be a small hassle, I have to confess that I love them for one reason: the update means a whole bunch of pretty new stamps have arrived.

To get you as nerdily excited as I am, here are a few of my favorite new stamps:

These new postcards stamps will make you feel like you're on a tropical vacation, even if you can't leave home.

Aren't these Birds of Prey stamps gorgeous? They're 85-cent stamps, for use with letters weighing 1-2 ounces.

Pretty new Forever stamps feature Bonsai designs.

These 65-cent butterfly stamps are perfect for mail like wedding invitations, which are a little bit too large or rigid to qualify for the regular first-class price.

These Forever stamps celebrate the Year of the Dragon in 2012. (Fun fact: My little brother was born in the Year of the Dragon. I was born in the Year of the Ox.)

These gorgeous 85-cent stamps (to use with international letters headed to Canada and Mexico) feature Glacier National Park.

And these $4.95 stamps, designed for use with Priority Mail, celebrate the Redwood Forest.

See? Postal price changes can be fun! Check out all these stamps and many others (and purchase new ones, if you need 'em) right here.

Reaching for any stray sunlight

2012-01-20T13:35:00.001-06:00

There is something extra cheerful about having indoor plants during the winter time. They serve as pretty little reminders that there is still sun and there is still growth, even in the coldest months.

For those of you who are starting to collect seed catalogs, what are you planning on planting outdoors this spring? I'm hoping to live vicariously through your gardens this year.

Cool and calm

2012-01-18T14:02:00.001-06:00

The past week has been quietly filled with run-of-the-mill type things: running errands, packing orders, reprinting some best-sellers. Though we've been blessed with a moderate winter so far, it's been cold enough the past couple of days to make me feel a little cooped up inside. I've also been battling one of those obnoxious bugs, where you never seem to get really, truly sick, but you end up feeling miserable and unproductive every day. (I brewed up a mug of the vanilla bean rooibos tea you see above to soothe my throat this afternoon.) The result, I'm afraid, has been very little activity on the blog.

In the meantime, though, I have been working on a couple of big projects, plus lots of planning and sketching for new things I hope to print in the coming months. So while everything is calm and cool for now, I have a sense that a flurry of activity is in the forecast.

Inspired by: Wendell Minor

2012-01-10T10:09:00.001-06:00

This fall, Omaha's Joslyn Art Museum hosted an exhibit of Wendell Minor watercolors, which we were lucky enough to catch. Wendell Minor is a book illustrator, and I was captivated by his beautiful, detailed images, especially those created for children's books. You can see a few of them below (all of these images are from MinorArt.com, and you can check more out there):

According to his website, one of Minor's goals through his illustrations is to "inspire children to go out into the fields and woods and mountains to see wildlife in its natural habitat, and to give the children a positive perspective about the beauty that abounds in the world." Looking at them, it's hard to believe these lovely paintings could inspire anything less.

Practice

2012-01-06T11:44:00.001-06:00

One of my many, many goals for this year is to improve my drawing skills. So, with this book as a rough guide, I've been setting aside some time to practice and practice some more. Learning always seems to be accompanied by growing pains, but I'm hoping that a little patience helps me to gain some confidence with a pencil.

Are there any skills you're hoping to sharpen this year?

Eagle Watching on Lake Coeur d'Alene

2012-01-04T08:33:00.002-06:00

We spent last week in the northwest, enjoying a little holiday time with my parents. It was a wonderful trip all around. One of the highlights, though, was a boat trip we took Friday on Lake Coeur d'Alene in northern Idaho.

At this time of year, bald eagles migrate south from Canada and descend on the area to feed on spawning salmon. Boat tours take bird watchers to the more secluded shores of the lake to see these beautiful creatures.

It was astounding to watch the eagles, birds that you're usually lucky to spot once in a rare while, congregate in the pine trees on the lake's edge and swoop low over the water.

My eyes were glued to my binoculars, and the chill off the lake seemed a small price to pay for such a fantastic sight. I wished I had a telephoto lens to capture the birds' beauty up close, and I kept blinking hard behind my binoculars, trying to imprint the scene on my memory.

I hope the close of 2011 was just as unforgettable for you as it was for me. Here's to an equally memorable 2012!

Katie Blair Designs Clearance Sale

2012-01-02T14:31:00.002-06:00

Happy new year, everyone! I hope you all have enjoyed a restful holiday and are gearing up for 2012. I'll be back Wednesday with some photos from my holidays, but in the meantime I just wanted you to know that I am having a big 50% off clearance sale over in the shop to make room for this year's new products. These prices will only last through January 13 and quantities are very limited for many of these products, so if you see something you like, be sure to scoop it up!

2011 Highlights at Katie Blair Designs

2011-12-30T07:00:00.000-06:00

This year was huge for me and for Katie Blair Designs! Not only did we make a major move to Omaha, Nebraska, this summer, but the shop grew by leaps and bounds throughout the year. There were exciting new projects, plenty of fresh products, hours and hours of printing and a lot of fun. I rounded up a few of the highlights:

There was...a new camera...the expansion of the hugely popular Superlative notebooks series...plenty of new art prints...tons of printing...a move to Nebraska...a successfully funded Kickstarter project...the Photosynthesis line...limited edition, hand-printed coloring books...the Heat Wave line...custom notebooks...features in Elle Holland Beach, Stationery Trends and a bunch of awesome blogs...big crafts shows at Renegade in Chicago and the Lincoln Arts Festival...and, blessedly, a very busy holiday season.

Thank you all for making 2011 such a wonderful year for Katie Blair Designs. I couldn't do any of this without you and your support, and I'm thrilled to be able to keep creating beautiful, handmade stationery and art. Here's to a wonderful 2012!

Inspired by: Currier and Ives

2011-12-26T10:00:00.000-06:00

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas yesterday!

I've got a little bit of seasonal inspiration for you today. Recently, the Joslyn Art Museum featured a special exhibit of Currier and Ives prints owned by ConAgra Foods in Omaha, and we were lucky enough to get to check it out.

I was familiar with Currier and Ives (and there's the carol that name-checks them in the lyrics, of course), but I'd never gotten to see any of their prints up close.

Currier & Ives were lithographers whose firm published at least 7,500 images in the years they operated (1834 to 1895). The images were all hand-drawn and printed using lithographic limestone prints, and then colored in by hand. Their prints were inexpensive and gave the public a glimpse into current events, idyllic scenes and the mysteries of the growing West. Read more about Currier and Ives and their prints here.

I was captivated by how much detail there was in each of these illustrations, not to mention the vibrancy of the hand-colored images. The photos here represent just a few of the firm's many creations. Check out more here and here.

From Slate Magazine: A brief history of recipe cards

2011-12-23T11:00:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago, Katie Arnold-Ratliff wrote this lovely story on Slate Magazine, describing the history of recipe cards, their decreasing use, and her own treasured cards, passed down to her from her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She calls on us all to bring back recipe cards, saying "I especially like the idea of my great-grandkids flipping through my own box of recipe cards after I’m gone, touching paper my fingers touched and admiring my as yet un-crabbed penmanship." And, at the end of the article, she called on Slate readers to share their own passed-down, handwritten recipe cards.

Slate readers answered the call, and a couple of days ago, the site published this slideshow of holiday dessert recipe cards, each written out by hand, many featuring traditional recipes from different cultures and, of course, each bearing a story.

As you know, I'm a huge believer in the handwritten recipe card, and the recipes I have from my grandmothers and mother, along with cards from Cy's side of the family, are treasured in our house -- and we go back to those tried and true recipes again and again.

So I want to know: do you have recipe cards passed down by your relatives? Any that you cherish in particular? If you've got pictures, I'd love to see those, too: post a link in the comments!

Shop closure reminder

2011-12-22T10:08:00.001-06:00

Hope you guys are having a lovely week! I just wanted to quickly remind you that the Katie Blair Designs shop will be closed tomorrow, Dec. 23, at noon CST through Jan. 1, 2012, while we take a little holiday break and gear up for next year. If there's anything you need before then (thank you notes?), get your orders in now!

Getting in the holiday spirit

2011-12-21T10:10:00.000-06:00

Maybe you've experienced this, too -- sometimes, in the weeks leading up to Christmas, I feel a little lacking in the holiday spirit. Between buying, wrapping and shipping gifts, sorting out orders and heading to the post office every day, and battling a sugar coma from all the treats, I start to feel a little bit lacking in true cheer. To make sure we got our full dose of holiday joy, this past weekend we headed to Omaha's Lauritzen Gardens. For the holidays, they have a huge poinsettia display, complete with more than 4,000 of the plants and a miniature train set running throughout.

Holiday spirit intact? Check.

You can see more of the photos from our stroll through the rest of the gardens on my flickr page here. Have a wonderful Wednesday. I hope you are loaded up on holiday cheer!

Inspired by: Stop-motion Christmas specials

2011-12-19T11:57:00.000-06:00

One of my goals for 2012 is to spend some time exploring stop-motion animation. Ever since my first experiment with it, I've been captivated by this very tactile and hands-on (not to mention time-consuming) approach to animation. As a result, I've been looking at some of my favorite Christmas specials with renewed appreciation, admiring the work and craft that went into bringing the figures to life.

Here are a few that have been inspiring me:

Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas

Santa Claus is Comin' to Town

Will Vinton's Claymation Christmas Special

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Quick reminders

2011-12-16T08:23:00.003-06:00

Happy Friday! I hope you all have lots of fun weekend plans.

I just have two quick reminders for you before I get back to work today:

-Tuesday, Dec. 20, is the USPS deadline for shipping via first-class mail in time for Christmas (which also means that's my deadline for shipping in time for Christmas, too). But if you want to be sure your package will arrive in time, I highly recommend shopping even sooner!

-The Katie Blair Designs shop will be closed Dec. 23 at noon through Jan. 1 while we take a little break and get ready for the new year. If there's anything you need before then (like thank you notes for all those holiday gifts, perhaps?), get your order in during the next week, and it will be shipped out before Christmas.

Thanks, and have a great weekend!

The elves are hard at work

2011-12-14T12:46:00.002-06:00

It's beginning to look like Santa's workshop around here, with gifts piled high and orders all wrapped up and ready to head out the door (not to mention the occasional plate of holiday cookies sitting on the counter). It's hard to believe there's only a week and a half left until Christmas! What's on your to-do list still?

Inspired by: Hugo

2011-12-12T09:56:00.003-06:00

I've felt fortunate lately to have quite a few things inspiring me, sparking a little creativity and getting me excited to make something new, so I thought I would share a few of them in the hope that they might inspire you, too.

A few weeks ago, we went to see the movie Hugo. It's based on the bestseller "The Invention of Hugo Cabret," by Brian Selznick. I knew very little about the movie beyond what we'd seen in previews, but it took my breath away.

"Hugo" is not only beautifully filmed and aesthetically charming, but it's also a lovely story that celebrates both the importance of creativity and of the role we each play in the world.

I highly recommend going to see it while it's still in theaters, if you get the chance.

What's been inspiring you lately?

Candy Cane Cookies

2011-12-09T08:25:00.001-06:00

I haven't felt the urge for full-on all day holiday baking this year like I have other years (although there's still time, so we'll see what happens), but I did make up a couple of batches of my favorite Christmas cookies this week. On the menu? Gingerbread stars and candy cane cookies.

I thought I'd share the candy cane cookie recipe here, in case you'd like to make them, too. It's easily my favorite Christmas cookie, made all the more special because I only make it once a year. You may have made them before; they're pretty popular at this time of year. I have no idea where the recipe originated and there are many variations out there, but this one, passed down from my mom, is my favorite.

Some people like to add crushed candy canes on top of the finished cookies, which is delicious, but I like to keep it simple with granulated sugar.

Candy Cane Cookies

Ingredients:
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. shortening
1 c. confectioners' sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. red food color (I like to use the paste kind, because it takes less of it to get a bright color)
1/2 c. granulated sugar

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Thoroughly mix butter, shortening, confectioners' sugar, egg, almond extract and vanilla. Blend in the flour and salt.
Divide the dough in half; blend red food coloring into one half of the dough. For each candy cane, shape 1 tsp. of dough from each half into a 4-inch rope. (For smooth, even ropes, roll the dough back and forth on a lightly floured board.)
Place the ropes side by side and press together lightly; twist. Place on a greased baking sheet and curve the top of each twist to form the handle of the cane.
Bake about 9 minutes or until set and very light brown. Sprinkle granulated sugar on hot cookies and remove from the baking sheet.

Enjoy!

What are your favorite cookies to make at this time of year?

How-To: Make your own wrapping paper!

2011-12-07T08:30:00.000-06:00

Want to put a little bit of original decor under the tree this year? Check out the video below for a quick how-to explaining how to carve a stamp to create your own wrapping paper. (Bonus: it's a super cheap, super fun way to make gorgeous designs!)
Do you have tips on wrapping gorgeous gifts? Share 'em in the comments!

Chilly

2011-12-05T10:41:00.001-06:00

Between our first real snowfall of the year, plummeting temperatures, and a little bit of sickness, our weekend lent itself perfectly to lounging. We cuddled on the couch, watched DVDs and ate plenty of tomato soup. I don't know about you, but after a nice, lazy weekend, it always seems extra tough to get back to work on Monday.

How was your weekend?

A little December to-do list

2011-12-02T09:03:00.001-06:00

Every year, it seems, I get so excited to do all of my favorite holiday activities during December, but every year, come December 26, I realize there's something I've missed. For some reason, this December is feeling even more hectic than usual, so I made a little list to make sure I wouldn't forget anything.

What's on your holiday to-do list?

Holiday Gift Guides: For the Men

2011-11-30T11:27:00.001-06:00

Today's gift guide aims to help you shop for the fellas in your life (though I certainly wouldn't mind getting a few of these items as gifts, either). Have any other awesome gift ideas for men? Share 'em in the comments!

1. Game-Used Baseball Cuff Links, Red Envelope, $119.99
2. Brooklyn Brew Shop Beermaking Kit, Fred Flare, $65
3. Smart Wool Cozy Gloves, REI, $30
4. How Your House Works: A Visual Guide to Understanding and Maintaining Your Home, Amazon, $14.93
5. 17" Laptop Messenger Bag, Stash, $149
6. On the Rocks Set, Uncommon Goods, $34
7. Sandalwood Shaving Kit, The Art of Shaving, $100
8. Commando Sweater, L.L. Bean, $69
9. Hex Wallet iPhone Case, Apple, $49.95
10. Swiss Army Victorinox 4GB, Swiss Army, $45.99

Last day to shop the Katie Blair Designs holiday sale!

2011-11-28T13:27:00.001-06:00

Happy Monday! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, full of love and family and thanks and those first few strains of Christmas music (finally!).

I just wanted to give you a quick reminder that today is the last day to take advantage of the Katie Blair Designs holiday sale. Use the code BFCM2011 when you check out to get 20% off everything, plus free shipping on domestic orders and a free tote bag when you spend $30 or more. It's a super awesome deal, and I hope it helps you with your holiday shopping.

Have a great week!

Get ready -- Black Friday/Cyber Monday is almost here!

2011-11-21T22:38:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving week, everyone! We're getting ready for and looking forward to a great week with family here in Omaha. I hope you're looking forward to a restful few days, too.

I just wanted to give you a quick heads up about this weekend's Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale at Katie Blair Designs. This one's a big one! Here are the details:

-Friday, Nov. 25, through Monday, Nov. 28, you'll get FREE domestic shipping on any order from Katie Blair Designs -- no coupon code needed.

-You'll also get 20% OFF ANY ORDER from the shop when you use the code BFCM2011

-And, on any purchase of $30 or more, you'll receive the FREE TOTE BAG you see below, hand-printed with the Photosynthesis Daisy design (while supplies last).

I hope you take advantage of this awesome deal to do a little holiday shopping. Don't hesitate to let me know if you have any questions. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Holiday Gift Guides: For the Teens

2011-11-18T09:18:00.001-06:00

I'm convinced that teens today must get much more awesome gifts than we did when I was in junior high and high school. How could they not? Just look at all the amazing stuff the Internet has to offer. This gift guide offers a roundup of just a few of those things -- hopefully, something here would make the perfect present for a teen in your life.

I confess: I would love to receive every single thing on this list. (I think I've hoped for a makeup kit like that one from Sephora every year since I was thirteen.)

1. Graffiti Fabric Markets. MoMA Store, $12.
2. Bursting with Brilliance screenprinted notebook. Katie Blair Designs, $10.
3. Guitar String Bracelets. Uncommon Goods, $10.
4. Etch-A-Sketch iPhone Case. ThinkGeek, $24.99.
5. Baroque Magnetic Frames. Kikkerland, $8.
6. Space Alien Alarm Clock. Neato Shop, $13.95.
7. Bright Eyes limited edition silkscreen rock poster. Strawberry Luna, $25.
8. Like & Dislike stamps. Fred Flare, $18.
9. We're On the Same Level T-shirt. Threadless, $20.
10. Sephora Collection Makeup Studio Blockbuster. Sephora, $49.50.
11. Harry Potter greeting card. Sparrow Nest Script, $7.

Do you have any perfect teen gift ideas? I'd love to hear 'em!

Project of the week: Stamps

2011-11-16T13:29:00.001-06:00

In the whirlwind of holiday prep (pre-cooking for Thanksgiving, trying to get the apartment cleaned, planning holiday gifts, getting organized for next week's Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals, etc.) sometimes I just need a little fun, creative play. So I broke out my new lino carving tools and some blocks and rubber, and started carving a few stamps, purely and entirely for fun.

What have you done just for fun lately?

Holiday Gift Guides: For the Creative Type

2011-11-11T09:10:00.000-06:00

Whether your holiday shopping list includes a photographer, painter, writer, musician, budding fashion designer or mixed-media specialist, shopping for someone with a creative streak can be lots of fun. This gift guide celebrates your creative loved ones with a handful of picks that any artist would love.

1. "642 Things to Draw." Chronicle Books, $16.95
2. Canon FS400 Flash Memory Camcorder. B&H Photo and Video, $259
3. Photosynthesis Handbound, Screenprinted Limited Edition Coloring Book. Katie Blair Designs, $53
4. Cotton Prism Spectrum Bundle. Purl Soho, $42
5. "I Make Pretty Things All Day" Graphic Art Print. YellowHeartArt, $20
6. Watercolor Postcards: A Portable Studio. Dick Blick, $19.95
7. Caran d'Ache Luminance Colored Pencils (set of 76). Dick Blick, $287.58
8. Velcro Journal Bandolier. cleverhands, $25.95
9. Polaroid 300 Instant Film Camera. B&H Photo and Video, $79.95
10. DIY Guitar Pick Punch. Think Geek, $24.99

What other gift ideas do you have for creative friends and family members?

Holiday organization

2011-11-09T14:18:00.000-06:00

Every year, there comes a point when the thought of everything that needs to happen in the approaching holiday season leaves me a little bewildered. For some reason, this seems to be the case even more so this year. Between shipping deadlines and packing orders and planning sales and staying on top of personal holiday planning and gift buying, I was pretty sure something was going to fall through the cracks.

So yesterday I sat down with two calendar sheets to put together a holiday schedule. It's full of things I want to remember, from shipping deadlines to blog post schedules to when to put the turkey in the refrigerator for Thanksgiving. I also included some of the fun holiday events happening around town so I would be sure to make time for them. Those two months look pretty full, but I'm finally feeling confident about getting everything done and still having plenty of space to enjoy the season.

How do you keep yourself organized during the holidays? Do you put a plan together, or do you just wing it? Or do you (as I so often do) try to plan, and somehow end up winging it anyway?

A Sunday Walk

2011-11-07T09:36:00.001-06:00

While the beautiful weather holds, we've been trying to head out for walks as frequently as possible. We've been exploring hiking and walking paths around the Omaha metro area, trying to get acquainted with some of the outdoor areas that are right in our backyard.

Yesterday, the colors and light for our late-afternoon walk were so delicious that, of course, I had to bring the camera. Here are a few snaps:

Holiday Gift Guides: For the Chef

2011-11-04T15:44:00.004-05:00

Today I'm kicking off a series of holiday gift guides, full of ideas for everyone on your list. Each guide will have a different focus to try to hit as many interests as possible. Up first: for the cooks in your life.

{Note: All photos courtesy of the web sites linekd to below}

1. Turquoise Flowers Natural Linen Tea Towel, Pony and Poppy. $16
2. Peach with Lavender Jam, Lemon Bird Jams. $11.50
3. Chow Time 4x6 Screenprinted Recipe Cards, Katie Blair Designs. $7.50
4. Mozzarella and Ricotta DIY Cheese Kit, Urban Cheesecraft. $25
5. Heritage Cooking Beans, Seed Savers Exchange. From $5/12 ounces
6. Kitchen Conversions Poster, Whimsy and Spice. $24-28
7. Grow-Your-Own Mushroom Kit, Uncommon Goods. $19.95
8. Personalized Cutting Board, Taylor Crafts Engraved. $31
9. Pinch & Pour Collapsible Measuring Cups and Nesting Spoons, Williams Sonoma. $19.95
10. "How to Cook Everything," by Mark Bittman. $35

Snow? Snow!

2011-11-03T12:44:00.001-05:00

We got our first taste of snow here yesterday afternoon. It was more of a reminder that winter is around the corner rather than the official beginning of the season, but it was a little surprising after the beautiful fall temperatures we've been spoiled with here. It melted only a few hours later, and today is gorgeous and sunny (even if it is still a little brisk out there). Nonetheless, it drove home the point that it is, in fact, November, and colder weather is on the way.

It was also a reminder, though, that we're entering holiday season, and I'm choosing to focus on that pleasant thought. I shipped out a whole gaggle of items today, all of which seem to have been purchased as Christmas presents, and tomorrow I'm kicking off a series of gift guides here on the blog, in the hopes of helping you all pick out the perfect thing for your loved ones (especially if you're feeling as stuck on the subject as I am).

I hope you're having a wonderful week!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T09:05:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween, everyone! I hope you're well-stocked with candy and carved pumpkins. To celebrate the day, I thought you might like a few peeks at our last-minute homemade Medusa and Perseus costumes from this weekend:

Are you dressing up tonight? Do you make your own costumes or scout out an awesome one at the store?

Made it to Friday

2011-10-28T14:29:00.001-05:00

Happy Friday! I hope the weather wherever you are is just as wonderfully autumnal as it is here. I'm tackling a monster to-do list today, and now I'm off to stitch together some last-minute Halloween costumes for a party tonight (that I may or may not have accidentally written down for tomorrow night).

Photosynthesis coloring books have arrived!

2011-10-26T08:33:00.001-05:00

Happy Wednesday! I'm excited to let you know that the Photosynthesis coloring books -- my completely hand-printed, hand-bound, limited edition art books -- are now for sale in the Katie Blair Designs shop. These beautiful books were created in a limited edition of only 150 (each one is signed and numbered), so snap one up. You can read more about the books in the item description here, or see more photos of the process of creating the books here.

In other news, I'm getting into the spirit of the holiday this week, adding a few little Halloween decorations to the apartment and, of course, decorating some Halloween-themed cookies.

Today, I'm hoping to start putting together our costumes for this weekend (I'll be sure to post photos of us all dressed up!). Are you looking forward to Halloween? What are you going as?

Pumpkins!

2011-10-24T08:28:00.000-05:00

We carved our Halloween pumpkins Saturday night, and last night we finally settled (I think!) on costume ideas. Now I just have to figure out some creative ways to make them happen before next weekend.

Are you feeling in the Halloween spirit yet? Do you get trick-or-treaters? Sadly, I don't think we will in our apartment. I'm still allowed to buy candy, though, right?

Photosynthesis coloring books are almost here...

2011-10-19T12:26:00.000-05:00

Guess what? I published a book.

Actually, I conceived of, illustrated, printed, stitched, glued, bound and finished a book. Remember this project? Well, after months (and many, many hours) of hard work, a few of those babies are finished and ready to go. I'm so pleased and proud and anxious and thrilled about these books that every time I look at one, I get that feeling in my stomach that you get right as you go down a steep slope in a roller coaster.

They won't be on sale until next Wednesday (come back then if you want one!), but you can check out lots of photos of the process of creating these coloring books and the finished products right here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/katieblairdesigns/sets/72157627806762171/

I hope you love them. I'm off to lovingly flip the pages of one of them for the umpteenth time.

A weekend trip south

2011-10-17T09:29:00.000-05:00

Early Saturday morning, we hopped in the car for a quick weekend trip to Springfield, Missouri, to meet up with some of C's family to celebrate his great-aunt's 100th birthday. In 48 hours, there were quite a few cups of coffee, lots of fun family chats, a couple of milkshakes, speedy vintage shopping, an accidental scenic detour, an armadillo sighting (for the briefest of moments I thought it might be a very lost platypus), and a baseball game on the radio on the way home.

{C took this photo. Isn't it pretty?}

I hope you had a wonderful weekend!

New retail location: Marilyn's

2011-10-13T09:57:00.000-05:00

I'm so delighted to let you guys know about a new retail location where you can find the Katie Blair Designs Superlative Notebooks: Marilyn's in Lakeside, Ohio. If you happen to be in the area, here's the info for the shop:

Address: 223 Walnut Ave.

Phone: 419.798.5904

Hours: 9 am-9 pm, daily

Stop in to check out the notebooks in person and say hi to Marilyn! If you're interested in carrying Katie Blair Designs products in your shop, e-mail kate@katieblairdesigns.com for wholesale information.

Sunday in the garden

2011-10-10T10:29:00.000-05:00

This weekend was full of wonderful things, including a trip to the farmers market, meandering around town, arcade games, Italian food, a local production of "Chicago," homemade pumpkin spice lattes, cake samples, gorgeous fall colors and chocolate chip cookies. Though it's hard to pick a favorite part of the past couple of days, our stroll through Lauritzen Gardens on Sunday afternoon is definitely in the running.

The garden was celebrating its tenth anniversary, and the grounds were certainly decked out for the event. Beautiful foliage paired with perfect weather makes for a delightful day.

Have a wonderful week!

Clippings

2011-10-07T09:35:00.000-05:00

I gave a couple of houseplants a little haircut last night, and I popped the trimmings into jars of water to try to bring them to life as entirely new plants. The sight of them in the window, catching the dwindling light, made me feel a little more at peace with life. Funny how little things -- especially natural things -- can do that, isn't it?

Hope you have a wonderful, peaceful weekend.

Screenprinted Holiday Cards from Katie Blair Designs

2011-10-05T08:38:00.000-05:00

[Fair warning: Those of you who can't stand the sight of holiday supplies in October, avert your eyes now! For the rest of you, happily read on...]

This morning, I'm thrilled to let you know that this year's holiday card design is now available in the Katie Blair Designs shop. These sweet cards make me smile every time I look at them, and I hope you love them, too. They're the perfect 5x7 size, which means you can even tuck a photo inside of them, and they're hand-screenprinted in three colors.

These cards, printed in mandarin orange, lime green and coral pink, have a little bit of retro flair. They're inspired by vintage holiday decor, my own childhood memories of day-long searches for the perfect Christmas tree, and old holiday specials like "A Charlie Brown Christmas".

The cards come in a set of five, with five light brown envelopes. Of course, they're made of 100% recycled paper, and they're blank inside. Check them out:

What's even more awesome? I've also created a set of matching gift tags that you can find here. If it's possible, I might love them even more than the cards themselves. The sets of 10 tags include each of the three tree designs from the card, hand-printed in white ink on 30% recycled light brown adhesive paper.

Aren't they darling?

You can find the cards and the gift tags right here. Happy holiday preparation!

A walk in the woods

2011-10-03T09:13:00.000-05:00

This weekend, we got out of the city for a little while in search of a much-needed break. We headed to Platte River State Park, about 40 minutes southeast of town, and strolled through the woods along the river there, taking in the colorful leaves, the tiny details of the changing season among the trees, and the sounds of a flurry of birds prepping for cooler temperatures.

A day in the woods, it turned out, was exactly what we both needed; a refreshing breath of peaceful air.

I hope you had a restful weekend, too. Have a great Monday!

Happy Friday!

2011-09-30T14:52:00.000-05:00

If it's been a little quiet around here this week, that's because I have been working like mad in the studio, printing the pages for my coloring books (see the stacks of paper above), cutting out the supplies for binding them and working on a couple of custom orders. I hope you've had a wonderful week! I'm eager to get out of the studio this weekend to enjoy the colors of the changing leaves and the gorgeous weather we've been having. What are you up in the next couple of days?

Lincoln Arts Festival recap

2011-09-26T10:39:00.000-05:00

C and I spent this weekend at the Lincoln Arts Festival in nearby Lincoln, Nebraska. This was our first-ever Nebraska show, and what a great one to start off with! The organizers were all incredibly friendly and helpful, and the people who came out to the show were wonderful to chat with.

Plus, it didn't hurt that we lucked out and ended up with exceptionally gorgeous weather all weekend. It feels good to be back home, though, and ready for another busy week.

I hope you had a great weekend, too! By the way, if you'd like to see more photos from the show, you can check them out on the Katie Blair Designs facebook page.

This weekend: Katie Blair Designs at the Lincoln Arts Festival

2011-09-22T16:03:00.000-05:00

Happy fall, everyone! I hope you've been able to do fun fall things -- like bake an apple pie or jump in some leaves or wear tights -- to celebrate the changing seasons.

I just wanted to remind you that this weekend Katie Blair Designs will be at the Lincoln Arts Festival. You can check out all the info about the show by clicking here. If you're in the area, I'd love it if you would come out and say hi!

Apple picking in Nebraska: a few photos

2011-09-21T09:21:00.000-05:00

Perhaps my most cherished fall tradition is heading to the apple orchard. At different phases of my life I've found myself at orchards in different parts of the country, but no matter where we are, C has helped me keep this tradition alive. This past weekend, we braved some dreary-looking skies and headed back to Kimmel Orchard to pick a few pounds of apples and drink in the crisp autumn air.

A few Renegade faves

2011-09-19T08:10:00.000-05:00

Like I said last week, we were so busy at Renegade that we barely made it out of the booth, but I still I had time to spot a few awesome vendors while we were there. Here are three that particularly caught my eye:

Bison Letterpress & Bookbinding. These folks, hailing from my home state of Washington, create letterpress cards and books that grabbed my attention with their lovely detail. I picked up a couple for special correspondence.

Puffs of Doom. This nifty booth featured artisinal cream puffs, and C and I definitely had to sample one or two...or five. They were all delicious, but our favorite was the Earl Grey flavor. You can catch their tasty treats at outdoors fairs and markets in the Chicago area. If you spot them, I highly recommend that you buy a sampler.

Vessyl. Can you believe these beautiful glass bottles are handmade? They come in all kinds of gorgeous colors and designs. Check out their website for more photos.

Post-Renegade

2011-09-13T08:28:00.000-05:00

Hey guys! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. We're back home after a long weekend in Chicago and (slooowly) getting back into the swing of things. We had a great time meeting so many awesome people and fellow makers at the show. It was way crazier than I even expected -- the show was packed almost all day both Saturday and Sunday. As a result, I didn't have much time to make it out of the tent to capture photos of the show, but I did grab a few from our booth:

[The 'before' photo of our booth]

[All finished and set up!]

[A few bright goodies]

[These bulletin boards were a new addition to the display. What do you think?]

[Superlative notebooks, waiting to fly off the shelves]

[Ready to meet the shoppers!]

We were so busy that I didn't even have much time to get out and shop the other vendors, but I did spot a few particularly neat ones that I'll be back to share later this week. Thanks to everyone who came out to say hi (or wished us luck from afar). It was quite an experience!

How-to: Apartment Dweller S'mores

2011-09-10T12:46:00.011-05:00

While I'm in Chicago for the Renegade Craft Fair this weekend, I thought I'd share a simple little how-to in lieu of my usual project of the week.

Between moving across the country, C starting a new job and me working to re-set up shop in Omaha, I realized that we have spent an unacceptably small amount of time in front of campfires. And what's even worse, that means we've eaten an unacceptably low number of s'mores. Maybe even none at all. (Can that be possible?)

So this week, I was struck by inspiration. As a treat after a long day, we put together these s'morlicious desserts. They're super easy, and no campfire is required.

You'll need graham crackers (I used homemade ones based on this recipe, but store-bought will work, too), chocolate chips and mini marshmallows. Arrange as many chocolate chips and mini marshmallows as you like (and can fit!) on top of a graham cracker square. Set the square on a baking sheet and place in the over under a pre-heated broiler for 3-4 minutes, or until the tops of the marshmallows are toasted. (Keep a careful eye on it -- you don't want them to burn!) Remove the s'more from the oven, and let it cool for a minute. Eat your treat open-faced, or add another graham cracker on top.

Yum!

This weekend: Katie Blair Designs at Renegade Chicago!

2011-09-08T09:49:00.009-05:00

Just a quick reminder that Katie Blair Designs will be at Renegade Chicago this weekend! If you live in the area, I'd love for you to stop by and say hi. You can find me (and all the Katie Blair Designs products) at booth 101. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

P.S. The Katie Blair Designs online shops will be on a quick hiatus Friday through Monday while we head to Renegade Chicago. If you'd like to get in an order before then, do it today!

Purple Martins

2011-09-07T09:13:00.029-05:00

This weekend, we got to witness a remarkable natural occurrence. Each year, just a few blocks from where we live, birds called purple martins roost in the trees and on buildings for a brief stop as they journey south. At the peak of their migratory period, something like 60,000 birds swirl through the area each evening, flying in low, dramatic swoops and forming whirling bird vortexes.

After reading a brief in the newspaper about this unusual event, we decided to venture down Sunday evening to check it out for ourselves. Watching the purple martins was fascinating. They fly in huge swarms, like some sort of flash mob-meets-synchronized swimming team. What makes it all the more remarkable is that this all occurs right in the heart of Omaha, in an urban setting where breathtaking natural events like these are completely out of the ordinary.

Katie Blair Designs on Little Gray Pixel

2011-09-05T13:23:00.004-05:00

Today is a busy, busy day of prepping for the Renegade Craft Fair (this weekend! aah!). In the meantime, though, I just wanted to pop in to let you know that I've got a guest post up on Little Gray Pixel today as part of Vanessa's "Take a Trip" series. Go check it out and leave a comment!

Project of the Week: Asian Dumplings

2011-09-04T09:12:00.017-05:00

For my birthday a couple of weeks ago, C bought me this book, which I've had on my wish list for a while. I love dumplings of all kinds, really, and I'm so excited to work my way through these recipes.

With C's help, last weekend we tackled boiled pork and cabbage dumplings. We created the wrappers with whole wheat flour, which made them less traditional but a little healthier. Still, they were delicious. Here are a few of the step-by-step photos of the process, from creating and rolling out the dough wrappers, to filling and pleating the edges, to boiling the dumplings and serving them with some steamed veggies.

If you've always wanted to try your hand at Asian dumplings, I highly recommend this book. The instructions are informative and easy to follow, and the results are delicious.

A little Friday window shopping

2011-09-02T09:53:00.000-05:00

Can you believe it's September already? For the first time ever, I'm really looking forward to slightly cooler weather and a crisp Midwestern fall.

I've been working like a mad woman this week, so I took a little break this morning to do some online window shopping for fall fashion. Want to see what I liked? Click the photo below to go to my Pinterest board for fall fashion picks, where you can click through to the shops these goodies came from.

Piles

2011-08-29T12:30:00.000-05:00

Lately, I've noticed that my life seems to be defined in terms of piles. Piles of catalogs waiting to be shipped. Piles of products assembled for upcoming craft fairs, and piles of half-finished products still to be created. Piles of printed coloring book pages. Piles of paper waiting to be printed. Piles of orders ready to be shipped out. Piles of newspaper and magazines that I just haven't gotten around to reading yet.

Can you believe August is nearly over? As I take a look around at the piles surrounding me, I've got a pretty good feeling that September is going to fly by, too.

Project of the Week: Lino

2011-08-27T10:37:00.000-05:00

As you may recall, one of my birthday list goals is to learn how to do lino cutting and printing. So it was a pretty delightful surprise to find that one of my birthday gifts from C was a kit to do just that. He knows me so well, doesn't he?

In case you're not familiar with lino, it involves carving a design into a thin piece of linoleum, usually mounted on a wooden block. Once the image is carved, it's covered in a thin layer of ink and used, much like a stamp, to print an image onto a piece of paper.

For my first little experimental design, I just sketched out a few quick leaves to carve. (By the way, be careful if you try this yourself. I may or may not have stabbed myself -- twice! -- with the carving tool.) Once I was finished, I was ready to ink up my block:

And then to try my hand at printing:

Clearly, I, um, have a lot of practicing to do. But I love the slightly imperfect, slightly rough feel of the printed images. I've got a second image sketched out on another block, and I'm all ready to give it another go.

Have you ever tried lino printing? Any tips to share?

Introducing: Photosynthesis! (plus a giveaway winner...)

2011-08-22T09:06:00.000-05:00

It's here! The newest stationery line from Katie Blair Designs, Photosynthesis, is now available for sale in the shop. This line, which includes four notecard designs, notebooks and 8x10 prints, is completely screenprinted by hand on 100% recycled paper. It features four of my original floral designs, and each black and white image is ready for your creative touch -- or, leave these elegant prints just as they are!

I can't wait to see what you guys do with these cards, prints and notebooks. If you have any questions about the Photosynthesis line, please e-mail me at kate@katieblairdesigns.com. I'd love to hear from you.

And, without further ado, I have a winner for the giveaway of a free set of Photosynthesis notecards:

Congrats, Deanna! Please e-mail me your mailing info, and I'll have the cards in the mail to you right away.

Hope you all have a wonderful Monday!

Katie Blair Designs Fall 2011: Sneak Peek No. 3

2011-08-19T14:28:00.000-05:00

In addition to cards and notebooks, the final product set in the Photosynthesis line is four 8x10 print designs.

These are a single-color, hand-pulled screenprint on 8x10, 100 lb., 100% recycled cardstock. I think these are particularly awesome because they really embrace the collaborative nature of the Photosynthesis line. My print paired with your artistic flair -- coloring, painting, collage, whatever -- could result in a really awesome, one-of-a-kind piece of work that you can frame and add to your collection.

Of course, these prints would also be gorgeous left in black and white and framed as they are. Maybe in some cheerful, brightly colored frames?

I truly can't wait to see what you guys do with this line, and I hope you're as excited as I am for its launch. You can see all the card, notebook and poster designs for sale in the shop on Monday!

In the meantime, don't forget to click here and enter my giveaway for a free set of Photosynthesis cards!

Friday, Friday

2011-08-19T08:15:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but I am thoroughly looking forward to the weekend. It's been a wild week -- just look at that pile of half-finished Superlative notebooks up there! If you could see my studio space, you'd be convinced that a paper truck exploded here recently.

I'll be back later today with one last sneak peek at the new Photosynthesis line. In the meantime, though, don't forget to comment on the blog post before this one to enter to win a set of Photosynthesis cards.

Katie Blair Designs "Photosynthesis" Card Set Giveaway

2011-08-18T12:49:00.000-05:00

To celebrate the launch of the Photosynthesis stationery line, which will make its way to the shop on Monday, I'm giving away one free set of four Photosynthesis cards and matching envelopes.

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this blog post. How simple is that?

I'll draw a winner at random and announce who it is at 9 a.m. CST on Monday, August 22. Good luck!

And be sure to check back tomorrow for one more Photosynthesis sneak peek before the line is available for sale Monday. Hope you're getting as excited about this launch as I am!

Little Inspirations

2011-08-18T08:44:00.000-05:00

These seed pods drop by the bushel into our parking lot, and their curves and edges and shadows captivate me. I couldn't resist bringing a bunch of them inside to photograph.

Katie Blair Designs Fall 2011: Sneak Peek No. 2

2011-08-17T13:45:00.000-05:00

The fall 2011 line from Katie Blair Designs, "Photosynthesis," goes beyond the cards you got a glimpse of on Monday. It also includes notebooks and 8x10 prints, each screenprinted with an original floral design, each perfectly ready for you to color in and embellish.

These notebooks are the perfect little size, 5x7 inches, are spiral-bound and are backed by a flexible sheet of cardboard, making them super handy and perfect for tucking in a purse and taking them everywhere you go.

Like the cards in the "Photosynthesis" line, these notebook designs are sweet and elegant in black and white, just as they are. But add your own punches of color to the cover, and you get a fun, totally personalized and unique notebook in which to store your ideas and sketches.

Hope you love them! Stay tuned this week for one more glimpse of the Photosynthesis line before it goes live in the Katie Blair Designs shop on Monday.

Birthday snapshots

2011-08-17T09:02:00.000-05:00

My birthday evening was so nice -- full of delicious treats, super thoughtful gifts and yummy, yummy Thai food. Here are a few snapshots C took:

I'll be back later today with another sneak peek at the Katie Blair Designs fall line!

A birthday list

2011-08-16T10:17:00.000-05:00

Inspired by this girl (who, in turn, was inspired by this girl), I put together a little list of 26 things to accomplish before I turn 27. It's always fun (and a little thought-provoking), I think, to reflect on what I hope to accomplish in the next 365 days.

You can click the photo to see a larger version if you're having a hard time reading my hand-written doodles. :)

Katie Blair Designs Fall 2011: Sneak Peek No. 1

2011-08-15T16:26:00.000-05:00

Hooray! I'm finally ready to start showing off this year's fall line (which launches a week from today, August 22). This week, you'll get several peeks at this stationery line. First, though, a little bit of the story behind this line. As most of you know, a couple of months ago I launched a Kickstarter project to help me fund a limited edition run of completely handmade coloring books featuring my screenprinted floral designs. The project was ultimately a success (thanks to you guys!), and I'm knee-deep in bringing those coloring books to life.

As I was first dreaming up the coloring book project, though, I saw it stretching beyond the coloring books themselves. Why not a whole stationery line, featuring black and white floral illustrations that would be lovely and elegant just as they were -- but would also lend themselves perfectly to being colored? The result would be charming stationery to which users could bring their own artistic flair.

Thus, "Photosynthesis," the Fall 2011 stationery line from Katie Blair Designs, was born. It features four notecard, notebook and 8 x 10 print designs, each screenprinted by hand and featuring one of my black and white floral illustrations. I hope you'll find each of the illustrations as charming as I do, but I also hope that you'll really help these flowers bloom by coloring them, painting on them, or manipulating them in whatever ways inspire you. Think of it as sort of an artistic collaboration between me and you.

Throughout the week, you'll see all four illustrations. Here's the first one to tantalize you today. If I can say so myself, this stationery is so fun to play with and color in -- and I can't wait to send my own colored pencil-enhanced cards to friends.

I hope you're as excited about this line as I am! Stay tuned this week for more peeks at all four designs, and be sure to check out the shop Monday when these products go live.

Weekend recap: A walk in the park

2011-08-15T13:09:00.021-05:00

To kick off birthday week (and because my birthday falls on a weekday this year), C treated me to all sorts of my favorite things yesterday. We started off the morning with a trip to the farmers' market, followed by a crepe brunch (oh, yum!) and a little shopping at a cute vintage/thrift shop in town that was having a $1 sale.

My favorite part of the day, though, was getting to spend yesterday evening exploring one of the big, beautiful parks we have here in Omaha. We took a few snapshots because the light was just so beautiful.

The day ended, as all happy days probably should, with frozen yogurt. Mmm. Birthdays should really happen more often, don't you think?

Birthday week!

2011-08-15T08:29:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday! I'm deep into this cup of coffee (and there's another one on the way), but after that I have so much fun stuff to share with you. This is a special week for me -- tomorrow is my birthday, and this week also marks the three-year anniversary of Katie Blair Designs and the two-year anniversary of when I left my job to work on Katie Blair Designs full time. Fun, exciting stuff! To celebrate, I've got lots of bonus blog posts for you this week, including a few sneak peeks at the Katie Blair Designs fall stationery line, which is set to debut next week. Stay tuned!

Project of the Week No. 30: Craft Show Display Plans

2011-08-13T10:12:00.000-05:00

With the Renegade Craft Show quickly approaching (just 4 weeks away) and the Lincoln Arts Festival just a couple weeks after that, it's time to start focusing on designing my booth display. Last year, my art festival booth was a constantly evolving project, but I was still never quite satisfied. I'm aiming for a look that's clean and simple, but also has some texture. It's also important that I find ways to elevate the displays and bring the products up to eye level. I've been gathering a few inspirational images, like the little collection above, but I'd love to know what you guys think. What draws you into a craft show booth? Ever seen any particularly awesome displays?

Happy busy Friday!

2011-08-12T14:24:00.001-05:00

This week I've been juggling work on my screenprinted coloring books and product prep for upcoming craft shows. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by everything that needs to be done, so I thought I'd stop and note a few of the things I did manage to cross off my list this week:
-sent the Katie Blair Designs 2011/2012 wholesale catalog to the printer
-reprinted thank you notes and superlative notebook covers
-folded paper for notebooks until my fingers were numb
-completed a bunch more illustrations for the coloring book (just a few left to go!)
-ordered more paper, envelopes and packaging materials
-ordered tote bags to print for craft show giveaways
-packed and shipped orders
-wrote a guest blog post
-filed some business paperwork I'd been putting off
-caught up on accounting stuff
-started brainstorming booth display ideas for next month's craft shows (more on that tomorrow)

Phew! That's quite a list. This weekend, I'm determined to take a little time for some R 'n' R. Next week, I have a bunch of fun things planned -- it's my birthday week, the Katie Blair Designs anniversary, and I'll be previewing the Katie Blair Designs fall line, set to debut August 22. Can't wait to share it all with you!

I love my to-do lists

2011-08-10T07:27:00.000-05:00

That long list up there, under this morning's coffee cup, is the to-do list I wrote up last night. My first appearance at the Renegade Craft Fair is coming up in just about four weeks, and while I couldn't be more excited, the amount of stuff that needs to happen before then is just a little daunting.

Looks like another pot of coffee might be in my future today...

Hope you have a great day!

I love the zoo

2011-08-08T09:16:00.000-05:00

Since we moved to Omaha two months ago, C and I have been to the zoo four times. This city is blessed with a pretty incredible zoo, and although four times in two months might seem like a bit much, we see something new every time we go. Our most recent occasion for visiting was this weekend, when we went with C's parents, who were in from out of town.

The most captivating things at the zoo, to me anyway, are the unexpected details that can be found there:

Project of the Week No. 29: Christmas in July (er, August)

2011-08-06T10:34:00.011-05:00

This week, I'm afraid, has been so chock-full of work that I never got around to working on a bonus project. Instead, I thought I'd give you some glimpses of my work project for the week: printing Katie Blair Designs' 2011 Christmas cards. It's a little early to show them off in all their finished glory, but this should give you some idea of what I'm working on.

I can't wait until I get to show you the completed version in a few months -- I love them, and I think you will, too.

What projects have you been up to this week?

Little touches

2011-08-05T10:26:00.000-05:00

One of the best things about having company is that it gives me an excuse to fill the house with fresh flowers.

Happy Friday!

New product photos

2011-08-03T13:35:00.000-05:00

This week, among other things, I've been working on product photos of my fall line in preparation for creating my fall catalog. Here's a little peek.

Hope you're having a great week!

So sweet

2011-08-01T09:24:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, we took Highway 75 south to Nebraska City to go peach picking at Kimmel Orchards. The air was thick with the scent of fresh fruit, the orchards were full of insects and butterflies busy with their pollinating work, and the hay ride back to the barn offered gorgeous views. It was a little hot, but it was also everything the height of summer should be.

Eighteen pounds of peaches later, we headed home, ready to enjoy peach pie, cobbler and peach smoothies for days. Yum.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

Project of the Week No. 28: Making patterns

2011-07-30T10:29:00.017-05:00

As you may know if you've read this blog for any amount of time, sometimes I get the sewing bug. When that happens, I break out my vintage Singer, scrounge for some fabric, and start cutting, pinning and stitching.

I have a couple of recurring problems when I sew, though. The first is that I hate patterns. I don't know if it's a rebellious streak that comes out when I'm faced with a set of directions, or a sense that the patterns are never quite what I want to make in the first place. Whatever the reason, as soon as I start cutting out a pattern, I immediately want to veer from its guidelines.

Which is where the second problem comes in. You see, I don't have enough sewing talent or experience to just wing it in making clothes. As a result, when I give up on the pattern, something usually ends up going dreadfully wrong. I run out of fabric. My shirt turns into a skirt. There are strange bulges where there are supposed to be smooth lines.

Last week, though, I picked up this book, and I'm hoping it will help me walk the fine line between wrestling with a pattern and trying to design my own clothes. By teaching you how to make patterns based off of clothes you already own (or, say, vintage inspiration pieces that you'd like to tweak), it allows you to both design your own clothes and have a carefully thought out plan for the garment.

This is a major work in progress at the moment, but I'll keep you updated on how it goes. There's a sweet little dress that I picked up in a consignment store two years ago that's way too fancy for every day use, but I'm hoping to use as inspiration for an everyday sun dress. I'm starting small first, though, with a jersey tank top based on a cut I own and love.

What projects have you been up to lately? How do you feel about patterns?

I'm still here...

2011-07-29T15:23:00.002-05:00

...just busy, busy, busy (and frequently covered in ink). Hope you had a great week!

Oh, Monday

2011-07-25T11:02:00.000-05:00

Perhaps you've noticed it, too: Weekends are just never long enough. I always seem to find that it's Sunday night by the time I finish my chores and really start to relax. And then, bam, welcome to Monday morning.

I realize I'm lucky. My Monday morning involves sitting down at the desk in my studio, approximately three feet from my bedroom door, rather than a long commute into a dreary office. But even so, sometimes Monday can come like screaming train, and I need to make a second pot of coffee before I stand on the tracks.

There's been a steady parade of delivery men headed to my studio over the past few days, dropping off the supplies I'll need to make 150 handmade coloring books. Today's drop-offs included the giant roll of bookcloth you see above, which I'll use to cover the books. I knew I'd ordered a lot of cloth, but seeing the size of that roll bowled me over a bit. Now that I think about it, 150 books is a whole lot of books. Definitely time to get down to business and start printing, which is what I plan to do for the rest of today.

First, though, I might need that second pot of coffee...

Project of the Week No. 27: Sweet Escape

2011-07-23T10:56:00.018-05:00

I was feeling a little restless in the studio this week, so I turned to another favorite hobby for this week's project: candymaking. Now, it should be noted that, while I love candymaking, I've never been particularly good at it. No matter how many recipes I read or cookbooks I scour for tips, my candymaking has never quite enjoyed the success I'd hoped for.

A couple of weeks ago, though, I found this book, and I think it's going to change my life. Unattractive though it might be, it's stuffed full of delicious recipes and, most importantly, tons of practical tips for actually succeeding in making candy. This week, I decided to tackle vanilla cream centers coated in milk chocolate.

The candies start with a vanilla cream fondant center, cooked from scratch and molded into balls.

Then the fun really begins. The cookbook recommends dipping chocolates by using your hands and getting completely covered with the stuff. I was definitely on board.

You'd better believe I licked a finger or two when I finished. And voila! The dipped candies, sitting on the tray while the chocolate firms up.

My attempt still wasn't perfect (I didn't temper the chocolate perfectly, so the finished candies are a little dull-looking), but I assure you, they were more than delicious enough to make up for it. I can't wait to try a few more flavors. And with a little practice, I think I can get them to be picture perfect... or at least close.

Now it's time to go see if any of my neighbors like chocolate, because I definitely don't need to eat all of these by myself.

Have a great weekend!

Things don't always go as planned

2011-07-20T08:19:00.000-05:00

This week, I had ambitious plans to screenprint all week long. You saw the pile of paper. But then, because that's always how these things seem to go, the two special bulbs I use to expose designs on my screens burned out within 12 hours of each other.

Frustrating.

There are new bulbs on the way, but they won't be here until Friday. That means my plans for the rest of the week are undergoing a major overhaul. I assure you, I have plenty to work on, so I won't just be sitting around waiting for the UPS man to arrive. But isn't it irritating when silly things just derail you?

Whoops

2011-07-18T14:34:00.000-05:00

After a long, long morning of working, I finally sat down this afternoon to eat a quick snack, and that's when it hit me. I totally forgot to do a project of the week on Saturday. Not only did I forget to post one, I forgot to do it altogether.

Whoops.

Now, in my defense, it was a crazy week. My Kickstarter project funding phase came to a close, my little brother came to visit for a few days, and we headed to Kansas City over the weekend to see some old friends. Crazy.

Plus, see all that paper up there? Yeah, that's the pile of paper I need to print in the next week or so. Yikes.

So, my apologies for skipping this week's project, but I hope you'll understand. Plus, I promise to remember this week, and have something ready for you this Saturday. In the meantime, I'm headed back to the screen to do some more printing. I hope you're having a great Monday!

Tail wagging

2011-07-15T09:49:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I took a little break from work in the studio to hang out with this sweet girl, Miss Stella, chocolate lab and traveling companion extraordinaire of my little brother, Jeff.

We hit the park for a very hot and humid game of fetch. They were passing through town on the start of a long road trip back to our hometown of Spokane.

Aww, aren't they cute together?

It's been such a wild week, and I'm so looking forward to a little relaxation this weekend before I dive head first into the busy process of creating a handmade, screenprinted coloring book on Monday. By the way, there are still a few hours left to pledge to the project on Kickstarter. It's a great way to get in on the action and make sure you can snag one of the sweet limited edition coloring books -- 27 of them are already spoken for!

Kickstarter project fully funded! Hooray!

2011-07-13T10:54:00.000-05:00

Had you been a fly on the wall of my apartment approximately 40 minutes ago, this is what you might have seen:

Let me catch my breath for a second.

I'm doing the happy dance around my studio because about 40 minutes ago, my screen-printed coloring book project reached fully funded status. A pledge from my grandma put me over the top, but it was thanks to all of you together -- friends, family and supporters who generously pledged, fans who tweeted and liked the project on facebook, and even those who read about the project and cheered me on -- that this was able to succeed.

This has been quite a learning experience for me. About 43 days ago I published my project on Kickstarter and started asking for pledges, and I've been on an emotional roller coaster since then. Asking for money is not easy for me, and I know that many of us are even more cash-strapped than usual right now. But I am so excited about the potential of this project and I believe in the importance of bringing it to life so strongly. You all have been so kind in your generous donations and encouraging words, and you've carried me through the fundraising process.

Thanks to you, I can now begin the thrilling and very intense process of bringing this book to life. There's a lot of work to be done, but I'm itching to tackle it and I can't wait to share every step of the way with you.

By the way, I also published this update over at the Kickstarter project site, where you'll be able to read updates throughout the course of the project. And, keep in mind, there are still about 60 hours left to pledge if you want to get involved. You'll get awesome stuff in return (including one of the finished, limited edition coloring books).

I'm off to begin sketching some new floral illustrations... I hope you all have a wonderful day!

The screenprinted coloring book project on Kickstarter enters the final stretch

2011-07-11T10:11:00.000-05:00

This is it -- the final stretch. I have four more days to raise $303 in order to successfully fund my screenprinted coloring book project on Kickstarter. I am so, so grateful to all of you who have already pledged, posted about the project on facebook or twitter, and told your friends about it. I'm confident that I can hit that $1700 mark before time runs out, but I still very much need your help.

Your pledge and the pledges of your friends can help bring to life this awesome project: a limited edition, completely handmade, screenprinted and handbound coloring book, featuring exquisite floral illustrations on high quality paper. Even a pledge of just $5 can make a big difference in bringing this project one step closer to creation.

Why should you pledge?

You'll be supporting an independent artist (me!) who pours her heart and soul into her creations, and you'll know that your money is going to help bring a little something beautiful into the world.
You'll get awesome stuff in return, including prints and notecards screenprinted with some if the coloring book's illustrations, or one of the limited edition coloring books themselves.
As a backer of this project, you'll get a special one-week sneak peek of the finished coloring book, which means that even if you don't pledge enough to get one through Kickstarter, you'll still have a chance to score one of these limited edition treasures (20 of them are already spoken for!) before the general public does.
You'll only be charged for your pledge if the project is fully funded. That means that you'll be supporting a project that has all the resources it needs to be a success.
You'll get updates on the progress of the coloring books, and get to take an active role in seeing a piece of art go from dream to reality.

You can help by heading here now to pledge, and by spreading the word to your friends -- post about the project on facebook and twitter, write a blog post about it, or even e-mail the link to anyone you think might be interested. Thank you so much for your support and for sticking with me through this process. It's been a big leap of faith for me, and I'm so excited to see where it goes -- and to share each step of the way with you guys.

Project of the Week No. 26: Sketching Blooms

2011-07-09T10:26:00.003-05:00

I'm afraid I haven't been able to focus on much else this week other than reprinting products, filling orders, and cheering on my Kickstarter project in its last few days of funding. To that end, though, I'm optimistic that my project will be fully funded by the time the deadline arrives, so for this week's project I've been sketching floral illustrations.

It's been a lot of fun, actually, as I've filled page after page with carefully drawn petals, stems and other pieces of flower anatomy. My favorites -- the sketches that will be turned into full-fledged illustrations for the coloring book -- are temporarily taped over my desk. They're like a little black and white bouquet that makes me smile every time I look up at them. With a little luck, I'll need to add quite a few more to the bouquet to fill out the full coloring book.

Want to pledge and help bring this book to life? Go here, and click "back this project."

See Katie Blair Designs live and in-person

2011-07-08T07:48:00.000-05:00

Now that I'm all settled in here in Nebraska, I'm so excited to announce two art shows where you'll be able to find Katie Blair Designs this fall: the Lincoln Arts Festival in Lincoln, NE, and the Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago!

Here are all the details about these shows:

Renegade Craft Chicago
September 10-11, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Division Street in Wicker Park
Chicago, IL

Lincoln Arts Festival
September 24, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. & September 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
SouthPointe Pavilions, 2910 Pine Lake Road
Lincoln, NE

If you're in the area, I would love to have you stop by and say hi! Also, I'm still working on finding a few more shows to round out my schedule for the rest of the year. If there are any awesome shows that you've been to in the midwest, let me know!

By the way, today marks seven more days to pledge to my Kickstarter coloring book project. I posted a video update over there this morning, so head over to check it out, and please help me spread the word to help make this project a success before time is up. Thanks!

My Kickstarter backers are rock stars

2011-07-06T11:40:00.000-05:00

First of all, I want to give a huge, huge thanks to everyone who has pledged to, tweeted about or posted on facebook about my Kickstarter screenprinted coloring book project. You all have no idea how much your support means to me.

As you can see in the photo above, there are 9 days left to pledge to bring this project to life, and about 40% of the money remains to be pledged. If you've been thinking about pledging, now's the time! I'd also really appreciate it if you would help me spread the word to your friends, and together we can get this project over the goal in the home stretch.

Earlier today I posted an update to the project with a few new illustrations I've been working on. You can check them out here.

I want to give a quick shout out to everyone who has pledged already:

Karen Carpenter
David Elliott
Keith Carroll
ASUPERSTAR
Roland Smith
Jenny Jansen
Azlan S. Othman
Matthew Mayer
Melissa Fose
Deanna Johnson Mullican
Anthony & Michelle Klotz
Lauren
Jessica Swift (who, by the way, is running her own awesome Kickstarter campaign)
Sindre Sorhus
Julie Leir-Van Sickle
Heather Mangan
Colleen Cusumano
Joe K
Yaniv Masjedi
Wendy A F G Stengel
Benjamin Zack
Sonflower Books
Hannah Johnson

Thank you all so much!

Project of the Week No. 25: Hanging Art

2011-07-02T06:47:00.000-05:00

This will be my last home decor-related project of the week for a while, I promise. Getting our apartment all set up and cozy has been my focus for the past couple of weeks, though, so this week I thought I'd show off one finishing touch: hanging art.

We're blessed to have so many creative friends and family members whose art graces our walls. I've credited some of the work (when I know the artist off the top of my head) below the photos, but if you have questions about where I found a specific piece, let me know. I'd love to help you find it!

{Artist: K.B. Carpenter}

{Artist: Ben Zack}

Our apartment has high ceilings and these great built-in little ledges along the walls, so we decided to turn the space behind our couch into a casual, mini rotating gallery:

{Artist: Joe Kline}

{Artist: Firecracker Press}

Do you have lots of art in your house? How do you like to display it?

Cherry Picking

2011-07-01T08:19:00.001-05:00

Last weekend, we made a short trek to the farmland just south of Omaha to visit Kimmel Orchard and pick some cherries. Here are a few of the snapshots we got while we were there:

There's something just heavenly about picking fruit right off the tree in the summer sunshine. I would show you the pie I made when we got home, but it's long gone...

Have a wonderful Friday!

Happy Monday! (+ a little Kickstarter update)

2011-06-27T07:44:00.000-05:00

This weekend was marvelous, full of more Omaha exploration and putting some finishing touches on our cozy little apartment. Sunday, we even got to enjoy a lazy breakfast at a favorite local diner. Now I'm gearing up to balance some serious work with a little more play during these last few days of our not-quite-a-vacation in our new city. I hope you guys are looking forward to this Monday, too!

A little update on my Screenprinted Coloring Book Kickstarter project: Thanks to everyone who has donated! We still have a long way to go, though. With just 18 days left to go, we're at 40% of the $1700 goal. If you've been considering donating, please think about giving even just $1 -- every little bit can help make this creative project a reality.

Plus, I've added a little bonus to sweeten the pot: if the project is successful, everyone who pledges (right down to the $1 level) will get access to an exclusive one-week preview of the finished coloring books before they launch to the project. That means that, by supporting this project now, you'll have a little extra time to score a copy once they're created -- important, since this will be a limited edition of only 150 books.

If you'd like to help spread the word (and please do!), I've also posted a couple of suggestions for twitter or facebook updates on the page if you need a little inspiration. Check them out here.

Thanks for helping to make this happen!

Project of the Week No. 24: More blooms

2011-06-25T13:39:00.000-05:00

This week we went to Omaha's Lauritzen Gardens, in search of some new inspiration for my screenprinted coloring book project.I snapped tons of photos, and I thought you might like to see a few of my favorites.

One of the coolest parts of the garden was a little grove with model trains and miniature versions of the buildings in Omaha. It was difficult to get a good photo in the dim light, but it was enchanting.

The gardens also feature these fascinating pieces by local artist Jun Kaneko:

A perfect date night

2011-06-24T09:51:00.000-05:00

After a day of working yesterday, we packed a picnic and headed to opening night of Shakespeare on the Green in Omaha to take in a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

The food, company and performance were all wonderful, and the weather was downright heavenly.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Get out and do something fun!

Katie Blair Designs featured in Elle Holland

2011-06-22T10:11:00.000-05:00

Today, I have a little bit of exciting news to share: my Sherbet Spiral Notebooks are included in Elle Holland's special Beach issue this year!

You can see the spread where they'll be featured above. The issue launches at the end of this week, so if you happen to live in that part of the world, pick one up and check it out in person. You can read more about the issue here (but probably only if you can read Dutch).

I'm so thrilled to be included in the magazine!

Not really tourists, not really residents

2011-06-20T11:47:00.000-05:00

This weekend sort of encapsulated the happy in-between time we're enjoying now, while we're still exploring Omaha and before C has to go to work. We're starting to feel a little settled down after the tumult of moving, and we can take breaks to spend hours wandering around downtown, or seeing touristy sights for the first time.

During this time, it feels like we have no obligations, and so we have no problem spending lazy weekend mornings perusing farmers markets and people-watching with a cup of coffee. We're able to pleasantly linger over the cozy meals we whip up in the evening with our fresh market finds.

Our new home is slowly filling with homey little touches, the kind that make me sigh with contentment. I'm going to try to soak up the next couple weeks of this in-between time as much as I can.

Project of the Week No. 23: Cabinet Makeover

2011-06-18T11:26:00.013-05:00

As you know, we've been working hard to outfit and organize our new apartment, and we've had to do it on a pretty tight budget. Luckily for us, we stumbled on a great little shop called Joe's Antiques in Omaha's Old Market area, and we ended up scoring most of our furniture there.

Among our finds at Joe's was this wooden file cabinet. Though it was a little awkward looking, with its bright blue over bright orange paint job, we got it for a song. I figured that giving this cabinet a little makeover would be a perfect project for this week.

This was no expert furniture remodel (so if you have expertise at that type of thing, you might want to stop reading now...). I simply picked up a couple sample jars of Martha Stewart house paint in a pretty celery green, removed the knobs from the drawers and went to town. It took a couple coats to cover the blue (and it's definitely not perfect), but I think the end result really cleans up the cabinet, lightens up the room, and still keeps the furniture's vintage character.

You can see photos of my whole process below:

What do you think? Have your remodeled any pieces of furniture yourself?

Wild glimpses

2011-06-17T09:36:00.000-05:00

In our continued exploration of Omaha, our new home, we headed to the Henry Doorly Zoo on Wednesday and spent most of the day there. It was a remarkable zoo, with interactive exhibits, astonishing scenery and so much to see and do. I've been excited to show you our day there since we got home.

But when I uploaded photos to the computer last night, I realized one little thing: I was so distracted by everything I saw at the zoo, I barely remembered to use my camera.

Oh well. We got a membership, so I'm sure I'll have plenty of opportunities to capture the wonders at the zoo. In the meantime, here are just a couple of shots I did manage to grab in between gasps of delight.

We spent a long time watching this precocious youngster test his boundaries (and the patience of his companions):

I also kept getting distracted by the beautiful plants growing throughout the zoo, especially in the huge indoor rainforest exhibit. I'm sure they'll provide artistic inspiration -- especially during the cold dark of winter.

Screenprinted Coloring Book Project Update

2011-06-15T07:47:00.000-05:00

A quick update on the progress of my Kickstarter project:

Thank you so much to everyone who has pledged or posted about my project on twitter or facebook already. We're a third of the way through the pledge time, and about a third of the money for the project has been pledged -- awesome!

In case this is the first time you're hearing about this, here's the deal: My goal is to make 150 limited edition, screenprinted coloring books. Each book would feature my original floral illustrations, printed by hand, and the books would be completely handbound. These would be truly magical works of art -- something special that can be treasured. They'd be perfect for creative types to play with; you could even cut out and frame the pages when you're done coloring them. They'd also be awesome gifts.

You can read more details about the project and its design here. In order to make these books a reality, though, I need a little help. I'm hoping to raise $1700 to cover the upfront costs of these coloring books. In return for your pledge, you get awesome products from me -- notecards, notebooks and copies of the limited edition coloring books. Anything you can pledge is helpful: $1, $5 or more will all make a big difference in helping me reach my goal. And on Kickstarter, funding is all or nothing, so if I don't reach the goal in the next 30 days, supporters won't have to pay a dime.

I could also really use your help spreading the word. If you'd like to see this project succeed, you can also help by blogging about it, tweeting or posting it to your facebook wall.

Thank you so much, everyone! Your support means more to this independent artist than you'll ever know.