...from your regularly scheduled program...

So tonight blog was going to be the 8x8 info and pic blog. Yes. Very exciting.

But plans change. And this is more than worth it. It may just be forget-going-out,-I'm-staying-in-and-reading-every-post-of-this-whole-blog-TONIGHT change worthy.

Cake Wrecks

That e-mail with the Walmart cake mistake can't compare.

Read it Monday. It will make you feel better that you forgot the "r" in "shirt" in that e-mail to your boss last week...

Round two! Quick mini-update....

With an updated format of a double sided 8.5x5.5 card, L received the following two options. Chosen were the Wedding Party page of option 1 (top image, top option) and the Order of Ceremony of option (bottom image, bottom option )

Paper's scheduled to arrive tomorrow!!!

No worries - there will be pictures of the final product. Also, an upcoming post about the Peoria Art Guild 8x8 Fundraiser!

And no I'm not talking about today. Although every day is filled with some renewed possibilities, there are two that stand out. One of which has been the focus of some work the past couple days - a wedding day. I love weddings. Packing decaces of relationship enjoyment into an 8+ hour day... it's just such a hope-filled feeling. And that's the dose of mushiness for the day...

Well what got me thinking about weddings and such is the programs I've been working on for L & M's wedding in November. After putting together a couple of different ideas, the two that felt most appropriate were given some little touches and sent off for review.

There were some challenges presented with these that I have and still look forward to tackling. To be environmentally conscience in the design was the priority. Unfortunately, I don't have access  to the most Earth-friendly ink at this time, but will be looking into it now! I'd love to continue evolving all paper projects and art into the smallest footprint possible.

Back to the programs - both use paper that is 100% PCW (post consumer waste), FSC certified and were made with Green or Wind energy. Oh... and they are really just strong beautiful papers.

The second goal follows the environmental theme a little - to use little to no adhesives in the final construction. Design challenges the force a different thinking always excite me. Well in both options, a thin, help twine is used to bind the pages/secure the layers. This has work very well in mock-ups so far. However for durability in the final pieces, there may a very minor use of double-sided tape. 

The last goal is ease of assembly. This may sound easy ... but that's not always the way my brain works. When creating projects, I often dismiss the time that will be needed to put it all together in the end. While the two presented may look complicated at first, it all really just requires good planning, an exacto and some knots. And the help of two lovely volunteers ...

After all that blabbering, here are "mock-ups" of the two presented options:

Well, after far too long I realized it was time to get back in the swing of blogging, creating, and in this case, buying.  The beauitful pair of earrings above was a little treat to myself for the month. And the picture doesn't begin to describe how stunning and delicate they are in person! (Viewing prior to purchase is a nice little bonus to working with the buyer ;-) ) Angie recently released her new line and wonderful addition to the metalME brank, Infinite Mettle. Check out more of this line and Wire Wiskers, the original, at metalME.etsy.com. Who knows... maybe you'll have a chance to snag a piece before I snatch 'em all up!

Through out the shopping extravaganza, so many discoveries were uncovered!

... I change up my blog design!

There are still some changes/additions going on, mostly in the widgets. Look for new ones along the bottom and side in the upcoming weeks.

Also there on some projects on the plate right now, including the piece for the PAG's 8x8 invitational, personal 8x8 pieces and wedding programs for L&M for November.

Very exciting! Selene's Reach is now easier to ...well... reach! Check out our new e-mail - SelenesReach@gmail.com. This address can also be used for GChat and Aim, for any live questions you may have!

Please excuse the mess! Selene's Reach is currently under construction.



Thank you!

New photos are uploaded to lots of locations! Check out the Selene's Reach Flickr or Facebook page, as well as my personal Facebook page.

Enjoy! :)

A quick congratulations to metalMe by Angie! Her Zig Zag earrings (one of my favs) is featured in a new zig zag treasury on etsy.com!

Check out the whole Zig Zag Treasury...

The mini re-vamp to selenesreach.blogspot.com is finished!

For now, there is a new template and side organization in use. These changes are temporary while a branding effort is underway. Look for a brand new set up in the future!

Other changes: The store front is it's own section with more details about listed items. Everywhere Selene's Reach can be found on the web, besides Etsy and the blog, also has it's own little home. The photo has been updated to a streaming slideshow from Selene's Reach's Flickr page. An RSS feed for both posts and comments has been added so you can be the first to know when something new is on the way. And my new favorite: the Blog List! A new feature via Blogger's gagets, the Blog List allows titles or short exerpts from others' blogs to appear in the side bar.

Enjoy! :)

Let's start with this - If you are MK getting married on 6/28 or MV on 3/2009...

The below are concepts for you. You are more than welcome to read but somethings may look familiar in the future. On that note, let's continue on...





In past posts a couple of wedding things have been mentioned - one gift design and the new one, a design for a group card. Both I have been EXTREMELY thrilled to work on. For MV, who's wedding isn't actually until March of 2009, I am giving a large set of Thank You cards. The design is based on her invitations. Strong and delicate. This is also the first set of cards designed to use two ink colors - black and silver. There were two designs originally, but the first wasn't based on the invite and screamed more of the designer's personality than MV's.

Group Card! So a friend from high school is getting married in almost 2 weeks (how exciting!!) and the high school friends are going in on a group gift... I'm not going to say what but it's fun... very fun...

Displayed are some sketches for the card that will be signed by the group of gift givers. Because of the number of people going in on the gift, this will be an over sized card - 8.5" x 11.5" - so there is plenty of room for a short message from everyone. Since the first sketch (image1 ), a short quote has been chosen (image 2) and the beginning of a design developed based on a computer design. While the details are currently on the computer, and based on a unique, computer generated image (image 3), the final design will be hand designed.

Well J ordered some custom Graduation Thank yous; and upon viewing, Mom ordered some too! This being busy is so exciting. Soon it will be inventory time with some new ideas.

New projects include a fish/water theme, candle/celebration, and custom oversize wedding card from a group. The wedding card is such a great opportunity to expand my creative thinking... there are so many ideas running through my brain. ..

refreshing. very refreshing.

In the mist of custom card orders and fighting with a "Low Disc Space" message from the computer, a Selene's Reach Flickr account was born!

Currently posted are some images that appear on previous posts as well as additional ones. Sneak-a-Peek at the Evolution of the April cards. Or view the cause of my Christmas in March!

Everyone state-side have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

FYI: The Overdue Updates post has some new pictures! Including one of part of the triptych.

Check 'em out!

Shamless promo time! Not that she asked but I just had to post again about L's beautiful flowers...

There is a link to her blog, ArguingTheMobius off to the right. Highly recommend taking a peek. Not only can you follow her creativity story, but also a collection of inspirational and thought-provoking blogs, sites etc...

For purchasing pre-made or custom bouquets, head to her store, ArguingTheMobius.Etsy.Com

So this is a LONG overdue post. Unfortunately, I haven't been as good about keeping this up. But that's the way life goes sometimes.

Update 1 - Cards

Well the cards are in production. I used one for MK's wedding shower yesterday and she loved it. Yeah for positive feedback! The first round has a flower and a blue ribbon, but to come are other ribbon color options and other images. The first custom order for a mortarboard image came in yesterday also.



Update 2 - Triptych

The air and fire elements have been completed for awhile. Just need to get in gear for water. There it is, short simple and to the point.

One of the Art Directors I work with, AR, is starting her own shop too! This jewelry is incredible… simple, elegant and, most importantly, FUN! Easy to dress up or down. AR brought about 10 or 15 pieces in last week to work for a soft opening sale (yes, we have the best boss)… and left with 3 or 4.

ENJOY!

The illustrations were completed by John Tenniel for both "Through the Looking Glass..." and "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." Once everything settles, I hope to create a couple of pieces inspired by the art and the story.

As some know, I move into my first "Big Girl" apartment at the beginning of the month. All of the walls are white and the carpet, beige. Obviously, it needs a little color. The bathroom became a combination of Tan/Camel, Chocolate Brown, a pastel Teal and a deeper Teal, all thanks to the Shower curtain. I'm going to carry this combination, or at least the Chocolate and Teals, into the studio space through new basket drawers and some handmade art.
In case you didn't guess from the image, the piece is going to be a triptych. All of the dark areas will be a deep Chocolate brown 80t weight paper; the medium shading is a deep Light Blue (the company calls it "Ocean Mist"...it's almost the color of my car) in the same weight; and the lightest/white area will be a Carmel/Camel, same weight. The final size before framing is 7.5 inches x 24 inches each. The center one (Bubbles) was started last night. More posts to come with updated pics.




Quick update: The cards are coming along nicely. It's just a matter of what to package them in at this point. Upcoming posts will include more info about the cards and a field trip B and I took last Saturday to the Contemporary Arts Center and the Illinois Antique Center.

As I said in the last post - it 's here! After testing, I know why this is so addictive. A quick picture of the first print is below. More will be posted as I continue to explore my creative process.

IT'S HERE!

After the long wait... okay 3 days... a Print Gocco ordered from Paper-Source arrived today. Since HS, I've been searching for some way to preserve some multi-media pieces. Unfortunately, this Gocco's not quite large enough for 10x10, but it's a great start!

This is the short story because I'm slightly impatient and am going to go play and learn more... and go to bed.

No worries - this is just the beginning! Lots of pics to follow.

Welcome to the blog of Selene's Reach!

This is not my first blog, but it is the first one that I'm going to take care of successfully. And successfully means keeping it a little up to date with tales from my journey into handmade items and art. Fair warning, there may be some detours into cooking... another one of my newly discovered favorites. But mainly about art. Pictures will be included. Lots, since my digi is my new best friend.

Let me know what you think along the way!