Studio makeover complete...

Hi There.  These are the best photos I could get on a grey and rainy day and since it's supposed to be grey and rainy all week I figure these will just have to do.  I am super happy with my little makeover but now I can't find anything!  I gained space by turning my 2nd table against the wall so that I have one long continuous work surface.  This opened up the wall opposite the tables so that I can pin up and work on larger pieces of Arches Oil Paper.  I cleaned the floor, took work off the wall and put up the Anthony Burrill print so that the whole room feels light and airy and open.  On the table you might be able to see two paper pieces I started on the wall but am now going to work on the table.  It's going to take some getting used to but I really love the feel of the place.  

happy monday to you-

b

Hello again-

Homebody::Summer Daze

Ok to say it's been too long would be an understatement here.  I have been painting A LOT which you might know if you have been following me on Instagram.  It took awhile to get the hang of it but snapping photos of new work or WIP and adding a few words and a hashtag seems to suit me.  I am meeting you here today with new work that is old work.  Each year I paint one or two sets of my old friends...the house heads (homebody), the beach lovers( Summer Daze) and the Night Swimmers (which are still in progress).  I wanted to write today to say I'm still here painting most days but tomorrow I will share the new way I am working and why.  For 10 years this space has been a place where I could throw words out into the universe to help myself make sense of things and it's time to get back to that a little more regularly.  If you want to see what I've been up to you can find me as Beth Billups on Instagram or check back here tomorrow.

xx-

b

Micro Art Series 2...Murmur

Warm wishes from the very wintery midwest.  I was up early on this snowy morning baking a six layer spice cake with buttercream frosting for my Mom's 70th birthday today.  These little guys are finally cured and ready to go.  I priced and listed each piece separately but am offering discounts for buying multiples ( i've given away a few and they stand perfectly well on their own but tiny does love company).  I'm offering free USPS priority mail domestic shipping thru December 20th, so if you are looking for a last minute  handmade holiday gift it can still make it! 

-b

Handmade Holiday SALE

To help celebrate a season of giving handmade I am offering 20% off all work in my Etsy shop 11/19-12/1.  If you've had your eye on something for someone special or for yourself I hope this helps...use the code HANDMADEHOLIDAY at checkout .

A Sense of Place

A Sense of Place 1 & 2

encaustic on wood

5" x 5"

Made it through another week. Looking hard for hope and beauty. I have to look a little harder these days but its there, just below the surface, waiting to be be revealed.  

It's 72 degrees here today and snow likely tomorrow. 

Crazy weather, crazy times.

-b

Prints on wood!

 This package brightened up my weekend.  I have experimented with making prints of my work a few times and none of the attempts ever felt like a good fit, but these little babies are awesome.  I only ordered a few pieces to see how they would translate, how true the image would appear and what the quality would be like.  They exceeded my expectations and the customer service was excellent as I worked through the process of uploading, resizing etc... The images are printed on sustainable birch, maple and bamboo plywood in a factory that is 100% solar powered.  The sides of the panels have a clean look that I really like and they have a keyhole hanger in the back so they can hang unframed.  (they also have a small cut out and wooden wedge so they can stand on their own).  I'm planning to add a new 'prints' section to my Etsy later today.  

:)

-b

between you and me

between you and me

4"x 5"

between you and me. a heavy heart telling my children we got it wrong. telling them it will be ok. hugging them tightly and truly believing that love still trumps hate. 

xx-

b