up in the air somewhere

Rows & Rows

2012-02-14T18:42:00.004-06:00

I've had a habit of making little rows of things lately. It's just so visually appealing, I can't help myself.

Big Big City Pop-Up Market

2012-02-06T16:09:00.003-06:00

This Tuesday evening I'll be participating in the Big Big City Pop-Up Market in Wicker Park! This event is also a fundraiser for 826Chi, a youth writing workshop here in Chicago (connected to the 826Valencia non-profit in SF). I'm really excited to be a part of this event. If you're in Chicago, be sure to stop by and say hello!

Looking Back & Looking Forward

2012-01-07T17:04:00.005-06:00

The first few weeks of 2012 are being spent finishing up commitments from 2011. I'm also tackling a lot of small projects I've been meaning to do for a while (including finally filing assumed name paperwork with Cook County). One of the projects I'm most excited to dust off and complete is properly mounting a few plaster sculptures I have boxed up in the studio. Once that is done I will be able to offer them for sale. Making my sculptures available on my website has been on my to-do list forever. It was fun to look back at some of my older work while I was double checking dimensions. The image above is titled "Safe Stove" from my BFA show installation where I inflated yellow vinyl in doorways, elevators, stairwells, and kitchens. Looking back on my old work is really informing how I want to move forward in 2012: bolder moves and more experimentation.

Open Studio Pics

2011-12-11T17:41:00.002-06:00

Yesterday's open studio was so much fun. It's always nice to open the doors and meet new people (including lots of the other artists in the building). Sarah and I always love the chance to spruce up the space (we actually vacuumed! A miracle!) and do a little extra decorating. I even scored one of Sarah's beautiful brand new necklaces.

My Holiday Wish List

2011-12-05T23:48:00.003-06:00

I thought I'd go ahead and post a little holiday wish list for those in my life who may want some hints!

1. Gild Quips+Queries Set

2. Shanna Murray "You Are Loved" Decal in white

3. Dessert Club (mmmm...)

4. Mrs Meyers Lavender Scented Candle

5. Happy Socks

6. Chevron Pen Variety set

7. Stripe Sheet Set in Full

8. Spread Knives

9. Triangle Day Bag

Limited Edition Zag Tray

2011-12-05T09:59:00.003-06:00

Starting today I'm offering a limited edition of 75 Gold Zag Trays! Each tray is numbered and hand gold leafed with a unique chevron inspired pattern. Order by Friday, Dec. 9 for delivery by Dec. 24.

Holiday Studio Sale x3!

2011-12-02T15:16:00.004-06:00

It's happening. The holiday studio sale I know you have been waiting for all year long. Discounts and fun times at our studio and our awesome neighbor Laura Lombari's studio! Visit 355 N Laflin (3rd floor studios 303 & 304) here in Chicago on Saturday, Dec. 10th from 12-5. I'm not doing any holiday shows this year, so here's your chance to drop by and pick out a little Up in the Air Somewhere at a one-time-only discount.

Karla Black

2011-11-27T17:46:00.002-06:00

Love, love, love her work. I wish I made it. This really makes me want to get back in the studio working on sculptures.

West Elm/Etsy Holiday Sale

2011-11-26T18:29:00.003-06:00

I'm going to be selling some work at West Elm this Thursday, Dec. 1st (the Lincoln Park location off of North Ave)! I'll be set up somewhere in the store and I have a few things made especially for this event. I love West Elm so it's going to be hard to leave the store without picking up a few things for myself. I have my eye on a few floor lamps (this or maybe this).

The New Artisans

2011-11-20T07:45:00.000-06:00

I'm incredibly honored to be included in The New Artisans, a beautiful new book that showcases work by artists from across the globe. Editor Olivier Dupon did an incredible job putting together the book. The group of artists collected here are inventive and inspiring and I can't really believe my work is in there.

Studio Sunday

2011-11-13T16:02:00.006-06:00

I'm spending a lot of time (um, all the time) working these days. November always ends up being a month of rushing to get things done in time for the holidays. I've also recently signed up with Instagram (upintheairsomewhere) and am a little addicted. I love the way it sweetens up my iPhone shots.

The Wedding Cake

2011-11-01T17:58:00.004-05:00

Our wedding cake was amazing. The whole wedding was really a big collaboration with our friends (invites, dress, decorations, flowers, food) and the cake was no exception. James, our incredibly talented friend, spent months perfecting the cake. We go to enjoy a few taste tests along the way, but the final design was a surprise: a yellow and white silo! Sarah build a wooden platform for the cake and decorated the table top with one of my small water towers. So perfect.

James was smart enough to document his process and is letting me share some of it here. Um, fyi, the bowl of creamy goodness up top is cream cheese. Yum.

Bali Honeymoon

2011-10-21T18:32:00.003-05:00

We just returned from our honeymoon in Bali! It was unbelievable: warm, lush, delicious, and totally unlike anywhere else I've been. There were beautiful colors and details everywhere we looked and I already miss it. I'll be organizing the hundreds of photos we took and posting select photos here and on Flickr.

Wedding Peek

2011-10-02T21:01:00.003-05:00

We got married! Here are a few quick peeks at some of the wedding decor. Much more to come, of course. But first we're off for our honeymoon in Bali!

Ribbon Hunting

2011-08-22T17:10:00.004-05:00

The Textile Discount Outlet is seriously the most magical place on earth.

Glazed Edge Bowls

2011-08-02T18:40:00.003-05:00

I listed these one-off bowls in my Etsy shop today!

One of a Kinds

2011-07-26T17:56:00.004-05:00

I've been doing a lot of playing around in the studio lately. My shelves are starting to fill with pieces that either don't quite fit in a cohesive group or don't lend themselves to being made again and again. I've decided to let some of these little gems move out of my studio and into the world. Thankfully my Etsy shop is an easy place to list one-of-a-kind pieces like this Zig Zag Tray [SOLD]& Deco Lantern!

The Best Kind of Test

2011-07-18T16:19:00.002-05:00

Our friend James has the Midas touch with all things food related. We're thrilled that he's agreed to bake our wedding cake! We had our first cake testing and it was impossible to pick just one. Look at those beauties!

Working

2011-07-01T13:43:00.003-05:00

Spending a stormy morning at home starting to tape off a custom wedding project.

Upstate

2011-06-15T22:19:00.004-05:00

This past weekend we were in New York City to visit friends and have my first wedding dress fitting (!) On our first day we took the train upstate to visit our friends and godson at their lake house. Mountain Laurel, boat ride, dinner on the deck, two cute little boys, and an after dinner outing to see the new X Men movie ... perfect start to a mini summer vacation.

Wedding Decorations

2011-05-31T17:10:00.003-05:00

Starting to work on decorations for the wedding! It's just 4 months away.

Brendan Van Hek

2011-05-27T22:45:00.006-05:00

I love these neon pieces by Brendan Van Hek (via Minimalissimo)

Sculpture in Progress

2011-05-02T19:22:00.000-05:00

Teaser

2011-04-27T17:13:00.003-05:00

I'm finally pulling the first pieces of a new suite of work out of the kiln. I'm so excited I just had to share a little peek at what's to come!

Surprise Engagement Party!

2011-04-24T13:24:00.002-05:00

Our friends surprised us last night with an engagement party! Just about 5 years together and 5 months until the wedding!

Inspiration

2011-04-15T10:55:00.002-05:00

I LOVE this Victor & Rolf creation from their Spring 2010 collection.

New desk!

2011-03-18T15:27:00.004-05:00

It feels so great to finally be able to put this little area of the living room to work. The trick was finding a desk long enough for both of us to work on. I'd been resisting Ikea, but this sleek white beauty fit perfectly. I plan on finding some pretty wooden midcentury chairs for the desk. For now, these faux lambskins soften up our tulip chairs borrowed from the dining table.

Hello

2011-03-04T16:55:00.002-06:00

Playing around with material in the studio.

Studio Wall

2011-03-02T18:15:00.002-06:00

2/28/11

I Double Dip

2011-03-01T18:02:00.003-06:00

I had some fun in the studio double dipping this turquoise and gray cup.

Wedding Colors

2011-02-25T23:33:00.004-06:00

There are about a thousand things we need to figure out for the wedding, but I think I've (er, we've) at least decided on the colors. I know, your mind is probably blown by the fact that I've basically chosen the same color palate I've loved for 5 years. I wanted to soften all the colors for the wedding to warm up the space. It's pretty much a big white box, so I want the colors I bring in to blend in with the white and keep everything tied together. I know there are more time sensitive things to plan (like nailing down a caterer) but it's so much more fun to think about decorations!

Inspiration

2011-02-24T12:54:00.003-06:00

(images found via Flickr: scjody, be OH be, Robbue1, oplopanax)
I'm working out some ideas for a new body of work. These images (and countless others I've been collecting) are making my heart race and my fingers tingle in the best possible way. At this stage in the creative process I'm like a human tea kettle.

Indie Wed

2011-01-28T12:30:00.003-06:00

Tomorrow is Indie Wed! It's my first time participating in a wedding-focused event and I'm sure it will be extra fun (especially since I'll be sneaking off to check out possibilities for my own wedding!) If you're a bride or groom in the Chicago area, be sure to stop by and be wooed by tons of unique vendors.

Milwaukee Gallery Show

2011-01-17T14:00:00.003-06:00

This Friday, Jan. 21st is the opening reception for a group show in Milwaukee that features some of my work. The theme and title of the show is "White" and includes artists working with, well, white. It looks like a beautiful show and I'm so proud to be included. If you're in the Milwaukee area stop by Katie Gingrass Gallery at 241 N. Broadway from 5-9pm this Friday!

Renegade this weekend!

2010-12-02T11:13:00.003-06:00

It's that time of year again! I'll be at the Renegade Holiday Fair this weekend (Dec 4 - 5 from 11 - 7). Once again I'm sharing a booth with the fabulous Pearl & Marmalade. We're booth #1 this year, located in the main auditorium right next to my super-pal Cursive Design! Drop by and get your holiday shopping on!

Lush

2010-11-24T08:43:00.002-06:00

I loved how the plants hugged the buildings and exploded out of every crevice

A Taste of Amsterdam

2010-11-20T13:37:00.002-06:00

We got back from Amsterdam yesterday and I wanted to quickly throw up a few photos from the trip. I fell head over heels in love with the city. We ate our weight in cheese and fried street foods (I'm going through oliebollen withdrawal) and put in many hours of canal walks. I'll be posting some more pictures and thoughts over the week so be sure to check in again later!

We're off to Amsterdam!

2010-11-08T10:00:00.001-06:00

(Photo by Stavros Markopoulos)
Today Ben, Sarah, Jon and I are leaving for Amsterdam! We'll be in the Netherlands for ten days and spending time in Amsterdam and Eindhoven. Ben and Jon will be exhibiting and performing a collaboration at this gallery event in Eindhoven (the excuse for our long overdue trip to Europe). I can't wait! One of the first things I want to do is hop on a boat for a canal tour, followed by sampling all the street food I can find. I'm also interested in possibly taking a day trip to Delft to check out some classic ceramics. I'll be sure to post some pictures from the trip when I get back later in the month!

PS Sarah invited me to guest post over on her blog today! Check it out here

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-30T19:19:00.002-05:00

(Image via Ariel Gordon Jewelry)

For some reason I'm always really busy the week of Halloween and getting dressed up to go out just isn't on the menu. Last year I was getting ready to go on my trip to Brazil, and this year I'm getting ready to go on our trip to the Netherlands (yay!). I'm also a bit preoccupied with the early stages of wedding planning. We have yet to decide on a venue so I'm spending all my free time researching possibilities. There are some little things I'm sure about, though. I definitely want some kind of dramatic headpiece for the ceremony. I may not be dressing up for Halloween, but I can't wait to have some fun with my wedding outfit next year!

New Cursive Design

2010-10-20T18:15:00.003-05:00

My amazing and talented friend/studio mate/neighbor Sarah of Cursive Design just launched her new Fall/Winter collection! Not only is the new jewelry fantastic, but my brand new fiancee(!) Ben shot some stunning photos for the collection's look book. Ben and Sarah teamed up once again with our friend Sarah W as the model. The three of them make an unstoppable knock-your-socks-off photo crew!

It is really exciting to get to see the evolution of Sarah's work. These new pieces are particularly interesting because she's playing with her materials in a brand new way. It's still an investigation of metal, lace, and color, but with this collection there is a lighter touch. Each element hangs in perfect harmony.

Privet House

2010-10-13T10:17:00.004-05:00

I have a brand new retailer in Greenwich, CT: Privet House! The owner was thoughtful enough to send over this image of Up in the Air Somewhere on display in her shop. I'm always thrilled to get to see my work out of the studio and in new environments. I love those little polar bears inspecting the Gold Bottom Dishes! Cute.

Insta Fall!

2010-10-06T20:52:00.003-05:00

Last weekend Sarah and I checked out Design Harvest down the street. Overall it was a pretty good show. It's nice to see furniture makers and galleries show their work in a street fair atmosphere. After picking up a beautiful pillow and blanket (respectively) from Unison, we headed down to Grand Street Gardens and stumbled upon a pop-up petting zoo! It was the perfect thing to help me fully embrace fall.

We're Engaged!

2010-09-27T12:09:00.004-05:00

I'm beyond excited to share my happy news! Last week while we were in New York, Ben proposed to me in Tompkins Square Park. It was a beautiful day and the perfect spot for the proposal. He got down on one knee and surprised me with a gorgeous, handmade ring with an heirloom stone. Early in our relationship we'd had many long, emotional conversations in that park about how we were going to sustain things long distance. It was fitting to go back to the same place years later and make the promise to be together for the long haul.

Because I'm feeling a little sentimental, I thought I'd gush a bit about how we first got together:

Four and a half years ago I was living in New York City. I decided to fly back to Chicago to surprise my family with a visit. Little did I know the whirlwind I was about to step into. The night I arrived, I went out for karaoke with friends, and my friend Sarah invited Ben. I knew Ben from college (I'd even had a little crush on him back then), but we'd been nothing more than acquaintances. The moment he arrived at Sarah's apartment and we started talking, there was an instant electricity. That was it; it was a done deal.

We spent the afternoon together before my flight back to New York and didn't want it to end. When I got home, I sent him an email saying that I thought there was something crazy and exciting between us and I thought he should come out and visit me. He wrote back right away saying he was thinking the same thing, and bought a ticket to fly out two weeks later. On his first visit he surprised me with a helicopter tour over the city. It was the corniest, most romantic weekend of my life. We spent the next 8 months flying back and forth for visits, trying not to go more than 2 weeks without seeing each other.

Finally we decided that the long distance thing wasn't sustainable and I moved back to Chicago. It was the best decision I've ever made. Not only has our relationship grown, but if I hadn't moved back I wouldn't have started the business that I love. Ben is not only an incredible partner, but he's also my photographer and website designer. We both work from home and spend most of our days sitting about 2 feet from each other working on our computers. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life next to him.

Real Simple, October 2010

2010-09-25T17:08:00.004-05:00

I'm so excited to see my brand new Color Burst Bowls featured in the October issue of Real Simple. The color on the inside of the paper bowls is actually rubber! I have a few more new pieces to launch, but this fall has already become a bit crazy and I have to find time to shoot them.

Renegade Chicago!

2010-09-10T18:42:00.003-05:00

I've been working like crazy all week prepping for Renegade this weekend. I'm really excited about my booth set up this year (patterned walls!) Once again I'm sharing a booth with Danielle from Pearl & Marmalade and we'll be next door to the always gorgeous Cursive Design. Come visit us on the north side of Division street near Hermitage.

Busy Season

2010-09-03T13:29:00.002-05:00

Ah, September. It's not only my birthday month (today actually! yay!) but it is also the official start of crazy busy season for me. Right about now I have several wholesale orders on my plate + Renegade craft fair here in Chicago (Sep 11 & 12!) + I'm trying to get ahead on fall/holiday season. It's pretty much non stop for me from now through the end of the year. I love it :)

Sailing

2010-08-10T22:50:00.004-05:00

For Ben's 30th birthday I knew I had to come up with something great. We'd always talked about wanting to take a boat ride on Lake Michigan (after living here more than 10 years neither of us had done it yet!) so I decided that a sunset sailboat charter with 30 friends would be the perfect way to celebrate. It was my first attempt at off-site party planning and my goodness was it stressful. In the end it came together beautifully and we had an amazing evening with our amazing friends. The view of the skyline from the water was incredible!

Renegade Brooklyn (better late than never)

2010-07-22T14:38:00.002-05:00

It already feels like ages ago, but I finally have some shots from June's Renegade Brooklyn. This was one of my favorite booth set ups yet (check out my awesome tree shaded corner!) The always incredible Ben was a selfless booth helper and photographer.

Pssssst... you may also notice a little sneak peek of some new pieces debuting late summer!

In Studio

2010-07-18T18:52:00.003-05:00

Ben hung out in the ceramics studio last week and took some beautiful shots of me working. It's great to finally have nice in progress shots.

Happy Summer!

2010-07-05T21:50:00.004-05:00

Just as I was getting back into the working groove, it was the 4th of July. Summer is my favorite season and this year I'm grateful for the heat (last summer was pretty mild). I spent my holiday next door on Sarah and Jon's porch. We got there early and enjoyed the cutest sangria ever in these perfect red and white cups. Sarah is a genius when in comes to the little details. I love those straws!

Clay Curiosities Show

2010-06-25T17:51:00.002-05:00

I have two brand new pieces in a ceramics show opening this weekend at the Renegade gallery. If you are in Chicago, stop by the opening reception tomorrow (Saturday, June 26th) from 5pm - 8pm. It looks like a really fun show! I like that all of the work is really sculptural, rather then just bowls and plates. I may have to take a piece home with me.

Renegade Brooklyn!

2010-05-25T18:10:00.003-05:00

If you're in New York in two weeks, stop by and visit me at Renegade! I'll be across from the food area. This year I'm debuting a lot of new items that will be listed on my website in July. Be the first to see or bring home something new (maybe something you can even wear home... hint hint)!

I love my customers!

2010-05-20T11:17:00.002-05:00

I have the best customers. Hands down. Helen from the food blog Tartelette recently purchased a set of my small peach paper bowls. I was blown away by the beautiful photos she sent me. It's too bad she's all the way in Charleston, SC or I'd have to hire her to shoot more pieces!

Back from NYC and Refocused

2010-04-25T19:24:00.006-05:00

We just got back from two weeks in New York. I go back every two months or so to continue assisting a painter that I worked for when I lived there. We're good friends and my boyfriend Ben comes along with me, so it's definitely more pleasure then work. Being in New York City in mid April is the best. We always spend the last day of the trip wondering why we don't just move there.

I was able to go up to the Park Avenue Armory and check out the SOFA exhibition. It was encouraging and inspiring to see a lot of the work that was represented there. Over the last several months I've been struggling with how I want Up in the Air Somewhere to evolve, and while in New York I had some long talks with people who pushed me in the direction I was a little nervous about going. More to come on that as I am still sorting out how things will move forward. It's a bit of a growth spurt.

Sneak Peek

2010-04-07T22:23:00.002-05:00

See you at Renegade in Brooklyn the first weekend of June!

Multiples

2010-03-26T23:59:00.006-05:00

This little army of Dip Cups is on it's way to one of my favorite retailers, Haus Interior in SoHo.

It's always exciting to see a big group all together. Each cup was hand built (I don't use a mold) so they all have their own little quirks. Sometimes I think about making a mold to speed the process along a bit, but when a larger group of cups sit together like this I'm reminded why I choose to hand build each one. A little bit of life would be missing from them if they were all exactly the same.

Working

2010-03-14T16:02:00.003-05:00

Ben was in the studio today to play with his new motion film camera and he managed to get a few shots of me working.

My heart still flutters a bit when I finish one of those paper bowls. My studio mate Sarah also uses gold leaf in her work so there are always little bits of gold all over the floor. I think if we had a studio mascot it would be gold leaf.

From a Doodle to a Draft

2010-03-11T21:07:00.003-06:00

These days I spend most of my time in the ceramic studio building the same pieces over and over again. I actually enjoy the production work, but it's great to take some time to experiment with something new. Today I had a lot of fun working on a one-off piece and I thought it would be interesting to share the sketch and the resulting clay piece. I'm not sure if it will actually survive the next stages (drying, firing, glazing, firing, traveling home). Fingers crossed! At the very least, I think I've already come up with a simplified, more structurally sound version.

Under (Bubble) Wraps

2010-03-10T22:23:00.002-06:00

We recently moved things around in the studio and in the process I took down some sculptures. They've been sitting on my table with temporary protection until I get around to packing them properly. I really like the way the bubble wrap filters the colors.

New Post 27 Website

2010-02-19T22:08:00.003-06:00

One of my favorite Chicago stores (and retailer!) Post 27 just launched their brand new web store. The store is the perfect mix of beautiful vintage furniture and new, mostly local, designers. We went to the in-store launch party last night and left with an awesome metal stool.

Food & Wine, March '10

2010-02-15T16:34:00.003-06:00

The March issue of Food & Wine includes my work and my face together for the first time in print. It feels like a little press milestone :)

Hugo Houayek

2010-02-07T15:41:00.006-06:00

Through the magic of fate and web-surfing, Brazilian sculptor Hugo Houacyek came across my website and got in touch with me this weekend. Looking through his work was so exciting; the similarities in our visual language is uncanny. I cannot explain how inspiring it was to come across his work. In a way I feel like it affirms my line of thinking I have when it comes to making sculpture.

New Color: Aqua!

2010-02-05T12:49:00.005-06:00

I feel strongly about keeping my color palate limited. For the last 3 years (probably even longer then that) it's been gray, light gray, peach, white, yellow, and gold leaf. I've been very happy working within that framework, but this year I felt like it was time to experiment with a new color and see what happens. After much hand wringing and over thinking, I'm happy to introduce aqua to my palate! I'm doing some simple fade bowls as a way to slowly integrate it into the group, but I have some new techniques up my sleeve that will take full advantage of the new color.

ps. I still feel a little nervous about messing with my color palate. Eek!

Experimenting

2010-01-29T19:47:00.002-06:00

Eva Zeisel

2010-01-26T21:11:00.007-06:00

It's so inspiring to see how Eva continues to design, even at 102. I particularly enjoy seeing how she works with her design assistant to produce new pieces even though she has physical limitations. I'm having a bit of a girl power moment over here.

Color Brainstorming

2010-01-23T13:45:00.005-06:00

I'm in the early stages of playing around with blues and greens. I'm still not sure if I want to bring in new colors, but I have to let myself experiment a little.

New(ish) Sculptures

2010-01-20T22:08:00.003-06:00

I'm finally getting around to photographing my new sculptures from 2009. Now I can give some long overdue attention to susandwyer.com

The Poppies

2010-01-08T11:03:00.004-06:00

One of my regular blog reads, Poppytalk, is launching a "virtual awards ceremony celebrating the Handmade Community"! What a great idea! If you have a chance, be sure to drop by and nominate your favorite makers. Nominations are open through January 12th, so get to it!

Food & Wine, Dec. '09

2010-01-06T18:03:00.004-06:00

I'm really behind on scanning my press from 2009 so I'm taking some snapshots for now. I was so happy to have my dip cup included in the staff favorites section of Food & Wine's gift guide! My awesome New York retailer, Haus Interior, has had some great press this year and I'm thrilled to be partnered with them.

Leah Tinari

2010-01-04T20:48:00.003-06:00

Over the last couple of years Ben and I unintentionally started a little collection of small portraits. First my good friend gave us an awesome line drawing of the two of us and our close friends, then for our third anniversary Ben got our portrait drawn by Michel Gondry. So, for Christmas this year I commissioned a portrait as my gift to Ben.

I decided to ask artist Leah Tinari. Not only is Leah an amazingly talented painter (she recently worked with Nike on a huge campaign!) but she was also my studio mate when I lived in New York. I'd always dreamed of owning one of her pieces so this was the perfect opportunity. Her work is really playful and vibrant, which is exactly the type of portrait I wanted. The painting turned out absolutely perfect.

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-24T13:05:00.003-06:00

We're spending Christmas here at home in Chicago this year and had fun getting the apartment in the holiday spirit. I hope you have an amazing holiday and eat way too many cookies!

Wish List {part 2}

2009-12-09T21:14:00.004-06:00

I keep trying to pick my favorite Marañón necklace and I just can't do it. They are all 100% awesome.

Wish List {part 1}

2009-12-09T13:53:00.005-06:00

I'm drooling over this cashmere shawl by A Peace Treaty. Can you hear me, Santa?

2009 Ornament

2009-12-02T18:42:00.003-06:00

I decided to make a 2009 holiday ornament this year. I've been playing around with my paper mache process and these ornaments were a great chance to experiment. I've tried ornaments in the past but I couldn't really figure out how to translate my work in the right way. They always turned out feeling a little forced. With these guys I feel like I've stayed true to my design sense. They are clean, simple, and reference the classic ball ornament while also maintaining a sculptural element. The red and white bakers twine adds a more direct holiday reference (and my tiny move away from my die-hard color palate).

These bad boys are now available only in my Etsy shop. Enjoy!

The Window Seat

2009-11-30T20:36:00.004-06:00

One of my favorite things about traveling is getting to see a different landscape. On this trip we went by bus from São Paulo to Paraty and my sister gave me the window seat (she had it on the flight over so it was only fair). The 6 hour ride flew by as I enjoyed the bright green rolling hills and watched things get more dramatic as we reached the coast.

Back from Brazil

2009-11-29T23:55:00.003-06:00

I can't describe how wonderful my trip to Brazil was. Getting to spend time with my family there was such a gift. I felt connected to my dad through them. Beyond the family time, I got to enjoy cities, colonial towns, beaches, and rain forests. My sister and I packed a lot in 2 1/2 weeks but I already want to go back.

I have some plans for a new series inspired by what I saw. I'm hoping to have it fully formed by the spring. Also, I think I'll be restructuring Up in the Air Somewhere in 2010 in a way that will allow me to break free of my little sweatshop and make more one of a kind pieces. I love how getting away for a while helps give you some perspective on your normal life.

I'm off!

2009-11-10T15:08:00.005-06:00

In a few hours I'll be boarding a plane to Sao Paulo, Brazil! My sister and I are visiting my dad's side of the family. It's been five years since I've been there so this trip is long overdue. We'll be going to Sao Paulo, Paraty, and Rio. I plan on doing a lot of sketching and thinking about a new suite of work inspired by the the structures I see in Brazil.

I'll be back November 27th and then head straight up to Milwaukee for my first holiday show, Art vs. Craft, on November 28th. See you then!

New York Times Gift Guide

2009-11-05T09:20:00.003-06:00

My new Austin shop, Spartan, chose my work to be included in the '09 New York Times holiday gift guide! Yay! I'm so excited. The guide will be printed in the Thanksgiving day edition of the Times, but it went up on the web today.

Studio Portrait

2009-11-04T23:05:00.004-06:00

A magazine recently asked me for a head shot/environmental portrait to go along with my work. Thankfully I have an amazing boyfriend/web designer/photographer on hand at all times for moments like this. He's the man behind the lens for all my product photography.

We spent some time in the studio this evening shooting 8x10 film. The first image is a view through the ground glass of his camera (flipped upside down so we can see it right side up!) I think I'll go with a shot similar to the bottom image.

Big Goldie

2009-10-31T21:12:00.003-05:00

It's a holiday, so naturally I spent the day working. I have been planning on making a large scale gold paper bowl for a while and today I finally did it! I wasn't sure how it would turn out; sometimes a lot of gold is just too much. Thankfully, I think I've got a keeper.

Fall

2009-10-21T09:40:00.003-05:00

We've had a pretty chilly fall so far, but in the last few days the weather has warmed up a bit and we've been able to go out and enjoy the fall colors. Why can't it stay like this all winter?

Sisterly

2009-10-19T18:57:00.003-05:00

Saturday was my sister's birthday so I wanted to take a moment to dedicate a post to her. Through thick and thin, she's always been an amazing big sister. I can count on her for anything (bulldog!) and she's my most fiercely supportive cheerleader. There's no one I'd rather spend an afternoon sharing lasagna and gossip magazines with.

Happy birthday, Liz!

1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse

2009-10-09T18:26:00.006-05:00

I'm excited to let you know that some of my work will be included in the new book 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse which will be released on November 1st. I'm thrilled to be included in this fun book and I can't wait to see it when it hits the bookshelves! Thanks to Garth Johnson for curating my work into the book.

Skinny Laminx Pillow

2009-10-02T15:16:00.003-05:00

For my birthday last month, my wonderful friend Danielle gave me a Skinny Laminx pillow that I've been eying for quite some time. I finally got a pillow insert and now I'm absolutely loving it in our living room. Thanks Danielle!

New Studio Curtain

2009-09-25T20:57:00.002-05:00

With the gray winter approaching I decided that I needed to add a splash of color to the studio. My curtain was a little sad and too short to hide my shelves, so I added a stripe of bright coral fabric. It makes me happy.

I can't help myself...

2009-09-24T19:46:00.004-05:00

I have a serious gray and yellow addiction. I got these sneakers while on a walk with friends in Brooklyn last week. They called to me from the shop window and I quickly came up with a dozen reasons why I absolutely had to buy them.

Renegade Recap

2009-09-24T18:51:00.006-05:00

The day after Renegade I went to New York City for a week of work and visiting friends, so I'm just now unpacking from the show and remembering how PERFECT the weekend was. We couldn't have asked for better weather and it was well deserved. I shared a booth with Pearl & Marmalade right at the beginning of the fair so we had amazing full sun both days.

My wonderful boyfriend/photographer/website designer/sounding board Ben was there to man the booth so I was able to see most of the show and get some treats for myself. I've been really interested in glass lately and I was so happy to discover Kit Paulson Glass. She had a lovely selection of simple glass vessels and flasks and I ended up taking home two little hand blown corked bottles. They now have a home on my recently reorganized bookshelf. I also finally purchased a necklace from the always friendly Beth of Freshie & Zero. I even picked up a christmas present or two, but I can't mention them here for obvious reasons :)

All in all, Renegade Chicago this year was great. I'll be at the holiday show the first weekend in December, so hopefully you'll stop by and say hello!

Renegade Craft Fair

2009-09-10T22:12:00.003-05:00

This week has been a blur of gold leaf flakes, wheat paste goo, and kiln firing. That's right, Renegade is this weekend! The weather is supposed to be beautiful (we totally earned it after last year's record rain) so it will nice to sit outside all weekend. This year I'm sharing a booth with Pearl & Marmalade and their beautiful cards and prints. We'll be super easy to find as we're booth #1! Look for us on the corner of Damen and Division.

Birthday Ballooning

2009-09-04T22:33:00.002-05:00

On my birthday Ben and I did it up 19th century style and rode in a helium filled tethered balloon. It was so much fun! The view of Chicago 35 stories up in the silent open air was amazing. Mother Nature gifted me with fabulous weather and I had the best birthday I can remember :)

Birthday!

2009-09-03T08:56:00.006-05:00

It's my birthday today so I'm trying my best to take the day off! I'm looking forward to a day full of yoga, yummy sandwiches, and a hot air balloon ride :)

It's just beginning...

2009-09-01T23:36:00.003-05:00

And the show season begins.... I'll post more about these shows as the dates approach, but I wanted to give you a heads up:

I'll be at the Renegade fair the weekend of September 12th and 13th here in Chicago. It takes place on Division street near Damen. I'll have my exact location pretty soon. Last year it was my first outdoor show and we had horrible rain. This year will hopefully be better. I'll be sharing a space with my sweet and talented friend Danielle of Pearl & Marmalade. She and her creative partner Char make lovely cards and prints. When customers order pieces as gifts, I always include a Pearl & Marmalade card with their order.

Looking ahead to the holidays, I'll be doing both Art vs. Craft in Milwaukee (Saturday Nov. 28th) and Renegade Holiday in Chicago (Dec. 5th & 6th). These will be my only holiday shows, so if you are in the area be sure to come out and say hello! I'll be nice and tanned for Art vs. Craft this year, the day before the show I'll be returning from two weeks in Brazil visiting family (talk about crazy plans!)

Hope to see you at the shows! I'll post more details as the show dates near. I have a new suite of vases and paper pieces that I'll be debuting at the shows so be sure to let me know what you think!

Source Images

2009-08-29T19:20:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago I spent some time walking around the neighborhood collecting source material for future work. What I find interesting in these images are the subtle color palates and the juxtaposition of horizontals and verticals.

Poppytalk Handmade Market

2009-07-20T19:21:00.003-05:00

I'm so excited to be participating in the Poppytalk Handmade "Home Sweet Home" online market starting tomorrow! It runs from July 21 - Aug 15 and features tons of beautiful housewares from designers all across the US and Canada. Poppytalk is a fabulous Canadian design blog and has been one of my daily reads for quite some time. I suggest checking it out if you haven't already.

Studio Scraps

2009-07-17T19:49:00.005-05:00

When I make a Point Vessel I'm always left with two little triangular shaped paper maché scraps. I keep them in the studio in a little pile under my desk hoping to one day discover a perfect use for them. This week I pulled them out and experimented. I gold leafed one side of a few, stacked them, and turned them into a little hanging sculpture. I liked how the gold leaf reflected onto the paper next to it. I'm not sure where I'm going with this, but for now I'm enjoying having a few stacks hanging in the window of the studio.

New Stores!

2009-07-14T11:04:00.003-05:00

I have two new stores in New York City! If you are in the area, check out Catbird in Brooklyn or Haus Interior in SoHo. Catbird is carrying the gold lip dish series and Haus Interior has a mix of Up in the Air Somewhere pieces. They are both really beautiful shops with super nice owners and I'm so excited to be in their collections.

Giorgio Morandi

2009-07-11T20:22:00.002-05:00

One of the best parts of doing a show is getting to hear people's impressions of my work. I went to the Art Institute of Chicago for college and while I was there I got used to spending a lot of time talking and talking and talking about my work. This was a really valuable experience because so often a viewer's reaction to my work opens my eyes to new ways of thinking about what I'm making. Since leaving school several years ago, opportunities for critique are few and far between.

When I was in Brooklyn for Renegade in June, a couple stopped by my booth and immediately asked me if I had seen paintings of Giorgio Morandi. They said my pieces reminded them of his muted palates and restrained still lifes. Apparently I had just missed a Metropolitan Museum of Art retrospective of his work. When I got back to Chicago I looked him up and instantly fell in love with his paintings. I'm so flattered that the couple made the connection to his work and I'm definitely inspired.

Anniversary Sale!

2009-06-28T21:59:00.003-05:00

I'm having my first ever sale to celebrate the one year anniversary of UpintheAirSomewhere.com! Since the first year is supposed to be paper, it only seems fitting to offer 25% off on all my paper maché items. The sale lasts through July 10th. Spread the word!

How could I not?

2009-06-22T12:05:00.003-05:00

Well hello there Dip Cup turned into a skirt! I was browsing through Tulle searching for a reason to use this month's Lucky Breaks coupon code (luckybreaks3) and came across this skirt . Discounted down to only $18.98, I had no choice but to snap it up immediately.

Now on Supermarket!

2009-06-18T22:53:00.002-05:00

Up in the Air Somewhere can now be found on Supermarket! I'm so flattered to have been asked to set up a little shop there. Depending on how things go, I might use the space to list one-of-a-kind items.

Back from Renegade Brooklyn!

2009-06-14T20:11:00.005-05:00

We survived! Now that we've been home for a couple of days all I can remember is the good stuff (visiting good friends, eating at our favorite places, playing with our favorite toddlers), but the logistics of a long distance show caused some real headaches. I decided to fly to New York for the show and insisted on dragging the 70 lb tent with us. Thankfully Southwest still lets you check baggage for free (I just had to pay the over weight fee). I thought it looked like we were checking a body bag. We flew into Islip, Long Island so we had to take the tent (+ our two huge suitcases) from the airport, onto a train, through Penn Station, up to the street, and into a van cab. That is a journey I don't plan on doing again. We normally pride ourselves on our freakishly light packing, but we sure made up for it on this trip.

All in all, dragging my stuff around wasn't as bad as I'd worried and the show was a success. It was so fun to spend two beautiful summer days in Brooklyn meeting people and talking about my work (who doesn't like that?). My amazingly talented friend Sarah of Cursive Design was next to me and it was great to get to chat with her and snag a pair of awesome neon yellow earrings. The show was huge but I got a chance to walk around and see some really great stuff. I managed to get a Virginia Kraljevic print that I'd been dying for ever since Sarah blogged about it.

Thanks to everyone who came out and stopped by my booth! For those of you who couldn't make it, here are some of Ben's wonderful photos.