More Valentine's Day cards and Friday artist showcase

Hello, hello!

How is everyone doing today?  It is about 60 degrees here in Maryland which is a nice change from the very cold weather, but weird for January.

I wanted to share a set of new cards I put up on LoveUPaperly.

Four cards with envelopes to match are $8!  Each card is letter-pressed and stamped with a hand-cut linoleum stamp.  I think they are super cute!

Sort of on the same note, since I have been busy making art lately, I was thinking today about all the wonderful and very talented artists I have had the opportunity to live and work with and I wanted to talk about a two of them today.

I went to graduate school in Venice, Italy at the Scuola Internazionale Di Grafica.  This means that not only did I have the opportunity to live in Venice for a year, but I was exposed to AMAZING artists!

Greg Murr:  Not only is Greg an interesting guy and a great cook but his attention to detail and the nuances of his art are really beautiful.  In Italy he would spend hours mixing different shades of the same color, he also loves coffee, a lot!

Claire Rau:  Claire was my graduate thesis adviser, but also an amazing artist, strong woman, and confidant.  Without her, school would not have been nearly as focused or challenging.  On top of it all she is an amazing artist making strong social statements while working with a variety of material in sculpture and prints.

I recommend clicking on their links and looking at their websites which have their artist statements, portfolios, and contact.

So, I am thinking that Sunday I have been trying to do a lovely photograph (I forgot this last Sunday! Oops!), and Friday will be Artist Showcase Friday highlighting a new artist or two every week.  What do you guys think?  I would love suggestions or e-mail or comment about a new artist to highlight!

I hope everyone has a splendid weekend!  I am going to make some new cards tomorrow that are perculating in my head.  Can't wait to show you!

love,

Jess

31 things

Merry day after Christmas everyone!

I hope most of you have the day off and are recovering from all the food and drink that were had over the holiday.

On a different note, I have been blogging now for about two weeks and I hope you feel you know me a little better, but I think it is time to really open up and share a bit more.

Hopefully if I share a bit more, some of you our there reading will start to comment a bit. I want to know who you are!  So here we go. 31 things you don't know about me.

1.   I am 31 years old
2.   I lived in Venice, Italy for a year and went to school for my M.A in graphic design
3.   I have three best friends. Steph, Meridyth (my fiancé) and Lisa
4.   My mother and Lisa's mother are best friends and met when they were pregnant with us
5.   I played tennis in high school
6.   I am going back to school to hopefully be a nurse or a P.A
7.   I worked as a hostess in a restaurant for two hours and they fired me
8.   It is the only job I have ever been fired from
9.   My first concert was Hootie and the Blowfish
10.  I had my first major surgery this year, a disectomy/spinal fusion
11.  I have been dealing with depression since my early twenties
12.  I strongly believe in therapy
13.  I hate flying but love airports
14.  I lived in Israel for a summer and worked on an archeological dig
15.  I knew after that I did not want to be an archeologist
16.  I have insomnia and it is usually on those nights I feel most creative
17.  I am a wedding photographer, http://www.jessicalorenphotography.com
18.  Meridyth and I have been together for almost seven years
19.  I like falling asleep to the movie Jurrasic Park
20.  I have one sister that is five years older than me
21.  I am an NPR junkie
22.  I treat our cats like dogs because I never had a cat until two years ago
23.  I believe in soul mates and angels
24.  I was brought up Jewish, though more culturally than religiously
25.  I'm very stubborn
26.  I still occasionally get carded when I go to the movies
27.  I did a sprint triathlon and finished
28.  I love to read and usually read 3 or 4 books at a time
29.  I love watching On the Case with Paula Zahn
30.  Miller Light is my favorite beer
31.  Cinqueterre is my favorite place on earth

That's it!! Thirty one things. I hope you feel you know me a little better. Now you can share with me! Don't be shy!

original author unknown

Love,

Jess