Long Time Comin'

Has it seriously been over a month since my last post!? Well, that just goes to show you how much I stink at doing more than one thing at a time.

I've been working my job, and tend to want to immediately go to sleep when I go home (on the couch, with bad TV in the background). Now that the weather is finally warming up, I'm hoping I'll stop being so apathetic, and I'll actually get out an enjoy my free days.

Speaking of free days -- I've got a few of them ahead of me, including tomorrow (Memorial Day), so the plan is to set up a small table outside of the Flat Iron Arts Building with a few of my City Map necklaces. That also means that, yes, I'm awake at 12:20am, hoping that a few more Chicago Map pieces will dry by morning (thank goodness for humidity).

It sounds like a nice way to get a little tan, and maybe sell a few necklaces (but mostly get a little tan).

If you'll be in the Chicago area, the building is located at 1579 N. Milwaukee Avenue, so stop by in between your shopping and beer hopping (there's a lot of that to be had in the neighborhood).

I hope everyone enjoys the Memorial Day weekend!

First Friday Recap

So apparently, good weather does not necessarily mean a packed house for First Friday.  Thank goodness Katie brought in her awesome friends, who kept me entertained throughout the night, and the visitors to the building seemed to really enjoy her work!  She also had free zines to give away (I grabbed one, and stored away another to send to a friend).

One of the more interesting things that happened involved Katie being asked to design a cane for MS patients in need.  It just so happened that the other woman in the room at the time worked with people with disabilities, and had a long list of clients with MS who were actually in need of canes, so it kind of became this awesome circle of people connecting to help other people.

(If you're interested in the program, visit Team Chrissy!  The winner of the 2012 People's Favorite Decorated Cane was Kevin Lahvic, another FIAB resident.)

Katie's work looked great, and I'll be a little sad when she takes it down tonight.  One of my favorite parts of hosting artists is that I get my own little art gallery, sometimes for a few days.

Fringe benefits.  ;)

It was a really fun night, that ended with an actual marching band (Environmental Encroachment) coming up through the hallway and playing in the Collaboraction theatre.  Anyone who knows me probably then knows that I just about peed my pants -- I've got a real thing for marching bands!!  They took the party back out into the streets, where we followed them and danced the wild rumpus, then back into the building again for more fun.

Needless to say, I love this place.

Thanks again to Katie Holland, follow her for updates and how you can purchase her work!

I love my neighborhood: Wicker Park / Bucktown

I'll be honest, I'm just trying to lure my VA friends out here to visit me...

While Ike and I took our morning walk, cigarette and coffee in hand in the cool morning air, I took a few shots up and down Milwaukee Avenue.  My neighborhood is fantastic: full of vintage shops, restaurant patios, shaded sidewalks, wall murals, and funky architecture.

Looking West on Milwaukee Avenue

Empire Liquors

Looks like we're getting more bike lock-ups.

Dog-friendly patios are the best.

LOVE Myopic Books!

The Flat Iron Arts Building (and home sweet home).

The Stemline guys hanging a sign for Mother's Day (they make the hallway outside of my studio smell so wonderful with their beautiful flowers).

Looking East on Milwaukee Avenue

First Friday -- Studio 215 Featured Artist, Caleb Rocha

Today I'm working on a few custom pieces (must be Mother's Day gifts), and enjoying sipping on my coffee, and having the studio to myself to listen to The Vandellas as loud as I please.

I suppose at some point I'll have to start the epic cleaning required before First Friday tomorrow, but until then I'm going to enjoy this.

By the way -- because tomorrow IS First Friday, I'm proud to welcome Caleb Rocha as my first featured artist!!  He's going to bring some of his prints, and I think there's a possibility he might bring a sculpture.  Stop by my studio on the second floor, #215 (follow the Chicago flag signs!) and see what's up, tomorrow night.

These are some of his pieces that I especially love.

A few more Chicago Neighborhood Pendants

It was a genuinely lovely day here in Chicago, I probably should have been outside instead of inside...

Well whatever, I'm on a roll, here!

See it HERE

See it HERE

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See it HERE