The Glass Sea Creatures of Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka

The Corning Museum of Glass is having this marvelous exhibit of glass models until January

Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka were German artists who also created the glass botanical models of flowers that are exhibited at the Harvard museums.  These models are so delicate, it is rare they travel around the country so when they are around, you've gotta go see them!  Many of these here are from the collection at Cornell

They sold these models to scientists and universities.  While this model is about three inches tall, the sea creature (an anemone) is only about 1/4 inch tall.

Box of tiny eyeballs

Detailed drawings preceded the model-making step

There are other collections around the world, most at universities but many in private hands.  If you ever get to Cornell or Harvard, look up the Blaschkas and prepare to be amazed!

LOUIE AWARD #3!!!!

Here I am at the LOUIE display, admiring the pumpkin card I did with Design Design.  

We won for Best Children's Card above $3.50

It's a 3D maze, with little balls that run around like an old-fashioned game.

The LOUIE Awards are the Greeting Card Association's award to manufacturers of greeting cards. 

The awards are given out annually during the Stationery Show and SURTEX in May.
Thousands of cards are entered from many manufacturers.

It's a competitive world out there for an artist 

When you get singled out of the crowd, it feels pretty good.   

Now let's start thinking of original ideas for next year's entry! 

New Halloween Cards

Halloween is one of my favorite occasions to design for.  Here is one I designed, done by Great Arrow, all hand-silkscreened and the texture is luscious.

It's April, I must be getting ready for SURTEX

Well, since the UPS guy has delivered this banner, I guess SURTEX must be coming up soon.  This will be my 6th year exhibiting at the Jacob Javitz center in NYC (Booth 559), and I think after all this time I've finally figured out everything I have to do.

Banners hanging out in the hammock before getting rolled up and transported

Design the booth, prepare my helpers (thanks Arlen, Susanne, James, Morgan and Dawn!), 

Me in the booth with Arlen, 2011 

Prepare the portfolios, prepare any prototypes and samples I'm showing,

One of my first booths, 2008

 reserve a hotel room, send out promo mailing, find something to wear, prepare for catastrophes, 

The halls of Surtex before the show starts!

 Have the signage made, design and produce any takeaways,

My booth, 2009 or 10?

Fill the booth box with tape, scissors, hand sanitizer, mints, business cards, velcro, extra shoes, more mints.

My LOUIE-award-winning Children's Birthday card

And finally, get a lot of sleep, pack the car, suitcases and go set up!  May 19 - 21.

New Rugs with Home Comfort

Now we are in the new year, I thought I'd post some of my latest rugs from Home Comfort.  The washable Jellybean rugs have been selling well, you can buy them here.

Well-Designed Pie

I don't post about food too often, but I recently made a pie that I thought was beautifully designed.  That is, nice to look at as well as to make, an elegance in its simple assembly. You don't need a pie pan and can bake it right on a cookie sheet, this Rustic Apple Tart.

First you make a crust dough on a piece of parchment, and using the rolling pin, roll toasted nuts right into it.

Then you pre-cook an apple filling, this one has about 6 small apples, dates and honey.  Let it cool and plop in the middle of your crust.

Fold the edges up and over, forming a small bowl for the filling, patching up any tears.

Bake it for about 30 minutes!  Looks beautiful and the hand-made look adds to its appeal.  Voila!

Christmas Products

Hi all, Christmas is rolling around and I've got some new products in stores now.  Here's a favorite of mine, a set of 4 porcelain plates called "Santa's Servers".  I've always liked developing characters, and I hope these have a certain holiday sweetness.

They are also available at Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Paperproducts-Design-Servers-Gift-boxed-Appetizer/dp/B00A2EJIOI