Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The OhMyGodShe'sSellingThemFerNuthin Anne Elser Book Sale!



Hi Friends,

This Saturday from 10-2:00 I will be selling my entire stock of hand-bound journals at Atlanta Progressive Preschool’s Alternative Craft Fair & Bazaar .


My prices will range from $10.00 to $120.00 and everything in between.
There are many small books great for stocking stuffers from $10-$25 and few new and grand books for their original price.


Why are they this low? Change and newness and movement!
I am ready to move into a new series of work in 2011 and in preparation for the next year of wonderfulness, I am letting go and moving on, making that space for change.

I won't be offering these prices on line - only for those who come to the fair in person. If you see something you like, I'll reserve it for you before Saturday.
Below are more details about all the participating artists and fun activities for kids and families. The APP is a great place that knows how to have fun.

To see more of the books I'll have at my table, please follow this link.

http://gallery.me.com/annedavnes#100113&view=grid&bgcolor=black&sel=22

Happy Holidays!

~Anne


Alternative Craft Fair & Bazaar
Saturday, December 4th from 10-2

Don't buy your holiday gifts at the mall! Support local artists and eco-friendly crafters! Support the Atlanta Progressive Preschool & UUCA!

The Fair is Saturday, December 4, 2010 from 10am-2pm. There will be: high quality alternative-style crafts for sale by local artists, craft projects for the kids, S&J's Wood fired Pizza, face painting, marshmallow roasting, Charis books, oracle readings, henna tattoos, a DJ, delicious homemade baked goods, the winter wonderland room, a massage chair, fair trade coffee & chocolate for sale and 2 bounce houses.

We are excited to have returning to the fair the beautiful work of the Bhutanese Refugee Support Group of Atlanta. The group makes baskets out of kudzu. There will be handmade books, paintings, beeswax candles, knitted hats, one of a kind jewelry, pottery, clothing, wine bags, baby slings/carriers, pouches made from reclaimed kimonos, and much more.

Do not miss this beautiful fair!

Cutest Mittens EVER


OH MY GOD I fainted when I saw these!
Morehouse Farm Hedgehog Mitts!

Will knit a pair for Anton and maybe for Doug if he's been a really good boy for Santa.

Morehouse Farm has a section on their site dedicated to Critter Knit Kits. Creatures of all kinds, for lots of hands, heads and necks. Kids and adults and their prices are reasonable.

I recently knit these Kissing Fish Mittens for Anton and he LOVES them.



Tina knit him this Alligator Scarf and he loves that!


So much fun!

Sunday, November 28, 2010

J O Y


Come to the next Kai Lin Art opening on Friday, December 10th from 7-10PM:

J O Y !

Some of my books and paintings will be there, along with many other great works from the following artists:

Featuring artists:
Jon Arge
Anne-Davnes Elser
Dante DeStefano
Karen Divine
Wyatt Graff
Katie Grosskopf
Chris Hamer
Jason Hawkins
Aaron Jackson
Brad Johnston
Kent Knowles
Ivy Rose McLeod
Greg Noblin
Brett Osborn
Adam Wellborn

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Thinking Pink


When I was little, my mother told me every dress I tried on with ruffles swallowed me in fabric. She liked me in more tailored and simple cut clothes. I did, too. As honest as that statement was, I took it to mean that embellishment did not look good on me. ANY embellishment. I could wear something that sparkled, but it had to be small and not overpowering. So every dress, earring, necklace, ring, scarf, hat, etc had to be small in size and not too flashy, else I'd be swallowed up and disappear. And worst of all, I'd look silly.

It wasn't until recently that I began to look deeper into the notion that I had an artsy but conservative sense of style. Well. Today I say FUCK THAT.

After a particularly deep session with Debra, I decided I needed a new pair of sunglasses. I had three pair at home that were scratched, some shade of brown and small. SMALL. Hrrrm. I had thirty more minutes to pick up Anton from school at 1:00. Across the street is a Loehmans. They've got a good selection of eyewear, so I flew in, picked out two pairs I liked, remembered where they were and after picking up Anton, brought him back inside with me to help me choose which pair.

I held out the two to show him and he shrugged his shoulders and went back to the rack. He picked out a large pair of pink Ray Bans. "I like these, Mommy."

I put them on my face and looked in the mirror. Oh yes, they were fun, but too big for me. Too loud. Too fancy.

Just then, a beautiful black man walked past me and said with a smile, "Honey, those look good on you."

That was god. Anton and my phantom stylist piped in long enough for me to take a second look in the mirror and buy those shades in the spirit of joyful confidence.

So here they are and here I am. These rose colored glasses are amazing. Not the kind that hides from the truth, but searches for it, redefines it and becomes it.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Monday, November 22, 2010

Liquid Acrylic 2


Since demoing FW inks at Binder's Artfolio, I've fallen in love with the product and have "finished" many of the books and boxes I've for sale. There is nothing quite like being nudged by the meaning or sound or look of a word. Better yet to have an inch full of blank white pages to continue the prompt.

I can't wait to see how people respond to these. Experimentation!



Sunday, November 21, 2010

Atlanta Progressive Preschool’s Alternative Craft Fair & Bazaar


Atlanta Progressive Preschool’s Alternative Craft Fair & Bazaar is on December 4, 2010 from 10-2pm. I'll be selling a new round of journals there and am sharing a table with Atlanta's hottest beekeeper, Cassandra Lawson. We're going to have a blast!

These events at the school are always so much fun. Check out the other vendors there and come ready to eat, listen to live music and party.

Here are details:

Don’t buy your holiday gifts at the mall! Support local artists and eco-friendly crafters! Support APP!

The Fair is Saturday, December 4, 2010 from 10am-2pm. There will be: high quality alternative-style crafts for sale by local artists, craft projects for the kids, S&J’s Wood fired Pizza, face painting, marshmallow roasting, Charis books, Junk oracle readings, henna tattoos, a DJ, delicious homemade baked goods, the winter wonderland room, fair trade coffee & chocolate for sale and 2 bounce houses.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Inky Leaves


Here's some of my recent affair with FW inks. Thinking this might be a link towards pattern design for my books and boxes. Fun fun fun!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Being Sick

In the midst of all this glorious professional and spiritual re-birthing I've been experiencing lay a fair amount of old wounds in need of healing. They have come to the surface in a myriad of ways - through conversations, sessions with Debra, journaling and through my body. It's called a healing crisis and fuck, does this one hurt. Two weeks ago I got the beginning of Anton's latest cold and reached a point where I could not swallow without feeling like I had a cheese grater for a throat. Mark Strand calls the throat the "sleeve of my voice." My inner voice cracked open a wider path and this time I listened.

Shortly after, the real cold came and because my Neti Pot and I are such good friends, the infection abandoned my sinuses and decided to settle in my ear and in my eye. At this point I am laughing, it's so ridiculous!

NOT a good week. But it's good. But it feels bad. So, yes. It's movement and the only way over something is not really OVER it, but through it. I've moved with what feels comfortable and still am doing my work, but I take it slowly.

In honor of the voice that wants to scream, I've posted a prettier (but no less wittier) version of what I'm feeling.

To life! Fuckit!

PS: This was made with a round sable brush, liner brush and FW inks. Liquid love.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Jay Shapiro Arts Legacy Foundation Logo


Well, it has been a good weekend. I've been sick! And while healing, I finished up the logo I was working on for the Jay Shapiro Arts Legacy Foundation. I felt his presence every step of the way. He was the first person to nudge me toward nourishing an entrepreneurial spirit and he was a dear, dear man. I miss him.

Here is the mission of the Foundation: Removing barriers to those in the visual arts community in endeavors to explore and achieve their creative potential.

I was asked to consider incorporating one of Jay's most charming physical attributes (his mustache) into the logotype. I did and had SO much fun with it. The hand has serious nods to copperplate and italic and beneath his stache is his beautiful smile - his business savvy - the Arts Legacy Foundation.

When you walk into a place a business, it doesn't take long to feel what it must be like to work there. The entire staff treats its customers as they themselves are treated by their employers. It's why I choose Publix over Kroger, Fidelity Bank over Bank of America, and it's why I choose Binders over Sam Flax. Jay Shapiro and Howard Krinsky have created something fun and beautiful. I am lucky to be a part of it.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Emotive Typers Fall 2010


The Fall quarter class at Portfolio Center is usually the largest of the year. 2010 is no exception. I've got 12 students in Emotive Type and 13 in Production. Whoa! This class has so much fun energy with good balance for thoughtfulness and play all around.

Last Saturday we took our traditional Saturday morning field trip to Xpedx, Forsyth Fabrics and Atlanta Vintage Books. But first, we met up at the West Egg Café for breakfast. Here they are, awake and ready to inspire. :)


Thursday, November 04, 2010

Artfolio 2010


This weekend I'm participating in Binder's Artfolio 2010 event where I'll be demoing FW inks and working with Lineco products in a Book and Container making lecture. Very exciting products. I've been using Lineco products for quite a while in my bookmaking classes.

The FW inks are new to me. So far, they are the most varied inks I've tried because they have both opaque and transparent properties, depending on how much you thin them. Not only are they great for calligraphy with a dip pen or brush, but work like gouache when used raw and mixed with a little white. I love them! They have a high permanence rating and look great on leather, paper and wood.

Here's an image of a box lid I painted this afternoon. I'm loving the flow. More to come!

Monday, November 01, 2010

Mail Truck Costume


My little boy Anton wanted to be a mail truck this year for Halloween. I jumped right in. Since moving to the little house, one of the advantages of having a short driveway is that you and your 4-year old little boy (who is obsessed with anything that has wheels) can now watch, feel and hear the mail truck drive to your mailbox. It takes us 10 seconds to get to the end of the driveway and say hello. We have gotten to know three of our mail carriers pretty well - but the one we see most of the time is named CC and we love him. He seems never in a hurry when he comes to our house and loves to talk to Anton about his truck, that funny rubber thing on his thumb and all the mail he's delivering.


We told CC that Anton's costume this year would be a mail truck and the next day he arrived with a white USPS warm-weather hat - the white one that keeps your head cool. It was brand new and a gift to Anton. SO NICE!!! He also loaned us his vintage mail carrier jacket with the old USPS logo patch.

Thank you CC! We love you!