Look at the Birdie and Smile

Just another weekend fighting Zombies

2012-02-27T08:00:00.000-08:00

Took a break from my usual weekend activities to help some friends out with a short film they were making. However, I didn't help in the normal sense (aka decorating the sets) -- nope, this time I helped out ON CAMERA by playing a background zombie.

This is my third time playing a zombie, but my first time getting real make up done. I had a full prosthetic cheek glued to my face. which was then painted to look like someone had taken a bite out of it. Didn't hurt a bit, but it looked pretty darn gross.

Putting the make up on took about 45 minutes. Shooting the scene took 10 minutes. Taking the make up off.... sigh, lets just say, I will be going to work tomorrow with some glue and latex still stuck to my face!

Princesses

2012-02-24T08:42:00.000-08:00

These are not a new Skårt design ....although...... hmmm....

These are drawings for "my other job" -- Top secret, but I will share with YOU because I get to go back to Disneyland. Woohoo!!! Shhhhh. More pictures to come next week.

Did I Make a Mistake?

2012-02-22T08:00:00.000-08:00

The R.P. is beginning to wonder if he made a colossal mistake this past weekend.

Now, admittedly, “colossal” might be a bit hyperbolic, but please, allow me to explain.

While trying to waste a few minutes, I was frequenting an antique store which I hardly ever frequent (because this R.P. tries, at all costs, to hardly ever frequent any antique store whatsoever), when I came across a mirror propped up on the floor against a bunch of other mirrors. “Whoopdeedoo!” I can hear my readers exclaiming. “You saw a mirror. You must be very proud of yourself. Perhaps the next time you see a coffee table or a magazine rack, you should throw a parade.” But this mirror was a special mirror. “Oooh! A special mirror.” Yes, a special mirror. “Oooh,” I can hear my readers saying again, “a special mirror. Maybe the R. P. thinks of himself as a literary Snow White. ‘Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the cleverest one of…’”

This Recent Paterfamilias is beginning to wish that the readers in his head would just be quiet and let him get on with it.

This was a special mirror. It was round. This mirror itself was convex and a foot wide. It was surrounded with a wood frame with small round orbs carved into it and an American Eagle, wings akimbo, perched atop. This special mirror is actually a kind of mirror, one which this R.P. has been obsessed with for several years. It’s called a “Federalist” mirror, it’s a staple in American folk art, and all the ones the R.P. has previously come across typically run anywhere between $2,500 and however much you want to spend.

Just for fun, I inquired with the shopkeeper how much she wanted for this one.

She said 350.

And the store was having a Presidents’ Day sale. Everything was twenty percent off.

“So that would make it 280,” she said. “Plus tax, of course.”

“Of course,” I replied. “Plus tax.”

What a boon! the Recent Paterfamilias told himself. For years he’d been searching for just this kind of thing, and then here it was, at a fraction of the going price. It needed restoration certainly, but it wasn’t like it was falling apart, it wasn’t like the convex mirror was split in twain, making the viewer’s reflection something grotesque and unnatural.

And then the Recent Paterfamilias was forced to ask himself a practical question: “Where am I going to hang it?”

Hmmmmm.

Now, I wouldn’t say that the R.P. and the wife of the R.P. are art collectors, per se, but we have some pieces, some good, some pretty good, and some crap, but really the point here is, we have everything situated on the walls like we like it. We also don’t have an overly large apartment, so we therefore don’t have unlimited wall space. Something would have to come down for this mirror to go up. So which one was it going to be? Who was going to get the axe?

Ultimately, I told the shopkeeper that I wanted to think about it, then I exited the store, leaving the mirror where it was, on the floor, and as far as I know, that’s where my mirror is now. Unloved, on the floor, collecting dust and totally underpriced, simply because this Recent Paterfamilias was unable to make the sacrifices necessary for it, the mirror, to join his, the R.P.’s, collection.

This Recent Paterfamilias is beginning to suspect that he might have made a terrible mistake.

I miss my mirror.

Which would you choose: Star Wars or Super Heroes

2012-02-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

I can't decide which prints I like more, they are both so gosh darn adorable! And not only that, they are ridiculously affordable. If you had to... which would you pick?

Star Wars Art print set by Loopzart on Etsy

Super Hero Justice League Art print set by Loopzart on Etsy

Baby Luca loves his Skårt!

2012-02-20T08:00:00.001-08:00

Flying Around the World Triptych in Turquoise - available at Skårtshop.com

Happy Valentine Day!!!

2012-02-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

Instagram on the iPhone + Props in Poland = Lots of photo fun today!

Dreaming of Love

Heart a Flutters

Bunny Love

Shooting Another Commercial in Poland

2012-02-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

I'm back in Warsaw! That's right, by the end of this work trip I will have spent more time in Poland in 2012 than in the US. Not that I mind. Starting to feel like home. Been eating a lot of herring, and figured out that a nip of Vodka here and there DOES help keep you warm.

I don't have much to report. But I do have the last commercial that we shot here to share. Saw it on TV the other day. Still have no idea what it means or what they are saying - but it looks pretty adorable!

Baby and Puppy Posting

2012-02-07T18:34:00.000-08:00

It happened, I knew it would happen, I could have told you it would have happened at some point, but my dear daddy, the so-called Recent Paterfamilias, did not have anything to write about this week, or maybe if he did have something to write about, he did not write it down, which only leaves poor little baby me

--And me!

Yes, and Tedward, Tedward the intolerant Welsh Terrier, to fill up this column, and I must tell you that you cannot trust intolerant Terrier dogs

--Yes you can!

No you cannot

--Yes you can, you little human beast! Spending your days chasing me around the apartment! How dare you!

Do not listen to him

--Yes! Yes! Listen to me!

He is very loud, this little dog

--I’m not that little!

Please just ignore him, but, if I may get back to the topic at hand, I have faith in my dear father, the so-called Recent Paterfamilias, to formulate some manner of infinite wisdom to impart in next week’s column, which would be a nice break for this baby

--And me!

Yes, and you, now please be quiet, Tedward

--No!

Because it is overwhelming for a baby to write an entire blog column when she, the baby, cannot even speak in complete sentences outside of bababababababababa, which, I must say, should be considered rather advanced for someone who is not yet even quite nine months old

--I’m almost three years old!

Please be quiet, Tedward

--Sorry!

Thank you

See you next week

The End.

Building Blocks for Grownups

2012-02-07T09:39:00.000-08:00

Everything But the Manual is a furniture system created by Dutch designer, David Grass. It comes in the shape of a cube consisting of 177 identical oak building blocks that can be connected with bolt and wing-nut.

Despite the name, there is no manual provided, the only limit is your imagination.

You can check out more designs and videos of projects here

It Starts with a Plan

2012-02-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

I have a plan and I have a pile of wood all cut to size. Now I just need some time and a super helpful handy husband to put it all together.

Coming soon: My super amazing organized studio office!

Baby Swaddlers and the Other Mothers

2012-02-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

As of late, my baby has gotten too old, and too big, for her swaddling blankets.

This, as it turns out, is a good thing. (Not for my baby, it must be said, but instead for my wife and me.)

But please, allow me to explain.

One many occasions, I have personally noticed that these baby swaddlers, which are made of muslin or linen or some other such ridiculously soft and comfortable thing, are very, very popular with the other mothers (the other mothers?), but, ultimately, said offspring will outgrow these swaddlers, rendering them useless (the swaddlers, not the infants). The infants no longer need to be swaddled at night, and they also no longer require a “bottom blanket” (for which these swaddlers are also popular) during story time or music class or “gymnastics” class or any other baby classes (such as they are). Thusly, these muslin baby swaddlers are no longer of any use to anyone. They have outlasted their usefulness. They have now been condemned to the land of the infant useless.

Or so one might assume.

This, as it turns out, is not true.

This, as it turns out, is good news.

Even before my baby outgrew her infant swaddlers, my wife and I had begun commandeering these swaddlers for our own use: as napping cover-ups.

These lightweight comfortable muslin swaddlers, fit for the skin of a baby, intended to keep it neither too warm nor too cold, are incredibly suitable for adult-sized cover-ups during couch-arranged naps.

My wife and I had been patient for several months while watching our baby slowly outgrow her swaddlers. Now, the much-awaited payday had finally presented itself.

In fact, the idea had been broached to take more than one of her swaddlers (now that she no longer needed them, of course). The idea had been suggested that we (the wife and I) take all eight of her swaddlers and have them sewn into a napping quilt. The idea had been hinted at, once or twice, that, during one of my sundry infant classes, a couple of the swaddlers belonging to the other mothers (the other mothers?) might easily be secreted into my diaper bag and then smuggled out of there, ultimately to create multiple napping swaddlers, possibly one for every day of the week, or, perhaps even better, one huge napping swaddler, one that could cover much of our apartment, or perhaps even best, one single enormous napping swaddler that nearly everyone, yes everyone, could nap under. Yes, this seems an admirable goal: steal the swaddling blanket from every infant within reach, just so you could ostensibly provide napping-cover for yourself and all the rest of the other mothers (the other mothers?).

(All of this would only be possible, understand, given the assumed forgone conclusion that the babies of these aforementioned “other mothers” allowed these “other mothers” to actually, actively, nap, which they, the babies, historically and across the board, most decidedly do not. The selfish little brats. Thusly, one must assume that this behavior is intended so that they, the babies, might keep their napping swaddlers all to themselves. It is likely some sort of global underworld conspiracy. But who knows? Maybe it’s not the babies after all. Maybe it’s the other mothers.)

Behind the sets: Goodwill Donation Commercial

2012-01-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

A fun little commercial that I designed. Mixing a few 3D items in with an entire 2D set.

Here are a couple of behind the scenes photos of how the set looked

iphone!!!

2012-01-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

source

Sorry no time to Blog - I have to set up my new iPHONE!!!
So many things to figure out and play with.

First order of business: Instagram
Just wait and see all the slick, hip pictures I am going to be posting (you can find me under the ID: TheSkartist)

then what?

There is a whole world of Apps. Where do I begin?

Any recommendations?

One Final Post on the R.P.'s Racist Dog

2012-01-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

My dog, let’s call him “Tedward E. Edwards,” has recently taken his intolerance to new heights. Lately, he has chosen to stand on a storage block in his sister’s (my daughter’s) room, look out the window at the street below, and growl at anyone (dogs and people) he finds unsavory. Frankly, I must admit, when he does this, I think that it’s funny and a little cute (or cute and a little funny, I haven’t decided yet), as he stands there with his hands (front feet) on the window sill, fogging up a quarter-sized spot on the window with his snout (nose), tracking people (dogs and people) back and forth as they walk on the sidewalk, going about their business, all the while having nary a notion that there’s a well-bred Welsh Terrier up on the third floor hating them. When he first started doing this, he would occasionally bark at people (dogs and people) he felt an exceptional distaste for, but when I threatened to take his window privileges away if he continued barking, he contented himself with just growling instead. At this distance, one would have to assume that a growl is sufficient.

On the Drying Rack: Love Birds

2012-01-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

...just in time for Valentines day.

Lovebirds by Skårtshop

Workspaces: Oldest Scene Shop in Warsaw

2012-01-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

While I continue to figure out how I'm going to revamp my own studio this year. I figure I will continue to gather inspiration and explore what other people have done with their spaces.

For the commercial I was working on in Poland I had all the scenery custom made and I got a sneak peek into what was claimed to be the oldest Scene shop in Warsaw. It was pretty amazing. Gorgeous industrial machines with bright yellow knobs and handles. I think my favorite part was the old cobblestone floor. I can't help but imagine what this shop was actually used for before they started building scenery for movies (the likes of the Pianist and Schindler's List to name a few)

4 on Friday: Argyle Walls

2012-01-20T08:00:00.000-08:00

I'm not the first one to do an Argyle Wall treatment. Today's 4 on Friday I decided to highlight some of the other great ones out there.

This was the original inspiration:

via Design Dazzle

Here is another example of a design that mixes a whole lot of patterns but sticks to a simple color palette.

via Project Nursery Design Gallery

This one is Oversized and Fun!

via The Bump

And finally, if you are lacking artistic skills, time or just don't want to commit long term. You can always just go the way of simple decals

available for $40 at Beepart on Etsy

Nursery Design: Argyle and Houndstooth and Bears Oh MY!

2012-01-19T08:00:00.000-08:00

Nursery #1 by Skårtshop Design is DONE! And I have pictures to prove it!

For a memory refresh This was the design sketch I did:

and this is how Emmet's room turned out:

Lesson learned here is that you don't have to be afraid of mixing patterns as long as you stick to a simple and soothing color palette. The rug was the biggest struggle. Even now Mommy isn't 100% convinced. Luckily at this point she's got too much other stuff going on to fight me on it : )

Enjoy the rest of the pictures, thanks to Emmet for helping model some of the room features!

Design Elements:

Argyle Wall -- Click here to see how we did it

Paint Colors Used -- (all Benjamin Moore) Background walls: Bleeker Beige (HC-80), Argyle Pattern: Fernwood Green (2145-40) & Northern Air (1676), Dark Brown Stitching: Clinton Brown (HC 67)

Furniture (Crib Dresser and Nightstand) -- From the All Seasons Collection by Young America

Glider -- Hand-me-down from a friend

No Sew Window Valance -- DIY instructions here

Arty The Skartshop Bear -- Handmade with LOVE

Argyle Carpet -- Overstock.com

Teddy Bear Lamp -- amazon.com

JUMP! Wall print - Skårtshop.com

Polka Dot Change Pad Cover -- by Carters

Crib Bedding -- Kids Line Monkey Play 4 piece bedding set (just used the skirt and flat sheet, and then I did a little tweaking to the bumper by replacing the monkey panels with a simple striped fabric)

Diaper Caddy on change table --Munchkin Diaper Duty Organizer

Custom Embroidered Bins -- You Name It Baby

My Dog is a Racist

2012-01-18T08:00:00.000-08:00

My dog, let’s call him “Tedward,” is a racist.

It has previously been discussed in this column how this same Welsh Terrier, the aforementioned “Tedward,” is a bigot. But “Tedward” also discriminates on color and breeding.

“Tedward” hates Golden Retrievers.

“Tedward” hates Springer Spaniels.

And “Tedward” especially hates Labrador Retrievers of all ilk, whether they be yellow, chocolate, or black.

“Tedward’s” distaste for this latter mentioned breed manifested itself somewhat dramatically, and rather embarrassingly, this past weekend when he tried to attack Charlie Rose’s pet Black Lab.

But please, allow me to elaborate.

The wife, the baby, the dog (“Tedward”), and I were all at the southeast corner of Central Park, at 60^th Street, just north of the golden horseman statue, when here came good old Charlie Rose with his dog in tow, headed directly toward “Tedward” for what was obviously intended as a nice friendly sniff. Being a good dog owner with some semblance of self-awareness, this Recent Paterfamilias felt it was his responsibility to inform good old Charlie and his dog upon their approach that, should they continue their current course, this was not going to go well.

Apparently, Charlie had more confidence in “Tedward” than I, and he kept on coming.

As suspected, “Tedward” acted as promised.

It must be stated: good old Charlie Rose was a good sport about the whole thing.

Charlie joked that, sometimes, his Lab likes to get in close to aggressive dogs, just to see how quickly he can retreat.

As I pointed out to good old Charlie Rose, the current expression on his Lab’s face was, “I don’t like the look of that Terrier over there.”

Good old Charlie, the good old sport that he is, chuckled at this.

I feel badly, sometimes, labeling my dear “Tedward” the Terrier as a bigot and a racist, but, the truth be told, if he didn’t act like an A-hole so much of the time, I’d probably have nicer things to say about him.

That being said, I don’t think I’d care for “Tedward” as much as I do if he wasn’t filled with so much feistiness, if he was instead just one of those standard, typically happy dogs, like a Golden Retriever, or a Springer Spaniel, or some stupid Black Lab who just happens to share a 5^th Avenue apartment with a good old television personality. (In all honesty, if I were “Tedward,” I probably would have attacked him, too.)

Emmet Loves his Skårt!

2012-01-17T07:28:00.001-08:00


JUMP! Wall Art available at Skårtshop.com

Emmet's Nursery Reveal coming on Thursday!!!

Workspaces: Studio Envy!

2012-01-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

I'm having major studio envy and I just realized I should have put fixing up and organizing my studio on my goal list for the year. I rented my own art studio 6 months ago and I had grand intentions into making it THE COOLEST STUDIO EVER!!! I got it functional and then I got busy and well....

This "envy" I speak of started in December when Etsy did a feature article on a Monorail Studio, a screen printing duo out of Texas. They showed pictures of their studio and I was blown away. Their studio is THE COOLEST STUDIO EVER!!!

Like me, they have two rooms: There is an office area and a printing area. I'm sure they cleaned a little for the camera but there seems to be a place for everything.

4 on Friday: Goals for 2012

2012-01-13T08:23:00.000-08:00

Now that we've done our word necklaces for the year, it's time to set the goals. I usually do a set of business and a set of personal. Some fun, some serious but I try to make them all actionable and attainable.

 My Skårt Goals

1. Figure out Twitter -- I am now @theskartist --- I'm giving myself the year to figure it out and understand it. Oh My Handmade Goodness just timed the perfect post about it, which helped me a lot.
2. More Stores -- Last year I made my goal 10 stores. That was too ambitious, or maybe I didn't focus enough on that aspect. As of now my art is in two stores. This years goal is for 4 stores. I've decided to grow exponentially.
3. Do a Show -- The Toronto One of a Kind show was a lot of fun to do. I didn't do a show in 2011 and I kind of missed it. It's a great way to meet people, here and exchange ideas and also expose yourself to new clients (and maybe store owners to help achieve goal #3)
4. Refine my blogging techniques -- Last year I made it my goal to blog twice a week. I ended up really enjoying blogging and sometimes I will blog as much as 4 or 5 times a week. So now that I have the frequency down, I think I need to refine my content. I have lots to share this year. I also want to delve deeper into the blogging community. Connect with more bloggers and maybe try out a few guest posts?

Personal Goals

1. Eat a Salad a Day -- I kind of said this as a joke on New Year's Eve, when we were trying to think of goals. But you know what? It has been 13 days and I have had a Salad each and everyone one of those days. Now I'm committed to trying. (and we decided that Potato salad DOES count!)
2. Learn to Moon Walk -- It's a skill everyone should have.
3. Put more intent into the way I look and dress -- This year I'm going to try and wear make up!!! (and maybe do my hair once in a while)
4. Go on an active holiday -- Whether it's a bike tour, paddle trip or a backyard backpacking hike -- I want to do an active vacation this year.

image source: moneysavingmom.com

Words & Dreams - Girls Night 2012

2012-01-12T08:53:00.000-08:00

Every year, going on 5 years now the girls gather at the beginning of the year and make our New Year's goals and resolutions (and drink a little champagne to celebrate). About three years ago it took on the form of picking a word to represent the New Year. The first year we stamped our words on necklaces. Last year we went to color me mine and painted our words on mugs. This year we were back to necklaces, with a twist. Last night we spelled out our words in beads using Morse Code!

This year I hosted and it was our biggest turn out to date. It seems the word is spreading (no pun intended) and everyone wants to join in the fun! My word for the year is INTENT After a year of fun and spontaneity it's time to buckle down and start doing things with more of a plan and more... intent.

The greatest thing about crafting at the party is that everyone added their own unique twist to the concept. Here a few of the other word necklaces created.

The Recent Paterfamilias On: Little Old Ladies

2012-01-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

photo by: Lilith Ecate

The Recent Paterfamilias is growing tired of nosy little old ladies.

But please, allow me to explain.

Perhaps it’s a New York thing, though I can hardly believe that to be the case, but little old ladies seem to feel it is their right, no, their responsibility to offer their wizened opinion upon any topic at-large. And the topic at-large which seems to constantly hang about the neck of this Recent Paterfamilias? Children, parenting, filial conduct, and et al.

Just this week, the R.P. was stopped by a little old lady, while crossing Broadway, in the middle of the crosswalk, with turning traffic oncoming, and then she’s there calling “You! You with the dog!” and what she wants to tell me is that the baby I have strapped to my back looks uncomfortable.

Now, I am sure this was true. The baby (my baby) I had strapped to my back at the time did not care for the back-born baby carrier in which she was being carried about, so, in an act of protest, to demonstrate her distaste, she had bent herself backward at the waist and as sticking straight out horizontally.

I did not need some little old lady to point this out to me, nor did I need her to inform me that my baby’s positioning looked unnatural. So, this Recent Paterfamilias was polite enough to tell the old coot to mind her own business, and then I walked away.

On this most recent New Year’s Eve, while walking home from my in-law’s Upper East Side afternoon baby-friendly New Year’s get together, my beloved darling offspring decided to have an emotional meltdown.

When my daughter does this (which is more often than any human would like), it sounds as if someone is shoving sharpened chopsticks under her eyelids.

As we were passing an East 63^rd Street townhouse just off of Park Avenue, the matron of said townhouse, while putting the finishing decorating touches on her courtyard (and shouldn’t she have staff for that?), turned her focus on the passing stroller which apparently held what could only be assumed by the casual observer as a screaming demon, and, with her scowl deepening, snarled, “Pick. Her. Up.”

The Recent Paterfamilias thought his wife was going to explode. The R.P. himself was polite enough to tell the old coot to mind her own business, and then I walked away.

Nosy little old ladies also abound in my apartment building (there must be some sort of honing device in the basement), so, given that my baby and I have apparently become fixtures in the neighborhood, I have adopted a new policy: When I am running an errand, or taking the dog out, or doing any other single little thing while the baby is being cared for by the wife of the R.P. or the baby sitter of the R.P., when any of these nosy little old ladies catches sight of me, sans child, and comes running over while letting out an exaggerated gasp and exclaiming with all the tone she can muster, “Where’s your baby?!!” I have proceeded to tell them: “Oh, I just left her upstairs to amuse herself with a book of matches and a steak knife.”

I can’t be certain if the nosy little old ladies believe me or not, but it does serve to shut them up just long enough for me to get of the area and on with my business (which more often than not includes cleaning up dog poop and keeping said dog, let’s call him “Tedward,” from attacking some poor defenseless old Labrador Retriever with three legs, one eye, and less than a half a lease on life).

Look at the birdie I made ... and smile!

2012-01-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

photo by Angela Kohler
Hand cut paper bird for the commercial in Poland