Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap

Last week, I stitched my first postcard for the Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap. How strange it was to compose a scene so slowly, thread in, thread out. It was difficult for me at times, because I wasn't exactly sure where it was going, but I also found it quite calming.

My recipient was a woman in Australia. I'm not sure if she's received it yet, but I hope it makes her feel like home is a good place to be.

I am finally posting my fired piece from the Painted Pot (I posted the unfired tile here several weeks ago). It turned out better than I'd even expected -- colors were so bright, and all of my erase lines and scratches are still in there. It was my first painted tile, and I loved it so much, I'm considering a series. Any suggestions on products/glazes/local studios are very welcome.

Ustyme launch and my illustrator debut

The new children's book publisher, ustyme, launched on September 25th, and with it, was my illustrator debut. Since March, I have had the tremendous fortune to illustrate three of the books in the ustyme library. Below are some samples of the illustrations I created for Edward Lear's The Owl and the Pussycat, plus my original thumbnail sketches:

The Bong Tree
© 2013 Kendra Shedenhelm

The Piggy-wig © 2013 Kendra Shedenhelm

It's Love. © 2013 Kendra Shedenhelm

The Wedding Feast © 2013 Kendra Shedenhelm

Initial thumbnails/storyboard
for The Owl and the Pussycat

Ustyme even included my Owl and the Pussycat illustrations in their launch video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CNXnYhfYf4. Their app is free, and the books are available for download at about $.99 to $1.99 each. The ustyme team has been amazing to work with, and I hope that anyone that has the technology will give this app a try.

To see my selected illustrations for Edward Lear's Nonsense Alphabet and the Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, please visit my new online portfolio at http://kendrashedenhelm.com/.

We are leaving Brooklyn this week, so I went to The Painted Pot on Saturday night for the last time.

My son and I have been going to this local pottery studio since he was about 18 months old. He's glazed piggy banks, mugs, bowls, light switch covers, and several other gifts for the family. Oddly, though, I never really participated. I just watched, admired and supported him, but I didn't create anything myself. However, after my wonderful experience painting with the Empty Bowls Project, I really wanted to paint by myself this time.

I started with several layers of glaze, and after some drawing and re-drawing, I ended up with this bird. I loved making this painting. I can't wait to see what it looks like when I pick it up this week. I'll be sure to post it. Stay tuned.

Geometric Patterns

After I saw this call for geometric pattern submissions at print & pattern, I began sketching a variety of shapes. I soon realized that many of my shape combinations looked a lot like my old ghetto blaster. So I made several.

I'm not sure what I'll do with this quite yet, or what color combinations would work best. Suggestions?

Little house sketch

A quick sketch today, while my son played at the playground. My little imaginary house...

I took myself on a little date yesterday to my favorite place on the planet: Central Park. I couldn't stay long, but I did have a time for a quick sketch.