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art supply tote from recyled yoga mats!

Written on January 29, 2009 by Susan Lomuto in Archives-Protected, Tools

This is my new favorite way to carry a stash of art supplies for my creative play dates.

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The bucket bag is made from repurposed yoga mats and discarded scraps from the companies that make yoga mats. I’m not sure that designer Merle O’Brien had art supplies in mind when she created this one, but the minute I saw it I knew it would be perfect for the job.

The mat’s PVC material makes it easy to wipe down, the bag is deep enough to hold a variety of materials, there are mesh pockets all around the outside of the bag for more supplies and seeing the mat material is really a daily reminder that I must practice my yoga more often. I love it! Check out her story here and see some of the collection of bags here. More designs are sold in stores across the country.

My bag is a marriage of three things that I love: organized art supplies, yoga and recycling. Can’t go wrong there – and besides, O’Brien is a Grateful Dead fan. ‘Nuff said.
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text messages: new etsy supply shop

Written on December 4, 2008 by Susan Lomuto in Archives-Protected, Inspiration, My-Work, Tools

Yes, I was silly yesterday. Teasing you with images and clues and giveaways. All done in the spirit of fun. All leading up to this announcement:

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I opened an Etsy shop!

textmessages.etsy.com offers text-related materials for artists and crafters. I love words, text, quotes and use them often in my art so this was a natural progression for me.

I’m pushing polymer again! This time through vintage brass. Click the image!

At textmessages.etsy.com you will find vintage typewriter keys, brass letter stencils, vintage vocabulary cards, text collage sheet downloads, letterpress wood type and a variety of other text-related supplies to help you add another layer of meaning to your art. It is still evolving and I have lots more to list so visit often! You can access the site through the links in the sidebar on the right or the links in this post.

Vintage French vocabulary cards. Click the image!

Come back this afternoon for my regular post featuring smashing good art and tomorrow morning I’ll be announcing a BIG BOOK giveaway to celebrate textmessages.etsy.com. Stay tuned!
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art: look, buy, sell online

Written on October 27, 2008 by Susan Lomuto in Archives-Protected, Tips

Last night my brain would not shut down – I didn’t get to sleep until 4:30 am. While I am trying to wake myself up this morning, here are a few links that will get your adrenalin pumping. Surf the sites, become members and show/sell your own work.

crafthaus is a social network where “professional artists, designers & craftsmen/women display their work and connect with each other across all fields of interest.”

Find more photos like this on crafthaus

Boundless Gallery’s goal is to “make original art, with all its visual and emotional appeal, more accessible so that it can become a bigger part of an increasing number of people’s everyday lives.”

Wendy Walsh, bestseller on Boundless Gallery

Brooklyn-based Supermarket is a “curated collection of awesome design products.”

Aroha Silhouettes, reclaimed vinyl record pendant

Good Monday morning to you!

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jeffrey rudell’s papercuts don’t hurt a bit

Written on October 9, 2008 by Susan Lomuto in Archives-Protected, Paper, Tutorials

Last month accomplished paper artist and CraftStylish contributor Jeffrey Rudell posted a how-to for this cut paper thank you note. I don’t think I’ll be trying it any time soon, but the process is fascinating, isn’t it?

Rudell’s work is extraordinary. I was convinced that the portrait below was a drawing. The closeup shots reveal that this finely detailed work is another of Rudell’s cut paper masterpieces. The portrait, 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide, is carved from a single sheet of black paper. Wow. Ready to try it yourself?

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inspiration sent and received

Written on September 22, 2008 by Susan Lomuto in Archives-Protected, Inspiration, Tools

There are days when I wonder if this blog is actually influencing anyone’s art-making. Then there are days when I get emails that make it clear to me that Daily Art Muse is making a difference. Oh yes, this blog is tickling muses, inspiring products – even providing research resources for art students. A recent email from Valerie Claff made my day:

Dear Susan,

I wanted to write and thank you ENORMOUSLY for your amazing blog/musing. I am an artist and art professor at Clark University in Mass. For some years now I have been teaching a class called Exploring the Natural World – a combination of field drawing, printmaking and mixed-media. The other day I stumbled across your site while searching for examples of work for inspiration. I have to say, your site is THE BEST resource I have found so far. I don’t have a ton of time to research as I’ve got the teaching to do, so your site is an amazing help for me. THANK YOU! I love the work you’re including as they are great examples of a broad range of materials and mediums. I probably won’t venture too much further than your daily blog and archives this semester and will require my students to do some research there to help with generating ideas. Again, thank you!

Valerie Claff

DAMuse as required reading for art students. I like it! I look forward to seeing Valerie’s students’ work before the end of the semester.

Then yesterday I was scrolling through Canadian based Shades of Clay’s online store looking at Helen Breil’s latest product line. I was delighted to see that Helen credits a post on Daily Art Muse as the inspiration for her new flexible textures stamps, Tango and Mambo. Which post sparked the idea? Zentangles, of course!

As always, Helen’s work is beautifully designed and executed.

Helen Breil’s Mambo Texture Stamp and Mambo Leaf Bracelet

Helen Breil’s Tango Lentil Pendant and Tango Texture Stamp

Come back this afternoon for more DAMuse-inspired work and words. And do tell – what has DAMuse done for you lately?

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