I've had several people request elephant journals, so I spent some time working on elephant printing blocks today.

Scanned this one into photo shop and flipped it horizontally, because I decided I wanted the finished block to print with the trunk the other way.

Transferred to carving material (I'm liking Speedball's Speedy-Carve these days. NOT to be confused with Speedy-Cut which is frankly crumbly and awful.) Carved and carved and carved until I could do a test print!

As you may or may not know, etsy has decided to require all sellers to use their payment platform or have their shop shut down. In the past, use of their platform was optional., with the added incentive that using it would enable your shop to be the recipient of etsy gift cards.  I have been with etsy for a long time (even longer than the Creative Moves shop would suggest) and I have had my disagreements with the choices they have made in the past. But Honestly, I do not trust them to handle money, (I was around when their auto payment of fees debacle happened,) or with my bank account information, and I have seen many reports of problems with their payment system in the forums. So the etsy shops will be closed starting on May 15. I am currently looking into and researching other options for online shops.

     I'm going to be displaying artwork in February for a local theatre's February show. It's a mystery/thriller, and here's what I was working on today. A bit different than my usual subject matter, but it should be an interesting challenge. 

Took a trip to the Idaho Museum of Natural History this afternoon. They currently have an exhibit on the history and science of wildfires in Idaho, which includes displays and information on the stagebrush steppe. While going through the exhibit, we came upon an old friend of mine:

A burying beetle! I carved a printing block and made a journal featuring this beetle for a custom order, and I have another one in my etsy shop:

Made a Mini Zine Coloring book this afternoon! (There's going to be trick or Treat for the last day of Farmer's MArket, so I wanted to have something for any kiddos who might have food allergies. When I do coloring books, I tend to do two unfashionable things. ONE: Aim them towards Kids (Hey, I got no problem if grown ups wanna color too, I just don't tend to brand coloring books or pages as "for adults") and TWO: I like to leave white space. For doodling and drawing. (It seems as of late the trend is to have super intricate, dense coloring books.) I think everyone should choose the whatever kind makes them happy, for me this is it! :)

March Shop update! A smaller update this time, some spider friends and a rhinoceros beetle! Next Update April 1. (and that's no foolin'!)

Mantids and hissing cockroaches, a crested gecko and a tarantula, a burying beetle and a rhinoceros beetle. Journals and treasure boxes! 

Next Shop Update will be March 1st.

Not sure if this journal is going to be finished up by the Feb. 1 shop update, but I certainly am going to try and make it so, it's just so fun.

The largest printing block I've ever done. Going to make a piece of art for the natural history museum with this one.