Artifact Uprising

The creative folks at Artifact Uprising have a message.

“Off Your Device / Into Your Life!”

They believe that everyone has a story to tell and that there’s more than one way to tell it. Have you ever thought of taking all those original photos & beautifully written stories that you spend weekends composing & preserving them in something like ~ a book?

 Artifact Uprising will show you how to move your story & your life off of your screen and onto your coffee table, bedside table or the lap of a loved one!

Yep, imagine that!

Come on all you creatives, artists, photographers, designers, bloggers, do-ers & thinkers ~You need to leave a legacy that is archived for future generations.

This is what Artifact Uprising is all about!

Their signature book is beautifully bound and features your choice of a full-sized or partial dust jacket over a fabric cover. Starting at just $69 for a 50-page book, these books are available in three sizes starting at 50, 100 or 150 pages.

You design everything. The shape, color, size, fabric, font, everything. Their online project design tutorial is so simple. Artifact Uprising is also iPad & tablet friendly.

Are you more of a softy?

Featuring a textured eggshell matte cover, their softbound books are just as beautiful and start at just $10.99 for a 40-page book!

Do you need a layout that better fits the crop of your photo? You can make your own layouts by using the blank layout option available in all of their books.

And guess what? 

Artifact Uprising is Instagram friendly!

These softcover book layouts are designed with your Instagram images in mind. Upload all your favorites and design in just minutes with layouts suited for small square images. They like Instaport. These books are available in two sizes (5.5x5.5" and 8.5x8.5") and start at just $10.99 for 40 pages.

So what are you waiting for?

 Artifact Uprising is ready whenever you are.

Oh yea, you can find them here on Instagram too.

Have fun!

All Photographs and Information courtesy of Artifact Uprising.

Illustrated Design

Today’s been a good day for reading.  Taking notes on the timeless style of Sister Parish -

And appreciating the detailed watercolors of Mita Corsini Bland.

Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend too!

 

Sister Parish Design

Grab a leash!

There are rainy, damp days when it’s the last  thing I  want to do,

and the only thing she wants to do.

Go for a walk!

So I grab my favorite trench & umbrella and she grabs her leash & collar and off we go!

Sounds all civilized I know.

Trust me it’s not.  She has me all twisted like this before we step out of the house!

Once we’re outdoors, she behaves!

There are others watching you know.

The little ones are often scooped up when she comes barreling down the sidewalk.

The brave little ones show no fear.

Problem is, she doesn’t like loud or fidgety little anythings.

She does love the big guys though. 

She thinks they’re all horses!

She is so very kind and mothering and will let us know if anyone is loose or lost.

Really, she whines and paces.

Last summer she befriended a young kitty.  They were besties until Mean Old MR. rolled up the “Welcome. We feed hungry kitties” mat!

Here is a nice Mr. 

Maybe he’s going to post a picture of that little guy to the www.  I bet he’ll be back home with his master before you know it!

This MR. man looks nice too.

Seeee how he’s welcoming that sweet little Pug into his house?

This one knows she's not going far…

Walks are for exercise and for socializing right!

Then there are those who prefer to ride.

Ahhhh, meet Mr. Happy Go Lucky!

What do you want to bet his motto is…

Hey everyone sitting around the nice roaring fire!

We’re home!

That was great Mom.  Thanks.

Here are a couple of wonderful books to give as gifts or enjoy by the fire when you and your best friend come in from a walk.

                                                      

Before I close…

Get to know Monty the horse and Tyler the dog in a moving story below…

It’s a beautiful story.  A fine father tells how writing about his only daughter's adventures with her horse Monty and dog Tyler has helped him keep her memory alive...
Read more about them here.

 

This blog post was written very very late at night in honor of all dogs and The Gracie Porter Collection.

It’s a great place for all good blog dogs to come, sit & stay!

A Gracious Gift

Tuesday, October 18

Dear Mom,

  One of my favorite blogger friends is coming to Phoenix on Thursday.  I’m not sure what your schedule looks like but I was wondering if you would enjoy meeting her?  You know the blog Velvet & Linen?  Yes, it’s Brooke Giannetti and she’s in town for one day signing copies of her newly published book, Patina Style….

                            

Thursday, October 20

“Lisa, it was soooooo much fun meeting Brooke...she is everything you said she would be.  A very warm and genuine person....a true gem!  On our next trip to California together it would be such a treat to see her again.  And the bonus of meeting Brooke was discovering Sweet Salvage & Laura Ingalls Gunn from Décor To Adore!   

Brooke signed our copies of Patina Style & yours is on its way.  What a fun day!

Love Mom”

Friday, October 21

Dear Mom,

I’m thrilled that you took the opportunity to stop by Sweet Salvage and say hello to Brooke!  I knew you would love her.  I also want to take a moment here to remind you how special you are and to say “thank you.”   Taking time and taking care are two graces that you always carry with you.  They are also gifts that you give to everyone that you meet.   Your taking the time yesterday made everything so much more special and memorable for everyone involved.

I love you.

xo

Thank you, Brooke, for your friendship and also taking time & taking care. xo

Thank you, Laura Ingalls Gunn, for introducing yourself & Décor to Adore, and for telling my mom that you read my blog. xo

Thank you Sweet Salvage for a wonderful day & extraordinary shopping event!

Oh, There’s More……

Thank you, Joni Webb, for hosting the most fabulous giveaway for Brooke & Steve Giannetti at Cote De Texas! 

Hurry, the contest ends tonight, Friday night at 11:59!

I’ll be waiting up for this one with my fingers crossed.

Remember also, if you want to order the book Patina Style, click here! 

Have a wonderful weekend!

p.s. Did you notice the fabulous necklaces that those three gorgeous women are wearing?

Water Paper Paint

This weekend I spent some time exploring

Water Paper Paint.

It's a charming book written by the artist

Heather Smith Jones.

cover artwork by Heather Smith Jones

I actually came across her blog a while ago and got a sneak peek at the book while it was in the works.  I'm always looking for creative ways to play with paint and Water Paper Paint is full of wonderful ideas!

photo by Rachel Saldana for Water Paper Paint

It's written for all creative types, whether your background is mixed-media, textile art, journaling, or papercraft.  It's a grown-up book full of inspiration and each exercise is written and beautifully photographed entirely from the artist's perspective.

This botanical by the author is what caught my eye.  I love botanicals but I've never tried to paint one.  Until now!

artwork by Heather Smith Jones

My garden is full of bulbs that gave quite a show earlier this spring and now have laid down to rest.  So I thought I'd give it a try.

photo Lisa Porter

I went to the back of the garden and pulled up an assortment. 

photo Lisa Porter

I'll admit that up until now, I had never really thought of bulbs & roots covered in dirt as being all that interesting.

Ahemmmm...Helllloooooo...

photo Lisa Porter

I started photographing them and suddenly Mother Nature had my full attention.  Here's one of many examples that I'll choose from to paint. 

photo Lisa Porter

In the meantime, If you're the creative type, and I know you are, stop by the blog Heather Smith Jones and say hello to the artist & author of Water Paper Paint.

 

The other project in the garden this weekend was to create a place near the potting bench to clean up!

 

photo Lisa Porter

We've had an old galvanized feed bin for years and Gracie has always loved it full of cool water for jumping into on hot summer days. I used the water at the end of the day for cleaning up garden tools & muddy boots.

photo Lisa Porter

Gracie's not so fond of jumping in & out of it anymore and I'm not so fond of bending over and cleaning up anything at the end of the day so using old fieldstone that Collier & I gathered, we built a base to raise it up. We added a spigot & now we have a garden sink!

photo Lisa Porter

photo Lisa Porter

She'll be sure and let you know when she gets a new pool.

photo Lisa Porter

And I'll be sure and let you know how the botanical turns out!

School is out & it's officially summer, painting & blogging time!

I've missed you all,