The Post-Crafty Wonderland Post

Well, we had our first Crafty Wonderland experience last Sunday. We met several crafters that we like and traded secrets about all things craft, art and design. Here are images of "justin with display" and "mary with display". Unfortunately, it's hard to capture the true essence of the "spectacle" gear in such a small photo, but you can use your imagination! Fun!! Oh, and we sold a few clocks and prints, so we celebrated with beer and pizza afterward. If we'd sold a few more, we would have gone out for a real dinner! Anyway, we hope to be back at Crafty Wonderland in October...

Here he is: "The Spectacle"

And, "The Spectacle's Wife"

My next project involves a series of "Bird Women" and I have to get moving to be ready for the Siren Nation Marketplace on November 4. I hope to sneak a few preliminary images in here as I go.

New Sidebar Series Art Clocks and Crafty Wonderland Surprises

I'm feeling pretty energetic, so I will go ahead and post a few images of new clocks and also some brand new offerings that will be for sale this Sunday, August 12, at the Crafty Wonderland in NE Portland (Doug Fir / 11-4 / free).

Here are the newest Sidebar Art Clocks. Except for "Receive" ($175), they are a little smaller than the last group and are priced right at $65.

"Ask" Art Clock by Mary Preiser Potts / 5½" x 11" / $65 / Purchase






"Breeze" Art Clock by Mary Preiser Potts / 5½" x 11" / $65 / Purchase

"Flutter" Art Clock by Mary Preiser Potts / 5" x 13" / $65 / sold

"Swish" Art Clock by Mary Preiser Potts / 5" x 11" / $65 / sold

"Receive" Art Clock by Mary Preiser Potts / 8" x 28¼" / $175 / Purchase

I've also taken some quick shots of my brand new offerings: Handmade Ornaments (Christmas or otherwise) and Handmade Magnets, which you can find at Crafty Wonderland this Sunday, August 12. The ornaments are $10 each and the magnets are $5 each.

Hope to see you there!

Rebel Rabbit, Sidestreet Gallery Garden Art Show, Crafty Wonderland!

Infinity Arts is keeping busy, busy, busy. Because it's summer, we are taking advantage of the beautiful weather, creating our hearts out and participating in every local show we can muster the energy to drag our 7 foot high free-standing wall to!

I enjoyed the first Rebel Rabbit Craft Fair (Sunday, July 29) immensely and met some really nice artists/designers. Aside from a First Thursday at PosterGarden in the Pearl District, this was my first solo show (solo meaning without Justin or Jonah)!

On Friday, August 3, the whole Potts clan was at the Sidestreet Gallery in SE Portland celebrating the opening of their garden art show that runs till the end of August. I have 3 of my large block clocks (one is a collaboration with my 7-year-old, Jonah) in the show.

This coming weekend, Justin and I will be together at Crafty Wonderland at the Doug Fir in NE Portland showing our clocks, wall art, Justin's cd's and ooh-la-la, some new Ornaments that I've just made and am very excited about! Justin will be dressed in full Spectacle regalia, so come by and say hi! (if you want to know what I mean by Spectacle regalia click here!)

I have some clock designs to post, too, if I can only find the time between shows!

www.infinityartsgallery.com - New And Improved With Art Prints For Sale

Among many other projects, I've just put up the 7th (?) incarnation of my web gallery: http://www.infinityartsgallery.com/ ! I'm excited about its sleek new layout and can't wait to continue populating it with handmade, recycled and beautiful artsy goods! It still abounds with art clocks and funky mixed media wall art, but I'm most excited to finally be offering art prints and photo prints for sale! Right now, I am offering a selection of Justin's work, but hope to include some of my own in the future, too. Here's a small selection of my favorites...

"Face Shape" by Justin Potts / Available as 8x10 & 11x14 photo print or 8x10 & 11x17 art print / purchase

"Leaves in Transition" by Justin Potts / Available as 8x10 & 11x14 photo print or 8x10 & 11x17 art print / purchase

"Walkaway" by Justin Potts / Available as 8x10 & 11x14 photo print or 8x10 & 11x17 art print / purchase

"Lighthouse" by Justin Potts / Available as 8x10 & 11x14 photo print or 8x10 & 11x17 art print / purchase

"Eye of God" by Justin Potts / Available as 8x10 & 11x14 photo print or 8x10 & 11x17 art print / purchase

Going Green Update

In the last post, I outlined (somewhat dramatically?), how Infinity Arts is making the transition to green art. Well, 2 weeks after the post I would like to talk about a few steps we've taken in that direction. First of all, we went to several garage sales and spent $4 on 3 high-quality purses that we intend to paint on. I've been working on building Justin's new website - http://www.justinpotts.com/, which showcases his music and art - more on that later, but I haven't gotten very far yet on the purse and that is the reason. I have the colors picked out, the design mostly sketched and one side started. I don't know that this is an ultimate solution to what we're searching for, but I'm excited to do it and see what I end up with. I'll photograph it when it's finished.

Last Friday we visited a fine little showroom in se Portland called Endura Wood Products, where they build accessories and furniture and cabinetry from sustainable and reclaimed wood products. I went in looking for wheatboard, not having any idea what it actually looked like. It doesn't seem very easy to buy - at least not retail - but, I did fall in love with something else. It is called Kirei (kee-ray / Japanese for "clean" and "beautiful") and it looks like this.

It is totally beautiful and I would so love to work with it. It costs $160 for a 3'x6', 3/8" sheet. Here is how the website http://www.kireiusa.com/ describes what kirei is:

"Kirei Board is an engineered panel product constructed from the stalks of the Sorghum plant grown around the world for food. The stalks left over after harvest are heat-pressed with a non-toxic adhesive to form lightweight, strong, unique Kirei Board."

Awesome! And, that grain - how the mind turns over that beautiful grain... I'm not certain yet what I'd like to do with it - but, at that price, it's got to be something spectacular!

Today, I was buying wooden cutting boards at garage sales and thinking what a wonderful surface they are for painting.

I'm excited that we've taken some steps forward and can't wait to post some photographs of these projects as they are completed.

Happy Monday!

Mary

Infinity Arts Begins Transition To Green Art

Hi all. This has been in the works - at least in/on my mind for quite sometime. We at Infinity Arts are in transition. Justin and I are finding it difficult to continue producing things whose raw materials are not sustainable. We have been feeling guilt and uncertainty over our environmental impact for a while now and have decided to take some steps to recreate ourselves as "green" artists and Infinity Arts as a "green" company. This is what we always intended to be, but by using mdf and acrylic paints and sprays, we have fallen way short of this goal. I am not certain how this adventure will unfold. It may take the shape of more earth-friendly materials for our unique art clocks - wheat board and clay paints anyone? - or it may be a new direction entirely....something more virtual or something in the realm of purely recycled materials (garage sales and thrift stores, here we come). Our plan is to attempt to use up the rest of our existing materials to make more clocks and wall art and then, we hope to make the transition to something greener. In the meantime, you can visit http://www.justinpotts.com/ or www.myspace.com/justinpotts to see and hear Justin's endeavor as a solo musician and listen to songs from his new and fabulous cd, Eohippus. As for me, I have a new myspace page at: www.myspace.com/infinityartsgallery and I'll be updating this blog with my design ideas - tempting organic baby clothing companies everywhere with my eco-friendly, graphic designs - and making the last of the mdf art clocks and toting them to local art shows and dreaming about what it is we're going to offer next through http://www.infinityartsgallery.com/ - we chose that name for a reason, you know...

Happy Summer!

Mary Potts

New Block Clock Art Clock Designs

As promised, here are the latest in my Block Clock art clock series!

"Buds 2" by Mary Preiser Potts / 4" x 18¾" / $65 / Purchase

"Climbing" by Mary Preiser Potts / 5" x 20½" / $65 / Sold

"Heart Throb" by Mary Preiser Potts / 4¾" x 18" / $65 / Purchase




"Symbiotic" by Mary Preiser Potts / 5½" x 32" / $90 / Purchase

"Be Still" by Mary Preiser Potts /$90 / Purchase

"Buds 3" by Mary Preiser Potts /Sold

"Deep Breath" by Mary Preiser Potts / $90/ Purchase

"Shine 1" by Mary Preiser Potts / $75 / Purchase

We also hope to be participating in several craft fairs this summer in the Portland area including the Sunday Art Mart, so I'll keep you posted on where we'll be showing our wares. Happy Weekend!

Custom Cityscape Clock for Boston Children's Hospital

Justin and I are home from Hawaii and I hope to post a few photos as soon as I finish playing catchup! But first, I wanted to post the new custom clock that I finished just before leaving for the land of Aloha. I've been working with a gallery in Boston over the last few years, creating clocks for a children's hospital there. Here is the newest of 3 cityscape clocks and a glimpse of other children's clocks I've made for the children's hospital in the past...

Cityscape 3 Wall Clock / approximately 12" x 45"

Cityscape 2 Wall Clock / approximately 12" x 45"

Johnhanclock Cityscape Wall Clock / approximately 10" x 40"

Airplane Clock / approximately 24" length

Dragonfly Clock / Approximately 24" tall

I'll be back later with my newest Block Clock art clock designs!

Free Handmade Baby Bibs in Portland Oregon

I've done it! I've made my first set of free handmade baby bibs (though there may be a cup of coffee exchanged at some point). That's right - they're free. I'm experimenting with a "happy accidents" style of embroidery design. My guess (having had a baby myself almost 7 years ago) is that most babies only wear bibs for a year or so, so if the embroidery designs can withstand a year's worth of frequent encounters with the washing machine plus normal wear and tear (I'll spare any descriptions), everyone should be happy - mom, baby and me (the designer)!

Like the last set of bibs, these are traditional baby boy blue with alternating off-white. Both fabrics are super soft corduroy and the center thread designs are done in medium blue heavy cotton canvas.

Here are the design details of the sailboat and "big heart" designs...

My next project is an art clock for the children's hospital in Boston, MA. Hope to have a post about it later this week. If not, Justin & I will be in Hawaii May 6 - 13 for a belated honeymoon...sans Jonah (Justin and I's 7-year-old)....so it'll be after that before I post again....yes, I'm excited!!!

Cheers!

Contemporary Handmade Baby Bibs - Second Set

I completed another set of handmade baby bibs last week. This time, they are in traditional baby boy blue with alternating off-white. Both fabrics are super soft corduroy and the center thread designs are done in medium blue heavy cotton canvas. I tweaked the pattern a bit this time to bring the velcro closure around to the side instead of in the back where little hairs can be pulled. As for the designs, with these bibs I put a new twist on the "I Love My Mommy" / "I Love My Daddy" baby bibs - the father of this little guy is a drummer and his mother is, well, a "love"!

drummer detail

hearts detail

I also finally have a taker on a set of baby bibs. I'll be making a set for a friend of a friend - for free! That's right, I'm obsessed. So, I'll put it out there again. If you live in the PDX area and know someone who is having a baby soon, send me an e-mail and I'll send you a pair of baby bibs!

Also, if you love independent artists/designers like I do, check out my friend Linda Johnson of Little Flower Designs on HGTV/That's Clever! today at 1 pm eastern time!

Happy Friday!

Custom Art Clock Design

NUMBER 46 by Mary Preiser Potts

I am currently working on a custom version of a large wall clock that I designed and made the prototype of almost 3 years ago. The original art clock was 22" wide (at the widest point) and 54" long (including the pendulum). The custom version is smaller than the original and, as such, is posing some interesting challenges for me. In the original art clock, the center gold area with the small circles running down it, including the little bit coming out from the bottom of the clock was the pendulum. It was huge! In order to perform this feat, I had to use a heavy-duty pendulum drive, which sticks out from the back of the clock 2.5 inches. In order to hide this pendulum-driving beast from the side view of the clock, I built a frame around it so that only the frame would be visible from the side...

Well, this time around, because the clock is much narrower, and because my client foresees that much of the time the clock will be seen from the side, the idea of the frame being exposed from the sides is just too much for either of us to bear! So, the center gold area between the violet-mauve bars will be stationary - no movement. The pendulum will just consist of the large gold circle at the bottom. I think it is a great variation on the design and I really don't think the lack of movement down that center strip will take anything away from the overall look of the art clock.

Custom NUMBER 46 in progress

So, this is what I have been up to for the last few weeks....well, that and working on Justin's new album cover with him. If you're a fan of indie rock and experimental music, then click on over to Justin Potts' myspace page!

I have some new block clocks laid out and hope to post some new designs next week!

Quilted Purses at Mish Mosh Art - Hubbardsville, New York

If you like artsy one-of-a-kind clocks, then you may well like artsy one-of-a-kind purses...at irrationally affordable prices.

Fiber, Textile and Art Doll Artist, Suzanne Lappan of Mish Mosh Art, sent me these images of her latest spring designs. The funky bowl-shaped Quilted Purses are handmade from stylish, spring-inspired fabric and retro handles.

DREAMING OF SPRING by Suzanne Lappan / approx. 11" x 12" / $45 / purchase info

IN FLIGHT (reversible) by Suzanne Lappan / approx. 11" x 12" / $45 / purchase info

I can't help it - here is just one more...different design, but same amazing appeal!

OCHRE POD Highbag by Suzanne Lappan / approx. 10" x 22" / $40 / purchase info

Oh how I love spring!

Please check out the rest of Suzanne's fiber arts and art dolls!

New ART CLOCKS Hatch in Time for Easter!

I am more and more in love with spring this year, watching everything in my yard, neighborhood and city burst into color and new life. The Pacific Northwest boasts one of the most beautiful springs I've ever experienced and I am grateful to have such a fabulous view from my studio windows. My new art clock designs are named in honor of the great printemps emergence - ENJOY 5 new sidebar designs and 1 new BLOCK CLOCK - all in the scrumptous blooming colors of spring and some rich "approaching-pastel" palettes as well!

REBIRTH by Mary Preiser Potts / 8½" x 28½" / INTRO Price: $190 / purchase

AWAKENING by Mary Preiser Potts / 6½" x 28½" / INTRO Price: $190 / sold

RENEWAL by Mary Preiser Potts / 7" x 24" / INTRO Price: $190 / purchase

MOXIE by Mary Preiser Potts / 7½" x 25½" / INTRO Price: $190 / purchase

VERVE by Mary Preiser Potts / 6½" x 19½" / Price: $90 / sold

Block Clock - AMPERSAND by Mary Preiser Potts / 8½" x 30"/ INTRO Price: $225 / purchase