Anahata Katkin

National Stationery Show

This beautiful little booth is actually all our PAPAYA! team efforts, blood-sweat-and-tears, all poured into a little 10 X 20 cube of love.  This picture was a test set up in our warehouse.  Our spiffed up treasure trove will be on display this week at the National Stationery Show in New York. We'll be side-by-side with a lovely mix of well known artisans and designers who  collectively set the tone for our very special industry.  It's a sentimental show for us because ten years ago we had our very first booth there! See!  We hauled everything in suitcases through NY city, and completely stumbled through our first trade show.  I didn't want carpet and our feet swelled up because I didn't know a thing about "trade show shoes" and the impact of a week on concrete.  The stationery industry at that time was wildly different.  There where hundreds of smaller, independant designers.  A whole convention floor in fact that doesn't exist today! (few of those companies survived and the magical designer floor evaporated) There was so much style.  Artists either belonged in the super, modern pattern group on high end papers, or made tiny, pastel illustrations on oversized cards.  I was neither.  We where in a sea of well dressed, finely tuned designers and we where complete newbies.  But looking back it was excellent!  We studied and learned everything from that show and decided to do as much work as we could and come back stronger and more defined.  And we did.  And ten years later we'll be there of course, strong as ever!  May 19-20th, Booth 2328

Happy Mother's Day!

Just finished this painting this morning to sneak over and put in my Mom's dining room. SHe's had this prime wall space for a few years now since her kitchen remodel and I've neglected it's need for a real piece of art. (Don't worry she's not so good at getting online often)  I'm not sure it's entirely finished but maybe it's a great excuse for a couple more art nights at her house.  Would be fun to add more botanical studies in the black parts.None the less i'm feeling good about it.  I was trying to be less fussy- as I am with all my artwork lately.  So some of it is loosey goosey on purpose. Kind of how I'm trying to do with my whole life.  Details here and there, on-the-fly the rest of the way! I hope all you Moma's are out there having a beautiful day!  Happy Mother's Day!

Catching Up

Snuggle time, art time, lots of homework-inspired jokes about Uranus! (more always welcome)

Walks that feel like wonderland thanks to spring time in Ashland, and flowers from the yard that make the house more magical. Can't complain.  The week is off to a great start.

Take the time to shine

Just finished a lovely day in the studio with the gals.  Was a welcome break from productive creating and time for just mental pause & relaxation.  We played with wooden rounds, paint and inks, had a nice lunch, morning pastries and even some sunshine.  I've been hearing this saying I painted in my mind lately during my nightly skin care routine.  "Take the time to shine."I know it's silly but I need reminders to use all the beautiful products and self care techniques I have.  Ladies you know the drill.  I've been slacking a bit in the beauty dept and wanted to make this little sign as a reminder to play with all the goodies I love so much and make time for myself at the end of these hectic days.  (And the "you are beautiful" sign is inspired by my friend, Jenny Sweeney.) Now I've got my little reminder snuggled up on the bathroom wall...

So True

Loving this beautiful reminder from Studio Muti!!!  One can sometimes feel like their chasing a rainbow when trying to achieve your goals.  And when success comes does it look the way you thought it would?  Is the picture of your days the way it looked in your minds eye before it all began?  "Success" is as elusive and as surprising as happiness itself and seems to wear many faces.  It's a wild topic that I've been keeping my eye for a while and one I could discuss at length...But you get the idea.
(PAPAYA! Designer: Sarah Shearer) We're contemplating all sorts of favorite quotes today.  I'm hosting our PAPAYA! design team at my home studio or what I like to call "Dept Ana".  We're going to be doing some hand lettering and general craft-tastic behaviors.  These ladies work so hard behind computers they need a creative rest at times.  They are responsible for everthing from marketing materials to redesigning my artwork in to various projects like luxe totes, sticky note sets etc.
(PAPAYA! Designer: Ellen Newcomb)  They help translate what I do into broader concepts.  Isn't that cool!  I used to dream about having support at PAPAYA! for years.  I would absolutely throw fits every time I had to lay out another damn catalogue. I'm great at getting artwork made, but not so good at details!  Having a design support team is a dream come true and very much the result of years of going it alone.  Now I don't have to anymore and in my tenth year of building PAPAYA! the rainbow is getting closer.  Xoxox...

Instagram Cam

(All pics from my instagram profile) Good morning Monday!  Had a super splendid weekend.  The love affair continues!  See...even found a spot for my treasured, little, girl-Buddha I got while traveling through Taipei.  I love her focused, chubby, cartoon self.  My kind of Buddha! And after 15+ years of lusting after fiddle leaf fig trees this one actually made it's way home with me!  It's big news in my world.  Hoping I can keep it as strong and healthy as it is now.  It's my first indoor tree and boy is it fabulous.  I think it needs a name.
And a new plant means a total re-spiff everywhere.  So Spring altar seemed in order.  We have this amazing stand here in Ashland at the gas station (!?!) parking lot.  They sell giant chunks of quartz for dirt cheap. Makes it easy to have piles of them around the house now.  (good to note if you hit I-5 OR this summer) And being the weekend I got out of my shlubbs for a nano-second and managed to whip up some 80's bangs for a Saturday night.  All in all a wonderful, sunshiney weekend.  Feeling fresh enough to tackle making Christmas cards (yes for real) all week.  It's (past due) time for me to have them ready for PAPAYA! to make it in time for holidays. Happy Monday friends...

Lunar Eclipe

(images via: birchandwillow)  How did you all do last week?  With a lunar, full moon eclipse I was wondering what was up!  I didn't realize until the night of the eclipse that I should look into what's going on.  The days leading up to it for me where noticeably intense.
 Sometimes it's just nice to know it's not all you.  Found this delightful post from Mystic Mama that really helped sum things up in a comprehensive way, and I've been chatting about it all week with the lady-friends.  Glad we're on the other side of the moon now!  Happy Sunday...

The right mix:

"Just living is not enough...  One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower."  Hans Christian Andersen

Dream Catcher Flu

If I wasn't so obsessed with dream catchers right now...I'd be over them.  Haha!!  Don't know what it is this year but I just feel so enchanted by them.  They remind of my hippy dippy, Alaska roots and remind me of childhood things like making God's Eyes and feather roach clips in peoples hair at the county fair.  Anything late-hippy, akward early 80's naturalist- kitsch seems to float my boat.  And keep on floatin it too.  I'm almost tired of my own obsession with them.  But just. want. more.... This ribbon one is of course by the Free People scouts.  Right here.  But I'd love to make this one and about three other styles I have been adoring too.  But I'm feely lazy about learning the spider web crochet.  I might buy them pre spun and embellish.  Love me some short cuts!

Outside In:

There's nothing more healing than home.  Not just being in your own sanctuary for restoration, but crafting it just so, has it's deep benefits.  I'm using this spring as a time to regenerate from inside my home.   Trying to do the slow, inner work, in busy times.  A big part of the TLC around here has been planning how to enjoy the beauty outside.  Literally.  I've begun transforming the yard and making changes to get closer to whats living and breathing on the property.
First stop: doors!  These pictures are of newly added double doors that used to be a lovely window bench. (as well as art by Sugarboo, treasured original by Lynn Whipple, artwork I made in Teesha Moore'sclass 2003, and PAPAYA!)  A window bench strangely placed in a walkway and next to the kitchen.  Now I can have coffee on the stoop, in the sun and hang w my kitties! The air flows into the house, and it's easy (as I discovered last night) to entertain and drink wine outside at sunset w more just a short bit away!  It's literally opened up the inside- out.  Designing and tinkering in my own home makes me feel fulfilled and satisfied the very same way artwork does. 
  In fact maybe even more.  I don't wrestle with interiors the same as I do when I draw and paint.  It's more, relaxing and nurturing for me.  Now the yard though is brand new territory that I don't feel as calm about.  So much to learn. And now that I have made room for the outside to flow in from three points in the house it's about time to start.  And look what just arrived as the first project! 10 pots of beautiful bamboo.  The sanctuary grows...